Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
15/02/2022Cynnwys
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. Cyn inni ddechrau, dwi angen nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Cynhelir y cyfarfod hwn ar ffurf hybrid, gyda rhai Aelodau yn y Siambr ac eraill yn ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo. Bydd yr holl Aelodau sy'n cymryd rhan yn nhrafodion y Senedd, ble bynnag y bônt, yn cael eu trin yn gyfartal. Mae Cyfarfod Llawn a gynhelir drwy gynhadledd fideo, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog Senedd Cymru, yn gyfystyr â thrafodion y Senedd at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw, ac mae'r rheini wedi eu nodi ar eich agenda.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. This meeting will be held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference. All Members participating in proceedings of the Senedd, wherever they may be, will be treated equally. A Plenary meeting held using video-conference, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitutes Senedd proceedings for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's Plenary meeting, and these are set out on your agenda.
Cyn cychwyn ar ein gwaith ni heddiw, mi wariwn ychydig amser nawr yn adlewyrchu ar y newyddion trist ac annisgwyl ddoe am farwolaeth ein cyn-Aelod a chyfaill i nifer ohonom, sef Aled Roberts. Bu'n Aelod dros y gogledd yma o 2011 i 2016. Mae'n deg dweud bod rhai Aelodau yn medru gwneud argraff fawr mewn cyfnod cymharol fyr—mi oedd Aled yn un o'r rheini. Yn seneddwr o reddf, yn gweithio ar draws pleidiau, lawn mor effeithiol yn cydweithio ag yr oedd e'n herio a sgrwtineiddio, ac yn gwneud yr herio a'r cydweithio gyda gwên a chwrteisi. Mi oedd Aled Roberts yn llawn gobaith am ddyfodol ei wlad a'i iaith. Mi oedd yn apwyntiad ardderchog yn Gomisiynodd y Gymraeg. Mae ei annwyl Rosllannerchrugog, ei iaith, a'i wlad yn dlotach heddiw hebddo, ond fe rydym ni i gyd yn diolch iddo am bopeth gyflawnodd, ac yn meddwl am ei annwyl deulu yn eu colled greulon.
Mi wnaf i nawr ofyn i bob plaid gyfrannu at y teyrngedau i Aled Roberts, drwy gychwyn wrth wahodd Mark Drakeford, y Prif Weinidog, i rannu ychydig sylwadau. Mark Drakeford.
Before we begin our work today, we will spend a few moments reflecting on the sad and unexpected news that came through yesterday of the death of former Member, and friend to many, Aled Roberts, who was a Member representing north Wales here between 2011 and 2016. It's fair to say that some Members can make a huge impression in a relatively brief period, and Aled was one of those. An instinctive parliamentarian who worked across parties, just as effective in collaborating as he was in scrutinising and challenging, and doing that collaboration and scrutiny with courtesy and a smile. Aled Roberts was full of hope on the future of his nation and his language. His was an excellent appointment as Welsh Language Commissioner. His dear Rhosllannerchrugog, his language and his country are poorer today without him, but we all thank him for everything he achieved, and are thinking of his family in their cruel loss.
I will now invite each party to contribute to the tributes to Aled Roberts. I'll start by inviting the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, to share a few comments. Mark Drakeford.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Trist iawn oedd clywed am farwolaeth Aled Roberts. Fel dywedoch chi, Llywydd, roedd Aled, wrth gwrs, fel cyn-Aelod yn gyfaill i sawl un ohonom ni yn y Senedd. Boed fel arweinydd cyngor Wrecsam, Aelod o'r Senedd neu fel Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, roedd Aled yn gryf dros gyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Drwy gydol ei yrfa broffesiynol, roedd Aled yn ymdrechu dros yr hyn oedd yn bwysig iddo fe, ac yn fodlon brwydro am chwarae teg.
Pan benodwyd ef fel Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, daeth ag asbri newydd i'r swydd. Roedd yn ddyn pobl, ac roedd yn gomisiynydd oedd yn agored i glywed gan bobl a rhoi cymorth adeiladol. Roedd yn berson didwyll, cynnes a llawn hiwmor. Mawr yw ein dyled ni iddo am ei wasanaeth diflino, ac am ei gyfeillgarwch. Roedd ei angerdd a'i ymroddiad i'r Gymraeg heb ei ail, boed fel organydd yn y capel neu fel cadeirydd llywodraethwyr Ysgol Morgan Llwyd. Roedd ei gymuned leol yn Rhos yn hollbwysig iddo, ac, er prysurdeb gwaith, roedd yn wastad yn cefnogi'r gymuned honno.
Rydym yn cydymdeimlo'n fawr gyda'i deulu yn yr amgylchiadau anodd yma wrth gofio amdano yn y Siambr heddiw.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. It was very sad to hear of the death of Aled Roberts. As you said, Llywydd, Aled, as a former Member, was a friend to many of us in the Senedd. Be it as leader of Wrexham council, a Member of the Senedd or as Welsh Language Commissioner, Aled stood strongly for the principle of social justice. Throughout his professional career, Aled strove for what was important to him, and was willing to fight for fair play and equality.
When he was appointed Welsh Language Commissioner, he brought new energy to the role. He was a people person, and he was a commissioner who was open to listening to people and to providing constructive support to them. He was a sincere, warm man who was full of humour. We are greatly indebted to him for his unstinting service and for his friendship. His passion and commitment to the Welsh language could not have been beaten, as a chapel organist or as the chair of governors at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd. His local community in Rhos was so very important to him, and, despite his busy schedule, he always supported that community.
We sympathise greatly with his family in these very difficult circumstances as we commemorate him in the Chamber today.
Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew R.T. Davies.
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. These are the types of moments that you never really wish you have to do, or if you do do them, someone's had a good, full and active life and lived to a good age. Aled lived a very good and active life, but he's been taken away from us far too soon at the age of 59 years. It is the case that Aled was a facilitator in life, whether it be the legal profession he trained to go into from Aberystwyth University or the politics he espoused. And we weren't on the same side of the aisle, but he definitely was someone who'd reach out across that aisle to reach consensus and build a better Wales. And whether that be when he was a councillor in Wrexham, a leader of the council, or indeed here as an MS for the term that was 2011 to 2016, he certainly worked across party to make sure that we could reach that consensus to build a better and stronger Wales.
And in particular, the work that he undertook when he left this place and getting appointed as Welsh Language Commissioner reached into communities the length and breadth of Wales to increase the uptake of the language. And as I said in my opening remarks, he has been taken away from us far too young at the age of 59, but to be taken away from your family at that age is even more of a cruel blow. And I'm sure we all reflect on the trauma that has created and the grief that has created for Llinos and the children, and the wider family, and we send our kindest regards and condolences to them at this most difficult time. I hope they are able to wrap themselves in the blanket of achievements that he made when he was here, and at Wrexham, and in his business life as a lawyer, serving his constituents and serving his clients in north Wales.
Diolch, Llywydd. Dyma'r mathau o adegau nad ydych chi byth yn dymuno y bydd yn rhaid i chi eu gwneud, neu os byddwch chi'n eu gwneud, mae rhywun wedi cael bywyd da, llawn a gweithgar ac wedi byw i oedran da. Fe wnaeth Aled fyw bywyd da a gweithgar iawn, ond mae wedi cael ei gymryd oddi wrthym ni yn llawer rhy fuan yn 59 mlwydd oed. Mae'n wir bod Aled yn hwylusydd mewn bywyd, boed y proffesiwn cyfreithiol iddo hyfforddi i ymuno ag ef o Brifysgol Aberystwyth neu'r wleidyddiaeth yr oedd yn ei harddel. A doedden ni ddim ar yr un ochr i'r eil, ond roedd yn sicr yn rhywun a fyddai'n estyn allan ar draws yr eil honno i ddod i gonsensws ac adeiladu Cymru well. A pha un a oedd hynny pan oedd yn gynghorydd yn Wrecsam, yn arweinydd y cyngor, neu yn wir yma fel AS ar gyfer tymor 2011 i 2016, yn sicr gweithiodd yn drawsbleidiol i wneud yn siŵr y gallem ni ddod i'r consensws hwnnw i adeiladu Cymru well a chryfach.
Ac yn benodol, cyrhaeddodd y gwaith a wnaeth pan adawodd y lle hwn a chael ei benodi yn Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg gymunedau ar hyd a lled Cymru i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n defnyddio'r iaith. Ac fel y dywedais yn fy sylwadau agoriadol, mae wedi cael ei gymryd oddi wrthym ni yn llawer rhy ifanc yn 59 oed, ond mae cael eich cymryd oddi wrth eich teulu ar yr oedran hwnnw yn ergyd fwy creulon fyth. Ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn myfyrio ar y trawma y mae hynny wedi ei greu a'r galar y mae hynny wedi ei greu i Llinos a'r plant, a'r teulu ehangach, ac anfonwn ein parch a'n cydymdeimlad mwyaf gwresog atyn nhw ar yr adeg anodd dros ben hon. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallan nhw lapio eu hunain ym mlanced y llwyddiannau a gafodd pan oedd yma, ac yn Wrecsam, ac yn ei fywyd busnes fel cyfreithiwr, yn gwasanaethu ei etholwyr ac yn gwasanaethu ei gleientiaid yn y gogledd.
Ac ar ran Plaid Cymru, Llyr Gruffydd.
And on behalf of Plaid Cymru, Llyr Gruffydd.
Diolch, Lywydd. Wel, fe ddaeth y newyddion echrydus o drist am golli Aled fel sioc aruthrol, wrth gwrs, i nifer ohonom ni. Roeddwn i yn ymwybodol nad oedd e wedi mwynhau'r iechyd gorau yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ond pan dorrodd y newyddion ddoe, fe'n siglwyd ni i gyd gan golli gŵr a oedd yn berson didwyll, cynnes, ffraeth ac angerddol iawn. Ond angerdd addfwyn oedd yn perthyn i Aled—rhywun a oedd yn wastad yn barod i weithio ar draws ffiniau plaid er budd ei gymuned a'i genedl. Ac roedd hynny'n amlwg, wrth gwrs, o'i ddyddiau fe fel arweinydd cyngor Wrecsam, pan oedd ei ddrws e'n wastad ar agor i bawb. Ac, wrth gwrs, fe roddodd e arweiniad clir o ran y Gymraeg yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, gan agor ysgolion Cymraeg newydd yn y sir a sicrhau bod y Gymraeg yn flaenoriaeth gorfforaethol i'r cyngor yn y cyfnod hwnnw. Ac roedd cael y cyfle i gario hynny ymlaen ar lefel genedlaethol, yn ei rôl fel Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, yn rhywbeth dwi'n gwybod roedd Aled yn falch iawn ohono fe.
Mi ges i'r fraint, fel nifer ohonom ni yn y Senedd yma, i weithio'n agos iawn ag e yn y bedwaredd Senedd—y ddau ohonom ni'n cael ein hethol ar yr un diwrnod, wrth gwrs, yn 2011, a'r ddau ohonom ni'n cynrychioli rhanbarth y Gogledd. Ac fe dreulion ni oriau'n rhoi'r byd yn ei le ar y siwrneiau trên hir yna o Wrecsam i Gaerdydd ac yn ôl, a'r sgyrsiau'n amrywio o drafod manylder deddfwriaeth seneddol i berfformiad clwb pêl-droed Wrecsam ar y penwythnos. Wrth gwrs, roedd e yn gefnogwr brwd o'i glwb pêl-droed lleol, ond yn gefnogwr brwd o'i gymuned yn ehangach. Roedd e'n gadeirydd y Stiwt, wrth gwrs, yn Rhos—adeilad y gwnaeth e chwarae rhan ganolog yn ei ailagor e. Roedd e'n canu mewn corau lleol, yn organydd yn ei gapel lleol, yn llywodraethwr ar ysgolion. Dyn ei filltir sgwâr go iawn.
Felly, mae colli Aled yn ergyd drom mewn sawl ffordd, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n meddyliau ni gyda Llinos a'r hogiau a'i deulu cyfan ar yr adeg anodd yma. Dwi a phawb ym Mhlaid Cymru am estyn ein cydymdeimlad â nhw. Ond dwi hefyd eisiau estyn ein diolch—diolch am yr holl waith wnaeth e, a diolch ei fod e wedi gallu cyflawni cymaint mewn oes a dorrwyd yn llawer iawn rhy fyr.
Thank you, Llywydd. Well, the appallingly sad news of the loss of Aled came as a huge shock to many of us, of course. I was aware that he hadn't been in the best of health over the past 12 months, but when the news broke yesterday, we were all shaken by the loss of a sincere, warm, humorous, and very passionate man. But it was a gentle passion that Aled had—he was one who was always willing to work across party boundaries for the benefit of his community and his nation. And that was clear, of course, from his days as leader of Wrexham council, when his door was always open for one and all. And, of course, he gave clear leadership in terms of the Welsh language during that time, opening new Welsh-medium schools in the county and ensuring that the Welsh language was a corporate priority for the council at that time. And having the opportunity to carry that through at a national level, in his role as Welsh Language Commissioner, was something that I know Aled was extremely proud of.
I had the privilege, like many of us in this Senedd, to work very closely with him in the fourth Senedd—both of us elected on the same day in 2011, and both of us representing the North Wales region. We spent hours putting the world to rights on those lengthy train journeys from Wrexham to Cardiff and back, and the conversations varied from discussing the detail of parliamentary legislation to the performance of Wrexham football club on the weekend. Of course, he was a huge fan of his local football club, but also a huge supporter of his community more broadly. He was chair of the Stiwt in Rhos—a building that he played a central part in its reopening. He sang in local choirs, he was an organist at his chapel and a governor of local schools. He was very much the man of his people.
Therefore, the loss of Aled is a huge blow in many ways, and, of course, our thoughts are with Llinos, the boys, and his whole family at this difficult time. I and everyone in Plaid Cymru want to extend our sympathies to them. But I also want to express our thanks—our thanks for all the work that he did, and to give thanks that he was able to achieve so much in a life that was cut short far too soon.
Ac i gloi'r teyrngedau, mae arweinydd plaid Aled Roberts, Jane Dodds.
And to conclude the tributes, the leader of Aled Roberts's party, Jane Dodds.
Diolch, Lywydd. Yn gyntaf, gaf i gydymdeimlo, o'r blaid ac o bawb ohonom ni, dwi'n siŵr, efo Llinos a'r teulu? Sioc fawr i ni i gyd—yma ac yn nheulu'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Roedd Aled yn un o'r bobl fwyaf caredig, gweithgar a chyfeillgar i fi ac i eraill hefyd. Fe wnaeth Aled gyfraniad aruthrol i fywyd gwleidyddol Cymru ac i'r cymunedau y bu'n eu gwasanaethu. Fel stic o roc, roedd Rhosllannerchrugog trwy Aled. A thra'n bod ni i gyd yn gyfarwydd â gyrfa wleidyddol Aled—yn gwasanaethu ward Ponciau, yn faer, ac yn arweinydd cyngor Wrecsam, neu fel Aelod o'r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru—cymuned Rhosllannerchrugog, a theulu Aled, a ddaeth yn gyntaf bob amser.
Roedd Aled yn awyddus, fel cynghorydd ac fel Aelod o'r Cynulliad—fel yr oedd o ar yr amser—i wneud y pethau bychain ar gyfer ei gymuned, trwy osod paneli solar ar stad dai yn Llai, buddsoddi mewn isadeiledd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a iechyd y gymuned, neu trwy fuddsoddi yn ysgolion Wrecsam. A dwi'n gwybod gymaint o anrhydedd iddo oedd medru gweithredu dros yr iaith fel Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, ac i sicrhau bod pob plentyn yng Nghymru yn cael y fraint o addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg. Fel rhywun o Wrecsam, dwi'n gwybod nad ydy Wrecsam, fel arfer, ddim o reidrwydd yn ardal ble mae'r iaith yn ffynnu. A dyna beth oedd mor arbennig—bod Aled yn gomisiynydd yr iaith: boi o Wrecsam a oedd wedi gwasanaethu ei gymuned, ei wlad, a'i iaith ag urddas, yn esiampl i bob un ohonom. Diolch, Aled.
Thank you, Llywydd. First of all, may I send the party's condolences, and all of our condolences, to Llinos and the family? It's a great shock to all of us—here and in the Liberal Democrat family. Aled was one of the kindest, friendliest and most hard-working people that I and others ever met. Aled made a major contribution to the political life of Wales, and to the communities that he served. Rhosllanerchrugog ran through him like a stick of rock. And while we're all familiar with Aled's political career—in the Ponciau ward, a mayor and leader of Wrexham council, or as a Member of the Senedd for North Wales—it was the community of Rhosllanerchrugog, and his family, that came first every time.
Aled was eager as a councillor and as a Member of the Assembly—as it was at the time—to do the little things for his community, through setting solar panels on a housing estate in Llay, investing in public transport infrastructure and community health, or through investing in the schools of Wrexham. And I know how much of a privilege it was for him to work on behalf of the Welsh language as the Welsh Language Commissioner, and to ensure that every child in Wales had the opportunity to receive their education through the medium of Welsh. As somebody from Wrexham, I know that Wrexham isn't usually an area where the language flourishes. And that's what was so special—that Aled was the language commissioner: he was from Wrexham, and had served his community, his nation, and his language with a great deal of dignity, as an example to us all. Thank you, Aled.
Diolch ichi i gyd am deyrngedau hyfryd i'r dyn yna, Aled Roberts, o 'angerdd addfwyn', yng ngeiriau un cyfrannydd. Diolch ichi i gyd, ac mi wnaf i'n siwr bod y geiriau yna'n cael eu rhannu gyda theulu Aled Roberts ar ein rhan ni i gyd fel Senedd.
I thank you all for wonderful tributes to Aled Roberts, the man of 'gentle passion', in the words of one of our contributors. Thank you very much, and I will ensure that your words are shared with Aled Roberts' family on behalf of us all as a Senedd.
Rydym ni'n symud ymlaen nawr, felly, i'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Gareth Davies.
We'll move on to questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Gareth Davies.
1. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu sicrhau'r budd mwyaf posibl o fuddsoddiad y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn Nyffryn Clwyd? OQ57678
1. How does the Welsh Government plan to maximise shared prosperity fund investment in the Vale of Clwyd? OQ57678
Llywydd, the UK Government was very clear that it saw no role at all for the Welsh Government in last year’s shared prosperity fund pilots, in either the design of those pilots or the decisions made within them. I hope for a different approach when the proposals for the fund are eventually published.
Llywydd, roedd Llywodraeth y DU yn eglur iawn nad oedd yn gweld unrhyw swyddogaeth o gwbl i Lywodraeth Cymru yng nghynlluniau treialu y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin y llynedd, nid yn nylunio'r cynlluniau treialu hynny na'r penderfyniadau a wnaed ynddyn nhw. Gobeithiaf am wahanol ddull gweithredu pan fydd y cynigion ar gyfer y gronfa yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn y pen draw.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. My constituents have already benefited from the UK Government's levelling-up agenda. Projects in the vale had a share of nearly £3 million in the past year through the precursor to the shared prosperity fund. The community renewal fund has brought in much needed cash for projects across my patch, from youth projects to employment schemes and everything in-between. So, First Minister, if the Vale of Clwyd is to reap the rewards of the shared prosperity scheme, it needs both Governments at either side of the M4 working hand in hand. Will your Government commit to making the levelling-up agenda a complete success, working with the UK Government rather than just sniping from the sidelines?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Mae fy etholwyr eisoes wedi elwa ar agenda codi'r gwastad Llywodraeth y DU. Cafodd prosiectau yn y fro gyfran o bron i £3 miliwn yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf trwy ragflaenydd y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Mae'r gronfa adnewyddu cymunedol wedi dod ag arian y mae mawr ei angen ar gyfer prosiectau ar draws fy ardal i, o brosiectau ieuenctid i gynlluniau cyflogaeth a phopeth yn y canol. Felly, Prif Weinidog, os yw Dyffryn Clwyd yn mynd i elwa ar y cynllun ffyniant cyffredin, mae angen i'r ddwy Lywodraeth ar y naill ochr a'r llall i'r M4 weithio law yn llaw. A wnaiff eich Llywodraeth ymrwymo i sicrhau bod yr agenda codi'r gwastad yn llwyddiant llwyr, gan weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn hytrach na dim ond beirniadu o'r cyrion?
Well, Llywydd, I agree that, if a success is to be made in the shared prosperity fund, then it should be a joint endeavour between the UK Government and the Welsh Government. That has been our position for many, many months. The difficulty is not with the Welsh Government wishing to play a part; it is simply that the UK Government is clear—has been up until now, at least—that there is no part at all for us to play. Now, the House of Lords—its constitution select committee—reported on this matter only a couple of weeks ago. It surveyed the history of the shared prosperity fund, and this is what it said: it is the UK Government's lack of engagement with devolved administrations that is unhelpful and has undermined trust. The devolved administrations should have a more constructive role in the governance of the shared prosperity fund. This should include decisions about local priorities and the allocation of funding. Now, if the UK Government is prepared to take the advice of the House of Lords select committee, then we will have a joint approach to decision making under the fund. If the UK Government is prepared to offer that, then the Welsh Government will be a willing partner.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno, os yw'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn mynd i lwyddo, yna dylai fod yn ymdrech ar y cyd rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyna fu ein safbwynt ni ers misoedd lawer iawn. Nid Llywodraeth Cymru yn dymuno chwarae rhan yw'r anhawster; dim ond bod Llywodraeth y DU yn eglur—wedi bod hyd yn hyn, o leiaf—nad oes unrhyw ran o gwbl i ni ei chwarae. Nawr, adroddodd Tŷ'r Arglwyddi—ei bwyllgor dethol cyfansoddiad—ar y mater hwn wythnos neu ddwy yn unig yn ôl. Ymchwiliodd i hanes y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, a dyma a ddywedodd: diffyg ymgysylltiad Llywodraeth y DU â gweinyddiaethau datganoledig sy'n annefnyddiol ac sydd wedi tanseilio ymddiriedaeth. Dylai fod gan y gweinyddiaethau datganoledig swyddogaeth fwy adeiladol o ran llywodraethu'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Dylai hyn gynnwys penderfyniadau am flaenoriaethau lleol a dyrannu cyllid. Nawr, os yw Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i gymryd cyngor pwyllgor dethol Tŷ'r Arglwyddi, yna bydd gennym ni ddull ar y cyd o wneud penderfyniadau o dan y gronfa. Os yw Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i gynnig hynny, yna bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn bartner parod.
First Minister, how do you think residents in the Vale of Clwyd will react knowing that Wales will be £1 billion worse off over the next three years as a result of a broken Conservative promise that we would not be a penny worse off?
Prif Weinidog, sut ydych chi'n credu y bydd trigolion Dyffryn Clwyd yn ymateb o wybod y bydd Cymru £1 biliwn yn waeth ei byd dros y tair blynedd nesaf o ganlyniad i addewid a dorrwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr na fyddem ni geiniog yn waeth ein byd?
Well, Llywydd, I thank Carolyn Thomas for that. I did think that the original questioner had a very strange view indeed of what was in the best interests of his own constituents. He asks them to celebrate the £47 million received in Wales from the community renewal fund without drawing attention to the £375 million that Wales has lost out on in that year. Now, under the previous funds that came to Wales, the Vale of Clwyd and the whole of north Wales benefited far, far more than any small dribbling out of funds from last year's community renewal fund: £28.5 million for renewable energy, marine energy alone, across north Wales; £7 million for major regeneration projects, including the Queen's Buildings in Rhyl and £1 million to upgrade Rhyl station; and major north Wales investments in skills and in research, Llywydd. I think it's very unlikely indeed that residents in the Vale of Clwyd will be celebrating at having been offered sixpence when they've lost a pound.
Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Carolyn Thomas am hynna. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod gan yr holwr gwreiddiol farn ryfedd dros ben am yr hyn a oedd o fudd pennaf i'w etholwyr ei hun. Mae'n gofyn iddyn nhw ddathlu'r £47 miliwn a gafwyd yng Nghymru o'r gronfa adnewyddu cymunedol heb dynnu sylw at y £375 miliwn y mae Cymru wedi ei golli yn y flwyddyn honno. Nawr, o dan y cyllid blaenorol a ddaeth i Gymru, roedd Dyffryn Clwyd a gogledd Cymru gyfan yn elwa llawer iawn mwy nag unrhyw ddiferu bach o arian o gronfa adnewyddu cymunedol y llynedd: £28.5 miliwn ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy, ynni'r môr yn unig, ar draws y gogledd; £7 miliwn ar gyfer prosiectau adfywio mawr, gan gynnwys Adeiladau'r Frenhines yn y Rhyl ac £1 filiwn i uwchraddio gorsaf y Rhyl; a buddsoddiadau mawr yn y gogledd mewn sgiliau ac mewn ymchwil, Llywydd. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n annhebygol iawn y bydd trigolion Dyffryn Clwyd yn dathlu eu bod nhw wedi cael cynnig chwe cheiniog pan ydyn nhw wedi colli punt.
2. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i gynyddu nifer y prentisiaethau yn Islwyn? OQ57681
2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in Islwyn? OQ57681
These actions were set out by my colleague the Minister for Economy last week when he committed the Welsh Government to invest £366 million over the next three years to deliver an increased number of 125,000 all-age apprenticeships across Wales, including, of course, in Islwyn.
Nodwyd y camau hyn gan fy nghyd-Weinidog, Gweinidog yr Economi yr wythnos diwethaf pan ymrwymodd i Lywodraeth Cymru fuddsoddi £366 miliwn dros y tair blynedd nesaf i ddarparu nifer fwy o 125,000 o brentisiaethau pob oed ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, yn Islwyn.
Thank you, First Minister. The Welsh Labour Government's avowed commitment to ensure at least 90 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds will be in education, employment or training by 2050 is a hallmark of the progressive agenda of this socialist Welsh Labour Government. First Minister, when I speak to my constituents, whether they be a grandmother in Crumlin, a father in Cwmcarn or a young person in Crosskeys, invariably one of their most pressing concerns is the availability of employment, training and apprenticeships in the communities of Islwyn for the next generation of Welsh workers. First Minister, with £1 billion—£1 billion—in promised post-European Union funds missing from this Welsh budget and directly accountable to the UK Tory Government's broken promises, what mitigating measures can the Welsh Government take to ensure that this fundamental aim to reshape the Labour market in Wales is delivered? And First Minister, what message also do you have to employers in Islwyn about the value of apprenticeships to their companies' futures?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Mae'r ymrwymiad a addawyd gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru i sicrhau y bydd o leiaf 90 y cant o bobl ifanc 16 i 24 oed mewn addysg, cyflogaeth neu hyfforddiant erbyn 2050 yn arwydd o agenda flaengar y Llywodraeth Lafur sosialaidd hon yng Nghymru. Prif Weinidog, pan fyddaf i'n siarad gyda fy etholwyr, pa un a ydyn nhw'n fam-gu yng Nghrymlyn, yn dad yng Nghwmcarn neu'n berson ifanc yn Crosskeys, yn ddieithriad un o'u pryderon pwysicaf yw'r gyflogaeth, yr hyfforddiant a'r prentisiaethau sydd ar gael yng nghymunedau Islwyn ar gyfer y genhedlaeth nesaf o weithwyr Cymru. Prif Weinidog, gydag £1 biliwn—£1 biliwn—mewn cronfeydd a addawyd ar ôl yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ar goll o'r gyllideb hon yng Nghymru ac y gellir ei briodoli yn uniongyrchol i addewidion a dorrwyd gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU, pa fesurau lliniaru all Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd i sicrhau bod y nod sylfaenol hwn o ail-lunio'r farchnad Lafur yng Nghymru yn cael ei gyflawni? A Prif Weinidog, pa neges sydd gennych chi hefyd i gyflogwyr yn Islwyn am werth prentisiaethau i ddyfodol eu cwmnïau?
I thank Rhianon Passmore for that question. She is absolutely right to point to the fact that that absolute guarantee that we were offered on the floor of the Senedd as well as everywhere else—that Wales would not be a penny worse off as a result of leaving the European Union—has been comprehensively broken and abandoned by the UK Government. In not a single year of the three-year period covered by the comprehensive spending review will money available to Wales reach the level that would have been available while we were members of the European Union. Some £375 million a year would have been available to Wales. We get £92 million next year, £161 million in the year after, and even in the third year of the comprehensive spending review we end up with £345 million.
Let me be clear, Llywydd, that this is not simply—[Inaudible.]—we are being short-changed from what the Government said in its manifesto for the 2019 general election, and what the Chancellor said in the comprehensive spending review only a few short months ago. We will never, under Conservative plans, get back to where we were, let alone, as they promised, as a minimum—and that's the phrase they used, Llywydd, 'as a minimum'—that we would never be a penny worse off in any single year. It's simply not true, and of course it has an impact on the ability of the Welsh Government to invest in the sorts of skills programmes that are vital in terms of apprenticeships.
Rhianon Passmore asks me what message I would give to employers in Islwyn. My first message would be to thank them—to thank them for the way in which they themselves play their part in offering young people the opportunities that apprenticeships bring. I've looked recently at the range of opportunities there are for young people in Islwyn who want to take the apprenticeship route, and there are apprenticeships available in the local health board, in the local authority, in local schools and in the private sector—in retail, in travel and in fitness. The single largest number of apprenticeship opportunities available in Islwyn comes in the care sector, Llywydd—20 opportunities or more available to people willing to go into that vital foundational economy industry of the future.
My message to employers is, as I say, to thank them for the commitment they show already to assisting with the apprenticeship programme. It delivers for young people but it delivers for them as well. It helps them to create that skilled and committed workforce of the future. We need more employers in Islwyn and elsewhere to come forward to be part of that vital investment in the future of Wales.
Diolch i Rhianon Passmore am y cwestiwn yna. Mae hi yn llygad ei lle i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi torri yn gynhwysfawr a chefnu ar y sicrwydd pendant hwnnw a gynigiwyd i ni ar lawr y Senedd yn ogystal ag ym mhobman arall—na fyddai Cymru geiniog yn waeth ei byd o ganlyniad i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Ni fydd yr arian sydd ar gael i Gymru yn cyrraedd y lefel a fyddai wedi bod ar gael tra'r oeddem ni'n aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn nim un flwyddyn o'r cyfnod o dair blynedd a gwmpesir gan yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant. Byddai tua £375 miliwn y flwyddyn wedi bod ar gael i Gymru. Byddwn ni'n cael £92 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf, £161 miliwn yn y flwyddyn wedyn, a hyd yn oed yn nhrydedd flwyddyn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant, rydym ni'n cael £345 miliwn yn y pen draw.
Gadewch i mi fod yn eglur, Llywydd, nad yw hwn yn fater syml—[Anghlywadwy.]—rydym ni'n cael ein twyllo o'r hyn a ddywedodd y Llywodraeth yn ei maniffesto ar gyfer etholiad cyffredinol 2019, a'r hyn a ddywedodd y Canghellor yn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant ychydig fisoedd byr yn unig yn ôl. Ni fyddwn byth, o dan gynlluniau'r Ceidwadwyr, yn dychwelyd i'r sefyllfa yr oeddem ni ynddi, heb sôn, fel yr addawyd ganddyn nhw, o leiaf—a dyna'r ymadrodd a ddefnyddiwyd ganddyn nhw, Llywydd, 'o leiaf'—na fyddem ni byth geiniog yn waeth ein byd mewn unrhyw flwyddyn unigol. Nid yw'n wir, ac wrth gwrs mae'n cael effaith ar allu Llywodraeth Cymru i fuddsoddi yn y mathau o raglenni sgiliau sy'n hanfodol o ran prentisiaethau.
Mae Rhianon Passmore yn gofyn i mi pa neges y byddwn i'n ei rhoi i gyflogwyr yn Islwyn. Fy neges gyntaf fyddai diolch iddyn nhw—diolch iddyn nhw am y ffordd y maen nhw eu hunain yn chwarae eu rhan wrth gynnig y cyfleoedd a ddaw yn sgil prentisiaethau i bobl ifanc. Rwyf i wedi edrych yn ddiweddar ar yr amrywiaeth o gyfleoedd sydd ar gael i bobl ifanc yn Islwyn sydd eisiau dilyn y llwybr prentisiaeth, ac mae prentisiaethau ar gael yn y bwrdd iechyd lleol, yn yr awdurdod lleol, mewn ysgolion lleol ac yn y sector preifat—ym meysydd manwerthu, teithio a ffitrwydd. Daw'r nifer fwyaf o gyfleoedd prentisiaeth sydd ar gael yn Islwyn yn y sector gofal, Llywydd—20 cyfle neu fwy ar gael i bobl sy'n barod i fynd i'r diwydiant economi sylfaenol hanfodol y dyfodol hwnnw.
Fy neges i gyflogwyr, fel y dywedais i, yw diolch iddyn nhw am yr ymrwymiad y maen nhw'n ei ddangos eisoes i gynorthwyo gyda'r rhaglen brentisiaethau. Mae'n cyflawni ar gyfer pobl ifanc ond mae'n cyflawni ar eu cyfer nhw hefyd. Mae'n eu helpu i greu gweithlu medrus ac ymroddedig y dyfodol hwnnw. Rydym ni angen mwy o gyflogwyr yn Islwyn a mannau eraill i ddod ymlaen i fod yn rhan o'r buddsoddiad hanfodol hwnnw yn nyfodol Cymru.
First Minister, I welcome your Government's commitment to providing 125,000 all-age apprenticeships in Wales over the next three years. However, I'm sure that you will agree with me that we need to ensure quality as well as quantity. It is vital that these apprenticeships should smooth the school-to-work transition of younger workers and support the transition of existing workers into highly skilled senior roles. First Minister, will you commit to setting a series of clear aims for your apprenticeship programme so progress can be measured to ensure it meets the needs of employers and trainees, and delivers the skilled workforce required by the Welsh economy today and in the future as well? Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad eich Llywodraeth i ddarparu 125,000 o brentisiaethau pob oed yng Nghymru dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n cytuno â mi bod angen i ni sicrhau ansawdd yn ogystal â niferoedd. Mae'n hanfodol bod y prentisiaethau hyn yn hwyluso'r broses o drosglwyddo gweithwyr iau o'r ysgol i'r gwaith ac yn cefnogi'r broses o drosglwyddo gweithwyr presennol i swyddi uwch medrus iawn. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i bennu cyfres o nodau eglur ar gyfer eich rhaglen brentisiaethau fel y gellir mesur cynnydd i sicrhau ei fod yn diwallu anghenion cyflogwyr a hyfforddeion, ac yn darparu'r gweithlu medrus sydd ei angen ar economi Cymru heddiw ac yn y dyfodol hefyd? Diolch.
I agree very much with the general sentiments of the Member's question. Of course, we have to focus on the quality of the opportunities that the apprenticeship programme brings. As she said, it's not simply for young people; these are all-age apprenticeships—very often, people looking for a second start in life, an opportunity to retrain and put themselves into a different part of the labour market. It is why the modern apprenticeship programme in Wales reflects that wide variety of needs.
I think, Llywydd, it was only a couple of weeks ago that I was discussing with Alun Davies the success there has been in Blaenau Gwent in the shared apprenticeship programme, where a number of small businesses are able to get together, any one of them by themselves not able to support a full apprenticeship, but together able to create those opportunities and to benefit from them by bringing somebody into the workplace and sharing their learning, and sharing, then, their developing skills amongst them. It's why we have put such an emphasis on graduate-level apprenticeships. I know that the Member will be aware of the way in which our investment in those degree-level opportunities has made such a difference, for example, in the cybersecurity cluster—the largest cybersecurity cluster anywhere in the United Kingdom, which we now have in the south-east of Wales.
That range of opportunities means that we're able to match the needs of the individual with the sort of experience that will do the most to help them to make the progress they're looking for in their own lives. And, of course, we do measure all those opportunities. We measure them numerically but we measure them as well, as the Member suggested, in the quality of the experiences that are on offer, in the qualifications gained and the benefits that that brings to the wider economy.
Rwy'n cytuno yn fawr â syniadau cyffredinol cwestiwn yr Aelod. Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i ni ganolbwyntio ar ansawdd y cyfleoedd a ddaw yn sgil y rhaglen brentisiaethau. Fel y dywedodd, nid ar gyfer pobl ifanc yn unig y mae; mae'r rhain yn brentisiaethau pob oed—yn aml iawn, pobl sy'n chwilio am ail ddechrau mewn bywyd, cyfle i ailhyfforddi a rhoi eu hunain mewn gwahanol ran o'r farchnad lafur. Dyna pam mae'r rhaglen prentisiaethau modern yng Nghymru yn adlewyrchu'r amrywiaeth eang honno o anghenion.
Rwy'n credu, Llywydd, mai dim ond wythnos neu ddwy yn ôl yr oeddwn i'n trafod gydag Alun Davies y llwyddiant a gafwyd ym Mlaenau Gwent yn y rhaglen rhannu prentisiaeth, lle mae nifer o fusnesau bach yn gallu dod at ei gilydd, unrhyw un ohonyn nhw ar ei ben ei hun yn methu â chefnogi prentisiaeth lawn, ond gyda'i gilydd yn gallu creu'r cyfleoedd hynny ac i elwa arnyn nhw drwy ddod â rhywun i mewn i'r gweithle a rhannu eu dysgu, a rhannu, wedyn, eu sgiliau datblygol rhyngddyn nhw. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi rhoi cymaint o bwyslais ar brentisiaethau lefel graddedig. Gwn y bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol o'r ffordd y mae ein buddsoddiad yn y cyfleoedd lefel gradd hynny wedi gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth, er enghraifft, yn y clwstwr seiberddiogelwch—y clwstwr seiberddiogelwch mwyaf yn unman yn y Deyrnas Unedig, sydd gennym ni bellach yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru.
Mae'r ystod honno o gyfleoedd yn golygu ein bod ni'n gallu cyfateb anghenion yr unigolyn gyda'r math o brofiad a fydd yn gwneud y mwyaf i'w helpu i wneud y cynnydd y mae'n chwilio amdano yn ei fywyd ei hun. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n mesur yr holl gyfleoedd hynny. Rydym ni'n eu mesur nhw ar sail niferoedd ond rydym ni'n eu mesur nhw hefyd, fel yr awgrymodd yr Aelod, ar sail ansawdd y profiadau sydd ar gael, yn y cymwysterau sy'n cael eu hennill a'r manteision a ddaw yn sgil hynny i'r economi ehangach.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinyddion y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from party leaders. Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. First Minister, may I send my best wishes to you? It's good to see you looking well and I hope that you come out of confinement as quickly as possible. It's good to see you on the screen today looking so well.
First Minister, inward investment is going to be critical to building a strong and resilient economy post COVID. What has the Welsh Government got in terms of plans to attract a greater share of inward investment into the United Kingdom?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, a gaf i anfon fy nymuniadau gorau atoch chi? Mae'n dda eich gweld chi yn edrych yn dda a gobeithio y byddwch chi'n dod allan o'ch caethiwed cyn gynted â phosibl. Mae'n dda eich gweld chi ar y sgrin heddiw yn edrych mor dda.
Prif Weinidog, mae mewnfuddsoddiad yn mynd i fod yn hanfodol i adeiladu economi gref a gwydn ar ôl COVID. Beth sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru o ran cynlluniau i ddenu cyfran fwy o fewnfuddsoddiad i'r Deyrnas Unedig?
Can I thank Andrew R.T. Davies for what he said in his opening remarks? I too am looking forward very much to being released from confinement and back in the Chamber again.
I agree with him that inward investment does have an important part to play in the future of the Welsh economy, alongside—not instead of, but alongside—the investment we need to make in those successful companies that are already indigenous here in Wales to help them to grow, to help them to remain rooted here in Welsh communities. We take a whole range of actions to encourage inward investment. Our international relations offices in different parts of Europe and beyond all have, as their primary purpose, the identification of inward investment opportunities, and also export opportunities for Welsh businesses looking to create new markets elsewhere in the world. I myself have a series of opportunities in the coming weeks to meet with ambassadors from different parts of the world. We always focus on the inward investment that we have here in Wales from those other parts of the world, to make sure that, where opportunities exist to add to that, we as a Welsh Government are active in our promotion of those opportunities and in helping companies that wish to come to Wales to put together the packages that they need to make sure that they can successfully make that transition, and, thinking of the questions we've just had, to make sure that there is a supply of people with the skills necessary to take up those opportunities.
A gaf i ddiolch i Andrew R.T. Davies am yr hyn a ddywedodd yn ei sylwadau agoriadol? Rwyf innau hefyd yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr iawn at gael fy rhyddhau o gaethiwed ac at fod yn ôl yn y Siambr eto.
Rwy'n cytuno ag ef bod gan fewnfuddsoddiad ran bwysig i'w chwarae yn nyfodol economi Cymru, ochr yn ochr â—nid yn hytrach na, ond ochr yn ochr â'r—buddsoddiad y mae angen i ni ei wneud yn y cwmnïau llwyddiannus hynny sydd eisoes yn gynhenid yma yng Nghymru i'w helpu i dyfu, i'w helpu i barhau i fod wedi'u gwreiddio yma yng nghymunedau Cymru. Rydym ni'n cymryd ystod eang o gamau i annog mewnfuddsoddiad. Mae gan ein swyddfeydd cysylltiadau rhyngwladol mewn gwahanol rannau o Ewrop a thu hwnt i gyd, fel eu prif ddiben, nodi cyfleoedd mewnfuddsoddi, a hefyd cyfleoedd allforio i fusnesau Cymru sydd â'r nod o greu marchnadoedd newydd mewn mannau eraill yn y byd. Mae gen i fy hun gyfres o gyfleoedd yn yr wythnosau nesaf i gyfarfod â llysgenhadon o wahanol rannau o'r byd. Rydym ni bob amser yn canolbwyntio ar y mewnfuddsoddiad sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru o'r rhannau eraill hynny o'r byd, i wneud yn siŵr, lle mae cyfleoedd yn bodoli i ychwanegu at hynny, ein bod ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru yn weithgar o ran hyrwyddo'r cyfleoedd hynny ac o ran helpu cwmnïau sy'n dymuno dod i Gymru i lunio'r pecynnau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i sicrhau y gallan nhw wneud y trosglwyddiad hwnnw yn llwyddiannus, ac, o feddwl am y cwestiynau rydym ni newydd eu cael, i wneud yn siŵr bod cyflenwad o bobl sydd â'r sgiliau angenrheidiol i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny.
It's interesting you say that, First Minister, about putting the packages together, because in 2020, Britishvolt said that they wanted to set up a battery cell gigafactory in St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, creating 3,000 jobs and 4,000 associated jobs—7,000 jobs in total, the second largest industrial investment project in the United Kingdom. That's worth repeating: the second largest industrial project in UK history. This is exactly the sort of project that we should be trying to attract here in Wales and secure its foundations here in Wales. Britishvolt has secured financial backing and will open its gigafactory in Northumberland. It seems that the project slipped through your fingers. What went wrong, First Minister?
Mae'n ddiddorol eich bod chi'n dweud hynna, Prif Weinidog, am lunio'r pecynnau, oherwydd yn 2020, dywedodd Britishvolt eu bod nhw eisiau sefydlu gigaffatri celloedd batri yn Sain Tathan ym Mro Morgannwg, gan greu 3,000 o swyddi a 4,000 o swyddi cysylltiedig—cyfanswm o 7,000 o swyddi, yr ail brosiect buddsoddi diwydiannol mwyaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae hynny'n werth ei ailadrodd: yr ail brosiect diwydiannol mwyaf yn hanes y DU. Dyma'r union fath o brosiect y dylem ni fod yn ceisio ei ddenu yma yng Nghymru a sicrhau ei sylfeini yma yng Nghymru. Mae Britishvolt wedi sicrhau cefnogaeth ariannol a bydd yn agor ei gigaffatri yn Northumberland. Mae'n ymddangos bod y prosiect wedi llithro drwy eich bysedd. Beth aeth o'i le, Prif Weinidog?
The Welsh Government was in conversations with Britishvolt. The St Athan site was one of the main sites that they considered. In the end, they decided that their first investment would be elsewhere. That does not mean to say that we've not had further conversations with them. As a company, they are ambitious to do more in the field of battery development. We continue to be in conversations with them and if it is possible to bring that development to south Wales, of course the Welsh Government remains actively interested and actively engaged in that, alongside many other opportunities.
Roedd Llywodraeth Cymru mewn sgyrsiau gyda Britishvolt. Safle Sain Tathan oedd yn un o'r prif safleoedd yr a ystyriwyd ganddyn nhw. Yn y pen draw, fe wnaethon nhw benderfynu y byddai eu buddsoddiad cyntaf yn rhywle arall. Nid yw hynny'n golygu nad ydym ni wedi cael sgyrsiau pellach gyda nhw. Fel cwmni, maen nhw'n uchelgeisiol i wneud mwy ym maes datblygu batris. Rydym ni'n parhau i fod mewn sgyrsiau â nhw ac os yw'n bosibl dod â'r datblygiad hwnnw i dde Cymru, wrth gwrs mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddordeb gweithredol o hyd ac yn cymryd rhan weithredol yn hynny, ochr yn ochr â llawer o gyfleoedd eraill.
First Minister, your own joint press release that went out when the announcement was made that they weren't taking up the offer of the St Athan facility said that it was because, and this is the quote from the joint press release, 'the ambitious timescales that the company were working to were not achievable'. As far as I know, planning resolution and construction time frames are no quicker in the north-east of England than they are here in Wales. Yet, still, this project has leaked out of Wales and at a huge cost to our economy. According to media reports with people associated with the project, the Welsh Government's decision, to say the least, was lacklustre and it was never a top priority for the Welsh Government. A leading industrial surveyor, Chris Sutton, has been conducting a review on behalf of Welsh Government into how the project was handled.FootnoteLink Will you commit to making that review available for us all to see, and can you confirm today the progress on that review being completed?
Prif Weinidog, dywedodd eich datganiad i'r wasg ar y cyd a aeth allan pan wnaed y cyhoeddiad nad oedden nhw'n manteisio ar y cynnig o gyfleuster Sain Tathan mai'r rheswm am hynny oedd, a dyma'r dyfyniad o'r datganiad i'r wasg ar y cyd, 'nid oedd modd cyflawni'r amserlenni uchelgeisiol yr oedd y cwmni yn gweithio yn unol â nhw'. Hyd y gwn i, nid yw amserlenni cynllunio ac adeiladu yn gyflymach yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Lloegr nag y maen nhw yma yng Nghymru. Ac eto, mae'r prosiect hwn dal wedi dianc o Gymru ac ar gost enfawr i'n heconomi. Yn ôl adroddiadau yn y cyfryngau gyda phobl sy'n gysylltiedig â'r prosiect, roedd penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru, a dweud y lleiaf, yn dangos diffyg brwdfrydedd ac nid oedd byth yn brif flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae arolygwr diwydiannol blaenllaw, Chris Sutton, wedi bod yn cynnal adolygiad ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru o'r modd yr ymdriniwyd â'r prosiect.FootnoteLink A wnewch chi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod yr adolygiad hwnnw ar gael i ni i gyd ei weld, ac a allwch gadarnhau heddiw y cynnydd o ran cwblhau'r adolygiad hwnnw?
I don't agree at all with what the leader of the opposition said. The Welsh Government was very closely involved in discussions with the company and those discussions progressed to the very final stages. If it was a lacklustre effort, it did remarkably well to be in the final running for the location of that business for the first factory, as I said, that it plans to create. Conversations about further possible investments in St Athan, or, indeed, elsewhere, remain part of what the Welsh Government will continue to take forward. Of course, it is important that, in doing so, we reflect on the experience of our initial discussions with that company. That is why we have asked for a piece of work to be done, and not done inside the Welsh Government, but with the help of external eyes as well. Because, to return to my first answer to the leader of the opposition, we want to make sure that, when there are genuine opportunities that can help us to build the Welsh economy, we will always be actively involved and interested to bring those to fruition. I will make sure that, as that work proceeds, it is properly reported to other Senedd Members.
Nid wyf i'n cytuno o gwbl â'r hyn a ddywedodd arweinydd yr wrthblaid. Roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd rhan agos iawn mwn trafodaethau gyda'r cwmni ac aeth y trafodaethau hynny ymlaen i'r camau terfynol un. Os oedd yn ymdrech â diffyg brwdfrydedd, gwnaeth yn rhyfeddol o dda i fod yn y rownd derfynol ar gyfer lleoliad y busnes hwnnw ar gyfer y ffatri gyntaf, fel y dywedais, y mae'n bwriadu ei chreu. Mae sgyrsiau am fuddsoddiadau posibl pellach yn Sain Tathan, neu, yn wir, mewn mannau eraill, yn parhau i fod yn rhan o'r hyn y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fwrw ymlaen ag ef. Wrth gwrs, mae'n bwysig, wrth wneud hynny, ein bod ni'n myfyrio ar brofiad ein trafodaethau cychwynnol gyda'r cwmni hwnnw. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi gofyn i ddarn o waith gael ei wneud, ac nid y tu mewn i Lywodraeth Cymru, ond gyda chymorth llygaid allanol hefyd. Oherwydd, i ddychwelyd at fy ateb cyntaf i arweinydd yr wrthblaid, rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr, pan fydd cyfleoedd gwirioneddol a all ein helpu ni i adeiladu economi Cymru, y byddwn ni bob amser yn cymryd rhan weithredol ac yn awyddus i'r rheini ddwyn ffrwyth. Byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr, wrth i'r gwaith hwnnw fynd rhagddo, ei fod yn cael ei adrodd yn briodol i Aelodau eraill y Senedd.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Many people will have seen Andy Davies of Channel 4's sobering film of his visit to Penrhys last week—a community already struggling now perched on the precipice of poverty the likes of which we certainly haven't seen since the 1980s. Last week, the House of Commons voted in favour of a windfall tax on energy companies. The UK Government has said that it will ignore that Parliament in the same way that it does this. Spain has cut VAT on energy, but the UK Government will not, despite Johnson and Gove's pledge to do so post Brexit. France has capped the rise in energy bills to 4 per cent, while in the UK they will rise in April by 54 per cent. Do you think the powers to tax and regulate the energy sector, to set a windfall tax, to cut VAT, to set a price cap, and, if necessary, to restore public ownership, should reside here in Wales where we can use them, or lie in Westminster where they won't?
Bydd llawer o bobl wedi gweld Andy Davies o ffilm sobreiddiol Channel 4 o'i ymweliad â Phenrhys yr wythnos diwethaf—cymuned sydd eisoes yn ei chael hi'n anodd sydd ar fin mynd i dlodi nad ydym yn sicr wedi gweld ei debyg ers y 1980au. Yr wythnos diwethaf, pleidleisiodd Tŷ'r Cyffredin o blaid treth ffawdelw ar gwmnïau ynni. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi dweud y bydd yn anwybyddu'r Senedd honno yn yr un modd ag y mae'n anwybyddu hon. Mae Sbaen wedi torri TAW ar ynni, ond ni wnaiff Llywodraeth y DU hynny, er gwaethaf addewid Johnson a Gove i wneud hynny ar ôl Brexit. Mae Ffrainc wedi capio'r cynnydd i filiau ynni i 4 y cant, ac yn y DU byddan nhw'n codi 54 y cant ym mis Ebrill. A ydych chi'n credu y dylai'r pwerau i drethu a rheoleiddio'r sector ynni, i bennu treth ffawdelw, i dorri TAW, i bennu cap ar brisiau, ac, os oes angen, i adfer perchnogaeth gyhoeddus, fod yma yng Nghymru lle y gallwn ni eu defnyddio, neu yn San Steffan lle na fyddant?
Well, Llywydd, for me, that is not the central question. I agree very much with what the leader of Plaid Cymru said in the first part of his question, that there is a wide range of actions that the current UK Government should and ought to take to deal with the Tory cost-of-living crisis. It's the policy of my party that there should be a windfall tax on the gross profits that are being made by energy companies who profiteer from the rise in prices, just as people in Penrhys and other parts of Wales suffer from them.
My colleague Julie James wrote to the Minister in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy back in January, setting out five separate practical courses of action that could be taken in order to alleviate the impact of fuel and other price rises on households in Wales. That did include reductions in VAT, it did include a differential cap on price rises to protect the lowest income households, it talked about changes to the help that is available through the Westminster Government, it made suggestions about the way in which people who owe money already to fuel companies could have those debts dealt with. For me, it's not a choice between whether the power should be in Wales and exercised here, it's simply a matter that we need a Government in Westminster prepared to do the right thing.
Wel, Llywydd, i mi, nid dyna'r cwestiwn canolog. Rwy'n cytuno yn fawr iawn â'r hyn a ddywedodd arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn rhan gyntaf ei gwestiwn, fod yna ystod eang o gamau y dylai Llywodraeth bresennol y DU eu cymryd i ddelio ag argyfwng costau byw'r Torïaid. Polisi fy mhlaid i yw y dylid bod treth ffawdelw ar yr elw gros sy'n cael ei wneud gan gwmnïau ynni sy'n elwa ar y cynnydd mewn prisiau, yn union fel y mae pobl ym Mhenrhys a rhannau eraill o Gymru yn dioddef ohonyn nhw.
Ysgrifennodd fy nghyd-Aelod Julie James at y Gweinidog yn yr Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol yn ôl ym mis Ionawr, gan nodi pum cam ymarferol ar wahân y gellid eu cymryd er mwyn lliniaru effaith y cynnydd ym mhris tanwydd a phethau eraill ar aelwydydd yng Nghymru. Roedd hynny'n cynnwys gostyngiadau mewn TAW, roedd yn cynnwys cap gwahaniaethol ar gynnydd mewn prisiau i ddiogelu'r aelwydydd incwm isaf, soniodd am newidiadau i'r cymorth sydd ar gael drwy Lywodraeth San Steffan, gwnaeth awgrymiadau ynghylch y ffordd y gallai pobl sydd eisoes â dyled gyda chwmnïau tanwydd ymdrin â'r dyledion hynny. I mi, nid yw'n ddewis rhwng a ddylai'r pŵer fod yng Nghymru a'i arfer yma, mae'n fater syml bod arnom angen Llywodraeth yn San Steffan sy'n barod i wneud y peth iawn.
As welcome as the new money that you as the Welsh Government have announced today certainly is, can you understand the criticisms that anti-poverty campaigners have made of the council tax rebate approach, that it spreads the money too thinly and fails to target the hardest hit? If the organisations at the cost-of-living crisis summit you've convened on Thursday come up with better made-in-Wales alternatives, are you prepared to reconsider, improve the plans you've already announced? Can you also comment on how you will deal with groups like students, for example, also facing rising costs but who are largely exempt from council tax, so won't get the rebate? And in the case of the discretionary assistance fund, will you agree to raise the cap on the number of applications that people can make, from five to seven, as the Trades Union Congress has been calling for, so we won't have thousands of people in desperate need being turned away?
Er bod croeso i'r arian newydd yr ydych chi fel Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i gyhoeddi heddiw, yn sicr, a allwch chi ddeall y beirniadaethau a geir gan ymgyrchwyr gwrth-dlodi ynghylch dull ad-dalu'r dreth gyngor, ei fod yn lledaenu'r arian yn rhy denau ac yn methu â thargedu'r bobl sy'n cael eu taro galetaf? Os yw'r sefydliadau yn yr uwchgynhadledd argyfwng costau byw yr ydych wedi'i chynnull ddydd Iau yn cynnig gwell dewisiadau amgen a wnaed yng Nghymru, a ydych chi'n barod i ailystyried, gwella'r cynlluniau yr ydych chi eisoes wedi'u cyhoeddi? A wnewch chi hefyd roi sylwadau ar sut y byddwch chi'n ymdrin â grwpiau fel myfyrwyr, er enghraifft, sydd hefyd yn wynebu costau cynyddol ond sydd wedi'u heithrio i raddau helaeth o'r dreth gyngor, felly ni fyddan nhw'n cael yr ad-daliad? Ac yn achos y gronfa cymorth dewisol, a wnewch chi gytuno i godi'r cap ar nifer y ceisiadau y gall pobl eu gwneud, o bump i saith, fel y mae Cyngres yr Undebau Llafur wedi bod yn galw amdano, fel na fydd gennym filoedd o bobl mewn angen dybryd yn cael eu troi i ffwrdd?
I thank Adam Price for those additional points. Well, first of all, of course the point of having a round-table is to collect new ideas and to test ideas that we have already adopted with a wide range of people from across Wales. So, we will certainly be doing that on Thursday of this week. I don't think that criticism of the council tax rebate in Wales is completely fair, because it's not the same approach as has been taken in England. In England the money will be spread more thinly; here, we will provide the £150 not simply to households who pay the council tax, but we will also provide that money to the 220,000 households who are exempt from council tax because we have retained the council tax benefits system here in Wales. That costs £244 million by itself, way in excess of any consequential we may have had from the UK Government as a result of its council tax scheme in England. So, on top of all of that help, those families will now get an extra £150 to help with the cost-of-living crisis. And I think that is both a very efficient, but I think it's also a very progressive way of making sure that we have progressive universalism. Every household in bands A to D will get some help, but those households who need the help the most will get extra help here in Wales that they wouldn't get elsewhere.
As far as the discretionary assistance fund is concerned, here is another fund that was retained in Wales while it was abandoned elsewhere. We are finding a very significant sum of money, way, way in excess of any money that came to us when the social fund was abandoned in England. The ability to make five separate applications to the fund is two more than was possible when the fund was originally established, and we raised the number from three to five to take account of conditions during the pandemic. We're going to sustain that higher number into next year to take account of the cost-of-living crisis as well, and I think that, by itself, demonstrates our commitment to putting as much money as we can directly into the pockets of those families who will suffer the most from the additional costs that they will now have to bear.
Diolch i Adam Price am y pwyntiau ychwanegol yna. Wel, yn gyntaf oll, wrth gwrs, y pwynt o gael bwrdd crwn yw casglu syniadau newydd a phrofi syniadau yr ydym eisoes wedi'u mabwysiadu gydag ystod eang o bobl o bob cwr o Gymru. Felly, byddwn ni yn sicr yn gwneud hynny ddydd Iau yr wythnos hon. Nid wyf yn credu bod beirniadaeth o'r ad-daliad treth gyngor yng Nghymru yn gwbl deg, oherwydd nid yw yr un dull ag a gymerwyd yn Lloegr. Yn Lloegr bydd yr arian yn cael ei ledaenu'n fwy tenau; yma, byddwn ni'n darparu'r £150 nid yn unig i aelwydydd sy'n talu'r dreth gyngor, ond byddwn hefyd yn darparu'r arian hwnnw i'r 220,000 o aelwydydd sydd wedi'u heithrio o'r dreth gyngor oherwydd ein bod wedi cadw'r system budd-daliadau treth gyngor yma yng Nghymru. Mae hynny'n costio £244 miliwn ar ei ben ei hun, sy'n fwy nag unrhyw swm canlyniadol y gallem ni fod wedi'i gael gan Lywodraeth y DU o ganlyniad i'w chynllun treth gyngor yn Lloegr. Felly, ar ben yr holl gymorth hwnnw, bydd y teuluoedd hynny yn awr yn cael £150 yn ychwanegol i helpu gyda'r argyfwng costau byw. Ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n effeithlon iawn, ond rwy'n credu ei fod hefyd yn ffordd flaengar iawn o sicrhau bod gennym gyffredinoli cynyddol. Bydd pob cartref ym mandiau A i D yn cael rhywfaint o help, ond bydd yr aelwydydd hynny sydd angen y cymorth mwyaf yn cael cymorth ychwanegol yma yng Nghymru na fydden nhw yn ei gael mewn mannau eraill.
O ran y gronfa cymorth dewisol, dyma gronfa arall a gadwyd yng Nghymru a'i dileu mewn mannau eraill. Rydym yn dod o hyd i swm sylweddol iawn o arian, sy'n fwy, yn llawer mwy nag unrhyw arian a ddaeth atom pan ddilëwyd y gronfa gymdeithasol yn Lloegr. Mae'r gallu i wneud pum cais ar wahân i'r gronfa yn ddau yn fwy nag a oedd yn bosibl pan sefydlwyd y gronfa'n wreiddiol, ac fe wnaethom gynyddu'r nifer o dri i bump i ystyried amodau yn ystod y pandemig. Rydym ni'n mynd i gynnal y nifer uwch hwnnw i'r flwyddyn nesaf er mwyn ystyried yr argyfwng costau byw hefyd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny, ar ei ben ei hun, yn dangos ein hymrwymiad i roi cymaint o arian ag y gallwn yn uniongyrchol i bocedi'r teuluoedd hynny a fydd yn dioddef fwyaf o'r costau ychwanegol y bydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw eu hysgwyddo nawr.
The scenes last week in Swansea of a queue for a food-share scheme, the soup kitchens of our day, in a city where the demand for emergency food parcels has reportedly doubled in just a week, are images of mass poverty we have not witnessed since the hungry 1930s. One of the leading organisations that will be at Thursday's summit will be the Bevan Foundation. They and others have championed the role that free school meals can play in combating poverty. Can we look at the ideas that the foundation and others are suggesting, whether it's accelerating the introduction of universal free school meals in primary schools, increasing the current free-school-meal allowance level for secondary-age pupils or extending the free-school-meal support that has been provided during the pandemic over the summer holidays again this year? These small changes will make a huge difference to many, many families that are currently living life on the edge.
Mae'r golygfeydd yr wythnos diwethaf yn Abertawe sef ciw am gynllun rhannu bwyd, ceginau cawl ein dydd, mewn dinas lle mae'r galw am barseli bwyd brys, yn ôl yr adroddiadau, wedi dyblu mewn wythnos yn unig, yn ddelweddau o dlodi torfol nad ydym wedi'i weld ers y 1930au llwglyd. Un o'r sefydliadau mwyaf blaenllaw fydd yn yr uwchgynhadledd ddydd Iau fydd Sefydliad Bevan. Maen nhw ac eraill wedi hyrwyddo'r rôl y gall prydau ysgol am ddim ei chwarae wrth fynd i'r afael â thlodi. A gawn ni ystyried y syniadau y mae'r sefydliad ac eraill yn eu hawgrymu, p'un a yw'n cyflymu cyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb mewn ysgolion cynradd, cynyddu'r lefel lwfans prydau ysgol am ddim ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer disgyblion oedran uwchradd neu ymestyn y cymorth prydau ysgol am ddim a ddarparwyd yn ystod y pandemig dros wyliau'r haf eto eleni? Bydd y newidiadau bach hyn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i lawer iawn o deuluoedd sy'n byw bywyd ar yr ymyl ar hyn o bryd.
Well, Llywydd, I'm very glad indeed that the Bevan Foundation will be part of Thursday's round-table and very much welcome the work that they do here in Wales. Today's announcement does include £22.5 million to extend free school meals during the school holidays, through the Easter holiday and right through to the end of the summer holiday this year as well. That, once again, is money that goes directly to those families who will struggle the most in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.
The really troubling thing about it all, Llywydd, is, as Adam Price has said—. Look at the struggle that families in Wales face today before the price rises that they face in April, before national insurance contributions will go up, before tax thresholds are frozen, drawing a disproportionately greater number of families in Wales into taxation than in other parts of the United Kingdom. So, I look forward very much to working with him as part of the co-operation agreement on our joint commitment to ensure that, during this Senedd term, all primary-aged children will receive a free meal as part of their daily education. It is a major step forward here in Wales, and I look forward to working with him to see what we can do to accelerate the rate at which we can achieve that ambition, particularly in the face of the sorts of scenes that he described in his final question.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n falch iawn y bydd Sefydliad Bevan yn rhan o'r bwrdd crwn ddydd Iau ac yn croesawu'n fawr y gwaith a wnânt yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r cyhoeddiad heddiw yn cynnwys £22.5 miliwn i ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim yn ystod gwyliau'r ysgol, drwy wyliau'r Pasg a hyd at ddiwedd gwyliau'r haf eleni hefyd. Mae hynny, unwaith eto, yn arian sy'n mynd yn uniongyrchol i'r teuluoedd hynny a fydd yn ei chael hi anoddaf yn wyneb yr argyfwng costau byw.
Y peth gwirioneddol anodd am y cyfan, Llywydd, yw, fel y dywedodd Adam Price—. Edrychwch ar y frwydr y mae teuluoedd yng Nghymru yn ei hwynebu heddiw cyn i'r prisiau godi ym mis Ebrill, cyn y bydd cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol yn codi, cyn rhewi trothwyon treth, gan dynnu nifer anghymesur fwy o deuluoedd yng Nghymru i drethiant nag mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gydag ef fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithredu ar ein hymrwymiad ar y cyd i sicrhau, yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon, y bydd pob plentyn oed cynradd yn cael pryd am ddim fel rhan o'i addysg ddyddiol. Mae'n gam mawr ymlaen yma yng Nghymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gydag ef i weld beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i gyflymu'r gyfradd y gallwn ni gyflawni'r uchelgais honno arni, yn enwedig yn wyneb y mathau o olygfeydd a ddisgrifiodd yn ei gwestiwn olaf.
3. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o gyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd yng Nghymru? OQ57662
3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the rollout of the new curriculum in Wales? OQ57662
I thank Laura Anne Jones for the question, Llywydd. Research reports consistently highlight the strong commitment, motivation and progress that schools are making in the most radical curriculum reform for a generation. We work closely with regional and local partners to ensure all schools receive the support they need as they move towards the curriculum implementation in September of this year.
Diolch i Laura Anne Jones am y cwestiwn, Llywydd. Mae adroddiadau ymchwil yn tynnu sylw'n gyson at yr ymrwymiad, y cymhelliant a'r cynnydd cryf y mae ysgolion yn eu gwneud yn y broses o ddiwygio'r cwricwlwm mwyaf radical ers cenhedlaeth. Rydym ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda phartneriaid rhanbarthol a lleol i sicrhau bod pob ysgol yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen wrth iddyn nhw fwrw ymlaen i weithredu'r cwricwlwm ym mis Medi eleni.
First Minister, with its implementation drawing nearer, none of us want to see the new curriculum fail, so how are you going to address the research commissioned by your very own Welsh Government that suggests that only 53 per cent of education practitioners feel well placed to design their own curriculum ready for September 2022, with 67 per cent of them believing that their school is in need of additional support? First Minister, even though flexibility is very welcome and a key component of the new curriculum, do you not agree that we need some sort of truly national professional learning programme that provides consistency and support for all, whilst allowing that flexibility, in how to plan and deliver the correct content needed for exams—exams that we still don't know what they will look like? First Minister, education has been heavily set back during the pandemic, as you know. Do you agree with me that teachers need this framework support now to ensure that success of the new curriculum?
Prif Weinidog, wrth i'w ddyddiad gweithredu ddod yn nes, nid oes yr un ohonom ni eisiau gweld y cwricwlwm newydd yn methu, felly sut ydych chi'n mynd i fynd i'r afael â'r ymchwil a gomisiynwyd gan eich Llywodraeth eich hun sy'n awgrymu mai dim ond 53 y cant o ymarferwyr addysg sydd o'r farn eu bod mewn sefyllfa dda i gynllunio eu cwricwlwm eu hunain yn barod ar gyfer mis Medi 2022, a 67 y cant ohonyn nhw'n credu bod angen cymorth ychwanegol ar eu hysgol? Prif Weinidog, er bod hyblygrwydd i'w groesawu'n fawr ac yn elfen allweddol o'r cwricwlwm newydd, oni chytunwch chi fod angen rhyw fath o raglen ddysgu broffesiynol wirioneddol genedlaethol arnom ni sy'n darparu cysondeb a chefnogaeth i bawb, gan ganiatáu'r hyblygrwydd hwnnw, o ran sut i gynllunio a chyflwyno'r cynnwys cywir sydd ei angen ar gyfer arholiadau—arholiadau nad ydym yn gwybod o hyd sut beth fyddan nhw? Prif Weinidog, mae addysg wedi'i heffeithio'n enbyd yn ystod y pandemig, fel y gwyddoch chi. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod angen y cymorth fframwaith hwn ar athrawon yn awr i sicrhau llwyddiant y cwricwlwm newydd?
I agree that it's very important to go on supporting teachers and headteachers as they work towards the implementation of the new curriculum, but I do think that an enormous amount of help of that sort has been provided since that research was carried out, as the Member knows, back in July of last year. The Minister introduced new flexibilities in the introduction of the new curriculum, and, at the same time, suspended a large number of other duties that schools have to undertake in order to create space for schools to develop their own implementation plans for the curriculum. In September we followed that up with a national framework—exactly the sort of measure that the Member was asking for—a national framework with additional guidance for the curriculum roll-out, a new national network established, a professional network. It held 60 sessions right across Wales in the autumn term, with more to follow—those sessions focusing on curriculum design and indeed on qualifications. Then, in December of last year, in our draft budget, we set out major investment over the whole three-year period specifically to support schools in implementation of the new curriculum, and followed that up with further national guidance published in January of this year.
I think the Welsh Government, working with local authorities, regional consortiums, and with programme leaders as well as with Estyn are doing everything we can to make sure that the enthusiasm that is there for the new curriculum at the local school level is being supported by national frameworks, guidance that is nationally available, funding that is available nationally in all parts of Wales. And on Thursday of this week, as well as there being a round-table on the Conservative cost-of-living crisis, Jeremy Miles, as the education Minister, will be meeting all headteachers in Wales to discuss further ways in which their efforts can be supported.
Rwy'n cytuno ei bod yn bwysig iawn mynd ati i gefnogi athrawon a phenaethiaid wrth iddyn nhw weithio tuag at weithredu'r cwricwlwm newydd, ond rwy'n credu bod llawer iawn o gymorth o'r math hwnnw wedi'i ddarparu ers i'r ymchwil honno gael ei chynnal, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd. Cyflwynodd y Gweinidog hyblygrwydd newydd wrth gyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd, ac, ar yr un pryd, ataliwyd nifer fawr o ddyletswyddau eraill y mae'n rhaid i ysgolion ymgymryd â nhw er mwyn creu lle i ysgolion ddatblygu eu cynlluniau gweithredu eu hunain ar gyfer y cwricwlwm. Ym mis Medi dilynwyd hynny gyda fframwaith cenedlaethol—yn union y math o fesur yr oedd yr Aelod yn gofyn amdano—fframwaith cenedlaethol gyda chanllawiau ychwanegol ar gyfer cyflwyno'r cwricwlwm, rhwydwaith cenedlaethol newydd wedi'i sefydlu, rhwydwaith proffesiynol. Cynhaliodd 60 o sesiynau ledled Cymru yn nhymor yr hydref, ac mae mwy i ddilyn—y sesiynau hynny'n canolbwyntio ar ddylunio'r cwricwlwm ac yn wir ar gymwysterau. Yna, ym mis Rhagfyr y llynedd, yn ein cyllideb ddrafft, gwnaethom nodi buddsoddiad sylweddol dros y cyfnod tair blynedd cyfan yn benodol i gefnogi ysgolion i weithredu'r cwricwlwm newydd, a dilyn hynny gyda chanllawiau cenedlaethol pellach a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ionawr eleni.
Rwy'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, consortia rhanbarthol, a gydag arweinwyr rhaglenni yn ogystal ag Estyn yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i sicrhau bod y brwdfrydedd sydd ar gael ar gyfer y cwricwlwm newydd ar lefel ysgolion lleol yn cael ei gefnogi gan fframweithiau cenedlaethol, canllawiau sydd ar gael yn genedlaethol, cyllid sydd ar gael yn genedlaethol ym mhob rhan o Gymru. A dydd Iau yr wythnos hon, yn ogystal â chyfarfod bord gron ar argyfwng costau byw'r Ceidwadwyr, bydd Jeremy Miles, y Gweinidog addysg, yn cwrdd â phob pennaeth yng Nghymru i drafod ffyrdd eraill o gefnogi eu hymdrechion.
First Minister, as a former teacher, I take pride in my close connections with schools in my constituency, all of whom report to me very favourably on the speed of the roll-out of the new curriculum. Indeed, a few weeks ago, I enjoyed a virtual visit to Aberdare Town Church in Wales Primary School where year 6 pupils were keen to show me their fantastic work on Cynefin, a central tenet of the new curriculum. It's clear that there's excellent practice already out there. So, in addition to the comments you've already made about training and networks, what assurances can you give us that that excellent practice is being captured and shared?
Prif Weinidog, a minnau'n gyn-athro, rwy'n ymfalchïo yn fy nghysylltiadau agos ag ysgolion yn fy etholaeth, pob un ohonyn nhw'n adrodd yn ffafriol iawn wrthyf ar gyflymder cyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd. Yn wir, ychydig wythnosau'n ôl, mwynheais ymweliad rhithwir ag Ysgol Gynradd yr Eglwys yng Nghymru Tref Aberdâr lle'r oedd disgyblion blwyddyn 6 yn awyddus i ddangos eu gwaith gwych i mi ar Cynefin, un o egwyddorion canolog y cwricwlwm newydd. Mae'n amlwg bod arfer rhagorol eisoes yn bodoli. Felly, yn ogystal â'r sylwadau yr ydych chi eisoes wedi'u gwneud am hyfforddiant a rhwydweithiau, pa sicrwydd y gallwch chi ei roi i ni fod yr arfer rhagorol hwnnw'n cael ei gipio a'i rannu?
Well, Llywydd, I thank Vikki Howells for that. It's a real report from the front line by somebody who knows exactly what it is to be on the front line of our education service. And exactly what Vikki Howells has reported this afternoon, Llywydd, is my own experience of talking to headteachers and to school leaders at subject level as well. I understand, of course, with everything schools have had to cope with in the last two years, working on curriculum reform is a challenge, but it's a challenge that our schools are meeting with real enthusiasm. They see the enormous possibilities that the new curriculum provides. I think they genuinely appreciate the way in which its roll-out is being developed alongside the profession and with the integral voice of the profession in the way it is being developed. And for that reason, professional learning and making sure that the work that is being done in one part of Wales is shared with schools elsewhere is absolutely at the centre of the way in which we think this curriculum is going to succeed. I mentioned the national network in my previous answer, Llywydd, but it's a really good example of the way in which this is a curriculum not made in Cathays Park, but is being made every day in classrooms up and down Wales by dedicated and committed school staff who want to make it a success.
Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Vikki Howells am hynna. Mae'n adroddiad go iawn gan rywun sy'n gwybod yn union beth yw bod ar y rheng flaen yn ein gwasanaeth addysg. A'r union beth y mae Vikki Howells wedi'i adrodd y prynhawn yma, Llywydd, yw fy mhrofiad i fy hun o siarad â phenaethiaid ac arweinwyr ysgolion ar lefel pwnc hefyd. Rwy'n deall, wrth gwrs, gyda phopeth y mae ysgolion wedi gorfod ymdopi ag ef yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, bod gweithio ar ddiwygio'r cwricwlwm yn her, ond mae'n her y mae ein hysgolion yn ei chyflawni'n frwdfrydig iawn. Maen nhw'n gweld y posibiliadau enfawr y mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn eu darparu. Rwy'n credu eu bod yn gwerthfawrogi'n wirioneddol y ffordd y mae'r gwaith o'i gyflwyno yn cael ei ddatblygu ochr yn ochr â'r proffesiwn a gyda llais annatod y proffesiwn yn y ffordd y mae'n cael ei ddatblygu. Ac am y rheswm hwnnw, mae dysgu proffesiynol a sicrhau bod y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud mewn un rhan o Gymru yn cael ei rannu ag ysgolion mewn mannau eraill yn gwbl ganolog i'r ffordd yr ydym yn credu y bydd y cwricwlwm hwn yn llwyddo. Soniais am y rhwydwaith cenedlaethol yn fy ateb blaenorol, Llywydd, ond mae'n enghraifft dda iawn o'r ffordd y mae hwn yn gwricwlwm nad yw wedi'i wneud ym Mharc Cathays, ond sy'n cael ei wneud bob dydd mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth ar hyd a lled Cymru gan staff ysgol ymroddedig ac ymrwymedig sydd eisiau ei wneud yn llwyddiant.
4. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i gefnogi cymunedau sy'n wynebu risg o lifogydd? OQ57679
4. What support does the Welsh Government provide to communities at risk of flooding? OQ57679
Llywydd, ein mesurau cymorth yw'r rhai a nodir yn y cytundeb cydweithio a'r rhaglen llywodraethu.
Llywydd, our support measures are those set out in the co-operation agreement and the programme for government.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Bydd yfory yn nodi dwy flynedd ers i lifogydd dinistriol daro bron i 1,500 o dai a busnesau yn fy rhanbarth yn sgil storm Dennis. Gallwch ddeall, dwi'n siŵr, y trawma parhaus a'r ofn sydd ganddynt bob tro mae'n bwrw glaw yn drwm, fel y mae hi wythnos yma, yn arbennig gan nad yw'r mwyafrif o'r adroddiadau ar y llifogydd hynny eto wedi eu cyhoeddi, nac unrhyw beth wedi newid o ran amddiffynfeydd.
Mae'r National Flood Forum—sefydliad sydd wedi ei leoli yn Lloegr—wedi bodoli ers 2002 i sicrhau bod cymunedau ac unigolion yn teimlo wedi eu cefnogi a'u grymuso i leihau eu perygl o ddioddef llifogydd. Dim ond canran fach iawn o gyllid y maent wedi'i dderbyn hyd yma i weithredu yng Nghymru. Cefnogodd Llywodraeth yr Alban sefydlu fforwm llifogydd yr Alban yn 2009, elusen sydd wedi mynd o nerth i nerth, ac sydd yn derbyn grant o £200,000 y flwyddyn i weithio ar draws yr Alban i ddatblygu grwpiau gweithredu llifogydd lleol—flood action groups—yn ogystal â darparu cymorth ar unwaith pan fydd unigolion a chymunedau yn profi llifogydd. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ystyried manteision cefnogi sefydlu fforwm llifogydd Cymru i rymuso cymunedau mewn perygl yn yr un modd? Ac os nad ydych chi, a yw hyn yn rhywbeth y byddai'r Prif Weinidog yn hapus i'w drafod ymhellach?
Thank you, First Minister. Tomorrow will mark two years since devastating floods hit nearly 1,500 houses and businesses in my region as a result of storm Dennis. I'm sure you can understand the ongoing trauma and fear they feel every time it rains heavily, as it is this week, especially as most of the reports into those floods are not yet published, and very little has changed in terms of defences.
The National Flood Forum—an organisation based in England—has existed since 2002 to ensure that communities and individuals feel supported and empowered to reduce their flood risk. It has only received modest funding to date to operate in Wales. The Scottish Government supported the establishment of the Scottish Flood Forum in 2009, a charity that has gone from strength to strength, receiving a grant of £200,000 per annum to work across Scotland with communities at risk of flooding to develop community flood action groups, as well as providing immediate support when individuals and communities experience flooding. Has the Welsh Government considered the benefits of supporting the establishment of a Welsh flood forum to similarly empower at risk communities in Wales? And if not, is this something that the First Minister would be happy to discuss further?
Wel, Llywydd, diolch yn fawr i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiwn ychwanegol, a dwi'n cytuno gyda hi—dwi'n siŵr, pan fo'r glaw yn dod i lawr ac mae pobl yn clywed am y tywydd sy'n dod atom ni yng Nghymru dros yr wythnos sydd i ddod, pobl sydd wedi dioddef o lifogydd, wrth gwrs maen nhw'n pryderu ac maen nhw'n becso. Nawr, mae lot o waith wedi mynd ymlaen dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf ar lefel lleol gyda'r arian sydd wedi dod o'r Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru i helpu cymunedau lleol i deimlo'n fwy cryf pan fo pethau'n digwydd unwaith eto. Mae pwyllgor annibynnol gyda ni yma yng Nghymru'n barod—pwyllgor annibynnol sy'n cynrychioli cymunedau ledled Cymru ac sy'n ymgynghori â'r Llywodraeth. Os oes mwy o syniadau am sut rŷn ni'n gallu clywed llais pobl leol yng ngwaith y pwyllgor sydd gyda ni yn barod, wrth gwrs, rŷn i'n agored i glywed unrhyw syniadau am sut allwn ni symud yn y cyfeiriad yna.
Well, Llywydd, I'd like to thank Heledd Fychan for that supplementary question, and I agree with her—I'm sure that when it does rain heavily and people see the weather forecast for the week to come, those people who have suffered as a result of flooding are sure to be very concerned and anxious. Now, a lot of work has been done over the past two years at a local level with funding provided by the Government here in Wales in order to help local communities to feel more resilient when these events do take place. We have an independent committee here in Wales already. It's an independent committee representing communities across Wales and which consults with Government. If there are further ideas as to how we can better hear the voice of local people in the work of the committee that we already have, then we're open to any ideas as to how we can move in that direction.
5. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng costau byw ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr? OQ57675
5. How is the Welsh Government tackling the cost-of-living crisis in Bridgend? OQ57675
Llywydd, this morning we announced a £330 million package of support to help Welsh households, including those in Bridgend, to manage the cost-of-living crisis. These measures focus on those actions that put money directly in the pockets of those most affected by it.
Llywydd, y bore yma, cyhoeddwyd pecyn cymorth gwerth £330 miliwn i helpu aelwydydd Cymru, gan gynnwys y rhai hynny ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, i reoli'r argyfwng costau byw. Mae'r mesurau hyn yn canolbwyntio ar y camau hynny sy'n rhoi arian yn uniongyrchol ym mhocedi'r rhai yr effeithir arnyn nhw fwyaf ganddo.
Thank you, First Minister, and I do welcome the much-needed package of support put in place by the Welsh Labour Government, because last week I visited Splice Child and Family in Pyle, which runs a baby bank, and Baobab community pantry in Brackla. While there the volunteers shared with me the heartbreaking story of a mother who had recently, but reluctantly, visited and asked for support. That mother is eating once every three days to ensure she can feed her children, and, sadly, this situation is all too common for many people in Wales.
First Minister, there are people out there who are feeling anxiety and shame about needing a helping hand, and this shouldn't be the case. It is not their fault that food prices are increasing. It is not their fault that the cost of heating their home is rising, and they're not the ones who decided to cut universal credit. None of this is their fault. This is a Tory-made cost-of-living crisis. Do you agree with me that the UK Tory Government needs to step up and step in to tackle this cost-of-living crisis?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, ac rwy'n croesawu'r pecyn cymorth y mae mawr ei angen a roddwyd ar waith gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, oherwydd yr wythnos diwethaf ymwelais â Splice Child and Family yn y Pîl, sy'n rhedeg banc babanod, a phantri cymunedol Baobab ym Mracla. Tra oeddwn yno, rhannodd y gwirfoddolwyr stori dorcalonnus gyda mi am fam a oedd wedi ymweld yn ddiweddar, yn gyndyn, yn gofyn am gefnogaeth. Mae'r fam honno'n bwyta unwaith bob tri diwrnod i sicrhau ei bod yn gallu bwydo ei phlant, ac, yn drist, mae'r sefyllfa hon yn rhy gyffredin i lawer o bobl yng Nghymru.
Prif Weinidog, mae pobl allan yna sy'n teimlo pryder a chywilydd ynghylch bod angen help llaw arnyn nhw, ac ni ddylai hyn fod yn digwydd. Nid eu bai nhw yw hi fod prisiau bwyd yn cynyddu. Nid eu bai nhw yw hi fod y gost o wresogi eu cartref yn codi, ac nid y nhw a benderfynodd dorri credyd cynhwysol. Nid eu bai nhw yw dim o hyn. Mae hwn yn argyfwng costau byw a grëwyd gan y Torïaid. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod angen i Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU gamu ymlaen i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng costau byw hwn?
I do entirely agree with Sarah Murphy. That was a terrible story that she related from a visit that she has made, but it won't be one, really sadly, that is unfamiliar to many Members of the Senedd. Many of us, in our own constituency capacities, will have had to help families who find themselves in exactly that position, and it is, as that story shows, women who bear the burden of poverty in our communities, and I too have met mothers who tell you that they have to go without in order to make sure that they can put food on the table for their families.
This has been the story, Llywydd, now for the last 10 years. This is a cost-of-living crisis that has not been made in the last few weeks. This is a story that has been developed in that decade of austerity, a decade in which, year after year, inequality has grown, and the burden placed on the shoulders of those least able to bear it has been increased.
Now, Sarah Murphy pointed to the £20 reduction every week in money available to the least well-off households in the whole of Wales. I cannot think of a more cruel decision, because it was a deliberate decision. It was a decision where the Government knew before they did it that this would mean there would be children, children in households up and down Wales, who would have to go without as a result of what they did.
So, I do of course agree with what the Member for Bridgend said. On top of all the things that we as a Government are trying to do, and I'm very proud indeed of the package that we've been able to announce today, I'm very grateful for the assistance of our local authority colleagues in providing that help to those families. In Bridgend, Llywydd, just for example, in what we're doing already to help families with a winter fuel support payment, Bridgend council has paid nearly 7,000 families, in the latest figures I have seen, and has responded to over 90 per cent of all the applications that have been made. If the Welsh Government can do it, and if Welsh local authorities can do it in Wales, surely the Conservative Government in Westminster could step in and play their part as well.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â Sarah Murphy. Roedd honno'n stori ofnadwy yr oedd yn ei hadrodd yn dilyn ymweliad ganddi, ond ni fydd yn un, yn drist iawn, sy'n anghyfarwydd i lawer o Aelodau'r Senedd. Bydd llawer ohonom, yn ein hetholaeth ein hunain, wedi gorfod helpu teuluoedd sy'n cael eu hunain yn yr union sefyllfa honno, ac fel y dengys y stori honno, menywod sy'n ysgwyddo baich tlodi yn ein cymunedau, ac rwyf innau hefyd wedi cwrdd â mamau sy'n dweud wrthych fod yn rhaid iddyn nhw wneud heb er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn gallu rhoi bwyd ar y bwrdd i'w teuluoedd.
Dyma fu'r stori, Llywydd, yn awr am y 10 mlynedd diwethaf. Mae hwn yn argyfwng costau byw nad yw wedi'i greu yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Mae hon yn stori sydd wedi'i datblygu yn y degawd hwnnw o gyni, degawd lle mae anghydraddoldeb, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, wedi tyfu, ac mae'r baich a osodwyd ar y rhai lleiaf abl i'w ysgwyddo wedi cynyddu.
Nawr, cyfeiriodd Sarah Murphy at y gostyngiad o £20 bob wythnos mewn arian sydd ar gael i'r aelwydydd lleiaf cefnog yng Nghymru gyfan. Ni allaf feddwl am benderfyniad mwy creulon, oherwydd roedd yn benderfyniad bwriadol. Roedd yn benderfyniad pan oedd y Llywodraeth yn gwybod cyn iddyn nhw wneud hynny y byddai hyn yn golygu y byddai plant, plant ar aelwydydd ar hyd a lled Cymru, yn gorfod gwneud heb o ganlyniad i'r hyn a wnaethon nhw.
Felly, yr wyf, wrth gwrs, yn cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod dros Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr. Ar ben yr holl bethau yr ydym ni fel Llywodraeth yn ceisio'u gwneud, ac rwy'n falch iawn o'r pecyn yr ydym wedi gallu ei gyhoeddi heddiw, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am gymorth ein cydweithwyr yn yr awdurdod lleol i ddarparu'r cymorth hwnnw i'r teuluoedd hynny. Ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Llywydd, er enghraifft, yn yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud eisoes i helpu teuluoedd gyda thaliad cymorth tanwydd gaeaf, mae cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi talu bron i 7,000 o deuluoedd, yn y ffigurau diweddaraf yr wyf wedi'u gweld, ac wedi ymateb i dros 90 y cant o'r holl geisiadau a wnaed. Os gall Llywodraeth Cymru wneud hynny, ac os gall awdurdodau lleol Cymru wneud hynny yng Nghymru, siawns na allai'r Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn San Steffan gamu ymlaen a chwarae eu rhan hefyd.
6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n cefnogi'r sector lletygarwch yn ystod y pandemig? OQ57638
6. How is the Welsh Government supporting the hospitality sector during the pandemic? OQ57638
Llywydd, unprecedented levels of financial support have been provided to hospitality and tourism businesses throughout the pandemic, but the greatest support has come through the measures taken to keep staff and customers safe in the face of a global emergency.
Llywydd, darparwyd lefelau digynsail o gymorth ariannol i fusnesau lletygarwch a thwristiaeth drwy gydol y pandemig, ond mae'r gefnogaeth fwyaf wedi dod drwy'r mesurau a gymerwyd i gadw staff a chwsmeriaid yn ddiogel yn wyneb argyfwng byd-eang.
I was contacted by many concerned north Wales constituents running legitimate self-catering accommodation businesses regarding the Welsh Government's business support grant, launched following the introduction of alert level 2 restrictions in December. For example, one stated, 'Our farm cottages sleep 22 in a courtyard. The grant is only available to self-catering properties for 30 or more guests. I lost all my bookings over Christmas and the new year as guests chose England over Wales for their festive breaks.' Another said, 'Our cottage holidays business is a bona fide holiday let business with accounts to support it, providing enterprise, employment and value to the area of the Dee Valley.' Another said, 'My only income comes from our self-catering business. We've been impacted by 100 per cent decrease in bookings December to February. We feel discriminated against.' When I referred this to your economy Minister, he replied, 'There are no restrictions in place for indoor household mixing. Therefore self-catering accommodation is not eligible', to which businesses replied, 'We lost bookings because of the Welsh Government decision and because of the restrictions put in place on pubs and restaurants. My guests chose to spend the festive period in parts of the UK where there were no restrictions'—.i.e. not Wales—'Can you please ask the Government to return the funding lost from Welsh businesses?' So, this isn't a question about the restrictions you put in place, this is about the support for the businesses affected. So, how do you respond to the many legitimate Welsh businesses in north Wales who have written to me about this?
Cysylltodd nifer o etholwyr pryderus yn y gogledd â mi sy'n rhedeg busnesau llety hunanarlwyo dilys ynghylch grant cymorth busnes Llywodraeth Cymru, a lansiwyd yn dilyn cyflwyno cyfyngiadau lefel rhybudd 2 ym mis Rhagfyr. Er enghraifft, dywedodd un, 'Mae ein bythynnod fferm yn cysgu 22 mewn clos. Dim ond ar gyfer 30 neu fwy o westeion y mae'r grant ar gael. Collais fy holl archebion dros y Nadolig a'r flwyddyn newydd wrth i westeion ddewis Lloegr dros Gymru ar gyfer eu gwyliau Nadolig. Dywedodd un arall, 'Mae ein busnes gwyliau bythynnod yn fusnes gwyliau dilys gyda chyfrifon i'w gefnogi, yn darparu mentergarwch, cyflogaeth a gwerth i ardal Dyffryn Dyfrdwy.' Dywedodd un arall, 'Mae fy unig incwm yn dod o'n busnes hunanarlwyo. Mae gostyngiad o 100 y cant yn nifer yr archebion o fis Rhagfyr i fis Chwefror wedi effeithio arnom ni. Rydym yn teimlo bod yna wahaniaethu yn ein herbyn ni.' Pan gyfeiriais i hyn at eich Gweinidog yr economi, atebodd, 'Nid oes cyfyngiadau ar waith ar gyfer cymysgu aelwydydd dan do. Felly nid yw llety hunanarlwyo yn gymwys', ac i hynny atebodd busnesau, 'Fe wnaethom golli archebion oherwydd penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru ac oherwydd y cyfyngiadau a roddwyd ar waith ar dafarndai a bwytai. Dewisodd fy ngwesteion dreulio cyfnod yr ŵyl mewn rhannau o'r DU lle nad oedd cyfyngiadau'—hynny yw nid Cymru—'A wnewch chi ofyn i'r Llywodraeth ddychwelyd yr arian a gollwyd gan fusnesau Cymru?' Felly, nid yw hwn yn gwestiwn am y cyfyngiadau yr ydych yn eu rhoi ar waith, mae hyn yn ymwneud â'r gefnogaeth i'r busnesau yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw. Felly, sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r nifer fawr o fusnesau Cymreig dilys yn y gogledd sydd wedi ysgrifennu ataf i am hyn?
Well, I respond in exactly the way that the Member has already heard from the economy Minister: those businesses were able to operate. There were no restrictions on their ability to operate. It is not legitimate to expect the taxpayer to step in in those circumstances.
Wel, fe wnaf ymateb yn yr union ffordd y mae'r Aelod eisoes wedi clywed gan Weinidog yr economi: yr oedd y busnesau hynny'n gallu gweithredu. Nid oedd unrhyw gyfyngiadau ar eu gallu i weithredu. Nid yw'n dderbyniol disgwyl i'r trethdalwr gamu i mewn o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd pan fydd awdurdodau lleol yn cyflwyno asesiadau anghenion tai annigonol? OQ57676
7. What action does the Welsh Government take when local authorities submit inadequate housing needs assessments? OQ57676
Llywydd, the 2019 affordable housing review proposed reforms to local housing needs assessments, including new review and sign-off powers for the Welsh Government. Details of this new approach will be published next month.
Llywydd, gwnaeth adolygiad tai fforddiadwy 2019 gynnig diwygiadau arfaethedig i asesiadau o anghenion tai lleol, gan gynnwys pwerau adolygu a chymeradwyo newydd i Lywodraeth Cymru. Bydd manylion y dull newydd hwn yn cael eu cyhoeddi fis nesaf.
Thank you, First Minister. The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 places a legal obligation and a statutory duty on local authorities in Wales to both assess and provide for residential and transit provision for Gypsy and Traveller communities, and yet nearly eight years later several local authorities have either no permanent sites or insufficient sites for Gypsy and Traveller communities, or inadequate transit stopping places when they are on their journey. So, year after year, local authorities have had funding earmarked by Welsh Government to enable them to make appropriate provision, and yet year after year, this money has been left lying on the table. So, what action will Welsh Government take to ensure that local authorities step up to the plate on their responsibilities to the Gypsy and Traveller communities, as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, if passed, will criminalise anyone who stops at an unauthorised site?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Mae Deddf Tai (Cymru) 2014 yn gosod rhwymedigaeth gyfreithiol a dyletswydd statudol ar awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru i asesu a darparu ar gyfer darpariaeth breswyl a darpariaeth dros dro ar gyfer cymunedau Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, ac eto bron i wyth mlynedd yn ddiweddarach nid oes gan nifer o awdurdodau lleol safleoedd parhaol neu mae ganddyn nhw safleoedd annigonol ar gyfer cymunedau Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, neu fannau aros teithio annigonol pan fyddant ar eu taith. Felly, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, mae awdurdodau lleol wedi cael cyllid wedi'i glustnodi gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'w galluogi i wneud darpariaeth briodol, ac eto flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, mae'r arian hwn wedi'i adael yn gorwedd ar y bwrdd. Felly, pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn camu i'r adwy o ran eu cyfrifoldebau i'r cymunedau Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, gan y bydd y Bil yr Heddlu, Troseddu, Dedfrydu a'r Llysoedd, os caiff ei basio, yn troseddoli unrhyw un sy'n stopio ar safle anawdurdodedig?
Well, Llywydd, I was very pleased that the Senedd voted in line with Welsh Government advice and chose to withhold legislative consent on those clauses in that Bill that infringe the rights of Gypsy and Traveller communities. I share the frustration expressed by Jenny Rathbone, Llywydd. It was an Act promoted by the Welsh Government, of a Labour Government, that led in 2014 to those assessments of need. So, the legislation is there, and, every year, the Welsh Government provides funds to assist local authorities to comply with their duties within Part 3 of that 2014 Housing (Wales) Act, and it is disappointing therefore that progress has not been made in all parts of Wales. When I was the finance Minister, Llywydd, I remember receiving advice that, because the money wasn't being taken up, the money allocated by the Welsh Government should be reduced and used for other purposes. I declined to follow that advice, because I wanted to be sure that the impediment to providing provision would not be because the money wasn't available.
Now, in this month, we will see the results of the Gypsy/Traveller accommodation assessments that we had to delay last year because of the pandemic. We're expecting to see them in now by the end of this month. And through the proposals in the race equality action plan, we will move to review the compliance of every local authority with those duties through what will now be an annual review. That review will adopt a consistent and robust approach to monitoring compliance, and it will help us with the implementation of the recommendations, as I said, of the 2019 review that does propose additional powers for the Welsh Government in the oversight of the plans that local authorities are obliged to provide.
Wel, Llywydd, roeddwn yn falch iawn bod y Senedd wedi pleidleisio yn unol â chyngor Llywodraeth Cymru ac wedi dewis atal cydsyniad deddfwriaethol ar y cymalau hynny yn y Bil hwnnw sy'n torri hawliau cymunedau Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Rwyf yn rhannu'r rhwystredigaeth a fynegwyd gan Jenny Rathbone, Llywydd. Roedd yn Ddeddf a hyrwyddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, gan Lywodraeth Lafur, a arweiniodd yn 2014 at yr asesiadau hynny o angen. Felly, mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yno, a, phob blwyddyn, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu arian i gynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol i gydymffurfio â'u dyletswyddau o fewn Rhan 3 o Ddeddf Tai (Cymru) 2014, ac mae'n siomedig felly nad oes cynnydd wedi'i wneud ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Pan oeddwn i'n Weinidog cyllid, Llywydd, rwy'n cofio cael cyngor, oherwydd nad oedd yr arian yn cael ei ddefnyddio, y dylid lleihau'r arian a ddyrannwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'i ddefnyddio at ddibenion eraill. Gwrthodais ddilyn y cyngor hwnnw, oherwydd roeddwn eisiau bod yn siŵr na fyddai'r rhwystr i ddarparu darpariaeth oherwydd nad oedd yr arian ar gael.
Nawr, yn y mis hwn, byddwn ni'n gweld canlyniadau'r asesiadau llety Sipsiwn/Teithwyr y bu'n rhaid i ni eu gohirio y llynedd oherwydd y pandemig. Rydym yn disgwyl eu gweld yn awr erbyn diwedd y mis hwn. A thrwy'r cynigion yn y cynllun gweithredu cydraddoldeb hiliol, byddwn yn symud i adolygu cydymffurfiaeth pob awdurdod lleol â'r dyletswyddau hynny drwy'r hyn a fydd yn awr yn adolygiad blynyddol. Bydd yr adolygiad hwnnw'n mabwysiadu dull cyson a chadarn o fonitro cydymffurfiaeth, a bydd yn ein helpu i weithredu'r argymhellion, fel y dywedais i, o adolygiad 2019 sy'n cynnig pwerau ychwanegol i Lywodraeth Cymru wrth oruchwylio'r cynlluniau y mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol eu darparu.
Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog.
Good afternoon, First Minister.
8. Sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau proses bontio teg a chyfiawn i sero net ar gyfer cymunedau gwledig? OQ57674
8. How will the Welsh Government ensure a fair and just transition to net-zero for rural communities? OQ57674
Llywydd, our Net Zero Wales plan is predicated on ensuring a just transition across Wales, including in rural communities. The plan contains 123 policies and proposals, and draws on many live examples from the rural communities of Wales.
Llywydd, mae ein cynllun Cymru Sero Net yn seiliedig ar sicrhau pontio cyfiawn ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys mewn cymunedau gwledig. Mae'r cynllun yn cynnwys 123 o bolisïau a chynigion, ac mae'n defnyddio llawer o enghreifftiau byw o gymunedau gwledig Cymru.
Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Hoffwn i godi'r mater am ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i blannu 86 miliwn o goed erbyn diwedd y ddegawd hon fel rhan o'r cynllun i gyrraedd net zero erbyn 2050. Yn ôl Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru, dim ond 25 y cant o'r cynlluniau i blannu mwy na 50 hectar o goed, sy'n cyfateb i 93 cae pêl-droed—.
Thank you, First Minister. I'd like to raise the matter of the commitment of the Welsh Government to plant 86 million trees by the end of this decade as part of the plan to reach net zero by 2050. According to the Farmers Union of Wales, only 25 per cent of the plans to plant more than 50 hectares of woodland, which is equivalent to 93 football pitches—.
Farming unions are fully in support of the Government's climate and zero-carbon agenda, but there is concern, First Minister, that policies that drive tree planting, particularly where funding exceeds the level of support available for agricultural land, have the potential to impact on tenant farming categorised by short-term tenancies. Glastir has helped many, many farmers to diversify, as we know, so there's much to learn from, but we must be mindful of unintended consequences.
I'm looking forward to you joining me on a visit to a farmer in my region of Mid and West Wales, and I know that one of the issues they will want to discuss with you is around tree planting. And I wonder if you could tell me how the Government is going to ensure that the burden of decarbonisation does not fall unequally on rural communities. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Mae undebau'r amaethwyr yn cefnogi agenda hinsawdd a di-garbon y Llywodraeth yn llwyr, ond mae pryder, Prif Weinidog, fod gan bolisïau sy'n ysgogi plannu coed, yn enwedig lle mae cyllid yn fwy na lefel y cymorth sydd ar gael ar gyfer tir amaethyddol, y potensial i effeithio ar ffermio gan denantiaid wedi'i gategoreiddio gan denantiaethau tymor byr. Mae Glastir wedi helpu llawer o ffermwyr i arallgyfeirio, fel y gwyddom ni, felly mae llawer i'w ddysgu, ond rhaid i ni fod yn ymwybodol o ganlyniadau anfwriadol.
Rwy'n edrych ymlaen atoch chi'n ymuno â mi ar ymweliad â ffermwr yn fy rhanbarth i yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, rwy'n ymwybodol mai un o'r materion y byddan nhw eisiau'i drafod gyda chi yw plannu coed. A tybed a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf i sut y mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i sicrhau nad yw baich datgarboneiddio yn disgyn yn anghyfartal ar gymunedau gwledig. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Jane Dodds am y cwestiwn yna. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae hi'n wir bod targed uchelgeisiol gyda ni am blannu coed yma yng Nghymru, ac mae hwnna'n bwysig achos dyna'r cyngor rŷn ni wedi ei gael oddi wrth y pwyllgor sy'n ein cynghori ni. I helpu ni i ddod at net zero yma yng Nghymru, bydd yn rhaid i ni blannu lot mwy o goed, a thrwy wneud hynny, mae cyfleon mawr i ffermwyr yma yng Nghymru i wneud pethau sy'n bwysig i ni fel cenedl, ond hefyd i gael arian i wneud pethau sy'n bwysig i ni i gyd.
Well, Llywydd, I'd like to thank Jane Dodds for that question. And, of course, it is true to say that we do have an ambitious target for tree planting in Wales, and that is important because that's the advice that we've had from the committee advising us. To help us to reach net zero here in Wales, we will have to plant many more trees, and in so doing, there are great opportunities for farmers in Wales to do things that are important to us as a nation, but where they can also receive funding to do things that are important to us all.
Of course I recognise that tree planting has to be the right tree in the right place, and that is an integral part of the plan that we have. It is not simply about planting any sort of tree anywhere. It's to use land that is not available for other activities that farmers can carry out in Wales, and which have a commercial value, but to use land that is not useable in that way to grow a crop that will be to the benefit of us all as we face climate change.
I recognise the point that Jane Dodds makes. To plant trees is a long-term proposition, and if you're a short-term tenant, then you have to be able to reconcile those two things. We're aware of that, of course, and work with farming unions and others on it. I look forward very much to the visit we plan to make together, now that it will be easier, as we hope, to carry out such visits in Wales, and I look forward to discussing with farming unions in Wales the way in which they can assist their members to take advantage of what I believe is a major opportunity for rural Wales to play its part, as I know it wants to do, in tackling that major crisis of our time in climate change, and to do it in a way that rewards them for the contribution that they will make.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n cydnabod bod plannu coed yn golygu'r goeden iawn yn y lle iawn, ac mae hynny'n rhan annatod o'r cynllun sydd gennym ni. Nid yw'n ymwneud â phlannu unrhyw fath o goeden yn unrhyw le yn unig. Mae'n ymwneud â defnyddio tir nad yw ar gael ar gyfer gweithgareddau eraill y gall ffermwyr eu cyflawni yng Nghymru, ac sydd â gwerth masnachol, ond i ddefnyddio tir nad oes modd ei ddefnyddio fel hynny i dyfu cnwd a fydd o fudd i bob un ohonom ni wrth i ni wynebu newid hinsawdd.
Rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae Jane Dodds yn ei wneud. Mae plannu coed yn gynnig tymor hir, ac os ydych chi'n denant tymor byr, yna mae'n rhaid i chi allu cysoni'r ddau beth hynny. Rydym ni'n ymwybodol o hynny, wrth gwrs, ac yn gweithio gydag undebau'r amaethwyr ac eraill arno. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at yr ymweliad yr ydym ni'n bwriadu ei wneud gyda'n gilydd, gan y bydd yn haws, yr ydym ni'n gobeithio, i gynnal ymweliadau o'r fath yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at drafod gydag undebau'r amaethwyr yng Nghymru y ffordd y gallan nhw gynorthwyo eu haelodau i fanteisio ar yr hyn sydd, yn fy marn i, yn gyfle pwysig i'r Gymru wledig chwarae ei rhan, fel y gwn i ei bod eisiau'i wneud, wrth fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng mawr hwnnw ein hoes ni sef newid hinsawdd, a'i wneud mewn ffordd sy'n eu gwobrwyo am y cyfraniad y byddan nhw'n ei wneud.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog, a gobeithio'n wir y byddwch chi'n gwneud adferiad llawn a buan o'ch COVID. Pob dymuniad da i chi.
I thank the First Minister, and I very much hope that you make a full and swift recovery from COVID. Best wishes to you.
Y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd nesaf, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hwnnw. Lesley Griffiths.
The business statement and announcement is next, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Lesley Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. I have no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Nid oes gennyf i unrhyw newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos eistedd nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.
Thank you, Trefnydd, for your statement. Can I call for two statements this week? The first is from the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the social care financial recognition scheme, obviously something that we very much welcome indeed for those people who've worked on the front lines in social care across Wales, particularly during the pandemic. But a constituent has raised concerns with me that other people who worked, particularly in care homes, in catering and cleaning, are not eligible for these payments, and of course, they very much have also been undertaking work on the front lines, which I feel does deserve to be recognised in some way. So, I would like the Welsh Government to consider this and come forward with a statement—either from the Deputy or the Minister—to discuss whether that could be extended.
Secondly, can I also ask for a statement from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to the new phosphate targets that were set by Natural Resources Wales at the beginning of 2021? You'll be aware that Welsh local authorities are still waiting for clear guidance from the Welsh Government in terms of how to interpret the planning decisions and applications that come forward, against those new targets. And it is causing a delay in many applications being determined, including in my own local authority area. So, I do think this is something that needs to be addressed, we need some clarity, and a statement would be very welcome.
Diolch, Trefnydd, am eich datganiad. A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad yr wythnos hon? Daw'r cyntaf gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ynglŷn â chynllun cydnabyddiaeth ariannol gofal cymdeithasol, yn amlwg, mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n ei groesawu'n fawr i'r bobl hynny sydd wedi gweithio ar y rheng flaen ym maes gofal cymdeithasol ledled Cymru, yn enwedig yn ystod y pandemig. Ond mae etholwr wedi codi pryderon gyda mi nad yw pobl eraill a oedd yn gweithio, yn enwedig mewn cartrefi gofal, ym maes arlwyo a glanhau, yn gymwys ar gyfer y taliadau hyn, ac wrth gwrs, maen nhw hefyd wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith ar y rheng flaen, yr wyf i'n teimlo ei fod yn haeddu cael ei gydnabod mewn rhyw ffordd. Felly, hoffwn i Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried hyn a chyflwyno datganiad—naill ai gan y Dirprwy neu'r Gweinidog—i drafod a fyddai modd ymestyn hynny.
Yn ail, a gaf i hefyd ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd o ran y targedau ffosffad newydd a gafodd eu gosod gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ar ddechrau 2021? Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod awdurdodau lleol Cymru yn dal i aros am arweiniad clir gan Lywodraeth Cymru o ran sut i ddehongli'r penderfyniadau cynllunio a'r ceisiadau sy'n cael eu cyflwyno, yn erbyn y targedau newydd hynny. Ac mae'n achosi oedi cyn penderfynu ar lawer o geisiadau, gan gynnwys yn fy ardal awdurdod lleol fy hun. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae angen mynd i'r afael ag ef, mae angen rhywfaint o eglurder arnom ni, a byddai datganiad i'w groesawu'n fawr.
Thank you. I think you've referred to two issues that many of us have received representations on from our own constituents. The Deputy Minister for Social Services was in the Chamber and heard your question and will come forward with further information, either in the form of a written statement or will write to the Member, and I'm sure they will put a letter in the Library.
In relation to your second point, my understanding is that guidance will be issued in the very near future.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi wedi cyfeirio at ddau fater y mae llawer ohonom ni wedi cael sylwadau arnyn nhw gan ein hetholwyr ein hunain. Roedd y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn y Siambr a chlywodd hi eich cwestiwn chi a bydd hi'n cyflwyno rhagor o wybodaeth, naill ai ar ffurf datganiad ysgrifenedig neu'n ysgrifennu at yr Aelod, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd llythyr yn cael ei roi yn y Llyfrgell.
O ran eich ail bwynt, rwy'n deall y bydd canllawiau'n cael eu cyhoeddi yn y dyfodol agos iawn.
Cardiff has been described, Trefnydd, as the fuel poverty capital of the UK, with a quarter of our residents here in the capital suffering in fuel poverty—higher than any other city or town in the United Kingdom. That is 91,000 people suffering. Can we please have a debate in Government time on fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis? Plaid Cymru welcomes the announcement today of additional support, but there's much yet to be done. I'm sure the Trefnydd is an avid listener of Radio Wales, and the payment was discussed this morning in the Jason Mohammad phone-in. Among the issues addressed was the growth of food banks in Ely, and others were pointing out, despite them welcoming the payment, that they stressed that many will still be struggling.
It is these types of points that could be made in a debate in Government time, and we could also tease out some of the issues with regard to the UK Government's response. We will all remember the UK Conservative Government stating that it was due to our membership of the European Union that we had to pay value added tax on energy prices. They promised us that energy prices would go down once we were out of the European Union. Well, Brexit is now done, Trefnydd; why is VAT still being charged on our Bills?
So, these are the types of things we could discuss, Minister. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with regards the UK Government scrapping the 5 per cent VAT? What discussions has the Welsh Government had on the inadequate loan of £200 that has been offered by the UK Government? And what more can we as a Senedd do to help the people of Ely, to help the people of Cardiff and across Wales, who are suffering so much at the moment? Diolch yn fawr.
Mae Caerdydd wedi cael ei disgrifio, Trefnydd, fel prifddinas tlodi tanwydd y DU, gyda chwarter ein trigolion yma yn y brifddinas yn dioddef tlodi tanwydd—yn uwch nag unrhyw ddinas neu dref arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Dyna 91,000 o bobl yn dioddef. A gawn ni ddadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar dlodi tanwydd a'r argyfwng costau byw? Mae Plaid Cymru yn croesawu'r cyhoeddiad heddiw am gefnogaeth ychwanegol, ond mae llawer eto i'w wneud. Rwy'n siŵr bod y Trefnydd yn wrandäwr brwd ar Radio Wales, a chafodd y taliad ei drafod y bore yma ar raglen ffonio Jason Mohammad. Ymhlith y materion a gafodd sylw oedd twf banciau bwyd yn Nhrelái, ac roedd eraill yn nodi, er eu bod yn croesawu'r taliad, eu bod yn pwysleisio y bydd llawer yn dal i gael trafferth.
Y mathau hyn o bwyntiau yw'r rhai y gellid eu gwneud mewn dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth, a gallem ni hefyd nodi rhai o'r materion sy'n ymwneud ag ymateb Llywodraeth y DU. Byddwn ni i gyd yn cofio Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU yn datgan mai oherwydd ein haelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yr oedd yn rhaid i ni dalu treth ar werth ar brisiau ynni. Gwnaethon nhw addo i ni y byddai prisiau ynni'n gostwng unwaith yr oeddem ni allan o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Wel, mae Brexit nawr wedi'i wneud, Trefnydd; pam y mae TAW yn dal i gael ei godi ar ein Biliau?
Felly, dyma'r mathau o bethau y gallem ni eu trafod, Gweinidog. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael o ran Llywodraeth y DU yn dileu'r TAW o 5 y cant? Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael ar y benthyciad annigonol o £200 sydd wedi cael ei gynnig gan Lywodraeth y DU? A beth arall y gallwn ni fel Senedd ei wneud i helpu pobl Trelái, i helpu pobl Caerdydd a ledled Cymru, sy'n dioddef cymaint ar hyn o bryd? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you. As you are aware, at 12 p.m. today, there was a written statement published by the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and, on Thursday, the Minister I just referred to, the Minister for Social Justice, and the Minister for Climate Change, will be holding a cost-of-living summit. The Welsh Government can only do so much. This has been made in London, by the UK Tory Government. You're quite right: they have done Brexit—I think that was their slogan—but what they need to do is make sure that Brexit works for the UK. They did promise lower energy prices if we left the European Union, and I was reading some research last week that showed the variety of countries across Europe where the cost of energy, in some areas, was 50 per cent lower than in the UK.
Diolch. Fel y gwyddoch chi, am 12 p.m. heddiw, cafodd datganiad ysgrifenedig ei gyflwyno gan y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, a, ddydd Iau, bydd y Gweinidog yr wyf i newydd gyfeirio ato, y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, a'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, yn cynnal uwchgynhadledd costau byw. Dim ond hyn a hyn y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud. Mae hyn wedi cael ei wneud yn Llundain, gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir: maen nhw wedi cyflawni Brexit—rwy'n credu mai dyna oedd eu slogan—ond yr hyn y mae angen iddyn ei wneud yw sicrhau bod Brexit yn gweithio i'r DU. Gwnaethon nhw addo prisiau ynni is pe baem yn gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac yr oeddwn i'n darllen rhywfaint o ymchwil yr wythnos diwethaf a ddangosodd yr amrywiaeth o wledydd ledled Ewrop lle'r oedd cost ynni, mewn rhai ardaloedd, 50 y cant yn is nag yn y DU.
I have been contacted by my constituent, Evelyn, and her mum, Jacqui, who were shocked and incredibly disappointed to discover that, from September 2022, the Welsh Rugby Union will stop girls playing mixed under-12 and under-13 rugby. Evelyn is an excellent player, and captain for Bridgend sports under-12s, as well as playing for Brynteg Comprehensive School. I did meet with the Welsh Rugby Union to ask why and how this decision to exclude girls from mixed rugby was made. The Welsh Rugby Union, so far, have not provided any evidence that a fair consultation has been carried out that included asking the girls impacted and their team mates for their views, or that an equality impact assessment had been conducted. My concern is that girls have not been asked why they stop playing rugby once they can't play mixed anymore, or for their ideas about increasing their participation, rather than simply excluding them. I have raised this with the sports and culture Minister, and I await answers to my questions from the WRU, but, in the meantime, could the Minister for Social Justice provide a statement on the participation of girls in sport across Wales?
Mae fy etholwr, Evelyn, a'i mam, Jacqui, wedi cysylltu â mi, ar ôl cael sioc a bod yn hynod siomedig o ddarganfod y bydd Undeb Rygbi Cymru, o fis Medi 2022, yn atal merched rhag chwarae rygbi cymysg dan 12 oed a dan 13 oed. Mae Evelyn yn chwaraewr rhagorol, ac yn gapten chwaraeon dan 12 oed Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, yn ogystal â chwarae i Ysgol Gyfun Brynteg. Gwnes i gyfarfod ag Undeb Rygbi Cymru i ofyn pam a sut y cafodd y penderfyniad hwn i wahardd merched o rygbi cymysg ei wneud. Hyd yma, nid yw Undeb Rygbi Cymru wedi darparu unrhyw dystiolaeth bod ymgynghoriad teg wedi'i gynnal a oedd yn cynnwys gofyn i'r merched yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw a'u ffrindiau tîm ynghylch eu barn, na bod asesiad o'r effaith ar gydraddoldeb wedi'i gynnal. Fy mhryder i yw nad yw merched wedi cael eu holi ynghylch pam eu bod yn rhoi'r gorau i chwarae rygbi ar ôl cael eu gwahardd rhag chwarae'n gymysg mwyach, nac am eu syniadau ynghylch cynyddu eu cyfranogiad, yn hytrach na'u gwahardd yn unig. Rwyf i wedi codi hyn gyda'r Gweinidog chwaraeon a diwylliant, ac rwy'n aros am atebion i fy nghwestiynau gan Undeb Rygbi Cymru, ond, yn y cyfamser, a wnaiff y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ddarparu datganiad ar gyfranogiad merched mewn chwaraeon ledled Cymru?
Thank you. I am aware that the WRU did undertake a consultation, as you referred to. I think it was back in 2019, and then it was delayed because of the COVID pandemic, and it wasn't introduced until this year. I think it's really important that we listen to what young people say around the barriers that they feel that they face. As you say, you have made representations to the Deputy Minister for sport and culture, and I'm sure she will respond to you when she has further information from the WRU.
Diolch. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod Undeb Rygbi Cymru wedi cynnal ymgynghoriad, fel y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato. Rwy'n credu mai yn ôl yn 2019 ydoedd, ac yna cafodd ei ohirio oherwydd pandemig COVID, ac ni chafodd ei gyflwyno tan eleni. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n gwrando ar yr hyn y mae pobl ifanc yn ei ddweud ynghylch y rhwystrau y maen nhw'n teimlo eu bod yn eu hwynebu. Fel yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud, rydych chi wedi cyflwyno sylwadau i'r Dirprwy Weinidog chwaraeon a diwylliant, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd hi'n ymateb i chi pan fydd ganddi ragor o wybodaeth gan Undeb Rygbi Cymru.
Trefnydd, on 28 September last year, I asked for a debate in the Chamber on the issue of safer travel for horse riders in Wales, and you may recall that your response was that such a debate would be premature, given the up-and-coming changes to The Highway Code. Now that the changes to The Highway Code have been published, I'd like to ask again for a debate in the Chamber on safer travel for horse riders in Wales. I'm asking for this debate because I believe that there's much more that can be done to provide safer routes for the horse riders and carriage drivers, such as better use of signage and the national roll-out of the Dead Slow safety campaign. I also believe that more needs to be done to highlight the new changes to The Highway Code for the benefit of all road users. Sadly, only 22 per cent of publicly accessible routes in Wales are open to horse riders, and many of these routes have been resurfaced to cater for cyclists under the active travel legislation, making them totally inappropriate for horses. Many more routes are also becoming inaccessible for horse riders because of the fencing and barriers that local authorities are erecting to stop motorised vehicles accessing them. With this in mind, I think it's imperative that the riding community have a greater say on the design and implementation of the active travel plan, which, at present, is not meeting their needs, and which can hopefully be addressed and highlighted in this debate. Thank you.
Ar 28 Medi y llynedd, gofynnais i am ddadl yn y Siambr ar y mater o deithio'n fwy diogel i farchogion ceffylau yng Nghymru, ac efallai y byddwch chi'n cofio mai eich ymateb chi oedd y byddai dadl o'r fath yn gynamserol, o ystyried y newidiadau i Rheolau'r Ffordd Fawr oedd ar y gweill. Gan fod y newidiadau i Rheolau'r Ffordd Fawr nawr wedi'u cyhoeddi, hoffwn i ofyn eto am ddadl yn y Siambr ar deithio mwy diogel i farchogion yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gofyn am y ddadl hon oherwydd rwy'n credu bod llawer mwy y byddai modd ei wneud i ddarparu llwybrau mwy diogel i farchogion a gyrwyr cerbydau, fel gwell defnydd o arwyddion a chyflwyno'r ymgyrch diogelwch Araf Iawn yn genedlaethol. Rwy'n credu hefyd fod angen gwneud mwy i dynnu sylw at y newidiadau newydd i Rheolau'r Ffordd Fawr er budd pob defnyddiwr ffordd. Yn anffodus, dim ond 22 y cant o lwybrau hygyrch i'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru sy'n agored i farchogion, ac mae llawer o'r llwybrau hyn wedi'u harwynebu i ddarparu ar gyfer beicwyr o dan y ddeddfwriaeth teithio llesol, gan eu gwneud yn gwbl amhriodol i geffylau. Mae llawer mwy o lwybrau hefyd yn mynd yn anhygyrch i farchogion oherwydd y ffensys a'r rhwystrau y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu codi i atal cerbydau modur rhag cael mynediad atyn nhw. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol bod gan y gymuned farchogaeth fwy o gyfle i ddweud eu dweud ynghylch cynllunio a gweithredu'r cynllun teithio llesol, nad yw, ar hyn o bryd, yn diwallu eu hanghenion, a gobeithio y bydd modd mynd i'r afael ag ef a'i amlygu yn y ddadl hon. Diolch.
Thank you. I am not aware whether this was addressed in the changes that have been brought forward in relation to The Highway Code changes, but I will certainly ask the Minister to consider your request.FootnoteLink
Diolch. Nid wyf i'n ymwybodol a gafodd hyn sylw yn y newidiadau a gafodd eu cyflwyno o ran y newidiadau i Rheolau'r Ffordd Fawr, ond byddaf i'n sicr yn gofyn i'r Gweinidog ystyried eich cais.FootnoteLink
I have two statements I wish to call for. Firstly, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone hard, and on a recent visit to the Anthony's family farm in Aberkenfig I learnt just how much the crisis is hitting farmers. They detailed how inflation has taken the price of fertiliser, for example, from £8,000 to £18,000 a year, with similar trends across many of the utilities and equipment they need to run their farm. Therefore, I would appreciate a statement on what support has been provided for the farming community, not just in Bridgend, but across Wales, so that they can afford to continue operating and supplying the domestic market with high-quality food during this cost-of-living crisis. I think it's abundantly clear to the farming community that that support isn't coming from the Tories in Westminster.
Secondly, I'd like to join my colleague Sarah Murphy in asking for a statement on what the Welsh Government will be doing to address the inevitable reduction in girls playing rugby as a result of the WRU's decision to stop funding for mixed teams after 11 years of age. From the conversations Sarah and I have had, it seems the WRU are blaming girls for not wanting to play rugby or brushing off the drop-off in girls playing rugby as a natural occurrence. Either way you choose to look at it, it's a step backwards and has caused great concern. I fundamentally believe that if we wish to change the culture in our society then we can find no better place to start than our rugby teams, especially in communities like mine and Sarah's, where, more often than not, the rugby club is central to the community. After all, rugby is for everyone.
Mae gennyf i ddau ddatganiad yr hoffwn i alw amdanyn nhw. Yn gyntaf, mae'r argyfwng costau byw yn taro pawb yn galed, ac ar ymweliad diweddar â fferm deuluol Anthony yn Abercynffig dysgais i faint mae'r argyfwng yn taro ffermwyr. Gwnaethon nhw fanylu ar sut mae chwyddiant wedi cynyddu pris gwrtaith, er enghraifft, o £8,000 i £18,000 y flwyddyn, gyda thueddiadau tebyg ar hyd a lled llawer o'r cyfleustodau a'r offer sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i gynnal eu fferm. Felly, byddwn i'n gwerthfawrogi datganiad ar ba gymorth sydd wedi'i ddarparu i'r gymuned ffermio, nid yn unig ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ond ledled Cymru, fel y gallan nhw fforddio parhau i weithredu a chyflenwi bwyd o ansawdd uchel i'r farchnad ddomestig yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw hwn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl glir i'r gymuned ffermio nad yw'r gefnogaeth honno'n dod gan y Torïaid yn San Steffan.
Yn ail, hoffwn i ymuno â fy nghyd-Aelod Sarah Murphy i ofyn am ddatganiad ar yr hyn y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i ymdrin â'r gostyngiad anochel yn nifer y merched sy'n chwarae rygbi o ganlyniad i benderfyniad Undeb Rygbi Cymru i roi'r gorau i ariannu timau cymysg ar ôl 11 oed. O'r sgyrsiau y mae Sarah a minnau wedi'u cael, mae'n ymddangos bod Undeb Rygbi Cymru yn beio merched am beidio â bod eisiau chwarae rygbi neu'n wfftio'r gostyngiad mewn merched sy'n chwarae rygbi fel digwyddiad naturiol. Pa ffordd bynnag yr ydych chi'n dewis edrych arno, mae'n gam yn ôl ac mae wedi achosi pryder mawr. Rwy'n credu yn sylfaenol, os ydym ni eisiau newid y diwylliant yn ein cymdeithas, na allwn i ddod o hyd i well le i ddechrau na'n timau rygbi, yn enwedig mewn cymunedau fel fy un i a Sarah, lle mae'r clwb rygbi, yn amlach na pheidio, yn ganolog i'r gymuned. Wedi'r cyfan, mae rygbi ar gyfer pawb.
Thank you. So, in response to your second question, I don't think I've got anything further to add to what I said in my answer to Sarah Murphy, only to say that I think it is really important that the WRU perhaps go back and look at the responses to the consultation, see if there's anything else they can draw out of it, or just go to the rugby clubs and have those conversations if necessary. And I'm sure the Deputy Minister for culture and sport, if you haven't written to her, you heard me say that I'm sure she will be responding to Sarah in the very near future, but it might be advisable for you to write to her as well.
In relation to the cost-of-living crisis, you'll be aware from the written statement today of the support that the Welsh Government has made available to everyone, and that obviously includes the farming community as well. You mentioned specifically fertilizer prices, and this was something that I discussed with my counterparts from across the UK at the last DEFRA inter-ministerial group meeting that we held, because clearly this isn't just a matter for Wales; this is right across the UK. We're not looking at any specific additional support, but it is something that we are closely monitoring. But I do hope everybody who is eligible is able to access the additional funding. I go back to what I said to Rhys ab Owen: the Welsh Government can only go so far; this is really something that the UK Government needs to get to grips with.
Diolch. Felly, mewn ymateb i'ch ail gwestiwn, nid wyf i'n credu bod gennyf i ddim arall i'w ychwanegu at yr hyn y dywedais i yn fy ateb i Sarah Murphy, dim ond i ddweud fy mod i'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod Undeb Rygbi Cymru efallai'n mynd yn ôl ac yn edrych ar yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad, gweld a oes unrhyw beth arall y gallan nhw ei dynnu allan ohono, neu ewch i'r clybiau rygbi a chael y sgyrsiau hynny os oes angen. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog diwylliant a chwaraeon, os nad ydych chi wedi ysgrifennu ati, wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud fy mod yn siŵr y bydd hi'n ymateb i Sarah yn y dyfodol agos iawn, ond efallai y byddai'n ddoeth i chi ysgrifennu ati hi hefyd.
O ran yr argyfwng costau byw, byddwch chi'n ymwybodol o'r datganiad ysgrifenedig heddiw o'r gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i bawb, ac mae hynny'n amlwg yn cynnwys y gymuned ffermio hefyd. Gwnaethoch chi sôn yn benodol am brisiau gwrtaith, ac yr oedd hyn yn rhywbeth y trafodais i gyda fy nghymheiriaid o bob rhan o'r DU yng nghyfarfod grŵp rhyng-weinidogol diwethaf DEFRA y gwnaethom ni ei gynnal, oherwydd mae'n amlwg nad mater i Gymru yn unig yw hwn; mae hyn ledled y DU. Nid ydym ni'n ystyried unrhyw gymorth ychwanegol penodol, ond mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n ei fonitro'n agos. Ond rwy'n gobeithio y gall pawb sy'n gymwys gael gafael ar y cyllid ychwanegol. Rwy'n mynd yn ôl at yr hyn a ddywedais i wrth Rhys ab Owen: dim ond hyn a hyn y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud; mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU ymdrin ag ef.
I have a request for two Government statements. First, I'm asking for a Government statement on the provision of 3G and 4G sports pitches in Wales and plans to increase the number across Wales. I cannot stress too much the importance of 3G and 4G pitches, which allow you to play for long periods of time on a pitch rather than getting only two games in in a day, and also allow them to be used at times when the normal pitches, or the grass pitches, are waterlogged.
My second request is for a statement from the Welsh Government on the possibility of Wales being part of a joint bid for the Euro 2028 tournament and the support available from the Welsh Government. A joint statement from the five football associations said,
'Following an extensive feasibility study, which assessed the potential opportunities in international football, the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have agreed to focus on a bid to host...EURO 2028'.
I would be really pleased to see some of Euro 2028 played in Wales, so what is the Welsh Government doing in order to try and give as much support as they possibly can to the Welsh FA?
Mae gennyf i gais am ddau ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth. Yn gyntaf, rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar ddarparu caeau chwaraeon 3G a 4G a chynlluniau i gynyddu'r nifer ledled Cymru. Ni allaf i bwysleisio gormod pa mor bwysig y mae caeau 3G a 4G, sy'n eich galluogi i chwarae am gyfnodau hir ar gae yn hytrach na chael dim ond dwy gêm mewn diwrnod, ac sydd hefyd yn caniatáu iddyn nhw gael eu defnyddio ar adegau pan fo'r caeau arferol, neu'r caeau glaswellt, yn llawn dŵr.
Fy ail gais yw datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y posibilrwydd y bydd Cymru'n rhan o gais ar y cyd ar gyfer twrnamaint Ewro 2028 a'r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Dywedodd datganiad ar y cyd gan y pum cymdeithas bêl-droed,
'Yn dilyn astudiaeth ddichonoldeb helaeth, a oedd yn asesu'r cyfleoedd posibl mewn pêl-droed rhyngwladol, mae cymdeithasau pêl-droed Lloegr, Gogledd Iwerddon, yr Alban, Cymru a Gweriniaeth Iwerddon wedi cytuno i ganolbwyntio ar gais i gynnal... EWRO 2028'.
Byddwn i'n falch iawn o weld rhai o gemau Ewro 2028 yn cael eu chwarae yng Nghymru, felly beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud o ran ceisio rhoi cymaint o gefnogaeth ag y gallan nhw i Gymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru?
Thank you. Investing in our sporting facilities is a key part of our programme for government, and it's really important that, if we are going to encourage additional participation and support the health and well-being of our nation, we really do consider where we invest in our sporting facilities. We have announced an additional £4.5 million of capital funding for this year, bringing our total investment for this year to more than £13.2 million to support our programme for government commitment. We've also allocated £24 million of capital funding to support Wales over the next three years, and that funding will support not just improving the existing facilities that we have, but also developing new facilities, and that includes 3G pitches.
In relation to your second request, as you mentioned, the five Governments and the five football associations from across the UK and Ireland have collectively agreed to scope the feasibility of a FIFA World Cup 2030 bid, and I think the FAs did conclude quite swiftly that a bid for the world cup would not be successful—it was unlikely it would be successful at the current time—and they've now indicated their intent to develop a joint UK and Ireland bid to host the UEFA European championships in 2028. So, the Minister, and right across Government, will obviously continue to engage very closely with the FAW and the other Governments and FAs to be able to evaluate the costs and, of course, the benefits of hosting such a tournament.
Diolch. Mae buddsoddi yn ein cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn rhan allweddol o'n rhaglen lywodraethu, ac mae'n bwysig iawn, os ydym ni eisiau annog cyfranogiad ychwanegol a chefnogi iechyd a llesiant ein cenedl, ein bod ni wir yn ystyried lle yr ydym ni'n buddsoddi yn ein cyfleusterau chwaraeon. Rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi £4.5 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid cyfalaf ar gyfer eleni, gan ddod â chyfanswm ein buddsoddiad ar gyfer eleni i fwy na £13.2 miliwn i gefnogi ein hymrwymiad yn y rhaglen lywodraethu. Rydym ni hefyd wedi dyrannu £24 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf i gefnogi Cymru yn ystod y tair blynedd nesaf, ac y bydd cyllid yn cefnogi nid yn unig gwella'r cyfleusterau presennol sydd gennym ni, ond hefyd yn datblygu cyfleusterau newydd, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys caeau 3G.
O ran eich ail gais, fel y gwnaethoch chi sôn, mae'r pum Llywodraeth a'r pum cymdeithas bêl-droed o bob rhan o'r DU ac Iwerddon wedi cytuno ar y cyd i gwmpasu dichonoldeb cais FIFA yng Nghwpan y Byd 2030, ac rwy'n credu i'r Cymdeithasau Pêl-droed ddod i'r casgliad yn eithaf cyflym na fyddai cais am gwpan y byd yn llwyddiannus—roedd yn annhebygol y byddai'n llwyddiannus ar hyn o bryd—ac maen nhw nawr wedi nodi eu bwriad i ddatblygu cais ar y cyd rhwng y DU ac Iwerddon i gynnal pencampwriaethau Ewropeaidd UEFA yn 2028. Felly, mae'n amlwg y bydd y Gweinidog, ac ar draws y Llywodraeth, yn parhau i ymgysylltu'n agos iawn â Chymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru a'r Llywodraethau a'r Cymdeithasau Pêl-droed eraill i allu gwerthuso'r costau ac, wrth gwrs, manteision cynnal twrnamaint o'r fath.
Trefnydd, I would like a statement by the Minister for Climate Change on the service provided by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales—that's PEDW. As you may be aware, this new service commenced on 1 October 2021. Now, despite them receiving a 14-month advance warning by Neil Hemington, planning directorate, on 11 October, I've had to send a letter to the Minister for Climate Change highlighting concerns that department officials were without any full access to the new casework system and documents, and as such are now unable to provide essential information on live planning appeals. Five months into the operation of PEDW, serious issues are still being encountered, and it's been raised with me in my constituency, and, indeed, Owen Hughes, the highly respected Daily Post business editor, has reported that planning appeal delays are now holding up business investments in Wales. So, I would be pleased if the Minister for Climate Change could make a statement clarifying how she will ensure that PEDW starts to operate effectively and, of course, to address the appeals backlog urgently. Diolch.
Trefnydd, hoffwn i gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar y gwasanaeth sy'n cael ei ddarparu gan Penderfyniadau Cynllunio ac Amgylchedd Cymru—sef PEDW. Fel y gwyddoch chi efallai, dechreuodd y gwasanaeth newydd hwn ar 1 Hydref 2021. Nawr, er iddyn nhw gael rhybudd ymlaen llaw o 14 mis gan Neil Hemington, y gyfarwyddiaeth gynllunio, ar 11 Hydref, rwyf i wedi gorfod anfon llythyr at y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn tynnu sylw at bryderon nad oedd gan swyddogion yr adran unrhyw fynediad llawn i'r system gwaith achos a dogfennau newydd, ac felly nid ydyn nhw nawr yn gallu darparu gwybodaeth hanfodol am apeliadau cynllunio byw. Bum mis ers gweithredu PEDW, mae problemau difrifol yn dal i gael eu hwynebu, ac mae wedi'i godi gyda mi yn fy etholaeth, ac, yn wir, mae Owen Hughes, golygydd busnes uchel ei barch y Daily Post, wedi adrodd bod oedi wrth apelio cynllunio nawr yn oedi buddsoddiadau busnes yng Nghymru. Felly, byddwn i'n falch pe bai'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn gwneud datganiad yn egluro sut y bydd yn sicrhau bod PEDW yn dechrau gweithredu'n effeithiol ac, wrth gwrs, i fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad o apeliadau ar frys. Diolch.
Thank you. As you say, it's only a few months since this new service began. You have written to the Minister for Climate Change, and I'm sure she will respond to you in the near future.
Diolch. Fel y dywedwch chi, dim ond ychydig fisoedd sydd ers i'r gwasanaeth newydd hwn ddechrau. Rydych wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ac yr wyf i'n siŵr y bydd hi'n ymateb i chi yn y dyfodol agos.
I'd like a statement, please, on the centralisation of health services in South Wales East—that is, the fact that people now have to travel to different hospitals in order to get different treatments. I've been contacted by a constituent about the fact that all diagnostic breast procedures will only be carried out at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach, and that will mean that constituents will need to travel on long journeys by public transport if they don't have a car. So, for someone from Gilwern, for example, but also villages and towns across the region, this could mean journeys that will be complicated, long and involve a number of changes. Patients will often have to wait in the cold for another bus to come. My constituent has pointed out that people requiring cancer treatment will need multiple diagnostic appointments and so would be put through this ordeal more than once. And the patient-carrying service, too, involves long waiting times. Trefnydd, people across the south-east of Wales were told that, when the Grange hospital opened, it would mean better services, but I am concerned or I do share the concern of residents that we're now seeing less direct access to care. The staff of the health board are doing a tremendous job—they need to be commended—but I would like a statement, please, outlining how the Government will tackle the issues to do with access to different hospitals now that different services are being provided in different locations, because the last thing that people who are unwell need is added stress.
Hoffwn i gael datganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, ar ganoli gwasanaethau iechyd yn Nwyrain De Cymru—hynny yw, y ffaith bod pobl nawr yn gorfod teithio i wahanol ysbytai er mwyn cael triniaethau gwahanol. Mae etholwr wedi cysylltu â mi ynglŷn â'r ffaith mai dim ond yn Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr yn Ystrad Mynach y bydd yr holl weithdrefnau diagnostig ar y fron yn cael eu cynnal, a bydd hynny'n golygu y bydd angen i etholwyr fynd ar deithiau hir ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus os nad oes ganddyn nhw gar. Felly, i rywun o Gilwern, er enghraifft, ond hefyd pentrefi a threfi ar draws y rhanbarth, gallai hyn olygu teithiau a fydd yn gymhleth, yn hir ac yn cynnwys nifer o newidiadau. Yn aml bydd yn rhaid i gleifion aros yn yr oerfel i fws arall ddod. Mae fy etholwr wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith y bydd angen amrywiaeth o apwyntiadau diagnostig ar bobl sydd angen triniaeth canser ac felly bydden nhw'n dioddef fwy nag unwaith. Ac mae'r gwasanaeth cludo cleifion hefyd yn golygu amseroedd aros hir. Pan agorodd Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor, dywedwyd wrth bobl ar draws y de-ddwyrain y byddai'n golygu gwell gwasanaethau, ond yr wyf i'n pryderu neu'n rhannu pryder trigolion ein bod ni nawr yn gweld llai o fynediad uniongyrchol at ofal. Mae staff y bwrdd iechyd yn gwneud gwaith aruthrol—mae angen eu canmol—ond hoffwn i gael datganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, yn amlinellu sut y bydd y Llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â'r materion sy'n ymwneud â mynediad i wahanol ysbytai gan fod gwahanol wasanaethau'n cael eu darparu mewn lleoliadau gwahanol, oherwydd y peth olaf y mae pobl sy'n sâl ei angen yw straen ychwanegol.
I absolutely agree with your final point. Obviously, the provision of services is down to the health board, and the Minister for Health and Social Services monitors these matters very closely and, I know, meets with the chair and chief executive of the health board on a regular basis. We are seeing specialised services—of course, we are—and we don't want patients to have to travel to many hospitals for treatment of the same condition, but, of course, it is a necessity sometimes if you do have a specific condition and you may have to travel a bit further. But, as I say, this is a matter for the health board.
I think public transport is also something that's very important. You mentioned the Grange University Hospital, and I've heard many Members refer to constituents' issues around that, and I know, again, that the Minister is working very closely with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change in relation to this.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'ch pwynt olaf. Yn amlwg, mater i'r bwrdd iechyd yw darparu gwasanaethau, ac mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn monitro'r materion hyn yn agos iawn ac, rwy'n gwybod, ei bod hi'n cyfarfod â chadeirydd a phrif weithredwr y bwrdd iechyd yn rheolaidd. Rydym ni'n gweld gwasanaethau arbenigol—wrth gwrs ein bod ni—ac nid ydym ni eisiau i gleifion orfod teithio i lawer o ysbytai i drin yr un cyflwr, ond, wrth gwrs, mae'n anghenraid weithiau os oes gennych chi gyflwr penodol ac efallai y bydd yn rhaid i chi deithio ychydig ymhellach. Ond, fel y dywedais i, mater i'r bwrdd iechyd yw hwn.
Rwy'n credu bod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus hefyd yn rhywbeth sy'n bwysig iawn. Gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio at Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor, ac yr wyf i wedi clywed llawer o Aelodau'n cyfeirio at broblemau etholwyr ynghylch hynny, a gwn i, unwaith eto, fod y Gweinidog yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd mewn cysylltiad â hyn.
Minister, I would like to ask for a debate in Government time on Government policy for the Valleys. You will be aware, since the election last year, there have been very few opportunities to discuss the way in which the Welsh Government is going to develop policy, and economic policy particularly, for the Valleys of south Wales. I'd like that debate to be informed by two statements, with, first of all, a report on the work of the Valleys taskforce. A number of Ministers gave a number of commitments, including myself, in the last Senedd on the ambitions of the Welsh Government, but there's not been a report on the outturn of what the Valleys taskforce achieved in that time and whether it addressed and reached its targets or not. So, I'd like to see a report on the work of the Valleys taskforce published as soon as possible.
And the second statement that I'd like to ask for is on the Tech Valleys programme. This is £100 million investment programme, focused on my own constituency in Blaenau Gwent. It is now reaching the halfway point, and it would be a good time, I think, for us to look back at what it has achieved over the last five years or so and what the plans are for it to achieve in the next five years.
Gweinidog, hoffwn i ofyn am ddadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar bolisi'r Llywodraeth ar gyfer y Cymoedd. Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol, ers yr etholiad y llynedd, mai ychydig iawn o gyfleoedd sydd wedi bod i drafod y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i ddatblygu polisi, a pholisi economaidd yn arbennig, ar gyfer Cymoedd y De. Hoffwn i'r ddadl honno gael ei llywio gan ddau ddatganiad, gydag adroddiad, yn gyntaf oll, ar waith tasglu'r Cymoedd. Rhoddodd nifer o Weinidogion nifer o ymrwymiadau, gan gynnwys fi fy hun, yn y Senedd ddiwethaf ar uchelgeisiau Llywodraeth Cymru, ond nid oes adroddiad wedi bod ar alldro'r hyn yr oedd tasglu'r Cymoedd wedi'i gyflawni yn y cyfnod hwnnw a p'un a oedd wedi ymdrin â'i dargedau a'u cyflawni ai peidio. Felly, hoffwn i weld adroddiad ar waith tasglu'r Cymoedd yn cael ei gyhoeddi cyn gynted â phosibl.
Ac mae'r ail ddatganiad yr hoffwn i ofyn amdano ar raglen y Cymoedd Technoleg. Rhaglen fuddsoddi gwerth £100 miliwn yw hon, sy'n canolbwyntio ar fy etholaeth i fy hun ym Mlaenau Gwent. Ar hyn o bryd mae'n cyrraedd y pwynt hanner ffordd, a byddai'n amser da, rwy'n credu, i ni edrych yn ôl ar yr hyn y mae wedi'i gyflawni yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf a beth yw'r cynlluniau ar gyfer cyflawni yn ystod y pum mlynedd nesaf.
Thank you. I will ask the Minister for Economy to publish two written statements on those two issues—the Valleys taskforce and the Tech Valleys.
Diolch. Gofynnaf i Weinidog yr Economi gyhoeddi dau ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ar y ddau fater hynny—tasglu'r Cymoedd a'r Cymoedd Technoleg.
Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement from the Minister for Climate Change on water quality in the River Wye. Last week, I met with the UK Government Minister responsible for water quality, Rebecca Pow, and she wants to work constructively with the Welsh Government to improve water quality in the River Wye and across Wales. The Minister for Climate Change was invited to that meeting and it's a shame she couldn't attend. So, will the Trefnydd request that the Minister comes to the Chamber to give an update to the Senedd on what inter-governmental meetings have taken place on water quality, and how she intends to work constructively with the UK Government to improve our inland waterways in Wales? Diolch, Llywydd.
Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar ansawdd dŵr yn Afon Gwy. Yr wythnos diwethaf, gwnes i gyfarfod â Gweinidog Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am ansawdd dŵr, Rebecca Pow, ac mae hi eisiau gweithio'n adeiladol gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i wella ansawdd dŵr yn Afon Gwy a ledled Cymru. Cafodd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ei gwahodd i'r cyfarfod hwnnw ac mae'n drueni na allai hi fod yn bresennol. Felly, a wnaiff y Trefnydd ofyn i'r Gweinidog ddod i'r Siambr i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd ynghylch pa gyfarfodydd rhynglywodraethol sydd wedi'u cynnal ar ansawdd dŵr, a sut y mae'n bwriadu gweithio'n adeiladol gyda Llywodraeth y DU i wella ein dyfrffyrdd mewndirol yng Nghymru? Diolch, Llywydd.
I did see the letter inviting the Minister for Climate Change to meet with the UK Government Minister. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, our diaries get very booked up; we need a little bit more notice than three or four days. The Minister for Climate Change does work very constructively—as I did when I was in that portfolio—with the UK Government, and, obviously, our programme for government does commit us to improving water quality. Obviously, the River Wye pollution is something that has been very much in the media and very much in our postbags. NRW's initial assessment of P levels in our river special areas of conservation, and that included the River Wye, did indicate that the reason for the water bodies failing P targets was from a very diverse range of sources. The causes really are very complex, and I think that it's really important that we continue to work with NRW, that we continue to work with Dŵr Cymru, and that we continue to work with the UK Government.
Gwelais i'r llythyr yn gwahodd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd i gyfarfod â Gweinidog Llywodraeth y DU. Yn anffodus, fel y gallwch chi ddychmygu, mae ein dyddiaduron yn llawn iawn; mae angen ychydig mwy o rybudd arnom ni na thri neu bedwar diwrnod. Mae'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn gweithio'n adeiladol iawn—fel y gwnes i pan oeddwn i yn y portffolio hwnnw—gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ac, yn amlwg, mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni'n ein hymrwymo ni i wella ansawdd dŵr. Yn amlwg, mae llygredd Afon Gwy yn rhywbeth sydd wedi bod yn y cyfryngau ac yn sicr yn ein bagiau post. Dangosodd asesiad cychwynnol CNC o lefelau P yn ardaloedd cadwraeth arbennig ein hafonydd, a oedd yn cynnwys Afon Gwy, mai'r rheswm bod cyrff dŵr yn methu targedau P yn dod o amrywiaeth eang o ffynonellau. Mae'r achosion yn gymhleth iawn, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n parhau i weithio gyda CNC, ein bod ni'n parhau i weithio gyda Dŵr Cymru, a'n bod ni'n parhau i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU.
Mi hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Trefnydd yn ei rôl fel y Gweinidog dros faterion gweledig ac amaeth. Mae Uwch-gomisiynydd Awstralia i'r Deyrnas Unedig yn ymweld ag Ynys Môn yr wythnos yma. Dwi'n wastad yn mwynhau croesawu ymwelwyr i'r ynys, wrth gwrs, ond mi fydd George Brandis yn cyfarfod â ffermwyr a fydd yn eiddgar iawn, dwi'n siŵr, i godi eu pryderon nhw ynglŷn ag effaith y cytundeb masnach rhwng y Deyrnas Unedig ag Awstralia ar ôl Brexit.
Mae ffermwyr yn dweud wrthyf yn rheolaidd eu bod nhw'n poeni am hyn. Mae'r undebau amaeth yn dweud eu bod nhw'n ei chael hi yn anodd gweld unrhyw beth i helpu ffermwyr Cymru yn y cytundeb masnach ac, yn wir, eu bod nhw, yn fwy na dim, yn ei weld o fel rhywbeth sy'n manteisio cystadleuwyr ffermwyr Cymru yn Awstralia. Felly, a gaf i ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog ar y camau sy'n cael eu cymryd i geisio gwarchod ffermwyr Cymru rhag y bygythiad y mae'r cytundeb masnach yma rhwng y Deyrnas Unedig ac Awstralia yn ei gynrychioli iddyn nhw?
I'd like to ask for a statement from the Trefnydd in her role as Minister for rural affairs and agriculture. The Australian High Commissioner to the UK will be visiting Anglesey this week. I always enjoy welcoming visitors to the island, of course, but George Brandis will be meeting with farmers who will be very eager, I'm sure, to raise their concerns about the impact of a trade deal between the UK and Australia post Brexit.
Farmers tell me regularly that they are concerned about this. The agricultural unions say that they have difficulty finding anything in the trade agreement that could help Welsh farmers, and that, indeed, more than anything, they see it as something that benefits those in Australia who would be in competition with Welsh farmers . So, can I have a statement from the Minister on the steps that are being taken to try and safeguard Welsh farmers from the threat that this trade deal between the UK and Australia represents to them?
Thank you. You raise a very important point. There is the Australian trade deal. There is the New Zealand trade deal. If we are not careful, we are going to have the cumulative impact of the trade deals, which could really badly affect our farming community here in Wales. Obviously, an area that really concerns me is about standards. It's really important that we don't have our market flooded by imports from countries that don't have our very high animal health and welfare standards, and our very high environmental standards too.
This is something that the Minister for Economy leads on—trade deals. I work very closely with him on it. It's something that we talk about in the DEFRA IMG that I referred to before. When I have further information about looking at the cumulative impact, I will be very happy to bring forward a statement.
Diolch i chi. Rydych chi'n codi pwynt pwysig iawn. Fe geir y cytundeb masnach ag Awstralia. Fe geir y cytundeb masnach â Seland Newydd. Os nad ydym ni'n ofalus, fe fyddwn ni'n gweld effaith gronnol y bargeinion masnach, a allai ddifrodi llawer iawn ar ein cymuned ffermio ni yma yng Nghymru. Yn amlwg, un pwnc sy'n peri pryder gwirioneddol i mi yw safonau. Mae hi'n bwysig iawn nad ydym ni'n gweld ein marchnad ni'n cael ei gorlenwi â mewnforion o wledydd nad ydyn nhw'n cadw at ein safonau uchel iawn ni o ran iechyd a lles anifeiliaid, na'n safonau amgylcheddol uchel iawn ni ychwaith.
Dyma rywbeth y mae Gweinidog yr Economi yn arwain arno—cytundebau masnach. Rwy'n gweithio yn agos iawn gydag ef yn hyn o beth. Mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n ei drafod yn Grŵp Rhyngweinidogol DEFRA fel yr oeddwn i'n sôn gynnau. Pan fydd gennyf i ragor o wybodaeth ynglŷn ag ystyriaeth o'r effaith gronnol, fe fyddaf i'n hapus iawn i wneud datganiad.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Y datganiad nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol—diweddariad ar COVID-19. Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog i wneud ei datganiad—Eluned Morgan.
The next statement is the statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services—an update on COVID-19. I call on the Minister to make her statement—Eluned Morgan.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, for the opportunity to update Members on the current public health situation and the outcome of the latest review of the coronavirus regulations, which was carried out last week.
Wales is currently at alert level 0. We have passed the omicron peak of the Christmas and new year period, and we are growing increasingly confident that cases are declining. Infections in the community are going down. The number of people being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 is going down, and the number of people in critical care with COVID-19 recently is the lowest since July 2021. All of this, of course, is very positive news.
There are, of course, some reasons why we should continue to be cautious. It's clear that the pandemic is not yet over. COVID, unfortunately, is still very much with us. The case rate, which is based on positive PCR tests, is 326 cases per 100,000. This is still a very high rate, although not as high as the extraordinary levels that we saw at the peak of the omicron wave.
We are also keeping a close eye on cases of the sub-variant of omicron, called BA.2. It's an even more transmissible form of the virus than the one that we have become used to. There have been almost 250 cases detected in Wales to date. There has been some speculation that this is what's driving the current high case rate in Northern Ireland.
Llywydd, before I turn to the outcome of the 21-day review, I want to reflect a moment on the huge progress and the difference that our fantastic vaccination programme has made. As we approach the second anniversary of the first case of coronavirus being diagnosed in Wales, more than 6.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered. More than nine out of 10 people have had one dose, 86 per cent have had two doses, and 67 per cent have had a booster dose. Vaccination has helped to change the course of this pandemic, weakening the link for so many of us between the virus, serious illness, hospitalisation and death. It has saved countless lives, and the speed of the roll-out of our booster programme undoubtedly helped us to weather the omicron storm.
I am pleased that our online rebooking system is now live and being phased in and integrated to health board COVID-19 vaccine delivery plans. This is another tool for health boards to provide additional contact methods for people to reschedule their appointment if the one they have been allocated is not convenient. Health boards will continue to have phone lines available for people who do not receive the rebooking text or are unable to access the online rebooking service. It is never too late to be vaccinated in Wales, and I would urge anyone who hasn't yet been vaccinated, or who hasn't finished their vaccine course, to come and get their jabs.
Whilst yet to be published officially by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, I have received JCVI advice regarding the vaccination of all five to 11-year-olds. I have agreed it, and we are working with health boards on implementing the offer. We await advice about whether the most vulnerable cohorts should have a further booster to protect them over the spring and summer months. We are working with health boards to plan for various scenarios to ensure we are agile and ready to implement any advice once I have considered this carefully.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, am y cyfle i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa gyfredol o ran iechyd y cyhoedd a chanlyniad yr adolygiad diweddaraf o reoliadau coronafeirws, a gynhaliwyd yr wythnos diwethaf.
Mae Cymru ar lefel rhybudd 0 ar hyn o bryd. Rydym ni wedi mynd heibio i benllanw omicron dros gyfnod y Nadolig a'r flwyddyn newydd, ac rydym ni'n gynyddol ffyddiog bod niferoedd yr achosion yn prinhau. Mae heintiadau yn y gymuned yn prinhau. Mae nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty gyda COVID-19 yn lleihau, a nifer y bobl mewn gofal critigol gyda COVID-19 yn ddiweddar yw'r lleiaf ers mis Gorffennaf 2021. Mae'r rhain i gyd, wrth gwrs, yn newyddion cadarnhaol iawn.
Wrth gwrs, fe geir rhai rhesymau i ni ddal ati i fod yn ofalus. Mae hi'n amlwg nad yw'r pandemig ar ben eto. Mae COVID, yn anffodus, yn parhau i fod gyda ni. Y gyfradd o achosion, ar sail profion PCR cadarnhaol, yw 326 o achosion fesul 100,000. Mae hon yn gyfradd uchel iawn o hyd, er nad yw hi mor uchel â'r cyfraddau eithriadol a welsom ni yn anterth y don omicron.
Rydym ni'n cadw llygad barcud hefyd ar achosion o is-amrywiolyn omicron, o'r enw BA.2. Mae honno'n ffurf fwy trosglwyddadwy fyth o'r feirws na'r un yr ydym ni wedi dod i arfer â hi. Daeth bron i 250 o achosion i'r golwg yng Nghymru hyd yn hyn. Fe fu yna rywfaint o ddyfalu mai dyna'r hyn sy'n gyrru'r gyfradd uchel o achosion yng Ngogledd Iwerddon ar hyn o bryd.
Llywydd, cyn i mi droi at ganlyniad yr adolygiad 21 diwrnod, fe hoffwn i fyfyrio am eiliad ar y cynnydd a'r gwahaniaeth aruthrol a wnaeth ein rhaglen frechu wych ni. Wrth i ni nesáu at ddwy flynedd ers yr achos cyntaf o ddiagnosis coronafeirws yng Nghymru, fe weinyddwyd dros 6.8 miliwn dos o'r brechlyn COVID-19. Mae mwy na naw o bob 10 o bobl wedi cael un dos, mae 86 y cant wedi cael dau ddos, ac mae 67 y cant wedi cael dos atgyfnerthu. Mae brechu wedi helpu i newid cwrs y pandemig hwn, gan wanhau'r cyswllt rhwng y feirws â salwch difrifol, mynediad i ysbyty, a marwolaeth i gymaint ohonom ni. Mae brechu wedi achub bywydau di-rif, ac mae cyflymder ein rhaglen atgyfnerthu ni wedi ein helpu ni wrth dawelu storm omicron, heb os nac oni bai.
Rwy'n falch fod ein system ar-lein ni ar gyfer aildrefnu apwyntiadau bellach yn fyw ac yn cael ei chyflwyno a'i hintegreiddio yn raddol i gynlluniau cyflenwi brechlyn COVID-19 y byrddau iechyd. Dyma offeryn arall i fyrddau iechyd allu darparu dulliau ychwanegol i bobl ar gyfer cysylltu i aildrefnu eu hapwyntiadau nhw os nad yw'r un a roddwyd iddyn nhw'n gyfleus. Fe fydd byrddau iechyd yn parhau i fod â llinellau ffôn ar gael i bobl nad ydyn nhw'n cael y neges testun ar gyfer aildrefnu neu sy'n methu â mynd trwodd i'r gwasanaeth aildrefnu ar-lein. Nid yw hi fyth yn rhy hwyr i gael eich brechu yng Nghymru, ac fe fyddwn i'n annog unrhyw un nad yw wedi cael ei frechu eto, neu nad yw wedi gorffen ei gwrs brechlyn, i ddod i gael ei bigiadau.
Er na chafodd hyn ei gyhoeddi yn swyddogol eto gan y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Frechu ac Imiwneiddio, rwyf i wedi cael cyngor gan y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu ynghylch brechu pob plentyn pump i 11 oed. Rwyf i wedi cytuno i'w gynnig, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda byrddau iechyd i weithredu'r cynnig hwn. Rydym ni'n aros am gyngor o ran a ddylai'r carfannau mwyaf agored i niwed gael brechiad atgyfnerthu arall i'w diogelu nhw dros fisoedd y gwanwyn a'r haf. Rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r byrddau iechyd i gynllunio ar gyfer sefyllfaoedd amrywiol i sicrhau ein bod ni'n hyblyg ac yn barod i roi unrhyw gyngor ar waith wedi i mi ystyried hyn yn ofalus.
Llywydd, hoffwn i droi nawr at yr adolygiad. Hwn oedd yr adolygiad tair wythnos cyntaf o'r mesurau diogelu sydd gyda ni ar lefel rhybudd 0. Gan fod y sefyllfa o ran iechyd y cyhoedd yn gwella'n gyffredinol, mae'r Cabinet wedi penderfynu mai aros ar lefel rhybudd 0 fyddwn ni. Gallwn ni hefyd ddechrau llacio rhai o'r mesurau diogelu sydd ar waith. Byddwn ni'n mynd ati yn ofalus i wneud hyn, ac yn gweithredu gam wrth gam.
O ddydd Gwener yma, 18 Chwefror, ymlaen, byddwn ni'n dileu'r gofyniad i ddangos pàs COVID i gael mynediad i ddigwyddiadau mawr dan do ac yn yr awyr agored, ac i glybiau nos, sinemâu, theatrau a neuaddau cyngerdd. O 28 Chwefror ymlaen, byddwn ni'n dileu'r gofyniad i wisgo gorchuddion wyneb mewn rhai mannau cyhoeddus dan do. Ond bydd hyn yn dal i fod yn ofyniad cyfreithiol ym mhob lleoliad manwerthu, ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac mewn lleoliadau iechyd a gofal. Os bydd y sefyllfa o ran iechyd y cyhoedd yn parhau i wella, rydym ni'n gobeithio gallu dileu'r gofyniad i wisgo gorchuddion wyneb yn llwyr erbyn diwedd mis Mawrth.
Rydym yn gweithio yn agos gydag ysgolion i'w helpu nhw i gynllunio i ddechrau gweithredu yn unol â'r fframwaith penderfyniadau lleol unwaith eto. Bydd hyn yn digwydd yn syth ar ôl y gwyliau hanner tymor. Ni fydd angen gorchuddion wyneb fel mater o drefn mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth ar ôl hynny, ond dylid parhau i'w gwisgo mewn ardaloedd cymunedol mewn ysgolion uwchradd. Bydd y rheolau ynghylch hunanynysu yn parhau ar waith yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r trefniadau hyn yn bwysig er mwyn torri cadwyni trosglwyddo'r feirws ac i atal rhagor o bobl rhag cael eu heintio.
Ar ôl yr adolygiad nesaf, rydym ni'n bwriadu cyhoeddi cynllun pontio ar gyfer byw gyda coronafeirws. Cynllun fydd hwn i weithredu pan fydd yr holl gyfyngiadau cyfreithiol sydd wedi cael eu gwneud o dan y ddeddfwriaeth diogelu iechyd frys wedi cael eu dileu. Rŷm ni nawr yn gallu symud yn ein blaenau a dechrau codi'r cyfyngiadau fesul dipyn, gan adael rhai eraill yn eu lle. I bobl Cymru sydd wedi dilyn y rheolau a'r mesurau i'w cadw nhw a'u hanwyliaid yn ddiogel y mae'r diolch i hynny. Hoffwn i ddiolch i bawb am chwarae eu rhan nhw. Diolch hefyd, wrth gwrs, i staff ein gwasanaeth iechyd a staff gofal cymdeithasol am barhau i weithio yn ddiflino trwy'r cyfnod anodd hwn.
Nid yw COVID-19 wedi diflannu. Wrth inni ddechrau llacio'r cyfyngiadau hyn, byddwn ni'n parhau i fonitro'r sefyllfa o ran iechyd y cyhoedd, ond mae'r darlun hwnnw yn gwella yng Nghymru. Mae hynny yn rhoi y gobaith inni y gallwn ni gynllunio ar gyfer dyfodol gwell. Diolch, Llywydd.
Llywydd, I will turn now to the review. This was the first three-week review of all the protective measures we have at alert level 0. As the health situation is generally improving, the Cabinet has decided that we will stay at alert level 0. We can also begin to relax some of the protections we have in place. We will do this carefully and in a phased way.
From this Friday 18 February onwards, we will remove the requirement to show a COVID pass to enter large indoor and outdoor events, and to enter nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls. From 28 February onwards, we will remove the requirement for face coverings to be worn in some indoor public places. But they will continue to be a legal requirement in all retail settings, on public transport, and in health and care settings. If the public health situation continues to improve, we hope to be able to remove the requirement to wear face coverings entirely by the end of March.
We are working closely with schools to support them with planning a return to operating in line with the local decisions framework, which will happen immediately after half term. Face coverings will no longer be routinely required in classrooms after that date, but they should continue to be worn in communal areas in secondary schools. The rules in regard to self-isolation will remain in place in Wales. These are an important way of breaking the chain of transmission of the virus and preventing more people from becoming infected.
Following the next review, we intend to publish a transition plan for living with coronavirus. This will be a plan for the time when all legal restrictions made under the emergency health protection legislation are removed. We are now able to move forward and begin this cautious lifting of protections, while leaving others in place. For those people who have followed the rules and the measures to keep them and their loved ones safe, we thank them for that. We thank everyone for playing their part. We also thank, of course, our NHS and social care staff for continuing to work tirelessly through these difficult times.
COVID-19 hasn't gone away. As we continue to lift these restrictions, we will continue to monitor the public health situation, but the picture is improving. That gives us the hope that we can plan for a brighter future. Thank you.
Can I thank the Minister for her statement today, and also for the briefing earlier that was made available to health committee members? That was very much appreciated. Minister, I'm very pleased with some of the details in your statement. You talk about hospital rates coming down and those in critical care with COVID-19 being at the lowest levels since July 2021. You say this is very positive, and I agree with you entirely. This is a good positive position to be in. You go on to say that coronavirus unfortunately is still with us. But it'll always be with us; that's my understanding and that's what the health professionals tell us. Therefore, we have to learn to live alongside coronavirus. I'd be grateful if you could just outline if you agree with that position.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei datganiad heddiw, ac am y briff yn gynharach hefyd a oedd ar gael i aelodau'r pwyllgor iechyd? Gwerthfawrogwyd hynny'n fawr iawn. Gweinidog, rwy'n hapus iawn gyda rhai o'r manylion yn eich datganiad chi. Rydych chi'n sôn am ostyngiad yng nghyfraddau ysbytai a'r rhai mewn gofal critigol gyda COVID-19 ar eu lefelau isaf ers mis Gorffennaf 2021. Rydych chi'n dweud bod hynny'n gadarnhaol iawn, ac rwyf i'n cytuno â chi'n llwyr. Mae hon yn sefyllfa gadarnhaol dda iawn i fod ynddi hi. Fe ewch chi ymlaen i ddweud bod coronafeirws yn parhau i fod gyda ni, yn anffodus. Ond fe fydd hwnnw gyda ni am byth; yn ôl yr hyn yr wyf i'n ei ddeall a dyna ddywed gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol wrthym ni. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni ddysgu byw gyda coronafeirws. Fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe byddech chi'n amlinellu a ydych chi'n cytuno â'r safbwynt hwn.
After 19 weeks, we have finally decided to scrap vaccination passports. Of course, I'm delighted with that position, because they were ineffective, they were costly to businesses, with no evidence that they actually worked in limiting the spread of coronavirus or increasing vaccination rates. It's my view that the decision of COVID passes should never have been put on the table in the very first place by the Welsh Labour Government. You said that businesses can still keep vaccination passports on a voluntary basis; have you had any indication from businesses that they want this, and if so, what kind of sectors have they come from? It would be useful to know that.
I've asked you about evidence on COVID passes on a number of occasions, and you've either said to me that you've relied on international evidence about vaccine passports in countries where vaccine take-up isn't very high—of course, in Wales, we're not in that position; we're in a much better position, where, as you said in your statement today, 86 per cent have received the second dose and 67 per cent have had the booster—or you've said that the evidence has already been published that demonstrates their effectiveness. But I would point you to your technical advisory cell yesterday. When they published information, they said that there remains a high degree of uncertainty around the effectiveness of the COVID pass in reducing infections, given the absence of robust evaluation of these interventions. You often say that this is one measure amongst many, but the cell does go on to say that while it has its potential to reduce infections with other measures, there remains limited peer-reviewed published evidence to demonstrate this. So, I would ask you again for that evidence. Has that evidence been collated in Wales, and when will that evidence be published? We need to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID passes, because there is potential here that they've caused great damage to the night-time economy, with very little public health benefit.
Minister, I'll ask you about the progress on the waiting list backlog. Of course, we know that we're in a position here in Wales where one in five of the Welsh population are still on a waiting list and one in four have been waiting over a year, and that compares to one in 19 in England and one in 13 in Scotland. Last week, NHS England, of course, published its plan to recover from the backlog, and I think in the health committee last week, Minister, you said that you'd be looking at that plan with interest. So, I'd be grateful for any early assessment that you've made from the plan in England. What aspects in that plan do you think are appropriate to carry over to your plan when you publish it in April?
Minister, in your statement today, you talk about the JCVI advice regarding the vaccine for all five to 11-year-olds, so perhaps you could give us some indication of what considerations you've been giving to what the roll-out of that vaccination plan will look like for this particular age group.
Overall, Minister, I welcome the further lifting of COVID restrictions announced last Friday. I do want to ask you about mandatory isolation, given how much this issue has been discussed. You and your colleagues have expressed amazement and disappointment at it coming to an end in England, and your Government says you'd like to see the evidence to support this move. So, my question would be: what evidence do you actually want to see in that regard? And secondly, the economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, has said that it could be scrapped before the end of next month here in Wales. So, what evidence has informed that statement, if, as you say, no evidence has been provided to justify the UK Government's decision in that regard? And thirdly, your Government colleagues have claimed that the UK Government did not give you a heads-up on their decision. Maybe that's, of course, because they wanted to make the announcement first in the House of Commons, rather than passing to journalists first. But I would ask you: how often do you give UK Government Ministers notice of your decisions here?
Ar ôl 19 wythnos, rydym ni, o'r diwedd, wedi penderfynu cael gwared ar y pasbortau brechu. Wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n fy mhlesio i'n fawr iawn, am eu bod nhw'n aneffeithiol, ac yn gostus i fusnesau, heb unrhyw dystiolaeth eu bod nhw'n gwneud unrhyw beth gwirioneddol i rwystro ymlediad coronafeirws na chynyddu cyfraddau brechu. Yn fy marn i, ni ddylai Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru fod wedi dod â'r penderfyniad ger ein bron i fod â phasbortau COVID yn y lle cyntaf un. Roeddech chi'n dweud y gall busnesau barhau i fod â phasbortau brechu yn wirfoddol; a ydych chi wedi cael unrhyw arwydd gan fusnesau eu bod nhw'n awyddus i wneud felly, ac os ydych chi, o ba sectorau arbennig y daeth hynny? Fe fyddai hi'n ddefnyddiol i ni gael gwybod hynny.
Rwyf i wedi gofyn i chi ar sawl achlysur am dystiolaeth o ran y pasbortau COVID, ac rydych chi naill ai wedi dweud wrthyf i eich bod chi wedi defnyddio tystiolaeth ryngwladol ynglŷn â phasbortau brechu o wledydd lle nad yw'r niferoedd sydd wedi manteisio ar frechlynnau yn fawr iawn—wrth gwrs, yng Nghymru, nid yn y sefyllfa honno yr ydym ni; rydym ni mewn sefyllfa lawer gwell, lle mae 86 y cant, fel roeddech chi'n dweud yn eich datganiad chi heddiw, wedi cael yr ail ddos ac mae 67 y cant wedi cael y brechiad atgyfnerthu—neu rydych chi wedi dweud bod y dystiolaeth sy'n dangos pa mor effeithiol ydyn nhw wedi cael ei chyhoeddi eisoes. Ond fe hoffwn i eich cyfeirio chi at eich cell cyngor technegol chi ddoe. Pan oedden nhw'n cyhoeddi gwybodaeth, roedden nhw'n dweud y ceir llawer o ansicrwydd o hyd ynghylch effeithiolrwydd y pàs COVID o ran rhwystro heintiadau, o gofio nad oes yna werthusiad sylweddol wedi bod o'r ymyriadau hyn. Rydych chi'n dweud yn aml mai un mesur ymhlith llawer yw hwn, ond mae'r gell yn mynd ymlaen i ddweud, er bod potensial i hwnnw leihau heintiadau ynghyd â'r mesurau eraill, mai parhau i fod yn brin y mae'r dystiolaeth a adolygwyd gan gymheiriaid i ddangos hynny. Felly, rwyf i am ofyn i chi unwaith eto am y dystiolaeth honno. A gafodd y dystiolaeth honno ei chasglu yng Nghymru, a phryd y caiff y dystiolaeth honno ei chyhoeddi? Mae angen i ni werthuso effeithiolrwydd pasys COVID, oherwydd fe geir y posibilrwydd eu bod nhw wedi peri niwed mawr i economi'r nos, heb fod o fawr ddim lles i iechyd y cyhoedd.
Gweinidog, rwyf i am ofyn i chi am y cynnydd o ran ôl-groniad y rhestrau aros. Wrth gwrs, fe wyddom ni ein bod ni mewn sefyllfa yma yng Nghymru lle mae un o bob pump o boblogaeth Cymru yn dal i fod ar restr aros ac mae un o bob pedwar wedi bod yn aros am dros flwyddyn, ac mae hynny'n cyfateb i un o bob 19 yn Lloegr ac un o bob 13 yn yr Alban. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe gyhoeddodd GIG Lloegr, wrth gwrs, ei gynllun i ymdrin â'r ôl-groniad, ac rwy'n credu, yn y pwyllgor iechyd yr wythnos diwethaf, Gweinidog, i chi ddweud y byddech chi'n edrych ar y cynllun hwnnw gyda diddordeb. Felly, fe hoffwn i gael unrhyw asesiad cynnar a wnaethoch chi o'r cynllun yn Lloegr. Pa agweddau yn y cynllun hwnnw, yn eich barn chi, sy'n briodol i'w trosglwyddo i'ch cynllun chi pan fyddwch chi'n ei gyhoeddi ef ym mis Ebrill?
Gweinidog, yn eich datganiad chi heddiw, rydych chi'n sôn am gyngor y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu ynghylch brechlyn i bob plentyn pump i 11 oed, felly efallai y gwnewch chi roi rhyw syniad i ni o ba ystyriaethau y gwnaethoch chi eu rhoi i fanylion cyflwyno'r cynllun hwnnw ar gyfer y grŵp oedran penodol hwn.
Ar y cyfan, Gweinidog, rwy'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiad ddydd Gwener diwethaf am lacio cyfyngiadau COVID ymhellach. Fe hoffwn i eich holi chi ynglŷn ag ynysu gorfodol, o ystyried cymaint o drafod a fu ar y mater hwn. Rydych chi a'ch cyd-Aelodau wedi mynegi syndod a siom ynghylch dod â hynny i derfyn yn Lloegr, ac mae eich Llywodraeth chi'n dweud yr hoffech chi weld y dystiolaeth i gefnogi'r cam hwn. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i yw: pa dystiolaeth a hoffech chi ei gweld yn hynny o beth? Ac yn ail, mae Gweinidog yr economi, Vaughan Gething, wedi dweud y gellid terfynu hynny yng Nghymru cyn diwedd y mis nesaf. Felly, pa dystiolaeth sydd wedi llywio'r datganiad hwnnw, os, fel yr ydych chi'n dweud, nad oedd yna unrhyw dystiolaeth i gyfiawnhau penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â hynny? Ac yn drydydd, mae eich cyd-Aelodau chi yn y Llywodraeth wedi honni na roddodd Llywodraeth y DU rybudd i chi am eu penderfyniad nhw. Fe allai hynny fod, wrth gwrs, am eu bod nhw'n awyddus i wneud y cyhoeddiad yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin i ddechrau, yn hytrach na'i drosglwyddo i newyddiadurwyr yn gyntaf i gyd. Ond rwyf i am ofyn i chi: pa mor aml ydych chi'n rhybuddio Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU am eich penderfyniadau chi yn y fan hon?
Thanks very much, Russell. Of course, we will have to learn to live with COVID. It's not going away, it's not going to disappear, and that's why, in the next three-week review, you'll be seeing us really developing a longer term strategy for how we intend to do that.
I'll jump, if you don't mind, to your last point, which is on mandatory isolation, because I think there's a link here. The difficulty is that the UK Government is acting as if it's all over, and the reality is, if you read the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advice, it's actually quite sobering about what else could be coming around the corner. At the moment, we're doing well, but we don't know what may come next.
Let me give you some ideas about what may come next. They say that it's almost certain that there will a genetic variation of the virus that will render current vaccines ineffective. Those aren't my words, that's SAGE saying that. They say that, in terms of the milder disease with omicron—so, it's been fairly mild compared to what we've had before—we're unlikely to see that again; it's more likely to be more like delta. Again, this is not me saying this, these are scientists saying this. It's also telling us that we are likely to experience new waves of variants. So, let's just be aware that, of course, we're in a better place now, but dismantling the whole edifice is probably not a sensible idea. Obviously, we've got a lot of thinking to do, and we have got to understand that there is a very close relationship—indeed, a dependency, to an extent—with what happens in England, and so, what they decide will affect what we're able to decide here. So, it is important, when we're talking about learning to live with COVID, that we have to understand that it's not just about what's going on now, it's what may or may not be coming around the corner at us in future.
In relation to vaccine passports, we know that, under delta, for example, the vaccination helped to reduce transmission. So, if you were going to come into contact with someone, you were less likely to pass it on, and that does make a difference when you're going to an indoor enclosed space. There's also international evidence to suggest that it drove up the take-up of vaccines. So, that evidence does exist, and, of course, it is just one measure in a series of other measures. You keep on asking for evidence; where is your evidence to suggest that it caused great damage to the night-time economy? I'm not sure if there is much evidence to suggest that, actually, the COVID passes—[Interruption.] I understand, if you're closing a nightclub and they can't open, that's different. You weren't talking about that. You were talking about COVID passes, and it would be very useful to know where your evidence is for that, because some of the suggestions I had was that, actually, more people felt confident going out knowing that other people around them were vaccinated.
On waiting lists, we are in a really difficult situation, and it's not just here in Wales, but it's across the whole of the UK and, indeed, across the world. We had to take measures to protect the public. There are consequences to that and, of course, we're going to have a huge job of work to do to address that backlog. That's why we will be publishing our plan in April. We have an integrated medium-term plan process. We've got a system now where we're waiting for the health boards to submit their plans. We'll be assessing those plans and we'll be seeing if they marry up to the direction and the ambition that we've got as a Welsh Government. There are plenty of things that I think we would like to learn from other areas. I know you're very keen to see regional approaches. That's something that I'm also keen to see. But I think these are things that we need to consider.
In relation to vaccination of children, the JCVI has yet to publish its report, although there are lots of clues in The Guardian and other places where there seems to have been lots of leaks come out. It's a shame and it's perplexing to understand why that has not been published yet. But I have seen a copy of that advice and we will be commencing the roll-out of vaccinations for five to 11-year-olds. Of course, it's likely to have been a very difficult decision for the JCVI, because generally, children have a milder illness and fewer hospitalisations, but, of course, they have to balance that against the prospect of missing school. So, we have to consider very different issues when it comes to the vaccination of children as young as five years old, of course, so we'll be in a position where we will expect those children to be accompanied by an adult. There will be a need for informed consent, but there will be an opportunity for siblings, for example, to be brought at the same time. Most of this will be done—in fact, all of it will be done in health centres rather than in schools, so I hope that that is helpful to you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Russell. Wrth gwrs, fe fydd yn rhaid i ni ddysgu byw gyda COVID. Ni fydd yn marw o'r tir, ni fydd yn diflannu, a dyna pam, yn yr adolygiad tair wythnos nesaf, y gwelwch chi ni'n datblygu strategaeth tymor hwy ar gyfer ein dull ni o ymdrin â hynny.
Rwyf i am neidio, os nad oes ots gennych chi, at eich pwynt olaf, sef ynysu gorfodol, oherwydd mae cyswllt yn hyn o beth, yn fy marn i. Yr anhawster yw bod Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithredu fel pe bai'r cyfan drosodd, a'r gwir amdani yw, os ydych chi'n darllen cyngor y Grŵp Cynghori Gwyddonol ar Argyfyngau, mewn gwirionedd, mae hi'n sobri dyn i feddwl beth arall a allai fod rownd y gornel. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym ni'n gwneud yn dda, ond ni wyddom ni ddim beth allai ddod nesaf.
Gadewch i mi roi rhai amcanion i chi am yr hyn a allai ddod nesaf. Maen nhw'n dweud ei bod hi bron yn sicr y daw amrywiad genetig o'r feirws a fydd yn gwneud brechlynnau cyfredol yn aneffeithiol. Nid fy ngeiriau i yw'r rhain, SAGE sy'n dweud hynny. Maen nhw'n dweud, o ran y clefyd llai difrifol gyda omicron—felly, y bu'n llai difrifol o'i gymharu â'r hyn a welsom ni'n flaenorol—nid ydym ni'n debygol o weld hynny eto; mae'n fwy tebygol o fod yn debycach i delta. Unwaith eto, nid fi sy'n dweud felly, gwyddonwyr sy'n dweud felly. Mae'r cyngor yn dweud wrthym ni hefyd ein bod ni'n debygol o weld tonnau newydd o amrywiolion. Felly, gadewch i ni fod yn ymwybodol ein bod ni, wrth gwrs, mewn sefyllfa well ar hyn o bryd, ond mae'n debyg nad yw datgymalu'r amddiffynfeydd i gyd yn syniad synhwyrol. Yn amlwg, mae gennym ni lawer o waith meddwl, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ddeall bod perthynas agos iawn—yn wir, dibyniaeth, i raddau—gyda'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn Lloegr, ac felly, fe fydd yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei benderfynu yn effeithio ar yr hyn y gallwn ninnau ei benderfynu yma. Felly, mae hi'n bwysig, pan fyddwn ni'n sôn am ddysgu byw gyda COVID, ein bod yn deall nad ystyr hyn yn unig yw'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd, ond yr hyn a allai fod yn dod tuag atom neu beidio yn y dyfodol.
O ran pasbortau brechu, fe wyddom ni, yn achos delta, er enghraifft, fod y brechiad wedi helpu i leihau trosglwyddiad. Felly, pe byddech chi'n dod i gysylltiad â rhywun, roeddech chi'n llai tebygol o'i drosglwyddo ymhellach, ac mae hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth pan ydych chi'n mynd i le caeedig dan do. Fe geir tystiolaeth ryngwladol hefyd sy'n awgrymu eu bod nhw'n cynyddu'r niferoedd sy'n derbyn y brechlynnau. Felly, mae'r dystiolaeth honno'n bodoli, ac, wrth gwrs, dim ond un mesur ydyw hwnnw mewn cyfres o fesurau eraill. Rydych chi'n gofyn am dystiolaeth trwy'r amser; ble mae eich tystiolaeth chi sy'n awgrymu eu bod nhw wedi difrodi economi'r nos? Nid wyf i'n siŵr a oes yna lawer o dystiolaeth i awgrymu bod y pasys COVID, mewn gwirionedd—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n deall, os ydych chi'n cau clwb nos ac nad ydyn nhw'n gallu agor eu drysau, mae hynny'n wahanol. Nid sôn am hynny'r oeddech chi. Sôn yr oeddech chi am basys COVID, ac fe fyddai hi'n ddefnyddiol iawn i ni gael gwybod o ble daw eich tystiolaeth chi am hynny, oherwydd rhai o'r awgrymiadau a gefais oedd bod mwy o bobl, mewn gwirionedd, yn teimlo yn hyderus wrth fynd allan gyda'r wybodaeth bod pobl eraill o'u cwmpas nhw wedi cael eu brechu.
O ran rhestrau aros, rydym ni mewn sefyllfa anodd iawn, ac nid yn unig yma yng Nghymru, ond ledled y DU ac, yn wir, yn fyd-eang. Fe fu'n rhaid i ni gymryd camau i ddiogelu'r cyhoedd. Fe geir canlyniadau yn sgil hynny ac, wrth gwrs, fe fydd gennym ni waith enfawr wrth fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad hwnnw. Dyna pam y byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi ein cynllun ni ym mis Ebrill. Mae gennym ni broses integredig i'r cynllun tymor canolig. Mae gennym ni system nawr lle yr ydym ni'n aros am y byrddau iechyd i gyflwyno eu cynlluniau nhw. Fe fyddwn ni'n asesu'r cynlluniau hynny ac fe welwn ni a ydyn nhw'n briodol o ran ein cyfeiriad a'n huchelgais ni yn Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae gennym ni ddigon o bethau, rwy'n credu, yr hoffem ni eu dysgu o ardaloedd eraill. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n awyddus iawn i weld dulliau rhanbarthol. Fe hoffwn innau weld hynny hefyd. Ond rwyf i o'r farn fod angen i ni roi ystyriaeth i bethau fel hyn.
O ran brechu plant, nid yw'r Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu wedi cyhoeddi ei adroddiad eto, er bod llawer o arwyddion yn y papur The Guardian ac mewn mannau eraill sy'n awgrymu bod rhai wedi bod yn gollwng cyfrinachau. Mae hi'n drueni ac mae hi'n anodd deall pam nad yw hwnnw fyth wedi cael ei gyhoeddi. Ond rwyf i wedi gweld copi o'r cyngor hwnnw ac fe fyddwn ni'n dechrau cyflwyno brechiadau ar gyfer plant pump i 11 oed. Wrth gwrs, mae hwn yn debygol o fod yn benderfyniad anodd iawn i'r Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu, oherwydd yn gyffredinol, nid yw plant yn dioddef salwch mor ddifrifol ac mae llai ohonyn nhw'n mynd i ysbytai, ond, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i'r Cyd-bwyllgor gydbwyso hynny â'r posibilrwydd o golli ysgol. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni ystyried materion amrywiol iawn o ran brechu plant mor ifanc â phum mlwydd oed, wrth gwrs, felly rydym ni am fod mewn sefyllfa lle byddwn ni'n disgwyl i'r plant hynny fod yng nghwmni oedolyn. Fe fydd angen caniatâd deallus, ond fe fydd cyfle i frodyr a chwiorydd, er enghraifft, gael eu hapwyntiadau ar yr un amser. Fe wneir y rhan fwyaf o'r gwaith hwn—mewn gwirionedd, fe wneir y cyfan mewn canolfannau iechyd yn hytrach nag mewn ysgolion, felly rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny'n ddefnyddiol i chi.
Gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad? Dwi'n falch o glywed bod yr hyder yn cynyddu, bod achosion yn lleihau a'r niferoedd sydd angen gofal ysbyty yn lleihau. Dwi'n fodlon efo'r agwedd bwyllog a'r amserlen wrth symud ymlaen tuag at godi'r ychydig fesurau diogelwch sydd ar ôl mewn lle. Mewn difri, ychydig o gyfyngiadau uniongyrchol sydd yna, bellach, ar ein bywydau ni.
O ran pasys COVID, gyda llaw, roeddwn i'n trafod efo'r Aelod dros y de-ddwyrain wrth fy ymyl i yn fan hyn am un digwyddiad diwylliannol mawr sydd eisoes wedi penderfynu, 'Na, does dim rhaid defnyddio pasys COVID, ond dŷn ni am barhau i wneud, oherwydd ei fod o'n rhoi hyder i ni wrth drefnu digwyddiad.' Felly, dwi'n meddwl bod yna'n dal bobl sy'n dymuno gallu rhoi camau mewn lle er mwyn tawelu ofnau pobl, achos dwi'n cytuno efo asesiad y Gweinidog, er fy mod i'n gwthio arni i symud ymlaen mor bwrpasol â phosib tuag at gyhoeddi'r cynllun trosiannol ar gyfer symud i'r cyfnod endemig nesaf—. Dwi yn cytuno efo'r asesiad bod y pandemig ddim drosodd, ac yn rhyfeddu bod Llywodraeth Prydain yn barod i hawlio, bron, fod y cyfan drosodd a bod eisiau cael gwared ar bob mesur diogelwch. A tra dwi a'r Gweinidog, dwi'n siŵr, yn eiddgar i symud i'r cyfnod endemig o fyw efo COVID, nid anghofio am y pandemig ac anghofio am COVID mae hynny'n ei olygu.
O ran yr is-amrywiolyn BA.2, tybed a oes yna unrhyw wybodaeth ychwanegol ynglŷn ag unrhyw batrymau lleoliad a tharddiad yr is-amrywiolyn hwnnw y mae gwyddonwyr yn gallu canolbwyntio arnyn nhw er mwyn dysgu mwy amdano fo? Dyna fy nghwestiwn cyntaf i. Yn ail, brechu plant o bump i 11 oed: mi fyddwn i'n gwerthfawrogi rhagor o fanylion am y camau nesaf. Dwi yn ymwybodol, mae'n rhaid dweud, o alwadau gan rieni, gan staff mewn addysg, gan weithwyr iechyd a gofal i wthio'r cynnig yma o frechiad ymlaen â chymaint o frys a phosib, oherwydd pryder, o bosib, mai ymysg plant mae'r feirws yn lledaenu fwyaf, a'r effaith y mae hynny'n ei gael ar aelodau eu teuluoedd nhw sydd yn methu gweithio, a'r effaith, wrth gwrs, sy'n parhau o hyd ar addysg plant, lle mae yna golli ysgol am amser hir. Ac o bosib, a allech chi roi hynny yng nghyd-destun y penderfyniad i gael gwared ar yr angen i wisgo gorchudd wyneb mewn ysgol hefyd, oherwydd mae yna bryder, fel dwi'n ei ddweud, fod angen cymryd pob cam posib i geisio atal lledaeniad o fewn ysgolion?
Un mater olaf hefyd, fel trydydd pwynt. Dwi wedi cael cyswllt pellach efo'r RNIB, a hynny'n dilyn ateb ysgrifenedig y cefais i gan y Gweinidog ar ddiwrnod olaf mis Ionawr, a hwnnw'n ateb cwestiwn lle roeddwn i wedi gofyn ynglŷn â chymorth i bobl ddall neu sydd â golwg rhannol allu defnyddio profion. Mae yna'n dal bryderon yn y gymuned o bobl sydd yn cael trafferth defnyddio profion oherwydd problemau â'u llygaid. Gaf i ofyn i'r Gweinidog: ydy hi'n barod i drafod ymhellach efo'r RNIB beth all gael ei wneud i helpu'r rheini, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n methu, am ba bynnag reswm, â defnyddio platfformau digidol i chwilio am help? Achos mae'r gyfundrefn brofi yn dal yn rhan bwysig o'n hymateb ni i'r pandemig, ac mae'n bwysig ei bod hi'n gyfundrefn y mae pawb yn gyfforddus yn ei defnyddio.
May I thank the Minister for her statement? I am pleased to hear that confidence is increasing, that cases are reducing and that the number requiring hospital treatment is also reducing. I am content with the phased approach and the cautious timetable as we lift the few remaining measures still in place. There are few direct restrictions in terms of its effect on our daily lives.
In terms of COVID passes, I was discussing with the Member for South Wales East about one major cultural event that has decided that, 'No, COVID passes don't have to be used, but we're going to continue to do so, because it gives us confidence in arranging our events.' So, I do think that there are still people who want to put measures in place in order to allay people's fears, because I agree with the Minister's assessment that, although I am urging her to move forward as purposefully as possible in terms of the transition plan for moving to the next phase—. I agree with the assessment that the pandemic is not over, and am shocked that the UK Government is willing to claim that the pandemic is virtually over and that we need to remove all restrictions. And while I, as the Minister I'm sure is, eager to move to living with COVID, we shouldn't forget the pandemic or forget COVID. That's not what we mean by that.
In terms of the BA.2 sub-variant, I wonder whether there is any additional information on any patterns of transmission or where that sub-variant emerged from, so that scientists can focus on that and learn more about it. That is my first question. Secondly, vaccination of children from five to 11 years old: I would appreciate more details on the next steps. I am aware of calls from parents, from staff in education, from health professionals and care workers to push this option of vaccination forward as soon as possible, because of concern that the virus is spreading most among children and the impact that that has on family members who are unable to work and the impact that remains in terms of children's education, where they do lose large amounts of school time. And perhaps you could put that in the context of the decision to remove the requirement to wear face coverings in schools too, because there is concern, as I say, that we need to take all possible steps to try to prevent transmission within schools.
One final issue, as a third point. I have had further contact with the RNIB, following a written response that I received from the Minister on the last day of January, that was answering a question where I had asked about support for blind or partially sighted people in using tests. There are still concerns among that community who do have difficulty in taking these tests because of visual impairment. So, may I ask the Minister whether she is willing to have further discussion with the RNIB in terms of what can be done to assist those, particularly those who, for whatever reason, can't use digital platforms to seek assistance? Because the testing system is still an important part of our response to the pandemic, and it's important that it's a system that everyone is comfortable using.
Diolch yn fawr, Rhun, a dwi'n falch eich bod chi'n cytuno â'r agwedd bwyllog rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei chymryd. Ac fel rŷch chi'n dweud, ychydig iawn o gyfyngiadau sydd ar ôl nawr. A dwi yn cytuno y bydd rhai yn dal i ddymuno defnyddio pasys COVID mewn rhai achlysuron. Rŷn ni i gyd yn awyddus i'r pandemig yma fod drosodd, ond nid dyna'r ffordd mae COVID yn gweithio. Mae gan COVID ei feddwl ei hun ac mae'n bihafio yn ei ffordd ei hun, ac nid ni sy'n mynd i reoli beth yw'r bennod nesaf.
Jest o ran BA.2, mae yna lot fawr o dystiolaeth yn Denmark—dyna lle rŷn ni'n gweld lot fawr o BA.2. Felly, mae lot o waith ymchwil yn cael ei wneud ar hynny ar hyn o bryd, yn dysgu mwy am BA.2. Un peth rŷn ni yn gwybod yw ei fod e'n symud lot yn gyflymach hyd yn oed nag omicron, felly rŷn ni'n fwy tebygol o weld ymlediad cyflym. Y cwestiwn yw—. A dwi'n gwybod bod llawer yn meddwl mai hwnnw fydd yr amrywiolyn mwyaf penodol rŷn ni'n ei weld yn ein cymunedau ni.
O ran vaccinations i blant pump i 11, rŷn ni eisoes yn rhoi cynllun mewn lle i sicrhau bod hyn yn digwydd. Dŷn ni ddim yn mynd i'w wneud ar frys, yn yr un ffordd ag y gwnaethom ni, yn amlwg, dros y Nadolig. Mae hynny'n rhannol oherwydd dyw'r perygl ddim mor fawr iddyn nhw. Ac rŷn ni hefyd yn aros i glywed, wrth gwrs, o'r JCVI, os bydd angen booster ar y booster i'r henoed yn y gwanwyn. Ac felly byddwn i yn bendant eisiau ystyried pa un sydd yn gorfod cael blaenoriaeth. Felly, mae jest rhaid inni ystyried, ymysg yr holl bethau eraill mae'n rhaid inni eu gwneud, pan fo'n dod i'r vaccination, beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud. Felly, dwi'n siŵr byddaf i yn cael lot mwy o gyngor ar hynny.
O ran yr RNIB, mae'n ddrwg gyda fi i glywed bod rhai yn dal i gael trafferthion o ran defnyddio profion—mwy na hapus i gynnal trafodaeth ar hynny. Felly, gallwn ni ddilyn i fyny ar hynny wedyn.
Thank you very much, Rhun, and I'm pleased that you agree with the purposeful attitude that we have taken. And as you say, there are very few restrictions left in place. And I agree that some will continue to wish to use the COVID passes in some occasions. We're all eager for this pandemic to be over, but that isn't the way that COVID works. COVID has a mind of its own and behaves in its own way, and it's not us who will decide what the next chapter will be.
In terms of BA.2, there is a great deal of evidence in Denmark—that's where we're seeing a great deal of BA.2 prevalence. A great deal of research has been undertaken on that, to learn more about the sub-variant. One thing we do know is that it spreads far swifter than omicron. So, we are more likely to see that swift transmission of BA.2. And I know that many believe that that will become the most dominant variant that we see in our communities.
In terms of vaccinations for children between five and 11 years of age, we are already implementing a plan to ensure that this happens. We're not going to do that as a matter of urgency, as we did over the Christmas period. That's partly because the risk isn't as great to that cohort. And we're also waiting to hear from the JCVI to see whether there will be a need for a booster on top of the booster for older age groups in the spring. So, we certainly would want to consider which of those has to be prioritised. So, we just need to consider and weigh up amongst all of the other things that we need to consider, when it comes to making a decision on vaccination and what we need to do in that regard. So, I'm sure I'll receive a great deal more advice on that.
In terms of the RNIB, I'm sorry to hear that some people are still having difficulties to access tests—I'm more than happy to have a discussion on that. So, I can follow up on that later on.
Minister, thank you for your statement this afternoon on COVID-19, and I, like my colleagues here, welcome the easing of restrictions across Wales. Minister, as you know, COVID-19 put huge pressure on our A&E departments, and on Sunday evening there were approximately 17 ambulances queueing up outside Morriston Hospital, waiting for patients to be admitted and seen. In A&E and over the weekend, I've been advised by a front-line paramedic that residents in Brecon and Radnorshire are routinely waiting eight hours for a category 1 ambulance response. And over the weekend, a lady with chest pains waited over five hours for an ambulance to arrive, and there were no ambulances at all in my constituency. Minister, I have raised this on a number of occasions, we've debated it here a number of times, but I want to know what new measures have you put in, and the Welsh ambulance service put in, to try and get ambulance waiting times under control. Because people waiting eight hours plus is just simply not good enough, and I'm sure you'll agree with me on that. Diolch, Llywydd.
Gweinidog, diolch i chi am eich datganiad chi ynglŷn â COVID-19 y prynhawn yma, ac rwyf fi, fel fy nghyd-Aelodau i yn y fan hon, yn croesawu'r llacio ar y cyfyngiadau ledled Cymru. Gweinidog, fel gwyddoch chi, fe roddodd COVID-19 bwysau enfawr ar ein hadrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ni, ac ar nos Sul roedd tua 17 o ambiwlansys yn sefyll y tu allan i Ysbyty Treforys, yn aros i gleifion gael eu derbyn a'u gweld. Mewn adran damweiniau ac achosion brys dros y penwythnos, fe glywais i gan barafeddyg rheng flaen bod trigolion Brycheiniog a Maesyfed yn aros wyth awr fel rheol am ymateb ambiwlans categori 1. A thros y penwythnos, bu'n rhaid i wraig â phoenau yn ei brest aros dros bum awr am ambiwlans, ac nid oedd unrhyw ambiwlans o gwbl ar gael yn fy etholaeth i. Gweinidog, rwyf i wedi codi hyn droeon, rydym ni wedi trafod hyn lawer gwaith yn y fan hon, ond fe hoffwn i wybod pa fesurau newydd y gwnaethoch chi, a gwasanaeth ambiwlans Cymru, eu rhoi ar waith i geisio rheoli amseroedd aros am ambiwlansys. Oherwydd nid yw pobl yn aros wyth awr a mwy yn sefyllfa foddhaol ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno â mi yn hynny o beth. Diolch, Llywydd.
Thanks very much, James, and I am also very concerned about the situation in relation to ambulances, and that's why I have had a meeting with the chief executive of the ambulance service this morning, just to see what it is we can do to improve the situation. We have already recruited 127 additional people for the ambulance service—that's happened over the past few months. The other thing to remember, of course, is that we've got the armed services supporting us at the moment, so that's something else that is an additional support that we've seen. We've seen an additional number of people helping us with our 111 calls and 999 calls, and I'm pleased to say that that has helped to prevent the conveyance of around 11 to 15 per cent, so 11 to 15 per cent fewer people being taken to hospitals, because of that service.
We have had a particularly terrible situation in A&E in January, where we have had a very difficult handover period—lots of ambulances, as you suggest, waiting outside A&E departments. There has been a summit meeting this morning to assess the situation in relation to risk, and there's been a risk summit to assess actually what is the harm that is being caused here, because, obviously, that is something that is happening on all kinds of levels. So, we can't get people out of hospital because the care service is so fragile, and you'll be hearing more about what we intend to do in that space from my colleague next. We've obviously put substantial additional funding into the NHS. We're also looking at a roster review that follows on from the demand and capacity review that was undertaken earlier last year. So, it is a difficult situation, and, of course, there are still fairly high levels of sickness that you need to factor in as well.
So, all of these things are creating this perfect storm, but you, like me, want to know the answers rather than the problems. That's why we just keep on throwing and trying to come up with new ideas, and they have clearly helped the situation, but the demands are still enormously high, so we do have a six-point emergency and urgent care plan that we're working to as well. That's a longer term thing, but, obviously, there's an urgent situation we're trying to address at the moment.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, James, ac rwyf innau'n bryderus iawn am y sefyllfa ynglŷn ag ambiwlansys, a dyna pam yr wyf i wedi cyfarfod â phrif weithredwr y gwasanaeth ambiwlans y bore yma, dim ond ar gyfer ystyried yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud i wella'r sefyllfa. Rydym ni wedi recriwtio 127 o bobl ychwanegol eisoes ar gyfer y gwasanaeth ambiwlans—fe ddigwyddodd hynny dros y misoedd diwethaf. Y peth arall i'w gofio, wrth gwrs, yw bod y lluoedd arfog yn ein cefnogi ni ar hyn o bryd, felly mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth arall a welsom ni sydd wedi bod o gymorth hefyd. Rydym ni wedi gweld nifer ychwanegol o bobl yn ein helpu ni gyda galwadau 111 a galwadau 999, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod hynny wedi helpu i atal tua 11 i 15 y cant rhag cael eu cludo, felly mae 11 i 15 y cant yn llai o bobl yn cael eu cludo i ysbytai, yn sgil y gwasanaeth hwnnw.
Rydym ni wedi gweld sefyllfa arbennig o ddifrifol mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ym mis Ionawr, lle gwelwyd cyfnod trosglwyddo anodd iawn—llawer o ambiwlansys, fel yr ydych chi'n ei awgrymu, yn aros y tu allan i adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Cynhaliwyd uwchgynhadledd y bore yma i asesu'r sefyllfa o ran risg, a chafwyd uwchgynhadledd risg i asesu beth yw'r gwir niwed a achosir yma, oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n digwydd ar haenau o bob math. Felly, nid ydym ni'n gallu cael pobl o'r ysbyty oherwydd bod y gwasanaeth gofal mor fregus, ac fe fyddwch chi'n clywed mwy am yr hyn yr ydym ni'n bwriadu ei wneud yn y maes hwnnw gan fy nghyd-Aelod yn y man. Mae hi'n amlwg ein bod ni wedi rhoi cyllid ychwanegol sy'n sylweddol i'r GIG. Rydym ni'n edrych hefyd ar adolygiad o'r rhestr ddyletswyddau yn dilyn yr adolygiad o'r galw a'r capasiti a gynhaliwyd yn gynharach y llynedd. Felly, mae'r sefyllfa yn un anodd, ac, wrth gwrs, fe geir cyfraddau gweddol fawr o salwch hefyd y mae angen i chi eu hystyried nhw.
Felly, mae'r pethau hyn i gyd yn creu'r storm berffaith hon, ond rydych chi, fel finnau, yn awyddus i gael gwybod am yr atebion yn hytrach na'r problemau. Dyna pam yr ydym ni'n dal ati i wyntyllu a cheisio meddwl am syniadau newydd, ac mae hi'n amlwg eu bod nhw wedi lliniaru'r sefyllfa, ond mae'r gofynion yn parhau i fod yn aruthrol o fawr, felly mae gennym ni gynllun chwe phwynt gofal argyfwng a brys yr ydym ni'n ei ddilyn hefyd. Rhywbeth i'r tymor hwy yw hwnnw, ond, yn amlwg, mae'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni'n ceisio mynd i'r afael â hi ar hyn o bryd yn un ddyrys.
I welcome the Welsh Government's stance on taking a sensible, evidence-led approach to relaxing COVID restrictions, because, as the Minister has already said, COVID has not gone away and it can still be really unpredictable. I am particularly grateful to be in Wales, as myself and many others have been, throughout the pandemic, where the self-isolation rules will remain in place. Does the Minister agree with me that it is far more sensible to relax the rules gradually than taking the rash approach of Boris Johnson's Government in Westminster, which seems to be led not by the science but by the polls? And can I also ask if the Welsh Government has a timetable for vaccinating five to 11-year-olds? I know this is something my constituents in Bridgend are very keen to get more information about. Diolch.
Rwy'n croesawu safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru o ran mabwysiadu dull synhwyrol o lacio cyfyngiadau COVID ar sail y dystiolaeth, oherwydd, fel dywedodd y Gweinidog eisoes, nid yw COVID wedi diflannu ac mae hi'n dal i fod yn anodd iawn rhagweld ei gwrs. Rwy'n arbennig o ddiolchgar i fod yng Nghymru, fel llawer un arall, drwy gydol y pandemig, lle mae'r rheolau hunanynysu yn parhau. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi ei bod hi'n llawer mwy synhwyrol i ni lacio'r rheolau o dipyn i beth yn hytrach nag ymagweddu fel Llywodraeth Boris Johnson yn San Steffan, sydd, i bob golwg, yn cael ei harwain nid gan y wyddoniaeth ond gan y polau piniwn? Ac a gaf i ofyn hefyd a oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru amserlen ar gyfer brechu plant pump i 11 oed? Fe wn i fod hwnnw'n rhywbeth y mae fy etholwyr i ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn awyddus iawn i gael mwy o wybodaeth amdano. Diolch.
Thanks very much, Sarah. I'm pleased to say that we have tried, throughout this pandemic, to take that evidence-based approach, which was why we were slightly blindsided by the UK Government making an announcement that they clearly hadn't discussed with almost anyone in terms of stopping self-isolation. So, it is a shame that we get to that situation, and it's pretty obvious that it's a distraction technique from the very difficult situation that Johnson finds himself in at the moment politically.
Just in terms of the timetable for five to 11-year-olds, we're obviously waiting for that formal advice to come from the JCVI. I'm not quite sure what's holding it up. We know that it's available, and it's important that we are able to forge ahead with our plans. Obviously, we thought that this might be coming our way, so a huge amount of preparation work has already been undertaken, but we can't really press the button finally on it until we have that final JCVI publication that we're hoping to see imminently.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Sarah. Rwy'n falch o ddweud ein bod ni, drwy gydol y pandemig hwn, wedi ceisio dilyn y dull hwnnw sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth, a dyna pam y cawsom ni ein syfrdanu ryw gymaint gan gyhoeddiad Llywodraeth y DU nad oedden nhw wedi, yn amlwg, ei drafod gyda neb, bron â bod, o ran terfynu hunanynysu. Felly, mae hi'n drueni ein bod ni'n cyrraedd sefyllfa fel hon, ac mae hi'n weddol amlwg mai dyfais yw hon i dynnu sylw oddi wrth y sefyllfa wleidyddol anodd iawn y mae Johnson yn ei chael ei hun ynddi hi ar hyn o bryd.
O ran yr amserlen ar gyfer plant pump i 11 oed, rydym ni'n amlwg yn aros am y cyngor ffurfiol hwnnw gan y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu. Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr beth yw achos yr oedi. Fe wyddom ni ei fod ar gael, ac mae hi'n bwysig ein bod ni'n gallu bwrw ymlaen â'n cynlluniau ni. Yn amlwg, roeddem ni'n credu y gallai'r cyngor fod ar ei ffordd, felly fe wnaethpwyd llawer iawn o waith paratoi eisoes, ond ni allwn ni fwrw'r maen i'r wal yn derfynol yn hyn o beth nes bod y cyhoeddiad terfynol hwnnw gennym ni oddi wrth y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu yr ydym ni'n gobeithio ei weld yn fuan iawn.
Daeth Joyce Watson i’r Gadair.
Joyce Watson took the Chair.
So, we're going to move on now to item 4, a statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: the real living wage for social care workers. And I call on Julie Morgan.
Felly, fe symudwn ni ymlaen nawr at eitem 4, sef datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: y Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol ar gyfer Gweithwyr Gofal Cymdeithasol. Ac rwy'n galw ar Julie Morgan.
Diolch. I'm very pleased to be able to update Members of the Senedd on the tremendous progress we've made towards paying social care workers in Wales the real living wage, one of our key priorities in the programme for government. In June I made a statement on the approach I would take to implementing this commitment and explained I would be asking the social care fair work forum for its advice on how best to take it forward.
The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and I met with the forum in July to personally ask for its support and discuss the potential challenges. We asked the forum to consider and advise on some complex issues, including: who should be included in the uplift; pay differentials, sleep-ins and travel time; how we might maximise the impact of funding and what implementation challenges we might anticipate to ensure a successful roll-out. The forum worked very quickly to provide its advice by the end of October, and I'm extremely grateful for its work in delivering to such challenging timescales, and its advice has greatly helped inform our decisions.
Diolch. Rwy'n falch iawn o allu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau'r Senedd am y cynnydd aruthrol a wnaethom ni o ran talu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, un o'n blaenoriaethau allweddol ni yn y rhaglen lywodraethu. Ym mis Mehefin, fe wnes i ddatganiad ar y dull y byddwn ni'n ei ddefnyddio i weithredu'r ymrwymiad hwn ac fe eglurais i y byddwn ni'n gofyn i'r fforwm gwaith teg gofal cymdeithasol am ei gyngor ynglŷn â'r ffordd orau o'i ddatblygu.
Fe wnaeth y Dirprwy Weinidog Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a minnau gwrdd â'r fforwm ym mis Gorffennaf i ofyn yn bersonol am ei gefnogaeth yn ogystal â thrafod yr heriau posibl. Fe wnaethom ni ofyn i'r fforwm ystyried a rhoi cyngor ynglŷn â rhai materion cymhleth, gan gynnwys: pwy ddylai gael eu cynnwys yn y codiad; gwahaniaethau cyflog, cysgu i mewn, ac amser teithio; sut y gallem ni wneud yn fawr o effaith cyllid a pha heriau y gallem ni eu rhagweld wrth roi hyn ar waith i sicrhau bod y broses o'i gyflwyno yn un lwyddiannus. Fe weithiodd y fforwm yn gyflym iawn i baratoi ei gyngor erbyn diwedd mis Hydref, ac rwy'n hynod ddiolchgar am waith y fforwm am ei gyflawni yn ôl amserlenni mor heriol, ac mae ei gyngor ef wedi ein helpu ni'n fawr wrth lywio ein penderfyniadau ni.
In December, I announced we would pay the real living wage of £9.90 per hour to registered social care workers in care homes and domiciliary care, in both adults' and children’s services, and to personal assistants funded through direct payments.
Focusing on these workers recognises our broader ambition to improve the quality of services and strive for parity of esteem with other key public health services through professionalisation. The inclusion of personal assistants paid through direct payments reflects that these roles are often very similar to that of a domiciliary care worker, and we want to continue to protect the service user’s voice and control in how the support they need is delivered, a key principle in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. We know there will be calls to go further, but it's essential that we deliver this commitment in a considered way that allows us to ensure it is both sustainable and affordable. Additionally, although our original commitment had been to introduce the real living wage during this Senedd term, our approach now allows us to introduce it from April, helping the sector face its current recruitment and retention challenges sooner.
We've announced that £43 million will be made available to local authorities and to health boards to deliver the real living wage from April. This also includes a contribution towards the cost of maintaining differentials at the lower end of pay scales. This will help provide some flexibility in the funding. This is important to help avoid destabilisation at those lower pay bands. Officials are working closely with the directors of social services and stakeholders from across the social care sector to develop implementation guidance to support a successful roll-out from April.
We will also commission an independent, dynamic evaluation of the implementation to monitor impact, including ensuring that funding reaches the pockets of the workers it's intended to benefit in a timely way, and that implementation guidance is effective in supporting commissioners and employers. It'll also help us to consider what more we may be able to do in future, and inform funding estimates for future years.
We do understand the challenges employers face as staff look to other sectors with seemingly more attractive terms and conditions. So that is why we will also be making an additional payment of £1,498 to those social care workers to whom we will be paying the real living wage. Senior care staff and managers in care homes and domiciliary care will also receive this payment because it's a further demonstration of our commitment to improving the status, terms and conditions of our professional social care workforce. This payment will mean social care workers on the basic tax rate will receive a single additional payment of £1,000 in their pay packet. The details of this scheme will be published in due course.
We want to see more people join the social care sector and start a long and rewarding career. We expect the additional payment and the real living wage will be processed in people’s pay from April to June, due to the complexity of the care sector and the large number of employers involved. Whilst we do not expect the real living wage uplift, or the additional payment, to resolve all of the sector’s problems in terms of recruitment and retention, we believe they are a valuable and vital first step, particularly in helping to retain workers through these very difficult times.
We will continue to work in social partnership with the social care fair work forum on what steps should be taken to improve social care workers' wider terms and conditions, such as how the definition of 'fair work' should be applied for social care workers in Wales, and setting out what good working practices should look like in social care. We remain committed to creating a stronger, better paid workforce in social care, and to supporting the sector through these challenging times to deliver quality social care services that people can rely on.
I look forward to working with Plaid Cymru’s designated Member on our co-operation agreement commitment about the future of social care. This includes setting up an expert group to support our shared ambition to create a national care service, free at the point of need. We will also continue to better integrate health and care, and work towards parity of recognition and reward for health and care workers. Diolch.
Ym mis Rhagfyr, fe wnes i gyhoeddi y byddem ni'n talu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol o £9.90 yr awr i weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol cofrestredig mewn cartrefi gofal a gofal cartref, yn y gwasanaethau i oedolion a'r gwasanaethau i blant, a chynorthwywyr personol a ariennir drwy daliadau uniongyrchol.
Mae canolbwyntio ar y gweithwyr hyn yn cydnabod ein huchelgais ehangach ni i wella ansawdd gwasanaethau ac ymdrechu i sicrhau parch cydradd â gwasanaethau iechyd cyhoeddus allweddol eraill drwy eu proffesiynoli. Mae cynnwys cynorthwywyr personol sy'n cael eu talu drwy daliadau uniongyrchol yn adlewyrchu bod y swyddi hyn yn aml yn debyg iawn i swydd gweithiwr gofal cartref, ac rydym ni'n awyddus i barhau i ddiogelu llais a rheolaeth defnyddwyr y gwasanaethau o ran sut y caiff y cymorth sy'n angenrheidiol ei ddarparu ar eu cyfer nhw, sef yr egwyddor allweddol yn Neddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014. Fe wyddom ni y bydd galwadau i fynd ymhellach, ond mae hi'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n cyflawni'r ymrwymiad hwn mewn ffordd ystyriol sy'n ein galluogi ni i sicrhau bod hynny'n gynaliadwy ac yn fforddiadwy. Yn ogystal â hynny, er mai ein hymrwymiad gwreiddiol ni oedd cyflwyno'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon, mae ein dull gweithredu ni'n caniatáu i ni ei gyflwyno nawr o fis Ebrill ymlaen, gan helpu'r sector i wynebu ei heriau cyfredol o ran recriwtio a chadw yn gynt na'r disgwyl.
Rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi y bydd £43 miliwn ar gael i awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd i gynnig y cyflog byw gwirioneddol o fis Ebrill ymlaen. Mae hyn hefyd yn cynnwys cyfraniad tuag at y gost o gynnal gwahaniaethau ar ben isaf y graddfeydd cyflog. Fe fydd hyn yn helpu i roi rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd yn y cyllid. Mae hyn yn bwysig ar gyfer helpu i osgoi ansefydlogrwydd yn y bandiau cyflog is hyn. Mae swyddogion yn gweithio yn agos gyda chyfarwyddwyr y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a rhanddeiliaid o bob rhan o'r sector gofal cymdeithasol i ddatblygu canllawiau gweithredu i gefnogi'r broses o'i gyflwyno'n llwyddiannus o fis Ebrill ymlaen.
Fe fyddwn ni hefyd yn comisiynu gwerthusiad annibynnol a deinamig o'r gweithredu i fonitro effaith, gan gynnwys sicrhau bod y cyllid yn nwylo'r gweithwyr y bwriedir iddyn nhw elwa arno mewn da bryd, a bod y canllawiau ar gyfer gweithredu yn effeithiol o ran cefnogi comisiynwyr a chyflogwyr. Fe fydd hyn yn ein helpu ni hefyd i ystyried beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud yn y dyfodol, a llywio amcangyfrifon o ran ariannu i'r blynyddoedd i ddod.
Rydym ni'n deall yr heriau y mae cyflogwyr yn eu hwynebu wrth i staff edrych ar sectorau eraill sydd â thelerau ac amodau sy'n ymddangos yn fwy deniadol. Felly fe fyddwn ni hefyd yn gwneud taliad ychwanegol o £1,498 i'r gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol hynny y byddwn ni'n talu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol iddyn nhw. Fe fydd staff gofal uwch a rheolwyr mewn cartrefi gofal a gofal cartref yn cael y taliad hwn hefyd am ei fod yn amlygu ein hymrwymiad ni i godi statws, a gwella telerau ac amodau ein gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol proffesiynol ni. Fe fydd y taliad hwn yn golygu y bydd gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol ar y gyfradd dreth sylfaenol yn cael un taliad ychwanegol o £1,000 yn eu pecyn cyflog nhw. Fe fydd manylion y cynllun hwn yn cael eu cyhoeddi maes o law.
Rydym ni'n awyddus i weld mwy o bobl yn ymuno â'r sector gofal cymdeithasol ac yn dilyn gyrfa hir sy'n rhoi boddhad. Rydym ni'n disgwyl y bydd y taliad ychwanegol a'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol yn cael eu prosesu yng nghyflog pobl o fis Ebrill i fis Mehefin, oherwydd cymhlethdod y sector gofal a'r nifer fawr o gyflogwyr dan sylw. Er nad ydym ni'n disgwyl i'r codiad cyflog byw gwirioneddol, na'r taliad ychwanegol, ddatrys problemau'r sector i gyd o ran recriwtio a chadw staff, rydym ni o'r farn eu bod nhw'n gam cyntaf gwerthfawr a hanfodol, yn enwedig o ran helpu i gadw gweithwyr drwy'r cyfnod anodd iawn hwn.
Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol â'r fforwm gwaith teg gofal cymdeithasol ynglŷn â'r camau priodol i'w cymryd i wella telerau ac amodau gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol yn fwy eang, fel sut y dylid cymhwyso'r diffiniad o 'waith teg' ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, a nodi beth y dylai ffurf arferion gwaith da fod mewn gofal cymdeithasol. Rydym ni'n dal i fod wedi ymrwymo i greu gweithlu mwy cadarn sy'n ennill cyflogau gwell ym maes gofal cymdeithasol, a chefnogi'r sector drwy'r cyfnod heriol hwn i ddarparu gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol o safon y gall pobl ddibynnu arnyn nhw.
Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio gydag Aelod dynodedig Plaid Cymru ynglŷn â'n hymrwymiad ni i gytundeb cydweithredu o ran dyfodol gofal cymdeithasol. Mae hynny'n cynnwys sefydlu grŵp arbenigol i gefnogi ein huchelgais cyffredin ni i lunio gwasanaeth gofal cenedlaethol, sy'n rhad ac am ddim lle bod angen. Fe fyddwn ni hefyd yn parhau i integreiddio iechyd a gofal yn well, ac yn gweithio tuag at gydnabyddiaeth a gwobr hafal i weithwyr iechyd a gofal. Diolch.
Thank you. I want to now call Gareth Davies to speak.
Diolch i chi. Fe hoffwn i alw nawr ar Gareth Davies i siarad.
Thank you very much, Commissioner, and thank you for your statement this afternoon, Deputy Minister. And it's really disappointing that you continue to ignore the advice of everyone concerned with social care. The pitiful wage being offered will not attract people into the care sector, neither will the £1,000 bonus you unveiled, with much fanfare. With household bills the way they are currently, care workers can't afford to live on the minimal salary being offered. You can't take advantage of the compassion and dedication of care workers. These amazing people provide vital care to the most vulnerable in our society, and they should be rewarded for it. As it stands, a career in social care is not an attractive option, and unless you grasp the nettle and accept that £9.90 per hour is insufficient, and unless we pay care workers a decent wage, the crisis in the sector will become a disaster. We will not only have a recruitment problem, but also a retention one.
Social care needs to be a rewarding career, but the rewards cannot just be spiritual, they also have to be material. And one-off payments, as welcome as they are, are not enough. Paying less than the retail sector is not enough. So, why are you continuing with the real living wage policy, when the sector and the unions say it isn't enough? Do you truly believe that paying the real living wage will do anything to address the recruitment and retention problems faced by the sector? Deputy Minister, one of the options you have presented was to align social care with NHS pay scales, costing around £54 million by your own estimates. Why did you not go down this route? Was it simply on the grounds of cost? And will you join me in welcoming the Welsh Conservative-run Monmouthshire County Council announcement that they are to pay their care staff £10.85 per hour? Do you expect other local authorities will follow Monmouthshire's fine example?
And you said in your statement that your measured approach is sustainable. How is it sustainable if it does little to address the current recruitment crisis? Why did you opt for a one-off bonus this year, rather than using the extra £96 million to pay a better wage to all staff? Staff cannot rely on bonuses, nor can they be counted towards such a thing as a mortgage. What assessment has been made of the impact of this policy in helping to retain staff? And finally, Deputy Minister, I welcome your aim of seeing more people join the care sector and start a long and rewarding career, as it deserves to be. In order to make social care a rewarding career, we not only have to ensure a rewarding pay packet, we also have to ensure rewarding terms and conditions. What steps are you taking in that regard, or does the sector have to just wait until you and Plaid Cymru hash out your plans for a national care service? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Comisiynydd, a diolch i chi am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma, Dirprwy Weinidog. Ac mae hi'n siomedig iawn eich bod chi'n parhau i anwybyddu cyngor pawb sy'n ymwneud â gofal cymdeithasol. Ni fydd y cyflog truenus sy'n cael ei gynnig yn denu pobl i'r sector gofal, ac ni fydd y bonws o £1,000 a ddadorchuddiwyd gennych chi, gyda chryn sbloet, yn gwneud hynny ychwaith. Gyda biliau'r aelwyd fel maen nhw ar hyn o bryd, ni all gweithwyr gofal fforddio byw ar y cyflog pitw a gynigir. Ni ddylech chi gymryd mantais ar garedigrwydd nac ymroddiad gweithwyr gofal. Mae'r bobl anhygoel hyn yn estyn gofal hanfodol i'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas ni, ac fe ddylid eu gwobrwyo nhw am hynny. Fel y mae hi, nid yw gyrfa ym maes gofal cymdeithasol yn ddewis deniadol, ac oni bai eich bod chi'n gwasgu'r danadl ac yn derbyn nad ydyw £9.90 yr awr yn ddigonol, ac oni bai ein bod ni'n talu cyflog teilwng i weithwyr gofal, fe fydd yr argyfwng yn y sector yn mynd yn drychineb. Nid yn unig y bydd gennym ni broblem recriwtio, ond fe fydd cadw staff yn broblem hefyd.
Mae angen i ofal cymdeithasol fod yn yrfa sy'n rhoi boddhad, ac ni all y gwobrau fod yn rhai ysbrydol yn unig, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw fod yn faterol hefyd. Ac nid yw taliadau untro, er eu bod nhw i'w croesawu, yn ddigonol. Nid yw talu llai na'r sector manwerthu yn ddigonol. Felly, pam ydych chi'n parhau â'r polisi cyflog byw gwirioneddol, pan fo'r sector a'r undebau yn dweud nad ydyw hwnnw'n ddigonol? A ydych chi wir yn credu y bydd talu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol yn gwneud unrhyw beth i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau o ran recriwtio a chadw staff y mae'r sector yn eu hwynebu? Dirprwy Weinidog, un o'r dewisiadau y gwnaethoch chi eu cyflwyno oedd alinio gofal cymdeithasol â graddfeydd cyflog y GIG, a fyddai'n costio tua £54 miliwn yn ôl eich amcangyfrifon chi. Pam nad aethoch chi ar hyd y trywydd hwnnw? Ai dim ond ar sail y gost yr oedd hynny? Ac a fyddech chi'n ymuno â mi i groesawu cyhoeddiad Cyngor Sir Fynwy, sy'n cael ei redeg gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, y byddan nhw'n talu £10.85 yr awr i'w staff gofal nhw? A ydych chi'n disgwyl y bydd awdurdodau lleol eraill yn dilyn esiampl ragorol sir Fynwy?
Ac roeddech chi'n dweud yn eich datganiad chi fod eich dull mesuredig chi'n un cynaliadwy. Sut all hwnnw fod yn gynaliadwy os nad yw'n gwneud fawr ddim i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng recriwtio ar hyn o bryd? Pam wnaethoch chi ddewis bonws untro eleni, yn hytrach na defnyddio'r £96 miliwn ychwanegol i dalu cyflog gwell i'r staff cyfan? Ni all staff ddibynnu ar fonysau, ac ni ellir eu cyfrif nhw tuag at bethau fel morgeisi. Pa asesiad a wnaethpwyd o effaith y polisi hwn wrth helpu i gadw staff? Ac yn olaf, Dirprwy Weinidog, rwy'n croesawu eich nod chi o weld mwy o bobl yn ymuno â'r sector gofal ac yn dechrau gyrfa hir a gwerth chweil, fel dylai hi fod. I wneud gofal cymdeithasol yn yrfa werth chweil, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau mwy na phecyn cyflog gwerth chweil, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau telerau ac amodau gwerth chweil hefyd. Pa gamau yr ydych chi'n eu cymryd yn hynny o beth, neu a oes yn rhaid i'r sector aros wrth i chi â Phlaid Cymru drin a thrafod eich cynlluniau chi ar gyfer gwasanaeth gofal cenedlaethol? Diolch i chi.
Well, I thank Gareth Davies for those remarks, and I think I'm rather amazed at his attitude towards this announcement. This is certainly a first step towards improving the lot of social care workers, and it has been widely welcomed, as has the £1,000 payment. So, I'm very surprised at his attitude to this statement today. Why have we paid £9.90? This was a commitment in our programme for government; it was also a manifesto commitment. It is the amount that is advised by the Resolution Foundation. It is monitored by the Fair Work Commission, and, every year, they recommend an uplift. And so we are following the rules of that commission. And as I say, this was what we were committed to.
We were very pleased to have the opportunity to, in addition, pay the £1,000, which is linked to the paying of the real living wage, because we are looking for the professionalisation of the sector. We set up the social care fair work forum. They advised us on how we could bring in the real living wage, and they are looking at the terms and conditions that we absolutely agree are so important. And I think I did say in my statement that this by itself will not be enough. This is a first step, and what we plan to do is to work again very closely with the fair work forum, who've been tremendous in providing us with advice, and to look next at the terms and conditions and see how we can bring up the social care workforce so that they are able to be recognised as a profession, and will be able to fulfil their duties knowing that they are being paid, they've got reasonable pay and reasonable terms and conditions. So, I'm very pleased to hear that some local authorities are paying above the real living wage. I hope that many people will pay above it, and it's entirely up to the employers to decide if they want to pay more. But I think we need to acknowledge that this is a step towards promoting the social care sector and that it has been widely welcomed.
Wel, rwy'n diolch i Gareth Davies am y sylwadau yna, ac rwy'n rhyfeddu i ryw raddau at ei agwedd ef tuag at y cyhoeddiad hwn. Mae hwn yn sicr yn gam cyntaf tuag at wella bywydau gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, ac fe'i croesawyd yn eang, yn ogystal â'r taliad o £1,000. Felly, rwy'n synnu'n fawr at ei agwedd ef at y datganiad hwn heddiw. Pam ydym ni wedi talu £9.90? Dyna oedd yr ymrwymiad yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni; roedd hwnnw'n ymrwymiad maniffesto hefyd. Dyma'r swm sy'n cael ei gynghori gan Sefydliad Resolution. Fe gaiff ei fonitro gan y Comisiwn Gwaith Teg, ac yn flynyddol, maen nhw'n argymell codiad. Ac felly rydym ni'n dilyn cyfarwyddiadau'r comisiwn hwnnw. Ac fel rwyf i'n dweud, dyma'r hyn yr oeddem ni wedi ymrwymo iddo.
Roeddem ni'n falch iawn o gael y cyfle i dalu'r £1,000, ar ben hynny, sy'n gysylltiedig â thalu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol, oherwydd rydym ni'n ceisio proffesiynoli'r sector. Fe wnaethom ni sefydlu'r fforwm gwaith teg gofal cymdeithasol. Fe'n cynghorwyd ni ynglŷn â'r dull o gyflwyno'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol, ac maen nhw'n edrych ar y telerau ac amodau yr ydym ni'n cytuno eu bod nhw mor bwysig. Ac rwy'n credu i mi ddweud yn fy natganiad na fydd hyn yn ddigon ar ei ben ei hun. Cam cyntaf yw hwn, a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n bwriadu ei wneud yw gweithio yn agos iawn gyda'r fforwm gwaith teg, sydd wedi bod o gymorth aruthrol wrth roi cyngor i ni, ac edrych wedyn ar y telerau ac amodau a gweld sut y gallwn ni feithrin y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol er mwyn cydnabod mai proffesiwn ydyw, ac fe fyddan nhw'n gallu cyflawni eu dyletswyddau nhw yn y wybodaeth eu bod nhw'n cael eu talu, a bod hwnnw'n dâl rhesymol gyda thelerau ac amodau rhesymol. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed bod rhai awdurdodau lleol yn talu mwy na'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd llawer o bobl yn talu dros ben hynny, a mater i'r cyflogwyr yn unig yw penderfynu a ydyn nhw'n dymuno talu mwy. Ond rwyf i o'r farn fod angen i ni gydnabod bod hwn yn gam tuag at hyrwyddo'r sector gofal cymdeithasol ac fe roddwyd croeso cyffredinol iddo.
I now call Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Rwy'n galw yn awr ar Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Diolch, Cadeirydd, a diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog, am y datganiad.
Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement.
I broadly welcome today's statement with the progress towards a real living wage for all social care workers. Plaid Cymru has long called for a substantial pay increase in this sector. Social care jobs can be very rewarding, but they are very demanding and very responsible jobs. These jobs should be rewarded accordingly. Plaid Cymru wants parity of pay and parity of respect between health and social care staff. Delivering this would go some way towards stemming the drain of care workers from the sector. While the announcement last week of a bonus payment of £1,000 for care workers was welcome, I worry this will only paper over the cracks that run deep and have long standing in social care. I fear this will do little to attract anyone into the sector, and I doubt it will persuade anyone considering leaving to stay.
As I said earlier, this statement today is progress towards the delivery of a real living wage. I would be much happier if this announcement was about the delivery of a living wage to all care workers immediately. Today's announcement will be of little comfort to care workers who are yet to be paid the living wage, and may be kept waiting another two years for it, as per the Government's commitment. The cost-of-living crisis is already here, and it's set to get much worse. Care workers are struggling to pay their bills as things stand; they need that pay rise sooner, rather than later. Can the Deputy Minister therefore clarify the pace of the roll-out of the living wage for care workers? When does she expect 50 per cent of care workers to be earning the living wage? Or when does she expect it to be at 75 per cent or 90 per cent of staff? For reasons already mentioned, is there any possibility of bringing forward your commitment so that all care workers receive the minimum wage ahead of your 2024 deadline for delivering on this commitment?
Even though this statement is about social care workers, I want to mention the key role that unpaid carers play in society. We cannot forget their immense contribution. I echo the calls of the Carers Trust to ensure that unpaid carers are protected from financial hardship by the Welsh Government. You can do this by ramping up the lobbying of the UK Government to reform carer's allowance to raise it to at least the same level as jobseeker's allowance. This is also one of the moments when anyone who values fairness and progressive policies can cast a jealous eye over proceedings in Scotland. There, they have carer's allowance supplement, which is paid twice yearly by Social Security Scotland. This underlines the need for a separate benefits system for Wales so that we can craft a more compassionate benefits system here in Wales similar to the one in Scotland. Deputy Minister, where do you stand on this matter? Will you be lobbying for the powers to be able to do this? Diolch yn fawr.
Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad heddiw yn fras, gyda'r cynnydd tuag at gyflog byw gwirioneddol i bob gweithiwr gofal cymdeithasol. Mae Plaid Cymru wedi galw ers tro am gynnydd sylweddol mewn cyflogau yn y sector hwn. Gall swyddi gofal cymdeithasol roi boddhad, ond maen nhw'n swyddi heriol a chyfrifol iawn. Dylid gwobrwyo'r swyddi hyn yn unol â hynny. Mae Plaid Cymru am gael cydraddoldeb cyflog a pharch cyfartal rhwng staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Byddai cyflawni hyn yn mynd gryn ffordd tuag at atal y llif o weithwyr gofal yn gadael y sector. Er bod y cyhoeddiad yr wythnos diwethaf am daliad bonws o £1,000 i weithwyr gofal i'w groesawu, rwy'n poeni mai dim ond papuro dros y craciau, sy'n rhai dwfn ac wedi hen sefydlu mewn gofal cymdeithasol, y bydd hyn. Rwy'n ofni na fydd hyn yn gwneud fawr ddim i ddenu neb i'r sector, ac rwy'n amau y bydd yn dwyn perswâd ar unrhyw un sy'n ystyried gadael i aros.
Fel y dywedais i yn gynharach, mae'r datganiad hwn heddiw yn gam ymlaen tuag at gyflawni cyflog byw gwirioneddol. Byddwn i'n llawer hapusach pe bai'r cyhoeddiad hwn yn ymwneud â darparu cyflog byw i bob gweithiwr gofal ar unwaith. Ni fydd y cyhoeddiad heddiw o fawr o gysur i weithwyr gofal sydd hyd yn hyn heb gael y cyflog byw, ac efallai y byddant yn aros am ddwy flynedd arall cyn ei gael, yn unol ag ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth. Mae'r argyfwng costau byw eisoes yma, ac mae'n mynd i waethygu'n fawr. Mae gweithwyr gofal yn ei chael hi'n anodd talu eu biliau fel y mae pethau; mae arnyn nhw angen y codiad cyflog hwnnw gorau po gyntaf. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog felly egluro cyflymder cyflwyno'r cyflog byw i weithwyr gofal? Pryd mae'n disgwyl i 50 y cant o weithwyr gofal fod yn ennill y cyflog byw? Neu pryd y mae'n disgwyl iddo fod yn 75 y cant neu 90 y cant o'r staff? Am resymau a grybwyllwyd eisoes, a oes unrhyw bosibilrwydd o gyflwyno'ch ymrwymiad yn gynt fel bod pob gweithiwr gofal yn cael yr isafswm cyflog cyn eich dyddiad yn 2024 ar gyfer cyflawni'r ymrwymiad hwn?
Er bod y datganiad hwn yn ymwneud â gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, rwyf eisiau sôn am y rhan allweddol y mae gofalwyr di-dâl yn ei chwarae mewn cymdeithas. Ni allwn anghofio eu cyfraniad aruthrol. Rwy'n ategu galwadau'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr i sicrhau bod gofalwyr di-dâl yn cael eu hamddiffyn rhag caledi ariannol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Gallwch wneud hyn drwy gynyddu'r gwaith o lobïo Llywodraeth y DU i ddiwygio lwfans gofalwr i'w godi i'r un lefel o leiaf â lwfans ceisio gwaith. Dyma un o'r adegau hefyd pan all unrhyw un sy'n gwerthfawrogi tegwch a pholisïau blaengar fwrw llygad eiddigeddus dros drafodion yn yr Alban. Yno, mae ganddyn nhw atodiad lwfans gofalwr, sy'n cael ei dalu ddwywaith y flwyddyn gan Social Security Scotland. Mae hyn yn tanlinellu'r angen am system fudd-daliadau ar wahân i Gymru fel y gallwn lunio system budd-daliadau mwy tosturiol yma yng Nghymru sy'n debyg i'r un yn yr Alban. Dirprwy Weinidog, ble ydych chi'n sefyll ar y mater hwn? A fyddwch chi'n lobïo am y pwerau i allu gwneud hyn? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, and thank you very much for those very positive comments and your welcome for this as a step towards the—a step in the right direction, shall we say? I absolutely support the comments that the Member has made. We do want to reach parity of pay and respect. We know what a hugely responsible job care workers are doing, and we do see this, again, as, I say, a first step on that journey.
In terms of the pace of the roll-out, I said in my statement who would be actually receiving it, and that is all care workers who are directly providing care who work in care homes, those who provide care in people's homes, the domiciliary care workforce, and personal assistants who receive direct payments. So, all those groups will start receiving the living wage from April. We see the first year as a transition year, but we intend all those people to receive the money during this next financial year. It may, because of the complexity of the sector, because of the vast number of employers—. Because 80 per cent of this is in the private sector, this will mean that it may take some time to work out, but we hope that they should get it between April and June, and the same is true of the £1,000 payment.
His last point about unpaid carers, I couldn't agree more. I think unpaid carers have borne a huge brunt of the burden during the whole of this pandemic, and absolutely agree that they have suffered financial hardship. We know that, and we have seen, from all the carers surveys that have been done, the stress that they've been under. I regret the fact that we are not in control of carer's allowance here in Wales, and I am very well aware of the demands from the sector that there should be an uplift to the carer's allowance.
Diolch yn fawr am y sylwadau cadarnhaol iawn yna ac am groesawu hyn fel cam tuag at—cam i'r cyfeiriad cywir, ddywedwn ni? Rwy'n llwyr gefnogi'r sylwadau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud. Rydym eisiau cyrraedd cydraddoldeb cyflog a pharch. Gwyddom fod gweithwyr gofal yn gwneud gwaith hynod gyfrifol a gwelwn hwn, unwaith eto, fel y dywedaf, fel y cam cyntaf ar y daith honno.
O ran cyflymder cyflwyno'r cynllun, dywedais yn fy natganiad pwy fyddai'n ei gael mewn gwirionedd, sef yr holl weithwyr gofal sy'n darparu gofal yn uniongyrchol ac sy'n gweithio mewn cartrefi gofal, y rhai sy'n darparu gofal yng nghartrefi pobl, y gweithlu gofal cartref, a chynorthwywyr personol sy'n cael taliadau uniongyrchol. Felly, bydd yr holl grwpiau hynny'n dechrau cael y cyflog byw o fis Ebrill ymlaen. Gwelwn y flwyddyn gyntaf fel blwyddyn bontio, ond bwriadwn i'r holl bobl hynny gael yr arian yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf hon. Oherwydd cymhlethdod y sector, oherwydd y nifer fawr o gyflogwyr—. Gan fod 80 y cant o hyn yn y sector preifat, bydd hyn yn golygu y gallai gymryd peth amser i weithio allan, ond gobeithiwn y dylen nhw ei gael rhwng mis Ebrill a mis Mehefin, ac mae'r un peth yn wir am y taliad o £1,000.
Ei bwynt olaf am ofalwyr di-dâl, ni allwn i gytuno mwy. Rwy'n credu bod gofalwyr di-dâl wedi ysgwyddo llawer o'r baich yn ystod y pandemig hwn, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr eu bod wedi dioddef caledi ariannol. Gwyddom hynny, ac rydym wedi gweld, o'r holl arolygon gofalwyr sydd wedi'u cynnal, y straen y maen nhw wedi'i ddioddef. Rwy'n gresynu at y ffaith nad ydym yn rheoli lwfans gofalwr yma yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r galwadau gan y sector y dylid cynyddu lwfans gofalwr.
Deputy Minister, thank you for your statement this afternoon, and I too recognise some of the concerns raised by my colleague Gareth Davies, but I am encouraged to see that the Welsh Government are coming forward to give our social care workers in Wales the real living wage and recognise the vitally important work that they do caring for the most vulnerable people in our society. Let's hope there is more that we can do going forward to improve the wages for care workers right across the sector.
Minister, I raised at business statement last week about the situation in Powys where care packages are being handed back to the local authority due to the major shortages in care staff. Minister, I know that the regional partnership board are looking to set up a Powys health and care academy, but, Deputy Minister, what more interventions can the Welsh Government make to ensure that we have enough care staff in this sector going forward, on top of the welcome announcement that you've made today?
Dirprwy Weinidog, diolch am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma, ac rwyf innau hefyd yn cydnabod rhai o'r pryderon a godwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod Gareth Davies, ond rwy'n cael fy nghalonogi wrth weld bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn dod ymlaen i roi'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i'n gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru a chydnabod y gwaith hanfodol pwysig y maen nhw'n ei wneud yn gofalu am y bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. Gadewch i ni obeithio bod mwy y gallwn ni ei wneud wrth symud ymlaen i wella cyflogau gweithwyr gofal ar draws y sector.
Gweinidog, tynnais sylw yn y datganiad busnes yr wythnos diwethaf at y sefyllfa ym Mhowys lle mae pecynnau gofal yn cael eu trosglwyddo'n ôl i'r awdurdod lleol oherwydd y prinder mawr o staff gofal. Gweinidog, gwn fod y bwrdd partneriaeth rhanbarthol yn bwriadu sefydlu academi iechyd a gofal ym Mhowys, ond, Dirprwy Weinidog, pa ymyraethau eraill y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu gwneud i sicrhau bod gennym ddigon o staff gofal yn y sector hwn wrth symud ymlaen, ar ben y cyhoeddiad i'w groesawu a wnaethoch chi heddiw?
Thank you very much, James, for welcoming the announcement and the comments that you've made. I think it's absolutely vital that we do all we can to attract more people into the system. I'm aware that care packages are being given back due to staff shortages. We have been working very hard to try to attract more care workers. We've had a huge advertising campaign, which many people will have seen. Social Care Wales has spent—. We have given Social Care Wales money to advertise the vacancies in this sector and also to promote what a valuable job it is. I think, as we all recognise, you couldn't really do a much more valuable job than be looking after vulnerable people. Also, we've been offering free training to people who want to come into the sector, and I welcome the proposal for the health and care academy. I think the key issue is that we have to get health and social care working much more closely together, and that will solve a lot of these issues. That's why the health Minister and I have been working so closely together and meeting every week with representatives from the health boards and the local authorities in the care action committee. But I think it is that working together that will enable us to move forward.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, James, am groesawu'r cyhoeddiad a'r sylwadau yr ydych wedi'u gwneud. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i ddenu mwy o bobl i'r system. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod pecynnau gofal yn cael eu rhoi yn ôl oherwydd prinder staff. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn i geisio denu mwy o weithwyr gofal. Rydym wedi cael ymgyrch hysbysebu enfawr, y bydd llawer o bobl wedi'i gweld. Mae Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru wedi gwario—. Rydym wedi rhoi arian i Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru i hysbysebu'r swyddi gwag yn y sector hwn a hefyd i hyrwyddo pa mor werthfawr yw'r swydd honno. Rwy'n credu, fel y mae pob un ohonoch yn cydnabod, na allech wneud gwaith llawer mwy gwerthfawr na gofalu am bobl sy'n agored i niwed. Hefyd, rydym wedi bod yn cynnig hyfforddiant am ddim i bobl sydd eisiau dod i mewn i'r sector, ac rwy'n croesawu'r cynnig ar gyfer yr academi iechyd a gofal. Rwy'n credu mai'r mater allweddol yw bod yn rhaid i ni sicrhau bod iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn gweithio'n agosach o lawer gyda'i gilydd, a bydd hynny'n datrys llawer o'r problemau hyn. Dyna pam y mae'r Gweinidog iechyd a minnau wedi bod yn gweithio mor agos gyda'n gilydd ac yn cyfarfod bob wythnos gyda chynrychiolwyr o'r byrddau iechyd a'r awdurdodau lleol yn y pwyllgor gweithredu gofal. Ond rwy'n credu mai cydweithio fydd yn ein galluogi ni i symud ymlaen.
I very much welcome the statement and the announcement. I start off from the belief that everyone in Wales should be paid at least the real living wage, and I think that's something that we need to be pushing in every possible way we can. The second thing I would like to say is that I welcomed the original commitment to introduce the real living wage in this Senedd term, and I'm pleased it will be introduced from April, helping fund care services facing recruitment and retention problems. But, we need equality of esteem and pay between the health and care sector. How often do we see people working in care going to work in health because they can get paid more doing roughly the same job?
I've got two questions. Is the £43 million, which will be made available to local authorities and health boards to deliver the real living wage from April, sufficient to fund the increase? And, does the £1,498 for social care workers, who will be paid the real living wage, include cooks and other non-direct care providers? Finally, can I just remind Members just how the Scottish National Party in Scotland have driven up poverty?
Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n dechrau o'r gred y dylai pawb yng Nghymru gael eu talu o leiaf y cyflog byw gwirioneddol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae angen i ni fod yn ei wthio ym mhob ffordd bosibl. Yr ail beth yr hoffwn i ei ddweud yw fy mod yn croesawu'r ymrwymiad gwreiddiol i gyflwyno'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol yn nhymor y Senedd hon, ac rwy'n falch y caiff ei gyflwyno o fis Ebrill ymlaen, gan helpu i ariannu gwasanaethau gofal sy'n wynebu problemau recriwtio a chadw. Ond, mae angen parch a chyflog cyfartal arnom rhwng y sector iechyd a gofal. Pa mor aml y gwelwn ni bobl sy'n gweithio mewn gofal yn mynd i weithio ym maes iechyd oherwydd y gallan nhw gael mwy o dâl yn gwneud yr un swydd fwy neu lai?
Mae gen i ddau gwestiwn. A yw'r £43 miliwn, a fydd ar gael i awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd i gyflawni'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol o fis Ebrill ymlaen, yn ddigonol i ariannu'r cynnydd? Ac, a yw'r £1,498 ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol, a fydd yn cael y cyflog byw gwirioneddol, yn cynnwys cogyddion a darparwyr gofal eraill nad ydyn nhw'n ddarparwyr uniongyrchol? Yn olaf, a gaf i atgoffa'r Aelodau sut y mae'r Scottish National Party yn yr Alban wedi cynyddu tlodi?
Thank you, Mike, very much, and thank you for your welcome for these proposals. I absolutely agree that everyone in Wales needs to be paid the real living wage, but what we're tackling here are the people who directly deliver social care. And those who deliver it indirectly, of course I think they should be paid the real living wage as well, but what we're trying to do is boost the profession of social care to move towards parity with what is received in the NHS.
The £43 million, we believe, yes, it is sufficient. We've come up with that figure working very closely with the ADSS—the Association of Directors of Social Services—and this £43 million does include £6.7 million that will be coming from the health boards, which will come out of the health budget to pay for the care that the health boards commission. So, I am confident that the £43 million will be enough to fund this proposal.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mike, a diolch yn fawr am eich croeso i'r cynigion hyn. Rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr fod angen talu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i bawb yng Nghymru, ond yr hyn yr ydym yn mynd i'r afael ag ef yma yw'r bobl sy'n darparu gofal cymdeithasol yn uniongyrchol. A'r rhai sy'n ei gyflawni'n anuniongyrchol, wrth gwrs, rwy'n credu y dylid talu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol iddyn nhw hefyd, ond yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio'i wneud yw rhoi hwb i'r proffesiwn gofal cymdeithasol i symud tuag at gydraddoldeb â'r hyn a geir yn y GIG.
Mae'r £43 miliwn, yn ein barn ni, yn ddigonol. Rydym wedi penderfynu ar y ffigur hwnnw drwy weithio'n agos iawn gyda'r ADSS—Cymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol—ac mae'r £43 miliwn hwn yn cynnwys £6.7 miliwn a fydd yn dod o'r byrddau iechyd, a fydd yn dod o'r gyllideb iechyd i dalu am y gofal y mae'r byrddau iechyd yn ei gomisiynu. Felly, rwy'n ffyddiog y bydd y £43 miliwn yn ddigon i ariannu'r cynnig hwn.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement. I do welcome this as a big step in the right direction. You'll be aware that the Welsh Conservatives made a commitment in our manifesto for the Senedd elections of a pay rate of £10 an hour, which is just 10p more than yours, which I hoped you would have been able to stretch to, but obviously I appreciate that this is something that we're all wanting to work towards in terms of the wider recognition of the social care workforce.
You made reference to the fact that senior care staff and managers in care homes and senior managers in domiciliary care will also be in receipt of the bonus as well, which is being given to the social care workforce this year, but I didn't hear any reference to kitchen staff or cleaners in these care homes, all of whom are working really hard and have done throughout the pandemic, and I feel also need to be recognised in terms of the contribution that they've made. Can you confirm today that you'll look into whether the Welsh Government has the resources in order to recognise those extremely valuable and essential roles that kitchen staff and cleaning staff in care homes have been doing during the pandemic, by giving them the same bonus after tax that these front-line care workers will also be receiving?
Diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog, am eich datganiad. Rwy'n croesawu hwn fel cam mawr i'r cyfeiriad cywir. Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi ymrwymo yn ein maniffesto ar gyfer etholiadau'r Senedd i gyfradd cyflog o £10 yr awr, sydd dim ond 10c yn fwy nag eich un chi, ac roeddwn yn gobeithio y byddech wedi gallu ymestyn at hynny, ond yn amlwg rwy'n sylweddoli bod hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni i gyd eisiau gweithio tuag ato o ran cydnabyddiaeth ehangach o'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol.
Cyfeirioch chi at y ffaith y bydd uwch staff gofal a rheolwyr mewn cartrefi gofal ac uwch reolwyr mewn gofal cartref hefyd yn derbyn y bonws, sy'n cael ei roi i'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol eleni, ond ni chlywais unrhyw gyfeiriad at staff cegin na glanhawyr yn y cartrefi gofal hyn, mae pob un ohonyn nhw'n gweithio'n galed iawn ac wedi gwneud drwy gydol y pandemig, ac rwy'n credu hefyd fod angen eu cydnabod o ran y cyfraniad y maen nhw wedi'i wneud. A allwch chi gadarnhau heddiw y byddwch yn ystyried a oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru yr adnoddau er mwyn cydnabod y swyddogaethau hynod werthfawr a hanfodol hynny y mae staff cegin a staff glanhau mewn cartrefi gofal wedi bod yn eu gwneud yn ystod y pandemig, drwy roi'r un bonws iddyn nhw ar ôl treth â'r hyn y bydd y gweithwyr gofal rheng flaen hyn hefyd yn ei gael?
Thank you, Darren Millar, for welcoming this payment as a step in the right direction. I welcome his support. Yes, senior care staff and managers will receive the additional payment, and I think that I want to repeat, really, that our purpose is to try to professionalise the workforce—those who are directly giving care, the direct care givers.
We did give two recognition payments during the course of the pandemic: one in 2020 and one in 2021; one of £500 and one of £725. The first one did go to all staff in the social care field. For example, in care homes, all the people working in the care homes had them, and the £725 went to all health and social care staff. So, those were recognition payments, but this is not a recognition payment in that way. The recognition payments were recognising the risks that those staff took and how they were so close to all the perils of the pandemic, really, and what a huge amount they put in. So, those were recognition payments; this isn't a recognition payment.
This is a payment that's going to be implemented along with the real living wage and is trying to move the social care staff who directly deliver this care to a professional body. By itself, it's not enough; I think we've said that already today. There's an awful lot more that's got to be done in terms of terms and conditions and development and opportunities for training—all those things—and those are the things we want to move on to next, but in no way are we not recognising what those other staff have done.FootnoteLink
Diolch, Darren Millar, am groesawu'r taliad hwn fel cam i'r cyfeiriad cywir. Rwy'n croesawu ei gefnogaeth. Bydd, bydd uwch staff gofal a rheolwyr yn cael y taliad ychwanegol, ac rwy'n credu fy mod eisiau ailadrodd, mewn gwirionedd, mai ein diben yw ceisio proffesiynoli'r gweithlu—y rhai sy'n rhoi gofal yn uniongyrchol, y rhoddwyr gofal uniongyrchol.
Gwnaethom ni roi dau daliad cydnabyddiaeth yn ystod y pandemig: un yn 2020 ac un yn 2021; un o £500 ac un o £725. Aeth yr un cyntaf at yr holl staff yn y maes gofal cymdeithasol. Er enghraifft, mewn cartrefi gofal, roedd pawb a oedd yn gweithio yn y cartrefi gofal wedi'u gael, ac aeth y £725 i'r holl staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Felly, taliadau cydnabyddiaeth oedd y rheini, ond nid yw hyn yn daliad cydnabyddiaeth yn y modd hwnnw. Roedd y taliadau cydnabod yn cydnabod y risgiau a gymerodd y staff hynny a sut yr oedden nhw mor agos at holl beryglon y pandemig, mewn gwirionedd, a'r hyn a wnaethon nhw gyfrannu. Felly, taliadau cydnabyddiaeth oedd y rheini; nid yw hwn yn daliad cydnabyddiaeth.
Mae hwn yn daliad a fydd yn cael ei weithredu ynghyd â'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol ac mae'n ceisio symud y staff gofal cymdeithasol sy'n darparu'r gofal hwn yn uniongyrchol i gorff proffesiynol. Ar ei ben ei hun, nid yw'n ddigon; rwy'n credu ein bod wedi dweud hynny eisoes heddiw. Mae llawer iawn mwy y mae'n rhaid ei wneud o ran telerau ac amodau a datblygiad a chyfleoedd ar gyfer hyfforddiant—yr holl bethau hynny—a dyna'r pethau yr ydym ni eisiau symud ymlaen atyn nhw nesaf, ond nid ydym yn peidio â chydnabod yr hyn y mae'r staff eraill hynny wedi'i wneud mewn unrhyw ffordd.FootnoteLink
Thank you, and thank you, Deputy Minister for Social Services. We will now suspend proceedings to allow a changeover in the Siambr. If you are leaving the Siambr, please do so promptly, and the bell will be rung two minutes before proceedings restart. Any Members who are arriving after a changeover should wait until then before entering the Siambr.
Diolch, a diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Byddwn yn awr yn atal y trafodion i ganiatáu newid yn y Siambr. Os ydych yn gadael y Siambr, gwnewch hynny'n brydlon, a bydd y gloch yn cael ei chanu dwy funud cyn i'r trafodion ailgychwyn. Dylai unrhyw Aelodau sy'n cyrraedd ar ôl y newid aros tan hynny cyn mynd i mewn i'r Siambr.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:55.
Plenary was suspended at 15:55.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 16:02, gyda'r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 16:02, with the Llywydd in the Chair.
Eitem 5 fydd yr eitem nesaf y prynhawn yma, a hwnnw yw Rheoliadau Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 (Diwygio Atodlen 9A) 2022. Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd i wneud y cynnig yma—Julie James.
Item 5 will be the next item this afternoon, and that is the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Amendment of Schedule 9A) Regulations 2022. I call on the Minister for Climate Change to move this motion—Julie James.
Cynnig NDM7917 Lesley Griffiths
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 (Diwygio Atodlen 9A) 2022 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 12 Ionawr 2022.
Motion NDM7917 Lesley Griffiths
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Amendment of Schedule 9A) Regulations 2022 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 12 January 2022.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. These regulations form part of a wider set of statutory instruments that I am laying to support the implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Members will be aware from my written statement last month that the Welsh Government's intention is that all of the provisions of the Act will be commenced in July of this year. To enable this to happen, a number of statutory instruments will be required to support the day-to-day operation of the Act. For example, I have already laid SIs that set out the information that landlords must provide to all contract holders in future, and regulations that will ensure that the accommodation landlords let is fit for human habitation.
The Schedule 9A amendment regulations before us today help to ensure that landlords are meeting their responsibilities with regard to the standard and safety of their properties, and are related to the fitness for human habitation requirements. Schedule 9A to the Act already restricts landlords in certain circumstances from exercising a landlord's break clause in a fixed-term standard contract, or issuing a landlord's notice under section 173 or section 186 of the Act to end a contract where the contract holder is not at fault. An example of one of these circumstances is where the landlord has failed to comply with the statutory requirement to provide the contract holder with a written statement of their occupation contract.
The Schedule 9A amendment regulations will add four further restrictions on a landlord's ability to issue a landlord's notice or trigger a break clause. These are: if an energy performance certificate has not been provided in relation to the property being let; if hard-wired smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms have not been fitted; or if a valid electrical condition report or a gas safety certificate have not been provided in relation to the property. If a landlord has not met these requirements they will not be able to serve a no-fault notice or trigger a break clause. Our aim in making these regulations is to encourage landlords to meet the important obligations relating to the safety of energy efficiency of the properties they let, and we are seeking to achieve this by restricting any landlord who has not complied with these obligations from being able to issue a no-fault notice to end a contract or to trigger a break clause in a fixed-term contract. This restriction will apply until such time as they have put things right.
In summary, these regulations should be seen in the context of our overarching aim of improving security of tenure for contract holders who have not breached the terms of their contract, and our wider drive to support the increasing professionalisation of the private rented sector and to provide a safe home for everyone in Wales. I've noted the points raised by the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in relation to these regulations and have responded to the committee on all of the points raised. I ask Members to approve these regulations today. Diolch.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn rhan o gyfres ehangach o offerynnau statudol yr wyf i'n eu gosod i gefnogi gweithredu Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol o fy natganiad ysgrifenedig fis diwethaf mai bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru yw y bydd holl ddarpariaethau'r Ddeddf yn dechrau ym mis Gorffennaf eleni. Er mwyn galluogi hyn i ddigwydd, bydd yn ofynnol i nifer o offerynnau statudol gefnogi gweithrediad y Ddeddf o ddydd i ddydd. Er enghraifft, yr wyf eisoes wedi gosod offerynnau statudol sy'n nodi'r wybodaeth y mae'n rhaid i landlordiaid ei darparu i bob deiliad contract yn y dyfodol, a rheoliadau a fydd yn sicrhau bod y llety y mae landlordiaid yn ei osod yn ffit i fod yn gartref.
Mae rheoliadau diwygio Atodlen 9A sydd ger ein bron heddiw yn helpu i sicrhau bod landlordiaid yn cyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau o ran safon a diogelwch eu heiddo, ac yn gysylltiedig â'r gofynion ffitrwydd i fod yn gartref. Mae Atodlen 9A i'r Ddeddf eisoes yn cyfyngu ar landlordiaid o dan rai amgylchiadau rhag arfer cymal terfynu landlord mewn contract safonol cyfnod penodol, neu roi hysbysiad landlord o dan adran 173 neu adran 186 o'r Ddeddf i derfynu contract pan nad yw deiliad y contract ar fai. Un enghraifft o un o'r amgylchiadau hyn yw pan fo'r landlord wedi methu â chydymffurfio â'r gofyniad statudol i ddarparu datganiad ysgrifenedig o'i gontract meddiannaeth i ddeiliad y contract.
Bydd rheoliadau diwygio Atodlen 9A yn ychwanegu pedwar cyfyngiad pellach ar allu landlord i roi hysbysiad landlord neu sbarduno cymal terfynu. Y rhain yw: os nad oes tystysgrif perfformiad ynni wedi'i darparu mewn cysylltiad â'r eiddo sy'n cael ei osod; os nad yw larymau mwg neu larymau carbon monocsid gwifredig wedi'u gosod; neu os nad yw adroddiad cyflwr trydanol dilys neu dystysgrif diogelwch nwy wedi'i ddarparu mewn cysylltiad â'r eiddo. Os nad yw landlord wedi bodloni'r gofynion hyn, ni fydd yn gallu cyflwyno hysbysiad "dim bai" na sbarduno cymal terfynu. Ein nod wrth wneud y rheoliadau hyn yw annog landlordiaid i gyflawni'r rhwymedigaethau pwysig sy'n ymwneud â diogelwch effeithlonrwydd ynni'r eiddo a osodir ganddyn nhw, ac rydym yn ceisio cyflawni hyn drwy gyfyngu ar unrhyw landlord nad yw wedi cydymffurfio â'r rhwymedigaethau hyn rhag gallu cyhoeddi hysbysiad "dim bai" i ddod â chontract i ben neu i sbarduno cymal terfynu mewn contract cyfnod penodol. Bydd y cyfyngiad hwn yn gymwys hyd nes y byddant wedi unioni pethau.
I grynhoi, dylid gweld y rheoliadau hyn yng nghyd-destun ein nod cyffredinol o wella diogelwch deiliadaeth ar gyfer deiliaid contract nad ydyn nhw wedi torri telerau eu contract, a'n hymgyrch ehangach i gefnogi proffesiynoldeb cynyddol y sector rhentu preifat a darparu cartref diogel i bawb yng Nghymru. Rwyf wedi nodi'r pwyntiau a godwyd gan y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad mewn cysylltiad â'r rheoliadau hyn ac wedi ymateb i'r pwyllgor ar yr holl bwyntiau a godwyd. Gofynnaf i'r Aelodau gymeradwyo'r rheoliadau hyn heddiw. Diolch.
Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad, Huw Irranca-Davies.
I call on the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch, Lywydd. Gydag eich gwahoddiad, dyma fydd y cyntaf o bum araith y byddaf yn eu gwneud am waith craffu fy mhwyllgor dros yr wythnosau diwethaf. Rydw i felly yn bwriadu cadw ffocws i’m cyfraniadau.
Thank you, Llywydd. With your invitation, this will the first of five speeches I will give in relation to scrutiny undertaken by my committee in recent weeks. I will therefore aim to keep my contributions focused.
I'll try to keep this as short as possible. We considered these regulations at our meeting on 31 January, and our report to the Senedd contains two merits reporting points. These regulations, as the Minister has said, amend the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 to place two further restrictions on a landlord’s ability to issue a notice seeking possession—first, if an energy performance certificate has not been provided, and, second, if certain health and safety requirements have not been met.
We noted in our report that regulations 3 and 4 prevent a landlord from giving notice if there are breaches of certain statutory obligations. Any provision that interferes with an individual’s property, or use of that property, will potentially engage article 1, protocol 1 to the European convention on human rights. The explanatory memorandum does not contain a justification for the interference with human rights. So, as such, we asked the Welsh Government to provide details of the human rights assessment that it undertook in relation to these particular regulations. In its response to our report, the Government explained that, provided a landlord is in compliance with the two statutory obligations, any harmful effect is mitigated. As such, the Government was satisfied that the regulations are indeed compatible with the convention on human rights.
Our second reporting point drew attention to the use of Henry VIII powers. It won't only be this Minister that's familiar with us drawing attention to these. These regulations amend primary legislation, in this case the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. During Stage 1 scrutiny of the then Bill, our predecessor committee sought clarification in relation to the justification for the use of these Henry VIII powers. The then Minister’s response stated that the Government needed to have the flexibility to react to how the housing landscape evolves over time and to make appropriate provision as necessary. In its response to our reporting point, the Government noted the response to our predecessor committee’s request for clarification on the use of such powers, but indicated it had nothing further to add. So, I think we'll have to call this a score draw for now.
Fe geisiaf gadw hyn mor fyr â phosibl. Gwnaethom ni ystyried y rheoliadau hyn yn ein cyfarfod ar 31 Ionawr, ac mae ein hadroddiad i'r Senedd yn cynnwys dau bwynt adrodd rhagoriaeth. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, yn diwygio Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 i osod dau gyfyngiad pellach ar allu landlord i roi hysbysiad sy'n ceisio meddiant—yn gyntaf, os nad oes tystysgrif perfformiad ynni wedi'i darparu, ac, yn ail, os nad yw gofynion iechyd a diogelwch penodol wedi'u bodloni.
Nodwyd yn ein hadroddiad fod rheoliadau 3 a 4 yn atal landlord rhag rhoi hysbysiad os bydd rhwymedigaethau statudol penodol yn cael eu torri. Bydd unrhyw ddarpariaeth sy'n ymyrryd ag eiddo unigolyn, neu ddefnydd o'r eiddo hwnnw, o bosibl yn tanio erthygl 1, protocol 1 y confensiwn Ewropeaidd ar hawliau dynol. Nid yw'r memorandwm esboniadol yn cynnwys cyfiawnhad dros yr ymyrraeth â hawliau dynol. Felly, fel y cyfryw, gofynnwyd i Lywodraeth Cymru ddarparu manylion yr asesiad hawliau dynol a wnaeth mewn cysylltiad â'r rheoliadau penodol hyn. Yn ei hymateb i'n hadroddiad, eglurodd y Llywodraeth, ar yr amod bod landlord yn cydymffurfio â'r ddwy rwymedigaeth statudol, fod unrhyw effaith niweidiol yn cael ei lliniaru. O'r herwydd, roedd y Llywodraeth yn fodlon bod y rheoliadau'n wir yn gydnaws â'r confensiwn ar hawliau dynol.
Tynnodd ein hail bwynt adrodd sylw at y defnydd o bwerau Harri VIII. Nid y Gweinidog hwn yn unig sy'n gyfarwydd â ni'n tynnu sylw at y rhain. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn diwygio deddfwriaeth sylfaenol, yn yr achos hwn Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016. Yn ystod gwaith craffu Cyfnod 1 ar y Bil ar y pryd, gofynnodd ein pwyllgor blaenorol am eglurhad mewn cysylltiad â'r cyfiawnhad dros ddefnyddio'r pwerau Harri VIII hyn. Nododd ymateb y Gweinidog ar y pryd fod angen i'r Llywodraeth gael yr hyblygrwydd i ymateb i'r ffordd y mae'r dirwedd dai yn esblygu dros amser ac i wneud darpariaeth briodol yn ôl yr angen. Yn ei hymateb i'n pwynt adrodd, nododd y Llywodraeth yr ymateb i gais ein pwyllgor blaenorol am eglurhad ar y defnydd o bwerau o'r fath, ond nododd nad oedd ganddi ddim byd pellach i'w ychwanegu. Felly, rwy'n credu y bydd yn rhaid i ni alw hon yn gêm gyfartal ei sgôr am y tro.
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd, a diolch i'r Gweinidog hefyd.
Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you, Minister.
I would like to refer Members to my own declaration of interest form regarding property ownership.
Minister, I thank you for laying these regulations, and can confirm that we will be voting in favour. Energy performance certificates should be provided as a bare minimum and the requirements of the Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 should certainly be met. In fact, it is only common decency to also expect landlords to install carbon monoxide alarms. Every year, there are still approximately 30 accidental deaths from acute carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales, and over 200 non-fatal poisonings requiring hospital admission.
I can see no objection either to obtaining an electrical condition report. This could be a positive step in ensuring that our nation sees fewer electrical fires caused by wiring, cabling and plugs. Across Wales, there were 772 incidents between 2014 and 2019. One of the aims of the regulations is to prevent landlords from attempting to take so-called retaliatory evictions in situations where a contract holder has brought to their attention an issue of safety or disrepair—quite rightly. Safety issues, disrepair and any inadequate housing leading to dangerous situations must be addressed.
The explanatory memorandum states that the Welsh Government has undertaken a considerable amount of work in recent years to tackle poor practice by landlords in Wales. This includes a landlord registration and licensing scheme designed to raise professional standards in the sector. Now that this scheme is, I think, about five years old now, even if it's not today, I would like the Minister to make a statement at some stage as to the benefits to both landlords and tenants that Rent Smart Wales has actually brought. We know now that there have been 4,584 deregistrations or deactivated landlords in Rent Smart Wales between 2018 and 2021.
Whilst I acknowledge that you had a public consultation on increasing the minimum notice period for a no-fault eviction in 2019, I would still have some concerns that no formal consultation has been undertaken specifically in relation to these regs. It is clear from the stakeholder groups that I hold and speak to within the sector that there is still this divide between them and the Welsh Government. It would help greatly if you could use every possible opportunity to engage and co-operate with them. Therefore, should further regulations in relation to the rental sector be forthcoming, will you assure the sector that there will be a fresh opportunity for them to be consulted? Diolch.
Hoffwn gyfeirio Aelodau at fy ffurflen datgan buddiant fy hun ynghylch perchnogaeth eiddo.
Gweinidog, diolch i chi am osod y rheoliadau hyn, a gallaf gadarnhau y byddwn ni'n pleidleisio o blaid. Dylid o leiaf ddarparu tystysgrifau perfformiad ynni a dylid bodloni gofynion Rheoliadau Rhentu Cartrefi (Ffitrwydd i fod yn Gartref) (Cymru) 2022 yn sicr. Yn wir, nid yw ond yn gwrteisi cyffredin i ddisgwyl i landlordiaid osod larymau carbon monocsid hefyd. Bob blwyddyn, mae tua 30 o farwolaethau damweiniol o hyd oherwydd gwenwyno carbon monocsid acíwt yng Nghymru a Lloegr, a thros 200 o achosion o wenwyno nad ydyn nhw'n angheuol ond bod angen triniaeth mewn ysbyty.
Ni allaf weld unrhyw wrthwynebiad ychwaith i gael adroddiad cyflwr trydanol. Gallai hyn fod yn gam cadarnhaol o ran sicrhau bod ein cenedl yn gweld llai o danau trydan yn cael eu hachosi gan wifrau, ceblau a phlygiau. Ledled Cymru, roedd 772 o ddigwyddiadau rhwng 2014 a 2019. Un o amcanion y rheoliadau yw atal landlordiaid rhag ceisio cymryd camau troi allan dialgar fel y'i gelwir mewn sefyllfaoedd lle mae deiliad contract wedi tynnu eu sylw at fater o ddiogelwch neu gyflwr gwael—yn gwbl briodol. Rhaid mynd i'r afael â materion diogelwch, cyflwr gwael ac unrhyw dai annigonol sy'n arwain at sefyllfaoedd peryglus.
Mae'r memorandwm esboniadol yn nodi bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud cryn dipyn o waith yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf i fynd i'r afael ag arferion gwael gan landlordiaid yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cynllun cofrestru a thrwyddedu landlordiaid a gynlluniwyd i godi safonau proffesiynol yn y sector. Gan fod y cynllun hwn, rwy'n credu, tua phum mlwydd oed yn awr, hyd yn oed os nad heddiw, hoffwn i'r Gweinidog wneud datganiad ar ryw adeg ynglŷn â'r manteision i landlordiaid a thenantiaid y mae Rhentu Doeth Cymru wedi'u cyflwyno mewn gwirionedd. Gwyddom yn awr fod 4,584 o achosion o ddadgofrestru neu landlordiaid wedi'u gwneud yn anweithredol yn Rhentu Doeth Cymru rhwng 2018 a 2021.
Er fy mod yn cydnabod eich bod wedi cael ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar gynyddu'r cyfnod rhybudd lleiaf ar gyfer troi allan heb fai yn 2019, byddai gennyf rai pryderon o hyd nad oes ymgynghoriad ffurfiol wedi'i gynnal yn benodol mewn cysylltiad â'r rheoliadau hyn. Mae'n amlwg o'r grwpiau rhanddeiliaid yr wyf yn eu cynnal ac yn siarad â hwy o fewn y sector fod y rhaniad hwn rhyngddyn nhw a Llywodraeth Cymru yn bodoli o hyd. Byddai'n helpu'n fawr pe gallech ddefnyddio pob cyfle posibl i ymgysylltu a chydweithredu â nhw. Felly, pe bai rheoliadau pellach mewn cysylltiad â'r sector rhentu ar gael, a wnewch chi sicrhau'r sector y bydd cyfle newydd iddyn nhw ymgynghori â nhw? Diolch.
Mabon ap Gwynfor. Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Mabon ap Gwynfor. Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch. Doeddwn i ddim wedi clywed yn glir fanna—mae'n flin gen i. Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Llywydd am hynny. A gaf i hefyd ddatgan diddordeb a thynnu eich sylw at fy nghofrestr buddiannau? Mae'r rheoliadau yma yn gam sylweddol i’r cyfeiriad cywir er mwyn gwella ansawdd tai yng Nghymru. Byddwn ni felly yn cefnogi'r cynnig yma heddiw, ond cyfyd ambell i bwynt yr hoffwn eglurhad yn eu cylch, os gwelwch yn dda, gan y Gweinidog.
Mae’r rheoliadau yn gosod allan cyfyngiadau ar roi rhybuddion. Os nad ydy landlord yn cyrraedd y safonau, yna caiff ei annog i gydymffurfio â’r disgwyliadau er mwyn medru rhoi rhybudd i’r tenant. Ond, beth am y tenantiaid sydd wedi eu cloi mewn llety preifat o safon isel, ac sydd ddim mewn safle i adael oherwydd amgylchiadau ariannol neu eraill? Os nad ydyn nhw’n cyflwyno rhybudd neu os nad ydy’r landlord yn gwneud hynny, yna beth sydd am annog y landlord i sicrhau fod yr eiddo yn cyrraedd y safonau angenrheidiol bryd hynny?
O ran effeithlonrwydd, mi fyddwch yn gwybod mai Cymru sydd â’r stoc dai hynaf yn y wladwriaeth hon, a’r sector rhent breifat sydd efo’r stoc dai hynaf hefyd, efo canran uwch o dai o ansawdd gwael. Ac mae canran y tai yn y sector rhent breifat wedi cynyddu yn sylweddol ers 1981. Dangosodd arolwg cyflwr tai Cymru 2017-18 ei bod wedi cymryd 10 mlynedd i gyfartaledd y band effeithlonrwydd wella o fand E i fand D. Yn naturiol, fflatiau oedd y mwyaf effeithiol efo 55 y cant o fflatiau â chyfradd effeithlonrwydd band C neu well, o’u cymharu â thai, oedd â 25 y cant yn unig yn cyrraedd y lefel yma. Ac mae’r tai yn ein cymunedau gwledig yn llai effeithiol fyth. Felly, pa gamau mae’r Llywodraeth am eu cymryd i gyflymu’r broses o wella ansawdd tai, o ystyried ei fod wedi cymryd 10 mlynedd i wella effeithlonrwydd ynni o un band i’r llall yn unig? Sut bydd y Llywodraeth yn targedu eu gweithredoedd er mwyn sicrhau bod effeithlonrwydd yn gwella yn yr ardaloedd lleiaf effeithlon, yn benodol yn ein cymunedau gwledig?
Bydd y rheoliadau yma yn sicr yn creu cytundeb hir a chymhleth i’r tenant, efo nifer fawr o’r rheoliadau yn cael eu hymgorffori yng nghorff y cytundeb rhwng y tenant a’r landlord. Sut mae disgwyl i bobl gyffredin ddeall beth ydy eu hawliau mewn dogfen mor hirfaith? Felly, pa gamau mae’r Llywodraeth am eu cymryd i wneud y broses yn symlach, neu pa gymorth fydd ar gael i sicrhau fod tenantiaid yn deall y cytundeb?
Yn olaf, o ran y Ddeddf yn ehangach, mi fyddwch yn gwybod fod y Ddeddf, fel ag y mae wedi ei llunio, yn gwneud pethau yn anodd iawn i’r enwadau crefyddol sydd yn gosod tai fel mans i’w gweinidogion, ficeriaid neu arweinyddion crefyddol. Mae rhai enwadau wedi dechrau gwerthu eu tai oherwydd yr anawsterau yma yn barod. Mae’r cyfnod rhybudd o chwe mis yn cael ei ostwng i ddau fis i bobl cyflogedig i’r cwmni sydd yn berchen yr eiddo, ond dydy hyn ddim yn berthnasol i enwadau crefyddol. A wnewch chi ystyried addasu’r Ddeddf ymhellach i adlewyrchu statws cyflogedig gweinidogion, ficeriaid ac arweinyddion crefyddol, neu a fyddech, Weinidog, gystal â chael cyfarfod rhwng Cytûn a minnau yn y dyfodol agos i drafod y sefyllfa ymhellach? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you. I didn't hear you clearly—I'm sorry. Thank you very much, Llywydd, for that. May I also declare an interest and draw your attention to my register of interests, please? These regulations are a significant step in the right direction to improve the quality of housing in Wales. We will therefore be supporting this proposal today, but I would seek clarification on some points, please, from the Minister.
The regulations set out limits on the issuing of notices. If a landlord does not reach the required standards, they are encouraged to comply with the requirements to be able to give the tenants notice. But what about those tenants who are locked into poor-quality private accommodation, and who aren't in a position to leave because of financial circumstances or other reasons? If they don't give notice or the landlord doesn't do so, then what will encourage the landlord to ensure that the accommodation reaches the standards required at that point?
In terms of efficiency, you will know that Wales has the oldest housing stock in this state, and it is the private rented sector that has the oldest housing stock too, with a higher percentage of poor quality homes. And the percentage of homes in the private rented sector has increased significantly since 1981. The Welsh housing conditions survey 2017-18 showed that it has taken 10 years for the average efficiency band to improve from band E to band D. Naturally, flats were the most efficient homes, with 55 per cent of flats achieving band C energy rating or better, as compared to only 25 per cent of houses that reach the same level. And the houses in our rural communities are even less efficient. So, what steps are the Government taking to accelerate the process of improving the quality of housing in Wales, bearing in mind that it has taken 10 years to improve energy efficiency from one band to another? How will the Government target its actions to ensure that efficiency improves in the least energy-efficient areas, particularly our rural communities?
These regulations will certainly lead to lengthy and complex contracts for tenants, with a large number of regulations incorporated into the contract between the tenant and landlord. How can people understand what their rights are in such a lengthy document? So, what steps are the Government taking to simplify the process, or what support will be available to ensure that tenants understand their contracts?
Finally, in terms of the legislation more widely, you will know that the legislation, as it currently stands, makes it very difficult for those religious denominations that let homes as a manse for their ministers, vicars or religious leaders. Some denominations have started to sell their properties because of these difficulties. A notice period of six months is shortened to two months for people employed by the company that owns a property, but that does not apply to religious denominations. Will you consider amending the legislation further to reflect the employment status of ministers, vicars and religious leaders, or would you be willing, Minister, to meet with Cytûn and me in the near future to discuss the situation further? Thank you very much.
Y Gweinidog nawr i ymateb i'r ddadl—Julie James.
The Minister to reply to the debate—Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. I've already addressed the issues on the Human Rights Act in terms of the LJC committee. We are very satisfied that the Act complies with all of the human rights legislation, as Huw set out.
In terms of the points that Janet made, the number of landlords fluctuates over time as new landlords enter the market and others leave. So, she's quite right in saying that figures from Rent Smart Wales indicate just over 4,500 de-registrations over the past three financial years, some of which could of course have been incorrect duplications. There were also nearly 30,000 new landlord registrations during the same period. It's always good to read to the bottom of the page, I say.
So, there's no direct link to the number of private rental properties as the number of properties held by each landlord can also change. I understand that the latest figures from Rent Smart Wales indicate that the number of PRS properties is similar to the published dwelling stock estimates, which have remained at just over 200,000 since around 2015—so, despite the dire warnings about the same in the stock. Obviously, the changes in legislation may introduce some resulting reduction in the flexibility a landlord currently has, but the legislation will not significantly affect the most important driver for investment in the private rented sector, which is of course the rate of return on the investment.
In terms of Mabon's first point, the Act already provides for a new fitness obligation on landlords, and protects tenants against retaliatory eviction if they seek repairs. There is plain language guidance on the contract, which will be available. I have already considered the religious orders point, Mabon. We had an extensive conversation during the passage of the amendment Act with them, and I've advised the church that if it, or any other denominational faith group or ministers or faith leaders, require advice as to the application of the law to their particular arrangements, they will need to seek that independently. That should then be discrete as to the application of the law. It will be a matter for the courts to make the determination.
So, I'm afraid that I have no intention of excluding properties occupied for ministers of religion or other faith leaders, for that matter, nor of retaining a two-month landlords' notice period for church-owned properties, as I consider that people who are tenants of the church are entitled to the same amount of protection as other people. Other than that, Llywydd, I think that I covered all points in my opening remarks, and I commend the regulations to the Senedd.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwyf eisoes wedi mynd i'r afael â'r materion ar y Ddeddf Hawliau Dynol o ran y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a’r Cyfansoddiad. Rydym yn fodlon iawn bod y Ddeddf yn cydymffurfio â'r holl ddeddfwriaeth hawliau dynol, fel y nododd Huw.
O ran y pwyntiau a wnaeth Janet, mae nifer y landlordiaid yn amrywio dros amser wrth i landlordiaid newydd fynd i mewn i'r farchnad ac eraill yn gadael. Felly, mae hi yn llygad ei lle wrth ddweud bod ffigurau gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn dangos ychydig dros 4,500 o achosion o ddadgofrestru dros y tair blynedd ariannol ddiwethaf, a gallai rhai ohonyn nhw, wrth gwrs, fod wedi bod yn ddyblygiadau anghywir. Roedd bron i 30,000 o gofrestriadau landlordiaid newydd hefyd yn ystod yr un cyfnod. Mae bob amser yn dda darllen i waelod y dudalen, fe ddywedaf i.
Felly, nid oes cysylltiad uniongyrchol â nifer yr eiddo rhent preifat gan y gall nifer yr eiddo a ddelir gan bob landlord newid hefyd. Rwy'n deall bod y ffigurau diweddaraf gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn dangos bod nifer yr eiddo yn y Sector Rhentu Preifat yn debyg i'r amcangyfrifon stoc anheddau cyhoeddedig, sydd wedi aros ychydig dros 200,000 ers tua 2015—felly, er gwaethaf y rhybuddion enbyd am yr un peth yn y stoc. Yn amlwg, gall y newidiadau mewn deddfwriaeth gyflwyno rhywfaint o leihad dilynol yn yr hyblygrwydd sydd gan landlord ar hyn o bryd, ond ni fydd y ddeddfwriaeth yn effeithio'n sylweddol ar y sbardun pwysicaf ar gyfer buddsoddi yn y sector rhentu preifat, sef cyfradd yr enillion ar y buddsoddiad wrth gwrs.
O ran pwynt cyntaf Mabon, mae'r Ddeddf eisoes yn darparu ar gyfer rhwymedigaeth ffitrwydd newydd ar landlordiaid, ac yn amddiffyn tenantiaid rhag cael eu troi allan yn ddialgar os ydynt yn ceisio gwaith atgyweirio. Ceir canllawiau iaith clir ar y contract, a fydd ar gael. Rwyf eisoes wedi ystyried y pwynt gorchmynion crefyddol, Mabon. Cawsom sgwrs helaeth yn ystod hynt y Ddeddf ddiwygio gyda nhw, ac rwyf wedi dweud wrth yr eglwys, os oes angen cyngor ar gymhwyso'r gyfraith i'w trefniadau penodol, os bydd angen cyngor arnyn nhw, neu unrhyw grwpiau ffydd enwadol eraill neu arweinwyr ffydd. Dylai hynny wedyn fod ar wahân o ran cymhwyso'r gyfraith. Mater i'r llysoedd fydd gwneud y penderfyniad.
Felly, mae arnaf ofn nad oes gennyf unrhyw fwriad i eithrio eiddo a feddiannir ar gyfer gweinidogion crefydd neu arweinwyr ffydd eraill, o ran y mater hwnnw, na chadw cyfnod rhybudd o ddau fis ar gyfer eiddo sy'n eiddo i'r eglwys, gan fy mod o'r farn bod gan bobl sy'n denantiaid yr eglwys hawl i'r un faint o ddiogelwch â phobl eraill. Heblaw am hynny, Llywydd, rwy'n credu i mi ymdrin â phob pwynt yn fy sylwadau agoriadol, ac rwy'n cymeradwyo'r rheoliadau i'r Senedd.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Dim gwrthwynebiad. Nac oes. Felly, rŷn ni'n derbyn y cynnig, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? There are no objections. 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 sydd nesaf: Rheoliadau Cyd-bwyllgor Corfforedig y De-ddwyrain (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2022. Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol i wneud y cynnig—Rebecca Evans.
We move now to item 6: the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (Amendment) Regulations 2022. I call on the Minister for Finance and Local Government to move the motion—Rebecca Evans.
Cynnig NDM7920 Lesley Griffiths
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Cyd-bwyllgor Corfforedig De-ddwyrain (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2022 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 25 Ionawr 2022.
Motion NDM7920 Lesley Griffiths
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (Amendment) Regulations 2022 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 25 January 2022.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.