Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
21/01/2026Cynnwys
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. Dwi eisiau hysbysu'r Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75, fod Bil Tribiwnlys Adolygu Iechyd Meddwl Cymru (Aelodaeth) wedi cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol heddiw.
Good afternoon and welcome to today's Plenary meeting. I wish to inform the Senedd that, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales (Membership) Bill was given Royal Assent earlier today.
Yr eitem gyntaf fydd y Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Peredur Owen Griffiths.
The first item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. The first question is from Peredur Owen Griffiths.
1. Sut y mae'r Llywodraeth yn hyrwyddo'r economi gydweithredol yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ63702
1. How is the Government promoting the co-operative economy in South Wales East? OQ63702
There are 533 co‑operative enterprises operating across Wales, and, of these, 92 are based in South Wales East, reflecting the region’s strong tradition of community-led economic activity. Co-operatives and social businesses are central to creating an inclusive, sustainable economy that anchors wealth locally and promotes well-being. We actively support co-operative growth through Social Business Wales, which offers specialist advice and funding to help start and scale co-operative businesses.
Mae 533 o fentrau cydweithredol yn gweithredu yng Nghymru, ac o'r rhain, mae 92 wedi'u lleoli yn Nwyrain De Cymru, gan adlewyrchu traddodiad cryf y rhanbarth o weithgarwch economaidd dan arweiniad y gymuned. Mae cwmnïau cydweithredol a busnesau cymdeithasol yn hollbwysig ar gyfer creu economi gynhwysol a chynaliadwy sy'n angori cyfoeth yn lleol ac yn hyrwyddo lles. Rydym yn mynd ati'n weithredol i gefnogi twf mentrau cydweithredol drwy Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru, sy'n cynnig cyllid a chyngor arbenigol i helpu i gychwyn ac ehangu busnesau cydweithredol.
Diolch yn fawr am yr ateb.
Thank you very much for that response.
Thank you very much. During my visits around my region, I found that co-operation is a quality that is often intrinsic within people living in Wales and our communities. Sadly, our communities do not enjoy the same rights as their Scottish or English counterparts, as there is no right to buy here. Such legislation would have made a real boost to the small village of Draethen in my region, where a once popular pub is slowly rotting after years of closure. Star Pubs, which own the building, have an interested buyer after years of stasis, and they have assured locals that the sale is still progressing for use as a pub. Locals who banded together to establish a campaign to save the pub and start a crowdfunder to buy it are not 100 per cent confident in such assurances, as the potential buyer is yet to make contact. Do you regret not introducing community right-to-buy legislation in Wales, as outlined by my colleague Luke Fletcher in his economy paper, 'Making Wales Work: Plaid Cymru's New Economic Plan', which would empower our communities and its people to save such key assets as the Hollybush pub in Draethen?
Diolch yn fawr. Yn fy ymweliadau o amgylch fy rhanbarth, canfûm fod cydweithredu'n aml yn nodwedd gynhenid mewn pobl sy'n byw yng Nghymru a'n cymunedau. Yn anffodus, nid yw ein cymunedau'n mwynhau'r un hawliau â chymunedau'r Alban neu Loegr, gan nad oes gennym hawl i brynu yma. Byddai deddfwriaeth o'r fath wedi rhoi hwb gwirioneddol i bentref bach Draethen yn fy rhanbarth, lle mae tafarn a fu unwaith yn boblogaidd yn dirywio'n araf ar ôl bod ar gau ers blynyddoedd. Mae gan Star Pubs, sy'n berchen ar yr adeilad, brynwr â diddordeb ar ôl blynyddoedd o stasis, ac maent wedi rhoi sicrwydd i'r bobl leol fod y gwerthiant yn dal i fynd rhagddo i'w ddefnyddio fel tafarn. Nid yw'r bobl leol a ddaeth ynghyd i sefydlu ymgyrch i achub y dafarn a dechrau ymgyrch gyllido torfol i'w phrynu yn gwbl hyderus mewn geiriau o sicrwydd o'r fath, gan nad yw'r prynwr posib wedi cysylltu eto. A ydych ch'n difaru peidio â chyflwyno deddfwriaeth hawl y gymuned i brynu yng Nghymru, fel yr amlinellwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod Luke Fletcher yn ei bapur ar yr economi, 'Gwneud i Gymru Weithio: Cynllun Economaidd Newydd Plaid Cymru', a fyddai'n grymuso ein cymunedau a'u pobl i achub asedau allweddol fel tafarn yr Hollybush yn Nraethen?
Well, I'd start by agreeing that that spirit of co-operation is absolutely intrinsic. When we in the Welsh Government talk about doing things the Welsh way, it is very much about that co-operation and partnership working. And, actually, many of us in the Welsh Government are not only Welsh Labour members, but members of the co-operative party as well, me being one of those. So, I absolutely recognise the benefits that co-operation can bring.
I do want to recognise the good work that Cwmpas has been doing in developing its Community Shares Wales resilience project. That's supported over 500 people in 18 communities to raise nearly £5 million across Wales to reclaim community assets and hubs for the benefits of local people, because, like you, we recognise that community-owned assets can generate local jobs and support small businesses, providing those inclusive spaces that promote well-being as well. We have, obviously, provided a wealth of information, advice and guidance for communities that are interested in this. However, in terms of the next steps, the Welsh Government has been clear that it does consider the right to buy to be something that we would be very much interested in further exploring in future.
Wel, os caf ddechrau drwy gytuno bod yr ysbryd cydweithredol hwnnw'n sicr yn gynhenid. Pan fyddwn ni yn Llywodraeth Cymru’n sôn am wneud pethau yn y ffordd Gymreig, mae a wnelo â'r cydweithredu a'r gwaith partneriaeth hwnnw. Ac mewn gwirionedd, mae llawer ohonom yn Llywodraeth Cymru nid yn unig yn aelodau o Lafur Cymru, ond yn aelodau o'r blaid gydweithredol hefyd, ac rwyf innau'n un o'r rheini. Felly, rwy'n llwyr gydnabod y manteision y gall cydweithredu eu darparu.
Hoffwn gydnabod y gwaith da y mae Cwmpas wedi bod yn ei wneud ar ddatblygu eu prosiect gwydnwch, Cyfranddaliadau Cymunedol Cymru. Mae'r prosiect hwnnw wedi cefnogi dros 500 o bobl mewn 18 cymuned i godi bron i £5 miliwn ledled Cymru i adfer canolfannau ac asedau cymunedol er budd y bobl leol, oherwydd, fel chi, rydym yn cydnabod y gall asedau sy'n eiddo i'r gymuned greu swyddi lleol a chefnogi busnesau bach, gan ddarparu'r mannau cynhwysol hynny sy'n hyrwyddo lles hefyd. Yn amlwg, rydym wedi darparu toreth o wybodaeth, cyngor ac arweiniad i gymunedau sydd â diddordeb yn hyn. Fodd bynnag, o ran y camau nesaf, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi nodi'n glir ei bod yn ystyried yr hawl i brynu'n rhywbeth y byddem yn awyddus iawn i'w archwilio ymhellach yn y dyfodol.
Cabinet Secretary, my colleagues and I are firm believers in social enterprise, and I find it interesting that the Perthyn project, which you launched in north and west Wales, includes helping communities to save local assets, such as shops and pubs. That seems very familiar to me, as a Conservative, because that was also in the Localism Act of 2011, which successive Welsh Governments declined to apply here in Wales. Now that the UK Labour Chancellor has launched a full-frontal assault on pubs and the hospitality industry, which has led to popular independent pubs closing in my area, such as the Friendly Fox in Rogerstone, what measures are you specifically going to be taking to ensure that local social enterprise can indeed help save these vital community assets across south-east Wales as well? Thank you.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae fy nghyd-Aelodau a minnau'n credu'n gryf mewn mentrau cymdeithasol, ac mae'n ddiddorol i mi fod prosiect Perthyn, a lansiwyd gennych yng ngogledd a gorllewin Cymru, yn cynnwys helpu cymunedau i achub asedau lleol, fel siopau a thafarndai. Mae hynny'n swnio'n gyfarwydd iawn i mi, fel Ceidwadwr, gan fod hynny hefyd yn Neddf Lleoliaeth 2011, y mae Llywodraethau Cymru olynol wedi gwrthod ei rhoi ar waith yma yng Nghymru. Gan fod Canghellor Llafur y DU bellach wedi ymosod ar dafarndai a'r diwydiant lletygarwch, gan arwain at gau tafarndai annibynnol poblogaidd yn fy ardal i, fel y Friendly Fox yn Nhŷ-du, pa gamau penodol y byddwch chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau y gall mentrau cymdeithasol lleol helpu i achub yr asedau cymunedol hanfodol hyn ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru hefyd? Diolch.
The Perthyn project is something that the Welsh Government was very proud of introducing in 2022. Initially, it was providing that early-stage support to Welsh-speaking communities in north and west Wales. In November, the latest round of the Perthyn grant scheme opened up to applications across the whole of Wales. So, it does aim to support our ambition to have a million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050. To date, the project has supported over 76 community groups. So, it is a really good example of something that we're now rolling out across Wales and that is making a difference in Welsh-speaking communities particularly.
In terms of that wider question of support for social enterprises, as I've said, these enterprises and co-operatives are a really important part of the social and economic landscape in Wales. Within this Senedd term, we've worked really closely, through Social Business Wales, to provide that support. They've supported 29 co-operatives in South Wales East, and many more across the whole of Wales. Actually, Wales leads the UK for growth over five years, with 2.6 new co-operatives for every 100,000 people, and a total of 7 per cent of the UK's co-operatives are registered here in Wales. So, there's certainly no absence of ambition for community-owned and community-led enterprises here in Wales, and the work of Social Business Wales is helping to turn that ambition into reality.
Mae prosiect Perthyn yn rhywbeth yr oedd Llywodraeth Cymru’n falch iawn o'i gyflwyno yn 2022. Yn wreiddiol, roedd yn darparu'r cymorth cynnar hwnnw i gymunedau Cymraeg eu hiaith yng ngogledd a gorllewin Cymru. Ym mis Tachwedd, agorodd rownd ddiweddaraf cynllun grant Perthyn i geisiadau ledled Cymru gyfan. Felly, ei nod yw cefnogi ein huchelgais i gael miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru erbyn 2050. Hyd yn hyn, mae'r prosiect wedi cefnogi dros 76 o grwpiau cymunedol. Felly, mae'n enghraifft dda iawn o rywbeth yr ydym yn ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru nawr ac sy'n gwneud gwahaniaeth mewn cymunedau Cymraeg eu hiaith yn arbennig.
Ar y cwestiwn ehangach ynghylch cymorth i fentrau cymdeithasol, fel y dywedais, mae'r mentrau a'r cwmnïau cydweithredol hyn yn rhan bwysig iawn o'r dirwedd gymdeithasol ac economaidd yng Nghymru. Yn nhymor y Senedd hon, rydym wedi gweithio'n agos iawn, drwy Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru, i ddarparu'r cymorth hwnnw. Maent wedi cefnogi 29 o gwmnïau cydweithredol yn Nwyrain De Cymru, a llawer mwy ledled Cymru gyfan. Mewn gwirionedd, Cymru sy'n arwain y DU o ran twf dros bum mlynedd, gyda 2.6 o gwmnïau cydweithredol newydd am bob 100,000 o bobl, ac mae cyfanswm o 7 y cant o gwmnïau cydweithredol y DU wedi'u cofrestru yma yng Nghymru. Felly, yn sicr, nid oes diffyg uchelgais ar gyfer mentrau sy'n eiddo i'r gymuned ac a arweinir gan y gymuned yma yng Nghymru, ac mae gwaith Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru yn helpu i wireddu'r uchelgais hwnnw.
2. Pa asesiad y mae yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o effaith costau cynyddol ar y sector twristiaeth a lletygarwch? OQ63691
2. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the impact of increased costs on the tourism and hospitality sector? OQ63691
Increased costs are challenging, but we're backing tourism in Wales with a £50 million Wales tourism investment fund, and our brilliant basics and weatherproofing grants. We provide year-round marketing alongside work to improve skills and to help the sector adopt AI. Our focus is on delivering a resilient, competitive and sustainable visitor economy right across Wales.
Mae costau cynyddol yn heriol, ond rydym yn cefnogi twristiaeth yng Nghymru gyda chronfa buddsoddi mewn twristiaeth ar gyfer Cymru, sy'n werth £50 miliwn, a'n grantiau pethau pwysig a gwrthsefyll tywydd. Rydym yn darparu marchnata drwy gydol y flwyddyn ochr yn ochr â gwaith i wella sgiliau ac i helpu'r sector i fabwysiadu deallusrwydd artiffisial. Ein ffocws yw sicrhau economi ymwelwyr sy'n wydn, yn gystadleuol ac yn gynaliadwy ledled Cymru.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I've asked this question numerous times, but, each time I ask it, there's been an even more retrograde step for our hospitality and tourism businesses and retailers. The simple fact remains that many now are going out of business. We've lost three shops in beautiful Conwy town, which won the high street of the UK award quite recently. We've also lost a hotel called the Marlborough in Llandudno—over 100 years it's been there. Retailers and hospitality are all saying that it's the last hit now, with the Welsh Government taking away support for business rates, increased food costs, lack of customers. They haven't recovered from COVID, Cabinet Secretary. Will you rethink the figures and please provide back to our businesses that relief that they were receiving? They already suffer compared to England. As I say, I've got hotels on Llandudno promenade paying £600 or £700, or £1,000 a year in business rates. It's not doable in this day and age. Will you go back and have a look at this?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwyf wedi gofyn y cwestiwn hwn sawl gwaith, ond bob tro rwy'n ei ofyn, mae cam yn ôl wedi'i i gymryd i'n busnesau a'n manwerthwyr lletygarwch a thwristiaeth. Erys y ffaith syml fod llawer ohonynt bellach yn mynd i'r wal. Rydym wedi colli tair siop yn nhref hardd Conwy, a enillodd wobr stryd fawr y DU yn eithaf diweddar. Rydym hefyd wedi colli gwesty o'r enw'r Marlborough yn Llandudno—mae wedi bod yno ers dros 100 mlynedd. Mae manwerthwyr a'r sector lletygarwch oll yn dweud mai dyma'r ergyd olaf nawr, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru’n tynnu cymorth ardrethi busnes yn ôl, costau bwyd uwch, prinder cwsmeriaid. Nid ydynt wedi adfer ers COVID, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. A wnewch chi ailystyried y ffigurau a rhoi'r rhyddhad yr oedd ein busnesau yn arfer ei gael yn ôl iddynt? Maent eisoes yn dioddef o gymharu â Lloegr. Fel y dywedaf, mae gennyf westai ar bromenâd Llandudno sy'n talu £600 neu £700, neu £1,000 y flwyddyn mewn ardrethi busnes. Nid yw'n bosib yn yr oes sydd ohoni. A wnewch chi fynd yn ôl ac edrych ar hyn?
I'm really grateful for the question. I do think we need to recognise that the Welsh Government does provide significant rates relief for businesses in the hospitality, retail and leisure sector, but, of course, across the economy as well. We are providing a non-domestic rate support package worth £335 million in 2025-26—that's a third of £1 billion. I think what's often lost in this debate is that, actually, that's a third of £1 billion of taxpayers' money that is going to pay either entirely or in part the bills of businesses across Wales. That's a political choice that we have made. The First Minister has stood here and she's talked about that being the equivalent of around 6,000 nurses here in Wales. It isn't always accepted that, when a business gets full rate relief, that money is actually coming from the taxpayer, and we have to rebalance that against all of the other pressures that the Government is facing. So, a third of £1 billion is no insignificant amount of money. That does include our permanent rates relief scheme and the support that we're providing through the transition now for those businesses that have been impacted by revaluation.
That said, I do want to recognise, of course, that this is a really difficult time for many businesses across Wales. But I also do think we need to be realistic about what is quite significant support and, specifically for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, £1 billion of those bills being picked up by the taxpayer over recent years, following COVID. That was unsustainable as a full-time scheme, and, of course, businesses have known, since we dropped that to 75 per cent and then 40 per cent, that there was a trajectory of removing that. Of course, many of these businesses will still be able to access support through the permanent rates relief scheme. Around a quarter of pubs pay no rates at all, and a significant further percentage do have support with those bills as well.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn. Credaf fod angen inni gydnabod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu rhyddhad ardrethi sylweddol i fusnesau yn y sector lletygarwch, manwerthu a hamdden, ac ar draws yr economi hefyd. Rydym yn darparu pecyn cymorth ardrethi annomestig gwerth £335 miliwn yn 2025-26—mae hynny'n draean o £1 biliwn. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n aml yn cael ei golli yn y ddadl hon, mewn gwirionedd, yw bod hynny'n draean o £1 biliwn o arian trethdalwyr a fydd yn mynd i dalu biliau busnesau ledled Cymru yn gyfan gwbl neu'n rhannol. Roedd hwnnw'n ddewis gwleidyddol a wnaethom. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi sefyll yma a dweud bod hynny'n cyfateb i oddeutu 6,000 o nyrsys yma yng Nghymru. Nid yw pobl bob amser yn derbyn, pan fydd busnes yn cael rhyddhad ardrethi llawn, fod yr arian hwnnw mewn gwirionedd yn dod gan y trethdalwr, ac mae'n rhaid inni ailgydbwyso hynny yn erbyn yr holl bwysau arall y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wynebu. Felly, nid yw traean o £1 biliwn yn swm ansylweddol o arian. Mae'n cynnwys ein cynllun rhyddhad ardrethi parhaol a'r cymorth a ddarparwn drwy'r cyfnod pontio nawr i'r busnesau hynny yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan yr ailbrisio.
Wedi dweud hynny, rwyf am gydnabod, wrth gwrs, fod hwn yn gyfnod anodd iawn i lawer o fusnesau ledled Cymru. Ond credaf hefyd fod angen inni fod yn realistig ynglŷn â'r hyn sy'n gymorth eithaf sylweddol i'r sector manwerthu, lletygarwch a hamdden yn benodol, gyda gwerth £1 biliwn o'r biliau hynny'n cael eu talu gan y trethdalwr dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, yn dilyn COVID. Roedd hynny'n anghynaliadwy fel cynllun llawn amser, ac wrth gwrs, mae busnesau wedi gwybod, ers inni ei ostwng i 75 y cant ac yna i 40 y cant, mai'r bwriad oedd dod â hynny i ben yn y pen draw. Wrth gwrs, bydd llawer o'r busnesau hyn yn dal i allu cael cymorth drwy'r cynllun rhyddhad ardrethi parhaol. Nid yw oddeutu chwarter y tafarndai'n talu unrhyw ardrethi o gwbl, ac mae canran sylweddol arall yn cael cymorth gyda'r biliau hynny hefyd.
Cwestiynau'r llefarwyr nawr. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Samuel Kurtz.
Questions from the spokespeople now. The Conservative spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.
Cabinet Secretary, I welcome the announcements made last week that the Erebus floating offshore wind project and the Awel y Môr offshore wind project were given the go ahead. I've raised Pembrokeshire's Erebus project in the Senedd on a number of occasions in this Senedd term. Concerns remain, however, about both the strike price agreed, which could further drive up the cost of consumer energy bills, and that the availability of key parts of the supply chain, such as the skilled workforce and port infrastructure, just isn't there. So, what assurances can you give that the communities closest to these projects will see the bulk of the benefit, through jobs, investment and prosperity, or, simply, will these projects be built and assembled elsewhere, dropped into the sea, with the local communities bypassed for any benefit?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiadau a wnaed yr wythnos diwethaf fod prosiect fferm wynt arnofiol ar y môr Erebus a phrosiect fferm wynt ar y môr Awel y Môr wedi cael caniatâd i barhau. Rwyf wedi codi prosiect Erebus sir Benfro yn y Senedd ar nifer o achlysuron yn nhymor y Senedd hon. Fodd bynnag, mae pryderon yn parhau ynghylch y pris y cytunwyd arno, a allai gynyddu cost biliau ynni defnyddwyr ymhellach, ac nad yw rhannau allweddol o'r gadwyn gyflenwi, fel y gweithlu medrus a seilwaith porthladd, yno o gwbl. Felly, pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi y bydd y cymunedau agosaf at y prosiectau hyn yn gweld y rhan fwyaf o'r budd, drwy swyddi, buddsoddiad a ffyniant, neu a fydd y prosiectau hyn yn cael eu hadeiladu a'u cydosod yn rhywle arall, ac yn cael eu gollwng yn y môr, gyda chymunedau lleol yn colli unrhyw fudd?
Well, we were absolutely delighted that two Welsh offshore wind projects were able to secure contracts in the latest UK auction. I think that really does set out how well-placed Wales is to build on its existing capacity for renewable energy, and to reap the rewards of these projects bringing many high-paid, high-quality jobs to Wales.
I think that we were already in a very strong position, having done all of that work on the floating offshore wind industry through the task and finish group that I set up. That did look at the important work that needs to be done in the ports. It looks at the important work that needs to be done to develop the supply chain. So, in a sense, we're already a bit ahead of the game, having brought all of those partners together and everybody understanding what steps they need to take.
On the strike price, I do understand the concerns that have been raised there, but, equally, I think that when we recognise the geopolitical circumstances we're in, and the absolute need to have that domestic energy security, I think that that will also be part of the consideration as we assess the overall project.
Wel, roeddem wrth ein boddau fod dau brosiect ynni gwynt ar y môr yng Nghymru wedi gallu sicrhau contractau yn arwerthiant diweddaraf y DU. Credaf fod hynny'n dangos yn glir fod Cymru mewn sefyllfa wych i adeiladu ar ei chapasiti presennol ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy, ac i elwa o'r prosiectau hyn gan ddod â llawer o swyddi o ansawdd uchel a chyflogau uchel i Gymru.
Credaf ein bod eisoes mewn sefyllfa gref iawn, ar ôl gwneud yr holl waith ar y diwydiant ynni gwynt arnofiol ar y môr drwy'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen a sefydlais. Edrychodd y grŵp hwnnw ar y gwaith pwysig sydd angen ei wneud yn y porthladdoedd. Mae'n edrych ar y gwaith pwysig sydd angen ei wneud i ddatblygu'r gadwyn gyflenwi. Felly, ar un ystyr, rydym eisoes ar y blaen, ar ôl dod â'r holl bartneriaid hynny ynghyd, a phawb yn deall pa gamau y mae angen iddynt eu cymryd.
O ran y pris, rwy'n deall y pryderon a godwyd, ond yn yr un modd, pan fyddwn yn cydnabod ein hamgylchiadau geowleidyddol, a'r angen hollbwysig i sicrhau diogeledd ynni domestig, rwy'n credu y bydd hynny hefyd yn rhan o'r ystyriaeth wrth inni asesu'r prosiect yn gyffredinol.
You mentioned the offshore wind task and finish group, and, yes, they reported last summer, and one of the recommendations was an implementation group. That group hasn't been established yet, Cabinet Secretary. So, what work can they be doing if they haven't even established an implementation group? And the work on establishing some of the opportunities, especially at free ports, was made by the previous UK Government, with, yes, the Welsh Labour Government, and these can be helpful drivers for investment in these sectors, knowing that the ports are going to be key to delivering and maintaining these projects. So, it was really disappointing that the ports of Pembrokeshire—Pembroke Port and Fishguard harbour—received not a single mention in the Irish sea resilience taskforce recommendations. Cabinet Secretary, port investment will be so important to delivering maximum benefit to local communities. So, how is this Welsh Government securing that investment and growth in our ports, or are other ports, such as those in Avonmouth, or even further away, going to do the bulk of the work for these projects?
Fe sonioch chi am y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar ynni gwynt ar y môr, a do, fe wnaethant adrodd yr haf diwethaf, ac un o'r argymhellion oedd grŵp gweithredu. Nid yw'r grŵp hwnnw wedi'i sefydlu eto, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Felly, pa waith y gallant ei wneud os nad ydynt hyd yn oed wedi sefydlu grŵp gweithredu? A gwnaed y gwaith ar nodi rhai o'r cyfleoedd, yn enwedig mewn porthladdoedd rhydd, gan Lywodraeth flaenorol y DU, gyda, ie, Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru, a gall y rhain fod yn ysgogwyr defnyddiol ar gyfer buddsoddi yn y sectorau hyn, gan wybod y bydd y porthladdoedd yn allweddol i gyflawni a chynnal y prosiectau hyn. Felly, roedd hi'n siomedig iawn na soniwyd am borthladdoedd sir Benfro—Porthladd Penfro a harbwr Abergwaun—o gwbl yn argymhellion tasglu gwydnwch môr Iwerddon. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, bydd buddsoddi mewn porthladdoedd yn hollbwysig i sicrhau'r budd mwyaf i gymunedau lleol. Felly, sut y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru yn sicrhau buddsoddiad a twf yn ein porthladdoedd, neu a yw porthladdoedd eraill, fel y rhai yn Avonmouth, neu hyd yn oed ymhellach i ffwrdd, yn mynd i wneud y rhan fwyaf o'r gwaith ar gyfer y prosiectau hyn?
We have recently published the Welsh Government's ports prospectus. I think that that was a really well-received document, both by the ports and by industry more widely. That prospectus sets out what the capabilities and the capacities are, and the potential of our ports, but then also recognises the investment that must be made in those ports in order to realise that potential. So, that work—again part of the offshore wind task and finish group action plan recommendations—was a really important step forward in terms of bringing those partners together.
Obviously, we're having discussions with the ports, but understanding what the need might be from the National Wealth Fund, for example. That could be a really important source of funding for investment in the ports. So, those discussions are absolutely ongoing. They're discussions that we're keen to continue with.
On the free ports, I'm really pleased that we've been able to provide the tax reliefs now through the Welsh Government for those free ports, and I also look forward very, very shortly to the £25 million seed funding becoming available.
Yn ddiweddar, rydym wedi cyhoeddi prosbectws porthladdoedd Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n credu bod honno'n ddogfen a gafodd groeso cynnes iawn, gan y porthladdoedd a chan y diwydiant yn ehangach. Mae'r prosbectws hwnnw'n nodi beth yw'r galluoedd a'r capasiti, a photensial ein porthladdoedd, ond mae hefyd yn cydnabod y buddsoddiad sy'n rhaid ei wneud yn y porthladdoedd hynny er mwyn gwireddu'r potensial. Felly, roedd y gwaith hwnnw—unwaith eto'n rhan o argymhellion cynllun gweithredu'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar ynni gwynt ar y môr—yn gam pwysig iawn ymlaen o ran dod â'r partneriaid hynny ynghyd.
Yn amlwg, rydym yn trafod gyda'r porthladdoedd, ond yn deall beth y gallai'r angen fod gan y Gronfa Gyfoeth Wladol, er enghraifft. Gallai hynny fod yn ffynhonnell gyllid bwysig iawn ar gyfer buddsoddi yn y porthladdoedd. Felly, yn sicr, mae'r trafodaethau hynny'n parhau. Maent yn drafodaethau yr ydym yn awyddus i barhau â nhw.
Ar y porthladdoedd rhydd, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu darparu'r rhyddhadau treth nawr drwy Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y porthladdoedd rhydd hynny, ac edrychaf ymlaen hefyd at y gwerth £25 miliwn o gyllid sbarduno a fydd ar gael cyn bo hir.
We've been advocating for the opportunities that exist in floating offshore wind for well over five years. It's not about talking anymore; it's about action. We need to start seeing spades in the ground, investment in our port infrastructure, investment in our grid infrastructure as well. This isn't going to be an opportunity to exist in a year, in 12 months, 14 months, two years' time, because the opportunity is now and we are behind the curve. Avonmouth port are investing. Our ports in Wales are still waiting to get on with the job, so this is an opportunity that should be seized, but is being made more difficult by continued rhetoric rather than delivery.
But other industries that are integral to both our economic and energy security are the oil and gas sectors. These are key employers. They keep the lights on and the wheels turning. But the rhetoric from Ed Miliband and co. in Westminster is that he wants to see the back of these key industries as quickly as possible. That is strategically a bad decision, and a decision that will make us poorer and more vulnerable. So, this Welsh Government can't guarantee that the benefits will go to communities from these new offshore wind projects. Colleagues in Labour up in London want to see an end to key oil and gas industries. Inflation and energy prices are now higher than they were at the general election. It's not painting a very good picture, is it, Cabinet Secretary?
Rydym wedi bod yn dadlau dros y cyfleoedd sy'n bodoli mewn ynni gwynt arnofiol ar y môr ers dros bum mlynedd. Nid yw'n fater o siarad mwyach; mae'n fater o weithredu. Mae angen inni ddechrau gweld rhawiau yn y ddaear, buddsoddiad yn ein seilwaith porthladdoedd, buddsoddiad yn ein seilwaith grid hefyd. Nid yw'r cyfle hwn yn mynd i fodoli mewn blwyddyn, 12 mis, 14 mis, dwy flynedd, gan fod y cyfle yma nawr, ac rydym ar ei hôl hi. Mae porthladd Avonmouth yn buddsoddi. Mae ein porthladdoedd yng Nghymru yn dal i aros i fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith, felly mae hwn yn gyfle y dylid manteisio arno, ond mae'n anoddach oherwydd y rhethreg barhaus yn hytrach na chyflawni.
Ond diwydiannau eraill sy'n hanfodol i'n diogelwch economaidd a'n diogeledd ynni yw'r sectorau olew a nwy. Maent yn gyflogwyr allweddol. Maent yn cadw'r goleuadau ymlaen a'r olwynion yn troi. Ond y rhethreg gan Ed Miliband a'i griw yn San Steffan yw ei fod eisiau gweld diwedd y diwydiannau allweddol hyn cyn gynted â phosib. Mae hwnnw'n benderfyniad gwael yn strategol, ac yn benderfyniad a fydd yn ein gwneud yn dlotach ac yn fwy bregus. Felly, ni all Llywodraeth Cymru warantu y bydd manteision y prosiectau ynni gwynt ar y môr newydd hyn yn mynd i gymunedau. Mae eich cymheiriaid Llafur yn Llundain eisiau gweld diwedd ar ddiwydiannau olew a nwy allweddol. Mae chwyddiant a phrisiau ynni bellach yn uwch nag ar adeg yr etholiad cyffredinol. Nid yw'n ddarlun da iawn, ydy e, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet?
Well, we see things very differently in the Welsh Government, because you'll have just noted that, very recently, we had the international investment summit. Energy was front and centre of that investment summit, alongside a number of other key strategic sectors for us. During those couple of days, we had a whole range of meetings with businesses from the energy sector. Clean energy, particularly, is a focus for this Welsh Government. We've been working really hard to develop the vision, but also to develop the projects, alongside others. So, energy is absolutely front and centre of this Welsh Government's approach. That's why the First Minister put economy, energy and planning into a single portfolio. You'll have seen, just yesterday, my statement on what the Welsh Government's been doing to speed up planning. That was very much, actually, in response to concerns raised by the energy sector, that they needed decisions to be made more quickly, and they needed certainty more quickly in order to invest. So, bringing all of these tools together, I think, is making a difference and giving industry the confidence it needs.
Wel, rydym yn gweld pethau'n wahanol iawn yn Llywodraeth Cymru, gan y byddwch newydd nodi ein bod, yn ddiweddar iawn, wedi cael yr uwchgynhadledd fuddsoddi ryngwladol. Roedd rhan flaenllaw i ynni yn yr uwchgynhadledd fuddsoddi honno, ochr yn ochr â nifer o'n sectorau strategol allweddol eraill. Yn y deuddydd hwnnw, cawsom ystod eang o gyfarfodydd gyda busnesau o'r sector ynni. Mae ynni glân yn enwedig yn ffocws i'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn i ddatblygu'r weledigaeth, ond hefyd i ddatblygu'r prosiectau, ochr yn ochr ag eraill. Felly, mae ynni'n rhan flaenllaw iawn o ddull gweithredu'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru. Dyna pam y rhoddodd y Prif Weinidog yr economi, ynni a chynllunio mewn un portffolio. Byddwch wedi gweld, ddoe ddiwethaf, fy natganiad ar yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ei wneud i gyflymu penderfyniadau cynllunio. Roedd hynny mewn ymateb i bryderon a godwyd gan y sector ynni, eu bod angen i benderfyniadau gael eu gwneud yn gyflymach, ac roeddent angen sicrwydd yn gyflymach er mwyn buddsoddi. Felly, rwy'n credu bod dod â'r holl bethau hyn ynghyd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ac yn rhoi'r hyder y mae ei angen i ddiwydiant.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. And, of course, very welcome news coming out in terms of floating offshore wind, but, just listening to the answers that the Cabinet Secretary gave to Sam Kurtz, there seems to be a disconnect between the Government and reality. This morning, in a session of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, some fundamental questions were raised as part of our inward investment inquiry: questions around our supply chain, skills and port readiness. We are told that these windfarms will lead to 5,000 jobs in the next decade. Five thousand jobs where, exactly? The delivery timetable will be tight, and we've seen ports elsewhere making those necessary investments. We've seen underinvestment in apprenticeships, and we've seen our manufacturing base erode away. Case in point: what happened at Port Talbot. So, questions around whether or not the supply chains actually exist in Wales for us to take full advantage of what's being proposed in the Celtic sea. There's significant doubt being cast over whether Wales is in a position to fully realise the potential of this announcement. That was the perception a year ago. That is quickly becoming the reality now. Members across this Chamber should be frustrated with this situation, because a number of Members, cross-party, have raised this concern time and time again. There's a disconnect between the Government and reality here. How would the Cabinet Secretary respond?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r newyddion am ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr i'w groesawu, ond wrth wrando ar yr atebion a roddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i Sam Kurtz, ymddengys bod datgysylltiad rhwng y Llywodraeth a realiti. Y bore yma, yn sesiwn Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, codwyd rhai cwestiynau sylfaenol fel rhan o'n hymchwiliad i fewnfuddsoddi: cwestiynau ynghylch ein cadwyn gyflenwi, sgiliau a pharodrwydd porthladdoedd. Dywedir wrthym y bydd y ffermydd gwynt hyn yn arwain at 5,000 o swyddi yn y degawd nesaf. Pum mil o swyddi ymhle, yn union? Bydd yr amserlen ar gyfer cyflawni'n dynn, ac rydym wedi gweld porthladdoedd mewn mannau eraill yn gwneud y buddsoddiadau angenrheidiol hynny. Rydym wedi gweld tanfuddsoddi mewn prentisiaethau, ac rydym wedi gweld ein sylfaen weithgynhyrchu'n erydu. Enghraifft o hyn: yr hyn a ddigwyddodd ym Mhort Talbot. Felly, cwestiynau ynglŷn ag a yw'r cadwyni cyflenwi yn bodoli yng Nghymru mewn gwirionedd inni fanteisio'n llawn ar yr hyn sy'n cael ei gynnig yn y môr Celtaidd. Ceir cryn amheuaeth a yw Cymru mewn sefyllfa i wireddu potensial y cyhoeddiad hwn yn llawn. Dyna oedd y canfyddiad flwyddyn yn ôl. Mae hynny'n prysur ddod yn realiti bellach. Dylai Aelodau ar draws y Siambr hon deimlo'n rhwystredig gyda'r sefyllfa hon, gan fod nifer o Aelodau, yn drawsbleidiol, wedi codi'r pryder hwn dro ar ôl tro. Mae datgysylltiad rhwng y Llywodraeth a realiti yma. Sut y byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymateb?
As part of the offshore wind action plan task and finish group, we specifically had a work stream looking at skills, and we had another work stream looking specifically at the supply chain. Now, with the greatest will in the world, not every single component of floating offshore wind is going to be built here in Wales. What we need to do—[Interruption.] I mean, that should be obvious, so we shouldn't have guffaws in the Chamber because of that statement. What we do need to do and what we have been doing is looking at the entire supply chain. Where are our strengths here in Wales? Where are the gaps? And are there activities that the Welsh Government can do to support to close those gaps? Where are the opportunities?
Similarly, on the skills side, we've had the work stream working alongside our colleges to understand where the skills are, what the skills will be in future. Jack Sargeant led a specific piece of work looking at green skills and mapping out what skills will be needed in order to deliver projects such as floating offshore wind. So, the work is there. It's being done. It's being done in partnership with the colleges and universities, and in partnership with the supply chain and the representative bodies of business and industry here in Wales.
Fel rhan o grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer ynni gwynt ar y môr, roedd gennym ffrwd waith benodol yn edrych ar sgiliau, ac roedd gennym ffrwd waith arall yn edrych yn benodol ar y gadwyn gyflenwi. Nawr, gyda phob ewyllys da yn y byd, ni fydd holl gydrannau'r ffermydd gwynt arnofiol ar y môr yn cael eu hadeiladu yma yng Nghymru. Yr hyn sydd angen i ni ei wneud—[Torri ar draws.] Hynny yw, dylai hynny fod yn amlwg, felly ni ddylai pobl fod yn chwerthin yn y Siambr ar y datganiad hwnnw. Yr hyn sydd angen i ni ei wneud a'r hyn rydym wedi bod yn ei wneud yw edrych ar y gadwyn gyflenwi gyfan. Ble mae ein cryfderau yma yng Nghymru? Ble mae'r bylchau? Ac a oes pethau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu gwneud i gefnogi'r gwaith o gau'r bylchau hynny? Ble mae'r cyfleoedd?
Yn yr un modd, ar yr ochr sgiliau, mae'r ffrwd waith wedi bod yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â'n colegau i ddeall ble mae'r sgiliau, beth fydd y sgiliau yn y dyfodol. Arweiniodd Jack Sargeant waith penodol i edrych ar sgiliau gwyrdd a mapio pa sgiliau y bydd eu hangen er mwyn cyflawni prosiectau fel ynni gwynt arnofiol ar y môr. Felly, mae'r gwaith yno. Mae'n mynd rhagddo. Mae'n cael ei wneud mewn partneriaeth â'r colegau a'r prifysgolion, ac mewn partneriaeth â'r gadwyn gyflenwi a chyrff cynrychiadol busnes a diwydiant yma yng Nghymru.
I'm quite shocked, actually, with the opening there from the Cabinet Secretary in her response to me. I mean, okay, understandable, the position we're in now means that we are not going to be able to fully manufacture and assemble those wind turbines as they come online. I completely accept that's the position right now. But we've had years of discussion around this. I recall Members of the Welsh Labour Party advocating for a plate steel mill in Port Talbot to take advantage of the situation that was happening in the Celtic sea. We have had years. So, quite frankly, that shows a complete lack of ambition from Welsh Government. Another example of managerialism in a situation where we could have seriously seen massive benefits for a community that is a particularly vulnerable community, especially given what's happened now at the steelworks.
You mentioned the task and finish group. As Sam Kurtz said, we need to move past rhetoric at this point. We have 15 recommendations that came out of that task and finish group. As far as I can see, the only recommendation that was actioned was the ports prospectus. So, more talk, no delivery. So, how many recommendations, seriously, has that task and finish group taken forward? And where are we at now in taking full advantage of what is coming down the line? Because, right now, the confidence in the sector in Wales's ability to take advantage of the situation is completely eroded. The perception, as I said, has turned into a reality.
Rwyf wedi fy synnu'n fawr, mewn gwirionedd, gyda sylwadau agoriadol Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ei hymateb i mi. Hynny yw, iawn, yn ddealladwy, mae'r sefyllfa rydym ynddi nawr yn golygu na fyddwn yn gallu cynhyrchu a chydosod y tyrbinau gwynt hynny'n llawn wrth iddynt ddod yn weithredol. Rwy’n derbyn yn llwyr mai dyna'r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd. Ond rydym wedi cael blynyddoedd o drafod mewn perthynas â hyn. Rwy’n cofio Aelodau o Blaid Lafur Cymru yn dadlau dros felin dur plât ym Mhort Talbot i fanteisio ar y sefyllfa yn y môr Celtaidd. Rydym wedi cael blynyddoedd. Felly, a dweud y gwir, mae hynny'n dangos diffyg uchelgais llwyr gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Enghraifft arall o reolwriaeth mewn sefyllfa lle gallem fod wedi gweld manteision enfawr i gymuned sy'n arbennig o fregus, yn enwedig o ystyried yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd nawr gyda'r gwaith dur.
Fe sonioch chi am y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen. Fel y dywedodd Sam Kurtz, mae angen inni symud y tu hwnt i rethreg bellach. Mae gennym 15 o argymhellion gan y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen hwnnw. Hyd y gwelaf, yr unig argymhelliad a roddwyd ar waith oedd y prosbectws porthladdoedd. Felly, mwy o siarad, dim cyflawni. Felly, o ddifrif, faint o argymhellion y mae'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen hwnnw wedi bwrw ymlaen â nhw? A ble rydym arni ar hyn o bryd o ran manteisio'n llawn ar yr hyn sydd i ddod? Oherwydd, ar hyn o bryd, mae'r hyder yn y sector yng ngallu Cymru i fanteisio ar y sefyllfa wedi'i erydu'n llwyr. Mae'r canfyddiad, fel y dywedais, wedi troi'n realiti.
Well, that's not the perception that I have when I talk to people who are involved in the industry and who see the potential and the opportunities. They are ready to grasp those opportunities. They want to work with the Welsh Government to do that, but recognise that industry itself has a role to play in terms of grasping the opportunities. It's our job to create that environment where those opportunities can be easily grasped and realised. So, we are working, as I say, on the delivery of the action plan. There is some significant time yet before we will see those turbines actually fully delivered, but obviously we'll be working to make sure that we retain as much benefit as we can here in Wales.
We're actually working at the moment on a sector deal with the energy sector as well. So, that work will be coming to a conclusion, I hope, before the end of this Senedd term—we're looking towards the end of March to deliver that. And that will set out how industry and Government will work together in relation to maximising the benefits, retaining as much benefit as we possibly can here in Wales, both in terms of the supply chain but also in terms of skills as well.
Wel, nid dyna fy nghanfyddiad i pan fyddaf yn siarad â phobl sy'n ymwneud â'r diwydiant ac sy'n gweld y potensial a'r cyfleoedd. Maent yn barod i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny. Maent eisiau gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud hynny, ond maent yn cydnabod bod gan y diwydiant ei hun rôl i'w chwarae o ran manteisio ar y cyfleoedd. Ein cyfrifoldeb ni yw creu'r amgylchedd hwnnw lle gellir manteisio'n hawdd ar y cyfleoedd hynny a'u gwireddu. Felly, rydym yn gweithio, fel y dywedais, ar gyflawni'r cynllun gweithredu. Mae cryn dipyn o amser eto hyd nes y gwelwn y tyrbinau hynny'n cael eu cyflenwi'n llawn, ond yn amlwg, byddwn yn gweithio i sicrhau ein bod yn cadw cymaint o fudd ag y gallwn yma yng Nghymru.
Rydym yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd, mewn gwirionedd, ar fargen sector gyda'r sector ynni hefyd. Felly, bydd y gwaith hwnnw'n dod i ben, gobeithio, cyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon—rydym yn gobeithio cyflawni hynny oddeutu diwedd mis Mawrth. A bydd hwnnw'n nodi sut y bydd y diwydiant a'r Llywodraeth yn cydweithio er mwyn sicrhau'r manteision mwyaf posib, gan gadw cymaint o fudd ag y gallwn yma yng Nghymru, o ran y gadwyn gyflenwi, ond o ran sgiliau hefyd.
Yes, ready to grasp the opportunity, but you said yourself, waiting for Government to create the environment. That task and finish group reported a year ago. You talked about the sector deal, the sector deal has been in conversations now for two years. We are seriously dragging our feet on this situation. We have the example of Avonmouth as a port. It's genuinely, genuinely a concern again now that, when we come to the roll-out of FLOW, ports in England will have the advantage over us and will reap the benefits, and they will completely circumnavigate Wales. That's not a perception, it's not seeing things differently between me and you, that is the reality of the situation, and I would encourage the Cabinet Secretary to look at the evidence that we received this morning in the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. It set it out very clearly, and I think it's very worth while to consider what was said in that session. We are, as I said, in real danger of missing out on those benefits.
Now, I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary would have seen that the Plaid Cymru motion on devolving the Crown Estate has passed the House of Lords. One way that we can retain some of that profit from the latest developments in the Celtic sea would be to see the Crown Estate fully devolved. That Bill is now progressing to the Commons and is waiting for the Government to schedule a debate. So, will the Cabinet Secretary be encouraging Welsh Labour MPs to put pressure on the UK Government to schedule time? And will the Cabinet Secretary be putting pressure on Welsh Labour MPs to support Plaid Cymru's calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate via that Bill?
Iawn, parod i fanteisio ar y cyfle, ond fe ddywedoch chi eich hun, aros i'r Llywodraeth greu'r amgylchedd. Adroddodd y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen flwyddyn yn ôl. Fe sonioch chi am y fargen sector, mae'r fargen sector wedi bod yn destun trafodaeth nawr ers dwy flynedd. Rydym yn llusgo ein traed ar y sefyllfa hon. Mae gennym enghraifft Avonmouth fel porthladd. Mae'n bryder gwirioneddol unwaith eto nawr, pan fydd y gwynt arnofiol ar y môr yn cael ei gyflwyno, y bydd gan borthladdoedd yn Lloegr fantais drosom ni ac y byddant yn elwa o'r manteision, ac yn osgoi Cymru yn gyfan gwbl. Nid canfyddiad yw hynny, nid chi a minnau'n gweld pethau'n wahanol, dyna realiti'r sefyllfa, ac rwy'n annog Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i edrych ar y dystiolaeth a gawsom y bore yma ym Mhwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig. Fe'i nododd yn glir iawn, a chredaf ei bod yn werth ystyried yr hyn a ddywedwyd yn y sesiwn honno. Fel y dywedais, rydym mewn perygl gwirioneddol o golli'r manteision hynny.
Nawr, rwy'n siŵr y byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi gweld bod cynnig Plaid Cymru ar ddatganoli Ystad y Goron wedi pasio Tŷ'r Arglwyddi. Un ffordd y gallwn gadw rhywfaint o'r elw hwnnw o'r datblygiadau diweddaraf yn y môr Celtaidd fyddai datganoli Ystad y Goron yn llawn. Mae'r Bil hwnnw bellach yn mynd ymlaen i Dŷ'r Cyffredin ac yn aros i'r Llywodraeth drefnu dadl. Felly, a fydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn annog ASau Llafur Cymru i roi pwysau ar Lywodraeth y DU i drefnu amser? Ac a fydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn rhoi pwysau ar ASau Llafur Cymru i gefnogi galwadau Plaid Cymru am ddatganoli Ystad y Goron drwy'r Bil hwnnw?
I will look carefully at the evidence the committee has received in relation to ports, but of course colleagues will recognise that it is for the ports to be making that investment. So, Welsh Government can work with them to identify sources of funding, broker those discussions with the national wealth fund, for example, but ultimately the ports will need to have that confidence to invest. And I think that the recent announcements around floating offshore wind will give those ports confidence to invest.
But, on that wider point of the Crown Estate, I don't think there's any ambiguity whatsoever in the Welsh Government's views in relation to the Crown Estate, and you'll be familiar with the statement that the Deputy First Minister made recently in terms of setting up the expert group to advise on some of the detail as to how we might go about devolving the Crown Estate and what the economic benefits would be for us in Wales. Because there hasn't been sufficient visibility, I don't think, in terms of the financial benefits. It's easier in Scotland, because Scotland and the Scottish Government can point to particular sums of money that the country is benefiting from as a result of their approach in Scotland and the devolution there. We can't do that here in Wales to show the benefit of the Crown Estate. So certainly, in the first instance, more visibility on the funding, I think, would be very helpful. But I don't think there's any confusion about the Welsh Government's approach to the Crown Estate and our desire to see that devolved.
Byddaf yn edrych yn ofalus ar y dystiolaeth y mae'r pwyllgor wedi'i chael mewn perthynas â phorthladdoedd, ond wrth gwrs, bydd fy nghyd-Aelodau'n cydnabod mai'r porthladdoedd sy'n gyfrifol am wneud y buddsoddiad hwnnw. Felly, gall Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda nhw i nodi ffynonellau cyllid, broceru'r trafodaethau hynny gyda'r gronfa gyfoeth wladol, er enghraifft, ond yn y pen draw, bydd angen i'r porthladdoedd gael hyder i fuddsoddi. A chredaf y bydd y cyhoeddiadau diweddar ynghylch gwynt arnofiol ar y môr yn rhoi hyder i'r porthladdoedd hynny fuddsoddi.
Ond ar y pwynt ehangach ynghylch Ystad y Goron, ni chredaf fod unrhyw amwysedd o gwbl ym marn Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas ag Ystad y Goron, ac fe fyddwch yn gyfarwydd â'r datganiad a wnaeth y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog yn ddiweddar ynghylch sefydlu'r grŵp arbenigol i gynghori ar rai o'r manylion ynghylch sut y gallem fynd ati i ddatganoli Ystad y Goron a beth fyddai'r manteision economaidd i ni yng Nghymru. Oherwydd ni chredaf fod digon o welededd wedi bod i'r manteision ariannol. Mae'n haws yn yr Alban, gan y gall yr Alban a Llywodraeth yr Alban bwyntio at symiau penodol o arian y mae'r wlad yn elwa ohonynt o ganlyniad i'w dull gweithredu yn yr Alban a'r datganoli yno. Ni allwn wneud hynny yma yng Nghymru i ddangos budd Ystad y Goron. Felly yn sicr, yn y lle cyntaf, credaf y byddai mwy o welededd ar y cyllid yn ddefnyddiol iawn. Ond ni chredaf fod unrhyw ddryswch ynghylch ymagwedd Llywodraeth Cymru tuag at Ystad y Goron a'n hawydd i'w gweld yn cael ei datganoli.
3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi busnesau bach yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ63681
3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support small businesses in North Wales? OQ63681
Through £335 million of non-domestic rates support, targeted Business Wales advice and finance, and investment in digital connectivity and town-centre regeneration, we’re helping north-east Wales SMEs cut costs, access expertise and grow. We’re backing jobs and innovation, from start-ups to high-street businesses, with practical support that strengthens local economies now and for the future.
Drwy werth £335 miliwn o gymorth ardrethi annomestig, cyngor a chyllid wedi'i dargedu gan Busnes Cymru, a buddsoddiad mewn cysylltedd digidol ac adfywio canol trefi, rydym yn helpu busnesau bach a chanolig yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru i dorri costau, cael mynediad at arbenigedd a thyfu. Rydym yn cefnogi swyddi ac arloesedd, o fusnesau newydd i fusnesau'r stryd fawr, gyda chymorth ymarferol sy'n cryfhau economïau lleol nawr ac ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Well, it's outcomes that matter. A Wrexham hotelier, Steven Hesketh, was quoted in the media this month warning that the hospitality and hotelier sector is being, I quote, 'completely screwed' and set up to fail due to Government policies—blame the media for the language—with his rateable value set to jump from £87,000 to £171,000 from April, effectively doubling. On an £80-per-night room, 20 per cent goes on value added tax, 20 per cent on commission to the booking website, 10 per cent on business rates, leaving less than £40 before covering costs, including utility bill increases, averaging around 10 per cent. Llandudno operators report similar pressures, and UKHospitality Cymru estimates that Welsh rateable values have risen 26 per cent, adding £131 million to bills.
Although the Welsh Government points to historic relief and a new package that staggers increases and lowers the multiplier, hospitality and leisure are excluded from parts of those reforms, risking redundancies and closures in local economies that depend on tourism. When, if ever, will you convene urgent talks with hospitality businesses and the hospitality industry, to co-design practical support that keeps doors open and jobs local?
Wel, canlyniadau sy'n bwysig. Dyfynnwyd gwestywr o Wrecsam, Steven Hesketh, yn y cyfryngau y mis hwn yn rhybuddio bod y sector lletygarwch a gwestai yn cael ei ddinistrio'n llwyr a'i arwain i fethu oherwydd polisïau'r Llywodraeth gyda'i werth ardrethol yn mynd i neidio o £87,000 i £171,000 o fis Ebrill ymlaen, gan ddyblu i bob pwrpas. Ar ystafell £80 y noson, mae 20 y cant yn mynd ar dreth ar werth, 20 y cant ar gomisiwn i'r wefan archebu, 10 y cant ar ardrethi busnes, gan adael llai na £40 cyn talu costau, gan gynnwys cynnydd mewn biliau cyfleustodau, sydd oddeutu 10 y cant ar gyfartaledd. Mae gweithredwyr Llandudno yn nodi pwysau tebyg, ac mae UKHospitality Cymru yn amcangyfrif bod gwerthoedd ardrethol Cymru wedi codi 26 y cant, gan ychwanegu £131 miliwn at filiau.
Er bod Llywodraeth Cymru’n tynnu sylw at ryddhad hanesyddol a phecyn newydd sy'n cyflwyno'r cynnydd yn raddol ac yn lleihau'r lluosydd, mae lletygarwch a hamdden wedi'u heithrio o rannau o'r diwygiadau hynny, a fydd yn arwain at fethiant rhai busnesau a diswyddiadau posib mewn economïau lleol sy'n dibynnu ar dwristiaeth. Pryd, os o gwbl, y byddwch chi'n cynnull trafodaethau brys gyda busnesau lletygarwch a'r diwydiant lletygarwch, i gydgynllunio cymorth ymarferol sy'n cadw drysau ar agor a swyddi'n lleol?
I do recognise the concerns around the recent revaluation. Of course, that's undertaken by the Valuation Office Agency, which is independent of Welsh Government, but at the request of business, we did introduce legislation that moves us to a three-yearly rolling revaluation of non-domestic properties. That's carried out to maintain fairness in the system by redistributing the total amount payable between ratepayers to reflect the relative changes in the property market.
Really importantly, it doesn't raise one single additional penny through non-domestic rates. All it does is revalue those properties relative to one another across the market, so it doesn't raise any additional revenue overall. Again, that's something I don't think is properly recognised. Some ratepayers will see their rates increase, but of course others will see it decrease, and many will see no change at all, recognising the relative changes across the property market and the tax base here in Wales.
So, in response to understanding that this has been very difficult for some businesses, we're providing an additional £116 million of transitional relief over the next two years following the revaluation, which will take effect on 1 April. That's in addition to the permanent reliefs that I've talked about. Again, that is significant funding that we have found from the Welsh Government to pay parts of those bills of those businesses that are seeing an increase. I do recognise this is a really difficult time for many businesses, which is why we've put in the transitional support over the next two years, but also recognising that, overall, no additional money is raised as a result of revaluation.
Rwy'n cydnabod y pryderon ynghylch yr ailbrisio diweddar. Wrth gwrs, Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio, sy'n annibynnol ar Lywodraeth Cymru, sy'n gwneud hynny, ond ar gais busnesau, fe wnaethom gyflwyno deddfwriaeth sy'n ein newid i drefn ailbrisio dreigl tair blynedd mewn perthynas ag eiddo annomestig. Mae hynny'n digwydd er mwyn cynnal tegwch yn y system drwy ailddosbarthu'r cyfanswm sy'n daladwy rhwng talwyr trethi i adlewyrchu'r newidiadau cymharol yn y farchnad eiddo.
Yn wirioneddol bwysig, nid yw'n codi'r un geiniog ychwanegol drwy ardrethi annomestig. Y cyfan y mae'n ei wneud yw ailbrisio'r eiddo hynny mewn perthynas â'i gilydd ar draws y farchnad, felly nid yw'n codi unrhyw refeniw ychwanegol yn gyffredinol. Unwaith eto, mae hynny'n rhywbeth nad wyf yn credu bod pobl yn ei ddeall yn iawn. Bydd trethi rhai talwyr ardrethi’n cynyddu, ond wrth gwrs, fe fydd yn gostwng i eraill, a bydd llawer na fyddant yn gweld unrhyw newid o gwbl, gan gydnabod y newidiadau cymharol ar draws y farchnad eiddo a'r sylfaen drethu yma yng Nghymru.
Felly, mewn ymateb i ddeall bod hyn wedi bod yn anodd iawn i rai busnesau, rydym yn darparu £116 miliwn ychwanegol o ryddhad trosiannol dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf yn dilyn yr ailbrisio, a bydd hynny'n dod i rym ar 1 Ebrill. Mae hynny'n ychwanegol at y rhyddhadau parhaol y soniais amdanynt. Unwaith eto, mae hwnnw'n gyllid sylweddol y daethom o hyd iddo gan Lywodraeth Cymru i dalu rhannau o filiau'r busnesau hynny sy'n gweld cynnydd. Rwy’n cydnabod bod hwn yn gyfnod anodd iawn i lawer o fusnesau, a dyna pam ein bod wedi darparu'r cymorth trosiannol dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf, ond rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod, yn gyffredinol, nad oes unrhyw arian ychwanegol yn cael ei godi o ganlyniad i'r ailbrisio.
We've heard so many times already today, haven't we, about the intense pressure on hospitality businesses, pubs, et cetera. Many are asking, clearly, why the Welsh Government has excluded hospitality from the reduced retail multiplier. I'm just wondering whether you were aware of the consequences. Can you confirm whether an impact assessment has been carried out by the Government on this policy? Can you tell us, for example, that the work has been done to understand how many currently maybe viable businesses would actually not be able to continue to trade after the introduction of the policy? These are the questions that people are asking, so can you assure us that you've actually done your homework on this?
Rydym wedi clywed gymaint o weithiau'n barod heddiw, onid ydym, am y pwysau dwys ar fusnesau lletygarwch, tafarndai ac ati. Mae llawer yn gofyn, yn amlwg, pam y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eithrio lletygarwch o'r lluosydd manwerthu is. Tybed a oeddech chi'n ymwybodol o'r canlyniadau? A allwch chi gadarnhau bod asesiad o effaith y polisi hwn wedi'i gynnal gan y Llywodraeth? A allwch chi ddweud wrthym, er enghraifft, fod y gwaith wedi'i wneud i ddeall faint o fusnesau a allai fod yn fusnesau hyfyw ar hyn o bryd na fyddent yn gallu parhau i fasnachu ar ôl cyflwyno'r polisi? Dyma'r cwestiynau y mae pobl yn eu gofyn, felly a allwch chi roi sicrwydd i ni eich bod wedi gwneud eich gwaith cartref ar hyn mewn gwirionedd?
The reduced retail multiplier was there to recognise the pressures that small shops on our high streets are under, and particularly recognising the pressures they now have in terms of responding to the increase in digital sales and online sales. So, I obviously am not the lead on this policy area—it's the finance Secretary who is responsible for non-domestic rates—but the view was that the hospitality sector doesn't face that same pressure in relation to online sales as compared to small retail premises. So, if you're looking for an explanation as to why it was only those small shops who were included in that reduced retail multiplier, well, that's the explanation for that. I'm sure that the finance Secretary would be happy to provide you with more detail in terms of the work that his officials would have done to map out, if you like, the impact of that.
Roedd y lluosydd manwerthu is yno i gydnabod y pwysau sydd ar siopau bach ar ein strydoedd mawr, ac yn enwedig i gydnabod y pwysau sydd arnynt nawr o ran ymateb i'r cynnydd mewn gwerthiannau digidol a gwerthiannau ar-lein. Felly, yn amlwg, nid fi yw'r arweinydd yn y maes polisi hwn—yr Ysgrifennydd cyllid sy'n gyfrifol am ardrethi annomestig—ond y farn oedd nad yw'r sector lletygarwch yn wynebu'r un pwysau o ran gwerthiannau ar-lein o gymharu â safleoedd manwerthu bach. Felly, os ydych chi'n chwilio am esboniad pam mai dim ond y siopau bach hynny a gafodd eu cynnwys yn y lluosydd manwerthu is, wel, dyna'r esboniad. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Ysgrifennydd cyllid yn fwy na pharod i roi mwy o fanylion i chi am y gwaith y byddai ei swyddogion wedi'i wneud ar fapio effaith hynny.
Throughout my 19 years as the Member of the Senedd for Wrexham, I've seen first-hand how the Welsh Government has supported many small businesses in my constituency, particularly through Business Wales. The award-winning company Air Covers, which is located on the Wrexham industrial estate, is one such company. It designs and manufactures protective covers for both civil and military aircraft, boats and vehicles. Today, the company exports to over 50 countries. It started very small back in 2006.
That success has really been helped by significant support from the Welsh Government. They've attended numerous international trade missions, for example, and that's been absolutely key to its export growth. I'm really proud of the company. It is a local company and it continues to manufacture state-of-the-art bespoke products that are recognised and sought after right across the globe. I'd be grateful if you could expand a little bit on what your future plans are for further support for my constituency.
Trwy gydol fy 19 mlynedd fel Aelod o'r Senedd dros Wrecsam, rwyf wedi gweld drosof fy hun sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnogi llawer o fusnesau bach yn fy etholaeth, yn enwedig drwy Busnes Cymru. Mae'r cwmni arobryn Air Covers, sydd wedi'i leoli ar ystad ddiwydiannol Wrecsam, yn un o'r cwmnïau hyn. Mae'n cynllunio ac yn cynhyrchu gorchuddion amddiffynnol ar gyfer awyrennau sifil a milwrol, cychod a cherbydau. Heddiw, mae'r cwmni'n allforio i dros 50 o wledydd. Dechreuodd yn fach iawn yn ôl yn 2006.
Cafodd y llwyddiant hwnnw ei helpu gan gymorth sylweddol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Maent wedi mynychu nifer o deithiau masnach rhyngwladol, er enghraifft, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn hollol allweddol i dwf eu gweithgarwch allforio. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r cwmni. Mae'n gwmni lleol ac mae'n parhau i gynhyrchu cynhyrchion pwrpasol o'r radd flaenaf y mae galw amdanynt ar draws y byd. Hoffwn pe gallech ehangu ychydig ar beth yw eich cynlluniau yn y dyfodol ar gyfer rhoi cefnogaeth bellach i fy etholaeth.
I'm really grateful for the description of the work of Air Covers, another great business in your constituency. I was particularly delighted to join you at Magellan just last week as well—another really important part of the supply chain in the aerospace industry—to find out more about how Welsh Government support is helping that business grow as well. I know the Business Wales team has been really well received across Wales. The £22 million that we've been investing in the service in this financial year is certainly doing a lot of good in communities in every part of Wales. In this Senedd term, the Business Wales service has supported the creation of, or safeguarded, over 3,871 jobs, 996 new-start businesses, and provided support to 7,285 individuals and businesses in north Wales alone, so I think that every part of Wales will have some really great stories.
We do an awful lot to support businesses in terms of exporting. We have our Explore Export events—there are a couple of those coming up before the end of this Senedd term—where businesses can come together and hear from other businesses who have successfully received Welsh Government support to export across the globe. Also, I just want to say a word about the importance of our international offices. We've got offices in more than 10 countries across the globe, and they provide really important introductions to businesses who are looking to export. They can support businesses who want to travel to those markets and find out a bit more about the needs of those markets. They do great work supporting businesses in terms of helping them export, as well as bringing that inward investment to Wales.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y disgrifiad o waith Air Covers, busnes gwych arall yn eich etholaeth. Roeddwn yn arbennig o falch o ymuno â chi yn Magellan yr wythnos diwethaf hefyd—rhan bwysig arall o'r gadwyn gyflenwi yn y diwydiant awyrofod—i ddarganfod mwy ynglŷn â sut y mae cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yn helpu'r busnes hwnnw i dyfu. Rwy'n gwybod bod tîm Busnes Cymru wedi cael derbyniad da iawn ledled Cymru. Mae'r £22 miliwn y gwnaethom ei fuddsoddi yn y gwasanaeth yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon yn sicr yn gwneud llawer o les mewn cymunedau ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Yn nhymor y Senedd hon, mae gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru wedi cefnogi creu neu ddiogelu dros 3,871 o swyddi, 996 o fusnesau newydd, ac wedi darparu cymorth i 7,285 o unigolion a busnesau yng ngogledd Cymru yn unig, felly rwy'n credu y bydd gan bob rhan o Gymru straeon gwirioneddol wych i'w hadrodd.
Rydym yn gwneud llawer iawn i gefnogi busnesau i allforio. Mae gennym ein digwyddiadau Archwilio Allforio—mae yna un neu ddau o'r rheini ar y gweill cyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon—lle gall busnesau ddod at ei gilydd a chlywed gan fusnesau eraill sydd wedi llwyddo i gael cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i allforio ledled y byd. Hefyd, rwyf am ddweud gair am bwysigrwydd ein swyddfeydd rhyngwladol. Mae gennym swyddfeydd mewn mwy na 10 gwlad ledled y byd, ac maent yn darparu cyflwyniadau pwysig iawn i fusnesau sy'n awyddus i allforio. Gallant gefnogi busnesau sydd eisiau teithio i'r marchnadoedd hynny a darganfod ychydig mwy am eu hanghenion. Maent yn gwneud gwaith gwych yn cefnogi busnesau drwy eu helpu i allforio, yn ogystal â dod â mewnfuddsoddiad i Gymru.
4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau'r Llywodraeth i gefnogi cynhyrchu ynni domestig a chymunedol fel rhan o gynlluniau effeithlonrwydd ynni? OQ63698
4. Will the Cabinet Minister give an update on the Government's plans to support the production of domestic and community energy as a part of energy efficiency plans? OQ63698
The Welsh Government has supported local and community energy for 15 years. The optimised retrofit programme has provided over £368 million since 2020 to improve the energy performance of homes. Through Ynni Cymru, we have invested nearly £23 million, supporting new community energy generation with smarter energy use, including energy efficiency.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnogi ynni lleol a chymunedol ers 15 mlynedd. Mae'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio wedi darparu dros £368 miliwn ers 2020 i wella perfformiad ynni cartrefi. Drwy Ynni Cymru, rydym wedi buddsoddi bron i £23 miliwn, gan gefnogi cynhyrchiant ynni cymunedol newydd gyda defnydd craffach o ynni, gan gynnwys effeithlonrwydd ynni.
Dwi am dynnu sylw at enghraifft benodol o Wynedd sy'n dangos yn glir y potensial sydd gan gynhyrchu ynni domestig a chymunedol, o gael y gefnogaeth gywir. Yn Nhanygrisiau, ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog, fel mewn nifer o gymunedau ôl-ddiwydiannol ledled Cymru, mae tlodi tanwydd yn broblem ddofn a pharhaus. Mae'r stoc tai yn hen ac yn aneffeithlon, ac mae nifer fawr o gartrefi yn dibynnu ar danwydd drud fel olew, glo neu wresogyddion storio trydan. Ond mae'r gymuned yma hefyd yn enghraifft o'r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael.
Mae Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, mewn partneriaeth ag Ynni Lleol, Cyngor Gwynedd a phartneriaid eraill, yn gweithio i sefydlu cwmni gwasanaethau ynni cymunedol. Nod y cynllun yw ôl-osod dros 250 o dai, datblygu system wresogi leol sy'n defnyddio adnoddau cynaliadwy lleol, a chydweithio efo cynhyrchwyr trydan lleol, gan gynnwys asedau hydro sylweddol sydd eisoes yn bodoli yn yr ardal. Mi fyddai'r model hwn nid yn unig yn lleihau costau ynni i drigolion, ond hefyd yn cefnogi'r cyflogwr mwyaf yn lleol, sef REHAU, wrth iddo fo ddatgarboneiddio erbyn 2030, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn creu sgiliau a swyddi lleol. Ond mae yna ddiffyg eglurder ynglŷn â sut y bydd y cynlluniau newydd yn cael eu gweithredu, a diffyg eglurder ynglŷn ag unrhyw arian canlyniadol sydd i ddod yn sgil hynny.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad buan gan Lywodraeth Cymru am y goblygiadau i Gymru yn sgil cyhoeddiad Ed Miliband heddiw ar ei gynllun Cartrefi Cynnes?
I want to highlight a specific example from Gwynedd that clearly shows the potential that domestic and community energy production have, if given the right support. In Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, as in many post-industrial communities across Wales, fuel poverty is a deep-rooted and ongoing problem. The housing stock is old and inefficient, and many homes rely on expensive fuels such as coal, oil or storage heaters. But this community is also an example of the opportunities that exist.
Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, in partnership with Ynni Lleol, Gwynedd Council and other partners, is working to establish a community energy services company. The aim is to retrofit over 250 homes to develop a local heating system that uses sustainable local resources and to work with local energy producers, including hydro assets that already exist on a significant scale in the area. This model would not only reduce energy costs for residents, but would also support the biggest local employer, namely REHAU, as that company decarbonises by 2030, and, of course, it would create new skills and jobs locally. But there is a lack of clarity as to how these new plans could be implemented and a lack of clarity as to any consequential funding that may emerge from that.
So, can I ask for an early statement from the Welsh Government on the implications for Wales of the announcement made by Ed Miliband today on his Warm Homes programme?
Thank you very much for that question. It's really good to hear about that example of the community coming together to look for ways in which they can address fuel poverty, but also do so in a way that stimulates local businesses and makes the most of your natural environmental assets in the area as well. That sounds like a really fantastic project.
We don't yet know what the full implications will be for the warm energy plan that the UK Government has announced. Officials have been working through that to best understand where the opportunities are for us in Wales. There are some parts that are obviously non-devolved, but there are other parts that I think would need close discussion and collaboration between the UK Government and the Welsh Government.
As I say, at the moment we don't yet know anything in terms of what consequential funding might be forthcoming. But that said, we do have some really significant funding just this year in terms of the optimised retrofit programme. That has, in this financial year, provided £107 million to landlords to help them support the energy performance of their housing stock. That brings the overall total since 2020 to £338 million.
Of course, we've got the work that's going on through the Ynni Cymru grant programme. That certainly might be a good place for the project that you've described locally to have some conversations as well, to see if there's any support available through that. Through that project, we've supported 47 new smart local energy projects thus far. That brings the total to 80 projects. It's a relatively new scheme, but tremendously popular locally. I'm really pleased with the way it has been rolled out so far.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn. Mae'n dda iawn clywed am yr enghraifft honno o'r gymuned yn dod at ei gilydd i chwilio am ffyrdd y gallant fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd, a gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n ysgogi busnesau lleol ac yn gwneud y gorau o'ch asedau amgylcheddol naturiol yn yr ardal hefyd. Mae'n swnio fel prosiect gwirioneddol wych.
Nid ydym yn gwybod eto beth fydd y goblygiadau llawn i'r cynllun ynni cynnes y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i gyhoeddi. Mae swyddogion wedi bod yn gweithio trwy hynny i ddeall ble mae'r cyfleoedd i ni yng Nghymru. Mae yna rai rhannau sy'n amlwg heb eu datganoli, ond mae yna rannau eraill y credaf y byddai angen trafodaeth a chydweithio agos rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru.
Fel y dywedais, ar hyn o bryd nid ydym yn gwybod unrhyw beth eto ynglŷn â pha gyllid canlyniadol a allai fod ar gael. Ond wedi dweud hynny, mae gennym gyllid sylweddol iawn eleni ar gyfer y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio. Mae honno, yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, wedi darparu £107 miliwn i landlordiaid i'w helpu i gefnogi perfformiad ynni eu stoc dai. Mae hynny'n golygu bod y cyfanswm ers 2020 yn £338 miliwn.
Wrth gwrs, mae gennym y gwaith sy'n digwydd drwy raglen grant Ynni Cymru. Efallai y bydd hwnnw'n lle da i'r prosiect rydych chi wedi'i ddisgrifio'n lleol fynd i drafod hefyd, i weld a oes unrhyw gefnogaeth ar gael. Trwy'r prosiect hwnnw, hyd yma rydym wedi cefnogi 47 o brosiectau ynni clyfar lleol newydd. Mae'r cyfanswm yn 80 o brosiectau. Mae'n gynllun cymharol newydd, ond yn hynod boblogaidd yn lleol. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ffordd y mae wedi'i gyflwyno hyd yn hyn.
5. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn alinio'r ddarpariaeth sgiliau a chreu swyddi i gymunedau lleol gyda'r buddsoddiad yn ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd? OQ63700
5. How is Welsh Government aligning skills provision and job creation for local communities with the investment in the Heads of the Valleys road? OQ63700
To maximise local impact and create lasting benefits from major transport investment such as the A465, we ensure the infrastructure is complemented by targeted skills development, business support and place-based regeneration. This includes apprenticeships, STEM engagement and advanced training facilities, alongside regional programmes such as Tech Valleys and Cardiff capital region initiatives.
Er mwyn gwneud y mwyaf o'r effaith leol a chreu manteision parhaol o fuddsoddiad trafnidiaeth mawr fel yr A465, rydym yn sicrhau bod y seilwaith yn cael ei ategu drwy dargedu datblygu sgiliau, cymorth busnes ac adfywio yn seiliedig ar leoedd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys prentisiaethau, ymgysylltu STEM a chyfleusterau hyfforddiant uwch, ochr yn ochr â rhaglenni rhanbarthol fel y Cymoedd Technoleg a mentrau prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd.
I'm grateful to the Minister for that response. The Valleys have seen two of the biggest investments that the Welsh Government has ever made: the upgrading of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road, but also the investment in railways in the metro project. But what we have to ensure, Minister, is that these investments benefit the local communities. We can't have a bypass and a railway that drains people out of the Valleys. What we have to do is to create this infrastructure that then roots new businesses and jobs in the Valleys—in the Heads of the Valleys, and in the wider Valleys environment. I hope the Welsh Government will be able to work with local government and others to develop a jobs plan and a people plan to ensure that the communities of the Valleys, and the Heads of the Valleys particularly, are able to benefit from these huge infrastructure investments that have been made by the Welsh Government.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb hwnnw. Mae'r Cymoedd wedi gweld dau o'r buddsoddiadau mwyaf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u gwneud erioed: uwchraddio ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd yr A465, ond hefyd y buddsoddiad mewn rheilffyrdd yn y prosiect metro. Ond yr hyn sy'n rhaid inni ei sicrhau, Weinidog, yw bod y buddsoddiadau hyn o fudd i'r cymunedau lleol. Ni allwn gael ffordd osgoi a rheilffordd sy'n tynnu pobl allan o'r Cymoedd. Yr hyn sy'n rhaid inni ei wneud yw creu seilwaith sy'n gwreiddio busnesau a swyddi newydd yn y Cymoedd wedyn—ym Mlaenau'r Cymoedd, ac yn amgylchedd ehangach y Cymoedd. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu gweithio gyda llywodraeth leol ac eraill i ddatblygu cynllun swyddi a chynllun pobl i sicrhau bod cymunedau'r Cymoedd, a Blaenau'r Cymoedd yn enwedig, yn gallu elwa o'r buddsoddiadau seilwaith enfawr hyn a wnaed gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
I thank Alun Davies for that question and thank him for pointing to the major investments that the Welsh Government has made in the Heads of the Valleys road and in rail services. I agree with him, it's very important to make sure that local communities and local people benefit from those investments. I think it's fair to say, Presiding Officer, that you'll find no better champion in this Senedd of the Valleys than Alun Davies, and it was great to be with Alun in his constituency at the opening of the high-value engineering facility. It's a state-of-the-art engineering campus—[Interruption.] I can hear the shadow economy Minister from the Conservatives heckling at the fact that Ebbw Vale has a state-of-the-art engineering campus. It's perhaps because he doesn't know what that might be. That was a co-funded investment between the UK and Welsh Governments. But Alun Davies is absolutely right, we need to make sure local people and local communities benefit. I look forward to speaking at the launch of the new skills plan for the Cardiff capital region skills partnership in a few weeks' time. It will have a very key role in this space to develop those opportunities for Alun's constituents. I know the Cabinet Secretary for economy and I would be delighted to continue the conversation with Alun to look at further opportunities for his constituency, particularly with the £547 million local growth fund.
Diolch i Alun Davies am y cwestiwn hwnnw a diolch iddo am dynnu sylw at y buddsoddiadau mawr y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u gwneud yn ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd ac mewn gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd. Rwy'n cytuno ag ef, mae'n bwysig iawn gwneud yn siŵr fod cymunedau lleol a phobl leol yn elwa o'r buddsoddiadau hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud, Lywydd, na chewch chi neb sy'n hyrwyddo'r Cymoedd yn well yn y Senedd hon nag Alun Davies, ac roedd yn wych bod gydag Alun yn ei etholaeth yn agoriad y cyfleuster peirianneg uchel ei werth. Mae'n gampws peirianneg o'r radd flaenaf— [Torri ar draws.] Gallaf glywed llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr dros yr economi yn heclo'r ffaith bod gan Glyn Ebwy gampws peirianneg o'r radd flaenaf. Efallai mai'r rheswm am hynny yw nad yw'n gwybod beth ydyw. Buddsoddiad a ariannwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru ar y cyd ydoedd. Ond mae Alun Davies yn hollol gywir, mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr fod pobl leol a chymunedau lleol yn elwa. Edrychaf ymlaen at siarad yn lansiad y cynllun sgiliau newydd ar gyfer partneriaeth sgiliau prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd ymhen ychydig wythnosau. Bydd ganddo rôl allweddol iawn yn y gofod hwn i ddatblygu cyfleoedd i etholwyr Alun. Rwy'n gwybod y byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi a minnau'n falch iawn o barhau â'r sgwrs gydag Alun i edrych ar gyfleoedd pellach i'w etholaeth, yn enwedig gyda'r gronfa twf lleol gwerth £547 miliwn.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Alun Davies am ofyn y cwestiwn. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr efo'i sylwadau fo ynglyn â phwysigrwydd cael cynllun i'n pobl a'n cymunedau ni. Yn amlwg, mae yna fanteision sylweddol wedi bod o'r buddsoddiad hwn. Ond mae nifer o drigolion sy'n byw yn agos at y ffordd, yn arbennig yn Hirwaun, wedi cael eu heffeithio gan lwch a sŵn. Mae'r lôn wedi'i chodi'n sylweddol yn fanna. Ac er gwaethaf misoedd o fonitro, llythyrau, e-byst di-ri, maen nhw'n dal yn dioddef sgileffeithiau—methu â bod yn eu gerddi gyda'r nos ac ati. Felly, er bod rhai pobl yn cael budd, i'r trigolion sydd agosaf at y lôn, maen nhw'n cael traffaeth mawr—a Future Valleys yn gwneud dim. Mae yna ffensys mewn rhai rhannau o'r lôn sy'n gwarchod rhai tai, a does yna ddim yn y rhan yma o'r ffordd. Fyddai'r Gweinidog yn fodlon gweithio gyda mi i weld os medrwn ni gael datrysiad i'r trigolion hyn sy'n teimlo eu bod nhw'n byw mewn tai mewn sefyllfa annioddefol, er yn gweld budd i eraill? Maen nhw hefyd eisiau gallu dal i fyw yn eu cymunedau yn Hirwaun.
I'm very grateful to Alun Davies for raising this question. I agree with his comment about the importance of a plan for our people and our communities. There are significant advantages from this investment. But many residents living close to the road, particularly in Hirwaun, have been impacted by dust and by noise. The level of the road has been raised significantly there. And despite months of monitoring, correspondence and e-mails, they still suffer the impacts—they can't be in their gardens at night and so on. So, although some people do benefit, for those residents closest to the road, they are facing great difficulties—and Future Valleys isn't doing anything to help them. There are noise mitigation fences on some parts of the road, but there aren't any on this part of the road. Would the Minister be willing to work with me to see whether we can have a solution for these residents, who feel that they live in houses in an unbearable situation, although there are benefits for others? They, too, want to remain in their communities in Hirwaun.
Diolch, Heledd, for that. Again, I absolutely agree that people in the local community should feel the benefit of major investments such as the Heads of the Valleys road, and particularly feel the benefit from the local job opportunities there. On the points made about local residents, I'll ask the transport Secretary to follow up on this conversation with you directly and take that forward.
Diolch am hynny, Heledd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr y dylai pobl yn y gymuned leol deimlo budd buddsoddiadau mawr fel ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd, a theimlo'r budd o'r cyfleoedd gwaith lleol yno yn enwedig. Ar y pwyntiau a wnaed am drigolion lleol, fe ofynnaf i'r Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth fynd ar drywydd y sgwrs hon gyda chi'n uniongyrchol a bwrw ymlaen â hynny.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru i Faes Awyr Caerdydd? OQ63682
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Welsh Government's funding of Cardiff Airport? OQ63682
Last year, following consideration of the feedback from the Competition and Markets Authority and all interested parties, a subsidy package approved by Welsh Ministers for Cardiff Airport of up to £205.2 million over 10 years was uploaded to the UK subsidy transparency database, and £20 million of the subsidy has been drawn down to date.
Y llynedd, ar ôl ystyried yr adborth gan yr Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd a'r holl bartïon â diddordeb, cafodd pecyn cymhorthdal a gymeradwywyd gan Weinidogion Cymru ar gyfer Maes Awyr Caerdydd o hyd at £205.2 miliwn dros 10 mlynedd ei lanlwytho i gronfa ddata'r DU ar dryloywder cymhorthdaliadau, ac mae £20 miliwn o'r cymhorthdal wedi'i dynnu i lawr hyd yma.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Well, £20 million already paid this year from that latest support package of £205 million, referred to the Competition and Markets Authority, a legal challenge by Bristol Airport, and passenger performance well below pre-COVID levels. This is just scratching the surface of all that is wrong with Cardiff Airport and how it is being handled by the Welsh Labour Government.
The Welsh Conservatives and I have been firm: the airport must be returned to the private sector. The subsidy, on top of the previous investment, has cost Wales £286 per household to date. We all understand there is ongoing legal action and commercial confidentiality, but the Welsh public deserve to know how their money is being spent. Officials have told committees the rescue plan is successful, yet passenger numbers continue to fall.
Cabinet Secretary, I'm conscious you can't comment on an ongoing legal challenge, and whilst this question may be academic for this Government, when will the subsidy stop? What is the exit to private ownership, and should the Welsh Government commit to publishing regular key performance indicators so that the public have the transparency they deserve?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Wel, roedd £20 miliwn a dalwyd eisoes eleni o'r pecyn cymorth diweddaraf o £205 miliwn yn cyfeirio at yr Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd, her gyfreithiol gan Faes Awyr Bryste, a pherfformiad teithwyr ymhell islaw'r lefelau cyn COVID. Crafu'r wyneb yw hyn ar bopeth sydd o'i le gyda Maes Awyr Caerdydd a sut y caiff ei drin gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru.
Mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig a minnau wedi bod yn gadarn: rhaid dychwelyd y maes awyr i'r sector preifat. Mae'r cymhorthdal, yn ychwanegol at y buddsoddiad blaenorol, wedi costio £286 ar gyfartaledd i bob aelwyd yng Nghymru hyd yma. Rydym i gyd yn deall bod camau cyfreithiol a chyfrinachedd masnachol ar waith, ond mae'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru yn haeddu gwybod sut y caiff eu harian ei wario. Mae swyddogion wedi dweud wrth bwyllgorau fod y cynllun achub yn llwyddiannus, ond mae nifer y teithwyr yn parhau i ostwng.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n ymwybodol na allwch wneud sylwadau ar her gyfreithiol sydd ar y gweill, ac er y gall y cwestiwn hwn fod yn un academaidd i'r Llywodraeth hon, pryd fydd y cymhorthdal yn dod i ben? Pa bryd y bydd troi at berchnogaeth breifat yn digwydd, ac a ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i gyhoeddi dangosyddion perfformiad allweddol rheolaidd fel bod y cyhoedd yn cael y tryloywder y maent yn ei haeddu?
As has been recognised, an appeal has been submitted against the Welsh Government's decision to provide the subsidy support to enable the economic growth potential of Cardiff Airport. As a consequence of that legal action, I'm not going to be able to respond in detail to all of the points raised. We believe that Government ownership of Cardiff Airport offers the best opportunity to maximise the airport's wider economic benefits and ability to create new jobs. We've always said that we remain open to consideration of different ownership models at an appropriate point in the future.
In terms of performance, it is not fair to offer the critique that was just offered. Passenger performance actually was really strong for 2025. In the 12 months to the end of September, 928,000 passengers travelled through the airport—that's a 5.3 per cent increase on the previous year. That's been primarily growth from the airlines running higher frequencies and new routes. The airport has been estimated to generate over £200 million in gross value added annually, supporting thousands of jobs.
When we look at some of the successes just in the last year, Ryanair had its largest ever Cardiff summer programme in 2025. The airport is now enjoying new routes to Salzburg and Fuerteventura with TUI and Alicante with Ryanair for its 2025 season. Summer 2026 will see a fourth additional TUI-based aircraft, which will open up new routes. Colleagues will of course have seen the announcement of WestJet's new air route from Cardiff to Toronto, which will open up the entirety of the north of America to travellers from Wales, but importantly, it'll be an important business link as well.
Fel y cydnabuwyd, cyflwynwyd apêl yn erbyn penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu'r cymorth cymhorthdal i alluogi potensial twf economaidd Maes Awyr Caerdydd. O ganlyniad i'r achos cyfreithiol hwnnw, nid wyf yn mynd i allu ymateb yn fanwl i'r holl bwyntiau a godwyd. Credwn fod perchnogaeth y Llywodraeth ar Faes Awyr Caerdydd yn cynnig y cyfle gorau i wneud y mwyaf o fanteision economaidd ehangach y maes awyr a'r gallu i greu swyddi newydd. Rydym bob amser wedi dweud ein bod yn parhau i fod yn agored i ystyried gwahanol fodelau perchnogaeth ar adeg briodol yn y dyfodol.
O ran perfformiad, nid yw'r feirniadaeth a gafwyd nawr yn deg. Roedd perfformiad teithwyr yn gryf iawn yn 2025 mewn gwirionedd. Yn y 12 mis hyd at ddiwedd mis Medi, teithiodd 928,000 o deithwyr drwy'r maes awyr—mae hynny'n gynnydd o 5.3 y cant ar y flwyddyn flaenorol. Deilliodd y twf hwnnw'n bennaf o deithiau amlach gan gwmnïau hedfan a llwybrau newydd. Amcangyfrifwyd y bydd y maes awyr yn cynhyrchu dros £200 miliwn mewn gwerth ychwanegol gros bob blwyddyn, gan gefnogi miloedd o swyddi.
Pan edrychwn ar rai o'r llwyddiannau yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn unig, cafodd Ryanair ei raglen haf fwyaf erioed yng Nghaerdydd yn 2025. Mae'r maes awyr bellach yn mwynhau llwybrau newydd i Salzburg a Fuerteventura gyda TUI ac i Alicante gyda Ryanair ar gyfer ei dymor 2025. Bydd haf 2026 yn gweld pedwaredd awyren ychwanegol gan TUI, a fydd yn agor llwybrau newydd. Wrth gwrs, bydd cyd-Aelodau wedi gweld y cyhoeddiad am lwybr awyr newydd WestJet o Gaerdydd i Toronto, a fydd yn agor gogledd America gyfan i deithwyr o Gymru, ond yn bwysig, fe fydd yn gyswllt busnes pwysig hefyd.
I talk to a lot of constituents who are very supportive of Cardiff Airport. For most of us, it's our airport of choice, and I was very pleased to receive a brochure indicating the increase in number of summer destinations. It was very successful when run by the three Glamorgan county councils, so successful that John Redwood forced the councils to sell it to the private sector. After declining passenger numbers whilst in the private sector, the Welsh Government bought the airport when the only other option was closure. It's an important employer, driver of the economy and a gateway into south Wales. It is, however, on very valuable building land, and as there are buildings on it, planning permission should not be difficult for retail or housing. While I want to see it continue as an airport, have the Conservatives suggested to the Minister selling it for retail and housing?
Rwy'n siarad â llawer o etholwyr sy'n gefnogol iawn i Faes Awyr Caerdydd. I'r rhan fwyaf ohonom, dyma'r maes awyr y byddwn ni'n ei ddewis, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn o gael llyfryn yn nodi'r cynnydd yn nifer y cyrchfannau haf. Roedd yn llwyddiannus iawn pan gâi ei redeg gan dri o gynghorau sir Morgannwg, mor llwyddiannus nes i John Redwood orfodi'r cynghorau i'w werthu i'r sector preifat. Ar ôl i nifer y teithwyr ostwng tra oedd yn y sector preifat, prynodd Llywodraeth Cymru y maes awyr pan oedd cau yn unig opsiwn fel arall. Mae'n gyflogwr pwysig, yn sbarduno'r economi ac yn borth i dde Cymru. Fodd bynnag, mae ar dir adeiladu gwerthfawr iawn, a chan fod adeiladau arno, ni ddylai caniatâd cynllunio fod yn anodd ar gyfer cwmnïau manwerthu neu dai. Er fy mod i eisiau ei weld yn parhau fel maes awyr, a yw'r Ceidwadwyr wedi awgrymu i'r Gweinidog y dylid ei werthu ar gyfer manwerthu a thai?
Well, I've been able to set out how the performance of the airport has been really improving—really strong for 2025. We absolutely recognise the incredible work that the team at the airport has been doing as well. I'm really grateful to them for the exceptional job that they do. It's also worth remembering that we also have cargo activity at the airport as well. We see some significant cargo coming through. We want to see even more in the future as well.
The team at the airport have been doing some really good work to promote Cardiff Airport. They attended, alongside Visit Wales, the Routes World event in Hong Kong in September, promoting Wales and the airport on the international stage. There's been further investment in the airport as well, for example through the next-generation security scanners. They've really improved the passenger experience, and the airport is investing in a new solar farm to power its operations from 2026 as well. We've set out, really, some strong performance by the airport, some strong investment in the airport, and I haven't even managed to talk about the work that they're doing in terms of the BA investment, and the importance of that facility.
Wel, rwyf wedi gallu nodi sut y mae perfformiad y maes awyr wedi bod yn gwella mewn gwirionedd—cryf iawn ar gyfer 2025. Rydym yn cydnabod yn llwyr y gwaith anhygoel y mae'r tîm yn y maes awyr wedi bod yn ei wneud hefyd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn iddynt am y gwaith eithriadol a wnânt. Mae'n werth cofio hefyd fod gennym weithgaredd cargo yn y maes awyr yn ogystal. Rydym yn gweld cargo sylweddol yn dod drwodd. Rydym yn awyddus i weld mwy fyth yn y dyfodol hefyd.
Mae'r tîm yn y maes awyr wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith da iawn ar hyrwyddo Maes Awyr Caerdydd. Ochr yn ochr â Croeso Cymru, fe wnaethant fynychu y digwyddiad Routes World yn Hong Kong ym mis Medi i hyrwyddo Cymru a'r maes awyr ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol. Cafwyd buddsoddiad pellach yn y maes awyr hefyd, er enghraifft, sganwyr diogelwch y genhedlaeth nesaf. Maent wedi gwella profiad y teithwyr yn fawr, ac mae'r maes awyr yn buddsoddi mewn fferm solar newydd i bweru ei weithgarwch o 2026 ymlaen. Rydym wedi nodi perfformiad cryf gan y maes awyr, buddsoddiad cryf yn y maes awyr, ac ni lwyddais i siarad am y gwaith a wnânt o ran y buddsoddiad BA, a phwysigrwydd y cyfleuster hwnnw.
7. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o'r manteision economaidd i Gymru pe bai'r DU yn ymuno ag undeb tollau gyda'r UE? OQ63686
7. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the economic benefits to Wales of the UK joining a customs union with the EU? OQ63686
Wales is a proudly outward-looking European nation, and the EU remains Wales's most significant trading partner and the largest source of inward investment. Our current priority is to ensure that Welsh interests are fully reflected in the UK Government’s negotiations with the EU on enhanced co-operation under the common understanding.
Mae Cymru yn genedl Ewropeaidd falch sy'n edrych tuag allan, ac mae'r UE yn parhau i fod yn bartner masnachu mwyaf sylweddol Cymru a'r ffynhonnell fwyaf o fewnfuddsoddiad. Ein blaenoriaeth ar hyn o bryd yw sicrhau bod buddiannau Cymru'n cael eu hadlewyrchu'n llawn yn nhrafodaethau Llywodraeth y DU gyda'r UE ar gydweithredu gwell o dan y ddealltwriaeth gyffredin.
Thank you for that answer. The loss to the UK gross domestic product is £100 billion per annum, the cost to the Welsh economy is assessed at up to £4 billion, and the trade with the European Union—exports reduced by approximately £1 billion. The geopolitical crisis that is now affecting Europe makes unity more important than ever. But a report from the Constitution Society, which analyses the Office for Budget Responsibility and various financial institutions, says the following:
'Considering all of the evidence, the consensus view—that Brexit’s economic impact would be negative and large—has been borne out. The 2019-2024 parliament raised taxes by around £100 billion, and if we take the OBR’s 4 per cent loss of productivity...£40 billion of those tax rises were needed because of EU withdrawal.'
Do you agree with me that now it's necessary for us to re-engage, at least, with the customs union, and put trade on a proper basis, recognising a serious mistake has been made—probably because of misinformation and lies that were told during that campaign—but now is the time to actually rectify the economic, political and social damage that's been done as a consequence?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Mae'r golled i gynnyrch domestig gros y DU yn £100 biliwn y flwyddyn, aseswyd bod y gost i economi Cymru yn agos at £4 biliwn, a'r fasnach gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd—gostyngiad mewn allforion o oddeutu £1 biliwn. Mae'r argyfwng geowleidyddol sydd bellach yn effeithio ar Ewrop yn gwneud undod yn bwysicach nag erioed. Ond mae adroddiad gan Gymdeithas y Cyfansoddiad, sy'n dadansoddi'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol a sefydliadau ariannol amrywiol, yn dweud y canlynol:
'O ystyried yr holl dystiolaeth, mae'r farn gonsensws—y byddai effaith economaidd Brexit yn negyddol ac yn fawr—wedi'i gwireddu. Cafodd trethi eu codi oddeutu £100 biliwn gan senedd y DU yn 2019-2024, ac os cymerwn ffigur colli cynhyrchiant y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol o 4 y cant... roedd angen £40 biliwn o'r codiadau treth hynny oherwydd ein bod wedi gadael yr UE.'
A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi nawr ei bod yn angenrheidiol i ni ailymgysylltu, o leiaf, â'r undeb tollau, a rhoi masnach ar sail briodol, gan gydnabod bod camgymeriad difrifol wedi'i wneud—oherwydd camwybodaeth a chelwyddau a ddywedwyd yn ystod yr ymgyrch honno yn ôl pob tebyg—ond ei bod hi nawr yn bryd unioni'r niwed economaidd, gwleidyddol a chymdeithasol a wnaed o ganlyniad i hynny?
Well, Brexit was a bad idea at the time, and it remains a bad idea today. Mick Antoniw has really set out some of the analysis of the economic impact that it's had on us as well, which really sets that out.
In terms of that point around joining the customs union, when we left the European Union it took years to come to a position where we negotiated what the future would look like. So, even in the event that both the UK sought to rejoin the EU customs union and the EU is willing to negotiate that, we'd have to come to a bespoke agreement. That would, inevitably, take a significant amount of time. So, at the moment, our priorities are around the EU reset work, the common understanding work and trying to ensure that Welsh priorities are front and centre of those particular discussions. In fact, we've got one of our inter-ministerial group meetings today where there's another opportunity to talk with the UK Government about that.
And I would say that the Cabinet Office Minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, is extremely pragmatic. He understands the importance to Wales of our relationship with the European Union, and the engagement there has been exceptionally good, I think, in terms of helping the UK Government ensure that when they are having discussions and negotiations, they fully understand the Welsh Government's perspective and Wales's top priorities across things like the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, youth mobility, Erasmus+ and so on.
Wel, roedd Brexit yn syniad gwael ar y pryd, ac mae'n parhau i fod yn syniad gwael heddiw. Mae Mick Antoniw wedi nodi peth o'r dadansoddiad o'r effaith economaidd y mae wedi'i chael arnom ni hefyd, sy'n nodi hynny'n glir.
Pan wnaethom adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd cymerodd flynyddoedd i ddod i sefyllfa lle roeddem yn negodi sut fyddai pethau yn y dyfodol. Felly, hyd yn oed pe bai'r DU yn ceisio ailymuno ag undeb tollau'r UE a bod yr UE yn fodlon trafod hynny, byddai'n rhaid inni ddod i gytundeb pwrpasol. Byddai hynny, yn anochel, yn cymryd cryn dipyn o amser. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, mae ein blaenoriaethau'n ymwneud â gwaith ar ailosod yr UE, gwaith ar y ddealltwriaeth gyffredin a cheisio sicrhau bod blaenoriaethau Cymru'n cael lle blaenllaw yn y trafodaethau hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, mae gennym un o'n cyfarfodydd grŵp rhyngweinidogol heddiw lle mae cyfle arall i siarad â Llywodraeth y DU am hynny.
A hoffwn ddweud bod Gweinidog Swyddfa'r Cabinet, Nick Thomas-Symonds, yn hynod bragmataidd. Mae'n deall pwysigrwydd ein perthynas â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd i Gymru, ac mae'r ymgysylltiad yno wedi bod yn eithriadol o dda, rwy'n credu, o ran helpu Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau, pan fyddant yn cael trafodaethau, eu bod yn deall persbectif Llywodraeth Cymru a phrif flaenoriaethau Cymru ar draws pethau fel y cytundeb iechydol a ffytoiechydol, symudedd ieuenctid, Erasmus+ ac yn y blaen.
8. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i roi hwb i fusnesau ar draws Gorllewin De Cymru? OQ63690
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to boost businesses across South Wales West? OQ63690
We deliver a strong package of support designed to boost businesses across Wales. Through Business Wales, our bilingual, one‑stop service, entrepreneurs and employers can access clear, expert advice and guidance when they need it. Alongside this, our teams provide dedicated relationship management, innovation support and export expertise, helping Welsh businesses accelerate growth, strengthen competitiveness and seize new opportunities.
Rydym yn darparu pecyn cryf o gymorth sydd wedi'i gynllunio i roi hwb i fusnesau ledled Cymru. Trwy Busnes Cymru, ein gwasanaeth un stop dwyieithog, gall entrepreneuriaid a chyflogwyr gael mynediad at gyngor arbenigol ac arweiniad clir pan fydd ei angen arnynt. Ochr yn ochr â hyn, mae ein timau'n darparu cyngor pwrpasol ar reoli cysylltiadau, cymorth arloesi ac arbenigedd allforio, gan helpu busnesau Cymru i gyflymu twf, cryfhau cystadleurwydd a manteisio ar gyfleoedd newydd.
I'm grateful to you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer. We know that high-street businesses, particularly our pubs, are under extreme pressure, with energy bills already extortionate and on the rise, business rates under threat with the new property revaluation that's already been discussed coming into force, and inflation on the rise yet again under this UK Labour Government. Despite the business rate support package announced in December, which is of course welcome, I fear that the Welsh Government's support in this area doesn't go far enough to help our pubs. It's of course welcome that the Treasury in Westminster is now set to look again at business rate increases for pubs, yet we know that that doesn't necessarily benefit businesses here in Wales. It's a bit of a pity, I think, that it's taken the sector to be on the verge of ruin for the Treasury to take any notice.
At the end of last week, it was reported that a pub owner in Port Talbot has had to resort to asking his own children to work shifts as he can't afford to pay for staff at the moment. That's a damning indictment of the anti-growth, anti-economy approach by both Labour Governments in Westminster and here in Cardiff Bay. Will you now take this opportunity to come in line with England to offer that increased support, or will you match the Welsh Conservatives' pledge, which is to scrap business rates completely for small businesses if we win the next election?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe wyddom fod busnesau'r stryd fawr, yn enwedig ein tafarndai, o dan bwysau eithafol, gyda biliau ynni eisoes yn ofnadwy o uchel ac ar gynnydd, ardrethi busnes dan fygythiad gyda'r ailbrisio eiddo newydd sydd eisoes wedi'i drafod yn dod i rym, a chwyddiant ar gynnydd unwaith eto o dan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU. Er gwaethaf y pecyn cymorth ardrethi busnes a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Rhagfyr, sydd wrth gwrs i'w groesawu, rwy'n ofni nad yw cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yn y maes hwn yn mynd yn ddigon pell i helpu ein tafarndai. Wrth gwrs, mae'n galonogol fod y Trysorlys yn San Steffan bellach yn barod i edrych eto ar y cynnydd mewn ardrethi busnes i dafarndai, ond fe wyddom nad yw hynny o reidrwydd o fudd i fusnesau yma yng Nghymru. Yn fy marn i mae'n drueni fod y sector wedi dod yn agos at chwalu'n llwyr cyn i'r Trysorlys gymryd unrhyw sylw.
Ddiwedd yr wythnos ddiwethaf, adroddwyd bod perchennog tafarn ym Mhort Talbot wedi gorfod gofyn i'w blant ei hun weithio shifftiau am nad yw'n gallu fforddio talu am staff ar hyn o bryd. Mae hynny'n feirniadaeth ddamniol o ymagwedd wrth-dwf, wrth-economi y ddwy Lywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan ac yma ym Mae Caerdydd. A wnewch chi fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn nawr i wneud yr un fath â Lloegr a chynnig y gefnogaeth ychwanegol honno, neu a wnewch chi'r hyn yr addawodd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ei wneud, sef dileu ardrethi busnes yn gyfan gwbl i fusnesau bach os enillwn yr etholiad nesaf?
I'll begin with the point that, of course, Welsh Government does put in place a significant package of support, and almost half of pubs will continue to benefit from our small business rates relief next year. In fact, around a quarter of pubs will pay no rates at all because it's the taxpayer who's paying those rates for them, and that's a decision that the Welsh Government has taken in terms of how we go about allocating the budget.
Now, the Conservatives have set out that they would scrap business rates for small businesses were they to be in Government, but then they haven't set out how they would pay for that and that I think is the dilemma. I think it's just irresponsible and dishonest to be making promises to the electorate without demonstrating how you would go about paying for those promises. Welsh Conservatives have got a whole range of tax promises across income tax, across land transaction tax and non-domestic rates, none of which they've properly costed and for none of which they have said how they would go about paying.
We're looking at almost £1 billion of cuts to public services as a result of the Conservative-type pledges. It's entirely legitimate to make those pledges, but, equally, I do think there has to be a level of transparency in terms of how you'd go about paying for those. We haven't yet had that kind of honesty and openness in terms of the number of nurses who would be affected, the impacts on local government, what the impacts would be in schools across Wales because of the lack of funding and, of course, in terms of the other support that might be available to businesses. So, I do think that when making these pledges, you absolutely have to set out how they would be paid for.
Fe ddechreuaf gyda'r pwynt, wrth gwrs, fod Llywodraeth Cymru'n rhoi pecyn cymorth sylweddol ar waith, a bydd bron i hanner y tafarndai'n parhau i elwa o'n rhyddhad ardrethi busnesau bach y flwyddyn nesaf. Mewn gwirionedd, ni fydd tua chwarter y tafarndai'n talu unrhyw ardrethi o gwbl gan mai'r trethdalwr sy'n talu'r ardrethi hynny ar eu rhan, ac mae hwnnw'n benderfyniad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud wrth fynd ati i ddyrannu'r gyllideb.
Nawr, mae'r Ceidwadwyr wedi nodi y byddent yn cael gwared ar ardrethi busnes i fusnesau bach pe baent yn Llywodraeth, ond wedyn nid ydynt wedi nodi sut y byddent yn talu am hynny a dyna'r dilema yn fy marn i. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn anghyfrifol ac yn anonest i wneud addewidion i'r etholwyr heb ddangos sut y byddech chi'n mynd ati i dalu am yr addewidion hynny. Mae gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ystod eang o addewidion treth, ym maes treth incwm, treth trafodiadau tir ac ardrethi annomestig, heb fod yr un ohonynt wedi'u costio'n briodol ac nid ydynt wedi dweud sut y byddent yn talu am yr un ohonynt.
Rydym yn edrych ar bron i £1 biliwn o doriadau i wasanaethau cyhoeddus o ganlyniad i addewidion Ceidwadol. Mae'n gwbl deg gwneud yr addewidion hynny, ond yn yr un modd, rwy'n credu bod rhaid cael lefel o dryloywder ynglŷn â sut y byddech chi'n mynd ati i dalu am y rheini. Nid ydym wedi cael gonestrwydd o'r fath eto ynglŷn â nifer y nyrsys a fyddai'n cael eu heffeithio, yr effeithiau ar lywodraeth leol, beth fyddai'r effeithiau mewn ysgolion ledled Cymru oherwydd y diffyg cyllid ac wrth gwrs, o ran y cymorth arall a allai fod ar gael i fusnesau. Felly, wrth wneud yr addewidion hyn, rwy'n credu bod rhaid i chi nodi sut y byddech chi'n talu amdanynt.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Y cwestiynau nesaf fydd y rhai i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Delyth Jewell.
The next set of questions will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and the first question is from Delyth Jewell.
1. Pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i gyflwyno targedau i leihau marw-enedigaethau a marwolaethau newyddenedigol, fel sy'n bodoli yn Lloegr? OQ63696
1. What consideration has the Welsh Government given to introducing targets to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths, as exist in England? OQ63696
We remain firmly committed to reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths by ensuring that all families receive safe, high-quality care. The quality statement for maternity and neonatal services sets clear national standards for consistent, evidence-based practice. Alongside this, the strategic maternity and neonatal network is driving system-wide improvements to reduce mortality and prevent avoidable harm through its safety support programme.
Rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i leihau marw-enedigaethau a marwolaethau newyddenedigol trwy sicrhau bod pob teulu yn cael gofal diogel o ansawdd uchel. Mae'r datganiad ansawdd ar gyfer gwasanaethau mamolaeth a newyddenedigol yn gosod safonau cenedlaethol clir ar gyfer ymarfer cyson, sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth. Ochr yn ochr â hyn, mae'r rhwydwaith mamolaeth a newyddenedigol strategol yn gyrru gwelliannau ar draws y system i leihau marwolaethau ac atal niwed y gellir ei osgoi trwy ei raglen cymorth diogelwch.
Diolch am hynna.
Thank you for that.
The stillbirth rates in Wales do remain stubbornly higher than the rate for rest of the UK, and baby loss charities like Sands highlight how more needs to be done, in their view, to bring down the numbers of babies who die shortly after birth as well. Losing a baby at full term must be one of the worst things any parent will face in their life. My heart goes out to anyone who’s been affected by such a cruel loss. I think everyone in this Chamber will be united in that.
A group of bereaved parents have launched a petition to call for action to save more babies' lives and for better care for parents following pregnancy or baby loss. They have drawn attention to how, in England, targets to reduce rates of stillbirth and neonatal deaths have helped hold focus, and although they may not be met, they believe firmly that this will have led to lives being saved. I appreciate all of the work that is evidently going on in the Welsh Government on this. I can appreciate how much of a focus this will be, but no such targets do exist at the moment. Is that something that you think should change, please?
Mae cyfraddau marw-enedigaethau yng Nghymru yn parhau i fod yn uwch na'r gyfradd ar gyfer gweddill y DU, ac mae elusennau colli babanod fel Sands yn tynnu sylw at y ffordd y mae angen gwneud mwy, yn eu barn nhw, i ostwng nifer y babanod sy'n marw'n fuan ar ôl genedigaeth. Rhaid bod colli babi a gaiff ei gario i'w gyfnod llawn yn un o'r pethau gwaethaf y bydd unrhyw riant yn ei wynebu yn eu bywyd. Mae fy nghalon yn gwaedu dros unrhyw un yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan golled mor greulon. Rwy'n credu y bydd pawb yn y Siambr hon yn cytuno.
Mae grŵp o rieni mewn profedigaeth wedi lansio deiseb i alw am weithredu i achub mwy o fabanod ac am well gofal i rieni ar ôl colli babi yn ystod beichiogrwydd neu wedi hynny. Maent wedi tynnu sylw at sut y mae targedau yn Lloegr i leihau cyfraddau marw-enedigaethau a marwolaethau newyddenedigol wedi helpu i gadw ffocws, ac er efallai na fyddant yn cael eu cyrraedd, maent yn credu'n gryf y bydd hyn wedi arwain at achub bywydau. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r holl waith sydd i'w weld yn digwydd yn Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn. Gallaf werthfawrogi faint o ffocws fydd i hyn, ond nid oes targedau o'r fath yn bodoli ar hyn o bryd. A yw hynny'n rhywbeth y credwch y dylid ei newid, os gwelwch yn dda?
Well, I would associate myself with the comments that the Member has made. The loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy is an incredibly distressing experience for all those who are affected. Stillbirth rates in Wales have declined by around 17 per cent since 2010, but there has been a plateauing, effectively, since 2018. There’s been little change since then. The point that the Member puts to me in relation to a target is an important question. We’ve not set formal numerical targets to date, partly because of the small number of instances and the volatility that brings in terms of measuring performance against a particular target. But I’m grateful to her for acknowledging the other work that is going on in relation to tackling this challenge. All health boards are delivering targeted improvement work through the maternity and neonatal safety support programme, which I mentioned in my initial answer, including enhanced clinical reviews, adoption of national early warning surveillance systems, safer pre-term birth care bundles and better learning from incidents through structured case reviews.
The Member will know that I’ve commissioned a review of maternity and neonatal services across Wales, which is due to report early this year. That’s there to identify risks and make recommendations on how we can further strengthen services, and I will want to engage as quickly as possible with the recommendations that that review makes.
Wel, rwy'n ategu'r sylwadau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud. Mae colli babi ar unrhyw gam o feichiogrwydd yn brofiad anhygoel o ofidus i bawb yr effeithir arnynt. Mae cyfraddau marw-enedigaethau yng Nghymru wedi gostwng oddeutu 17 y cant ers 2010, ond maent wedi lefelu, i bob pwrpas, ers 2018. Ni fu fawr o newid ers hynny. Mae'r pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei roi i mi mewn perthynas â tharged yn gwestiwn pwysig. Nid ydym wedi gosod targedau rhifiadol ffurfiol hyd yn hyn, yn rhannol oherwydd y nifer fach o achosion a'r anwadalrwydd a ddaw yn sgil hynny wrth fesur perfformiad yn erbyn targed penodol. Ond rwy'n ddiolchgar iddi am gydnabod y gwaith arall sy'n digwydd mewn perthynas â mynd i'r afael â'r her hon. Mae'r holl fyrddau iechyd yn cyflawni gwaith gwella wedi'i dargedu drwy'r rhaglen gymorth diogelwch mamolaeth a newyddenedigol y soniais amdani yn fy ateb cychwynnol, gan gynnwys adolygiadau clinigol manylach, mabwysiadu systemau gwyliadwriaeth rhybudd cynnar cenedlaethol, bwndeli gofal cyn-enedigaeth mwy diogel a dysgu gwell o ddigwyddiadau trwy adolygiadau achos strwythuredig.
Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod fy mod wedi comisiynu adolygiad o wasanaethau mamolaeth a newyddenedigol ledled Cymru, sydd i fod i adrodd yn gynnar eleni. Mae hwnnw yno i nodi risgiau a gwneud argymhellion ynglŷn â sut y gallwn gryfhau gwasanaethau ymhellach, a byddaf eisiau mynd ar drywydd yr argymhellion y mae'r adolygiad hwnnw'n eu gwneud cyn gynted â phosib.
Diolch i Delyth am y cwestiwn pwysig yma. Dwi wedi sôn ar sawl achlysur am fy neiaint arbennig, Steffan, a fuodd farw ychydig wedi’i enedigaeth, ac Emrys, yn wyth diwrnod oed, yn ystod y pedwar blynedd diwethaf yma. Yn y ddau achlysur, doedd dim bai ar neb. Byddai targedau wedi gwneud dim gwahaniaeth o gwbl.
Beth hoffwn i ei godi, ac mae hwn hefyd yn addas i'r Gweinidog dros iechyd meddwl, yw'r cwnsela ar gyfer rhieni wedi colled mor ofnadwy. Yn achos Steffan, doedd dim cwnsela i'r rhieni wedi'r golled, oherwydd nad oedd Steffan ddim yn y NICU, am fod Steffan yn y ward mamolaeth, ac wedyn roedd yna restr aros o 24 wythnos i'r rhieni gael cymorth cwnsela gan elusen. Jest dychmygwch, rŷch chi'n mynd mewn i'r ysbyty, i'r uned mamolaeth, yn disgwyl mynd adref gyda phlentyn iach, yn disgwyl dechrau cyfnod mamolaeth hir, ac yn sydyn mae popeth yn chwalu. Mae disgwyl i chi fynd nôl i'r gwaith, a does dim cwnsela proffesiynol ar gael i chi.
Roedd profiad rhieni Emrys yn well—roedd yna seicolegydd ar gael yn yr ysbyty tra roedd Emrys dal gyda nhw. Ond, wedi hynny, roedd yna aros hir i gael cwnsela trwy elusen ac roedd y nyrs galar dim ond ar gael drwy ffôn—dim cyfarfodydd wyneb-yn-wyneb gyda'r nyrs galar. Sut mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn cydweithio â'r Gweinidog iechyd meddwl a byrddau iechyd i sicrhau bod rhieni, yng nghyfnod gwaethaf posib eu bywydau, yn cael y cymorth maen nhw'n ei haeddu? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you to Delyth for asking this very important question. I have mentioned on several occasions my two very special nephews, Steffan, who passed away soon after being born, and Emrys, who died at eight days of age, over the past four years. On both occasions, no-one was to blame, and targets would have made no difference at all.
What I’d like to raise, and this is also appropriate to the Minister for mental health, is the matter of counselling for parents after such an awful loss. In Steffan's case, there was no counselling available to the parents following their loss, because Steffan was not in the neonatal intensive care unit. He was in the maternity ward, and there was a waiting list of 24 weeks for counselling support for the parents through a charity. Just imagine going into hospital, into the maternity unit, expecting to go home with a healthy child, expecting to start a long period of maternity leave, and then suddenly everything shattering. You're expected to return to work without any professional counselling being available.
The experience for Emrys's parents was slightly better—there was a psychologist available at the hospital whilst Emrys was still with them. But, afterwards, they had to wait a long time for counselling through charitable provision, and the engagement with a bereavement nurse was only available over the phone, rather than face to face. How is the Cabinet Secretary working with the Minister for mental health and health boards to ensure that parents, at the worst possible time in their lives, receive the support that they deserve? Thank you.
Diolch i'r Aelod am rannu ei brofiad yn ei gyfraniad.
I thank the Member for sharing his own experiences in his contribution.
He makes an important point about the approach to improvement in this area generally, and I think he makes an important point about the limits of targets as well. And our approach, certainly, has been an improvement-first approach, with national standards and independent assurance.
As I mentioned in my response to Delyth Jewell, the experience of parents and the wider family around baby loss is incredibly traumatic, in the way that he described in his question, and they may feel that their bereavement is not always acknowledged or supported, sometimes even hidden. The national framework for bereavement care seeks to ensure a consistent approach across Wales, and it has funding that is distributed both to health boards themselves and to third sector partners, who play a very important part in delivering some of these services.
He describes shortcomings, clearly, in the experience of the parents that he refers to. The maternity and neonatal network has been working with Sands, which Delyth Jewell referred to in her initial question as well, to support work on five bereavement pathways and we are hoping that the pathways will be scheduled for publication in March of this year, and I hope that they will contribute to solving some of the challenges that he set out in his question.
Mae'n gwneud pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â'r dull o wneud gwelliannau yn y maes hwn yn gyffredinol, a chredaf ei fod yn gwneud pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â chyfyngiadau targedau hefyd. Ac mae ein dull ni, yn sicr, wedi bod yn ddull sy'n rhoi gwelliannau'n gyntaf, gyda safonau cenedlaethol a sicrwydd annibynnol.
Fel y soniais yn fy ymateb i Delyth Jewell, mae profiad y rhieni a'r teulu ehangach o amgylch colli babi yn hynod drawmatig, yn y ffordd a ddisgrifiodd yn ei gwestiwn, ac efallai y byddant yn teimlo nad yw eu profedigaeth bob amser yn cael ei chydnabod na'i chefnogi, a'i bod weithiau hyd yn oed yn cael ei chuddio. Bwriad y fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer gofal mewn profedigaeth yw sicrhau dull cyson o weithredu ledled Cymru, ac mae ganddo gyllid sy'n cael ei ddosbarthu i'r byrddau iechyd eu hunain ac i bartneriaid trydydd sector, sy'n chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn y gwaith o ddarparu rhai o'r gwasanaethau hyn.
Mae'n disgrifio diffygion clir ym mhrofiad y rhieni y cyfeiria atynt. Mae'r rhwydwaith mamolaeth a newyddenedigol wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Sands, y cyfeiriodd Delyth Jewell atynt yn ei chwestiwn gwreiddiol hefyd, i gefnogi gwaith ar bum llwybr profedigaeth, ac rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y llwybrau'n cael eu cyhoeddi ym mis Mawrth eleni, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn cyfrannu at ddatrys rhai o'r heriau a nododd yn ei gwestiwn.
I just want to follow on from what Rhys ab Owen is saying, just to say that there is an excellent bereavement service at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which is served by at least two members of staff and ensures that, even if a death occurs in the middle of the night, it will be picked up during the day and then that individual does get support, and that means all individuals who suffer from bereavement. It seems to me that that is a very good model for all other health boards to follow.
Hoffwn ategu'r hyn a ddywedodd Rhys ab Owen drwy ddweud bod gwasanaeth profedigaeth rhagorol ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, sy'n cael ei ddarparu gan o leiaf ddau aelod o staff ac sy'n sicrhau, hyd yn oed os bydd marwolaeth yn digwydd yng nghanol y nos, y bydd yn cael ei nodi yn ystod y dydd, ac yna mae'r unigolyn dan sylw'n cael cefnogaeth, ac mae hynny'n golygu pob unigolyn sy'n cael profedigaeth. Ymddengys i mi fod hwnnw'n fodel da iawn i bob bwrdd iechyd arall ei ddilyn.
I'm grateful to the Member for drawing attention to that positive experience in the service that she refers to in Betsi Cadwaladr health board. One of the approaches of the maternity and neonatal assurance assessment that is currently under way, which I mentioned a moment ago, is not simply to identify where there are shortcomings or areas that we need to focus better on, but also to identify good practice in the system, which can guide improvement elsewhere. So, I'm grateful to her for contributing to our understanding on that.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at y profiad cadarnhaol hwnnw yn y gwasanaeth y cyfeiria ato ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr. Un o ddulliau gweithredu'r asesiad sicrwydd mamolaeth a newyddenedigol sydd ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd, y soniais amdano eiliad yn ôl, yw nid yn unig nodi lle mae diffygion neu feysydd y mae angen inni ganolbwyntio'n well arnynt, ond hefyd nodi arferion da yn y system, a all arwain at welliant mewn mannau eraill. Felly, rwy'n ddiolchgar iddi am gyfrannu at ein dealltwriaeth ar hynny.
2. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru i adfer capasiti orthopedig ar ôl cwblhau'r gwaith atgyweirio toeau yn ddiweddar? OQ63704
2. What support is the Welsh Government providing to Princess of Wales Hospital to restore orthopaedic capacity following the recent completion of roof repairs? OQ63704
We have supported the health board to create a centre of excellence for orthopaedics. All elective orthopaedic surgery within the health board has now been centralised on the Princess of Wales hospital site, with three dedicated theatres and a ward of 28 beds for in-patient elective surgery.
Rydym wedi cefnogi'r bwrdd iechyd i greu canolfan ragoriaeth ar gyfer orthopedeg. Mae'r holl lawdriniaethau orthopedig a gynlluniwyd o fewn y bwrdd iechyd bellach wedi'u canoli ar safle Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru, gyda thair theatr bwrpasol a ward o 28 gwely ar gyfer llawdriniaethau a gynlluniwyd i gleifion mewnol.
Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary, and I welcome the capital investment that has been put into the repairs at the hospital. That said, the hospital's orthopaedic service continues to face pressure to restore full operating capacity after that temporary suspension of elective procedures, which, in turn, then has contributed to extended wait times across the speciality.
A constituent of mine has now been waiting over a year for a knee operation, experiencing repeated hospital admissions, with no confirmed date, despite being prioritised as soon as theatre capacity allows. Now, if this situation continues, he will be forced to shut down his business entirely, leaving seven people, including himself, unemployed. I know there are many such cases, and I appreciate the difficulty of getting through the backlog with the same staffing complement and the resources available, as outlined there by the Cabinet Secretary, but I would be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could set out what further support could be provided to the hospital to help manage this, and if a rough indication could be provided as to when we can expect those wait times to come down.
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac rwy'n croesawu'r buddsoddiad cyfalaf a wnaed yn y gwaith atgyweirio yn yr ysbyty. Wedi dweud hynny, mae gwasanaeth orthopedig yr ysbyty'n parhau i wynebu pwysau i adfer capasiti gweithredu llawn ar ôl atal llawdriniaethau a gynlluniwyd dros dro, sydd yn ei dro wedi cyfrannu at amseroedd aros estynedig ar draws yr arbenigedd.
Mae un o fy etholwyr bellach wedi bod yn aros dros flwyddyn am lawdriniaeth ar ei ben-glin, gan gael ei dderbyn i'r ysbyty dro ar ôl tro, heb ddyddiad wedi'i gadarnhau, er ei fod wedi'i flaenoriaethu am lawdriniaeth cyn gynted ag y bydd capasiti'r theatr yn caniatáu. Nawr, os yw'r sefyllfa hon yn parhau, bydd yn cael ei orfodi i ddod â'i fusnes i ben yn gyfan gwbl, gan adael saith o bobl, gan ei gynnwys ef ei hun, yn ddi-waith. Gwn fod llawer o achosion o'r fath, ac rwy'n sylweddoli pa mor anodd yw mynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad gyda'r un adnoddau a nifer o staff ar gael, fel yr amlinellodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond buaswn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nodi pa gymorth pellach y gellid ei ddarparu i'r ysbyty i helpu i ymdopi â hyn, ac a ellid rhoi syniad bras o ba bryd y gallwn ddisgwyl i'r amseroedd aros hynny leihau.
I'm happy to do that. I'm sorry to hear about his constituent's experience. We have taken specific action to support the health board to reduce orthopaedic waiting lists, which has historically been a challenge, in the way that the Member refers to. An additional £11 million has been allocated to the health board in relation to waiting time reduction specifically, and there has been work from the Getting It Right First Time team, and, of course, from the ministerial advisory group on productivity and performance.
There has actually been a 19.4 per cent reduction in the number of orthopaedic pathways waiting for more than two years. There is still a challenge, in the way the Member describes, but I expect those to be cleared by the end of this year. There has also been more than a 43 per cent reduction in the last year in the number of pathways over 52 weeks for the first out-patient appointment, which is probably more relevant to the point that he made in his question. I raised with the health board, as the Member may be aware, in the recent public accountability meeting, issues of waits and the plans to clear waits in a timely fashion. I had assurance in that meeting from the board that they intend to eliminate all two-year waits but also all eight-week diagnostic waits by the end of March this year.
Rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad ei etholwr. Rydym wedi cymryd camau penodol i gefnogi'r bwrdd iechyd i leihau rhestrau aros orthopedig, sydd wedi bod yn her yn hanesyddol, fel y noda'r Aelod. Mae £11 miliwn yn ychwanegol wedi'i ddyrannu i'r bwrdd iechyd mewn perthynas â lleihau amseroedd aros yn benodol, ac mae gwaith wedi'i wneud gan dîm gwneud pethau'n iawn y tro cyntaf, ac wrth gwrs, gan grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog ar berfformiad a chynhyrchiant.
Mewn gwirionedd, bu gostyngiad o 19.4 y cant yn nifer y llwybrau orthopedig sy'n aros am fwy na dwy flynedd. Mae her o hyd, yn y ffordd y disgrifia'r Aelod, ond rwy'n disgwyl i'r rheini gael eu clirio erbyn diwedd eleni. Bu gostyngiad o fwy na 43 y cant yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf hefyd yn nifer y llwybrau dros 52 wythnos ar gyfer yr apwyntiad claf allanol cyntaf, sy'n fwy perthnasol i'r pwynt a wnaeth yn ei gwestiwn, mae'n debyg. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, efallai, yn y cyfarfod atebolrwydd cyhoeddus diweddar, tynnais sylw'r bwrdd iechyd at faterion yn ymwneud ag amseroedd aros a'r cynlluniau i glirio arosiadau mewn modd amserol. Cefais sicrwydd yn y cyfarfod hwnnw gan y bwrdd eu bod yn bwriadu dileu pob amser aros o ddwy flynedd, a phob amser aros diagnostig o wyth wythnos erbyn diwedd mis Mawrth eleni.
Cabinet Secretary, I welcome the support for the Princess of Wales Hospital and the creation of a centre of excellence for orthopaedics, with its three theatres and a dedicated ward with 28 beds for in-patient elective surgery. The health board states that, at full capacity, they will be able to carry out 60 orthopaedic surgeries per week. My concern is whether we will have suitably qualified staff to utilise this increased capacity. For well over a year, no operations were conducted at PoW. What happened to the orthopaedic surgeons in that period? We surgeons have to carry out a range of operations during any calendar year in order to maintain our skills. Cabinet Secretary, are you satisfied that all those operating within this centre of excellence for orthopaedics have maintained their skill set?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n croesawu'r gefnogaeth i Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru a'r nod o greu canolfan ragoriaeth ar gyfer orthopedeg, gyda'i thair theatr a ward bwrpasol gydag 28 o welyau ar gyfer llawdriniaethau a gynlluniwyd i gleifion mewnol. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn datgan, ar gapasiti llawn, y byddant yn gallu cyflawni 60 o lawdriniaethau orthopedig yr wythnos. Fy mhryder i yw a fydd gennym staff â'r cymwysterau addas i ddefnyddio'r capasiti uwch hwn. Am ymhell dros flwyddyn, ni chynhaliwyd unrhyw lawdriniaethau yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru. Beth a ddigwyddodd i'r llawfeddygon orthopedig yn y cyfnod hwnnw? Mae'n rhaid i ni lawfeddygon gyflawni nifer o lawdriniaethau yn ystod unrhyw flwyddyn galendr er mwyn cynnal ein sgiliau. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n fodlon fod pawb sy'n gweithio yn y ganolfan ragoriaeth hon ar gyfer orthopedeg wedi cynnal eu set sgiliau?
Well, that's a matter for the health board to be satisfying itself about. I speak as a non-clinician addressing a question from a clinician, so I'm diffident in the confidence with which I approach my answer. But he makes an important point. In my visits to hospital sites in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, I have been very pleased to hear the approaches that they have taken to rostering and to staffing more generally. By centralising services in the way that I'm sure he would welcome as well, that has provided a more robust, flexible model for staffing, both clinically and otherwise, to deliver the significant figures that he acknowledged in his question. It's that sort of adaptation of services, driven by GIRFT and other recognised standards, that will help us not simply to address the backlogs that we face, but to put the service on a sustainable footing, where those backlogs don't arise again in the future.
Wel, mae hynny'n fater i'r bwrdd iechyd fodloni ei hun yn ei gylch. Rwy'n siarad fel rhywun nad yw'n glinigydd yn ateb cwestiwn gan glinigydd, felly nid wyf yn hyderus sut i ateb. Ond mae'n gwneud pwynt pwysig. Yn fy ymweliadau â safleoedd ysbytai yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg, rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o glywed am eu dulliau gweithredu o ran rhestrau dyletswyddau a staffio yn fwy cyffredinol. Drwy ganoli gwasanaethau yn y ffordd y byddai ef yn ei chroesawu hefyd rwy'n siŵr, mae hynny wedi darparu model mwy cadarn a hyblyg ar gyfer staffio, yn glinigol ac fel arall, i gyflawni'r ffigurau sylweddol a gydnabu yn ei gwestiwn. Y math hwnnw o addasu gwasanaethau, wedi'i lywio gan safonau gwneud pethau'n iawn y tro cyntaf a safonau cydnabyddedig eraill, a fydd yn ein helpu nid yn unig i fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniadau a wynebwn, ond i roi'r gwasanaeth ar sail gynaliadwy, lle nad yw'r ôl-groniadau hynny'n codi eto yn y dyfodol.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Darren Millar.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Darren Millar.
Cabinet Secretary, just last month, a 90-year-old woman from Wyesham in Monmouthshire, Iris Morgan, waited for more than 32 hours for an ambulance after breaking her hip while at home. During that time, she became increasingly delirious, she developed a serious infection, and she was told by hospital consultants that that delay could have been a terminal event. Her family made repeated 999 calls, they were given estimated arrival times that didn't materialise, and they were advised not to move her themselves, leaving this vulnerable elderly woman in pain, on the floor, in distress, for more than a full day. When the paramedics finally arrived, they themselves were shocked at the length of time that Iris had to be on the floor, and they blamed this on ambulance transfer delays at the Grange hospital. Do you agree, health Secretary, that what happened to Iris Morgan was totally unacceptable? Will you apologise to her and her family and the others around Wales that are experiencing excessive ambulance delays? And do you accept that this is a symptom of an NHS that's in crisis?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, y mis diwethaf, arhosodd menyw 90 oed o Wyesham yn sir Fynwy, Iris Morgan, am fwy na 32 awr am ambiwlans ar ôl torri ei chlun yn ei chartref. Yn yr amser hwnnw, aeth yn gynyddol ddryslyd, datblygodd haint difrifol, a dywedwyd wrthi gan feddygon ymgynghorol yr ysbyty y gallai'r oedi hwnnw fod wedi bod yn ddigwyddiad angheuol. Gwnaeth ei theulu alwadau 999 dro ar ôl tro, cawsant amseroedd cyrraedd amcangyfrifedig na chawsant eu gwireddu, ac fe'u cynghorwyd i beidio â'i symud eu hunain, gan adael y fenyw oedrannus agored i niwed hon mewn poen, ar y llawr, mewn trallod, am fwy na diwrnod cyfan. Pan gyrhaeddodd y parafeddygon o'r diwedd, roeddent wedi'u syfrdanu gan faint o amser y bu'n rhaid i Iris fod ar y llawr, ac fe roesant y bai am hyn ar oedi wrth drosglwyddo o ambiwlansys yn ysbyty’r Faenor. A ydych chi'n cytuno, Ysgrifennydd iechyd, fod yr hyn a ddigwyddodd i Iris Morgan yn gwbl annerbyniol? A wnewch chi ymddiheuro iddi hi a'i theulu ac i eraill ledled Cymru sy'n wynebu oedi rhy hir wrth aros am ambiwlans? Ac a ydych chi'n derbyn bod hyn yn symptom o GIG sydd mewn argyfwng?
I don't believe that her experience is acceptable, and I'm very sorry for the experience that she has had and those affected by it more broadly than her own personal experience. That is not an experience I want any patient in Wales to have, ever.
I think it is a symptom, as he says, of challenges right across the health service, and I think it goes beyond the ambulance service. My experience of working with the ambulance service is that they are innovative and flexible, and looking for new ways constantly of delivering the important service that they can.
We've sought to address this as a Government in a number of ways. Firstly, by reducing the incidents of ambulances waiting outside hospitals for prolonged periods right across Wales. Year on year, there have been significant reductions in the numbers of hours lost—patients waiting in the back of ambulances, ambulances not available, therefore, to be attending to patients like the one he described in his question. So, that is good progress. I want to see more of that happening in all hospital sites. There's too much variability. But what that tells me is that the system, when it focuses on that, is able to make rapid progress.
The Member will also know that we have introduced new arrangements to measure the performance of the ambulance service, and the ambulance service itself has introduced a clinical triage model that we know is making a difference for patients. I think those are positive developments. Obviously, some of those are recent, and we want to see those being embedded and delivering a better service for patients right across Wales.
Ni chredaf fod ei phrofiad yn dderbyniol, ac mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf am y profiad a gafodd a'r rhai yr effeithiwyd arnynt y tu hwnt i'w phrofiad personol ei hun. Nid dyna'r profiad rwyf am i unrhyw glaf yng Nghymru ei gael, byth.
Rwy'n credu ei fod yn symptom, fel y mae'n dweud, o heriau ar draws y gwasanaeth iechyd, a chredaf fod hyn yn mynd y tu hwnt i'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans. Fy mhrofiad i o weithio gyda'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans yw eu bod yn arloesol ac yn hyblyg, ac yn mynd ati'n gyson i chwilio am ffyrdd newydd o ddarparu'r gwasanaeth pwysig y gallant ei ddarparu.
Rydym wedi ceisio mynd i'r afael â hyn fel Llywodraeth mewn nifer o ffyrdd. Yn gyntaf, drwy leihau nifer yr achosion o ambiwlansys yn aros y tu allan i ysbytai am gyfnodau hir ledled Cymru. O flwyddyn i flwyddyn, bu gostyngiadau sylweddol yn nifer yr oriau a gollwyd—cleifion yn aros yng nghefn ambiwlansys, ambiwlansys heb fod ar gael felly i ofalu am gleifion fel yr un a ddisgrifiwyd ganddo yn ei gwestiwn. Felly, mae hwnnw'n gynnydd da. Rwyf am weld mwy o hynny ym mhob safle ysbyty. Mae gormod o amrywio. Ond yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei ddweud wrthyf yw bod y system, pan fo'n canolbwyntio ar hynny, yn gallu gwneud cynnydd cyflym.
Bydd yr Aelod hefyd yn gwybod ein bod wedi cyflwyno trefniadau newydd i fesur perfformiad y gwasanaeth ambiwlans, a bod y gwasanaeth ambiwlans ei hun wedi cyflwyno model brysbennu clinigol y gwyddom ei fod yn gwneud gwahaniaeth i gleifion. Credaf fod y rheini'n ddatblygiadau cadarnhaol. Yn amlwg, mae rhai o'r rheini'n ddiweddar, ac rydym am eu gweld yn cael eu hymgorffori ac yn darparu gwasanaeth gwell i gleifion ledled Cymru.
Well, you didn't answer the question that I put to you, which was: is this symptomatic of an NHS that is in crisis? I believe that it is. I believe that the Welsh NHS isn't working properly. It certainly didn't work properly for Iris, and we all have examples in our constituency of people who contact us with unacceptable delays, and sometimes people die because they're waiting for an ambulance, and that can never be acceptable.
Let me give some other examples of why I believe the Welsh NHS is in a crisis. You don't have to look very far—just to the University Hospital of Wales here in Cardiff, the flagship hospital in our nation. But it's another example of the NHS in crisis and being broken. Wales Online has reported that a 77-year-old patient had a lung infection and was left shivering after the heating failed in that building, an 80-year-old wet from the dripping ceiling of a pigeon-infested catacomb—the daughter describing her loved one being transported via, and I quote, 'disgusting' tunnels, flooded in places, with discarded medical items and rubbish present, and bird faeces everywhere. Can I ask you: why isn't the Welsh Government stepping in? There was a letter signed by 300 consultants in the Cardiff and Vale hospital, directed to the bosses of the health board, describing staff morale, and I quote, at 'an all-time low'. That letter described persistent sewage leaks, causing water damage. and poor cleanliness. And here's the key line from that letter, Cabinet Secretary, and I urge you to listen very carefully to this and address it in your response:
'Years of insufficient maintenance and capital investment have compounded these problems, and no clear strategic plan has been shared to address or mitigate the associated risks.'
Now, there was a promise made to the people served by that hospital back in 2021 that you'd build a new facility. It's not been delivered. Do you have a plan to deal with dilapidated buildings like the one that we see just down the road here in Cardiff, and what action are you taking elsewhere to address problems in the NHS estate?
Wel, ni wnaethoch ateb y cwestiwn a ofynnais i chi, sef: a yw hyn yn symptom o GIG sydd mewn argyfwng? Rwy'n credu ei fod. Nid wyf yn credu bod GIG Cymru’n gweithio'n iawn. Yn sicr, ni weithiodd yn iawn i Iris, ac mae gan bob un ohonom enghreifftiau yn ein hetholaeth o bobl sy'n cysylltu â ni gydag enghreifftiau o oedi annerbyniol, ac weithiau, mae pobl yn marw am eu bod yn aros am ambiwlans, ac ni all hynny byth fod yn dderbyniol.
Gadewch imi roi rhai enghreifftiau eraill o pam y credaf fod GIG Cymru mewn argyfwng. Nid oes raid ichi edrych yn bell iawn—dim ond ar Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru yma yng Nghaerdydd, ysbyty mwyaf blaenllaw ein cenedl. Ond mae'n enghraifft arall o'r GIG mewn argyfwng ac sy'n cael ei dorri. Adroddodd Wales Online fod gan glaf 77 oed haint yn eu hysgyfaint ac fe'u cadwyd yn rhynnu gan oerfel ar ôl i'r gwres fethu yn yr adeilad hwnnw, unigolyn 80 oed yn wlyb gan ddiferion o'r nenfwd mewn twnnel llawn colomennod—y ferch yn disgrifio ei hanwylyd yn cael eu cludo drwy dwneli ffiaidd, llawn dŵr mewn mannau, gydag eitemau meddygol a sbwriel, a baw adar ym mhobman. A gaf i ofyn i chi: pam nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru’n ymyrryd? Anfonwyd llythyr wedi'i lofnodi gan 300 o feddygon ymgynghorol o ysbyty Caerdydd a'r Fro at benaethiaid y bwrdd iechyd, yn nodi bod morâl staff ar ei lefel isaf erioed. Disgrifiodd y llythyr hwnnw ollyngiadau carthion parhaus, yn difwyno dŵr, a safonau glendid gwael. A dyma’r llinell allweddol yn y llythyr hwnnw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac rwy’n eich annog i wrando’n ofalus iawn ar hyn a’i drafod yn eich ymateb:
'Mae blynyddoedd o gynnal a chadw a buddsoddiad cyfalaf annigonol wedi gwaethygu'r problemau hyn, ac ni cheir cynllun strategol clir wedi'i rannu i liniaru neu fynd i'r afael â'r risgiau cysylltiedig.'
Nawr, gwnaed addewid i'r bobl a gâi eu gwasanaethu gan yr ysbyty hwnnw yn ôl yn 2021 y byddech chi'n adeiladu cyfleuster newydd. Nid yw wedi'i gyflawni. A oes gennych chi gynllun i fynd i'r afael ag adeiladau dadfeiliedig fel yr un i lawr y ffordd yma yng Nghaerdydd, a pha gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd mewn mannau eraill i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau ar ystad y GIG?
Well, on the Member's first point, I actually think that the public in Wales, and patients in Wales, are better served by a response to his question that engages with the substance of the challenge, rather than looks for a headline in a one-word descriptor of the NHS. And I think, for too long, we've allowed a debate to continue that does not have that level of transparency and honesty behind it. And I'm seeking to acknowledge the concerns that you're fairly describing, and to give you my understanding of why they're arising. I think that's a more helpful way of leading a discussion with the public than simply for looking for labels on the NHS that simplify the challenge.
On his second point, he is new to his new responsibilities, but he will know that I've addressed the question of that letter. And, again, it's been put to me perfectly fairly, by colleagues of his and others, on many occasions. One of the challenges that the NHS in Wales faces, as in other parts of the UK, is that it's had insufficient access to capital over the last 10 to 14 years as a consequence of policy choices made by a Government in Westminster that he consistently defends. The NHS and public services have not had access to the capital that they need. That has a consequence. What this Government has done is sought to prioritise within the constraints that his colleagues in Westminster have imposed on us for over a decade, and we have made maintenance commitments above and beyond that which other parts of the UK have made. As he will know, we are already funding the health board to undertake an estate survey of that hospital so that we can better target future funding.
Wel, ar bwynt cyntaf yr Aelod, rwy'n credu bod y cyhoedd yng Nghymru, a chleifion yng Nghymru, yn cael eu gwasanaethu'n well gan ymateb i'w gwestiwn sy'n mynd i'r afael â sylwedd yr her, yn hytrach na chwilio am bennawd drwy ddisgrifiad un gair o'r GIG. Ac ers gormod o amser, rydym wedi caniatáu i ddadl barhau nad oes ganddi'r lefel honno o dryloywder a gonestrwydd yn sail iddi. Ac rwy'n ceisio cydnabod y pryderon yr ydych yn eu disgrifio'n deg, a rhoi fy nealltwriaeth i chi o pam eu bod yn codi. Credaf fod honno'n ffordd fwy defnyddiol o arwain trafodaeth gyda'r cyhoedd na dim ond chwilio am labeli ar y GIG sy'n symleiddio'r her.
Ar ei ail bwynt, mae'n newydd i'w gyfrifoldebau newydd, ond fe fydd yn gwybod fy mod wedi mynd i'r afael â'r cwestiwn yn y llythyr hwnnw. Ac unwaith eto, mae wedi'i gyflwyno i mi'n gwbl deg gan ei gyd-Aelodau ac eraill ar sawl achlysur. Un o'r heriau y mae'r GIG yng Nghymru yn eu hwynebu, fel mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, yw nad yw wedi cael mynediad digonol at gyfalaf dros y 10 i 14 mlynedd diwethaf o ganlyniad i ddewisiadau polisi a wnaed gan Lywodraeth yn San Steffan y mae'n eu hamddiffyn yn gyson. Nid yw'r GIG a'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi cael mynediad at y cyfalaf sydd ei angen arnynt. Mae canlyniad i hynny. Yr hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi'i wneud yw ceisio blaenoriaethu o fewn y cyfyngiadau y mae ei gymheiriaid yn San Steffan wedi'u gorfodi arnom ers dros ddegawd, ac rydym wedi gwneud ymrwymiadau o ran cynnal a chadw y tu hwnt i'r hyn y mae rhannau eraill o'r DU wedi'i wneud. Fel y gŵyr, rydym eisoes yn ariannu'r bwrdd iechyd i gynnal arolwg o ystad yr ysbyty hwnnw fel y gallwn dargedu cyllid yn well yn y dyfodol.
So, can I just get this right? You refuse to acknowledge there's a crisis, right? If you don't think that something's broken, you're never going to come up with a plan to fix it. You blame this on money, so why make the promise in the first place if you say there's insufficient money? And can I remind you, Cabinet Secretary, that, for every £1 spent on a patient in England, the Welsh Government's budget gets £1.20 to spend on a patient here. That doesn't sound like deficient funding to me. The First Minister herself, in First Minister's questions yesterday, told this Senedd, and she seemed to be boastful about it, that the Welsh Government was spending £1.12 for every £1 spent on a patient in England. What are you doing with the other 8p? What are you doing with the other 8 per cent that you could be uplifting the Welsh Government's budget by? So, can I challenge you again? Can I challenge you again? Why on earth don't you make sure that every penny that comes to Wales for spending on the NHS goes on the NHS, so that we can fix this crisis once and for all?
Felly, a gaf i gadarnhau hyn? Rydych chi'n gwrthod cydnabod bod yna argyfwng, ydych chi? Os nad ydych chi'n credu bod rhywbeth wedi torri, ni wnewch chi byth lunio cynllun i fynd i'r afael ag ef. Rydych chi'n beio hyn ar arian, felly pam gwneud yr addewid yn y lle cyntaf os ydych chi'n dweud nad oes digon o arian? Ac a gaf i eich atgoffa, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am bob £1 a werir ar glaf yn Lloegr, fod cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru’n cael £1.20 i'w wario ar glaf yma. Nid yw hynny'n swnio fel cyllid diffygiol i mi. Dywedodd y Prif Weinidog ei hun, yn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ddoe, wrth y Senedd hon, ac roedd fel pe bai'n brolio'n ei gylch, fod Llywodraeth Cymru’n gwario £1.12 am bob £1 a werir ar glaf yn Lloegr. Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud gyda'r 8c arall? Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud gyda'r 8 y cant arall y gallech fod yn ei ddefnyddio i wella cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru? Felly, a gaf i eich herio unwaith eto? A gaf i eich herio unwaith eto? Pam ar y ddaear na wnewch chi sicrhau bod pob ceiniog sy'n dod i Gymru i'w gwario ar y GIG yn cael ei wario ar y GIG, fel y gallwn ddatrys yr argyfwng hwn unwaith ac am byth?
The Member knows very well that there's a difference between the point that the First Minister made yesterday and the point that I'm making today. There is no credible commentator anywhere that believes that his party in Westminster properly provided capital to the health service in any part of the UK. That is not contested. It has consequences. He will also know very well—and some of his more nuanced Members will acknowledge this—that the funding the Welsh Government makes available to both health and social care is significantly in excess of that which is provided over the border. I'm not interested in making those comparisons, by the way. We want to make sure the service in Wales works to the best extent possible for the public in Wales. He makes a completely misleading point about the figures made available from the Westminster Government. Capital has been in very short supply, and this Government has prioritised that funding on the health service.
Mae'r Aelod yn gwybod yn iawn fod gwahaniaeth rhwng y pwynt a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe a'r pwynt rwy'n ei wneud heddiw. Nid oes unrhyw sylwebydd credadwy yn unman sy'n credu bod ei blaid ef yn San Steffan wedi darparu cyfalaf priodol i'r gwasanaeth iechyd mewn unrhyw ran o'r DU. Nid oes dadl am hynny. Mae iddo ganlyniadau. Bydd hefyd yn gwybod yn iawn—a bydd rhai o'i Aelodau doethach yn cydnabod hyn—fod y cyllid y mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n ei ddarparu i iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn sylweddol uwch na'r hyn a ddarperir dros y ffin. Nid oes gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwneud y cymariaethau hynny, gyda llaw. Rydym am sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth yng Nghymru yn gweithio i'r graddau gorau posib i'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru. Mae'n gwneud pwynt cwbl gamarweiniol am y ffigurau a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth San Steffan. Mae cyfalaf wedi bod yn brin iawn, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi blaenoriaethu'r cyllid hwnnw ar gyfer y gwasanaeth iechyd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Y llynedd, fe addawodd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr y byddai arosiadau o fwy na dwy flynedd yn cael eu dileu yn llwyr erbyn diwedd 2025. Yn dilyn ymchwiliad annibynnol i fylchau yn y data yn y bwrdd iechyd, rydyn ni bellach yn gwybod bod cyfanswm y llwybrau oedd yn aros dros ddwy flynedd wedi cyrraedd 4,679 ym mis Hydref 2025. Rydyn ni hefyd wedi derbyn gwybodaeth sy'n awgrymu bod dros 100 o gleifion wedi bod yn aros am fwy na thair blynedd am driniaeth. Beth aeth o'i le? Pam mae pobl yng ngogledd Cymru yn gorfod aros yn fwy nag unrhyw le arall am driniaethau? O ystyried mai'r Llywodraeth yma benododd y bwrdd, pam mae'r Llywodraeth wedi methu mor llwyr â dal y bwrdd i gyfrif?
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Last year, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board pledged that waits of more than two years would be eradicated completely by the end of 2025. Following an independent inquiry into gaps in the data in the health board, we now know that the total pathways waiting over two years had reached 4,679 in October 2025. We've also received information that suggests that more than 100 patients had been waiting more than three years for treatment. What went wrong? Why are people in north Wales having to wait longer than anywhere else for treatment? Given that it's this Government that appointed the board, why has the Government failed so entirely in holding them to account?
Dwi ddim yn credu ein bod ni wedi methu â dal y bwrdd i gyfrif. Fel rydych chi'n gwybod, rydyn ni wedi bod yn glir iawn o ran ein disgwyliadau gyda'r bwrdd iechyd. Nid yw'n dderbyniol bod pobl yn aros am yr amserau rydych chi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw yn eich cwestiwn. Dwi eisiau gweld pobl ym mhob rhan o Gymru yn cael gwasanaeth amserol, a'u bod nhw'n cael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen mor gyflym ag sydd yn bosibl. Dyw hi ddim yn dderbyniol nad yw hynny'n digwydd mewn unrhyw rhan o Gymru, gan gynnwys bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, lle rydyn ni wedi gweld bod angen mwy o gefnogaeth. Rydyn ni wedi gweithredu'n uniongyrchol. Cyn y Nadolig, fe wnaethom ni sicrhau fod tîm o bobl ar gael i'r bwrdd ac i'r arweinyddiaeth yno i'w cefnogi nhw yn eu gwaith, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gweld y gwelliannau rydyn ni eisiau eu gweld. Mae'r rheini newydd ddechrau ar eu gwaith, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn ni gynnydd yn sgil hynny hefyd.
I don't think we have failed to hold them to account. As you know, we've been very clear in terms of our expectations of the health board. It's not acceptable that people are waiting for the length of time that you mentioned in your question. I want to see people in every part of Wales receiving a prompt service, and that they receive the treatment that they need as swiftly as possible. It's not acceptable that that isn't happening in any part of Wales, including Betsi Cadwaladr health board, where we've seen that additional support is needed. We have taken direct action. Before Christmas, we ensured that a team of people were available to the board and the leadership there to support them in their work, to ensure that we see the improvements that we want to see. They have just started their job of work, and I hope we'll see progress in that regard too.
Long waiting lists and the chronic dysfunctionality of Betsi Cadwaladr are merely symptoms of a wider problem, namely Labour's failure over 27 years to redesign the foundations of the health system to reflect the population as it is today and as it will be, rather than as it was. The Government, and the First Minister in particular, often frames its performance on health in terms of the sheer number of NHS contacts that happen in Wales on a daily basis. But it bears repeating once again that this isn't a sign of success, it's a sign of managing sickness and of a system that isn't functioning as effectively as it should. For example, an FOI request by Plaid Cymru has revealed there were 17,994 attendances at Betsi's emergency departments in 2025. That's an average of almost 50 a day, which ultimately resulted in the patients self-discharging without clinical consent. In other words, they were either not treated at all or they didn't receive the level of care recommended by a clinician. Now, by the Government's metric, these attendances would presumably qualify as contact with the health system and thus something to be celebrated, even though it didn't improve their outcomes.
We all know why patients are resorting to these steps. It's because access to GP appointments is fast becoming a scarce luxury. It's because the process of expanding and reforming care in the community has been slow, and it's because there has been insufficient strategic focus on enabling people to live healthier lives. So, do you agree with me, therefore, that these figures I've just quoted illustrate the reality that talking about the total NHS contacts as a measure of performance is fundamentally flawed, and that it speaks to the prolonged failure of successive Welsh Governments to place our health system on a sustainable and resilient footing?
Dim ond symptomau o broblem ehangach yw rhestrau aros hir a chamweithredu cronig bwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, sef methiant Llafur dros 27 mlynedd i ailgynllunio sylfeini'r system iechyd i adlewyrchu'r boblogaeth fel y mae heddiw ac fel y bydd, yn hytrach na fel yr oedd. Yn aml, mae'r Llywodraeth, a'r Prif Weinidog yn enwedig, yn fframio eu perfformiad iechyd yn ôl nifer y cysylltiadau â'r GIG sy'n digwydd yng Nghymru bob dydd. Ond mae'n werth ailadrodd unwaith eto nad yw hyn yn arwydd o lwyddiant, mae'n arwydd o reoli salwch ac o system nad yw'n gweithredu mor effeithiol ag y dylai. Er enghraifft, mae cais rhyddid gwybodaeth gan Blaid Cymru wedi datgelu y bu 17,994 o ymweliadau ag adrannau brys ym mwrdd Betsi yn 2025. Mae hynny'n gyfartaledd o bron 50 y dydd, a arweiniodd yn y pen draw at y cleifion yn hunanryddhau heb gydsyniad clinigol. Mewn geiriau eraill, naill ai ni chawsant eu trin o gwbl, neu ni chawsant y lefel o ofal a argymhellwyd gan glinigydd. Nawr, yn ôl metrig y Llywodraeth, mae'n debyg y byddai'r derbyniadau hyn yn cyfrif fel cyswllt â'r system iechyd ac felly'n rhywbeth i'w ddathlu, er na wnaeth hynny wella eu canlyniadau.
Gŵyr pob un ohonom pam fod cleifion yn troi at gamau o'r fath. Mae'n digwydd am fod mynediad at apwyntiad meddyg teulu yn prysur ddod yn foethusrwydd prin. Mae'n digwydd am fod y broses o ehangu a diwygio gofal yn y gymuned wedi bod yn araf, ac mae'n digwydd am na fu digon o ffocws strategol ar alluogi pobl i fyw bywydau iachach. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod y ffigurau hyn rwyf newydd eu dyfynnu yn dangos y realiti fod sôn am gyfanswm y cysylltiadau â'r GIG fel mesur o berfformiad yn sylfaenol ddiffygiol, a'i fod yn arwydd o fethiant hirsefydlog Llywodraethau Cymru olynol i osod ein system iechyd ar sail gynaliadwy a gwydn?
Well, I think the Member may have misunderstood the purpose of making that point clear. It isn't a point to celebrate; it's a point that indicates the scale of activity in the health service. I think that is something that is important to highlight. There are people working day in, day out to deliver a huge amount of support to people every single day, and most people's experience of the NHS, most of the time, is a positive thing. So, I think it is important to describe the scale of activity happening throughout the NHS. He makes an important point: that isn't something that is a celebration of success, it isn't, actually, a performance measure; it simply indicates the scale of activity, and I think he would pay tribute to all those contributing to that level of activity as well.
He makes an important point about the need to move services from secondary settings into primary settings and more broadly into community settings. I would say the Government has a good track record in doing that. There is much more that needs to happen and it needs to happen more quickly. But I think that he will, I'm sure, be encouraged by the fact that we've been able to reach an agreement with general practitioners that extends over more than one year, giving the system clarity and visibility of how services can move. Each health board has specified their current level of spend on primary care, has submitted plans for moving services over the next five years into primary and community settings. So, I think there has been a significant shift. Obviously, there is more to do.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod wedi camddeall diben egluro'r pwynt hwnnw. Nid yw'n bwynt i'w ddathlu; mae'n bwynt sy'n dangos faint o weithgarwch sy'n mynd rhagddo yn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n bwysig i'w amlygu. Mae pobl yn gweithio ddydd ar ôl dydd i ddarparu llawer iawn o gymorth i bobl bob dydd, ac mae profiad y rhan fwyaf o bobl o'r GIG, y rhan fwyaf o'r amser, yn gadarnhaol. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig disgrifio faint o weithgarwch sy'n mynd rhagddo ledled y GIG. Mae'n gwneud pwynt pwysig: nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n ddathliad o lwyddiant, nid yw'n fesur perfformiad mewn gwirionedd; yn syml, mae'n dangos faint o weithgarwch sy'n digwydd, a chredaf y byddai yntau'n talu teyrnged i bawb sy'n cyfrannu at y lefel honno o weithgarwch hefyd.
Mae'n gwneud pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â'r angen i symud gwasanaethau o leoliadau eilaidd i leoliadau sylfaenol ac yn fwy cyffredinol i leoliadau cymunedol. Buaswn yn dweud bod gan y Llywodraeth hanes da o wneud hynny. Mae angen i lawer mwy ddigwydd, ac mae angen iddo ddigwydd yn gyflymach. Ond fe gaiff ei galonogi, rwy'n siŵr, ein bod wedi gallu dod i gytundeb â meddygon teulu sy'n ymestyn dros fwy nag un flwyddyn, gan roi eglurder a gwelededd i'r system ynghylch y ffordd y gall gwasanaethau symud. Mae pob bwrdd iechyd wedi nodi eu lefel gyfredol o wariant ar ofal sylfaenol, ac wedi cyflwyno cynlluniau ar gyfer symud gwasanaethau dros y pum mlynedd nesaf i leoliadau sylfaenol a chymunedol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod newid sylweddol wedi bod. Yn amlwg, mae mwy i'w wneud.
Finally, I've raised the importance of our allied health professionals many times in this Chamber. They are integral if we are to develop a comprehensive preventative health service, key in ensuring that people re-enter the workforce, and essential in ensuring that many of our loved ones continue to live a fulfilling and dignified life. Yet, last September, I wrote to you asking why the post of chief allied health professional had not been advertised and you responded saying that the post would be re-advertised shortly. We are now in late January, and the post continues to be empty, leaving a gaping void in leadership and the voice of AHPs missing from the decision-making process. No date has been announced for the re-advertisement of the role, following the unsuccessful first round of recruitment in early summer, and no interim CAHPO has been appointed whilst a replacement was found. Does this Welsh Government consider AHPs as secondary service providers? And when will we see a new chief allied health professional appointed?
Yn olaf, rwyf wedi codi pwysigrwydd ein gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd sawl gwaith yn y Siambr hon. Maent yn hanfodol os ydym am ddatblygu gwasanaeth iechyd ataliol cynhwysfawr, sy'n allweddol i sicrhau bod pobl yn ailymuno â'r gweithlu, ac sy'n hanfodol i sicrhau bod llawer o'n hanwyliaid yn parhau i fyw bywyd boddhaus ac urddasol. Ac eto, fis Medi diwethaf, ysgrifennais atoch i ofyn pam nad oedd swydd y prif swyddog proffesiynau perthynol i iechyd wedi'i hysbysebu, ac fe ymateboch chi drwy ddweud y byddai'r swydd yn cael ei hailhysbysebu cyn bo hir. Mae hi bellach yn hwyr ym mis Ionawr, ac mae'r swydd yn parhau i fod yn wag, gan adael bwlch enfawr mewn arweinyddiaeth, a llais y gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd ar goll o'r broses o wneud penderfyniadau. Ni chyhoeddwyd dyddiad ar gyfer ailhysbysebu'r rôl, yn dilyn y rownd gyntaf aflwyddiannus o recriwtio ddechrau'r haf, ac ni phenodwyd unrhyw brif swyddog proffesiynau perthynol i iechyd dros dro tan y gellid dod o hyd i un parhaol. A yw'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru yn ystyried gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd yn ddarparwyr gwasanaethau eilaidd? A phryd y gwelwn brif swyddog proffesiynau perthynol i iechyd newydd yn cael eu penodi?
No. I can confirm that the Government does not see allied health professionals as a secondary part of the workforce. The strongest evidence for that is the increase in the numbers of recruitment and commissioning of training places across a range of AHP professional specialisms. He is right to say that without that diversification of the workforce, we will not be able to provide the kind of services that he and I both want to see, which is a strengthening of person-centred holistic care in community settings wherever that is possible. I would not take the indication of one post as being an indicator of the Government's broader approach. It is an important post. He is reminding me that from a sedentary position. I would assure him, though, that I've had numbers of conversations with Welsh Government officials in relation to the AHP workforce specifically, and so the voice of AHPs is certainly heard, both by Ministers and the civil service.
Na. Gallaf gadarnhau nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn ystyried gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd yn rhan eilaidd o'r gweithlu. Y dystiolaeth gryfaf o hynny yw'r cynnydd o ran recriwtio a chomisiynu lleoedd hyfforddi ar draws ystod o arbenigeddau proffesiynol gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd. Mae'n iawn i ddweud, heb yr amrywiaeth honno yn y gweithlu, na fyddwn yn gallu darparu'r math o wasanaethau y mae ef a minnau eisiau eu gweld, sef cryfhau gofal holistaidd sy’n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn mewn lleoliadau cymunedol lle bynnag y bo hynny'n bosib. Ni fuaswn yn ystyried un swydd yn ddangosydd o ddull ehangach y Llywodraeth o weithredu. Mae'n swydd bwysig. Mae'n fy atgoffa o hynny o'i sedd. Rwy'n ei sicrhau, serch hynny, fy mod wedi cael nifer o sgyrsiau gyda swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â'r gweithlu gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd yn benodol, ac felly mae llais gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd yn sicr yn cael ei glywed, gan Weinidogion a'r gwasanaeth sifil.
3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella cyfraddau sgrinio'r fron yn Islwyn? OQ63697
3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve breast screening rates in Islwyn? OQ63697
The Public Health Wales screening engagement team work closely with the voluntary sector, health board and the local authority, including through community connectors and hub officers within the Islwyn area, to increase awareness of screening through community education and training, and involvement in the screening engagement network.
Mae tîm ymgysylltu sgrinio Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r sector gwirfoddol, y bwrdd iechyd a'r awdurdod lleol, gan gynnwys drwy gysylltwyr cymunedol a swyddogion hybiau yn ardal Islwyn, i gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o sgrinio drwy addysg a hyfforddiant cymunedol, a chyfranogiad yn y rhwydwaith ymgysylltu sgrinio.
Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. According to the Western Mail, 15,000 women due to be screened for breast cancer in Wales have not been due to non-take-up of breast screening. The Senedd's Petitions Committee heard that only 69 per cent of women invited for screening attended those appointments in 2022-23, below that 70 per cent minimum and the 80 per cent target. So, Cabinet Secretary, as you were quoted in a letter to the Petitions Committee that uptake rates can vary across regions, age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, and that's correct, due to the important impact of women self-selecting much too often to not be screened, what is, then, your assessment of the reasons, and what are the mitigations planned? And can you also, Cabinet Secretary, outline the breast screening uptake rate for Islwyn within Aneurin Bevan as compared to the national targets and the comparative uptakes across Wales?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn ôl y Western Mail, nid yw 15,000 o fenywod a oedd i fod i gael eu sgrinio am ganser y fron yng Nghymru wedi cael hynny am nad ydynt wedi manteisio ar y cynnig i sgrinio'r fron. Clywodd Pwyllgor Deisebau'r Senedd mai dim ond 69 y cant o'r menywod a wahoddwyd i gael eu sgrinio a fynychodd yr apwyntiadau hynny yn 2022-23, sy'n is na'r isafswm hwnnw o 70 y cant a'r targed o 80 y cant. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gan ichi gael eich dyfynnu mewn llythyr at y Pwyllgor Deisebau yn dweud y gall cyfraddau sgrinio amrywio ar draws y rhanbarthau, grwpiau oedran a chefndiroedd economaidd-gymdeithasol, ac mae hynny'n gywir, oherwydd effaith bwysig menywod yn llawer rhy aml yn dewis peidio â chael eu sgrinio, beth, felly, yw eich asesiad o'r rhesymau, a beth yw'r mesurau lliniaru a gynllunnir? Ac a wnewch chi hefyd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, amlinellu'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar y cynnig i sgrinio'r fron ar gyfer Islwyn o fewn bwrdd Aneurin Bevan o gymharu â'r targedau cenedlaethol a'r niferoedd cymharol sy'n manteisio ar y cynnig ledled Cymru?
Certainly. In relation to screening uptake in Islwyn, Public Health Wales monitor uptake rates by GP cluster, by local authority and health board area. So, the uptake for Caerphilly county borough is 71.2 per cent, and for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area 70.5 per cent. Both of those are slightly above the standard of 70 per cent. She's right to say there are many reasons women do not take up the offer of breast screening. This can include lack of awareness, sometimes misinformation, sometimes cultural and language barriers, anxiety about the process or results. It is, ultimately, a matter of personal choice, but it will be shaped by a number of those factors and others. Breast Test Wales constantly evaluates and implements strategies to promote participation in the programme. Each year, over 100,000 women take up the offer. The uptake is lowest in the most deprived communities. So, in order to address that, the screening programme provides targeted outreach in communities, including training community champions who are there to act as trusted voices to support people to take up their screening offer. Uptake is also lower in the younger age groups, which aligns with uptake being lower in those who are invited to screen for the first time. So, the programme has now produced video material to help people understand what breast screening is and why it is important.
Yn sicr. O ran nifer y menywod sy'n cael eu sgrinio yn Islwyn, mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn monitro'r niferoedd sy'n cael eu sgrinio yn ôl clwstwr meddygon teulu, yn ôl awdurdod lleol ac yn ôl ardal bwrdd iechyd. Felly, mae 71.2 y cant yn cael eu sgrinio ym mwrdeistref sirol Caerffili, a 70.5 y cant yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan. Mae'r ddau ffigur ychydig yn uwch na'r safon o 70 y cant. Mae'n llygad ei lle fod llawer o resymau pam nad yw menywod yn manteisio ar y cynnig i sgrinio'r fron. Gall hyn gynnwys diffyg ymwybyddiaeth, camwybodaeth weithiau, rhwystrau diwylliannol ac ieithyddol weithiau, pryder ynghylch y broses neu'r canlyniadau. Yn y pen draw, mae'n fater o ddewis personol, ond caiff ei siapio gan nifer o'r ffactorau hynny ac eraill. Mae Bron Brawf Cymru yn gwerthuso ac yn gweithredu strategaethau'n gyson i hyrwyddo cyfranogiad yn y rhaglen. Bob blwyddyn, mae dros 100,000 o fenywod yn manteisio ar y cynnig. Mae'r nifer sy'n cael eu sgrinio ar ei isaf yn y cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig. Felly, er mwyn mynd i'r afael â hynny, mae'r rhaglen sgrinio yn darparu allgymorth wedi'i dargedu mewn cymunedau, yn cynnwys hyfforddi hyrwyddwyr cymunedol sydd yno i weithredu fel lleisiau dibynadwy i gefnogi pobl i fanteisio ar eu cynnig sgrinio. Mae'r nifer sy'n cael eu sgrinio hefyd yn is yn y grwpiau oedran iau, sy'n cyd-fynd â'r nifer is sy'n manteisio ar y cynnig ymhlith y rhai sy'n cael eu gwahodd i gael eu sgrinio am y tro cyntaf. Felly, mae'r rhaglen bellach wedi cynhyrchu deunydd fideo i helpu pobl i ddeall beth yw sgrinio'r fron a pham ei fod yn bwysig.
Minister, I believe it's everyone's responsibility to ensure that the 80 per cent target for breast screening is achieved. To me, it was my second Petitions Committee, and I was shocked at the low figures in some constituencies. A significant barrier appears to be the static nature of mobile units. For example, I am told that the Ynys Môn unit is constantly in Holyhead, whilst in my own constituency it's constantly in the village of Ystrad Mynach. Minister, will you please review the deployment strategy for these 11 mobile units to ensure they rotate through the more rural and isolated communities and towns, and the poorer communities that you just mentioned, rather than remaining in the same fixed hubs every single cycle? We need to increase the hinterland of those mobile units. You mentioned that it's amongst the poorest communities. If it's too far away, people can't even afford to travel there. Thank you.
Weinidog, rwy'n credu ei bod yn ddyletswydd ar bawb i sicrhau bod y targed o 80 y cant ar gyfer sgrinio'r fron yn cael ei gyrraedd. I mi, hwn oedd fy ail Bwyllgor Deisebau, a chefais fy synnu gan y ffigurau isel mewn rhai etholaethau. Ymddengys bod natur statig yr unedau symudol yn rhwystr sylweddol. Er enghraifft, dywedir wrthyf fod uned Ynys Môn yng Nghaergybi drwy'r amser, a bod yr un yn fy etholaeth i ym mhentref Ystradmynach drwy'r amser. Weinidog, a wnewch chi adolygu'r strategaeth ar gyfer gweithredu'r 11 uned symudol hyn i sicrhau eu bod yn ymweld â'r cymunedau a'r trefi mwy gwledig ac ynysig yn eu tro, a'r cymunedau tlotach yr ydych chi newydd sôn amdanynt, yn hytrach nag aros yn yr un mannau sefydlog drwy bob cylch? Mae angen inni gynyddu cwmpas yr unedau symudol hynny. Fe sonioch chi fod hyn ar ei waethaf ymhlith y cymunedau tlotaf. Os yw'n rhy bell i ffwrdd, ni all pobl fforddio teithio yno. Diolch.
I agree that reducing those barriers to access is absolutely essential. There are currently 11 mobile units in Wales, and they rotate across more than 100 locations on a three-year cycle. The intent of the programme is that they're located within, as he says, easily accessible locations, and he will be aware of them being in supermarket car parks and other places. There is a strategy, which Public Health Wales is currently refreshing, which is the screening equity strategy, which is designed to ensure that screening is accessible to all communities and to all individuals who need it. That strategy is currently being refreshed through the course of this year, and there will be significant stakeholder engagement to inform the new strategy. I'll make sure that his comments are heard as part of that.
Rwy'n cytuno ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol lleihau'r rhwystrau hynny i fynediad. Ar hyn o bryd, mae 11 uned symudol yng Nghymru, ac maent yn cylchdroi drwy fwy na 100 o leoliadau ar gylch tair blynedd. Bwriad y rhaglen yw eu bod yn cael eu lleoli o fewn lleoliadau hawdd eu cyrraedd, fel y dywed, a bydd wedi'u gweld mewn meysydd parcio archfarchnadoedd a mannau eraill. Mae yna strategaeth y mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn ei hadnewyddu ar hyn o bryd, sef y strategaeth tegwch sgrinio, sydd wedi'i chynllunio i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau sgrinio ar gael i bob cymuned ac i bob unigolyn sydd eu hangen. Mae'r strategaeth honno'n cael ei hadnewyddu trwy gydol y flwyddyn hon, a bydd ymgysylltu sylweddol â rhanddeiliaid i lywio'r strategaeth newydd. Byddaf yn sicrhau bod ei sylwadau'n cael eu clywed yn rhan o hynny.
Cabinet Secretary, I too have been made aware of this petition, which I found quite shocking, that has now been signed by 4,000 people and rising. It is absolutely essential that we hit that 80 per cent target, and I'm sure that the Cabinet Secretary will agree with me, and the Members who have already spoken, that nearly 16,000 women having not been screened, and that 150 of those could have been detected with having early signs of cancer, is very concerning. So, my question to you is: why haven't these women taken up the screening? Why is it that take-up has been more successful in other parts of the UK? And will you be making an awareness campaign on this on social media and tv? Diolch.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf innau hefyd wedi cael gwybod am y ddeiseb hon, a wnaeth beri cryn syndod i mi, ac mae bellach wedi'i llofnodi gan 4,000 o bobl ac mae'r nifer hwnnw'n cynyddu. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn cyrraedd y targed o 80 y cant, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno â mi, a'r Aelodau sydd eisoes wedi siarad, fod bron i 16,000 o fenywod heb gael eu sgrinio, ac y gallai 150 o'r rheini fod wedi dangos arwyddion cynnar o ganser, sy'n peri pryder mawr. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i chi yw: pam nad yw'r menywod hyn wedi manteisio ar y cynnig i gael eu sgrinio? Pam y mae'r nifer sydd wedi derbyn y cynnig yn uwch mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU? Ac a fyddwch chi'n cynnal ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth ynglŷn â hyn ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol a'r teledu? Diolch.
Yes, as I've already answered to previous colleagues, there is a range of reasons why screening offers are not taken up, some of them are things that Government can act on, together with the health service, to address, others are more complex and are common in other parts of the UK as well. Breast Test Wales has a continuing programme of evaluating the strategies that we currently have to promote participation in the programme. She will have heard me say that some of the areas that we've been looking at specifically are targeting particular cohorts of women, where there is underrepresentation in the uptake, and I hope that we'll see better progress against those targets in the months and years ahead.
Fel yr atebais gyd-Aelodau blaenorol, mae yna amrywiaeth o resymau pam nad yw pobl yn manteisio ar y cynnig i gael eu sgrinio, mae rhai ohonynt yn bethau y gall y Llywodraeth weithredu arnynt, gyda'r gwasanaeth iechyd, i fynd i'r afael â nhw, mae eraill yn fwy cymhleth ac yn gyffredin mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU hefyd. Mae gan Bron Brawf Cymru raglen barhaus o werthuso'r strategaethau sydd gennym yn gyfredol i hyrwyddo cyfranogiad yn y rhaglen. Bydd hi wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud bod rhai o'r meysydd y buom yn edrych yn benodol arnynt yn targedu carfannau penodol o fenywod lle mae'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar y gwasanaeth yn isel, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn well cynnydd yn erbyn y targedau hynny yn y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd i ddod.
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i leihau amseroedd aros mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys? OQ63680
4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to reduce accident and emergency waiting times? OQ63680
The average time spent by patients in emergency departments in November was 2 hours and 53 minutes. However, time spent by many patients in departments before admission or discharge is concerning. In response to this, we've escalated health boards for poor performance, we've invested £200 million to strengthen community care, and launched a national programme to support health boards to improve their performance.
Yr amser cyfartalog a dreuliwyd gan gleifion mewn adrannau brys ym mis Tachwedd oedd 2 awr a 53 munud. Fodd bynnag, mae'r amser a dreulir gan lawer o gleifion mewn adrannau cyn eu derbyn neu eu rhyddhau yn destun pryder. Mewn ymateb i hyn, rydym wedi uwchgyfeirio byrddau iechyd yn sgil perfformiad gwael, rydym wedi buddsoddi £200 miliwn i gryfhau gofal cymunedol, ac wedi lansio rhaglen genedlaethol i gynorthwyo byrddau iechyd i wella eu perfformiad.
Thank you. Well, it's all well and good for the First Minister to have stated yesterday that, after 27 years in power, they recognise that,
'more needs to be done to ensure that we do not see that corridor care that compromises patient privacy and dignity.'
Only this month, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine stated that clinicians across Wales are warning that emergency departments are under unprecedented and unsafe pressure, adding that, between January and November 2025, nearly 112,000 patients in Wales waited over 12 hours in emergency departments. They estimate that 936 excess deaths in 2024 were associated with long emergency department waits. In north Wales, the situation is particularly severe, with a fifth waiting 12 hours or more at Ysbyty Gwynedd emergency department, a quarter at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and nearly a third at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Corridor care is becoming normalised, driven by a lack of available in-patient beds and delayed discharges linked to shortages in social care and community capacity. How do you therefore respond to the royal college's call for urgent action to improve whole-system patient flow, rather than a predominant focus on redirecting patients away from emergency departments?
Diolch. Wel, hawdd y gallai'r Prif Weinidog ddweud ddoe, ar ôl 27 mlynedd mewn grym, eu bod yn cydnabod bod
'angen gwneud mwy i sicrhau nad ydym yn gweld y gofal hwnnw mewn coridorau sy'n peryglu preifatrwydd ac urddas cleifion.'
Y mis hwn, dywedodd y Coleg Brenhinol Meddygaeth Argyfwng fod clinigwyr ledled Cymru yn rhybuddio bod adrannau brys o dan bwysau digynsail ac anniogel, gan ychwanegu, rhwng mis Ionawr a mis Tachwedd 2025, fod bron i 112,000 o gleifion yng Nghymru wedi aros dros 12 awr mewn adrannau brys. Maent yn amcangyfrif bod 936 o farwolaethau ychwanegol yn 2024 yn gysylltiedig ag arosiadau hir mewn adrannau achosion brys. Yng ngogledd Cymru, mae'r sefyllfa'n arbennig o ddifrifol, gyda phumed yn aros 12 awr neu fwy yn adran achosion brys Ysbyty Gwynedd, chwarter yn Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam a bron i draean yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Mae gofal mewn coridorau'n cael ei normaleiddio, wedi'i yrru gan brinder gwelyau cleifion mewnol ac oedi cyn rhyddhau yn gysylltiedig â phrinder capasiti gofal cymdeithasol a chymunedol. Sut ydych chi felly'n ymateb i alwad y coleg brenhinol am weithredu ar frys i wella llif cleifion drwy'r system gyfan, yn hytrach na phrif ffocws ar ailgyfeirio cleifion oddi wrth adrannau brys?
Well, I think it's worth bearing in mind that, despite some of the figures that the Member has referred to in his question—it's also worth bearing in mind from a context point of view—the median time from arrival at an emergency department to triage was 16 minutes, which is, I think, the best performance in four or five years. And the median time from arrival to assessment by a senior clinician was 79 minutes. I've already mentioned the median waiting time to be admitted or discharged. So, it's important to bear that in mind as well as addressing the challenges that the Member fairly puts to me.
I wouldn't say that the focus has been on one part of the system. He's absolutely right to say that, where corridor care takes place—. And the Government's position is very clear: we do not endorse that as a routine measure, though recognising that, in certain circumstances where there is local escalation, that does obviously occur, as we can see at the moment. I think it's about a whole-system focus on better flow through the hospital. That is partly to do with delayed discharges, it's partly, also, about improving hospital performance on early discharges during the hospital day. We've seen a focus on that, particularly in the two-week sprint that we undertook before Christmas. We saw an improvement in that, which did lead to improvements in reduction in corridor care, and the second of those two-week sprints is starting today. I very much hope that we'll see an improvement over the next couple of weeks. Critically, though, we don't want to see these improvements during isolated two-week windows; we want to see this as a systemic improvement. But what it does tell us is that, with a focus on this issue from different parts of a hospital and services around the hospital, we can see improvements.
Wel, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth cofio, er gwaethaf rhai o'r ffigurau y mae'r Aelod wedi cyfeirio atynt yn ei gwestiwn—mae'n werth cofio hefyd o safbwynt cyd-destun—mai'r amser canolrifol o gyrraedd adran achosion brys i frysbennu oedd 16 munud, sef y perfformiad gorau mewn pedair neu bum mlynedd. A'r amser canolrifol o gyrraedd i asesiad gan uwch-glinigydd oedd 79 munud. Rwyf eisoes wedi sôn am yr amser aros canolrifol i gael eich derbyn neu eich rhyddhau. Felly, mae'n bwysig cadw hynny mewn cof yn ogystal â mynd i'r afael â'r heriau y mae'r Aelod yn ddigon teg yn eu cyflwyno i mi.
Ni fuaswn yn dweud bod y ffocws wedi bod ar un rhan o'r system. Mae'n hollol iawn i ddweud, lle mae gofal yn digwydd mewn coridor—. Ac mae safbwynt y Llywodraeth yn glir iawn: nid ydym yn cymeradwyo hynny fel mesur arferol, er yn cydnabod, mewn rhai amgylchiadau lle mae lefelau'n codi'n lleol, fod hynny'n amlwg yn digwydd, fel y gwelwn ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â ffocws system gyfan ar well llif trwy'r ysbyty. Mae hynny'n ymwneud yn rhannol ag oedi cyn rhyddhau, mae'n ymwneud yn rhannol hefyd â gwella perfformiad ysbyty ar ryddhau'n gynnar yn ystod y diwrnod ysbyty. Rydym wedi gweld ffocws ar hynny, yn enwedig yn y sbrint bythefnos a gyflawnwyd gennym cyn y Nadolig. Gwelsom welliant bryd hynny, a arweiniodd at welliannau i ostwng achosion o ofal mewn coridorau, ac mae'r ail o'r sbrintiau pythefnos hynny'n dechrau heddiw. Rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y gwelwn welliant dros yr wythnosau nesaf. Yn allweddol, fodd bynnag, nid am gyfnodau ynysig o bythefnos yn unig yr ydym am weld y gwelliannau hyn; rydym eisiau gweld gwelliant systemig. Ond yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud wrthym yw y gallwn weld gwelliannau o roi ffocws ar y mater o wahanol rannau o ysbyty a gwasanaethau o amgylch yr ysbyty.
5. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio i wella cyfraddau sgrinio am ganser? OQ63685
5. How is the Welsh Government working to improve cancer screening rates? OQ63685
Public Health Wales is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering screening programmes in Wales. They are continuously assessing and implementing interventions to support uptake across all screening programmes, addressing inequities and working with communities through the screening engagement team to understand and overcome barriers to participation.
Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am gydlynu a chyflwyno rhaglenni sgrinio yng Nghymru. Maent yn asesu ac yn gweithredu ymyriadau yn barhaus i gefnogi'r niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar bob rhaglen sgrinio, ac yn mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau a gweithio gyda chymunedau drwy'r tîm ymgysylltu sgrinio i ddeall a goresgyn rhwystrau i gyfranogiad.
Diolch. As Chair of the Petitions Committee, I also wish to raise with you a recent petition submitted by Breast Cancer Now. We also heard, during the Petitions Committee—well, prior to the meeting—from Sheila from Ynys Môn. She said that, due to early detection, she just needed a lumpectomy and radiation, rather than the more debilitating chemotherapy. So, it's really important that we get women to screening, and, as you've just heard earlier, if the 80 per cent target was met, 15,871 more women would be screened and 156 cancer cases would be detected. There will be a report coming from the Petitions Committee, with recommendations to you, including having a publicity campaign regarding promoting the uptake. Cabinet Secretary, I hope this is something that you will help take forward with Public Health Wales on breast cancer screening. My question, I can't ask, because it's already been asked previously by the other Members there in the Chamber, so thank you.
Diolch. Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, hoffwn dynnu eich sylw at ddeiseb ddiweddar a gyflwynwyd gan Breast Cancer Now. Clywsom hefyd, yn ystod y Pwyllgor Deisebau—wel, cyn y cyfarfod—gan Sheila o Ynys Môn. Dywedodd mai codi lwmp ac ymbelydredd yn unig oedd eu hangen arni gan i'w chanser gael ei ganfod yn gynnar, yn hytrach na'r cemotherapi mwy gwanychol. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n cael menywod i dderbyn gwasanaeth sgrinio, ac fel y clywsoch yn gynharach, pe bai'r targed o 80 y cant yn cael ei gyrraedd, byddai 15,871 yn fwy o fenywod yn cael eu sgrinio a byddai 156 o achosion o ganser yn cael eu canfod. Fe ddaw adroddiad gan y Pwyllgor Deisebau, gydag argymhellion i chi, gan gynnwys cynnal ymgyrch gyhoeddusrwydd ynghylch gwella'r niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar y gwasanaeth. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n gobeithio bod hyn yn rhywbeth y byddwch chi'n helpu i fwrw ymlaen ag ef gydag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ar sgrinio canser y fron. Ni allaf ofyn fy nghwestiwn am ei fod eisoes wedi'i ofyn gan yr Aelodau eraill yn y Siambr, felly diolch.
I'm grateful to the committee for its work, and I will be very keen to see what recommendations and advice the committee provides. It is important that we make sure that women have access to screening and take up the offer in greater numbers. I would also say, if I may, as context, that this is an approach that we also want to see in relation to other forms of cancer as well, so the extension of the screening range for bowel cancer and the introduction of the new lung cancer screening programme in Wales are all manifestations of our commitment to making sure that we make screening as accessible as possible to as many people as possible in all parts of Wales.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r pwyllgor am ei waith, a byddaf yn awyddus iawn i weld pa argymhellion a chyngor y mae'r pwyllgor yn eu darparu. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn sicrhau bod menywod yn cael mynediad at sgrinio a bod niferoedd mwy ohonynt yn manteisio ar y cynnig. Buaswn hefyd yn dweud, os caf, fel cyd-destun, fod hwn yn ddull yr ydym am ei weld mewn perthynas â mathau eraill o ganser yn ogystal, felly mae ymestyn yr ystod sgrinio ar gyfer canser y coluddyn a chyflwyno'r rhaglen sgrinio canser yr ysgyfaint newydd yng Nghymru i gyd yn amlygiadau o'n hymrwymiad i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud sgrinio mor hygyrch â phosib i gymaint o bobl â phosib ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
6. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda fferyllfeydd i sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn ymwybodol o'r gwasanaethau maen nhw'n eu darparu? OQ63692
6. How is the Welsh Government working with pharmacies to ensure the public is aware of the services they provide? OQ63692
The Welsh Government promotes pharmacy services through the national Help Us Help You campaign. This high-impact approach ensures strong public awareness of how community pharmacies provide timely advice, treatment and accessible care.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n hyrwyddo gwasanaethau fferylliaeth drwy'r ymgyrch genedlaethol Helpwch Ni i'ch Helpu Chi. Mae'r dull effaith uchel hwn yn sicrhau ymwybyddiaeth gyhoeddus gref o sut y mae fferyllfeydd cymunedol yn darparu cyngor amserol, triniaeth a gofal hygyrch.
Thank you for that answer. I believe our pharmacies and our pharmacists provide an excellent service, but sometimes they're underutilised because people are not aware of the services and the information they can access from their pharmacist. Earlier this month, a local pharmacy ran a pilot and opened on a Sunday for six hours. What they did was they posted on social media advertising this fact to see what interest there would be and to encourage people just to go along, ask for advice and see what services were there. The feedback from individuals who did go—. It was a very busy pharmacy that day, I understand, but the feedback was just how surprised people were that so much was on offer there.
Of course, we both know that pharmacies can take a huge amount of pressure off other aspects of the NHS, particularly in the primary care sector. So, I wonder if you could expand a bit more on what advice and support Welsh Government is giving to pharmacies to make sure all constituents are aware.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Rwy'n credu bod ein fferyllfeydd a'n fferyllwyr yn darparu gwasanaeth rhagorol, ond weithiau ni wneir defnydd digonol ohonynt am nad yw pobl yn ymwybodol o'r wybodaeth a'r gwasanaethau y gallant eu cael gan eu fferyllydd. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, cynhaliodd fferyllfa leol gynllun peilot ac fe agorodd ar ddydd Sul am chwe awr. Yr hyn a wnaethant oedd postio ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol i hysbysebu'r ffaith i weld pa ddiddordeb a fyddai ac i annog pobl i fynd yno, gofyn am gyngor a gweld pa wasanaethau oedd ar gael. Roedd yr adborth gan unigolion a aeth—. Rwy'n deall bod y fferyllfa'n brysur iawn y diwrnod hwnnw, ond yr adborth oedd bod pobl yn synnu bod cymaint ar gael yno.
Wrth gwrs, mae'r ddau ohonom yn gwybod y gall fferyllfeydd dynnu llawer iawn o bwysau oddi ar agweddau eraill ar y GIG, yn enwedig yn y sector gofal sylfaenol. Felly, tybed a allech chi ehangu ychydig mwy ar ba gyngor a chefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i fferyllfeydd i wneud yn siŵr fod pob etholwr yn ymwybodol o'r pethau hyn.
Yes, certainly. So, the Help Us Help You campaign—this cycle of it launched on 1 November—is there to provide that information, so patients or the public can look first to go to their pharmacy for whenever that's appropriate. Of course, we have large numbers of independent prescribers in pharmacies now, and we will shortly be in a position where everybody qualifying as a pharmacist in Wales will be able to prescribe. And so there's a huge opportunity just ahead of us in order to ensure even more of a contribution, above and beyond the great work pharmacies already do.
So, the campaign itself focuses obviously on promoting pharmacies and it runs across tv, radio and social media as well, and we've developed stakeholder toolkits, which have been shared both with health boards and pharmacies themselves, to ensure what I think is important, which is consistent messaging about the offer, so that the public understand what's available and where. Since the launch of the campaign, we've had quite significant numbers of people accessing the information and I think we can also see an increase in the use of the common ailments service as a result of that. In 2023-24, there were over 340,000 common ailments service consultations in pharmacies, and in 2024-25, that had increased to over 0.5 million. So, there's a steady and significant increase, I think, in the availability of consultations in that way.
There is obviously more that we can do, and what I think is one of the strengths of the common ailments service is that it has built incrementally and has added extra functionality and extra services year on year, and we can see that making a real difference.
Yn sicr. Mae'r ymgyrch Helpwch Ni i'ch Helpu Chi—lansiwyd y cylch hwn ar 1 Tachwedd—yno i ddarparu'r wybodaeth honno, fel y gall cleifion neu'r cyhoedd droi at eu fferyllfa yn gyntaf pan fydd hynny'n briodol. Wrth gwrs, mae gennym nifer fawr o bresgripsiynwyr annibynnol mewn fferyllfeydd nawr, a byddwn mewn sefyllfa yn fuan lle bydd pawb sy'n cymhwyso fel fferyllydd yng Nghymru yn cael darparu presgripsiwn. Ac felly mae cyfle enfawr o'n blaenau i sicrhau mwy fyth o gyfraniad, y tu hwnt i'r gwaith gwych y mae fferyllfeydd eisoes yn ei wneud.
Felly, mae'r ymgyrch ei hun yn amlwg yn canolbwyntio ar hyrwyddo fferyllfeydd ac mae'n rhedeg ar draws y teledu, radio a chyfryngau cymdeithasol hefyd, ac rydym wedi datblygu pecynnau cymorth i randdeiliaid, sydd wedi'u rhannu gyda byrddau iechyd a fferyllfeydd eu hunain, i sicrhau'r hyn y credaf eu bod yn bwysig, sef negeseuon cyson am y cynnig, fel bod y cyhoedd yn deall beth sydd ar gael a ble. Ers lansio'r ymgyrch, rydym wedi cael nifer go sylweddol o bobl yn cyrchu'r wybodaeth ac rwy'n credu y gallwn hefyd weld cynnydd yn y defnydd o'r gwasanaeth anhwylderau cyffredin o ganlyniad i hynny. Yn 2023-24, cafwyd dros 340,000 o ymgynghoriadau gwasanaeth anhwylderau cyffredin mewn fferyllfeydd, ac yn 2024-25, roedd hynny wedi cynyddu i dros 0.5 miliwn. Felly, mae yna gynnydd cyson a sylweddol yn argaeledd ymgynghoriadau yn y modd hwnnw.
Yn amlwg, mae mwy y gallwn ei wneud, a'r hyn y credaf yw un o gryfderau'r gwasanaeth anhwylderau cyffredin yw ei fod wedi'i adeiladu fesul cam ac wedi ychwanegu nodweddion ychwanegol a gwasanaethau ychwanegol flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, a gallwn weld bod hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i leihau rhestrau aros y GIG yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ63689
7. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to reduce NHS waiting lists in South Wales East? OQ63689
One of my top priorities is to ensure that waiting times across Wales fall and people can access treatments in a timely manner. To do this, we have supported health boards with additional investment, national and clinical support, and have prioritised regional working for specialities such as cataracts and diagnostics.
Un o fy mhrif flaenoriaethau yw sicrhau bod amseroedd aros ledled Cymru yn gostwng a bod pobl yn gallu cael mynediad at driniaethau mewn modd amserol. I wneud hyn, rydym wedi cefnogi byrddau iechyd gyda buddsoddiad ychwanegol, cymorth cenedlaethol a chlinigol, ac wedi blaenoriaethu gweithio rhanbarthol ar gyfer arbenigeddau fel cataractau a diagnosteg.
Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary. Despite a lot of warm words from the Government, the shamefully high NHS waiting lists remain, with residents across Wales, including my own constituents, forced to wait in pain. It's shocking, but perhaps not surprising, given Labour's shoddy mismanagement of our health service over the past 27 years. And let's not forget that Plaid Cymru are just as culpable, jumping into bed with the Government time and time again.
Cabinet Secretary, I want to highlight an appalling situation one of my constituents has been facing when it comes to healthcare here in Wales. My constituent was told in August 2024 that he would need surgery to repair a flap on the top of his stomach, with an expected wait of 52 weeks. In May 2025, my constituent sought an update on the waiting list and was at that point told that he now faced a wait of more than 80 weeks. In December 2025, he checked in for another update and was told that he faced a 76-week wait. In January this year, of 2026, he was told that he should face a wait between 105 to 110 weeks. Cabinet Secretary, how can it be that my constituent's original wait has more than doubled from the original 52-week wait to potentially 110 weeks? I thought that this Government was supposedly getting to grips with waiting lists, but clearly that's not the case.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Er gwaethaf llawer o eiriau cynnes gan y Llywodraeth, mae rhestrau aros cywilyddus y GIG yn parhau, gyda thrigolion ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys fy etholwyr fy hun, yn cael eu gorfodi i aros mewn poen. Mae'n frawychus, ond efallai nad yw'n syndod, o ystyried y ffordd wael y mae Llafur wedi camreoli ein gwasanaeth iechyd dros y 27 mlynedd diwethaf. A gadewch inni beidio ag anghofio bod Plaid Cymru yr un mor euog, yn neidio i'r gwely gyda'r Llywodraeth dro ar ôl tro.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf am dynnu sylw at sefyllfa ofnadwy y mae un o fy etholwyr wedi bod yn ei hwynebu o ran gofal iechyd yma yng Nghymru. Dywedwyd wrth fy etholwr ym mis Awst 2024 y byddai angen llawdriniaeth arno i gywiro fflap ar ei stumog, ac y gallai ddisgwyl aros 52 wythnos. Ym mis Mai 2025, gofynnodd fy etholwr am y sefyllfa ddiweddaraf gyda'r rhestr aros ac ar y pwynt hwnnw dywedwyd wrtho ei fod bellach yn wynebu amser aros o fwy nag 80 wythnos. Ym mis Rhagfyr 2025, gofynnodd am ddiweddariad arall a dywedwyd wrtho ei fod yn wynebu amser aros o 76 wythnos. Ym mis Ionawr eleni, 2026, dywedwyd wrtho y dylai wynebu amser aros o 105 i 110 wythnos. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, sut y gall amser aros gwreiddiol fy etholwr fod wedi mwy na dyblu o'r amser aros gwreiddiol o 52 wythnos i 110 wythnos? Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod y Llywodraeth hon yn mynd i'r afael â rhestrau aros, ond mae'n amlwg nad yw hynny'n wir.
I'm sorry to hear about her constituent's experience, and I'm obviously not able to comment on that particular situation, but I hope that she will write to whichever health board it is so that they can address the concerns that she is raising with me today.
Just as context, I think it is important to note that the additional investment and focus that the Government is bringing, and has brought for some time, on reducing long waits has meant that over the last 12 months, across health boards in the south-east region, the kind of long waits that she is referring to—waits over two years—have fallen significantly: a 76 per cent reduction over the course of a year. Over the same period, the number of patients—. Well, she's shaking her head, but these are indeed the facts, and I know that those are difficult sometimes for the Member to accept, but they are in fact the case. Over the same period, the number of patients waiting for a first out-patient appointment over two years has fallen by 95 per cent, and I expect that to be at zero at the end of this year.
Some of those figures remain far too high, but in the interests of having a transparent debate about what is happening in the health service, I think it is important to see that broader picture, as well as acknowledging the situation her constituent finds himself in.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad ei hetholwr, ac yn amlwg ni allaf wneud sylwadau am y sefyllfa benodol honno, ond rwy'n gobeithio y gwnaiff hi ysgrifennu at ba bynnag fwrdd iechyd ydyw fel y gallant fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon y mae hi'n eu dwyn i fy sylw heddiw.
Fel cyd-destun, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig nodi bod y buddsoddiad a'r ffocws ychwanegol y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei gynnig, ac y mae wedi bod yn ei gynnig ers peth amser, ar leihau amseroedd aros hir wedi golygu, dros y 12 mis diwethaf, ar draws byrddau iechyd yn rhanbarth y de-ddwyrain, fod y math o amseroedd aros hir y mae'n cyfeirio atynt—amser aros o dros ddwy flynedd—wedi gostwng yn sylweddol: gostyngiad o 76 y cant dros gyfnod o flwyddyn. Dros yr un cyfnod, mae nifer y cleifion—. Wel, mae hi'n ysgwyd ei phen, ond dyma'r ffeithiau, ac rwy'n gwybod bod y rheini anodd i'r Aelod eu derbyn weithiau, ond dyma'r ffeithiau. Dros yr un cyfnod, mae nifer y cleifion sy'n aros dros ddwy flynedd am apwyntiad cleifion allanol cyntaf wedi gostwng 95 y cant, ac rwy'n disgwyl i hynny gyrraedd sero cyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
Mae rhai o'r ffigurau hynny'n parhau i fod yn llawer rhy uchel, ond er mwyn cael dadl dryloyw am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig gweld y darlun ehangach, yn ogystal â chydnabod y sefyllfa y mae ei hetholwr ynddi.
8. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i leihau'r amser aros am driniaeth orthopedig ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro? OQ63679
8. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to reduce waiting times for orthopaedic treatment at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board? OQ63679
Mae gwella mynediad at ofal iechyd a lleihau amseroedd aros yn flaenoriaeth i’r Llywodraeth hon. Rydyn ni wedi cymryd camau uniongyrchol i gefnogi’r bwrdd iechyd i leihau ei restrau aros orthopedig. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cymorth gan gorff Perfformiad a Gwella GIG Cymru, y rhwydwaith orthopedig clinigol a’r tîm Cael Pethau'n Iawn y Tro Cyntaf.
Improving access to healthcare and reducing waiting times is a priority for this Government. We have taken direct action to support the health board to reduce its orthopaedic waiting lists. This includes support from NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, the clinical orthopaedic network and the Getting it Right First Time team.
Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Yn ôl y data diweddaraf, mae mwy na 1,500 o lwybrau cleifion yng Nghaerdydd a’r Fro yn aros mwy na dwy flynedd. Ond roeddwn i’n falch iawn i ddarllen am y datblygiadau ym Mharc Iechyd Llantrisant. Yno, mae’n braf gweld cydweithio rhwng tri bwrdd iechyd i fynd i’r afael â thriniaeth orthopedig drwy greu hyd at chwe theatr a 54 gwely yng ngham 2 o’r prosiect. Rhagwelir y bydd cyfanswm y costau cyfalaf pellach yn £123.6 miliwn, gyda £1.93 miliwn wedi'i ariannu hyd yma. Yn ôl y modelu, bydd gwerth £1.54 yn cael ei gyflawni am bob £1 sy’n cael ei fuddsoddi. Pryd mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cyhoeddi buddsoddiad pellach ym Mharc Iechyd Llantrisant er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r rhestr aros orthopedig? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. According to the most recent data, more than 1,500 patient pathways in Cardiff and the Vale are waiting over two years. But I was very pleased to read about the developments in Llantrisant Health Park. There, it is good to see collaboration between three health boards to tackle demand for orthopaedic care, by creating up to six theatres and 54 beds in phase 2 of that project. It is predicted that the total capital costs will be £123.6 million, with £1.93 million funded to date. According to the modelling, £1.54 of value will be delivered for every £1 invested. When does the Welsh Government intend to announce further investment in Llantrisant Health Park to tackle those orthopaedic waiting lists? Thank you.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y croeso y mae'n ei roi i'r parc iechyd yn Llantrisant. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn gyfraniad sylweddol tuag at wella rhestrau aros o ran diagnosteg a llawdriniaeth yn y de-ddwyrain. Jest i ddweud o ran cyd-destun Caerdydd a'r Fro yn benodol, mae'r amserau aros hir yn syrthio yno hefyd. Dros y flwyddyn i fis Hydref diwethaf, roedd 69 y cant o leihad yn y rhai sy'n aros dros ddwy flynedd. Felly, mae arwyddion o gynnydd yn digwydd yn barod.
O ran amseru’r datblygiadau yn Llantrisant, mae'r achos busnes llawn ar gyfer y rhan gyntaf—hynny yw, yr hwb diagnosteg—ac amlinelliad yr achos busnes ar gyfer yr ail gam, sef yr elfen orthopedig, wedi cael eu cyflwyno i’r Llywodraeth am benderfyniad ar gyfer buddsoddiad. Maen nhw’n mynd drwy’r system ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy’n disgwyl cyngor yn fuan iawn ar hynny. Rwy’n awyddus i sicrhau ein bod ni’n mynd i’r afael â hyn yn gyflym iawn, fel ein bod ni’n gallu gweld effaith y cynnydd yn Llantrisant ym mywydau pobl cyn gynted â phosibl.
I thank the Member for the welcome that he gave the health park in Llantrisant. I think that it will make a significant contribution in improving waiting times for diagnostics and surgery in the south-east. Just in the context of Cardiff and the Vale specifically, long waiting times are falling there too. Over the year to last October, there was a 69 per cent reduction in those waiting over two years. So, there are signs of progress already.
In terms of the timing of developments at Llantrisant, the full business case for the first phase—namely the diagnostic hub—and the outline business case for the second phase, which is the orthopaedic element, have been presented to the Government for a decision on investment. They are currently going through the system, and I expect advice very soon on that. I'm eager to ensure that we address this very quickly, so that we can see the impact of the progress in Llantrisant in the lives of people as soon as possible.
The hospital sterilisation unit at the Heath hospital came out last week for scathing criticism in a WalesOnline report, which revealed a secret report that was done by the health board that has not been made public, with damning accusations of bullying, contamination of surgical appliances, and just general meltdown in that department. Orthopaedic services rely on that sterilisation unit to provide key medical instruments to allow them to perform the functions that they do when people need procedures.
Will you commit today, health Minister, to insisting that the health board make available the report that was concluded in August 2024, following an earlier report in 2016 with similar revelations? Bear in mind that this report has come in light of the report on the operating theatres, and the mortuary potentially losing its licence to operate through poor practice. There are real issues going on at the Heath hospital. I have asked you numerous times to intervene directly. On this simple request, will you commit to making that report available?
Cafodd yr uned sterileiddio ysbyty yn ysbyty'r Mynydd Bychan ei beirniadu yr wythnos diwethaf mewn adroddiad gan WalesOnline, a ddatgelodd adroddiad cyfrinachol a wnaed gan y bwrdd iechyd nad yw wedi'i gyhoeddi, gyda chyhuddiadau damniol o fwlio, halogi offer llawfeddygol, a chwalfa gyffredinol yn yr adran honno. Mae gwasanaethau orthopedig yn dibynnu ar yr uned sterileiddio honno i ddarparu offer meddygol allweddol i'w galluogi i gyflawni'r swyddogaethau y maent yn eu gwneud pan fydd angen llawdriniaethau ar bobl.
A wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw, Weinidog iechyd, i fynnu bod y bwrdd iechyd yn darparu'r adroddiad a gwblhawyd ym mis Awst 2024, yn dilyn adroddiad cynharach yn 2016 gyda datgeliadau tebyg? Cofiwch fod yr adroddiad hwn wedi dod yng ngoleuni'r adroddiad ar y theatrau llawdriniaeth, a'r perygl y gallai'r corffdy golli ei drwydded i weithredu oherwydd ymarfer gwael. Mae problemau go iawn yn ysbyty'r Mynydd Bychan. Rwyf wedi gofyn i chi ymyrryd yn uniongyrchol sawl gwaith. Ar y cais syml hwn, a wnewch chi'n ymrwymo i sicrhau bod yr adroddiad hwnnw ar gael?
As the Member will know from my previous responses to his questions—and it is a perfectly fair challenge—I have intervened directly. In fact, the health board is in higher escalation because of the themes emerging from a number of these reviews, including the one that he refers to in his question to me today.
The health board has confirmed that it has a detailed action plan and change programme in place in response to each of the reviews, and that work is under way against those action plans. I propose to discuss those in detail with the Chair of the health board at the next meeting that we have in the coming weeks. The plans cover individual behaviour, cultural transformation, leadership and management reforms as well, operational planning, infrastructure, quality governance, fairness and equity, and monitoring for continuous improvement.
He will know that the health board has responded to the point that he made specifically in relation to the review. The board has considered the reports. The reports, I understand from the health board, have been shared with staff representatives, and work has been under way, since the report was received by the health board, to implement the recommendations in that report.
I do agree with him that the kind of cultural and management challenges that that report, as we have seen in the coverage of it, sets out are not acceptable, and they are not isolated to that report. I spoke to the health board specifically at the most recent public accountability meeting. You will have heard what the Chair said to me in that meeting on these broader questions.
Fel y bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod o fy ymatebion blaenorol i'w gwestiynau—ac mae'n her hollol deg—rwyf wedi ymyrryd yn uniongyrchol. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi'i uwchgyfeirio oherwydd y themâu sy'n dod i'r amlwg o nifer o'r adolygiadau hyn, gan gynnwys yr un y mae'n cyfeirio ato yn ei gwestiwn i mi heddiw.
Mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi cadarnhau bod ganddo gynllun gweithredu manwl a rhaglen newid ar waith mewn ymateb i bob un o'r adolygiadau, a bod gwaith ar y gweill yn erbyn y cynlluniau gweithredu hynny. Rwy'n bwriadu trafod y rheini'n fanwl gyda Chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd yn ein cyfarfod yn yr wythnosau nesaf. Mae'r cynlluniau'n cwmpasu ymddygiad unigolion, newid diwylliannol, diwygiadau arweinyddiaeth a rheoli hefyd, cynllunio gweithredol, seilwaith, llywodraethu ansawdd, tegwch a chydraddoldeb, a monitro ar gyfer gwelliant parhaus.
Fe fydd yn gwybod bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi ymateb i'r pwynt a wnaeth yn benodol mewn perthynas â'r adolygiad. Mae'r bwrdd wedi ystyried yr adroddiadau. Rwy'n deall gan y bwrdd iechyd fod yr adroddiadau wedi cael eu rhannu â chynrychiolwyr staff, ac mae gwaith wedi bod ar y gweill ers i'r adroddiad gael ei roi i'r bwrdd iechyd ar weithredu'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad hwnnw.
Rwy'n cytuno ag ef nad yw'r math o heriau diwylliant a rheoli y mae'r adroddiad hwnnw'n eu nodi, fel y gwelsom yn y sylw a roddwyd iddo, yn dderbyniol, ac nid ydynt wedi'u cyfyngu i'r adroddiad hwnnw'n unig. Siaradais â'r bwrdd iechyd yn benodol yn y cyfarfod atebolrwydd cyhoeddus diweddaraf. Fe fyddwch wedi clywed yr hyn a ddywedodd y Cadeirydd wrthyf yn y cyfarfod hwnnw ar y cwestiynau ehangach hyn.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Y cwestiynau amserol sydd nesaf. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog a'i ofyn gan Mick Antoniw.
The topical questions are next. The first question is to be answered by the Deputy First Minister and is to be asked by Mick Antoniw.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar y goblygiadau i Gymru yn sgil Cyfraith arfaethedig Hillsborough? TQ1429
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implications for Wales of the proposed Hillsborough Law? TQ1429
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill aims to strengthen conduct in public office, introducing a new duty of candour, making it an offence to mislead the public, and expands access to legal aid for bereaved families at inquests involving public authorities. Its application to Wales ensures that legal protections apply UK-wide.
Nod y Bil Swyddi Cyhoeddus (Atebolrwydd) yw cryfhau ymddygiad mewn swyddi cyhoeddus, gan gyflwyno dyletswydd gonestrwydd newydd, yn ei gwneud yn drosedd i gamarwain y cyhoedd, ac mae'n ehangu mynediad at gymorth cyfreithiol i deuluoedd mewn profedigaeth mewn cwestau y mae gan awdurdodau cyhoeddus ran ynddynt. Mae ei gymhwyso i Gymru yn sicrhau bod amddiffyniadau cyfreithiol yn berthnasol ledled y DU.
Thank you for that answer. Of course, Hillsborough was a terrible tragedy. It followed on from another tragedy, an area waiting for an inquiry, which of course was the Orgreave events. The issue around the duty of candour is that had that existed at the time of Orgreave, then Hillsborough might never have occurred, and certainly not the cover-up of events and facts that had to be uncovered over several decades. I welcome very much that the UK Government is fulfilling its commitment in its manifesto to introduce a Hillsborough law, but that duty must be universal. I'm very pleased that certain amendments that were undermining that universality have been withdrawn, although I'm concerned about suggestions that they might be introduced at a later stage. Do you agree with me that the importance of this law across our particular Welsh interest means that universality must apply? There should not be exceptions to the concept of a duty of candour.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Wrth gwrs, roedd Hillsborough yn drasiedi ofnadwy. Dilynodd drasiedi arall, mater sy'n aros am ymchwiliad, sef digwyddiadau Orgreave wrth gwrs. Yr hyn sydd i'w nodi ynglŷn â'r ddyletswydd gonestrwydd yw, pe bai honno'n bodoli adeg digwyddiadau Orgreave, efallai na fyddai Hillsborough erioed wedi digwydd, ac yn sicr ni fyddai'r cuddio digwyddiadau a ffeithiau y bu'n rhaid eu datgelu dros sawl degawd wedi digwydd. Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth y DU yn cyflawni ei hymrwymiad maniffesto i gyflwyno deddf Hillsborough, ond rhaid i'r ddyletswydd honno fod yn gymwys i bawb. Rwy'n falch iawn fod gwelliannau a oedd yn tanseilio'r egwyddor gyffredinol honno wedi'u tynnu'n ôl, er fy mod yn pryderu am awgrymiadau y gallent gael eu cyflwyno yn nes ymlaen. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod pwysigrwydd y gyfraith hon ar draws ein buddiannau Cymreig penodol yn golygu bod rhaid sicrhau ei bod hi'n gymwys i bawb? Ni ddylai fod eithriadau i'r cysyniad o ddyletswydd gonestrwydd.
Mick, thank you very much for that. I acknowledge your campaigning on this issue and also for the Orgreave miners and their families over decades. We're looking at the application of a piece of legislation that will bring new duties that will respond to the concerns not only of those families affected by the Hillsborough tragedy, but by Grenfell Tower and all of those who feel that public authorities and those who provide public services have failed in the past in their ethical and moral duty of candour and assistance. It will put that ethical and moral duty on a statutory footing.
You rightly draw attention to the concerns of families, including those in the Hillsborough Law Now campaign group, who drew their concerns publicly to the attention of Government on an amendment that had been put forward focused on the security services. The Government have paused that and have sought now to work with those families affected and with campaigners to get this right. I think that's right, because the principle you speak of of universality is correct. I noted, in preparation for this topical question today, Llywydd, that the campaign group—and we should listen to their views—said:
'We welcome the government listening to the campaign, families, MPs and supporters by withdrawing their security services amendment. We shall engage further with government to ensure the bill fully applies to the security services whilst not jeopardising national security.'
Those families and campaigners recognise that there is indeed a national security issue, but want to work with the Government to get this right. We welcome this. We agree, by the way, Mick, with the points that you've made, but also those points that have been made by good colleagues of ours like Steve Rotheram of Liverpool, Andy Burnham and others, who have said that the previous amendment that has now been withdrawn risked not only undermining the spirit of the legislation, but actually being too broad on the opt-out for the security services. So, there's work to be done, but I welcome the fact that the Government has withdrawn it and will seek to work with them.
I repeat as well that part of the universality is the application of this to Wales. There will need to be a legislative consent motion that will be brought here. We will need to scrutinise that as a Government and then bring it forward for scrutiny here as well. But, of course, as part of those who have long campaigned in support of a Hillsborough law, we're supportive of this, we just need to get it absolutely right.
Mick, diolch yn fawr am hynny. Rwy'n cydnabod eich gwaith yn ymgyrchu ar y mater hwn a hefyd dros lowyr Orgreave a'u teuluoedd dros ddegawdau. Rydym yn edrych ar gymhwyso darn o ddeddfwriaeth a fydd yn darparu dyletswyddau newydd i ymateb i bryderon nid yn unig y teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan drasiedi Hillsborough, ond gan drasiedi Tŵr Grenfell a phawb sy'n teimlo bod awdurdodau cyhoeddus a'r rhai sy'n darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi methu yn y gorffennol yn eu dyletswydd foesegol a moesol o onestrwydd a chymorth. Bydd yn rhoi'r ddyletswydd foesegol a moesol honno ar sail statudol.
Rydych chi'n gywir i dynnu sylw at bryderon teuluoedd, gan gynnwys y rhai yng ngrŵp ymgyrchu Hillsborough Law Now, a dynnodd eu pryderon i sylw'r Llywodraeth ar welliant a gyflwynwyd yn canolbwyntio ar y gwasanaethau diogelwch. Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi oedi hynny ac wedi ceisio gweithio gyda'r teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt a chydag ymgyrchwyr i gael hyn yn iawn. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n iawn, oherwydd mae'r egwyddor gyffredinolrwydd y soniwch chi amdani yn gywir. Wrth baratoi ar gyfer y cwestiwn amserol hwn heddiw, Lywydd, nodais fod y grŵp ymgyrchu—a dylem wrando ar eu barn—wedi dweud:
'Rydym yn croesawu'r ffaith bod y llywodraeth yn gwrando ar yr ymgyrch, teuluoedd, ASau a chefnogwyr drwy dynnu eu gwelliant gwasanaethau diogelwch yn ôl. Byddwn yn ymgysylltu ymhellach â'r llywodraeth i sicrhau bod y bil yn gwbl berthnasol i'r gwasanaethau diogelwch heb beryglu diogelwch cenedlaethol.'
Mae'r teuluoedd a'r ymgyrchwyr hynny'n cydnabod bod yna fater diogelwch cenedlaethol yn codi, ond maent eisiau gweithio gyda'r Llywodraeth i gael hyn yn iawn. Rydym yn croesawu hynny. Gyda llaw, Mick, rydym yn cytuno â'r pwyntiau a wnaethoch, ond hefyd â'r pwyntiau a wnaed gan gymheiriaid i ni fel Steve Rotheram o Lerpwl, Andy Burnham ac eraill, a ddywedodd fod y gwelliant blaenorol sydd bellach wedi'i dynnu'n ôl mewn perygl nid yn unig o danseilio ysbryd y ddeddfwriaeth, ond yn rhy eang mewn gwirionedd ynghylch gallu'r gwasanaethau diogelwch i optio allan. Felly, mae gwaith i'w wneud, ond rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod y Llywodraeth wedi'i dynnu'n ôl ac yn ceisio gweithio gyda nhw.
Rwy'n ailadrodd hefyd mai rhan o'r egwyddor gyffredinolrwydd yw cymhwyso hyn i Gymru. Bydd angen cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol a fydd yn cael ei gyflwyno yma. Bydd angen inni graffu ar hwnnw fel Llywodraeth ac yna ei gyflwyno ar gyfer ei graffu yma hefyd. Ond wrth gwrs, fel rhan o'r rhai a fu'n ymgyrchu ers amser maith i gefnogi deddf Hillsborough, rydym yn gefnogol i hyn, ac mae angen inni ei gael yn hollol iawn.
Clause 11 of the Bill creates a new criminal offence of misleading the public by Ministers and public authorities. As currently drafted, it doesn't apply to Welsh Ministers or public authorities in Wales as regards devolved functions. That's why, in your legislative consent memoranda, you haven't addressed clause 11. But since then, the UK Government has brought forward amendments 40 and 70, which would remove this exception for Welsh devolved functions. Clause 11, if it is passed, will now apply to Welsh Ministers.
Will you therefore be bringing a supplementary memorandum forward, and will that be reflected in a legislative consent motion, so that the Senedd can make its views known on this matter? Do you support the removal of this exception in relation to clause 11? And just on a particular matter that will be of interest to the former Counsel General, as currently drafted with respect to Welsh Ministers, it would apply to proceedings in the Senedd. This isn't the case at Westminster, of course, because absolute privilege applies there. Is that a matter that you have discussed with the UK Government in discussion of clause 11?
Mae cymal 11 o'r Bil yn creu trosedd droseddol newydd o gamarwain y cyhoedd gan Weinidogion ac awdurdodau cyhoeddus. Fel y'i drafftiwyd ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'n berthnasol i Weinidogion Cymru nac awdurdodau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru mewn perthynas â swyddogaethau datganoledig. Dyna pam, yn eich memoranda cydsyniad deddfwriaethol, nad ydych chi wedi rhoi sylw i gymal 11. Ond ers hynny, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyflwyno gwelliannau 40 a 70, a fyddai'n dileu'r eithriad hwn i swyddogaethau datganoledig Cymru. Bydd cymal 11, os caiff ei basio, yn berthnasol nawr i Weinidogion Cymru.
A fyddwch chi felly yn cyflwyno memorandwm atodol, ac a fydd hynny'n cael ei adlewyrchu mewn cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol, fel y gall y Senedd wneud ei safbwyntiau'n hysbys ar y mater hwn? A ydych chi'n cefnogi dileu'r eithriad hwn mewn perthynas â chymal 11? Ac ar fater arbennig a fydd o ddiddordeb i'r cyn-Gwnsler Cyffredinol, fel y'i drafftiwyd ar hyn o bryd mewn perthynas â Gweinidogion Cymru, byddai'n berthnasol i drafodion yn y Senedd. Nid yw hyn yn wir yn San Steffan, wrth gwrs, gan fod braint absoliwt yn berthnasol yno. A yw hynny'n fater y gwnaethoch chi ei drafod gyda Llywodraeth y DU wrth drafod cymal 11?
Again, Adam, thank you for your long-held support for the principles underpinning this legislation and getting this legislation right, and also, in concert with Mick Antoniw, seeking to make sure that this does apply universally across public bodies. In England and Wales, there are devolved areas of public bodies and public competence, and also reserved. I think it's right that it applies across that universe, so that no matter where an incident may take place, people know with absolute certainty that this legislation will apply to them. But we are, and always have been, very keen to be involved in this. It was taken forward at quite some pace—and credit to them—by the incoming UK Labour Government, which meant that they went at it at a rate of knots.
Since then, we've been engaging intently with them. I can confirm that, indeed, as you say, clause 11, referring to the offence of misleading the public, did not originally apply to Wales. It will now be extended. We agree, and we welcome that. That's been part of our discussion, in order to make sure that it does apply universally across Wales and England, regardless of borders. Amendments to this effect have been made, and this will be subject to, indeed, a supplementary LCM that we will bring forward. We continue to engage on all aspects of this, because we want to get this right for the entirety of England and Wales, because it is certainly about Hillsborough, Grenfell, Orgreave, and protecting against any future incidents where we should have offences of misleading the public, a duty of candour and a duty of assistance as well, to those who are affected by such incidents, or when there are inquiries as well.
Unwaith eto, Adam, diolch i chi am eich cefnogaeth hirsefydlog i'r egwyddorion sy'n sail i'r ddeddfwriaeth hon a chael y ddeddfwriaeth hon yn iawn, a hefyd, gyda Mick Antoniw, am geisio sicrhau bod hyn yn gymwys yn gyffredinol ar draws y cyrff cyhoeddus. Yng Nghymru a Lloegr, mae yna feysydd datganoledig o gymhwysedd cyrff cyhoeddus a chymhwysedd cyhoeddus, a meysydd wedi'u cadw'n ôl. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn iawn ei fod yn gymwys ar draws hynny, fel y bydd pobl yn gwybod gyda sicrwydd llwyr, ni waeth ble y ceir digwyddiad, y bydd y ddeddfwriaeth hon yn gymwys iddynt. Ond rydym yn awyddus iawn i fod yn rhan o hyn, ac wedi bod o'r dechrau. Cafodd ei symud yn ei flaen yn gyflym—a phob clod iddynt—gan Lywodraeth Lafur newydd y DU, a olygodd eu bod wedi bwrw iddi'n gyflym dros ben.
Ers hynny, rydym wedi bod yn ymwneud yn agos â nhw. Gallaf gadarnhau, yn wir, fel y dywedwch, nad oedd cymal 11, sy'n cyfeirio at y drosedd o gamarwain y cyhoedd, yn gymwys i Gymru yn wreiddiol. Bellach, fe gaiff ei ymestyn. Rydym yn cytuno, ac rydym yn croesawu hynny. Mae hynny wedi bod yn rhan o'n trafodaeth, er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn gymwys yn gyffredinol ledled Cymru a Lloegr, heb ystyried ffiniau. Mae diwygiadau i'r perwyl hwn wedi'u gwneud, a bydd hyn yn amodol ar gynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol atodol y byddwn yn ei gyflwyno. Rydym yn parhau i ymgysylltu ar yr holl agweddau ar hyn, oherwydd rydym am ei gael yn iawn i Gymru a Lloegr yn gyfan, oherwydd mae'n sicr yn ymwneud â Hillsborough, Grenfell, Orgreave, a diogelu rhag unrhyw ddigwyddiadau yn y dyfodol lle dylai fod gennym droseddau o gamarwain y cyhoedd, dyletswydd gonestrwydd a dyletswydd cymorth hefyd, i'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt gan ddigwyddiadau o'r fath, neu pan gynhelir ymchwiliadau.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog. Roedd fy nhad a ffrind da imi yn Hillsborough amser y drychineb, ac mae fy ffrind yn dweud nad yw ei fywyd ef erioed wedi bod yr un fath ers y drychineb. Rhan o'r trawma hynny oedd ymateb yr awdurdodau i'r drychineb.
Mae oedi ar y Bil yn San Steffan, a dwi'n cydnabod eu bod nhw wedi symud ymlaen, nawr yn rhoi cyfle inni edrych ar ba mor addas yw'r Bil. Ydy e'n ateb ein gofynion ni i gyd? Rŷn ni'n gweld bod nifer o gymalau y Bil yn ymwneud â materion datganoledig. Felly, mae hi yn siomedig iawn, ac efallai fod amser inni ddelio efo hyn, i ddarllen yn y memorandwm cydsyniad deddfwriaethol, a dwi'n dyfynnu, mai
'ychydig o ymgysylltu a chyfranogiad a fu wrth ddatblygu'r Bil'.
Gobeithio y bydd hyn yn newid nawr, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, dyma enghraifft arall o Fil yn cael ei greu i'r Cymry yn hytrach na gyda ni ac yn cydweithio gyda ni.
Llais pwysig Cymreig sydd angen cael ei glywed, yn fy marn i, ydy Nadine Marshall, sylfaenydd VOICE, Victims Oversight in Criminal Enforcement. Lladdwyd—llofruddiwyd—ei mab, Conner, yn 18 mlwydd oed gan droseddwr oedd ar gyfnod prawf ar y pryd. Mewn blwyddyn, cynhyrchwyd 872 o adroddiadau troseddau pellach difrifol, sy'n golygu bod 872 o deuluoedd o hyd yn aros am atebion. Yn anffodus, mae'r Bil, fel mae wedi cael ei ddrafftio ar hyn o bryd, yn fawr o gymorth i'r teuluoedd yma, ac rŷch chi'n gwybod barn teuluoedd Hillsborough am y rhan yma o'r Bil—bod y gyfraith ddim yn ôl-weithredol. A ydych chi'n fodlon cael trafodaeth gyda Llywodraeth Prydain i sicrhau bod y Bil yn ôl-weithredol? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you to the Deputy First Minister. My father and a good friend of mine were at Hillsborough at the time of the disaster, and my friend says that his life has never been the same again since the disaster. Part of that trauma was the response of the authorities to the disaster.
There's a delay to the Westminster Bill, and I acknowledge that they have made progress, but that delay does present an opportunity for us to consider how suitable the Bill is. Does it meet our needs? We can see that a number of clauses in the Bill touch upon devolved matters. So, it is hugely disappointing, and perhaps there's time for us to deal with this, to read in the legislative consent memorandum, and I quote, that there has been
'limited engagement and involvement with the development of the Bill'.
I hope that this will change now, Deputy First Minister, because at the moment this is another example of a Bill being created for Wales instead of with us and in collaboration with us.
An important Welsh voice that needs to be heard, in my view, is that of Nadine Marshall, founder of VOICE, Victims Oversight in Criminal Enforcement. Her son, Conner, was killed—was murdered—at the age of 18 by a known offender, who was on probation at the time. In a year, 872 serious further offence reports were produced, which means that 872 families are still waiting for answers. Unfortunately, the Bill, as currently drafted, will offer precious little comfort and support to these families, and you know the views of the Hillsborough families about this part of the Bill—that the legislation is not applied retrospectively. Are you willing to have a conversation with the Westminster Government to ensure that this Bill is retrospective? Thank you very much.
We will indeed continue to engage now with the UK Government on this. You know that I am a considered person and that I try to be empathetic to others and to understand why there was limited engagement early on. But I do recognise that they wanted to move at pace and they were working with those campaign groups and families affected to introduce this legislation at an early period. But we are now continuing to engage with the families, and we shouldn't underestimate the fact that, in many of these instances, these have been injustices that have gone back decades upon decades—it's been continuing injustice. It's not only been the incident, not only been the way that those families and individuals were dealt with at that time, and the communities as well—the communities themselves—but we were in a situation where we had to bring this into a very human perspective: police officers or intelligence services lying, changing witness statements to protect reputations; inquest processes, where there was no funding for legal representation, so they had to stand on their own and protect their own interests; and the whole investigation was undermined by a lack of honesty, candour, transparency, the withholding of information, and so on.
This legislation is seeking to put in place, on a statutory footing, measures that will avoid that happening again, and will hold people to account for it. But I can give you assurances that we will continue—not only on behalf of the citizens of Wales, but on behalf of the citizens of Wales and England, because some of these matters know no borders either—to get this right, and we'll engage with the UK Government on it.
Byddwn yn parhau i ymgysylltu nawr â Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn. Gwyddoch fy mod yn unigolyn ystyriol ac yn ceisio bod yn empathig tuag at eraill a deall pam mai cyfyngedig fu'r ymgysylltu cynnar. Ond rwy'n cydnabod eu bod eisiau symud ymlaen yn gyflym, ac roeddent yn gweithio gyda'r grwpiau ymgyrchu hynny a'r teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt i gyflwyno'r ddeddfwriaeth hon yn gynnar. Ond rydym yn parhau i ymgysylltu â'r teuluoedd nawr, ac ni ddylem danbrisio'r ffaith, mewn llawer o'r achosion hyn, fod y rhain wedi bod yn anghyfiawnderau sy'n mynd yn ôl ddegawdau ar ddegawdau—mae wedi bod yn anghyfiawnder parhaus. Nid yn unig y digwyddiad, nid yn unig y ffordd y deliwyd â'r teuluoedd a'r unigolion hynny ar y pryd, a'r cymunedau hefyd—y cymunedau eu hunain—ond roeddem mewn sefyllfa lle bu'n rhaid inni ddod â phersbectif dynol i hyn: swyddogion heddlu neu wasanaethau cuddwybodaeth yn dweud celwydd, yn newid datganiadau tystion i ddiogelu enw da pobl; prosesau cwestau, lle nad oedd cyllid ar gyfer cynrychiolaeth gyfreithiol, felly bu'n rhaid iddynt sefyll ar eu pen eu hunain ac amddiffyn eu buddiannau eu hunain; a chafodd yr ymchwiliad cyfan ei danseilio gan ddiffyg gonestrwydd, didwylledd, tryloywder, cadw gwybodaeth yn ôl ac yn y blaen.
Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth hon yn ceisio rhoi mesurau ar waith, ar sail statudol, a fydd yn atal hynny rhag digwydd eto, ac a fydd yn dwyn pobl i gyfrif. Ond gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y byddwn yn parhau—nid yn unig ar ran dinasyddion Cymru, ond ar ran dinasyddion Cymru a Lloegr, gan nad oes ffiniau i rai o'r materion hyn—i gael hyn yn iawn, a byddwn yn ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU yn ei gylch.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog. Y cwestiwn amserol nesaf, i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol, ac i'w ofyn gan Heledd Fychan.
I thank the Deputy First Minister. The next topical question is to be answered by the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, and is to be asked by Heledd Fychan.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar y gwaith gwaddol sy'n cael ei wneud gan Lywodraeth Cymru yng ngoleuni'r Tour de France yn dod i Gymru? TQ1431
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the legacy work that is being undertaken by the Welsh Government in light of the Tour de France coming to Wales? TQ1431
Diolch yn fawr. The Welsh Government is working closely with stakeholders and partners to maximise the Tour de France's legacy, focused on boosting tourism, promoting Welsh culture and sport, improving mental health and well-being and ensuring lasting economic and community benefits across Cymru.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n gweithio'n agos gyda rhanddeiliaid a phartneriaid i wneud y mwyaf o waddol y Tour de France, gan ganolbwyntio ar hybu twristiaeth, hyrwyddo diwylliant a chwaraeon Cymru, gwella iechyd meddwl a llesiant a sicrhau manteision economaidd a chymunedol parhaol ledled Cymru.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n falch o glywed hynny. Dwi'n meddwl bod pawb ohonon ni'n gyffrous dros ben, ynghyd â chymunedau o'r Trallwng i Gaerdydd, y bydd y Tour de France yn dod i Gymru y flwyddyn nesaf. Dwi'n llongyfarch pawb sydd wedi bod ynghlwm â'r gwaith. Ac fel yr oedd y Gweinidog yn ei ddweud, mae'n gyfle aruthrol i Gymru gael ei gweld gan biliynau o bobl mewn gwledydd ledled y byd. Mae'n gyfle gwych hefyd o ran hyrwyddo seiclo yng Nghymru i bobl Cymru, ynghyd, wrth gwrs, â seiclwyr o dramor fel cyrchfan i dwristiaid.
Mae'n bwysig, felly, ein bod ni'n manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfle cyffrous hwn a'r gwaddol y gall o ei greu i'n heconomi, ynghyd ag iechyd pobl Cymru. Mi fyddwch chi'n gwybod, Weinidog, ein bod ni wedi gofyn i chi nifer o weithiau ynglŷn â gwaddol, oherwydd dŷn ni wedi cael nifer o ddigwyddiadau mawr yma yng Nghymru. Pan fuoch chi a'ch swyddogion gerbron y pwyllgor, ym mis Tachwedd, mi oedd yna gydnabyddiaeth y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru weithiau bod yn gwneud mwy o ran gwaddol. Roeddech yn defnyddio'r enghraifft lle roeddech chi wedi gwneud mwy o waith efo golff y llynedd, a manteisio efo hynny, ond mi wnaeth un o'ch swyddogion chi ddweud bod hwn yn
Thank you very much. I am pleased to hear that. I think that all of us are hugely excited, as are communities from Welshpool to Cardiff, that the Tour de France will be coming to Wales next year. I congratulate everyone who has been involved with the work. And as the Minister said, it is a huge opportunity for Wales to be seen by billions of people in countries across the globe. It is also a wonderful opportunity in terms of promoting cycling in Wales to the people of Wales, as well as to cyclists from abroad as a tourist destination.
It is, therefore, important that we take full advantage of this exciting opportunity and the legacy that it can create for our economy and the health of the people of Wales. You will know, Minister, that we have asked you many times about legacy issues, because we have had a number of major events here in Wales. When you and your officials appeared before the committee in November, there was recognition that the Welsh Government could perhaps have done more in terms of legacy. You used the example of where you had done more work with golf last year and ensured that that provided benefits, but one of your officials did say that this was
'novel approach for us. Usually, we'll bid for an event, and then look at legacy post event'.
'ddull gweithredu newydd i ni. Fel arfer, byddwn yn gwneud cais am ddigwyddiad, ac yna'n edrych ar waddol ar ôl y digwyddiad'.
Felly, dwi yn gobeithio bod y gwersi hynny wedi eu dysgu ar gyfer y Tour de France. Felly, yr hyn fyddwn ni'n hoffi gwybod ydy: oes yna fwy o fanylion y gallwch chi eu darparu? Er enghraifft, faint o arian sydd wedi ei roi tuag at edrych ar y gwaddol hwn? Oes yna dasglu? Oes yna dîm yn arwain ar y gwaith hwn? A beth ydy'r mesurau o lwyddiant dŷch chi wedi cytuno arnyn nhw, neu a ydych chi wedi cytuno ar y mesurau hynny eto, er mwyn inni sicrhau bod yr holl bethau a wnaethoch chi eu rhestru, ac mae'n rhestr dwi'n cytuno â hi, yn cael eu gwireddu?
So, I do hope that those lessons have been learned for the Tour de France. So, what I would like to know is: can you provide us with more details? For example, how much funding has been allocated to looking at the legacy issues here? Is there a taskforce or a team leading this work? What will be the measures of success that you have agreed upon, or have you agreed upon those, in order for us to ensure that all of the things that you listed, and it is a list that I agree with, are actually delivered?
Diolch Heledd, for the question. I agree that this is hugely exciting for Wales, and I think that every Member of the Senedd will agree that it's great to bring this fantastic occasion to Wales. It really is great news that, for the first time, we will be hosts of the Tour de France route. And I'm very proud that we're bringing, again, another major sporting event to our nation—this one for the very first time. I'm sure Members from across the Chamber, like me, can't wait to see the yellow jersey, the iconic yellow jersey, cycling through the Welsh beautiful landscape—the best views in the world, no doubt, from a bike.
The Member points to a number of things when it comes to legacy. This is a passion of mine, as it is a passion of hers. We want to see a lasting legacy from hosting the Tour de France, both in tourism but also in improving sport, access to sport, and for other businesses as well. I'm sure the Member was very pleased to see the announcement on Geraint Thomas, who's going to be Cymru's cycling ambassador. He will work directly with Visit Wales to promote Wales as a nation that is a world-class cycling nation. So, I think that's a great step forward already. You can see the efforts being made by the Welsh Government in advance of the tournament to provide that lasting legacy, and then the benefits that will bring for the local economies through mid Wales, on the journey to south Wales.
The Member also points to other successes that we've seen. So, we've had great success with our legacy work with the Football Association of Wales, when Wales's national teams have reached major events, across the globe, and also, more recently, in the Wales golf legacy fund, when the Royal Porthcawl had the Women's Open. So, I have no doubt this will have the same opportunity for us, and inspire the next generation of Geraint Thomases and Emma Finucanes.
The Member pointed directly to what we can do in advance. Well, as part of the announcement, organisers of the Tour de France did also announce the Joy programme. It's a legacy impact, looking at social impact. We're very much involved in those conversations, but those conversations are ongoing. So, it will look at tackling those barriers to sport, it will look at improving mental health and well-being, and it will look at celebrating local community culture as well. So, they are ongoing conversations. I'll happily provide the Senedd with further updates, but I can assure the Member we're actively engaged in those conversations. This is a great news story for Wales, and it will once again put Wales on the global stage. It's a good day for Welsh cycling and Wales as a nation.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Heledd. Rwy'n cytuno bod hyn yn gyffrous iawn i Gymru, a chredaf y bydd pob Aelod o'r Senedd yn cytuno ei bod yn wych dod â'r achlysur gwych hwn i Gymru. Mae'n newyddion gwych y byddwn ni, am y tro cyntaf, yn croesawu un o gymalau'r Tour de France. Ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod yn dod â digwyddiad chwaraeon mawr arall i'n gwlad unwaith eto—y digwyddiad hwn am y tro cyntaf erioed. Rwy'n siŵr fod Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr, fel fi, yn methu aros i weld y crys melyn, y crys melyn eiconig, yn beicio drwy dirwedd hardd Cymru—y golygfeydd gorau yn y byd, heb os, ar feic.
Mae'r Aelod yn tynnu sylw at nifer o bethau o ran gwaddol. Rwy'n teimlo'n angerddol am hyn, fel y mae hithau. Rydym eisiau gweld gwaddol parhaol yn sgil cynnal un o gymalau'r Tour de France, ym maes twristiaeth ond hefyd o ran gwella chwaraeon, mynediad at chwaraeon, ac ar gyfer busnesau eraill hefyd. Rwy'n siŵr fod yr Aelod yn falch iawn o weld y cyhoeddiad am Geraint Thomas, a fydd yn llysgennad beicio Cymru. Fe fydd yn gweithio'n uniongyrchol gyda Croeso Cymru i hyrwyddo Cymru fel cenedl sy'n genedl feicio o'r radd flaenaf. Felly, credaf fod hynny'n gam mawr ymlaen yn barod. Gallwch weld yr ymdrechion sy'n cael eu gwneud gan Lywodraeth Cymru cyn y bencampwriaeth i ddarparu'r gwaddol parhaol hwnnw, ac yna'r manteision a ddaw yn ei sgil i'r economïau lleol drwy ganolbarth Cymru, ar y daith i dde Cymru.
Mae'r Aelod hefyd yn tynnu sylw at lwyddiannau eraill a welsom. Felly, rydym wedi cael llwyddiant mawr gyda'n gwaith gwaddol gyda Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru, pan fo timau cenedlaethol Cymru wedi cyrraedd digwyddiadau mawr ledled y byd, a hefyd, yn fwy diweddar, yng nghronfa gwaddol golff Cymru, pan gynhaliwyd Pencampwriaeth Agored y Menywod yng Nghlwb Golff Brenhinol Porthcawl. Felly, nid oes gennyf unrhyw amheuaeth y bydd hyn yn rhoi'r un cyfle i ni, ac yn ysbrydoli'r genhedlaeth nesaf o Geraint Thomasiaid ac Emma Finucaneiaid.
Cyfeiriodd yr Aelod yn uniongyrchol at yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud ymlaen llaw. Wel, fel rhan o'r cyhoeddiad, cyhoeddodd trefnwyr y Tour de France raglen Joy hefyd. Mae'n effaith waddol, yn edrych ar effaith gymdeithasol. Rydym yn rhan fawr o'r sgyrsiau hynny, ond mae'r sgyrsiau hynny'n parhau. Felly, bydd yn edrych ar fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau i chwaraeon, bydd yn edrych ar wella iechyd meddwl a llesiant, a bydd yn edrych ar ddathlu diwylliant cymunedol lleol hefyd. Felly, maent yn sgyrsiau sydd ar y gweill. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i roi diweddariadau pellach i'r Senedd, ond gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod ein bod yn cymryd rhan weithredol yn y sgyrsiau hynny. Mae hyn yn newyddion gwych i Gymru, ac unwaith eto, fe fydd yn rhoi Cymru ar y llwyfan byd-eang. Mae'n ddiwrnod da i feicio yng Nghymru ac i Gymru fel cenedl.
I share the sentiments made by the Member for South Wales Central—[Inaudible.] This is really exciting news for Wales, and I was delighted to read the announcement. With stage 3 of the race starting in Welshpool and finishing in Cardiff, the world's eyes will be on Wales. It's an honour for us to host the biggest and most prestigious cycling tournament in the world. For Wales to host the Tour de France for the very first time is huge, and the event is predicted to bring millions of pounds to Wales.
But I'm interested to hear from the Welsh Government how they'll make the most of this opportunity; you have raised part of that in your remarks, Minister. But with roads closing, it would be nice to see the Welsh Government and local authorities collaborate to see a vast expansion of bike schemes, to encourage sustainable commuting, and a large increase in public transport infrastructure, to manage both visitors and local commuters. So, how will the Welsh Government co-ordinate with councils to ensure the infrastructure is up to scratch for the event, and how will it fully take advantage of the event economically to maximise its impact at the time and, indeed, the legacy after that as well?
Rwy'n rhannu'r teimladau a fynegwyd gan yr Aelod dros Ganol De Cymru—[Anghlywadwy.] Mae hyn yn newyddion cyffrous iawn i Gymru, ac roeddwn wrth fy modd yn darllen y cyhoeddiad. Gyda chymal 3 y ras yn dechrau yn y Trallwng ac yn gorffen yng Nghaerdydd, bydd llygaid y byd ar Gymru. Mae'n anrhydedd inni gynnal y bencampwriaeth feicio fwyaf a mwyaf uchel ei pharch yn y byd. Mae croesawu un o gymalau'r Tour de France am y tro cyntaf erioed yn enfawr i Gymru, a rhagwelir y bydd y digwyddiad yn dod â miliynau o bunnoedd i Gymru.
Ond mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn clywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru sut y byddant yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfle hwn; rydych chi wedi codi rhan o hynny yn eich sylwadau, Weinidog. Ond gyda ffyrdd yn cau, byddai'n braf gweld Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol yn cydweithio i ehangu cynlluniau beicio yn sylweddol, i annog cymudo cynaliadwy, a chynnydd mawr mewn seilwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, i ymdopi ag ymwelwyr a chymudwyr lleol. Felly, sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru’n cydgysylltu â chynghorau i sicrhau bod y seilwaith yn ddigon da ar gyfer y digwyddiad, a sut y bydd yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y digwyddiad o safbwynt economaidd i wneud y mwyaf o'i effaith ar y pryd, ac yn wir, y gwaddol ar ei ôl hefyd?
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Can I thank Gareth Davies for those questions? Deputy Presiding Officer, this is the world's largest annual free-to-spectate sporting event in the world. It's fantastic, and Wales is going to be part of that for the first time. So, it absolutely is global eyes on Wales once again, and I agree with him about the opportunities that brings in front of us.
When I said earlier that we want to make Wales a world-class cycling nation, I meant it. It's why we brought Geraint Thomas in as a cycling ambassador for Wales. His work with Visit Wales will look at bringing people to the country to join in with Welsh culture and go on those routes themselves. But we want to see local people taking up the sport as well. I've already mentioned to the Member who raised the question this afternoon that we're in the planning process of legacy and what that looks like. We will want to remove barriers so people can enjoy cycling as a sport across the country, and I'll happily update the Senedd more once those plans progress.
I just want to give assurances to the Member that, with the particular engagement with local authorities who are on the route, we're already in discussions with them. We've been in discussions in the run-up to the announcement, and we'll continue those discussions with them, so they can maximise their opportunity of hosting, but then be a part of Wales as a world-class cycling nation.
I'm keen, Presiding Officer, to make sure all of Wales sees benefits from hosting this event, just as we've seen when Wales was home to women's golf and the Women's Open in the Royal Porthcawl. There was support for golf clubs right across the country, and we hope people from communities across the country will be able to take part and celebrate in this wonderful occasion that Wales will have in 2027.
A gaf i ddiolch i Gareth Davies am ei gwestiynau? Ddirprwy Lywydd, dyma'r digwyddiad chwaraeon blynyddol mwyaf yn y byd sy'n rhad ac am ddim i'w wylio. Mae'n wych, ac mae Cymru'n mynd i fod yn rhan o hynny am y tro cyntaf. Felly, mae llygaid y byd yn sicr ar Gymru unwaith eto, ac rwy'n cytuno gydag ef am y cyfleoedd y mae hynny'n eu cynnig.
Pan ddywedais yn gynharach ein bod eisiau gwneud Cymru’n genedl feicio o'r radd flaenaf, roeddwn yn ei olygu. Dyna pam y gwnaethom benodi Geraint Thomas yn llysgennad beicio Cymru. Bydd ei waith gyda Croeso Cymru yn edrych ar ddod â phobl i'r wlad i ymuno â diwylliant Cymru a beicio ar y llwybrau hynny eu hunain. Ond rydym eisiau gweld pobl leol yn dechrau beicio hefyd. Rwyf eisoes wedi sôn wrth yr Aelod a gododd y cwestiwn y prynhawn yma ein bod yn y broses o gynllunio'r gwaddol a sut olwg sydd ar hynny. Byddwn eisiau cael gwared ar rwystrau fel y gall pobl fwynhau beicio fel camp ledled y wlad, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i roi mwy o wybodaeth i'r Senedd pan fydd y cynlluniau hynny'n datblygu.
O ran ymgysylltiad penodol ag awdurdodau lleol sydd ar y llwybr, hoffwn roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod ein bod eisoes mewn trafodaethau â nhw. Rydym wedi bod mewn trafodaethau yn y cyfnod cyn y cyhoeddiad, a byddwn yn parhau â'r trafodaethau hynny gyda nhw, fel y gallant wneud y mwyaf o'u cyfle i groesawu'r digwyddiad, a bod yn rhan o Gymru wedyn fel cenedl feicio o'r radd flaenaf.
Lywydd, rwy' awyddus i sicrhau bod Cymru gyfan yn gweld y manteision o gynnal y digwyddiad hwn, yn union fel y gwelwyd pan oedd Cymru'n gartref i golff menywod a Phencampwriaeth Agored y Menywod yng Nghlwb Golff Brenhinol Porthcawl. Cafwyd cefnogaeth i glybiau golff ledled y wlad, a gobeithiwn y bydd pobl o gymunedau ledled y wlad yn gallu dathlu a chymryd rhan yn yr achlysur gwych hwn i Gymru yn 2027.
It's absolutely wonderful news that the Tour de France is coming to Wales. I know that this is going to be a boost for people throughout Wales, but I'm particularly pleased that the race will be coming down through Cardiff, through Cardiff North, through my constituency, which is absolutely thrilling, and past the Maindy cycle track, of course, where Geraint Thomas trained, and also, of course, near the home of Geraint Thomas, who was brought up in Cardiff North and went to Whitchurch High School. And it's wonderful that he is going to be the ambassador for the Tour de France in Wales, and I congratulate those who are involved in making him that ambassador.
So, this will be a wonderful opportunity to ensure that young people in particular see the joy of cycling and take up their bikes, and a real chance to promote active travel. And so I do hope that the Minister will make—I know he will—every effort to ensure that we reach all the children throughout Wales, and particularly the girls as well, because the participants and the winners of the Tour de France have been men, on the whole, or, altogether, I think, have been men. So, I think that that is an important point, that we do try to reach out to the girls as well, and I think this is a huge opportunity. Thank you.
Mae'n newyddion cwbl wych fod y Tour de France yn dod i Gymru. Gwn y bydd hyn yn hwb i bobl ledled Cymru, ond rwy'n arbennig o falch y bydd y ras yn dod i lawr drwy Gaerdydd, drwy Ogledd Caerdydd, drwy fy etholaeth i, sy'n hynod gyffrous, a heibio i drac beicio Maendy, wrth gwrs, lle roedd Geraint Thomas yn hyfforddi, a hefyd ger cartref Geraint Thomas, a fagwyd yng Ngogledd Caerdydd ac a aeth i Ysgol Uwchradd yr Eglwys Newydd. Ac mae'n wych ei fod yn mynd i fod yn llysgennad ar gyfer y Tour de France yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n llongyfarch y rhai a fu'n rhan o'r broses o'i wneud yn llysgennad.
Felly, bydd hwn yn gyfle gwych i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn enwedig yn cael pleser o feicio ac yn dechrau beicio, ac yn gyfle go iawn i hyrwyddo teithio llesol. Ac felly rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog—rwy'n gwybod y bydd—yn gwneud pob ymdrech i sicrhau ein bod yn cyrraedd yr holl blant ledled Cymru, ac yn enwedig y merched hefyd, gan fod y rhai sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y Tour de France, a'r enillwyr ar y cyfan, neu'n gyfan gwbl, rwy'n credu, wedi bod yn ddynion. Felly, mae hwnnw'n bwynt pwysig, ein bod yn ceisio cyrraedd y merched hefyd, ac rwy'n credu bod hwn yn gyfle enfawr. Diolch.
Can I thank Julie Morgan for those points? If I'm right as well, Presiding Officer, I think it also goes past Geraint Thomas's local, so I'm sure there'll be lots of people watching the race with a pint in hand during the summer, in July, and I might join him for that occasion.
It is a really great event, and hosting these major sporting events, or where our nation takes part in sporting events of this size, really does inspire the next generation, and has the opportunity to do that. I agree, I want to see young people get inspired and take part in cycling, as they see the Tour de France in action.
And absolutely to the point that Julie Morgan makes with regard to girls taking part in sport. It's part of the Joy initiative, the social impact programme that the organisers have announced, and the Welsh Government is engaged in that activity. I want to see the next Geraint Thomas, but I also want to see the next Emma Finucane, who's a Welsh Olympic champion in cycling. We're extremely proud of our history there, and I'm sure we'll see the future Emmas and Geraints because of the—[Inaudible.] I'm very, very proud that we are once again bringing a major sporting event to Wales, and hosting this type of event, and bringing the world's eyes to our wonderful country.
A gaf i ddiolch i Julie Morgan am ei phwyntiau? Os wyf yn iawn hefyd, Lywydd, rwy'n credu bod y llwybr yn mynd heibio i dafarn leol Geraint Thomas, felly rwy'n siŵr y bydd llawer o bobl yn gwylio'r ras gyda pheint yn eu llaw yn yr haf, ym mis Gorffennaf, ac efallai y byddaf yn ymuno ag ef ar gyfer yr achlysur hwnnw.
Mae'n ddigwyddiad gwych iawn, ac mae cynnal y digwyddiadau chwaraeon mawr hyn, neu lle mae ein gwlad yn cymryd rhan mewn digwyddiadau chwaraeon o'r maint hwn, yn ysbrydoli'r genhedlaeth nesaf, ac mae cyfle i hyn wneud hynny. Rwy'n cytuno, rwyf am weld pobl ifanc yn cael eu hysbrydoli ac yn cymryd rhan mewn beicio, wrth iddynt weld y Tour de France ar waith.
Ac mae Julie Morgan yn llygad ei lle o ran merched yn cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon. Mae'n rhan o fenter Joy, y rhaglen effaith gymdeithasol y mae'r trefnwyr wedi'i chyhoeddi, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n cymryd rhan yn y gweithgarwch hwnnw. Rwyf am weld y Geraint Thomas nesaf, ond rwyf hefyd am weld yr Emma Finucane nesaf, Cymraes sy'n bencampwr Olympaidd mewn beicio. Rydym yn hynod falch o'n hanes yn hynny o beth, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwn yn gweld rhagor o bobl fel Emma a Geraint yn y dyfodol oherwydd y—[Anghlywadwy.] Rwy'n falch iawn ein bod ni unwaith eto'n dod â digwyddiad chwaraeon mawr i Gymru, ac yn cynnal y math hwn o ddigwyddiad, ac yn rhoi llygaid y byd ar ein gwlad fendigedig.
This is a great opportunity, especially for Welsh cycling. And perhaps the Minister might clarify—when he said he is joining Geraint Thomas, is he joining Geraint Thomas in the local or on the bike, or maybe both? [Laughter.] Maybe he could answer that for us later on.
Now, this is a chance to elevate all cycling centres and velodromes across our proud nation. Julie Morgan has already mentioned the Maindy velodrome. Now, the cultural significance of Maindy velodrome cannot be underestimated. Since the venue opened in 1951, this sport centre has developed Welsh sporting icons, including, as Julie has said, Geraint Thomas himself, whose impact on the sport of cycling is well documented, and it's good to see him being recognised here and internationally.
Now, this centre is the only venue left from the Commonwealth Games when it came to Cardiff in 1958, and is still the home of Maindy Flyers youth cycling club. And members of that club have gone on to win four Olympic gold medals—achievements earned by individuals who cycled around the track of Maindy. Now, despite all this, Maindy velodrome has been under threat. There's been a threat that a school is going to be built on Maindy velodrome. That has gone away now, but now we have an opportunity to recognise the contribution of Maindy velodrome, the contribution of the Maindy Flyers. Will the Minister use this opportunity to discuss with others, to formally acknowledge the importance of Maindy velodrome and of the Maindy Centre for cycling in Wales and internationally and look at granting Maindy velodrome heritage status? Diolch yn fawr.
Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych, yn enwedig i feicio yng Nghymru. Ac efallai y gallai'r Gweinidog egluro—pan ddywedodd y bydd yn ymuno â Geraint Thomas, a fydd yn ymuno â Geraint Thomas yn y dafarn leol neu ar y beic, neu efallai'r ddau? [Chwerthin.] Efallai y gallai ateb hynny i ni yn nes ymlaen.
Nawr, dyma gyfle i ddyrchafu pob canolfan feicio a felodrom ar draws ein cenedl falch. Mae Julie Morgan eisoes wedi sôn am felodrom Maendy. Nawr, ni ellir tanbrisio arwyddocâd diwylliannol felodrom Maendy. Ers i'r lleoliad agor ym 1951, mae'r ganolfan chwaraeon hon wedi datblygu eiconau chwaraeon Cymreig, gan gynnwys, fel y dywedodd Julie, Geraint Thomas ei hun, y mae ei effaith ar feicio fel camp yn hysbys iawn, ac mae'n dda ei weld yn cael ei gydnabod yma ac yn rhyngwladol.
Nawr, y ganolfan hon yw'r unig leoliad sydd ar ôl o Gemau'r Gymanwlad pan ddaethant i Gaerdydd ym 1958, ac mae'n dal i fod yn gartref i glwb beicio pobl ifanc y Maindy Flyers. Ac mae aelodau'r clwb hwnnw wedi mynd yn eu blaenau i ennill pedair medal aur Olympaidd—llwyddiannau unigolion a fu'n beicio ar drac Maendy. Nawr, er gwaethaf hyn oll, mae felodrom Maendy wedi bod dan fygythiad. Mae bygythiad wedi bod y bydd ysgol yn cael ei hadeiladu ar felodrom Maendy. Mae'r bygythiad hwnnw wedi diflannu bellach, ond mae gennym gyfle nawr i gydnabod cyfraniad felodrom Maendy, cyfraniad y Maindy Flyers. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddefnyddio'r cyfle hwn i drafod gydag eraill, i gydnabod pwysigrwydd felodrom Maendy a Chanolfan Maendy yn ffurfiol i feicio yng Nghymru ac yn rhyngwladol, ac ystyried rhoi statws treftadaeth i felodrom Maendy? Diolch yn fawr.
I thank Rhys ab Owen for that, Presiding Officer. I think he knows the answer to the first question, and I'm sure he'll be there with me. When he points to Maindy velodrome, which Julie Morgan also brought up, he's absolutely right to point to the local history and the local legacy that it has brought, not just to this region, but Wales. I think there's real opportunity around hosting the Tour de France to celebrate Maindy velodrome and all of what that has offered and has to offer in the future as well. We've had an increase in capital funding by Sport Wales this year, and I'm sure Sport Wales would want to be part of the conversation about what the Tour de France means as a legacy point, and I'll ask them to consider all of the points the Member has made.
Diolch i Rhys ab Owen am hynny, Lywydd. Credaf ei fod yn gwybod yr ateb i'r cwestiwn cyntaf, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yno gyda mi. Pan fo'n tynnu sylw at felodrom Maendy, a grybwyllwyd gan Julie Morgan hefyd, mae'n llygad ei le yn tynnu sylw at yr hanes lleol a'i waddol lleol, nid yn unig i'r rhanbarth hwn, ond i Gymru. Rwy'n credu bod cynnal un o gymalau'r Tour de France yn cynnig cyfle gwirioneddol i ddathlu felodrom Maendy a'r holl bethau y mae wedi'u cynnig ac sydd ganddo i'w cynnig yn y dyfodol hefyd. Rydym wedi cael cynnydd mewn cyllid cyfalaf gan Chwaraeon Cymru eleni, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai Chwaraeon Cymru eisiau bod yn rhan o'r sgwrs ynglŷn â’r hyn y mae'r Tour de France yn ei olygu fel pwynt ynglŷn â gwaddol, a byddaf yn gofyn iddynt ystyried yr holl bwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Nid oes unrhyw ddatganiadau 90 eiliad heddiw.
There are no 90-second statements this afternoon.
Felly, symudwn ymlaen at eitem 5, dadl y Pwyllgor Cyllid, 'Adolygiad ôl-ddeddfwriaethol o Ddeddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig—Peredur Owen Griffiths.
So, we'll move on to item 5, the Finance Committee debate, 'Post-legislative review of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion—Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Cynnig NDM9110 Peredur Owen Griffiths
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cyllid ‘Adolygiad ôl-ddeddfwriaethol o Ddeddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019’ a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 10 Hydref 2025.
Motion NDM9110 Peredur Owen Griffiths
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Finance Committee ‘Post-legislative review of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019' which was laid in the Table Office on 10 October 2025.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dwi'n falch o allu siarad yn y ddadl yma heddiw. Mae Deddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019 yn ddarn nodedig o ddeddfwriaeth. Cafodd ei datblygu yn sgil galwadau i gryfhau annibyniaeth a hygyrchedd swyddfa’r ombwdsmon ac i foderneiddio’r broses gwyno fel bod yr ombwdsmon yn gallu gwasanaethu’r cyhoedd yn well.
Cefais fy atgoffa mai Bil pwyllgor cyntaf y Senedd oedd hwn, a chafodd ei chymryd drwodd gan y cyn-Gadeirydd, Llyr Gruffydd. Roedd e eisiau i fi wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn cael name check yn y fan hyn—[Torri ar draws.] Ie, yn union. Ond diolch iddo fo ac i staff y pwyllgor am fynd â'r Bil drwodd.
Felly, cyflwynodd y Ddeddf bwerau newydd gyda’r nod o wella mynediad at gyfiawnder, gwella tryloywder, a hyrwyddo tegwch ledled gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Er enghraifft, roedd yn galluogi’r ombwdsmon i dderbyn cwynion llafar fel mater o drefn, ac yn rhoi’r pŵer i’r ombwdsmon gynnal ymchwiliadau ar ei liwt ei hun. Roedd y rhain yn gamau sylweddol ymlaen.
Roedd y Ddeddf hefyd yn cynnwys darpariaeth ar gyfer cynnal adolygiad statudol, a oedd yn galluogi ein pwyllgor i fyfyrio ar sut mae'r ddeddfwriaeth hon wedi gweithio'n ymarferol. Yn benodol, roedd yn ein caniatáu i ganolbwyntio ar gwestiynau allweddol, sef: a yw'r Ddeddf wedi cyflawni'r canlyniadau a fwriadwyd? A yw'r fframwaith yn parhau i fod yn addas at y diben? A yw’r ddeddfwriaeth wedi arwain at unrhyw ganlyniadau anfwriadol? Ac, yn bwysig i ni fel Pwyllgor Cyllid, a yw wedi darparu gwerth am arian?
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm very pleased to be able to speak in this debate today. The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019 is a landmark piece of legislation. It came after calls to strengthen the independence and accessibility of the ombudsman’s office and to modernise the complaints process so that the ombudsman could better serve the public.
I was reminded that it was the first committee Bill of the Senedd, and it was taken through by the former Chair, Llyr Gruffydd. He wanted to ensure that he received a name check in this debate today—[Interruption.] Yes, exactly. But thank you to him and to the committee staff for taking the Bill through.
The Act introduced new powers designed to improve access to justice, enhance transparency, and to promote fairness across public services in Wales. For example, it allowed the ombudsman to accept oral complaints as a matter of course, and gave the power to undertake own-initiative investigations. These were significant steps forward.
The Act also included provision for a statutory review to be held, which enabled our committee to reflect on how this legislation has worked in practice. In particular it allowed us to focus on the following key questions: has the Act achieved its intended outcomes? Does the framework remain fit for purpose? Have there been any unintended consequences? And, importantly for us as a Finance Committee, has it delivered value for money?
As part of the review, we heard from a wide range of stakeholders and experts. Their insights have helped us to understand the impact of the Act and identify areas where further clarity, support or reform may be needed. We would like to thank everybody who took the time to share their views with the committee. We'd also like to thank the ombudsman and her office for their co-operation throughout the review, and welcome her commitment to build our recommendations into future strategies, plans and work programmes, as outlined in her response to our report.
Overall, the new powers have been positively received. They allow the ombudsman to adopt a more proactive and inclusive approach, while providing a robust statutory framework that underpins and strengthens the ombudsman’s crucial role in Welsh public life. Multiple stakeholders told us the 2019 Act still reflects best practice for ombudsman legislation internationally, six years since it came into effect. We are proud that this piece of Senedd legislation—introduced, as I said, by the Finance Committee in the fifth Senedd—remains a beacon of good practice and is revered amongst the ombudsman community.
The committee welcomes the progress made in strengthening public confidence in the office and in its targeted outreach work. We particularly commend the steps taken to not only provide resources in languages other than Welsh and English, but to also accept complaints in more languages, including BSL, to increase the ombudsman’s reach. But we believe there is scope to build on progress and recommend that the ombudsman continues to review her strategy to ensure it engages with hard-to-reach groups, ensuring everyone in Wales has equal access to the ombudsman’s services.
We also identified areas where refinement is needed to ensure the ombudsman continues to deliver for the Welsh public. These include reviewing the processes already in place with regard to oral complaints, own-initiative investigations and the Complaints Standards Authority.
We can’t comment on the new power to investigate matters relating to the private health related services of a complaint in a public/private pathway, as the threshold for such a complaint has yet to be met. As such, we believe that the power should be retained until sufficient evidence is received to suggest a change is required.
We also discussed the possibility of widening the ombudsman’s jurisdiction to include school complaints. We concluded that further work is needed in this area, and have recommended that the ombudsman undertakes a modelling exercise to determine the potential impact on existing services, as well as the practical implications of doing so. We asked that the findings be shared by autumn of this year. We also welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Education’s positive response to our recommendation and we are encouraged by the ongoing work in this area. Given the upcoming Senedd election, it will fall to our successor committee to monitor and review any work undertaken in these areas as part of its annual scrutiny of the ombudsman.
We welcome evidence that the 2019 Act has been implemented with minimal costs. As a Finance Committee, this is particularly important to us, and we are further encouraged by the evidence, which indicates that the 2019 Act has delivered cost savings in light of the ombudsman’s work in developing and implementing the Complaints Standards Authority. However, as not all powers of the 2019 Act have been utilised to date, we were unable to determine whether the Act has delivered value for money in achieving its objectives. These should be scrutinised during annual budget and oversight sessions with the ombudsman and we anticipate that this will be an area of interest for our successor committee.
Fel rhan o'r adolygiad, clywsom gan ystod eang o randdeiliaid ac arbenigwyr. Mae eu mewnwelediad wedi ein helpu i ddeall effaith y Ddeddf a nodi meysydd lle gallai fod angen eglurder, cymorth neu ddiwygio pellach. Hoffem ddiolch i bawb a roddodd amser i rannu eu barn gyda'r pwyllgor. Hoffem ddiolch hefyd i'r ombwdsmon a'i swyddfa am eu cydweithrediad drwy gydol yr adolygiad, a chroesawu ei hymrwymiad i gynnwys ein hargymhellion mewn strategaethau, cynlluniau a rhaglenni gwaith yn y dyfodol, fel yr amlinellwyd yn ei hymateb i'n hadroddiad.
At ei gilydd, mae'r pwerau newydd wedi cael croeso. Maent yn caniatáu i'r ombwdsmon fabwysiadu dull mwy rhagweithiol a chynhwysol o weithredu, gan ddarparu fframwaith statudol cadarn sy'n ategu ac yn cryfhau rôl hanfodol yr ombwdsmon ym mywyd cyhoeddus Cymru. Dywedodd nifer o randdeiliaid wrthym fod Deddf 2019 yn dal i adlewyrchu'r arferion gorau ar gyfer deddfwriaeth ombwdsmyn yn rhyngwladol, chwe blynedd ers iddi ddod i rym. Rydym yn falch fod y ddeddf hon gan y Senedd—a gyflwynwyd, fel y dywedais, gan y Pwyllgor Cyllid yn y bumed Senedd—yn parhau i fod yn esiampl o arferion da ac yn cael ei pharchu ymhlith cymuned yr ombwdsmyn.
Mae'r pwyllgor yn croesawu'r cynnydd a wnaed ar gryfhau hyder y cyhoedd yn y swydd ac yn ei gwaith allgymorth wedi'i dargedu. Rydym yn canmol yn arbennig y camau a gymerwyd nid yn unig i ddarparu adnoddau mewn ieithoedd eraill ar wahân i'r Gymraeg a'r Saesneg, ond hefyd i dderbyn cwynion mewn mwy o ieithoedd, gan gynnwys Iaith Arwyddion Prydain, er mwyn cynyddu cyrhaeddiad yr ombwdsmon. Ond rydym yn credu bod lle i adeiladu ar gynnydd, ac rydym yn argymell bod yr ombwdsmon yn parhau i adolygu ei strategaeth i sicrhau ei bod yn ymgysylltu â grwpiau anodd eu cyrraedd, gan sicrhau bod gan bawb yng Nghymru fynediad cyfartal at wasanaethau'r ombwdsmon.
Fe wnaethom nodi meysydd hefyd lle mae angen mireinio i sicrhau bod yr ombwdsmon yn parhau i gyflawni ar ran y cyhoedd yng Nghymru. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys adolygu'r prosesau sydd eisoes ar waith ar gyfer cwynion llafar, ymchwiliadau ar ei liwt ei hun a'r Awdurdod Safonau Cwynion.
Ni allwn wneud sylwadau ar y pŵer newydd i ymchwilio i faterion yn ymwneud â gwasanaethau iechyd preifat sy'n gysylltiedig â chwyn mewn llwybr cyhoeddus/preifat, gan nad yw'r trothwy ar gyfer cwyn o'r fath wedi'i gyrraedd eto. O'r herwydd, credwn y dylid cadw'r pŵer hyd nes y daw tystiolaeth ddigonol i law i awgrymu bod angen newid.
Trafodwyd y posibilrwydd hefyd o ehangu awdurdodaeth yr ombwdsmon i gynnwys cwynion yn ymwneud ag ysgolion. Daethom i'r casgliad fod angen gwaith pellach yn y maes, ac rydym wedi argymell y dylai'r ombwdsmon gynnal ymarfer modelu i bennu'r effaith bosib ar wasanaethau presennol, yn ogystal â goblygiadau ymarferol gwneud hynny. Gofynnwyd i'r canfyddiadau gael eu rhannu erbyn yr hydref eleni. Rydym hefyd yn croesawu ymateb cadarnhaol Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg i'n hargymhelliad, ac rydym wedi ein calonogi gan y gwaith sy'n mynd rhagddo yn y maes hwn. O ystyried yr etholiad Senedd sydd ar y gorwel, bydd yn rhaid i'r pwyllgor sy'n ein holynu ni fonitro ac adolygu unrhyw waith a wneir yn y meysydd hyn fel rhan o'i waith craffu blynyddol ar yr ombwdsmon.
Rydym yn croesawu tystiolaeth fod Deddf 2019 wedi'i rhoi ar waith gyda'r costau lleiaf posib. Fel Pwyllgor Cyllid, mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig i ni, ac rydym wedi ein calonogi ymhellach gan y dystiolaeth, sy'n dangos bod Deddf 2019 wedi sicrhau arbedion yng ngoleuni gwaith yr ombwdsmon ar ddatblygu a gweithredu'r Awdurdod Safonau Cwynion. Fodd bynnag, gan nad yw holl bwerau Deddf 2019 wedi'u defnyddio hyd yn hyn, ni allem benderfynu a yw'r Ddeddf wedi darparu gwerth am arian wrth gyflawni ei hamcanion. Dylid craffu ar y rhain yn ystod sesiynau cyllidebol a goruchwylio blynyddol gyda'r ombwdsmon ac rydym yn rhagweld y bydd hwn yn faes o ddiddordeb i'r pwyllgor sy'n ein holynu.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'r gwaith hwn wedi ail-ddatgan egwyddorion sylfaenol, sef bod gwaith craffu ar ôl deddfu yn waith hanfodol. Mae'n sicrhau bod cyfreithiau sy’n cael eu pasio gan y Senedd yn parhau i wasanaethu'r cyhoedd yn effeithiol, gan gyflawni’r amcanion a fwriadwyd a chan ddarparu gwerth am arian. Credwn fod y darpariaethau statudol a geir yn Neddf 2019 parthed cynnal adolygiad ôl-ddeddfwriaethol yn cynrychioli model arfer gorau ar gyfer yr holl ddeddfwriaeth a gyflwynir gerbron y Senedd. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi argymell y dylai pob Bil perthnasol a gyflwynir gerbron y Senedd gynnwys darpariaethau ar gyfer cynnal adolygiad ôl-weithredu. Mae'r adolygiad hwn yn dangos effaith adolygiadau ôl-ddeddfwriaethol. Mae gwaith craffu yn cryfhau atebolrwydd ac yn gwella ansawdd y broses ddeddfu yng Nghymru. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at glywed beth sydd gan Aelodau yn ystod y ddadl yma i'w ddweud am y Bil. Diolch yn fawr.
Dirprwy Lywydd, this work has reaffirmed a fundamental principle, namely that post-legislative scrutiny is vital. It ensures that laws that are passed by the Senedd continue to serve the public effectively, delivering on their intended objectives and providing value for money. We believe that the statutory provisions in the 2019 Act for a post-legislative review serve as a best practice model for all legislation laid before the Senedd. And this is why we have recommended that all relevant Bills introduced to the Senedd should include provisions for a post-implementation review. This review demonstrates the impact of post-legislative reviews. Scrutiny strengthens accountability and improves the quality of law making in Wales. I look forward to hearing the views of Members during today’s debate. Thank you very much.
I just want to echo the comments from the Chair of the committee as to the work of the committee, and also to add my thanks for the support from the clerks and the Senedd Commission staff in the compiling of this report. I think it's worth Members reflecting on the fact that, since 2019, complaints to the public service ombudsman have increased by 36 per cent, which is both a good thing and a bad thing, I suppose. So, it's a good thing that more people are perhaps feeling able to access the public service ombudsman and make sure that their complaints are being heard, but also that puts pressure on the public service ombudsman and her staff in managing that. But I can't help but think that the good work to include the ability to submit oral complaints could actually be promoted even further, and that's one of the recommendations, between recommendations 2 and 3 from the committee. Because, of course, being able to access the ability to complain should be as easy and straightforward as possible for people to do. Probably too many people still think that the only way to do that is through a written complaint. So, the committee did put recommendations in there to ensure that the ability for people to complain orally is as well known as possible. I think it's a really positive thing, both for accessibility, but also for the improvements to services that we all want to see, because complaints are there not just to satisfy the complainant in the moment, perhaps, but also to improve services in the long term as well. And, of course, the ability to complain as easily as possible creates reassurance for our taxpayers up and down Wales when they feel as though their needs have not been appropriately met.
I just want to make that point, and I think it would be interesting to hear from the Cabinet Secretary her views, and I am sure agreement, that the ability for people to complain as easily as possible, in as straightforward a way as possible, is a really important principle, and I'm sure she would agree with the recommendations from the committee for the ability to complain orally to be as well known as possible.
The other theme that I thought came through this, which the Chair pointed to as well, was the own-initiative powers that the ombudsman has. That came through quite powerfully in the evidence that we received. But I think what did come through clearly was that it's a long process and a very bureaucratic process for the ombudsman to complete those initiatives effectively. So, the committee, through recommendations 4 through to 9, have made a number of points as to how own-initiative investigations can be strengthened, improved, be made more efficient. And I hope—. Going back to those points around improving services and improving outcomes for people up and down Wales, having a smoother way of dealing with own-initiative investigations, I think, is a real positive on the back of this report.
Another element within that, actually, is that the ability and the principle, I suppose, of the ombudsman sharing any recommendations made in own-initiative investigations, sharing those with authorities that haven't been necessarily investigated but that could be impacted by them, I think is a really important point as well, and I am sure the Cabinet Secretary would agree with that there.
But, Deputy Presiding Officer, the report is there for Members to view and take note of. I think there's a list of a number of recommendations, which I hope would help improve services for people up and down Wales, but also, really importantly, assure the public that their complaints are being taken seriously. But there are improvements to be made as well. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Hoffwn adleisio sylwadau Cadeirydd y pwyllgor ynghylch gwaith y pwyllgor, a diolch hefyd am y cymorth gan y clercod a staff Comisiwn y Senedd yn y gwaith o lunio'r adroddiad hwn. Credaf ei bod yn werth i'r Aelodau fyfyrio ar y ffaith, ers 2019, fod cwynion i ombwdsmon y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi cynyddu 36 y cant, sy'n beth da ac yn beth drwg, am wn i. Felly, mae'n beth da fod mwy o bobl efallai'n teimlo eu bod yn gallu cael mynediad at ombwdsmon y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a sicrhau bod eu cwynion yn cael eu clywed, ond mae hynny hefyd yn rhoi pwysau ar ombwdsmon y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a'i staff wrth reoli hynny. Ond ni allaf beidio â meddwl y gellid hyrwyddo'r gwaith da i gynnwys y gallu i gyflwyno cwynion llafar ymhellach fyth, a dyna un o'r argymhellion, rhwng argymhellion 2 a 3 gan y pwyllgor. Oherwydd, wrth gwrs, dylai cael mynediad at y gallu i gwyno fod mor hawdd a syml â phosib i bobl. Mae'n siŵr fod gormod o bobl yn dal i feddwl mai'r unig ffordd o wneud hynny yw drwy gŵyn ysgrifenedig. Felly, gwnaeth y pwyllgor argymhellion i sicrhau bod y gallu i bobl gwyno ar lafar mor hysbys â phosib. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn beth cadarnhaol iawn, o ran hygyrchedd, ond hefyd o ran y gwelliannau i wasanaethau y mae pob un ohonom eisiau eu gweld, gan mai diben cwynion yw gwella gwasanaethau yn y tymor hir hefyd yn ogystal â bodloni'r achwynydd ar y pryd. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gallu i gwyno mor hawdd â phosib yn rhoi sicrwydd i'n trethdalwyr ledled Cymru pan fyddant yn teimlo nad yw eu hanghenion wedi cael eu diwallu'n briodol.
Rwyf am wneud y pwynt hwnnw, ac rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddiddorol clywed barn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac rwy'n siŵr ei bod yn cytuno, fod y gallu i bobl gwyno mor hawdd â phosib, mewn ffordd mor syml â phosib, yn egwyddor bwysig iawn, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n cytuno ag argymhellion y pwyllgor y dylai'r gallu i gwyno ar lafar fod mor hysbys â phosib.
Y thema arall a ddaeth drwy hyn, fel y nododd y Cadeirydd hefyd, oedd y pwerau sydd gan yr ombwdsmon i ymchwilio ar ei liwt ei hun. Daeth hynny drwodd yn bwerus yn y dystiolaeth a gawsom. Ond daeth drwodd yn glir ei bod hi'n broses hir ac yn broses fiwrocrataidd iawn i’r ombwdsmon gwblhau’r mentrau hynny’n effeithiol. Felly, mae’r pwyllgor, drwy argymhellion 4 i 9, wedi gwneud nifer o bwyntiau ynghylch sut y gellir cryfhau a gwella ymchwiliadau a gynhelir gan yr ombwdsmon ar ei liwt ei hun, a'u gwneud yn fwy effeithlon. A gobeithio—. I fynd yn ôl at y pwyntiau ynghylch gwella gwasanaethau a gwella canlyniadau i bobl ledled Cymru, credaf fod cael ffordd haws o ddelio ag ymchwiliadau ar ei liwt ei hun yn gadarnhaol iawn o ganlyniad i'r adroddiad hwn.
Elfen arall o fewn hynny, mewn gwirionedd, yw bod y gallu a'r egwyddor, mae'n debyg, i'r ombwdsmon rannu unrhyw argymhellion a wneir mewn ymchwiliadau ar ei liwt ei hun, gan eu rhannu gydag awdurdodau nad ydynt o reidrwydd wedi cael eu hymchwilio ond a allai gael eu heffeithio ganddynt, yn bwynt pwysig iawn hefyd, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno.
Ond Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'r adroddiad yno i'r Aelodau ei weld a'i nodi. Mae'n cynnwys rhestr o nifer o argymhellion, a fyddai'n helpu, gobeithio, i wella gwasanaethau i bobl ledled Cymru, ond hefyd, yn hollbwysig, yn rhoi sicrwydd i'r cyhoedd fod eu cwynion yn cael eu cymryd o ddifrif. Ond mae gwelliannau i'w gwneud hefyd. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Mi hoffwn i ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am eich gwaith. Dwi'n meddwl bod yr adroddiad a'r argymhellion yn rhai synhwyrol iawn. Ac, yn amlwg, mae gwaith yr ombwdsman yn elfen hollbwysig yng nghyd-destun hawliau dinasyddion Cymru i ddal gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i gyfrif. Ac mewn oes pan mae twyll a chelwydd yn bethau rydyn ni'n clywed yn aml pobl yn cael eu cyhuddo ohonyn nhw, mae llusgo safonau bywyd cyhoeddus trwy'r mwd yn rhywbeth rydyn ni'n ei weld tro ar ôl tro, ac mae'n bwysicach rŵan, mwy nag erioed, ein bod ni'n cael gwaith yr ombwdsman yna a gwell dealltwriaeth gan bobl Cymru o'u hawliau. Yn hyn o beth, rydyn ni'n croesawu'r casgliad yn yr adroddiad yma o ran effeithiolrwydd y Ddeddf fel sylfaen cyfreithiol, yn enwedig wrth gymharu â'r trefniadau ar draws gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig.
Rydyn ni hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith bod hyder y cyhoedd yn yr ombwdsman wedi cynyddu ers cyflwyno'r Ddeddf, sy'n dyst i waith ymroddgar staff y swyddfa. Ond, er gwaetha'r llwyddiannau, yn amlwg mae'r adolygiad yma yn rhoi cyfle i adnabod mannau i wella. Rydyn ni wedi clywed am rai o'r rheini eisoes. Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo'r hyn wnaethon ni ei glywed gan Sam Rowlands o ran yr hyn rydyn ni eisiau ei weld o ran pobl yn gallu cyflwyno cwynion ar lafar. Efo technoleg newydd, mae yna bob math o ffyrdd i bobl allu defnyddio hynny, a byddai hynny'n helpu o ran capasiti staff i ddelio â chwynion o'r fath.
O ran gwella ymwybyddiaeth rhai grwpiau, yn enwedig pobl hŷn a chymunedau ethnig lleiafrifol, o'u hawliau i godi cwynion, mae honno'n thema sydd yn dod ar draws yn gryf iawn yn yr adroddiad, ac rydyn ni'n cytuno, felly, gydag argymhelliad y pwyllgor am yr angen i adolygu prosesau'r swyddfa i estyn allan i'r grwpiau yma.
Rhywle lle mae'r Ddeddf yn syrthio'n fyr, o'i gymharu â modelau ym mannau eraill y Deyrnas Unedig, ydy trefniadau'r ombwdsman o ran y ffordd maen nhw'n gallu cynnal ymchwiliadau eu hunain. Felly, rydyn ni'n cytuno hefyd efo'r egwyddor o symleiddio'r broses ymgynghoriadol er mwyn cyflymu gallu'r ombwdsman i gynnal ymchwiliadau o'r fath, ac mi fyddwn i'n annog y Llywodraeth i ystyried sut mae swyddfeydd ombwdsmyn mewn gwledydd eraill, megis Iwerddon, wedi llwyddo i gadw'r cydbwysedd rhwng tryloywder a bod yn effeithiol.
Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn gwneud achos da o ran rhoi ystyriaeth bellach i estyn dyletswyddau'r ombwdsmon i gynnwys cwynion yn ymwneud ag ysgolion, ac mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig, dwi'n credu, wrth i ni ystyried yr angen i wella cysondeb safonau ledled Cymru. Felly, mi fyddwn i, wrth i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ymateb, yn croesawu diweddariad gan y Llywodraeth ar os oes newid o'r fath o leiaf dan ystyriaeth, ac i ba raddau mae'r manteision o ddilyn esiampl Iwerddon yn y cyd-destun yma wedi cael eu hasesu.
I would like to thank the committee for its work. I think the report and the recommendations are very sensible. Clearly, the ombudsman's work is a key element in terms of citizens' rights in Wales in holding public services to account. In an age when deception, lies and misinformation are things we often hear people accused of, dragging standards in public life through the mud is something that we see time and time again, and it's more important now than ever that we have the work of the ombudsman in place and that people in Wales have a better understanding of their rights. In this regard, we welcome the conclusion in the report in terms of the effectiveness of the Act as a legal foundation, particularly as compared to the arrangements across the rest of the UK.
We also welcome the fact that public confidence in the ombudsman has increased since the introduction of the Act, which is testament to the committed work of the staff in the office. But, despite the successes, clearly this review does provide an opportunity to identify areas for improvement. We've heard some of those mentioned already. I agree entirely with what we heard from Sam Rowlands in terms of what we want to see in terms of oral complaints. With new technology, there are all sorts of different ways that people could make those complaints, and that would help in terms of staff capacity to deal with such complaints.
In terms of increasing the awareness of certain groups, particularly older people and minority ethnic communities, of their rights to make complaints, that is a theme that comes across very strongly in the report, and we welcome, therefore, the committee's recommendation on the need to review processes within the office to reach out to these groups.
One area where the Act falls short, as compared to models elsewhere in the UK, is the ombudsman's arrangements in terms of how they can carry out own-initiative investigations. So, we agree with the principle of simplifying the consultation process in order to accelerate the ombudsman's ability to carry out such investigations, and I would encourage the Government to consider how ombudsman offices in other countries, such as Ireland, have managed to retain that balance between transparency and efficiency.
The report also makes a strong case in terms of giving further consideration to extending the responsibilities of the ombudsman to include complaints related to schools, and this is particularly important, I think, as we consider the need to improve the consistency of standards across Wales. So, as the Cabinet Secretary responds, I would welcome an update from Government as to whether such a change is at least being considered, and to what extent the benefits of following the Irish example in this context have been assessed.
Diolch yn fawr i'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith. Mae wir yn bwysig adolygu Deddfau, felly roeddwn i'n falch iawn o ddarllen y casgliad cyntaf, sef y dylai pob Bil cyhoeddus gynnwys darpariaeth ar gyfer adolygiad ôl-ddeddfwriaethol. Mae'r sgrwtini yna bron a bod mor bwysig â'r sgrwtini cyn pasio'r Ddeddf, felly diolch yn fawr am gynnwys hynny.
Nawr, wrth edrych yn benodol ar Ddeddf Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2019, er bod y broses graffu wedi dod i'r canlyniad bod y Ddeddf wedi'i gweithredu'n llwyddiannus, dwi'n meddwl ei bod yn deg nodi bod lle a bod modd i'r ombwdsmon newid a gwella.
Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod y cynnydd yn y llwyth achosion wedi arafu ers cyflwyno'r Ddeddf. Yn ôl yr ombwdsmon, maen nhw wedi gweld tua 9,800 o gwynion dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf, yn lle'r 12,000 roedden nhw wedi eu rhagweld. Mae hyn yn drueni oherwydd bwriad polisi'r Ddeddf oedd bod yn fwy atebol i ddinasyddion Cymru.
Mae'r Athro Naomi Creutzfeldt o'r farn y gallai'r ombwdsmon gynnal mwy o ymchwiliadau ar ei liwt ei hun. Dwi'n cytuno â hynny, felly mae'n drueni bod yr ombwdsmon ddim ond wedi cwblhau dau ymchwiliad o'r fath ers 2019. Yn amlwg, mae lle i ddiwygio'r ddeddfwriaeth i symleiddio'r broses o ddechrau ymchwiliad o'r fath.
Tra bod yr ombwdsmon yn ymfalchïo bod 79 y cant o hyder yng ngwaith y swyddfa, beth am y 21 y cant arall? Eto, fel soniodd yr Athro Naomi,
'er i chi ddweud fod pawb yng Nghymru yn gwybod am yr ombwdsmon, dydw i ddim yn siŵr a fyddai pobl hyd yn oed wedyn yn mynd atynt.'
Y syniad, felly, fod gan bobl ddim mo'r hyder, efallai, i fynd at yr ombwdsmon.
Cytunodd yr Athro Chris Gill hefyd fod cyrraedd grŵp demograffig llawer ehangach yn wirioneddol bwysig i'r ombwdsmon. Er bod gwaith wedi cael ei wneud yn y maes hwn—a dwi'n sylweddoli bod e ddim yn rhwydd—mae'r ombwdsmon yn cydnabod bod y data'n parhau i ddangos bod grwpiau yn llai tebygol o wneud cwynion, fel pobl iau; pobl o gefndiroedd ethnig a chenedlaethol amrywiol; pobl sy'n wynebu anfantais economaidd-gymdeithasol; a phobl sy'n byw ag anableddau.
Rŷn ni i gyd yn cytuno bod swyddfa ombwdsmon Cymru ar gyfer pawb yng Nghymru, beth bynnag maen nhw'n ei wynebu. Mae'r ffaith bod pobl yn gallu cyflwyno cwyn ar lafar, i fi, yn hollol hanfodol. Mae'n drueni felly mai dim ond 700 o bobl sydd wedi gwneud hynny ers 2019. Wrth gwrs, mae gallu cyflwyno cwyn ar lafar yn gallu symleiddio'r broses yn fawr iawn. Beth fyddai'n symleiddio'r broses ymhellach fyddai petai'r rhai sydd wedi cwyno i gorff cyhoeddus, ar ddiwedd yr ymchwiliad gan y corff hwnnw, petai hawl wedyn iddyn nhw i ofyn i'r corff i basio, i drosglwyddo'r cwyn yn syth i'r ombwdsmon, yn uniongyrchol i'r ombwdsmon, a'u bod nhw ddim yn gorfod dibynnu ar yr unigolion i wneud hynny, ond bod y corff yn gallu gwneud hynny ar eu rhan. Byddai hynny'n lleihau'r drafferth yn fawr iawn i'r achwynydd—y rhai sy'n gorfod paratoi crynodeb o'r achos a'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd, a sut mae'r cwyn wedi cael ei ddelio ag ef hyd yn hyn, ac yn y blaen. Byddai'n gwneud pethau llawer yn haws i bobl.
Mae angen symleiddio'r broses, a gweld ymdrech sylweddol i sicrhau bod pob grŵp yng Nghymru yn cael eu cefnogi, yn cael eu cynorthwyo i ymwneud â swyddfa'r ombwdsmon. Dim ond wedi hynny, Dirprwy Lywydd, dwi'n credu y bydd swyddfa ombwdsmon Cymru yn cyrraedd ei llawn botensial. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much to the committee for their work. It is genuinely important that we review legislation, so I was very pleased to read the first conclusion, namely that every public Bill should include provisions for post-legislative review. That scrutiny is almost as important as the scrutiny before the legislation is passed, so thank you for including that.
Now, in looking specifically at the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019, although the scrutiny process came to the conclusion that the legislation had been implemented successfully, I do believe it's fair to note that there is scope and an ability for the ombudsman to change and improve.
We know that the increase in the case load has slowed since the legislation was introduced. According to the ombudsman, they've seen around 9,800 complaints over the past five years, rather than the 12,000 that they had predicted. That is a shame because the Act's policy objective was to be more accountable to the citizens of Wales.
Professor Naomi Creutzfeldt is of the view that the ombudsman could undertake more own-initiative investigations. I agree with that, so it is a shame that the ombudsman has only completed two such investigations since 2019. Clearly, there is scope to amend the legislation to simplify the process of initiating such investigations.
While the ombudsman takes pride in the fact that 79 per cent have confidence in the office's work, what about the remaining 21 per cent? Again, as Professor Creutzfeldt said,
'although you said everyone in Wales knows about the ombudsman, I'm not sure if people would then even approach them.'
The idea, therefore, that people perhaps don't have the confidence to turn to the ombudsman.
Professor Chris Gill also agreed that reaching a much wider demographic group is truly important for the ombudsman. Although work has been done in this area—and I understand that it isn't easy—the ombudsman acknowledges that the data continues to show that some groups are less likely to make a complaint, such as younger people; people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and nationalities; people who face socioeconomic disadvantage; and people who live with disabilities.
We all agree that the office of the ombudsman for Wales is for everyone in Wales, regardless of their circumstances. The fact that people are able to make a complaint orally is, for me, crucial. It's a shame, therefore, that only around 700 people have done so since 2019. Of course, the ability to make an oral complaint can simplify the process a great deal. But what would further simplify the process would be if those who had made a complaint to a public body, at the end of that body's investigation, if they had the right to ask that body to pass, to transfer the complaint straight to the ombudsman, directly to the ombudsman, so that they don't have to depend on the individual to do that, but that the body itself could do that on their behalf. That would greatly reduce the difficulty experienced by complainants—those who have to prepare a summary of the case and what has happened, and how the complaint has been dealt with to date, and so on. It would make things much easier for people.
We must simplify the complaints process, and see a significant effort to ensure that every group in Wales is supported, is assisted to engage with the ombudsman's office. It's only then, Dirprwy Lywydd, that I believe we will we have an ombudsman's office for Wales that fulfils its true potential. Thank you.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, y Trefnydd a'r Prif Chwip, Jane Hutt.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. The Welsh Government welcomes this report, and we're grateful to the Finance Committee for the thorough way in which you've approached the review and the comprehensive and balanced set of recommendations that you have produced. We were pleased to be asked to feed in views at the stage of the gathering of evidence, and I was glad to see that the committee has taken on board our views and incorporated quotes from my response in the report.
The Welsh Government believes that the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales plays a vital role on behalf of the citizens of Wales in helping to put things right when people haven't received the standard of service they're entitled to expect from a public body. Wales has a stronger story to tell here, but it's important that the role and activities of the ombudsman continue to develop and that we learn from what is working well elsewhere, as I hope that others are learning from us.
So, we welcomed and supported the 2019 legislation to expand the role of the ombudsman, and we were pleased to see that the committee has found that the Act has been a success overall. We think that the recommendations that the committee has put forward in its report are thoughtful, balanced and constructive, and we support all of them. And I'm grateful for the additional contributions made by Members today and reassure you that they are also helpful in terms of us moving forward and taking into account the review.
There is a role for the Welsh Government to play in implementing recommendation 16, which recommends that the ombudsman should work with the Welsh Government to understand the practical implications of widening the ombudsman's jurisdiction to cover school complaints, and share these findings by autumn 2026. And I am pleased to say that this work is being taken forward and discussions are under way to consider this proposal in more detail. Work is on course to complete the task by the autumn, as recommended by the committee.
The report also records, as a conclusion of the Finance Committee, that all public Bills introduced to the Senedd contain provisions for a post-legislative review. We support and welcome the important task of looking back at a piece of legislation to evaluate how well it has worked and what lessons need to be learned from implementation so far. And I'm pleased to update you that a post-legislative review is included in all new Bills laid by Welsh Government, and this requirement ensures that each Bill sets out its planned approach for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the policy that underpins the Bill, and that these reviews are laid for the Senedd's consideration.
The Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 is an example of this requirement, which included a provision that, at the end of the five-year period, Welsh Ministers must lay before the National Assembly a review of the operation and effect of the Bill.
Dirprwy Lywydd, this has been an important debate because it deals with matters that affect individual citizens and the public services that they receive, and the Welsh Government is pleased to support the motion. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn croesawu'r adroddiad hwn, ac rydym yn ddiolchgar i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid am y ffordd drylwyr y gwnaethoch ymdrin â'r adolygiad a'r set gynhwysfawr a chytbwys o argymhellion a gynhyrchwyd gennych. Roeddem yn falch o'r cais i fwydo barn ar y cam casglu tystiolaeth, ac roeddwn yn falch o weld bod y pwyllgor wedi derbyn ein barn ac wedi cynnwys dyfyniadau o fy ymateb yn yr adroddiad.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru o'r farn fod Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru yn chwarae rôl hanfodol ar ran dinasyddion Cymru drwy helpu i wneud pethau'n iawn pan nad yw pobl wedi cael gwasanaeth o'r safon y mae ganddynt hawl i'w disgwyl gan gorff cyhoeddus. Mae gan Gymru stori gryfach i'w hadrodd yma, ond mae'n bwysig fod rôl a gweithgareddau'r ombwdsmon yn parhau i ddatblygu a'n bod yn dysgu o'r hyn sy'n gweithio'n dda mewn mannau eraill, fel rwy'n gobeithio bod eraill yn dysgu gennym ni.
Felly, fe wnaethom groesawu a chefnogi deddfwriaeth 2019 i ehangu rôl yr ombwdsmon, ac roeddem yn falch o weld bod y pwyllgor wedi canfod bod y Ddeddf yn llwyddiant yn gyffredinol. Credwn fod yr argymhellion y mae'r pwyllgor wedi'u cyflwyno yn ei adroddiad yn feddylgar, yn gytbwys ac yn adeiladol, ac rydym yn cefnogi pob un ohonynt. Ac rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfraniadau ychwanegol a wnaed gan yr Aelodau heddiw ac yn eich sicrhau eu bod hefyd yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer symud ymlaen i ystyried yr adolygiad.
Mae rôl i Lywodraeth Cymru ei chwarae yn gweithredu argymhelliad 16, sy'n argymell y dylai'r ombwdsmon weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i ddeall goblygiadau ymarferol ehangu awdurdodaeth yr ombwdsmon i gwmpasu cwynion yn ymwneud ag ysgolion, a rhannu'r canfyddiadau hyn erbyn hydref 2026. Ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod y gwaith hwn yn mynd rhagddo a thrafodaethau ar y gweill i ystyried y cynnig hwn yn fwy manwl. Mae gwaith ar y trywydd iawn i gwblhau'r dasg erbyn yr hydref, fel yr argymhellodd y pwyllgor.
Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn cofnodi, fel un o gasgliadau'r Pwyllgor Cyllid, fod pob Bil cyhoeddus a gyflwynir i'r Senedd yn cynnwys darpariaethau ar gyfer adolygiad ar ôl deddfu. Rydym yn cefnogi ac yn croesawu'r dasg bwysig o edrych yn ôl ar ddarn o ddeddfwriaeth i werthuso pa mor dda y mae wedi gweithio a pha wersi sydd angen eu dysgu o'i gweithredu hyd yma. Ac rwy'n falch o'ch hysbysu bod adolygiad ar ôl deddfu wedi'i gynnwys ym mhob Bil newydd a gyflwynir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae'r gofyniad hwn yn sicrhau bod pob Bil yn nodi ei ddull arfaethedig o fonitro, adolygu a gwerthuso'r polisi sy'n sail i'r Bil, a bod yr adolygiadau hyn yn cael eu cyflwyno i'w hystyried gan y Senedd.
Mae Deddf Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Isafbris am Alcohol) (Cymru) 2018 yn enghraifft o'r gofyniad hwn, ac roedd yn cynnwys darpariaeth fod yn rhaid i Weinidogion Cymru gyflwyno adolygiad o weithrediad ac effaith y Bil ger bron y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ar ddiwedd y cyfnod o bum mlynedd.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae hon wedi bod yn ddadl bwysig am ei bod yn ymdrin â materion sy'n effeithio ar ddinasyddion unigol a'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y maent yn eu cael, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn falch o gefnogi'r cynnig. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Galwaf ar Peredur Owen Griffiths i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Peredur Owen Griffiths to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma. Mae yna themâu gan y tri sydd wedi siarad, a'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, ynglŷn ag own-initiative powers, a sut y mae'r rheini yn cael eu defnyddio, a gwneud y rheini'n haws i gael eu defnyddio. A dwi'n meddwl mai hwnna oedd yn dod drwodd yn glir yn ein hargymhellion ni, yn dweud ei bod hi'n siom eu bod nhw ddim ond wedi cael eu defnyddio ddwywaith, yn enwedig pan oedden ni'n siarad efo ombwdsmyn o lefydd eraill, yn dweud bydden nhw'n gallu eu defnyddio nhw, yn enwedig yn Iwerddon, sydd wedi'u defnyddio nhw'n fwy eang. So, dwi'n meddwl bod hynny'n hynod o bwysig ac yn dod drwodd yn yr argymhellion, ac, wrth gwrs, dwi'n gobeithio bydd yr ombwdsmon rŵan yn edrych ar y ffyrdd y mae hi'n defnyddio ei phwerau yn hynny o beth.
Hefyd, defnyddio'r oral complaints yn well a'i gwneud hi'n haws i bobl allu eu defnyddio nhw. A'r pwynt sydd yn fwy sylfaenol ynglŷn â'r ffordd mae'r broses yma'n gweithio ydy, wrth gwrs, fod pobl yn gorfod cwyno i'r cyrff cyhoeddus yn gyntaf cyn mynd at yr ombwdsmon, a bosib bod y broses yna angen ei mireinio. Roedd y pwynt y gwnest ti, Rhys, yn ddifyr iawn ynglŷn ag ar ddiwedd y broses, os ydy pobl yn dal ddim yn hapus: oes yna ffordd i'w yrru fo'n syth at yr ombwdsmon? Dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n rhywbeth inni ei ystyried efo'r ombwdsmon, yn y gwaith craffu a fydd yn mynd rhagddo.
Felly, dwi'n ymwybodol o'r amser, ond gwnaf i ddod i derfyn rŵan. Dwi'n falch iawn bod y Llywodraeth yn gweithio drwy argymhelliad 16 yn benodol, ac fel roeddwn i'n sôn yn gynharach, mae'r adolygiad ôl-weithredu yn hynod o bwysig mewn Deddfau. Felly, mae hynny yn rhywbeth i fod yn ddiolchgar amdano, fod y Llywodraeth yn mynd i wneud i hynny fynd yn ei flaen.
Felly, i ddod i derfyn, rydym ni'n falch bod y gwaith yma wedi cael ei wneud ac yn falch iawn o'r gwaith mae ein swyddogion ni o fewn y pwyllgor wedi ei wneud i ddod â hwn atom. Mi fydd y sylwadau yma sydd wedi cael eu gwneud heddiw yn cael eu cymryd ymlaen i mewn i'r gwaith craffu o flwyddyn i flwyddyn rydym ni yn ei wneud efo'r ombwdsmon, a dwi'n siŵr y bydd sylwadau yn cael eu cymryd o heddiw i mewn i waith legasi y pwyllgor ac i'r pwyllgor yn y seithfed Senedd. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, am eich amynedd.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to everyone who has participated in the debate this afternoon. Some themes have emerged from our three speakers, as well as the Cabinet Secretary, in terms of own-initiative powers and how those are used, and how we can make those more easy to use. I think that came through clearly in our recommendations, that it is disappointing that the powers have only been used twice, particularly when we spoke to ombudsmen from elsewhere, saying that they could use them, particularly in Ireland, where they have been used more broadly. So, I think that that is very important and is a theme that comes through in the recommendations, and, of course, I hope that the ombudsman will now look at the way that she uses her powers in that regard.
Also, better use of oral complaints and making it easier for people to use that mechanism. And the more fundamental point on the way that that process works, of course, is that people have to make a complaint to the public bodies first before approaching the ombudsman, and perhaps that process needs to be refined too. I think that the point that you made, Rhys, was very interesting about the end of the process, if people still aren't content: is there any way to send it directly to the ombudsman? I think that is something that we should consider with the ombudsman, in the scrutiny work will be undertaken.
I am aware of time, so I will draw my comments to a close. I was delighted that the Government is looking specifically at recommendation 16, and as I mentioned earlier, post-legislative scrutiny is extremely important in relation to legislation. So, that is something to be grateful for, that the Government is going to take that forward.
So, to draw my comments to a close, I am pleased that this work has been undertaken and I am proud of the work undertaken by our officials within the committee to complete this report. The comments made today will be taken forward and incorporated into our annual scrutiny with the ombudsman, and I'm sure that those comments will contribute to the legacy work of the committee and the work of the committee in the seventh Senedd. So, thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, for your patience and forbearance.
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? There is no objection. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Eitem 6 heddiw yw dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, 'Atal iechyd gwael—gordewdra'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Peter Fox.
Item 6 today is a debate on the Health and Social Care Committee's report, 'Prevention of ill health—obesity'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Peter Fox.
Cynnig NDM9111 Peter Fox
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ‘Atal iechyd gwael—gordewdra’ a osodwyd ar 8 Hydref 2025.
Motion NDM9111 Peter Fox
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report ‘Prevention of ill-health—obesity’ that was laid on 8 October 2025.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm really pleased to open this debate today on obesity, and I want to thank all those who gave evidence, and thanks to our clerks and researchers for the great work in pulling this really important report together.
Obesity is a significant public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and society. It is complex and can be influenced by a number of factors. There are also links between obesity and mental health, as well as a range of other serious health conditions. No country in the world has yet reversed obesity, which shows the scale of the challenge facing us. However, this doesn't mean that we can afford to be complacent, especially as prevalence in Wales is rising.
The most recent figures from the national survey for Wales in 2024-25 show that 62 per cent of adults aged 16 plus in Wales are living with overweight or obesity. The cost to the NHS has previously been estimated at some £73 million a year. Alongside the rising trend in the number of people living with one or more chronic illnesses and an ageing population, the health and care system in Wales is under significant pressure.
'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' is the Welsh Government's long-term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity, but we heard it's having little impact on the ground. We also heard that there are long waiting times for adult weight-management services, while there is no provision for children and young people in a number of health boards. Whilst we must ensure that equitable services and support are in place for people living with overweight and obesity, we must not lose sight of the long-term prevention agenda of reversing the trend and minimising the number of people needing to access weight-management services. This is going to require clear oversight and direction, with cross-sector responsibility and accountability.
We chose to focus our attention on the effectiveness of the Welsh Government's strategy, regulations and associated actions to prevent and reduce obesity in Wales. As I said, we are very grateful to everyone who took the time to share their expertise and experience with us. Our report makes 18 recommendations to the Welsh Government, and I would like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for what is, generally, a positive response. In the time available to me this afternoon, I will focus on a small number of our recommendations, although I know there may be other committee members who will wish to cover some of the other recommendations in their contributions.
As a result of the evidence we received on the lack of impact of 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales', we believe that strong and clear leadership will be essential to ensure that this strategy is fully implemented. We therefore urge the Welsh Government to demonstrate that leadership and drive the changes needed to ensure services are in place to support people living with overweight and obesity.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch iawn o agor y ddadl hon heddiw ar ordewdra, ac rwyf am ddiolch i bawb a roddodd dystiolaeth, a diolch i'n clercod a'n hymchwilwyr am y gwaith gwych o dynnu'r adroddiad pwysig hwn at ei gilydd.
Mae gordewdra'n broblem iechyd cyhoeddus sylweddol gyda chanlyniadau pellgyrhaeddol i unigolion a chymdeithas. Mae'n gymhleth a gall nifer o ffactorau ddylanwadu arno. Mae yna hefyd gysylltiadau rhwng gordewdra ac iechyd meddwl, yn ogystal ag ystod o gyflyrau iechyd difrifol eraill. Nid oes unrhyw wlad yn y byd wedi gwrthdroi gordewdra eto, sy'n dangos maint yr her sy'n ein hwynebu. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hyn yn golygu y gallwn fforddio bod yn hunanfodlon, yn enwedig gan fod yr achosion yng Nghymru ar gynnydd.
Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf o'r arolwg cenedlaethol ar gyfer Cymru yn 2024-25 yn dangos bod 62 y cant o oedolion 16 oed a hŷn yng Nghymru dros bwysau neu'n ordew. Amcangyfrifwyd yn flaenorol fod y gost i'r GIG oddeutu £73 miliwn y flwyddyn. Ochr yn ochr â'r duedd gynyddol yn nifer y bobl sy'n byw gydag un neu fwy o afiechydon cronig a phoblogaeth sy'n heneiddio, mae'r system iechyd a gofal yng Nghymru o dan bwysau sylweddol.
'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' yw strategaeth hirdymor Llywodraeth Cymru i atal a lleihau gordewdra, ond clywsom nad yw'n cael fawr o effaith ar lawr gwlad. Clywsom hefyd fod yna amseroedd aros hir ar gyfer gwasanaethau rheoli pwysau i oedolion, ac nid oes darpariaeth ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc mewn nifer o fyrddau iechyd. Er bod yn rhaid inni sicrhau bod gwasanaethau a chymorth teg ar waith i bobl sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew, rhaid inni beidio â cholli golwg ar yr agenda atal hirdymor i wrthdroi'r duedd a lleihau nifer y bobl sydd angen cael mynediad at wasanaethau rheoli pwysau. Mae hyn yn mynd i alw am oruchwyliaeth a chyfarwyddyd clir, gyda chyfrifoldeb ac atebolrwydd traws-sector.
Fe wnaethom ddewis canolbwyntio ein sylw ar effeithiolrwydd strategaeth, rheoliadau a chamau cysylltiedig Llywodraeth Cymru i atal a lleihau gordewdra yng Nghymru. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn i bawb a roddodd amser i rannu eu harbenigedd a'u profiad gyda ni. Mae ein hadroddiad yn gwneud 18 o argymhellion i Lywodraeth Cymru, a hoffwn ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am yr ymateb cadarnhaol, at ei gilydd. Yn yr amser sydd ar gael i mi y prynhawn yma, fe ganolbwyntiaf ar nifer fach o'n hargymhellion, er fy mod yn gwybod y gallai fod aelodau eraill o'r pwyllgor yn dymuno ymdrin â rhai o'r argymhellion eraill yn eu cyfraniadau nhw.
O ganlyniad i'r dystiolaeth a gawsom am ddiffyg effaith 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach', credwn y bydd arweinyddiaeth gref a chlir yn hanfodol i sicrhau bod y strategaeth hon yn cael ei gweithredu'n llawn. Felly, rydym yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ddangos yr arweinyddiaeth honno a gyrru'r newidiadau sydd eu hangen i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau ar waith i gefnogi pobl sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew.
We also called for clear lines of responsibility and accountability for delivering and monitoring the plan. This recommendation was accepted. In his response, the Cabinet Secretary said that the delivery plan for 2025-27 sets out new and clearer governance and accountability arrangements, and commitments that aim to strengthen and embed further whole-system approaches at both a community and national level. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his positive response to this recommendation, and urge any future Welsh Government to continue to provide the leadership needed to drive forward this important agenda.
I'd now like to talk about children and young people. The increasing number of children who are overweight or obese in Wales is extremely concerning, with around 25 per cent of children living with overweight or obesity by the time they are starting school. This is a frightening statistic. A healthy relationship with food and nutrition starts at a young age. We therefore welcome the introduction of PIPYN, the children and family pilots in Anglesey, Cardiff and Merthyr, which are supporting families to achieve a healthy weight without stigma, through increased opportunities to eat healthily and be active. We believe that this type of intervention could have a positive impact on the numbers of children needed to be referred to weight management services, and look forward, subject to its satisfactory evaluation, to seeing it rolled out across Wales.
Where children and young people need the support of weight management services, it was concerning to learn that these were not available in every health board. Probably of greater concern, however, was that some of those health boards were the ones with the highest levels of children living with overweight and obesity in Wales. We recommended that the Welsh Government commission an audit of the provision of children's weight management services in each health board, to determine future provision across all health boards. We also recommended that this audit include details of the waiting times for weight management services, and the number of people waiting for weight management services in each health board.
The Welsh Government accepted both of these recommendations, and stated it will explore the development of a new clinical pathway for the treatment and management of obesity as a chronic condition, including the role of weight loss drugs. This will include the provision of services for children. I would be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could provide further detail on the timescale for this work in his response to the debate.
I would like now to focus on one of the recommendations rejected by the Cabinet Secretary, and that was recommendation 14. We asked the Welsh Government to look at the changes made to the Healthy Start scheme in Scotland, which had increased the value of their vouchers in line with inflation and expanded eligibility to all families receiving universal credit. This recommendation was rejected on the basis that Healthy Start is not devolved to Wales.
In Wales, take-up rates of the Healthy Start scheme, which provides support to those families on the lowest incomes, are disappointing. We heard, though, that the changes made to the scheme in Scotland had made a significant impact, increasing take-up up to 92 per cent. We therefore made this recommendation on the basis that the Welsh Government could initiate discussions with the UK Government to discuss possible changes to the scheme. I would ask the Cabinet Secretary perhaps to reconsider his response on this.
It would be difficult to hold a debate on obesity and not mention weight loss medication, given the recent surge in their availability and use. When used alongside a calorie-controlled diet and increased physical activity, weight loss medication may be beneficial for some people. However, it is not a long-term solution. It does not address the causes of overweight and obesity, and is not a preventative measure. We are concerned that individuals will be attracted to using weight loss medications without appropriate support, without an understanding of the likely side effects, and without the other lifestyle changes that are necessary for long-term sustainable changes to their weight. Also, the long-term effects of these medications are, as yet, unknown.
We are further concerned about people accessing these medications outside of weight management services, online or via other unregulated routes, which could present a serious risk to users. While we did not make a specific recommendation in this area, we did seek assurance from the Welsh Government that it is monitoring the availability of these medications via unregulated online providers. I'd be grateful if the Cabinet Secretary could provide that assurance in his response to this debate.
Finally, I want to talk about the importance of the food environment, and the benefits of locally produced food. We all know that fresh, local food is nutritionally better than food that has travelled halfway around the world. Unfortunately, we only produce a fraction of what we need in Wales. We were told that 1,000 calories of healthy food costs around £8.80, compared to 1,000 calories of unhealthy food costing £4.30. We also heard that a study by the University of Sheffield found that 1.2 million people in the UK are now living in food deserts, where people must shop in more expensive small convenience stores, with a limited stock of good-value fresh products. This study also showed that these are more likely to be in deprived communities.
We therefore need to change the food environment, especially in areas of greater deprivation, to make healthier foods much more easily available and affordable for people. We also need to support people to be able to cook healthy balanced meals for themselves that do not rely on heavily processed foods. I therefore welcome the focus in the ‘Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales’ delivery plan to improve both the affordability and accessibility of healthier food, especially for families in our most deprived communities. I look forward in due course to hearing how that work is progressing. Diolch.
Fe wnaethom hefyd alw am linellau cyfrifoldeb ac atebolrwydd clir ar gyfer cyflawni a monitro'r cynllun. Cafodd yr argymhelliad hwn ei dderbyn. Yn ei ymateb, dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fod y cynllun cyflawni ar gyfer 2025-27 yn nodi trefniadau llywodraethu ac atebolrwydd newydd a chliriach, ac ymrwymiadau gyda'r nod o gryfhau ac ymgorffori dulliau system gyfan pellach ar lefel gymunedol a chenedlaethol. Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ymateb cadarnhaol i'r argymhelliad hwn, ac rwy'n annog unrhyw Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol i barhau i ddarparu'r arweinyddiaeth sydd ei hangen i fwrw ymlaen â'r agenda bwysig hon.
Rwyf am siarad am blant a phobl ifanc. Mae'r nifer cynyddol o blant sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew yng Nghymru yn bryderus iawn, gyda thua 25 y cant o blant dros bwysau neu'n ordew erbyn iddynt ddechrau yn yr ysgol. Mae hwn yn ystadegyn brawychus. Mae perthynas iach â bwyd a maeth yn dechrau ar oedran ifanc. Felly, rydym yn croesawu cyflwyno PIPYN, y cynlluniau peilot plant a theuluoedd yn Ynys Môn, Caerdydd a Merthyr, sy'n cefnogi teuluoedd i gyflawni pwysau iach heb stigma, drwy fwy o gyfleoedd i fwyta'n iach a bod yn egnïol. Credwn y gallai'r math hwn o ymyrraeth gael effaith gadarnhaol ar niferoedd y plant y mae angen eu cyfeirio at wasanaethau rheoli pwysau, ac edrychwn ymlaen, os caiff ei werthuso'n foddhaol, at ei weld yn cael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru.
Lle mae plant a phobl ifanc angen cymorth gwasanaethau rheoli pwysau, roedd yn destun pryder nad oedd y rhain ar gael ym mhob bwrdd iechyd. Ond yr hyn sy'n fwyaf pryderus mae'n debyg yw mai rhai o'r byrddau iechyd hynny oedd y rhai gyda'r lefelau uchaf o blant yng Nghymru sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew. Fe wnaethom argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn comisiynu archwiliad o'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau rheoli pwysau i blant ym mhob bwrdd iechyd, i benderfynu ar y ddarpariaeth yn y dyfodol ar draws pob bwrdd iechyd. Rydym hefyd yn argymell bod yr archwiliad hwn yn cynnwys manylion yr amseroedd aros ar gyfer gwasanaethau rheoli pwysau, a nifer y bobl sy'n aros am wasanaethau rheoli pwysau ym mhob bwrdd iechyd.
Derbyniodd Llywodraeth Cymru y ddau argymhelliad, a dywedodd y bydd yn archwilio'r gwaith o ddatblygu llwybr clinigol newydd ar gyfer trin a rheoli gordewdra fel cyflwr cronig, gan gynnwys rôl cyffuriau colli pwysau. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys darparu gwasanaethau i blant. Buaswn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddarparu rhagor o fanylion am yr amserlen ar gyfer y gwaith hwn yn ei ymateb i'r ddadl.
Hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar un o'r argymhellion a wrthodwyd gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, sef argymhelliad 14. Fe wnaethom ofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych ar y newidiadau a wnaed i'r cynllun Cychwyn Iach yn yr Alban, a oedd wedi cynyddu gwerth eu talebau yn unol â chwyddiant ac wedi ehangu cymhwysedd i bob teulu sy'n cael credyd cynhwysol. Gwrthodwyd yr argymhelliad hwn ar y sail nad yw Cychwyn Iach wedi'i ddatganoli i Gymru.
Yng Nghymru, mae'r cyfraddau sy'n manteisio ar y cynllun Cychwyn Iach, sy'n darparu cymorth i'r teuluoedd ar yr incwm isaf, yn siomedig. Clywsom, fodd bynnag, fod y newidiadau a wnaed i'r cynllun yn yr Alban wedi cael effaith sylweddol, gan gynyddu'r defnydd hyd at 92 y cant. Felly, gwnaethom yr argymhelliad hwn ar y sail y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ddechrau trafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU i drafod newidiadau posib i'r cynllun. Hoffwn ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ailystyried ei ymateb ar hyn.
Byddai'n anodd cynnal dadl ar ordewdra a pheidio â sôn am feddyginiaeth colli pwysau, o ystyried y cynnydd diweddar yn eu hargaeledd a'u defnydd. Pan gaiff ei defnyddio ochr yn ochr â deiet rheoli calorïau a mwy o weithgarwch corfforol, gall meddyginiaeth colli pwysau fod yn fuddiol i rai pobl. Fodd bynnag, nid yw'n ateb hirdymor. Nid yw'n mynd i'r afael â'r ffactorau sy'n achosi i bobl fod dros bwysau neu'n ordew, ac nid yw'n fesur ataliol. Rydym yn pryderu y bydd unigolion yn cael eu denu i ddefnyddio meddyginiaethau colli pwysau heb gymorth priodol, heb ddealltwriaeth o'r sgil-effeithiau tebygol, a heb y newidiadau eraill i ffordd o fyw sy'n angenrheidiol ar gyfer newidiadau cynaliadwy hirdymor i'w pwysau. Hefyd, mae effeithiau hirdymor y meddyginiaethau'n anhysbys ar hyn o bryd.
Rydym yn pryderu hefyd am bobl sy'n cyrchu'r meddyginiaethau hyn y tu allan i wasanaethau rheoli pwysau, ar-lein neu drwy lwybrau eraill heb eu rheoleiddio, a allai fod yn risg ddifrifol i ddefnyddwyr. Er na wnaethom argymhelliad penodol yn y maes hwn, fe wnaethom ofyn am sicrwydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ei bod yn monitro argaeledd y meddyginiaethau hyn trwy ddarparwyr ar-lein heb eu rheoleiddio. Hoffwn pe gallai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddarparu'r sicrwydd hwnnw yn ei ymateb i'r ddadl hon.
Yn olaf, rwyf am siarad am bwysigrwydd yr amgylchedd bwyd, a manteision bwyd a gynhyrchir yn lleol. Rydym i gyd yn gwybod bod bwyd ffres, lleol yn fwy maethlon na bwyd sydd wedi teithio hanner ffordd o amgylch y byd. Yn anffodus, dim ond rhan fach iawn o'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom a gynhyrchwn yng Nghymru. Dywedwyd wrthym fod 1,000 o galorïau o fwyd iach yn costio tua £8.80, o'i gymharu â 1,000 o galorïau o fwyd afiach sy'n costio £4.30. Clywsom hefyd fod astudiaeth gan Brifysgol Sheffield wedi canfod bod 1.2 miliwn o bobl yn y DU bellach yn byw mewn anialwch bwyd, lle mae'n rhaid i bobl siopa mewn siopau cyfleustra bach drutach, gyda stoc gyfyngedig o gynhyrchion ffres o werth da. Dangosodd yr astudiaeth hon hefyd fod y rhain yn fwy tebygol o fod mewn cymunedau difreintiedig.
Felly mae angen inni newid yr amgylchedd bwyd, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd mwy difreintiedig, fel bod bwydydd iachach ar gael yn llawer haws ac yn fforddiadwy i bobl. Mae angen inni hefyd gefnogi pobl i allu coginio prydau iach cytbwys iddynt eu hunain nad ydynt yn dibynnu ar fwydydd wedi'u prosesu'n drwm. Felly, rwy'n croesawu'r ffocws yng nghynllun cyflawni 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' ar wella fforddiadwyedd a hygyrchedd bwyd iachach, yn enwedig i deuluoedd yn ein cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig. Edrychaf ymlaen maes o law at glywed sut y mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo. Diolch.
I agree with nearly everything that Peter Fox has said, except that a healthy relationship with food starts at birth, not when they are very young. I’ll come on to breastfeeding in a minute.
I was pleased to take part in this inquiry when I was substituting for an absent colleague, but I obviously was not involved in the extensive work that you did. My sense is that your recommendations are not nearly strong enough, because I think you’re just tinkering at the edges. We have to realise that no country in the world has succeeded in reversing the rise and rise of obesity and overweight in adults. The pharmaceutical industry, no doubt working in collaboration with the food industry, have now come up with these drugs to suppress people's diets. That may change, on paper anyway, but we know that anyone who stops these injections will put on weight even quicker than those who have attempted weight-watching classes.
One of the real dangers of the popularity of these appetite-suppressing drugs, which are obviously disproportionately available to those who can afford to buy them, apart from the unknown consequences on the body's metabolism, is that people will eat even less nutritious food, because they are eating less food. If none of it is nutritious, we are going to see a spike in what is already a significant problem amongst children and adults. I am glad to see Altaf Hussain, who is a doctor, is agreeing with me. I think there are some very serious issues arising out of all this.
Equally, the banning of junk food products on television before the 9 o'clock watershed, which has been brought in by the UK Government, is not going to work, because unfortunately people don’t need to see the enticing, addictive, tasty but harmful products in order to have the chemical reaction of feeling hungry just by seeing the logo of the company that is promoting this crap, because they dominate completely our obesogenic environment. Merely seeing the logo, which is not going to be banned, will cause them to rush to the kitchen to try and pick up something that’s not going to be good for them. That is down to the research that has been done by a very excellent professor at the University of Liverpool, whose name I can provide you at another time.
We cannot afford to go on like this. The timidity of politicians to grasp the nettle in case they seem to be interfering on personal choices or nannying accusations is completely missing the size of the problem. The obesity crisis now extends to most parts of the industrialised world and is caused by the industrial adulteration of the raw ingredients of life into ultra-processed products, all in the name of profit. These people are not going to stop doing this unless we stop them poisoning us.
We cannot afford to wait for the UK Government to wake up and impose a tax on ultra-processed food, which, along with smoking, is now the main cause of early death and is burdening the NHS with a level of demand that it is not funded to cope with. That tax could then be used to bring down the price of healthy nutritious food—which refers to the point made by Peter Fox—which, as the Public Health Wales evidence pointed out, is nearly three times more expensive than junk food. And we have these deserts, because, obviously, most supermarkets will not go to the poorest areas, because that's not where the money is to be made.
Wales needs to make a start by removing ultra-processed products from public procurement of food so that we are not using public money to serve products that are inedible, frankly, in children's food and in our hospitals. If it requires legislation, then it needs emergency legislation. If such a date needs to be set sometime in the future, we need to set that date now. The food industry will not change unless they are forced to. This is a major challenge to the well-being of Wales and the world. It is a public health emergency.
The Welsh Government launched the all-Wales—. I'm now going to come on to what happens at birth—
Rwy'n cytuno â bron bopeth y mae Peter Fox wedi'i ddweud, heblaw bod perthynas iach â bwyd yn dechrau ar enedigaeth, nid pan fyddant yn ifanc iawn. Fe ddof ymlaen at fwydo ar y fron mewn munud.
Roeddwn i'n falch o gymryd rhan yn yr ymchwiliad hwn pan oeddwn yn dirprwyo ar ran cyd-Aelod absennol, ond yn amlwg nid oeddwn yn rhan o'r gwaith helaeth a wnaethoch. Fy nheimlad yw nad yw eich argymhellion yn ddigon cryf, oherwydd rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n tincran ar yr ymylon. Rhaid inni sylweddoli nad oes unrhyw wlad yn y byd wedi llwyddo i wrthdroi cynnydd diwyro'r niferoedd o oedolion sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew. Mae'r diwydiant fferyllol, yn gweithio ar y cyd â'r diwydiant bwyd heb amheuaeth, bellach wedi dod o hyd i gyffuriau i ffrwyno deietau pobl. Efallai y bydd hynny'n newid, ar bapur beth bynnag, ond gwyddom y bydd unrhyw un sy'n rhoi'r gorau i'r pigiadau hyn yn magu pwysau hyd yn oed yn gyflymach na'r rheini sydd wedi mynychu dosbarthiadau colli pwysau.
Un o beryglon gwirioneddol poblogrwydd y cyffuriau hyn sy'n atal archwaeth, sy'n amlwg ar gael yn anghymesur i'r rhai sy'n gallu fforddio eu prynu, ar wahân i'r canlyniadau anhysbys ar fetabolaeth y corff, yw y bydd pobl yn bwyta bwyd sydd hyd yn oed yn llai maethlon, am eu bod yn bwyta llai o fwyd. Os nad oes dim ohono'n faethlon, fe welwn gynnydd yn yr hyn sydd eisoes yn broblem sylweddol ymhlith plant ac oedolion. Rwy'n falch o weld Altaf Hussain, sy'n feddyg, yn cytuno â mi. Rwy'n credu bod yna broblemau difrifol iawn yn codi o hyn i gyd.
Yn yr un modd, nid yw gwahardd cynhyrchion bwyd sothach ar y teledu cyn 9 o'r gloch, mesur sydd wedi'i gyflwyno gan Lywodraeth y DU, yn mynd i weithio, oherwydd yn anffodus nid oes angen i bobl weld y cynhyrchion apelgar, caethiwus, blasus ond niweidiol er mwyn cael yr adwaith cemegol o deimlo'n llwglyd ddim ond trwy weld logo'r cwmni sy'n hyrwyddo'r sothach hwn, am eu bod yn dominyddu ein hamgylchedd obesogenig yn llwyr. Bydd gweld y logo ynddo'i hun, nad yw'n mynd i gael ei wahardd, yn achosi iddynt rhuthro i'r gegin i nôl rhywbeth nad yw'n mynd i fod yn dda iddynt. Daw hynny'n glir o ymchwil a wnaed gan athro rhagorol iawn ym Mhrifysgol Lerpwl, y gallaf roi ei enw i chi eto.
Ni allwn fforddio dal ati fel hyn. Mae ofn gwleidyddion i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem rhag ofn eu bod i'w gweld yn ymyrryd mewn dewisiadau personol neu gyhuddiadau o faldodi yn colli golwg yn llwyr ar faint y broblem. Mae'r argyfwng gordewdra bellach yn ymestyn i'r rhan fwyaf o'r byd diwydiannol ac yn cael ei achosi gan ddifwyniad cynhwysion crai bywyd ar lefel enfawr yn gynhyrchion wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth, a'r cyfan er mwyn elw. Nid yw'r bobl hyn yn mynd i roi'r gorau i wneud hynny oni bai ein bod ni'n eu hatal rhag ein gwenwyno.
Ni allwn fforddio aros i Lywodraeth y DU ddeffro a gosod treth ar fwyd wedi'i brosesu'n helaeth, sydd, ochr yn ochr ag ysmygu, bellach yn brif achos marwolaeth gynnar ac sy'n rhoi baich ar y GIG gyda lefel o alw na chaiff ei ariannu i ymdopi â hi. Gellid defnyddio'r dreth honno wedyn i ostwng pris bwyd maethlon iach—sy'n cyfeirio at y pwynt a wnaed gan Peter Fox—sydd, fel y nododd tystiolaeth Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, bron i dair gwaith yn ddrytach na bwyd sothach. Ac mae gennym yr ardaloedd anial hyn, oherwydd, yn amlwg, ni fydd y rhan fwyaf o archfarchnadoedd yn mynd i'r ardaloedd tlotaf, am nad dyna lle mae'r arian i'w wneud.
Mae angen i Gymru ddechrau drwy gael gwared ar gynhyrchion wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth o systemau caffael bwyd cyhoeddus fel nad ydym yn defnyddio arian cyhoeddus i weini cynhyrchion, sy'n anfwytadwy a bod yn onest, mewn bwyd plant ac yn ein hysbytai. Os oes angen deddfwriaeth, yna mae angen deddfwriaeth frys. Os oes angen gosod dyddiad o'r fath rywbryd yn y dyfodol, mae angen inni osod y dyddiad hwnnw nawr. Ni fydd y diwydiant bwyd yn newid oni bai eu bod yn cael eu gorfodi i wneud hynny. Mae hon yn her fawr i les Cymru a'r byd. Mae'n argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus.
Lansiodd Llywodraeth Cymru—. Rwy'n mynd i ddod at yr hyn sy'n digwydd ar enedigaeth nawr—
You need to conclude now, please.
Mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr, os gwelwch chi'n dda.
Okay. Just to say that we know that this is the single most effective way of getting childhood obesity down, because Obesity Alliance Cymru tells us that it reduces the risk of overweight and obesity by 25 per cent and sets those good standards of healthy eating that we need to ensure that all those who support new families are helping them to do.
O'r gorau. Dim ond dweud ein bod yn gwybod mai dyma'r ffordd fwyaf effeithiol o leihau gordewdra mewn plant, oherwydd mae Cynghrair Gordewdra Cymru yn dweud wrthym ei fod yn lleihau'r risg o fod dros bwysau neu'n ordew 25 y cant ac yn gosod y safonau da ar gyfer bwyta'n iach sydd eu hangen arnom i sicrhau bod pawb sy'n cefnogi teuluoedd newydd yn eu helpu i wneud.
Roedd hwn yn ymchwiliad arbennig o ddiddorol ac arbennig o dda, a dwi'n ddiolchgar iawn i bawb oedd yn rhan o'r ymchwiliad yma. Roedd o'n un oedd yn agor llygad. Dwi wedi defnyddio'r term sawl gwaith bellach fod gordewdra fel y rhinoseros llwyd sy'n dod lawr y ffordd tuag atom ni. Rydyn ni i gyd yn ei weld o, rydyn ni i gyd yn gwybod am yr her mae o'n ei gynnig, a'r cwestiwn i ni yma ydy beth ydyn ni'n mynd i'w wneud er mwyn datrys hyn a'i atal o rhag gwneud y niwed rydyn ni'n gwybod y bydd o'n ei wneud. Roedd clywed yn y dystiolaeth am y cyswllt rhwng gordewdra a chlefydau cronig megis clefyd y galon a chanserau, ymhlith eraill, yn dangos peryg peidio â mynd i'r afael â gordewdra.
Wrth gwrs, pan ydyn ni'n sôn am ofal iechyd, mae’n hawdd edrych ar ysbytai, ar restrau aros neu ar ganlyniadau clinigol, ond i unrhyw un sy’n treulio amser yn ymweld â chymunedau ar hyd a lled Cymru, mae’n gwbl amlwg fod iechyd yn cael ei lunio ymhell cyn i unrhyw un gyrraedd meddygfa neu adran damweiniau ac achosion brys. Fel rydyn ni wedi clywed gan Jenny rŵan, mae’n cael ei lunio gan y bwyd y gall pobl ei fforddio neu'r bwyd mae pobl yn ei gael ar enedigaeth yn syth ar ôl dod allan o'r groth. Mae'n cael ei lunio gan y cartrefi mae pobl yn byw ynddyn nhw, y strydoedd maen nhw'n cerdded ar eu hyd a'r cyfleoedd sydd gyda nhw i fyw bywyd iach.
Does unman lle mae hynny’n gliriach na stori gordewdra yng Nghymru. Heddiw, mae mwy na chwech o bob 10 oedolyn yn byw gyda gormod o bwysau. Mae hynny ar ei ben ei hun yn destun pryder dybryd, ond dim ond rhan o’r darlun ydy hyn. Mae pobl yn yr ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru yn llawer mwy tebygol o fyw gyda gormod o bwysau neu ordewdra na’r rhai yn yr ardaloedd lleiaf difreintiedig, ac mae canlyniadau’r anghydraddoldeb yma yn hynod o ddifrifol.
Mae dros un o bob chwe marwolaeth o glefyd cardiofasgwlaidd yng Nghymru yn gysylltiedig â mynegai màs y corff uchel. Yn 2024, roedd y gyfradd o farwolaethau cardiofasgwlaidd cynamserol yng Nghymru 17 y cant yn uwch nag yn Lloegr. Mae clefyd coronaidd y galon yn parhau i fod yr ail brif achos o farwolaeth yng Nghymru, ac yn wir y prif achos o farwolaeth ledled y byd. Mae gordewdra eisoes yn costio £73 miliwn y flwyddyn i’r gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru, ond, erbyn 2050, rydyn ni'n rhagweld y bydd y ffigur hwnnw’n codi i bron £0.5 biliwn, gyda’r gost ehangach i economi Cymru yn fwy na £2 biliwn. [Torri ar draws.] Sori, Jenny.
This was a very interesting inquiry and a very good one, and I'm very grateful to everyone who participated in this inquiry. It was an eye-opening one. I've used the term several times now that obesity is the rhinoceros that faces us on the road. We all see it. We all know the challenges that it poses, and the question here for us is what we're going to do to solve this and prevent it from causing the damage that it could cause. We heard in the evidence that the link between obesity and chronic conditions such as cancers and heart disease, amongst others, demonstrates the dangers of not tackling obesity.
Of course, when we talk about healthcare, it's easy to look at hospitals, at waiting lists or clinical outcomes, but to anyone who spends time visiting communities the length and breadth of Wales, it's clear that health is determined long before anyone reaches a surgery or A&E department. As we've heard from Jenny now, it's determined by the food that people can afford or the food that people receive following birth. It's determined by the homes that people live in, by the streets that they walk along and by the opportunities that they have to live a healthy life.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the story of obesity in Wales. Today, more than six in every 10 adults are overweight. This in itself is a cause of grave concern, but it's one part of the picture. People in the most disadvantaged parts of Wales are far more likely to be overweight or obese than those in the least disadvantaged areas, and the results of this inequality are gravely serious.
Over one in every six deaths from cardiovascular diseases in Wales are related to high body mass index figures. In 2024, the rate of premature cardiovascular deaths in Wales was 17 per cent higher than in England. Coronary heart disease continues to be the second most common cause of death in Wales, and indeed is the main cause of death worldwide. Obesity already costs the health service in Wales £73 million a year, but, by 2050, it's predicted that that figure will rise to almost £0.5 billion, with a wider cost to the Welsh economy of more than £2 billion. [Interruption.] Sorry, Jenny.
Seventy-three million pounds sounds like an interesting figure. Where did you get it from? Because I'm sure that that's an underestimate, just from a guess.
Mae £73 miliwn yn swnio'n ffigur diddorol. O ble y cawsoch chi'r ffigur hwnnw? Oherwydd rwy'n siŵr ei fod yn amcangyfrif rhy isel.
Papur ymchwil sy'n dangos £73 miliwn ar hyn o bryd, ond synnwn i ddim eich bod chi'n iawn ei fod o dan beth ydy'r brif gost pan ydych chi'n ystyried holl effaith gordewdra ar y gwasanaeth iechyd. Ffigur uniongyrchol ydy hynny, yn ôl y papur ymchwil, ond mae o'n mynd i gynyddu'n sylweddol i dros £2 biliwn, fel dwi'n dweud, erbyn 2050.
Os ydym o ddifrif am atal gordewdra, yna mae’n rhaid dechrau gyda phlant. Ledled Cymru, mae miloedd o blant yn tyfu i fyny mewn tlodi, ac i lawer o deuluoedd, mae diet iach yn syml yn gwbl anfforddiadwy. Mae prydau ysgol yn cynnig un o’r cyfleoedd cliriaf sydd gennym ni i ymyrryd yn gynnar. Fe all pryd ysgol maethlon a chynnes gefnogi iechyd corfforol, gwella canolbwyntio, cynyddu presenoldeb a chryfhau llesiant yn y tymor hir. Ac er bod safonau bwyd ysgol statudol yn bodoli, maen nhw wedi dyddio a dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu monitro’n rheolaidd. Mae maint yr her sy’n wynebu plant eisoes yn amlwg. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod dros 10 y cant o blant yn byw gyda gordewdra, ac mae plant yn yr ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig yn llawer mwy tebygol o gael eu heffeithio.
Mae gweithgarwch corfforol a chwaraeon yn rhan hanfodol arall o atal, ond yn rhy aml, maen nhw'n cael eu trin fel pethau ychwanegol neu ddewisol. Fe dynnodd ymchwiliad y pwyllgor sylw penodol at hyn. Er hynny, nid yw’r gydnabyddiaeth hon wedi arwain at ehangu’r rhaglenni effeithiol yr ydyn ni'n gwybod sydd yn gweithio. Mae’r dystiolaeth yn gyson: mae pobl sy’n weithgar yn rheolaidd drwy chwaraeon yn llawer llai tebygol o fod yn ordew. Mae rhaglenni fel daily active, y rhaglen plant a theuluoedd a’r cynllun hamdden actif 60-plws yn dangos sut y gall presgripsiynau cymdeithasol gefnogi iechyd corfforol a meddyliol. Eto i gyd, mae cynnydd wedi arafu’n sylweddol ar y dulliau yma, gan gyfyngu ar gyrhaeddiad ymyriadau sydd eisoes wedi’u profi.
Mae'n rhaid inni hefyd wynebu gwirionedd anodd: dydy polisi sy’n dibynnu’n bennaf ar ewyllys unigol, ymgyrchoedd gwybodaeth ac anogaeth ddim wedi gweithio. Mae’r amgylchedd y mae pobl yn byw ynddo o bwys. Dyna pam mae Nesta wedi argymell targedau iechyd gorfodol i fanwerthwyr bwyd mawr, er mwyn annog cynnig bwydydd iach a digalonni modelau busnes sy’n seiliedig ar gynhyrchion uchel mewn braster a siwgr. Mae modelu’n awgrymu y gallai targedau o’r fath leihau pryniannau calorïau gan tua 80 o galorïau y pen y dydd a gostwng cyfraddau gordewdra gan tua 23 y cant.
Ond dwi'n mynd i fynd nôl i'r pwynt olaf—wrth wraidd hyn oll mae tlodi. Mae tlodi parhaus yn ystod plentyndod cynnar yn cynyddu’r risg o ordewdra ac afiechyd hirdymor wedi’i yrru gan straen cronig. Os nad ydyn ni'n mynd i'r afael â thlodi, yna fyddwn ni fyth yn mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng yma. Diolch.
A research paper demonstrates £73 million at the moment, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it was an underestimate of what the main cost is when you consider all of the impact of obesity on the health service. That's a direct figure, according to the research paper that I saw, but it will increase significantly to over £2 billion, as I said, by 2050.
If we are serious about preventing obesity, we must start with children. Across Wales, thousands of children are growing up in poverty, and for many families a healthy diet is simply unaffordable. School meals offer one of the clearest opportunities that we have for early intervention. A nutritious hot school meal can support physical health, improve concentration, help to improve attendance and boost well-being in the long term. And although statutory school food standards do exist, they have dated and they are not regularly monitored. The scale of the challenge facing children is already clear. We know that over 10 per cent of children are living with obesity and are overweight, and children in the most disadvantaged areas are far more likely to be impacted.
Physical activity and sports are another vital part of prevention, but all too often, they're treated as optional extras. The committee’s inquiry drew specific attention to this. Despite this, this recognition has not led to an expansion of the effective programmes that we know work. The evidence is consistent: people who regularly participate in sporting activities are far less likely to be obese. Programmes such as daily active, the children and families programme and the 60-plus leisure active scheme demonstrate how social prescribing can support physical and mental health. Despite this, progress has slowed significantly on these methods, limiting the reach of interventions that are proven to work.
We must also face a difficult truth: a policy that depends primarily on individual will, information campaigns and encouragement has not worked. The environment in which people live matters. That’s why Nesta has recommended compulsory health targets for major food retailers, in order to encourage them to offer healthier foods and to challenge business models based on products that are high in fat and sugar. Modelling suggests that such targets could reduce calories purchased by around 80 calories per head per day, and could reduce obesity rates by around 23 per cent.
But I'm going to go back to the final point—at the heart of all this is poverty. Persistent poverty during early childhood increases the risk of obesity and long-term illness driven by chronic stress. If we don't tackle poverty, then we will never tackle this crisis. Thank you
As a member of the Health and Social Care Committee, I'm very pleased that we undertook this work, because, obviously, obesity is one of the very biggest health challenges that we face at the current time—an issue right across the globe and very significant here in Wales. I'm very pleased that the Welsh Government has accepted almost all of the committee's recommendations. I do believe that the report is very clear that obesity must be tackled through prevention and early intervention, and we must focus on everyday opportunities that help children in Wales grow up to be active, confident and healthy.
One of the recommendations, which, in fact, Welsh Government did not accept, was that Welsh Government should explore the feasibility of a directory of accessible community facilities to support physical activity at a local level. In rejecting that recommendation, Welsh Government has a view that, instead, local partners are best placed to signpost community facilities based on local knowledge and population need. Dirprwy Lywydd, one way or another, it is clear that inconsistent awareness and access remain key barriers, particularly in our more deprived communities, and we've already heard of that strong link between obesity and deprivation. For families—[Interruption.] Jenny.
Fel aelod o'r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi ymgymryd â'r gwaith hwn, oherwydd, yn amlwg, gordewdra yw un o'r heriau iechyd mwyaf a wynebwn ar hyn o bryd—problem ar draws y byd ac un sy'n sylweddol iawn yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn bron bob un o argymhellion y pwyllgor. Rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad yn glir iawn fod yn rhaid mynd i'r afael â gordewdra drwy atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar, a rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar gyfleoedd bob dydd sy'n helpu plant yng Nghymru i dyfu i fyny i fod yn egnïol, yn hyderus ac yn iach.
Un o'r argymhellion, na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ei dderbyn, oedd y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru archwilio dichonoldeb cyfeiriadur o gyfleusterau cymunedol hygyrch i gefnogi gweithgarwch corfforol ar lefel leol. Wrth wrthod yr argymhelliad hwnnw, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru farn mai partneriaid lleol, yn hytrach, sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i gyfeirio at gyfleusterau cymunedol yn seiliedig ar wybodaeth leol ac angen y boblogaeth. Ddirprwy Lywydd, y naill ffordd neu'r llall, mae'n amlwg fod ymwybyddiaeth a mynediad anghyson yn parhau i fod yn rhwystrau allweddol, yn enwedig yn ein cymunedau mwy difreintiedig, ac rydym eisoes wedi clywed am y cysylltiad cryf rhwng gordewdra ac amddifadedd. I deuluoedd—[Torri ar draws.] Jenny.
I think that this is all true, but six out of 10 households never cook from scratch and they aren't all poor people. There would be people in this room, and who work on the estate, who are in that category, and obviously, they're doing huge harm to themselves. So, it is, unfortunately, as much a cultural problem about the weight of the propaganda that is imposed on people—'Buy this or that takeaway, buy this or that ready meal'—and not enough people who even know how to cook a simple meal.
Rwy'n credu bod hyn i gyd yn wir, ond nid yw chwech o bob 10 aelwyd byth yn coginio o gynhwysion craidd ac nid ydynt i gyd yn bobl dlawd. Byddai yna bobl yn yr ystafell hon, ac sy'n gweithio ar yr ystad, sydd yn y categori hwnnw, ac yn amlwg, maent yn gwneud niwed enfawr iddynt eu hunain. Felly, yn anffodus, mae'n llawn gymaint o broblem ddiwylliannol ynglŷn â phwysau'r propaganda a orfodir ar bobl—'Prynwch y bwyd tecawê hwn neu'r llall, prynwch y pryd parod hwn neu'r llall'—a dim digon o bobl sy'n gwybod sut i goginio pryd syml hyd yn oed.
I very much agree, Jenny. It is about lifestyle issues that are general across our communities, the way that the food industry operates and the lack of countervailing Government policy and action that's sufficiently robust. But nonetheless, it is a particular problem in deprived communities for a whole host of reasons and factors.
Many families face barriers—time, cost, transport—and if we were to rely on informal signposting to these community facilities that could lead to more active lifestyles, then we would risk reinforcing those inequalities, rather than reducing them. I do, therefore, think it's important to have formal facilitators that children and families can refer to for guidance to physical activity opportunities, whether these be through local authorities, as the children's commissioner suggests, or through schools, which many healthcare professionals in the report consider the best local facilitator. Because we do need to help and support our families, particularly in those deprived communities, to understand how their children and themselves can have more active lifestyles and the benefit that brings to general quality of life as well as tackling obesity and overweight.
For me, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm very familiar with my local parkrun, which, along with several hundred others, I routinely take part in on a weekly basis on a Saturday morning. I'm also very familiar with our local junior parkrun, which my grandchildren occasionally take part in when other activities allow. As with parkrun generally, it's a free, weekly, inclusive, volunteer-led running event. It's launched a junior parkrun—this is across England and Wales—and has launched a new initiative to twin with 500 primary schools across England and Wales, linking schools directly with their local junior parkrun events. That is designed to embed free, inclusive physical activity into children's weekly routines, and I do believe that that's a very valuable initiative, Dirprwy Lywydd, to formalise links and to reach out in terms of deprivation and inequality to encourage those healthier lifestyle. Junior parkrun is about promoting movement in a non-clinical, non-judgmental way, avoiding stigma, which, of course, is another important theme in the report.
So, in conclusion, Dirprwy Lywydd, I would like the Government to think very hard as to how we can work for more formal connections between local sports community groups and our institutions, such as schools and local authorities, to improve participation in physical activity across Wales, because that's one important part of the response that we need to make in tackling obesity in Wales.
Rwy'n cytuno'n gryf, Jenny. Mae'n ymwneud â materion ffordd o fyw sy'n gyffredinol ar draws ein cymunedau, y ffordd y mae'r diwydiant bwyd yn gweithredu a diffyg polisi a gweithredu digon cadarn gan y Llywodraeth i'w wrthsefyll. Ond mae'n broblem arbennig mewn cymunedau difreintiedig am lu o resymau a ffactorau.
Mae llawer o deuluoedd yn wynebu rhwystrau—amser, cost, trafnidiaeth—a phe baem yn dibynnu ar gyfeirio'n anffurfiol at y cyfleusterau cymunedol hyn a allai arwain at ffyrdd mwy egnïol o fyw, byddem mewn perygl o atgyfnerthu'r anghydraddoldebau hynny, yn hytrach na'u lleihau. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cael hwyluswyr ffurfiol y gall plant a theuluoedd ofyn iddynt am arweiniad i gyfleoedd gweithgarwch corfforol, boed hynny trwy awdurdodau lleol, fel y mae'r comisiynydd plant yn awgrymu, neu drwy ysgolion, y mae llawer o weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol yn yr adroddiad yn eu hystyried yn hwyluswyr lleol gorau. Oherwydd mae angen inni helpu a chefnogi ein teuluoedd, yn enwedig yn y cymunedau difreintiedig hynny, i ddeall sut y gall eu plant a nhw eu hunain gael ffyrdd mwy egnïol o fyw a'r budd a ddaw yn sgil hynny i ansawdd bywyd yn gyffredinol yn ogystal â mynd i'r afael â gordewdra.
I mi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n gyfarwydd iawn â fy parkrun lleol, ac rwy'n cymryd rhan ynddynt, gyda channoedd o rai eraill, yn rheolaidd ar sail wythnosol ar fore Sadwrn. Rwyf hefyd yn gyfarwydd iawn â'n parkrun iau lleol y mae fy wyrion yn cymryd rhan ynddi o bryd i'w gilydd pan fydd gweithgareddau eraill yn caniatáu. Fel parkrun yn gyffredinol, mae'n ddigwyddiad rhedeg am ddim, wythnosol, cynhwysol, dan arweiniad gwirfoddolwyr. Mae wedi lansio parkrun iau—ledled Cymru a Lloegr—ac wedi lansio menter newydd i efeillio gyda 500 o ysgolion cynradd ledled Cymru a Lloegr, gan gysylltu ysgolion yn uniongyrchol â'u digwyddiadau parkrun iau lleol. Mae hynny wedi'i gynllunio i ymgorffori gweithgarwch corfforol am ddim, cynhwysol yn amserlen wythnosol plant, ac rwy'n credu bod honno'n fenter werthfawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, i ffurfioli cysylltiadau ac i estyn allan o ran amddifadedd ac anghydraddoldeb i annog y ffyrdd o fyw iachach hynny. Mae parkrun iau yn ymwneud â hyrwyddo symud mewn ffordd nad yw'n glinigol, yn feirniadol, nac yn creu stigma, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn thema bwysig arall yn yr adroddiad.
Felly, i gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn i'r Llywodraeth feddwl yn galed iawn ynglŷn â sut y gallwn weithio i sicrhau cysylltiadau mwy ffurfiol rhwng grwpiau chwaraeon cymunedol lleol a'n sefydliadau, megis ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol, i wella cyfranogiad mewn gweithgarwch corfforol ledled Cymru, oherwydd mae hynny'n rhan bwysig o'r ymateb y mae angen inni ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â gordewdra yng Nghymru.
I would like to thank the Health and Social Care Committee for their report. My colleagues here, as always, are great, and it is so good to listen to them. As the committee rightly recognises, obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges facing Wales, and the threat is not a new one. Early in my NHS career, I was seeing an increased number of obese patients, and highlighted the impact this was having on joint health and the increasing need for surgery.
I welcome the committee's recommendation as a way to tackle the looming obesity crisis in Wales. As the committee rightly points out, if we apply the methodology used elsewhere in the UK, the true number of obese adults is one in three, not the one in four reported in official Welsh statistics. Research by Nesta predicts that unless we act, nearly two thirds of adults will be obese in the coming decades. The cost of treating obesity is expected to rise to almost £0.5 billion, and cost the wider economy nearly £2.5 billion. I fully support the committee's conclusion that much more emphasis needs to be placed upon prevention and early intervention. I therefore welcome recommendation 4, as well as the Welsh Government's acceptance of it.
I know from correspondence, as well as speaking to constituents directly, that those struggling with their weight find little support from their GPs. It is only when their BMA continues to rise, moving from overweight to obese, does anyone pay attention to them. This is the opposite of a preventative approach. We don't wait until a wound becomes septic before we treat it, so why do we wait until weight issues become life-threatening before offering help and support? Weight management support should be available to all who need it. This is one of the greatest public health interventions we can take, and by investing now we will not only save lives but save billions of pounds to boot.
Finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, it would be a remiss of me as the chair of the cross-party group on diabetes not to mention the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is no coincidence that the drugs being used to drive weight loss were developed to tackle diabetes. Unhealthy diets leading to unhealthy weights has led to a dramatic increase in the number of young people developing type 2 diabetes.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol am eu hadroddiad. Mae fy nghyd-Aelodau yma, fel bob amser, yn wych, ac mae mor dda gwrando arnynt. Fel y mae'r pwyllgor yn cydnabod yn gywir, gordewdra yw un o'r heriau iechyd cyhoeddus mwyaf sy'n wynebu Cymru, ac nid yw'r bygythiad yn un newydd. Yn gynnar yn fy ngyrfa yn y GIG, roeddwn i'n gweld mwy o gleifion gordew, a thynnais sylw at yr effaith yr oedd hyn yn ei chael ar iechyd y cymalau a'r angen cynyddol am lawdriniaeth.
Rwy'n croesawu argymhelliad y pwyllgor fel ffordd o fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng gordewdra sy'n dod i'r amlwg yng Nghymru. Fel y mae'r pwyllgor yn nodi'n gywir, os cymhwyswn y fethodoleg a ddefnyddir mewn mannau eraill yn y DU, gwir nifer yr oedolion gordew yw un o bob tri, nid yr un o bob pedwar a nodwyd yn ystadegau swyddogol Cymru. Mae ymchwil gan Nesta yn rhagweld y bydd bron i ddwy ran o dair o oedolion yn ordew yn y degawdau nesaf. Disgwylir i'r gost o drin gordewdra godi i bron i £0.5 biliwn, a chostio bron i £2.5 biliwn i'r economi ehangach. Rwy'n llwyr gefnogi casgliad y pwyllgor fod angen rhoi llawer mwy o bwyslais ar atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar. Felly, rwy'n croesawu argymhelliad 4, yn ogystal â'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei dderbyn.
Rwy'n gwybod o ohebiaeth, yn ogystal â siarad ag etholwyr yn uniongyrchol, nad yw'r rhai sy'n cael trafferth gyda'u pwysau yn cael llawer o gefnogaeth gan eu meddygon teulu. Dim ond pan fydd eu BMI yn parhau i godi, gan symud o fod dros bwysau i fod yn ordew, y bydd unrhyw un yn talu sylw iddynt. Mae hyn yn gwbl groes i ddull ataliol. Nid ydym yn aros nes bod clwyf yn troi'n septig cyn inni ei drin, felly pam ein bod ni'n aros nes bod problemau pwysau'n peryglu bywyd cyn cynnig help a chefnogaeth? Dylai cymorth i reoli pwysau fod ar gael i bawb sydd ei angen. Dyma un o'r ymyriadau iechyd cyhoeddus mwyaf y gallwn eu gwneud, a thrwy fuddsoddi nawr byddwn nid yn unig yn achub bywydau ond yn arbed biliynau o bunnoedd.
Yn olaf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, buaswn ar fai fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ddiabetes yn peidio â sôn am y cysylltiad rhwng gordewdra a diabetes math 2. Nid yw'n gyd-ddigwyddiad fod y cyffuriau sy'n cael eu defnyddio i golli pwysau wedi'u datblygu i fynd i'r afael â diabetes. Mae deietau afiach sy'n arwain at bwysau afiach wedi arwain at gynnydd dramatig yn nifer y bobl ifanc sy'n datblygu diabetes math 2.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
Are you aware that the food industry is now trying to get round the impact of these diet-suppressing drugs in order to raise the sales?
A ydych chi'n ymwybodol fod y diwydiant bwyd bellach yn ceisio ochrgamu heibio i effaith y cyffuriau hyn sy'n ffrwyno deiet er mwyn cynyddu gwerthiannau?
Exactly.
Yn hollol.
They are now suffering from less sales and try and beat the effects of the drugs.
Maent bellach yn dioddef o lai o werthiannau ac yn ceisio trechu effeithiau'r cyffuriau.
Absolutely.
Yn union.
They are complete criminals.
Troseddwyr ydynt.
Exactly, and I was pleased when you talked about sham feeding, when you are advertising food, and how it is affecting your body as a whole. We had this subject when I was a medical student, and we had to read it often.
So, this has prompted Diabetes UK Cymru to call for stronger 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' policies as well as a dedicated health prevention budget. I hope the Cabinet Secretary will heed the calls by the health committee and groups like Diabetes UK Cymru and do more to eradicate obesity in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
Yn hollol, ac roeddwn i'n falch pan wnaethoch chi siarad am fwydo ffug, pan fyddwch chi'n hysbysebu bwyd, a sut y mae'n effeithio ar eich corff yn ei gyfanrwydd. Fe gawsom y pwnc hwn pan oeddwn i'n fyfyriwr meddygol, ac roedd yn rhaid inni ei ddarllen yn aml.
Felly, mae hyn wedi ysgogi Diabetes UK Cymru i alw am bolisïau 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' cryfach yn ogystal â chyllideb iechyd benodol ar gyfer atal. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gwrando ar alwadau'r pwyllgor iechyd a grwpiau fel Diabetes UK Cymru ac yn gwneud mwy i ddileu gordewdra yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr.
I want to start off by thanking everybody, all the organisations and individuals who contributed to this inquiry. The detail and the scope of the evidence received does reflect the complexity of the issue, and we've heard that today, but also the urgency of the situation that we are facing. In pure terms of financial costs, although they might be disputed, Public Health Wales estimates the cost of obesity to the NHS in Wales alone to be £73 million, rising to £465 million by 2050. Of course, there's a broader cost to society and the economy that that figure is estimated to rise to £2.4 billion, so it isn't really about whether these figures are accurate; the fact is that it is going to have a significant economic impact on dealing with this issue, and also dealing with the fact that many people then leave the workforce.
And what constitutes the NHS? Is it the mental health stresses that people feel from the exclusion as a consequence of morbid obesity? That, of course, is unsustainable. The cost to the individuals, to their quality of life, is also having to be taken into account. I want to focus today on children and young people. When it comes to public health, prevention is most definitely better and more cost effective than cure. So, while action targeted at adults is important—and Jenny raised this this afternoon—the fact is that the chances of remaining overweight as an adult are significantly higher if you were overweight as a child. Studies show that between 55 per cent and 80 per cent of obese children stay obese into adolescence and adulthood, with overweight pre-schoolers having double the risk of adult obesity.
At present, around 25 per cent of children in Wales are living with overweight and obesity by the time they start school, and that figure is increasing. That's an incredible figure, when you think about it. That's a quarter of all children. During the 2023-24 academic year, 13.7 per cent of children aged between four and five in reception class were overweight, and 11.8 per cent were living with obesity.
Rwyf am ddechrau trwy ddiolch i bawb, yr holl sefydliadau ac unigolion a gyfrannodd at yr ymchwiliad hwn. Mae manylion a chwmpas y dystiolaeth a ddaeth i law yn adlewyrchu cymhlethdod y mater, ac rydym wedi clywed hynny heddiw, ac am y sefyllfa argyfyngus a wynebwn. Mewn costau ariannol pur, er y gellid dadlau yn eu cylch, mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn amcangyfrif bod cost gordewdra i'r GIG yng Nghymru yn unig yn £73 miliwn, gan godi i £465 miliwn erbyn 2050. Wrth gwrs, mae cost ehangach i gymdeithas a'r economi, ac amcangyfrifir fod y ffigur hwnnw'n codi i £2.4 biliwn, felly nid yw'n ymwneud â chywirdeb y ffigurau; y gwir amdani yw ei fod yn mynd i gael effaith economaidd sylweddol ar ddelio â'r broblem hon, a delio â'r ffaith bod llawer o bobl wedyn yn gadael y gweithlu.
A beth yw'r gost i'r GIG? Ai'r straen iechyd meddwl y mae pobl yn ei theimlo o'r allgáu o ganlyniad i ordewdra afiachus? Mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn anghynaliadwy. Rhaid ystyried y gost i'r unigolion, i'w hansawdd bywyd, hefyd. Rwyf am ganolbwyntio heddiw ar blant a phobl ifanc. O ran iechyd y cyhoedd, mae atal yn bendant yn well ac yn fwy costeffeithiol na gwella. Felly, er bod gweithredu wedi'i dargedu at oedolion yn bwysig—a chododd Jenny hyn y prynhawn yma—y gwir amdani yw bod y perygl o aros dros bwysau fel oedolyn yn sylweddol uwch os oeddech chi dros bwysau yn blentyn. Mae astudiaethau'n dangos bod rhwng 55 y cant ac 80 y cant o blant gordew yn dal i fod yn ordew pan fyddant yn eu harddegau ac yn oedolion, gyda'r risg yn dyblu y bydd plant cyn-ysgol sydd dros bwysau yn ordew fel oedolion.
Ar hyn o bryd, mae tua 25 y cant o blant yng Nghymru dros bwysau neu'n ordew erbyn yr adeg y byddant yn dechrau yn yr ysgol, ac mae'r ffigur hwnnw'n cynyddu. Mae'n ffigur anhygoel, pan feddyliwch am y peth. Mae'n chwarter yr holl blant. Yn ystod blwyddyn academaidd 2023-24, roedd 13.7 y cant o blant rhwng pedair a phump oed yn y dosbarth derbyn dros bwysau, ac roedd 11.8 y cant yn ordew.
Given that we now have the highest childhood obesity rates in Europe, do you not think that we should be doing a great deal more to make more efforts to get more people breastfeeding, and to give them the support that they need? Because they simply cannot afford to buy those infant formula tins. We just don't seem to have grasped that, according to the evidence that you've received, just breastfeeding would reduce childhood obesity by 25 per cent. Certainly, not providing that support to poor families is likely to criminalise them, because they'll have to steal that infant formula.
O ystyried bod gennym bellach y cyfraddau gordewdra plant uchaf yn Ewrop, onid ydych chi'n meddwl y dylem wneud llawer mwy o ymdrech i gael mwy o bobl i fwydo ar y fron, ac i roi'r gefnogaeth y maent ei hangen iddynt? Oherwydd nid ydynt yn gallu fforddio prynu tuniau fformiwla babanod. Nid yw'n ymddangos ein bod wedi deall, yn ôl y dystiolaeth rydych chi wedi'i chael, y byddai bwydo ar y fron yn lleihau gordewdra plant 25 y cant. Yn sicr, mae peidio â darparu'r gefnogaeth honno i deuluoedd tlawd yn debygol o'u troseddoli, oherwydd bydd yn rhaid iddynt ddwyn fformiwla babanod.
I absolutely agree that people should be encouraged, and, where they can, should take breastfeeding very seriously to aid not only the weight of their children but the immunity that it provides to those children as well.
So, it is fairly obvious that the younger you are when you're overweight or obese, the higher the chance of your remaining that way as an adult. So, early intervention is, indeed, the best way to reduce long-term risks. All children should have the opportunity to be healthy, no matter where they live. Rates of overweight and obesity, as we have already heard, coexist with deprived areas. They also have lower levels of healthier behaviour, such as physical activity and healthy eating, although it is critical to recognise that, per calorie, healthy food is three times as expensive as unhealthy food—and that's another recognition that has been aired today. So, the food industry has to be held accountable for access to affordable, healthy food and the saturation of unhealthy food in society.
Food labelling and informative campaigns aimed at encouraging lifestyle changes are not the answer. I said at the top that overweight and obesity is a public health crisis. History tells us that the most effective approach to public health, from the sewage system of the nineteenth century to wearing seatbelts, is stringent, sweeping action. That means restricting access to and the promotion of unhealthy foods, and taxes that incentivise carrots and penalise ultra-processed food that sticks to the hips.
The Welsh Government's 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' strategy is a central plank, and Welsh Labour's universal free school meals policy is a fantastic achievement.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr y dylid annog pobl, a lle gallant, dylent fod o ddifrif ynglŷn â bwydo ar y fron i gynorthwyo nid yn unig pwysau eu plant ond yr imiwnedd y mae'n ei gynnig i'r plant hynny hefyd.
Felly, mae'n eithaf amlwg po ieuengaf ydych chi pan fyddwch chi dros bwysau neu'n ordew, y mwyaf yw'r perygl y byddwch chi'n aros felly fel oedolyn. Felly, ymyrraeth gynnar yw'r ffordd orau o leihau risgiau hirdymor. Dylai pob plentyn gael cyfle i fod yn iach, ble bynnag y maent yn byw. Mae cyfraddau plant sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew, fel y clywsom eisoes, yn cydfodoli ag ardaloedd difreintiedig. Mae ganddynt hefyd lefelau is o ymddygiad iachach, fel gweithgarwch corfforol a bwyta'n iach, er ei bod yn hanfodol cydnabod, fesul calori, fod bwyd iach dair gwaith yn ddrytach na bwyd afiach—a dyna gydnabyddiaeth arall sydd wedi'i gwyntyllu heddiw. Felly, rhaid i'r diwydiant bwyd gael ei ddwyn i gyfrif am fynediad at fwyd fforddiadwy, iach a'r gormodedd o fwyd afiach mewn cymdeithas.
Nid labelu bwyd ac ymgyrchoedd addysgiadol sy'n anelu at annog newidiadau i ffordd o fyw yw'r ateb. Dywedais ar y dechrau fod cario gormod o bwysau a gordewdra yn argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus. Mae hanes yn dweud wrthym mai'r dull mwyaf effeithiol o weithredu ar iechyd y cyhoedd, o system garthffosiaeth y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg i wisgo gwregysau diogelwch, yw camau gweithredu llym, ysgubol. Mae hynny'n golygu cyfyngu ar hyrwyddo bwydydd afiach a mynediad atynt, a threthi sy'n cymell moron ac yn cosbi bwyd wedi'i brosesu'n helaeth sy'n glynu wrth y cluniau.
Mae strategaeth 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' Llywodraeth Cymru yn elfen ganolog, ac mae polisi prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb Llafur Cymru yn gyflawniad gwych.
You need to conclude now, please, Joyce.
Mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda, Joyce.
I am. This is my last bit. And it is a vehicle best placed to drive that change. So, I am really delighted that the recommendation to review funding per head has been accepted in principle, following the uplift from £2.90 to £3.20 from January, along with the release of an additional £3.3 million of funding to support the delivery of free school meals. Thank you.
Rwy'n gwneud. Dyma fy narn olaf ar y cyfrwng gorau i yrru'r newid hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn fod yr argymhelliad i adolygu cyllid y pen wedi'i dderbyn mewn egwyddor, yn dilyn y cynnydd o £2.90 i £3.20 o fis Ionawr ymlaen, ynghyd â rhyddhau £3.3 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid i gefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o brydau ysgol am ddim. Diolch.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, Jeremy Miles.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank the committee for the report and for tabling the debate this afternoon. Living with overweight and obesity is one of the leading causes of ill health in Wales, and it's projected to overtake smoking as the biggest cause of preventable illness. Rates of obesity in Wales, as in many parts of the world, have risen steadily over many years. Today, more than 60 per cent of adults in Wales and almost a quarter of children starting school are living with overweight or obesity, and the impact on our population and on our NHS is both significant and startling. Obesity-related illnesses are estimated to cost the NHS in Wales £365 million a year. That's £1 million for every day of the year. And this, as we've heard, is expected to rise to £465 million a year by 2050 if current trends continue. When we consider the wider impact on individuals, communities and society, the total could reach £3 billion.
Our most deprived communities face the greatest barriers to healthy, affordable food, physical activity and supportive environments. As we've heard in the debate already, the causes of obesity are complex and are interlinked. Over many years, our food environment has evolved in ways that prioritise convenience over health. Energy-dense foods, often high in fat, sugar or both, have become more easily available; they’re more affordable and they're more heavily promoted than healthier options. At the same time, our daily routines have changed. We are, in many ways, the first generations for whom movement is no longer a natural part of our everyday lives. Instead, we have to make a conscious effort to be physically active.
There are things the Government can and must do to address obesity and support everyone to live healthier lives, but we all have a role to play. Just as the causes of obesity are complex and interlinked, so too are our responses. There is no single magic cure. I’ve provided almost £3 million each year to help health boards develop and expand weight-loss services, to help build a more consistent, effective offer across the country. We’re also developing a new service model to increase the capacity of weight-loss services closer to home in local communities and in primary care settings. We’ve also expanded access to weight loss drugs on the NHS, so that they’re available to people with certain conditions who are waiting for treatment that may be improved by weight loss, as well as via specialist services. But, as we’ve heard from, I think, all speakers, to really make a difference, we must strengthen our focus on prevention.
The new 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' delivery plan, which was published in September, does just that. It adopts a whole-system approach, with action at both a national and a community level, and it directs support and resources towards children and young people specifically, where we have the greatest chance of making lifelong healthy changes. We have some reason to be optimistic. The levels of healthy weight amongst children in Wales are higher now than they were before the pandemic. [Interruption.] Certainly.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am yr adroddiad ac am gyflwyno'r ddadl y prynhawn yma. Mae gordewdra a chario gormod o bwysau yn un o brif achosion salwch yng Nghymru, a rhagwelir y bydd yn goddiweddyd ysmygu fel yr achos mwyaf o salwch y gellir ei atal. Mae cyfraddau gordewdra yng Nghymru, fel mewn sawl rhan o'r byd, wedi codi'n raddol dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Heddiw, mae mwy na 60 y cant o oedolion yng Nghymru a bron i chwarter y plant sy'n dechrau yn yr ysgol dros bwysau neu'n ordew, ac mae'r effaith ar ein poblogaeth ac ar ein GIG yn sylweddol ac yn syfrdanol. Amcangyfrifir bod salwch sy'n gysylltiedig â gordewdra yn costio £365 miliwn y flwyddyn i'r GIG yng Nghymru. Dyna £1 filiwn am bob diwrnod o'r flwyddyn. Ac mae disgwyl i hyn, fel y clywsom, godi i £465 miliwn y flwyddyn erbyn 2050 os bydd y tueddiadau presennol yn parhau. Pan ystyriwn yr effaith ehangach ar unigolion, cymunedau a chymdeithas, gallai'r cyfanswm gyrraedd £3 biliwn.
Ein cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig sy'n wynebu'r rhwystrau mwyaf i fwyd iach, fforddiadwy, gweithgarwch corfforol ac amgylcheddau cefnogol. Fel y clywsom yn y ddadl eisoes, mae achosion gordewdra'n gymhleth ac yn gydgysylltiedig. Dros nifer o flynyddoedd, mae ein hamgylchedd bwyd wedi esblygu mewn ffyrdd sy'n blaenoriaethu cyfleustra dros iechyd. Mae bwydydd ynni-ddwys, sy'n aml yn uchel mewn braster, siwgr neu'r ddau, ar gael yn haws bellach; maent yn fwy fforddiadwy a chânt eu hyrwyddo'n fwy nag opsiynau iachach. Ar yr un pryd, mae ein hamgylchiadau ddyddiol wedi newid. Ni yw'r cenedlaethau cyntaf mewn sawl ffordd nad yw symud bellach yn rhan naturiol o'n bywydau bob dydd. Yn hytrach, rhaid inni wneud ymdrech ymwybodol i fod yn gorfforol egnïol.
Mae yna bethau y gallai ac y dylai'r Llywodraeth eu gwneud i fynd i'r afael â gordewdra a chynorthwyo pawb i fyw bywydau iachach, ond mae gan bob un ohonom rôl i'w chwarae. Yn union fel y mae achosion gordewdra yn gymhleth ac yn gydgysylltiedig, felly hefyd ein hymatebion. Nid oes un iachâd hud. Rwyf wedi darparu bron i £3 miliwn bob blwyddyn i helpu byrddau iechyd i ddatblygu ac ehangu gwasanaethau colli pwysau, i helpu i adeiladu cynnig mwy cyson ac effeithiol ledled y wlad. Rydym hefyd yn datblygu model gwasanaeth newydd i gynyddu capasiti gwasanaethau colli pwysau yn agosach at adref mewn cymunedau lleol ac mewn lleoliadau gofal sylfaenol. Rydym hefyd wedi ehangu mynediad at gyffuriau colli pwysau yn y GIG, fel eu bod ar gael i bobl â chyflyrau penodol sy'n aros am driniaeth y gellir eu gwella trwy golli pwysau, yn ogystal â thrwy wasanaethau arbenigol. Ond fel y clywsom gan bob siaradwr rwy'n credu, er mwyn gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn, rhaid inni gryfhau ein ffocws ar atal.
Mae'r cynllun cyflawni newydd 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach', a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Medi, yn gwneud hynny. Mae'n mabwysiadu dull system gyfan, gyda gweithredu ar lefel genedlaethol a chymunedol, ac mae'n cyfeirio cefnogaeth ac adnoddau at blant a phobl ifanc yn benodol, lle mae gennym y gobaith mwyaf o wneud newidiadau iach gydol oes. Mae gennym reswm i fod yn optimistaidd. Mae'r lefelau pwysau iach ymhlith plant yng Nghymru yn uwch nawr na'r hyn oeddent cyn y pandemig. [Torri ar draws.] Yn sicr.
I just wanted to—. The 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' document is an important one, but I don't think there's any mention of the role of ultra-processed ingredients in food, and I wondered if you've had any discussion with your Cabinet colleagues about banning, or taking steps to eliminate, ultra-processed ingredients from our children's primary school meals.
Roeddwn i eisiau—. Mae'r ddogfen 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' yn un bwysig, ond nid wyf yn credu bod unrhyw sôn am rôl cynhwysion wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth mewn bwyd, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a ydych chi wedi cael unrhyw drafodaeth gyda'ch cyd-Weinidogion yn y Cabinet ynglŷn â gwahardd, neu roi camau ar waith i ddileu cynhwysion wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth o brydau ysgol ein plant cynradd.
Well, the policy that we are advocating through the delivery plan has been discussed at Cabinet, for reasons the Member will be familiar with—the contribution that can be made right across the Cabinet table to reaching the objectives in the strategy. One of the areas in which I think there's a lot of potential, for example—and I know that the Member feels strongly about this—is in relation to using planning levers more proactively around the proximity of takeaways to schools, for example. Often, those are ultra-processed products. Wrexham County Borough Council has planning guidance that is very effective in this. So far, it's the only council in Wales, but this has been discussed at Cabinet for that reason.
The Member, in her contribution earlier, mentioned the importance of breastfeeding, and, to help maintain the emerging trend that we have started to see, and to support children and families, we plan to develop and deliver a new infant feeding action plan. This will build on the work laid out by the Wales—.
Wel, mae'r polisi yr ydym yn ei hyrwyddo drwy'r cynllun cyflawni wedi cael ei drafod yn y Cabinet, am resymau y bydd yr Aelod yn gyfarwydd â nhw—y cyfraniad y gellir ei wneud ar draws bwrdd y Cabinet i gyrraedd yr amcanion yn y strategaeth. Un o'r meysydd lle rwy'n credu bod llawer o botensial, er enghraifft—ac rwy'n gwybod bod yr Aelod yn teimlo'n gryf am hyn—yw mewn perthynas â defnyddio liferi cynllunio'n fwy rhagweithiol ynghylch agosrwydd siopau tecawê i ysgolion, er enghraifft. Yn aml, mae'r rhain yn gynhyrchion wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth. Mae gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam ganllawiau cynllunio sy'n effeithiol iawn yn hyn o beth. Hyd yma, dyma'r unig gyngor yng Nghymru, ond mae hyn wedi cael ei drafod yn y Cabinet am y rheswm hwnnw.
Soniodd yr Aelod, yn ei chyfraniad yn gynharach, am bwysigrwydd bwydo ar y fron, ac er mwyn helpu i gynnal y duedd sy'n dod i'r amlwg yr ydym wedi dechrau ei gweld, ac i gefnogi plant a theuluoedd, rydym yn bwriadu datblygu a chyflwyno cynllun gweithredu newydd ar fwydo babanod. Bydd hwn yn adeiladu ar y gwaith a nodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru—.
I wanted to say that there is a health warning that a generation of Welsh children will be outlived by their parents. That is very important to understand—that our children need good food.
Roeddwn eisiau dweud bod yna rybudd iechyd y bydd yna genhedlaeth o blant Cymru a oroesir gan eu rhieni. Mae hynny'n bwysig iawn i'w ddeall—fod ein plant angen bwyd da.
Yes, indeed, and the focus in 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales' is consciously and deliberately on supporting children and young people to avoid obesity and overweight, for the reasons the Member sets out. The plan will broaden our approach to diet and nutrition in the earliest years of life, and I think crucial to that is engaging the whole family—because when parents adopt healthier habits, children are far more likely to follow their lead—and creating a supportive home environment, where positive lifestyle changes become part of everyday family life.
Members of the committee will have heard about our PIPYN and PIPYN Active children and family pilots, which are testing new and innovative approaches to doing just that. Using the learning from these pilots, we will roll out an updated model across Wales, prioritising areas with the greatest levels of childhood obesity. In bricks-and-mortar retail, and online, new regulations passed by the Senedd that restrict the promotion and display of products high in saturated fat, salt and sugar—those most linked to obesity levels in our children—will come into force in March, and I'm grateful to those Members who supported the regulations.
But we must also focus on the out-of-home sector. The number of hot food takeaways, as I mentioned earlier, in Wales has increased significantly, and there is a link between a high density of takeaways and areas of deprivation, making healthier food choices more difficult and exacerbating health inequalities. So, I'll be taking forward a public consultation to place limits on hot food takeaways, including around schools, to increase the availability of healthier food options on high streets, and to support local food businesses to develop healthier food choices.
We also know that children and adults living in more deprived areas are disproportionately targeted by outdoor advertising promoting food high in saturated fat, salt and sugar. And while local authorities and public bodies have some influence over the advertising that appears on spaces that they own or control, most of the infrastructure is privately owned. So, we're exploring what further measures are possible in public and private spaces to better protect children and families from the harmful impact of unhealthy food advertising in our outdoor spaces. We'll consult on options to strengthen the provision of healthier food in public sector settings, including across the Welsh Government estate and, importantly, NHS sites.
To deliver lasting change, we have to continue to ensure that movement is woven into the fabric of everyday life in communities across Wales. Movement is so important. From pickleball and climbing to swimming, yoga, tai chi, walking groups and strength training classes, our 60-plus active leisure scheme is helping older adults also to stay active, connected and well. Using the power of football to engage communities, our Fit Fans programme has helped people with complex health needs achieve significant improvements in their well-being. And our children and family pilots are supporting hundreds of families: real people whose lives are being slowly transformed for the better. By working across Government and alongside our communities, we can turn this plan into real, sustained change, giving every person in Wales the opportunity to live healthier, happier lives.
Yn wir, ac mae'r ffocws yn 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach' yn ymwybodol ac yn fwriadol yn cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc i osgoi gordewdra a rhag cario gormod o bwysau, am y rhesymau y mae'r Aelod yn eu nodi. Bydd y cynllun yn ehangu ein dull o weithredu ar ddeiet a maeth ym mlynyddoedd cynharaf bywyd, ac rwy'n credu mai rhan hanfodol o hynny yw cynnwys y teulu cyfan—oherwydd pan fydd rhieni'n mabwysiadu arferion iachach, mae plant yn llawer mwy tebygol o ddilyn eu harweiniad—a chreu amgylchedd cefnogol yn y cartref, lle mae newidiadau cadarnhaol i ffordd o fyw yn dod yn rhan o fywyd teuluol bob dydd.
Bydd aelodau'r pwyllgor wedi clywed am ein cynlluniau peilot plant a theuluoedd PIPYN a PIPYN Actif, sy'n treialu dulliau newydd ac arloesol o wneud hynny. Gan ddefnyddio'r hyn a ddysgir o'r cynlluniau peilot hyn, byddwn yn cyflwyno model wedi'i ddiweddaru ledled Cymru, gan flaenoriaethu'r ardaloedd sydd â'r lefelau uchaf o ordewdra plant. Mewn manwerthu brics a morter, ac ar-lein, bydd rheoliadau newydd a basiwyd gan y Senedd sy'n cyfyngu ar hyrwyddo ac arddangos cynhyrchion sy'n cynnwys lefelau uchel o fraster dirlawn, halen a siwgr—y rhai sy'n fwyaf cysylltiedig â lefelau gordewdra yn ein plant—yn dod i rym ym mis Mawrth, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelodau a gefnogodd y rheoliadau.
Ond rhaid inni hefyd ganolbwyntio ar y sector y tu allan i'r cartref. Mae nifer y siopau bwyd tecawê poeth yng Nghymru, fel y soniais yn gynharach, wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol, ac mae cysylltiad rhwng dwysedd uchel o siopau bwyd tecawê ac ardaloedd difreintiedig, gan wneud dewisiadau bwyd iachach yn anos a gwaethygu anghydraddoldebau iechyd. Felly, byddaf yn bwrw ymlaen ag ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus i osod cyfyngiadau ar siopau bwyd tecawê poeth, gan gynnwys o amgylch ysgolion, i gynyddu argaeledd opsiynau bwyd iachach ar y stryd fawr, ac i gefnogi busnesau bwyd lleol i ddatblygu dewisiadau bwyd iachach.
Rydym hefyd yn gwybod bod plant ac oedolion sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd mwy difreintiedig yn cael eu targedu'n anghymesur gan hysbysebu awyr agored sy'n hyrwyddo bwyd sy'n cynnwys lefelau uchel o fraster dirlawn, halen a siwgr. Ac er bod awdurdodau lleol a chyrff cyhoeddus yn cael rhywfaint o ddylanwad ar yr hysbysebu sy'n ymddangos yn y mannau y maent yn berchen arnynt neu'n eu rheoli, mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r seilwaith yn eiddo preifat. Felly, rydym yn archwilio pa fesurau pellach sy'n bosib mewn mannau cyhoeddus a phreifat i ddiogelu plant a theuluoedd yn well rhag effaith niweidiol hysbysebu bwyd afiach yn ein mannau awyr agored. Byddwn yn ymgynghori ar opsiynau i gryfhau'r ddarpariaeth o fwyd iachach mewn lleoliadau sector cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys ar draws ystad Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn bwysig, ar safleoedd y GIG.
Er mwyn cyflawni newid parhaol, rhaid inni barhau i sicrhau bod symud yn cael ei blethu i wead bywyd bob dydd mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru. Mae symud mor bwysig. O pickleball a dringo i nofio, ioga, tai chi, grwpiau cerdded a dosbarthiadau gwella cryfder, mae ein cynllun hamdden egnïol 60+ yn helpu oedolion hŷn hefyd i gadw'n egnïol, mewn cysylltiad ac yn iach. Gan ddefnyddio grym pêl-droed i ymgysylltu â chymunedau, mae ein rhaglen Fit Fans wedi helpu pobl ag anghenion iechyd cymhleth i gyflawni gwelliannau sylweddol i'w lles. Ac mae ein cynlluniau peilot plant a theuluoedd yn cefnogi cannoedd o deuluoedd: pobl go iawn y mae eu bywydau'n cael eu trawsnewid yn araf er gwell. Drwy weithio ar draws y Llywodraeth ac ochr yn ochr â'n cymunedau, gallwn droi'r cynllun hwn yn newid gwirioneddol, parhaus, gan roi cyfle i bob person yng Nghymru fyw bywydau iachach a hapusach.
Galwaf ar Peter Fox i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Peter Fox to reply to the debate.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank everybody who's contributed to the debate this afternoon, and thank my colleagues for also contributing and the work that they did in bringing forward this report?
Jenny, can I thank you for your continued passion around this subject? You're right to challenge the system, as you often do. It's very clear, and that's a very good point about the importance of breastfeeding. Indeed, it was on the radio this morning, the importance—if parents are able to breastfeed their children, how that likely stops them getting obese in later life. Not all can, we know that, but thank you for raising that.
Mabon, thank you for the sobering reminder of the fact that so many people in our communities are overweight—six in 10—and the premature deaths and things that occur due to related illnesses.
John pointed out the importance of signposting people to access and to find the places where they can follow a healthier lifestyle, and pointed out some of the things like the junior parkruns, and how that project, that pilot’s going to work with children and schools. It sounds really exciting.
Altaf, your experience in this is much welcomed and reminds us of the importance of the rise in type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity. We must not forget that, and especially when we see that rise in children especially.
Joyce, thank you for pointing out the very real costs of doing this, and the importance of prevention for children and young people, how we need to invest in our children and young people. They are our future. And that sobering message from Altaf, where a generation could end up outliving their children. That is a really, really moving point.
Cabinet Secretary, can I thank you for your engagement throughout, and for accepting many of our recommendations, and for clearly recognising the real issues we have here in Wales? But I think there is a need for us to put more pressure on our local health boards. It can't be right that many of our local health boards, those health boards with the biggest problems in areas, aren't providing child health weight-loss management. I think that is really a fundamental issue.
We welcome your focus on prevention. Prevention is something we’re hearing in every inquiry we do at the moment, and it's such an important step that we have to take to invest in prevention, so we can turn the tide on many areas—not just this area, but many areas. It's something that I hope the next Government really take forward.
Can I just finish by thanking everybody for participating? It is important, as the Cabinet Secretary said, for all of us to play our part in trying to drive a healthier agenda, so that our children have the real opportunities they deserve in life. Thank you.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl y prynhawn yma, a diolch i fy nghyd-Aelodau am gyfrannu hefyd a'r gwaith a wnaethant ar gyflwyno'r adroddiad hwn?
Jenny, a gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich angerdd parhaus ynghylch y pwnc hwn? Rydych chi'n iawn i herio'r system, fel rydych chi'n ei wneud yn aml. Mae'n glir iawn, ac mae'r pwynt am bwysigrwydd bwydo ar y fron yn un da iawn. Yn wir, roedd ar y radio y bore yma, y pwysigrwydd—os yw rhieni'n gallu bwydo eu plant ar y fron, sut y mae hynny'n debygol o'u hatal rhag mynd yn ordew yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd. Nid yw pawb yn gallu, fe wyddom hynny, ond diolch am godi hynny.
Mabon, diolch am ein hatgoffa o'r ffaith bod cymaint o bobl yn ein cymunedau dros bwysau—chwech o bob 10—a'r marwolaethau cynamserol a phethau sy'n digwydd oherwydd afiechydon cysylltiedig.
Tynnodd John sylw at bwysigrwydd cyfeirio pobl at fannau lle gallant ddilyn ffordd o fyw iachach, a thynnodd sylw at rai o'r pethau fel y parkruns iau, a sut y mae'r prosiect hwnnw, y cynllun peilot hwnnw'n mynd i weithio gyda phlant ac ysgolion. Mae'n swnio'n gyffrous iawn.
Altaf, mae eich profiad yn hyn o beth yn cael ei groesawu'n fawr ac yn ein hatgoffa o bwysigrwydd y cynnydd mewn diabetes math 2, sy'n gysylltiedig â gordewdra. Rhaid inni beidio ag anghofio hynny, ac yn enwedig pan welwn y cynnydd hwnnw mewn plant yn enwedig.
Joyce, diolch am dynnu sylw at y costau real iawn o wneud hyn, a phwysigrwydd atal i blant a phobl ifanc, sut y mae angen inni fuddsoddi yn ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Nhw yw ein dyfodol. A'r neges sobreiddiol honno gan Altaf, lle gallai cenhedlaeth oroesi eu plant. Mae hwnnw'n bwynt emosiynol iawn.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich ymgysylltiad drwy gydol yr amser, ac am dderbyn llawer o'n hargymhellion, ac am gydnabod yn glir y problemau gwirioneddol sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru? Ond rwy'n credu bod angen inni roi mwy o bwysau ar ein byrddau iechyd lleol. Ni all fod yn iawn fod llawer o'n byrddau iechyd lleol, y byrddau iechyd hynny sydd â'r problemau mwyaf mewn rhai ardaloedd, heb fod yn darparu gwasanaethau rheoli pwysau ar gyfer plant. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n broblem sylfaenol.
Rydym yn croesawu eich ffocws ar atal. Mae atal yn rhywbeth a glywn ym mhob ymchwiliad a wnawn ar hyn o bryd, ac mae'n gam mor bwysig sy'n rhaid inni ei gymryd i fuddsoddi mewn atal, fel y gallwn droi'r llanw ar lawer o feysydd—nid yn unig yn y maes hwn, ond mewn llawer o feysydd. Mae'n rhywbeth y gobeithiaf y bydd y Llywodraeth nesaf yn bwrw ymlaen ag ef yn iawn.
A gaf i orffen drwy ddiolch i bawb am gymryd rhan? Fel y dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'n bwysig i bob un ohonom chwarae ein rhan a cheisio ysgogi agenda iachach, fel bod ein plant yn cael y cyfleoedd gwirioneddol y maent yn eu haeddu mewn bywyd. Diolch.
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? There is no objection. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Jane Hutt.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Jane Hutt.
Eitem 7 yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar hosbisau, a galwaf ar Paul Davies i wneud y cynnig.
Item 7 is the Welsh Conservatives' debate on hospices, and I call on Paul Davies to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM9112 Paul Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod y gwaith eithriadol y mae'r sector hosbis a gofal lliniarol yn ei wneud wrth ddarparu gofal a chymorth diwedd oes o ansawdd uchel i deuluoedd.
2. Yn cydnabod y pwysau ariannol digynsail ar hosbisau yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i gynnydd mewn Yswiriant Gwladol Cyflogwyr, prinder gweithlu, a'r galw cynyddol am eu gwasanaethau.
3. Yn gresynu bod arolwg diweddar o hosbisau yng Nghymru a gynhaliwyd gan Hospice UK wedi canfod:
a) bod 30 y cant eisoes yn lleihau gwelyau neu'n torri gwasanaethau;
b) bod dros 70 y cant sydd ag unedau cleifion mewnol yn disgwyl i o leiaf un gwely gau dros dro neu'n barhaol; ac
c) bod tri chwarter yr hosbisau yn ofni y byddant yn cael eu gorfodi i dynnu nôl y cymorth y maen nhw'n ei ddarparu ar hyn o bryd i ysbytai a chartrefi gofal.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu model ariannu cynaliadwy newydd ar gyfer hosbisau yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys £40 miliwn yn ychwanegol dros dymor y Senedd nesaf.
Motion NDM9112 Paul Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the exceptional work that the hospice and palliative care sector plays in providing high quality end of life care and support to families.
2. Acknowledges the unprecedented financial pressure on Welsh hospices as a result of Employers' National Insurance increases, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for their services.
3. Regrets that a recent survey of hospices in Wales undertaken by Hospice UK found that:
a) 30 per cent are already reducing beds or cutting services;
b) over 70 per cent with inpatient units expect at least one bed to close temporarily or permanently; and
c) three quarters of hospices fear they will be forced to withdraw support they currently provide to hospitals and care homes.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop a new sustainable funding model for hospices in Wales including an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'm pleased to move the motion tabled in my name.
Today's debate is an opportunity for us to recognise the importance of hospices in Wales and consider ways in which the Welsh Government can better support the sector. Hospices and palliative care providers across Wales are under more and more pressure as demand for their services increases. Providers are also facing serious workforce shortages and, of course, there are increased pressures as a result of cost-of-living rises, and because of policies like the increase in employers' national insurance contributions from the UK Government. As a result, without serious significant investment, more and more hospices will be considering reducing their services, and some may even be forced to close their doors in the coming years.
Unfortunately, it's too late for Shalom House, a hospice that was based in St Davids in my constituency. Shalom House closed its doors at the end of October last year, after almost two decades of supporting patients with life-limiting conditions, like motor neurone disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Parkinson's disease. I was very privileged to have had the opportunity to visit Shalom House several times as the local Senedd Member and, each time I visited, I was impressed with how dedicated, compassionate and committed the staff there were. And I wasn't the only one who was impressed. In Shalom House's final inspection report, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales found that the staff team were committed to providing patients with compassionate, safe and effective care. So, I believe it's a real shame that, despite all the amazing work that was being done to care for and support patients, Shalom House had to close its doors because of financial pressures rather than any shortcomings in the quality of the care that was provided.
In my view, the Welsh Government should be embarrassed that Shalom House has been forced to close, and it certainly should be embarrassed about some of the findings of the Hospices UK survey that our motion refers to. That survey found that nearly 30 per cent of Welsh hospices are reducing the number of in-patient beds or wider services as a result of increasing costs and workforce pressures. The fact that over 70 per cent of hospices with in-patient units agree that cost-of-living pressures are likely to result in one or more in-patient beds becoming temporarily or permanently unavailable is not acceptable. It's clear that the Welsh Government, as a matter of urgency, needs to develop a sustainable funding model, so that hospices are not forced to close because of financial pressures. According to Hospices UK, on average, 70 per cent of the care costs of delivering hospice services are funded by charitable donations, with the remaining 30 per cent provided by the Welsh Government and local health boards. It's very sad that hospices are having to rely so heavily on the generosity of the public in order to be able to run services, and as more and more people are requiring palliative and end-of-life care, their future is unsustainable.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n falch o wneud y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn fy enw i.
Mae'r ddadl heddiw yn gyfle i ni gydnabod pwysigrwydd hosbisau yng Nghymru ac ystyried ffyrdd y gall Llywodraeth Cymru gefnogi'r sector yn well. Mae hosbisau a darparwyr gofal lliniarol ledled Cymru o dan fwy a mwy o bwysau wrth i'r galw am eu gwasanaethau gynyddu. Mae darparwyr hefyd yn wynebu prinder gweithlu difrifol ac wrth gwrs, mae mwy o bwysau o ganlyniad i gynnydd mewn costau byw, ac oherwydd polisïau fel y cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr gan Lywodraeth y DU. O ganlyniad, heb fuddsoddiad sylweddol, bydd mwy a mwy o hosbisau yn ystyried lleihau eu gwasanaethau, ac efallai y bydd rhai hyd yn oed yn cael eu gorfodi i gau eu drysau yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Yn anffodus, mae'n rhy hwyr i Tŷ Shalom, hosbis a oedd wedi'i lleoli yn Nhyddewi yn fy etholaeth i. Caeodd hosbis Tŷ Shalom ei drysau ddiwedd mis Hydref y llynedd, ar ôl bron i ddau ddegawd o gefnogi cleifion â chyflyrau sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd, fel clefyd niwronau motor, clefyd rhwystrol cronig yr ysgyfaint a chlefyd Parkinson. Cefais y fraint fawr o gael y cyfle i ymweld â Tŷ Shalom sawl gwaith fel Aelod Senedd lleol a bob tro yr ymwelais, fe wnaeth ymroddiad a thosturi'r staff yno argraff arnaf. Ac nid fi oedd yr unig un. Yn adroddiad arolwg olaf Tŷ Shalom, canfu Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru fod y tîm staff wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu gofal tosturiol, diogel ac effeithiol i gleifion. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn drueni mawr, er gwaethaf yr holl waith anhygoel a oedd yn cael ei wneud i gefnogi a gofalu am gleifion, fod hosbis Tŷ Shalom wedi gorfod cau ei drysau oherwydd pwysau ariannol yn hytrach nag unrhyw ddiffygion yn ansawdd y gofal a ddarperid.
Yn fy marn i, dylai Llywodraeth Cymru deimlo cywilydd fod hosbis Tŷ Shalom wedi ei gorfodi i gau, ac yn sicr dylai deimlo cywilydd ynglŷn â rhai o ganfyddiadau arolwg Hospices UK y mae ein cynnig yn cyfeirio atynt. Canfu'r arolwg hwnnw fod bron i 30 y cant o hosbisau Cymru yn lleihau nifer y gwelyau cleifion mewnol neu wasanaethau ehangach o ganlyniad i gostau cynyddol a phwysau ar y gweithlu. Nid yw'n dderbyniol fod dros 70 y cant o hosbisau sydd ag unedau cleifion mewnol yn cytuno bod pwysau costau byw yn debygol o olygu na fydd un neu fwy o welyau cleifion mewnol ar gael dros dro neu'n barhaol. Mae'n amlwg fod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru fynd ati fel mater o frys i ddatblygu model ariannu cynaliadwy, fel nad yw hosbisau'n cael eu gorfodi i gau oherwydd pwysau ariannol. Yn ôl Hospices UK, ar gyfartaledd, mae 70 y cant o gostau gofal darparu gwasanaethau hosbis yn cael eu hariannu gan roddion elusennol, gyda'r 30 y cant sy'n weddill yn cael ei ddarparu gan Lywodraeth Cymru a byrddau iechyd lleol. Mae'n drist iawn fod hosbisau'n gorfod dibynnu mor helaeth ar haelioni'r cyhoedd er mwyn gallu cynnal gwasanaethau, a bod eu dyfodol yn anghynaliadwy pan fo mwy a mwy o bobl angen gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes.
And this is not a new issue. There have been long-standing concerns about the sustainability of the sector, and if we don't see meaningful investment and action now, then more hospices will end up reducing services, and that ripple will be felt in our communities and by the NHS. Evidence of reducing services can be seen in north Wales, where St David's Hospice beds at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley in Holyhead have been temporarily closed because of the impact of rising running costs and reduced income. And there is a genuine fear that we could see more of this happening across Wales, if a permanent, sustainable solution is not found.
Of course, the situation was further inflamed when the UK Government announced increases in the national minimum wage and employers' national insurance contributions. And you don't need to take my word for it. In October, the chief executive of St David's Hospice Care Newport, Emma Saysell, made it clear that these rising costs, coupled with a lack of sustainable funding, has made the hospice's financial situation tenuous. She said, and I quote,
'This is the worst time financially that I think we've ever faced. The national minimum wage increase has cost the hospice over £100,000. Couple that with the increase in national insurance, that was another £180,000.'
And providers like St David's Hospice Care are having to find additional funding just to keep their doors open. Charitable donations are just not enough to run a hospice. There needs to be adequate, consistent, statutory funding.
Now, of course, it's a programme for government commitment of the Welsh Government to review voluntary hospice funding, and to give credit where credit's due, some work has already been done. Back in July 2021, the Welsh Government asked the end-of-life care board to review hospice funding. That review identified some important considerations around including hospice-at-home care and the role of children's hospices in providing respite care, and as a result, an increase in recurrent funding was made to the sector. And whilst additional allocations of funding to the sector are, of course, welcome, until a clear decision is made on how the sector will be supported in the medium and long term, we will not make meaningful progress in addressing these systemic challenges.
So, let's consider some of the things that we need to see from a sustainable funding model. Firstly, there needs to be far greater parity between the services delivered by hospices and the NHS, and a clearer recognition of the vital role they play within the wider health and social care system. Hospice care is delivered in the community and in a range of settings, from in-patient facilities to hospice-at-home care, and it relieves significant pressure on the NHS by reducing the number of hospital admissions and enabling patients to stay at home, and that needs to be recognised.
Secondly, achieving a sustainable funding model requires a more consistent approach to statutory funding and NHS funding. Delivering greater stability in funding would give providers the confidence to plan services over the long term, invest in innovation and strengthen their workforce. Of course, it's widely recognised that the sector is already facing acute workforce shortages. The expertise held within hospice teams is unique and highly specialised, and the Welsh Government must do more to safeguard and develop this when developing a sustainable funding model.
Now, I believe a sustainable funding model must also reflect the way hospice services are delivered in practice. For example, some providers operate across multiple health board boundaries, and this cross-boundary working must be accounted for fairly and transparently within the new model. Some providers have to deliver services in rural communities, and that comes with additional costs that also need to be accounted for.
And finally, for any new model to be genuinely fit for purpose, it must have the confidence and support of the hospice sector itself. Their experience and insight are essential to shaping a model that adequately meets the needs of both patients and providers. Indeed, perhaps in responding to this debate, the Cabinet Secretary will tell us a bit more about how the Welsh Government will ensure that the model has real buy-in from Welsh hospices.
I appreciate that developing a sustainable model is not a straightforward or simple issue, and I know that the national programme board for palliative and end-of-life care has been working on a national commissioning framework for hospice services, and we need to see more progress on this front.
Marie Curie has rightly said that the forthcoming commissioning framework for hospice services must support consistent service delivery and include the standardisation of unit price, contract length and terms and commitments to 'Agenda for Change' salary levels. And in response to a question from my colleague Mark Isherwood on the commissioning framework in November, the First Minister assured the Senedd Chamber that the commissioning model would be sustainable and consistent across Wales, especially in rural areas, and yet we've heard nothing since about what that actually looks like. So, I hope the Cabinet Secretary will take the opportunity today to tell us more about this in responding to this debate.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I want to reiterate that hospices are providers of expert palliative care and closures like we've seen in the case of Shalom House must be avoided wherever possible. Members will no doubt be aware of excellent hospice care being delivered in their own constituencies and regions. For example, in my constituency, the Paul Sartori Foundation provide outstanding nursing care in people's homes—and I refer Members to my register of Members' interests as I'm a proud member of that foundation. Their hospice-at-home service is available 365 days of the year and they operate a 24/7 on-call service.
There are many examples of important care like this being delivered in communities right across Wales. That's why I believe that investing in a sustainable funding model for the sector is an investment in safeguarding essential services. We cannot allow the hospice sector to continue to be reliant on piecemeal cash injections from the Welsh Government, because it makes effective long-term planning almost impossible.
It's crucial now that the Welsh Government works with the national programme board for palliative and end-of-life care to give the sector the urgent priority it deserves and develop a model that's fit for the twenty-first century. The Welsh Government must start delivering lasting solutions so that providers can plan for the future and people can be confident that high-quality palliative care services will be in our communities for years to come. As Marie Curie rightly say,
'We can't afford to waste time getting this right.'
People living with a terminal illness and those close to them deserve better, and we need policy makers, health boards and providers to take the radical action needed to transform end-of-life care in Wales. So, I look forward to hearing Members' views about what a sustainable funding model should look like and how we can better support Welsh hospices, and I urge Members to support this motion.
Ac nid yw hon yn broblem newydd. Mae pryderon hirsefydlog wedi bod ynglŷn â chynaliadwyedd y sector, ac os na welwn fuddsoddiad ystyrlon a gweithredu nawr, bydd mwy o hosbisau'n lleihau gwasanaethau, a bydd yr effaith i'w theimlo yn ein cymunedau a'r GIG. Gellir gweld tystiolaeth o leihau gwasanaethau yng ngogledd Cymru, lle mae gwelyau Hosbis Dewi Sant yn Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley yng Nghaergybi wedi cael eu cau dros dro oherwydd effaith costau rhedeg cynyddol a llai o incwm. Ac mae ofn gwirioneddol y gallem weld mwy o hyn yn digwydd ledled Cymru os na cheir ateb parhaol, cynaliadwy.
Wrth gwrs, cafodd y sefyllfa ei gwaethygu ymhellach pan gyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU gynnydd yn yr isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol a chyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr. Ac nid oes rhaid i chi gymryd fy ngair i. Ym mis Hydref, dywedodd prif weithredwr Gofal Hosbis Dewi Sant Casnewydd, Emma Saysell, yn glir fod y costau cynyddol hyn, ynghyd â diffyg cyllid cynaliadwy, wedi gwneud sefyllfa ariannol yr hosbis yn wan. Dywedodd, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
'Rwy'n credu mai dyma'r amser gwaethaf yn ariannol inni ei wynebu erioed. Mae'r cynnydd yn yr isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol wedi costio dros £100,000 i'r hosbis. Ychwanegwch hynny at y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol, roedd hwnnw'n £180,000 arall.'
Ac mae darparwyr fel Gofal Hosbis Dewi Sant yn gorfod dod o hyd i gyllid ychwanegol i ddim ond cadw eu drysau ar agor. Nid yw rhoddion elusennol yn ddigon i redeg hosbis. Mae angen cyllid statudol digonol, cyson.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, un o ymrwymiadau rhaglen lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru yw adolygu cyllid gwirfoddol i hosbisau, ac i roi clod lle mae'n ddyledus, mae rhywfaint o waith eisoes wedi'i wneud. Yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf 2021, gofynnodd Llywodraeth Cymru i'r bwrdd gofal diwedd oes adolygu cyllid i hosbisau. Nododd yr adolygiad hwnnw ystyriaethau pwysig ynghylch gofal hosbis yn y cartref a rôl hosbisau plant yn darparu gofal seibiant, ac o ganlyniad, cafwyd cynnydd yn y cyllid cylchol i'r sector. Ac er bod croeso i ddyraniadau ychwanegol o gyllid i'r sector wrth gwrs, hyd nes y gwneir penderfyniad clir ynglŷn â sut y caiff y sector ei gefnogi yn y tymor canolig a'r tymor hir, ni fyddwn yn gwneud cynnydd ystyrlon ar fynd i'r afael â'r heriau systemig hyn.
Felly, gadewch inni ystyried rhai o'r pethau y mae angen inni eu gweld mewn model cyllido cynaliadwy. Yn gyntaf, mae angen llawer mwy o gydraddoldeb rhwng y gwasanaethau a ddarperir gan hosbisau a'r GIG, a chydnabyddiaeth gliriach o'r rôl hanfodol y maent yn ei chwarae o fewn y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ehangach. Mae gofal hosbis yn cael ei ddarparu yn y gymuned ac mewn amrywiaeth o leoliadau, o gyfleusterau cleifion mewnol i ofal hosbis yn y cartref, ac mae'n lleddfu'r pwysau sylweddol ar y GIG trwy leihau nifer y derbyniadau i'r ysbyty a galluogi cleifion i aros gartref, ac mae angen cydnabod hynny.
Yn ail, mae cyflawni model cyllido cynaliadwy yn galw am ymagwedd fwy cyson at gyllid statudol a chyllid y GIG. Byddai darparu mwy o sefydlogrwydd cyllidol yn rhoi hyder i ddarparwyr gynllunio gwasanaethau yn y tymor hir, buddsoddi mewn arloesedd a chryfhau eu gweithlu. Wrth gwrs, cydnabyddir yn eang fod y sector eisoes yn wynebu prinder gweithlu acíwt. Mae'r arbenigedd a gedwir o fewn timau hosbis yn unigryw ac yn arbenigol iawn, ac mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud mwy i ddiogelu a datblygu hyn wrth ddatblygu model cyllido cynaliadwy.
Nawr, credaf hefyd fod yn rhaid i fodel cyllido cynaliadwy adlewyrchu'r ffordd y mae gwasanaethau hosbis yn cael eu darparu yn ymarferol. Er enghraifft, mae rhai darparwyr yn gweithredu ar draws ffiniau byrddau iechyd lluosog, a rhaid rhoi cyfrif am y gwaith trawsffiniol hwn yn deg ac yn dryloyw o fewn y model newydd. Mae rhai darparwyr yn gorfod darparu gwasanaethau mewn cymunedau gwledig, ac mae hynny'n creu costau ychwanegol y mae angen eu cyfrif hefyd.
Ac yn olaf, er mwyn i unrhyw fodel newydd fod yn wirioneddol addas i'r diben, rhaid iddo gael hyder a chefnogaeth y sector hosbisau ei hun. Mae eu profiad a'u mewnwelediad yn hanfodol i lunio model sy'n diwallu anghenion cleifion a darparwyr yn ddigonol. Yn wir, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl hon, efallai y gwnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym ynglŷn â sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod y model yn cael cefnogaeth go iawn gan hosbisau Cymru.
Rwy'n derbyn nad yw datblygu model cynaliadwy yn fater syml, ac rwy'n gwybod bod bwrdd y rhaglen genedlaethol ar gyfer gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes wedi bod yn gweithio ar fframwaith comisiynu cenedlaethol ar gyfer gwasanaethau hosbis, ac mae angen inni weld mwy o gynnydd yn hyn o beth.
Mae Marie Curie wedi dweud yn gywir ddigon fod yn rhaid i'r fframwaith comisiynu sydd ar y ffordd ar gyfer gwasanaethau hosbis gefnogi darpariaeth gyson o wasanaethau a chynnwys safoni pris uned, hyd contract a thelerau ac ymrwymiadau i lefelau cyflog yr 'Agenda ar gyfer Newid'. Ac mewn ymateb i gwestiwn gan fy nghyd-Aelod Mark Isherwood ar y fframwaith comisiynu ym mis Tachwedd, sicrhaodd y Prif Weinidog Siambr y Senedd y byddai'r model comisiynu yn gynaliadwy ac yn gyson ledled Cymru, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ac eto nid ydym wedi clywed gair ers hynny ynglŷn â sut olwg sydd ar hynny mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn manteisio ar y cyfle heddiw i ddweud mwy wrthym am hyn wrth ymateb i'r ddadl.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwyf am ailadrodd bod hosbisau'n ddarparwyr gofal lliniarol arbenigol a bod yn rhaid osgoi cau fel yn achos Tŷ Shalom lle bynnag y bo modd. Heb os, bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol o ofal hosbis rhagorol yn cael ei ddarparu yn eu hetholaethau a'u rhanbarthau eu hunain. Er enghraifft, yn fy etholaeth i, mae Sefydliad Paul Sartori yn darparu gofal nyrsio rhagorol yng nghartrefi pobl—ac rwy'n cyfeirio Aelodau at fy nghofrestr o fuddiannau Aelodau gan fy mod yn aelod balch o'r sefydliad hwnnw. Mae eu gwasanaeth hosbis yn y cartref ar gael 365 diwrnod y flwyddyn ac maent yn gweithredu gwasanaeth ar alwad 24/7.
Mae yna lawer o enghreifftiau o ofal pwysig o'r fath yn cael ei ddarparu mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru. Dyna pam y credaf fod buddsoddi mewn model cyllido cynaliadwy ar gyfer y sector yn fuddsoddiad mewn diogelu gwasanaethau hanfodol. Ni allwn ganiatáu i'r sector hosbisau barhau i ddibynnu ar chwistrelliadau o arian parod bob hyn a hyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, oherwydd mae'n gwneud cynllunio hirdymor effeithiol bron yn amhosib.
Mae'n hanfodol nawr fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda bwrdd y rhaglen genedlaethol ar gyfer gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes i roi'r flaenoriaeth frys y mae'n ei haeddu i'r sector a datblygu model sy'n addas ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ddechrau darparu atebion parhaol fel y gall darparwyr gynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol ac y gall pobl fod yn hyderus y bydd gwasanaethau gofal lliniarol o ansawdd uchel ar gael yn ein cymunedau am flynyddoedd i ddod. Fel y dywed Marie Curie yn gywir,
'Ni allwn fforddio gwastraffu amser wrth gael hyn yn iawn.'
Mae pobl sy'n byw gyda salwch terfynol a'r rhai sy'n agos atynt yn haeddu gwell, ac mae angen i lunwyr polisi, byrddau iechyd a darparwyr gymryd y camau radical sydd eu hangen i drawsnewid gofal diwedd oes yng Nghymru. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen at glywed barn yr Aelodau ynglŷn â sut y dylai model cyllido cynaliadwy edrych a sut y gallwn gefnogi hosbisau Cymru'n well, ac rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi'r cynnig hwn.
Rwyf wedi dethol y gwelliant i'r cynnig. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i gynnig gwelliant 1, yn enw Jane Hutt.
I have selected the amendment to the motion. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt.
Gwelliant 1—Jane Hutt
Dileu popeth ar ôl pwynt 2 a rhoi yn ei le:
Yn cydnabod canfyddiadau arolwg Hospice UK.
Yn croesawu:
a) y cynnydd o £21 miliwn i gyllid hosbisau gan Lywodraeth Cymru dros dymor y Senedd hon; a
b) y gwaith sydd ar y gweill rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r sector hosbisau i ddatblygu model cyllido cynaliadwy.
Amendment 1—Jane Hutt
Delete all after point 2 and replace with
Recognises the findings of the Hospice UK survey.
Welcomes:
a) the £21 million increase to hospice funding from the Welsh Government over the course of this Senedd term; and
b) the ongoing work between the Welsh Government and the hospice sector to develop a sustainable funding model.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
We welcome this motion because it looks at the long term. That level of forward planning is admirable. And given recent events on the benches opposite, it's not always a given. And thinking about Reform: Reform will bang on about the need to look after our own, about the need to stop funding certain programmes. But when it comes to a motion that actually looks at a positive proposal to increase funding to the most vulnerable people in our communities, where are they? Nowhere to be seen.
But putting all of that to one side, the hospice sector deserves the full and serious attention of this Senedd. Hospices provide care; not just at the end of life, but at the most human moments, supporting families, carers and communities when they're at their greatest strain. The motion rightly recognises that work and it also confronts an uncomfortable truth, that the current funding model is no longer sustainable.
Rydym yn croesawu'r cynnig hwn am ei fod yn edrych ar y tymor hir. Mae'r lefel honno o flaengynllunio yn wych. Ac o ystyried digwyddiadau diweddar ar y meinciau gyferbyn, ni ellir ei gymryd yn ganiataol bob amser. Ac wrth feddwl am Reform: bydd Reform yn rhygnu ymlaen am yr angen i edrych ar ôl ein pobl ein hunain, am yr angen i roi'r gorau i ariannu rhai rhaglenni. Ond yn achos cynnig sy'n edrych ar argymhelliad cadarnhaol i gynyddu cyllid i'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau, ble maent? Nid ydynt i'w gweld yn unman.
Ond gan roi hynny i gyd i'r naill ochr, mae'r sector hosbisau'n haeddu sylw llawn a difrifol y Senedd hon. Mae hosbisau'n darparu gofal; nid yn unig ar ddiwedd oes, ond ar yr eiliadau mwyaf dynol, gan gefnogi teuluoedd, gofalwyr a chymunedau pan fyddant o dan y straen fwyaf. Mae'r cynnig yn cydnabod y gwaith hwnnw'n gywir ddigon ac mae hefyd yn mynd i'r afael â gwirionedd anghyfforddus, nad yw'r model cyllido presennol yn gynaliadwy mwyach.
Mae'r neges yn y cynnig yma yr un mor wir heddiw ag ydoedd pan wnes i gyflwyno dadl ar yr union bwnc yma ddwy flynedd yn union yn ôl. Ac mae'n werth ein hatgoffa o'r hyn a ddywedais i ddwy flynedd yn ôl.
Mae hosbisau yn rhan hollbwysig o'n system iechyd a gofal, gan ddarparu cefnogaeth arbenigol y mae degau o filoedd o bobl yn dibynnu arni bob blwyddyn, o fabanod newydd-anedig i bobl hŷn. Maen nhw'n cynnig ystod eang o wasanaethau: gofal yn y cartref, cymorth brys y tu allan i oriau a chefnogaeth i bobl sy'n galaru. Maen nhw'n sicrhau bod diwedd bywyd claf yn cael ei drin gyda'r urddas, y sensitifrwydd a'r cysur mwyaf. Dwi am dalu teyrnged yma i ymroddiad diflino’r staff sy’n mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i’r disgwyl i ddarparu’r gofal yma.
Mae hosbisau hefyd yn rhan allweddol o ofal cymunedol, gan gadw pobl allan o’r ysbyty a lleddfu’r pwysau ar y rheng flaen. Ond fel y mae’r cynnig yn ei gydnabod yn gywir, mae sefyllfa ariannol y sector hosbisau bellach yn anghynaladwy. Heddiw, mae dros ddwy ran o dair o gyllid hosbisau yn dod o roddion a gweithgareddau elusennol, ac mae hynny’n codi tua tri chwarter yn achos hosbisau plant. Gyda chostau ychwanegol cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, biliau ynni cynyddol, a gweithlu sy’n crebachu, rydym ni’n symud yn gyflym tuag at bwynt lle mae’n gwbl anghynaladwy. Mae hynny eisoes wedi arwain at gau gwelyau hosbisau, fel y gwelwyd ym Mhenrhos Stanley yng Nghaergybi.
Yn fy nadl ddwy flynedd yn ôl, fe amlinellais i dri chanlyniad posib i’r argyfwng yma. Mae dau o’r opsiynau yna yn gwbl annerbyniol: naill ai gadael pobl i ddioddef mewn poen, neu symud y baich cyfan ar fyrddau iechyd sydd eisoes dan bwysau enfawr. Felly, yr unig ateb synhwyrol yw cyd-fynd â geiriau da y Llywodraeth am ofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes, ond gyda chyllid go iawn sy’n adlewyrchu’r realiti ar lawr gwlad, gan roi’r sicrwydd a’r sefydlogrwydd sydd eu hangen ar hosbisau i wneud yr hyn maen nhw’n ei wneud orau.
Yn ogystal â’r achos amlwg moesol dros weithredu, mae’r rhesymeg economaidd hefyd yn gadarn. Mi ydym ni i gyd yn ymwybodol o’r ffaith bod gennym ni boblogaeth sydd yn heneiddio, a bod costau cefnogaeth iechyd yn ystod blynyddoedd olaf bywyd yn sylweddol yn uwch ar gyfartaledd. Yn ôl asesiad Marie Curie, bydd y galw ar wasanaethau gofal diwedd oes yn tyfu yn sylweddol yn y degawdau i ddod. Erbyn y 2040au, mi fydd 37,000 o bobl yng Nghymru angen cymorth gofal diwedd oes bob blwyddyn, sef cynnydd o 5,000 o’r sefyllfa bresennol. Felly, nid mater o lenwi bylchau ariannol yn unig ydy’r alwad am setliad ariannol newydd i’r sector, ond buddsoddiad hirdymor yn anghenion iechyd ein poblogaeth.
Mae yna waith i’w wneud hefyd i fireinio trefniadau llywodraethol. Rydw i wedi sôn yn aml am yr angen i ddiwygio byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol er mwyn gwella cydweithio rhwng y byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau lleol, a bydd ein cynlluniau ni yn y maes yma yn cynnwys penodi arweinydd penodol ar ofal diwedd oes ym mhob bwrdd.
Un o ddyletswyddau mwyaf sylfaenol cymdeithas ydy caniatáu y gallu i bawb, beth bynnag eu hamgylchiadau, i fyw bywyd mewn urddas, yn enwedig tuag at ddiwedd eu hoes. Dwi’n benderfynol, os bydd gan Plaid Cymru y fraint o arwain y Llywodraeth nesaf, y byddwn ni yn dyfalbarhau i drosi’r egwyddor graidd yma i mewn i ganlyniadau ymarferol.
The message of the motion is as true today as it was when I introduced a debate on the same subject exactly two years ago. And it's worth reminding ourselves of what I said two years ago.
Hospices are a crucial part of our health and care system, providing specialist support that tens of thousands of people depend on every year, from newborns to older people. They provide a wide range of services: care in the home, emergency out-of-hours support and support for the bereaved. They ensure that a patient's end of life is treated with the utmost dignity, sensitivity and comfort. I’d like to pay tribute here to the ceaseless commitment of staff who go far above and beyond to provide this care.
Hospices are also a crucial part of community care, keeping people out of hospitals and alleviating pressure on the front line. But, as this motion rightly acknowledges, the hospice sector’s financial situation has now become unsustainable. By now, two thirds of hospice funding comes from charitable donations, a ratio that increases to around three quarters for children’s hospices. And with the additional cost of employer national insurance contributions, rising energy bills and a shrinking workforce, we are swiftly reaching a point that is totally unsustainable. This has already led to the closure of hospice beds, as was seen in Penrhos Stanley in Holyhead.
In my debate two years ago, I outlined three possible outcomes of this crisis. Two of those options are completely unacceptable: either leaving people to suffer in pain, or shifting the entire burden onto health boards that are already under huge pressure. So, the only sensible solution is to respond to the Government’s warm words on end-of-life care with the necessary funding that reflects the reality on the ground, thereby providing the assurance and stability needed by hospices to do what they do best.
As well as the clear moral case for action, the economic rationale is also robust. We are all aware of the fact that we have an ageing population, and that the cost of supporting health in the final years of life are, on average, significantly higher. According to an assessment by Marie Curie, the demand for end-of-life care services will grow significantly in coming decades. By the 2040s, 37,000 people in Wales will require end-of-life care every year, which is an increase of 5,000 on the current position. So, the call for a new financial settlement for the sector is not just a matter of filling gaps in funding, but one of long-term investment in the health needs of our population.
There is also a job of work to be done to refine governance arrangements. I've mentioned often the need to reform regional partnership boards to improve collaboration between health boards and local authorities, and our plans in this area would include appointing a designated lead for end-of-life care in every board.
One of society’s most fundamental duties is to allow everyone, regardless of their circumstances, to live their lives with dignity, particularly towards the end of their lives. I'm determined, if Plaid Cymru has the privilege of leading the next Government, that we will do everything we can to translate this core principle into practical results.
I'm very pleased to contribute to this debate on hospices and palliative care today. These are issues that I've always felt are so important to us as politicians. I have a long-standing relationship with City Hospice in my constituency, where I was vice-president for many years. I've also had close contact with Tŷ Hafan, one of the only two children's hospices in Wales. The last time I visited Tŷ Hafan, I was shown around by Tom, the inspirational young man who is a member of Tŷ Hafan's 'the squad', a group of young people who, thanks to modern medicine and excellent care, have lived into adulthood.
City Hospice, in my constituency of Cardiff North, is based in the grounds of the old Whitchurch Hospital, and it provides its care to people in their own homes. There's no residential provision, but they use their base to provide day services, counselling groups, bereavement services, holistic therapies, money advice, and the use of their beautiful garden, which backs onto the Forest Farm nature reserve.
Hospices are charities, and they're made possible by the huge generosity of the public and volunteers. I believe very strongly that using the voluntary sector in the way that we do is the right model for delivering palliative care. Historically, palliative care has developed in this way in this country, and I think we have some of the most excellent examples of palliative care here, because the voluntary sector can concentrate on this area of work without the overwhelming demands that the NHS experiences.
We do know that many people do die in hospitals, where it's often impossible to deliver the individual care that hospices are able to provide. So, I believe the model is right. However, the demand on hospices is growing; that's been raised here today already. I've been told by City Hospice that there has been an increase in patient numbers over the last three years, an average of 5 per cent per year, and around 1,800 patients are now being served by City Hospice. And, of course, that is their families and the carers as well.
Hospices are providing essential statutory services, and I think this point has been well made by the hospices. I think it is essential that they are fully reimbursed by the NHS so that the essential statutory services are fully funded. Then, the voluntary income of the hospices is used to deliver all those extras that are essential as well. The generalist palliative care in City Hospice is entirely funded through donations and the community.
I don't think it's a bad thing to say that some of our hospice care and palliative care is supported by a public that wants to donate. I think that is a model that is acceptable. But the essential care—the statutory services—should be funded by the NHS. I also think there should be more consistent arrangements in place and that there should be pay parity with the NHS, as I know the hospice movement is calling for. But I am very glad that the Welsh Government and the hospice sector are working together to develop a sustainable funding model, because I think we do need a sustainable funding model.
Just to finish off, going back to the two children's hospices that there are in Wales, the research that's been carried out by Tŷ Hafan has shown that the families who are using those hospices are really at one of the most difficult times in their lives. They are also under huge financial pressure. Of the families who have a seriously ill child, 92 per cent reported that they'd faced financial hardship. We know that they can't take holidays, they can't do all the things that families are able to do. These families that are going through some of the toughest experiences of their lives need that intense concentration and individual help that children's hospices are able to fund.
In conclusion, I think we need to build on the model and the partnership that we've got. The hospice movement is something that we should all rejoice in, the way that it has grown up in this country, and I pay tribute to all the people who work in it.
Rwy'n falch iawn o gyfrannu at y ddadl hon ar hosbisau a gofal lliniarol heddiw. Mae'r rhain yn faterion yr wyf i bob amser wedi teimlo eu bod mor bwysig i ni fel gwleidyddion. Mae gennyf berthynas hirsefydlog â Hosbis y Ddinas yn fy etholaeth, lle roeddwn yn is-lywydd am flynyddoedd lawer. Rwyf hefyd wedi bod â chysylltiad agos â Tŷ Hafan, un o'r unig ddwy hosbis i blant yng Nghymru. Y tro diwethaf i mi ymweld â Tŷ Hafan, cefais fy nhywys o gwmpas gan Tom, y dyn ifanc llawn ysbrydoliaeth sy'n aelod o 'sgwad' Tŷ Hafan, grŵp o bobl ifanc sydd, diolch i feddyginiaeth fodern a gofal rhagorol, wedi byw i fod yn oedolion.
Mae Hosbis y Ddinas, yn fy etholaeth i yng Ngogledd Caerdydd, wedi'i lleoli ar dir hen Ysbyty'r Eglwys Newydd, ac mae'n darparu ei gofal i bobl yn eu cartrefi eu hunain. Nid oes darpariaeth breswyl, ond maent yn defnyddio eu canolfan i ddarparu gwasanaethau dydd, grwpiau cwnsela, gwasanaethau profedigaeth, therapïau holistaidd, cyngor ariannol, a defnydd o'u gardd hardd, sy'n cyffinio â gwarchodfa natur Fferm Fforest.
Elusennau yw hosbisau, a chânt eu gwneud yn bosib gan haelioni enfawr y cyhoedd a gwirfoddolwyr. Rwy'n credu'n gryf iawn mai defnyddio'r sector gwirfoddol yn y ffordd a wnawn yw'r model cywir ar gyfer darparu gofal lliniarol. Yn hanesyddol, mae gofal lliniarol wedi datblygu yn y modd hwn yn y wlad hon, ac rwy'n credu bod gennym rai o'r enghreifftiau mwyaf rhagorol o ofal lliniarol yma, oherwydd gall y sector gwirfoddol ganolbwyntio ar y maes gwaith hwn heb y galwadau llethol y mae'r GIG yn eu profi.
Fe wyddom fod llawer o bobl yn marw mewn ysbytai, lle mae'n aml yn amhosib darparu'r gofal unigol y mae hosbisau'n gallu ei ddarparu. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y model yn iawn. Fodd bynnag, mae'r galw ar hosbisau'n cynyddu; mae hynny wedi cael ei godi yma heddiw eisoes. Dywedwyd wrthyf gan Hosbis y Ddinas fod cynnydd wedi bod yn nifer y cleifion dros y tair blynedd diwethaf, 5 y cant y flwyddyn ar gyfartaledd, ac mae tua 1,800 o gleifion bellach yn cael eu gwasanaethu gan Hosbis y Ddinas. Ac wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n cynnwys eu teuluoedd a'r gofalwyr hefyd.
Mae hosbisau'n darparu gwasanaethau statudol hanfodol, ac rwy'n credu bod y pwynt hwn wedi'i wneud yn dda gan yr hosbisau. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol eu bod yn cael eu had-dalu'n llawn gan y GIG fel bod y gwasanaethau statudol hanfodol yn cael eu hariannu'n llawn. Yna, defnyddir incwm gwirfoddol yr hosbisau i ddarparu'r holl bethau ychwanegol hynny sy'n hanfodol hefyd. Mae'r gofal lliniarol cyffredinol yn Hosbis y Ddinas yn cael ei ariannu'n gyfan gwbl trwy roddion a'r gymuned.
Nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn beth drwg i ddweud bod rhywfaint o'n gofal hosbis a gofal lliniarol yn cael ei gefnogi gan gyhoedd sydd eisiau cyfrannu. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n fodel sy'n dderbyniol. Ond dylai'r gofal hanfodol—y gwasanaethau statudol—gael ei ariannu gan y GIG. Rwy'n credu hefyd y dylai fod trefniadau mwy cyson ar waith ac y dylai fod cydraddoldeb cyflog gyda'r GIG, fel y gwn fod y mudiad hosbis yn galw amdano. Ond rwy'n falch iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru a'r sector hosbisau'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd i ddatblygu model cyllido cynaliadwy, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod angen model cyllido cynaliadwy arnom.
I orffen, gan fynd yn ôl at y ddwy hosbis plant yng Nghymru, mae'r ymchwil a wnaed gan Tŷ Hafan wedi dangos bod y teuluoedd sy'n defnyddio'r hosbisau hynny ar un o'r cyfnodau anoddaf oll yn eu bywydau. Maent hefyd o dan bwysau ariannol enfawr. O'r teuluoedd sydd â phlentyn difrifol wael, dywedodd 92 y cant eu bod wedi wynebu caledi ariannol. Fe wyddom na allant gael gwyliau, ni allant wneud yr holl bethau y mae teuluoedd yn gallu eu gwneud. Mae'r teuluoedd hyn sy'n mynd trwy rai o brofiadau anoddaf eu bywydau angen y canolbwyntio dwys a'r cymorth unigol y mae hosbisau plant yn gallu ei ariannu.
I gloi, rwy'n credu bod angen inni adeiladu ar y model a'r bartneriaeth sydd gennym. Mae'r mudiad hosbis yn rhywbeth y dylem i gyd ymlawenhau ynddo, y ffordd y mae wedi tyfu i fyny yn y wlad hon, ac rwy'n talu teyrnged i'r holl bobl sy'n gweithio ynddo.
The value of hospice care in Wales cannot be overstated. It is a necessity. Across Wales, 15 charitable hospices operate with unwavering dedication, supporting more than 20,000 adults and children living with terminal illness each year. Their work goes far beyond clinical treatment, helping people live well as they approach the end of life, enabling them to make lasting memories, express their wishes and experience peace and dignity in their final days, and providing vital support to caregivers and families, helping them navigate emotional strain, uncertainty and grief. Their support is holistic, compassionate and tailored to the needs of each individual.
Hospice services extend beyond institutional settings, allowing people to remain at home surrounded by familiarity and love. They also offer access to in-patient beds within local communities, ensuring that essential care remains close to home, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting timely discharges and easing pressure on GPs, district nurses and social care teams. However, this immense contribution relies heavily, as we've heard, on charitable fundraising, with nearly 70 per cent of hospice care costs met through donations.
Wales's hospices invest around £30 million of charitable funding into the health and care system every year. Looking forward, demand for hospice and palliative care is projected to increase by around 25 per cent over the next 25 years, driven by an ageing population, increasingly complex medical conditions and widening health inequalities. Despite being promised a share of the £3 million allocated in the Welsh Government's budget, Wales's two children's hospices, Tŷ Hafan and Tŷ Gobaith, were still waiting to receive confirmation of their allocation, or when they would receive it, in November. To meet growing need, they are calling for sustainable ring-fenced funding, rising to 30 per cent of care costs by 2030, still below the average for adult hospices.
The UK Government has announced additional funding for adult and children's hospices in England, dwarfing the Welsh Government's hospice funding here in Wales, where healthcare is being shifted out of the community into hospitals, in direct contradiction of stated Welsh Government policy. Lower spending on hospice funding in Wales will cost the Welsh Government more. By the 2040s, an estimated 37,000 people in Wales will require palliative or end-of-life care annually, with demand rising substantially, yet hospices continue to face serious sustainability challenges, with rising staffing costs imposed through ‘Agenda for Change’ and national insurance increases, combined with the rising cost of living, leaving hospices forecasting deficits for 2025-26. As they warned, many are now facing difficult decisions, drawing on reserves, reducing inpatient beds, scaling back services, delaying recruitment, reducing existing services, postponing plans to expand or introduce new services, or even closing.
This was illustrated starkly when four satellite in-patient beds at St David's Hospice in Holyhead closed. They told me this was forced on them by rising costs and falling income, despite significant cost cutting, and that they were now entering an unsustainable position, putting the whole charity at risk. Wrexham's Nightingale House Hospice stated that the current funding model does not secure future hospice care, and that hospices are not being recognised for the work they do.
The Welsh Government intends to introduce a new commissioning framework by April, which has been referred to, arriving too late, right at the end of this Senedd term. Marie Curie warns that hospices are a critical part of a complex palliative and end-of-life care system that is at breaking point. Hospice UK and Hospices Cymru reported that over 90 per cent of hospices in Wales expect reduced support to hospitals and care homes, and nearly three quarters with in-patient units anticipate bed closures. Bangor University research shows that a 14-day hospice stay costs £5,708, compared with £6,860 for the cheapest hospital-based option, delivering significant public expenditure savings, yet Welsh Government funding averages around 30 per cent of hospice costs across Wales. Hospices in Wales also receive proportionately less core funding not only than in England but also in Scotland—
Ni ellir gorbwysleisio gwerth gofal hosbis yng Nghymru. Mae'n anghenraid. Ledled Cymru, mae 15 hosbis elusennol yn gweithredu gydag ymroddiad diwyro, yn cefnogi mwy na 20,000 o oedolion a phlant sy'n byw gyda salwch terfynol bob blwyddyn. Mae eu gwaith yn mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i driniaeth glinigol, gan helpu pobl i fyw'n dda wrth iddynt agosáu at ddiwedd eu hoes, eu galluogi i greu atgofion parhaol, mynegi eu dymuniadau a phrofi heddwch ac urddas yn eu dyddiau olaf, a darparu cymorth hanfodol i ofalwyr a theuluoedd, gan eu helpu i lywio'u ffordd drwy straen emosiynol, ansicrwydd a galar. Mae eu cefnogaeth yn holistaidd, yn dosturiol ac wedi'i deilwra i anghenion pob unigolyn.
Mae gwasanaethau hosbis yn ymestyn y tu hwnt i leoliadau sefydliadol, gan ganiatáu i bobl aros gartref wedi'u hamgylchynu gan yr hyn sy'n gyfarwydd a chan gariad. Maent hefyd yn cynnig mynediad at welyau cleifion mewnol mewn cymunedau lleol, gan sicrhau bod gofal hanfodol yn parhau i fod yn agos at adref, lleihau derbyniadau diangen i'r ysbyty, cefnogi rhyddhau amserol a lleddfu'r pwysau ar feddygon teulu, nyrsys ardal a thimau gofal cymdeithasol. Fodd bynnag, mae'r cyfraniad aruthrol hwn yn dibynnu'n helaeth, fel y clywsom, ar godi arian elusennol, gyda bron i 70 y cant o gostau gofal hosbis yn cael eu talu trwy roddion.
Mae hosbisau Cymru'n buddsoddi tua £30 miliwn o gyllid elusennol yn y system iechyd a gofal bob blwyddyn. Wrth edrych ymlaen, rhagwelir y bydd y galw am ofal hosbis a gofal lliniarol yn cynyddu tua 25 y cant dros y 25 mlynedd nesaf, wedi'i yrru gan boblogaeth sy'n heneiddio, cyflyrau meddygol cynyddol gymhleth ac anghydraddoldebau iechyd sy'n ehangu. Er iddynt gael addewid o gyfran o'r £3 miliwn a ddyrannwyd yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, ym mis Tachwedd roedd dwy hosbis plant Cymru, Tŷ Hafan a Tŷ Gobaith, yn dal i aros i gael cadarnhad o'u dyraniad, neu pryd y byddent yn ei dderbyn. Er mwyn ateb yr angen cynyddol, maent yn galw am gyllid cynaliadwy wedi'i glustnodi, gan godi i 30 y cant o'r costau gofal erbyn 2030, sy'n dal i fod yn is na'r cyfartaledd ar gyfer hosbisau oedolion.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer hosbisau oedolion a phlant yn Lloegr, sy'n llawer iawn mwy na chyllid hosbis Llywodraeth Cymru yma yng Nghymru, lle mae gofal iechyd yn cael ei symud allan o'r gymuned i ysbytai, yn uniongyrchol groes i bolisi datganedig Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd gwariant is ar gyllid hosbis yng Nghymru yn costio mwy i Lywodraeth Cymru. Erbyn y 2040au, amcangyfrifir y bydd angen gofal lliniarol neu ofal diwedd oes ar 37,000 o bobl yng Nghymru bob blwyddyn, gyda'r galw'n cynyddu'n sylweddol, ond mae hosbisau'n parhau i wynebu heriau cynaliadwyedd difrifol, gyda chostau staffio cynyddol yn cael eu gosod drwy'r 'Agenda ar gyfer Newid' a chynnydd i yswiriant gwladol, ynghyd â'r cynnydd mewn costau byw, gan adael hosbisau yn rhagweld diffygion ar gyfer 2025-26. Fel roeddent yn rhybuddio, mae llawer bellach yn wynebu penderfyniadau anodd, gan dynnu ar gronfeydd wrth gefn, lleihau nifer y gwelyau cleifion mewnol, torri gwasanaethau, oedi recriwtio, lleihau gwasanaethau presennol, gohirio cynlluniau i ehangu neu gyflwyno gwasanaethau newydd, neu hyd yn oed gau.
Dangoswyd hyn yn glir pan gaeodd pedwar gwely lloeren i gleifion mewnol yn Hosbis Dewi Sant yng Nghaergybi. Fe wnaethant ddweud wrthyf fod hyn wedi cael ei orfodi arnynt gan gostau cynyddol ac incwm sy'n gostwng, er eu bod wedi torri costau'n sylweddol, a'u bod bellach yn mynd i mewn i sefyllfa anghynaliadwy, gan roi'r elusen gyfan mewn perygl. Dywedodd Hosbis Tŷ'r Eos yn Wrecsam nad yw'r model cyllido presennol yn diogelu gofal hosbis yn y dyfodol, ac nad yw'r gwaith y mae hosbisau'n ei wneud yn cael ei gydnabod.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n bwriadu cyflwyno fframwaith comisiynu newydd erbyn mis Ebrill, fel y nodwyd, ond mae'n digwydd yn rhy hwyr, ar ddiwedd tymor y Senedd. Mae Marie Curie yn rhybuddio bod hosbisau'n rhan allweddol o system gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes gymhleth sydd ar ymyl y dibyn. Adroddodd Hospice UK a Hosbisau Cymru fod dros 90 y cant o hosbisau yng Nghymru yn disgwyl llai o gymorth i ysbytai a chartrefi gofal, ac mae bron i dri chwarter sydd ag unedau cleifion mewnol yn rhagweld cau gwelyau. Mae ymchwil gan Brifysgol Bangor yn dangos bod arhosiad 14 diwrnod mewn hosbis yn costio £5,708, o'i gymharu â £6,860 ar gyfer yr opsiwn rhataf mewn ysbyty, gan sicrhau arbedion sylweddol i wariant cyhoeddus, ond mae cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru oddeutu 30 y cant ar gyfartaledd o gostau hosbis ledled Cymru. Mae hosbisau yng Nghymru hefyd yn cael llai o gyllid craidd nag yn Lloegr, a'r Alban hefyd—
You need to conclude now, please, Mark.
Mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda, Mark.
Although hospices remain committed to raising charitable funds, this disparity must be addressed if their essential clinical care is to continue. Diolch yn fawr.
Er bod hosbisau'n parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i godi arian elusennol, rhaid mynd i'r afael â'r gwahaniaeth hwn os yw eu gofal clinigol allweddol i barhau. Diolch yn fawr.
I've been privileged over the years to work with the St David's hospice in Newport. They are an absolutely amazing organisation. The quality of the care that they provide at the hospice, with their in-bed facilities and a range of supportive activities and therapies, as well as, crucially, in people's homes, allows so many people to die with dignity surrounded by the love and comfort of familiar surroundings and family. It’s an incredibly impressive organisation in every way. They raise an amazing amount of funds every year through a wide variety of activities and events, including Newport's half marathon, which I have taken part in almost every year that it’s been run.
I must say I do recognise the pressures that others have mentioned. I know Emma Saysell very well, and their current funding pressures are enormous. In fact, they set a deficit budget for this year of £250,000, and they will be setting another deficit budget for the 2026-27 financial year. They have a very widespread range of retail shops, not just in Newport but in the surrounding area, because they do serve a wider geographical area, and that retail trade has suffered. Those shops are not performing as well due to increased costs and the impact of lessening footfall in the high street, and also, of course, many members of the public now sell their items online, with various new online platforms encouraging and allowing that.
They are mindful also, Dirprwy Lywydd, that they will see an increase in patient numbers, creating additional demand for their vital services, because of the ageing population that we have, which is set to increase markedly in the years to come. So, it is a massive challenge for the sector, including St David's Hospice, to meet that increasing demand while they have those increased costs that are placing such a demand on their model of delivery.
And, of course, it's also the case for Tŷ Hafan, which I'm also very familiar with. In fact, I have a family at the moment who've contacted me to say just how vital the services that Tŷ Hafan provide are for their family. Their son Patrick, who is eight years old, has a rare genetic condition, has to use a wheelchair, is tube fed and has severe learning difficulties and sensory issues. Sometimes his behaviour is challenging and he often sleeps for only two hours per night. This means that Patrick's parents, Collette and Matt, and, indeed, his brothers, Vincent and Sam, need support as a family. It's much wider than Patrick's own personal needs in terms of the support that the family themself need, and they found that Tŷ Hafan very much recognise that and do provide that support for the whole family. In fact, Collette tells me that every few months, they are offered a short-notice cancellation bed at Tŷ Hafan. They will get a phone call asking if Patrick would like to come in tomorrow for a couple of days, and that's an absolute lifeline for their family. They have full confidence in the medical services available there at Tŷ Hafan, and it then allows them to spend some time with their other sons, Sam and Vincent, to enable the family to do the simple things that other families take for granted and that make all the difference. Patrick's father Matt tells us that it's critically important that Welsh Government properly funds hospice care in Wales, including Tŷ Hafan, because it's an absolute lifeline for families who are facing the absolute worst. It's important to show Wales is a compassionate country, and having the support of Tŷ Hafan makes all the difference and keeps so many families from not being able to cope at all.
So, with all of that background that I think Members here genuinely know so well, Dirprwy Lywydd, I very much welcome Welsh Government working with hospices to develop that vital, crucial, sustainable funding model that they are working towards.
Cefais y fraint dros y blynyddoedd o weithio gyda hosbis Dewi Sant yng Nghasnewydd. Maent yn sefydliad hollol anhygoel. Mae ansawdd y gofal y maent yn ei ddarparu yn yr hosbis, gyda'u cyfleusterau gwelyau mewnol ac amrywiaeth o weithgareddau a therapïau cefnogol, yn ogystal ag yng nghartrefi pobl, yn hollbwysig, yn caniatáu i gymaint o bobl farw gydag urddas wedi'u hamgylchynu gan gariad a chysur amgylchedd cyfarwydd a theulu. Mae'n sefydliad hynod drawiadol ym mhob ffordd. Maent yn codi swm anhygoel o arian bob blwyddyn trwy amrywiaeth eang o weithgareddau a digwyddiadau, gan gynnwys hanner marathon Casnewydd yr wyf wedi cymryd rhan ynddo bron bob blwyddyn y cafodd ei gynnal.
Rhaid i mi ddweud fy mod yn cydnabod y pwysau y mae eraill wedi'u crybwyll. Rwy'n adnabod Emma Saysell yn dda iawn, ac mae eu pwysau cyllidol presennol yn enfawr. Mewn gwirionedd, maent wedi gosod cyllideb ddiffyg o £250,000 ar gyfer eleni, a byddant yn gosod cyllideb ddiffyg arall ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 2026-27. Mae ganddynt amrywiaeth eang iawn o siopau manwerthu, nid yn unig yng Nghasnewydd ond yn yr ardal gyfagos, gan eu bod yn gwasanaethu ardal ddaearyddol ehangach, ac mae'r fasnach fanwerthu honno wedi dioddef. Nid yw'r siopau hynny'n perfformio cystal oherwydd costau cynyddol ac effaith llai o ymwelwyr â'r stryd fawr, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae llawer o aelodau o'r cyhoedd bellach yn gwerthu eu heitemau ar-lein, gyda gwahanol blatfformau ar-lein newydd yn annog ac yn caniatáu hynny.
Maent yn ymwybodol hefyd, Ddirprwy Lywydd, y byddant yn gweld cynnydd yn nifer y cleifion, gan greu galw ychwanegol am eu gwasanaethau hanfodol, oherwydd y boblogaeth sy'n heneiddio sydd gennym, sy'n mynd i gynyddu'n sylweddol yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Felly, mae'n her enfawr i'r sector, yn cynnwys Hosbis Dewi Sant, allu ateb y galw cynyddol hwnnw tra bod ganddynt y costau cynyddol sy'n rhoi cymaint o bwysau ar eu model cyflawni.
Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r un peth yn wir i Tŷ Hafan, yr wyf hefyd yn gyfarwydd iawn ag ef. Mewn gwirionedd, mae gennyf deulu ar hyn o bryd sydd wedi cysylltu â mi i ddweud pa mor hanfodol yw'r gwasanaethau y mae Tŷ Hafan yn eu darparu i'w teulu. Mae gan eu mab Patrick, sy'n wyth oed, gyflwr genetig prin, rhaid iddo ddefnyddio cadair olwyn, caiff ei fwydo drwy diwb ac mae ganddo anawsterau dysgu difrifol a phroblemau synhwyraidd. Weithiau mae ei ymddygiad yn heriol ac yn aml nid yw'n cysgu am fwy na dwy awr y nos. Mae hyn yn golygu bod angen cefnogaeth ar rieni Patrick, Collette a Matt, ac ar ei frodyr, Vincent a Sam yn wir. Mae'n llawer mwy nag anghenion personol Patrick ei hun o ran y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen ar y teulu, ac fe wnaethant ddarganfod bod Tŷ Hafan yn cydnabod hynny'n bendant ac yn darparu cefnogaeth i'r teulu cyfan. Mewn gwirionedd, mae Collette yn dweud wrthyf eu bod, bob hyn a hyn o fisoedd, yn cael cynnig gwely sydd wedi'i ganslo ar fyr rybudd yn Tŷ Hafan. Byddant yn cael galwad ffôn yn gofyn a fyddai Patrick yn hoffi dod i mewn yfory am rai dyddiau, ac mae hynny'n achubiaeth fawr i'w teulu. Mae ganddynt hyder llwyr yn y gwasanaethau meddygol sydd ar gael yno yn Tŷ Hafan, ac mae'n caniatáu iddynt dreulio peth amser gyda'u meibion eraill, Sam a Vincent, er mwyn galluogi'r teulu i wneud y pethau syml y mae teuluoedd eraill yn eu cymryd yn ganiataol ac sy'n gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth. Mae tad Patrick, Matt, yn dweud wrthym ei bod hi'n hanfodol bwysig fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu gofal hosbis yng Nghymru yn briodol, gan gynnwys Tŷ Hafan, oherwydd mae'n achubiaeth fawr i deuluoedd sy'n wynebu'r gwaethaf oll. Mae'n bwysig dangos bod Cymru'n wlad dosturiol, ac mae cael cefnogaeth Tŷ Hafan yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr ac yn cadw cymaint o deuluoedd rhag methu ymdopi o gwbl.
Felly, gyda'r holl gefndir y credaf yn onest fod yr Aelodau yma'n gwybod yn iawn amdano, Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda hosbisau i ddatblygu'r model ariannu cynaliadwy allweddol a hanfodol y maent yn gweithio tuag ato.
I'm pleased to be part of this debate. No doubt we will mention several of the statistics that will be repeated, because it's such an important area. Of course, many of us have already been touched by the service that is provided by hospices across Wales, so it's such an important area to look at. Can I thank all of those charities who do so much outstanding work in the field—charities in my area, such as St David's Hospice, the Hospice of the Valleys, Helping Hands, Tŷ Hafan and others operating in the constituency, providing that invaluable support to patients and their families during that most difficult time of people's lives?
I want to draw particular attention to Tŷ Hafan, as Julie Morgan and John Griffiths have already highlighted—that hospice and charity that cares for children and the families of children. Last year the charity supported 477 families, with a further 437 families receiving bereavement support. It supported over 1,000 respite nights and delivered 280 nights of end-of-life care and symptom management support. Dirprwy Lywydd, the simple truth is that as medical technologies advance, we are all living longer and this will inevitably increase the demand for palliative care at the end of life. Yet, as Hospice UK estimates, one in four people do not receive the specialist palliative care they need, often as a result of marginalisation and exclusion, made worse by patchy and uneven services and funding.
Furthermore, this vital sector has been hit with increasing costs, as we've heard, such as the employers' national insurance rise and the workforce shortage. We cannot allow inadequate care to be the reason people feel driven to consider ending their lives, out of desperation, and the reality is that for too many, this is already the case. A survey of Wales's 14 voluntary hospices found that 30 per cent are already reducing beds or cutting services, while over 70 per cent of those with in-patient units expect at least one bed to close, either temporarily or permanently.
I'm not here today to make a judgment on the assisted dying Bill, which is a debate for another time and another place, however, the conversation around assisted dying must shine a light on how we as a society care for those at the end of life and those most in need of support. What we urgently need is better financial policy making to sustain our hospices. We need a long-term sustainable funding model for hospices in Wales to address this crisis with the urgency it deserves. The Welsh Conservatives, as we've said, have already pledged to implement this, as well as an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term, and I encourage every party here to do the same.
Dirprwy Lywydd, this should not be a political matter, and I certainly do not want to make it one. We are all talking about care at a time when people are at their most vulnerable. This vital sector provides that essential care and support for both patients and their families and we cannot underestimate how important that work is. I hope that colleagues across the Chamber will support this motion and provide our hospices with the long-term support they so desperately need. Diolch.
Rwy'n falch o gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon. Yn ddiamau, byddwn yn crybwyll nifer o'r ystadegau a fydd yn cael eu hailadrodd, gan ei fod yn faes mor bwysig. Wrth gwrs, mae profiad gan lawer ohonom eisoes o'r gwasanaeth a ddarperir gan hosbisau ledled Cymru, felly mae'n faes mor bwysig i'w archwilio. A gaf i ddiolch i'r holl elusennau hynny sy'n gwneud cymaint o waith rhagorol yn y maes—elusennau yn fy ardal i, fel Hosbis Dewi Sant, Hosbis y Cymoedd, Helping Hands, Tŷ Hafan ac eraill sy'n gweithredu yn yr etholaeth, gan ddarparu cymorth amhrisiadwy i gleifion a'u teuluoedd yn y cyfnod anoddaf ym mywydau pobl?
Hoffwn dynnu sylw yn benodol at Tŷ Hafan, a grybwyllwyd eisoes gan Julie Morgan a John Griffiths—yr hosbis a'r elusen honno sy'n gofalu am blant a theuluoedd plant. Y llynedd, cefnogodd yr elusen 477 o deuluoedd, gyda 437 o deuluoedd eraill yn derbyn cymorth mewn profedigaeth. Cefnogodd dros 1,000 noson o seibiant a darparodd 280 noson o ofal diwedd oes a chymorth rheoli symptomau. Ddirprwy Lywydd, y gwir amdani, wrth i dechnolegau meddygol ddatblygu, yw ein bod yn byw'n hirach, a bydd hyn yn anochel yn cynyddu'r galw am ofal lliniarol ar ddiwedd oes. Ac eto, fel y mae Hospice UK yn amcangyfrif, nid yw un o bob pedwar o bobl yn cael y gofal lliniarol arbenigol sydd ei angen arnynt, yn aml o ganlyniad i gael eu hymyleiddio a'u hallgáu, sefyllfa a waethygir gan wasanaethau a chyllid anghyson a thameidiog.
Yn ogystal, mae'r sector hanfodol hwn wedi'i daro gan gostau cynyddol, fel y clywsom, megis y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr a phrinder gweithlu. Ni allwn ganiatáu i ofal annigonol fod yn rheswm i bobl deimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwthio i ystyried dod â'u bywydau i ben mewn anobaith, a'r gwir amdani yw bod hyn eisoes yn wir yn achos gormod o bobl. Canfu arolwg o 14 hosbis wirfoddol Cymru fod 30 y cant eisoes yn lleihau nifer y gwelyau neu'n torri gwasanaethau, tra bo dros 70 y cant o'r rhai ag unedau cleifion mewnol yn disgwyl i o leiaf un gwely gau, naill ai dros dro neu'n barhaol.
Nid wyf yma heddiw i roi fy marn ar y Bil marw â chymorth, sy'n ddadl ar gyfer adeg arall a lle arall, ond mae'n rhaid i'r sgwrs ynghylch marw â chymorth daflu goleuni ar sut rydym ni fel cymdeithas yn gofalu am y rhai sydd ar ddiwedd eu hoes a'r rhai sydd fwyaf angen cymorth. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom ar frys yw polisïau ariannol gwell i gynnal ein hosbisau. Mae angen model ariannu cynaliadwy hirdymor arnom ar gyfer hosbisau yng Nghymru i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hwn gyda'r brys y mae'n ei haeddu. Mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, fel y dywedasom, eisoes wedi addo rhoi hyn ar waith, yn ogystal â £40 miliwn ychwanegol dros dymor nesaf y Senedd, ac rwy'n annog pob plaid yma i wneud yr un peth.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, ni ddylai hwn fod yn fater gwleidyddol, ac yn sicr, nid wyf am ei wneud yn un. Rydym yn siarad am ofal ar adeg pan fo pobl ar eu mwyaf bregus. Mae'r sector hanfodol hwn yn darparu'r gofal a'r cymorth hanfodol hwnnw i gleifion a'u teuluoedd ac ni allwn danbrisio pa mor bwysig yw'r gwaith hwnnw. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd fy nghyd-Aelodau ar draws y Siambr yn cefnogi'r cynnig hwn ac yn darparu'r cymorth hirdymor y maent ei angen mor daer i'n hosbisau. Diolch.
Mi ges i'r fraint o ymweld â hosbis Sant Cyndeyrn—St Kentigern—yn fy rhanbarth i ychydig cyn y Nadolig, a dweud y gwir. Mae'n gwasanaethu ardaloedd yn sir Ddinbych, sir y Fflint a sir Conwy, ac mi wnaeth yr ymweliad danlinellu, y tu hwnt i unrhyw amheuaeth yn fy meddwl i, y gwahaniaeth sylweddol y mae hosbisau o'r fath yn ei wneud i fywydau cymaint o bobl. Mi oedd hi mor ofidus i glywed staff yn dweud, i bob pwrpas, yn blwmp ac yn blaen, yn ystod yr ymweliad yna, fod y model o safbwynt darpariaeth hosbisau, i bob pwrpas, wedi torri. Dyw hynny ddim, efallai, yn rhywbeth newydd i nifer o bobl sy'n gyfarwydd â'r ddarpariaeth hosbisau yma yng Nghymru, ond maen nhw, fel rŷn ni'n gwybod, wedi gorfod gweithio mor, mor galed dros nifer o flynyddoedd jest i oroesi. Ond nawr, wrth gwrs, yn fwy diweddar, gyda'r pwysau sylweddol cynyddol ar y costau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu, ynghyd â'r frwydr barhaus i godi arian—mae gwneud hynny nawr yng nghanol argyfwng costau byw yn ogystal yn gadael y sector mewn lle anodd eithriadol.
I had the privilege of visiting the St Kentigan's hospice in my region a little before Christmas. It serves areas in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Conwy, and that visit truly did highlight, beyond any doubt in my mind, the significant difference that such hospices make to the lives of so many people. It was so worrying to hear staff saying quite clearly during that visit that the model of hospice provision, to all intents and purposes, is broken. That isn't something new to many people who are familiar with the hospice provision here in Wales, but, as we know, they have had to work so very hard over a number of years just to survive. But now, of course, more recently, with the increasing significant cost pressures that they face, along with the ongoing battle to fundraise—to do that now in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis leaves the sector in an extremely difficult position.
And let's be clear, hospices are essential, as we've heard, to our wider health service. They take the pressure off our NHS in so many ways, and I'm sure if you were to ask the health boards themselves to describe the importance of the hospice sector, then they would leave us in no doubt about what they contribute.
Now, statistics don't always tell us the human story, do they, but they clearly do tell a story. We know that more than 35,000 people die every year in Wales, and up to 90 per cent of those could actually benefit from palliative care that hospices excel at providing; 20,000 children and adults are supported by hospices each year; 800 clinical care staff are employed by hospice care organisations. Now, imagine if those services weren't available. That's one way of underlining how important they are. Imagine that they weren't there, and the additional pressures that their disappearance, effectively, would place on our hospitals, on our GP practices and other associated services, and that's why it's hugely concerning that a third of them, according to Hospices Cymru, have had to reduce services.
Now, three quarters of costs, of course, are staff and wages, and the UK Government's national insurance hike last year has left St Kentigern, for example, with an additional £65,000 bill, with no support to claw that back. That's a huge concern. Well, that's the reality, and those are the consequences of political decisions. They've had to rely on the community to raise funds; just 30 per cent of their funding comes from Government. And I personally have been involved with Tŷ Gobaith-Hope House as well, volunteering and raising funds on a few occasions. St Kentigern, particularly, have 10 shops, and they rely on 300 volunteers to support the fundraising work that they do. It really defies logic that a service of such importance effectively relies on coffee mornings and raffles. We know that goodwill doesn't pay the bills.
But we also know that St Kentigern isn't just a hospice, it's a hub. The cafe that they run there is a key hub for the wider community. There are also outreach visits to patients, to enable them to stay in their home rather than to become hospitalised. There are so many intangible impacts that these community-based organisations make to thousands of people's lives on a daily basis.
Now, the ask from the hospices is that they have that sustainable funding scheme, and I mentioned the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is having a real impact on their income streams. I have real concerns that some of these vital services, and they are vital, aren't they, they're not nice to have—. The danger is that they will diminish and eventually disappear. Our NHS is already under huge strain, and hospices are key to easing that burden.
We have one in five hospital beds occupied by people in their last 12 months of life. We have seven in 10 paediatric intensive care bed days occupied by a child with a life-limiting condition. Of the £610 million spent on healthcare for people in Wales in their last year of life, over £500 million of that was spent on hospital care. So, as we aim—all of us I know—to move to a more preventative system of health and social care to stop people falling ill in the first place, we know that hospice services will always be needed. The least we can do is to give them the help that they need to be able to do that. Diolch.
A gadewch inni fod yn glir, mae hosbisau'n hanfodol i'n gwasanaeth iechyd ehangach, fel y clywsom. Maent yn tynnu'r pwysau oddi ar ein GIG mewn cymaint o ffyrdd, ac rwy'n siŵr, pe baech chi'n gofyn i'r byrddau iechyd eu hunain ddisgrifio pwysigrwydd y sector hosbisau, ni fyddent yn ein gadael mewn unrhyw amheuaeth ynglŷn â'r hyn y maent yn ei gyfrannu.
Nawr, nid yw ystadegau bob amser yn dweud y stori ddynol wrthym, ond maent yn amlwg yn dweud stori. Gwyddom fod mwy na 35,000 o bobl yn marw bob blwyddyn yng Nghymru, a gallai hyd at 90 y cant o'r rheini elwa o ofal lliniarol y mae hosbisau'n rhagori ar ei ddarparu; mae 20,000 o blant ac oedolion yn cael eu cefnogi gan hosbisau bob blwyddyn; mae 800 o staff gofal clinigol yn cael eu cyflogi gan sefydliadau gofal hosbis. Nawr, dychmygwch pe na bai'r gwasanaethau hynny ar gael. Dyna un ffordd o danlinellu pa mor bwysig ydynt. Dychmygwch pe na byddent yno, a'r pwysau ychwanegol y byddai eu diflaniad, i bob pwrpas, yn ei roi ar ein hysbytai, ar ein practisau meddyg teulu a gwasanaethau cysylltiedig eraill, a dyna pam y mae'n hynod bryderus fod traean ohonynt, yn ôl Hosbisau Cymru, wedi gorfod lleihau eu gwasanaethau.
Nawr, staff a chyflogau, wrth gwrs, yw tri chwarter y costau, ac mae cynnydd Llywodraeth y DU i yswiriant gwladol y llynedd wedi gadael hosbis St Kentigern, er enghraifft, gyda bil ychwanegol o £65,000, heb unrhyw gymorth i adfer yr arian hwnnw. Mae hynny'n bryder enfawr. Wel, dyna'r realiti, ac maent yn ganlyniadau i benderfyniadau gwleidyddol. Maent wedi gorfod dibynnu ar y gymuned i godi arian; dim ond 30 y cant o'u cyllid sy'n dod gan y Llywodraeth. Ac yn bersonol, rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Tŷ Gobaith hefyd, yn gwirfoddoli a chodi arian ar ambell achlysur. Mae gan hosbis St Kentigern, yn benodol, 10 siop, ac maent yn dibynnu ar 300 o wirfoddolwyr i gefnogi'r gwaith codi arian a wnânt. Mae y tu hwnt i resymeg fod gwasanaeth mor bwysig yn dibynnu i bob pwrpas ar foreau coffi a rafflau. Gwyddom nad yw ewyllys da yn talu'r biliau.
Ond gwyddom hefyd nad hosbis yn unig yw St Kentigern, mae'n ganolfan. Mae'r caffi y maent yn ei redeg yno yn ganolfan allweddol i'r gymuned ehangach. Mae yna ymweliadau allgymorth â chleifion hefyd, i'w galluogi i aros yn eu cartref yn hytrach na mynd i'r ysbyty. Mae cymaint o effeithiau na ellir eu cyfrif y mae'r sefydliadau cymunedol hyn yn eu cael ar fywydau miloedd o bobl bob dydd.
Nawr, yr hyn y mae'r hosbisau'n gofyn amdano yw cynllun ariannu cynaliadwy, a soniais fod yr argyfwng costau byw parhaus yn cael effaith wirioneddol ar eu ffrydiau incwm. Mae gennyf bryderon gwirioneddol fod rhai o'r gwasanaethau hanfodol hyn, ac maent yn hanfodol onid ydynt, nid pethau braf i'w cael yn unig—. Y perygl yw y byddant yn lleihau ac yn diflannu yn y pen draw. Mae ein GIG eisoes o dan straen enfawr, ac mae hosbisau'n allweddol i leddfu'r baich hwnnw.
Mae un o bob pump o'n gwelyau ysbyty mewn defnydd gan bobl yn 12 mis olaf eu bywyd. Mae gennym saith o bob 10 diwrnod gwely gofal dwys pediatrig mewn defnydd gan blentyn â chyflwr sy'n cyfyngu ar eu bywyd. O'r £610 miliwn a wariwyd ar ofal iechyd i bobl yng Nghymru ym mlwyddyn olaf eu bywydau, gwariwyd dros £500 miliwn ohono ar ofal ysbyty. Felly, wrth inni anelu—pob un ohonom, rwy'n gwybod—i newid i system fwy ataliol o iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i atal pobl rhag mynd yn sâl yn y lle cyntaf, gwyddom y bydd angen gwasanaethau hosbis bob amser. Y lleiaf y gallwn ei wneud yw rhoi'r cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt i allu gwneud hynny. Diolch.
It was the former Vice President Hubert Humphrey who said,
'the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life...in the twilight of life...in the shadows of life'.
It's our hospices who are supporting those in the twilight of life and in the shadows of life. It's in light of quotes like this that we have brought forward this debate today on hospices.
I want to recognise the exceptional work that hospices and palliative care providers do across Wales, and particularly in my region in north Wales. Every day these dedicated staff and volunteers provide high-quality care to those at the end of their lives, offering comfort, dignity and vital support to their families. Their work is often unseen, yet as we've heard already today, it is invaluable.
We cannot talk about celebrating their work without acknowledging the unprecedented pressures that they face. We've already heard that hospices are struggling under the weight of rising costs, workforce shortages and increasing demand for their services. We've heard about the employers' national insurance increases, rising energy bills and other operating costs that are forcing organisations that primarily exist to care for the vulnerable into financial crisis.
I've heard this first-hand from Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham, who recently celebrated their thirtieth anniversary of excellent work in Wrexham, supporting the town and its surrounding communities. Like all Welsh hospices, they are experiencing financial pressures, and are now having to budget a deficit for this coming year. We heard from Peter Fox, and I read the same survey by Hospice UK in regard to the fact that so many hospices are having to reduce those beds and cut services. But in addition to what Peter Fox said, that same survey shows that three quarters of hospices fear they'll be forced to withdraw support they currently provide to hospitals and to care homes as well.
It's important to stress that these pressures are not caused by the sector itself. They're the direct result of decisions being made in this place, and by politicians in Westminster as well, decisions that are being made to increase the cost of employment without providing support to go along with it, leaving these organisations to bear the brunt of rising demand without that adequate funding. That's why we believe the Welsh Government must act responsibly and urgently to ensure that those at the end of life receive the care and dignity they deserve.
Going back to Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham, when they opened 30 years ago, they had running costs of around £1 million a year, of which 80 per cent was statutory funding, and they had to raise an additional 20 per cent. Today, that same hospice has running costs of around £5.6 million, and it's completely flipped. It now raises 80 per cent of its funds, with only 20 per cent coming from statutory sources. This shows the shift in that 30-year time between how hospices were funded and how they're not being funded adequately today.
And let's not forget, as others have already intimated, that hospices do more than provide compassionate care. They take pressure off the NHS by supporting patients in their community, in their own homes, and in in-patient units. Hospices reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, help patients leave hospital sooner, and allow NHS staff to focus on that all-important acute care. So, when hospices struggle, the knock-on effect is felt across the health service, increasing strain on already stretched hospitals and care homes. And that's why we as Welsh Conservatives are calling for that new sustainable funding model, including an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term, to give hospices certainty and stability. This is a recognition that those organisations provide a public service of immense value, and that the Welsh Government has a duty to ensure their survival.
So, in closing, Deputy Presiding Officer, the Welsh Conservatives will continue to stand up for hospices, their staff and the families they support. We call on the Welsh Government to stop ignoring this crisis, deliver a sustainable funding model, and provide the resources these vital services need to continue their exceptional work. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Y cyn Is-arlywydd Hubert Humphrey a ddywedodd,
'prawf moesol llywodraeth yw sut y mae'r llywodraeth honno'n trin y rhai sydd yng ngwawr bywyd... yng nghyfnos bywyd... yng nghysgodion bywyd'.
Ein hosbisau sy'n cefnogi'r rheini yng nghyfnos bywyd ac yng nghysgodion bywyd. Yng ngoleuni dyfyniadau fel hyn y cyflwynwn y ddadl hon heddiw ar hosbisau.
Hoffwn gydnabod y gwaith gwych y mae hosbisau a darparwyr gofal lliniarol yn ei wneud ledled Cymru, ac yn enwedig yn fy rhanbarth i yng ngogledd Cymru. Bob dydd, mae'r staff a'r gwirfoddolwyr ymroddedig hyn yn darparu gofal o ansawdd uchel i'r rhai sydd ar ddiwedd eu hoes, gan gynnig cysur, urddas a chefnogaeth hanfodol i'w teuluoedd. Yn aml, nid yw eu gwaith yn weladwy, ond fel y clywsom heddiw eisoes, mae'n amhrisiadwy.
Ni allwn siarad am ddathlu eu gwaith heb gydnabod y pwysau digynsail y maent yn ei wynebu. Rydym eisoes wedi clywed bod hosbisau'n ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi â chostau cynyddol, prinder gweithlu a galw cynyddol am eu gwasanaethau. Rydym wedi clywed am y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, biliau ynni cynyddol a chostau gweithredu eraill sy'n gorfodi sefydliadau sy'n bodoli'n bennaf i ofalu am bobl fregus i mewn i argyfwng ariannol.
Rwyf wedi clywed hyn yn uniongyrchol gan Hosbis Tŷ'r Eos yn Wrecsam, sydd wedi bod yn dathlu yn ddiweddar—deng mlynedd ar hugain o waith rhagorol yn Wrecsam yn cefnogi'r dref a'i chymunedau cyfagos. Fel pob hosbis yng Nghymru, maent yn wynebu pwysau ariannol, ac maent bellach yn gorfod cyllidebu diffyg ar gyfer y flwyddyn sy'n dod. Clywsom gan Peter Fox, a darllenais yr un arolwg gan Hospice UK ynglŷn â'r ffaith bod cymaint o hosbisau'n gorfod lleihau nifer y gwelyau a thorri gwasanaethau. Ond yn ogystal â'r hyn a ddywedodd Peter Fox, mae'r un arolwg yn dangos bod tri chwarter yr hosbisau'n ofni y byddant yn cael eu gorfodi i roi'r gorau i ddarparu'r cymorth y maent yn ei ddarparu ar hyn o bryd i ysbytai ac i gartrefi gofal hefyd.
Mae'n bwysig pwysleisio nad y sector ei hun sy'n achosi'r pwysau hwn. Mae'n ganlyniad uniongyrchol i benderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud yn y lle hwn, a chan wleidyddion yn San Steffan hefyd, penderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud i gynyddu cost cyflogaeth heb ddarparu cymorth i fynd law yn llaw â hynny, gan adael y sefydliadau hyn i ysgwyddo baich y galw cynyddol heb gyllid digonol. Dyna pam y credwn fod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu'n gyfrifol ac ar frys i sicrhau bod y rhai sydd ar ddiwedd eu hoes yn derbyn y gofal a'r urddas y maent yn ei haeddu.
Gan fynd yn ôl at Hosbis Tŷ'r Eos yn Wrecsam, pan agorasant 30 mlynedd yn ôl, roedd ganddynt gostau rhedeg o oddeutu £1 filiwn y flwyddyn, gydag 80 y cant ohono'n gyllid statudol, ac roedd yn rhaid iddynt godi'r 20 y cant ychwanegol. Heddiw, mae gan yr un hosbis gostau rhedeg o oddeutu £5.6 miliwn, ac mae'r sefyllfa wedi'i throi ar ei phen. Mae bellach yn codi 80 y cant o'i harian, gyda dim ond 20 y cant yn dod o ffynonellau statudol. Mae hyn yn dangos y newid yn y cyfnod hwnnw o 30 mlynedd rhwng y ffordd y câi hosbisau eu hariannu a'r ffordd nad ydynt yn cael eu hariannu'n ddigonol heddiw.
Ac fel y mae eraill wedi awgrymu eisoes, gadewch inni beidio ag anghofio bod hosbisau'n gwneud mwy na darparu gofal tosturiol. Maent yn tynnu pwysau oddi ar y GIG drwy gefnogi cleifion yn eu cymuned, yn eu cartrefi eu hunain, ac mewn unedau cleifion mewnol. Mae hosbisau'n lleihau derbyniadau diangen i'r ysbyty, yn helpu cleifion i adael yr ysbyty yn gynt, ac yn caniatáu i staff y GIG ganolbwyntio ar ofal acíwt hollbwysig. Felly, pan fydd hosbisau'n ei chael hi'n anodd, mae'r effaith ganlyniadol i'w theimlo ar draws y gwasanaeth iechyd, gan gynyddu'r straen ar ysbytai a chartrefi gofal sydd eisoes o dan bwysau. A dyna pam ein bod ni fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn galw am fodel ariannu cynaliadwy newydd, gan gynnwys £40 miliwn ychwanegol dros dymor y Senedd nesaf, i roi sicrwydd a sefydlogrwydd i hosbisau. Mae hyn yn gydnabyddiaeth fod y sefydliadau hynny'n darparu gwasanaeth cyhoeddus o werth aruthrol, a bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddyletswydd i sicrhau eu bod yn goroesi.
Felly, i gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, bydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn parhau i sefyll dros hosbisau, eu staff a'r teuluoedd y maent yn eu cefnogi. Galwn ar Lywodraeth Cymru i roi'r gorau i anwybyddu'r argyfwng hwn, cyflwyno model ariannu cynaliadwy, a darparu'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen ar y gwasanaethau hanfodol hyn i barhau â'u gwaith anhygoel. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Many thanks to the Welsh Conservatives for bringing this motion, probably very close to Paul Davies's heart, because last week I spoke to somebody from north Pembrokeshire who said how awful it was that Shalom hospice had closed, and the impact that would have on individuals and their families. Now, we all know that many people wish to die at home, but of course that's not always possible. Studies have shown that home-based palliative care is the least costly model, with hospital care being the most costly model, and then hospice care being a vitally necessary middle ground. Despite this, almost a fifth of hospital beds in Wales are occupied by people in the last 12 months of their lives, according to Marie Curie, and, unfortunately, I was at such a bed only a fortnight ago.
The body of evidence and policy suggestions are already here when it comes to hospice care. A report on the state funding of hospices in England was published by the House of Lords in 2024, where many of the issues we face in Wales were raised and solutions offered. At that time, Hospice UK called for a strategy for the next five years that involved all four nations. That would involve statutory funding, a national bequest campaign, which Hospice UK have already started, and other ideas for a long-term funding stream for hospices, to avoid the closure of hospices like Shalom in Paul Davies's constituency. This would prevent also the postcode lottery we are now seeing, which means wealthier areas end up with better care.
When hospice and palliative care is provided, it is of high quality, and life-changing for individuals and their families. I have seen that with my own eyes in Holme Tower in Penarth and City Hospice in Whitchurch. I've also seen how fantastic Tŷ Hafan is when they supported my brother and sister-in-law in the final days of my nephew's life, and for years afterwards.
Supporting what Julie Morgan has already said, evidence presented to the Westminster Health and Social Care Committee on assisted dying shows that the UK has been a world leader in palliative and end-of-life care. Evidence even showed that specialist palliative care is so effective at symptom relief that many who enter hospices—and I've seen this—thinking that they were going there to die were stabilised and then lived fulfilling lives for many months to come. There is an incredible 50 per cent discharge rate from hospices. They aren't necessarily a place where you go to die; it's often a place where you go to stabilise, and to stabilise the medication.
I appreciate the Welsh Government amendment, and I know that hospices welcome the increase in funding and the ongoing work by the Welsh Government to develop a sustainable funding model. But, even at the time of that funding uplift in 2024, we all remember that Hospice UK made it clear that the funding did not address the immediate funding challenges that Welsh hospices are facing. Marie Curie said the same thing. If what Welsh Government was doing was enough, Hospice UK would not be asking them for urgent action.
Now, to accept the Government amendment would be to delete point 3—something I cannot support. To delete point 3 would be to delete the following: '30 per cent'—of Welsh hospices—
'are already reducing beds or cutting services'.
We shouldn't be deleting that. 'Over 70 per cent'—of Welsh hospices—
'with inpatient units expect at least one bed to close temporarily or permanently'.
We shouldn't be deleting that. Three-quarters of Welsh hospices
'fear that they will be forced to withdraw support they currently provide to hospitals and care homes.'
Do Labour Members really want to delete this from the motion and hide behind the sentence:
'Recognises the findings of the Hospice UK survey'?
In most of our lives, we don't acknowledge the fact that we are going to die. That habit means that we can sometimes ignore the work of hospices. But there will come a time for everyone here when we wish that there will be good end-of-life care for us or our loved ones. There is only one chance to get care right when someone is dying. We have a chance in this place to secure the future of hospices for years to come. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr i'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn, sy'n agos iawn at galon Paul Davies mae'n siŵr, oherwydd yr wythnos diwethaf, siaradais â rhywun o ogledd sir Benfro a ddywedodd pa mor ofnadwy oedd hi fod hosbis Shalom wedi cau, a'r effaith y byddai hynny'n ei chael ar unigolion a'u teuluoedd. Nawr, fe ŵyr pob un ohonom fod llawer o bobl yn dymuno marw gartref, ond wrth gwrs, nid yw hynny bob amser yn bosib. Mae astudiaethau wedi dangos mai gofal lliniarol yn y cartref yw'r model rhataf, ac mai gofal ysbyty yw'r model mwyaf costus, gyda gofal hosbis yn dir canol cwbl hanfodol. Er gwaethaf hyn, mae bron i un o bob pum gwely ysbyty yng Nghymru mewn defnydd gan bobl yn 12 mis olaf eu bywydau, yn ôl Marie Curie, ac yn anffodus, roeddwn wrth wely o'r fath bythefnos yn ôl.
Mae'r corff o dystiolaeth ac awgrymiadau polisi eisoes gennym o ran gofal hosbis. Cyhoeddwyd adroddiad gan Dŷ'r Arglwyddi yn 2024 ar gyllid y wladwriaeth i hosbisau yn Lloegr, lle codwyd llawer o'r materion a wynebwn yng Nghymru, gydag atebion yn cael eu cynnig. Bryd hynny, galwodd Hospice UK am strategaeth bum mlynedd ar gyfer y pedair gwlad. Byddai hynny'n cynnwys cyllid statudol, ymgyrch roddion genedlaethol, y mae Hospice UK eisoes wedi'i chychwyn, a syniadau eraill ynghylch ffrwd ariannu hirdymor i hosbisau, er mwyn osgoi cau hosbisau fel hosbis Shalom yn etholaeth Paul Davies. Byddai hyn hefyd yn atal y loteri cod post a welwn ar hyn o bryd, sy'n golygu bod ardaloedd cyfoethocach yn cael gwell gofal.
Pan ddarperir gofal hosbis a gofal lliniarol, mae o ansawdd uchel, ac yn newid bywydau unigolion a'u teuluoedd. Gwelais hynny â'm llygaid fy hun yn Holme Tower ym Mhenarth a Hosbis y Ddinas yn yr Eglwys Newydd. Rwyf hefyd wedi gweld pa mor wych yw Tŷ Hafan pan wnaethant gefnogi fy mrawd a fy chwaer-yng-nghyfraith yn nyddiau olaf bywyd fy nai, ac am flynyddoedd wedyn.
Gan gefnogi'r hyn y mae Julie Morgan eisoes wedi'i ddweud, mae tystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd i Bwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol San Steffan ar farw â chymorth yn dangos bod y DU wedi bod yn arweinydd byd-eang mewn gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes. Dangosodd tystiolaeth fod gofal lliniarol arbenigol mor effeithiol am leddfu symptomau fel bod llawer sy'n mynd i hosbisau—ac rwyf wedi gweld hyn—gan feddwl eu bod yn mynd yno i farw wedi sefydlogi ac wedi byw bywydau boddhaus wedyn am fisoedd lawer i ddod. Mae cyfradd ryddhau anhygoel o 50 y cant o hosbisau. Nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn lle y byddwch yn mynd iddo i farw; yn aml, mae'n lle i fynd iddo i sefydlogi, ac i sefydlogi'r feddyginiaeth.
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi gwelliant Llywodraeth Cymru, a gwn fod hosbisau'n croesawu'r cynnydd mewn cyllid a'r gwaith parhaus gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar ddatblygu model cyllido cynaliadwy. Ond hyd yn oed pan gafwyd y cynnydd hwnnw i'r cyllid yn 2024, mae pob un ohonom yn cofio bod Hospice UK wedi nodi'n glir nad oedd y cyllid yn mynd i'r afael â'r heriau cyllido uniongyrchol y mae hosbisau Cymru’n eu hwynebu. Dywedodd Marie Curie yr un peth. Pe bai'r hyn oedd Llywodraeth Cymru’n ei wneud yn ddigon, ni fyddai Hospice UK yn gofyn iddynt gymryd camau brys.
Nawr, byddai derbyn gwelliant y Llywodraeth yn golygu dileu pwynt 3—rhywbeth na allaf ei gefnogi. Byddai dileu pwynt 3 yn golygu dileu'r canlynol: fod '30 y cant'—o hosbisau Cymru—
'eisoes yn lleihau gwelyau neu'n torri gwasanaethau'.
Ni ddylem ddileu hynny. 'Fod dros 70 y cant'—o hosbisau Cymru—
'sydd ag unedau cleifion mewnol yn disgwyl i o leiaf un gwely gau dros dro neu'n barhaol'.
Ni ddylem ddileu hynny. Fod tri chwarter yr hosbisau yng Nghymru
'yn ofni y byddant yn cael eu gorfodi i dynnu nôl y cymorth y maen nhw'n ei ddarparu ar hyn o bryd i ysbytai a chartrefi gofal.'
A yw'r Aelodau Llafur o ddifrif eisiau dileu hyn o'r cynnig a chuddio y tu ôl i'r frawddeg:
'Yn cydnabod canfyddiadau arolwg Hospice UK'?
Ym mywydau'r rhan fwyaf ohonom, nid ydym yn cydnabod y ffaith ein bod yn mynd i farw. Mae'r arferiad hwnnw'n golygu weithiau y gallwn anwybyddu gwaith hosbisau. Ond fe ddaw amser i bawb yma pan fyddwn yn dymuno gweld gofal diwedd oes da ar ein cyfer ni neu ein hanwyliaid. Dim ond un cyfle sydd yna i gael gofal yn iawn pan fydd rhywun yn marw. Mae gennym gyfle yn y lle hwn i ddiogelu dyfodol hosbisau am flynyddoedd i ddod. Diolch yn fawr.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, Jeremy Miles.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We have had today an opportunity to discuss and to agree on the important role that hospices play, following the short debate again in September. I want to set out today the Welsh Government's position on the future of hospice and palliative care in Wales.
But I want to begin by reaffirming the principle on which this Senedd is united. Hospices make an exceptional and irreplaceable contribution to end-of-life care. They provide compassionate specialist support at the most difficult moments in people's lives, delivered with dignity, professionalism and humanity. We recognise their importance and are working closely with the sector, as many Members have acknowledged, to understand and to support the pressures that they are facing.
Recent developments underline the seriousness of those challenges. The closure of Shalom House Hospice and the temporary closure of in-patient beds at St David's Hospice in Holyhead have caused real and understandable concern for patients, families, for staff and communities. These events, as we have heard in the debate, highlight the need for a sustainable long-term approach to hospice funding and commissioning that protects essential services and ensures stability for the future. This debate today is focused on a stable funding framework for hospices.
Dirprwy Lywydd, over this Senedd term, the Welsh Government has increased hospice funding by £21 million. This includes an additional £5.2 million every year, alongside more than £9.5 million in one-off grants to help the sector manage rising costs. Most recently, as we've heard in the debate, we have provided £3 million in recurring funding to support hospices with inflationary and workforce pressures. This sits alongside significant investment from health boards, which, of course, play a central role in commissioning and supporting hospice care.
However, in a period when public finances are under real pressure, it is even more important for us, together, to ensure that the resources that we have are used as effectively as we possibly can. Our shared aim with the sector must be to direct funding towards care that makes the greatest difference to people's comfort, dignity and quality of life. This means supporting services to work efficiently and ensuring that people receive the right care in the right place, including, importantly, as we've heard, reducing avoidable hospital admissions. Health boards and hospices each play a vital role in achieving this. By exploring innovative approaches, improving co-ordination and embedding the best practice that we've heard referred to today, we can ensure that the resources that we do have can go as far as possible to support the work of the sector. Working together in this way will strengthen palliative and end-of-life care within the budgets we have available to us, while maintaining the compassion, expertise and person-centred support that patients and families rightly expect.
We are, of course, aware of the figures presented by Hospices Cymru and Hospice UK regarding immediate and projected cost pressures, and I was able to meet with them recently to discuss some of those pressures at first hand. Those figures are being considered carefully alongside other pressures across the wider health and social care system, and whilst we can't, of course, pre-empt budget decisions, we remain committed to ongoing engagement with the sector to ensure that the most urgent risks are understood and that support is targeted where it can have the greatest impact. But, as we've heard in the debate today, long-term sustainability, however, requires more than annual funding uplifts. That's why we're working with the NHS joint commissioning committee and the strategic programme for palliative and end-of-life care to develop a new hospice commissioning approach. This will now be ready for the start of the new financial year.
But publication is only the beginning. The sector will need to continue working with commissioners to identify the right delivery model—one that is equitable, transparent and aligned with population need. The initial focus has been on establishing good practice in commissioning, reflecting, as we've heard today, the challenges faced by hospices and funding organisations. It will bring transparency to funding levels and to service provision. It will also make recommendations for further work to ensure a co-produced model of funding and delivery, where challenges and solutions are jointly understood and shared.
Our wider approach to palliative and end-of-life care combines strategic co-ordination, enhanced funding, workforce development and guidance for consistent service delivery. The national palliative and end-of-life care programme continues to drive improvement across Wales, supported by the all-Wales competence framework, which sets out the core skills and knowledge required for staff, and the national service specification, which defines what good palliative and end-of-life care should look like across all settings. Implementing all of these will ensure that services are delivered consistently, equitably and to a high standard, wherever people live.
Dirprwy Lywydd, the progress that we are making together is only possible because of the people who deliver this care every day. Staff and volunteers support individuals and families in circumstances that can be emotionally and physically very demanding. They do so with skill, with kindness and unwavering commitment to their work. I want to express our appreciation for their dedication. And, as we conclude this debate, it is important to remember why this matters. Behind the structures, the funding discussions, the policy frameworks, are individuals and families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. The impact of hospice care is felt in the easing of pain, in the reassurance offered to loved ones, and in the dignity afforded to people at the end of their lives. How we support those who are most vulnerable says a great deal about the kind of nation we aspire to be. We are under no illusions about the pressures facing hospices and the wider palliative care system. The challenges are real and, as we've heard, growing, but our commitment to working with the sector to secure sustainable, fair and resilient services remains firm. Our priority is to safeguard high-quality, person-centred care and ensure that everyone in Wales can rely on compassionate support at the end of life.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rydym wedi cael cyfle heddiw i drafod ac i gytuno ar y rôl bwysig y mae hosbisau yn ei chwarae, yn dilyn y ddadl fer eto ym mis Medi. Hoffwn nodi safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru heddiw ar ddyfodol hosbisau a gofal lliniarol yng Nghymru.
Ond hoffwn ddechrau drwy ailddatgan yr egwyddor y mae'r Senedd hon yn gytûn yn ei chylch. Mae hosbisau'n gwneud cyfraniad eithriadol a dihafal at ofal diwedd oes. Maent yn darparu cymorth tosturiol arbenigol ar yr adegau anoddaf ym mywydau pobl, a hynny gydag urddas, proffesiynoldeb a thrugaredd. Rydym yn cydnabod eu pwysigrwydd ac yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r sector, fel y mae llawer o'r Aelodau wedi'i gydnabod, i ddeall a chefnogi'r pwysau y maent yn ei wynebu.
Mae datblygiadau diweddar yn tanlinellu difrifoldeb yr heriau hynny. Mae cau Hosbis Tŷ Shalom a chau gwelyau cleifion mewnol dros dro yn Hosbis Dewi Sant yng Nghaergybi wedi achosi pryder gwirioneddol a dealladwy i gleifion, teuluoedd, staff a chymunedau. Mae'r digwyddiadau hyn, fel y clywsom yn y ddadl, yn dangos yr angen am ddull cynaliadwy hirdymor o ariannu a chomisiynu hosbisau sy'n diogelu gwasanaethau hanfodol ac yn sicrhau sefydlogrwydd ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae'r ddadl hon heddiw'n canolbwyntio ar fframwaith ariannu sefydlog ar gyfer hosbisau.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, dros dymor y Senedd hon, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cynnydd o £21 miliwn i gyllid hosbisau. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £5.2 miliwn ychwanegol bob blwyddyn, ynghyd â mwy na £9.5 miliwn mewn grantiau untro i helpu'r sector i reoli costau cynyddol. Yn fwyaf diweddar, fel y clywsom yn y ddadl, rydym wedi darparu £3 miliwn mewn cyllid cylchol i gynorthwyo hosbisau gyda phwysau chwyddiant a phwysau ar y gweithlu. Daw hyn ochr yn ochr â buddsoddiad sylweddol gan fyrddau iechyd, sydd wrth gwrs yn chwarae rhan ganolog yn comisiynu a chefnogi gofal hosbis.
Fodd bynnag, mewn cyfnod pan fo cyllid cyhoeddus o dan bwysau gwirioneddol, mae hyd yn oed yn bwysicach ein bod, gyda'n gilydd, yn sicrhau bod yr adnoddau sydd gennym yn cael eu defnyddio mor effeithiol â phosib. Y nod a rannwn gyda'r sector yw y dylid cyfeirio cyllid tuag at ofal sy'n gwneud y gwahaniaeth mwyaf i gysur, urddas ac ansawdd bywyd pobl. Mae hyn yn golygu cefnogi gwasanaethau i weithio'n effeithlon a sicrhau bod pobl yn cael y gofal cywir yn y lle cywir, gan gynnwys, yn bwysig, fel y clywsom, lleihau derbyniadau i'r ysbyty y gellir eu hosgoi. Mae byrddau iechyd a hosbisau oll yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn cyflawni hyn. Drwy archwilio dulliau arloesol, gwella cydgysylltu a gwreiddio'r arferion gorau y clywsom amdanynt heddiw, gallwn sicrhau y gall yr adnoddau sydd gennym fynd mor bell â phosib i gefnogi gwaith y sector. Bydd cydweithio yn y ffordd hon yn cryfhau gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes o fewn y cyllidebau sydd ar gael i ni, gan gadw'r tosturi, yr arbenigedd a'r gefnogaeth sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn y mae cleifion a theuluoedd yn gywir i'w disgwyl.
Rydym yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, o'r ffigurau a gyflwynwyd gan Hosbisau Cymru a Hospice UK mewn perthynas â phwysau costau uniongyrchol a rhagamcanol, a chyfarfûm â nhw'n ddiweddar i drafod rhywfaint o'r pwysau hwn yn uniongyrchol. Mae'r ffigurau hynny'n cael eu hystyried yn ofalus ochr yn ochr â phwysau arall ar draws y system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ehangach, ac er na allwn ragweld penderfyniadau cyllidebol wrth gwrs, rydym yn parhau'n ymrwymedig i ymgysylltu'n barhaus â'r sector i sicrhau bod y risgiau dwysaf yn cael eu deall a bod cymorth yn cael ei dargedu lle gall gael yr effaith fwyaf. Ond fel y clywsom yn y ddadl heddiw, mae angen mwy na chynnydd blynyddol i'r cyllid i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd hirdymor. Dyna pam ein bod yn gweithio gyda chyd-bwyllgor comisiynu'r GIG a'r rhaglen strategol ar gyfer gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes i ddatblygu dull newydd o gomisiynu gwasanaethau hosbis. Bydd y dull hwn yn barod ar gyfer dechrau'r flwyddyn ariannol newydd.
Fodd bynnag, dim ond y dechrau yw cyhoeddi. Bydd angen i'r sector barhau i weithio gyda chomisiynwyr i nodi'r model cyflawni cywir—un sy'n deg, yn dryloyw ac yn cyd-fynd ag anghenion y boblogaeth. Mae'r ffocws cychwynnol wedi bod ar sefydlu arferion da wrth gomisiynu, gan adlewyrchu, fel y clywsom heddiw, yr heriau y mae hosbisau a sefydliadau ariannu yn eu hwynebu. Bydd yn dod â thryloywder i lefelau ariannu ac i ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau. Bydd hefyd yn gwneud argymhellion ar gyfer gwaith pellach i sicrhau model ariannu a chyflawni wedi'i gydgynhyrchu, lle mae heriau ac atebion yn cael eu deall a'u rhannu ar y cyd.
Mae ein dull ehangach o ymdrin â gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes yn cyfuno cydgysylltu strategol, cyllid gwell, datblygiad y gweithlu a chanllawiau ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau cyson. Mae'r rhaglen genedlaethol gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes yn parhau i hybu gwelliant ledled Cymru, gyda chefnogaeth fframwaith cymhwysedd Cymru, sy'n nodi'r sgiliau craidd a'r wybodaeth sydd eu hangen ar staff, a'r fanyleb gwasanaeth genedlaethol, sy'n diffinio sut y dylai gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes da edrych ar draws pob lleoliad. Bydd gweithredu pob un o'r rhain yn sicrhau bod gwasanaethau'n cael eu darparu'n gyson, yn deg ac i safon uchel, ble bynnag y mae pobl yn byw.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, nid yw'r cynnydd a wnawn gyda'n gilydd ond yn bosib oherwydd y bobl sy'n darparu'r gofal hwn bob dydd. Mae staff a gwirfoddolwyr yn cefnogi unigolion a theuluoedd mewn amgylchiadau a all fod yn emosiynol ac yn gorfforol heriol. Maent yn gwneud hynny gyda medrusrwydd, caredigrwydd ac ymrwymiad diysgog i'w gwaith. Hoffwn fynegi ein gwerthfawrogiad am eu hymroddiad. Ac wrth inni gloi'r ddadl hon, mae'n bwysig cofio pam y mae hyn yn bwysig. Y tu ôl i'r strwythurau, y trafodaethau ynghylch ariannu, y fframweithiau polisi, mae unigolion a theuluoedd yn wynebu rhai o'r adegau anoddaf yn eu bywydau. Caiff effaith gofal hosbis ei theimlo drwy leddfu poen, yn y geiriau o gefnogaeth a roddir i anwyliaid, ac yn yr urddas a roddir i bobl ar ddiwedd eu hoes. Mae sut y cefnogwn y rheini sy'n fwyaf bregus yn dweud llawer am y math o genedl yr ydym yn awyddus i fod. Nid ydym o dan unrhyw gamargraff am y pwysau sy'n wynebu hosbisau a'r system gofal lliniarol ehangach. Mae'r heriau'n real, ac fel y clywsom, maent yn tyfu, ond mae ein hymrwymiad i weithio gyda'r sector i sicrhau gwasanaethau cynaliadwy, teg a gwydn yn parhau'n gadarn. Ein blaenoriaeth yw diogelu gofal o ansawdd uchel sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn a sicrhau y gall pawb yng Nghymru ddibynnu ar gefnogaeth dosturiol ar ddiwedd eu hoes.
Galwaf ar Gareth Davies i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on Gareth Davies to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Deputy Llywydd, and I'm grateful to all the Members who've contributed to this debate this evening. I want to begin by paying tribute to the extraordinary staff, volunteers and families who support hospices and palliative care services across Wales. We all applaud their compassion and commitment, but compassion alone cannot sustain a system that is so clearly under strain. Today's debate has laid bare that palliative and end-of-life care in Wales is at a very critical juncture. Almost one in five beds in Wales are occupied by someone in the last year of their life, as quoted during the debate, and one in 14 emergency department attendances relates to someone at the end of life. And yet, despite many people expressing a wish to die at or close to home, too many are spending their final days in hospital without the appropriate end-of-life support they need. That's not because hospices are failing; it's because the system around them is. Hospices support around 20,000 adults and children in Wales every year, providing in-patient care, care at home, bereavement support and vital services in the community.
In the Vale of Clwyd, in my constituency, we are lucky to have the fantastic St Kentigern, located in St Asaph, as Llyr Gruffydd mentioned during the debate, whose work in the community and support provided to families goes way beyond in-patient care, and I have met with them many times to discuss the concerning dire financial situation hospices across Wales face, with Welsh Conservative colleagues, Darren Millar and Mark Isherwood, earlier on in this Senedd.
As others have mentioned during this debate, adult hospices are forced to raise, on average, 70 per cent of their running costs from charitable donations, equating to around £30 million per year raised through coffee mornings, charity shops and community events simply to keep essential services running. This model is unsustainable in the long run. Inflation, workforce pressures and rising demand are pushing services to the brink. We've already seen the consequences: beds being closed, services reduced and, tragically, hospices like Shalom House in Paul Davies's constituency closing altogether. Against that backdrop, the Welsh Government's £3 million commitment to 2025-26 simply does not meet the scale of the challenge, and it's not even close.
That is why the Welsh Conservatives have been clear, and we've been ambitious. We have committed that a Welsh Conservative Government will invest an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term in hospices and palliative care, providing the biggest boost in end-of-life care in Welsh history. We've pledged to ring-fence funding so that Wales's children's hospices receive 50 per cent of their operating costs. The Welsh Government's own quality statement promised care that's safe, timely, effective, person centred, efficient and equitable. Those aspirations are commendable, but aspirations alone do not fund beds and retain staff. Marie Curie and Hospice UK have been unequivocal that, without urgent action, more services will close, specialist staff will be lost, and families will be left without the care they desperately need. This is an issue that affects every single family in Wales, and how we care for people at the end of their lives is a measure of our values as a nation. Demand for palliative care is estimated to increase by 25 per cent over the next 25 years, so investment in palliative care is essential.
Dirprwy Lywydd, this debate has shown that there is broad agreement across this Chamber on the value of hospices, the dedication of those who work within them and the growing pressures they face. But what is lacking is action. This motion offers this Senedd tonight a clear opportunity to recognise the scale of the challenge and to commit to a sustainable future for palliative and end-of-life care in Wales, and I sincerely hope Members from all sides will vote with our motion tonight unamended. Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl hon heno. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy dalu teyrnged i'r staff, y gwirfoddolwyr a'r teuluoedd anhygoel sy'n cefnogi hosbisau a gwasanaethau gofal lliniarol ledled Cymru. Mae pob un ohonom yn cymeradwyo eu tosturi a'u hymrwymiad, ond ni all tosturi'n unig gynnal system sydd mor amlwg o dan straen. Mae'r ddadl heddiw wedi datgelu bod gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes yng Nghymru ar groesffordd hollbwysig. Mae bron i un o bob pum gwely yng Nghymru mewn defnydd gan rywun yn ystod blwyddyn olaf eu bywyd, fel y nodwyd yn y ddadl, ac mae un o bob 14 ymweliad ag adran frys yn gysylltiedig â rhywun ar ddiwedd eu hoes. Ac eto, er bod llawer o bobl yn mynegi dymuniad i farw gartref neu'n agos at adref, mae gormod yn treulio eu dyddiau olaf yn yr ysbyty heb y gefnogaeth ddiwedd oes briodol sydd ei hangen arnynt. Nid am fod hosbisau'n methu y mae hynny'n digwydd, ond oherwydd bod y system o'u cwmpas yn methu. Mae hosbisau’n cefnogi oddeutu 20,000 o oedolion a phlant yng Nghymru bob blwyddyn, gan ddarparu gofal i gleifion mewnol, gofal yn y cartref, cymorth mewn profedigaeth a gwasanaethau hanfodol yn y gymuned.
Yn Nyffryn Clwyd, yn fy etholaeth i, rydym yn ffodus i gael hosbis wych St Kentigern yn Llanelwy, fel y soniodd Llyr Gruffydd yn y ddadl, ac y mae ei gwaith yn y gymuned a'r gefnogaeth a ddarperir i deuluoedd yn mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i ofal cleifion mewnol, ac fe wneuthum gyfarfod â nhw sawl gwaith i drafod y sefyllfa ariannol ddifrifol y mae hosbisau ledled Cymru yn ei hwynebu gyda fy nghyd-Aelodau yn y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Darren Millar a Mark Isherwood, yn gynharach yn nhymor y Senedd hon.
Fel y mae eraill wedi sôn yn y ddadl, mae hosbisau oedolion yn cael eu gorfodi i godi, ar gyfartaledd, 70 y cant o'u costau rhedeg drwy roddion elusennol, sy'n cyfateb i oddeutu £30 miliwn y flwyddyn wedi ei godi drwy foreau coffi, siopau elusen a digwyddiadau cymunedol er mwyn cynnal gwasanaethau hanfodol yn unig. Nid yw'r model hwn yn gynaliadwy yn y tymor hir. Mae chwyddiant, pwysau ar y gweithlu a galw cynyddol yn gwthio gwasanaethau i ymyl y dibyn. Rydym eisoes wedi gweld y canlyniadau: gwelyau'n cael eu cau, gwasanaethau'n lleihau, ac yn drasig, hosbisau fel hosbis Tŷ Shalom yn etholaeth Paul Davies yn cau'n gyfan gwbl. Yn erbyn y cefndir hwnnw, nid yw ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru o £3 miliwn ar gyfer 2025-26 yn ddigon i fynd i'r afael â maint yr her, ac nid yw'n agos at allu gwneud hynny.
Dyna pam y mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi bod yn glir, ac rydym wedi bod yn uchelgeisiol. Rydym wedi ymrwymo y bydd Llywodraeth Geidwadol yng Nghymru yn buddsoddi £40 miliwn ychwanegol dros dymor y Senedd nesaf mewn hosbisau a gofal lliniarol, gan ddarparu'r hwb mwyaf i ofal diwedd oes yn hanes Cymru. Rydym wedi addo clustnodi cyllid fel bod hosbisau plant Cymru'n cael 50 y cant o'u costau gweithredu. Addawodd datganiad ansawdd Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun ofal sy'n ddiogel, yn amserol, yn effeithiol, yn canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn, yn effeithlon ac yn deg. Mae'r dyheadau hynny i'w canmol, ond nid yw dyheadau'n unig yn ariannu gwelyau ac yn cadw staff. Mae Marie Curie a Hospice UK wedi dweud yn ddiamwys, heb weithredu brys, y bydd mwy o wasanaethau'n cau, y bydd staff arbenigol yn cael eu colli, ac y bydd teuluoedd yn cael eu gadael heb y gofal y maent ei angen mor daer. Mae hwn yn fater sy'n effeithio ar bob teulu yng Nghymru, ac mae sut y gofalwn am bobl ar ddiwedd eu hoes yn fesur o'n gwerthoedd fel cenedl. Amcangyfrifir y bydd y galw am ofal lliniarol yn cynyddu 25 y cant dros y 25 mlynedd nesaf, felly mae buddsoddi mewn gofal lliniarol yn hanfodol.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'r ddadl hon wedi dangos bod cytundeb eang ar draws y Siambr hon ynghylch gwerth hosbisau, ymroddiad y rhai sy'n gweithio ynddynt a'r pwysau cynyddol y maent yn eu hwynebu. Ond yr hyn sydd ar goll yw gweithredu. Mae'r cynnig hwn yn rhoi cyfle clir heno i'r Senedd hon gydnabod maint yr her ac i ymrwymo i ddyfodol cynaliadwy ar gyfer gofal lliniarol a gofal diwedd oes yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd yr Aelodau ar bob ochr yn pleidleisio o blaid ein cynnig heb ei ddiwygio heno. Diolch yn fawr.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? 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 without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There is objection and, therefore, I will defer voting into this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cwestiwn amserol ychwanegol, a fydd yn cael ei ofyn gan Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The next item is the additional topical question, which will be asked by Rhun ap Iorwerth.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am yr oedi i waith cam 2 ar bont Menai? TQ1432
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the delay to the phase 2 works on the Menai suspension bridge? TQ1432
Today, I released a written statement providing an update on the Menai suspension bridge phase 2 works to this historic 200-year-old landmark. It is critical infrastructure and an iconic feature of north Wales's built environment, but, of course, ensuring its safety and structural integrity must always come first.
Heddiw, rhyddheais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn rhoi diweddariad ar waith cam 2 ar dirnod hanesyddol 200 oed pont Menai. Mae'n seilwaith hanfodol ac yn nodwedd eiconig o amgylchedd adeiledig gogledd Cymru, ond wrth gwrs, rhaid i sicrhau ei ddiogelwch a'i gadernid strwythurol ddod yn gyntaf bob amser.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am yr ateb yna. Roedd rhaid i fi wirio efo fy staff heddiw, 'Allwch chi wirio’n union pa bryd wnaeth y bont yma orfod cau? Ydyn ni'n siŵr mai diwedd 2022 oedd hyn?' Ac, ie, diwedd 2022 oedd o, ac mae'r cyhoeddiad heddiw am oedi pellach i'r gwaith yma yn mynd i gael ei dderbyn efo rhwystredigaeth sylweddol gan y gymuned leol. Mae'n annerbyniol bod gwaith o drwsio pont, a gaeodd yn 2022, rŵan yn cael ei ymestyn tan 2027. Mae'n ganran nid ansylweddol o oes y bont 200 mlwydd oed yma. Mae'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei brofi yn lleol wedi amharu ar fywydau pobl mewn sawl ffordd: busnesau pobl, wrth gwrs, wedi dioddef; grwpiau cymunedol wedi gobeithio gallu dathlu'r daucanmlwyddiant wythnos nesaf, a'r bont wedi'i chwblhau a sicrwydd y byddai hynny yn bosib—dydy o ddim; ac mi fydd y pryderon yn parhau, wrth gwrs, am allu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i groesi ar draws y Fenai, ac ati.
Mi wnaf i ddweud fy mod i yn croesawu'r ffaith bod ein dadleuon ni ar yr angen i gyfyngu ar faint o anghyfleustra sydd yna o ran cau y bont am gyfnodau neu i gael rheolaeth traffig am gyfnodau wedi cael eu clywed. A thra bod yr amserlen yn cael ei hymestyn rŵan, dwi'n deall y bydd y cyfnodau o reolaeth traffig cyn lleied ag ychydig o ddyddiau bob hyn a hyn. Mae hynny yn gam i'w groesawu, dwi'n meddwl. Ond, wrth gwrs, mi oedden ni wedi cael sicrwydd y byddai'r gwaith wedi'i hen orffen erbyn hyn, ac mae pobl yn teimlo, drwy'r amser, fod gennym ni Lywodraeth sydd ddim yn deall a ddim yn gwerthfawrogi beth fu effaith hyn.
Felly, y cwestiynau gennyf i. Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn dweud ei fod o'n gwthio am sicrwydd nad oes mwy o oedi i ddod. Dwi ofn gofyn bron, ond pa mor hyderus ydy o na fydd hwn yn ddyddiad fydd yn newid eto? Yn ail, dwi wedi bod yn siomedig bod y Llywodraeth, dros amser, wedi methu â chynnig cefnogaeth ariannol i'r busnesau oedd yn cael eu heffeithio pan oedden nhw angen hynny. Ond gadewch i mi ofyn hyn: pa waith fydd y Llywodraeth yn ei wneud, neu ba gynlluniau sydd yna i roi cefnogaeth i fusnesau i ailsefydlu ac i ddod dros yr anawsterau maen nhw wedi eu cael ac i hybu economi Porthaethwy ac ardaloedd cyfagos? Ac yn drydydd, mi fyddwn i wir yn licio gwybod pryd rydyn ni'n debyg o dderbyn canfyddiadau ymchwiliad y Llywodraeth ar y gwaith i gynnal a chadw'r bont. Mae'r cwestiynau'n dwysáu, mae gen i ofn, o hyd. Mae pobl eisiau atebion am bam maen nhw'n gorfod dioddef yr holl darfu am gyn hired a sut mae hyn wedi gallu digwydd, ac mae'n bwysig bod y gwaith yna'n cael ei rannu yn gyhoeddus mor fuan â phosib.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. Now, I did have to check with my staff today, asking them, 'Can you check exactly when the bridge had to close? Are we sure that it was the end of 2022?' And, yes, it was the end of 2022, and today's announcement about further delays to these works is going to be received with great frustration by the local community. It is unacceptable that the work of repairing a bridge that closed in 2022 is now being extended until 2027. It is a not insubstantial percentage of this bridge's 200-year history. But what's been experienced locally has had a real impact on people's lives: people's businesses have suffered, of course; community groups had hoped to celebrate the two-hundredth anniversary next week, with an assurance given that that would be possible—it won't be; and the concerns will continue about the ability of public services to cross the Menai, and so on.
I will say that I welcome the fact that our arguments on the need to limit the inconvenience caused by the closure of the bridge for certain periods or to have traffic management measures in place for certain periods have been heard. And whilst the timetable is being extended now, I do understand that the periods of traffic control will be as little as a few days every now and again, and that is a step that we can welcome, I think. But, of course, we had been given an assurance that the works would have been long finished by this point, and people constantly feel that we have a Government that doesn't understand and appreciate the impact that this work has had.
So, to my questions. The Cabinet Secretary has said that he is pushing for an assurance that there should be no further delay. I'm almost afraid to ask, but how confident is he that this won't be a date that is changed again? Secondly, I have been disappointed that the Government, over a period of time, has failed to provide financial support to the businesses affected when they needed that. But let me ask this: what work will the Government do or what plans are in place to provide support for businesses to re-establish themselves and to recover from the difficulties that they faced, and to promote the economy of Menai Bridge and nearby areas. And thirdly, I would truly like to know when we are likely to receive the findings of the Government investigation into the work to maintain the bridge. The questions are still intensifying, I'm afraid. People want answers about why they have to suffer all of this inconvenience for so long and how this was allowed to happen, and it's important that that work is shared publicly as soon as possible.
Well, can I thank Rhun for his further questions? Reprofiling the work means that there will be no closures, and that's in the interest of the business community. We listened very carefully to them, and the choice was: do we want road closure, bridge closure or do we want to keep the bridge open and have that work carried out in a safe way but also keep traffic moving? We went for the latter. So, whilst it won't be completed until 2027, there will be no road closures. That will benefit the community, that will benefit businesses, it will benefit the freight sector that rely on the crossings over the Menai. And I think it's worth putting into the context that this is a 200-year-old bridge. When it was built, it was built with a view of only ever carrying horses and carts. And, in reality, if you look around the world, bridges everywhere right now are having to be replaced, maintained, repaired. The George Washington bridge, for example, in New York, one of the richest cities in the world—that was closed in 2025 for maintenance work. The Mont Blanc tunnel as well, as a critical piece of infrastructure between France and Italy, was completely closed—completely closed between September and December of last year. And in Scotland, in Aberdeenshire, the BBC reported just yesterday that 200 bridges—200 bridges—in Aberdeenshire require maintenance and repair work or replacement. There are communities that are cut off because bridges have been closed completely since 2023. This is a challenge for communities and Governments around the world, particularly when it concerns bridge infrastructure that has to be maintained to the highest standard.
So, I'm going to be meeting with Equitix on Friday, again—they are managing agents for this bridge—to seek assurance that the highest quality work will be taken in the months to come and that there will be no delays. I'm very confident that there will be no further delays. Why? Because we're investing as never before in road maintenance. We are fixing our roads. As a result of the extra financial support for councils this year, we're going to be achieving a historic milestone: 200,000 potholes repaired or prevented; 500 km of road maintained and repaired as a result of Welsh Labour Government investment. That shows how serious we are about making sure that we fix our roads. And in terms of bridges specifically, of course, the River Dee bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure. That's going to be the next big project to be taken forward, replacing that. Without that, the Port of Holyhead would not exist in all likelihood, because it would cut us off from the rest of Great Britain. That shows how seriously we take road infrastructure in north Wales.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Rhun am ei gwestiynau pellach? Mae ailbroffilio'r gwaith yn golygu na fydd unrhyw gau, ac mae hynny o fudd i'r gymuned fusnes. Fe wnaethom wrando'n ofalus iawn arnynt, a'r dewis oedd: a ydym eisiau cau ffyrdd, cau pont neu a ydym eisiau cadw'r bont ar agor a chael y gwaith hwnnw wedi'i wneud mewn ffordd ddiogel ond gan gadw traffig i symud? Fe ddewisom yr olaf o'r rhain. Felly, er na chaiff ei gwblhau tan 2027, ni fydd ffyrdd yn cau. Bydd hynny o fudd i'r gymuned, bydd o fudd i fusnesau, bydd o fudd i'r sector cludo nwyddau sy'n dibynnu ar y pontydd dros y Fenai. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth nodi ar gyfer y cyd-destun fod hon yn bont 200 oed. Pan gafodd ei hadeiladu, fe wnaed hynny gyda'r nod o gario ceffylau a cherti’n unig. Ac mewn gwirionedd, os edrychwch chi o gwmpas y byd, mae pontydd ym mhobman ar hyn o bryd yn gorfod cael eu hadnewyddu, eu cynnal, eu hatgyweirio. Pont George Washington yn Efrog Newydd, er enghraifft, un o ddinasoedd cyfoethocaf y byd—caewyd honno yn 2025 ar gyfer gwaith cynnal a chadw. Caewyd twnnel Mont Blanc yn llwyr hefyd, darn hanfodol o seilwaith rhwng Ffrainc a'r Eidal, rhwng mis Medi a mis Rhagfyr y llynedd. Ac yn yr Alban, yn swydd Aberdeen, adroddodd y BBC ddoe ddiwethaf fod angen gwaith cynnal a chadw a thrwsio neu adnewyddu ar 200 o bontydd—200 o bontydd—yn swydd Aberdeen. Mae yna gymunedau wedi'u torri i ffwrdd oherwydd bod pontydd wedi'u cau'n llwyr ers 2023. Mae hon yn her i gymunedau a Llywodraethau ledled y byd, yn enwedig pan fo'n ymwneud â seilwaith pontydd y mae'n rhaid ei gynnal i'r safon uchaf.
Felly, rwy'n mynd i fod yn cyfarfod ag Equitix ddydd Gwener eto—nhw yw'r asiantau rheoli ar gyfer y bont hon—i geisio sicrwydd y bydd y gwaith o'r ansawdd uchaf yn cael ei wneud yn y misoedd i ddod ac na fydd unrhyw oedi. Rwy'n hyderus iawn na fydd unrhyw oedi pellach. Pam? Oherwydd ein bod ni'n buddsoddi mwy nag erioed o'r blaen mewn cynnal a chadw ffyrdd. Rydym yn trwsio ein ffyrdd. O ganlyniad i'r gefnogaeth ariannol ychwanegol i gynghorau eleni, rydym yn mynd i gyrraedd carreg filltir hanesyddol: 200,000 o dyllau ffyrdd wedi'u hatgyweirio neu eu hatal; 500 km o ffyrdd wedi'u cynnal a'u trwsio o ganlyniad i fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru. Mae hynny'n dangos pa mor bwysig i ni yw gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn trwsio ein ffyrdd. Ac ar bontydd yn benodol, wrth gwrs, mae pont afon Dyfrdwy yn seilwaith hanfodol. Dyna fydd y prosiect mawr nesaf i fwrw ymlaen ag ef, adnewyddu honno. Hebddi, ni fyddai porthladd Caergybi yn bodoli yn ôl pob tebyg, oherwydd byddai'n ein torri i ffwrdd oddi wrth weddill Prydain. Mae hynny'n dangos pa mor bwysig i ni yw'r seilwaith ffyrdd yng ngogledd Cymru.
Cabinet Secretary, this is ridiculous. People on Ynys Môn and across the Menai have been waiting five years for these repairs to be dealt with. You've got to be embarrassed at the very least at the state of what's going on here. I think there's a growing feeling from people on the island and on the mainland that you just don't get it. I think the 'around the bridges in 80 days' tour we had from you just then kind of points to that fact. I was waiting for the Golden Gate bridge to be mentioned, which happens to be twinned with Foryd bridge in Rhyl, actually, but you didn't mention that. But there's a growing consensus that you just don't get it. It's not just a minor inconvenience. It's not just something for an old bridge, that you've just got to get used to it. It's a failure of project management, to say the least. It's having a real impact on communities in the area and across the wider region as well. Those bridges keep our communities connected, support local jobs, enable tourism to take place successfully. We've rehearsed it time and time again in this place about the issues when there are high winds and the nervousness that it causes to people on the island, and in terms of dealing with the fact that this is just not being taken seriously at all, it seems.
So, the questions that people are asking are basic questions: what's going on, why is it taking so long, why are the shifting timelines taking place, it feels like, all the time, why such vague reassurances, and where's the transparency on this as well? The warm words about having strong conversations with those, perhaps, responsible on the ground just aren't cutting it at the moment. Local businesses are telling us that they can't plan ahead as they wish to do so.
So, in terms of questions I would like to hear answered today, what lessons are you learning now from failures on this project that will be immediately rectified? When will we finally receive a clear, credible timetable that we can rely on and not be in this place again hearing about another failure of timing? What are the delay costs? How much is this costing taxpayers in Wales, these continuous delays? We need this dealt with quickly. It needs to be sorted soon. People need to know that you're taking it seriously.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae hyn yn hurt. Mae pobl ar Ynys Môn ac ar draws y Fenai wedi bod yn aros am bum mlynedd i'r atgyweiriadau hyn gael sylw. Rhaid eich bod yn teimlo embaras fan lleiaf am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yma. Rwy'n credu bod yna deimlad cynyddol gan bobl ar yr ynys ac ar y tir mawr nad ydych chi'n deall. Rwy'n credu bod y daith o amgylch pontydd y byd a gawsom gennych chi nawr yn dynodi hynny. Roeddwn i'n aros i glywed am bont y Golden Gate, sy'n digwydd bod wedi'i gefeillio â phont y Foryd yn y Rhyl ond ni wnaethoch sôn am honno. Ond mae yna gonsensws cynyddol nad ydych chi'n deall. Nid anghyfleustra bach yn unig mohono. Nid rhywbeth bach am hen bont sy'n rhaid ichi ddod i arfer ag ef. Mae'n fethiant i reoli prosiect, a dweud y lleiaf. Mae'n cael effaith wirioneddol ar gymunedau yn yr ardal ac ar draws y rhanbarth ehangach hefyd. Mae'r pontydd hyn yn cadw ein cymunedau mewn cysylltiad, yn cefnogi swyddi lleol, yn galluogi twristiaeth i ddigwydd yn llwyddiannus. Dro ar ôl tro yn y lle hwn rydym wedi trafod y problemau pan fo gwyntoedd cryfion a'r nerfusrwydd y mae'n ei achosi i bobl ar yr ynys, ac nid yw'n ymddangos eich bod o ddifrif o gwbl ynglŷn â hyn.
Felly, mae'r cwestiynau y mae pobl yn eu gofyn yn gwestiynau sylfaenol: beth sy'n digwydd, pam y mae'n cymryd cymaint o amser, pam y mae'r amserlenni'n newid drwy'r amser, gan mai dyna sut y mae'n teimlo, pam y mae'r geiriau o sicrwydd mor amwys, a ble mae'r tryloywder ar hyn hefyd? Nid yw'r geiriau cynnes am gael sgyrsiau cryf gyda'r rheini sy'n gyfrifol ar lawr gwlad yn ddigon da hyn o bryd. Mae busnesau lleol yn dweud wrthym na allant gynllunio ymlaen llaw fel y byddent yn dymuno.
Felly, o ran cwestiynau yr hoffwn glywed ateb iddynt heddiw, pa wersi rydych chi'n eu dysgu nawr o fethiannau ar y prosiect hwn a fydd yn cael eu cywiro ar unwaith? Pryd y cawn ni amserlen glir, gredadwy y gallwn ddibynnu arni a pheidio â bod yn y lle hwn eto yn clywed am fethiant arall o ran yr amserlen? Beth yw'r costau oedi? Faint y mae hyn yn ei gostio i drethdalwyr yng Nghymru, yr oedi parhaus? Mae angen inni ddelio â hyn yn gyflym. Mae angen ei ddatrys yn fuan. Mae angen i bobl wybod eich bod chi o ddifrif yn ei gylch.
I'm afraid what the Tories don't get is the need to make sure that health and safety is put first. We constantly hear from Tories about the need to rip up health and safety standards. We will never do that. We will never do that in the workplace. We will never do that with transport infrastructure either, so it's vitally important that we properly maintain our bridges and our roads. It's really rather rich, coming from the Conservatives, who imposed austerity on us, to be lecturing us on the maintenance schedule of our assets.
I mentioned Aberdeenshire. It's because of austerity that Aberdeenshire now have 200 bridges that need urgent repairs and maintenance work on them. So, I won't take any lectures from the Conservatives over how to maintain infrastructure, given their historic underinvestment in all forms of transport infrastructure in the UK. But we will ensure that this iconic piece of built environment in north Wales is completed, that it is provided with a full repainting to celebrate its two-hundredth anniversary, and we will be celebrating that key, historic moment in this bridge's history. It is something that we richly celebrate, and we are proud of, and we will be continuing with those celebrations.
Rwy'n ofni mai'r hyn nad yw'r Torïaid yn ei ddeall yw'r angen i wneud yn siŵr fod iechyd a diogelwch yn cael ei roi yn gyntaf. Rydym yn clywed yn gyson gan y Torïaid am yr angen i anwybyddu safonau iechyd a diogelwch. Ni fyddwn ni byth yn gwneud hynny. Ni fyddwn byth yn gwneud hynny yn y gweithle. Ni fyddwn byth yn gwneud hynny gyda seilwaith trafnidiaeth chwaith, felly mae'n hanfodol bwysig ein bod yn cynnal ein pontydd a'n ffyrdd yn iawn. Mae wyneb gan y Ceidwadwyr, a orfododd gyni ariannol arnom, i bregethu wrthym ni ynghylch amserlen gynnal a chadw ein hasedau.
Soniais am swydd Aberdeen. Oherwydd cyni mae gan swydd Aberdeen 200 o bontydd bellach sydd angen gwaith atgyweirio a chynnal a chadw brys. Felly, ni chymeraf unrhyw bregethau gan y Ceidwadwyr ynglŷn â sut i gynnal seilwaith, o ystyried eu tanfuddsoddiad hanesyddol mewn pob math o seilwaith trafnidiaeth yn y DU. Ond byddwn yn sicrhau bod y darn eiconig hwn o amgylchedd adeiledig gogledd Cymru yn cael ei gwblhau, ei fod yn cael ei ailbaentio'n llawn i ddathlu ei ddau ganmlwyddiant, ac fe fyddwn yn dathlu'r foment hanesyddol allweddol honno yn hanes y bont. Mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn ei ddathlu'n fawr, ac yn falch ohono, a byddwn yn parhau gyda'r dathliadau hynny.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Dyma ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio nawr. Oni bai fod tri Aelod yn dymuno imi ganu'r gloch, symudaf yn syth i'r cyfnod pleidleisio.
Mae'r unig bleidlais heddiw ar eitem 7, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar hosbisau. A galwaf am bleidlais yn gyntaf ar y cynnig, yn enw Paul Davies. Os gwrthodir y cynnig, byddwn yn pleidleisio ar y gwelliant a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 22, dau yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.
That brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will move directly to voting time.
The only vote this evening is on item 7, the Welsh Conservatives' debate on hospices. And I call for a vote on the motion, tabled in the name of Paul Davies. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendment tabled to the motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 22, two abstentions and 24 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig – Hosbisau. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 22, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 2
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Hospices. Motion without amendment: For: 22, Against: 24, Abstain: 2
Motion has been rejected
Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar welliant 1, yn enw Jane Hutt. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 24, dau yn ymatal, 22 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi'i dderbyn.
I now call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 24, two abstentions and 22 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig – Hosbisau. Gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 24, Yn erbyn: 22, Ymatal: 2
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Hospices. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 24, Against: 22, Abstain: 2
Amendment has been agreed
Felly, galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio.
I now call for a vote on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM9112 fel y’i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod y gwaith eithriadol y mae'r sector hosbis a gofal lliniarol yn ei wneud wrth ddarparu gofal a chymorth diwedd oes o ansawdd uchel i deuluoedd.
2. Yn cydnabod y pwysau ariannol digynsail ar hosbisau yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i gynnydd mewn Yswiriant Gwladol Cyflogwyr, prinder gweithlu, a'r galw cynyddol am eu gwasanaethau.
3. Yn cydnabod canfyddiadau arolwg Hospice UK.
4. Yn croesawu:
a) y cynnydd o £21 miliwn i gyllid hosbisau gan Lywodraeth Cymru dros dymor y Senedd hon; a
b) y gwaith sydd ar y gweill rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r sector hosbisau i ddatblygu model cyllido cynaliadwy.
Motion NDM9112 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the exceptional work that the hospice and palliative care sector plays in providing high quality end of life care and support to families.
2. Acknowledges the unprecedented financial pressure on Welsh hospices as a result of Employers' National Insurance increases, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for their services.
3. Recognises the findings of the Hospice UK survey.
4. Welcomes:
a) the £21 million increase to hospice funding from the Welsh Government over the course of this Senedd term; and
b) the ongoing work between the Welsh Government and the hospice sector to develop a sustainable funding model.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 25, dau yn ymatal, 21 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio wedi'i dderbyn.
Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 25, two abstentions and 21 against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig – Hosbisau. Cynnig wedi’i ddiwygio.: O blaid: 25, Yn erbyn: 21, Ymatal: 2
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Hospices. Motion as amended.: For: 25, Against: 21, Abstain: 2
Motion as amended has been agreed
Dyna ddiwedd ar ein pleidleisio ni y prynhawn yma.
That concludes voting for this afternoon.
Nawr, byddwn yn symud ymlaen at y ddadl fer.
We will now move to the short debate.
If you're leaving, please do so quietly.
Os ydych chi'n gadael, gwnewch hynny'n dawel os gwelwch yn dda.
Galwaf ar Lee Waters i siarad.
I call on Lee Waters to speak.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I've agreed to give John Griffiths, Carolyn Thomas, Mabon ap Gwynfor and Mark Isherwood a minute of time.
Tourette's is a complex and misunderstood condition, and yet it's a common one. It's a brain order that affects one in 100 people. That's a similar prevalence to autism or childhood epilepsy, but it doesn't get the same recognition, either from the general public or from the health service.
If most people know anything about Tourette's at all, it's that it makes people swear and shout in public. And the excellent new British Academy of Film and Television Arts-nominated film, I Swear—which I would recommend to everyone—to some degree reinforces that stereotype. In fact, the vast majority of people with Tourette's do not have a compulsion to swear, but, as the film also captures, they do suffer pain, anxiety and isolation. And yet people think Tourette's is funny and it's not. It causes great distress and pain.
Tourette's is not in itself a psychological condition, nor a behavioural one, nor is it caused by poor parenting. It's a complex neurodevelopmental condition that causes significant psychological impact. But it's faulty brain wiring, and it presents through tics, sudden body movements or sounds that are difficult to control: urges to blink or twitch, to jerk or to jump, to sniff or to cough, or to shriek or make noises.
Tics can come and go, they wax and wane. Twirling in circles or throwing your head back this month may be replaced by touching the floor every few seconds next month. And those who suffer it say the feeling is a bit like a sneeze. You can feel it coming on and you just have to let it out. Most will try and suppress their tics for short periods when they're in public settings, like school or work or meetings, but it's really hard. Try suppressing a sneeze. It's really uncomfortable and exhausting. And very often, when the pent-up feelings are released, they can be even more intense. Many people with Tourette's describe living with constant exhaustion and physical discomfort, tired from holding everything in throughout the day, and sore from the relentless tics that emerge when they're finally in the safety of their own home.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf wedi cytuno i roi munud o amser i John Griffiths, Carolyn Thomas, Mabon ap Gwynfor a Mark Isherwood.
Mae syndrom Tourette yn gyflwr cymhleth sy'n cael ei gamddeall, ac eto mae'n gyflwr cyffredin. Anhwylder ar yr ymennydd ydyw sy'n effeithio ar un o bob 100 o bobl. Mae hynny'n golygu ei fod fwy neu lai yr un mor gyffredin ag awtistiaeth neu epilepsi mewn plant, ond nid yw'n cael yr un gydnabyddiaeth gan y cyhoedd na chan y gwasanaeth iechyd.
Os yw'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn gwybod unrhyw beth am syndrom Tourette o gwbl, y ffaith ei fod yn gwneud i bobl regi a gweiddi yn gyhoeddus yw honno. Ac mae'r ffilm newydd ardderchog a enwebwyd gan yr Academi Brydeinig Celfyddydau Ffilm a Theledu, I Swear—y buaswn yn ei hargymell i bawb—yn atgyfnerthu'r stereoteip hwnnw i ryw raddau. Mewn gwirionedd, nid yw mwyafrif helaeth y bobl â syndrom Tourette yn teimlo gorfodaeth i regi, ond fel y mae'r ffilm hefyd yn ei ddisgrifio, maent yn dioddef poen, gorbryder ac unigrwydd. Ac eto mae pobl yn meddwl bod syndrom Tourette yn ddoniol ac nid yw hynny'n wir. Mae'n achosi trallod a phoen mawr.
Nid yw syndrom Tourette ynddo'i hun yn gyflwr seicolegol, nac yn un ymddygiadol, ac nid yw'n cael ei achosi gan rianta gwael. Mae'n gyflwr niwroddatblygiadol cymhleth sy'n achosi effaith seicolegol sylweddol. Ond mae'n dynodi amhariad yn yr ymennydd, gan achosi ticiau, symudiadau corfforol sydyn neu synau sy'n anodd eu rheoli: awydd cryf i glipian llygaid neu blycio, i wingo neu i neidio, i sniffian neu i beswch, neu i weiddi neu wneud synau.
Gall ticiau ddod a mynd, maent yn gwaethygu ac yn gwella. Efallai y bydd troelli mewn cylchoedd neu daflu eich pen yn ôl y mis hwn yn newid i fod yn gyffwrdd y llawr bob ychydig eiliadau y mis nesaf. Ac mae'r rhai sy'n ei ddioddef yn dweud bod y teimlad ychydig bach fel tisian. Gallwch ei deimlo'n dod a rhaid i chi ei adael allan. Bydd y rhan fwyaf yn ceisio atal eu ticiau am gyfnodau byr pan fyddant mewn lleoliadau cyhoeddus, fel yr ysgol neu waith neu gyfarfodydd, ond mae'n anodd iawn. Ceisiwch chi atal tisian. Mae'n wirioneddol anghyfforddus ac yn flinedig. Ac yn aml iawn, pan fydd y teimladau sydd wedi'u hatal yn cael eu rhyddhau, gallant fod yn fwy dwys byth. Mae llawer o bobl â syndrom Tourette yn disgrifio byw gyda blinder cyson ac anghysur corfforol o orfod dal popeth i mewn drwy gydol y dydd, ac yn boenus yn sgil y ticiau di-baid sy'n dod i'r amlwg pan fyddant yn ddiogel yn eu cartref eu hunain o'r diwedd.
Parents of children with Tourette's will often tell you that when their kids come home from school, they will experience meltdowns—outbursts of rage and violence are not uncommon. 'But they were fine all day', a teacher or relative may say, but little do they know, and little do they understand. That leaves parents feeling disbelieved and a failure, and the children often consumed by shame and guilt for hurting their loved ones and their feelings.
In about 10 or so per cent of cases—it's not fully known—people have the irresistible urge to swear and say socially inappropriate things. Imagine living with that: the stigma, the shame and the judgment. Studies published by the British Medical Journal show that having a tic disorder brings significant distress and pain. And, obviously, this has negative effects on what they describe—in language you would only find in a medical journal—as academic, social and occupational function. But put it another way: it's annoying, it's exhausting, it hurts, and it comes across as really weird, which causes stigma and isolation.
And tics don't come alone. People with Tourette's typically have co-occurring conditions that can affect daily life just as much, or more, than the tics: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, very common; obsessive compulsive disorder; anxiety and depression. And it can be hard to bear. Studies show a fourfold increase in risk of death by suicide by people with Tourette's.
Symptoms usually start to emerge during early childhood, and when you seek help, sometimes the despair deepens. You can really feel misunderstood, because you are. You can really feel alone, because you are. The child that you love more than anything is in deep distress, and your family and relationships are under enormous strain. You face turmoil and there's no help, nowhere to turn.
The level of understanding amongst teachers, GPs and health professionals is generally quite low. And to be fair to them, they don't know where to turn either. There is no clinical pathway for Tourette's to follow. There are no National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, nor any plans to create any, and no consistent service provision. There is no diagnostic or treatment pathway in any Welsh health board. And remember, this is a disorder that affects as many people as have autism or childhood epilepsy.
Children with significant tics are funnelled into child and adolescent mental health services, with the long waits we're all familiar with. But Tourette's is not in itself a mental health condition, though it is often accompanied by one. If there are not severe mental health conditions presenting, CAMHS will be reluctant to support. And neither CAMHS nor paediatric services have the expertise to support tic disorders. So, very often, families will be told their child cannot be supported, leaving them with nowhere to turn. They may eventually get prescribed medication, and then the focus becomes on monitoring the effect of the drugs, but with little emphasis on the talking therapies that evidence shows need to accompany them. Therapy, which should be the first line of treatment, is very rarely, if ever, offered.
Many parents push for a diagnosis from the national Tourette syndrome clinic at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. That not only requires referral by CAMHS, but, in Wales, the agreement of the health board to fund it out of country. That is hard to get and can take years. Many will face a five-year battle being bounced around the system, missing vital parts of their education at what is a critical time in their life. And even with a diagnosis, there are no services for them to be referred to after all.
The charity Tourettes Action tells me things are getting worse, not better. And let's remember, this affects one in 100 people, yet it gets little attention. How can there be no NICE guidelines, no clinical pathway? How is that, in any way, sensible? Not only are children and adults unable to gain a diagnosis and unable to gain treatment, but in the absence of any guidelines, people are being bounced around the system, gumming up the NHS even more. Studies in the BMJ show that young people with tic disorders use substantial healthcare resources, as they are bounced around the system.
There is one ray of hope in my own health board of Hywel Dda University Health Board, where there is a pilot of a Tourette syndrome pathway based on good practice from Great Ormond Street. It's imperfect. It does not offer specialist tic disorder treatment, but it does include access to psycho-education for young people and their carers, which can help with understanding and resilience. Hywel Dda tell me there is no demand to develop further resources or services. I find this hard to believe. But even so, it does provide a model for a useful baseline, and I'd ask the Minister what she will now do to get other health boards to adopt this. Because what Hywel Dda has done is simply apply existing good practice from elsewhere, which I strongly welcome. So, why aren't others doing the same, and what is the Welsh Government going to do about it?
As studies into Tourette syndrome published by the British Medical Journal highlight, not only is there a lack of prioritisation for tic disorders, but this is compounded by a healthcare structure that does not support a complex condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach. We need a plan to tackle this. I'm glad the Government is making progress on its broader neurodivergence pathway, but this specific aspect of it is not showing enough progress. There's a clear need to provide guidelines and services to support people with tics, not just children, but adults too. Tourette's is a lifelong condition, and we need to do better for those living with it.
So, I call on the Welsh Government to develop a national plan for Tourette syndrome services, including commissioning clear pathways for diagnosis and treatment in every health board. It will save money that is now wasted, bouncing people around the system. And I want them to press NICE to develop and publish clinical guidelines. I want them to provide training and guidance for education and health professionals to improve understanding and support for those affected, and to work with third sector organisations, such as Tourettes Action, and experts to raise awareness and tackle stigma across communities, schools and workplaces. I want us to take this seriously, because I swear, Tourette's is not funny. Diolch.
Bydd rhieni plant â syndrom Tourette's yn aml yn dweud wrthych fod eu plant yn ei cholli hi ar ôl dod adref o'r ysgol—nid yw ffrwydradau o ddicter a thrais yn anghyffredin. 'Ond roeddent yn iawn drwy'r dydd', bydd athro neu berthynas yn dweud, ond ychydig a wyddant ac ychydig y maent yn ei ddeall. Mae hynny'n gwneud i rieni deimlo nad oes neb yn eu credu a'u bod yn fethiant, ac mae'r plant yn aml yn teimlo cywilydd ac euogrwydd am frifo eu hanwyliaid a'u teimladau.
Mewn tua 10 y cant o achosion—ni wyddys faint yn union—mae pobl yn cael awydd anorchfygol i regi a dweud pethau sy'n amhriodol yn gymdeithasol. Dychmygwch fyw gyda hynny: y stigma, y cywilydd a'r feirniadaeth. Mae astudiaethau a gyhoeddwyd gan y British Medical Journal yn dangos bod anhwylder tic yn creu gofid a phoen sylweddol. Ac yn amlwg, mae hyn yn cael effeithiau negyddol ar yr hyn a ddisgrifiant—mewn iaith na fyddech chi ond yn ei chael mewn cyfnodolyn meddygol—fel gweithrediad academaidd, cymdeithasol a galwedigaethol. Ond ei roi mewn ffordd arall: mae'n annifyr, mae'n flinedig, mae'n brifo, ac mae'n ymddangos yn rhyfedd iawn, sy'n achosi stigma ac unigrwydd.
Ac nid yw ticiau'n dod ar eu pen eu hunain. Mae gan bobl â syndrom Tourette gyflyrau sy'n cyd-ddigwydd a all effeithio ar fywyd bob dydd lawn cymaint, neu'n fwy, na'r ticiau: anhwylder diffyg canolbwyntio a gorfywiogrwydd, cyffredin iawn; anhwylder obsesiynol-gorfodaethol; gorbryder ac iselder. Ac mae'n gallu bod yn anodd ei ddioddef. Mae astudiaethau'n dangos cynnydd bedair gwaith drosodd yn y risg o farwolaeth drwy hunanladdiad ymhlith pobl â syndrom Tourette.
Mae symptomau fel arfer yn dechrau dod i'r amlwg yn ystod plentyndod cynnar, a phan fyddwch chi'n gofyn am help, weithiau mae'r anobaith yn dyfnhau. Gallwch deimlo eich bod yn cael eich camddeall, oherwydd eich bod chi. Gallwch deimlo'n unig, oherwydd eich bod chi. Mae'r plentyn rydych chi'n ei garu'n fwy nag unrhyw beth arall mewn trallod dwfn, ac mae eich teulu a'ch perthnasoedd o dan straen enfawr. Rydych chi'n wynebu cythrwfl ac nid oes unrhyw help, unman i droi.
Mae lefel y ddealltwriaeth ymhlith athrawon, meddygon teulu a gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol yn eithaf isel at ei gilydd. Ac i fod yn deg â nhw, nid ydynt hwythau'n gwybod ble i droi chwaith. Nid oes llwybr clinigol i'w ddilyn ar gyfer syndrom Tourette. Ni cheir canllawiau gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal, nac unrhyw gynlluniau i greu rhai, na darpariaeth gyson o wasanaethau. Nid oes llwybr diagnostig na llwybr triniaeth ar gael gan unrhyw fwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru. A chofiwch, mae hwn yn anhwylder sy'n effeithio ar lawn cymaint o bobl ag sydd ag awtistiaeth neu epilepsi mewn plant.
Mae plant sydd ag anhwylder ticiau sylweddol yn cael eu cyfeirio at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a phobl ifanc, gyda'r amseroedd aros hir y mae pawb ohonom yn gyfarwydd â nhw. Ond nid yw syndrom Tourette ynddo'i hun yn gyflwr iechyd meddwl, er bod cyflwr iechyd meddwl yn aml yn dod yn ei sgil. Os nad oes cyflyrau iechyd meddwl difrifol yn ymgyflwyno, bydd CAMHS yn amharod i gefnogi. Ac nid oes gan CAMHS na gwasanaethau pediatrig arbenigedd i gefnogi anhwylderau tic. Felly, yn aml iawn, bydd teuluoedd yn cael gwybod na ellir cefnogi eu plentyn, gan eu gadael heb unman i droi. Efallai y cânt feddyginiaeth ar bresgripsiwn yn y pen draw, a bydd y ffocws wedyn ar fonitro effaith y cyffuriau, ond heb fawr o bwyslais ar y therapïau siarad y dengys tystiolaeth fod eu hangen i gyd-fynd â'r cyffuriau. Anaml iawn y cynigir therapi, a ddylai fod yn gam cyntaf i driniaeth.
Mae llawer o rieni'n pwyso am ddiagnosis gan y clinig syndrom Tourette cenedlaethol yn Ysbyty Great Ormond Street yn Llundain. Geilw hynny nid yn unig am atgyfeiriad gan CAMHS, ond yng Nghymru, mae gofyn cael cytundeb y bwrdd iechyd hefyd i'w ariannu y tu allan i'r wlad. Mae hynny'n anodd ei gael a gall gymryd blynyddoedd. Bydd llawer yn wynebu brwydr bum mlynedd o gael eu bownsio o amgylch y system, a cholli rhannau hanfodol o'u haddysg ar adeg hollbwysig yn eu bywydau. A hyd yn oed gyda diagnosis, nid oes unrhyw wasanaethau ar gael i'w cyfeirio atynt beth bynnag.
Mae'r elusen Tourettes Action yn dweud wrthyf fod pethau'n gwaethygu, nid yn gwella. A gadewch inni gofio, mae hyn yn effeithio ar un o bob 100 o bobl, ond ni chaiff fawr o sylw. Pam nad oes unrhyw ganllawiau NICE, na llwybr clinigol? Sut y mae hynny'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr o gwbl? Nid yn unig fod plant ac oedolion yn methu cael diagnosis a thriniaeth, ond yn absenoldeb unrhyw ganllawiau, caiff pobl eu bownsio o amgylch y system, gan dagu'r GIG hyd yn oed yn fwy. Mae astudiaethau yn y BMJ yn dangos bod pobl ifanc ag anhwylderau tic yn defnyddio adnoddau gofal iechyd sylweddol, wrth iddynt gael eu bownsio o amgylch y system.
Mae un fflach o obaith yn fy mwrdd iechyd fy hun, Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, lle ceir cynllun peilot ar gyfer llwybr syndrom Tourette yn seiliedig ar arferion da o Great Ormond Street. Nid yw'n berffaith. Nid yw'n cynnig triniaeth arbenigol ar gyfer anhwylderau tic, ond mae'n cynnwys mynediad at seico-addysg i bobl ifanc a'u gofalwyr, a all helpu gyda dealltwriaeth a gwydnwch. Mae Hywel Dda yn dweud wrthyf nad oes galw am ddatblygu adnoddau neu wasanaethau pellach. Rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd credu hyn. Ond er hynny, mae'n darparu model ar gyfer llinell sylfaen ddefnyddiol, a hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog beth y bydd hi'n ei wneud nawr i gael byrddau iechyd eraill i fabwysiadu hyn. Oherwydd yr hyn y mae Hywel Dda wedi'i wneud yn syml iawn yw cymhwyso'r arfer da presennol o rywle arall, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny'n gryf. Felly, pam nad yw eraill yn gwneud yr un peth, a beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w wneud am y peth?
Fel y mae astudiaethau ar syndrom Tourette a gyhoeddwyd gan y British Medical Journal yn nodi, nid yn unig nad yw anhwylderau tic yn cael eu blaenoriaethu, caiff y sefyllfa ei gwaethygu gan strwythur gofal iechyd nad yw'n cefnogi cyflwr cymhleth sy'n galw am ddull amlddisgyblaethol o weithredu. Mae angen cynllun arnom i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Rwy'n falch fod y Llywodraeth yn gwneud cynnydd ar ei llwybr niwroamrywiaeth ehangach, ond nid yw'r agwedd benodol hon arno'n dangos digon o gynnydd. Mae'n amlwg fod angen darparu canllawiau a gwasanaethau i gefnogi pobl ag anhwylderau tic, nid yn unig plant ond oedolion hefyd. Mae syndrom Tourette yn gyflwr gydol oes, ac mae angen inni wneud yn well i'r rhai sy'n byw gydag ef.
Felly, galwaf ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu cynllun cenedlaethol ar gyfer gwasanaethau syndrom Tourette, gan gynnwys comisiynu llwybrau clir ar gyfer diagnosis a thriniaeth ym mhob bwrdd iechyd. Fe fydd yn arbed arian sydd bellach yn cael ei wastraffu ar fownsio pobl o gwmpas y system. Ac rwyf am iddynt bwyso ar NICE i ddatblygu a chyhoeddi canllawiau clinigol. Rwyf am iddynt ddarparu hyfforddiant ac arweiniad i weithwyr proffesiynol addysg ac iechyd i wella dealltwriaeth a chymorth i'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt, a gweithio gyda sefydliadau'r trydydd sector, fel Tourettes Action, ac arbenigwyr i godi ymwybyddiaeth a mynd i'r afael â stigma ar draws cymunedau, ysgolion a gweithleoedd. Rwyf am inni roi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i hyn, oherwydd nid yw syndrom Tourette yn ddoniol. Diolch.
Tourette syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism are distinct lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions that can co-occur, sharing some overlapping symptoms and characteristics. Tourette syndrome, as we've heard, is widely misunderstood, mischaracterised by one of the most persistent myths that Tourette's is simply about unintentional bad language. In reality, only a small minority of people with Tourette's experience coprolalia, involuntary swearing, with estimates placing it at around 10 per cent of those with the condition. Most people experience a combination of motor and vocal tics, such as blinking, throat clearing or repeating sounds.
In Wales, Tourette's is far from rare. It affects around one in 100 children, yet families continue to face long waits for diagnosis and a lack of consistent specialist support across health boards. Without proper pathways, many children are left to struggle with anxiety, social isolation and additional neurodevelopmental conditions. By challenging misconceptions and improving awareness, we can ensure that children and adults with Tourette's in Wales receive the understanding, dignity and support they deserve.
Mae syndrom Tourette, anhwylder diffyg canolbwyntio a gorfywiogrwydd ac awtistiaeth yn gyflyrau niwroddatblygiadol gydol oes gwahanol a all gyd-ddigwydd, gan rannu rhai symptomau a nodweddion sy'n gorgyffwrdd. Mae syndrom Tourette, fel y clywsom, wedi ei gamddeall yn eang, wedi'i gamddisgrifio gan un o'r mythau mwyaf parhaus mai mater syml o iaith anweddus anfwriadol yw syndrom Tourette. Mewn gwirionedd, dim ond lleiafrif bach o bobl â syndrom Tourette sydd â coprolalia, rhegi anwirfoddol, gydag amcangyfrifon yn ei osod ar oddeutu 10 y cant o'r rhai sydd â'r cyflwr. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn profi cyfuniad o anhwylderau tic echddygol a lleisiol, fel clipian llygad, clirio'r gwddf neu ailadrodd synau.
Yng Nghymru, mae syndrom Tourette ymhell o fod yn brin. Mae'n effeithio ar oddeutu un o bob 100 o blant, ond mae teuluoedd yn parhau i wynebu amseroedd aros hir am ddiagnosis a diffyg cymorth arbenigol cyson ar draws y byrddau iechyd. Heb lwybrau priodol, mae llawer o blant yn cael eu gadael i frwydro gyda gorbryder, ynysu cymdeithasol a chyflyrau niwroddatblygiadol ychwanegol. Drwy herio camsyniadau a gwella ymwybyddiaeth, gallwn sicrhau bod plant ac oedolion â syndrom Tourette yng Nghymru yn cael y ddealltwriaeth, yr urddas a'r gefnogaeth y maent yn eu haeddu.
[Inaudible.]—this important debate today. I've been assisting a constituent who has been seeking a Tourette's diagnosis and support for her son, but has been passed between professionals with little progress made. He stretches his neck, clicks his tongue, blinks a lot, scratches and bites himself, lots of word repeats, never keeps still, no sense of danger, wears clothes inside out and back to front, and obsesses about people. It's exhausting for him and his family. And through correspondence with the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being and the health board, I was shocked to find out that there is no consistent route to receiving a Tourette's diagnosis across health boards, as Lee highlights. Families across Wales are left frustrated and isolated, and my constituent has had to fight every step of the way, and still her child is not receiving the support he needs.
I would like to see a clear and consistent pathway, along with education providers given the assistance they need to properly support children living with Tourette's. There is a useful e-learning continuing professional development-accredited free course called ‘Understanding Tourette Syndrome’, with a test at the end. It can be found on the Tourettes Action website. I would like to encourage everyone to take part, and suggest this could be part of mandatory training for education and health professionals. Thank you.
[Anghlywadwy.]—y ddadl bwysig hon heddiw. Rwyf wedi bod yn cynorthwyo etholwr sydd wedi bod yn ceisio cael diagnosis a chymorth Tourette i'w mab, ond sydd wedi cael ei throsglwyddo rhwng gweithwyr proffesiynol heb fawr o gynnydd. Mae'n ymestyn ei wddf, yn clicio'i dafod, yn clipian llygad, yn crafu ac yn brathu ei hun, llawer o ailadrodd geiriau, byth yn llonydd, dim synnwyr o berygl, yn gwisgo dillad y tu chwith allan neu'r tu ôl ymlaen, ac yn obsesu am bobl. Mae'n flinedig iddo ef a'i deulu. A thrwy ohebiaeth gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant a'r bwrdd iechyd, syndod i mi oedd darganfod nad oes llwybr cyson i gael diagnosis o syndrom Tourette ar draws y byrddau iechyd, fel y nododd Lee. Mae teuluoedd ledled Cymru yn teimlo'n rhwystredig ac wedi'u hynysu, ac mae fy etholwr wedi gorfod brwydro bob cam o'r ffordd, ac mae ei phlentyn yn dal i fod heb gael y cymorth sydd ei angen arno.
Hoffwn weld llwybr clir a chyson, ynghyd â'r cymorth sydd ei angen ar ddarparwyr addysg i roi cefnogaeth briodol i blant sy'n byw gyda syndrom Tourette. Mae yna gwrs e-ddysgu am ddim defnyddiol sydd wedi'i achredu gan ddatblygiad proffesiynol parhaus o'r enw 'Understanding Tourette Syndrome', gyda phrawf ar y diwedd. Gellir dod o hyd iddo ar wefan Tourettes Action. Hoffwn annog pawb i gymryd rhan, ac rwy'n awgrymu y gallai hwn fod yn rhan o hyfforddiant gorfodol i weithwyr proffesiynol addysg ac iechyd. Diolch.
I would like to mention the case of eight-year-old Harry from Rogiet in Newport East, who was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at the age of five. Ahead of this debate today, Harry's mum, Katie, wrote to me about the need for improved NHS services. Harry has had little or no NHS help, Katie tells me, since his diagnosis, because, in her view, healthcare does not seem to exist for conditions such as this. She also cited a general lack of interest from health professionals. Unfortunately, the family felt they had to find a private paediatric neurologist, ultimately, because they just couldn't see a clear pathway in the NHS, as we've heard from Lee and other contributors to this debate. Harry struggles with his tics, which has also impacted his mental health, and his family rightly say it just isn't fair that he is left to manage without adequate support or help. Of course, that recourse to a private paediatric neurologist is not a realistic option for many of our hard-pressed families in this cost-of-living crisis, and we really need to do better in terms of NHS provision.
Hoffwn sôn am achos Harry wyth oed o Rogiet yn Nwyrain Casnewydd, a gafodd ddiagnosis o syndrom Tourette yn bum mlwydd oed. Cyn y ddadl hon heddiw, ysgrifennodd mam Harry, Katie, ataf am yr angen i wella gwasanaethau'r GIG. Nid yw Harry wedi cael fawr o help os o gwbl gan y GIG ers ei ddiagnosis, meddai Katie, oherwydd, yn ei barn hi, nid yw'n ymddangos bod gofal iechyd yn bodoli ar gyfer cyflyrau fel hyn. Cyfeiriodd hefyd at ddiffyg diddordeb cyffredinol gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol. Yn anffodus, roedd y teulu'n teimlo bod yn rhaid iddynt ddod o hyd i niwrolegydd pediatrig preifat yn y pen draw am na allent weld llwybr clir yn y GIG, fel y clywsom gan Lee a chyfranwyr eraill i'r ddadl hon. Mae ticiau'n peri trafferth i Harry, ac mae hynny wedi effeithio ar ei iechyd meddwl hefyd, ac mae ei deulu'n dweud yn gywir ddigon nad yw'n deg ei fod yn cael ei adael i ymdopi heb gefnogaeth na chymorth digonol. Wrth gwrs, nid yw troi at niwrolegydd pediatrig preifat yn opsiwn realistig i lawer o'n teuluoedd sydd dan bwysau yn yr argyfwng costau byw presennol, ac mae angen inni wneud yn well o ran darpariaeth y GIG.
Diolch i Lee am ddod â’r ddadl yma ger ein bron ni. Mae'n sicr yn bwnc nad ydyn ni ddim yn ei drafod yn ddigonol. Yn wir, roedd yna ddadl, os ydw i'n cofio'n iawn, ar lawr y Senedd nôl yn 2022. Roedd yna ddeiseb gerbron y Pwyllgor Deisebau yn galw am lwybr ar gyfer y cyflyrau yma, ac mae'n bechod gweld nad oes yna ddatblygiad wedi bod ar hyd y llwybr yna. Ond yr un frawddeg bwysig roeddwn i eisiau jest cyfeirio ato yn sydyn iawn oedd yr hyn oedd Lee wedi’i ddweud:
Thank you to Lee for bringing forward this debate. It's certainly an issue that we don't discuss often enough. There was a debate, I believe, on the floor of the Senedd back in 2022. There was a petition before the Petitions Committee calling for a pathway for these conditions, and it's just disappointing to see that there hasn't been any development in terms of that pathway. But I would like to refer very briefly to what Lee said:
'those who suffer it say the feeling is a bit like a sneeze. You can feel it coming on and you just have to let it out.'
'mae'r rhai sy'n ei ddioddef yn dweud bod y teimlad ychydig bach fel tisian. Gallwch ei deimlo'n dod a rhaid i chi ei adael allan.'
Yn ôl beth dwi'n ei ddeall, mae yna gefnogaeth wyddonol i'r teimlad yna, ac mae yna gymorth mewn lle ar gyfer pobl sydd yn byw efo tics a Tourette's, a chymorth ydy o ar gyfer rheoli ymddygiad. Dwi eisiau gweld os ydy'r Llywodraeth yma wedi ystyried cyflwyno'r gefnogaeth yna i bobl â Tourette's er mwyn iddyn nhw gael y cymorth ar hyd eu bywyd, neu ar hyd eu llwybr byw, fel eu bod nhw'n medru rheoli’r angen yna i wneud y weithred, beth bynnag ydy'r weithred, pan fydd yn dod ger eu bron nhw. Felly, dwi’n edrych ymlaen at glywed beth bynnag mae'r Gweinidog yn ei ddweud yn y maes yma.
As far as I understand, there is scientific support for that feeling and sense, and there is support in place for people who do live with tics and Tourette's, and it's support for managing behaviour. I want to see whether this Government has considered introducing this support for people with Tourette's so that they receive lifelong support so that they can manage that need to undertake that activity, whatever it might be, when it comes upon them. So, I look forward to the Minister's response in that regard.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant i ymateb i'r ddadl. Sarah Murphy.
I call on the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being to reply to the debate. Sarah Murphy.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to respond to this debate. I would like to thank Lee, of course, for tabling this short debate, and all Members—Carolyn, Mabon, John and Mark—for bringing their support for those with Tourette's syndrome to the Siambr this evening.
As the Member said, Tourette's syndrome is a condition affecting around one in every 100 children in Wales, and it is more common in boys and men. I echo Lee Waters again in stating that it is important to note that Tourette's syndrome is not a rare condition. Its prevalence is comparable to that of autism. I know the condition is frequently misunderstood, as we've heard this evening, and for many people, the reality is that tics are distressing and exhausting. That's why we must ensure that our approach to Tourette's syndrome, tics and all neurodevelopmental services reflects the true scale of need in our communities.
But as we have heard this evening, the level of support available to families is simply not where it needs to be. Not all health boards are providing a specific Tourette's diagnostic and treatment pathway, which unfortunately means there is significant variation in service provision, and the level of care can come down to where people live. This is not acceptable.
At the heart of this is the lack of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence about either Tourette's syndrome or tics. NICE does, however, recommend, as we've heard this evening, an online remote behavioural intervention for tics, also known as ORBIT, and Neupulse, which is aimed at improving treatment options for people with chronic tic disorders. But this lack of overarching guidance from NICE means that families are too often required to battle for a referral through CAMHS, and in many cases must rely on specialist centres outside Wales simply to secure a diagnosis. The situation has been described quite rightly as needing to improve.
Members will know that the Welsh Government introduced the statutory code of practice on the delivery of autism services, which sets out clear legal duties for local authorities and health boards to improve assessment pathways, access to health and social care and then post-diagnostic support for people with autism. Within the code, we recognise the importance of supporting people who have co-occurring conditions.
Tourette syndrome frequently presents alongside other neurodevelopmental differences, including autism and ADHD, although I agree with Mark this evening that they can be very distinct. That code has strengthened the expectation that services must respond appropriately to the needs of autistic people with additional conditions. This includes duties related to mental health support, multi-agency planning and the provision of equitable access to health and social care. The principles underpinning the current autism code, such as that equal access, early identification, clear routes to support and recognition of co-occurring needs are principles that will guide the way we improve services for those living with Tourette syndrome.
While Tourette syndrome itself does not currently benefit from a specific planning framework, we are developing a new neurodivergence code of practice that will go out for consultation in the summer. Tourette syndrome will be specifically referenced alongside autism and ADHD. We know there needs to be greater consistency, better clinical guidance and improved access to specialist support. The next neurodivergence ministerial advisory group will focus on Tourette syndrome and people's experiences as part of the development of this new code of practice.
I also want to address and acknowledge that while Tourette syndrome is seen as a neurodivergent condition, the impact on individuals' emotional mental health is significant. There is a need for that multiprofessional involvement. It's everybody's business. Data on the number of children with Tourette syndrome is not routinely collected as a specific population group and may be co-occurring within the data on children's neurodevelopmental times, but it is not disaggregated due to the non-specific Tourette's pathway. This should and will be looked at going forward. As should the barriers to accessing a diagnosis from the national Tourette syndrome clinic at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, which should not be there if there is clear clinical need that cannot be met locally. It is absolutely entirely reasonable for parents to want access to nationally recognised specialist services where they believe this may help their child, and I will be looking into this.
In answer to Lee Waters's specific questions, the Welsh Government is developing a plan for Tourette syndrome services. My officials are working with research colleagues to commission a scoping review to better understand the prevalence and to look at best practice, including internationally, on care and support services and pathways for those with Tourette's.
On NICE, yes, I will absolutely write to NICE and ask them to continue with the work to develop and publish clinical guidelines for Tourette syndrome, as they did leave a window of opportunity open in recognising the value of developing a clinical knowledge summary following their work with Tourettes Action.
In relation to training, I really want to thank Hywel Dda for developing a care pathway and a training package, and staff at Tourettes Action for its comprehensive training offer for professionals, which is tailored to an organisation's needs. The national neurodivergence team is working with Tourettes Action now on their training package, to translate it into Welsh and to raise awareness more broadly on Tourette syndrome. The national neurodivergence team has also arranged training sessions about Tourette syndrome to help upskill people working in the NHS, in social care, in education and the voluntary sector.
And finally, working with the third sector and experts, I can confirm that NHS P&I colleagues are looking forward to meeting with the director of the centre for ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders at Nottingham university and the chief executive of Tourettes Action. As Lee Waters has recently requested in writing, those experts are looking forward to learning and improving through their knowledge.
I want to end by saying that together, we really do want to ensure that every child, young person and adult living with Tourette syndrome can access that timely, compassionate and effective support. I really do thank you all this evening for raising this awareness and giving it a good push forward on behalf of so many people across Wales. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr am y cyfle i ymateb i'r ddadl hon. Hoffwn ddiolch i Lee, wrth gwrs, am gyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon, a'r holl Aelodau—Carolyn, Mabon, John a Mark—am ddod â'u cefnogaeth i'r rhai sydd â syndrom Tourette i'r Siambr heno.
Fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, mae syndrom Tourette yn gyflwr sy'n effeithio ar oddeutu un o bob 100 o blant yng Nghymru, ac mae'n fwy cyffredin mewn bechgyn a dynion. Rwy'n adleisio Lee Waters eto wrth ddweud ei bod yn bwysig nodi nad yw syndrom Tourette yn gyflwr prin. Mae nifer yr achosion ohono'n debyg i awtistiaeth. Rwy'n gwybod bod y cyflwr yn aml yn cael ei gamddeall, fel y clywsom heno, ac i lawer o bobl, y gwir amdani yw bod ticiau'n peri gofid ac yn flinedig. Dyna pam y mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod ein hagwedd at syndrom Tourette, ticiau a'r holl wasanaethau niwroddatblygiadol yn adlewyrchu gwir raddfa'r angen yn ein cymunedau.
Ond fel y clywsom heno, nid yw lefel y cymorth sydd ar gael i deuluoedd lle mae angen iddi fod. Nid yw pob bwrdd iechyd yn darparu llwybr diagnosis a thriniaeth Tourette penodol, sy'n golygu, yn anffodus, fod amrywio sylweddol yn y gwasanaeth a ddarperir, a gall lefel y gofal fod yn fater syml o ble mae pobl yn byw. Nid yw hyn yn dderbyniol.
Wrth wraidd hyn mae'r diffyg canllawiau gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal ynghylch ticiau neu syndrom Tourette. Fodd bynnag, fel y clywsom heno, mae NICE yn argymell ymyrraeth ymddygiadol ar-lein o bell ar gyfer ticiau, a elwir hefyd yn ORBIT, a Neupulse, sydd â'r nod o wella opsiynau triniaeth i bobl ag anhwylderau tic cronig. Ond mae diffyg canllawiau cyffredinol gan NICE yn golygu bod teuluoedd yn rhy aml yn gorfod brwydro am atgyfeiriad trwy CAMHS, ac mewn llawer o achosion, rhaid iddynt ddibynnu ar ganolfannau arbenigol y tu allan i Gymru i gael diagnosis. Mae'r sefyllfa wedi'i disgrifio, yn briodol ddigon, fel un sydd angen ei gwella.
Bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyflwyno'r cod ymarfer statudol ar ddarparu gwasanaethau awtistiaeth, sy'n nodi dyletswyddau cyfreithiol clir i awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd wella llwybrau asesu, mynediad at iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol a chymorth ôl-ddiagnostig wedyn i bobl ag awtistiaeth. Yn y cod, rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd cefnogi pobl sydd â chyflyrau sy'n cyd-ddigwydd.
Mae syndrom Tourette yn aml yn ymgyflwyno ochr yn ochr â gwahaniaethau niwroddatblygiadol eraill, gan gynnwys awtistiaeth ac ADHD, er fy mod yn cytuno â Mark heno y gallant fod yn wahanol iawn i'w gilydd. Mae'r cod hwnnw wedi cryfhau'r disgwyliad fod yn rhaid i wasanaethau ymateb yn briodol i anghenion pobl awtistig â chyflyrau ychwanegol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys dyletswyddau sy'n gysylltiedig â chymorth iechyd meddwl, cynllunio amlasiantaethol a darparu mynediad cyfartal at ofal iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Mae'r egwyddorion sy'n sail i'r cod awtistiaeth presennol, megis mynediad cyfartal, canfod cynnar, llwybrau clir i gefnogi ac adnabod anghenion sy'n cyd-ddigwydd, yn egwyddorion a fydd yn llywio'r ffordd yr awn ati i wella gwasanaethau i'r rhai sy'n byw gyda syndrom Tourette.
Er nad yw syndrom Tourette ei hun yn elwa o fframwaith cynllunio penodol ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn datblygu cod ymarfer niwroamrywiaeth newydd a fydd yn destun ymgynghoriad yn yr haf. Cyfeirir yn benodol at syndrom Tourette ochr yn ochr ag awtistiaeth ac ADHD. Rydym yn gwybod bod angen mwy o gysondeb, gwell arweiniad clinigol a gwell mynediad at gymorth arbenigol. Bydd grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog ar niwroamrywiaeth yn canolbwyntio nesaf ar syndrom Tourette a phrofiadau pobl yn rhan o'r gwaith o ddatblygu'r cod ymarfer newydd.
Rwyf hefyd eisiau nodi a chydnabod, er bod syndrom Tourette yn cael ei ystyried yn gyflwr niwroamrywiol, mae'r effaith ar iechyd meddwl emosiynol unigolion yn sylweddol. Mae angen ymwneud amlbroffesiynol. Mae'n fusnes i bawb. Ni chaiff data ar nifer y plant â syndrom Tourette ei gasglu fel mater o drefn fel grŵp poblogaeth penodol a gall fod yn cyd-ddigwydd o fewn y data ar amseroedd niwroddatblygiadol plant, ond ni chaiff ei ddadgyfuno am fod y llwybr Tourette yn amhenodol. Fe ddylid ac fe fydd hyn yn cael ei ystyried yn y dyfodol, fel y dylai'r rhwystrau i gael diagnosis gan y clinig syndrom Tourette cenedlaethol yn Ysbyty Great Ormond Street yn Llundain, na ddylent fod yno os oes angen clinigol clir na ellir ei ddiwallu'n lleol. Mae'n gwbl resymol i rieni fod eisiau mynediad at wasanaethau arbenigol a gydnabyddir yn genedlaethol lle credant y gallai hyn helpu eu plentyn, a byddaf yn edrych ar hyn.
Mewn ymateb i gwestiynau penodol Lee Waters, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn datblygu cynllun ar gyfer gwasanaethau syndrom Tourette. Mae fy swyddogion yn gweithio gyda chydweithwyr ymchwil i gomisiynu adolygiad cwmpasu i ddeall nifer yr achosion yn well ac i edrych ar arferion gorau, gan gynnwys yn rhyngwladol, o ran gwasanaethau gofal a chymorth a llwybrau i'r rhai sydd â syndrom Tourette.
Ar NICE, byddaf yn ysgrifennu at NICE ac yn gofyn iddynt barhau â'r gwaith o ddatblygu a chyhoeddi canllawiau clinigol ar gyfer syndrom Tourette, gan eu bod wedi agor cyfle i gydnabod gwerth datblygu crynodeb o wybodaeth glinigol yn dilyn eu gwaith gyda Tourettes Action.
Mewn perthynas â hyfforddiant, hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr i Hywel Dda am ddatblygu llwybr gofal a phecyn hyfforddiant, a staff Tourettes Action am eu cynnig hyfforddiant cynhwysfawr i weithwyr proffesiynol, sydd wedi'i deilwra i anghenion sefydliad. Mae'r tîm niwroamrywiaeth cenedlaethol yn gweithio gyda Tourettes Action nawr ar eu pecyn hyfforddiant, i'w gyfieithu i'r Gymraeg ac i godi ymwybyddiaeth yn ehangach o syndrom Tourette. Mae'r tîm niwroamrywiaeth cenedlaethol hefyd wedi trefnu sesiynau hyfforddi am syndrom Tourette i helpu i uwchsgilio pobl sy'n gweithio yn y GIG, mewn gofal cymdeithasol, yn y byd addysg ac yn y sector gwirfoddol.
Ac yn olaf, gan weithio gyda'r trydydd sector ac arbenigwyr, gallaf gadarnhau bod cydweithwyr yn uned perfformiad a gwella y GIG yn edrych ymlaen at gyfarfod â chyfarwyddwr y ganolfan ar gyfer ADHD ac anhwylderau niwroddatblygiadol ym Mhrifysgol Nottingham a phrif weithredwr Tourettes Action. Fel y gofynnodd Lee Waters yn ysgrifenedig yn ddiweddar, mae'r arbenigwyr hynny'n edrych ymlaen at ddysgu a gwella drwy eu gwybodaeth.
Rwyf am orffen drwy ddweud ein bod ni gyda'n gilydd yn awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod pob plentyn, unigolyn ifanc ac oedolyn sy'n byw gyda syndrom Tourette yn gallu cael mynediad at gymorth amserol, tosturiol ac effeithiol. Diolch yn fawr i chi i gyd heno am godi ymwybyddiaeth o hyn a rhoi hwb da iddo ar ran cymaint o bobl ledled Cymru. Diolch.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Thanks to Lee for bringing forward such an important topic this evening.
Diolch i Lee am gyflwyno pwnc mor bwysig heno.
Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.
That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Have a safe journey home, everyone.
Siwrnai ddiogel adref, bawb.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:39.
The meeting ended at 18:39.