Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
14/05/2025Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Mae'n bleser gen i roi gwybod i Aelodau fod Sue Lines yn yr Oriel heddiw. Llywydd Senedd Awstralia yw Sue Lines.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary session. It's my pleasure to inform Members that Sue Lines is in the Oriel today. She is the president of the Australian Senate.
Welcome to the President of the Australian Senate, who is joining us here in the public gallery today, Sue Lines. Croeso i Gymru, welcome to Wales. I'm sure Members will want to welcome you here. [Applause.] Diolch yn fawr.
Croeso i Lywydd Senedd Awstralia, sy'n ymuno â ni yma yn yr oriel gyhoeddus heddiw, Sue Lines. Croeso i Gymru. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelodau eisiau eich croesawu yma. [Cymeradwyaeth.] Diolch yn fawr.
Yr eitem gyntaf, felly, y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Sioned Williams.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, and the first question is from Sioned Williams.
1. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai fforddiadwy yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OQ62714
1. What is the Welsh Government doing to increase the supply of affordable homes in South Wales West? OQ62714
Diolch, Sioned. I fully recognise the need for affordable housing across Wales, which is why we're investing a record annual budget of £411 million for the social housing grant alone in this financial year—an additional £81 million compared to last year. I am pleased that the social housing grant allocation for the region for 2025-26 is almost £50 million.
Diolch, Sioned. Rwy'n llwyr gydnabod yr angen am dai fforddiadwy ledled Cymru, a dyna pam ein bod yn buddsoddi'r gyllideb flynyddol fwyaf erioed o £411 miliwn ar gyfer y grant tai cymdeithasol yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon—£81 miliwn ychwanegol o gymharu â'r llynedd. Rwy'n falch fod dyraniad y grant tai cymdeithasol i'r rhanbarth ar gyfer 2025-26 bron yn £50 miliwn.
Diolch. It's good to hear of that investment, but, in Neath Port Talbot alone, the number of people in temporary accommodation has increased from 313 to 832 people in recent years, which, without intervention, will increase significantly in the coming years and result in cost pressures of up to £4.4 million by 2027-28. One contributing factor is the shortage of affordable housing. Shelter estimate that there are 94,000 households currently waiting for social housing across Wales and that fulfilling this demand would take 35 years. A recent report by Crisis shows that there are fewer affordable homes in Wales than in London, and in the communities I represent, less than 1.5 per cent of properties are affordable to rent for people on housing benefits.
Each of us here, I know, receive regular phone calls or e-mails from constituents on housing-related issues. And I've had numerous constituents who have either found themselves without accommodation or whose current property has, for various reasons, become unsuitable, and all are faced with long waits to secure appropriate housing. So, what is the Government doing to streamline processes surrounding waiting lists, to support local authorities and housing associations to deliver their duties, and to ensure that there are enough affordable homes being made available so that everybody who needs a home can get a home?
Diolch. Mae'n dda clywed am y buddsoddiad hwnnw, ond yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot yn unig, mae nifer y bobl mewn llety dros dro wedi cynyddu o 313 i 832 o bobl yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, a heb ymyrraeth, bydd hynny'n cynyddu'n sylweddol yn y blynyddoedd i ddod ac yn arwain at bwysau cost o hyd at £4.4 miliwn erbyn 2027-28. Un ffactor sy'n cyfrannu at hyn yw prinder tai fforddiadwy. Mae Shelter yn amcangyfrif bod 94,000 o aelwydydd yn aros am dai cymdeithasol ledled Cymru ar hyn o bryd ac y byddai'n cymryd 35 mlynedd i ateb y galw hwn. Mae adroddiad diweddar gan Crisis yn dangos bod llai o dai fforddiadwy yng Nghymru nag yn Llundain, ac yn y cymunedau rwy'n eu cynrychioli, mae llai nag 1.5 y cant o eiddo'n fforddiadwy i'w rhentu i bobl ar fudd-daliadau tai.
Gwn fod pob un ohonom yma'n cael galwadau ffôn neu e-byst rheolaidd gan etholwyr ar faterion yn ymwneud â thai. Ac mae gennyf nifer o etholwyr sydd naill ai heb lety neu y mae eu heiddo presennol, am wahanol resymau, wedi dod yn anaddas, ac mae pob un yn wynebu arosiadau hir i sicrhau tai priodol. Felly, beth y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i symleiddio prosesau'n ymwneud â rhestrau aros, i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol a chymdeithasau tai i gyflawni eu dyletswyddau, ac i sicrhau bod digon o dai fforddiadwy ar gael fel y gall pawb sydd angen cartref gael cartref?
Diolch Sioned, and thank you for raising that. You'll know that delivery is our focus and delivering more homes is one of the four priorities for the First Minister, and she has set that for the remainder of this Senedd. As a Government, we have never moved away from our ambition to end homelessness in Wales and our commitment to deliver as many more affordable homes as possible. You will know that we will be introducing legislation around homelessness, which is a really important tool, I think, within our armoury here in Wales. We want to have more affordable homes. That's why we've got our target, but let's be clear about that target: we need to have more affordable homes not just now, but for the future. And I think that one of the really good things is that we do have a very positive pipeline of projects.
The Government is providing a record level of investment in social build housing across Wales during this Senedd term. We've got a planned investment of almost £2 billion. In the first three years of the current five-year Senedd term, official data shows that we've delivered nearly 9,000 more homes for rent in the social sector—some of the highest levels of delivery since records began in 2007-08. But I absolutely recognise the pressure on housing here in Wales, as it is throughout the UK and in other places. In Neath Port Talbot, we know that the Neath working men's club scheme is being developed for social rent to provide 36 new homes, which is a mix of one-bed and two-bed flats, which has had social housing grant funding of £5.2 million. So, the investment that's going in is really positive. We know what we need to do and we need to keep that ambition and delivery going.
Diolch Sioned, a diolch am godi hynny. Fe wyddoch ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar gyflawni a bod sicrhau mwy o gartrefi yn un o bedair blaenoriaeth y Prif Weinidog, ac mae hi wedi gosod hynny ar gyfer gweddill y Senedd hon. Fel Llywodraeth, nid ydym erioed wedi ymbellhau oddi wrth ein huchelgais i roi diwedd ar ddigartrefedd yng Nghymru a'n hymrwymiad i sicrhau cymaint o gartrefi fforddiadwy â phosibl. Fe wyddoch y byddwn yn cyflwyno deddfwriaeth ar ddigartrefedd, sy'n ddull gweithredu pwysig iawn, yn fy marn i, sydd ar gael i ni yng Nghymru. Rydym eisiau mwy o gartrefi fforddiadwy. Dyna pam fod gennym ein targed, ond gadewch inni fod yn glir ynglŷn â'r targed hwnnw: mae angen inni gael mwy o gartrefi fforddiadwy nid yn unig nawr, ond ar gyfer y dyfodol. A chredaf mai un o'r pethau da iawn yw bod gennym nifer o brosiectau cadarnhaol iawn yn yr arfaeth.
Mae'r Llywodraeth yn darparu'r buddsoddiad mwyaf erioed mewn tai cymdeithasol ledled Cymru yn nhymor y Senedd hon. Mae gennym fuddsoddiad o bron i £2 biliwn wedi'i gynllunio. Dros y tair blynedd gyntaf o dymor pum mlynedd y Senedd bresennol, mae data swyddogol yn dangos ein bod wedi darparu bron i 9,000 yn fwy o gartrefi i'w rhentu yn y sector cymdeithasol—rhai o'r lefelau uchaf o ddarpariaeth ers i gofnodion ddechrau yn 2007-08. Ond rwy'n llwyr gydnabod y pwysau ar dai yma yng Nghymru, fel sy'n wir ledled y DU ac mewn mannau eraill. Yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, fe wyddom fod cynllun clwb gweithwyr Castell-nedd yn cael ei ddatblygu ar gyfer y sector rhent cymdeithasol i ddarparu 36 o gartrefi newydd, sy'n gymysgedd o fflatiau un ystafell wely a dwy ystafell wely, ac sydd wedi cael cyllid o £5.2 miliwn drwy'r grant tai cymdeithasol. Felly, mae'r buddsoddiad yn gadarnhaol iawn. Fe wyddom beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud, ac mae angen inni gynnal yr uchelgais a'r ddarpariaeth honno.
Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. At my recent advice surgery in Pontarddulais, a number of residents who came mentioned to me the pressure that various plans for hundreds of new homes in Pontarddulais would add on infrastructure in the town and beyond, and in particular on the M4 junctions that lead up to Pontarddulais, in particular 48 at Hendy and 47 at Penllergaer. Now, I know you will tell me, quite rightly, that individual planning decisions will be the responsibility of the local authority but, obviously, the M4 is not. And when the Welsh Government decided to cancel the M4 relief road, various junction projects along the M4, particularly in the Swansea area, were cancelled too. So, can I ask what discussions you're having with the Cabinet Secretary for transport around the development of houses and social homes across Wales, to ensure that the M4 can be kept moving as best it can and that those junctions can be kept moving as well?
Prynhawn da, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn fy nghymhorthfa gyngor ddiweddar ym Mhontarddulais, soniodd nifer o drigolion a ddaeth i siarad â mi am y pwysau y byddai cynlluniau amrywiol ar gyfer cannoedd o gartrefi newydd ym Mhontarddulais yn ei ychwanegu at seilwaith yn y dref a thu hwnt, ac yn benodol ar gyffyrdd yr M4 sy'n arwain at Bontarddulais, yn enwedig cyffordd 48 yn Hendy a chyffordd 47 ym Mhenlle'r-gaer. Nawr, gwn y byddwch yn dweud wrthyf, yn gywir ddigon, mai cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdod lleol yw penderfyniadau cynllunio unigol, ond yn amlwg, nid yw hynny'n wir am yr M4. A phan benderfynodd Llywodraeth Cymru beidio â bwrw ymlaen â ffordd liniaru'r M4, cafodd nifer o brosiectau cyffyrdd ar hyd yr M4, yn enwedig yn ardal Abertawe, eu canslo hefyd. Felly, a gaf i ofyn pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth ynghylch datblygu tai a chartrefi cymdeithasol ledled Cymru, er mwyn sicrhau y gellir cadw'r M4 i symud cystal â phosibl, a sicrhau bod modd cadw'r cyffyrdd hynny i symud hefyd?
Thank you, Tom. Absolutely, we know we need, as I was saying, to build and to acquire more homes, we need to deliver more homes. We need to do that in conjunction with our local communities, and that's through local development plans. We have our processes within that to make sure that the voices of local communities are heard within Wales. Also, that's around the infrastructure that goes with building and delivering more new homes and social homes as well. In terms of the M4, I recognise the point you make. As somebody who lives near one of the M4 junctions myself, I do understand the pressures on the M4. My cabinet colleague Ken Skates, who is the Cabinet member for transport, is very much aware of that, and I'm sure he'd be happy to update you on any of the particular concerns that you have in that area.
Diolch, Tom. Yn sicr, fel roeddwn yn dweud, fe wyddom fod angen i ni adeiladu a chaffael mwy o gartrefi, mae angen inni ddarparu mwy o gartrefi. Mae angen inni wneud hynny ar y cyd â'n cymunedau lleol, a hynny drwy gynlluniau datblygu lleol. Mae gennym ein prosesau o fewn hynny i sicrhau bod lleisiau cymunedau lleol yn cael eu clywed yng Nghymru. Hefyd, mae hynny'n ymwneud â'r seilwaith a ddaw gydag adeiladu a chyflenwi mwy o gartrefi newydd a chartrefi cymdeithasol hefyd. O ran yr M4, rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt a wnewch. Fel rhywun sy'n byw ger un o gyffyrdd yr M4 fy hun, rwy'n deall y pwysau ar yr M4. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod o'r Cabinet Ken Skates, sef yr aelod o'r Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n fwy na pharod i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi am unrhyw un o'r pryderon penodol sydd gennych yn yr ardal honno.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar y nifer o gartrefi gwag yng Nghymru? OQ62673
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the number of empty homes in Wales? OQ62673
Diolch, Mike. There has been a small decrease in the number of empty homes in Wales in 2025-26. We recognise that empty homes are a problem in our communities, and, through our schemes, we will continue to work with our local authority partners to help bring empty homes back into use.
Diolch, Mike. Bu gostyngiad bach yn nifer y cartrefi gwag yng Nghymru yn 2025-26. Rydym yn cydnabod bod cartrefi gwag yn broblem yn ein cymunedau, a thrwy ein cynlluniau, byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'n partneriaid awdurdod lleol i helpu i ddod â chartrefi gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd.
There are too many empty houses and flats. From delivering leaflets and campaigning, I notice the large number of empty properties. These are often in areas that have always been sought after, and are in greater demand now as the waiting list for social housing increases and there is a growing demand for privately rented housing. The Welsh Government has created a loan scheme system to help people to bring houses back into use and has allowed a council tax surcharge on empty properties. While both of these have had a positive effect, they have not solved the problem of empty properties. Will the Government consider bringing in powers to allow councils to compulsorily purchase any property that has been empty for over five years?
Mae gormod o dai a fflatiau gwag. O ddosbarthu taflenni ac ymgyrchu, rwy'n sylwi ar y nifer fawr o eiddo gwag. Yn aml, mae'r rhain mewn ardaloedd sydd bob amser wedi bod yn boblogaidd, ac mae galw mwy amdanynt nawr wrth i'r rhestr aros am dai cymdeithasol gynyddu a chyda galw cynyddol am dai rhent preifat. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi creu system cynllun benthyciadau i helpu pobl i ailddefnyddio tai ac wedi caniatáu gordal treth gyngor ar eiddo gwag. Er bod y ddau gam wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol, nid ydynt wedi datrys problem eiddo gwag. A wnaiff y Llywodraeth ystyried cyflwyno pwerau i ganiatáu i gynghorau brynu'n orfodol unrhyw eiddo sydd wedi bod yn wag ers dros bum mlynedd?
Diolch, Mike. We know that empty properties have a real detrimental impact on our communities. They are very much a wasted housing resource. They attract anti-social behaviour, and they can really contribute to the feel of decline in an area. That's why, as you touched on, we have a number of interventions that can help bring properties back into use. Local authorities already have a range of legislative powers at their disposal in relation to empty homes, including compulsory purchase orders, empty dwelling management orders and enforced sales. We are working with local authorities to help facilitate the use of these powers to tackle empty properties, including developing the empty property enforcement fund, which provides loan funding to assist with and de-risk enforcement on empty and dilapidated properties. We're also developing an empty property handbook, which will offer practical guidance on how to identify and secure homes through legal, financial and persuasive means. And we're currently reviewing our enforcement support offer to ensure our interventions are the most effective and accessible to local authorities in order to reduce the number of empty properties. Another of the schemes that we have available in this area is Leasing Scheme Wales, and I'm really pleased to welcome Swansea into the fold for Leasing Scheme Wales. I can confirm that a grant offer letter was sent to the city and county of Swansea Council earlier this week. So, I am pleased that there's another avenue to tackling these empty properties that are a blight on our communities.
Diolch, Mike. Gwyddom fod eiddo gwag yn cael effaith wirioneddol andwyol ar ein cymunedau. Maent yn adnodd tai sy'n cael ei wastraffu. Maent yn denu ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol, a gallant gyfrannu'n sylweddol at yr ymdeimlad o ddirywiad mewn ardal. Dyna pam, fel y sonioch chi, fod gennym nifer o ymyriadau a all gynorthwyo i ddod ag eiddo yn ôl i ddefnydd. Mae gan awdurdodau lleol ystod o bwerau deddfwriaethol eisoes mewn perthynas â chartrefi gwag, gan gynnwys gorchmynion prynu gorfodol, gorchmynion rheoli anheddau gwag a gweithdrefnau gwerthu gorfodol. Rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i helpu i hwyluso'r defnydd o'r pwerau hyn i fynd i'r afael ag eiddo gwag, gan gynnwys datblygu'r gronfa orfodi ar gyfer eiddo gwag, sy'n darparu cyllid benthyciadau i helpu gyda gorfodi a dadrisgio gorfodi mewn perthynas ag eiddo gwag a dadfeiliedig. Rydym hefyd yn datblygu llawlyfr eiddo gwag, a fydd yn cynnig canllawiau ymarferol ar sut i nodi a sicrhau perchnogaeth ar gartrefi drwy ddulliau cyfreithiol, ariannol a pherswadiol. Ac rydym wrthi'n adolygu ein cynnig cymorth gorfodi i sicrhau bod ein hymyriadau mor effeithiol a hygyrch â phosibl i awdurdodau lleol fel y gellir lleihau nifer yr eiddo gwag. Cynllun arall sydd gennym ar gael yn y maes hwn yw Cynllun Lesio Cymru, ac rwy'n falch iawn o groesawu Abertawe i Gynllun Lesio Cymru. Gallaf gadarnhau bod llythyr cynnig grant wedi'i anfon at Gyngor Dinas a Sir Abertawe yn gynharach yr wythnos hon. Felly, rwy'n falch fod llwybr arall i'w gael i fynd i'r afael â'r eiddo gwag sy'n bla ar ein cymunedau.
Cabinet Secretary, you've just said that there has been a slight decrease in the number of empty homes recently. Well, there hasn't actually been any national improvement in the number of empty houses, with the number of chargeable empty properties only reducing from 22,634 in 2024-25 to 22,558. However, it was almost that same figure in 2013—23,000 empty properties in the private sector. Now, with some local authorities such as Ynys Môn, that local authority experienced an increase of empty homes from 346 last year to 450. Gwynedd is now seeing an increase from 1,462 last year to 1,512 this year. So, it's back on the actual increase. This clearly shows that your Government's existing policies to reduce the number of empty homes in Wales is not working, and this at a time when we've got people staying in hotels and B&Bs. We've got such a housing shortage. All local authorities need to be more focused. Notwithstanding the policies you've mentioned, will you as the Cabinet Secretary write out a letter to local authorities expressing your concerns that very little is actually being done to make those empty properties back into liveable homes for many who need them? Diolch.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydych chi newydd ddweud bod gostyngiad bach wedi bod yn nifer y tai gwag yn ddiweddar. Wel, nid oes unrhyw welliant cenedlaethol wedi bod yn nifer y tai gwag mewn gwirionedd, gyda nifer yr eiddo gwag trethadwy ond yn gostwng o 22,634 yn 2024-25 i 22,558. Fodd bynnag, roedd yr un ffigur, bron iawn, yn 2013—23,000 eiddo gwag yn y sector preifat. Nawr, gyda rhai awdurdodau lleol fel Ynys Môn, profodd yr awdurdod lleol hwnnw gynnydd yn nifer y tai gwag o 346 y llynedd i 450. Mae Gwynedd bellach yn gweld cynnydd o 1,462 y llynedd i 1,512 eleni. Felly, mae'n cynyddu eto mewn gwirionedd. Mae hyn yn dangos yn glir nad yw polisïau presennol eich Llywodraeth i leihau nifer y tai gwag yng Nghymru yn gweithio, a hyn ar adeg pan fo gennym bobl yn aros mewn gwestai a llety gwely a brecwast. Mae gennym brinder tai difrifol. Mae angen mwy o ffocws gan bob awdurdod lleol ar hyn. Ar wahân i'r polisïau a grybwyllwyd gennych, a wnewch chi fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ysgrifennu llythyr at awdurdodau lleol yn mynegi eich pryderon mai ychydig iawn sy'n cael ei wneud mewn gwirionedd i droi'r eiddo gwag hynny yn ôl yn gartrefi y gellir byw ynddynt i'r nifer o bobl sydd eu hangen? Diolch.
Diolch, Janet. In terms of the figures, just on the council tax chargeable on long-term empty properties, the total number of those empty properties in Wales for 2025-26 is estimated to reduce by 76, or 0.3 per cent. That's why I said it's very slightly decreased. Of these, 13,220 properties will pay a premium, compared to 11,456 in 2024-25. So, that's in terms of the figures.
I very much agree with you about the impact that empty properties can have in our communities. I think we all know and see those within our areas, and it's incredibly frustrating that these are a resource that, as I said, could be a home for somebody, when we know there is a need for that. We do have a number of schemes that I've mentioned, whether that's Leasing Scheme Wales, and some local authorities have their own schemes. We've got our empty homes grant scheme, which is providing grants of up to £25,000 to remove significant hazards from long-term empty properties to make them safe to live in and to improve their energy efficiency. So, we are doing a number of things. On the empty homes grants, there have been 1,058 valid applications for the scheme to date, as well as 241 properties completed. So, there are things that we are doing. I think everybody wants to see action in this area. We work with local authorities, and I do regularly meet with leaders and chief executives of local authorities, and housing leads and housing officers, around the work that they're doing. As I said, we have got some more work coming out shortly, such as our empty property handbook, and we are, as I said in my initial answer to Mike Hedges, reviewing our enforcement support offer to ensure that our interventions are the most effective and accessible to local authorities.
Diolch, Janet. O ran y ffigurau, dim ond ar y dreth gyngor sy'n daladwy ar eiddo gwag hirdymor, amcangyfrifir y bydd cyfanswm yr eiddo gwag yng Nghymru ar gyfer 2025-26 76 yn llai, neu 0.3 y cant. Dyna pam y dywedais fod y nifer wedi gostwng ychydig bach iawn. O'r rhain, bydd 13,220 eiddo yn talu premiwm, o gymharu â 11,456 yn 2024-25. Felly, dyna'r ffigurau.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ynglŷn â'r effaith y gall eiddo gwag ei chael yn ein cymunedau. Rwy'n credu bod pob un ohonom yn gwybod am ac yn gweld y rheini yn ein hardaloedd, ac mae'n rhwystredig iawn fod y rhain yn adnodd a allai, fel y dywedais, fod yn gartref i rywun, pan wyddom fod angen hynny. Mae gennym nifer o gynlluniau fel y crybwyllais, boed yn Gynllun Lesio Cymru, ac mae gan rai awdurdodau lleol eu cynlluniau eu hunain. Mae gennym ein cynllun grant cartrefi gwag, sy'n darparu grantiau o hyd at £25,000 i gael gwared ar beryglon sylweddol o eiddo gwag hirdymor i'w gwneud yn ddiogel i fyw ynddynt ac i wella eu heffeithlonrwydd ynni. Felly, rydym yn gwneud nifer o bethau. O ran y grantiau cartrefi gwag, bu 1,058 o geisiadau dilys ar gyfer y cynllun hyd yn hyn, yn ogystal â 241 eiddo wedi'u cwblhau. Felly, mae yna bethau yr ydym yn eu gwneud. Credaf fod pawb am weld gweithredu yn y maes hwn. Rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, ac rwy'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd ag arweinwyr a phrif weithredwyr awdurdodau lleol, ac arweinwyr tai a swyddogion tai, ynghylch y gwaith a wnânt. Fel y dywedais, mae gennym fwy o waith yn yn digwydd cyn bo hir, fel ein llawlyfr eiddo gwag, ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb cychwynnol i Mike Hedges, rydym yn adolygu ein cynnig cymorth gorfodi i sicrhau bod ein hymyriadau mor effeithiol a hygyrch â phosibl i awdurdodau lleol.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Laura Anne Jones.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. In the past year, council tax has skyrocketed for residents across Wales, hitting hard-working families really hard. Yet, we see the chief executive of Cardiff City Council's salary higher than the First Minister's and higher than the Prime Minister's. The chief executive of Torfaen took home £164,000 last year, and the chief executive of RCT took home nearly £200,000. Meanwhile, children living in Rhondda and Torfaen are among the most likely to be living in poverty in Wales. I think most of us agree that this cannot be right. It's hard to justify when these pay packets are such a stark difference to the average take-home pay in these areas. Will the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that we must urgently review these inflated executive salaries and ensure that taxpayers' money is being used to protect vital local services, not line the pockets of the highest paid? Diolch.
Diolch, Lywydd. Prynhawn da, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae'r dreth gyngor wedi saethu i fyny i drigolion ledled Cymru, gan gael effaith sylweddol ar deuluoedd sy'n gweithio. Ac eto, rydym yn gweld cyflog prif weithredwr Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd yn uwch na chyflog y Prif Weinidog ac yn uwch na chyflog Prif Weinidog y DU. Enillodd prif weithredwr Torfaen £164,000 y llynedd, ac enillodd prif weithredwr Rhondda Cynon Taf bron i £200,000. Yn y cyfamser, mae plant sy'n byw yn y Rhondda a Thorfaen ymhlith y rhai sy'n fwyaf tebygol o fod yn byw mewn tlodi yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu bod y rhan fwyaf ohonom yn cytuno na all hyn fod yn iawn. Mae'n anodd ei gyfiawnhau pan fo'r pecynnau cyflog hyn mewn cyferbyniad mor syfrdanol i'r cyflog cyfartalog yn yr ardaloedd hyn. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gytuno â mi fod yn rhaid inni adolygu'r cyflogau uwch hyn i swyddogion gweithredol ar frys a sicrhau bod arian trethdalwyr yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddiogelu gwasanaethau lleol hanfodol yn hytrach na llenwi pocedi'r rheini ar y cyflogau uchaf? Diolch.
Thank you for that question, Laura. Local authority chief executives are paid at the rates that they're set. As I said, the average band D council tax for Wales in 2025-26 is lower here in Wales than it is in England. I think there are some clear things that we're doing as a Government in this Senedd term to make sure that those people who are really feeling the brunt of things are really protected as much as they can be. And local authorities are having to make some really tough decisions after 14 years of Tory austerity.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Laura. Mae prif weithredwyr awdurdodau lleol yn cael eu talu ar y cyfraddau a bennir ar eu cyfer. Fel y dywedais, mae treth gyngor band D gyfartalog Cymru yn 2025-26 yn is yma yng Nghymru nag ydyw yn Lloegr. Rwy'n credu bod rhai pethau clir yr ydym yn eu gwneud fel Llywodraeth yn nhymor y Senedd hon i sicrhau bod y bobl sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn yn cael eu diogelu i'r graddau mwyaf posibl. Ac mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol wneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn ar ôl 14 mlynedd o gyni Torïaidd.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I'm sorry, I don't think you answered my question on the council salaries, because that’s what the basis of my question was about. Maybe you could answer that within the next question as well, which, again, just reiterates that council tax has skyrocketed for residents across Wales, and it’s hitting working families hard.
According to a 2024 Welsh Government survey, 61 per cent of respondents stated that their council tax bills were unfair. Yet, in Wales, there is no referendum for council tax increases over 5 per cent, which is a democratic safeguard for residents in England that they’re entitled to. The Welsh Conservatives, unlike Labour, would give Welsh taxpayers that choice.
Cabinet Secretary, do you think it’s acceptable that the Welsh Government continues to deny Welsh people that same right, or is it more convenient for this Welsh Government to not allow for this accountability, allowing councils to abuse council tax by pushing through eye-watering tax hikes year after year? Diolch.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf, ni chredaf eich bod wedi ateb fy nghwestiwn ar gyflogau cynghorau, gan mai dyna oedd sail fy nghwestiwn. Efallai y gallech ateb hynny yn y cwestiwn nesaf hefyd, sydd, unwaith eto, yn ailadrodd bod y dreth gyngor wedi saethu i fyny i drigolion ledled Cymru, ac mae'n cael effaith fawr ar deuluoedd sy'n gweithio.
Yn ôl arolwg gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2024, dywedodd 61 y cant o'r ymatebwyr fod eu biliau treth gyngor yn annheg. Ac eto, yng Nghymru, nid oes refferenda ar gyfer cynnydd dros 5 y cant yn y dreth gyngor, sy'n amddiffyniad democrataidd i drigolion yn Lloegr y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Byddai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, yn wahanol i Lafur, yn rhoi'r dewis hwnnw i drethdalwyr Cymru.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n credu ei bod hi'n dderbyniol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i wadu'r un hawl i bobl Cymru, neu a yw'n fwy cyfleus i Lywodraeth Cymru beidio â chaniatáu ar gyfer yr atebolrwydd hwn, gan adael i gynghorau gamddefnyddio'r dreth gyngor drwy orfodi codiadau treth syfrdanol flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn? Diolch.
Thank you, Laura. I mentioned the council tax band is lower because you touched on it in your initial question, but I’m very happy to write to you on the other questions you raised around chief executive salaries.
But I’ll also just go into the further points you raised. Any increase in council tax is understandably unwelcome for taxpayers. Council tax is a significant source of funding for local services, which are really delivering for people day in, day out. And it’s for each local authority to justify its decision on council tax to its communities. Local authorities are making really, really tough decisions when they’re setting their budgets and council tax, and, obviously, they have to engage meaningfully with their local communities as they consider their priorities.
Council tax referenda do not apply in Wales. We will not impose those blanket limits to require costly local referendums, as they do in England. Setting arbitrary limits just becomes a target for local authorities to raise council tax to the maximum allowed—which has happened in England—rather than really considering what’s necessary. So, it should be noted that the complexity of costs of holding referendums places an additional burden on local authorities and their resources, and I think I’d be keen to hear if you would agree that that would further exacerbate the financial pressures faced by local authorities.
Diolch, Laura. Soniais fod band y dreth gyngor yn is gan ichi sôn amdano yn eich cwestiwn cychwynnol, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i ysgrifennu atoch ynglŷn â'r cwestiynau eraill a godwyd gennych ynghylch cyflogau prif weithredwyr.
Ond rwyf hefyd am ateb y pwyntiau pellach a godwyd gennych. Mae unrhyw gynnydd yn y dreth gyngor, yn gwbl ddealladwy, yn annymunol i drethdalwyr. Mae'r dreth gyngor yn ffynhonnell sylweddol o gyllid ar gyfer gwasanaethau lleol, sy'n cyflawni ar gyfer pobl ddydd ar ôl dydd. Ac mae'n gyfrifoldeb ar bob awdurdod lleol i gyfiawnhau eu penderfyniad ar y dreth gyngor i'w cymunedau. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud penderfyniadau anodd tu hwnt wrth osod eu cyllidebau a'r dreth gyngor, ac yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid iddynt ymgysylltu'n ystyrlon â'u cymunedau lleol wrth iddynt ystyried eu blaenoriaethau.
Nid yw refferenda ar y dreth gyngor yn berthnasol yng Nghymru. Ni fyddwn yn gosod y terfynau cyffredinol sy'n gwneud refferenda lleol costus yn ofynnol, fel sy'n digwydd yn Lloegr. Mae gosod terfynau mympwyol yn dod yn darged i awdurdodau lleol godi'r dreth gyngor i'r uchafswm a ganiateir—fel sydd wedi digwydd yn Lloegr—yn hytrach nag ystyried yn iawn beth sydd ei angen. Felly, dylid nodi bod cymhlethdod costau cynnal refferenda yn rhoi baich ychwanegol ar awdurdodau lleol a'u hadnoddau, ac rwy'n credu yr hoffwn glywed a fyddech chi'n cytuno y byddai hynny'n gwaethygu ymhellach y pwysau ariannol ar awdurdodau lleol.
Cabinet Secretary, can I take it from your answers today then that you don’t agree that Welsh people should have a referendum like their English counterparts, and that you do agree with eye-watering salaries for chief executives across Wales?
I’d like to ask in my final question about Foster Care Fortnight—on a lighter note—now well under way, with the theme this year being the power of relationships. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that those relationships begin with having enough foster carers in place to provide those stable, loving homes. Yet, in Monmouthshire alone, we know that Foster Wales has set a target to recruit 30 additional foster families by 2027, because, currently, there just simply aren’t enough carers to meet the needs of those vulnerable children. There is a deeply concerning shortfall.
I understand this is a cross-cutting portfolio, but how are you, and this Welsh Government, working with local authorities like Monmouthshire to ensure that they are fully equipped and funded to meet this target? And how are you supporting all local authorities to use this national campaign as a springboard to actually boost recruitment numbers now, not in two years’ time? Diolch.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a gaf i gymryd o'ch atebion heddiw felly nad ydych chi'n cytuno y dylai pobl Cymru gael refferendwm fel eu cymheiriaid yn Lloegr, a'ch bod yn cytuno â chyflogau aruthrol o uchel i brif weithredwyr ledled Cymru?
Hoffwn ofyn yn fy nghwestiwn olaf ynglŷn â Phythefnos Gofal Maeth—ar nodyn ysgafnach—sydd bellach wedi cychwyn, gyda phŵer perthnasoedd yn thema eleni. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi fod y perthnasoedd hynny'n dechrau gyda chael digon o ofalwyr maeth i ddarparu cartrefi sefydlog a chariadus. Ac eto, yn sir Fynwy yn unig, gwyddom fod Maethu Cymru wedi gosod targed i recriwtio 30 o deuluoedd maeth ychwanegol erbyn 2027, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, nid oes digon o ofalwyr i ddiwallu anghenion y plant agored i niwed hynny. Mae prinder dybryd sy'n peri cryn bryder.
Rwy'n deall bod hwn yn bortffolio trawsbynciol, ond sut rydych chi, a Llywodraeth Cymru, yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol fel sir Fynwy i sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu hariannu'n llawn i gyrraedd y targed hwn? A sut rydych chi'n cefnogi pob awdurdod lleol i ddefnyddio'r ymgyrch genedlaethol hon fel man cychwyn i hybu niferoedd recriwtio nawr, nid ymhen dwy flynedd? Diolch.
Thank you, Laura. No, I can assure you that we’re not planning any costly local referenda on council tax. And, I think, in terms of chief executives’ pay, that is something that local authorities have to also justify to their electorate as well.
In terms of foster families, I know this is something that you feel passionately about as well, and I’m sure all of us in the Chamber would like to welcome Foster Care Fortnight, because I think it’s so important, isn’t it, for those young people that there are families who will welcome them into their homes and who will care for them as well. And we do need to see more people coming forward to give those young people opportunities, and to care for them as foster carers. I know foster carers who do incredible work, and the love and the care that they give is really important. So, we do need to make sure we’re always campaigning on that.
I know—and I’ve been to areas around Wales when I’m visiting—that there are often local authority campaigns to increase awareness and to entice more people into foster care. I’m really pleased to see that campaign. I know that my Cabinet colleague Dawn Bowden leads on this, and I'm sure she will be doing everything she can as well to raise awareness about this foster care for families around Wales.
Diolch, Laura. Na, gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi nad ydym yn cynllunio unrhyw refferenda lleol costus ar y dreth gyngor. Ac o ran cyflogau prif weithredwyr, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol ei gyfiawnhau i'w hetholwyr hefyd.
Ar deuluoedd maeth, gwn fod hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydych yn teimlo'n angerddol amdano hefyd, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn y Siambr am groesawu Pythefnos Gofal Maeth, gan y credaf ei bod mor bwysig, onid yw, i'r bobl ifanc hynny fod teuluoedd a fydd yn eu croesawu i'w cartrefi ac a fydd yn gofalu amdanynt hefyd. Ac mae angen inni weld mwy o bobl yn rhoi cyfleoedd i'r bobl ifanc hynny, ac yn gofalu amdanynt fel gofalwyr maeth. Rwy'n adnabod gofalwyr maeth sy'n gwneud gwaith anhygoel, ac mae'r cariad a'r gofal y maent yn ei roi yn wirioneddol bwysig. Felly, mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod bob amser yn ymgyrchu ar hynny.
Rwy'n gwybod—ac rwyf wedi bod mewn ardaloedd ledled Cymru pan fyddaf yn ymweld—fod awdurdodau lleol yn aml yn cynnal ymgyrchoedd i gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth ac i ddenu mwy o bobl i ofal maeth. Rwy'n falch iawn o weld yr ymgyrch honno. Gwn fod fy nghyd-Aelod o'r Cabinet, Dawn Bowden, yn arwain ar hyn, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd hi'n gwneud popeth yn ei gallu hefyd i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r gofal maeth hwn ymhlith teuluoedd ledled Cymru.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru nawr, Siân Gwenllian.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson now, Siân Gwenllian.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Yr wythnos yma, rydym ni wedi clywed Keir Starmer yn beio mudo am ddiffyg sgiliau a chynhyrchiant isel yn y gweithlu, sy'n anfaddeuol yn fy marn i. Os ydyn ni am gynyddu cynhyrchiant yng Nghymru, mae angen i'r Llywodraeth fuddsoddi mewn sgiliau yn ein gweithlu lleol sy'n cyfateb i anghenion sgiliau'r dyfodol. Mae tai yn cynnig cyfleoedd mawr i economi Cymru o ran adeiladu ac o ran ôl-osod cartrefi. Yn 2021, fe ddangosodd modelu CITB Cymru—y bwrdd sy'n hyfforddi'r diwydiant adeiladu—y bydd angen 12,000 o weithwyr ychwanegol yng Nghymru i gyflawni ôl-osod cartrefi erbyn 2028. Ond fel mae eich Aelodau meinciau cefn chi'ch hun wedi tynnu sylw ato fo, dydyn ni ddim yn agos at ble mae angen i ni fod o ran adeiladu'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen yn y gweithlu lleol i gyflawni uchelgeisiau'r Llywodraeth ar gyfer gwella cartrefi.
Felly, yn lle rhoi'r bai ar y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed, a fedrwch chi roi syniad i ni o ba gynnydd y mae'ch Llywodraeth chi wedi'i wneud o ran uwchsgilio'r gweithlu lleol yng Nghymru i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd economaidd y gall y newid i ynni glan mewn cartrefi eu hysgogi?
Thank you very much, Llywydd. This week, we've heard Keir Starmer blaming migration for a lack of skills and low productivity in the workforce, which is unforgivable in my view. If we are to increase productivity in Wales, the Government needs to invest in skills in our local workforce that correspond to future skills needs. Housing does provide great opportunities for the Welsh economy in terms of construction and retrofitting homes. In 2021, modelling by CITB Cymru—they are the board responsible for training the construction industry—showed that we will need 12,000 additional workers in Wales in order to deliver home retrofitting by 2028. But as your own backbenchers have highlighted, we are nowhere near where we need to be in terms of building the skills required in the local workforce in order to deliver the Government's ambitions for improving homes.
So, rather than casting the blame on the most vulnerable, can you give us an idea of what progress your Government has made in terms of upskilling the local workforce in Wales to take advantage of the economic opportunities that the change to clean energy in homes could bring?
Diolch, Siân. In Wales, we are proud to be a welcoming nation and a nation of sanctuary. We all know that many of the services that we rely on depend on the skills and dedication of people who have made Wales their home.
In terms of general skills as well, I have been really fortunate to have visited some really impressive places, such as the work that Persimmon do in Rhondda Cynon Taf with Bridgend College, just upskilling the workforce. It was great to be given some tips on bricklaying from a young woman who was learning her craft as a bricklayer. I think there is still a long way to go in terms of getting over that gender bias as well. I think there are some other things, such as the availability of female teachers, for example—I know that was something that was raised with me in bricklaying. And I think there are still some attitudes within some areas that girls are more likely to want to do hair and beauty and boys bricklaying. So, I think we have still got some barriers to break down. But I know, working with my colleagues Jack Sargent and also Vikki Howells, as Minister as well, that we need to come together to really share that good practice around Wales and make sure we've got that investment in the right places to get to young people as early as we can.
Diolch, Siân. Yng Nghymru, rydym yn falch o fod yn genedl groesawgar ac yn genedl noddfa. Gŵyr pob un ohonom fod llawer o'r gwasanaethau yr ydym yn dibynnu arnynt yn dibynnu ar sgiliau ac ymroddiad pobl sydd wedi ymgartrefu yng Nghymru.
Ar sgiliau cyffredinol hefyd, rwyf wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus i ymweld â lleoedd ardderchog, fel y gwaith mae Persimmon yn ei wneud yn Rhondda Cynon Taf gyda Choleg Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, yn uwchsgilio'r gweithlu. Roedd yn wych cael cyngor ar osod brics gan fenyw ifanc a oedd yn dysgu ei chrefft fel gosodwr brics. Mae ffordd bell i fynd o hyd i oresgyn rhagfarn ar sail rhywedd hefyd. Mae rhai pethau eraill, fel argaeledd athrawon benywaidd, er enghraifft—gwn fod hynny'n rhywbeth a godwyd gyda mi ym maes gosod brics. Ac rwy'n credu bod rhai agweddau o hyd mewn rhai mannau fod merched yn fwy tebygol o fod eisiau gwneud gwallt a harddwch a bechgyn eisiau dysgu gosod brics. Felly, mae gennym rwystrau i'w chwalu o hyd. Ond gan weithio gyda fy nghyd-Aelodau Jack Sargent, a Vikki Howells hefyd, fel Gweinidog, rwy'n gwybod bod angen inni ddod ynghyd i rannu'r arferion da hynny ledled Cymru a sicrhau ein bod yn buddsoddi yn y mannau cywir i gyrraedd pobl ifanc cyn gynted ag y gallwn.
Mae yna ffordd bell iawn i fynd o ran uwchsgilio'r gweithlu yng Nghymru, a dydy'r ateb yna ddim yn fy llenwi i â gobaith bod pethau ar y gweill.
Mae'r pwyllgor llywodraeth leol wedi nodi nifer o feysydd lle nad ydy Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi digon, ac un o'r rheini ydy uwchraddio cartrefi Cymru i safon dda. Ond rwy'n bryderus hefyd ynghylch sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn targedu cyllid yn y maes yma. Mae adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol wedi canfod bod y rhaglen Cartrefi Cynnes yn 2022—dyna pryd oedd yr adroddiad—. Mae'r sector rhentu preifat yn cyfrif am 20 y cant o gartrefi sy'n dlawd o ran tanwydd ledled Cymru. Mae'r sector rhentu preifat mewn cyflwr llawer gwaeth nag unrhyw fath arall o dai, yn enwedig tai cymdeithasol, ac eto mae buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru mewn uwchraddio cartrefi yn canolbwyntio bron yn gyfan gwbl ar dai cymdeithasol. Mae ymhell dros £100 miliwn yng nghyllideb eleni wedi'i neilltuo i fesurau ôl-osod ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yn unig. Felly, lle mae'r buddsoddiad i uwchraddio cartrefi yn y sector rhentu preifat? A ydych chi'n cytuno bod hi erbyn hyn yn bryd ailystyried polisi'r Llywodraeth yma yn y maes ôl-osod?
We have a very long way to go in terms of upskilling the workforce in Wales, and that response doesn't fill me with hope that developments are in the pipeline.
The local government committee has noted a number of areas where the Welsh Government is not investing enough, and one of those is upgrading Welsh homes to a good standard. But I am also concerned about how the Government is targeting funding in this area. The Equality and Social Justice Committee report has found that the Warm Homes programme in 2022—that's when the report was published—. The private rented sector accounts for 20 per cent of homes that are in fuel poverty across Wales. The private rented sector is in a far worse state than any other housing sector, particularly social housing, and yet Welsh Government investment in upgrading homes is almost entirely focused on social housing. There is way over £100 million in this year's budget allocated for retrofitting social housing only. So, where is the investment to improve homes in the private rented sector? Do you agree that it is now time to reconsider this Government's policy in terms of retrofit?
Diolch, Siân. I think this Government is committed to doing what we can in the retrofit space. We know we have a lot to do. We know we're focused on social housing in Wales and we know that there's a lot more to do within that private rented sector as well; we're very much aware of that. We've been working with UK Government as well and trying to learn some lessons there as well, but also, it's them learning from us, because I think that's really important. So, we have had some really positive relationships there.
But, you know, I think we have a job that we can do within the envelope that we have at the moment, and I think that our Warm Homes plan is really pushing forward in that way, but I don't want to underestimate the challenge of that. We're also looking to get some of the work from the local registered social landlords and local authorities to just let us know what their surveys are like. So, we're waiting to hear back what the real scale of the challenge is in that area before we even know what we're dealing with in the private rented sector as well, because we do realise that will be quite significant.
Diolch, Siân. Rwy'n credu bod y Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i wneud yr hyn a allwn ym maes ôl-osod. Gwyddom fod gennym lawer i'w wneud. Gwyddom ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar dai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru a gwyddom fod llawer mwy i'w wneud yn y sector rhentu preifat hefyd; rydym yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd ac yn ceisio dysgu rhai gwersi yno, ond hefyd, maent hwythau'n dysgu gennym ni, gan y credaf fod hynny'n bwysig iawn. Felly, rydym wedi cael sawl perthynas gadarnhaol iawn yn y cyswllt hwnnw.
Ond wyddoch chi,rwy'n credu bod gennym waith y gallwn ei wneud o fewn yr amlen sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd, ac mae ein cynllun Cartrefi Clyd yn gwthio ymlaen yn y ffordd honno, ond nid wyf am danamcangyfrif yr her. Rydym hefyd yn gobeithio cael rhywfaint o'r gwaith gan y landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig lleol ac awdurdodau lleol i roi gwybod i ni sut olwg sydd ar eu harolygon. Felly, rydym yn aros i glywed beth yw gwir raddfa'r her yn y maes hwnnw cyn inni hyd yn oed wybod beth rydym yn ymdrin ag ef yn y sector rhentu preifat hefyd, gan ein bod yn sylweddoli y bydd yn eithaf sylweddol.
Flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, mae'r Llywodraeth yma'n parhau i fethu â chyrraedd ei thargedau o ran mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a chynyddu'r cyflenwad tai cymdeithasol. A hyd y gwelaf i, does yna ddim cynlluniau ar gyfer creu swyddi yn y maes adeiladu ac mae'r map ar gyfer uwchraddio tai domestig ar goll hefyd. Mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn achosi caledi gwirioneddol i bobl yn ein cymunedau ni ledled Cymru, a'r rhai tlotaf a mwyaf agored i niwed fydd yn dioddef mwyaf yn sgil hynny.
Mae yna un polisi allweddol allai wneud gwahaniaeth enfawr, sef dileu neu o leiaf ailgydbwyso'r ardoll ar filiau trydan. Mae'r ardoll yma'n creu baich anghymesur ar y tlotaf. Rwy'n deall bod y pwerau i newid hyn efo Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ond mi fyddai pwyso am y newid yma yn gallu creu newid gwirioneddol. Felly, pa sgyrsiau ydych chi wedi'u cael efo'ch cydweithwyr yn Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig ynghylch addasu ardollau ar gyfer biliau trydan?
Year after year, the Government here continues to fail to reach its targets in terms of tackling fuel poverty and increasing the supply of social housing. And as far as I can see, there are no plans in place to create jobs in construction and the map for upgrading domestic homes seems to be missing too. Now, this, of course, causes real hardship for people in our communities across Wales, and it's the poorest and most vulnerable who will suffer most as a result of that.
There is one key policy that could make a huge difference, namely scrapping or at least rebalancing the levy on electricity bills. This levy creates a disproportionate burden on the poorest in our society. I do understand that the powers to change this lie with the UK Government, but pressing for this change could generate real change. So, what conversations have you had with your colleagues in the UK Government on changing levies on electricity bills?
Thank you, Siân, for that question. As I say, I have had the opportunity to meet some of my UK Government colleagues, most recently Miatta Fahnbulleh, who is the Minister for Energy Consumers, and I believe that my colleague Jane Hutt has also had discussions with Miatta Fahnbulleh as well. I think that's something that perhaps I can have a discussion with my colleague Jane Hutt on, and perhaps then raise it with the UK Government Minister as well. So, I'm happy to have further discussions on that specific point.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Siân. Fel y dywedaf, rwyf wedi cael cyfle i gyfarfod â rhai o'm swyddogion cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU, yn fwyaf diweddar gyda Miatta Fahnbulleh, sef y Gweinidog Defnyddwyr Ynni, a chredaf fod fy nghyd-Aelod Jane Hutt hefyd wedi cael trafodaethau gyda Miatta Fahnbulleh. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y gallaf gael trafodaeth yn ei gylch, o bosibl, gyda fy nghyd-Aelod Jane Hutt, ac efallai ei godi wedyn gyda Gweinidog Llywodraeth y DU hefyd. Felly, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael trafodaethau pellach ar y pwynt penodol hwnnw.
3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am brosiectau adfywio yn Sir Benfro? OQ62682
3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on regeneration projects in Pembrokeshire? OQ62682
Diolch, Paul. Since January 2020, we have awarded over £20 million of funding through our Transforming Towns programme to support regeneration projects in town centres across Pembrokeshire.
Diolch, Paul. Ers mis Ionawr 2020, rydym wedi dyfarnu dros £20 miliwn o gyllid drwy ein rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi i gefnogi prosiectau adfywio yng nghanol trefi ledled sir Benfro.
Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Sadly, there are still some town centres in Pembrokeshire that are often neglected. And in places like Milford Haven, for example, it's crucial that the Welsh Government invests in the town centre so that it can keep pace with the developments made in the marina there.
There has been some excellent work done by community groups like the Milford Haven Business Circle to revitalise the town centre. For example, they have recreated a founding day event, which is going to take place on Saturday 7 June, to celebrate the town's unique heritage, and, of course, to try and improve footfall in the town. So, Cabinet Secretary, we need to build on that good work. And so, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to work with groups like Milford Haven Business Circle on community-led projects, so that they have a real buy-in to the regeneration of our town centres?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn anffodus, mae canol rhai trefi yn sir Benfro yn aml yn cael eu hesgeuluso o hyd. Ac mewn mannau fel Aberdaugleddau, er enghraifft, mae'n hanfodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi yng nghanol y dref er mwyn iddi allu dal i fyny â'r datblygiadau yn y marina yno.
Mae grwpiau cymunedol fel Cylch Busnes Aberdaugleddau wedi gwneud gwaith rhagorol i adfywio canol y dref. Er enghraifft, maent wedi ail-greu digwyddiad diwrnod sefydlu, a fydd yn digwydd ddydd Sadwrn 7 Mehefin, i ddathlu treftadaeth unigryw'r dref, ac wrth gwrs, i geisio gwella nifer y bobl sy'n ymweld â'r dref. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae angen inni adeiladu ar y gwaith da hwnnw. Ac felly, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i weithio gyda grwpiau fel Cylch Busnes Aberdaugleddau ar brosiectau a arweinir gan y gymuned, fel eu bod yn wirioneddol gefnogol i adfywio canol ein trefi?
Absolutely, Paul. And I think that's a really important point, isn't it, about how we take communities with us, and that they're engaged very much at an early stage, and then continue through that process of, you know, developing these plans for—. Because we all want to see our town centres regenerated and we all want to see them as thriving places, for now and the future.
Pembrokeshire, you'll be pleased to know, has a healthy pipeline of potential regeneration projects. I'm looking forward to seeing them in progress. I'm visiting Pembrokeshire shortly, so I'm very much looking forward to that. My officials are liaising with Pembrokeshire County Council officers to arrange at the moment that plan of where to go to look at the regeneration projects. I'm sure, if you'd like to input into that—. I'm very happy always to visit.
The placemaking plans are really important, as I said yesterday in the town centre statement. We've got these across Wales and across Pembrokeshire. Transforming Towns funding has supported the development of plans in six settlements across Pembrokeshire, including Milford Haven, but also Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Goodwick, which is within your constituency. We've acquired a large area of land at Slade Lane in Haverfordwest that has the potential to deliver 850 new homes, as well as a primary school and green infrastructure. So, there's a lot going on as well, which will help, perhaps, with the footfall in some of those areas, as long as the infrastructure is, obviously, around that.
I've extended our Transforming Towns placemaking grant for a further two years from April this year, and increased the maximum grant available for each project to £300,000. Pembrokeshire County Council has used that placemaking grant to support a range of projects, including the Forbidden Florist restaurant and coffee bar on Quay Street in Haverfordwest. I hope to visit that as well, and I hope the Member will as well, if he hasn't already.
Yn sicr, Paul. Ac rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n bwynt pwysig iawn, onid yw, ynglŷn â sut rydym yn dod â chymunedau gyda ni, a'u bod yn cymryd rhan yn gynnar iawn, ac yna'n parhau drwy'r broses o ddatblygu'r cynlluniau hyn ar gyfer—. Oherwydd mae pob un ohonom am weld canol ein trefi yn cael eu hadfywio, ac mae pob un ohonom am eu gweld yn lleoedd ffyniannus, nawr ac yn y dyfodol.
Fe fyddwch yn falch o glywed bod gan sir Benfro gyfres iach o brosiectau adfywio yn yr arfaeth. Edrychaf ymlaen at eu gweld ar waith. Byddaf yn ymweld â sir Benfro cyn bo hir, felly edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at hynny. Mae fy swyddogion yn cysylltu â swyddogion Cyngor Sir Penfro ar hyn o bryd i drefnu'r cynllun o ran ble i fynd i edrych ar y prosiectau adfywio. Rwy'n siŵr, os hoffech gyfrannu at hynny—. Rwyf bob amser yn falch iawn o ymweld.
Mae'r cynlluniau creu lleoedd yn wirioneddol bwysig, fel y dywedais ddoe yn y datganiad ar ganol trefi. Mae gennym y rhain ledled Cymru a ledled sir Benfro. Mae cyllid Trawsnewid Trefi wedi cefnogi datblygiad cynlluniau mewn chwe anheddiad ledled sir Benfro, gan gynnwys Aberdaugleddau, ond hefyd yn Hwlffordd, Abergwaun ac Wdig, sydd yn eich etholaeth chi. Rydym wedi caffael darn mawr o dir yn Slade Lane yn Hwlffordd sydd â photensial i ddarparu 850 o gartrefi newydd, yn ogystal ag ysgol gynradd a seilwaith gwyrdd. Felly, mae llawer yn digwydd a fydd o gymorth, efallai, gyda nifer yr ymwelwyr yn rhai o'r ardaloedd hynny, cyhyd â bod y seilwaith yn bodoli o amgylch hynny wrth gwrs.
Rwyf wedi ymestyn ein grant creu lleoedd Trawsnewid Trefi am ddwy flynedd arall o fis Ebrill eleni, ac wedi cynyddu uchafswm y grant sydd ar gael ar gyfer pob prosiect i £300,000. Mae Cyngor Sir Penfro wedi defnyddio'r grant creu lleoedd hwnnw i gefnogi amrywiaeth o brosiectau, gan gynnwys bwyty a bar coffi Forbidden Florist ar Stryd y Cei yn Hwlffordd. Rwy'n gobeithio ymweld â hwythau'n ogystal, a gobeithio y gwnaiff yr Aelod hefyd, os nad yw eisoes wedi gwneud hynny.
I've been there a few times.
Rwyf wedi bod yno sawl gwaith.
A few times, brilliant.
Sawl gwaith, gwych.
4. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effeithiolrwydd ei chynllun Cartrefi Clyd Nyth? OQ62698
4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effectiveness of its Warm Homes Nest scheme? OQ62698
Diolch, Cefin. Officials continually review the new Warm Homes Nest scheme to ensure it meets its primary objectives in tackling fuel poverty and the climate emergency. The scheme is still in its infancy, but these changes are having a positive impact in supporting fuel poverty householders.
Diolch, Cefin. Mae swyddogion yn adolygu'r cynllun Nyth Cartrefi Clyd newydd yn barhaus i sicrhau ei fod yn diwallu ei brif amcanion sef mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a'r argyfwng hinsawdd. Mae'n dal i fod yn ddyddiau cynnar ar y cynllun, ond mae'r newidiadau hyn yn cael effaith gadarnhaol yn cefnogi deiliaid tai sydd mewn tlodi tanwydd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you. There are, however, growing concerns about the way the Nest scheme handles complaints and deals with remediation work, and this is far from a one-off situation.
Just take this one example. A 72-year-old disabled tenant was left without reliable heating and with a home damaged by a fundamentally flawed installation carried out under the Warm Homes Nest scheme. Within two years, every radiator was leaking due to internal corrosion. Two independent plumbers confirmed the cause: the system hadn't been protected against sludge build-up, which is a basic industry standard.
Despite a formal complaint, Nest denied responsibility because the warranty had expired. The landlords, then faced with an unsafe situation, had no choice but to pay nearly £3,000 for emergency repairs. When they later returned to Nest, they were told no help could be offered because external plumbers had been involved, despite Nest refusing to act initially.
This kind of contradictory response leaves people financially burdened, emotionally exhausted and totally let down. Minister, do you agree that the Nest complaints process is not fit for purpose? What will you do to ensure that vulnerable people are properly protected when Government-backed schemes fail?
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fodd bynnag, mae pryderon cynyddol ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae'r cynllun Nyth yn ymdrin â chwynion ac yn ymwneud â gwaith adfer, ac mae hon ymhell o fod yn sefyllfa unigryw.
Cymerwch yr enghraifft hon. Gadawyd tenant anabl 72 oed heb wres dibynadwy mewn cartref wedi'i ddifrodi gan osodiad diffygiol iawn a wnaed o dan gynllun Nyth Cartrefi Clyd. O fewn dwy flynedd, roedd pob rheiddiadur yn gollwng oherwydd cyrydu mewnol. Cadarnhaodd dau blymwr annibynnol beth oedd yn ei achosi: nid oedd y system wedi'i diogelu rhag croniad slwtsh, sy'n safon sylfaenol o fewn y diwydiant.
Er i gŵyn ffurfiol gael ei gwneud, gwadodd Nyth gyfrifoldeb oherwydd bod y warant wedi dod i ben. Gan eu bod yn wynebu sefyllfa anniogel ar y pryd, nid oedd gan y landlordiaid ddewis ond talu bron i £3,000 am atgyweiriadau brys. Pan aethant yn ôl at Nyth yn ddiweddarach, dywedwyd wrthynt na ellid cynnig unrhyw help oherwydd bod plymwyr allanol wedi'u defnyddio, er i Nyth wrthod gweithredu yn y lle cyntaf.
Mae ymateb gwrthwynebol o'r fath yn golygu bod pobl yn cael eu gadael i wynebu baich ariannol, wedi'u llethu'n emosiynol ac yn siomedig. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno nad yw proses gwyno Nyth yn addas i'r diben? Beth a wnewch chi i sicrhau bod pobl agored i niwed yn cael eu diogelu'n briodol pan fydd cynlluniau a gefnogir gan y Llywodraeth yn methu?
Thank you, Cefin. Thank you for raising that. I think if you could write to me on that specific issue, I'd be keen to ask officials to look into that, and I will as well.
The Nest scheme includes a complaints procedure, which is outlined in section 32 of the terms and conditions. In any complaint, that should be provided to constituents if they were successful in their application to the scheme. Complaints should be raised directly with the delivery partner, which allows them the opportunity to resolve the issue. But if dissatisfied, they can submit a complaint to the Welsh Government.
The Nest scheme does have a robust governance arrangement in place, where regular contractor meetings are held with all contractors on a monthly and quarterly basis, where any issues are discussed. But, as I said, please send me more details of that, and officials will look into that.
Diolch, Cefin. Diolch am godi hynny. Os gallwch ysgrifennu ataf ynghylch y mater penodol hwnnw, hoffwn ofyn i swyddogion edrych i mewn i hynny, ac fe wnaf innau hynny hefyd.
Mae cynllun Nyth yn cynnwys gweithdrefn gwyno, a amlinellir yn adran 32 o'r telerau ac amodau. Mewn unrhyw gŵyn, dylid darparu hynny i etholwyr os oeddent yn llwyddiannus yn eu cais i'r cynllun. Dylid codi cwynion yn uniongyrchol gyda'r partner cyflenwi, sy'n rhoi cyfle iddynt ddatrys y mater. Ond os ydynt yn anfodlon, gallant gyflwyno cwyn i Lywodraeth Cymru.
Mae gan gynllun Nyth drefniant llywodraethu cadarn ar waith, lle cynhelir cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda'r holl gontractwyr yn fisol ac yn chwarterol, lle trafodir unrhyw faterion. Ond fel y dywedais, anfonwch fwy o fanylion ataf ynglŷn â hynny, ac fe wnaiff swyddogion edrych i mewn i hynny.
I don't have any difficulty with the new Nest scheme, which has got lots of checks and balances built into it. The problem I have is with the size of the budget compared with the scale of the challenge. We know that the scale of the challenge is concentrated in the private sector, because the social housing sector has done a good job on this. Today, the Climate Change Committee, the experts that we employ across the UK, have issued their fourth carbon budget for Wales, and one of their top priorities is for the Welsh Government to support particularly low-income households to install low-carbon heating.
We’re just a very long way from where we need to be, and most local authorities don’t seem to be paying attention to the information that’s already available, for example through the Cardiff University School of Architecture and Warm Wales, who pinpoint the most vulnerable households that require most assistance to become energy efficient. It’s astonishing that, at the moment, only five Welsh local authorities are using this toolkit—Cardiff, Ceredigion, Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf—and some of these are ratcheting up accumulated community funds from windfarms, which could be used for tackling the most vulnerable.
What work is the Welsh Government doing to help the remaining local authorities, and indeed all local authorities, to make this a much higher priority now that the Climate Change Committee has spoken?
Nid oes gennyf unrhyw anhawster gyda'r cynllun Nyth newydd, sydd â llawer o rwystrau a gwrthbwysau wedi'u hadeiladu i mewn iddo. Y broblem sydd gennyf yw maint y gyllideb o'i gymharu â maint yr her. Gwyddom fod maint yr her yn bennaf yn y sector preifat, oherwydd mae'r sector tai cymdeithasol wedi gwneud gwaith da ar hyn. Heddiw, mae'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr arbenigwyr yr ydym yn eu defnyddio ledled y DU, wedi cyhoeddi eu pedwaredd gyllideb garbon i Gymru, ac un o'u prif flaenoriaethau yw i Lywodraeth Cymru gefnogi aelwydydd sydd ar incwm arbennig o isel i osod systemau gwresogi carbon isel.
Rydym yn bell iawn o ble mae angen i ni fod, ac nid yw'n ymddangos bod y rhan fwyaf o awdurdodau lleol yn talu sylw i'r wybodaeth sydd eisoes ar gael, er enghraifft drwy Ysgol Pensaernïaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd a Cymru Gynnes, sy'n nodi'r aelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed sydd angen y cymorth mwyaf i allu defnyddio ynni'n effeithlon. Mae'n rhyfeddol, ar hyn o bryd, mai dim ond pum awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru sy'n defnyddio'r pecyn cymorth hwn—Caerdydd, Ceredigion, sir y Fflint, Castell-nedd Port Talbot a Rhondda Cynon Taf—ac mae rhai o'r rhain yn crynhoi arian cymunedol a gasglwyd o ffermydd gwynt, y gellid ei ddefnyddio i fynd i'r afael â'r aelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed.
Pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu'r awdurdodau lleol eraill, ac yn wir yr holl awdurdodau lleol, i wneud hon yn flaenoriaeth lawer uwch gan fod y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd wedi siarad?
Absolutely, Jenny. Some of the points I have referred to in Siân Gwenllian’s question. We know that the scale of the challenge is huge. Low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels with battery storage are prioritised when it makes sense to do so. We are targeting the least well-off, with the low-income thresholds being introduced. We are doing lots of work there.
As I said, I’ve met with UK Government colleagues on this, because some of this goes across the UK, doesn’t it, we’re all seeing the same challenge. I’m looking to learn from others as well, as well as share our learning here, and I’m very happy to follow up on where local authorities are doing well. Because, again, if some are doing well—and you gave a selection there of local authorities that are quite diverse, really—I’d be keen to know how that is being shared.
There is a role, obviously, for the WLGA, but I see that as a role for me as well. I meet with local authorities regularly, not just the chief executives and leaders, but also with housing cabinet members and heads of service in local authorities. I’m really trying to get down so that we can have real discussions about where local authorities do things well, where we can learn. And I think that’s something that I can make sure is on the agenda at our next meetings.
Yn hollol, Jenny. Cyfeiriais at rai o'r pwyntiau yng nghwestiwn Siân Gwenllian. Rydym yn gwybod bod maint yr her yn enfawr. Mae technolegau carbon isel fel pympiau gwres a phaneli solar gyda dulliau storio batri yn cael eu blaenoriaethu pan fo'n gwneud synnwyr i wneud hynny. Rydym yn targedu'r lleiaf cefnog, gyda'r trothwyon incwm isel sy'n cael eu cyflwyno. Rydym yn gwneud llawer o waith yn hynny o beth.
Fel y dywedais, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â chymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn, oherwydd mae rhywfaint ohono'n berthnasol i'r DU gyfan, onid yw, rydym i gyd yn gweld yr un her. Rwy'n gobeithio dysgu gan eraill hefyd, yn ogystal â rhannu'r hyn a ddysgwyd yma, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i fynd ar drywydd y pethau y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu gwneud yn dda. Oherwydd, unwaith eto, os yw rhai'n gwneud yn dda—ac fe wnaethoch chi roi detholiad yno o awdurdodau lleol sy'n eithaf amrywiol mewn gwirionedd—rwy'n awyddus i wybod sut y mae hynny'n cael ei rannu.
Mae yna rôl i'r CLlLC yn amlwg, ond rwy'n gweld honno’n rôl i mi hefyd. Rwy'n cyfarfod ag awdurdodau lleol yn rheolaidd, nid yn unig y prif weithredwyr a'r arweinwyr, ond ag aelodau cabinet tai a phenaethiaid gwasanaeth mewn awdurdodau lleol hefyd. Rwy'n ceisio canolbwyntio ar lle gallwn gael trafodaethau go iawn ynglŷn â lle mae awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud pethau'n dda, lle gallwn ni ddysgu. Ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y gallaf wneud yn siŵr ei fod ar yr agenda yn ein cyfarfodydd nesaf.
Can I thank Cefin Campbell for raising this? I thought it was just in Aberconwy where we were having problematic schemes installed, with the misery and anguish faced by some of my constituents thinking, ‘Oh, we’re doing the right thing, having our homes decarbonised and everything’ and the numbers are increasing. And I have to say that the poor workmanship has been horrendous.
You cannot go on social media now without seeing these adverts leaping out at you: ‘Put £20,000 on the value of your home; have one of these schemes’, but we haven’t got the skills in Wales for these schemes, or the accreditations. People are allowing into their homes contractors who are less than able to carry out some of these schemes. So, I’m really glad, because I genuinely thought it was just in Aberconwy. I’ve raised it here over the past 12 months, so I do think there is something there, Cabinet Secretary, that needs you, perhaps, to look into how effective these schemes really are.
Systems are not compatible with the national power grid supply, they are tripping and leaving households without electricity, hot water and heat. They’ve long warned of serious problems. In fact, I’ve called on the ECO4 scheme to be suspended because the numbers that are coming in to me now far outweigh—. I even put a survey out myself and it came back overwhelmingly that these schemes need more than just Government funding; they need to be managed properly and they need monitoring. And I’m asking you, Cabinet Secretary, if you would do that. Diolch.
A gaf i ddiolch i Cefin Campbell am godi hyn? Roeddwn i'n meddwl mai dim ond yn Aberconwy yr oeddem yn cael cynlluniau problematig wedi'u gosod, gyda'r diflastod a'r gofid sy'n wynebu rhai o fy etholwyr, sy'n meddwl, 'O, rydym yn gwneud y peth iawn, yn cael ein cartrefi wedi'u datgarboneiddio a phopeth' ac mae'r niferoedd yn cynyddu. Ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod y gwaith gwael wedi bod yn ofnadwy.
Ni allwch fynd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol nawr heb weld yr hysbysebion hyn yn neidio allan atoch: 'Ychwanegwch £20,000 at werth eich cartref trwy gael un o'r cynlluniau hyn', ond nid oes gennym sgiliau yng Nghymru ar gyfer y cynlluniau hyn, na'r achrediadau. Mae pobl yn caniatáu contractwyr i mewn i'w cartrefi nad ydynt yn gallu cyflawni rhai o'r cynlluniau hyn. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn, oherwydd roeddwn i'n meddwl wir mai dim ond yn Aberconwy roedd hyn yn digwydd. Rwyf wedi ei godi yma dros y 12 mis diwethaf, felly rwy'n credu bod rhywbeth yno, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, sy'n ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol i chi, efallai, edrych ar ba mor effeithiol yw'r cynlluniau hyn mewn gwirionedd.
Nid yw systemau'n gydnaws â chyflenwad y grid pŵer cenedlaethol, maent yn tripio ac yn gadael cartrefi heb drydan, dŵr poeth a gwres. Maent wedi rhybuddio ers amser maith am broblemau difrifol. Mewn gwirionedd, rwyf wedi galw ar y cynllun ECO4 i gael ei atal dros dro oherwydd bod y niferoedd sy'n dod i mewn ataf bellach yn llawer mwy na'r—. Fe roddais arolwg allan fy hun a daeth yn ôl gyda'r mwyafrif helaeth yn dweud bod angen mwy na dim ond cyllid gan y Llywodraeth ar y cynlluniau hyn; mae angen eu rheoli'n iawn ac mae angen eu monitro. Ac rwy'n gofyn i chi wneud hynny, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Diolch.
Thank you for raising that. If there are specific complaints, there is a complaints procedure, as I outlined. If there were particular ones that you’re concerned about, please raise those with me.
In terms of our approach with the Warm Homes programme, the programme does offer job creation in the supply chain for retrofitting, employing local traders and boosting demand for these skills in local authorities. Community-based schemes such as communal heating systems and whole-building insulation systems that can positively impact multiple homes will be explored as part of the programme. British Gas, which is a delivery agent for the Nest scheme, has been working closely with contractors to ensure they upskill their workforce, and contractors provide training and support to all working on the scheme to ensure they're competent in delivering the requirements of PAS 2035.
Beyond the Nest scheme, we also need installers to decarbonise, as we've said, the rest of our homes, and, obviously, the imbalance in supply and demand is impacting on our ability to deliver those quality installations at pace within Wales. But our need for a workforce skilled in energy efficiency and low-carbon heating will only increase over the long term, so we are, as I said, working across Government with the sector to assess provision over time and plan training provision accordingly.
You mentioned the ECO4 concerns. That is a UK Government scheme. That's one of the discussions that I was able to have with my colleague Miatta Fahnbulleh, who's leading on that in Westminster, and I know that there'll be more. They're doing some work at the moment, and, hopefully, following my written statement that I was able to put out recently—I think it was about last month when that first came out—I’ll be able to keep Members updated. But, as I say, officials meet regularly at a UK level, and, also, this is something that I raise with my Cabinet colleagues in Westminster as well.
Diolch am godi hynny. Os oes cwynion penodol, mae yna weithdrefn gwyno, fel y nodais. Os oes rhai yr ydych chi'n poeni'n arbennig amdanynt, dowch â'r rheini i fy sylw.
Ar ein dull o weithredu'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd, mae'r rhaglen yn cynnig creu swyddi yn y gadwyn gyflenwi ar gyfer ôl-ffitio, cyflogi masnachwyr lleol a hybu'r galw am y sgiliau hyn mewn awdurdodau lleol. Bydd cynlluniau cymunedol fel systemau gwresogi cymunedol a systemau inswleiddio adeiladau cyfan a all effeithio'n gadarnhaol ar sawl cartref yn cael eu harchwilio fel rhan o'r rhaglen. Mae British Gas, sy'n asiant cyflenwi ar gyfer cynllun Nyth, wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos gyda chontractwyr i sicrhau eu bod yn uwchsgilio eu gweithlu, ac mae contractwyr yn darparu hyfforddiant a chefnogaeth i bawb sy'n gweithio ar y cynllun i sicrhau eu bod yn gymwys i gyflawni gofynion PAS 2035.
Y tu hwnt i gynllun Nyth, mae angen gosodwyr arnom hefyd i ddatgarboneiddio gweddill ein cartrefi, fel rydym wedi dweud, ac yn amlwg, mae'r anghydbwysedd rhwng cyflenwad a galw yn effeithio ar ein gallu i ddarparu gosodiadau o safon yn gyflym yng Nghymru. Ond bydd ein hangen am weithlu medrus mewn effeithlonrwydd ynni a gwresogi carbon isel yn cynyddu dros y tymor hir, felly fel y dywedais, rydym yn gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth gyda'r sector i asesu'r ddarpariaeth dros amser a chynllunio'r ddarpariaeth hyfforddiant yn unol â hynny.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y pryderon ECO4. Cynllun gan Lywodraeth y DU yw hwnnw. Dyna un o'r trafodaethau y gallais ei chael gyda fy nghyfaill Miatta Fahnbulleh, sy'n arwain ar hynny yn San Steffan, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd rhagor. Maent yn gwneud gwaith ar hyn o bryd, ac yn dilyn fy natganiad ysgrifenedig a gyhoeddais yn ddiweddar—tua mis diwethaf, rwy'n credu—rwy'n gobeithio y gallaf roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau. Ond fel y dywedaf, mae swyddogion yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd ar lefel y DU, ac mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n ei godi gyda fy nghymheiriaid yn y Cabinet yn San Steffan hefyd.
5. Pa asesiad mae'r Ysgrifenydd Cabinet wedi ei wneud o gyfraddau rhent yn y sector breifat? OQ62708
5. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of rents in the private sector? OQ62708
Diolch, Mabon. Office for National Statistics figures show that Wales has had the lowest average private rent of all UK nations since January 2021. In March 2025, the average private rent in Wales was £792 per month, compared with the average of £1,332.
Diolch, Mabon. Mae ffigurau'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn dangos bod gan Gymru y rhent preifat cyfartalog isaf o holl wledydd y DU ers mis Ionawr 2021. Ym mis Mawrth 2025, y rhent preifat cyfartalog yng Nghymru oedd £792 y mis, o'i gymharu â'r cyfartaledd o £1,332.
Diolch am yr ateb yna. Mae'r ystadegau yna y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u nodi yn gywir, ond mae hi wedi methu â chofnodi’r ffaith bod cyfraddau rhent wedi cynyddu fwy o ran canran yng Nghymru nag unrhyw ran arall o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, gan gynyddu 8 y cant. Fel rydych chi wedi’i ddweud, mae bron yn £800 y mis erbyn hyn, ac o ystyried lefel incwm Cymru, sydd yn is na gweddill y Deyrnas Gyfunol, mae'n anodd iawn i bobl yng Nghymru dalu'r rhenti o'r fath.
Rydw i wedi cael etholwyr yn dod ataf fi yn pryderu eu bod nhw wedi gweld rhent yn cynyddu, a minnau’n gofyn i'r landlordiaid pam bod y rhent yn cynyddu. Yr ateb ydy oherwydd eu bod nhw'n gallu cynyddu’r rhent, nid oherwydd eu bod nhw wedi gwella ansawdd y tŷ, nid oherwydd eu bod nhw wedi gwella ansawdd bywyd y tenantiaid, ond oherwydd eu bod nhw'n medru gwneud heb fod unrhyw fath o atal arnyn nhw.
Ar ben hynny, rydyn ni'n gweld, fel rydyn ni wedi clywed heddiw, safon ansawdd rhai o'r tai rhent yma yn ansawdd isel iawn, sydd yn golygu bod pobl yn byw mewn tai tamp yn amlach na pheidio hefyd. Felly, a ydych chi'n medru ymrwymo i edrych i mewn i roi cap ar rent? Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod cap yn bodoli yn y sector cyhoeddus gyda thai cyhoeddus, felly a fedrwn ni weld rhywbeth tebyg yn cael ei roi ar dai preifat er mwyn atal y fath gynnydd yn y dyfodol?
Thank you for that response. Those statistics that the Cabinet Secretary has quoted are correct, but she failed to record the fact that rent rates have increased more, by percentage, in Wales than any other part of the UK, increasing by 8 per cent. As you've said, it's almost £800 a month now, and, given the average income level in Wales, which is lower than the rest of the UK, it's very difficult for people in Wales to pay such rents.
I've had constituents approaching me telling me that they've seen their rents increasing, and I've been asking the landlords why this is the case. The answer is because they can increase the rent, not because they've improved the quality of the home, not because they've improved the quality of life of their tenants, but because they can raise rents without there being any barriers placed in front of them.
In addition to that, we are seeing the quality of some of these houses for rent being very low quality, which means that people are living in damp accommodation very often too. So, can you commit to looking into capping rents? We know that a cap exists in the public sector, with public sector housing, so can we see something similar in the private sector to prevent this kind of increase in the future?
Diolch, Mabon, and thank you for that supplementary question. It is important not just to look at the percentage change figure on an all-Wales basis, because that doesn't tell us how much more somebody will be paying rent in real terms each month in a specific town, city or village. The ONS data does show that while some local authority areas may have seen that larger percentage change in the rent compared to 12 months ago, for most local authorities these increases have been much lower and more in line with the level of inflation.
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, we've put in place measures that mean a landlord can only look at increasing rent once in any 12-month period, and also doubled the rent increase notice period from one month to two months. As you know, the White Paper on adequate housing, fair rents and affordability does outline that better data is needed to really—that's on the market rents—understand affordability in the sector, and, therefore, explore how rent information could be collected by Rent Smart Wales, the licence authority.
You’ll know that we set out in the White Paper that we would not be looking to take forward rent controls at this time, because we had evidence from the Green Paper. But, as I say, that data is something that we really do need to see improved. I think that's an area where we can make some progress, because just imposing temporary rent control measures without that robust evidence could have real unintended consequences.
Diolch, Mabon, a diolch am y cwestiwn atodol. Mae'n bwysig peidio ag edrych yn unig ar y ffigur newid canrannol ar sail Cymru gyfan, oherwydd nid yw hynny'n dweud wrthym faint mwy fydd rhywun yn ei dalu mewn rhent mewn termau real bob mis mewn tref, dinas neu bentref penodol. Mae data'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn dangos, er y gallai rhai ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol fod wedi gweld newid canrannol mwy yn y rhent o'i gymharu â 12 mis yn ôl, i'r rhan fwyaf o awdurdodau lleol mae'r cynnydd wedi bod yn llawer is ac yn cyd-fynd yn agosach â lefel chwyddiant.
O dan Ddeddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016, rydym wedi rhoi mesurau ar waith sy'n golygu mai dim ond unwaith mewn unrhyw gyfnod o 12 mis y gall landlord ystyried codi rhent, ac wedi dyblu'r cyfnod rhybudd o godiad rhent o fis i ddau fis. Fel y gwyddoch, mae'r Papur Gwyn ar dai digonol, rhenti teg a fforddiadwyedd yn nodi bod angen data gwell er mwyn deall fforddiadwyedd yn y sector mewn gwirionedd—rhenti'r farchnad, hynny yw—ac felly, archwilio sut y gallai Rhentu Doeth Cymru, yr awdurdod trwyddedu, gasglu gwybodaeth am rent.
Fe fyddwch yn gwybod ein bod wedi nodi yn y Papur Gwyn na fyddem yn ystyried bwrw ymlaen â rheoli rhenti ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd roedd gennym dystiolaeth o'r Papur Gwyrdd. Ond fel y dywedais, mae'r data hwnnw'n rhywbeth y mae gwir angen inni ei weld yn wella. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n faes lle gallwn wneud rhywfaint o gynnydd, oherwydd gallai gosod mesurau rheoli rhenti dros dro heb y dystiolaeth gadarn honno gael canlyniadau anfwriadol go iawn.
Of course, Cabinet Secretary, there are proposed minimum energy efficiency standards coming into place for private landlords renting out their properties for tenants here in Wales. There will be a cost for those landlords to bring those houses up to standard, and, of course, you'd expect at least a level of that cost to be passed on to tenants in the future as well. So, I do wonder what assessment you've made of the costs that landlords are facing to bring the rental properties up to those energy efficiency standards and the impact on rental prices here in Wales?
And I wonder also what assessment Welsh Government has made as to the future size of the Welsh private rented sector and the number of homes available to tenants as a result of these proposed minimum energy efficiency standards coming into place. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Wrth gwrs, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae safonau gofynnol effeithlonrwydd ynni arfaethedig yn dod yn weithredol ar gyfer landlordiaid preifat sy'n gosod eu heiddo ar rent ar gyfer tenantiaid yma yng Nghymru. Bydd sicrhau bod y tai hynny'n cyrraedd y safon yn costio i'r landlordiaid hynny, ac wrth gwrs, fe fyddech chi'n disgwyl i o leiaf rywfaint o'r gost honno gael ei throsglwyddo i denantiaid yn y dyfodol hefyd. Felly, tybed pa asesiad a wnaethoch o'r costau y mae landlordiaid yn eu hwynebu i sicrhau bod eiddo rhent yn cyrraedd y safonau effeithlonrwydd ynni a'r effaith ar brisiau rhent yma yng Nghymru?
A pha asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o faint y sector rhentu preifat yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol a nifer y cartrefi sydd ar gael i denantiaid o ganlyniad i weithredu'r safonau gofynnol effeithlonrwydd ynni arfaethedig hyn. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Sam. The MEES system is something at a UK Government level and it's something that I was able to talk with my UK Government counterpart about recently. We've had discussions. As I say, we're keen to learn some of the things from them, but also to make sure that we're sharing information with them, because this is something that we are really going to have to tackle together. We know what our real ambition here is in Wales, but we know, across the UK, that this is something that we need to really focus on. So, I'll continue to keep Members updated with the MEES scheme, but, absolutely, I've very much had those discussions, not just in terms of me as a representative here, but also officials have those discussions as well, which are quite regular.
Diolch, Sam. Mae system y safonau gofynnol effeithlonrwydd ynni yn rhywbeth ar lefel Llywodraeth y DU ac mae'n rhywbeth y gallais siarad â fy swyddog cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU yn ei gylch yn ddiweddar. Rydym wedi cael trafodaethau. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn awyddus i ddysgu rhai pethau ganddynt, ond hefyd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n rhannu gwybodaeth gyda hwy, oherwydd mae hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd yn rhaid inni fynd i'r afael ag ef gyda'n gilydd. Rydym yn gwybod beth yw ein gwir uchelgais yma yng Nghymru, ond fe wyddom fod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae angen inni ganolbwyntio arno ledled y DU. Felly, byddaf yn parhau i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau am y cynllun safonau gofynnol effeithlonrwydd ynni, ond yn sicr, rwyf wedi cael y trafodaethau hynny, nid yn unig fi fy hun fel cynrychiolydd yma, ond swyddogion hefyd, a hynny'n eithaf rheolaidd.
6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau nad oes rhaid i bobl ag anableddau fyw mewn ysbytai oherwydd bod eu cartrefi yn anaddas ar gyfer addasiadau tai neu oherwydd bod prinder tai amgen sydd wedi'u haddasu ac sy'n hygyrch? OQ62703
6. How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to ensure that people with disabilities do not have to live in hospitals due to their homes being unsuitable for housing adaptations or a shortage of alternative adapted and accessible housing? OQ62703
Diolch, Heledd. Every new home that is built in Wales with Welsh Government funding is built to the lifetime homes standard, ensuring homes can be adapted as needs change. The Welsh Government also provides local authorities with adaptations funding through the independent living programme, which has received an additional £5.5 million this year.
Diolch, Heledd. Mae pob cartref newydd sy'n cael ei adeiladu yng Nghymru gyda chyllid Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael ei adeiladu i safon cartrefi gydol oes, gan sicrhau bod modd addasu cartrefi wrth i anghenion newid. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn darparu cyllid addasiadau i awdurdodau lleol drwy'r rhaglen byw'n annibynnol, sydd wedi cael £5.5 miliwn ychwanegol eleni.
Thank you for the response, Cabinet Secretary. I asked this question because there is a brave 13-year-old boy called Kyle Sieniawski who lives in Pontypridd in my region. In March last year, Kyle started to experience the early symptoms of what was diagnosed in January of this year as motor neurone disease, which came as a terrible shock to the family. He is the youngest sufferer of MND in the UK, if not the world. Sadly, since October, his health has deteriorated rapidly, and he now requires help with breathing, nutrition and has very limited mobility. His parents and brother are at his side all the time, living with him at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales. They desperately want to get Kyle home to be cared for.
Their privately owned house is not suitable for the sort of adaptations that would be needed, and it's been suggested to them that they should sell and purchase or rent an adapted property. But can you imagine trying to find an adapted house to move whilst your child is suffering in a hospital bed with a terminal condition? Cabinet Secretary, can you advise what support should be available for a family in such a situation in Wales, and will you agree to meet with me and the family to see how our housing services can support them as a matter of urgency?
Diolch am yr ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Gofynnais y cwestiwn hwn am fod yna fachgen 13 oed dewr o'r enw Kyle Sieniawski yn byw ym Mhontypridd yn fy rhanbarth. Ym mis Mawrth y llynedd, dechreuodd Kyle brofi symptomau cynnar clefyd niwronau motor y cafodd ddiagnosis ohono ym mis Ionawr eleni, ac roedd hynny'n sioc ofnadwy i'r teulu. Ef yw dioddefwr ieuengaf y clefyd niwronau motor yn y DU, os nad y byd. Yn anffodus, ers mis Hydref, mae ei iechyd wedi dirywio'n gyflym, a bellach mae angen help gydag anadlu, bwydo ac mae ei allu i symud yn gyfyngedig iawn. Mae ei rieni a'i frawd wrth ei ymyl drwy'r amser, yn byw gydag ef yn Ysbyty Plant Cymru Arch Noa. Maent eisiau i Kyle ddod adref iddynt gael gofalu amdano yno.
Nid yw eu tŷ sy'n eiddo preifat yn addas ar gyfer y math o addasiadau y byddai eu hangen, ac awgrymwyd y dylent werthu a phrynu neu rentu eiddo wedi'i addasu. Ond a allwch chi ddychmygu ceisio dod o hyd i dŷ wedi'i addasu i symud iddo tra bod eich plentyn yn dioddef mewn gwely ysbyty gyda chyflwr angheuol? Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi ddweud pa gymorth a ddylai fod ar gael i deulu mewn sefyllfa o'r fath yng Nghymru, ac a wnewch chi gytuno i gyfarfod â mi a'r teulu i weld sut y gall ein gwasanaethau tai eu cefnogi ar frys?
Diolch, Heledd. I'm so sorry to hear about Kyle's diagnosis; I'm sure everybody in this Chamber is today. It must be such devastating news for him and his family to deal with, let alone, as you said, the added worry, concern and stress put on them as a family with their housing needs.
This Welsh Government funds several housing adaptation programmes that are delivered through a range of providers, however it's fundamental that houses are suitable for the installation of any adaptations. I understand, in Kyle's case, that the local authority has determined that the home is not suitable and cannot, therefore, be adapted. I have allocated a further £5.5 million in capital investment and £1.2 million in revenue this year to alleviate some of the demand on adaptations more generally, but Kyle's story demonstrates the importance of developing homes that are ready to be adapted as needs change. Again, thank you so much for raising Kyle's story. I'd be very happy to meet with you and with Kyle's family to discuss what support could be provided.
Diolch, Heledd. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am ddiagnosis Kyle; rwy'n siŵr fod pawb yn y Siambr yn teimlo'r un fath. Mae'n rhaid ei fod yn newyddion mor ddinistriol iddo ef a'i deulu orfod ymdopi ag ef, heb sôn am y pryder a'r straen ychwanegol a roddwyd arnynt fel teulu gyda'u hanghenion tai.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu nifer o raglenni addasu tai sy'n cael eu cyflwyno trwy ystod o ddarparwyr, ond mae'n hanfodol fod tai'n addas ar gyfer gwneud unrhyw addasiadau. Yn achos Kyle, rwy'n deall bod yr awdurdod lleol wedi penderfynu nad yw'r cartref yn addas ac felly na ellir ei addasu. Rwyf wedi dyrannu £5.5 miliwn arall mewn buddsoddiad cyfalaf a £1.2 miliwn mewn refeniw eleni i leddfu rhywfaint o'r galw am addasiadau yn fwy cyffredinol, ond mae stori Kyle yn dangos pwysigrwydd datblygu cartrefi sy'n barod i'w haddasu wrth i anghenion newid. Unwaith eto, diolch yn fawr am godi stori Kyle. Rwy'n hapus iawn i gyfarfod â chi a theulu Kyle i drafod pa gefnogaeth y gellid ei darparu.
7. Pa ystyriaeth a roddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i'r angen i ariannu gwasanaethau hamdden a llyfrgelloedd wrth benderfynu ar gyllidebau awdurdodau lleol yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ62691
7. What consideration did the Cabinet Secretary give to the need to fund leisure and library services when deciding on the budgets for local authorities in South Wales East? OQ62691
Diolch, Delyth. In making decisions on the local government settlement, I considered the breadth of services councils deliver, including leisure and library services. Councils in South Wales East received a combined funding uplift of 4.8 per cent for 2025-26.
Diolch, Delyth. Wrth wneud penderfyniadau ar y setliad llywodraeth leol, ystyriais ehangder y gwasanaethau y mae cynghorau'n eu darparu, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau hamdden a llyfrgelloedd. Derbyniodd cynghorau yn Nwyrain De Cymru gynnydd cyfunol o 4.8 y cant yn eu cyllid ar gyfer 2025-26.
Thank you for that answer. I am deeply worried about the effect that library closures will have across Caerphilly. Ten libraries across Caerphilly face closure. The vote has decided it at cabinet today. This decision will close down doors on to other worlds, places of comfort for people who are cold and lonely, and places of wonder for children. Some children had actually contacted the council directly to tell them how much they will miss these libraries. They've drawn posters. They've written letters and sent messages. One of my constituents in Llanbradach put a photograph of a letter his young son had written on my Facebook page. The letter reads:
'Dear Council, please keep the library xx from Henry'.
It poses the question of what the point is of councils conducting consultations if they're going to so utterly ignore the responses.
Now, funding for libraries should be backed up by central government, so I would ask today, on behalf of those children like Henry and their parents, whether urgent assistance can be provided to those communities to help find other ways of keeping these libraries open, now that the council has decided so recklessly to close them.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Rwy'n bryderus iawn am yr effaith y bydd cau llyfrgelloedd yn ei chael ar draws Caerffili. Mae deg llyfrgell ar draws Caerffili yn mynd i gau. Mae'r bleidlais wedi penderfynu hynny yn y cabinet heddiw. Bydd y penderfyniad hwn yn cau drysau i fydoedd eraill, lleoedd cysur i bobl sy'n oer ac yn unig, a lleoedd llawn rhyfeddod i blant. Roedd rhai plant wedi cysylltu â'r cyngor yn uniongyrchol i ddweud wrthynt cymaint y byddant yn gweld colli'r llyfrgelloedd hyn. Maent wedi gwneud posteri. Maent wedi ysgrifennu llythyrau ac anfon negeseuon. Rhoddodd un o fy etholwyr yn Llanbradach lun o lythyr yr oedd ei fab ifanc wedi'i ysgrifennu ar fy nhudalen Facebook. Mae'r llythyr yn dweud:
'Annwyl Gyngor, cadwch y llyfrgell xx oddi wrth Harri'.
Mae'n codi'r cwestiwn beth yw'r pwynt i gynghorau gynnal ymgynghoriadau os ydynt yn mynd i anwybyddu'r ymatebion yn llwyr.
Nawr, dylai cyllid ar gyfer llyfrgelloedd gael ei gefnogi gan lywodraeth ganolog, felly rwy'n gofyn heddiw, ar ran plant fel Henry a'u rhieni, a ellir darparu cymorth brys i'r cymunedau hyn i helpu i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd eraill o gadw'r llyfrgelloedd ar agor, gan fod y cyngor bellach wedi gwneud y penderfyniad difeddwl i'w cau.
Diolch, Delyth. I absolutely recognise the importance of libraries and leisure facilities in contributing positively to our communities. The decisions on budgets are for individual services, including libraries and other valued services. They are for local elected members to make. The pattern of local library provision is also a matter for the local authority to determine following that consultation.
In terms of the funding that we've put in, as the local government settlement, as I say, local authorities have received an increase of 4.5 per cent or £262 million on a like-for-like basis compared to the current year. As I said, these are decisions that are made by each individual local authority.
Diolch, Delyth. Rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr pa mor bwysig yw cyfraniad cadarnhaol llyfrgelloedd a chyfleusterau hamdden i'n cymunedau. Penderfyniadau ar gyfer gwasanaethau unigol, gan gynnwys llyfrgelloedd a gwasanaethau gwerthfawr eraill yw penderfyniadau ynghylch cyllidebau. Penderfyniadau i aelodau etholedig lleol eu gwneud ydynt. Mater i'r awdurdod lleol ei benderfynu ar ôl ymgynghoriad yw patrwm y ddarpariaeth lyfrgelloedd yn lleol.
O ran y cyllid a roesom ni i mewn, fel setliad llywodraeth leol, fel y dywedaf, mae awdurdodau lleol wedi cael cynnydd o 4.5 y cant neu £262 miliwn ar sail debyg am debyg o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn gyfredol. Fel y dywedais, mae'r rhain yn benderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud gan bob awdurdod lleol unigol.
Finally, Altaf Hussain, question 8.
Yn olaf, Altaf Hussain, cwestiwn 8.
8. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o effaith polisïau Llywodraeth y DU ar gynllun cartrefi clyd Llywodraeth Cymru? OQ62697
8. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact of UK Government policies on the Welsh Government's warm homes scheme? OQ62697
Diolch, Altaf. Myself and officials are fully engaged with the UK Government on this issue. I recently met the Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, to discuss the UK Government's Warm Homes plan. We will assess the implications of these plans for Wales once they are published.
Diolch, Altaf. Mae fy swyddogion a minnau'n ymgysylltu'n llawn â Llywodraeth y DU ar y mater hwn. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm â'r Gweinidog Defnyddwyr Ynni, Miatta Fahnbulleh, i drafod cynllun Cartrefi Cynnes Llywodraeth y DU. Byddwn yn asesu goblygiadau'r cynlluniau hyn i Gymru pan gânt eu cyhoeddi.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The Warm Homes scheme was designed to help make fuel-poor homes warmer and more energy efficient. Nest was introduced before the UK Government forced even more families into fuel poverty. Before the Chancellor axed the winter fuel payments, Wales still saw hundreds of people die each winter. Nearly a third of excess winter deaths are attributed to living in a cold home. Cabinet Secretary, it is obvious that ending the winter fuel payment and rising energy prices will force more people into fuel poverty. Is your Warm Homes scheme able to cope with the extra demand, and will it help prevent people dying of the cold next winter?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Cynlluniwyd y cynllun Cartrefi Clyd i helpu i wneud cartrefi tlawd o ran tanwydd yn gynhesach ac yn fwy effeithlon o ran ynni. Cyflwynwyd Nyth cyn i Lywodraeth y DU orfodi mwy fyth o deuluoedd i fyw mewn tlodi tanwydd. Cyn i'r Canghellor gael gwared ar daliadau tanwydd y gaeaf, roedd yn dal i fod cannoedd o bobl yn marw yng Nghymru bob gaeaf. Mae bron i draean o farwolaethau ychwanegol y gaeaf yn cael eu priodoli i fyw mewn cartref oer. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'n amlwg y bydd dod â thaliad tanwydd y gaeaf i ben a phrisiau ynni cynyddol yn gorfodi mwy o bobl i fyw mewn tlodi tanwydd. A yw eich cynllun Cartrefi Clyd yn gallu ymdopi â'r galw ychwanegol, ac a fydd yn helpu i atal pobl rhag marw o oerfel y gaeaf nesaf?
Diolch, Altaf. My officials have considered the forthcoming UK Government Warm Homes plan. It broadly aligns with our own policy objectives within the Warm Homes Nest scheme. Where appropriate, we can amend Nest to incorporate any positive outcomes that arise, which will benefit Welsh householders. My officials are meeting officials from UK Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland to discuss fuel poverty-related issues, and to share knowledge and best practice on how to best help vulnerable households in fuel poverty.
The primary objectives of the Warm Homes Nest scheme are tackling fuel poverty and the climate emergency, and officials are continually reviewing progress to ensure that the scheme completely meets these primary objectives. We have had ongoing reviews and that's enabled me to announce several changes that I think have had a real, positive impact on supporting fuel poverty households.
I think maximising incomes and putting money back into people's pockets in Wales, including pensioners, are vital priorities for us as we help Welsh householders facing those high energy prices and cost-of-living pressures. We do continue to invest in our advice services and we're encouraging people, including pensioners, to contact the Advicelink Cymru 'Claim what's yours' helpline to find out about the financial support that they may be entitled to.
Diolch, Altaf. Mae fy swyddogion wedi ystyried cynllun Cartrefi Cynnes Llywodraeth y DU sydd ar y ffordd. Mae'n cyd-fynd yn fras â'n hamcanion polisi ein hunain yng nghynllun Nyth Cartrefi Clyd. Lle bo hynny'n briodol, gallwn ddiwygio Nyth i ymgorffori unrhyw ganlyniadau cadarnhaol sy'n codi, a fydd o fudd i ddeiliaid tai Cymru. Mae fy swyddogion yn cyfarfod â swyddogion o Lywodraeth y DU, Llywodraeth yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon i drafod materion sy'n gysylltiedig â thlodi tanwydd, ac i rannu gwybodaeth ac arferion gorau ar sut i helpu aelwydydd agored i niwed sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd.
Prif amcanion cynllun Nyth Cartrefi Clyd yw mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a'r argyfwng hinsawdd, ac mae swyddogion yn adolygu cynnydd yn barhaus i sicrhau bod y cynllun yn bodloni'r prif amcanion hyn yn llwyr. Rydym wedi cael adolygiadau parhaus ac mae hynny wedi fy ngalluogi i gyhoeddi sawl newid sydd wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol a real ar gefnogi aelwydydd sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd.
Rwy'n credu bod gwneud y mwyaf o incwm a rhoi arian yn ôl ym mhocedi pobl yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys pensiynwyr, yn flaenoriaethau hanfodol wrth inni helpu deiliaid tai Cymru sy'n wynebu prisiau ynni uchel a phwysau costau byw. Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi yn ein gwasanaethau cynghori ac rydym yn annog pobl, gan gynnwys pensiynwyr, i gysylltu â llinell gymorth 'Hawlio'r hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi' Advicelink Cymru i gael gwybod am y cymorth ariannol y gallai fod ganddynt hawl iddo.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Y cwestiynau nesaf fydd y rhai i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Addysg. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch, ac i'w ofyn gan Adam Price.
The next questions will be those to the Cabinet Secretary for Education. The first question will be answered by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, and will be asked by Adam Price.
1. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i ddod a cholegau addysg bellach yn ôl o dan reolaeth y sector gyhoeddus? OQ62705
1. What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to bring further education colleges back under public sector control? OQ62705
The Welsh Government has no plans for further education colleges to be under public sector control. Medr is responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales and will shortly consult on its proposed regulatory regime, which addresses the whole tertiary education sector.
Nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw gynlluniau i golegau addysg bellach fod o dan reolaeth y sector cyhoeddus. Medr sy'n gyfrifol am ariannu a rheoleiddio addysg drydyddol yng Nghymru a bydd yn ymgynghori cyn bo hir ar ei drefn reoleiddio arfaethedig, sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r sector addysg drydyddol gyfan.
Many people think that the decision under the Conservative Government in the early 1990s to take further education colleges out of local authority control completely was a mistake, because it's led to a fragmented post-16 education sector. You have competition between FE colleges and sixth-form colleges, and there's a lack of accountability. When I've asked you, Minister, about a proposal, for example, to close the Ammanford campus by Coleg Sir Gâr in my own constituency, you basically said that that's a decision for the college. There's nothing locally or nationally that we can do about it, and surely that can't be right when we're talking about a public service that is 100 per cent publicly funded. So, will you look at either bringing local further education colleges back under local authority control, or some other form of direct democratic accountability?
Mae llawer o bobl yn meddwl mai camgymeriad oedd y penderfyniad o dan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn gynnar yn y 1990au i dynnu colegau addysg bellach o reolaeth awdurdodau lleol yn gyfan gwbl, oherwydd mae wedi arwain at sector addysg ôl-16 dameidiog. Mae gennych gystadleuaeth rhwng colegau addysg bellach a cholegau chweched dosbarth, a diffyg atebolrwydd. Weinidog, pan ofynnais i chi am gynnig, er enghraifft, i gau campws Rhydaman gan Goleg Sir Gâr yn fy etholaeth, fe ddywedoch chi yn y bôn mai penderfyniad i'r coleg yw hwnnw. Nid oes dim yn lleol nac yn genedlaethol y gallwn ei wneud am hynny, ac yn sicr ni all hynny fod yn iawn pan ydym yn siarad am wasanaeth cyhoeddus sy'n cael ei ariannu'n gyhoeddus 100 y cant. Felly, a wnewch chi edrych naill ai ar ddod â cholegau addysg bellach lleol yn ôl o dan reolaeth awdurdodau lleol, neu ryw fath arall o atebolrwydd democrataidd uniongyrchol?
Thank you, Adam, for those supplementary questions there. As you said, colleges in Wales are responsible and accountable for their strategic and operational decisions. That includes, of course, course delivery and estate management. The Welsh Government feels, and I believe the sector feels as well, that their current non-public status allows for a really diverse and agile sector, and it gives institutions the opportunity to shape the provision around the learners and their communities.
What I would say as well is that changing the accounting and non-public sector status of colleges in Wales would significantly increase administration and bureaucracy, both for colleges themselves and also for Welsh Government. I feel that that would be really disruptive when we want our colleges to be focused on their core business of teaching and learning. Also, I would add that I don't think it's clear that the added expense of public sector status would give rise to any significant benefits.
The Member may also be interested in the fact that, if we turn to the statutory framework itself under the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022, the Act will establish a new statutory framework that integrates the regulation of tertiary education provision. As a key part of that, Medr will be introducing a new regulatory system. The aim is for that system, including the condition in respect of governance and management, to go live from 2026-27. So, Medr will be launching a consultation on 14 May, and intend to undertake engagement with the sector alongside the formal consultation, so that may be something that the Member might wish to engage in.
Diolch am y cwestiynau atodol, Adam. Fel y dywedoch chi, mae colegau yng Nghymru yn gyfrifol ac yn atebol am eu penderfyniadau strategol a gweithredol. Mae hynny'n cynnwys darparu cyrsiau a rheoli ystadau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n teimlo, ac rwy'n credu bod y sector yn teimlo hefyd, fod eu statws di-arian cyhoeddus fel y maent ar hyn o bryd yn eu galluogi i fod yn sector amrywiol ac ystwyth iawn, ac mae'n rhoi cyfle i sefydliadau siapio darpariaeth o amgylch y dysgwyr a'u cymunedau.
Yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud hefyd yw y byddai newid statws cyfrifyddu a statws di-arian cyhoeddus y colegau yng Nghymru yn cynyddu gweinyddiaeth a biwrocratiaeth yn sylweddol, i'r colegau eu hunain a hefyd i Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n teimlo y byddai hynny'n aflonyddgar iawn a ninnau am i'n colegau ganolbwyntio ar eu gwaith craidd sef addysgu a dysgu. Hefyd, rwyf am ychwanegu nad wyf yn credu ei bod yn glir y byddai cost ychwanegol statws sector cyhoeddus yn arwain at unrhyw fuddion sylweddol.
Efallai y bydd gan yr Aelod ddiddordeb hefyd yn y ffaith, os trown at y fframwaith statudol ei hun o dan Ddeddf Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil (Cymru) 2022, y bydd y Ddeddf yn sefydlu fframwaith statudol newydd sy'n integreiddio'r broses o reoleiddio darpariaeth addysg drydyddol. Yn rhan allweddol o hynny, bydd Medr yn cyflwyno system reoleiddio newydd. Y nod yw i'r system honno, gan gynnwys yr amod ar lywodraethu a rheoli, ddod yn weithredol o 2026-27. Felly, bydd Medr yn lansio ymgynghoriad ar 14 Mai, ac mae'n bwriadu ymgysylltu â'r sector ochr yn ochr â'r ymgynghoriad ffurfiol, felly efallai y bydd hynny'n rhywbeth y gallai'r Aelod fod eisiau cymryd rhan ynddo.
2. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi ysgolion preifat ac annibynnol? OQ62713
2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support private and independent schools? OQ62713
By their nature, independent schools are autonomous. They're not controlled or funded by Government but typically governed by trustees or governors, who are responsible for the school’s direction, allowing them to make decisions regarding all aspects of the school’s management and operation.
Wrth eu natur, mae ysgolion annibynnol yn ymreolaethol. Nid ydynt yn cael eu rheoli na'u hariannu gan y Llywodraeth, ond fel arfer, cânt eu llywodraethu gan ymddiriedolwyr neu lywodraethwyr, sy'n gyfrifol am reolaeth yr ysgol, gan ganiatáu iddynt wneud penderfyniadau ynghylch pob agwedd ar reolaeth a gweithrediad yr ysgol.
Thanks, Cabinet Secretary. Labour's resentment of private and independent schools is something that has been discussed on multiple occasions here in the past within the Chamber itself. Your party's damaging policies aimed at the sector are continuing to wreak havoc. Last week, we heard the shock news that St Clare's School in Porthcawl has entered negotiations to shut down. The blame has been put down to economic volatility and factors beyond their control. One parent said the announcement had left many in shock and indeed in tears. And then the following day came the news that Oakleigh House School in Swansea, another private school, is also going to be closing its doors.
Let's be frank: there's no denying that Labour's tax raid on private schools and mammoth national insurance hikes have played a damning role in this sorry saga. And I hate to be the one to say this, Cabinet Secretary, but this is the point where I have to say, 'I told you so.' My Welsh Conservative colleagues, alongside our Westminster Conservative team, warned time and time again that the consequences of these policies would indeed be dire.
So, Cabinet Secretary, what support is the Welsh Government going to be providing to these schools and the local authorities, as parents start to find alternative school places? And given the First Minister only said last week that she would call out the Labour Westminster Government if it takes action that would harm the Welsh community, will you please implore her to challenge the Prime Minister over this controversial policy before any more schools in Wales close down for good? Thank you.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae casineb Llafur tuag at ysgolion preifat ac annibynnol yn rhywbeth sydd wedi'i drafod sawl gwaith yn y gorffennol yma yn y Siambr. Mae polisïau niweidiol eich plaid sydd wedi'u hanelu at y sector yn parhau i achosi anhrefn. Yr wythnos diwethaf, clywsom y newyddion syfrdanol fod Ysgol St Clare ym Mhorthcawl wedi dechrau trafodaethau i gau. Mae'r bai wedi'i roi ar ansefydlogrwydd economaidd a ffactorau y tu hwnt i'w rheolaeth. Dywedodd un rhiant fod y cyhoeddiad wedi gadael llawer mewn sioc ac yn eu dagrau yn wir. Ac yna, y diwrnod canlynol, daeth y newyddion fod Ysgol Oakleigh House yn Abertawe, ysgol breifat arall, hefyd yn mynd i gau ei drysau.
Gadewch inni fod yn onest: ni ellir gwadu bod cyrch treth Llafur ar ysgolion preifat a chodiadau enfawr i yswiriant gwladol wedi chwarae rhan ddamniol yn y saga druenus hon. Ac mae'n gas gennyf ddweud hyn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond dyma'r adeg pan fo'n rhaid imi ddweud, 'Fe ddywedais i wrthych chi.' Rhybuddiodd fy nghyd-Aelodau Ceidwadol, ynghyd â thîm y Ceidwadwyr yn San Steffan, dro ar ôl tro y byddai canlyniadau'r polisïau hyn yn ddifrifol iawn.
Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gymorth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i'r ysgolion hyn a'r awdurdodau lleol, wrth i rieni ddechrau dod o hyd i ysgolion eraill? Ac o ystyried mai dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog y byddai'n beirniadu Llywodraeth Lafur San Steffan pe bai'n cymryd camau a fyddai'n niweidio'r gymuned Gymreig, a wnewch chi erfyn arni i herio Prif Weinidog y DU ynghylch y polisi dadleuol hwn cyn i unrhyw ysgolion eraill yng Nghymru gau am byth? Diolch.
Well, can I thank Natasha for her supplementary question? As she is aware, the application of VAT to independent school fees from 1 January is not a devolved matter. VAT policy is reserved to Westminster, so it applies to the whole of the UK. You'll be aware, because you've raised it previously in the Chamber, that, this year, we ended business rates relief for some fee-charging schools to use the funding to support local public services. This brought independent schools with charitable status in line with other independent schools in Wales, and if I can say to the Member that St Clare's School was not identified as one of the 17 schools receiving business rates relief before this was removed.
Can I also say to the Member that officials are in conversation with the local authorities about how to continue the education of children and young people who will be impacted by the planned closures? And Bridgend council has confirmed that they are working with St Clare's School to understand where the children are resident—obviously not all of them are resident in Bridgend—and to provide support to ensure continuing education for the children affected. The local authority is available to help any parents, carers or pupils who request their assistance in finding alternative education provision.
Swansea Council have also confirmed that they're aware of the planned closure of Oakleigh House School and expect there to be an impact on school admissions, including additional learning needs. However, they feel that that situation is manageable at the moment. And I would encourage any families affected by this, if they've not done so already, to have a conversation with their local education authority.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Natasha am ei chwestiwn atodol? Fel y gŵyr, nid yw’r TAW a fydd yn cael ei chodi ar ffioedd ysgolion annibynnol o 1 Ionawr yn fater datganoledig. Mae polisi TAW yn fater a gedwir yn ôl gan San Steffan, felly mae'n berthnasol i'r DU gyfan. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, gan eich bod eisoes wedi codi hyn yn y Siambr, ein bod ni, eleni, wedi rhoi diwedd ar ryddhad ardrethi busnes i rai ysgolion sy'n codi ffioedd er mwyn defnyddio'r cyllid i gefnogi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus lleol. Daeth hyn ag ysgolion annibynnol â statws elusennol yn unol ag ysgolion annibynnol eraill yng Nghymru, ac os caf ddweud wrth yr Aelod nad oedd Ysgol St Clare wedi'i nodi'n un o'r 17 ysgol a oedd yn cael rhyddhad ardrethi busnes cyn iddo gael ei ddiddymu.
A gaf i ddweud wrth yr Aelod hefyd fod swyddogion mewn trafodaethau gyda'r awdurdodau lleol ynghylch sut i barhau ag addysg plant a phobl ifanc a fydd yn cael eu heffeithio gan y cynlluniau i gau'r ysgolion? Ac mae cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi cadarnhau eu bod yn gweithio gydag Ysgol St Clare i ddeall ble mae'r plant yn byw—yn amlwg, nid yw pob un ohonynt yn byw ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr—ac i ddarparu cymorth i sicrhau addysg barhaus i'r plant yr effeithir arnynt. Mae'r awdurdod lleol ar gael i helpu unrhyw rieni, gofalwyr neu ddisgyblion sy'n gofyn am gymorth i ddod o hyd i ddarpariaeth addysg amgen.
Mae Cyngor Abertawe hefyd wedi cadarnhau eu bod yn ymwybodol o'r bwriad i gau Ysgol Oakleigh House ac yn disgwyl y bydd effaith ar dderbyniadau i ysgolion, gan gynnwys anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Fodd bynnag, maent yn teimlo bod mpdd rheoli'r sefyllfa honno ar hyn o bryd. Ac rwy'n annog unrhyw deuluoedd yr effeithir arnynt gan hyn, os nad ydynt wedi gwneud hynny eisoes, i gael sgwrs gyda'u hawdurdod addysg lleol.
Galwaf nawr ar lefarwyr y pleidiau i holi Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Joel James.
I now call on the party spokespeople to question the Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Joel James.
Thank you, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, there has been growing concern for some time within the teaching profession that a supply teacher shortage means schools will have no choice but to rely on teaching assistants to cover classes. Whilst teaching assistants are perfectly able to cover a few lessons when teachers are unexpectedly absent, or away from the classroom for planning or marking sessions, they're frequently being deployed against national guidance to actively teach and perform roles that they're neither trained nor paid to do.
Evidence shows that around 39 per cent of primary school teaching assistants cover classes for at least five hours per week—that's equivalent to one day—while 15 per cent cover classes for at least 11 hours per week, the equivalent of at least two days. Worryingly, just under half say that they do so without lesson plans. A large number of these teaching assistants highlight that they have not been properly trained to teach the Welsh curriculum, and, as you are aware, there's also the increasing complexity of the health needs of learners. I'm aware that some schools have asked their teaching assistants to take this on and even start administering medication in the absence of school nurses. With all this in mind, how is the Welsh Government looking to ensure that teaching assistants are not being pressurised to perform teaching roles that they're not contracted to do? Thank you.
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae pryder cynyddol wedi bod ers peth amser yn y proffesiwn addysgu fod prinder athrawon cyflenwi yn golygu na fydd dewis gan ysgolion ond dibynnu ar gynorthwywyr addysgu i fod yn gyfrifol am ddosbarthiadau. Er bod cynorthwywyr addysgu yn gallu gofalu am rywfaint o wersi pan fydd athrawon yn absennol yn annisgwyl, neu i ffwrdd o'r ystafell ddosbarth mewn sesiynau cynllunio neu farcio, maent yn aml yn cael eu defnyddio yn erbyn canllawiau cenedlaethol i addysgu'n weithredol a chyflawni rolau nad ydynt wedi'u hyfforddi na'u talu i'w cyflawni.
Mae tystiolaeth yn dangos bod oddeutu 39 y cant o gynorthwywyr addysgu ysgolion cynradd yn gyfrifol am ddosbarthiadau am o leiaf bum awr yr wythnos—sy'n cyfateb i un diwrnod—tra bo 15 y cant yn gyfrifol am ddosbarthiadau am o leiaf 11 awr yr wythnos, sy'n cyfateb i o leiaf ddau ddiwrnod. Mae bron i hanner yn dweud eu bod yn gwneud hynny heb gynlluniau gwersi, sy'n destun pryder. Mae nifer fawr o'r cynorthwywyr addysgu hyn yn nodi nad ydynt wedi cael eu hyfforddi'n iawn i addysgu'r cwricwlwm i Gymru, ac fel y gwyddoch, mae cymhlethdod cynyddol anghenion iechyd dysgwyr yn ffactor hefyd. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod rhai ysgolion wedi gofyn i'w cynorthwywyr addysgu ysgwyddo'r cyfrifoldeb hwn a hyd yn oed i ddechrau rhoi meddyginiaeth yn absenoldeb nyrsys ysgol. Gyda hyn oll mewn golwg, sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu sicrhau nad yw cynorthwywyr addysgu yn cael eu rhoi o dan bwysau i gyflawni rolau addysgu nad ydynt dan gontract i'w cyflawni? Diolch.
Can I thank Joel James for his question, and say to the Chamber that improving the terms and conditions, professional learning and the recognition of support staff is a priority for me? It's one of the reasons why I was so keen to have a strategic education workforce plan in Wales, because discussions with local government had not made sufficient progress in this space, so we're taking it forward via the strategic education workforce plan.
One of those issues you've highlighted today is the fact that support staff are sometimes asked to cover for classroom teachers. I met with the support staff at the Unison support staff conference last autumn, and this was a clear theme of their concerns. Clearly, it is important that support staff are remunerated properly for their role and that they also have appropriate training for their role. We have made it clear to the sector in Wales that there is an entitlement to professional learning for support staff, but I know that the application of that entitlement is not as consistent as we'd like, so there is work for the strategic workforce plan to do there.
You also referred to the fact that some support staff are being asked to administer medication and deal with children with highly complex needs. That is also a concern, and I have been discussing with our special schools and others the school nursing framework. I have a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for health to discuss, among other things, the school nursing framework next week and what we're expecting of support staff.
A gaf i ddiolch i Joel James am ei gwestiwn, a dweud wrth y Siambr fod gwella telerau ac amodau, dysgu proffesiynol a'r gydnabyddiaeth i staff cymorth yn flaenoriaeth i mi? Mae'n un o'r rhesymau pam fy mod mor awyddus i gael cynllun strategol ar gyfer y gweithlu addysg yng Nghymru, gan nad oedd trafodaethau gyda llywodraeth leol wedi gwneud digon o gynnydd yn y maes hwn, felly rydym yn symud y mater yn ei flaen drwy'r cynllun strategol ar gyfer y gweithlu addysg.
Un o'r materion a nodwyd gennych heddiw yw'r ffaith bod staff cymorth weithiau'n gorfod gwneud gwaith athrawon dosbarth. Cyfarfûm â staff cymorth yng nghynhadledd staff cymorth Unsain yn yr hydref, ac roedd hon yn thema glir yn eu pryderon. Yn amlwg, mae'n bwysig fod staff cymorth yn cael eu talu'n briodol am eu rôl a'u bod hefyd yn cael hyfforddiant priodol ar gyfer eu rôl. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir wrth y sector yng Nghymru fod gan staff cymorth hawl i ddysgu proffesiynol, ond gwn nad yw'r hawl honno'n cael ei rhoi ar waith mor gyson ag y byddem yn hoffi, felly mae gwaith i'r cynllun strategol ar gyfer y gweithlu addysg ei wneud yn hynny o beth.
Fe gyfeirioch chi hefyd at y ffaith bod disgwyl i rai staff cymorth roi meddyginiaeth ac ymdrin â phlant ag anghenion cymhleth iawn. Mae hynny hefyd yn bryder, ac rwyf wedi bod yn trafod y fframwaith nyrsio ysgolion gyda'n hysgolion arbennig ac eraill. Mae gennyf gyfarfod gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd i drafod, ymhlith pethau eraill, y fframwaith nyrsio ysgolion yr wythnos nesaf a'r hyn rydym yn ei ddisgwyl gan staff cymorth.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. As you will be aware, a teaching assistant at Ysgol y Graig community primary school in Cefn-coed-y-cymmer, Merthyr, was recently suspended after sharing a video of herself mocking a vulnerable child who she was working with on a 1:1 basis, and then posting the video on social media, publicly available for all to see. We are told that the teaching assistant in question had been given exceptional references from the teaching agency that had put her forward for the role. I believe that it is important that lessons are learned, and I understand that people do sometimes slip through the net, despite every effort. However, if the teaching assistant had not posted the video online, this child could still be subject to mockery, humiliation and abuse. Do you agree with me, Cabinet Secretary, that there is scope to strengthen the referencing procedures for teaching assistant roles, especially when dealing with vulnerable children? And, if so, what actions are the Welsh Government going to take? Thank you.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fel y gwyddoch, cafodd cynorthwyydd addysgu yn ysgol gynradd gymunedol Ysgol y Graig yng Nghefncoedycymer, Merthyr Tudful, ei hatal dros dro yn ddiweddar ar ôl rhannu fideo ohoni ei hun yn gwatwar plentyn agored i niwed yr oedd yn gweithio gyda hwy ar sail un i un, a phostio'r fideo ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ar gael i bawb ei weld. Dywedir wrthym fod y cynorthwyydd addysgu dan sylw wedi cael geirdaon ardderchog gan yr asiantaeth addysgu a'i cynigiodd ar gyfer y rôl. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig fod gwersi'n cael eu dysgu, ac rwy'n deall bod pobl weithiau'n llithro drwy'r rhwyd, er gwaethaf pob ymdrech. Fodd bynnag, pe na bai'r cynorthwyydd addysgu wedi postio'r fideo ar-lein, gallai'r plentyn fod yn dal i gael eu gwatwar, eu bychanu a'u cam-drin. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fod lle i gryfhau gweithdrefnau geirdaon ar gyfer rolau cynorthwywyr addysgu, yn enwedig wrth ymdrin â phlant agored i niwed? Ac os felly, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w cymryd? Diolch.
Thank you for that question. Can I take this opportunity to say how unacceptable the actions of that teaching assistant were? As you said, it came to light. We've got well-established procedures in Wales, through the Education Workforce Council, to regulate the conduct of our teaching workforce and to follow up on any allegations of malpractice, which is what happened in this space. I think you referred as well to supply teachers. Most of our supply teachers in Wales are resourced through agencies that are on our supply work framework, which does include assurances about quality. But I'm very happy to go away and have a look if there's anything more that we can do in this space.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. A gaf i achub ar y cyfle hwn i ddweud pa mor annerbyniol oedd gweithredoedd y cynorthwyydd addysgu? Fel y dywedoch, daeth y mater i'r amlwg. Mae gennym weithdrefnau sefydledig yng Nghymru, drwy Gyngor y Gweithlu Addysg, i reoleiddio ymddygiad ein gweithlu addysgu ac i ymchwilio i unrhyw honiadau o gamymarfer, sef yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn yr achos hwn. Credaf ichi gyfeirio hefyd at athrawon cyflenwi. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'n hathrawon cyflenwi yng Nghymru yn cael eu cyflogi drwy asiantaethau sydd ar ein fframwaith gwaith cyflenwi, sy'n cynnwys sicrwydd ynghylch ansawdd. Ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i edrych i weld a oes unrhyw beth arall y gallwn ei wneud yn y maes hwn.
Perfect. Finally, Cabinet Secretary, as you mentioned, the inquiry into the actions of the teaching assistant has led to her being removed from the EWC register and to not be allowed to re-register or work in a school for a period of just 12 months. In order to be re-registered, she would need to undertake face-to-face training courses in relation to safeguarding and appropriate use of social media, meaning that, if she passes these courses, she's eligible to find work in the same role that she was suspended from. I appreciate, Cabinet Secretary, that you are unable to comment specifically on this case, but this is clearly a failure to safeguard a child from potential harm and one that I believe should prevent someone from being eligible to ever re-register in the education workforce again. What are you doing to review the criteria for re-registration after such incidents to ensure it is the best course of action for safeguarding children? Thank you.
Perffaith. Yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel y sonioch chi, mae'r ymchwiliad i weithredoedd y cynorthwyydd addysgu wedi arwain at ei thynnu oddi ar gofrestr Cyngor y Gweithlu Addysg ac i beidio â chael ailgofrestru na gweithio mewn ysgol am gyfnod o 12 mis yn unig. Er mwyn ailgofrestru, byddai angen iddi gyflawni cyrsiau hyfforddi wyneb yn wyneb mewn perthynas â diogelu a defnydd priodol o'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol, sy'n golygu, pe bai'n cwblhau'r cyrsiau hyn, y byddai'n gymwys i ddod o hyd i waith yn yr un rôl ag y cafodd ei hatal ohoni. Rwy'n sylweddoli, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, na allwch wneud sylwadau penodol ar yr achos hwn, ond mae hyn yn amlwg yn fethiant i ddiogelu plentyn rhag niwed posibl, ac yn un credaf y dylai atal rhywun rhag bod yn gymwys i ailgofrestru yn y gweithlu addysg byth eto. Beth rydych chi'n ei wneud i adolygu'r meini prawf ar gyfer ailgofrestru ar ôl digwyddiadau o'r fath i sicrhau'r hyn sydd orau o ran diogelu plant? Diolch.
Thank you, Joel. As you've highlighted, I wouldn't want to comment on this individual case. I do meet with the EWC regularly. I will have a discussion with EWC and my officials as to whether there's anything further that we can do. We're also, as a Government, looking very carefully at how we promote safeguarding in schools. And this is a safeguarding issue, isn't it? So, we're looking at that in the round as well. But I wouldn't want to comment on the specific case. I do, of course, expect the highest standards of behaviour from all of our educators in Wales, and the vast majority of those do a really brilliant job and support children wonderfully well.
Diolch, Joel. Fel y nodoch chi, nid wyf am wneud sylwadau ar yr achos unigol hwn. Rwy'n cyfarfod â Chyngor y Gweithlu Addysg yn rheolaidd. Byddaf yn cael trafodaeth gyda'r cyngor a fy swyddogion i weld a oes unrhyw beth pellach y gallwn ei wneud. Fel Llywodraeth, rydym yn edrych yn ofalus iawn hefyd ar sut rydym yn hyrwyddo diogelu mewn ysgolion. A mater diogelu yw hwn, onid e? Felly, rydym yn edrych ar hynny yn ei gyfanrwydd hefyd. Ond nid wyf am wneud sylwadau ar yr achos penodol. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n disgwyl y safonau ymddygiad uchaf gan ein holl addysgwyr yng Nghymru, ac mae'r mwyafrif helaeth o'r rheini'n gwneud gwaith gwych iawn ac yn cefnogi plant yn rhyfeddol o dda.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Cefin Campbell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Cefin Campbell.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, a recent blog from Impact, an organisation based in Caerphilly specialising in school improvement services, outlined the complete chaos the Welsh education system finds itself in currently. After over 25 years of Labour in Wales levelling down our education system, it's more important than ever for measures to be put in place by the Welsh Government that will properly improve schools across Wales.
Following the middle-tier review, it was clear that the five education consortia across Wales were inconsistent at best and actively damaging at worst when it came to levelling up on school improvement. Since then, Welsh Government have announced a new central national professional learning body, then there's Adnodd, you've also announced a new ministerial expert advisory group, a new expert literacy panel, as well as a new internal Welsh Government school improvement team. That's five new bodies or organisations in place of the five regional consortia. When I speak to teachers, it's clear that the lack of detail regarding these new bodies is causing confusion in classrooms, with one saying that it's complete shambles. So, what action are you taking, Cabinet Secretary, to ensure that teachers and schools are able to access school improvement services during this time of transition?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, amlinellodd blog diweddar gan Impact, sefydliad sydd wedi'i leoli yng Nghaerffili ac sy'n arbenigo mewn gwasanaethau gwella ysgolion, yr anhrefn llwyr y mae system addysg Cymru ynddo ar hyn o bryd. Ar ôl dros 25 mlynedd o Lafur yng Nghymru yn gostwng y gwastad ar ein system addysg, mae'n bwysicach nag erioed fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi mesurau ar waith a fydd yn gwella ysgolion ledled Cymru.
Yn dilyn yr adolygiad haen ganol, roedd yn amlwg fod y pum consortiwm addysg ledled Cymru yn anghyson ar y gorau ac yn niweidiol ar y gwaethaf o ran codi'r gwastad ar wella ysgolion. Ers hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi corff dysgu proffesiynol cenedlaethol canolog newydd, ac mae gennych Adnodd, rydych hefyd wedi cyhoeddi grŵp cynghori arbenigol gweinidogol newydd, panel arbenigol llythrennedd newydd, yn ogystal â thîm gwella ysgolion mewnol newydd Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyna bum corff neu sefydliad newydd yn lle'r pum consortiwm rhanbarthol. Pan fyddaf yn siarad ag athrawon, mae'n amlwg fod y diffyg manylion ynghylch y cyrff newydd hyn yn peri dryswch yn yr ystafelloedd dosbarth, gydag un yn dweud bod y sefyllfa'n llanast llwyr. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod athrawon ac ysgolion yn gallu cael mynediad at wasanaethau gwella ysgolion yn ystod y cyfnod pontio hwn?
Thank you, Cefin, for that question. I'm sure you will expect me to disagree with your assessment that the education system is in complete chaos. You're well aware that we had the middle-tier review, and that was undertaken and there was extensive consultation with school leaders. It was very much their view that they wanted a system in place where they had a direct relationship with the local authority and they were able to work together to improve schools. That work is being taken forward at pace.
I think it would be fair to say that in some local authority areas there is more progress than others, and that's always the case with inconsistency, and that's something we're constantly mindful of. I was in Ynys Môn a few weeks ago, where I had the opportunity to discuss this issue with their secondary heads and the local authority, and I was incredibly impressed by the work that they are doing on a self-improving school system there. So, there is much to be encouraged about there.
You seem to take exception to having what you describe as different bodies, even though they all are doing actually different things. The internal Welsh Government school improvement team is designed to support the work that is being taken forward across Wales at a local level on school improvement, and I think it is essential that we have that national focus. The PL body has been set up to tackle what has been a long-standing problem in Wales of too many different pieces of confusing information about professional learning. Schools talked to us, as part of the middle-tier review, about the white noise of professional learning, so the new PL body will bring together professional learning in a coherent way that is focused on national priorities. Adnodd is focused on curriculum resources, and I’m sure you will agree with me that it is vital that we have a body that is there to develop bilingual curriculum resources. You’ve referred to the expert group, and we’ve discussed that before. I personally think it’s important to listen to experts when you’re dealing with challenging issues. That’s the way I work. I like to talk to people and listen to people. And I’m also in the final stages of appointing a headteacher advisory group, which there’s been huge interest in, and I’m looking forward to working with people who are at the coalface, dealing with these challenges all the time.
You are right to mention the issue of data. You’ll be aware that data has been an issue that I have been concerned about since coming into post. It is absolutely essential that we have high-quality data to drive improvement in these new school improvement arrangements. But I should also take this opportunity to say that I don’t see this as a return to high-stakes accountability. This is enabling everyone in the system to have the information that we need, to make sure that the system improves and we raise standards.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Cefin. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn disgwyl imi anghytuno â'ch asesiad fod y system addysg mewn anhrefn llwyr. Fe wyddoch yn iawn ein bod wedi cael yr adolygiad haen ganol, a bod hwnnw wedi'i gynnal ac y cafwyd ymgynghori helaeth ag arweinwyr ysgolion. Eu barn hwy oedd eu bod eisiau system ar waith lle roedd ganddynt berthynas uniongyrchol â'r awdurdod lleol a lle gallent weithio gyda'i gilydd i wella ysgolion. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo'n gyflym.
Credaf y byddai'n deg dweud bod mwy o gynnydd wedi'i wneud mewn rhai ardaloedd awdurdod lleol nag eraill, a dyna'r achos bob amser gydag anghysondeb, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym bob amser yn ystyriol ohono. Roeddwn ar Ynys Môn ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, lle cefais gyfle i drafod y mater hwn gyda'u penaethiaid ysgolion uwchradd a'r awdurdod lleol, a chefais fy syfrdanu gan y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud ar system hunanwella i ysgolion yno. Felly, mae llawer yno sy'n galonogol.
Ymddengys eich bod yn gwrthwynebu'r hyn a ddisgrifiwch fel cyrff gwahanol, er bod pob un ohonynt yn gwneud pethau gwahanol mewn gwirionedd. Mae tîm gwella ysgolion mewnol Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i gynllunio i gefnogi'r gwaith sy'n mynd rhagddo ledled Cymru ar lefel leol ar wella ysgolion, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol fod gennym y ffocws cenedlaethol hwnnw. Mae'r corff dysgu proffesiynol wedi'i sefydlu i fynd i'r afael â'r hyn sydd wedi bod yn broblem hirsefydlog yng Nghymru gyda gormod o wahanol wybodaeth ddryslyd am ddysgu proffesiynol. Siaradodd ysgolion â ni, fel rhan o'r adolygiad haen ganol, am sŵn gwyn dysgu proffesiynol, felly bydd y corff dysgu proffesiynol newydd yn dwyn ynghyd dysgu proffesiynol mewn ffordd gydlynol sy'n canolbwyntio ar flaenoriaethau cenedlaethol. Mae Adnodd yn canolbwyntio ar adnoddau cwricwlwm, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi ei bod yn hanfodol fod gennym gorff i ddatblygu adnoddau dwyieithog ar gyfer y cwricwlwm. Fe gyfeirioch chi at y grŵp arbenigol, ac rydym wedi trafod hwnnw o'r blaen. Yn bersonol, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig gwrando ar arbenigwyr pan fyddwch yn ymdrin â materion heriol. Dyna sut rwy'n gweithio. Rwy'n hoff o siarad â phobl a gwrando ar bobl. Ac rwyf hefyd yng nghamau olaf y broses o benodi grŵp cynghori penaethiaid, rhywbeth y bu cryn ddiddordeb ynddo, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda phobl sydd ar y rheng flaen, yn ymdrin â'r heriau hyn drwy'r amser.
Rydych chi'n iawn i sôn am fater data. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod data wedi bod yn fater y bûm yn bryderus amdano ers dechrau yn y swydd. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol fod gennym ddata o ansawdd uchel er mwyn hybu gwelliant yn y trefniadau gwella ysgolion newydd hyn. Ond dylwn hefyd achub ar y cyfle hwn i ddweud nad wyf yn ystyried hyn yn ddychweliad at atebolrwydd risg uchel. Mae hyn yn galluogi pawb yn y system i gael y wybodaeth sydd ei hangen arnom, i sicrhau bod y system yn gwella a'n bod yn codi safonau.
Diolch. Y pwynt roeddwn i’n ceisio’i wneud, wrth gwrs, yw dyw e ddim yn glir beth yw effaith yr holl gyrff yma sydd wedi cael eu sefydlu ar wella safonau mewn ysgolion. A dyna pam mae pobl yn ansicr, yn y cyfnod yma o drawsnewid, beth mae’r cyrff yma yn ei wneud o ran gwella safonau. Ond, yn greiddiol i’r mater hwn, wrth gwrs, mae’r dryswch ynghylch beth yn union sydd yn digwydd i’r consortia addysg rhanbarthol. Yn eich sesiwn ar graffu ar y gyllideb gerbron y pwyllgor addysg yn gynharach eleni, fe ddywedoch chi hyn:
Thank you. The point that I was trying to make, of course, is that it’s not clear what the impact of all of these bodies that have been established is on improving standards in schools. And that’s why people are uncertain, in this period of transition, as to what these bodies are doing in terms of improving standards. But, at the core of this issue is the confusion about what exactly is happening to the regional education consortia. In your budget scrutiny session before the education committee earlier this year, you said this:
'The consortia aren’t going to exist anymore.'
'Nid yw'r consortia'n mynd i fodoli mwyach.'
Fodd bynnag, mae’r Cofnod wedi cael ei ddiwygio, wedi hynny, i ddweud:
However, the Record has been amended, following that, to say:
'The consortia may not exist anymore.'
'Efallai na fydd y consortia yn bodoli mwyach.'
Ac mae yna wahaniaeth rhwng y ddau. Felly, ydy hyn yn golygu y bydd rhai consortia, o 1 Medi ymlaen, yn parhau mewn bodolaeth a chwarae rôl yn eich cynlluniau ar gyfer gwella safonau addysg mewn ysgolion? Yn ychwanegol, gan ystyried bod staff wedi bod yn gadael yn eu cannoedd o’r sefydliadau hyn ers i’r arolwg haen ganol gael ei gyhoeddi, ydych chi’n pryderu na fydd, yn y consortia, neu yn y cyrff newydd, a’r corff canolog rŷch chi wedi'i sefydlu, ddigon o staff gwella ysgolion o ansawdd digonol er mwyn codi safonau ar draws y 1,400 o ysgolion yng Nghymru?
And there is a difference between the two, of course. So, does this mean that some consortia, from 1 September onwards, will continue to exist and will continue to play a role in your plans to improve education standards in schools? In addition, given that staff have been leaving in their hundreds since the middle tier review was published, are you concerned that, in the consortia, or the new bodies, and the new central body that you’ve established, there won't be enough school improvement staff of sufficient quality in order to raise standards across the 1,400 schools across Wales?
Thank you, Cefin. And I do want to recognise that we’re in a period of transition—and periods of transition are challenging for people—and recognise that this has been a stressful time for some of the staff involved as well. The consortia won’t exist in their current form. The school improvement relationship will be with the statutory school improvement body, which is the local authority. Now, each part of Wales is working out how those arrangements will be structured in the best interests of delivering school improvement in their area. So, as I mentioned Ynys Môn, Ynys Môn are developing a partnership with Gwynedd council. In Gwent, my own area, they are working more together on the old Educational Achievement Service footprint. So, the statutory duty lies with local authorities. They are developing their plans. They are reporting to not just our programme board on this, but we also have a national coherence group, which is chaired by Kirsty Williams, and that body is there to give me advice on the whole coherence of the whole system.
Diolch, Cefin. A hoffwn gydnabod ein bod mewn cyfnod pontio—ac mae cyfnodau pontio yn heriol i bobl—a chydnabod bod hwn wedi bod yn gyfnod llawn straen i rai o'r staff dan sylw hefyd. Ni fydd y consortia yn bodoli ar eu ffurf bresennol. Bydd y berthynas wella ysgolion gyda'r corff gwella ysgolion statudol, sef yr awdurdod lleol. Nawr, mae pob rhan o Gymru'n gweithio ar sut y bydd y trefniadau hynny'n cael eu strwythuro yn y ffordd orau i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn eu hardal yn gwella. Felly, gan imi sôn am Ynys Môn, mae Ynys Môn yn datblygu partneriaeth â chyngor Gwynedd. Yng Ngwent, fy ardal i, maent yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i raddau mwy ar sail gwaith yr hen Wasanaeth Cyflawni Addysg. Felly, yr awdurdodau lleol sydd â'r ddyletswydd statudol. Maent yn datblygu eu cynlluniau eu hunain. Maent yn adrodd nid yn unig i'n bwrdd rhaglen ar hyn, ond mae gennym grŵp cydlynu cenedlaethol hefyd, a gadeirir gan Kirsty Williams, ac mae'r corff hwnnw yno i roi cyngor i mi ar gydlyniant y system gyfan.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. A crucial aspect of school improvement programmes is, of course, funding. As you've said yourself, a lot of professional learning will be done on a national basis, so we've had to strengthen the funding for that at a more national level—those were your words. That inevitably means a reduction in the LEA grant, meaning less funding for local authorities, at a time when we're asking them to do more. So, notwithstanding the future funding arrangements, however, I'd like to focus on the potential costs to local authorities. One consortia, Partneriaeth, notes in their recent risk register that not receiving enough money from the local authorities they serve to enable them to provide effective school improvement support is labelled 'a medium probability with a very high impact'. Meanwhile GwE, the consortium for north Wales, has been dealing with the cost of making staff who are not moving directly to local authorities redundant. This has left them in a deficit of almost £1 million. So, quite simply, will the Welsh Government be covering this shortfall, or will local authorities be expected, yet again, to foot the bill?
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Agwedd hanfodol ar raglenni gwella ysgolion yw cyllid, wrth gwrs. Fel rydych wedi'i ddweud eich hun, bydd llawer o ddysgu proffesiynol yn digwydd ar sail genedlaethol, felly rydym wedi gorfod cryfhau'r cyllid ar gyfer hynny ar lefel fwy cenedlaethol—dyna oedd eich geiriau. Mae hynny'n anochel yn golygu gostyngiad yn y grant AALl, sy'n golygu llai o gyllid i awdurdodau lleol, ar adeg pan ydym yn gofyn iddynt wneud mwy. Felly, ar wahân i'r trefniadau cyllido yn y dyfodol, fodd bynnag, hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar y costau posibl i awdurdodau lleol. Mae un consortiwm, Partneriaeth, yn nodi yn eu cofrestr risg ddiweddar fod peidio â derbyn digon o arian gan yr awdurdodau lleol y maent yn eu gwasanaethu i'w galluogi i ddarparu cymorth effeithiol i wella ysgolion wedi'i labelu'n 'debygolrwydd canolig gydag effaith uchel iawn'. Yn y cyfamser, mae GwE, y consortiwm ar gyfer gogledd Cymru, wedi bod yn ymdrin â chost diswyddo staff nad ydynt yn symud yn uniongyrchol i awdurdodau lleol. Mae hyn wedi eu gadael i wynebu diffyg o bron i £1 filiwn. Felly, yn syml iawn, a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu'r diffyg hwn, neu a fydd disgwyl unwaith eto i awdurdodau lleol dalu'r bil?
Thank you, Cefin. As you will be aware from budget scrutiny and recent questions, across this financial year and the last financial year, this Welsh Labour Government has provided a total of £262.5 million extra of funding for the education system. That included a 4.5 per cent increase in funding for the revenue support grant—some £243 million or thereabouts—and that money was allocated. And it was very clear in the letter that that was there to recognise the pressures they had identified in education, including ALN, as well as social care.
You are right to highlight that, in the budget that I was scrutinised on after Christmas, there were some transfers between BELs to reflect the fact that we were establishing a new professional learning body. But, just to be really clear, that is not less money in the system, that is just to reflect the fact that different people are delivering different things. We have done the very best we can, thanks to the extra money from the UK Labour Government, to put as much money into the education system as we can. Nobody is saying there aren't any pressures, and I will be the loudest voice arguing for more money for education always.
Diolch, Cefin. Fel y gwyddoch o'r gwaith craffu ar y gyllideb a chwestiynau diweddar, yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon a'r flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi darparu cyfanswm o £262.5 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer y system addysg. Roedd hynny'n cynnwys cynnydd o 4.5 y cant mewn cyllid ar gyfer y grant cynnal refeniw—oddeutu £243 miliwn—ac roedd yr arian hwnnw wedi'i ddyrannu. Ac roedd yn glir iawn yn y llythyr fod hwnnw yno i gydnabod y pwysau roeddent wedi'i nodi mewn addysg, gan gynnwys ADY, yn ogystal â gofal cymdeithasol.
Rydych chi'n iawn i nodi, yn y gyllideb y cefais fy nghraffu arni ar ôl y Nadolig, fod rhywfaint o drosglwyddo rhwng llinellau gwariant yn y gyllideb i adlewyrchu'r ffaith ein bod yn sefydlu corff dysgu proffesiynol newydd. Ond i fod yn hollol glir, nid yw hynny'n golygu llai o arian yn y system; yn hytrach, mae'n adlewyrchu'r ffaith bod gwahanol bobl yn cyflawni gwahanol bethau. Rydym wedi gwneud ein gorau glas, diolch i'r arian ychwanegol gan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU, i roi cymaint o arian ag y gallwn i'r system addysg. Nid oes unrhyw yn dweud nad oes pwysau, a fy llais i fydd gryfaf bob amser yn dadlau dros fwy o arian ar gyfer addysg.
3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo manteision dysgu yn yr awyr agored? OQ62681
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote the benefits of outdoor learning? OQ62681
Outdoor learning is a key feature of successful pedagogy within the Curriculum for Wales. The curriculum makes clear the value of authentic outdoor learning experiences, including supporting healthy and active lifestyles, developing problem-solving skills, whilst understanding and respecting nature and our environment.
Mae dysgu yn yr awyr agored yn nodwedd allweddol o addysgeg lwyddiannus yn y Cwricwlwm i Gymru. Mae'r cwricwlwm yn nodi gwerth profiadau dysgu yn yr awyr agored dilys yn glir, gan gynnwys cefnogi ffyrdd o fyw iach ac egnïol, datblygu sgiliau datrys problemau, wrth ddeall a pharchu natur a'n hamgylchedd.
Cabinet Secretary, as you know, we on this side of the Chamber are keen to promote the benefits of outdoor learning, as was demonstrated by my colleague Sam Rowlands's Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill, which unfortunately the Welsh Government didn't support. Now, I believe that the Welsh Government has committed to supporting some of my colleague's non-legislative proposals to support residential outdoor learning, including engaging with the Outdoor Partnership on the development of their adventure learning framework. I understand that progress on this front has been slow and it is important that the Welsh Government is engaging with the Outdoor Partnership on this important work. So, Cabinet Secretary, can you tell us what the Welsh Government has done so far to support the development of the adventure learning framework, and can you also tell us a bit more about how outdoor learning is being supported in our Welsh schools?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel y gwyddoch, rydym ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn awyddus i hyrwyddo manteision dysgu yn yr awyr agored, fel yr amlygwyd gan Fil Addysg Awyr Agored Breswyl (Cymru) fy nghyd-Aelod Sam Rowlands, na chefnogwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn anffodus. Nawr, rwy'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi rhai o gynigion anneddfwriaethol fy nghyd-Aelod i gefnogi dysgu preswyl yn yr awyr agored, gan gynnwys ymgysylltu â'r Bartneriaeth Awyr Agored ar ddatblygiad eu fframwaith addysg antur. Rwy'n deall bod cynnydd wedi bod yn araf yn y cyswllt hwn, ac mae'n bwysig fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgysylltu â'r Bartneriaeth Awyr Agored ar y gwaith pwysig hwn. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud hyd yma i gefnogi datblygiad y fframwaith addysg antur, ac a allwch chi hefyd ddweud mwy wrthym ynglŷn â sut y mae dysgu yn yr awyr agored yn cael ei gefnogi yn ein hysgolion yng Nghymru?
Thank you very much, Paul, for your supplementary question. The Curriculum for Wales, as you know, makes clear that outdoor learning should be embedded throughout a learner's journey in a wide range of authentic settings. This can be within an education setting, the wider community, a forest, beach or mountain, and we continue to encourage schools to build outdoor learning into their curriculum. It's included in the humanities, health and well-being and the science and technology areas of learning and experience in the Curriculum for Wales, which all schools must consider. We have published an outdoor learning module for those in foundation learning and, when we have had a chance to review those modules, we are going to consider how they can be expanded upon across the learning continuum from three to 16. We've also worked to ensure that there are a range of high-quality resources available on Hwb to support outdoor learning practice, many of which were highlighted during Wales Outdoor Learning Week recently, with resources from a range of organisations on outdoor learning and climate change. We also took the opportunity to promote a wide variety of resources to schools and settings, and I'm really pleased that we've directly supported the development of the Tirlun outdoor learning online portal for schools, led by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park education team. The resource ensures schools and designated landscapes of Wales work together to provide outdoor experiences to consolidate learning for older children.
As you highlighted, we weren't able to support Sam Rowlands's Bill because we had concerns about financial pressures and also conflicts within the curriculum. I did meet with Sam and we are looking at what we can do to take forward some of his recommendations. Ideally, I'd prefer to update Sam—we've had to rearrange one meeting and we're trying to get another one in—but, just to say, officials have met with the outdoor learning partnership to better understand their framework, and we're reviewing that to consider next steps. We've also highlighted the importance of outdoor learning in the school essentials grant's frequently asked questions and supported documentation, which was one of Sam's asks. But I know that I'm trying to get a meeting in with Sam where I can discuss this with him in more detail.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Paul. Mae'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru, fel y gwyddoch, yn egluro y dylid ymgorffori dysgu yn yr awyr agored drwy gydol taith dysgwr mewn ystod eang o leoliadau dilys. Gall hyn fod mewn lleoliad addysg, y gymuned ehangach, coedwig, traeth neu fynydd, ac rydym yn parhau i annog ysgolion i gynnwys dysgu yn yr awyr agored yn eu cwricwlwm. Mae wedi'i gynnwys ym meysydd dysgu a phrofiad y dyniaethau, iechyd a lles a gwyddoniaeth a thechnoleg yn y Cwricwlwm i Gymru, y mae'n rhaid i bob ysgol ei ystyried. Rydym wedi cyhoeddi modiwl dysgu yn yr awyr agored i'r rhai yn y cyfnod sylfaen, a phan fyddwn wedi cael cyfle i adolygu'r modiwlau hynny, byddwn yn ystyried sut y gellir eu hehangu ar draws y continwwm dysgu o dair i 16 oed. Rydym hefyd wedi gweithio i sicrhau bod ystod o adnoddau o ansawdd uchel ar gael ar Hwb i gefnogi arferion dysgu yn yr awyr agored, a chafodd llawer ohonynt eu hamlygu yn ystod Wythnos Dysgu yn yr Awyr Agored Cymru yn ddiweddar, gydag adnoddau gan ystod o sefydliadau ar ddysgu yn yr awyr agored a'r newid hinsawdd. Fe wnaethom achub ar y cyfle hefyd i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth eang o adnoddau i ysgolion a lleoliadau, ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi rhoi cymorth uniongyrchol i ddatblygiad Tirlun, porth dysgu yn yr awyr agored ar-lein ar gyfer ysgolion o dan arweiniad tîm addysg Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro. Mae'r adnodd yn sicrhau bod ysgolion a thirweddau dynodedig Cymru yn cydweithio i ddarparu profiadau yn yr awyr agored i atgyfnerthu dysgu i blant hŷn.
Fel y nodwyd gennych, ni wnaethom gefnogi Bil Sam Rowlands am fod gennym bryderon ynghylch pwysau ariannol a gwrthdaro o fewn y cwricwlwm hefyd. Cyfarfûm â Sam, ac rydym yn edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i fwrw ymlaen â rhai o'i argymhellion. Yn ddelfrydol, byddai'n well gennyf roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Sam—rydym wedi gorfod aildrefnu un cyfarfod ac rydym yn ceisio trefnu un arall—ond gallaf ddweud bod swyddogion wedi cyfarfod â'r bartneriaeth dysgu yn yr awyr agored i ddeall eu fframwaith yn well, ac rydym yn ei adolygu i ystyried y camau nesaf. Rydym hefyd wedi tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd dysgu yn yr awyr agored yng nghwestiynau cyffredin a dogfennau ategol y grant hanfodion ysgol, a oedd yn un o ofynion Sam. Ond gwn fy mod yn ceisio cael cyfarfod â Sam lle gallaf drafod hyn gydag ef yn fanylach.
Thank you, Paul, for raising this important subject because it's so beneficial to children's physical and mental health. I'm privileged to have wonderful suburban schools in Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn, which have all been given generous parcels of land as part of their playgrounds, and there are obviously fantastic learning opportunities to be had. I know outstanding teachers who would love to incorporate growing food into the new curriculum, but they feel they know nothing about gardening. So, I'm very interested in the information you've provided us with about the hubs, which I haven't looked at, but how do you plan to evaluate how we incorporate food literacy and everything that goes with it—where food comes from, not out of a cardboard box—to really strengthen children's understanding of what a healthy, balanced diet does to enable them to stay well and learn well?
Diolch am godi'r pwnc pwysig hwn, Paul, gan ei fod mor fuddiol i iechyd corfforol a meddyliol plant. Mae'n fraint gennyf gael ysgolion maestrefol gwych yn Llanedeyrn a Phen-twyn, sydd oll wedi cael darnau hael o dir yn rhan o'u meysydd chwarae, ac mae cyfleoedd dysgu gwych i'w cael, yn amlwg. Rwy'n adnabod athrawon rhagorol a fyddai wrth eu boddau'n ymgorffori tyfu bwyd yn y cwricwlwm newydd, ond maent yn teimlo nad ydynt yn gwybod unrhyw beth am arddio. Felly, mae gennyf gryn ddiddordeb yn y wybodaeth a roesoch i ni am yr hybiau, nad wyf wedi edrych arni, ond sut rydych chi'n bwriadu gwerthuso'r ffordd rydym yn ymgorffori llythrennedd bwyd a phopeth a ddaw gyda hynny—o ble y daw bwyd, nid allan o flwch cardbord—i gryfhau dealltwriaeth plant o'r hyn y mae deiet iach a chytbwys yn ei wneud i'w galluogi i gadw'n iach ac i ddysgu'n dda?
Thank you, Jenny. I know this is something you are particularly passionate about. I'm really pleased that the Curriculum for Wales gives schools the flexibility to use that pedagogy on topics like horticulture and food production, and many education settings already use their outdoor spaces to provide learners with enrichment activities, including growing fruit and vegetables. Estyn have also published positive case studies in this area. I was able to visit Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni at Easter, where they've got a massive, beautiful garden where they are growing things, and that's having a big impact on their mental health as well. And we are keen, as part of our community-focused schools policy, to continue to encourage children and their communities to engage with activities that support their well-being, such as this.
Diolch, Jenny. Gwn fod hyn yn rhywbeth rydych chi'n arbennig o angerddol yn ei gylch. Rwy'n falch iawn fod y Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn rhoi hyblygrwydd i ysgolion ddefnyddio'r addysgeg honno ar bynciau fel garddwriaeth a chynhyrchu bwyd, ac mae llawer o leoliadau addysg eisoes yn defnyddio eu mannau awyr agored i ddarparu gweithgareddau cyfoethogi i ddysgwyr, gan gynnwys tyfu ffrwythau a llysiau. Mae Estyn hefyd wedi cyhoeddi astudiaethau achos cadarnhaol yn y maes hwn. Bu modd imi ymweld ag Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni dros y Pasg, lle mae ganddynt ardd enfawr, hardd lle maent yn tyfu pethau, ac mae hynny'n cael effaith fawr ar eu hiechyd meddwl hefyd. Ac fel rhan o'n polisi ysgolion bro, rydym yn awyddus i barhau i annog plant a'u cymunedau i gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau sy'n cefnogi eu lles fel hyn.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddiwygiadau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol Llywodraeth Cymru? OQ62675
4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government's additional learning needs reforms? OQ62675
Local authorities, schools and colleges are working hard to ensure learners receive the support they need and to move learners to the additional learning needs system by August 2025. I will update the Senedd on the next steps to improve consistency in the approach to the ALN reforms in July.
Mae awdurdodau lleol, ysgolion a cholegau'n gweithio'n galed i sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt ac i symud dysgwyr i'r system anghenion dysgu ychwanegol erbyn mis Awst 2025. Byddaf yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd ynglŷn â'r camau nesaf i wella cysondeb yn y dull o weithredu'r diwygiadau ADY ym mis Gorffennaf.
Last year, the ALN Reform Wales campaign told me that the new system is just not working, that they have received countless stories of children missed or left behind by the new system, that children and parents were being blamed and punished, and that trauma was coming from school because teachers and schools were not being trained and supported. A year ago, National Education Union Cymru stated that although they broadly welcomed the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and their members want to be focusing on children and their learning, the system is forcing teachers away from the classroom. This year, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers Cymru told me that, despite supporting the principles behind the legislation, effective interventions are only possible if education professionals are not spending precious time completing paperwork, that December's Estyn report had highlighted major concerns with the Act's implementation, and that people needed to know how they could contribute to the Welsh Government's legislative review, which I believe is now closed. Given that major reforms to special educational needs provision are expected in England, with the UK Government looking at what happened to the ALN reforms in Wales, what will you be telling them about this?
Y llynedd, dywedodd ymgyrch Diwygio ADY Cymru wrthyf nad yw'r system newydd yn gweithio o gwbl, eu bod wedi cael straeon di-rif am blant a fethwyd neu a adawyd ar ôl gan y system newydd, fod plant a rhieni'n cael eu beio a'u cosbi, a bod trawma'n dod o'r ysgol am nad oedd athrawon ac ysgolion yn cael eu hyfforddi a'u cefnogi. Flwyddyn yn ôl, dywedodd Undeb Addysg Cenedlaethol Cymru, er eu bod yn croesawu Deddf Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a’r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) 2018 yn gyffredinol, a bod eu haelodau'n awyddus i ganolbwyntio ar blant a'u dysgu, fod y system yn gorfodi athrawon o'r ystafell ddosbarth. Eleni, dywedodd Cymdeithas Genedlaethol yr Ysgolfeistri ac Undeb yr Athrawesau wrthyf, er eu bod yn cefnogi'r egwyddorion y tu ôl i'r ddeddfwriaeth, mai dim ond os nad yw gweithwyr addysg proffesiynol yn treulio amser gwerthfawr yn cwblhau gwaith papur y mae ymyriadau effeithiol yn bosibl, fod adroddiad Estyn ym mis Rhagfyr wedi tynnu sylw at bryderon mawr ynghylch gweithredu'r Ddeddf, a bod angen i bobl wybod sut y gallent gyfrannu at adolygiad deddfwriaethol Llywodraeth Cymru, sydd bellach wedi'i gwblhau. O ystyried bod disgwyl diwygiadau mawr i'r ddarpariaeth anghenion addysgol arbennig yn Lloegr, gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn edrych ar yr hyn a ddigwyddodd i'r diwygiadau ADY yng Nghymru, beth fyddwch chi'n ei ddweud wrthynt ynglŷn â hyn?
Thank you for your question, Mark. As I hope Members know, I do care passionately about delivering for all our learners, including those with ALN. The aims of our reforms are ambitious and involve systemic changes to culture and practice in Wales. We know that our reforms are benefiting many learners and families, and actually, Mark, Estyn's recent review reported improvements in ALN provision and some really good practice across Wales, and we've shared some of this in a recent effective practice event.
Local authorities, schools and colleges are working really hard to meet the needs of learners, and this is against a backdrop of very significant rising numbers of children presenting with ALN and with rising levels of complexity. I've been very open with the Senedd about the challenges that we've seen in implementation, and I don't want to see a single child left behind by this system. That's why I announced the legislative review of ALN, because we heard from stakeholders, but also from the president of the tribunal, that aspects of the legislation were complex and unclear. And as you've highlighted, the consultation on our legislative review has just closed.
But alongside that, we've been working all this time closely with local authorities to drive consistency in the system, as we are doing that. We've been sharing good practice through inclusive practice events, we've had feedback from staff, which has been really valuable, and we've also had a parental survey open to get parents' feedback on the system. I am due to make a statement on ALN reform in July. That will be an opportunity to update Members on the outcome of the legislative review and the other work that we're doing, which includes things like improving our data collection on ALN, because you can't drive improvements in a system without having the data.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Mark. Fel rwy'n gobeithio bod yr Aelodau'n gwybod, rwy'n malio'n angerddol am gyflawni i'n holl ddysgwyr, gan gynnwys y rhai sydd ag ADY. Mae nodau ein diwygiadau'n uchelgeisiol ac yn cynnwys newidiadau systemig i ddiwylliant ac ymarfer yng Nghymru. Gwyddom fod ein diwygiadau o fudd i lawer o ddysgwyr a theuluoedd, ac mewn gwirionedd, Mark, nododd adolygiad diweddar Estyn welliannau yn y ddarpariaeth ADY ac ymarfer da iawn ledled Cymru, ac fe wnaethom rannu rhywfaint o hyn mewn digwyddiad ymarfer effeithiol yn ddiweddar.
Mae awdurdodau lleol, ysgolion a cholegau'n gweithio'n galed iawn i ddiwallu anghenion dysgwyr, a hynny yn erbyn cefndir o niferoedd mawr cynyddol o blant ag ADY a chyda lefelau cynyddol o gymhlethdod. Rwyf wedi bod yn agored iawn gyda'r Senedd ynglŷn â'r heriau a welsom wrth weithredu, ac nid wyf am weld un plentyn yn cael ei adael ar ôl gan y system hon. Dyna pam y cyhoeddais yr adolygiad deddfwriaethol o ADY, oherwydd fe glywsom gan randdeiliaid, ond hefyd gan lywydd y tribiwnlys, fod agweddau ar y ddeddfwriaeth yn gymhleth ac yn aneglur. Ac fel y nodwyd gennych, mae'r ymgynghoriad ar ein hadolygiad deddfwriaethol newydd ddod i ben.
Ond ochr yn ochr â hynny, trwy gydol yr amser, fe fuom yn gweithio'n agos gydag awdurdodau lleol i hybu cysondeb yn y system wrth inni wneud hynny. Rydym wedi bod yn rhannu ymarfer trwy ddigwyddiadau ymarfer cynhwysol, rydym wedi cael adborth gan staff, sydd wedi bod yn werthfawr iawn, ac rydym hefyd wedi gweld arolwg rhieni'n agor i gael adborth rhieni ar y system. Mae disgwyl imi wneud datganiad ar ddiwygio ADY ym mis Gorffennaf. Bydd yn gyfle i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau ar ganlyniad yr adolygiad deddfwriaethol a'r gwaith arall a wnawn, sy'n cynnwys pethau fel gwella ein systemau casglu data ar ADY, oherwydd ni allwch hybu gwelliannau mewn system heb gael y data.
5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o'r graddau y mae ysgolion yn dibynnu ar staff asiantaeth? OQ62711
5. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the extent to which schools rely on agency staff? OQ62711
Local authorities are responsible for sourcing school staff, including decisions on when and how to use agency staff. Welsh Government has noted that some local authorities have a significant need for temporary staff, and we are currently working with them to understand any recruitment and retention challenges.
Awdurdodau lleol sy'n gyfrifol am ddod o hyd i staff ysgolion, gan gynnwys penderfyniadau ynghylch pryd a sut i ddefnyddio staff asiantaeth. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi nodi bod gan rai awdurdodau lleol angen sylweddol am staff dros dro, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda hwy ar hyn o bryd i ddeall unrhyw heriau recriwtio a chadw staff.
I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that response. Last year, the shortage of staff in our schools cost the taxpayer almost £79 million in agency staff. Monmouthshire County Council alone spent almost £4 million. This additional financial pressure on local authorities is a direct result of the Welsh Government's failures to address staff shortages across Wales, much like the situation in our healthcare service. Cabinet Secretary, I'm sure you would agree with me that this money would be better invested in retaining and recruiting quality teachers for long-term sustainability, rather than this overreliance on agency staff. I know you're working with local authorities, but what actions are the Welsh Government taking to resolve the situation?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Y llynedd, costiodd prinder staff yn ein hysgolion bron i £79 miliwn i'r trethdalwr am staff asiantaeth. Gwariodd Cyngor Sir Fynwy yn unig bron i £4 miliwn. Mae'r pwysau ariannol ychwanegol hwn ar awdurdodau lleol yn ganlyniad uniongyrchol i fethiannau Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â phrinder staff ledled Cymru, yn debyg iawn i'r sefyllfa yn ein gwasanaeth gofal iechyd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno â mi y byddai'n well i'r arian hwn fod wedi'i fuddsoddi mewn cadw a recriwtio athrawon o safon ar gyfer cynaliadwyedd hirdymor yn hytrach na'r orddibyniaeth hon ar staff asiantaeth. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, ond pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddatrys y sefyllfa?
Thank you, Peter. Well, you won't be surprised to hear that I don't agree with you that these costs are a result of our failure to tackle staff shortages. I think you'll find that the recruitment and retention of teachers are challenges across the UK and, indeed, across the world now at the moment. So, we're all facing the same challenges. That's one of the reasons why I announced we would be developing a strategic education workforce plan.
I think it's important to note that there will always be some need for the use of temporary staff in schools, whether that's supply teachers, teaching assistants or other support staff, and we mustn't forget that they are dedicated members of the workforce who play a really important role in our children's education. As I said earlier, many schools choose to use agencies, and the Welsh Government has established a supply agency framework that provides fairer pay and conditions, professional development opportunities, and assurances that agencies have met agreed requirements. I'm really pleased that 98 per cent of the money spent on the provision of supply staff is via that framework.
I think it's also important to note that when we look at that headline figure of agency spend, we do need to be clear about where the money goes, and the majority of that money is pay passed on to supply teachers and support staff who are providing the cover, and while there's some variance across the agencies, the agency fee element is approximately 16 per cent of the total. But, obviously, I saw the same figures that you saw. What money we have is precious. We have to make sure it is spent to maximum effect. That's why we're looking at recruitment and retention. That also means looking at things like well-being and making sure that our staff want to stay in our teaching profession.
We are also talking to local authorities. So, for example, one of the local authorities had a spend of around £20 million, and we're talking to the local authorities to understand that. You will probably also be aware that I issued a written statement on our work around a national supply pool for supply staff not so long ago. Taking forward the work around decent terms and conditions for supply staff will also be a key part of the work in our strategic workforce plan.
Diolch, Peter. Wel, ni fyddwch yn synnu clywed nad wyf yn cytuno â chi fod y costau hyn yn ganlyniad i'n methiant i fynd i'r afael â phrinder staff. Rwy'n credu y byddwch chi'n gweld bod recriwtio a chadw athrawon yn heriau ledled y DU, a ledled y byd yn wir ar hyn o bryd. Felly, rydym i gyd yn wynebu'r un heriau. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y cyhoeddais y byddwn yn datblygu cynllun strategol ar gyfer y gweithlu addysg.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig nodi y bydd yna bob amser angen defnyddio staff dros dro mewn ysgolion, boed hynny'n athrawon cyflenwi, cynorthwywyr addysgu neu staff cymorth arall, ac ni ddylem anghofio eu bod yn aelodau ymroddedig o'r gweithlu sy'n chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn addysg ein plant. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, mae llawer o ysgolion yn dewis defnyddio asiantaethau, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefydlu fframwaith asiantaethau cyflenwi sy'n darparu cyflog ac amodau tecach, cyfleoedd datblygu proffesiynol, a sicrwydd fod asiantaethau wedi bodloni gofynion y cytunwyd arnynt. Rwy'n falch iawn fod 98 y cant o'r arian sy'n cael ei wario ar ddarparu staff cyflenwi yn cael ei wneud trwy'r fframwaith hwnnw.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn bwysig nodi, pan edrychwn ar brif ffigur y gwariant ar asiantaethau, fod angen inni fod yn glir ynglŷn â ble mae'r arian yn mynd, ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r arian yn gyflog sy'n cael ei drosglwyddo i athrawon cyflenwi a staff cymorth sy'n darparu'r ddarpariaeth gyflenwi, ac er bod rhywfaint o amrywio ar draws yr asiantaethau, mae elfen ffi'r asiantaeth oddeutu 16 y cant o'r cyfanswm. Ond yn amlwg, gwelais yr un ffigurau ag a weloch chi. Mae'r arian sydd gennym yn werthfawr. Mae'n rhaid inni wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn cael ei wario yn y ffordd orau bosibl. Dyna pam ein bod yn edrych ar recriwtio a chadw staff. Mae hynny hefyd yn golygu edrych ar bethau fel llesiant a gwneud yn siŵr fod ein staff eisiau aros yn ein proffesiwn addysgu.
Rydym hefyd yn siarad ag awdurdodau lleol. Felly, er enghraifft, roedd gan un o'r awdurdodau lleol wariant o tua £20 miliwn, ac rydym yn siarad â'r awdurdodau lleol i ddeall hynny. Mae'n debyg y byddwch chi hefyd yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig ar ein gwaith ar gronfa gyflenwi genedlaethol ar gyfer staff cyflenwi heb fod mor bell â hynny'n ôl. Bydd bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith ar delerau ac amodau gweddus ar gyfer staff cyflenwi hefyd yn rhan allweddol o'r gwaith yn ein cynllun strategol ar gyfer y gweithlu.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am rôl cynghorau ymgynghorol sefydlog ar addysg grefyddol? OQ62695
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the role of standing advisory councils on religious education? OQ62695
Standing advisory councils on religious education continue to provide guidance and advice on teaching, learning, resources and pedagogy in religious education, religion, values and ethics, and collective worship. We're also working with the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education to address teacher recruitment challenges in this area.
Mae cynghorau ymgynghorol sefydlog ar addysg grefyddol yn parhau i ddarparu arweiniad a chyngor ar addysgu, dysgu, adnoddau ac addysgeg mewn addysg grefyddol, crefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg, ac addoli ar y cyd. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio gyda Chymdeithas Cynghorau Ymgynghorol Sefydlog Cymru ar Addysg Grefyddol (CYSAG) i fynd i'r afael â heriau recriwtio athrawon yn y maes hwn.
Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary. I'm also grateful for your earlier response to my colleague Paul Davies on a separate matter. But on this particular issue, as chair of the cross-party group on faith, I've received concerns regarding inconsistencies in the way that SACRE groups receive professional support across Wales, with particular concerns around the role of those regional school improvement services that you had a discussion with Cefin Campbell about earlier, given the changes that are taken place at that middle tier.
I know that you think it's important that SACRE groups are able to appropriately carry out their duties in looking at the teachings of religious education and collective worship in schools, and I know that you, with me, agree that when that is done well, it benefits children across Wales. So, I wonder, in the months ahead, what your plan is to make sure that those SACREs in local authority areas across Wales receive and have access to the guidance and support that they need to do their work and their duties effectively.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwyf hefyd yn ddiolchgar am eich ymateb cynharach i'm cyd-Aelod Paul Davies ar fater arall. Ond ar y mater penodol hwn, fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ffydd, mynegwyd pryderon ynghylch anghysondebau yn y ffordd y mae grwpiau CYSAG yn cael cymorth proffesiynol ledled Cymru, gyda phryderon penodol ynghylch rôl y gwasanaethau gwella ysgolion rhanbarthol y cawsoch drafodaeth gyda Cefin Campbell amdanynt yn gynharach, o ystyried y newidiadau sy'n digwydd yn yr haen ganol honno.
Rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig fod grwpiau CYSAG yn gallu cyflawni eu dyletswyddau'n briodol wrth edrych ar ddysgu addysg grefyddol ac addoli ar y cyd mewn ysgolion, ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi, fel fi, yn cytuno pan fydd hynny'n cael ei wneud yn dda, ei fod o fudd i blant ledled Cymru. Felly, yn y misoedd i ddod, beth yw eich cynllun i wneud yn siŵr fod CYSAGau mewn ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru yn cael yr arweiniad a'r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt i wneud eu gwaith a'u dyletswyddau'n effeithiol.
Thank you, Sam. Standing advisory councils have a really important role to play in developing the agreed syllabus for schools on RVE. As you know, schools must consider this syllabus alongside national guidance when developing their curricula. Our RVE guidance has been developed by practitioners through a process of co-construction that has been supported by experts, including the Wales association of standing advisory councils.
You have heard me say in response to Cefin Campbell earlier about the new professional learning body. I'm aware that there are concerns around the consistency of engagement with SACREs, and I wanted to let you know that we have created a new area on Hwb that gives access to a range of professional learning resources, experiences and opportunities. This includes new resources that provide key information about meeting the legislative requirements for religion, values and ethics within the Curriculum for Wales, and how to embed more RVE concepts and content into their curriculum offer. I'm really pleased that, by the end of May, this site is going to include a resource card linking to the Wales association of standing advisory councils' website.
Diolch, Sam. Mae gan gynghorau ymgynghorol sefydlog rôl bwysig iawn i'w chwarae yn datblygu'r maes llafur crefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg a gytunwyd ar gyfer ysgolion. Fel y gwyddoch, rhaid i ysgolion ystyried y maes llafur hwn ochr yn ochr â chanllawiau cenedlaethol wrth ddatblygu eu cwricwlwm. Mae ein canllawiau crefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg wedi'u datblygu gan addysgwyr drwy broses o gydadeiladu a gefnogwyd gan arbenigwyr, yn cynnwys y gymdeithas cynghorau ymgynghorol sefydlog yng Nghymru.
Rydych wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud mewn ymateb i Cefin Campbell yn gynharach am y corff dysgu proffesiynol newydd. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod yna bryderon ynghylch cysondeb ymgysylltu â CYSAGau, ac roeddwn eisiau rhoi gwybod i chi ein bod wedi creu safle newydd ar Hwb sy'n rhoi mynediad at ystod o adnoddau, profiadau a chyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys adnoddau newydd sy'n darparu gwybodaeth allweddol am fodloni'r gofynion deddfwriaethol ar gyfer crefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg yn y Cwricwlwm i Gymru, a sut i ymgorffori mwy o gysyniadau a chynnwys crefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg yn eu cynnig cwricwlwm. Rwy'n falch iawn fod y wefan hon, erbyn diwedd mis Mai, yn mynd i gynnwys cerdyn adnoddau sy'n cysylltu â gwefan cymdeithas cynghorau ymgynghorol sefydlog Cymru.
7. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ynghylch darpariaeth addysg gorfforol mewn ysgolion? OQ62710
7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the provision of physical education in schools? OQ62710
The Curriculum for Wales is clear that developing good physical health and well-being has lifelong benefits. The framework includes clear progression in physical activity and sport, and supports learners in developing the confidence, knowledge and understanding that can help them lead healthy and active lifestyles throughout their lives.
Mae'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn glir fod datblygu iechyd a lles corfforol da yn arwain at fanteision gydol oes. Mae'r fframwaith yn cynnwys cynnydd clir mewn gweithgarwch corfforol a chwaraeon, ac yn cefnogi dysgwyr i ddatblygu'r hyder, y wybodaeth a'r ddealltwriaeth a all eu helpu i fyw'n iach ac egnïol trwy gydol eu bywydau.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am yr ymateb yna. Gaf i ddechrau drwy dynnu sylw at lwyddiannau Clwb Rygbi Merched Gwylliaid Meirionnydd yn ddiweddar? Ac i ddatgan budd: mae fy merched i'n aelodau o'r clwb rygbi hynny. Mae'r merched dan 12 wedi cyrraedd rowndiau terfynol saith-bob-ochr cenedlaethol yr Urdd, wedi ennill cwpan gogledd Cymru, ac wedi cyrraedd rownd derfynol cenedlaethol Cymru yn Rodney Parade. Fyddai dim o hynny wedi digwydd heb gymorth swyddog Hwb Undeb Rygbi Cymru, sef Euros Jones, oedd yn gwneud gwaith gwych yn mynd i mewn i'r ysgol ac yn helpu myfyrwyr a'r disgyblion yn yr ysgolion i ddod i ddeall rygbi, nid yn unig o ran chwarae, ond y sgiliau eraill sydd ynghlwm â rygbi.
Yn anffodus, fe benderfynodd y WRU dynnu'r cyllid a thorri swyddi 90 o'r swyddogion Hwb yma oedd yn gweithio ar draws Cymru ac yn mynd i mewn i'r ysgolion, yn helpu o ran addysg gorfforol yn yr ysgolion, sydd felly yn effeithio ar addysg gorfforol plant yn yr ysgolion. Oeddech chi fel Llywodraeth yn ymwybodol o fwriadau'r WRU i wneud y toriadau yma i'r swyddogion Hwb? Ac ydych chi'n credu bod penderfyniad y WRU i dorri'r swyddogion Hwb yma yn benderfyniad doeth?
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. May I start by highlighting the success of Gwylliaid Meirionnydd Girls Rugby Club? And to declare an interest: my daughters are members of that rugby club. The under-12s have reached the seven-a-side finals of the Urdd competition, won the north Wales cup, and have reached the Wales national final at Rodney Parade. None of that would have happened without the support of the Welsh Rugby Union Hub officer, Euros Jones, who did excellent work going into schools and helping pupils in the schools to understand rugby, not just in terms of playing the game, but the other skills involved in rugby too.
Now, unfortunately, the WRU decided to withdraw funding and to cut the jobs of the 90 Hub officers that were working across Wales and going in to schools, helping with physical education in those schools, and that is going to have an impact on the physical education of children in those schools. Were you as a Government aware of the WRU’s intention to make those cuts in terms of the Hub officers? And do you believe that the decision of the WRU to cut these jobs is a wise one?
Thank you, Mabon, and can I add my congratulations to your daughter and her rugby team? That's brilliant news, and I think it shows that there's a different kind of sport for everyone, isn't there, and everybody should have the opportunity to explore different sporting opportunities.
I wasn't aware of that announcement by the WRU. Jack Sargeant leads on sport, but I will definitely speak to Jack and follow that up, because, obviously, that is an important issue. We need to grow our grass-roots sport, and that starts with school. So, I wasn't aware of it, but I will follow that up, and I will write to you about that.
Diolch, Mabon, ac a gaf i ychwanegu fy llongyfarchiadau i'ch merch a'i thîm rygbi? Mae hynny'n newyddion gwych, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn dangos bod yna fath gwahanol o chwaraeon i bawb, onid oes, a dylai pawb gael cyfle i archwilio gwahanol gyfleoedd chwaraeon.
Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r cyhoeddiad gan Undeb Rygbi Cymru. Jack Sargeant sy'n arwain ar chwaraeon, ond byddaf yn bendant yn siarad â Jack ac yn mynd ar drywydd hynny, oherwydd mae'n amlwg yn fater pwysig. Mae angen inni dyfu ein chwaraeon llawr gwlad, ac mae hynny'n dechrau gyda'r ysgol. Felly, nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol ohono, ond fe af ar drywydd hynny, ac fe ysgrifennaf atoch ynglŷn â hynny.
8. Pa ganllawiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u rhoi i ysgolion yn dilyn dyfarniad Goruchaf Lys y DU ar y diffiniad o fenyw? OQ62700
8. What guidance has the Welsh Government issued to schools following the UK Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman? OQ62700
The Welsh Government is considering how the Supreme Court ruling affects policy. We are currently exploring how to support schools to share inclusive practice and ensure all children and young people feel valued, safe and able to learn.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried sut y mae dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys yn effeithio ar bolisi. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn archwilio sut i gefnogi ysgolion i rannu arferion cynhwysol a sicrhau bod pob plentyn ac unigolyn ifanc yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi, yn ddiogel ac yn gallu dysgu.
Cabinet Secretary, the Supreme Court ruling did not change the provisions under the Equality Act 2010 available to women or transitioning individuals. It reiterated the understanding of sex as biological when the law was introduced in 2010. The case arose from the challenge of alternative interpretations of the law introduced and promoted by activists and lobby groups to include gender, clouding the meaning of sex within the Act. The result has been a development and endorsement of guidance, educational materials and policy that do not reflect the current understanding of biological sex. Will the Cabinet Secretary ensure that educational materials developed by a third party for use in schools must apply a correct understanding of biological sex, and withdraw, immediately, those that do not comply with the ruling? Diolch.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ni wnaeth dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys newid y darpariaethau o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 sydd ar gael i fenywod neu unigolion sy'n trawsnewid. Ailadroddai'r ddealltwriaeth o ryw biolegol pan gyflwynwyd y ddeddf yn 2010. Deilliodd yr achos o'r her i ddehongliadau amgen o'r gyfraith a gyflwynwyd ac a hyrwyddwyd gan ymgyrchwyr a grwpiau lobïo i gynnwys rhywedd, gan gymylu ystyr rhyw yn y Ddeddf. Y canlyniad oedd datblygu a chymeradwyo canllawiau, deunydd addysgol a pholisi nad ydynt yn adlewyrchu'r ddealltwriaeth bresennol o ryw biolegol. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sicrhau bod deunydd addysgol a ddatblygwyd gan drydydd parti i'w ddefnyddio mewn ysgolion yn gorfod cymhwyso dealltwriaeth gywir o ryw biolegol, a chael gwared ar unwaith ar ddeunydd nad yw'n cydymffurfio â'r dyfarniad? Diolch.
Thank you, Laura Anne. So, can I say that the Welsh Government respects the decision of the Supreme Court and, for all devolved matters, we now need to consider how the Supreme Court ruling affects policy? That includes the planned guidance for schools on how to support trans learners. We will take time to consider the judgment, the interim guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and the updated code of practice carefully, and then we'll take the steps required to meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, as clarified by the ruling.
As I've said to you before, I want our schools to be welcoming and inclusive places for all our learners. I think we should all remind ourselves of what Lord Hodge said when he gave his ruling, that the ruling should not be read as a triumph of one or more groups at the expense of another, and I think it's vital that we take forward our discourse on this in a kind and compassionate way, especially when we are dealing with children and young people.
We are taking time to develop our trans guidance. We want to make sure that we get that right, that guidance for schools, to support some of our most vulnerable learners. In terms of the other materials that you've referred to, if I can inform the Member that the RSE code and statutory guidance recognises sex and gender as being separate. The guidance makes clear that sex is defined by reference to genitalia and reproductive organs. So, that is already clear in the statutory RSE code.
Diolch, Laura Anne. A gaf i ddweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parchu penderfyniad y Goruchaf Lys ac ar gyfer pob mater datganoledig, mae angen i ni ystyried nawr sut y mae dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys yn effeithio ar bolisi? Mae hynny'n cynnwys y canllawiau arfaethedig i ysgolion ar sut i gefnogi dysgwyr traws. Byddwn yn rhoi amser i fynd ati'n ofalus i ystyried y dyfarniad, y canllawiau interim gan y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol, a'r cod ymarfer diwygiedig, ac yna byddwn yn cymryd y camau sy'n ofynnol i fodloni ein rhwymedigaethau o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010, fel yr eglurwyd gan y dyfarniad.
Fel y dywedais wrthych o'r blaen, rwyf am i'n hysgolion fod yn lleoedd croesawgar a chynhwysol i'n holl ddysgwyr. Rwy'n credu y dylem i gyd atgoffa ein hunain o'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Arglwydd Hodge pan wnaeth ei ddyfarniad, na ddylai'r dyfarniad gael ei ddarllen fel buddugoliaeth i un neu fwy o grwpiau ar draul unrhyw grŵp arall, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol ein bod yn bwrw ymlaen â'n trafodaeth ar hyn mewn modd caredig a thosturiol. yn enwedig pan fyddwn yn ymdrin â phlant a phobl ifanc.
Rydym yn rhoi amser i ddatblygu ein canllawiau traws. Rydym eisiau gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn cael hynny'n iawn, y canllawiau hynny i ysgolion, i gefnogi rhai o'n dysgwyr mwyaf agored i niwed. O ran y deunyddiau eraill y cyfeirioch chi atynt, os caf hysbysu'r Aelod fod y cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb a'r canllawiau statudol yn cydnabod bod rhyw a rhywedd yn ddau beth gwahanol. Mae'r canllawiau'n dweud yn glir fod rhyw wedi'i ddiffinio mewn perthynas â genitalia ac organau atgenhedlu. Felly, mae hynny eisoes yn glir yn y cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb statudol.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Buffy Williams.
And finally, question 9, Buffy Williams.
9. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi ysgolion i fynd i'r afael ag absenoldeb disgyblion? OQ62688
9. How is the Welsh Government supporting schools to tackle pupil absence? OQ62688
Improving attendance continues to be a top priority. We have seen an increase in levels of attendance. To support this, I have invested £8.8 million across 2023-24 and 2025-26, which includes support for family engagement officers, enabling them to address issues around engagement and attendance. I meant 2024-25, actually—sorry. Apologies.
Mae gwella presenoldeb yn parhau i fod yn brif flaenoriaeth. Rydym wedi gweld cynnydd mewn lefelau presenoldeb. I gefnogi hyn, rwyf wedi buddsoddi £8.8 miliwn yn ystod 2023-24 a 2025-26, sy'n cynnwys cefnogaeth i swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd, gan eu galluogi i fynd i'r afael â materion yn ymwneud ag ymgysylltiad a phresenoldeb. Yr hyn a olygwn oedd 2024-25—mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Ymddiheuriadau.
Thank you. Estyn's recent report shows that more pupils in Wales are struggling with behaviour and finding it hard to cope in school, especially in secondary schools. Many are dealing with anxiety, poor mental health and low motivation, which is leading to more time off school. Some pupils are now missing around a day every week. The recent Netflix show Adolescence uncovers just a small part of the world our children and young people have to navigate every day. Teaching staff have also said they are seeing more disruptive and sometimes aggressive behaviour in the classroom, but especially during break times. These problems are making it harder for pupils to learn and for teachers to do their jobs. I know the Cabinet Secretary has made behaviour a top priority, so what action is she taking following Estyn's report, and how will the Government's plans help schools tackle these behaviour issues and get more pupils back in school, learning and feeling safe?
Diolch. Mae adroddiad diweddar Estyn yn dangos bod mwy o ddisgyblion yng Nghymru yn cael trafferth gydag ymddygiad ac yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi yn yr ysgol, yn enwedig mewn ysgolion uwchradd. Mae llawer yn ymrafael â gorbryder, iechyd meddwl gwael a chymhelliant isel, sy'n arwain at fwy o amser i ffwrdd o'r ysgol. Mae rhai disgyblion bellach yn colli tua diwrnod bob wythnos. Mae'r ddrama Netflix ddiweddar Adolescence yn datgelu rhan fach yn unig o'r byd y mae'n rhaid i'n plant a'n pobl ifanc lywio drwyddo bob dydd. Mae staff addysgu hefyd wedi dweud eu bod yn gweld ymddygiad mwy aflonyddgar ac ymosodol weithiau yn yr ystafell ddosbarth, ond yn enwedig yn ystod amseroedd egwyl. Mae'r problemau hyn yn ei gwneud hi'n anos i ddisgyblion ddysgu ac i athrawon wneud eu gwaith. Rwy'n gwybod bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi gwneud ymddygiad yn brif flaenoriaeth, felly pa gamau y mae hi'n eu cymryd yn dilyn adroddiad Estyn, a sut y bydd cynlluniau'r Llywodraeth yn helpu ysgolion i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau ymddygiad ac yn cael mwy o ddisgyblion yn ôl i'r ysgol, i ddysgu ac i deimlo'n ddiogel?
Thank you, Buffy. As I said in my original answer, improving attendance is a top priority for us. The messages in the Estyn report were really concerning, but they weren't a surprise to us. That's why we are focusing and investing such a substantial amount of money in trying to make sure that we tackle the complex issues that are preventing some of our children and young people from coming to school.
You referred to behaviour. Obviously, we discuss that regularly in this Chamber. We are taking a wide range of actions to tackle problems with behaviour in schools, and that impacts on children and young people just as much as it impacts on school practitioners. Last week, I held a round-table discussion with the police, with teaching unions, with school practitioners, with local authorities on violence in schools, and that was a very positive experience. It also gave a very clear message that, for most of our children, they are having a positive experience in schools. Next week, we've got our behaviour summit, which will take that information and the other work that we're doing to come up with a clear set of actions on this space.
Finally, you referred to Adolescence, and Mabon has raised that before in the Chamber. I think that was something that shocked a lot of us as adults. Just to assure you that I am acutely aware of the complexities that young people are having to navigate. I met recently with our keeping safe online group of young learners, who told me about some of those issues. We had a very sobering discussion. And as part of our Curriculum for Wales grants programme, I am taking the need for a consistent approach to relationship and sexuality education forward as a priority. It is essential that all young people learn in schools about safe, respectful relationships. That, in turn, will benefit their behaviour and their mental health.
Diolch, Buffy. Fel y dywedais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol, mae gwella presenoldeb yn brif flaenoriaeth i ni. Roedd y negeseuon yn adroddiad Estyn yn peri pryder mawr, ond nid oeddent yn syndod i ni. Dyna pam ein bod yn canolbwyntio ac yn buddsoddi swm mor sylweddol o arian i geisio gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â'r materion cymhleth sy'n atal rhai o'n plant a'n pobl ifanc rhag dod i'r ysgol.
Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at ymddygiad. Yn amlwg, rydym yn trafod hynny'n rheolaidd yn y Siambr hon. Rydym yn rhoi ystod eang o gamau ar waith i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau ymddygiad mewn ysgolion, ac mae hynny'n effeithio ar blant a phobl ifanc lawn cymaint ag y mae'n effeithio ar addysgwyr mewn ysgolion. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cynhaliais drafodaeth bord gron gyda'r heddlu, gydag undebau addysgu, gydag addysgwyr mewn ysgolion, gydag awdurdodau lleol ar drais mewn ysgolion, ac roedd yn brofiad positif iawn. Rhoddodd neges glir iawn hefyd fod y rhan fwyaf o'n plant yn cael profiad cadarnhaol mewn ysgolion. Yr wythnos nesaf, mae gennym ein huwchgynhadledd ymddygiad, a fydd yn defnyddio'r wybodaeth honno a'r gwaith arall a wnawn i lunio set glir o gamau gweithredu yn y maes.
Yn olaf, fe gyfeirioch chi at Adolescence, ac mae Mabon wedi codi hyn o'r blaen yn y Siambr. Rwy'n credu i'r ddrama honno fod yn sioc i lawer ohonom fel oedolion. Rwyf am eich sicrhau fy mod yn ymwybodol iawn o'r cymhlethdodau y mae pobl ifanc yn gorfod llywio drwyddynt. Yn ddiweddar, cefais gyfarfod â'n grŵp o ddysgwyr ifanc cadw'n ddiogel ar-lein, a ddywedodd wrthyf am rai o'r pethau hynny. Cawsom drafodaeth sobreiddiol iawn. Ac fel rhan o'n rhaglen grantiau Cwricwlwm i Gymru, rwy'n rhoi blaenoriaeth i'r angen am ddull cyson o weithredu ar addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb. Mae'n hanfodol fod pob person ifanc yn dysgu mewn ysgolion am berthnasoedd diogel, llawn parch. Bydd hynny, yn ei dro, o fudd i'w hymddygiad a'u hiechyd meddwl.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Eitem 3 yw'r cwestiynau amserol. Mae un cwestiwn amserol heddiw, a bydd hwnnw gan Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Item 3 is the topical questions. We have one topical question today, and that will be asked by Mabon ap Gwynfor.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am effaith bosibl Papur Gwyn Mewnfudo Llywodraeth y DU ar y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru? TQ1338
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the potential impact of the UK Government's Immigration White Paper on the social care workforce in Wales? TQ1338
We're analysing the immigration White Paper and its impact on all sectors, including social care. Social care has already experienced significant declines in overseas workers over the last 12 months, and we're working on a range of measures to improve pay and progression opportunities to attract more people into the sector.
Rydym yn dadansoddi'r Papur Gwyn mewnfudo a'i effaith ar bob sector, gan gynnwys gofal cymdeithasol. Mae gofal cymdeithasol eisoes wedi profi gostyngiadau sylweddol yn nifer y gweithwyr tramor dros y 12 mis diwethaf, ac rydym yn gweithio ar ystod o fesurau i wella cyflogau a chyfleoedd cynnydd i ddenu mwy o bobl i'r sector.
Diolch am yr ymateb yna.
Thank you for that response.
Putting aside the morally dubious rhetoric used by the Prime Minister, with its echoes of Enoch Powell and its cowardly pandering to the hard right, the UK Government's White Paper on immigration has potentially far-reaching practical implications for Wales. This is particularly apparent in relation to the social care workforce, of which approximately 15 to 20 per cent come from overseas. I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to their vital contribution to the health and well-being of our society. They should be championed, not demonised as part of the problem.
Of course, we all want to encourage greater domestic training and recruitment of social care workers, but the reality is that current levels are simply insufficient to meet demand. And the situation is only getting worse. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of data released by Medr at the end of last year, which showed a 27 per cent decline in health and social care apprenticeships and a 34 per cent decline in foundation apprenticeships. What was glaringly absent from the Prime Minister's announcement, therefore, was any indication of the additional resources that will be made available to initiate this substantial increase in the domestic workforce.
Did this Government have any prior engagement with the UK Government on the proposal to end visas for overseas social care recruitment? If so, what is the Welsh Government's official position on this matter? Do you agree with me that the implication of this White Paper, that social care work is unskilled, is not only highly insulting to a profession that contributes billions of pounds to the Welsh economy every year, it also undermines the urgent need to enhance the prestige and esteem of a sector that already feels thoroughly undervalued? And if the proposals in the White Paper are ultimately enacted, how many additional domestic workers will Wales need to recruit each year to make up the shortfall, and how much in additional spending will be required?
Gan roi'r rhethreg foesol amheus a ddefnyddiwyd gan Brif Weinidog y DU i'r naill ochr, gyda'i adleisiau o Enoch Powell a'i awydd llwfr i borthi blys y dde eithafol, mae gan Papur Gwyn Llywodraeth y DU ar fewnfudo oblygiadau ymarferol pellgyrhaeddol i Gymru. Mae hyn yn arbennig o amlwg mewn perthynas â'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, y mae tua 15 i 20 y cant ohono'n dod o dramor. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i dalu teyrnged i'w cyfraniad allweddol i iechyd a lles ein cymdeithas. Dylid eu hyrwyddo, nid eu demoneiddio fel rhan o'r broblem.
Wrth gwrs, rydym i gyd eisiau annog mwy o hyfforddi a recriwtio gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol o'r wlad hon, ond y gwir amdani yw nad yw'r lefelau presennol yn ddigon i ateb y galw. Ac mae'r sefyllfa'n gwaethygu. Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol o'r data a ryddhawyd gan Medr ddiwedd y llynedd, a ddangosai ostyngiad o 27 y cant mewn prentisiaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol a gostyngiad o 34 y cant mewn prentisiaethau sylfaen. Yr hyn a oedd yn amlwg yn absennol o gyhoeddiad y Prif Weinidog, felly, oedd unrhyw arwydd o'r adnoddau ychwanegol a fydd ar gael i gymell y cynnydd sylweddol hwn yn y gweithlu domestig.
A gafodd y Llywodraeth hon unrhyw ymgysylltiad blaenorol â Llywodraeth y DU ar y cynnig i roi diwedd ar fisâu i recriwtio gofal cymdeithasol o dramor? Os felly, beth yw safbwynt swyddogol Llywodraeth Cymru ar y mater hwn? A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod ensyniad y Papur Gwyn, fod gofal cymdeithasol yn waith heb sgiliau, nid yn unig yn sarhaus iawn i broffesiwn sy'n cyfrannu biliynau o bunnoedd i economi Cymru bob blwyddyn, ond ei fod hefyd yn tanseilio'r angen brys i wella bri a pharch tuag at sector sydd eisoes yn teimlo nad yw'n cael ei werthfawrogi'n iawn o gwbl? Ac os daw'r cynigion yn y Papur Gwyn i rym yn y pen draw, faint o weithwyr domestig ychwanegol fydd angen i Gymru eu recriwtio bob blwyddyn i wneud iawn am y diffyg, a faint o wariant ychwanegol fydd ei angen?
Can I thank Mabon ap Gwynfor for those supplementary comments and questions? I'll start by saying that I absolutely agree with him in terms of the value that we place on overseas care workers in particular. It's difficult to get a very clear picture on the impact in terms of migrant workers on the social care workforce, because we don't have access to the immigration data, because it's not devolved. So, we're making best guesstimates about a lot of that, and that's one of the conversations that we're having with the UK Government so that we can share that immigration data and get a better picture of where we are.
We didn't have prior notice of the publication of the White Paper, but there had been engagement. My colleague Jane Hutt, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice had had engagement with the UK Government Ministers in advance of the White Paper being published and set out very clearly what were our concerns around some of that. What I would have to say is that, at this stage, we have very little detail. We absolutely will have to fully analyse and consider all of the implications of the contents of the White Paper, including social care.
As I said, that wasn't shared with us in advance, so we haven't had the time and the detail to do that as yet. But what we do know, and you know, and I think that that's the root of the question that you're asking, is that we already have recruitment and retention challenges in social care, and international recruitment has been a feature of how we can fill those vacancies in social care. I can give many examples of social care settings that I've visited since I've been Minister that show very clearly the contribution that overseas workers are making to the service.
One of the things we do need to do is to have the conversation between the Welsh Government and the UK Government once we have got the analysis of the White Paper and its details, and the potential impact, particularly the impact on the additional resources that might be required to upskill in certain areas, which seems to be one of the key objectives of the UK Government in bringing forward this White Paper—what will be a Wales consequential for any investment and development that we need to have in that area.
You will already know, Mabon, that we have done a tremendous amount of work in this area through Social Care Wales, through the social care Wales forum, through the partnership forum, through our pay and progression framework, the fact that we've implemented the real living wage for social care workers, the fact that we have schemes in place in a number of local authorities, which is about social care apprenticeships and growing your own, where people can progress from being social care workers through to other professions in social care, including social workers and social work managers.
Where I would also agree with you is that we see social care workers as being a highly skilled workforce, which is why we have put them on a professional footing and we have them registered here in Wales, and we make sure that they work to a particular level and qualification, because we value that.
So, my summary of the situation is that we don't know enough at this stage, but I can assure you that we will be having those conversations with the UK Government to fully assess what it means for social care in Wales, and we'll be making it very, very clear how we value that overseas workforce in supplementing the workforce that is homegrown.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mabon ap Gwynfor am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau atodol hynny? Fe ddechreuaf trwy ddweud fy mod yn cytuno'n llwyr ynglŷn â gwerth gweithwyr gofal o dramor yn enwedig. Mae'n anodd cael darlun clir iawn o effaith gweithwyr mudol ar y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol gan nad oes gennym fynediad at y data mewnfudo am nad yw wedi'i ddatganoli. Felly, rydym yn dyfalu cystal ag y gallwn am lawer o hynny, a dyna un o'r sgyrsiau a gawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU fel y gallwn rannu'r data mewnfudo hwnnw a chael gwell darlun o'r sefyllfa.
Ni chawsom rybudd ymlaen llaw am gyhoeddi'r Papur Gwyn, ond roedd yna ymgysylltu wedi bod. Roedd fy nghyd-Aelod Jane Hutt, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol wedi ymgysylltu â Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU cyn i'r Papur Gwyn gael ei gyhoeddi ac wedi nodi'n glir iawn beth oedd ein pryderon ynghylch rhywfaint o hynny. Rhaid imi ddweud, ar hyn o bryd, mai ychydig iawn o fanylion sydd gennym. Bydd yn rhaid inni ddadansoddi ac ystyried holl oblygiadau cynnwys y Papur Gwyn yn llawn, gan gynnwys gofal cymdeithasol.
Fel y dywedais, ni chafodd hynny ei rannu gyda ni ymlaen llaw, felly nid ydym wedi cael amser na'r manylion i allu gwneud hynny eto. Ond yr hyn a wyddom, ac rwy'n credu mai dyma hanfod y cwestiwn a ofynnwch, yw bod gennym eisoes heriau recriwtio a chadw staff mewn gofal cymdeithasol, ac mae recriwtio rhyngwladol wedi bod yn nodwedd o'r modd y gallwn lenwi'r swyddi gwag mewn gofal cymdeithasol. Gallaf roi llawer o enghreifftiau o leoliadau gofal cymdeithasol yr ymwelais â hwy ers imi ddod yn Weinidog sy'n dangos yn glir iawn y cyfraniad y mae gweithwyr tramor yn ei wneud i'r gwasanaeth.
Un o'r pethau y mae angen i ni ei wneud yw cael y sgwrs rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU pan fyddwn wedi cael dadansoddiad o'r Papur Gwyn a'i fanylion, a'r effaith bosibl, yn enwedig yr effaith ar yr adnoddau ychwanegol y gallai fod eu hangen i uwchsgilio mewn rhai meysydd, sydd i'w gweld yn un o brif amcanion Llywodraeth y DU wrth gyflwyno'r Papur Gwyn hwn—beth fydd yn swm canlyniadol i Gymru o unrhyw fuddsoddiad a datblygiad y bydd angen inni ei gael yn y maes hwnnw.
Fe fyddwch eisoes yn gwybod, Mabon, ein bod wedi gwneud llawer iawn o waith yn y maes hwn drwy Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru, drwy fforwm gofal cymdeithasol Cymru, drwy'r fforwm partneriaeth, drwy ein fframwaith cyflogau a chynnydd, y ffaith ein bod wedi gweithredu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, y ffaith bod gennym gynlluniau ar waith mewn nifer o awdurdodau lleol, sy'n ymwneud â phrentisiaethau gofal cymdeithasol a thyfu eich pobl eich hun, lle gall pobl gamu ymlaen o fod yn weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol i broffesiynau eraill mewn gofal cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys gweithwyr cymdeithasol a rheolwyr gwaith cymdeithasol.
Lle byddwn hefyd yn cytuno â chi yw ein bod yn gweld gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol fel gweithlu medrus iawn, a dyna pam ein bod wedi eu rhoi ar sail broffesiynol ac yn eu cofrestru yma yng Nghymru, a pham ein bod yn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gweithio i lefel a chymhwyster penodol, oherwydd rydym yn gweld gwerth hynny.
Felly, fy nghrynodeb o'r sefyllfa yw nad ydym yn gwybod digon ar hyn o bryd, ond gallaf eich sicrhau y byddwn yn cael y sgyrsiau hynny gyda Llywodraeth y DU i asesu'n llawn beth y mae'n ei olygu i ofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, a byddwn yn ei gwneud hi'n glir iawn ein bod yn gweld gwerth y gweithlu tramor hwnnw i ychwanegu at y gweithlu domestig.
Minister, while the UK Government's immigration White Paper raises valid concerns about workforce planning, there is a more pressing issue here in Wales, and it is our increasing and unstable dependency on overseas labour to keep the social care sector running across Wales. In 2023 alone, over 146,000 health and care work visas were issued across the UK, and yet the real problems in our social care system still persist across the country. Vacancies are still rising and many visa holders who come here leave the sector very quickly or some of them never enter at all, and we're also seeing very disturbing levels of abuse in our visa system with fake providers trying to apply for visas, modern slavery and people granted care visas who never actually work in care.
So, what I'd like to ask, Minister, is what is the Welsh Government doing to make sure that these same failures aren't happening here in Wales, and the Welsh Government is being very strict and stringent over these visas to make sure those people are coming into the system. But perhaps the bigger question is what is being done to support Welsh people, especially young Welsh people, into that meaningful, lasting career in social care.
Yesterday, the First Minister asked me to decide which side I'm on. Well, I have: I'm on the side of Welsh working people, and I think that means backing them with fair wages, which we want to see in social care, quality training, something we need to see, and real career progression, so social care becomes a job that people aspire to and not that people fall into it out of necessity. Because right now, as I said, the system relies too heavily on immigration as a short-term fix, and that approach keeps wages low, it restricts local opportunities and masks the structural problems that we need to confront. So, the solution isn't to sideline Welsh workers and bring more foreign workers in, it's to empower them to build a strong and skilled respected care workforce rooted right here in Wales.
I'll finish with this, Deputy Presiding Officer: when is the Welsh Government going to stop outsourcing the solution in social care and start investing in the next generation of Welsh carers by giving them those career routes, by giving them better pay and making it a career that people want to go into, so they don't just fall into it out of necessity? Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Weinidog, er bod Papur Gwyn mewnfudo Llywodraeth y DU yn codi pryderon dilys ynglŷn â chynllunio'r gweithlu, mae mater mwy difrifol yma yng Nghymru, sef ein dibyniaeth gynyddol ac ansefydlog ar lafur tramor i gadw'r sector gofal cymdeithasol yn weithredol ledled Cymru. Yn 2023 yn unig, cyhoeddwyd dros 146,000 o fisâu gwaith iechyd a gofal ledled y DU, ac eto mae'r problemau real yn ein system gofal cymdeithasol yn dal i barhau ledled y wlad. Mae swyddi gwag yn dal i gynyddu ac mae llawer o ddeiliaid fisa sy'n dod yma yn gadael y sector yn gyflym iawn neu rai ohonynt byth yn mynd iddi o gwbl, ac rydym hefyd yn gweld lefelau pryderus iawn o gamddefnydd o'n system fisa gyda darparwyr ffug yn gwneud cais am fisâu, caethwasiaeth fodern a phobl yn cael fisâu gofalu nad ydynt byth yn gweithio ym maes gofal mewn gwirionedd.
Felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ofyn, Weinidog, yw beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw'r methiannau hyn yn digwydd yma yng Nghymru, a bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn llym iawn gyda'r fisâu hyn i wneud yn siŵr fod pobl yn dod i mewn i'r system. Ond efallai mai'r cwestiwn mwyaf yw beth sy'n cael ei wneud i gefnogi pobl Cymru, yn enwedig Cymry ifanc, i geisio gyrfa ystyrlon, barhaol mewn gwaith gofal cymdeithasol.
Ddoe, gofynnodd y Prif Weinidog i mi benderfynu ar ba ochr rwyf i. Wel, rwyf wedi gwneud hynny: rwyf ar ochr pobl sy'n gweithio yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n golygu eu cefnogi gyda chyflogau teg, fel rydym am eu gweld mewn gofal cymdeithasol, hyfforddiant o safon, rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei weld, a gallu iawn i gamu ymlaen mewn gyrfa, fel bod gofal cymdeithasol yn dod yn swydd y mae pobl yn dyheu am ei chael ac nid un y bydd pobl yn mynd iddi o raid. Oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, fel y dywedais, mae'r system yn dibynnu'n rhy drwm ar fewnfudo fel ateb tymor byr, ac mae'r ymagwedd honno'n cadw cyflogau'n isel, mae'n cyfyngu ar gyfleoedd lleol ac yn cuddio'r problemau strwythurol y mae angen i ni eu hwynebu. Felly, nid diystyru gweithwyr Cymru a dod â mwy o weithwyr tramor i mewn yw'r ateb, ond grymuso gweithwyr Cymru i adeiladu gweithlu gofal cryf a medrus sy'n uchel ei barch ac wedi'i wreiddio yma yng Nghymru.
Fe ddof i ben gyda hyn, Ddirprwy Lywydd: pa bryd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi'r gorau i allanoli'r ateb mewn gofal cymdeithasol a dechrau buddsoddi yn y genhedlaeth nesaf o ofalwyr Cymru drwy roi llwybrau gyrfa iddynt, drwy roi gwell cyflog iddynt a'i gwneud yn yrfa y mae pobl eisiau ei dilyn, ac nid un y maent yn mynd iddi o raid yn unig? Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Can I thank James Evans for those points? Firstly, I would have to say that the visa and immigration system is not a devolved area of responsibility. The process for handling all of that lies with the UK Government. We can be recipients of it, but we don't actually control the immigration system, although we have an interest, of course, in what happens.
I do take exception to a lot of the comments that you've made there today, James, because there is absolutely no way that this Government is sidelining Welsh workers, particularly in social care. You've either not listened or bothered to find out about what we are doing in social care in Wales. I started to talk about that in my answer to Mabon ap Gwynfor. We've already developed a social care workforce plan; we've got a strategy for delivering that. The strategy is a three-year strategy, but it is building on what had been in place prior to that. It focuses on the social care workforce. The plan updates on progress that we've made so far and the areas that we need to go further on. But significant funding already goes through Social Care Wales to enable them to lead and support the improvement of social care through recruitment and retention of a quality and professional workforce. And we absolutely value those people who come into the social care workforce.
We've asked Social Care Wales to prioritise workforce planning and ensure that all local authorities are supported to develop those strong plans. And Social Care Wales also administers the social care workforce development programme, and that provides grants to help fund a range of programmes, including, as I said to Mabon, grow-your-own apprenticeships for both social care workers and social workers through the social care work programmes and social care training and development. We've put over £13 million alone just into that one programme for developing training around that for local authorities. And we also make available, every single year, £45 million in funding through the workforce grant, which enables local authorities to support increases in pay. We've been delivering the real living wage in social care for over three years now, and we've been fully funding that as well.
So, what I'm saying is that that work—all of the work that you have been talking about—is going on, and has been going on for a considerable number of years, to increase the number of home-grown workers that we can attract into the social care workforce. And we are having a measure of success, but we still value the international workforce as well. And I don't think it is a question of one or the other. If we did not need to fill those posts with international workers, then we would be recruiting more people who are a local and indigenous workforce, and we've not been able to do that. Now, there could be all sorts of reasons for that. Some people—[Inaudible.]—have a social care workforce, and whilst we need a social care workforce, we would also welcome international workers to supplement the workforce that we have here from Wales.
A gaf i ddiolch i James Evans am y pwyntiau hynny? Yn gyntaf, byddai'n rhaid i mi ddweud nad yw'r system fisa a mewnfudo yn faes cyfrifoldeb datganoledig. Mae'r broses ar gyfer ymdrin â hynny i gyd yn nwylo Llywodraeth y DU. Gallwn dderbyn ohoni, ond nid ydym yn rheoli'r system fewnfudo, er bod gennym ddiddordeb yn yr hyn sy'n digwydd, wrth gwrs.
Rwy'n gwrthwynebu llawer o'r sylwadau a wnaethoch chi heddiw, James, oherwydd nid yw'r Llywodraeth hon yn diystyru gweithwyr Cymru mewn unrhyw ffordd, yn enwedig mewn gofal cymdeithasol. Nid ydych wedi gwrando neu wedi trafferthu darganfod beth rydym yn ei wneud ym maes gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Dechreuais siarad am hynny yn fy ateb i Mabon ap Gwynfor. Rydym eisoes wedi datblygu cynllun ar gyfer y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol; mae gennym strategaeth ar gyfer cyflawni hynny. Mae'n strategaeth dair blynedd, ond mae'n adeiladu ar yr hyn a oedd ar waith cyn hynny. Mae'n canolbwyntio ar y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol. Mae'r cynllun yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynnydd a wnaethom hyd yma a'r meysydd y mae angen inni fynd ymhellach ynddynt. Ond mae cyllid sylweddol eisoes yn mynd trwy Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru i'w galluogi i arwain a chefnogi'r gwaith o wella gofal cymdeithasol drwy recriwtio a chadw gweithlu proffesiynol o safon. Ac rydym yn sicr yn gweld gwerth y bobl a ddaw i mewn i'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol.
Rydym wedi gofyn i Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru flaenoriaethu cynllunio'r gweithlu a sicrhau bod pob awdurdod lleol yn cael ei gefnogi i ddatblygu'r cynlluniau cryf hynny. Ac mae Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru hefyd yn gweinyddu rhaglen ddatblygu'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, ac mae honno'n darparu grantiau i helpu i ariannu ystod o raglenni, gan gynnwys, fel y dywedais wrth Mabon, prentisiaethau pwrpasol ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol a gweithwyr cymdeithasol drwy'r rhaglenni gwaith gofal cymdeithasol a hyfforddiant a datblygu gofal cymdeithasol. Rydym wedi rhoi dros £13 miliwn i'r un rhaglen honno'n unig ar gyfer datblygu hyfforddiant o gwmpas hynny ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol. Ac rydym hefyd yn darparu £45 miliwn o gyllid bob blwyddyn drwy grant y gweithlu, sy'n galluogi awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi cynnydd cyflogau. Rydym wedi bod yn darparu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol mewn gofal cymdeithasol ers dros dair blynedd bellach, ac rydym wedi bod yn ariannu hwnnw'n llawn hefyd.
Felly, yr hyn rwy'n ei ddweud yw bod y gwaith hwnnw—yr holl waith rydych chi wedi bod yn siarad amdano—yn digwydd, ac wedi bod yn digwydd ers nifer sylweddol o flynyddoedd, i gynyddu nifer y gweithwyr o Gymru y gallwn eu denu i'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol. Ac rydym yn cael mesur o lwyddiant, ond rydym yn dal i weld gwerth y gweithlu rhyngwladol hefyd. Ac nid wyf yn meddwl ei fod yn fater o un neu'r llall. Os na fyddai angen inni lenwi'r swyddi hynny â gweithwyr rhyngwladol, byddem yn recriwtio mwy o bobl sy'n weithlu lleol a brodorol, ac nid ydym wedi gallu gwneud hynny. Nawr, gallai fod pob math o resymau am hynny. Mae gan rai pobl—[Anghlywadwy.]—weithlu gofal cymdeithasol, ac er bod angen gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol arnom, byddem hefyd yn croesawu gweithwyr rhyngwladol i ychwanegu at y gweithlu sydd gennym yma o Gymru.
I just wanted to ask the Minister—I heard in your response to Mabon's question about you not having access to any data on the levels of migrant workers within the social care system. I do find that somewhat surprising, given that it's a heavily regulated sector through both local authorities and the Care Inspectorate Wales. So, is it potentially a lack of desire from the Welsh Government to seek that data, which would be very helpful to, obviously, the Welsh Government and us as MSs to understand the population of the migrant workforce within the social care system? And are there any levers within the Welsh Government, through devolved powers, to have a look into that through guidance to local authorities and indeed the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales as well? Because I think we could be using all the levers possible where we don't have those figures, and we can't access those through UK Government methods with the Home Office et cetera. What can we do within our devolved legislature to indeed get access to those figures?
Roeddwn eisiau gofyn i'r Gweinidog—clywais yn eich ymateb i gwestiwn Mabon nad oes gennych fynediad at unrhyw ddata ar nifer y gweithwyr mudol yn y system gofal cymdeithasol. Mae hynny'n syndod i mi braidd, o ystyried ei fod yn sector sy'n cael ei reoleiddio'n llym gan awdurdodau lleol ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru. Felly, a yw'n bosibl fod diffyg awydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gael gafael ar y data hwnnw, a fyddai'n ddefnyddiol iawn i Lywodraeth Cymru a ni fel ASau, yn amlwg, er mwyn deall poblogaeth y gweithlu mudol o fewn y system gofal cymdeithasol? Ac a oes unrhyw ysgogiadau gan Lywodraeth Cymru, drwy bwerau datganoledig, i edrych ar hynny drwy ganllawiau i awdurdodau lleol, ac Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru hefyd? Oherwydd credaf y gallem fod yn defnyddio'r holl ysgogiadau posibl lle nad oes gennym y ffigurau hynny, ac ni allwn gael mynediad atynt drwy'r un dulliau â Llywodraeth y DU gyda'r Swyddfa Gartref ac ati. Beth y gallwn ei wneud o fewn ein deddfwrfa ddatganoledig i gael gafael ar y ffigurau hynny?
Well, as I said, it is not a devolved area of competence. This is a Home Office—. Immigration is the responsibility of the Home Office and they hold the data. And it's always been challenging because there is the conflict, isn't there, the contradiction—we have people working in devolved areas of responsibility, but we don't have the immigration data that is held by the Home Office, and that has been a problem over a number of years. So, that isn't something that's just arisen as a result of having a UK Labour Government; we've had this problem with former Conservative Governments over many, many years, where we've been unable to extrapolate that information from Home Office figures.
What we do know is that, in the last 12 months, there's been a significant decline in the application of overseas workers, because of the changes to the visa process that was introduced by the last Government, where, if you recall, people coming over from overseas, working in the UK, were not allowed to then bring their families with them. And that meant we saw a sharp decline in the number of overseas workers who were applying to come and work in the UK. But what I can assure you is that, given the provisions that have been set out and that we've seen thus far in the White Paper, we will be working very closely with the UK Government to determine what data they can share with us, and consider how we can support our social care workers with that—[Inaudible.]
Wel, fel y dywedais, nid yw'n faes cymhwysedd datganoledig. Cyfrifoldeb i'r Swyddfa Gartref yw hyn—. Cyfrifoldeb y Swyddfa Gartref yw mewnfudo, a hwy sydd â'r data. Ac mae bob amser wedi bod yn heriol gan fod gwrthdaro, onid oes, gwrthddywediad—mae gennym bobl yn gweithio mewn meysydd cyfrifoldeb datganoledig, ond nid oes gennym y data ar fewnfudo sydd gan y Swyddfa Gartref, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn broblem ers blynyddoedd lawer. Felly, nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth sydd newydd godi o ganlyniad i gael Llywodraeth Lafur y DU; mae'r broblem hon wedi bod gennym gyda Llywodraethau Ceidwadol blaenorol dros flynyddoedd lawer, lle nad ydym wedi gallu allosod y wybodaeth honno o ffigurau'r Swyddfa Gartref.
Yr hyn a wyddom yw bod gostyngiad sylweddol wedi bod yn y 12 mis diwethaf yn nifer y ceisiadau gan weithwyr tramor, oherwydd y newidiadau i'r broses fisâu a gyflwynwyd gan y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf, ac os cofiwch, ni chaniatawyd i bobl a oedd yn dod o dramor i weithio yn y DU ddod â'u teuluoedd gyda hwy. A golygodd hynny ein bod wedi gweld gostyngiad sydyn yn nifer y gweithwyr tramor a oedd yn gwneud cais i ddod i weithio yn y DU. Ond yr hyn y gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi yn ei gylch, o ystyried y darpariaethau a nodwyd ac a welsom hyd yma yn y Papur Gwyn, yw y byddwn yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU i nodi pa ddata y gallant ei rannu gyda ni, ac yn ystyried sut y gallwn gefnogi ein gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol gyda'r—[Anghlywadwy.]
Minister, we've just lost your sound. Can we make sure the sound is working, please, so that she can conclude her answer? Do you want to try again, Minister? Do you want to try again, Minister? Obviously, we've lost contact and connection. Okay, Gareth? I don't think we can get the connection back. Okay. Diolch, Gweinidog. Oh, she's back.
Weinidog, rydym newydd golli eich sain. A gawn ni sicrhau bod y sain yn gweithio, os gwelwch yn dda, fel y gall gwblhau ei hateb? A hoffech chi roi cynnig arall arni, Weinidog? A hoffech chi roi cynnig arall arni, Weinidog? Yn amlwg, rydym wedi colli'r cysylltiad. Iawn, Gareth? Ni chredaf y gallwn gael y cysylltiad yn ôl. Iawn. Diolch, Weinidog. O, mae hi'n ôl.
Did you lose me then?
A wnaethoch chi fy ngholli?
We lost your sound for the last sentence. No. Okay.
Fe wnaethom golli eich sain ar gyfer y frawddeg olaf. Na. Iawn.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Sorry, Llywydd. Did you catch everything I was—. I realise—. I think I froze at some point. I could hear and see all of you, but I think—
Mae’n ddrwg gennyf, Lywydd. A wnaethoch chi glywed popeth—. Rwy'n sylweddoli—. Rwy'n credu imi rewi ar ryw bwynt. Roeddwn yn gallu eich clywed a'ch gweld chi i gyd, ond rwy'n credu—
We lost the sound for the last sentence.
Fe wnaethom golli'r sain ar gyfer y frawddeg olaf.
Okay.
Iawn.
I think Gareth is happy with the answer he's received.
Rwy'n credu bod Gareth yn fodlon gyda'r ateb a gafodd.
He's got what he wanted. Okay, that's fine.
Mae wedi cael yr hyn roedd ei eisiau. Iawn, mae hynny'n iawn.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Eitem 4 heddiw yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf gan Sioned Williams.
Item 4 today is the 90-second statements. The first statement is from Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae gan Gymru hanes hir a balch o godi llais dros heddwch, ac ers dros ganrif, mae neges heddwch ac ewyllys da yr Urdd wedi datgan hynny i'r byd. Eleni, mae aelodau'r Urdd wedi dewis canolbwyntio ar dlodi, yn sgil yr argyfwng tlodi plant presennol sydd i'w weld yng Nghymru ac ar draws y byd. Crëwyd y neges eleni yn dilyn gweithdy gyda myfyrwyr o Goleg y Cymoedd, a gafodd eu hannog i rannu eu teimladau a'u profiadau am dlodi plant yng Nghymru, gyda chefnogaeth Katie Hall o’r band Chroma, Achub y Plant Cymru a'r dylunydd graffeg Steffan Dafydd. Fe fydd ffilm o'r neges yn cael ei rhyddhau ar fore 15 Mai. Gydag un ymhob tri o blant a phobl ifanc Cymru yn byw mewn tlodi, mae neges heddwch 2025 yn datgan yn glir yr angen am newid, ac mae'n galw ar y bobl sydd mewn grym yng Nghymru ac ar draws y byd i ystyried cenedlaethau’r dyfodol.
Rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at groesawu Eisteddfod yr Urdd, Eisteddfod Dur a Môr, i barc Margam yn fy rhanbarth i ddiwedd y mis yma, ac yn falch iawn hefyd y bydd mynediad am ddim ar gael i deuluoedd incwm is. Mae'r Urdd hefyd yn cynnal banc bwyd ar faes yr Eisteddfod. Er bod camau fel hyn wrth gwrs i'w croesawu, er mwyn cynnig cefnogaeth a chynhaliaeth i bob plentyn, mae'r ffaith fod yr Urdd yn gorfod cymryd camau fel hyn, yng Nghymru'r unfed ganrif ar hugain, yn brawf bod angen gweithredu mwy effeithiol gan wleidyddion i ddileu tlodi plant o dir Cymru, yn unol â'r neges ewyllys da eleni.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Wales has a long and proud history of speaking out for peace, and for over a century, the Urdd's message of peace and goodwill has declared that to the world. This year, members of the Urdd have chosen to focus on poverty, amid the current child poverty crisis that can be seen in Wales and across the world. This year's message was created following a workshop with students from Coleg y Cymoedd, who were encouraged to share their feelings and experiences about child poverty in Wales, with the support of Katie Hall from the band Chroma, Save the Children Wales and graphic designer Steffan Dafydd. A film of the message will be released on the morning of 15 May. With one in three children and young people in Wales living in poverty, the peace message for 2025 clearly declares the need for change, and calls on those in power in Wales and across the world to consider future generations.
I am very much looking forward to welcoming this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod, the steel and sea Eisteddfod, to Margam park in my region at the end of this month, and I am also very pleased that free entry will be available for lower income families. The Urdd will also host a foodbank on the Eisteddfod maes. Although these actions are to be welcomed, of course, in terms of offering support and sustenance to all children, the fact that the Urdd needs to take steps like this, in Wales in the twenty-first century, is proof that more effective action is needed by politicians to eradicate child poverty in Wales, in accordance with this year's goodwill message.
I welcome the opportunity to make this 90-second statement today, in support of Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental Health Awareness Week is a chance to come together to focus on good mental health. This year, the theme is community, and we all have a role to play. Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and well-being. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us that we are not alone. I advocate for this through my own experiences, and I'm honoured to be an ambassador of the mental health charity Bipolar UK.
Speak to a general practitioner, a professional, or someone that you can trust, and explain what you are going through. The process of being helped and supported can't begin until you make a start on that conversation. Taking care of my physical health has also been a key to help manage my symptoms of bipolar disorder. Through education, colleges right across Wales are committed to prioritising mental health support and awareness. College active well-being strategies emphasise the importance of physical activity to support good learner mental health. Earlier this year, I visited Coleg Cambria to learn about their active well-being programme, which promotes fitness, wellness and inclusion for both learners and staff. It's an excellent initiative that offers a range of activities that all learners and staff can participate in. They've started a 'new you, new start' pilot scheme, which has helped many disengaged students adopt healthier lifestyles, with their programme yielding excellent results. Programmes like this empower young people to live healthier lives and have a positive impact on their physical and mental health.
The health impact of active well-being programmes in FE set the foundation for healthier lives and communities, reduce the growing strain on the NHS, and help to build a solid foundation for a strong workforce. The importance of support for these initiatives cannot be understated. I hope that we can all continue the conversation around mental health, showing everyone that mental health matters, and to let people know that it's okay to ask for help. Thank you.
Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i wneud y datganiad 90 eiliad hwn heddiw, i gefnogi Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Iechyd Meddwl. Mae Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Iechyd Meddwl yn gyfle i ddod ynghyd i ganolbwyntio ar iechyd meddwl da. Eleni, y thema yw cymuned, ac mae gan bob un ohonom rôl i'w chwarae. Mae bod yn rhan o gymuned ddiogel a phositif yn hanfodol ar gyfer ein hiechyd meddwl a'n lles. Rydym yn ffynnu pan fydd gennym gysylltiadau cryf â phobl eraill a chymunedau cefnogol sy'n ein hatgoffa nad ydym ar ein pen ein hunain. Rwy'n eirioli dros hyn drwy fy mhrofiadau fy hun, ac mae'n anrhydedd imi fod yn llysgennad i elusen iechyd meddwl Bipolar UK.
Siaradwch â meddyg teulu, gweithiwr proffesiynol, neu rywun y gallwch ymddiried ynddynt, ac esboniwch beth rydych chi'n mynd drwyddo. Ni all y broses o gael cymorth a chefnogaeth ddechrau hyd nes y byddwch yn dechrau'r sgwrs honno. Mae gofalu am fy iechyd corfforol hefyd wedi bod yn allweddol i helpu i reoli fy symptomau anhwylder deubegynol. Drwy addysg, mae colegau ledled Cymru wedi ymrwymo i flaenoriaethu cymorth ac ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd meddwl. Mae strategaethau lles actif colegau yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd gweithgarwch corfforol i gefnogi iechyd meddwl da ymhlith dysgwyr. Yn gynharach eleni, ymwelais â Choleg Cambria i ddysgu am eu rhaglen lles actif, sy'n hyrwyddo ffitrwydd, llesiant a chynhwysiant i ddysgwyr a staff. Mae'n fenter ardderchog sy'n cynnig ystod o weithgareddau y gall pob dysgwr a staff gymryd rhan ynddynt. Maent wedi dechrau cynllun peilot 'chi newydd, dechrau newydd', sydd wedi cynorthwyo llawer o fyfyrwyr a oedd wedi ymddieithrio i fabwysiadu ffyrdd iachach o fyw, gyda'u rhaglen yn cynhyrchu canlyniadau rhagorol. Mae rhaglenni fel hyn yn grymuso pobl ifanc i fyw bywydau iachach ac yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar eu hiechyd corfforol a meddyliol.
Mae effaith rhaglenni lles actif mewn addysg bellach ar iechyd yn gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer bywydau a chymunedau iachach, yn lleihau'r straen cynyddol ar y GIG, ac yn helpu i adeiladu sylfaen gadarn ar gyfer gweithlu cryf. Ni ellir tanamcangyfrif pwysigrwydd rhoi cymorth i'r mentrau hyn. Rwy'n gobeithio y gall pob un ohonom barhau â'r sgwrs ynghylch iechyd meddwl, gan ddangos i bawb fod iechyd meddwl yn bwysig, a gadael i bobl wybod ei bod hi'n iawn i ofyn am gymorth. Diolch.
Ddoe fe glywson ni'r newyddion torcalonnus am farwolaeth Claire O'Shea, a fu farw o ganser gynaecolegol yn 42 mlwydd oed. Mae'n meddyliau ni i gyd gyda'i hanwyliaid a phob menyw a gafodd ei chyffwrdd gan ei hymgyrchu diflino yn eu galar.
Fe ddes i ar draws Claire drwy waith y pwyllgor iechyd ar ganserau gynaecolegol, ac roedd ei gallu hi, ei brwdfrydedd a'i hegwyddorion hi yn gwbl glir. Fe gyfoethogodd ei mewnbwn waith y pwyllgor iechyd a gofal yn sylweddol wrth inni lunio yr adroddiad 'Heb lais'.
Ymgyrchydd oedd Claire, ac un hynod effeithiol. Roedd hi'n dyheu am gyfiawnder a chydraddoldeb i bawb, ac fe ddaeth â'i gallu ymgyrchu a dylanwadu rhyfeddol i'w brwydr bersonol yn erbyn canser gynaecolegol, gan droi'r frwydr yn un dros bob merch yng Nghymru, a chydsefydlu Claire's Campaign er mwyn gwthio am newid yn y gwasanaethau canserau gynaecolegol yma yng Nghymru.
Yesterday we heard the heartbreaking news of the death of Claire O'Shea, who died of gynaecological cancer at 42 years of age. Our thoughts are all with her loved ones and every woman touched by her tireless campaigning in their grief.
I came across Claire through the work of the health committee on gynaecological cancers, and her ability, her enthusiasm and her principles were entirely clear. Her input enriched the work of the committee immeasurably as we drew up our report 'Unheard'.
Claire was a campaigner, and an exceptionally effective campaigner. She wanted justice and equality for everyone, and brought her incredible campaigning and influencing abilities to her fight against gynaecological cancer, turning the battle into one for every woman in Wales, and jointly establishing Claire's Campaign to push for change in gynaecological cancer services here in Wales.
Claire's strength, warmth and determination inspired hundreds of women to share their experiences and helped drive real change in how gynaecological cancers are understood, talked about and addressed across Wales. Her untimely death is a powerful reminder of why the voices of patients and Claire's Campaign matter so much. We in this Chamber remain fiercely committed to continuing this work to ensure her legacy lives on. She had faith in this Senedd's ability to enact change. We now must repay that faith. Thank you, Claire, for everything.
Ysbrydolodd cryfder, cynhesrwydd a phenderfynoldeb Claire gannoedd o fenywod i rannu eu profiadau, a helpodd i ysgogi newid gwirioneddol yn y ffordd y caiff canserau gynaecolegol eu deall, eu trafod a'u trin ledled Cymru. Mae ei marwolaeth gynamserol yn atgoffa'n bwerus pam fod lleisiau cleifion ac Ymgyrch Claire mor bwysig. Rydym ni yn y Siambr hon yn parhau i fod wedi ymrwymo'n gryf i barhau â'r gwaith hwn i sicrhau bod ei gwaddol yn parhau. Roedd ganddi ffydd yng ngallu'r Senedd hon i sicrhau newid. Mae'n rhaid inni ad-dalu'r ffydd honno nawr. Diolch, Claire, am bopeth.
Next Tuesday St Winefride's shrine and well in Holywell will be open throughout the day, with two short services to pray for those who have been victims of sexual abuse. It's part of a wider day of prayer for abuse survivors that is marked every year in the Catholic Church ever since His Holiness the late Pope Francis established it in 2016.
In England and Wales this day of prayer is observed on the Tuesday of the fifth week of Easter, and the day has got special significance here in Wales because, in 2023, the Bishop of Wrexham, the Right Reverend Peter Brignall, inaugurated St Winefride's shrine as a special site for prayer and healing for victims of sexual abuse.
The inauguration was inspired by the story of St Winefride herself, who as a young woman in the seventh century was a victim of sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of a local prince. Today her shrine in Holywell remains an important place of pilgrimage for many who seek the healing, hope, peace and forgiveness that comes only from Jesus Christ.
Sadly, the outrage of sexual abuse within communities and in institutions is still a problem across Wales, and unfortunately has gone unchecked by some for too long. So, I hope that next Tuesday many colleagues will join me, along with Christians around the world, in praying for all those who have been victims of abuse, and rededicate ourselves to do all we can to protect the vulnerable to make sure that they are not abused in the future. Diolch yn fawr.
Ddydd Mawrth nesaf, bydd cysegrfa a ffynnon Santes Gwenffrewi yn Nhreffynnon ar agor drwy'r dydd, gyda dau wasanaeth byr i weddïo dros rai sydd wedi dioddef cam-drin rhywiol. Mae'n rhan o ddiwrnod ehangach o weddïo dros oroeswyr camdriniaeth sy'n cael ei nodi bob blwyddyn yn yr Eglwys Gatholig ers i'w Sancteiddrwydd y diweddar Bab Ffransis ei sefydlu yn 2016.
Yng Nghymru a Lloegr, cynhelir y diwrnod gweddi hwn ar ddydd Mawrth pumed wythnos y Pasg, ac mae gan y diwrnod arwyddocâd arbennig yma yng Nghymru, oherwydd yn 2023, agorodd Esgob Wrecsam, y Gwir Barchedig Peter Brignall, gysegrfa Santes Gwenffrewi fel safle arbennig ar gyfer gweddïo ac iachâd i ddioddefwyr cam-drin rhywiol.
Ysbrydolwyd yr agoriad gan stori Santes Gwenffrewi ei hun, a oedd yn ddioddefwr aflonyddu a cham-drin rhywiol gan dywysog lleol fel menyw ifanc yn y seithfed ganrif. Heddiw, mae ei chysegrfa yn Nhreffynnon yn parhau i fod yn fan pererindod pwysig i lawer sy'n ceisio'r iachâd, y gobaith, yr heddwch a'r maddeuant a ddaw gan Iesu Grist yn unig.
Yn anffodus, mae gwarth cam-drin rhywiol mewn cymunedau ac mewn sefydliadau yn dal i fod yn broblem ledled Cymru, ac yn anffodus, mae wedi bodoli heb ei rwystro gan rai ers gormod o amser. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd llawer o'm cyd-Aelodau yn ymuno â mi ddydd Mawrth nesaf, ynghyd â Christnogion ledled y byd, i weddïo dros bawb sydd wedi dioddef cam-drin, ac yn ailymrwymo ein hunain i wneud popeth yn ein gallu i ddiogelu rhai sy'n agored i niwed er mwyn sicrhau nad ydynt yn cael eu cam-drin yn y dyfodol. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, bawb.
Thank you, everyone.
Eitem 5 heddiw yw'r ddadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21, diogelu iechyd ymladdwyr tân, a galwaf ar Luke Fletcher i wneud y cynnig.
Item 5 today is a Member debate under Standing Order 11.21, safeguarding the health of firefighters, and I call on Luke Fletcher to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8812 Luke Fletcher, Llyr Gruffydd, Samuel Kurtz, Jane Dodds, Rhys ab Owen, Peredur Owen Griffiths
Cefnogwyd gan Delyth Jewell, Hefin David, Jenny Rathbone, Joel James, Sioned Williams
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) bod diffodd tanau yn gwneud unigolion yn agored i ddod i gysylltiad â deunydd carsinogenaidd, gan gynnwys benzene a toulene, sy'n cynyddu cyfraddau marwolaethau yn sylweddol ymhlith diffoddwyr tân o gymharu â'r boblogaeth gyffredinol;
b) gwaith Asiantaeth Ryngwladol Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd ar gyfer Ymchwil ar Ganser a'u dosbarthiad o ganser ymhlith diffoddwyr tân fel perygl galwedigaethol Grŵp 1;
c) bod gwledydd fel yr Unol Daleithiau, Canada ac Awstralia wedi cydnabod yn swyddogol y cysylltiad rhwng cysylltiad â deunydd gwenwynig a mwy o achosion o ganser; a
d) ymgyrch 'DECON' Undeb y Brigadau Tân a'i hymdrechion hanfodol i helpu diffoddwyr tân i leihau eu cysylltiad niweidiol â halogion.
2. Yn cydnabod canfyddiadau ymchwil wyddonol dan arweiniad yr Athro Anna Stec yng Nghanolfan y Gwyddorau Tân a Pheryglon, Prifysgol Canol Swydd Gaerhirfryn, a gomisiynwyd gan Undeb y Brigadau Tân, sy'n datgelu bod diffoddwyr tân rhwng 35 a 39 oed a arolygwyd yn wynebu cyfradd canser sy'n benodol i oedran hyd at 323 y cant yn uwch na'r boblogaeth gyffredinol yn yr un grŵp oedran.
3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) cydweithio gydag Undeb y Brigadau Tân, gwasanaethau tân ac achub, ac arbenigwyr blaenllaw ym maes tocsicoleg tân i liniaru effeithiau deunydd carcinogenig ar ddiffoddwyr tân yng Nghymru;
b) sefydlu rhaglen iechyd ataliol i fonitro a chofnodi cysylltiadau ar gyfer pob diffoddwr tân yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys sgrinio canser blynyddol fel safon ofynnol; ac
c) alinio Cymru ag arferion gorau rhyngwladol o ran diogelu iechyd diffoddwyr tân.
Motion NDM8812 Luke Fletcher, Llyr Gruffydd, Samuel Kurtz, Jane Dodds, Rhys ab Owen, Peredur Owen Griffiths
Supported by Delyth Jewell, Hefin David, Jenny Rathbone, Joel James, Sioned Williams
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) that firefighting exposes individuals to carcinogenic effluents, including benzene and toluene, which significantly increases mortality rates among firefighters relative to the general population;
b) the work of the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer and their classification of cancer among firefighters as a Group 1 occupational hazard;
c) that countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia have officially recognised the link between exposure to toxic effluents and increased incidences of cancers; and
d) the Fire Brigades Union’s ‘DECON’ campaign and its vital efforts to help firefighters reduce harmful exposure to contaminants.
2. Recognises the findings of scientific research led by Professor Anna Stec at the Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union, which reveals that surveyed firefighters aged 35 to 39 faced an age-specific cancer rate up to 323 per cent higher than that of the general population of the same age group.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) collaborate with the Fire Brigades Union, fire and rescue services, and leading specialists in fire toxicology to mitigate the effects of carcinogenic effluents on firefighters in Wales;
b) establish a preventative health programme to monitor and record exposures for all firefighters in Wales, including annual cancer screening as a minimum standard; and
c) align Wales with international best practices in safeguarding firefighter health.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. In February 2023, I had the privilege of stepping into the boots, quite literally, of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service team. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to get a taste of the extensive training that they undertake at the Cardiff Gate training centre and Bridgend fire station, where I joined them in search and rescue exercises. I crawled through smoke-filled rooms, navigated tight pitch-black crawl spaces—and I'm not ashamed to admit it was a bit of a squeeze for me—and that small experience of training was also very tough. The experience left me with a renewed and profound appreciation for the skill, commitment and courage our service people show every day. But it also underscored something else. The dangers our firefighters face do not end once the flames are out. Fire creates a cocktail of toxic chemicals that are known to increase the risk of cancers and other life-threatening illnesses. Thanks to the pioneering work of the Fire Brigades Union and Professor Anna Stec at the University of Central Lancashire, we have the statistics to back this up, and they are harrowing. You will have heard me repeat these figures over the course of the last two years. The age-specific cancer rate for 35 to 39-year-olds in the fire service is up to 323 per cent higher compared to the general population. Firefighters serving 15 years or more were almost twice as likely to develop cancer than those who served less time. Firefighters are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer if they remain in their personal protective equipment for more than four hours after attending an incident. And firefighters continue to suffer chronic illnesses as a result of occupational exposure to toxic chemicals. Now, let all that just sink in for a moment.
Since the research was carried out, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has formally recognised cancer among firefighters as a group 1 occupational hazard—the most serious classification. In March last year, I welcomed Professor Stec and colleagues from the FBU to the Senedd. Alongside them was Lisa Jenkins, who shared the personal loss of her partner, a firefighter who tragically passed away following a battle with cancer. Hearing both perspectives—the academic and the personal—has, for me, reinforced in the clearest possible terms just how urgently the system needs to change to safeguard the health of those who work to safeguard ours.
Across the world, countries like the US, Canada and Australia have recognised the link between exposure to toxic effluents and the increased incidence of cancer among firefighters. Legislation in these countries ensures that firefighters not only receive workplace compensation when illness strikes, but also have access to routine medical monitoring, designed to catch illnesses early. Yet here in Wales, as across the UK, little such support exists. The FBU’s DECON campaign has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and support firefighters to limit their exposure to harmful contaminants, but protecting their health should not fall solely on individual stations or overstretched services. It requires national leadership, it requires national investment, and it requires a national structured programme of preventative health monitoring.
Following discussions with Professor Stec and the FBU, I’ve consistently been making these calls in the Senedd. I’ve asked several First Ministers whether the Welsh Government would commit to introducing specific health monitoring for firefighters—a practical step that would save lives—but the responses were initially disheartening. The Government would only act on advice from the UK National Screening Committee, and, since there is none, no action would be taken. Now, to be fair, we have heard recently from the First Minister that the chief medical officer has been asked to look into this as a matter of urgency. That is, of course, a welcome step. But every delay now carries consequences, and we just need to get on with it. Further delays simply translate into more deaths due to cancer.
The evidence is there. The stories are there. And the risk is very real. A national programme for preventative health monitoring is an essential, long-overdue step to ensure that the well-being of those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us get the support they deserve. And quite simply, it is the right thing to do, to do right by our fire service people and the families who have lost loved ones because of this occupational risk.
Now, I hope that Members vote in favour of the motion today, and do everything possible to ensure that annual health monitoring is put in place for firefighters in Wales. Their families and the service people deserve that at the very least. I look forward to Members’ contributions. Diolch.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ym mis Chwefror 2023, cefais y fraint o gamu i esgidiau, yn llythrennol, tîm Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Roeddwn yn ddigon ffodus i gael cyfle i gael blas ar yr hyfforddiant helaeth a gânt yng nghanolfan hyfforddi Porth Caerdydd a gorsaf dân Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, lle ymunais â hwy mewn ymarferion chwilio ac achub. Bûm yn cropian drwy ystafelloedd llawn mwg, drwy fannau cul a oedd yn dywyll fel y fagddu—ac nid oes arnaf gywilydd cyfaddef y bu'n rhaid imi wasgu drwyddynt—ac roedd y profiad bach hwnnw o hyfforddiant hefyd yn anodd iawn. Rhoddodd y profiad werthfawrogiad newydd a dwys i mi o'r sgìl, yr ymrwymiad a'r dewrder y mae ein diffoddwyr tân yn ei ddangos bob dydd. Ond tanlinellodd rywbeth arall hefyd. Nid yw'r peryglon y mae ein diffoddwyr tân yn eu hwynebu yn dod i ben pan fydd y fflamau wedi'u diffodd. Mae tân yn creu coctel o gemegau gwenwynig y gwyddys eu bod yn cynyddu'r risg o ganserau a mathau eraill o salwch sy'n peryglu eu bywydau. Diolch i waith arloesol Undeb y Brigadau Tân a'r Athro Anna Stec ym Mhrifysgol Canol Swydd Gaerhirfryn, mae gennym ystadegau i gefnogi hyn, ac maent yn ddychrynllyd. Fe fyddwch wedi fy nghlywed yn ailadrodd y ffigurau hyn dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Mae'r gyfradd canser oedran-benodol ar gyfer pobl 35 i 39 oed yn y gwasanaeth tân hyd at 323 y cant yn uwch o gymharu â'r boblogaeth gyffredinol. Roedd diffoddwyr tân a oedd wedi gwasanaethu am 15 mlynedd neu fwy bron ddwywaith yn fwy tebygol o ddatblygu canser na'r rhai a oedd wedi gwasanaethu am lai o amser. Mae diffoddwyr tân ddwywaith yn fwy tebygol o gael diagnosis o ganser os ydynt yn aros yn eu cyfarpar diogelu personol am fwy na phedair awr ar ôl mynychu digwyddiad. Ac mae diffoddwyr tân yn parhau i ddioddef afiechydon cronig o ganlyniad i ddod i gysylltiad galwedigaethol â chemegau gwenwynig. Nawr, meddyliwch am hynny am eiliad.
Ers cynnal yr ymchwil, mae Asiantaeth Ryngwladol Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd ar gyfer Ymchwil ar Ganser wedi cydnabod canser ymhlith diffoddwyr tân yn ffurfiol fel perygl galwedigaethol grŵp 1—y dosbarthiad mwyaf difrifol. Ym mis Mawrth y llynedd, croesawais yr Athro Stec ac aelodau o Undeb y Brigadau Tân i'r Senedd. Gyda hwy roedd Lisa Jenkins, a rannodd ei phrofiad personol o golli ei phartner, diffoddwr tân a fu farw yn dilyn brwydr yn erbyn canser. Mae clywed y ddau safbwynt—yr academaidd a'r personol—wedi atgyfnerthu yn y termau cliriaf posibl i mi fod angen i'r system newid ar frys er mwyn diogelu iechyd y rhai sy'n gweithio i ddiogelu ein hiechyd ni.
Ledled y byd, mae gwledydd fel yr Unol Daleithiau, Canada ac Awstralia wedi cydnabod y cysylltiad rhwng dod i gysylltiad ag allyriadau gwenwynig a'r cynnydd mewn achosion o ganser ymhlith diffoddwyr tân. Mae deddfwriaeth yn y gwledydd hyn yn sicrhau nid yn unig fod diffoddwyr tân yn cael iawndal y gweithle pan fydd salwch yn taro, ond hefyd eu bod yn cael mynediad at fonitro meddygol rheolaidd, a luniwyd i ganfod afiechydon yn gynnar. Ac eto yma yng Nghymru, fel ledled y DU, ychydig iawn o gymorth o'r fath sydd ar gael. Mae ymgyrch DECON Undeb y Brigadau Tân wedi gweithio'n ddiflino i godi ymwybyddiaeth a chefnogi diffoddwyr tân i leihau faint o gysylltiad a gânt â halogion niweidiol, ond ni ddylai'r gwaith o ddiogelu eu hiechyd fod yn gyfrifoldeb i orsafoedd unigol na gwasanaethau sydd dan bwysau mawr. Mae angen arweinyddiaeth genedlaethol, mae angen buddsoddiad cenedlaethol, ac mae angen rhaglen strwythuredig genedlaethol o fonitro iechyd ataliol.
Yn dilyn trafodaethau gyda'r Athro Stec ac Undeb y Brigadau Tân, rwyf wedi bod yn gwneud y galwadau hyn yn gyson yn y Senedd. Rwyf wedi gofyn i sawl Prif Weinidog sicrhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i gyflwyno monitro iechyd penodol ar gyfer diffoddwyr tân—cam ymarferol a fyddai'n achub bywydau—ond roedd yr ymatebion yn ddigalon i ddechrau. Dim ond ar gyngor gan Bwyllgor Sgrinio Cenedlaethol y DU y byddai'r Llywodraeth yn gweithredu, a chan nad oedd cyngor o'r fath, ni fyddai unrhyw gamau'n cael eu cymryd. Nawr, a bod yn deg, clywsom yn ddiweddar gan y Prif Weinidog eu bod wedi gofyn i'r prif swyddog meddygol edrych ar hyn ar frys. Mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn gam i'w groesawu. Ond mae canlyniadau bellach ynghlwm wrth unrhyw oedi, ac mae angen inni fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith. Mae oedi pellach yn trosi'n fwy o farwolaethau oherwydd canser.
Mae'r dystiolaeth yno. Mae'r straeon yno. Ac mae'r risg yn real iawn. Mae rhaglen genedlaethol ar gyfer monitro iechyd ataliol yn gam hanfodol, hirddisgwyliedig i sicrhau bod lles y rhai sy'n mentro eu diogelwch eu hunain er mwyn diogelu'r gweddill ohonom yn cael y cymorth y maent yn ei haeddu. Ac yn syml iawn, dyma'r peth iawn i'w wneud, y peth priodol i'w wneud ar ran ein diffoddwyr tân a'r teuluoedd sydd wedi colli anwyliaid oherwydd y risg alwedigaethol hon.
Nawr, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n pleidleisio o blaid y cynnig heddiw, ac yn gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i sicrhau bod monitro iechyd blynyddol yn cael ei gyflwyno ar gyfer diffoddwyr tân yng Nghymru. Mae eu teuluoedd a'r bobl sy'n gwasanaethu yn haeddu hynny fan lleiaf. Edrychaf ymlaen at gyfraniadau'r Aelodau. Diolch.
I would like to thank Luke for bringing forward this very important debate. As I have said many times in this Chamber, our firefighters regularly put their health on the line to deal with threats to ours, and we regularly let them down. Whether this is allowing bad management to fester, allowing misogyny and racism to run rife, or allowing persistent exposure to carcinogens, the political leadership is letting down our front-line fire and rescue personnel. As Luke and the motion before us today both point out, the research shows that firefighters are getting cancer at a higher rate and at younger ages than the general population, a situation that has forced other developed nations to class firefighting as a preventable cause of cancer. Think about that for a second: the people we expect to rush into a burning building to save our loved ones are more at risk from exposure to toxic substances than they are from the fire itself.
I was deeply concerned when a team of investigative journalists uncovered the truth about a large number of 'safe' firefighting chemicals, such as wetting agents and foams. These chemicals were far from safe. In fact, they contained what we now call forever chemicals. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs, are bioaccumulative and have been deemed as persistent organic pollutants. Exposure to these forever chemicals is believed to cause organ damage and increase the likelihood of developing many types of cancers. Large multinational chemical companies knowingly and misleadingly sold firefighting agents containing these forever chemicals as safe and biodegradable. Our fire and rescue service personnel used these chemicals for decades, under the false assumption that they were as harmless as the water they were added to. Not only are our firefighters being exposed to toxins released by burning buildings, but also from the very stuff they use to put out the flames.
I urge the Welsh Government to commit today to ensure that a widespread review of the safety of firefighting chemicals is undertaken, as well as to work with researchers at the University of Central Lancashire and elsewhere to fully understand the health implications for former and serving firefighters. We, at the very least, owe this service a commitment to do everything to minimise and mitigate the risk of the job. That includes ensuring they are protected from toxins as well as monitored for exposure. This is not an issue that should be left to individual fire and rescue authorities; it needs action from the top. I urge Members to support Luke's motion. Diolch yn fawr.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Luke am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon. Fel y dywedais sawl gwaith yn y Siambr hon, mae ein diffoddwyr tân yn peryglu eu hiechyd yn rheolaidd i ymdrin â bygythiadau i'n hiechyd ninnau, ac rydym yn gwneud cam â hwy'n rheolaidd. Boed hynny drwy ganiatáu i reoli gwael barhau, caniatáu i gasineb at fenywod a hiliaeth fynd yn rhemp, neu ganiatáu iddynt ddod i gysylltiad parhaus â charsinogenau, mae'r arweinyddiaeth wleidyddol yn gwneud cam â'n gweithwyr tân ac achub ar y rheng flaen. Fel y mae Luke a'r cynnig ger ein bron heddiw yn nodi, dengys yr ymchwil fod diffoddwyr tân yn cael canser ar gyfradd uwch ac yn iau na'r boblogaeth gyffredinol, sefyllfa sydd wedi gorfodi gwledydd datblygedig eraill i ddosbarthu diffodd tân yn achos canser ataliadwy. Meddyliwch am hynny am eiliad: mae'r bobl rydym yn disgwyl iddynt ruthro i mewn i adeilad sy'n llosgi i achub ein hanwyliaid mewn mwy o berygl o ddod i gysylltiad â sylweddau gwenwynig nag ydynt o'r tân ei hun.
Roeddwn yn bryderus iawn pan ddatgelodd tîm o newyddiadurwyr ymchwiliol y gwir am nifer fawr o gemegau diffodd tân 'diogel', fel ewynnau a chyfryngau gwlychu. Roedd y cemegau hyn ymhell o fod yn ddiogel. Mewn gwirionedd, roeddent yn cynnwys yr hyn rydym yn eu galw nawr yn gemegau am byth. Mae sylweddau perfluoroalkyl a polyfluoroalkyl, neu PFASau, yn fiogronnol ac fe'u hystyrir yn llygryddion organig parhaus. Credir bod dod i gysylltiad â'r cemegau am byth hyn yn achosi niwed i organau ac yn cynyddu'r tebygolrwydd o ddatblygu nifer o fathau o ganser. Aeth cwmnïau cemegol rhyngwladol mawr ati'n fwriadol ac yn gamarweiniol i werthu cyfryngau diffodd tân a oedd yn cynnwys y cemegau am byth hyn fel rhai diogel a bioddiraddadwy. Bu gweithwyr ein gwasanaethau tân ac achub yn defnyddio'r cemegau hyn am ddegawdau, o dan gamargraff eu bod mor ddiniwed â'r dŵr y caent eu hychwanegu ato. Mae ein diffoddwyr tân nid yn unig yn dod i gysylltiad â thocsinau o adeiladau sy'n llosgi, ond hefyd o'r union bethau y maent yn eu defnyddio i ddiffodd y fflamau.
Rwy'n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ymrwymo heddiw i sicrhau bod adolygiad eang o ddiogelwch cemegau diffodd tân yn cael ei gynnal, yn ogystal â gweithio gydag ymchwilwyr ym Mhrifysgol Canol Swydd Gaerhirfryn ac mewn mannau eraill i ddeall yn llawn y goblygiadau iechyd i gyn-ddiffoddwyr tân a diffoddwyr tân sy'n gwasanaethu. Mae arnom ymrwymiad, fan lleiaf, i'r gwasanaeth hwn i wneud popeth i leihau a lliniaru'r risg sy'n gysylltiedig â'r swydd. Mae hynny'n cynnwys sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu diogelu rhag tocsinau yn ogystal â'u monitro ar gyfer y sylweddau y gallent fod wedi dod i gysylltiad â hwy. Nid yw hwn yn fater y dylid ei adael i awdurdodau tân ac achub unigol; mae angen gweithredu o'r brig. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi cynnig Luke. Diolch yn fawr.
Unfortunately, we have seen in recent years Governments of different colours not acting promptly on important information. Why they didn't act is not obvious, but, as a result, lives were ruined, illnesses caused, lives cut short, families broken. I don't think it's hyperbole or any exaggeration to say that this important debate by Luke Fletcher falls within that tragic list. The World Health Organization confirmed in 2022 that firefighters were more at risk of cancer than the general population. Luke has mentioned the report commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union and led by Professor Anna Stec published in July 2023—independent evidence that firefighters face danger from breathing in and ingesting contaminants long after the fire has been put out, and how these toxic fires can be absorbed by the skin.
The danger to a firefighter is obvious, it's clear to us all, but I am sure nobody would imagine a firefighter, just because they are doing their job, that they are helping others, is more at risk of having cancer. Effectively, what we are saying is that just because they're going to work, just because they're saving the lives of others and helping others, their lives are being put at risk by the threat of getting cancer. The truly shocking health statistics in relation to skin and testicular cancer in the firefighter community cannot be ignored. Like Luke, I've met with individuals who've given powerful testimony to this.
Where current fire and rescue health and safety practices are failing, the report builds on existing good practice, international good practice, and the report sets out a path for a safer future for our firefighters. The report sets out clearly a number of urgent—urgent—recommendations with regard to decontamination procedures, regular training in relation to decontamination practices and health risks, changes to operational and working practices within the fire stations, and health screening for all firefighters.
Now, this report, as I've already mentioned, has been in existence since 2023, and it's not as if this is the first time this has come in front of the Senedd. Our colleague Luke Fletcher has been relentless in his efforts to bring this issue before the Siambr, yet we heard yet again last week from the First Minister that a request that was made by Luke in February for annual health screening for firefighters, which was urgent back then in February, still hasn't happened due to a change in the chief medical officer. Now, this should not be reliant on change of personnel.
The issues raised in this report cannot be kicked down the road for the next Government to resolve. The risk, the danger and the responsibility sit firmly at the Government's door, and action must be taken. Minister, I urge you to find the money to implement a programme of remedial work in fire stations so that they are decontamination compliant, that training is provided to ensure that firefighters are in possession of the most up-to-date information, and that they do receive annual health screening to ensure that the firefighters of Wales, who risk their lives on a daily basis, receive international best practice for firefighter health. Diolch yn fawr.
Yn anffodus, rydym wedi gweld Llywodraethau o wahanol liwiau yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf yn peidio â gweithredu'n brydlon ar wybodaeth bwysig. Nid yw'n amlwg pam na wnaethant weithredu, ond o ganlyniad, cafodd bywydau eu difetha, cafodd afiechydon eu hachosi, cafodd bywydau eu torri'n fyr, cafodd teuluoedd eu chwalu. Ni chredaf ei bod yn ormod i ddweud bod y ddadl bwysig hon gan Luke Fletcher yn perthyn i'r rhestr drasig honno. Cadarnhaodd Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd yn 2022 fod diffoddwyr tân mewn mwy o berygl o ganser na'r boblogaeth gyffredinol. Mae Luke wedi sôn am yr adroddiad a gomisiynwyd gan Undeb y Brigadau Tân dan arweiniad yr Athro Anna Stec ac a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Gorffennaf 2023—tystiolaeth annibynnol fod diffoddwyr tân yn wynebu perygl o anadlu a llyncu halogion ymhell ar ôl i'r tân gael ei ddiffodd, a sut y gall y croen amsugno'r tanau gwenwynig hyn.
Mae'r perygl i ddiffoddwyr tân yn amlwg, mae'n glir i bob un ohonom, ond rwy'n siŵr na fyddai unrhyw un yn dychmygu bod diffoddwyr tân mewn mwy o berygl o gael canser, a hynny ddim ond oherwydd eu bod yn gwneud eu gwaith yn helpu eraill. I bob pwrpas, yr hyn rydym yn ei ddweud yw, dim ond oherwydd eu bod yn mynd i'r gwaith, dim ond oherwydd eu bod yn achub bywydau eraill ac yn helpu eraill, mae eu bywydau'n cael eu peryglu gan y bygythiad o gael canser. Ni ellir anwybyddu'r ystadegau iechyd gwirioneddol syfrdanol mewn perthynas â chanser y croen a'r ceilliau yng nghymuned y diffoddwyr tân. Fel Luke, rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag unigolion sydd wedi rhoi tystiolaeth bwerus mewn perthynas â hyn.
Lle mae arferion iechyd a diogelwch presennol ym maes tân ac achub yn methu, mae'r adroddiad yn adeiladu ar arferion da presennol, arferion da rhyngwladol, ac mae'r adroddiad yn nodi llwybr ar gyfer dyfodol mwy diogel i'n diffoddwyr tân. Mae'r adroddiad yn nodi'n glir nifer o argymhellion brys—brys—o ran gweithdrefnau dihalogi, hyfforddiant rheolaidd mewn perthynas ag arferion dihalogi a risgiau iechyd, newidiadau i arferion gweithredol ac arferion gwaith o fewn y gorsafoedd tân, a sgrinio iechyd ar gyfer pob diffoddwr tân.
Nawr, mae'r adroddiad hwn, fel y soniais, wedi bod mewn bodolaeth ers 2023, ac nid dyma'r tro cyntaf i hyn fod gerbron y Senedd. Mae ymdrechion ein cyd-Aelod Luke Fletcher i ddod â'r mater hwn gerbron y Siambr wedi bod yn ddi-baid, ond clywsom unwaith eto yr wythnos diwethaf gan y Prif Weinidog fod cais a wnaed gan Luke ym mis Chwefror am sgrinio iechyd blynyddol i ddiffoddwyr tân, a oedd yn fater o frys bryd hynny ym mis Chwefror, yn dal i fod heb ddigwydd am ein bod wedi cael prif swyddog meddygol newydd. Nawr, ni ddylai hyn fod yn ddibynnol ar newid personél.
Ni ellir gohirio'r materion a godwyd yn yr adroddiad hwn i'r Llywodraeth nesaf eu datrys. Y Llywodraeth sy'n gyfrifol am y risg, y perygl a'r cyfrifoldeb, ac mae'n rhaid gweithredu. Weinidog, rwy'n eich annog i ddod o hyd i'r arian i gyflwyno rhaglen o waith adfer mewn gorsafoedd tân fel eu bod yn cydymffurfio â gweithdrefnau dihalogi, fod hyfforddiant yn cael ei ddarparu i sicrhau bod diffoddwyr tân yn cael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, a bod eu hiechyd yn cael ei sgrinio'n flynyddol i sicrhau bod diffoddwyr tân Cymru, sy'n mentro eu bywydau bob dydd, yn elwa o'r arferion gorau rhyngwladol mewn perthynas ag iechyd diffoddwyr tân. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i Luke am ddod â'r ddadl yma ger ein bron ni heddiw. Fel sydd eisoes wedi cael ei nodi, mae diffoddwyr tân yn bobl sydd yn rhoi eu bywydau eu hunain yn y fantol er mwyn achub bywydau pobl eraill. Tra eu bod nhw yn derbyn y risg yma ac yn hyfforddi ac yn paratoi ar gyfer y risg, yr hyn sydd yn gwbl annerbyniol ydy bod yna risg yn bodoli sydd y tu hwnt i'w rheolaeth nhw, risg na all ymarfer neu hyfforddiant ei leihau, sef risg y cemegau bytholwyrdd, y forever chemicals, dŷn ni wedi clywed amdanyn nhw, sydd yn cynyddu eu risg nhw o ganser a chyflyrau eraill.
Mae'r ymchwil trylwyr sydd wedi cael ei gario allan yn dangos bod y cemegau bytholwyrdd yma yn bodoli yn y cyfarpar diogelu personol a'u bod nhw'n aros yn y corff am flynyddoedd lawer gan achosi newidiadau, sef mutations cellol peryglus. Mae pedwar o'r wyth math o ganser mwyaf cyffredin ymhlith diffoddwyr tân wedi cael eu cysylltu gyda'r cemegau bytholwyrdd yma. Dros y degawd diwethaf, mae'r cemegau yma wedi cael eu dileu yn raddol o ewyn tân oherwydd y lefelau uchel ohonyn nhw, o'r cemegau, felly mae yna gydnabyddiaeth o berig y cemegau yma yn bodoli, ond nid oes yr un rheoliad na fframwaith mewn lle ynghylch lefelau'r cemegau yn y cyfarpar a gaiff ei ddefnyddio gan y diffoddwyr tân.
Mae yna nifer o wledydd yn rhyngwladol eisoes wedi gweithredu deddfwriaeth a fframweithiau i atgyfnerthu'r rheoliadau ar gyfer diffoddwyr tân, ac mae angen i ni felly weld y wladwriaeth hon a'n cenedl ni yma yng Nghymru yn dilyn yr un trywydd. Am flynyddoedd, mae Undeb y Brigadau Tân wedi galw am reoliadau cryfach, ac mae'n bryd i ni wrando. Mae cydweithio rhwng Llywodraethau a chyrff iechyd yn hanfodol er mwyn cyflawni'r newid cadarnhaol sydd ei angen er mwyn sicrhau amddiffyniad y mae'n ddiffoddwyr tân yn ei haeddu, felly dwi'n gobeithio y gwelwn ni gefnogaeth lwyr i gynnig Luke yma heddiw.
Thank you very much to Luke for bringing this debate forward today. As has already been noted, firefighters are people who put their own lives at risk to save the lives of others. Whilst they accept this risk and train and prepare for that risk, what is entirely unacceptable is that there is a risk that exists that is beyond their control, a risk that training cannot reduce, namely the risk of these forever chemicals that we've heard about, which increases their risk of cancer and other conditions.
The thorough research carried out shows that these forever chemicals exist in the PPE and that they remain in the body for many years, causing changes, cellular mutations, that are dangerous. Four of the eight most common types of cancer among firefighters have been linked with these forever chemicals. Over the past decade, these chemicals have been removed from foams because of the high levels of these chemicals, so there is recognition of the danger of these chemicals, but there are no regulations and no framework in place as to the level of these chemicals in the equipment used by firefighters.
There are a number of countries that have already implemented legislation and frameworks to reinforce regulations for firefighters, and we, therefore, need to see the state here and our nation here in Wales following the same example. For many years, the Fire Brigades Union has called for stronger regulation, and it's about time that we listened. Co-operation between Governments and health bodies is crucial in order to deliver the positive change that is required in order to ensure the safeguards that our firefighters deserve, so I very much hope that we will see unanimous support for Luke's motion today.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai, Jayne Bryant.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant.
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. First of all, I would like to thank Luke Fletcher for bringing forward today's debate and for his long-standing commitment to this vital issue. I also wish to thank the Fire Brigades Union for their work on firefighter safety and to make clear our support for the FBU’s campaign to reduce the risks of cancers that firefighters face.
This was an issue that was first raised with me at the social partnership meeting, which I chaired. From that, I met the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to discuss this matter further. And, as all Members have said, firefighting is an inherently dangerous profession, and it’s essential that fire and rescue services prioritise firefighter safety. Although workplace health and safety is primarily the responsibility of employers rather than Government, the Welsh Government has a very strong interest in ensuring that firefighters are as safe as possible in carrying out what is an inherently hazardous role.
We therefore support the Fire Brigades Union’s campaign to reduce the risk of cancer that firefighters face. Those risks arise largely from the use of breathing apparatus that has not been properly cleaned and maintained. Employers have a legal and moral obligation to safeguard their staff from hazards at work. Two years ago, our social partnership forum for fire and rescue services discussed and agreed a package of measures to reduce the risk. These included best practice in the use and maintenance of breathing apparatus, and fitness and medical checks for serving firefighters. These measures are similar to those advocated in other countries, for instance by the highly respected National Fire Protection Association in the United States. All three fire and rescue services in Wales have adopted best practice in the use and maintenance of breathing apparatus, which helps reduce exposure to carcinogens significantly, thus reducing the risks to firefighters.
Our chief fire and rescue adviser and inspector has also promoted the use of firefighting tactics that minimise the need to use breathing apparatus at all, in the interests of both safety and effectiveness. He has facilitated training for Welsh firefighters from experts in the Netherlands and the United States, where such tactics have been in use for some time. I’m pleased that all three Welsh services have taken advantage of this.
Services such as Mind’s blue light programme offer a series of mental health and well-being support for emergency services staff and volunteers across police, fire, ambulance and search and rescue services. We expect employers to signpost schemes to support firefighters wherever possible. And as I mentioned earlier, following recent discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, we are also taking steps to raise awareness of the risks amongst NHS clinicians. All three fire and rescue services provide regular fitness and medical checks for their firefighters. The UK National Screening Committee does not recommend any targeted screening programmes based on occupation, but the NHS does offer diagnostic investigations in line with guidance from professional bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Our new chief medical officer is aware of the research paper that the FBU commissioned and of the other relevant research in this area. And I fully agree that we need to learn from global research and practice in other countries. Our chief medical officer will work with experts and relevant UK bodies to consider the evidence and evaluate the research on this subject, and I understand is likely to seek further expert toxicological advice, and further action will follow, as appropriate.
In closing, I’d like to thank the Member for bringing this debate here today, and I’d like to reassure the Senedd that we remain fully committed to addressing these risks as effectively as possible. We will continue to work in social partnership with employers and unions to do so, and I will keep Members updated with our progress. Diolch.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn ddiolch i Luke Fletcher am gyflwyno'r ddadl heddiw ac am ei ymrwymiad hirsefydlog i'r mater hollbwysig hwn. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i Undeb y Brigadau Tân am eu gwaith ar ddiogelwch diffoddwyr tân a nodi'n glir ein cefnogaeth i ymgyrch Undeb y Brigadau Tân i leihau'r risgiau o ganser y mae diffoddwyr tân yn eu hwynebu.
Roedd hwn yn fater a godwyd gyda mi gyntaf yng nghyfarfod y fforwm partneriaeth gymdeithasol, a gadeiriwyd gennyf. Yn dilyn hynny, cyfarfûm ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i drafod y mater ymhellach. Ac fel y mae'r holl Aelodau wedi'i ddweud, mae diffodd tân yn broffesiwn peryglus ar y gorau, ac mae'n hanfodol fod gwasanaethau tân ac achub yn blaenoriaethu diogelwch diffoddwyr tân. Er mai cyfrifoldeb cyflogwyr yn bennaf yn hytrach na'r Llywodraeth yw iechyd a diogelwch yn y gweithle, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddordeb mawr iawn mewn sicrhau bod diffoddwyr tân mor ddiogel â phosibl wrth gyflawni rôl sy'n anochel yn beryglus.
Felly, rydym yn cefnogi ymgyrch Undeb y Brigadau Tân i leihau'r risg o ganser y mae diffoddwyr tân yn ei hwynebu. Mae'r risgiau hynny'n deillio'n bennaf o ddefnyddio cyfarpar anadlu nad yw wedi'i gynnal a'i gadw a'i lanhau'n briodol. Mae gan gyflogwyr rwymedigaeth gyfreithiol a moesol i ddiogelu eu staff rhag peryglon yn y gwaith. Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, fe drafododd ac fe gytunodd ein fforwm partneriaeth gymdeithasol ar gyfer gwasanaethau tân ac achub becyn o fesurau i leihau'r risg. Roedd y rhain yn cynnwys arferion gorau o ran cynnal a chadw a defnyddio cyfarpar anadlu, ac archwiliadau ffitrwydd a meddygol ar gyfer diffoddwyr tân sy'n gwasanaethu. Mae'r mesurau hyn yn debyg i'r rhai a argymhellir mewn gwledydd eraill, er enghraifft yn yr Unol Daleithiau gan y National Fire Protection Association, sy'n sefydliad uchel ei barch. Mae'r tri gwasanaeth tân ac achub yng Nghymru wedi mabwysiadu arferion gorau o ran cynnal a chadw a defnyddio cyfarpar anadlu, sy'n helpu i leihau faint o garsinogenau y daw diffoddwyr tân i gysylltiad â hwy'n sylweddol, gan leihau'r risgiau iddynt.
Mae ein prif gynghorydd ac arolygydd tân ac achub hefyd wedi hyrwyddo'r defnydd o dactegau diffodd tanau sy'n lleihau'r angen i ddefnyddio cyfarpar anadlu o gwbl, er budd diogelwch ac effeithiolrwydd. Mae wedi hwyluso hyfforddiant i ddiffoddwyr tân Cymru gan arbenigwyr yn yr Iseldiroedd a'r Unol Daleithiau, lle mae tactegau o'r fath wedi bod yn cael eu defnyddio ers peth amser. Rwy'n falch fod y tri gwasanaeth yng Nghymru wedi manteisio ar hyn.
Mae gwasanaethau fel rhaglen golau glas Mind yn cynnig cyfres o gymorth iechyd meddwl a lles i staff a gwirfoddolwyr y gwasanaethau brys ar draws yr heddlu a'r gwasanaethau tân, ambiwlans a chwilio ac achub. Rydym yn disgwyl i gyflogwyr gyfeirio diffoddwyr tân at gynlluniau i'w cefnogi lle bynnag y bo modd. Ac fel y soniais yn gynharach, yn dilyn trafodaethau diweddar gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, rydym hefyd yn cymryd camau i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r risgiau ymhlith clinigwyr y GIG. Mae'r tri gwasanaeth tân ac achub yn darparu archwiliadau ffitrwydd a meddygol rheolaidd i'w diffoddwyr tân. Nid yw Pwyllgor Sgrinio Cenedlaethol y DU yn argymell unrhyw raglenni sgrinio wedi'u targedu yn seiliedig ar alwedigaeth, ond mae'r GIG yn cynnig archwiliadau diagnostig yn unol â chanllawiau gan gyrff proffesiynol fel y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal.
Mae ein prif swyddog meddygol newydd yn ymwybodol o'r papur ymchwil a gomisiynwyd gan Undeb y Brigadau Tân a'r ymchwil berthnasol arall yn y maes hwn. Ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod angen inni ddysgu o ymchwil ac arferion byd-eang mewn gwledydd eraill. Bydd ein prif swyddog meddygol yn gweithio gydag arbenigwyr a chyrff perthnasol y DU i ystyried y dystiolaeth a gwerthuso'r ymchwil ar y pwnc hwn, ac rwy'n deall ei bod yn debygol y bydd yn ceisio cyngor tocsicolegol arbenigol pellach, a bydd camau gweithredu pellach yn dilyn, yn ôl yr angen.
I gloi, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon yma heddiw, a hoffwn roi sicrwydd i'r Senedd ein bod yn parhau i fod wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i fynd i'r afael â'r risgiau hyn mor effeithiol â phosibl. Byddwn yn parhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol â chyflogwyr ac undebau i wneud hynny, a byddaf yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am ein cynnydd. Diolch.
Dwi'n galw nawr ar Luke Fletcher i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Luke Fletcher to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you to all Members who contributed to this debate today. Altaf made some important points, actually, around the toxins that are released when a fire begins. I mean, we knew, as kids, not to put plastic on the camp fire because of the toxins that are released, well, when a house is burning down, think of everything in that house that is burning at the same time. It's not just the plastics that you might have in your cupboard because of the Tupperware, it's also the fire-retardant sofa that is releasing a lot of chemicals into the air when it catches alight eventually. It's all of the treated wood that there is around the house and all sorts, so it's amplified a thousand times more than when you simply chuck plastic onto a camp fire. That's what people are facing: they're going straight into those fires without thinking about their own health, to put them out to safeguard our constituents.
When I was on call with the fire service in Bridgend, we were called out to one house. Luckily, it wasn't a huge fire, but what had happened was that somebody had left a dog bowl on the stove while it was on, which then caused the fire alarm to go off. The dog bowl was plastic, we had to open all of the windows and we had to make sure that the proper procedure was followed, because just simply entering that house would have been a risk to the firefighters' health.
Rhys is bang on in what he's saying around, specifically, all of these different cases that we've had and we've seen amplified over the last couple of years, where Governments have been presented with evidence that there is a problem and a serious issue, but have not acted. I don't want to be in a position in ten years' time where we look back at this and there's a huge scandal within the fire service, where the Government has been unwilling to act and unwilling to take forward the recommendations that have been set out in an independent report by very reputable people. That's not a position that I want to be in and I know that's not a position the Government themselves want to be in either.
I think it's important to note, actually, that best practices within the fire service are a lot better than they were. A lot of those recommendations that the Minister referred to through the social partnership council have been taken up by the different fire services across Wales and have been shown to improve quality of life on the job. Simply reminding people to shower after they've come back from a fire goes a long way, when you think about the fact that, beforehand, people were going back to the station still in the same clothes, picking up their sandwiches or whatever with their hands full of soot, and they were ingesting all of that as they were eating their food. So, practices have changed.
I was a bit concerned, just around the wording of what the Minister said here, that the Government has a strong interest in this. Well, you need a bit more than a strong interest in this, if I'm going to be completely blunt here. The reality is, and I've said the figures in setting out this debate, but I'll repeat one of them, which I think is a shocker for everybody who ever hears it: firefighters are 323 per cent more likely than the general population to develop cancer—323 per cent more likely. I think the Government needs to have more than just a strong interest in ensuring that we get the right procedures in place and get the right things in place. I'm completely glad that the United States, Canada, Australia didn't just take a strong interest, they took action. They ensured that there was preventative health monitoring in place specifically for firefighters to head off some of these things before they can develop.
I mentioned in my speech Lisa Jenkins, who came to the Senedd and talked about her experience, and Rhys also mentioned the number of conversations he has had with firefighters and their families. It wouldn't take a lot of effort to go to the fire service, speak to the firefighters and find out these stories—they’re a dime a dozen, almost. People who are of a young age are getting cancer and dying young because of the job that they are doing. It simply isn't right, and I do not want to be in a position in ten years' time where we look back at this and think, ‘We could have done something.’ I would encourage the Government to go beyond just taking, simply, a strong interest in this issue. I would encourage the Government to go beyond simply just putting the emphasis on the employers to sort this out. This requires national leadership, just like it required it in the United States, just like it required it in Canada, and just like it required it in Australia. The Government needs to show leadership on this.
I'll be really interested to see what the chief medical officer says in all this, but I am going to emphasise what I said towards the end of my opening: every single delay is going to result in more deaths due to cancer. This is not something that we can drag our heels on any longer. The report came out in 2023, it is now 2025, 2026 is around the corner and it's going to come before we know it, so the Government needs to act on this now and not simply drag its heels, because that is what I am afraid of happening, and what it seems to me and other people outside of this place is happening at the moment. People will not forgive us for delaying on this, so I would encourage the Government to move on this issue, not to wait for the chief medical officer, and get to work on putting that preventative health monitoring in place for those firefighters who deserve it—it’s the least they deserve.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Diolch i'r holl Aelodau a gyfrannodd at y ddadl hon heddiw. Gwnaeth Altaf bwyntiau pwysig ynghylch y tocsinau sy'n cael eu rhyddhau pan fydd tân yn dechrau. Hynny yw, roeddem yn gwybod, fel plant, i beidio â rhoi plastig ar dân gwersyll oherwydd y tocsinau sy'n cael eu rhyddhau, wel, pan fydd tŷ'n llosgi, meddyliwch am bopeth yn y tŷ hwnnw sy'n llosgi ar yr un pryd. Nid dim ond y plastigau y gallai fod gennych yn eich cwpwrdd oherwydd y Tupperware, ond y soffa wrth-dân sy'n rhyddhau llawer o gemegau i'r awyr pan fydd yn mynd ar dân yn y pen draw. Yr holl bren wedi'i drin sydd o gwmpas y tŷ a phob math o bethau, felly mae'n fil gwaith gwaeth na phan fyddwch chi ond yn taflu plastig ar dân gwersyll. Dyna beth y mae pobl yn ei wynebu: maent yn mynd yn syth i mewn i'r tanau hynny heb feddwl am eu hiechyd eu hunain, i'w diffodd i ddiogelu ein hetholwyr.
Pan oeddwn ar ddyletswydd gyda'r gwasanaeth tân ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, cawsom ein galw allan i un tŷ. Yn ffodus, nid oedd yn dân enfawr, ond yr hyn a ddigwyddodd oedd bod rhywun wedi gadael powlen y ci ar y stôf pan oedd ymlaen, ac fe achosodd i'r larwm tân ganu. Roedd powlen y ci yn blastig, bu'n rhaid inni agor yr holl ffenestri ac roedd yn rhaid inni wneud yn siŵr fod y weithdrefn briodol yn cael ei dilyn, oherwydd byddai mynd i mewn i'r tŷ hwnnw wedi creu risg i iechyd y diffoddwyr tân.
Mae Rhys yn llygad ei le yn yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud, yn benodol, am yr holl achosion gwahanol hyn a gawsom ac a welsom yn amlhau dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, lle mae Llywodraethau wedi cael tystiolaeth fod yna broblem ddifrifol, ond nid ydynt wedi gweithredu. Nid wyf am fod mewn sefyllfa ymhen deng mlynedd pan fyddwn yn edrych yn ôl ar hyn a bod sgandal enfawr o fewn y gwasanaeth tân, lle nad yw'r Llywodraeth wedi bod yn fodlon gweithredu a bwrw ymlaen â'r argymhellion a nodwyd mewn adroddiad annibynnol gan bobl uchel eu parch. Nid yw honno'n sefyllfa rwyf i eisiau bod ynddi ac rwy'n gwybod nad yw'n sefyllfa y mae'r Llywodraeth eu hunain eisiau bod ynddi ychwaith.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig nodi bod arferion gorau yn y gwasanaeth tân yn llawer gwell na'r hyn oeddent. Mae llawer o'r argymhellion y cyfeiriodd y Gweinidog atynt drwy'r cyngor partneriaeth gymdeithasol wedi cael eu derbyn gan y gwahanol wasanaethau tân ledled Cymru a gwelwyd eu bod yn gwella ansawdd bywyd yn y gwaith. Mae atgoffa pobl i gael cawod ar ôl iddynt ddod yn ôl o dân yn mynd yn bell iawn, pan feddyliwch fod pobl o'r blaen yn mynd yn ôl i'r orsaf yn dal yn yr un dillad, yn codi eu brechdanau neu beth bynnag, gyda'u dwylo wedi'u gorchuddio â huddygl y byddent yn ei lyncu wrth iddynt fwyta eu bwyd. Felly, mae arferion wedi newid.
Roeddwn ychydig yn bryderus ynghylch geiriad yr hyn a ddywedodd y Gweinidog yma, fod gan y Llywodraeth ddiddordeb cryf yn hyn. Wel, mae angen ychydig mwy na diddordeb cryf, os caf fod yn hollol ddiflewyn-ar-dafod. Y gwir amdani yw, ac fe nodais y ffigurau wrth agor y ddadl, ond fe ailadroddaf un ohonynt, sy'n sioc i bawb sy'n ei glywed: mae diffoddwyr tân 323 y cant yn fwy tebygol na'r boblogaeth gyffredinol o ddatblygu canser—323 y cant yn fwy tebygol. Rwy'n credu bod angen i'r Llywodraeth gael mwy na dim ond diddordeb cryf mewn sicrhau ein bod yn cael y gweithdrefnau cywir ar waith ac yn cael y pethau cywir yn eu lle. Rwy'n falch dros ben nad diddordeb cryf yn unig oedd gan yr Unol Daleithiau, Canada, Awstralia, a'u bod wedi gweithredu. Fe wnaethant sicrhau bod monitro iechyd ataliol ar waith yn benodol ar gyfer diffoddwyr tân i atal rhai o'r pethau hyn cyn iddynt ddatblygu.
Soniais yn fy araith am Lisa Jenkins, a ddaeth i'r Senedd i siarad am ei phrofiad, a soniodd Rhys hefyd am y sgyrsiau niferus y mae wedi'u cael gyda diffoddwyr tân a'u teuluoedd. Ni fyddai'n cymryd llawer o ymdrech i fynd at y gwasanaeth tân, siarad â'r diffoddwyr tân a darganfod y straeon hyn—mae digonedd ohonynt. Mae pobl ifanc yn cael canser ac yn marw'n ifanc oherwydd y swydd a wnânt. Nid yw'n iawn, ac nid wyf eisiau bod mewn sefyllfa ymhen deng mlynedd lle rydym yn edrych yn ôl ar hyn ac yn meddwl, 'Gallem fod wedi gwneud rhywbeth.' Rwy'n annog y Llywodraeth i fynd y tu hwnt i fod â diddordeb cryf yn y mater. Rwy'n annog y Llywodraeth i fynd y tu hwnt i roi pwyslais ar weld cyflogwyr yn datrys hyn. Mae'n galw am arweinyddiaeth genedlaethol, yn union fel y gwnaeth yn yr Unol Daleithiau, yn union fel y gwnaeth yng Nghanada, ac yn union fel y gwnaeth yn Awstralia. Mae angen i'r Llywodraeth ddangos arweinyddiaeth ar hyn.
Hoffwn weld beth y mae'r prif swyddog meddygol yn ei ddweud yn hyn i gyd, ond rwy'n mynd i bwysleisio'r hyn a ddywedais tuag at ddiwedd fy agoriad: mae pob oedi'n mynd i arwain at fwy o farwolaethau o ganser. Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth y gallwn lusgo ein traed arno mwyach. Cyhoeddwyd yr adroddiad yn 2023, mae bellach yn 2025, mae 2026 ar y gorwel ac fe fydd yma mewn dim, felly mae angen i'r Llywodraeth weithredu ar hyn nawr a pheidio â llusgo ei thraed, oherwydd dyna rwy'n ofni ei weld yn digwydd, a'r hyn y mae'n ymddangos i mi a phobl eraill y tu allan i'r lle hwn sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd. Ni fydd pobl yn maddau i ni am oedi ar hyn, felly rwy'n annog y Llywodraeth i symud ar y mater hwn, i beidio ag aros am y prif swyddog meddygol, a mynd ati i roi monitro iechyd ataliol ar waith i ddiffoddwyr tân fel y maent yn ei haeddu—dyna'r lleiaf y maent yn ei haeddu.
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 is objection. I will defer voting under this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Eitem 6 heddiw yw dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Deisebau, 'P-06-1482: Gwahardd ffonau clyfar ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru (gydag esemptiadau ar gyfer amgylchiadau eithriadol)'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig, Carolyn Thomas.
Item 6 today is a debate on the Petitions Committee report, 'P-06-1482: Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances)'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion, Carolyn Thomas.
Cynnig NDM8899 Carolyn Thomas
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Deisebau, ‘P-06-1482: Gwahardd ffonau clyfar ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru (gydag esemptiadau ar gyfer amgylchiadau eithriadol)’, a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 12 Mawrth 2025.
Motion NDM8899 Carolyn Thomas
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Petitions Committee, ‘P-06-1482: Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances)’, which was laid in the Table Office on 12 March 2025.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. On behalf of the Petitions Committee, thank you for the opportunity to introduce the debate today. The petition was submitted by Zena Blackwell and closed on 7 January 2025 with 3,369 signatures. The petition reads:
'Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances).
'Inspired by the movements Smartphone Free Childhood and Delay Smartphones, as well as recent compelling research on the profound negative effects of smartphones on children, we call on Senedd Cymru to ban them in all schools in Wales, with exemptions for exceptional circumstances. Smartphone use poses significant wellbeing and safeguarding concerns. We are deeply worried about our children's social development and mental health and believe all pupils have the right to a smartphone-free school.'
The petition went on to highlight that children’s mental health is at an all-time low, the research that shows the impact that phone use, screen time and access to social media is having on them, and that this is an issue that many countries are grappling with. They are also highly addictive. I would like to thank Zena Blackwell for raising this critical issue via the petitions process and prompting the committee’s inquiry.
Our school focus groups and stakeholder event were really informative. But although there was plenty of evidence of the harms associated with smartphones, and the benefits of restricting use in schools, there certainly wasn’t a clear consensus that an across-the-board ban, even with some exceptions, was the way forward.
It's a complicated issue, but we soon reached the view that the word 'ban' wasn’t realistic or helpful. We think a clear policy framework and guidance on how best to implement restrictions is better. Calling schools 'smartphone-free schools' is also preferred to using the word 'ban'. The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, NSPCC Cymru, Barnardo's Cymru and Parents Voices in Wales all raised concerns about introducing a ban in all Welsh schools, and last month, the Children’s Commissioner for England also agreed it was best left to the professionals—headteachers—to decide how to manage this issue.
Diabetes UK were quick to point out that smartphones help children effectively manage their health condition throughout the day. Likewise, young carers and pupils who are neurodiverse or have additional learning needs particularly rely on their phones. Anyone using public transport needs a smartphone to manage their journey to and from school. Parents want a way to connect with their child. And by the time you are 16 and preparing for the world of work, you need to have mastered a smart device for any number of reasons.
Welsh Government also has a minimum standard for digital inclusion for everyone in Wales, and this includes access to a smartphone and data. Although, by year 6, 83 per cent of pupils have a smartphone, our report certainly raised the point that not every family can afford to provide their child with the latest state-of-the-art phone, and some smartphone-free schools offer alternative technology during the school day for research, such as iPads.
Classroom teachers, though, were generally more supportive of a general ban and told us that phones cause all sorts of problems in schools. We heard some quite shocking evidence on this. On the one hand, schools can set a precedent and support children and parents with restricting phone use during the school day, but online safety and the safe use of digital technology is a job for parents and carers, and for the whole community.
We all struggle with the addictive nature of phones. There’s the strong argument that children are that much more vulnerable and need greater protection, but they also need to learn how to safely function in a digital world. Legislators, and society in general, are still struggling to find the right answers. So, I welcome the fact that the Cabinet Secretary says she is due to meet with Ofcom shortly to further discuss mobile phone and social media usage.
The committee’s report made five recommendations. In addition to asking the Welsh Government to work with the Welsh Local Government Association and others to implement a robust policy framework and practical guidance to support schools, we also want Ministers to keep looking at the emerging evidence. The evidence base is still quite limited, but is growing all the time.
As a committee, we felt strongly that something has to be done, but actions need to be evidence based. Schools that already have restrictions can demonstrate the benefits, and schools are making child-centred exceptions where they need to. The restrictions may vary, though, and perhaps more consistency across Wales will also support schools to engage with parents and get them onside, which is really important, because sometimes it will be the parents who are initially more resistant to these restrictions and changes.
I'm pleased that the Government has accepted three of our recommendations in full, and the Cabinet Secretary has accepted the other two in principle, subject to bringing together key people and experts to look at these issues further. That is very encouraging. Sorry, I should have said ‘key partners’, not ‘key people’.
The response acknowledges that technology is constantly evolving, along with the tools and the sites that phones give access to. I also note the Cabinet Secretary says she has been receiving increasing calls for advice, and I think this shows our work on this issue, prompted by this petition, has been very timely. The recognition that we need to engage with all stakeholders on the development of a national framework linked to work on behaviour in schools is also important. The response notes the importance of supporting parental engagement, while also being mindful of teacher workload.
I welcome the positive response to our view that the language used is really important, and that guidance needs to be framed in a way for children and young people and their parents to understand the rationale behind it. I also note that the Cabinet Secretary is reserving her position on the issue of how exemptions are handled as part of the framework and guidance, and how consultation will be carried out, but the dialogue with key partners and experts is the critical thing.
The response to recommendation 5, to keep following the evidence, is really important in this ever-changing area of policy. I welcome the commitment to ensuring that those involved in discussing a national policy framework and guidance are aware of the latest evidence and data to inform their deliberations.
Finally, I thank the petitioners for bringing this hugely significant issue to Members' attention, and I look forward to today's debate.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ar ran y Pwyllgor Deisebau, diolch am y cyfle i gyflwyno'r ddadl heddiw. Cyflwynwyd y ddeiseb gan Zena Blackwell ac erbyn iddi gau ar 7 Ionawr 2025, roedd wedi denu 3,369 o lofnodion. Mae'r ddeiseb yn dweud hyn:
'Gwahardd ffonau clyfar ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru (gydag esemptiadau ar gyfer amgylchiadau eithriadol).
'Wedi ein hysbrydoli gan symudiadau Smartphone Free Childhood a Delay Smartphones, yn ogystal ag ymchwil neilltuol ddiweddar ar effeithiau negyddol dwys ffonau clyfar ar blant, rydym yn galw ar Senedd Cymru i’w gwahardd ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru, gydag esemptiadau ar gyfer amgylchiadau eithriadol. Mae defnyddio ffonau clyfar yn achosi pryderon sylweddol o ran llesiant a diogelu. Rydym yn pryderu’n fawr am ddatblygiad cymdeithasol ac iechyd meddwl ein plant ac yn credu bod gan bob disgybl yr hawl i fod mewn ysgol heb ffonau clyfar.'
Aeth y ddeiseb yn ei blaen i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod iechyd meddwl plant yn waeth nag erioed, at yr ymchwil sy'n dangos yr effaith y mae defnyddio ffôn, amser sgrin a mynediad at gyfryngau cymdeithasol yn ei chael arnynt, ac at y ffaith bod hwn yn fater y mae llawer o wledydd yn ymlafnio ag ef. Maent hefyd yn gaethiwus iawn. Hoffwn ddiolch i Zena Blackwell am godi'r mater hollbwysig hwn drwy'r broses ddeisebau ac ysgogi ymchwiliad y pwyllgor.
Roedd ein grwpiau ffocws ysgol a'n digwyddiad i randdeiliaid yn addysgiadol iawn. Ond er bod digon o dystiolaeth o'r niwed sy'n gysylltiedig â ffonau clyfar, a'r manteision o gyfyngu ar eu defnydd mewn ysgolion, yn sicr nid oedd consensws clir mai gwaharddiad cyffredinol, hyd yn oed gyda rhai eithriadau, oedd y ffordd ymlaen.
Mae'n fater cymhleth, ond daethom i'r casgliad yn fuan nad oedd y gair 'gwaharddiad' yn realistig nac yn ddefnyddiol. Credwn fod fframwaith polisi clir a chanllawiau ar ffyrdd gorau o weithredu cyfyngiadau yn well. Mae galw ysgolion yn 'ysgolion dim ffonau' hefyd yn well na defnyddio'r gair 'gwaharddiad'. Cododd Comisiynydd Plant Cymru, NSPCC Cymru, Barnardo's Cymru a Lleisiau Rhieni yng Nghymru bryderon ynglŷn â chyflwyno gwaharddiad ym mhob ysgol yng Nghymru, a'r mis diwethaf, cytunodd Comisiynydd Plant Lloegr hefyd ei bod yn well gadael i'r gweithwyr proffesiynol—penaethiaid—benderfynu sut i reoli'r mater.
Roedd Diabetes UK yn gyflym i nodi bod ffonau clyfar yn helpu plant i reoli eu cyflwr iechyd yn effeithiol trwy gydol y dydd. Yn yr un modd, mae gofalwyr ifanc a disgyblion sy'n niwroamrywiol neu sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn arbennig yn dibynnu ar eu ffonau. Mae angen ffôn clyfar ar unrhyw un sy'n defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i reoli eu taith i'r ysgol ac oddi yno. Mae rhieni eisiau ffordd o gysylltu â'u plentyn. Ac erbyn i chi gyrraedd 16 oed a pharatoi ar gyfer byd gwaith, mae angen i chi fod wedi meistroli dyfais glyfar am bob math o resymau.
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd safon ofynnol ar gyfer cynhwysiant digidol i bawb yng Nghymru, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys mynediad at ffôn clyfar a data. Er bod gan 83 y cant o ddisgyblion ffôn clyfar erbyn blwyddyn 6, yn sicr fe wnaeth ein hadroddiad y pwynt nad yw pob teulu yn gallu fforddio darparu'r ffôn diweddaraf i'w plentyn, ac mae rhai ysgolion heb ffonau'n cynnig technoleg amgen, fel iPads, yn ystod y diwrnod ysgol ar gyfer gwneud gwaith ymchwil.
At ei gilydd fodd bynnag, roedd athrawon dosbarth yn fwy cefnogol i waharddiad cyffredinol ac yn dweud wrthym fod ffonau'n achosi pob math o broblemau mewn ysgolion. Clywsom dystiolaeth eithaf syfrdanol ar hyn. Ar y naill law, gall ysgolion osod cynsail a chefnogi plant a rhieni drwy gyfyngu ar y defnydd o ffôn yn ystod y diwrnod ysgol, ond mater i rieni a gofalwyr, ac i'r gymuned gyfan, yw diogelwch ar-lein a defnydd diogel o dechnoleg.
Rydym i gyd yn cael trafferth gyda natur gaethiwus ffonau. Mae yna ddadl gref fod plant yn llawer mwy agored i niwed ac angen mwy o amddiffyniad, ond hefyd mae angen iddynt ddysgu sut i weithredu'n ddiogel mewn byd digidol. Mae deddfwyr, a chymdeithas yn gyffredinol, yn dal i gael trafferth dod o hyd i'r atebion cywir. Felly, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn dweud ei bod hi'n cyfarfod ag Ofcom cyn bo hir i drafod y defnydd o ffonau symudol a chyfryngau cymdeithasol ymhellach.
Fe wnaeth adroddiad y pwyllgor bum argymhelliad. Yn ogystal â gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac eraill i weithredu fframwaith polisi cadarn a chanllawiau ymarferol i gefnogi ysgolion, rydym am i Weinidogion barhau i edrych ar y dystiolaeth sy'n dod i'r amlwg. Mae'r sylfaen dystiolaeth yn dal i fod yn eithaf cyfyngedig, ond mae'n tyfu drwy'r amser.
Fel pwyllgor, roeddem yn teimlo'n gryf fod angen gwneud rhywbeth, ond mae angen i weithredoedd fod yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth. Gall ysgolion sydd â chyfyngiadau eisoes ddangos y manteision, ac mae ysgolion yn gwneud eithriadau sy'n canolbwyntio ar blant lle mae angen iddynt wneud hynny. Gall y cyfyngiadau amrywio, fodd bynnag, ac efallai y bydd mwy o gysondeb ledled Cymru yn gymorth i ysgolion ymgysylltu â rhieni ac ennyn eu cefnogaeth, sy'n bwysig iawn, oherwydd weithiau, y rhieni sy'n fwy gwrthwynebus i'r cyfyngiadau a'r newidiadau hyn ar y dechrau.
Rwy'n falch fod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn tri o'n hargymhellion yn llawn, ac mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi derbyn y ddau arall mewn egwyddor, yn amodol ar ddod â phobl allweddol ac arbenigwyr at ei gilydd i edrych ar y materion hyn ymhellach. Mae hynny'n galonogol iawn. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, dylwn fod wedi dweud 'partneriaid allweddol', nid 'pobl allweddol'.
Mae'r ymateb yn cydnabod bod technoleg yn esblygu'n gyson, ynghyd â'r offer a'r gwefannau y mae ffonau'n rhoi mynediad iddynt. Rwyf hefyd yn nodi bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn dweud iddi gael galwadau cynyddol am gyngor, ac rwy'n credu bod hyn yn dangos bod ein gwaith ar y mater, wedi'i ysgogi gan y ddeiseb hon, yn amserol iawn. Mae'r gydnabyddiaeth fod angen inni ymgysylltu â'r holl randdeiliaid ar ddatblygu fframwaith cenedlaethol sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith ar ymddygiad mewn ysgolion hefyd yn bwysig. Mae'r ymateb yn nodi pwysigrwydd cefnogi ymgysylltiad â rhieni, gan ystyried llwyth gwaith athrawon ar yr un pryd.
Rwy'n croesawu'r ymateb cadarnhaol i'n safbwynt fod yr iaith a ddefnyddir yn bwysig iawn, a bod angen fframio canllawiau mewn ffordd i blant a phobl ifanc a'u rhieni ddeall y rhesymeg y tu ôl iddynt. Nodaf hefyd fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymatal rhag rhoi safbwynt ar y modd y caiff eithriadau eu trin yn rhan o'r fframwaith a'r canllawiau, a sut y cyflawnir y gwaith ymgynghori, ond y ddeialog gyda phartneriaid ac arbenigwyr allweddol yw'r peth allweddol.
Mae'r ymateb i argymhelliad 5, i barhau i ddilyn y dystiolaeth, yn bwysig iawn yn y maes polisi hwn sy'n newid yn barhaus. Rwy'n croesawu'r ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n trafod fframwaith polisi cenedlaethol a chanllawiau yn ymwybodol o'r dystiolaeth a'r data diweddaraf i lywio eu trafodaethau.
Yn olaf, diolch i'r deisebwyr am ddod â'r mater hynod bwysig hwn i sylw'r Aelodau, ac edrychaf ymlaen at y ddadl heddiw.
Can I thank the Petitions Committee for preparing the report, and also the 3,369 people who took the time to sign the original petition?
This is a topical, contentious and deeply complex topic, and it's something I've given a great deal of consideration to since my role of being in the position of shadow cabinet secretary for education. What is clear, though, is that we cannot continue with the current status quo. Something needs to give. It's just a matter of working out how that change will indeed look for us. Personally, I do not share the committee's conclusion that smartphones should not be banned outright. I believe a universal ban, apart from in exceptional circumstances, for example if a child has medical needs, is exactly what indeed is needed.
Mobile phones can indeed be a major distraction, taking our students' focus away from learning, which is exactly what schools are for. Just having a phone nearby, even not in use, can impair cognitive performance, according to research conducted by the University of Texas. Phones can also have a detrimental impact on the mental health of our young people and open the door to cyber bullying. In terms of online bullying, data from the Office for National Statistics has suggested that one in five children experience at least one type of bullying behaviour online, and out of them, around three quarters said at least some of it was experienced at school or during school time. Not only that, but the use of mobile phones in the classroom presents challenges for teachers and school staff as well. Instead of delivering lessons, teachers have to stop what they're doing to deal with the distractions.
Of course, children are going to use mobile phones in their day-to-day lives, there's no question about it, but we need to be taking steps to remove them from the classroom. The UK Government's national behavioural strategy found that 38 per cent of teachers and 57 per cent of pupils said that some, most or all of the lessons have indeed been disrupted by mobile phones in the previous week. According to a survey carried out by a parents' charity, one in five pupils say their lessons are disrupted by a classmate using a mobile phone.
The impact that will be having on students' learning is deeply concerning and troubling for me. Research carried out by Policy Exchange found that secondary schools in England with an effective ban on mobile phones were more than twice as likely to be rated outstanding as the national average. That same piece of research found that children in schools with an effective ban achieved GCSE results that were one to two grades higher compared to children at schools with laxer policies. In 2015, the London School of Economics found that schools where phones were banned saw a 6.5 per cent increase in test scores, with gains being highest amongst underperforming students.
Instead of an outright ban, the committee believes schools should get more support from the Government to set their own restrictions. However, the evidence shows that simply doesn't work, with one in eight pupils saying that schools never confiscate phones, even when rules forbidding them are ignored.
The Policy Exchange also found that most secondary schools say that they have some sort of ban in place on the use of mobile phones, but only 13 per cent of schools in England and Wales actually separate students from their phones for the duration of the school day. There needs to be a non-ambiguous, universal approach to this. We need consistency across the board.
My Conservative Westminster colleague, Laura Trott, Member of Parliament, has indeed been doing some great work on this important area, and it's a real shame that Labour politicians in London failed to back our proposals to ban smartphones in schools for under-16s. The evidence is overwhelming when it comes to the huge impact that smartphones in schools are having on children's attainment and well-being.
Branding a phone ban as unnecessary, as the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, did recently, or claiming it's a gimmick, like the education Minister, Bridget Phillipson, in Westminster did, is totally wrong. More and more countries around the world are waking up to the damage phones are doing within our schools. I believe a ban, which sees phones locked up at the start of each school day in lockers and retrieved at the end of the day, is the best approach going forward. It's the right thing for teachers, it's the right thing for children, and it's the right thing for parents.
If we don't do this, I fear that we will all look back in a few years' time and wonder why we didn't act sooner. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's views on this topic throughout this debate. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Pwyllgor Deisebau am baratoi'r adroddiad, a hefyd i'r 3,369 o bobl a roddodd amser i lofnodi'r ddeiseb wreiddiol?
Mae hwn yn bwnc cyfoes, dadleuol a hynod gymhleth, ac mae'n rhywbeth rwyf i wedi rhoi llawer o ystyriaeth iddo ers imi ddod i rôl llefarydd yr wrthblaid ar addysg. Yr hyn sy'n glir, fodd bynnag, yw na allwn barhau gyda'r status quo presennol. Mae angen i rywbeth newid. Mae'n fater o ganfod sut y bydd y newid hwnnw'n edrych i ni. Yn bersonol, nid wyf yn rhannu casgliad y pwyllgor na ddylid gwahardd ffonau clyfar yn llwyr. Rwy'n credu mai gwaharddiad cyffredinol, heblaw mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol, os oes gan blentyn anghenion meddygol er enghraifft, yw'r union beth sydd ei angen.
Gall ffonau symudol fod yn ymyrraeth fawr, gan dynnu sylw ein myfyrwyr oddi ar ddysgu, a dyna'n union beth y mae ysgolion yno i'w wneud. Gall cael ffôn gerllaw, hyd yn oed os na chaiff ei ddefnyddio, amharu ar berfformiad gwybyddol, yn ôl ymchwil a gyflawnwyd gan Brifysgol Texas. Yn ogystal, gall ffonau gael effaith niweidiol ar iechyd meddwl ein pobl ifanc ac agor y drws i seiberfwlio. O ran bwlio ar-lein, mae data gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol wedi awgrymu bod un o bob pump o blant yn profi o leiaf un math o ymddygiad bwlio ar-lein, ac o'r rheini, dywedodd tua thri chwarter fod o leiaf rywfaint ohono wedi'i brofi yn yr ysgol neu yn ystod amser ysgol. Nid yn unig hynny, ond mae'r defnydd o ffonau symudol yn yr ystafell ddosbarth yn creu heriau i athrawon a staff ysgol hefyd. Yn hytrach na chyflwyno gwersi, rhaid i athrawon roi'r gorau i'r hyn a wnânt er mwyn ymdrin â'r ymyrraeth.
Wrth gwrs, mae plant yn mynd i ddefnyddio ffonau symudol yn eu bywydau bob dydd, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth ynglŷn â hynny, ond mae angen inni roi camau ar waith i gael eu gwared o'r ystafell ddosbarth. Canfu strategaeth genedlaethol Llywodraeth y DU ar ymddygiad fod 38 y cant o athrawon a 57 y cant o ddisgyblion wedi dweud bod ffonau symudol wedi tarfu ar rai, y rhan fwyaf neu'r cyfan o'r gwersi yn yr wythnos flaenorol. Yn ôl arolwg a gynhaliwyd gan elusen rhieni, mae un o bob pump o ddisgyblion yn dweud bod cyd-ddisgybl sy'n defnyddio ffôn symudol yn tarfu ar eu gwersi.
Mae'r effaith y bydd hynny'n ei chael ar ddysgu myfyrwyr yn peri pryder mawr i mi. Canfu ymchwil a gyflawnwyd gan Policy Exchange fod ysgolion uwchradd yn Lloegr sydd â gwaharddiad effeithiol ar ffonau symudol dros ddwywaith yn fwy tebygol o gael eu graddio'n rhagorol na'r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol. Canfu'r un ymchwil fod plant mewn ysgolion sydd â gwaharddiad effeithiol wedi cyflawni canlyniadau TGAU a oedd un i ddwy radd yn uwch na phlant mewn ysgolion â pholisïau llacach. Yn 2015, canfu Ysgol Economeg Llundain fod ysgolion lle roedd ffonau wedi'u gwahardd wedi gweld cynnydd o 6.5 y cant mewn sgoriau profion, gyda'r cynnydd mwyaf ymhlith myfyrwyr sy'n tangyflawni.
Yn hytrach na gwaharddiad llwyr, mae'r pwyllgor yn credu y dylai ysgolion gael mwy o gefnogaeth gan y Llywodraeth i osod eu cyfyngiadau eu hunain. Fodd bynnag, dengys y dystiolaeth nad yw hynny'n gweithio, gydag un o bob wyth disgybl yn dweud nad yw ysgolion byth yn cymryd ffonau, hyd yn oed pan fydd rheolau sy'n eu gwahardd yn cael eu hanwybyddu.
Canfu Policy Exchange hefyd fod y rhan fwyaf o ysgolion uwchradd yn dweud bod ganddynt ryw fath o waharddiad ar y defnydd o ffonau symudol, ond dim ond 13 y cant o ysgolion yng Nghymru a Lloegr sy'n gwahanu myfyrwyr oddi wrth eu ffonau drwy gydol y diwrnod ysgol. Mae angen ymagwedd ddiamwys, gyffredinol at hyn. Mae angen cysondeb ym mhobman.
Mae'r Aelod Seneddol Ceidwadol yn San Steffan, Laura Trott, wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith gwych ar y maes pwysig hwn, ac mae'n drueni mawr fod gwleidyddion Llafur yn Llundain wedi methu cefnogi ein cynigion i wahardd ffonau clyfar yn yr ysgol i blant dan 16 oed. Mae'r dystiolaeth yn llethol o ran yr effaith enfawr y mae ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion yn ei chael ar gyrhaeddiad a lles plant.
Mae brandio gwaharddiad ffôn fel rhywbeth diangen, fel y gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog, Keir Starmer, yn ddiweddar, neu honni mai gimig fyddai gwneud hynny, fel y gwnaeth y Gweinidog addysg yn San Steffan, Bridget Phillipson, yn hollol anghywir. Mae mwy a mwy o wledydd ledled y byd yn deffro i'r niwed y mae ffonau'n ei wneud yn ein hysgolion. Rwy'n credu mai gwaharddiad, sy'n golygu rhoi ffonau dan glo ar ddechrau pob diwrnod ysgol mewn loceri a'u hadfer ar ddiwedd y dydd, yw'r dull gorau o weithredu ar gyfer y dyfodol. Dyma'r peth iawn i athrawon, dyma'r peth iawn i blant, a dyma'r peth iawn i rieni.
Os na wnawn hyn, rwy'n ofni y byddwn i gyd yn edrych yn ôl ymhen ychydig flynyddoedd ac yn meddwl tybed pam na wnaethom weithredu'n gynt. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at glywed barn pawb ar y pwnc yn y ddadl. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Rwy'n falch o gael y cyfle i drafod y mater hwn heddiw, a dwi eisiau diolch hefyd i'r deisebwyr am ddod â'r mater hwn ger bron, a hefyd i'r Pwyllgor Deisebau am eu hymchwiliad trylwyr. Mae hwn yn bwnc nuanced a sensitif iawn, ac mae'n amlwg bod dull one size fits all yn annhebygol o roi ateb cyflawn i ni. O ystyried y cymhlethdod, gallai canllawiau cenedlaethol eang gyda gweithrediad lleol gan ysgolion, mewn cydweithrediad â chyrff llywodraethu a rhieni, fod efallai'r ffordd orau ymlaen.
Pe bai Llywodraeth Cymru'n cyflwyno canllawiau pellach yn y maes hwn, mae'n hanfodol bod yr holl agweddau perthnasol yn cael eu hystyried yn ofalus. Mae'n rhaid i ni daro, yn fy marn i, y cydbwysedd rhwng peidio â niweidio dysgwyr—ac mae yna dystiolaeth, wrth gwrs, bod hynny'n digwydd—ac, ar y llaw arall, eu paratoi nhw ar gyfer y byd technolegol rŷm ni'n byw ynddo fe, gan seilio unrhyw benderfyniadau ar ymchwil a thystiolaeth gadarn. Yn y bôn, mae angen i ni gael sgwrs gall a phwyllog gyda rhanddeiliaid yn y sector, gan gynnwys y disgyblion eu hunain, er mwyn penderfynu ar y camau sydd angen eu cymryd.
Rwy'n nodi gyda diddordeb y Bil preifat diweddar a gyflwynwyd yn San Steffan, sydd â chefnogaeth y Llywodraeth. Mae'r Bil ffonau mwy diogel yn galw am—a dwi'n mynd i restru tri pheth fan hyn—prif swyddogion meddygol holl wledydd y Deyrnas Gyfunol, gan gynnwys Cymru, i gyhoeddi canllawiau ar y defnydd y ffonau cyfar a chyfryngau cymdeithasol gan blant o fewn y 12 mis nesaf; yr Ysgrifennydd addysg i ddatblygu cynllun ar gyfer ymchwilio i effaith defnydd y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ar blant, eto o fewn 12 mis; a'r Llywodraeth i adrodd yn ôl o fewn blwyddyn ar a ddylid codi'r oedran cydsyniad digidol o 13 i 16. Byddai'n fuddiol, felly, gwybod pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol ynglyn â'r Bil hwn.
I'm pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this issue today, and I want to thank the petitioners for bringing this issue before us, and also the Petitions Committee for their very thorough inquiry. This is a very nuanced and sensitive subject, and it's clear that a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to provide a complete solution. Given the complexity, broad-ranging national guidelines with local implementation by schools, in co-operation with governing bodies and parents, might be the best way ahead.
If the Welsh Government introduced further guidance in this area, it's vital that all of the different elements are considered carefully. We have to strike, in my opinion, the right balance between not harming learners—and there is evidence, of course, that that's happening—and, on the other hand, preparing them for the technical world that we live in now, basing all of our decisions on research and robust evidence. Basically, we need to have a sensible and careful conversation with stakeholders in the sector, including the pupils themselves, in order to determine the action that we need to take.
I note with interest the private Bill that was introduced in Westminster, which the Government supports. The safer phones Bill does call for—and I'm going to list three things here—chief medical officers in all of the UK nations, including Wales, to publish guidance on the use of smartphones and social media by children within the next 12 months; the education Secretary to develop a plan for investigating the impact of the use of social media on children, again within 12 months; and the Government to report back within a year on whether the age of digital consent should be raised from 13 to 16. It would be beneficial to know, therefore, what discussions the Welsh Government has had with the UK Government in terms of this Bill.
If we were to restrict smartphone usage in schools, I would advocate for exemptions to ensure communication between parents and pupils in emergencies and to accommodate pupils who use smartphones to manage health conditions discreetly, such as diabetes, or their use by young carers. We could also explore educational programmes that teach children about responsible smartphone use and digital citizenship. I know a lot of this stuff is already on Hwb, but it's crucial these are regularly updated to keep up with this rapidly changing area. By empowering young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely, we can help mitigate some of the negative impacts associated with smartphone use.
It's also worth considering the role of parents and guardians in this conversation. Encouraging open dialogues at home about the benefits and risks of smartphone use can reinforce the guidance provided in schools and help create a more comprehensive approach to this issue. Of course, addressing smartphone use in schools doesn't tackle the impacts of smartphones on young children outside of school, and more must be done to reduce cyber bullying. While restricting phones during school hours may limit such actions during the day, we must also consider how to protect vulnerable young people from online bullying outside of school.
In conclusion, Dirprwy Lywydd, can I just thank the committee again for their work on this petition? I look forward to following closely the Welsh Government's actions in this area. Diolch yn fawr.
Pe baem yn cyfyngu ar y defnydd o ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion, byddwn yn dadlau dros eithriadau i sicrhau cyfathrebu rhwng rhieni a disgyblion mewn argyfwng ac i ddarparu ar gyfer disgyblion sy'n defnyddio ffonau clyfar i reoli cyflyrau iechyd, fel diabetes, neu eu defnydd gan ofalwyr ifanc. Gallem hefyd archwilio rhaglenni addysgol sy'n addysgu plant am ddefnydd cyfrifol o ffonau clyfar a dinasyddiaeth ddigidol. Rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o'r pethau hyn eisoes ar Hwb, ond mae'n hanfodol fod y rhain yn cael eu diweddaru'n rheolaidd i allu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf mewn maes sy'n newid yn gyflym. Trwy rymuso pobl ifanc â gwybodaeth a sgiliau i lywio'r byd digidol yn ddiogel, gallwn helpu i liniaru rhai o'r effeithiau negyddol sy'n gysylltiedig â defnyddio ffonau clyfar.
Mae hefyd yn werth ystyried rôl rhieni a gwarcheidwaid yn y sgwrs hon. Gall annog deialogau agored gartref am fanteision a risgiau defnyddio ffonau clyfar atgyfnerthu'r canllawiau a ddarperir mewn ysgolion a helpu i greu dull mwy cynhwysfawr o weithredu ar y mater hwn. Wrth gwrs, nid yw mynd i'r afael â'r defnydd o ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion yn datrys effeithiau ffonau clyfar ar blant ifanc y tu allan i'r ysgol, ac mae'n rhaid gwneud mwy i leihau seiberfwlio. Er y gall cyfyngu ar ffonau yn ystod oriau ysgol gyfyngu ar weithredoedd o'r fath yn ystod y dydd, rhaid inni hefyd ystyried sut i ddiogelu pobl ifanc agored i niwed rhag bwlio ar-lein y tu allan i'r ysgol.
I gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i'r pwyllgor unwaith eto am eu gwaith ar y ddeiseb? Edrychaf ymlaen at gadw llygad manwl ar weithredoedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn y maes. Diolch yn fawr.
I would like to congratulate those who brought the petition forward and those who have signed it, because it has brought it to the Senedd today. I do think there are serious issues that need to be addressed in terms of smartphone use generally, and, obviously, as far as this petition is concerned, within schools.
I think it's probably true of technology generally, isn't it, that it brings benefits and disbenefits, as just about everything else does. With technology, it is difficult, I think, for Government and others to catch up with developments and to think about, let alone implement, effective regulation and control. It is a very challenging area in trying to keep up to speed with technological advance.
I do think there are particular areas of concern around smartphone use. As was said earlier, very often, when it comes to playing games on them, for example, companies employ psychologists very effectively, I think, to make them as addictive as possible. I see evidence of that in my own family, as I'm sure just about everybody else does.
As Cefin said, it's not just about school; of course it's not, it's about home as well. With regard to that, given that, I think, very many children from alarmingly young ages spend a lot of time on smartphones in the home, it would be good if we could restrict that use in school as some sort of compensatory measure, because if they're also on those smartphones at school, then it adds to the time that they spend using them.
I don't know whether any work has been done in terms of families who are relatively deprived and whether there are particular problems there, because, obviously, lots of middle-class children enjoy the mum's taxi experience of trying different activities outside of the school day; not all children have that experience. I wonder whether children in relatively deprived homes perhaps spend relatively more time on those smartphones and other screen use than is the average.
We do know that there are problems, and I know various studies have taken place. One study entitled 'The effects of mobile phone use on academic performance: A meta-analysis' found that the use of smartphones in classrooms leads to students engaging in non-school-related activities, which adversely affect recall and comprehension. A second, entitled 'The effects of smartphone addiction on learning: A meta-analysis' said it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning after engaging in a non-academic activity.
We know there is considerable public support for restrictions and bans. An Ipsos poll found almost half of the UK public believe there should be a total ban on smartphones in schools. UNESCO, as of 2022, recorded almost one in four countries introducing bans on mobile phones in schools in either law or policy, 13 per cent of countries had bans enshrined in law, and 14 per cent use non-statutory policies or guidance. So, clearly, countries around the world are taking these issues very seriously, and I believe we need to do the same.
There are various possible methods of restricting smartphone use in schools, some more extensive and, some might say, draconian than others. Personally, I think whatever practical ways are found, it's right that children should be able to take smartphones to school, but they should not use them in school time except for exceptional circumstances. I think we've got various ways of doing that already in practice and in use in schools in Wales. I'm not particularly in favour of any one of those, but I do think that that policy that some schools have adopted of allowing children to take their phones to school but not using them in school time, except for those exceptional circumstances, is the right way forward.
Hoffwn longyfarch y rhai a gyflwynodd y ddeiseb a'r rhai sydd wedi ei llofnodi, gan fod hynny wedi dod â'r mater gerbron y Senedd heddiw. Rwy'n credu bod yna faterion difrifol y mae angen mynd i'r afael â hwy mewn perthynas â'r defnydd o ffonau clyfar yn gyffredinol, ac yn amlwg, o ran y ddeiseb hon, mewn ysgolion.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn debygol o fod yn wir am dechnoleg yn gyffredinol, onid yw, ei bod yn creu manteision ac anfanteision, fel bron bopeth arall. Gyda thechnoleg, mae'n anodd i'r Llywodraeth ac eraill gadw i fyny â datblygiadau a meddwl am, heb sôn am weithredu, rheoliadau a mesurau effeithiol. Mae'n faes heriol iawn wrth geisio cadw i fyny â datblygiadau technolegol.
Rwy'n credu bod yna feysydd penodol sy'n peri pryder ynghylch y defnydd o ffonau clyfar. Fel y dywedwyd yn gynharach, yn aml iawn, wrth chwarae gemau arnynt, er enghraifft, bydd cwmnïau'n cyflogi seicolegwyr yn effeithiol iawn i'w gwneud mor gaethiwus â phosibl. Rwy'n gweld tystiolaeth o hynny yn fy nheulu fy hun, fel y bydd bron bawb arall rwy'n siŵr.
Fel y dywedodd Cefin, mae'n ymwneud â mwy na'r ysgol; wrth gwrs hynny, mae'n ymwneud â'r cartref hefyd. O ran hynny, o ystyried bod llawer iawn o blant o oedran gofidus o ifanc yn treulio llawer o amser ar ffonau clyfar yn y cartref, byddai'n dda pe gallem gyfyngu ar eu defnydd yn yr ysgol fel rhyw fath o fesur i wneud iawn am hynny, oherwydd os ydynt ar eu ffonau clyfar yn yr ysgol hefyd, mae'n ychwanegu at yr amser a dreuliant yn eu defnyddio.
Nid wyf yn gwybod a oes unrhyw waith wedi'i wneud ar deuluoedd sy'n gymharol ddifreintiedig ac a oes problemau penodol yno, oherwydd yn amlwg, mae llawer o blant dosbarth canol yn mwynhau profiad tacsi mam o roi cynnig ar wahanol weithgareddau y tu allan i'r diwrnod ysgol; nid yw pob plentyn yn cael y profiad hwnnw. Tybed a yw plant mewn cartrefi cymharol ddifreintiedig efallai yn treulio mwy o amser na'r cyfartaledd ar ffonau clyfar ac o flaen sgriniau.
Fe wyddom fod yna broblemau, ac rwy'n gwybod bod amryw o astudiaethau wedi'u cynnal. Canfu un astudiaeth o'r enw 'The effects of mobile phone use on academic performance: A meta-analysis' fod y defnydd o ffonau clyfar mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth yn arwain at fyfyrwyr yn cymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau nad ydynt yn gysylltiedig â'r ysgol, sy'n effeithio'n andwyol ar y gallu i ddwyn i gof a dealltwriaeth. Roedd ail astudiaeth, o'r enw 'The effects of smartphone addiction on learning: A meta-analysis' yn dweud y gall gymryd hyd at 20 munud i fyfyrwyr ailffocysu ar yr hyn yr oeddent yn ei ddysgu ar ôl cymryd rhan mewn gweithgaredd anacademaidd.
Rydym yn gwybod bod cefnogaeth gyhoeddus sylweddol i gyfyngiadau a gwaharddiadau. Canfu arolwg Ipsos fod bron i hanner y cyhoedd yn y DU yn credu y dylai fod gwaharddiad llwyr ar ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion. Cofnododd UNESCO, yn 2022, fod bron i un o bob pedair gwlad yn cyflwyno gwaharddiadau ar ffonau symudol mewn ysgolion naill ai yn y gyfraith neu fel polisi, roedd 13 y cant o wledydd wedi ymgorffori gwaharddiadau yn y gyfraith, ac mae 14 y cant yn defnyddio polisïau neu ganllawiau anstatudol. Felly, yn amlwg, mae gwledydd ledled y byd o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r materion hyn, ac rwy'n credu bod angen i ni wneud yr un peth.
Mae yna wahanol ddulliau posibl o gyfyngu ar y defnydd o ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion, rhai yn fwy helaeth, ac efallai y byddai rhai'n dweud, yn fwy llym nag eraill. Yn bersonol, ni waeth pa ffyrdd ymarferol y doir o hyd iddynt, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n iawn i blant allu mynd â ffonau clyfar i'r ysgol, ond ni ddylent eu defnyddio yn amser yr ysgol heblaw mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol. Rwy'n credu bod gennym wahanol ffyrdd o wneud hynny eisoes ar waith ac yn cael eu defnyddio mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru. Nid wyf yn ffafrio unrhyw un o'r rhain yn benodol, ond rwy'n credu mai'r polisi y mae rhai ysgolion wedi'i fabwysiadu o ganiatáu i blant fynd â'u ffonau i'r ysgol ond peidio â'u defnyddio yn amser yr ysgol, heblaw mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol, yw'r ffordd iawn ymlaen.
Gwarchod ein plant oedd y peth pwysicaf i'n pwyllgor, nid cosbi na gwahardd, ac mae e siŵr o fod yn wir, Gadeirydd, wrth inni dderbyn y dystiolaeth, fod barn nifer ohonon ni, efallai, wedi symud o waharddiad llwyr, oherwydd mae ffonau symudol yn bwysig i nifer o ddisgyblion ysgol, i blant sy'n ofalwyr, i blant sydd â phroblemau iechyd. Maent yn cael eu defnyddio mewn nifer o ysgolion nawr ar gyfer dysgu ac ymchwilio, ac mae'n cadw plant yn ddiogel ar y ffordd i'r ysgol ac ar y ffordd adref o'r ysgol.
Fel dywedodd John Griffiths, mae ffonau'n gallu bod yn fwy o broblem gartref nac yn yr ysgol: plant yn aros lan yn hwyr yn y nos ar eu ffonau symudol, ac yn aml iawn dyna pryd mae'r bwlian yn digwydd—gartref, nid yn yr ysgol.
Nawr, mae'n hollol amlwg bod gorddefnydd o ffonau symudol yn niweidio iechyd meddwl, ac efallai'n niweidio iechyd meddwl plant a phobl ifanc yn fwy na'r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol. Fe wnaeth seicolegwyr o America ddangos bod cynnydd o 50 y cant wedi bod mewn iselder a gorbryder ymhlith pobl ifanc rhwng 2010 a 2019, ac mae'n wir, bob tro rŷn ni'n siarad gyda phobl ifanc, rŷn ni'n gweld hynny, onid ydym ni, fod gorbryder llawer yn waeth nawr na phan oeddem ni'n blant. Nawr, dim cyd-ddigwyddiad, yn fy marn i, yw bod hwnna'n cyd-fynd â'r cynnydd ym mhoblogrwydd gwefannau cymdeithasol. Rŷn ni wedi gweld yn ddiweddar, onid ydym ni, y rhaglen deledu Adolescence a oedd yn rhoi syniad inni o beryglon eithafol dylanwadau arlein.
Nawr, mae'n rhaid i ysgol fod yn hafan, yn fan diogel, lle ble mae plant nid yn unig yn dysgu ffeithiau ond hefyd yn dysgu sut i gyd-fyw ac i ryngweithio ag eraill. Mae ffonau'n gallu bod yn rwystr amlwg i hyn. Mae ffonau'n distracting. Mae ffonau'n distracting mewn ffordd ble doedd dim y distraction yna gyda ni. Edrych mas o'r ffenest neu synfyfyrio oedd y distraction i ni. Nawr mae'r ffonau'n distraction. Mae'n medru tanseilio hyder unigolion. Mae'n medru arwain at bwysau cymdeithasol.
Clywson ni'n glir fel pwyllgor dystiolaeth o fwlian arlein, a dwi'n siŵr bod hynny ddim yn synnu dim un ohonon ni fan hyn. Nawr, wrth reswm, mae technoleg yn arf bwerus, a dyw technoleg ddim yn mynd i fynd i ffwrdd—datblygu wnaiff technoleg. Mae technoleg yn gallu gwella dysgu, mae'n gallu meithrin creadigrwydd o fewn ein plant a'n pobl ifanc mewn gwersi.
Nawr, dywedodd John Griffiths pa mor addictive yw ffonau symudol o fewn ei deulu. Wel, i fi, does dim rhaid edrych ar fy nheulu i—mae ffonau symudol yn addictive i fi, a dwi'n siŵr pe byddwn i'n edrych rownd y Siambr ar unrhyw amser penodol, byddwn i'n gweld ambell i Aelod ar ei ffôn symudol. Gwnaf i ddim galw neb mas ar hyn o bryd, ond rŷn ni hefyd ein hunain yn addicted i ffonau symudol, ac mae'n wir nid yn unig yn y Siambr hon, ond ewch i gaffi, ewch i barc, ewch ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus—mae llwyth o bobl ar eu ffonau.
Protecting our children was the most important issue for the committee, not to penalise or to ban, and I'm sure it's true to say, Chair, that as we took evidence, the views of many of us, perhaps, had shifted away from a full ban, because mobile phones are important to many school pupils, for those children who are carers, for those who have health issues. They are used in a number of schools now for learning and research purposes, and it keeps children safe on the way to and home from school.
As John Griffiths said, phones can be more of a problem at home than they are in school: children staying up late at night on their mobile phones, and very often that is when the bullying happens—at home, rather than at school.
Now, it's entirely clear that overuse of mobile phones is damaging to mental health, and maybe damages the mental health of children and young people more than the general population. Psychologists from America demonstrated that there was an increase of 50 per cent in cases of depression and anxiety among young people between 2010 and 2019, and it's true, every time we talk to young people, we see that, don't we, that anxiety is far worse now than it was when we were at school. Now, it's no coincidence, in my view, that that actually overlaps with the increase in the popularity of social media. We have seen recently, haven't we, the Adolescence tv programme, which gave us a view of the extreme problems of online influences.
Now, school has to be a refuge, a safe space, a place where children not only learn facts but also learn how to coexist and interact with others. Phones can be a clear barrier to this. Phones are distracting. They're distracting in a way that we didn't have that distraction in the past. We used to look out of the window or daydream—that was the distraction for us. Now the mobile phones are that distraction. It can undermine individuals' confidence, and it can lead to social pressures.
We heard clearly as a committee evidence of online bullying, and I'm sure that that wouldn't surprise any of us in this place. Now, naturally, technology is a powerful tool, and technology isn't going away, it's only going to develop. Technology can improve learning, it can nurture creativity within our children and young people in their lessons.
Now, John Griffiths said how addictive mobile phones are within his family. Well, for me, I don't need to look at my own family, because mobile phones are addictive to me, and I'm sure that if we looked around the Chamber at any given time, we would see some Members on their mobile phones. I won't call anyone out at the moment, but we ourselves are addicted to mobile phones, and it's true not only in this Chamber, but go to any cafe or park or go on public transport—many people are on their mobiles.
Because mobile phones have been created to be addictive: the infinite scroll on social media, the auto play on YouTube, the notifications popping up on our phones all the time, and many more. They have been created to draw us all back to the mobile phone. If they are distracting to us, I think it's even worse for young people who know no different, who have been raised with this.
Oherwydd mae ffonau symudol wedi'u creu i fod yn gaethiwus: y sgrôl ddiddiwedd ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol, y chwarae awtomatig ar YouTube, yr hysbysiadau sy'n ymddangos ar ein ffonau trwy'r amser, a llawer mwy. Maent wedi cael eu creu i'n tynnu ni i gyd yn ôl at y ffôn symudol. Os ydynt yn mynd â'n sylw ni, rwy'n credu ei fod hyd yn oed yn waeth i bobl ifanc nad ydynt yn gwybod yn wahanol, sydd wedi cael eu magu gyda hyn.
Mae'n rhaid bod gyda ni reolaeth a ffiniau clir mewn ysgolion, o ran defnydd ffonau. Mae'r bwriad yn glir—i greu awyrgylch lle gall ein plant ni dyfu, dysgu a ffynnu heb y pwysau digidol di-baid sy'n ein hamgylchynu ni i gyd tu allan i giatiau'r ysgol, ac mae'n rhaid sicrhau bod yr ysgol ei hunan yn hafan. Diolch yn fawr.
We must have control and clear boundaries within schools, in terms of the use of phones. The intention is clear—to create an environment where our children can grow and thrive without that ceaseless digital pressure, which surrounds us all outside the school gates, and we must ensure that the school itself is a refuge. Thank you.
It's a pleasure to take part in this Petitions Committee report debate this afternoon. I'd like to thank the Chair, Carolyn Thomas, and the members of the committee for this report. And I do agree with a lot of what the Member for South Wales Central says. I often say, anecdotally, and a personal view of mine is that people, our age roughly, are the last generation to have not grown up with that level of technology. So, I do see people within that age bracket, mid 30s to 40—we're probably the last generation to have not had that, and it does come with some pride, and perhaps with myself being a bit of a luddite. But I agree with the recommendations made in the report, and I'm reassured that the Welsh Government has agreed to them.
I have spoken in favour of school smartphone bans consistently in the Chamber, and called for a national framework, but I was disappointed that the Welsh Government rejected the idea when I raised it in November last year and January of this year. But I'm pleased now that the Welsh Government has responded to the evidence on the subject and agreed to implement a nation framework.
The evidence of the harmful effects of widespread smartphone use in schools has been available for quite some time, and the UK Government issued phone-restriction guidance to schools over 12 months ago. Two schools in my constituency in the Vale of Clwyd—Christ the Word Catholic School and Prestatyn High School—have already implemented restrictions on smartphones in the classroom, and they are seeing positive results already. So, it really goes to show that schools, at a local level, can indeed make those decisions. But, ultimately, what they need is that guidance and support from Welsh Government to ensure that there is a system across Wales in which schools can indeed engage within those processes, and indeed take those positive examples from other countries who have done similar things. And the evidence—[Interruption.]—for that national framework suggests that restricting phone use in schools can be effective. Yes, I will.
Mae'n bleser cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Deisebau y prynhawn yma. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Cadeirydd, Carolyn Thomas, ac aelodau'r pwyllgor am yr adroddiad hwn. Ac rwy'n cytuno â llawer o'r hyn y mae'r Aelod dros Ganol De Cymru yn ei ddweud. Rwy'n aml yn dweud, yn anecdotaidd, a dyma yw fy safbwynt personol, mai pobl ein hoed ni yn fras yw'r genhedlaeth olaf i beidio â bod wedi'u magu gyda'r lefel honno o dechnoleg. Rwy'n gweld pobl yn y grŵp oedran hwnnw, canol y 30au i 40—mae'n debyg mai ni yw'r genhedlaeth olaf i beidio â bod wedi cael hynny, ac mae'n destun peth balchder, a minnau'n ychydig bach o Ludiad. Ond rwy'n cytuno â'r argymhellion a wnaed yn yr adroddiad, ac rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu derbyn.
Rwyf wedi siarad o blaid gwaharddiadau ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion yn gyson yn y Siambr, ac wedi galw am fframwaith cenedlaethol, ond roeddwn yn siomedig fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrthod y syniad pan wneuthum ei godi ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd ac ym mis Ionawr eleni. Ond rwy'n falch nawr fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymateb i'r dystiolaeth ar y pwnc ac wedi cytuno i weithredu fframwaith cenedlaethol.
Mae'r dystiolaeth ynglŷn ag effeithiau niweidiol defnydd eang o ffonau clyfar mewn ysgolion wedi bod ar gael ers cryn dipyn o amser, ac fe gyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU ganllawiau i ysgolion ar gyfyngu ar y defnydd o ffonau dros 12 mis yn ôl. Mae dwy ysgol yn fy etholaeth i yn Nyffryn Clwyd—Ysgol Gatholig Crist y Gair ac Ysgol Uwchradd Prestatyn—eisoes wedi gweithredu cyfyngiadau ar ffonau clyfar yn yr ystafell ddosbarth, ac maent yn gweld canlyniadau cadarnhaol yn barod. Felly, mae'n dangos yn glir fod ysgolion, ar lefel leol, yn gallu gwneud y penderfyniadau hynny. Ond yn y pen draw, yr hyn sydd ei angen arnynt yw'r arweiniad a'r gefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod yna system ledled Cymru lle gall ysgolion ymgysylltu o fewn y prosesau hynny, a mabwysiadu enghreifftiau cadarnhaol o wledydd eraill sydd wedi gwneud pethau tebyg. Ac mae'r dystiolaeth—[Torri ar draws.]—ar gyfer y fframwaith cenedlaethol yn awgrymu y gall cyfyngu ar y defnydd o ffonau mewn ysgolion fod yn effeithiol. Iawn, fe wnaf.
Thank you for taking an intervention. Talking about other countries doing things, in Scotland, in Portobello High School in Edinburgh, and in 250 schools across the UK, actually, they've introduced lockable Yondr pouches that can only be opened at the end of the school day and at the beginning of the school day, and unlocked by locking stations on the wall. I don't know if people are aware of that, but according to the headteacher, it's a massive success. Attention spans are up, bullying is down, and they've been really positive. So, don't you agree that the Welsh Government should look at that sort of scheme because it's been an example of success?
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Wrth siarad am wledydd eraill yn gwneud pethau, yn yr Alban, yn Ysgol Uwchradd Portobello yng Nghaeredin, ac mewn 250 o ysgolion ledled y DU mewn gwirionedd, maent wedi cyflwyno cydau Yondr cloadwy y gellir eu hagor ar ddiwedd y diwrnod ysgol ac ar ddechrau'r diwrnod ysgol, a'u datgloi gan ddyfeisiau cloi ar y wal. Nid wyf yn gwybod a yw pobl yn ymwybodol o hynny, ond yn ôl y pennaeth, mae'n llwyddiant ysgubol. Mae sylw'r plant wedi gwella, lefelau bwlio wedi gostwng, ac maent wedi bod yn bositif iawn. Felly, onid ydych chi'n cytuno y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru edrych ar y math hwnnw o gynllun gan ei fod yn enghraifft o lwyddiant?
Thanks, Laura. Yes, absolutely, I do agree, and that model of looking at what those examples that are used in my constituency is a similar situation. It's almost like a—. 'Amnesty' is a bit of strong word, but a situation where you pop your phone in a pouch coming in, and you pick it up as you're leaving the classroom. I think that model is generally seen to be simplistic and works effectively. There are other examples in France, because they've banned phones altogether from 2018, with schools reporting a positive effect, with more social interaction, more physical exercise, less bullying, and better concentration within the classroom.
The American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt published an excellent book last year called The Anxious Generation, in which he lays out his argument that social media and smartphones have been the primary driver of the dramatic rise in anxiety, depression and other mental health issues amongst adolescents, particularly in girls. This is also combined with cognitive and academic disruption, social development impairment, sleep disruption and bullying. Restricting phone use in schools is not an anti-technology stance—of course, I welcome it, and I absolutely support technological advancement—but a pro-childhood and a pro-education policy that goes with that, where we can find a balance somewhere.
So, overall and in conclusion, I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has agreed to the report's recommendations, and I'd like to hear from the Cabinet Secretary a timeline for the framework, how far the Welsh Government intends to go with phone restrictions in schools, and how the Welsh Government will be prepared to respond to evidence coming out of the other countries more swiftly, so that the guidance can be updated and kept live here in Wales. Thank you.
Diolch, Laura. Yn hollol, rwy'n cytuno, ac mae'r model hwnnw o edrych ar yr enghreifftiau sy'n cael eu defnyddio yn fy etholaeth yn sefyllfa debyg. Mae bron fel—. Mae 'amnest' yn air cryf, ond sefyllfa lle rydych chi'n rhoi eich ffôn mewn cwdyn wrth gyrraedd, ac rydych chi'n ei godi wrth i chi adael yr ystafell ddosbarth. Rwy'n credu bod y model hwnnw'n cael ei weld yn un syml at ei gilydd ac yn un sy'n gweithio'n effeithiol. Mae enghreifftiau eraill yn Ffrainc, oherwydd maent wedi gwahardd ffonau yn gyfan gwbl ers 2018, gydag ysgolion yn nodi effaith gadarnhaol, gyda mwy o ryngweithio cymdeithasol, mwy o ymarfer corff, llai o fwlio, a chanolbwyntio gwell yn yr ystafell ddosbarth.
Cyhoeddodd y seicolegydd cymdeithasol Americanaidd Jonathan Haidt lyfr ardderchog y llynedd o'r enw The Anxious Generation, lle mae'n cyflwyno'i ddadl fod cyfryngau cymdeithasol a ffonau clyfar wedi bod yn brif sbardun i'r cynnydd dramatig mewn gorbryder, iselder a phroblemau iechyd meddwl eraill ymhlith pobl ifanc, yn enwedig ymhlith merched. Caiff hyn ei gyfuno hefyd ag ymyrraeth wybyddol ac academaidd, amharu ar ddatblygiad cymdeithasol, tarfu ar gwsg a bwlio. Nid yw cyfyngu ar ddefnyddio ffôn mewn ysgolion yn safiad gwrth-dechnoleg—rwy'n croesawu ac yn llwyr gefnogi datblygiadau technolegol wrth gwrs—ond mae'n bolisi o blaid plentyndod ac o blaid addysg sy'n cyd-fynd â hynny, lle gallwn ddod o hyd i gydbwysedd yn rhywle.
Felly, yn gyffredinol ac i gloi, rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn argymhellion yr adroddiad, a hoffwn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi amserlen ar gyfer y fframwaith, pa mor bell y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu mynd gyda chyfyngiadau ar ffonau mewn ysgolion, a sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i ymateb yn gyflymach i dystiolaeth a ddaw o wledydd eraill, fel y gellir diweddaru'r canllawiau a'u cadw'n weithredol yma yng Nghymru. Diolch.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, Lynne Neagle.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I start by thanking Carolyn Thomas and the Petitions Committee for the work they've put into this report and the consideration they've given to some very complex issues? It is, as the Chair says, very timely. This is, as their report shows, a difficult topic to consider, with a range of views across researchers, school staff, parents and children. I very much welcome the recommendations set out in the committee's report. Like the committee, I recognise that an outright national ban does not allow the space for schools to manage the needs of their learners. Our approach has always been to give schools the autonomy to make decisions on the use of mobile phones appropriate to their context. However, I also recognise the need for additional support for our senior leaders and practitioners, to enable them to balance the various considerations and to introduce an approach that is right for their school and their learners. In my response to the committee's report, I have accepted three of the five recommendations. I am also very sympathetic to the two I have accepted in principle and will now set out what we will be doing, what we are already doing and how we will be taking these recommendations forward.
Members know that I am very concerned about wider issues of behaviour in our schools and colleges. Last week, I chaired a round-table on violence and safety in schools and colleges, and later this month—next week, in fact—I am hosting our national behaviour summit. In line with the committee's recommendations, I recognise the importance of implementing a national-level policy framework and guidance on mobile phone usage within schools. However, it is critical that the development of any framework or guidance is taken forward through a process of open and transparent co-construction. And indeed, this was one of the messages received in the committee's evidence. To support this and as part of our wider work on behaviour, I am bringing together our key partners and relevant experts to look at mobile phone use in schools and to look at developing the guidance and framework. This group will have access to the necessary data and research to enable them to develop the guidance and framework the committee has called for. They will be able to delve further into the issues the committee have identified, and by working with schools, parents and children, will ensure the guidance provides the support needed.
As part of their remit, we will also ask this group to consider the other recommendations made by the committee. I have accepted the committee's second recommendation about the language we use, and the fifth around regularly reviewing the guidance. However, I have only accepted their second and third recommendations in principle. I feel strongly that if we are asking our partners and other experts to support our work, we should listen to what they say. I will therefore be asking them to consider and advise on the most effective approaches for schools to encourage parental engagement, while also taking account of any impact on teacher workload. I will also be taking account of their views on how we allow for any exemptions to the general rules on mobile phones, and how we take account of the needs of individual learners.
I am clear that everyone needs to be involved in this conversation: key stakeholders, senior leaders, practitioners, parents, carers and governors, but most importantly our children and young people, as ultimately this issue affects them. I recently met with the children and young people that sit on our keeping safe online youth group. We discussed the online safety issues arising from the television show Adolescence. Learners spoke honestly about their perspectives on the issues in the programme and, in return, I have committed to exploring opportunities to provide further support to learners, teachers and parents, particularly in terms of raising awareness.
Learners have also previously shared their views on behaviour, social media and smartphones, including their strong views on the positives and negatives of an outright ban. In line with the committee's findings, the youth group suggested that stronger guidance and clearly, universally and uniformly applied rules would be more effective than a mobile phone ban during the school day. Their suggestions also included a greater need for education on the risks and safe use of phones and social media, rather than limiting access. I am committed to an ongoing dialogue to ensure that young people's voices provide the critical insights we need to support them to stay safe online.
I would also like to align with the work that the NSPCC are leading with Platfform to establish a child safety online youth advisory group for Wales. I am acutely conscious of the need for learners to understand how to use digital devices safely and responsibly. Online safety in particular is a key feature in the mandatory relationship and sexuality education code, and educating young people on how to engage with social media is a cross-curricular issue. We continue to provide guidance to schools, learners and parents to raise awareness about digital resilience and safety on Hwb's 'Keeping safe online' area. This includes advice for schools, learners and their families on a range of digital issues, including mental health and well-being, the internet, balancing screen time and social media. We're also taking forward the national digital resilience action plan, which is designed—.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddechrau trwy ddiolch i Carolyn Thomas a'r Pwyllgor Deisebau am y gwaith a wnaethant ar yr adroddiad hwn a'r ystyriaeth a roddwyd ganddynt i faterion cymhleth iawn? Fel y dywed y Cadeirydd, mae'n amserol iawn. Mae hwn, fel y dengys eu hadroddiad, yn bwnc anodd i'w ystyried, gydag ystod o safbwyntiau gan ymchwilwyr, staff ysgolion, rhieni a phlant. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr yr argymhellion a nodir yn adroddiad y pwyllgor. Fel y pwyllgor, rwy'n cydnabod nad yw gwaharddiad cenedlaethol llwyr yn caniatáu lle i ysgolion reoli anghenion eu dysgwyr. Ein dull bob amser yw rhoi ymreolaeth i ysgolion wneud penderfyniadau ar y defnydd o ffonau symudol sy'n briodol i'w cyd-destun hwy. Fodd bynnag, rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod yr angen am gefnogaeth ychwanegol i'n huwch arweinwyr a'n haddysgwyr, i'w galluogi i gydbwyso'r gwahanol ystyriaethau ac i gyflwyno dull sy'n iawn i'w hysgol a'u dysgwyr. Yn fy ymateb i adroddiad y pwyllgor, rwyf wedi derbyn tri o'r pum argymhelliad. Rwyf hefyd yn cydymdeimlo'n fawr â'r ddau a dderbyniais mewn egwyddor a byddaf yn nodi beth fyddwn yn ei wneud nawr, beth rydym eisoes yn ei wneud a sut y byddwn yn bwrw ymlaen â'r argymhellion hyn.
Mae'r Aelodau'n gwybod fy mod yn bryderus iawn ynglŷn â phroblemau ymddygiad ehangach yn ein hysgolion a'n colegau. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cadeiriais ford gron ar drais a diogelwch mewn ysgolion a cholegau, ac yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn—yr wythnos nesaf, mewn gwirionedd—rwy'n cynnal ein huwchgynhadledd genedlaethol ar ymddygiad. Yn unol ag argymhellion y pwyllgor, rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd gweithredu fframwaith polisi ar lefel genedlaethol a chanllawiau ar y defnydd o ffonau symudol mewn ysgolion. Fodd bynnag, mae'n hanfodol fod datblygiad unrhyw fframwaith neu ganllawiau yn digwydd trwy broses o gydadeiladu agored a thryloyw. Ac yn wir, dyma un o'r negeseuon a gafwyd yn y dystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor. I gefnogi hyn ac fel rhan o'n gwaith ehangach ar ymddygiad, rwy'n dod â'n partneriaid allweddol a'n harbenigwyr perthnasol ynghyd i edrych ar y defnydd o ffonau symudol mewn ysgolion ac i edrych ar ddatblygu'r canllawiau a'r fframwaith. Bydd gan y grŵp hwn fynediad at y data a'r ymchwil angenrheidiol i'w galluogi i ddatblygu'r canllawiau a'r fframwaith y mae'r pwyllgor wedi galw amdanynt. Byddant yn gallu ymchwilio ymhellach i'r materion y mae'r pwyllgor wedi'u nodi, a thrwy weithio gydag ysgolion, rhieni a phlant, byddant yn sicrhau bod y canllawiau'n darparu'r gefnogaeth angenrheidiol.
Yn rhan o'u cylch gorchwyl hefyd, byddwn yn gofyn i'r grŵp hwn ystyried yr argymhellion eraill a wnaed gan y pwyllgor. Rwyf wedi derbyn ail argymhelliad y pwyllgor ynglŷn â'r iaith a ddefnyddiwn, a'r pumed yn ymwneud ag adolygu'r canllawiau'n rheolaidd. Fodd bynnag, mewn egwyddor yn unig y derbyniais eu hail a'u trydydd argymhelliad. Rwy'n teimlo'n gryf, os ydym yn gofyn i'n partneriaid ac arbenigwyr eraill gefnogi ein gwaith, y dylem wrando ar yr hyn a ddywedant. Felly, byddaf yn gofyn iddynt ystyried a chynghori ynghylch y ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol i ysgolion annog ymgysylltiad rhieni, gan ystyried unrhyw effaith ar lwyth gwaith athrawon. Byddaf hefyd yn ystyried eu safbwyntiau ar sut rydym yn caniatáu ar gyfer unrhyw eithriadau i'r rheolau cyffredinol ar ffonau symudol, a sut i ystyried anghenion dysgwyr unigol.
Rwy'n glir fod angen i bawb fod yn rhan o'r sgwrs hon: rhanddeiliaid allweddol, uwch arweinwyr, addysgwyr, rhieni, gofalwyr a llywodraethwyr, ond yn bwysicaf oll ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, gan mai arnynt hwy y mae'r mater hwn yn effeithio yn y pen draw. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm â'r plant a'r bobl ifanc sy'n aelodau o'n grŵp ieuenctid cadw'n ddiogel ar-lein. Fe wnaethom drafod y materion diogelwch ar-lein sy'n codi o'r ddrama deledu Adolescence. Siaradodd dysgwyr yn onest am eu safbwyntiau ar y materion sy'n codi yn y rhaglen ac yn gyfnewid am hynny, rwyf wedi ymrwymo i archwilio cyfleoedd i ddarparu cymorth pellach i ddysgwyr, athrawon a rhieni, yn enwedig o ran codi ymwybyddiaeth.
Mae dysgwyr wedi rhannu eu safbwyntiau ar ymddygiad, cyfryngau cymdeithasol a ffonau clyfar o'r blaen hefyd, gan gynnwys eu barn gref ar agweddau cadarnhaol a negyddol gwaharddiad llwyr. Yn unol â chanfyddiadau'r pwyllgor, awgrymodd y grŵp ieuenctid y byddai canllawiau cryfach a rheolau clir, cyffredinol a gymhwysir yr un fath ym mhobman yn fwy effeithiol na gwahardd ffonau symudol yn ystod y diwrnod ysgol. Roedd eu hawgrymiadau hefyd yn cynnwys yr angen am fwy o addysg ar risgiau a defnydd diogel o ffonau a chyfryngau cymdeithasol, yn hytrach na chyfyngu ar eu defnydd. Rwy'n ymrwymedig i ddeialog barhaus i sicrhau bod lleisiau pobl ifanc yn darparu'r mewnwelediad allweddol sydd ei angen arnom i'w cynorthwyo i gadw'n ddiogel ar-lein.
Hoffwn alinio hefyd â'r gwaith y mae'r NSPCC yn ei arwain gyda Platfform i sefydlu grŵp cynghori ieuenctid ar ddiogelwch plant ar-lein ar gyfer Cymru. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r angen i ddysgwyr ddeall sut i ddefnyddio dyfeisiau digidol yn ddiogel ac yn gyfrifol. Mae diogelwch ar-lein yn enwedig yn nodwedd allweddol yn y cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb gorfodol, ac mae addysgu pobl ifanc ar sut i ddefnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn fater trawsgwricwlaidd. Rydym yn parhau i ddarparu arweiniad i ysgolion, dysgwyr a rhieni i godi ymwybyddiaeth am gadernid a diogelwch digidol ar safle 'Cadw'n ddiogel ar-lein' Hwb. Mae'n cynnwys cyngor i ysgolion, dysgwyr a'u teuluoedd ar ystod o faterion digidol, gan gynnwys iechyd meddwl a lles, y rhyngrwyd, cydbwyso amser sgrin a'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Rydym hefyd yn bwrw ymlaen â'r cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol ar gadernid digidol, a luniwyd—.
Just on what you said—and I thank you for the work that you're doing in that regard, because we all, I think, across the Chamber felt that that's important—specifically on upskirting, which I know is something that we were both—. On upskirting—I know we were both involved in the report around that—and the awful things that we heard, has there been a body of work done on that, in support of having that ban in school time of phones for that very reason?
Ar yr hyn a ddywedoch chi—a diolch i chi am y gwaith a wnewch ar hynny, oherwydd rwy'n credu ein bod i gyd ar draws y Siambr yn teimlo bod hynny'n bwysig—ar uwchsbecian yn benodol, ac fe wn ei fod yn rhywbeth yr oeddem ein dwy—. Ar uwchsbecian—gwn fod y ddwy ohonom wedi gweithio ar adroddiad ynglŷn â hynny—a'r pethau ofnadwy a glywsom, a oes gwaith wedi'i wneud ar hynny, i gefnogi gwahardd ffonau yn amser yr ysgol am y rheswm hwnnw?
Thank you, Laura. I wasn't involved in that committee report; I was Minister for mental health at the time. But there was a response from the Government and an action plan that was delivered as part of that work.
The upcoming summit will include young people's voices. We're also exploring a working group with children and young people to take forward actions arising from the summit. The summit will also be informed by recent research and evidence, with input from Estyn, focused on the thematic reviews published this month on behaviour in secondary schools and FE in Wales. Welsh Government commissioned both reviews to better understand the issues that our practitioners are facing. The research and evidence underpinning our future actions, as the committee has said, must be rigorous and robust, and these steps through engagement and initial research commissions are crucial in laying firm foundations. I will also be further discussing issues in relation to mobile phone usage and social media with my counterparts across the UK to explore emerging research, existing approaches and to share best practice to address these shared issues. And as part of the wider evidence gathering, I will also be meeting with Ofcom later this month to discuss the issues in relation to online safety.
This investment in wider engagement and evidence gathering is not the end, as our long-term programme of work on behaviour is continually evolving to ensure that we emerge with a clear set of deliverable outcomes, not just a plan or further guidance. Next week marks the next stage of our journey towards open and honest dialogue in the behaviour space. I look forward to the collaborative discussions throughout the summit, providing opportunities to freely discuss current issues and share practice to inform next steps. Clearly, there is much work to be done. Following the summit, I will share information about our broader programme of work and future engagement strategy—
Diolch, Laura. Nid oeddwn yn rhan o'r adroddiad pwyllgor hwnnw; roeddwn yn Weinidog iechyd meddwl ar y pryd. Ond cafwyd ymateb gan y Llywodraeth a chynllun gweithredu a gyflwynwyd yn rhan o'r gwaith hwnnw.
Bydd yr uwchgynhadledd sydd ar y ffordd yn cynnwys lleisiau pobl ifanc. Rydym hefyd yn archwilio gweithgor gyda phlant a phobl ifanc i fwrw ymlaen â chamau sy'n deillio o'r uwchgynhadledd. Bydd yr uwchgynhadledd hefyd yn cael ei llywio gan ymchwil a thystiolaeth ddiweddar, gyda mewnbwn gan Estyn yn canolbwyntio ar yr adolygiadau thematig a gyhoeddwyd y mis hwn ar ymddygiad mewn ysgolion uwchradd ac addysg bellach yng Nghymru. Comisiynodd Llywodraeth Cymru y ddau adolygiad i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o'r problemau y mae ein haddysgwyr yn eu hwynebu. Fel y mae'r pwyllgor wedi'i ddweud, rhaid i'r ymchwil a'r dystiolaeth sy'n sail i'n gweithredoedd yn y dyfodol fod yn drylwyr a chadarn, ac mae'r camau hyn trwy ymgysylltu a chomisiynau ymchwil cychwynnol yn hanfodol ar gyfer gosod sylfeini cadarn. Byddaf hefyd yn trafod materion yn ymwneud â'r defnydd o ffonau symudol a chyfryngau cymdeithasol ymhellach gyda fy swyddogion cyfatebol ledled y DU i archwilio ymchwil sy'n dod i'r amlwg, dulliau presennol o weithredu ac i rannu arferion gorau wrth fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn. Ac fel rhan o'r gwaith casglu tystiolaeth ehangach, byddaf hefyd yn cyfarfod ag Ofcom yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn i drafod y materion sy'n codi mewn perthynas â diogelwch ar-lein.
Nid y buddsoddiad hwn mewn ymgysylltu a chasglu tystiolaeth ehangach yw'r diwedd, gan fod ein rhaglen hirdymor o waith ar ymddygiad yn esblygu'n barhaus i sicrhau ein bod yn cael set glir o ganlyniadau cyflawnadwy, nid cynllun neu ganllawiau pellach yn unig. Yr wythnos nesaf yw cam nesaf ein taith tuag at ddeialog agored a gonest ar ymddygiad. Edrychaf ymlaen at y trafodaethau cydweithredol trwy gydol yr uwchgynhadledd, a fydd yn darparu cyfleoedd i drafod materion cyfoes yn rhydd a rhannu ymarfer i lywio'r camau nesaf. Yn amlwg, mae llawer o waith i'w wneud. Yn dilyn yr uwchgynhadledd, byddaf yn rhannu gwybodaeth am ein rhaglen waith ehangach a'n strategaeth ymgysylltu yn y dyfodol—
You need to conclude now, please.
Mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.
Our vision is to chart a course that empowers all our young people to thrive in safe and supportive learning environments.
And can I conclude by thanking the committee again for their work? Diolch.
Ein gweledigaeth yw cynllunio llwybr sy'n grymuso ein holl bobl ifanc i ffynnu mewn amgylcheddau dysgu diogel a chefnogol.
A gaf i orffen trwy ddiolch i'r pwyllgor unwaith eto am eu gwaith? Diolch.
A galwaf ar Carolyn Thomas i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Carolyn Thomas to reply to the debate.
I'd like to thank all the Members for their contributions today. I’d like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for your response, as well.
Natasha says she supports a ban. Many schools are mobile-free, and we did find out it actually works better when mobile phones are actually put away for the whole day, rather than just kept to one side, because they're tempted to look at them at lunch times, and they get distracted.
Laura Anne mentioned that some schools have cabinets where they're actually taken away and removed, and put in cabinets. Some schools already have cabinets and pouches, but there was an issue with the cost of them as well, the expense. So, that's something to consider going forward.
Cefin said we've got to consider the balance, haven't we, of not harming, but preparing for the technical world, and we need to have more educational programmes about the safe use of mobiles, and engaging parents as well, so they understand as well. And more actually needs to be done outside of schools. We can't just rely on banning them in schools; we need to work together.
John and Rhys talked about the addictive nature. I think we all can relate to that. And we had evidence about the impact on the brain development of young people. So, young children that have screen time, we saw evidence about the impact it has on them, on young children, so we need to have careful consideration about that.
John also mentioned that perhaps those from deprived communities that couldn't go to after-school clubs spent more time on their phones as well. Maybe that's a consideration; we didn't look at that.
Rhys, yes, we did—you're a member of the committee—we presumed a ban would be the right way forward, didn't we? We went and we thought, ‘Yes, that'd be it. Everybody would support a ban.’ It was funny, because the headteachers liked to have, to make, their own individual choices, but the teachers would have liked a ban. It was really interesting listening to all the different groups, but the conclusion was nuanced, as we've heard today.
Gareth raised about the importance of a national framework for supporting guidance from Welsh Government, and we really welcome that.
So, Cabinet Secretary, I really welcome all the engagement you're having, the summit on behaviour in the summer is really good—this ties into it—and that group looking at the use of mobile phones in schools, which, taking evidence, will be really important, going forward, to look at that guidance.
And I just want to finish by saying it was really—. I've got to thank Zena Blackwell and the campaigners for submitting the petition, all those who contributed to the inquiry through the stakeholder event and the focus groups our citizen engagement team held in the schools. It was a really interesting and topical inquiry, and today's debate has been no different. These are some really important and thorny issues to address. We're talking about children's safety and well-being. Everyone has to take responsibility for finding answers, and we need to keep talking about it and what's the best approach, and how we can support schools, parents and young people to manage smartphone use. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and, when it comes to online safety, we need to find a way to work together, the community, on this. This report and the Government's response are a positive step on that journey. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the time.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau heddiw. Hoffwn ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am eich ymateb hefyd.
Dywed Natasha ei bod yn cefnogi gwaharddiad. Mae llawer o ysgolion yn cyfyngu ar ffonau symudol, ac fe wnaethom ddarganfod ei fod yn gweithio'n well pan fydd ffonau symudol yn cael eu rhoi i gadw am y diwrnod cyfan, yn hytrach na'u rhoi i'r naill ochr yn unig, oherwydd cânt eu temtio i edrych arnynt dros amser cinio, ac maent yn tynnu eu sylw.
Soniodd Laura Anne fod gan rai ysgolion gabinetau lle cânt eu cymryd oddi wrthynt a'u rhoi mewn cypyrddau. Mae gan rai ysgolion gypyrddau a chydau eisoes, ond roedd problem gyda'u cost. Felly, mae hynny'n rhywbeth i'w ystyried wrth symud ymlaen.
Dywedodd Cefin fod yn rhaid inni ystyried y cydbwysedd rhwng peidio â niweidio a pharatoi ar gyfer y byd technegol, ac mae angen inni gael mwy o raglenni addysgol ynghylch y defnydd diogel o ffonau symudol, ac ymgysylltu â rhieni, fel eu bod hwythau'n deall hefyd. Ac mae angen gwneud mwy y tu allan i ysgolion. Ni allwn ddibynnu ar eu gwahardd mewn ysgolion yn unig; mae angen inni weithio gyda'n gilydd.
Siaradodd John a Rhys am y natur gaethiwus. Rwy'n credu y gallwn i gyd uniaethu â hynny. A chawsom dystiolaeth am yr effaith ar ddatblygiad ymenyddol pobl ifanc. Felly, plant ifanc sy'n treulio amser o flaen sgrin, gwelsom dystiolaeth am yr effaith y mae'n ei chael arnynt, ar blant ifanc, felly mae angen inni ystyried hynny'n ofalus.
Soniodd John hefyd efallai fod plant o gymunedau difreintiedig na allant fynd i glybiau ar ôl ysgol yn treulio mwy o amser ar eu ffonau. Efallai fod honno'n ystyriaeth; ni wnaethom edrych ar hynny.
Rhys—rydych chi'n aelod o'r pwyllgor—do, fe wnaethom dybio mai gwaharddiad fyddai'r ffordd iawn ymlaen, oni wnaethom? Fe feddyliom, 'Ie, dyna fyddai'r ateb. Byddai pawb yn cefnogi gwaharddiad.' Roedd yn ddoniol, oherwydd roedd y penaethiaid yn hoffi cael eu dewisiadau unigol eu hunain, ond byddai'r athrawon wedi hoffi gwaharddiad. Roedd yn ddiddorol iawn gwrando ar yr holl wahanol grwpiau, ond roedd y casgliadau'n amrywio, fel y clywsom heddiw.
Nododd Gareth bwysigrwydd fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer canllawiau cymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym yn croesawu hynny'n fawr.
Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n croesawu'r holl ymgysylltu a wnewch, mae'r uwchgynhadledd ar ymddygiad yn yr haf yn dda iawn—mae ynghlwm wrth hyn—a'r grŵp sy'n edrych ar y defnydd o ffonau symudol mewn ysgolion, bydd y dystiolaeth a gesglir ganddynt, ac edrych ar y canllawiau hynny, yn bwysig iawn wrth symud ymlaen.
Ac rwyf eisiau gorffen trwy ddweud ei bod yn wirioneddol—. Rhaid imi ddiolch i Zena Blackwell a'r ymgyrchwyr am gyflwyno'r ddeiseb, pawb a gyfrannodd at yr ymchwiliad trwy'r digwyddiad rhanddeiliaid a'r grwpiau ffocws a gynhaliwyd gan ein tîm ymgysylltu â dinasyddion yn yr ysgolion. Roedd yn ymchwiliad diddorol a chyfoes iawn, fel y ddadl heddiw. Mae'r rhain yn faterion pwysig ac anodd iawn i'w datrys. Rydym yn siarad am ddiogelwch a lles plant. Rhaid i bawb gymryd cyfrifoldeb am ddod o hyd i atebion, ac mae angen inni barhau i siarad amdano a beth yw'r dull gorau o weithredu, a sut y gallwn gefnogi ysgolion, rhieni a phobl ifanc i reoli'r defnydd o ffonau clyfar. Maent yn dweud ei bod yn cymryd pentref i fagu plentyn, ac o ran diogelwch ar-lein, mae angen inni ddod o hyd i ffordd i'r gymuned weithio gyda'n gilydd ar hyn. Mae'r adroddiad hwn ac ymateb y Llywodraeth yn gam cadarnhaol ar y daith honno. Diolch am yr amser, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig 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.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Jane Hutt, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Heledd Fychan. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-dethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Jane Hutt, and amendment 2 in the name of Heledd Fychan. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected.
Eitem 7, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, trethiant, a galwaf ar Sam Rowlands i wneud y cynnig.
Item 7, the Welsh Conservatives debate on taxation, and I call on Sam Rowlands to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8898 Paul Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn gresynu:
a) mai Cymru sydd â'r cyflogau isaf ym Mhrydain Fawr;
b) bod nifer y busnesau sy'n marw yn parhau i fod yn fwy na nifer y busnesau sy'n cael eu geni; ac
c) pe bai'r dreth gyngor yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu ar yr un gyfradd ag y mae yn Lloegr ers 2010, y byddai'r aelwyd Band D cyfartalog yng Nghymru ar ei ennill o £350 y flwyddyn.
2. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) sicrhau arbedion effeithlonrwydd, y tu allan i gyllidebau iechyd, ysgolion a ffermio, i gyflawni toriad o 1 geiniog yn y gyfradd sylfaenol o dreth incwm;
b) adfer rhyddhad ardrethi busnes i 75 y cant ar gyfer y sector manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden;
c) dileu cyfraddau busnes ar gyfer busnesau bach; a
d) sicrhau refferenda lleol ar gyfer cynghorau sy'n cynnig cynnydd o dros 5 y cant i'r dreth gyngor mewn un flwyddyn ariannol.
Motion NDM8898 Paul Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Regrets that:
a) Welsh pay packets are the lowest in Great Britain;
b) business deaths continue to outpace business births; and
c) if council tax had risen by the same rate in Wales as has been the case in England since 2010, the average Band D household in Wales would be £350 a year better off.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) deliver efficiency savings, outside of health, schools and farming budgets, to deliver a 1 pence cut in the basic rate of income tax;
b) restore business rate relief to 75 per cent for the retail hospitality and leisure sector;
c) eliminate business rates for small businesses; and
d) ensure local referendums for councils proposing council tax rises by over 5 per cent in a single financial year.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm pleased to be able to move the motion today in the name of my colleague, Paul Davies. And why have we laid this debate here today? The fundamental issue is that the economic picture in Wales is abysmal. Pay packets here are the lowest in Great Britain, whilst unemployment rates are the highest in the country, and this comes at a time when businesses are slapped with the highest business rates, higher than Scotland or England, and more businesses, sadly, are dying in Wales than being created. Overall, it's a picture of poor economic management and wastefulness. No surprise, of course, after 26 years of lethargic, out-of-touch Welsh Labour in Government in Cardiff Bay. Now, throw in a British Labour Government in London that imposed an emergency budget that by any measure has been truly disastrous—the Starmer-Reeves budget saw the independent Office for Budget Responsibility halve growth forecasts for this year and confirm that inflation and unemployment will rise, but also that the British Government is set to borrow more and more—throw in Labour's job tax, and it's no wonder that there's little to cheer about. It's clear that the people of Wales are paying the price for Labour.
I know and the Conservatives know that Welsh people are innovative, full of potential, but they're being stymied by Labour at both ends of the M4. They need a Government in Cardiff and Westminster who know how to create the right environment for economic growth, lifting people out of poverty and stagnation. Now, next year offers a golden chance to fix Wales, to kick out Labour and their allies in Plaid Cymru and the Liberals, and to elect a Welsh Conservative Government with a commonsense approach to encourage prosperity.
Whilst the Welsh Labour Government have squandered hundreds of millions on vanity projects, ranging from the default 20 mph speed limit to bloated Senedd reform, Welsh Conservatives are calling for public money to be spent effectively on the areas where that money is really needed. When the Welsh NHS has the highest waiting lists in the UK, and a fifth of Welsh school children are leaving primary school unable to read, it's morally wrong for hundreds of millions to be spent on Labour's vanity projects.
There are so many examples of wasteful Welsh Government spending, whether it's the millions squandered on overseas offices from New Delhi to New York, or all the Welsh Government buildings sitting virtually empty across the country, with employees sitting at home. A Welsh Conservative Government will absolutely prioritise rooting out waste, driving out inefficiency, and deliver better value for money.
But not only that; we will use devolved tax powers to put more money back in people's pockets. Conservatives trust people with their own money, unlike Welsh Labour. We will be delivering a 1p cut to the basic rate of income tax, with 1.7 million people receiving a tax cut, meaning the average working family will be £450 a year better off. We believe people up and down Wales know how to spend their money better than a Government does.
We know there are plenty of inefficiencies and waste in Welsh Government that can be slashed to fund this tax cut. We're also proposing other commonsense measures that will boost economic growth and job creation across the Welsh economy, dealing with those issues that I outlined from the start, creating prosperity and driving growth across the country. We believe the Welsh Government should restore business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, and eliminate business rates for small businesses. Let's back our businesses, instead of Labour's usual tactics of taxing them into oblivion. A thriving private sector creates jobs, growth and prosperity and supports the public services that we all so desperately need.
Finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, the spectre of council tax hikes hangs over Wales each year. We believe people in local authorities throughout the country feel left out of this process and we believe that people should have a say through local referendums, with any council proposing a rise over 5 per cent in a single financial year to have a referendum in place so that local people can have a local say on their taxation. This deepens the democratic process, which I hope colleagues across the Chamber will support, giving more people more say over how much taxpayer cash is taken by councils. [Interruption.] Not at all.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o allu cyflwyno'r cynnig heddiw yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod, Paul Davies. A pham ein bod wedi cyflwyno'r ddadl hon yma heddiw? Y mater sylfaenol sy'n codi yw bod y darlun economaidd yng Nghymru yn ofnadwy. Pecynnau cyflog yma yw'r isaf ym Mhrydain, a'r cyfraddau diweithdra yw'r uchaf yn y wlad, a daw hyn ar adeg pan fo busnesau'n dioddef yr ardrethi busnes uchaf, yn uwch na'r Alban neu Loegr, ac mae mwy o fusnesau, yn anffodus, yn cau yng Nghymru nag sy'n cael eu creu. Gyda'i gilydd, mae'n ddarlun o reolaeth economaidd wael a gwastraff. Nid yw'n syndod, wrth gwrs, ar ôl 26 mlynedd o Lafur Cymru yn Llywodraeth ym Mae Caerdydd. Nawr, ychwanegwch Lywodraeth Lafur Prydain yn Llundain a osododd gyllideb frys sydd wedi bod yn wirioneddol drychinebus—gwelodd cyllideb Starmer-Reeves y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol annibynnol yn haneru rhagolygon twf ar gyfer eleni ac yn cadarnhau y bydd chwyddiant a diweithdra'n codi, ond hefyd fod Llywodraeth Prydain yn mynd i fenthyca mwy a mwy—ychwanegwch dreth Llafur ar swyddi, ac nid yw'n syndod nad oes fawr ddim i lawenhau yn ei gylch. Mae'n amlwg fod pobl Cymru yn talu'r pris am Lafur.
Rwy'n gwybod, ac mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn gwybod bod pobl Cymru yn arloesol, yn llawn potensial, ond maent yn cael eu rhwystro gan Lafur ar y ddau ben i'r M4. Maent angen Llywodraeth yng Nghaerdydd a San Steffan sy'n gwybod sut i greu'r amgylchedd cywir ar gyfer twf economaidd, gan godi pobl allan o dlodi a diffyg cynnydd. Nawr, mae'r flwyddyn nesaf yn cynnig cyfle euraidd i drwsio Cymru, i roi cic allan i Lafur a'u cynghreiriaid ym Mhlaid Cymru a'r Rhyddfrydwyr, ac i ethol Llywodraeth Geidwadol Gymreig gydag ymagwedd synnwyr cyffredin tuag at annog ffyniant.
Tra bo Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi gwastraffu cannoedd o filiynau ar brosiectau porthi balchder, yn amrywio o'r terfyn cyflymder diofyn 20 mya i ddiwygiadau chwyddedig y Senedd, mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn galw am wario arian cyhoeddus yn effeithiol ar y meysydd lle mae gwir angen yr arian hwnnw. Pan fo gan GIG Cymru y rhestrau aros uchaf yn y DU, a phumed ran o blant ysgol Cymru yn gadael yr ysgol gynradd yn methu darllen, mae'n foesol anghywir i gannoedd o filiynau gael eu gwario ar brosiectau porthi balchder Llafur.
Ceir cymaint o enghreifftiau o wariant gwastraffus Llywodraeth Cymru, boed yn filiynau sy'n cael eu gwastraffu ar swyddfeydd tramor o Delhi Newydd i Efrog Newydd, neu holl adeiladau Llywodraeth Cymru sydd bron yn wag ledled y wlad, gyda gweithwyr yn eistedd gartref. Bydd Llywodraeth Geidwadol Cymru yn blaenoriaethu cael gwared ar wastraff ac aneffeithlonrwydd, ac yn darparu gwell gwerth am arian.
Ond nid yn unig hynny; byddwn yn defnyddio pwerau treth datganoledig i roi mwy o arian yn ôl ym mhocedi pobl. Mae gan y Ceidwadwyr ffydd yng ngallu pobl i reoli eu harian eu hunain, yn wahanol i Lafur Cymru. Byddwn yn torri ceiniog oddi ar y gyfradd sylfaenol o dreth incwm, gyda 1.7 miliwn o bobl yn cael toriad yn y dreth, sy'n golygu y bydd y teulu cyfartalog sy'n gweithio £450 y flwyddyn yn well eu byd. Rydym yn credu bod pobl ledled Cymru yn gwybod sut i wario eu harian yn well nag y mae Llywodraeth yn ei wneud.
Rydym yn gwybod bod digon o aneffeithlonrwydd a gwastraff yn Llywodraeth Cymru y gellir ei dorri i ariannu'r toriad treth hwn. Rydym hefyd yn cynnig mesurau synnwyr cyffredin eraill a fydd yn hybu twf economaidd ac yn creu swyddi ar draws economi Cymru, i ymdrin â'r materion a nodais ar y cychwyn, gan greu ffyniant a hybu twf ledled y wlad. Credwn y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru adfer rhyddhad ardrethi busnes i 75 y cant ar gyfer y sector manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden, a dileu ardrethi busnes i fusnesau bach. Gadewch inni gefnogi ein busnesau, yn hytrach na thactegau arferol Llafur o'u trethu i ebargofiant. Mae sector preifat bywiog yn creu swyddi, twf a ffyniant ac yn cefnogi'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y mae cymaint o'u hangen arnom.
Yn olaf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae bwgan codiadau treth gyngor yn hongian dros Gymru bob blwyddyn. Credwn fod pobl mewn awdurdodau lleol ledled y wlad yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u gadael allan o'r broses hon a chredwn y dylai pobl gael dweud eu dweud trwy refferenda lleol, gydag unrhyw gyngor sy'n cynnig codiad dros 5 y cant mewn un flwyddyn ariannol i roi refferendwm ar waith fel y gall pobl leol ddweud eu dweud yn lleol ar eu trethiant. Mae hyn yn dyfnhau'r broses ddemocrataidd, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd cyd-Aelodau ar draws y Siambr yn ei gefnogi, gan roi mwy o lais i fwy o bobl dros faint o arian trethdalwyr sy'n cael ei gymryd gan gynghorau. [Torri ar draws.] Popeth yn iawn.
So, if you're going to cut taxes and not increase council tax, how would you propose we fund public services, which have already been declining because of the UK Government Tory austerity?
Felly, os ydych chi'n mynd i dorri trethi a pheidio â chynyddu'r dreth gyngor, sut y byddech chi'n awgrymu ein bod ni'n ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, sydd eisoes wedi bod yn dirywio oherwydd cyni Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU?
You're absolutely right about the UK Government not supporting Wales properly, and Welsh Government, as you know, are responsible for delivering services, funding council services here in Wales. I've already outlined the amount of waste that this Government spends every single year, spending money on areas that need to be spent on essential services across Wales. But, fundamentally, we believe differently in that we believe people can make responsible decisions for themselves. Taxation has to happen because some people need that support, but we need to do it responsibly, and waste needs to be eliminated from public spending.
So these packages of proposals—income tax reduction, supporting our businesses through business rates reductions, supporting our communities through democratically responsible decisions through a local referendum on council tax rises when they're over that 5 per cent threshold—these would be the start of economic change in Wales: pragmatic proposals bringing an end to 26 years of stagnation through Welsh Labour. I encourage all Members to vote for the Welsh Conservative motion this evening. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Rydych chi'n hollol gywir nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn cefnogi Cymru'n iawn, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru, fel y gwyddoch, yn gyfrifol am ddarparu gwasanaethau, am ariannu gwasanaethau cyngor yma yng Nghymru. Rwyf eisoes wedi amlinellu faint o wastraff y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei wario bob blwyddyn, gan wario arian y mae angen ei wario ar wasanaethau hanfodol ledled Cymru. Ond yn y bôn, rydym yn credu'n wahanol yn yr ystyr ein bod yn credu y gall pobl wneud penderfyniadau cyfrifol drostynt eu hunain. Mae'n rhaid i drethiant ddigwydd oherwydd bod angen cymorth ar rai pobl, ond mae angen inni wneud hynny'n gyfrifol, ac mae angen dileu gwastraff o wariant cyhoeddus.
Felly, byddai'r pecynnau hyn o gynigion—gostyngiad i'r dreth incwm, cefnogi ein busnesau drwy ostyngiadau i ardrethi busnes, cefnogi ein cymunedau drwy benderfyniadau democrataidd cyfrifol trwy refferendwm lleol ar godiadau treth gyngor pan fyddant yn mynd dros y trothwy o 5 y cant—byddai'r rhain yn ddechrau ar newid economaidd yng Nghymru: cynigion pragmatig sy'n rhoi diwedd ar 26 mlynedd o ddiffyg cynnydd drwy Lafur Cymru. Rwy'n annog pob Aelod i bleidleisio dros gynnig y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig heno. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Rwyf wedi dethol dau welliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1.
I have selected two amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language to formally move amendment 1.
Gwelliant 1—Jane Hutt
Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) mae bil cyfartalog y dreth gyngor ar gyfer eiddo Band D yng Nghymru £110 yn is na’r bil yn Lloegr ac mae dros 256,000 o aelwydydd incwm isel yng Nghymru yn derbyn cymorth gyda’u biliau drwy gynllun gostyngiadau’r dreth gyngor;
b) roedd y gyfradd geni ar gyfer busnesau yng Nghymru yn 2023 yn uwch na’r gyfradd yn Ne-ddwyrain a De-orllewin Lloegr, ac yn uwch na’r gyfradd yng Ngogledd Iwerddon; ac
c) mae’r cynnydd yn enillion wythnosol cyfartalog oedolion yng Nghymru sy’n gweithio’n amser llawn lawer yn fwy na’r cynnydd yn y DU yn gyffredinol dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf.
2. Yn cydnabod:
a) mae talwyr ardrethi o fewn y sectorau manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden wedi derbyn dros £1 biliwn mewn cymorth ychwanegol ar gyfer ardrethi busnes dros y chwe blynedd diwethaf ac nid yw bron i hanner yr holl dalwyr ardrethi yn talu unrhyw ardrethi busnes o gwbl;
b) rhagwelir y bydd cyfraddau’r dreth incwm yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu dros £3 biliwn at gyllideb Cymru eleni; ac
c) mae awdurdodau lleol yn atebol i bobl Cymru wrth iddynt osod cyllidebau a’r dreth gyngor, a hynny ar sail anghenion gwasanaethau lleol.
Amendment 1—Jane Hutt
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) the average Band D council tax bill in Wales this year is £110 lower than in England and more than 256,000 low-income households in Wales receive support with their bills through the council tax reduction scheme;
b) the business birth rate in 2023 in Wales was higher than in the south-east and south-west regions of England, and higher than in Northern Ireland; and
c) growth in average weekly earnings for full-time adults in Wales has outpaced the UK over the last 10 years.
2. Recognises:
a) ratepayers in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors have received more than £1 billion in additional business rates support over the last six years and almost half of all ratepayers pay no business rates at all.
b) Welsh rates of income tax are forecast to contribute more than £3 billion to the Welsh budget this year; and
c) local authorities are accountable to the people of Wales when setting budgets and council tax, based on the needs of local services.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Cynnig.
I move.
Galwaf ar Heledd Fychan i gynnig gwelliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn ei henw hi.
I call on Heledd Fychan to move amendment 2, tabled in her name.
Gwelliant 2—Heledd Fychan
Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) bod treth fel cyfran o gynnyrch domestig gros y DU wedi cyrraedd ei lefel uchaf mewn dros 70 mlynedd dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol y DU;
b) effaith ragamcanol cynnydd Llywodraeth bresennol y DU i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ar dwf cyflog cyfartalog; ac
c) baich parhaus Brexit ar fasnach a buddsoddiad Cymru, a'r gost i fusnesau a threthdalwyr Cymru o orfod cydymffurfio â biwrocratiaeth ychwanegol y tu allan i Farchnad Sengl yr UE.
2. Yn gresynu:
a) bod Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi torri eu haddewid beidio â chodi trethi ar bobl sy'n gweithio; a
b) at benderfyniad Llywodraeth Lafur y DU i Farnetteiddio ad-daliadau craidd y sector cyhoeddus gan y Trysorlys i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, sydd wedi gadael Cymru yn wynebu diffyg o £65 miliwn.
3. Yn credu:
a) bod cyfyngiadau presennol pwerau trethi amrywiol Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhwystr i lunio polisïau effeithiol yng Nghymru; a
b) y dylai'r Senedd feddu ar y cymhwysedd datganoledig i osod ei bandiau treth incwm ei hun, yn unol â'r pwerau sydd eisoes wedi'u datganoli i Senedd yr Alban dan Ddeddf yr Alban 2012.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) gychwyn y broses a amlinellir yn Neddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006 i geisio am bwerau sydd ar hyn o bryd wedi'u cadw i San Steffan er mwyn galluogi'r Senedd i osod pob cyfradd a band ar gyfer Treth Incwm Cymru;
b) sefydlu lluosydd ardrethi busnes ffafriol ar gyfer busnesau bach a chanolig; ac
c) ailgysylltu â'r rhaglen diwygio treth cyngor.
Amendment 2—Heledd Fychan
Delete all and replace with:
Propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) that tax as a proportion of UK GDP reached its highest level in over 70 years under the previous UK Conservative Government;
b) the projected impact of the current UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions on average wage growth; and
c) the continued burden of Brexit on Welsh trade and investment, and the cost to Welsh businesses and taxpayers of having to comply with additional red tape outside of the EU Single Market.
2. Regrets:
a) the UK Labour Government’s broken promise not to increase taxes on working people; and
b) the UK Labour Government’s decision to Barnettise Treasury core public sector reimbursements to national insurance contributions, which has left Wales facing a £65 million shortfall.
3. Believes:
a) the present limitations of the Welsh Government’s tax-varying powers are an impediment to effective policy-making in Wales, and
b) that the Senedd should possess the devolved competence to set its own income tax bands, in line with the powers already devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2012.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) initiate the process outlined in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to seek powers currently reserved to Westminster to enable the Senedd to set all rates and bands for Welsh income tax.
b) establish a preferential business rates multiplier for SMEs; and
c) re-engage with the programme of council tax reform.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 2.
Amendment 2 moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Y neges sy’n dod drosodd yn glir heddiw o gynnig y Torïaid a'r araith rydyn ni newydd ei chlywed ydy nad ydyn nhw o ddifrif ynglŷn â bod mewn Llywodraeth. Sut arall y gellid esbonio galwad i dorri bron i £300 miliwn o gyllideb Cymru, heb egluro o ble yn union y daw'r arian?
O ran y dreth gyngor, mae eu galwad yn dangos diffyg dealltwriaeth ynglŷn â sut mae cyllidebu llywodraeth leol, ac nid yw ychwaith yn cydnabod y costau ychwanegol, ynghyd â'r gwaith, ynghlwm â chynnal refferendwm o’r fath. Ac er gwaethaf eu honiadau o fod yn blaid trethi isel a busnes, o dan y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd flaenorol, cododd trethi fel cyfran o GDP y Deyrnas Unedig i'w lefel uchaf mewn dros 70 mlynedd, tra bod eu Brexit caled trychinebus yn parhau i greu niwed i drethdalwyr a busnesau fel ei gilydd. Ond yn anffodus, er ein bod wedi ffarwelio â’r Torïaid o 10 Stryd Downing, mae unrhyw obaith am newid gyda dyfodiad Llywodraeth Lafur hefyd wedi'i chwalu.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. The message that came through very clearly today from the Tories' motion and the speech we've just heard is that they are not serious about being in Government. How else could one explain a call to cut almost £300 million from the Welsh budget, without explaining where that money will come from?
In terms of council tax, their call shows a lack of understanding about how local government is funded, as well as a lack of recognition of the additional costs, along with work, involved in holding such a referendum. And despite their claims of being a low-tax and pro-business party, under the previous Tory Government, taxes as a share of UK GDP rose to their highest level in over 70 years, while their disastrous hard Brexit continues to harm taxpayers and businesses alike. Unfortunately, although we have bidden farewell to the Tories from 10 Downing Street, any hope for change with the arrival of a Labour Government has also been dashed.
The pledges of no additional taxes on working people and no more austerity have been utterly demolished by their actions on national insurance, with the Office for Budget Responsibility stating that it will lead to stagnating real wage growth, and by the withdrawing of the winter fuel allowance, which, as we know, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has estimated will cause 4,000 excess deaths in Wales. And then, of course, there are the cuts to the welfare budget, which will push thousands of Welsh citizens into the throes of poverty.
We raised these fundamental inconsistencies in Labour’s spending plans time and time again in the weeks leading up to the general election, and now those warnings are materialising. What is clear is that we are long overdue an honest conversation about public finances and our approach to taxation. We know that substantial investment in our public services is urgently required to repair the catastrophic damage of a decade and a half of Westminster austerity. Part of the solution, of course, will mean replacing the outdated Barnett formula with a fairer funding model for Wales—something that both Westminster parties have failed to deliver to date. But there is also a glaring need to realise the potential of devolution in the arena of taxation.
Do we believe that Government should aspire to lowering taxes where possible? Well, of course we do, but it needs to be done fairly, proportionately, and without inflicting deep cuts to public services, which is precisely what the Tory proposal would do. And the reality is that Wales’s devolved fiscal levers, constrained as they are by the unwieldy one-size-fits-all income tax bands set by Westminster, are currently ornamental for all intents and purposes. This is why we have long called for the Senedd to be able to set Welsh-specific income tax bands, so that we can actually put these levers to use in supporting public services and fostering redistribution.
Look at what Scotland have been able to achieve with these kinds of powers at their disposal. Over half of Scottish taxpayers pay less income tax than their counterparts in England and in Wales. And if the Tories were truly serious about lowering taxes for working people, they would support our position, but at every opportunity, they’ve opposed such calls. There are also the opportunities provided by the new powers that the Senedd now has in relation to the non-domestic rates multiplier, which Plaid Cymru would use to cut business rates for Welsh small and medium-sized enterprises.
So, let’s turn to council tax, where the problem can’t be solved by impractical and needlessly costly referenda, but rather by addressing the fundamentally regressive and outdated system itself. Plaid Cymru spearheaded work to establish a fairer model for council tax, which could have reduced council tax bills for thousands of low-income households. But despite promises to the contrary, this Labour Government kicked its implementation beyond this Senedd term. And as for the Tories? Nowhere to be seen, as always.
Finally, at a time when the public purse is under such strain, there does need to be a renewed effort on the part of both the Welsh and UK Governments to identify sustainable efficiency savings. A good place to start would be to scrap the Tory vanity project of a hard Brexit. At least £87 million of the Welsh budget is currently being swallowed up by the need to establish new border control posts and cumbersome regulatory arrangements, while the broader impact of extra red tape and barriers to our largest trading partners have hurt the Welsh economy to the tune of £4 billion. We need to see far more purposeful movement on the part of the Welsh Government towards a preventative agenda in healthcare as well.
Mae'r addewidion o beidio â chodi trethi ychwanegol ar bobl sy'n gweithio a dim mwy o gyni wedi cael eu dymchwel yn llwyr gan yr hyn a wnaethant ar yswiriant gwladol, gyda'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn datgan y bydd yn arwain at ddiffyg cynnydd real i gyflogau, a chan ddiddymu lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf, y mae Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru, fel y gwyddom, wedi amcangyfrif y bydd yn achosi 4,000 o farwolaethau ychwanegol yng Nghymru. Yn ogystal, mae'r toriadau i'r gyllideb les, a fydd yn gwthio miloedd o ddinasyddion Cymru i fyw mewn tlodi.
Fe wnaethom godi'r anghysondebau sylfaenol hyn yng nghynlluniau gwariant Llafur dro ar ôl tro yn yr wythnosau cyn yr etholiad cyffredinol, a nawr mae'r rhybuddion hynny'n cael eu gwireddu. Yr hyn sy'n amlwg yw ei bod yn hen bryd cael sgwrs onest am gyllid cyhoeddus a'n hymagwedd tuag at drethiant. Gwyddom fod angen buddsoddiad sylweddol yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ar frys i unioni niwed trychinebus degawd a hanner o gyni San Steffan. Bydd rhan o'r ateb, wrth gwrs, yn golygu cael model ariannu tecach i Gymru yn lle fformiwla Barnett sydd wedi dyddio—rhywbeth y mae'r ddwy blaid yn San Steffan wedi methu ei gyflawni hyd yma. Ond hefyd, mae angen amlwg i wireddu potensial datganoli yn y maes trethiant.
A ydym yn credu y dylai'r Llywodraeth anelu at ostwng trethi lle bo hynny'n bosibl? Wel, wrth gwrs ein bod, ond mae angen ei wneud yn deg, yn gymesur, a heb wneud toriadau dwfn i wasanaethau cyhoeddus, a dyna'n union y byddai'r cynnig Torïaidd yn ei wneud. A'r gwir amdani yw bod ysgogiadau cyllidol datganoledig Cymru, wedi'u cyfyngu fel y maent gan y bandiau treth incwm un maint i bawb a osodwyd gan San Steffan, yn ddim mwy nag addurniadol ar hyn o bryd i bob pwrpas. Dyma pam ein bod wedi galw ers tro ar y Senedd i allu gosod bandiau treth incwm penodol i Gymru, fel y gallwn ddefnyddio'r ysgogiadau hyn i gefnogi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac i feithrin ailddosbarthu.
Edrychwch ar yr hyn y mae'r Alban wedi gallu ei gyflawni gyda'r mathau hyn o bwerau at eu defnydd. Mae dros hanner trethdalwyr yr Alban yn talu llai o dreth incwm na'u cymheiriaid yng Nghymru ac yn Lloegr. A phe bai'r Torïaid o ddifrif ynglŷn â gostwng trethi i bobl sy'n gweithio, byddent yn cefnogi ein safbwynt, ond ar bob cyfle, maent wedi gwrthwynebu galwadau o'r fath. Ceir cyfleoedd hefyd yn sgil y pwerau newydd sydd gan y Senedd bellach mewn perthynas â'r lluosydd ardrethi annomestig, y byddai Plaid Cymru yn ei ddefnyddio i dorri ardrethi busnes ar gyfer mentrau bach a chanolig Cymru.
Felly, gadewch inni droi at y dreth gyngor, lle na ellir datrys y broblem drwy refferenda anymarferol a diangen o gostus, ond yn hytrach trwy fynd i'r afael â'r system sylfaenol anflaengar ei hun, system sydd wedi dyddio. Arweiniodd Plaid Cymru waith ar sefydlu model tecach ar gyfer y dreth gyngor, a allai fod wedi lleihau biliau'r dreth gyngor i filoedd o aelwydydd incwm isel. Ond er gwaethaf addewidion i'r gwrthwyneb, fe wnaeth y Llywodraeth Lafur hon wthio ei weithrediad y tu hwnt i dymor y Senedd hon. Ac am y Torïaid? Dim argoel ohonynt, fel bob amser.
Yn olaf, ar adeg pan fo'r pwrs cyhoeddus dan gymaint o straen, mae angen ymdrech o'r newydd ar ran Llywodraethau Cymru a'r DU i nodi arbedion effeithlonrwydd cynaliadwy. Lle da i ddechrau fyddai cael gwared ar brosiect porthi balchder y Torïaid, y Brexit caled. Mae o leiaf £87 miliwn o gyllideb Cymru yn cael ei lyncu ar hyn o bryd gan yr angen i sefydlu safleoedd rheolaethau'r ffin newydd a threfniadau rheoleiddio cymhleth, tra bod effaith ehangach biwrocratiaeth ychwanegol a rhwystrau i'n partneriaid masnachu mwyaf wedi creu tua £4 biliwn o niwed i economi Cymru. Mae angen inni weld symud llawer mwy pwrpasol ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru tuag at agenda ataliol ym maes gofal iechyd hefyd.
Dyma'r math o gamau gweithredu fyddai'n mynd rhywfaint o'r ffordd tuag at ailgydbwyso ein harian cyhoeddus sydd dan warchae. Felly, os ydy'r Torïaid o ddifrif ynglŷn â chynnig atebion credadwy i'r problemau sydd i raddau helaeth wedi cael eu creu gan eu plaid eu hunain, dylent gefnogi ein gwelliant ni heddiw.
These are the kinds of actions that would go some way towards rebalancing our beleaguered public finances. So, if the Tories are serious about offering credible solutions to the problems that have largely been created by their own party, they should support our amendment today.
The Welsh Labour Government is out of touch, out of ideas and out of excuses. Welsh pay packets are the lowest in Britain. The average full-time wage in Wales is now more than £3,000 a year less than the UK average. For years we’ve heard empty promises from Ministers about a stronger, fairer, greener economy, but where is it? Hundreds of businesses, alongside 19 Welsh pubs, closed last year, marking the loss of an integral part of our towns and villages, but why? Because these Labour policies are actively hostile to business. Slashing business rate relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent, alongside national insurance increases, has dealt a massive blow to small businesses already hanging on by a thread.
Under Labour, council taxes have spiralled out of control. This year, families across Wales saw hikes of 8 per cent, 9 per cent or even over 10 per cent in some areas, far above inflation, yet services are worse, not better. If council tax had grown at the same rate as in England since 2010, the average band D household in Wales could be £350 a year better off. This is not small change to most hard-working families across Wales. But what have they got to show for these punishing increases? Bins missed, roads crumbling, potholes not being filled in and local services cut to the bone. Enough is enough.
This motion calls for action, real change that puts power and money back in the hands of people, and that's what you can expect under the Welsh Conservatives. We are calling for efficiency savings across non-essential budgets, excluding health, education and farming, to deliver that 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax and let people keep more of their hard-earned money; restoring the 75 per cent business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure to help businesses, but in particular the family-run cafes, the local pubs and the corner shop that make up the backbone of our communities; eliminating business rates for small, independent businesses, which force small businesses to pay the same crippling rates structures as global chains; and perhaps most crucially, local referendums for council tax hikes over 5 per cent, in line with England. Let me be absolutely clear—
Mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru allan o gysylltiad, yn brin o syniadau a heb esgusodion. Pecynnau cyflog Cymru yw'r isaf ym Mhrydain. Mae'r cyflog llawn amser cyfartalog yng Nghymru bellach dros £3,000 y flwyddyn yn llai na chyfartaledd y DU. Ers blynyddoedd rydym wedi clywed addewidion gwag gan Weinidogion am economi gryfach, decach, wyrddach, ond ble mae hi? Caeodd cannoedd o fusnesau, ynghyd â 19 o dafarndai, yng Nghymru y llynedd, a olygodd ein bod wedi colli rhannau pwysig o'n trefi a'n pentrefi, ond pam? Oherwydd bod y polisïau Llafur hyn yn elyniaethus i fusnesau. Mae lleihau rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 75 y cant i 40 y cant, ochr yn ochr â chynnydd i yswiriant gwladol, wedi rhoi ergyd enfawr i fusnesau bach sydd eisoes yn cael trafferth dal eu pennau uwchben y dŵr.
O dan Lafur, mae trethi cyngor wedi codi allan o reolaeth. Eleni, gwelodd teuluoedd ledled Cymru gynnydd o 8 y cant, 9 y cant neu hyd yn oed dros 10 y cant mewn rhai ardaloedd, ymhell uwchlaw chwyddiant, ac eto mae gwasanaethau'n waeth, nid yn well. Pe bai'r dreth gyngor wedi tyfu ar yr un gyfradd ag yn Lloegr ers 2010, gallai cartref band D cyfartalog yng Nghymru fod £350 y flwyddyn yn well ei fyd. Nid newid bach yw hyn i'r rhan fwyaf o deuluoedd gweithgar ledled Cymru. Ond beth sydd ganddynt i'w ddangos am y codiadau poenus hyn? Biniau na chânt eu casglu, ffyrdd yn chwalu, tyllau heb eu llenwi a gwasanaethau lleol wedi'u torri i'r byw. Digon yw digon.
Mae'r cynnig hwn yn galw am weithredu, newid go iawn sy'n rhoi pŵer ac arian yn ôl yn nwylo pobl, a dyna beth y gallwch ei ddisgwyl o dan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Rydym yn galw am arbedion effeithlonrwydd ar draws cyllidebau nad ydynt yn hanfodol, ac eithrio iechyd, addysg a ffermio, i gyflawni'r toriad o 1g yng nghyfradd sylfaenol y dreth incwm ac i adael i bobl gadw mwy o'u harian prin; adfer y rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 75 y cant ar gyfer manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden i helpu busnesau, ond yn enwedig y caffis teuluol, y tafarndai lleol a'r siop gornel sy'n ffurfio asgwrn cefn ein cymunedau; dileu ardrethi busnes ar gyfer busnesau bach, annibynnol, ardrethi sy'n gorfodi busnesau bach i dalu'r un strwythurau ardrethi poenus â chadwyni byd-eang; ac efallai yn bwysicaf oll, refferenda lleol ar gyfer codiadau treth gyngor dros 5 y cant, fel yn Lloegr. Gadewch imi fod yn hollol glir—
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, of course.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
How much should we budget for those referenda? Have you costed how much it would cost to hold those—annually, I presume?
Faint y dylem ei gyllidebu ar gyfer y refferenda hynny? A ydych chi wedi costio faint y byddai'n ei gostio i gynnal y rheini—bob blwyddyn, rwy'n tybio?
Hopefully, it would act as a preventative measure and stop councils from going over that 5 per cent, surely. I don't think you can take a second intervention. We want to put off councils going over 5 per cent, don't we, unless of course you're supportive of them being over 5 per cent.
This is not about austerity. Unlike Labour, the Welsh Conservatives would lower taxes for working people by £450 a year. This is all about priorities. Labour seem to find endless pots of money for vanity projects like bloated Senedd expansion costing £18 million, pet projects and endlessly delayed schemes like the £1.4 billion Heads of the Valleys road. Meanwhile, local authorities across Wales are sitting on millions of pounds in reserves and council chiefs are enjoying absurdly high salaries funded by taxpayer money. The chief executive of Cardiff, as I said earlier, his salary is higher than that of the First Minister and Prime Minister.
We need a Government that looks after taxpayers' money, that listens to local voices, and that understands that growth, prosperity and fairness don't start with bureaucracy and hiked-up taxes, but with freedom—the freedom to build, the freedom to earn, the freedom to invest and the freedom to thrive. The Labour-led Government is failing Wales. It's time for change, and I urge you to support our motion today. Diolch.
Y gobaith yw y byddai'n gweithredu fel mesur ataliol ac yn atal cynghorau rhag mynd dros y 5 y cant. Nid wyf yn credu y gallwch chi wneud ail ymyriad. Rydym eisiau annog cynghorau i beidio â mynd dros 5 y cant, onid ydym, oni bai eich bod chi'n gefnogol iddynt fod dros 5 y cant.
Nid yw hyn yn ymwneud â chyni. Yn wahanol i Lafur, byddai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn sicrhau gostyngiad treth o £450 y flwyddyn i bobl sy'n gweithio. Mae hyn i gyd yn ymwneud â blaenoriaethau. Mae'n ymddangos bod Llafur yn dod o hyd i botiau diddiwedd o arian ar gyfer prosiectau porthi balchder fel ehangu'r Senedd sy'n costio £18 miliwn, hoff brosiectau a chynlluniau a gaiff eu hoedi'n ddiddiwedd fel ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd gwerth £1.4 biliwn. Yn y cyfamser, mae awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru yn eistedd ar filiynau o bunnoedd mewn cronfeydd wrth gefn a phrif swyddogion cynghorau'n mwynhau cyflogau hurt o uchel sy'n cael eu hariannu gan arian trethdalwyr. Mae cyflog prif weithredwr Caerdydd, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, yn uwch na chyflog Prif Weinidog Cymru a Phrif Weinidog y DU.
Mae angen Llywodraeth sy'n gofalu am arian trethdalwyr, sy'n gwrando ar leisiau lleol, ac sy'n deall nad yw twf, ffyniant a thegwch yn dechrau gyda biwrocratiaeth a threthi uwch, ond gyda rhyddid—y rhyddid i adeiladu, y rhyddid i ennill, y rhyddid i fuddsoddi a'r rhyddid i ffynnu. Mae'r Llywodraeth dan arweiniad Llafur yn gwneud cam â Chymru. Mae'n bryd newid, ac rwy'n eich annog i gefnogi ein cynnig heddiw. Diolch.
A few months ago, we debated the budget, where both the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru were able to identify additional spending with little or no savings. Now we get their views on taxation—it might have been more useful if we’d had them then. The Conservatives' view could be summarised as that they do not like taxation. But taxation is the price we pay for being part of a civilised society. We cannot have Scandinavian-quality public services and American levels of taxes. Taxation exists to pay for public services. Too many people believe that we can have the same quality of public services as Scandinavia, but American levels of taxation. When you look at the cost of private education and private health, it puts into perspective the value for money we get from our taxation system. It's not by random chance or serendipity that those countries with the highest tax levels have the best public services, and those with the lowest tax levels are the poorest. Taxation is necessary to raise the money to pay for the public services we all need.
Ychydig fisoedd yn ôl, buom yn trafod y gyllideb, lle roedd y Ceidwadwyr a Phlaid Cymru yn gallu nodi gwariant ychwanegol heb fawr ddim arbedion. Nawr cawn eu barn ar drethiant—efallai y byddai wedi bod yn fwy defnyddiol pe baem wedi ei chael bryd hynny. Gellid crynhoi barn y Ceidwadwyr trwy ddweud nad ydynt yn hoffi trethiant. Ond trethiant yw'r pris a dalwn am fod yn rhan o gymdeithas wâr. Ni allwn gael gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o ansawdd Sgandinafaidd a lefelau trethi Americanaidd. Mae trethiant yn bodoli i dalu am wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae gormod o bobl yn credu y gallwn gael gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o'r un ansawdd â Sgandinafia, ond yr un lefelau trethiant ag America. Pan edrychwch ar gost addysg breifat ac iechyd preifat, mae'n rhoi'r gwerth am arian a gawn o'n system drethiant mewn persbectif. Nid ar hap neu drwy lwc y mae gan y gwledydd sydd â'r lefelau treth uchaf y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gorau, ac mai'r gwledydd sydd â'r lefelau treth isaf yw'r rhai tlotaf. Mae trethiant yn angenrheidiol i godi'r arian i dalu am y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sydd eu hangen arnom i gyd.
The suggestion of efficiency savings is one I strongly support, but why exclude health, schools and farming budgets? We need efficiency savings and improved productivity across the Welsh economy. It makes no sense to say that you can have efficiency savings in social care, but not in health. Productivity is a huge problem. We're 20 per cent less productive than France and Germany. We could work four days a week and do the same as they do in France and Germany. That has got to be wrong. Health has an opportunity with artificial intelligence to improve productivity and produce substantial efficiency savings. We could also have better and more efficient use of equipment, keeping designated operating theatres available for routine but necessary operations, such as cataracts and orthopaedics, to improve the productivity of surgeons and the outcomes for patients. Efficiency savings are available in education, administration and in the confederation of small schools in the same area under one headteacher. Why can't the farmers become more efficient? Why is New Zealand lamb, which is unsubsidised, and Australian beef, with very little subsidy, cheaper in Welsh shops than highly subsidised Welsh lamb and beef, despite travelling across the world? Why should farming be excused from the need to be more efficient?
On council tax, the average band D council tax bill in Wales is, this year, £110 lower than in England, and more than 256,000 low-income households in Wales receive support with their bill through the council tax reduction scheme. Also, in some council areas, most council tax payers are in bands A, B and C. On council tax, I will again say what I've said several times before: there needs to be change. The multiplier is absolutely wrong when you've got somebody in a band A property paying two thirds of what somebody is paying in a band D property, and somebody in a band D property paying over half of what somebody is paying in a band H property, which is worth at least three times, probably four times, the value. I think the council tax set banding doesn't work. It's unfair and it's not proportionate to the value of the property. All councils need a council tax that's a fixed percentage of the value of the property—I've said that continually. It may be slightly wrong when you get the values of them, but most of them will be about right.
To Plaid Cymru, the UK Government has not broken its promise to not increase taxes on working people. Employers' national insurance is a tax on employers, not employees. It should enthuse employers to improve productivity and efficiency, which is a huge problem, and I think that's one thing we have all agreed on this afternoon: we need to improve productivity and efficiency. Plaid Cymru are always keen on spending more money, but not on raising it. The smallest attempt at increasing the tax on wealth that the UK Government has brought in, they have strongly opposed.
Can I again explain that, although there are flaws in the Barnett formula, we in Wales get substantially more than our population share and our share of taxation collected? Plaid Cymru are suggesting increasing rates on large retailers and to use that money for smaller retailers. We've already lost many large retailers such as Debenhams. Why Plaid Cymru want to use the rate system to increase business rates for the few large retailers we have left, such as Marks and Spencer, must be a cause for concern for most of us. Is it still Plaid Cymru's policy for an independent Wales to not fund the state pension or Wales's share of the national debt?
We know that ratepayers in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector have received more than £1 billion in additional business rate support over the last six years, and almost half of all ratepayers pay no business rates at all. We also know that for many retailers it's rent rather than rates that is the most expensive. I've had personal experience of a business in hospitality whose costs increased each year. They paid combined rent and business rates. The landlord said the increase was nothing to do with them, but was due to the increased rates. When I investigated the business, the business was small and zero-rated.
Finally, if you want quality public services, you have to pay for them via taxes. Asking for more expenditure and less tax does not create a coherent economic policy.
Mae'r awgrym o arbedion effeithlonrwydd yn un rwy'n ei gefnogi'n gryf, ond pam eithrio cyllidebau iechyd, ysgolion a ffermio? Mae angen arbedion effeithlonrwydd a gwell cynhyrchiant ar draws economi Cymru. Nid yw'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr i ddweud y gallwch gael arbedion effeithlonrwydd mewn gofal cymdeithasol, ond nid mewn iechyd. Mae cynhyrchiant yn broblem enfawr. Rydym 20 y cant yn llai cynhyrchiol na Ffrainc a'r Almaen. Gallem weithio pedwar diwrnod yr wythnos a gwneud yr un peth ag y maent yn ei wneud yn Ffrainc a'r Almaen. Rhaid bod hynny'n anghywir. Mae gan iechyd gyfle gyda deallusrwydd artiffisial i wella cynhyrchiant a chynhyrchu arbedion effeithlonrwydd sylweddol. Gallwn hefyd gael defnydd gwell a mwy effeithlon o offer, gan gadw theatrau llawdriniaeth dynodedig ar gael ar gyfer llawdriniaethau rheolaidd ond angenrheidiol, fel cataractau a llawdriniaethau orthopedig, i wella cynhyrchiant llawfeddygon a'r canlyniadau i gleifion. Mae arbedion effeithlonrwydd ar gael mewn addysg, gweinyddiaeth ac mewn cydffederasiwn o ysgolion bach yn yr un ardal o dan un pennaeth. Pam na all y ffermwyr ddod yn fwy effeithlon? Pam y mae cig oen Seland Newydd, sydd heb ei sybsideiddio, a chig eidion Awstralia, heb fawr o sybsideiddio, yn rhatach yn siopau Cymru na chig oen a chig eidion Cymreig sy'n cael ei sybsideiddio'n drwm, er ei fod wedi teithio ar draws y byd? Pam y dylai ffermio gael ei esgusodi rhag yr angen i fod yn fwy effeithlon?
Ar y dreth gyngor, mae'r bil treth gyngor band D cyfartalog yng Nghymru £110 yn is eleni nag yn Lloegr, ac mae mwy na 256,000 o aelwydydd incwm isel yng Nghymru yn cael cymorth gyda'u bil drwy gynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor. Hefyd, mewn rhai ardaloedd cyngor, mae'r rhan fwyaf o dalwyr y dreth gyngor ym mandiau A, B ac C. Ar y dreth gyngor, rwy'n dweud eto yr hyn a ddywedais sawl gwaith o'r blaen: mae angen newid. Mae'r lluosydd yn hollol anghywir pan fydd gennych rywun mewn eiddo band A yn talu dwy ran o dair o'r hyn y mae rhywun yn ei dalu mewn eiddo band D, a rhywun mewn eiddo band D yn talu dros hanner yr hyn y mae rhywun yn ei dalu mewn eiddo band H, sy'n werth o leiaf dair gwaith, a phedair gwaith yn ôl pob tebyg, y gwerth. Nid yw bandiau'r dreth gyngor yn gweithio yn fy marn i. Mae'n annheg ac nid yw'n gymesur â gwerth yr eiddo. Mae angen i bob cyngor gael treth gyngor sy'n ganran sefydlog o werth yr eiddo—rwyf wedi dweud hynny'n barhaus. Efallai y bydd ychydig yn anghywir pan fyddwch chi'n cael y gwerthoedd, ond bydd y rhan fwyaf ohonynt fwy neu lai yn gywir.
I Blaid Cymru, nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi torri ei haddewid i beidio â chynyddu trethi i bobl sy'n gweithio. Mae yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn dreth ar gyflogwyr, nid ar weithwyr. Dylai wneud cyflogwyr yn fwy brwd i wella cynhyrchiant ac effeithlonrwydd, sy'n broblem enfawr, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n un peth y mae pawb ohonom wedi cytuno yn ei gylch y prynhawn yma: mae angen inni wella cynhyrchiant ac effeithlonrwydd. Mae Plaid Cymru bob amser yn awyddus i wario mwy o arian, ond nid ei godi. Maent wedi gwrthwynebu'n gryf yr ymgais leiaf i gynyddu'r dreth ar gyfoeth a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU.
A gaf i egluro eto, er bod diffygion yn fformiwla Barnett, ein bod ni yng Nghymru yn cael llawer mwy na'n cyfran o'r boblogaeth a'n cyfran o drethi a gasglwyd? Mae Plaid Cymru yn awgrymu cynyddu ardrethi ar fanwerthwyr mawr a defnyddio'r arian hwnnw ar gyfer manwerthwyr llai. Rydym eisoes wedi colli llawer o fanwerthwyr mawr fel Debenhams. Dylai awydd Plaid Cymru i ddefnyddio'r system ardrethi i gynyddu ardrethi busnes i'r ychydig fanwerthwyr mawr sydd gennym ar ôl, fel Marks a Spencer, fod yn achos pryder i'r rhan fwyaf ohonom. A yw'n dal i fod yn bolisi gan Blaid Cymru i Gymru annibynnol beidio ag ariannu pensiwn y wladwriaeth na chyfran Cymru o'r ddyled genedlaethol?
Fe wyddom fod talwyr ardrethi yn y sector manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden wedi cael mwy na £1 biliwn mewn cymorth ardrethi busnes ychwanegol dros y chwe blynedd diwethaf, ac nid yw bron i hanner yr holl dalwyr ardrethi yn talu unrhyw ardrethi busnes o gwbl. Gwyddom hefyd mai rhent yn hytrach nag ardrethi yw'r hyn sydd ddrutaf i lawer o fanwerthwyr. Rwyf wedi cael profiad personol o fusnes ym maes lletygarwch y mae ei gostau'n cynyddu bob blwyddyn. Roeddent yn talu rhent ac ardrethi busnes cyfunol. Dywedodd y landlord nad oedd y cynnydd yn unrhyw beth i'w wneud â hwy, ond yn deillio o'r ardrethi cynyddol. Pan edrychais i mewn i'r mater, roedd y busnes yn fach ac ar gyfradd sero.
Yn olaf, os ydych chi eisiau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o safon, rhaid i chi dalu amdanynt trwy drethi. Nid yw gofyn am fwy o wariant a llai o dreth yn creu polisi economaidd cydlynol.
'It's the economy, stupid.' A strong economy is important because it underpins nearly every aspect of a healthy, functioning society. From jobs and incomes to funded public services, from opportunities for the next generation to living standards, it all depends on the economy, stupid.
However, Wales stands at a critical economic turning point. The decisions we take now on tax and business policy will determine whether we can grow our economy or continue to fall behind the rest of the United Kingdom. And right now, the warning signs here in Labour-run Wales are plain to see. Wages are the lowest in Great Britain. Unemployment is the highest in the UK. And our business community is being hammered, not by global shocks, but by political choices made in Cardiff Bay.
One of the most damaging has been Labour's decision to cut business rate relief from 75 per cent to just 40 per cent for retail, hospitality and leisure. This wasn't just a policy shift, it was a message that staying afloat in tough times would be met with punishment, not support. Business births are down, closures are up. Thousands of livelihoods hang in the balance, and yet the response from the Welsh Government has been silence.
And Labour's UK leadership is no better. They've increased employer national insurance contributions at the same time as lowering the threshold at which businesses start paying. That's not just a tax, it's a tax on jobs, on growth and on ambition. Today we've seen Burberry announce 1,700 job losses. Just weeks ago Beales, Britain's oldest department store, held a ‘Rachel Reeves closing down sale’, shutting their doors after 200 years of trading. And here in Wales, where employment is already at a 10-year low, the impact will be even worse. Because if you add to this the fact that Wales has the highest business rates in Great Britain, then it's clear: Labour has created a perfect storm of higher costs, lower support and no plan for growth.
The Welsh Conservatives offer a different path. We will restore the 75 per cent business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure, to give these vital sectors the breathing space that they need. We'll abolish business rates for small firms, helping them to invest, expand and hire. And we will cut the basic rate of income tax by 1p.
I make no apologies for being a low-tax Conservative. Because putting more money in the pockets of 1.7 million Welsh people while protecting the funding for health, education and agriculture, because we believe money is better spent by those who earn it than any Government can determine how that tax money is spent—. And because unlike Labour, we don't think every challenge requires a new tax. We believe in backing business, rewarding effort and trusting the people of Wales with their own money. It's time to stop punishing those who create jobs, generate investment and take risks. Let's build a tax system that works with businesses, not against them. That's how we turn the tide. That's how we fix Wales.
'Yr economi, twpsyn.' Mae economi gref yn bwysig oherwydd ei bod yn sail i bron bob agwedd ar gymdeithas iach, weithredol. O swyddi ac incwm i wasanaethau cyhoeddus a ariennir, o gyfleoedd i'r genhedlaeth nesaf i safonau byw, mae'r cyfan yn dibynnu ar yr economi, twpsyn.
Fodd bynnag, mae Cymru ar drobwynt economaidd allweddol. Bydd y penderfyniadau a wnawn nawr ar bolisi treth a busnes yn penderfynu a allwn dyfu ein heconomi neu barhau i syrthio ar ôl gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig. A'r eiliad hon, mae'r rhybuddion yma yng Nghymru dan arweiniad Llafur yn amlwg i'w gweld. Cyflogau Cymru yw'r isaf ym Mhrydain. Ei lefelau diweithdra yw'r rhai uchaf yn y DU. Ac mae ein cymuned fusnes yn cael ei tharo, nid gan siociau byd-eang, ond gan ddewisiadau gwleidyddol a wneir ym Mae Caerdydd.
Un o'r rhai mwyaf niweidiol oedd penderfyniad Llafur i dorri rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 75 y cant i ddim ond 40 y cant ar gyfer manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden. Nid newid polisi yn unig oedd hwn, roedd yn neges y byddai llwyddo i gadw pen uwchben y dŵr mewn amseroedd anodd yn cael ei gosbi, nid ei gefnogi. Mae nifer y busnesau newydd i lawr, mae nifer y busnesau sy'n cau i fyny. Mae bywoliaeth miloedd o bobl yn y fantol, ac ni chafwyd dim byd ond tawelwch gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Ac nid yw arweinyddiaeth Llafur yn y DU yn well. Maent wedi cynyddu cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ar yr un pryd â gostwng y trothwy i fusnesau ddechrau talu. Nid treth yn unig yw hynny, mae'n dreth ar swyddi, ar dwf ac ar uchelgais. Heddiw gwelsom Burberry yn cyhoeddi bod 1,700 o swyddi'n mynd i gael eu colli. Ychydig wythnosau'n ôl yn unig, cynhaliodd Beales, siop adrannol hynaf Prydain, eu 'sêl gau'r siop Rachel Reeves', gan gau eu drysau ar ôl 200 mlynedd o fasnachu. Ac yma yng Nghymru, lle mae cyflogaeth eisoes ar y lefel isaf ers 10 mlynedd, bydd yr effaith hyd yn oed yn waeth. Oherwydd os ychwanegwch at hyn y ffaith bod gan Gymru yr ardrethi busnes uchaf ym Mhrydain, mae'n amlwg: mae Llafur wedi creu storm berffaith o gostau uwch, llai o gymorth a dim cynllun ar gyfer twf.
Mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn cynnig llwybr gwahanol. Byddwn yn adfer y rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 75 y cant ar gyfer manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden, i roi'r gofod anadlu sydd ei angen ar y sectorau hanfodol hyn. Byddwn yn diddymu ardrethi busnes ar gyfer cwmnïau bach, gan eu helpu i fuddsoddi, ehangu a chyflogi. A byddwn yn torri 1g oddi ar gyfradd sylfaenol treth incwm.
Nid wyf yn ymddiheuro am fod yn Geidwadwr sy'n cefnogi trethi isel. Oherwydd mae rhoi mwy o arian ym mhocedi 1.7 miliwn o bobl Cymru gan ddiogelu'r cyllid i iechyd, addysg ac amaethyddiaeth, am ein bod yn credu bod arian yn cael ei wario'n well gan y rhai sy'n ei ennill nag y gall unrhyw Lywodraeth benderfynu sut y caiff yr arian treth hwnnw ei wario—. Ac oherwydd yn wahanol i Lafur, nid ydym yn credu bod pob her yn galw am dreth newydd. Rydym yn credu mewn cefnogi busnesau, gwobrwyo ymdrech ac ymddiried yng ngallu pobl Cymru i reoli eu harian eu hunain. Mae'n bryd rhoi'r gorau i gosbi'r rhai sy'n creu swyddi, yn cynhyrchu buddsoddiad ac yn cymryd risgiau. Gadewch inni adeiladu system dreth sy'n gweithio gyda busnesau, nid yn eu herbyn. Dyna sut y gwnawn ni droi'r llanw. Dyna sut y gwnawn ni drwsio Cymru.
Once again we see Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru choosing to ‘delete all’. You're simply not prepared to listen to another constructive motion from the official opposition party. Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru simply do not want hard-working residents in Wales to have any tax cuts—much-deserved tax cuts. This is despite Welsh pay packets being the lowest in Great Britain, and council tax bills rising in Wales by an average of 7.21 per cent, but in Aberconwy, they've seen nearly 10 per cent council tax rises for the past three years, energy bills rising with the cap increase by 6.4 per cent, and water bills in Wales rising by 27 per cent. The residents of Aberconwy, north Wales, the whole country deserve and need to keep more of their own hard-earned income.
But of course, Plaid Cymru would make the pressure on the public purse even worse if they were in charge. And I have to say, I find it rather disingenuous when Plaid Members speak up here or on social media or in the newspapers condemning Labour when, for each Senedd term, and we're entering our seventh Senedd term, you have backed up some very poor decisions by cosying up to Labour. Then around two years before the election, suddenly you start pointing fingers at decisions you've actually supported. [Interruption.] Yes, go on.
Unwaith eto gwelwn Lafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru yn dewis 'dileu popeth'. Nid ydych chi'n barod i wrando ar gynnig adeiladol arall gan yr wrthblaid swyddogol. Nid yw Llafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru eisiau i drigolion gweithgar yng Nghymru gael unrhyw doriadau treth—toriadau treth y maent yn eu haeddu'n fawr. A hyn er mai pecynnau cyflog Cymru yw'r isaf ym Mhrydain, a bod biliau'r dreth gyngor yn codi 7.21 y cant ar gyfartaledd yng Nghymru, ond yn Aberconwy, maent wedi gweld codiadau o bron i 10 y cant yn y dreth gyngor am y tair blynedd diwethaf, biliau ynni'n codi 6.4 y cant gyda chodi'r cap, a biliau dŵr yng Nghymru yn codi 27 y cant. Mae trigolion Aberconwy, gogledd Cymru, y wlad gyfan yn haeddu ac angen cadw mwy o'u hincwm prin eu hunain.
Ond wrth gwrs, byddai Plaid Cymru yn gwneud y pwysau ar y pwrs cyhoeddus hyd yn oed yn waeth pe baent hwy wrth y llyw. Ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, rwy'n ei ystyried yn anonest braidd pan fydd Aelodau Plaid Cymru yn siarad yma neu ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol neu yn y papurau newydd gan gondemnio Llafur, a bob tymor Senedd, ac rydym ar fynd i mewn i'n seithfed tymor Senedd, rydych chi wedi cefnogi penderfyniadau gwael iawn trwy ochri gyda Llafur. Yna'n sydyn, tua dwy flynedd cyn yr etholiad, rydych chi'n dechrau pwyntio bys at benderfyniadau y gwnaethoch chi eu cefnogi mewn gwirionedd. [Torri ar draws.] Iawn, ewch amdani.
Do you support our calls for the Welsh Government to seek the powers so we can set the rates here in Wales? Because if you have these ideas for taxation, surely we should be able to set them here. You're in favour of greater powers for us to determine here—you're ready to govern, are you?
A ydych chi'n cefnogi ein galwadau ar Lywodraeth Cymru i geisio'r pwerau inni allu gosod yr ardrethi yma yng Nghymru? Oherwydd os oes gennych syniadau ar gyfer trethiant, oni ddylem allu eu gosod yma? Rydych chi o blaid mwy o bwerau i ni benderfynu yma—rydych chi'n barod i lywodraethu, ydych chi?
Frankly, my dear, we're very ready to govern—
I fod yn onest, 'y mach i, rydym yn barod iawn i lywodraethu—
There's no 'my dear' in this Chamber, okay?
Nid oes ''y mach i' yn y Siambr hon, iawn?
Well, frankly, I will tell you—. But, at the end of the day, when you see the powers that have been devolved to Wales, and how you and Welsh Labour have misused those powers, as far as I'm concerned, no, I don't want you to have those powers. I would not trust those powers in the hands of anybody other than the Welsh Conservatives.
Independence. So, all the time—in fact, the last term and the term before—apart from voting through, supporting and working hard to see 36 more Members and fidgeting around with the voting system, you have spent your mind and your time off the ball in terms of making things better for Wales by pursuing your own independence agenda, yet it is not wanted by the people of Wales, but that doesn't stop you.
Wales already has the levers it needs to create a more prosperous and successful nation and I am proud that we, the Welsh Conservatives, have the policies to deliver. With Darren as our Welsh leader, it's exactly what the people of Wales need and deserve. Alongside putting more money into our residents' pockets, we will create more jobs, we will boost economic growth, and we will get rid of the massive waste of several millions of pounds that I have witnessed just in the 14 years that I've been here.
Between 2013 and 2023—10 years—the number of business deaths in Wales increased from 8,245 to 11,300. I'm sorry, but if I was running a country and I was in Government, I would be summoning all my Cabinet Ministers to be wanting to engage with the business sector, not to continue punishing them. During the same period, the number of business births has declined from 11,000 to 10,000. Business deaths now outnumber business births across Wales.
Our motion proposals are what our taxpayers want, and we are listening to them. The same is true in Conwy county, where 350 businesses were created while 360 closed down. Why is this? Entrepreneurs are under siege by the Welsh Labour Government. Genuine holiday let businesses are crippled by your out-of-touch 182-day holiday let rule.
We've been co-operating with the hospitality sector, and I tell anyone watching this if you're in the hospitality business: we would lower that to 105. In 2024, there were 7.61 million overnight trips taken in Wales, with a total of 22 million nights. That's down on 2023, when there were almost 1 million more overnight trips in Wales, with over 2 million more nights spent here. Businesses providing tourist accommodation have fewer customers, yet you are making their business viability even harder.
And the tourism tax—you should be ashamed of yourselves. According to the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales, the Welsh Government's decision to reduce business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from 75 per cent to 40 per cent in April 2024 has placed Welsh businesses at much more of a competitive disadvantage compared to England.
Farmers faced—. Oh, you've let them down as well. They face now having to spend up to £360 million on farm infrastructure, despite the spend resulting in zero business growth for them, with your—I've even forgotten—the NVZs, that's it. Shocking. A potential economic hit of up to £4.5 billion over 30 years because of 20 mph. Shame on you. I could go on, but the pattern is already clear. Welsh Labour have made Wales an anti-visitor, anti-worker, anti-business nation, but the Welsh Conservatives will turn that catastrophe on its head.
Wales should be pro business, and we will scrap business rates to small businesses. We will restore business rate relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector. We'll scrap the tourism tax. We will boost high street footfall by making it easier to convert first and second floors to flats. We will use planning law to attract more entrepreneurs to north-west Wales. We'll make growing food in Wales a national mission—
Wel, i fod yn onest, fe ddywedaf wrthych —. Ond yn y pen draw, pan welwch y pwerau sydd wedi'u datganoli i Gymru, a sut rydych chi a Llafur Cymru wedi camddefnyddio'r pwerau hynny, o'm rhan i, na, nid wyf am i chi gael y pwerau hynny. Ni fyddwn yn ymddiried y pwerau hynny i ddwylo unrhyw un heblaw'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig.
Annibyniaeth. Felly, trwy'r amser—mewn gwirionedd, y tymor diwethaf a'r tymor cynt—ar wahân i bleidleisio dros, cefnogi a gweithio'n galed i weld 36 yn rhagor o Aelodau a chwarae gyda'r system bleidleisio, rydych chi wedi treulio eich amser â'ch llygaid oddi ar y bêl o ran gwneud pethau'n well i Gymru drwy fynd ar drywydd eich agenda annibyniaeth, ond nid yw pobl Cymru mo'i eisiau, er nad yw hynny'n eich atal.
Eisoes, mae gan Gymru'r ysgogiadau sydd eu hangen arni i greu cenedl fwy ffyniannus a llwyddiannus ac rwy'n falch fod gennym ni, y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, y polisïau i'w cyflawni. Gyda Darren fel ein harweinydd yng Nghymru, dyma'n union beth y mae pobl Cymru ei angen ac yn ei haeddu. Yn ogystal â rhoi mwy o arian ym mhocedi ein trigolion, byddwn yn creu mwy o swyddi, byddwn yn hybu twf economaidd, a byddwn yn cael gwared ar sawl miliwn o bunnoedd o wastraff enfawr a welais yn y 14 mlynedd y bûm yma.
Rhwng 2013 a 2023—10 mlynedd—cynyddodd nifer y busnesau a ddaeth i ben yng Nghymru o 8,245 i 11,300. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, ond pe bawn i'n rhedeg gwlad ac yn y Llywodraeth, byddwn yn galw fy holl Weinidogion Cabinet i fod eisiau ymgysylltu â'r sector busnes, nid parhau i'w cosbi. Yn ystod yr un cyfnod, mae nifer y busnesau newydd wedi gostwng o 11,000 i 10,000. Mae mwy o fusnesau'n dod i ben erbyn hyn nag o fusnesau newydd ledled Cymru.
Argymhellion ein cynnig ni yw'r hyn y mae ein trethdalwyr ei eisiau, ac rydym yn gwrando arnynt. Mae'r un peth yn wir yn sir Conwy, lle crëwyd 350 o fusnesau tra bod 360 wedi cau. Pam felly? Mae entrepreneuriaid dan warchae gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru. Mae busnesau llety gwyliau dilys wedi eu llyffetheirio gan eich rheol llety gwyliau 182 diwrnod sydd gymaint allan ohoni.
Rydym wedi bod yn cydweithredu â'r sector lletygarwch, ac rwy'n dweud wrth unrhyw un sy'n gwylio hyn os ydych chi yn y busnes lletygarwch: byddem yn gostwng hynny i 105 diwrnod. Yn 2024, gwnaed 7.61 miliwn o deithiau dros nos i Gymru, cyfanswm o 22 miliwn noson. Mae hynny'n is na 2023, pan wnaed bron i 1 filiwn yn fwy o deithiau dros nos i Gymru, a threuliwyd dros 2 filiwn yn fwy o nosweithiau yma. Mae busnesau sy'n darparu llety i dwristiaid yn cael llai o gwsmeriaid, ond rydych chi'n gwneud eu hyfywedd busnes hyd yn oed yn anos.
A'r dreth dwristiaeth—dylech fod â chywilydd ohonoch chi'ch hunain. Yn ôl Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru, mae penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i leihau rhyddhad ardrethi busnes ar gyfer busnesau manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden o 75 y cant i 40 y cant ym mis Ebrill 2024 wedi rhoi busnesau Cymru dan lawer mwy o anfantais gystadleuol o'i gymharu â Lloegr.
Roedd ffermwyr yn wynebu—. O, rydych chi wedi gwneud cam â hwythau hefyd. Maent yn wynebu gorfod gwario hyd at £360 miliwn ar seilwaith fferm, er nad yw'r gwariant yn arwain at unrhyw dwf busnes iddynt, gyda'ch parthau perygl nitradau. Syfrdanol. Ergyd economaidd bosibl o hyd at £4.5 biliwn dros 30 mlynedd oherwydd 20 mya. Cywilydd arnoch. Gallwn barhau, ond mae'r patrwm eisoes yn glir. Mae Llafur Cymru wedi gwneud Cymru'n genedl wrth-ymwelwyr, gwrth-weithwyr, gwrth-fusnes, ond bydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn troi'r trychineb hwnnw ar ei ben.
Dylai Cymru fod o blaid busnes, a byddwn yn cael gwared ar ardrethi busnes i fusnesau bach. Byddwn yn adfer rhyddhad ardrethi busnes i 75 y cant ar gyfer y sector manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden. Byddwn yn dileu'r dreth dwristiaeth. Byddwn yn hybu nifer yr ymwelwyr â'r stryd fawr trwy ei gwneud hi'n haws trosi lloriau cyntaf ac ail loriau'n fflatiau. Byddwn yn defnyddio'r gyfraith gynllunio i ddenu mwy o entrepreneuriaid i ogledd-orllewin Cymru. Byddwn yn gwneud tyfu bwyd yng Nghymru yn genhadaeth genedlaethol—
I've been extremely generous. If you can draw your comments to a close.
Rwyf wedi bod yn hynod o hael. Os gallwch ddod â'ch sylwadau i ben.
And stopping the disgraceful offshoring of Welsh jobs. Next May, the people of Wales have a say and they have a vote, and I genuinely believe if they vote Welsh Conservatives, that's when we'll have real change here in Wales.
Ac atal y modd cywilyddus y caiff swyddi Cymreig eu tramori. Fis Mai nesaf, fe gaiff pobl Cymru lais ac fe gânt bleidlais, ac rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol os pleidleisiant dros y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, dyna pryd y cawn newid gwirioneddol yma yng Nghymru.
Yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros gyllid nawr i gyfrannu i'r ddadl. Mark Drakeford.
The Cabinet Secretary for finance to contribute to the debate. Mark Drakeford.
Diolch yn fawr. I think Sir Winston Churchill, when he was defeated in the general election of 1945, was asked by a journalist what message he thought the electorate had given the Conservative Party, and he replied by saying he thought that the electorate had said to the Conservative Party that it needed to be a very long time before they heard from them again. That was good advice in 1945, and it's very good advice 80 years later. If there's any topic on which the Welsh public was entitled to a period of silence from the Conservative Party, then surely it was the economy. Because here is a party that gave the people of Wales austerity, was the party of Brexit, the party that raised taxes to a 70-year high. I listen always to Sam Kurtz telling me that he's a low-tax Conservative. Where was he in all those years where his party was raising taxes year after year?
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n credu bod newyddiadurwr wedi gofyn i Syr Winston Churchill, pan gafodd ei drechu yn etholiad cyffredinol 1945, pa neges y credai fod yr etholwyr wedi'i rhoi i'r Blaid Geidwadol, ac atebodd trwy ddweud ei fod yn credu bod yr etholwyr wedi dweud wrth y Blaid Geidwadol fod angen i amser hir iawn fynd heibio cyn iddynt glywed ganddynt eto. Roedd hwnnw'n gyngor da ym 1945, ac mae'n gyngor da iawn 80 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach. Os oes unrhyw bwnc lle'r oedd gan y cyhoedd yng Nghymru hawl i gyfnod o dawelwch gan y Blaid Geidwadol, ar yr economi oedd hynny. Oherwydd dyma'r blaid a roddodd gyni i bobl Cymru, dyma blaid Brexit, y blaid a gododd drethi i'w lefel uchaf ers 70 mlynedd. Rwy'n gwrando bob amser ar Sam Kurtz yn dweud wrthyf ei fod yn Geidwadwr treth isel. Ble roedd e yr holl flynyddoedd pan oedd ei blaid yn codi trethi flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn?
One of the reasons that those taxes had to be raised, Cabinet Secretary, is because this Government, under your watch, wanted more money during the COVID pandemic, closed schools for longer, closed businesses for longer, and it was only right that those who benefited from financial packages during the COVID pandemic paid that money back through taxation.
Un o'r rhesymau pam y bu'n rhaid codi'r trethi hynny, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yw oherwydd bod y Llywodraeth hon, o dan eich arweinyddiaeth chi, eisiau mwy o arian yn ystod y pandemig COVID, wrth i chi gau ysgolion am amser hirach, cau busnesau am amser hirach, ac roedd hi ond yn iawn fod y rhai a elwodd o becynnau ariannol yn ystod y pandemig COVID yn talu'r arian hwnnw'n ôl trwy drethiant.
You have to be very ingenious indeed to suggest that the reason why, at a UK level, taxes were at a 70-year high was because of COVID expenditure in Wales. I look forward to the textbook that analyses that assertion.
Despite the fact that they crashed the economy, here they come with their tired old rejected ideas again. Because let's be clear about what this motion actually says: it says that the Welsh Conservatives will cut income tax. They can't do it this year, of course, because they missed the boat on that, as Mike Hedges said. They could've proposed that and voted for it during the budget making. That means that the earliest that this could happen would be in the next financial year, and the OBR says that a 1p cut in income tax in Wales would cost £299 million.
Heledd Fychan said that, but, of course, it's worse than that, Llywydd, because the Conservatives are going to restore 75 per cent business rate relief. That will cost £52 million, and there's no Barnett cover for that at all, remember. There's no money coming from Westminster to cover that, so that's another £52 million you've got to take out of the Welsh budget. And they're going to abolish business rates for all small and medium-sized businesses. That's a cost of £309 million. So, the amount of money that this motion spends is £660 million. Then, of course, it goes on to tell us how to fund all of that. We mustn't touch the health budget, we mustn't touch the schools budget, we mustn't touch the farmers. So, that means the money will have to be cut, because that's what these savings mean, from what is left.
We heard the pretence that all that money—£660 million—can be found from waste. The last refuge of any economic scoundrel, it seems to me, that idea. And I listened very carefully, Llywydd, to try and find out where all this waste was to come from. Well, it's to come from closing our overseas offices. Believe me, if you are looking for economic growth, then you require investment in the economy, and that's what our overseas offices are for. They're there to make sure that economic opportunities that are here in Wales are well known in other parts of the world and attract the investment we need.
The other idea I heard was that it was to come from the Heads of the Valleys road. Well, the Heads of the Valleys road is spent. There is no saving at all to be made from that bright idea. Instead, the money will have to come from social services for older people, services for children in care, support for bus services, cuts to childcare and to colleges, cuts to support for businesses, cuts to housing support and homelessness services. Llywydd, there is no way at all, in the real world of Government, that the budget consequences of this motion could be accommodated without harm.
Rhaid i chi fod yn ddyfeisgar iawn i awgrymu mai'r rheswm pam, ar lefel y DU, fod trethi ar eu huchaf ers 70 mlynedd oedd oherwydd gwariant COVID yng Nghymru. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at y gwerslyfr sy'n dadansoddi'r honiad hwnnw.
Er eu bod wedi chwalu'r economi, dyma nhw'n dod gyda'u hen syniadau treuliedig a gwrthodedig unwaith eto. Oherwydd gadewch inni fod yn glir ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae'r cynnig hwn yn ei ddweud mewn gwirionedd: mae'n dweud y bydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn torri treth incwm. Ni allant wneud hynny eleni wrth gwrs, gan eu bod wedi colli'r cyfle i wneud hynny, fel y dywedodd Mike Hedges. Gallent fod wedi cynnig hynny a phleidleisio drosto yn ystod y broses o lunio'r gyllideb. Mae hynny'n golygu mai'r cynharaf y gallai hyn ddigwydd fyddai yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, ac mae'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn dweud y byddai toriad o 1g yn y dreth incwm yng Nghymru yn costio £299 miliwn.
Dywedodd Heledd Fychan hynny, ond wrth gwrs, mae'n waeth na hynny, Lywydd, oherwydd mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn mynd i adfer rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 75 y cant. Bydd hynny'n costio £52 miliwn, ac nid oes unrhyw swm canlyniadol Barnett ar gyfer hynny, cofiwch. Nid oes unrhyw arian yn dod o San Steffan i dalu am hynny, felly dyna £52 miliwn arall y mae'n rhaid i chi ei dynnu allan o gyllideb Cymru. Ac maent yn mynd i ddiddymu ardrethi busnes ar gyfer pob busnes bach a chanolig. Dyna gost o £309 miliwn. Felly, y swm o arian y mae'r cynnig hwn yn ei wario yw £660 miliwn. Wedyn, wrth gwrs, mae'n mynd rhagddo i ddweud wrthym sut i ariannu hynny i gyd. Rhaid inni beidio â chyffwrdd â'r gyllideb iechyd, rhaid inni beidio â chyffwrdd â'r gyllideb ysgolion, rhaid inni beidio â chyffwrdd â'r ffermwyr. Felly, mae hynny'n golygu y bydd yn rhaid torri'r arian, oherwydd dyna beth y mae'r cynilion hyn yn ei olygu, o'r hyn sydd ar ôl.
Fe glywsom yr esgus y gellir dod o hyd i'r holl arian hwnnw—£660 miliwn—o wastraff. Mae'n ymddangos i mi mai'r syniad hwnnw yw encilfa olaf unrhyw gnaf economaidd. A gwrandawais yn ofalus iawn, Lywydd, i geisio darganfod o ble y doi'r holl wastraff hwn. Wel, mae'n dod o gau ein swyddfeydd tramor. Credwch fi, os ydych chi'n chwilio am dwf economaidd, mae angen buddsoddiad yn yr economi, a dyna beth yw pwrpas ein swyddfeydd tramor. Maent yno i wneud yn siŵr fod rhannau eraill o'r byd yn gwybod am gyfleoedd economaidd yma yng Nghymru, a denu'r buddsoddiad sydd ei angen arnom.
Y syniad arall a glywais oedd ei fod i ddod o ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd. Wel, mae arian ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd wedi'i wario. Nid oes unrhyw arbediad o gwbl i'w wneud o'r syniad disglair hwnnw. Yn hytrach, bydd yn rhaid i'r arian ddod o wasanaethau cymdeithasol i bobl hŷn, gwasanaethau i blant mewn gofal, cymorth i wasanaethau bysiau, toriadau i ofal plant ac i golegau, toriadau i gymorth i fusnesau, toriadau i gymorth tai a gwasanaethau digartrefedd. Lywydd, nid oes unrhyw ffordd o gwbl, ym myd go iawn y Llywodraeth, y gellid darparu ar gyfer canlyniadau cyllidebol y cynnig hwn heb achosi niwed.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, of course.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
There is a particular irony, is there not, Cabinet Secretary, that you're stood today in an alternative Chamber because the other one has been closed down thanks to your and Plaid Cymru's plans to add more politicians to the Senedd here in Cardiff Bay. Will you recognise that it is the Welsh Conservatives that are the only party pledging to scrap those plans and to save the taxpayer after the next election?
Mae'n eironig, onid yw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, eich bod yn sefyll heddiw mewn Siambr wahanol am fod y llall wedi cau diolch i'ch cynlluniau chi a Phlaid Cymru i ychwanegu mwy o wleidyddion at y Senedd yma ym Mae Caerdydd. A wnewch chi gydnabod mai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yw'r unig blaid sy'n addo dileu'r cynlluniau hynny ac achub y trethdalwr ar ôl yr etholiad nesaf?
I'm perfectly happy to acknowledge that the Welsh Conservatives are determined to stand in the way of making this Senedd the institution it needs to be, and if the tiniest fraction of additional scrutiny results in better spending of Welsh money, then that new Senedd will have paid for itself many, many times over.
Luckily, Llywydd, alternative and better policy choices exist to balance the needs to raise revenue on the one hand and to invest in our public services on the other. The hinge on which this turns is that of growth, in which a growing economy leads to growing tax revenues, which, in turn, leads to growing investment in those services.
The good news, Llywydd, is that far from the doom-mongers of the official opposition, the record of fiscal devolution in Wales is highly successful. Of course, fiscal devolution was the work of a Conservative Government: a set of responsibilities we have today for raising nearly £4 billion in income tax, landfill disposals tax and land transaction tax were those that emerged from the work of the Silk commission. I well remember the lectures that came our way at the time—how Wales would now have to look out because if our economy didn't keep up with the rest, then we would have to bear the responsibilities of reducing budgets, but the reality has been very different indeed. In fact, what we have in Wales is the OBR forecasting that for the rest of this decade, Wales will have an extra £634 million to invest in our services because of the way in which our income tax performance outstrips the rest of the United Kingdom. And in this financial year alone, land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax will add £343 million and £33 million respectively to our budget here in the Senedd, well in excess of any block grant adjustment.
The management of those responsibilities in this Senedd has been a significant success story, adding many millions of pounds to meet the needs of Welsh citizens. That's the real story of the last eight years, not the dismal rehearsal of the tired old clichés of this motion. It's why we remain able, amongst other important things, to invest £244 million every year to help low-income households with council tax, to provide £250 million every year through our permanent business rate relief scheme, in addition to the £1 billion provided over the last six years to support businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector, and all of that on top of the £500 million it has taken to hold down the multiplier in recent years.
But, Llywydd, this is the red Welsh way: progressive and effective in our taxation; investment where the need is greatest; democratic responsibilities exercised as close as possible to people; and a commitment to grow the economy for all. All of that is captured in the Government amendment today. Vote to put the original motion out of its misery, and support a different and better future for Wales.
Rwy'n fwy na pharod i gydnabod bod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn benderfynol o rwystro'r Senedd hon rhag bod y sefydliad y mae angen iddo fod, ac os bydd y mymryn lleiaf o graffu ychwanegol yn arwain at wario arian Cymru yn well, yna bydd y Senedd newydd honno wedi talu amdani ei hun sawl gwaith drosodd.
Yn ffodus, Lywydd, mae dewisiadau polisi amgen a gwell yn bodoli i gydbwyso'r anghenion i godi refeniw ar y naill law ac i fuddsoddi yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ar y llaw arall. Mae hyn oll yn dibynnu ar dwf, lle mae economi sy'n tyfu yn arwain at refeniw treth cynyddol, sydd yn ei dro yn arwain at fuddsoddiad cynyddol yn y gwasanaethau hynny.
Y newyddion da, Lywydd, yn wahanol i godi bwganod y gwrthbleidiau swyddogol, mae hanes datganoli cyllidol yng Nghymru yn hynod lwyddiannus. Wrth gwrs, Llywodraeth Geidwadol a gyflwynodd ddatganoli cyllidol: daeth y set o gyfrifoldebau sydd gennym heddiw sy'n codi bron i £4 biliwn mewn treth incwm, treth gwarediadau tirlenwi a threth trafodiadau tir o ganlyniad i waith comisiwn Silk. Rwy'n cofio'r pregethau a glywsom ar y pryd—sut y byddai'n rhaid i Gymru fod yn ofalus nawr, oherwydd pe na bai ein heconomi yn cadw i fyny â'r gweddill, byddai'n rhaid inni ysgwyddo cyfrifoldebau cyllidebau llai, ond mae'r realiti wedi bod yn wahanol iawn. Mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn sydd gennym yng Nghymru yw'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn rhagweld, am weddill y degawd hwn, y bydd gan Gymru £634 miliwn yn ychwanegol i'w fuddsoddi yn ein gwasanaethau oherwydd y ffordd y mae ein perfformiad treth incwm yn well na gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig. Ac yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon yn unig, bydd treth trafodiadau tir a threth gwarediadau tirlenwi yn ychwanegu £343 miliwn a £33 miliwn, yn y drefn honno, at ein cyllideb yma yn y Senedd, sy'n llawer mwy nag unrhyw addasiad i'r grant bloc.
Mae'r gwaith o reoli'r cyfrifoldebau hynny yn y Senedd hon wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol, gan ychwanegu miliynau lawer o bunnoedd i ddiwallu anghenion dinasyddion Cymru. Dyna stori go iawn yr wyth mlynedd diwethaf, nid yr hen ystrydebau gwan sy'n cael eu hailadrodd yn y cynnig hwn. Dyna pam ein bod yn parhau, ymhlith pethau pwysig eraill, i allu buddsoddi £244 miliwn y flwyddyn i helpu aelwydydd incwm isel gyda'r dreth gyngor, i ddarparu £250 miliwn y flwyddyn drwy ein cynllun rhyddhad ardrethi busnes parhaol, yn ogystal â'r £1 biliwn a ddarparwyd dros y chwe blynedd diwethaf i gefnogi busnesau yn y sector manwerthu, hamdden a lletygarwch, a hyn oll ar ben y £500 miliwn y mae wedi'i gymryd i gadw'r lluosydd i lawr dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
Ond Lywydd, dyma ffordd goch Cymru: blaengar ac effeithiol yn ein trethiant; buddsoddi lle mae'r angen mwyaf; cyfrifoldebau democrataidd yn cael eu harfer mor agos â phosibl at bobl; ac ymrwymiad i dyfu'r economi i bawb. Mae hyn oll wedi'i gynnwys yng ngwelliant y Llywodraeth heddiw. Pleidleisiwch i roi'r cynnig gwreiddiol allan o'i boen, a chefnogwch ddyfodol gwahanol a gwell i Gymru.
Darren Millar nawr i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Darren Millar to reply to the debate.
Well, as entertaining as they are, I will take no lectures from Professor Drakeford on the economy. The damage that the Welsh Labour Government, along with their colleagues in the UK Labour Government, are doing to our nation in Wales and across the whole of the United Kingdom is appalling. They are trashing our economy, we've got taxes going up, unemployment going up, growth going down, new jobs tax, new inheritance taxes for people to pay, new tourism taxes on the way, and massive hikes in council tax that people are having to foot the bill for. Yet, they are getting less in return for those taxes: fewer bin collections, fewer libraries, fewer public toilets, yet more pot-holes, more litter on our streets. It is totally unacceptable, and that's why we need to see a change.
And I am proud to say that I'm a Conservative, because I believe in low taxation, unlike the parties on the left whose instinct is to tax anything that moves or anything that thrives and to choke the life out of it. I want to see a country that thrives, where businesses are being established, where we reward people for taking the risk of investing, to create the jobs that we can then tax in a fair way in order to get the results and investment that we can put into our public services.
They don't believe in low taxes, they believe in high taxes. Both Labour, I'm afraid to say, and Plaid Cymru are in the same boat on these things. And yes, absolutely, we believe we can save money. We see examples of waste day in, day out in our public services, including in the Welsh Government, and indeed in our local authorities. And the reality is that people are rejecting those high taxes, they're concerned about those high taxes, and they want a situation where their taxes go down. That's why we've committed to putting £450 into the pockets of the average hard-working family in Wales. That's why we've committed to a council tax policy, where, had it been accepted by the Labour Government when we initially proposed it 10 years ago, council taxes in Wales would be an average of £350 per year, per household lower in a band D than they currently are today.
Wel, er mor ddifyr ydynt, nid wyf am wrando ar unrhyw bregethau gan yr Athro Drakeford ar yr economi. Mae'r difrod y mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru, ynghyd â'u cyd-bleidwyr yn Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, yn ei wneud i'n cenedl yng Nghymru a ledled y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan yn erchyll. Maent yn difetha ein heconomi, mae gennym drethi'n codi, lefelau diweithdra'n codi, twf yn gostwng, treth newydd ar swyddi, trethi etifeddiant newydd i bobl eu talu, trethi twristiaeth newydd ar y gorwel, a chodiadau enfawr yn y dreth gyngor y mae'n rhaid i'r bobl ei thalu. Ac eto, maent yn cael llai yn gyfnewid am y trethi hynny: llai o gasgliadau biniau, llai o lyfrgelloedd, llai o doiledau cyhoeddus, ond mwy o dyllau yn y ffordd, mwy o sbwriel ar ein strydoedd. Mae'n gwbl annerbyniol, a dyna pam fod angen inni weld newid.
Ac rwy'n falch o ddweud fy mod yn Geidwadwr, gan fy mod yn credu mewn trethiant isel, yn wahanol i'r pleidiau ar y chwith sy'n reddfol eisiau trethu unrhyw beth sy'n symud neu unrhyw beth sy'n ffynnu a thagu'r bywyd ohono. Hoffwn weld gwlad sy'n ffynnu, lle mae busnesau'n cael eu sefydlu, lle rydym yn gwobrwyo pobl am fentro buddsoddi, i greu'r swyddi y gallwn wedyn eu trethu mewn ffordd deg er mwyn cael y canlyniadau a'r buddsoddiad y gallwn ei wneud yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.
Nid ydynt yn credu mewn trethi isel, maent yn credu mewn trethi uchel. Mae Llafur, mae arnaf ofn, a Phlaid Cymru yn yr un cwch gyda'r pethau hyn. Ac ydym, yn sicr, rydym yn credu y gallwn arbed arian. Rydym yn gweld enghreifftiau o wastraff ddydd ar ôl dydd yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac yn wir, yn ein hawdurdodau lleol. A'r gwir amdani yw bod pobl yn gwrthod y trethi uchel hynny, maent yn poeni am y trethi uchel hynny, ac maent eisiau sefyllfa lle mae eu trethi'n mynd i lawr. Dyna pam ein bod wedi ymrwymo i roi £450 ym mhocedi teuluoedd cyffredin gweithgar yng Nghymru. Dyna pam ein bod wedi ymrwymo i bolisi treth gyngor a fyddai wedi golygu, pe bai wedi'i dderbyn gan y Llywodraeth Lafur pan wnaethom ei gynnig gyntaf 10 mlynedd yn ôl, fod trethi cyngor yng Nghymru £350 y flwyddyn yn is ar gyfartaledd fesul aelwyd mewn eiddo band D nag ydynt ar hyn o bryd.
Would you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
And that is why we are saying we will back business—[Interruption.] We are the party of business. We will support businesses by getting their business rates down and having some fairness in our economy. I'll happily take the intervention.
A dyna pam ein bod yn dweud y byddwn yn cefnogi busnesau—[Torri ar draws.] Ni yw plaid busnes. Byddwn yn cefnogi busnesau drwy ostwng eu hardrethi busnes a sicrhau rhywfaint o degwch yn ein heconomi. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i dderbyn yr ymyriad.
Thank you. Before the UK Labour Government came into power, less than a year ago, half of the councils in England were facing bankruptcy. Luckily in Wales they had been protected more. If you continue down this same level of austerity, return to that, we will be seeing more disruption with our councils who, thanks the UK Labour Government, have enough funding now to be able to continue to deliver our front-line services. Do you not agree that it's really important to make sure our public services are properly funded?
Diolch. Cyn i Lywodraeth Lafur y DU ddod i rym, lai na blwyddyn yn ôl, roedd hanner y cynghorau yn Lloegr yn wynebu methdaliad. Yn ffodus, roeddent wedi cael eu diogelu'n well yng Nghymru. Os byddwch yn parhau â'r un lefel o gyni, ac yn dychwelyd at hynny, byddwn yn gweld mwy o darfu ar ein cynghorau sydd, diolch i Lywodraeth Lafur y DU, â digon o gyllid nawr i allu parhau i ddarparu ein gwasanaethau rheng flaen. Onid ydych yn cytuno ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig sicrhau bod ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu hariannu'n iawn?
I think it's a disgrace that people in Wales pay more, as a proportion of their lower incomes than elsewhere in the United Kingdom, on council tax than over the border in England. That is unacceptable, it's unfair, and it is a disgrace that people are paying more yet getting less in return for those taxes. And, of course, we heard from Heledd Fychan, the Plaid Cymru spokesperson, fantasy economics, because this is a political party whose aim is independence from the rest of the United Kingdom. An independent Wales would not be able to afford the current level of investment in public services in Wales without massively hiking taxes or massively cutting public services. That is the reality. You have no solution—[Interruption.]—you have no solution. I didn't agree with a lot of what Mike Hedges said, but he was absolutely right when he said that you wouldn't be able to fund pensions for people in Wales, or any other public service properly, because of the fantasy economics of independence, which wouldn't work. That's why we are proud to be a unionist party that believes in the United Kingdom and the strength that it brings. And let's face it, we would have been in a pickle if we were not part of the United Kingdom during that COVID pandemic, when we had all of the resources we needed—the fire-power that Mark Drakeford used to talk about and others used to talk about—simply because we were part of a strong United Kingdom.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn warthus fod pobl yng Nghymru yn talu mwy, fel cyfran o'u hincwm sy'n is nag mewn mannau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ar y dreth gyngor na dros y ffin yn Lloegr. Mae hynny'n annerbyniol, mae'n annheg, ac mae'n warthus fod pobl yn talu mwy ond yn cael llai yn gyfnewid am y trethi hynny. Ac wrth gwrs, clywsom economeg ffantasïol gan Heledd Fychan, llefarydd Plaid Cymru, gan mai dyma blaid wleidyddol sydd ag annibyniaeth oddi ar weddill y Deyrnas Unedig yn nod. Ni fyddai Cymru annibynnol yn gallu fforddio'r lefel bresennol o fuddsoddiad mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru heb godi trethi'n aruthrol neu dorri gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn aruthrol. Dyna'r realiti. Nid oes gennych ateb—[Torri ar draws.]—nid oes gennych ateb. Nid oeddwn yn cytuno â llawer o'r hyn a ddywedodd Mike Hedges, ond roedd yn llygad ei le pan ddywedodd na fyddech yn gallu ariannu pensiynau i bobl yng Nghymru, nac unrhyw wasanaeth cyhoeddus arall yn iawn, oherwydd economeg ffantasïol annibyniaeth, na fyddai'n gweithio. Dyna pam ein bod yn falch o fod yn blaid unoliaethol sy'n credu yn y Deyrnas Unedig a'r cryfder y mae'n ei sicrhau. A gadewch inni fod yn onest, byddem wedi bod mewn trafferthion mawr pe na baem yn rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig yn ystod y pandemig COVID, pan gawsom yr holl adnoddau roedd eu hangen arnom—y grym yr arferai Mark Drakeford sôn amdano ac yr arferai eraill sôn amdano—yn syml am ein bod yn rhan o Deyrnas Unedig gref.
Can you actually point to where I mentioned independence at all? My whole speech was in terms of showing the pitfalls in your argument, that you're not serious about governing. When I asked the question to Janet Finch-Saunders, in terms of our amendment, calling for the powers to be determined here in terms of income tax bands and so on—. Do you support those calls? Are you serious about governing? Because those are the kinds of calls that would make a difference to the people of Wales.
A allwch chi nodi ble y soniais am annibyniaeth o gwbl? Roedd fy araith gyfan yn sôn am y tyllau yn eich dadl, ac nad ydych chi o ddifrif ynglŷn â llywodraethu. Pan ofynnais y cwestiwn i Janet Finch-Saunders, ynglŷn â'n gwelliant, yn galw am i'r pwerau i osod bandiau treth incwm ac yn y blaen ddod yma—. A ydych chi'n cefnogi'r galwadau hynny? A ydych chi o ddifrif ynglŷn â llywodraethu? Oherwydd dyna'r mathau o alwadau a fyddai'n gwneud gwahaniaeth i bobl Cymru.
I know you don't like to talk about independence, especially when we're approaching election periods, because it spooks the public. It's not what the public want you to talk about, right. I understand that. I know that's why you get yourselves in a pickle around election times and you start panicking, 'Oh, we daren't talk about independence—the big elephant in the room.' I get that. I understand that. But we all know what that would mean for public finances in Wales. It would be an absolute utter disaster. Mike Hedges says we get Scandinavian-quality public services. Well, I was in Swansea recently; it looked as bad as other parts of Wales in terms of the quality of the public services—the pot-holes on the streets, unfortunately—and Swansea is a fantastic city. I want people there, as should be the case across the whole of Wales, to be able to be proud of the public services they receive, but I'm afraid, unfortunately, they aren't.
And we have a situation now where the finance Minister has actually initiated a review, of course, of the arrangements for income tax, because he wants to put them up. And we heard it from Plaid as well. They want to put taxes up. [Interruption.] You want taxes up. [Interruption.] You do—you want taxes up. You want council taxes to go up for lots of people in Wales as well. But this is not Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right. We want to see taxes down, efficient public services. We want to deal with the waste in our public services. We want to make sure—. We want to make sure that the bureaucracy budget, which has increased by £114 million over the past two years in the Welsh Government's own budget, goes down. We want to make sure that the money that's being poured into the drain at Cardiff Airport every single year—. Another £20 million a year that is going to be poured into that airport, an albatross around the taxpayers' neck—. We want to make sure, absolutely, that those international offices are closed. We've got a UK Government responsible for international affairs, not a Welsh Government.
We also, of course, are wasting money in Wales. The Welsh Government is wasting money, with the support of Plaid Cymru, on trying to explore the delivery of justice devolution and more constitutional reform, against the wishes of the Welsh public, and also against the wishes of the Welsh public, you want to spend tens of millions of pounds on more politicians, when we all know that the public do not want more politicians. They want more doctors, dentists, nurses and teachers. That's what they want. So, if there's money to invest in those things, there's money to invest in other things too. And what really irritates people as well—. What really irritates people is the money that this Government funnels into their friends in the unions—that money that comes back at election time to fund Labour Party campaigns. It is an absolute disgrace. And that is what happens. That is what happens. [Interruption.] I know you don't like it. I'm happy to take an intervention, if you want to give an intervention. Would you like an intervention, Cabinet Secretary? I'm quite happy to take one.
Gwn nad ydych yn hoff o siarad am annibyniaeth, yn enwedig pan ydym yn agosáu at gyfnodau etholiad, am ei fod yn dychryn y cyhoedd. Nid dyna y mae'r cyhoedd am ichi siarad amdano, iawn. Rwy'n deall hynny. Gwn mai dyna pam eich bod yn mynd i ffwdan o gwmpas cyfnodau etholiad ac yn dechrau cynhyrfu, 'O, ni allwn feiddio sôn am annibyniaeth—yr eliffant mawr yn yr ystafell.' Rwy'n deall hynny. Ond mae pob un ohonom yn gwybod beth fyddai hynny'n ei olygu i gyllid cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Byddai'n drychineb llwyr. Dywed Mike Hedges ein bod yn cael gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o safon Sgandinafaidd. Wel, roeddwn yn Abertawe yn ddiweddar; roedd yn edrych cyn waethed â rhannau eraill o Gymru o ran ansawdd y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus—y tyllau yn y ffyrdd, yn anffodus—ac mae Abertawe yn ddinas wych. Rwyf am i bobl yno, a ledled Cymru gyfan, allu bod yn falch o'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a gânt, ond mae arnaf ofn nad ydynt yn eu cael yn anffodus.
Ac mae gennym sefyllfa nawr lle mae'r Gweinidog cyllid wedi rhoi adolygiad ar y gweill o'r trefniadau ar gyfer treth incwm, am ei fod yn dymuno ei chodi. A chlywsom hynny gan Blaid Cymru hefyd. Maent eisiau codi trethi. [Torri ar draws.] Rydych chi eisiau codi trethi. [Torri ar draws.] Ydych—rydych chi eisiau codi trethi. Rydych chi eisiau i'r dreth gyngor godi i lawer o bobl yng Nghymru hefyd. Ond nid Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right yw hyn. Rydym eisiau gweld trethi'n gostwng, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus effeithlon. Rydym eisiau ymdrin â'r gwastraff yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rydym eisiau sicrhau—. Rydym eisiau sicrhau bod y gyllideb fiwrocratiaeth, sydd wedi cynyddu £114 miliwn dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun, yn gostwng. Rydym eisiau sicrhau bod yr arian sy'n cael ei dywallt i lawr y draen ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd bob blwyddyn—. £20 miliwn arall y flwyddyn sy'n mynd i gael ei bwmpio i mewn i'r maes awyr hwnnw, maen melin am wddf y trethdalwyr—. Rydym yn bendant eisiau sicrhau bod y swyddfeydd rhyngwladol hynny'n cau. Mae gennym Lywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am faterion rhyngwladol, nid Llywodraeth Cymru.
Rydym yn gwastraffu arian yng Nghymru hefyd wrth gwrs. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwastraffu arian, gyda chefnogaeth Plaid Cymru, ar geisio archwilio datganoli cyfiawnder a mwy o ddiwygio cyfansoddiadol, yn erbyn dymuniadau'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru, a hefyd yn erbyn dymuniadau'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru, rydych chi eisiau gwario degau o filiynau o bunnoedd ar fwy o wleidyddion, pan fo pob un ohonom yn gwybod nad yw'r cyhoedd eisiau mwy o wleidyddion. Maent eisiau mwy o feddygon, deintyddion, nyrsys ac athrawon. Dyna maent ei eisiau. Felly, os oes arian i'w fuddsoddi yn y pethau hynny, mae arian i'w fuddsoddi mewn pethau eraill hefyd. A'r hyn sy'n cythruddo pobl hefyd—. Yr hyn sy'n cythruddo pobl yw'r arian y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei sianelu i'w ffrindiau yn yr undebau—yr arian sy'n dod yn ôl ar adeg etholiad i ariannu ymgyrchoedd y Blaid Lafur. Mae'n gwbl warthus. A dyna sy'n digwydd. Dyna sy'n digwydd. [Torri ar draws.] Gwn nad ydych chi'n hoffi clywed hynny. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i dderbyn ymyriad, os ydych chi eisiau gwneud ymyriad. A hoffech chi wneud ymyriad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet? Rwy'n fwy na pharod i dderbyn un.
I'd just like your view on COVID corruption and those members of the Conservative Party who now can't even reside in the United Kingdom because of fear that the police will be breathing down their necks. What would you say to me about that?
Hoffwn glywed eich barn ar y llygredd adeg COVID a'r aelodau o'r Blaid Geidwadol nad ydynt bellach yn gallu byw yn y Deyrnas Unedig hyd yn oed am fod ofn arnynt y bydd yr heddlu ar eu holau. Beth fyddech chi'n dweud am hynny?
I utterly condemn any corruption of any kind, including—. And, of course, concerns have been raised about the £27 million that was written off in respect of a loan that was given to a company chaired by a Labour donor here in Wales by the Welsh Government. I think any form of corruption is an absolute disgrace, whether that's money going to the unions to fund your campaign or anybody else. We need to make sure that people in Wales are not overburdened with tax. [Interruption.] We need to make sure—. Would you like to make an intervention?
Rwy'n llwyr gondemnio unrhyw lygredd o unrhyw fath, gan gynnwys—. Ac wrth gwrs, mae pryderon wedi'u codi ynghylch y £27 miliwn a gafodd ei ddileu gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â benthyciad a roddwyd i gwmni a gâi ei gadeirio gan un a wnaeth rodd i Lafur yma yng Nghymru. Credaf fod unrhyw fath o lygredd yn gwbl warthus, boed yn arian sy'n mynd i'r undebau i ariannu eich ymgyrch neu unrhyw un arall. Mae angen inni sicrhau nad yw pobl yng Nghymru yn cael eu llethu â threthi. [Torri ar draws.] Mae angen inni sicrhau—. A hoffech chi wneud ymyriad?
I would.
Hoffwn.
Yes.
Iawn.
I would just like to ask the leader of the opposition to repeat what he said when he said that trade unions funding a political party is corruption. Is that what he means?
Hoffwn ofyn i arweinydd yr wrthblaid ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedodd pan ddywedodd fod undebau llafur yn ariannu plaid wleidyddol yn llygredd. Ai dyna mae'n ei olygu?
I have not said that. What I have said—[Interruption.] What I have said is the blatantly obvious to members of the public: that this Welsh Government funnels lots of money into the pockets of the trade unions for various schemes, and those trade unions go on to make donations to the Labour Party. That's what I said, and I've said that on a number of occasions in the past too. I know you don't like to talk about that, but it's the truth.
Nid wyf wedi dweud hynny. Yr hyn rwyf wedi'i ddweud—[Torri ar draws.] Yr hyn rwyf wedi'i ddweud yw'r hyn sy'n gwbl amlwg i aelodau'r cyhoedd: fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn sianelu llawer o arian i bocedi'r undebau llafur ar gyfer gwahanol gynlluniau, ac mae'r undebau llafur hynny'n mynd ymlaen i wneud rhoddion i'r Blaid Lafur. Dyna a ddywedais, ac rwyf wedi dweud hynny ar nifer o achlysuron yn y gorffennol hefyd. Rwy'n gwybod nad ydych chi'n hoffi siarad am hynny, ond dyna'r gwir.
I think that is an accusation of corruption, which is completely inaccurate. The trade union movement supports the Labour Party through donations from its members. That is how it's done. It has nothing to do with what the Welsh Government—
Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gyhuddiad o lygredd, sy'n gwbl anghywir. Mae'r mudiad undebau llafur yn cefnogi'r Blaid Lafur drwy roddion gan ei aelodau. Dyna sut y mae'n digwydd. Nid oes ganddo unrhyw beth i'w wneud â'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru—
Do you not have to declare an interest?
Onid oes raid ichi ddatgan buddiant?
Yes, I do declare an interest.
Oes, rwy'n datgan buddiant.
And it receives money from the Welsh Government too. So, that is the point I'm making, and that is the point I have restated on many, many occasions.
So, what we want to see are lower taxes for individuals, lower taxes for businesses, more efficient public services and a system of taxation that is fair, that doesn't penalise those people who take the risks to create the jobs, create the businesses that go on to pay the taxes, and the customers pay the taxes, in order to fund our public services. Because that's a virtuous cycle. If businesses do well, everybody does well. So, I urge people: support the motion.
Ac mae'n derbyn arian gan Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd. Felly, dyna'r pwynt rwy'n ei wneud, a dyna'r pwynt rwyf wedi'i ailddatgan ar sawl achlysur.
Felly, yr hyn rydym ni am ei weld yw trethi is i unigolion, trethi is i fusnesau, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus mwy effeithlon a system drethiant sy'n deg, nad yw'n cosbi'r bobl sy'n cymryd y risgiau i greu'r swyddi, creu'r busnesau sy'n mynd ymlaen i dalu'r trethi, ac mae'r cwsmeriaid yn talu'r trethi, er mwyn ariannu ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Oherwydd mae hwnnw'n gylch rhinweddol. Os yw busnesau'n gwneud yn dda, mae pawb yn gwneud yn dda. Felly, rwy'n annog pobl: cefnogwch y cynnig.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, mae yna wrthwynebiad. Ac felly fe wnawn ni ohirio'r cynnig tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Yes, there are objections. And therefore we will defer voting until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Rydyn ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio, ac oni bai fod tri Aelod eisiau i fi ganu'r gloch, byddwn ni'n symud i'r bleidlais gyntaf. Mae'r bleidlais gyntaf y prynhawn yma ar eitem 5, sef y ddadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv) ar ddiogelu iechyd ymladdwyr tân. Rwy'n galw am bleidlais, felly, ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Luke Fletcher. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 30, 15 yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn.
That brings us to voting time, and, unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, we will move immediately to our first vote. That first vote this afternoon is on item 5, a Member debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) on safeguarding the health of firefighters. I therefore call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Luke Fletcher. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 30, 15 abstentions, none against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Eitem 5. Dadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv): Diogelu iechyd ymladdwyr tân: O blaid: 30, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 15
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Safeguarding the health of firefighters: For: 30, Against: 0, Abstain: 15
Motion has been agreed
Ar eitem 7 fydd y pleidleisiau nesaf; dadl y Ceidwadwyr ar drethiant yw'r cyfres o bleidleisiau yma. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais yn gyntaf ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Paul Davies. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 12, neb yn ymatal, 33 yn erbyn. Mae'r cynnig yna wedi ei wrthod.
The next votes will be on item 7, the Welsh Conservatives debate on taxation. I call for a vote first of all on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Paul Davies. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 12, no abstentions, 33 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Trethiant. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 12, Yn erbyn: 33, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Taxation. Motion without amendment: For: 12, Against: 33, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Gwelliant 1 fydd nesaf, ac, os bydd gwelliant 1 yn cael ei dderbyn, yna fydd gwelliant 2 yn cael ei ddad-ddethol. Felly, pleidlais yn gyntaf ar welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 23, neb yn ymatal, 22 yn erbyn. Ac felly mae'r gwelliant yna wedi ei dderbyn.
We'll move now to amendment 1, and, if amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. So, a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 23, no abstentions, 22 against. And therefore, the amendment is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Trethiant. Gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 23, Yn erbyn: 22, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Taxation. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 23, Against: 22, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Gwelliant 2 wedi ei ddad-ddethol.
Amendment 2 is deselected.
Cafodd gwelliant 2 ei ddad-dethol.
Amendment 2 deselected.
Ac felly y bleidlais olaf, ar y cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio.
The final vote is on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM8898 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) mae bil cyfartalog y dreth gyngor ar gyfer eiddo Band D yng Nghymru £110 yn is na’r bil yn Lloegr ac mae dros 256,000 o aelwydydd incwm isel yng Nghymru yn derbyn cymorth gyda’u biliau drwy gynllun gostyngiadau’r dreth gyngor;
b) roedd y gyfradd geni ar gyfer busnesau yng Nghymru yn 2023 yn uwch na’r gyfradd yn Ne-ddwyrain a De-orllewin Lloegr, ac yn uwch na’r gyfradd yng Ngogledd Iwerddon; ac
c) mae’r cynnydd yn enillion wythnosol cyfartalog oedolion yng Nghymru sy’n gweithio’n amser llawn lawer yn fwy na’r cynnydd yn y DU yn gyffredinol dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf.
2. Yn cydnabod:
a) mae talwyr ardrethi o fewn y sectorau manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden wedi derbyn dros £1 biliwn mewn cymorth ychwanegol ar gyfer ardrethi busnes dros y chwe blynedd diwethaf ac nid yw bron i hanner yr holl dalwyr ardrethi yn talu unrhyw ardrethi busnes o gwbl;
b) rhagwelir y bydd cyfraddau’r dreth incwm yng Nghymru yn cyfrannu dros £3 biliwn at gyllideb Cymru eleni; ac
c) mae awdurdodau lleol yn atebol i bobl Cymru wrth iddynt osod cyllidebau a’r dreth gyngor, a hynny ar sail anghenion gwasanaethau lleol.
Motion NDM8898 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) the average Band D council tax bill in Wales this year is £110 lower than in England and more than 256,000 low-income households in Wales receive support with their bills through the council tax reduction scheme;
b) the business birth rate in 2023 in Wales was higher than in the south-east and south-west regions of England, and higher than in Northern Ireland; and
c) growth in average weekly earnings for full-time adults in Wales has outpaced the UK over the last 10 years.
2. Recognises:
a) ratepayers in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors have received more than £1 billion in additional business rates support over the last six years and almost half of all ratepayers pay no business rates at all.
b) Welsh rates of income tax are forecast to contribute more than £3 billion to the Welsh budget this year; and
c) local authorities are accountable to the people of Wales when setting budgets and council tax, based on the needs of local services.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 23, naw yn ymatal, 13 yn erbyn. Ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn.
Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 23, nine abstentions, 13 against. And therefore the motion as amended is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Trethiant. Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio: O blaid: 23, Yn erbyn: 13, Ymatal: 9
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Taxation. Motion as amended: For: 23, Against: 13, Abstain: 9
Motion as amended has been agreed
Dyna ni. Dyna ddiwedd ar y pleidleisiau a dyna ddiwedd ar y cyfnod pleidleisio yna.
That concludes voting for this afternoon and that concludes voting time.
Felly, byddwn ni'n symud ymlaen at yr eitem nesaf, a'r eitem nesaf yw'r ddadl fer, ac mae'r ddadl fer heddiw gan Heledd Fychan. Mae croeso i ti ddechrau. Mae pawb yn gadael yn dawel, felly cei di ddechrau.
We will move on now to the next item, which is the short debate, and today's short debate is to be presented by Heledd Fychan. You may make a start. As long as everyone leaves quietly, you can make a start.
Diolch, Llywydd. Nid yw tlodi’n anochel, ac mae yna gamau y gallem ni fel Senedd, ynghyd â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, eu cymryd fyddai'n gwella bywydau pobl Cymru. Dyna brif neges fy nadl fer heddiw, a dwi'n falch o roi munud o fy amser i Sioned Williams. Hoffwn hefyd ddiolch i Katie Till o Trussell yng Nghymru, a hefyd Andrew a Matthew o Fanc Bwyd Taf-Elai am eu cefnogaeth wrth baratoi at y ddadl, a dwi’n falch o groesawu Andrew a Matthew yn yr oriel gyhoeddus heddiw.
Thank you, Llywydd. Poverty is not inevitable, and there are steps that we as a Senedd, along with the UK Government, could take that would improve the lives of the people of Wales. That is the main thrust of my short debate today, and I am pleased to give a minute of my time to Sioned Williams. I would also like to thank Katie Till from Trussell in Wales, and also Andrew and Matthew from the Taff-Ely Foodbank for their support in preparing for this debate, and I'm pleased to welcome Andrew and Matthew to the public gallery today.
I often consider how the history books will tell the story of austerity and how poverty was able to worsen at a time when others were able to enjoy an abundance of wealth. The normalisation of foodbanks is not something any Government should be proud of, and it should sober all of us that they have become such a central part of so many communities in Wales.
Trussell, who support a community of almost 150 food bank centres in Wales, have seen a significant increase in the need for emergency food over the past five years. In just six months in 2024, Trussell food banks in Wales distributed 83,000 emergency food parcels, which is almost as many parcels as the same food banks distributed in the whole year in 2015-16. It represents a 42 per cent increase compared to the same period five years previously.
Rwy'n aml yn meddwl sut y bydd llyfrau hanes yn adrodd hanes cyni a sut y bu modd i dlodi waethygu ar adeg pan oedd eraill yn gallu mwynhau cyfoeth mawr. Nid yw normaleiddio banciau bwyd yn rhywbeth y dylai unrhyw Lywodraeth fod yn falch ohono, a dylai ein sobreiddio eu bod wedi dod yn rhan mor ganolog o gynifer o gymunedau yng Nghymru.
Mae Trussell, sy'n cefnogi cymuned o bron i 150 o ganolfannau banciau bwyd yng Nghymru, wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn yr angen am fwyd brys dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf. Mewn cwta chwe mis yn 2024, dosbarthodd banciau bwyd Trussell yng Nghymru 83,000 o barseli bwyd brys, sydd bron cymaint o barseli ag y dosbarthodd yr un banciau bwyd yn ystod y flwyddyn gyfan yn 2015-16. Mae'n gynnydd o 42 y cant o gymharu â'r un cyfnod bum mlynedd ynghynt.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
It's important to state that these figures convey just one part of the picture of need in Wales. There are many emergency food aid providers currently supporting people whose experiences are not captured here, and we know there are many people going without essentials who do not access support from anyone and are driven to the depths of despair.
So, why are we in this position? The need for emergency food in Wales is driven by a lack of income, not because we lack access to food. People are having to turn to food banks because they don't have enough money for essentials. Some are between jobs, have health conditions, or are looking after relatives or children. Some people are in work that's insecure, inaccessible and doesn't pay enough to live on, and the lack of affordable housing, transport and childcare are further barriers holding too many people back from opportunities to increase their income.
Problems in the design and delivery of social security are the biggest and most immediate drivers of need for food banks in Wales. Benefit levels are too low, payments are reduced further still by deductions and caps, and people struggle to access the support for which they are eligible. It's clear that the social security system is failing to protect people from hunger and hardship, with many finding themselves without enough to live on, alongside battling the stress, uncertainty and indignity that often comes with navigating the social security system. Just one knock-back or unexpected cost can push people deeper into difficulty, creating conditions where people have become trapped in poverty. And whilst the UK Government are responsible for much of the social security system, there is plenty that Welsh Government are responsible for and should be delivering on.
This year in Wales, we celebrate 10 years of the future generations Act, and, whilst there is much to be proud of in the aims of the Act, surely we must reflect on the fact that child poverty rates have continued to increase and that too many children are growing up in Wales today in families that can't afford the essentials. It's devastating to think that children are disproportionately supported by food banks and that 62 per cent of support provided by food banks in the Trussell community in Wales is for families with children. Unsurprisingly, families with three or more children are over-represented in the level of need for emergency food as a direct result of the cruel two-child benefit cap, a policy implemented by the Conservatives, but continued by Labour.
Over the last year, Trussell's data shows that over one in three emergency food parcels were for children and that one in 10 parcels were for under-fours. There are deep and lasting impacts of living without enough income to afford the essentials, particularly on how it worsens a person's mental and physical health. Only last week, Trussell published new research looking into the economic costs of severe hardship in Wales, both the devastating impact for the people facing it, and the economic and public finance costs of not acting to tackle poverty in Wales. Using a measure termed 'hunger and hardship', which captures people who currently need to use a food bank and those who are vulnerable to being unable to afford the essentials, Trussell found that public services and the Welsh economy could benefit by £3.6 billion each year if people were protected from hunger and hardship.
This shows that the right thing to do to protect people from poverty is also common sense for our economy. After all, Wales's economy loses out on £1.9 billion in a single year due to reduced employment and lower productivity rates, as a direct result of the way hunger and hardship can harm people's chances of securing or sustaining employment. Further, the public purse loses out on £910 million in income from taxes in Wales due to these effects on employment rates, while an additional £260 million is spent on social security payments due to the impact of facing hunger and hardship on employment and wages.
Appalling levels of hunger and hardship in Wales are also driving huge additional spending of £560 million on Welsh public services. Take, for instance, the NHS, where hunger and hardship in Wales leads to increased spending of £290 million on the NHS and other health services due to the physical and mental health impacts of experiencing severe hardship. Of the additional £290 million spent by Welsh Government on the NHS, £150 million is on hospital in-patient admissions, £60 million is on mental health services and £35 million on accident and emergency visits.
Mae'n bwysig nodi mai dim ond rhan o'r darlun o'r angen yng Nghymru y mae'r ffigurau hyn yn ei gyfleu. Mae llawer o ddarparwyr cymorth bwyd brys ar hyn o bryd yn cefnogi pobl nad yw eu profiadau wedi'u cofnodi yma, a gwyddom fod llawer o bobl yn mynd heb hanfodion heb gael cymorth gan unrhyw un ac yn cael eu gyrru i anobaith dwfn.
Felly, pam ein bod yn y sefyllfa hon? Mae'r angen am fwyd brys yng Nghymru yn cael ei achosi gan ddiffyg incwm, nid am nad oes bwyd ar gael. Rhaid i bobl droi at fanciau bwyd am nad oes ganddynt ddigon o arian ar gyfer hanfodion. Mae rhai rhwng swyddi, mae ganddynt gyflyrau iechyd, neu maent yn gofalu am berthnasau neu blant. Mae rhai pobl mewn swyddi sy'n ansefydlog, yn anhygyrch ac nad ydynt yn talu digon i fyw arno, ac mae diffyg tai fforddiadwy, trafnidiaeth a gofal plant yn rhwystrau pellach sy'n atal gormod o bobl rhag cael cyfleoedd i gynyddu eu hincwm.
Problemau gyda chynllun a darpariaeth nawdd cymdeithasol yw'r ffactorau mwyaf a mwyaf uniongyrchol sy'n achosi'r angen am fanciau bwyd yng Nghymru. Mae lefelau budd-daliadau'n rhy isel, mae taliadau'n cael eu lleihau ymhellach fyth gan ddidyniadau a chapiau, ac mae pobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd cael y cymorth y maent yn gymwys ar ei gyfer. Mae'n amlwg nad yw'r system nawdd cymdeithasol yn diogelu pobl rhag llwgu a chaledi, gyda nifer ohonynt heb ddigon o arian i fyw arno, yn ogystal â'r frwydr yn erbyn y straen, yr ansicrwydd a'r amarch sy'n aml yn dod wrth ddefnyddio'r system nawdd cymdeithasol. Gall un ergyd neu gost annisgwyl wthio pobl yn ddyfnach i drafferthion, gan greu amodau lle mae pobl yn cael eu caethiwo mewn tlodi. Ac er mai Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am lawer o'r system nawdd cymdeithasol, mae digon y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfrifol amdano ac y dylai fod yn ei gyflawni.
Eleni yng Nghymru, rydym yn dathlu 10 mlynedd o Ddeddf cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac er bod llawer i fod yn falch ohono yn amcanion y Ddeddf, rhaid inni ystyried bod cyfraddau tlodi plant wedi parhau i gynyddu a bod gormod o blant yn tyfu i fyny yng Nghymru heddiw mewn teuluoedd na allant fforddio'r hanfodion. Mae'n warthus meddwl bod plant yn cael eu cefnogi i raddau anghymesur gan fanciau bwyd a bod 62 y cant o'r cymorth a ddarperir gan fanciau bwyd yng nghymuned Trussell yng Nghymru ar gyfer teuluoedd â phlant. Nid yw'n syndod fod teuluoedd â thri neu fwy o blant wedi'u gorgynrychioli yn lefel yr angen am fwyd brys o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r cap creulon dau blentyn ar fudd-daliadau, polisi a weithredwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr, ond a barhawyd gan Lafur.
Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae data Trussell yn dangos bod dros un o bob tri pharsel bwyd brys ar gyfer plant ac un o bob 10 parsel ar gyfer plant dan bedair oed. Mae effeithiau dwfn a pharhaol i fyw heb ddigon o incwm i fforddio'r hanfodion, yn enwedig y ffordd y mae'n gwaethygu iechyd meddwl a chorfforol unigolyn. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Trussell ymchwil newydd yn edrych ar gostau economaidd caledi difrifol yng Nghymru, yr effaith ddinistriol ar y bobl sy'n ei wynebu, a chostau economaidd a'r costau i bwrs y wlad yn sgil peidio â gweithredu i drechu tlodi yng Nghymru. Gan ddefnyddio mesur o'r enw 'llwgu a chaledi', sy'n nodi pobl sydd angen defnyddio banc bwyd ar hyn o bryd a'r rhai sydd mewn perygl o beidio â gallu fforddio'r hanfodion, canfu Trussell y gallai gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac economi Cymru elwa o £3.6 biliwn y flwyddyn pe bai pobl yn cael eu diogelu rhag llwgu a chaledi.
Dengys hyn fod gwneud y peth iawn i ddiogelu pobl rhag tlodi hefyd yn synnwyr cyffredin i'n heconomi. Wedi'r cyfan, mae economi Cymru yn colli £1.9 biliwn mewn blwyddyn oherwydd llai o gyflogaeth a chyfraddau cynhyrchiant is, o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r ffordd y gall llwgu a chaledi niweidio cyfleoedd pobl o sicrhau neu gynnal cyflogaeth. Ymhellach, mae pwrs y wlad yn colli £910 miliwn mewn incwm o drethi yng Nghymru oherwydd yr effeithiau hyn ar gyfraddau cyflogaeth, tra bo £260 miliwn ychwanegol yn cael ei wario ar daliadau nawdd cymdeithasol oherwydd effaith llwgu a chaledi ar gyflogaeth a chyflogau.
Mae lefelau erchyll o lwgu a chaledi yng Nghymru hefyd yn arwain at wariant ychwanegol enfawr o £560 miliwn ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru. Cymerwch, er enghraifft, y GIG, lle mae llwgu a chaledi yng Nghymru yn arwain at wariant cynyddol o £290 miliwn ar y GIG a gwasanaethau iechyd eraill oherwydd effeithiau iechyd corfforol a meddyliol profi caledi difrifol. O'r £290 miliwn ychwanegol a wariwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y GIG, mae £150 miliwn yn cael ei wario ar dderbyn cleifion mewnol i'r ysbyty, £60 miliwn yn cael ei wario ar wasanaethau iechyd meddwl a £35 miliwn ar ymweliadau ag adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys.
Trussell’s research also found that a failure to address hunger and hardship has a profound impact on education and child social care budgets too, leading to the Welsh Government having to spend an additional £120 million, let alone the educational and health outcomes for children living in poverty. As we know, also, people facing hunger and hardship often live in poor-quality and overcrowded homes, which can harm health and relationships. Unaffordable housing costs and the threat of eviction from landlords leave people facing hunger and hardship, as well as facing a significant risk of homelessness. As a result, Welsh Government spends an additional £143 million on homelessness and rough-sleeping services.
People living in a disabled family in Wales are already much more likely to face hunger and hardship than people in a non-disabled family, with 230,000 people who live in a disabled family in Wales facing hunger and hardship. The UK Government’s plans to cut support for disabled people are likely to drive even more into severe hardship, damaging their health and prospects even further. I hope today to hear from the Cabinet Secretary a condemnation of the proposals in her response, and that we can unite as a Senedd to call on the UK Government to urgently rethink cuts to support for disabled people, and also to update universal credit so that it protects people from hunger and hardship.
Trussell, in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, have also been calling for an essentials guarantee within universal credit, which means the basic rate at least covers life’s essentials and that support can never be pulled below that level. It's something we in Plaid Cymru have fully supported. Introducing an essentials guarantee within universal credit would ensure 138,000 fewer people in Wales would be at risk of hunger and hardship in 2027, and reduce costs to the economy, public services and public purse by nearly £1 billion. We need the UK Government to take bolder steps towards ensuring universal credit at least covers the cost of essentials, and we need the Welsh Government to campaign for this.
Removing the two-child limit would lead to a reduction in costs to the economy, public services and public purse of £260 million, and ensure 29,000 people in Wales are prevented from facing hunger and hardship. Extending free school meals to all families on universal credit would lift 27,000 people in Wales out of facing hunger and hardship and bring £140 million in cost benefits. Introducing an enhanced Scottish-style child payment in Wales, as we've proposed in Plaid Cymru, would lift 50,000 people at risk of hunger and hardship, and bring £605 million in cost benefits. If Governments both in Westminster and Cardiff Bay fail to act, any progress on living standards, employment, economic growth and the NHS is undermined, and we will see an increase in hunger, hardship and human misery.
I've become increasingly concerned since being elected in 2021 to see the narrative change over foodbanks, that we are not emphasising the need to campaign for the need of them, but normalising them more and more. I've heard the Cabinet Secretary mention baby banks, fuel banks. This is normalising poverty. Thank goodness they exist, but they shouldn't have to, and what I would like to see from the Government is a plan to eradicate poverty and eradicate the need for these banks, which are banks for essentials—essentials that people can't afford.
I mentioned history books at the beginning of my contribution today. I remember being in school, where we were taught about the Victorian ages and child poverty, and being horrified by those. But the stories I hear from constituents now are far worse than those I read in history books, and I’m ashamed to be living in Wales at this point in time, when there are constituents of mine who can’t afford the essentials. Thank goodness for the work of volunteers, for organisations like Trussell, but it should shame us all that they have to exist.
Poverty is not inevitable. There are political choices that can lead to change. We must do more to ensure that everyone living in Wales can afford the essentials, and take radical and urgent steps to end hunger and hardship.
Canfu ymchwil Trussell hefyd fod methu mynd i'r afael â llwgu a chaledi yn cael effaith sylweddol ar gyllidebau addysg a gofal cymdeithasol plant, gan olygu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gorfod gwario £120 miliwn ychwanegol, heb sôn am y canlyniadau addysgol ac iechyd i blant sy'n byw mewn tlodi. Fel y gwyddom hefyd, mae pobl sy'n wynebu llwgu a chaledi yn aml yn byw mewn cartrefi gorlawn o ansawdd gwael, a all niweidio iechyd a pherthnasoedd. Mae costau tai anfforddiadwy a'r bygythiad o gael eu troi allan gan landlordiaid yn gadael pobl yn wynebu llwgu a chaledi, yn ogystal â risg sylweddol o ddigartrefedd. O ganlyniad, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwario £143 miliwn ychwanegol ar wasanaethau digartrefedd a chysgu allan.
Mae pobl sy'n byw mewn teulu ag aelod anabl yng Nghymru eisoes yn llawer mwy tebygol o wynebu llwgu a chaledi na phobl mewn teulu heb aelod anabl, gyda 230,000 o bobl sy'n byw mewn teulu ag aelod anabl yng Nghymru yn wynebu llwgu a chaledi. Mae cynlluniau Llywodraeth y DU i dorri cymorth i bobl anabl yn debygol o yrru mwy fyth o bobl i galedi difrifol, gan niweidio eu hiechyd a'u rhagolygon ymhellach. Rwy'n gobeithio clywed Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn condemnio'r cynigion yn ei hymateb heddiw, ac y gallwn uno fel Senedd i alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ailystyried toriadau i gymorth i bobl anabl ar frys, a hefyd i ddiweddaru credyd cynhwysol fel ei fod yn diogelu pobl rhag llwgu a chaledi.
Mae Trussell, mewn partneriaeth â Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree, hefyd wedi bod yn galw am warant hanfodion o fewn y credyd cynhwysol, sy'n golygu bod y gyfradd sylfaenol o leiaf yn talu am hanfodion bywyd ac na fydd modd gostwng y cymorth islaw'r lefel honno. Mae'n rhywbeth rydym ni ym Mhlaid Cymru wedi'i gefnogi'n llawn. Byddai cyflwyno gwarant hanfodion o fewn y credyd cynhwysol yn sicrhau y byddai 138,000 yn llai o bobl yng Nghymru mewn perygl o lwgu a chaledi yn 2027, ac £1 biliwn yn llai o gostau i'r economi, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a phwrs y wlad. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU gymryd camau mwy beiddgar tuag at sicrhau bod credyd cynhwysol o leiaf yn talu costau hanfodion, ac mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ymgyrchu dros hyn.
Byddai dileu'r terfyn dau blentyn yn arwain at ostyngiad o £260 miliwn mewn costau i'r economi, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a phwrs y wlad, ac yn atal 29,000 o bobl yng Nghymru rhag wynebu llwgu a chaledi. Byddai ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim i bob teulu sydd ar gredyd cynhwysol yn atal 27,000 o bobl yng Nghymru rhag wynebu llwgu a chaledi ac yn arwain at £140 miliwn mewn buddion cost. Byddai cyflwyno taliad plant gwell tebyg i'r Alban yng Nghymru, fel rydym ni ym Mhlaid Cymru wedi'i gynnig, yn atal 50,000 o bobl rhag y risg o lwgu a chaledi, ac yn darparu £605 miliwn mewn buddion cost. Os na fydd Llywodraethau yn San Steffan a Bae Caerdydd yn gweithredu, bydd unrhyw gynnydd ar safonau byw, cyflogaeth, twf economaidd a'r GIG yn cael ei danseilio, a byddwn yn gweld cynnydd mewn llwgu, caledi a thrallod dynol.
Rwyf wedi dod yn fwyfwy pryderus ers cael fy ethol yn 2021 wrth weld y naratif ynghylch banciau bwyd yn newid, nad ydym yn pwysleisio'r angen i ymgyrchu ynghylch yr angen amdanynt, ond yn hytrach, yn eu normaleiddio fwy a mwy. Rwyf wedi clywed Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn sôn am fanciau babanod, banciau tanwydd. Normaleiddio tlodi yw hyn. Diolch byth eu bod yn bodoli, ond ni ddylent orfod bodoli, a'r hyn yr hoffwn ei weld gan y Llywodraeth yw cynllun i ddileu tlodi a dileu'r angen am y banciau hyn, sef banciau ar gyfer hanfodion—hanfodion na all pobl eu fforddio.
Soniais am lyfrau hanes ar ddechrau fy nghyfraniad heddiw. Rwy'n cofio bod yn yr ysgol, lle caem ein dysgu am oes Fictoria a thlodi plant, a chael fy arswydo gan y straeon hynny. Ond mae'r straeon rwy'n eu clywed gan etholwyr nawr yn llawer gwaeth na'r rhai rwy'n eu darllen mewn llyfrau hanes, ac mae cywilydd arnaf fy mod yn byw yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, pan fo gennyf etholwyr na allant fforddio'r hanfodion. Diolch byth am waith gwirfoddolwyr, am sefydliadau fel Trussell, ond dylai fod cywilydd arnom i gyd eu bod yn bodoli.
Nid yw tlodi'n anochel. Mae yna ddewisiadau gwleidyddol a all arwain at newid. Rhaid inni wneud mwy i sicrhau y gall pawb sy'n byw yng Nghymru fforddio'r hanfodion, a chymryd camau radical ar frys i roi diwedd ar lwgu a chaledi.
Diolch i Heledd Fychan am ddod â’r ddadl bwysig hon gerbron.
Thank you to Heledd Fychan for bringing this important debate before us.
Responding to the recent welfare cuts announced by the Labour Government in Westminster, Oxfam Cymru said,
‘We live in the sixth richest country in the world, where billionaires alone saw their wealth soar by £11 billion just last year. It is morally repugnant that children, disabled people and carers are the ones who are taking the hit’.
As you said, Heledd, poverty is caused by political choices, and political choices will eradicate it. Many of the levers, as you pointed out, that could make a difference are in Westminster’s hands, in Labour’s hands. So, where is the outrage, the absolute moral outrage, we should be seeing at their inaction on this? And where is the action by Welsh Government, the new, bold action on child poverty steered by targets since the end of the co-operation agreement, which gave us free school meals? None. The Welsh Government have had 26 years to use the powers they have and to ask for the powers they need to change this. We need to see a partnership against poverty, to lift the powerless for the benefit of us all.
Wrth ymateb i'r toriadau lles diweddar a gyhoeddwyd gan y Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan, dywedodd Oxfam Cymru,
'Rydym yn byw yn y chweched wlad gyfoethocaf yn y byd, lle gwelodd biliwnyddion yn unig gynnydd o £11 biliwn yn eu cyfoeth y llynedd. Mae'n foesol ffiaidd mai plant, pobl anabl a gofalwyr yw'r rhai sy'n dioddef'.
Fel y dywedoch chi, Heledd, caiff tlodi ei achosi gan ddewisiadau gwleidyddol, a dewisiadau gwleidyddol sy'n mynd i'w ddileu. Fel y nodoch chi, mae llawer o'r ysgogiadau a allai wneud gwahaniaeth yn nwylo San Steffan, yn nwylo Llafur. Felly, ble mae'r dicter, y dicter moesol absoliwt, y dylem ei weld ynglŷn â'u diffyg gweithredu ar hyn? A ble mae'r gweithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru, y camau newydd, beiddgar ar dlodi plant a lywiwyd gan dargedau ers diwedd y cytundeb cydweithio, a roddodd brydau ysgol am ddim i ni? Dim byd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael 26 mlynedd i ddefnyddio'r pwerau sydd ganddynt ac i ofyn am y pwerau sydd eu hangen arnynt i newid hyn. Mae angen inni weld partneriaeth yn erbyn tlodi, i godi'r di-rym allan o dlodi er budd pob un ohonom.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol y Trefnydd a’r Prif Chwip i ymateb i'r ddadl—Jane Hutt.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip to reply to the debate— Jane Hutt.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirpwy Lywydd. And diolch, Heledd Fychan, for this short debate. As you say, absolutely, poverty isn’t inevitable, and the poverty rates here in Wales clearly demonstrate the challenge we face as a direct consequence of the level of austerity. And I think we agree on that in terms of the last 14 years in terms of the Tory Government and what we were left with. But what’s important, as you rightly outlined, is what we can do, the Welsh Labour Government, using all our powers and levers to improve the lives of the people of Wales by both tackling the causes of poverty and mitigating the worst impacts of living in poverty. And we have had to make, and we make, political choices in order to do that.
So, between 2022 and 2026, we have invested over £7 billion in interventions to reduce costs and maximise the incomes of families and keep money in the pockets of Welsh citizens—key priorities of our child poverty strategy. And that’s not the whole picture. Here in Wales, the Welsh Labour Government funded free prescriptions and free travel for over-60s, kept and increased our educational maintenance allowance for students, we've given the real living wage to social care workers, and provided universal access to free period products. And these are only a few examples, but they are examples of political choices—they are the red Welsh way of this Welsh Labour Government.
And our child poverty strategy for Wales outlines our long-term ambitions and decisive actions to tackle child poverty in Wales. They’re actions that not only impact on children, but on the very foundations of the society that they depend on, on their families and their communities. And I’m sure we would want to share this point of recognition of the spirit of the Urdd peace and goodwill message, which will be shared tomorrow, because our strategy does embody that principle that it takes a village to raise a child. Creating pathways out of poverty is the main objective of our child poverty strategy. We have to create those pathways—they’re a vital component in allowing and enabling people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing fair work.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A diolch, Heledd Fychan, am y ddadl fer hon. Fel y dywedwch, yn sicr, nid yw tlodi'n anochel, ac mae'r cyfraddau tlodi yma yng Nghymru yn dangos yn glir yr her a wynebwn o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i lefel y cyni. Ac rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n cytuno ar hynny, y 14 mlynedd diwethaf a'r hyn a adawyd i ni gan y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd. Ond yr hyn sy'n bwysig, fel y nodoch chi'n gywir ddigon, yw'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud, Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru, gan ddefnyddio ein holl bwerau ac ysgogiadau i wella bywydau pobl Cymru drwy fynd i'r afael ag achosion tlodi a lliniaru effeithiau gwaethaf byw mewn tlodi. Ac rydym wedi gorfod gwneud, ac rydym ni yn gwneud, dewisiadau gwleidyddol er mwyn gwneud hynny.
Felly, rhwng 2022 a 2026, rydym wedi buddsoddi dros £7 biliwn mewn ymyriadau i leihau costau a gwneud y gorau o incwm teuluoedd a chadw arian ym mhocedi dinasyddion Cymru—blaenoriaethau allweddol ein strategaeth tlodi plant. Ac nid dyna'r darlun cyfan. Yma yng Nghymru, ariannodd Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru bresgripsiynau am ddim a theithio am ddim i bobl dros 60 oed, mae wedi cadw a chynyddu ein lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg i fyfyrwyr, rydym wedi rhoi'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, ac wedi darparu mynediad at gynhyrchion mislif am ddim i bawb sydd eu hangen. A dim ond rhai enghreifftiau yw'r rhain, ond maent yn enghreifftiau o ddewisiadau gwleidyddol—dyma ffordd goch Gymreig y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yng Nghymru.
Ac mae ein strategaeth tlodi plant yng Nghymru yn amlinellu ein huchelgeisiau hirdymor a'n camau gweithredu pendant i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yng Nghymru. Maent yn weithredoedd sydd nid yn unig yn effeithio ar blant, ond ar sylfeini'r gymdeithas y maent yn dibynnu arni, ar eu teuluoedd a'u cymunedau. Ac rwy'n siŵr y byddem am rannu'r gydnabyddiaeth i ysbryd neges heddwch ac ewyllys da yr Urdd, a fydd yn cael ei rhannu yfory, oherwydd mae ein strategaeth yn ymgorffori'r egwyddor ei bod yn cymryd pentref i fagu plentyn. Creu llwybrau allan o dlodi yw prif amcan ein strategaeth tlodi plant. Rhaid i ni greu'r llwybrau hynny—maent yn elfen hanfodol o ganiatáu a galluogi pobl i fanteisio ar y cyfoeth a gynhyrchir trwy gael gwaith teg.
Would you take an intervention? If that strategy had targets, do you think that you would've scrapped the universal roll-out of baby bundles that was in the programme for government?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad? Pe bai gan y strategaeth honno dargedau, a ydych chi'n meddwl y byddech chi wedi cael gwared ar gyflwyno bwndeli babanod i'r holl rieni newydd, a oedd yn y rhaglen llywodraethu?
Well, I'm very pleased that we've made £2.5 million available for the baby bundles programme for this financial year. It's something that I know you, Heledd, commented on. I think the baby bundles are something that we'd like to provide universally—we've started in a targeted way with every expectant family living in a core Flying Start area. It is an expression of support from our Government—from the Welsh Government—from the budget that we've put into this financial year. It's a baby bundle—it's a welcome to those young people.
Wel, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi rhyddhau £2.5 miliwn ar gyfer y rhaglen bwndeli babanod ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae'n rhywbeth y gwn eich bod chi, Heledd, wedi gwneud sylwadau arno. Rwy'n credu bod y bwndeli babanod yn rhywbeth yr hoffem ei ddarparu yn gyffredinol i'r holl rieni newydd—rydym wedi dechrau mewn ffordd wedi'i thargedu gyda phob teulu sy'n disgwyl babi ac sy'n byw mewn ardal Dechrau'n Deg graidd. Mae'n fynegiant o gefnogaeth gan ein Llywodraeth—gan Lywodraeth Cymru—o'r gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae'n fwndel babanod—mae'n groeso i'r bobl ifanc hynny.
Heledd Fychan a gododd—
Heledd Fychan rose—
Can I just carry on for a few more minutes, and then please come back?
I have gone back to this point about the fact that we want to enable people to get into employment, and I do think that's crucial in terms of a route to tackling child poverty and poverty as a whole. But, I do want to just comment on our employability programmes, supporting over 15,000 adults who were out of work in 2023-24, including through our Communities for Work and employability mentors, our Working Wales careers advice service and our childcare offer. Tackling the barriers—we discussed this this morning. I was at the four-nations UK Government taskforce—it was a four-nations taskforce. We discussed the barriers, as well, in terms of being able to enter employment, providing 30 hours of Welsh Government-funded nursery education and childcare for three to four-year-olds, supporting more parents to increase their income by helping them into work and enabling working parents to work more hours.
But, I would mention more than once the fact that we have worked together formally in our co-operation agreement to expand our all-important Flying Start childcare for two-year-olds in Wales. That’s such an important way in which we have worked together, and we’ve got that now in our budget this year, bringing Wales a step closer to that universal provision of childcare for all two-year-olds.
A gaf i barhau am ychydig funudau eto, os gwelwch yn dda, ac yna gallwch ddod yn ôl?
Rwyf wedi mynd yn ôl at y pwynt ein bod am alluogi pobl i gael gwaith, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n hanfodol fel llwybr i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant a thlodi yn ei gyfanrwydd. Ond rwyf am sôn am ein rhaglenni cyflogadwyedd, sy'n cefnogi dros 15,000 o oedolion a oedd yn ddi-waith yn 2023-24, yn cynnwys drwy ein mentoriaid Cymunedau am Waith a chyflogadwyedd, ein gwasanaeth cyngor gyrfaoedd Cymru'n Gweithio a'n cynnig gofal plant. Mynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau—fe fuom yn trafod hyn y bore yma. Roeddwn yn nhasglu pedair gwlad Llywodraeth y DU—roedd yn dasglu pedair gwlad. Buom yn trafod y rhwystrau hefyd i allu cael mynediad at gyflogaeth, a darparu 30 awr o addysg feithrin a gofal plant a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru i blant tair i bedair oed, gan gefnogi mwy o rieni i gynyddu eu hincwm trwy eu helpu i gael gwaith a galluogi rhieni sy'n gweithio i weithio mwy o oriau.
Ond rwyf am sôn ein bod wedi gweithio gyda'n gilydd yn ffurfiol yn ein cytundeb cydweithio i ehangu ein gofal plant Dechrau'n Deg hollbwysig i blant dwy oed yng Nghymru. Roedd honno'n ffordd mor bwysig o weithio gyda'n gilydd, ac mae gennym hynny nawr yn ein cyllideb eleni, gan ddod â Chymru gam yn nes at allu darparu gofal plant i bob plentyn dwy oed.
Thank you for taking the intervention. I just want to clarify that I wasn’t mentioning the baby bundles. I was talking about baby banks, which, increasingly, more foodbanks are having to establish. I know the Taff-Ely foodbank had to establish one recently. They’re fundraising—doing a public crowdfunder—in order to be able to provide nappies.
Diolch am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Rwyf eisiau egluro nad oeddwn yn sôn am y bwndeli babanod. Roeddwn yn siarad am y banciau babanod y mae mwy a mwy o fanciau bwyd yn gorfod eu sefydlu. Rwy'n gwybod bod yn rhaid i fanc bwyd Taf-Elái sefydlu un yn ddiweddar. Maent yn codi arian—trwy gyllido torfol cyhoeddus—er mwyn gallu darparu cewynnau.
Well, apologies—mae’n ddrwg gen i—I obviously misunderstood. We have made that clear about the baby bundles, and I know you’ve always welcomed that as a programme. I do want to say 'thank you' again to Heledd for drawing attention to the work of Trussell Trust and the fact that—. I applaud the work of Trussell Trust and all those who provide foodbanks and food pantries, and there are many schemes across Wales. I have always very much embraced the vision, as you have today, of a Wales where foodbanks are no longer needed. Our child poverty strategy does set out those long-term ambitions—how we will work across Government with partners to maximise the levers available to us. Of course, it does mean that we have to target our support to those most in need and continue our work to streamline and simplify Welsh benefits.
I do want to make one point about the Welsh benefits system. These are entitlements. I was very pleased to launch the Welsh benefits charter with Siân Gwenllian a year or so ago. It is accelerating the work that we are doing to ensure that people can simplify access to free school meals and the school essentials grant, as well as our £290 million council tax reduction scheme. We are seeing very positive work coming from the investment we have made into Policy in Practice, piloting the low-income family tracker, or LIFT, tool so that we can get this data for local authorities to find out who is eligible so that they can be targeted in terms of getting their entitlements. Our ‘Claim what's yours’ campaign and our single advice fund are all important in terms of people getting the entitlements. Interestingly, this week, and I am sure you will be aware of it, Heledd, in your region, the Cwm Taf health board had funded a very successful campaign for the uptake of pension credit and got £1.6 million as a result of people's entitlements being identified, working with Citizens Advice, Age Concern and Age Connects in the Cwm Taf health board, with all the local authorities taking part. That's getting money not just for those pensioners in terms of pension credit, but identifying attendance allowance, as well as entitlements, but also seeing health needs and getting £1.6 million into the pockets of those people and into their families.
There are many more areas where we have worked together to secure—and, most importantly, through our co-operation agreement—the fact that we are the first UK nation to offer free school meals to all primary learners. I was proud to say that this morning in our four-nations UK meeting. I was proud to talk about the way we've had free breakfast since 2005 in our primary schools, and the fact that we've got that universal offer for free school meals, alongside our school milk scheme and the free breakfast scheme, means that we have the most generous food-in-school offer in the UK. And that, hopefully, is helping to reduce the dependence of those families on foodbanks, and the fact that we have that school essentials grant, providing £125 per eligible learner for all year groups up to year 11, and £200 for eligible learners in year 7. That's enabling children in low-income families to attend school and take part in activities at the same level as their peers.
Finally, I wanted to say—. Well, you've noticed that, I'm sure, today, I announced some successful bids to the £1.5 million child poverty and supporting communities grant. That is enabling a whole range of partners across Wales, in the third sector, local authorities, to actually, again, take forward initiatives that they themselves know work in terms of tackling poverty in these communities, in the communities that they serve.
I think these interventions demonstrate just some of the ways that we as a Welsh Government are seeking to improve the lives of people here with the levers and powers that we've got, but we don't hold all the levers that can impact on poverty in Wales. We will continue to ensure that the voices of the people of Wales are heard. And, as the First Minister said in her speech—and I'm proud of that speech, and I'm proud of the red Welsh way—where we disagree, we will say so. And this morning, I met, as I said, with the UK Government child poverty taskforce. It was the four nations—I was there with my colleague from the Scottish Government, Shirley-Anne Somerville, and colleagues from Northern Ireland. Again, I pressed them on the two-child benefit, I pressed them on the benefit cap. I also pressed them on the local housing allowance, which is another key area, key benefit, in terms of tackling and meeting housing need. I also pressed on wider welfare reform and pressed on social tariffs, because energy debt is a real issue in terms of driving people into poverty. We had some very constructive discussions about data sharing, which is a huge barrier. Data sharing will help us move forward in terms of ensuring people get the entitlements that they're entitled to.
And tomorrow, I'm meeting with the disability equality forum, the disability rights taskforce, to, again, discuss with them the issues and concerns—and the First Minister acknowledged this on Tuesday—about not just the Green Paper, where there's consultation, but the impact of the changes on the personal independence payment. Because we want to state what that is anyway, as well as respond to the consultation, and tomorrow I'll be working, listening and working with disabled people directly to do this.
So, thank you for the debate, Heledd, and thank you for giving me the opportunity, again, to show our commitment. And, as we've said, we are putting pressure, we are raising these issues and, where they affect Wales, then we will speak up and we will stand up for Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
Wel, ymddiheuriadau—mae'n ddrwg gennyf—fe gamddeallais. Rydym wedi gwneud hynny'n glir am y bwndeli babanod, ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi bob amser wedi croesawu'r rhaglen honno. Rwyf am ddiolch i Heledd eto am dynnu sylw at waith Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell a'r ffaith bod—. Rwy'n cymeradwyo gwaith Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell a phawb sy'n darparu banciau bwyd a phantrïau bwyd, ac fe geir llawer o gynlluniau ledled Cymru. Rwyf bob amser wedi cofleidio'r weledigaeth, fel y gwnaethoch chi heddiw, o Gymru lle nad oes angen banciau bwyd mwyach. Mae ein strategaeth tlodi plant yn nodi'r uchelgeisiau hirdymor hynny—sut y byddwn yn gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth gyda phartneriaid i wneud y mwyaf o'r ysgogiadau sydd ar gael i ni. Wrth gwrs, mae'n golygu bod yn rhaid inni dargedu ein cymorth at y rhai sydd fwyaf o'i angen a pharhau â'n gwaith i symleiddio budd-daliadau Cymru.
Rwyf am wneud un pwynt am system budd-daliadau Cymru. Mae'r rhain yn hawliau. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o lansio siarter budd-daliadau Cymru gyda Siân Gwenllian tua blwyddyn yn ôl. Mae'n cyflymu'r gwaith a wnawn i sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu symleiddio mynediad at brydau ysgol am ddim a'r grant hanfodion ysgol, yn ogystal â'n cynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor gwerth £290 miliwn. Rydym yn gweld gwaith cadarnhaol iawn yn dod o'r buddsoddiad a wnaethom yn Policy in Practice, i dreialu'r traciwr teuluoedd incwm isel, neu LIFT, fel y gallwn gael y data hwn i awdurdodau lleol i ddarganfod pwy sy'n gymwys i allu eu targedu er mwyn iddynt gael yr hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Mae ein hymgyrch 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi' a'n cronfa gynghori sengl oll yn bwysig er mwyn i bobl gael yr hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Yn ddiddorol, yr wythnos hon, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn ymwybodol ohono yn eich rhanbarth chi, Heledd, roedd bwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf wedi ariannu ymgyrch lwyddiannus iawn i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n cael credyd pensiwn a chodwyd £1.6 miliwn o ganlyniad i nodi hawl pobl i'w gael, gan weithio gyda Cyngor ar Bopeth, Age Concern ac Age Connects ym mwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf, gyda'r holl awdurdodau lleol yn cymryd rhan. Dyna gael arian, nid yn unig i bensiynwyr ar ffurf credyd pensiwn, ond drwy nodi lwfans gweini, yn ogystal â hawl i gymorth, a gweld anghenion iechyd a chael £1.6 miliwn i bocedi'r bobl hynny ac i'w teuluoedd.
Mae yna lawer mwy o feysydd lle rydym wedi gweithio gyda'n gilydd i sicrhau—ac yn bwysicaf oll, trwy ein cytundeb cydweithio—mai ni yw'r genedl gyntaf yn y DU i gynnig prydau ysgol am ddim i bob dysgwr cynradd. Roeddwn yn falch o ddweud hynny y bore yma yn ein cyfarfod pedair gwlad ar gyfer y DU. Roeddwn yn falch o siarad am y ffordd y mae gennym frecwast am ddim ers 2005 yn ein hysgolion cynradd, a bod y ffaith bod gennym gynnig o brydau ysgol am ddim i bawb, ochr yn ochr â'n cynllun llaeth ysgol a'r cynllun brecwast am ddim, yn golygu mai gennym ni y mae'r cynnig bwyd ysgol mwyaf hael yn y DU. Ac mae hynny, gobeithio, yn helpu i leihau dibyniaeth y teuluoedd hynny ar fanciau bwyd, a'r ffaith bod gennym y grant hanfodion ysgol, sy'n darparu £125 i bob dysgwr cymwys ar gyfer pob grŵp blwyddyn hyd at flwyddyn 11, a £200 i ddysgwyr cymwys ym mlwyddyn 7. Mae hynny'n galluogi plant mewn teuluoedd incwm isel i fynychu'r ysgol a chymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau ar yr un lefel â'u cyfoedion.
Yn olaf, roeddwn i eisiau dweud—. Wel, rwy'n siŵr eich bod wedi sylwi heddiw fy mod wedi cyhoeddi ceisiadau llwyddiannus ar gyfer y grant £1.5 miliwn tlodi plant a chefnogi cymunedau. Mae'n galluogi ystod eang o bartneriaid ledled Cymru, yn y trydydd sector, awdurdodau lleol, i fwrw ymlaen â mentrau y maent hwy eu hunain yn gwybod eu bod yn gweithio i fynd i'r afael â thlodi yn y cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu.
Rwy'n credu bod yr ymyriadau hyn yn dangos rhai o'r ffyrdd yr ydym ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio gwella bywydau pobl yma gyda'r ysgogiadau a'r pwerau sydd gennym, ond nid yw'r holl ysgogiadau a all effeithio ar dlodi yng Nghymru yn ein dwylo ni. Byddwn yn parhau i sicrhau bod lleisiau pobl Cymru yn cael eu clywed. Ac fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog yn ei haraith—ac rwy'n falch o'r araith honno, ac yn falch o'r ffordd goch Gymreig—lle rydym yn anghytuno, byddwn yn dweud hynny. A'r bore yma, fel y dywedais, cyfarfûm â thasglu tlodi plant Llywodraeth y DU. Roedd y pedair gwlad—roeddwn yno gyda fy swyddog cyfatebol o Lywodraeth yr Alban, Shirley-Anne Somerville, a chymheiriaid o Ogledd Iwerddon. Unwaith eto, fe wneuthum bwyso arnynt mewn perthynas â'r cap dau blentyn ar fudd-daliadau. Fe wneuthum bwyso arnynt hefyd ynghylch y lwfans tai lleol, sy'n faes allweddol arall, budd-dal allweddol, i fynd i'r afael ag anghenion tai. Fe wneuthum bwyso ar ddiwygio lles ehangach ac ar dariffau cymdeithasol, gan fod dyled ynni yn broblem real sy'n gwthio pobl i dlodi. Cawsom drafodaethau adeiladol iawn am rannu data, sy'n rhwystr enfawr. Bydd rhannu data yn ein helpu i symud ymlaen a sicrhau bod pobl yn cael yr hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo.
Ac yfory, rwy'n cyfarfod â'r fforwm cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl, y tasglu hawliau pobl anabl, i drafod y problemau a'r pryderon gyda hwy, unwaith eto—a chydnabu'r Prif Weinidog hyn ddydd Mawrth—nid yn unig ynglŷn â'r Papur Gwyrdd, lle mae ymgynghoriad ar y gweill, ond effaith y newidiadau ar y taliad annibyniaeth personol. Oherwydd rydym eisiau datgan beth yw hwnnw beth bynnag, yn ogystal ag ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad, ac yfory byddaf yn gweithio, yn gwrando ac yn gweithio gyda phobl anabl yn uniongyrchol i wneud hyn.
Felly, diolch am y ddadl, Heledd, a diolch am roi cyfle i mi ddangos ein hymrwymiad unwaith eto. Ac fel rydym wedi dweud, rydym yn rhoi pwysau, rydym yn codi'r materion hyn, a lle maent yn effeithio ar Gymru, byddwn yn codi llais ac yn sefyll dros Gymru. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch. Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.
Thank you. That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:14.
The meeting ended at 18:14.