Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
26/04/2022Cynnwys
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. Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn i ni ddechrau, dwi angen nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Cynhelir y cyfarfod yma ar ffurf hybrid, gyda rhai Aelodau yn y Siambr, ac eraill yn ymuno trwy 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. A bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y cyfarfod yma, ac mae'r rheini wedi'u 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 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. And some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's Plenary meeting, and these are set out on your agenda.
Yr eitem gyntaf, felly, y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Vikki Howells.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Vikki Howells.
1. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o botensial y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb economaidd yng Nghymru? OQ57939
1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the shared prosperity fund's potential to address economic inequality in Wales? OQ57939
Llywydd, the fund fails to address economic inequality because of a series of fundamental flaws. It breaks a key Conservative promise that Wales would not be a penny worse off. It allocates its reduced amounts through a formula that deliberately under-represents concentrated inequality and it removes decision making from Wales to Whitehall.
Llywydd, mae'r gronfa yn methu â mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb economaidd oherwydd cyfres o ddiffygion sylfaenol. Mae'n torri addewid allweddol gan y Ceidwadwyr na fyddai Cymru geiniog yn waeth ei byd. Mae'n dyrannu ei symiau is drwy fformiwla sy'n tangynrychioli anghydraddoldeb dwys yn fwriadol ac mae'n symud y broses o wneud penderfyniadau o Gymru i Whitehall.
I thank you, First Minister, for that answer. Under the recently released and long-awaited details of the shared prosperity fund, it is clear that Wales is set to lose more than £1 billion over the next three years. Funding will also be top-sliced to support the delivery of UK Government pet projects, and there will be duplication of existing provision within Wales. What is the Welsh Government's assessment of the impact of this duplication, and do you consider that this approach will mean that deep-seated economic inequalities aren't addressed?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am yr ateb yna. O dan fanylion y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar ac y bu disgwyl amdanyn nhw ers amser maith, mae'n amlwg bod Cymru ar fin colli dros £1 biliwn dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Bydd cyllid hefyd yn cael ei frigdorri i gefnogi'r gwaith o gyflawni hoff brosiectau Llywodraeth y DU, a bydd y ddarpariaeth bresennol yng Nghymru yn cael ei dyblygu. Beth yw asesiad Llywodraeth Cymru o effaith y dyblygu hwn, ac a ydych chi o'r farn y bydd y dull hwn yn golygu nad yw anghydraddoldebau economaidd dwfn yn cael sylw?
Well, Llywydd, Vikki Howells makes an important supplementary point about the way in which the reduced amounts that will come to Wales are, in any case, being top-sliced by the UK Government for its own projects, which it will seek to run here in Wales. So, the Multiply programme will be the most obvious example of that—over £100 million that should be in the hands of Welsh decision-makers instead being decided by UK Government Ministers in Wales. The Multiply programme—let me explain to the leader of the opposition—the Multiply programme is not in the hands of local government leaders at all. It is a scheme devised by the UK Government; made in Whitehall; no reference to Wales whatsoever; not a single sentence from any UK Minister before it was announced; no sense at all that it understands the Welsh context in which it will seek to operate. If you look at the menu of choices that local authorities are said to have to operate within, they are entirely—entirely—Anglocentric. They reflect only the landscape that there is in Wales. Not a singe reference to the adult learning network here in Wales, not a single reference to further education provision in Wales, not a single reference to the Hwb platform, which provides the majority of resources that will be necessary for any effective programme here in Wales. The objection, Llywydd, is not, of course, to money being spent in numeracy; it is money being ineffectively spent, money that will now risk duplication of provision here in Wales, that will be spent in ways that bear no relationship to the context in which it is being spent, and which will, I'm afraid, simply mean that that money, which could have been used much more effectively, could have been used in ways that work with the grain of the landscape here in Wales instead of entirely ignoring it, will simply not deliver the outcomes that it would have delivered had it been spent in ways that respected the devolution settlement and respected the way in which decisions ought to be made here in Wales.
Wel, Llywydd, mae Vikki Howells yn gwneud pwynt atodol pwysig am y ffordd y mae'r symiau gostyngedig a ddaw i Gymru, beth bynnag, yn cael eu brigdorri gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer ei phrosiectau ei hun, y bydd yn ceisio eu rhedeg yma yng Nghymru. Felly, rhaglen Multiply fydd yr enghraifft amlycaf o hynny—dros £100 miliwn a ddylai fod yn nwylo'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau yng Nghymru yn hytrach yn cael eu penderfynu gan Weinidogion Llywodraeth y DU yng Nghymru. Mae rhaglen Multiply—gadewch i mi egluro i arweinydd yr wrthblaid—nid yw rhaglen Multiply yn nwylo arweinwyr llywodraeth leol o gwbl. Mae'n gynllun a ddyfeisiwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU; a grëwyd yn Whitehall; dim cyfeiriad at Gymru o gwbl; dim un frawddeg gan unrhyw un o Weinidogion y DU cyn iddi gael ei chyhoeddi; dim synnwyr o gwbl ei fod yn deall y cyd-destun Cymreig y bydd yn ceisio gweithredu ynddo. Os edrychwch chi ar y ddewislen o ddewisiadau y dywedir bod yn rhaid i awdurdodau lleol weithredu yn unol â nhw, maen nhw'n canolbwyntio yn llwyr—yn llwyr—ar Loegr. Maen nhw'n adlewyrchu'r dirwedd sydd yng Nghymru yn unig. Nid oes yr un cyfeiriad at y rhwydwaith dysgu oedolion yma yng Nghymru, dim un cyfeiriad at ddarpariaeth addysg bellach yng Nghymru, dim un cyfeiriad at blatfform Hwb, sy'n darparu'r rhan fwyaf o'r adnoddau a fydd yn angenrheidiol ar gyfer unrhyw raglen effeithiol yma yng Nghymru. Wrth gwrs, Llywydd, nid yw'r gwrthwynebiad i wario arian ym maes rhifedd; mae'n fater o arian yn cael ei wario yn aneffeithiol, arian a fydd bellach mewn perygl o ddyblygu darpariaeth yma yng Nghymru, a fydd yn cael ei wario mewn ffyrdd nad oes ganddyn nhw unrhyw berthynas â'r cyd-destun y mae'n cael ei wario ynddo, ac a fydd, mae arnaf ofn, yn golygu y gellid bod wedi defnyddio'r arian hwnnw, y gellid bod wedi ei ddefnyddio yn llawer mwy effeithiol, mewn ffyrdd sy'n gweithio gyda graen y dirwedd yma yng Nghymru yn hytrach na'i hanwybyddu yn llwyr, yn syml, ni fydd yn cyflawni'r canlyniadau y byddai wedi eu cyflawni pe bai wedi cael ei wario mewn ffyrdd a oedd yn parchu'r setliad datganoli ac yn parchu'r ffordd y dylai penderfyniadau gael eu gwneud yma yng Nghymru.
Prif Weinidog, fel rŷch chi'n ymwybodol, bydd Pwyllgor Cyllid y Senedd yn edrych ar y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, ac, fel Cadeirydd Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, dwi am ei gwneud hi'n glir y bydd fy mhwyllgor i hefyd yn archwilio'r trefniadau ariannu newydd yma, ac effaith y trefniadau yma ar Gymru, unwaith bydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid yn adrodd ar y mater hwn. Nawr, rŷch chi a'ch cyd-Aelodau wedi datgan yn glir eich bod chi'n credu bod Cymru £1 biliwn ar ei cholled o ganlyniad i gyhoeddiadau diweddar. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyrraedd y ffigur hwn o £1 biliwn, ac a wnewch chi gyhoeddi dadansoddiad o sut yn union rŷch chi wedi gweithio mas y ffigur yma?
First Minister, as you are aware, the Finance Committee of the Senedd will be looking at the shared prosperity fund, and, as Chair of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, I want to make it clear that my committee will also be investigating these new funding arrangements and the impact of the arrangements on Wales, once the Finance Committee has reported on this issue. Now, you and your colleagues have stated clearly that you believe that Wales is £1 billion worse off as a result of these recent announcements. So, can you tell us how the Welsh Government has reached that figure of £1 billion, and will you publish an analysis and breakdown of how you've worked out that figure?
Wel, wrth gwrs, Llywydd, rŷn ni'n hapus i esbonio sut rŷn ni wedi dod at y ffigurau, a rŷn ni'n hapus i gyhoeddi'r ffigurau hefyd, achos maen nhw'n amlwg—maen nhw'n amlwg—a does dim amheuaeth o gwbl amdanyn nhw. Rŷn ni'n mynd i golli £0.75 biliwn oherwydd y system y mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn ei defnyddio—y term yw structural funds yn Saesneg. Ac rŷn ni'n mynd i golli £243 miliwn mas o'r arian a oedd yn dod i Gymru o raglenni'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y maes gwledig hefyd. So, mae'r ffigurau gyda ni, mae dadansoddiad gyda ni ac rŷn ni'n hapus i'w gyhoeddi e jest i ddangos beth mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi ei wneud, ac wedi torri beth roedden nhw wedi ei ddweud yma, ar lawr y Cynulliad—
Well, of course, Llywydd, we are happy to explain how we've got to those figures, and we are happy to publish the figures too, because they are clear—they are clear—and there is no doubt whatsoever about these figures. We will lose £0.75 billion because of the system used by the UK Government to replace the structural funds. And we will lose £243 million from the funds that would have come to Wales from European Union programmes in the rural sphere too. So, we have the figures, we have that analysis and we're happy to publish it just to demonstrate what the UK Government have done in cutting the funding and what they said here, on the floor of the Assembly, which was an—
—absolute guarantee that Wales would not be a penny worse off. Well, £1 billion is not the whole of it, Llywydd; it's just part of the way that we will be losing out.
—sicrwydd pendant na fyddai Cymru geiniog yn waeth ei byd. Wel, nid £1 biliwn yw'r cyfan, Llywydd; dim ond rhan o'r ffordd y byddwn ni'n waeth ein byd yw hon.
It's good old-fashioned pork-barrel politics, isn't it? We heard recently that Ynys Môn would be getting some £16 million from the so-called shared prosperity funds. And whilst any funding is to be welcomed, of course—and I'll work with partners to make sure that projects on Anglesey will benefit as best as possible—there's no escaping the fact that this is a fraction of the funding available under EU structural funds, and falls way short of the UK Government's promise that we wouldn't lose a penny after Brexit, which the Conservatives clearly don't mind one bit. Now, it's a mess, but my question relates to the fact that this is an unstrategic mess. Does the First Minister agree that there's no joined-up thinking here from UK Government, no long-term plan? And can he tell me what pressure Welsh Ministers can try to bring to bear on their UK counterparts to try to make subsequent funding rounds at least a little bit more strategic in nature?
Gwleidyddiaeth hen ffasiwn o wario er mwyn ennill pleidleisiau yw hyn, onid yw? Clywsom yn ddiweddar y byddai Ynys Môn yn cael tua £16 miliwn o'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin fel y'u gelwir. Ac er bod unrhyw gyllid i'w groesawu, wrth gwrs—a byddaf yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid i wneud yn siŵr y bydd prosiectau ar Ynys Môn yn elwa cystal â phosibl—nid oes dianc rhag y ffaith bod hyn yn ffracsiwn o'r cyllid a oedd ar gael o dan gronfeydd strwythurol yr UE, a'i fod ymhell o gyflawni addewid Llywodraeth y DU na fyddem ni'n colli ceiniog ar ôl Brexit, y mae'n amlwg nad oes ots gan y Ceidwadwyr amdano o gwbl. Nawr, mae'n llanastr, ond mae fy nghwestiwn yn ymwneud â'r ffaith bod hwn yn llanastr anstrategol. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno nad oes unrhyw feddwl cydgysylltiedig yma gan Lywodraeth y DU, dim cynllun hirdymor? Ac a all ef ddweud wrthyf i pa bwysau y gall Gweinidogion Cymru geisio ei roi ar eu cymheiriaid yn y DU i geisio gwneud rowndiau ariannu dilynol o leiaf ychydig yn fwy strategol eu natur?
Llywydd, I agree entirely with what the Member said. This was a fund announced in 2017, in a Conservative Party manifesto. It took until the start of this month—April 2022—before we've had any substantive discussions with UK Ministers about the way in which they intend those funds to be used in Wales. And all of that compressed into two weeks because of their determination to rush out an announcement in advance of local government elections, for exactly the sorts of purposes that Rhun ap Iorwerth has identified. Now, in those two weeks, we were able to secure some concessions from the UK Government, so that at least the way in which funds will be used in Wales will reflect the regional footprints that we've used for other UK and Welsh Government joint initiatives in Wales—the city deal footprints. And we've secured some agreements about how a wider set of interests can be brought round the table to help determine how bids can be made in Wales. Let's be clear, there are no decisions being made in Wales. Local authorities are invited to put together proposals, which will end up on the desk of a Whitehall Minister and they will make the decisions.
We had a series of discussions, Llywydd, with UK Ministers about the formula to be used for the distribution of these funds. Just on the point that Rhun ap Iorwerth began with, the formula that the Welsh Government proposed would have led to more money being spent in Bridgend, for example, or the Vale of Glamorgan, for example, both of which have Conservative Members of Parliament. So, the formula that we proposed was not a partisan one; it was one that sought to align funding with where need is greatest. We weren't able to persuade the UK Government of that—they have other objects in mind—and the result is that, as Rhun ap Iorwerth said, we will have a series of rushed bids. Local authorities have to put everything together—the whole process. They have to go out for bids, they have to assess those bids, they have to demonstrate the outputs that they will achieve, they have to demonstrate the governance arrangements that will be in place, they have to demonstrate how they will be able to consult, and all of that before 1 August. The chances that there will be coherence in that funding, the chances that that funding will be used to the best possible effect—. It's not just that we're getting less money, it's being less well spent. I think that's the fundamental objection to it.
Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod. Roedd hon yn gronfa a gyhoeddwyd yn 2017, mewn maniffesto gan y Blaid Geidwadol. Cymerodd tan ddechrau'r mis hwn—Ebrill 2022—cyn i ni gael unrhyw drafodaethau sylweddol gyda Gweinidogion y DU am y ffordd y maen nhw'n bwriadu i'r arian hwnnw gael ei ddefnyddio yng Nghymru. Ac hynny oll wedi'i gywasgu i bythefnos oherwydd eu penderfyniad i ruthro cyhoeddiad cyn etholiadau llywodraeth leol, at yr union fathau o ddibenion y mae Rhun ap Iorwerth wedi eu nodi. Nawr, yn y pythefnos hwnnw, fe wnaethom ni lwyddo i sicrhau rhai consesiynau gan Lywodraeth y DU, fel y bydd o leiaf y ffordd y caiff cyllid ei ddefnyddio yng Nghymru yn adlewyrchu'r ôl troed rhanbarthol yr ydym ni wedi ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer mentrau eraill ar y cyd rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru yng Nghymru—ôl troed y fargen ddinesig. Ac rydym ni wedi sicrhau rhai cytundebau ynghylch sut y gellir dod â chyfres ehangach o fuddiannau o amgylch y bwrdd i helpu i benderfynu sut y gellir gwneud ceisiadau yng Nghymru. Gadewch i ni fod yn eglur, nid oes unrhyw benderfyniadau yn cael eu gwneud yng Nghymru. Gwahoddir awdurdodau lleol i lunio cynigion, a fydd yn cyrraedd desg Gweinidog yn Whitehall yn y pen draw, a nhw fydd yn gwneud y penderfyniadau.
Cawsom gyfres o drafodaethau, Llywydd, gyda Gweinidogion y DU ynglŷn â'r fformiwla i'w defnyddio ar gyfer dosbarthu'r cronfeydd hyn. Dim ond ar y pwynt y dechreuodd Rhun ap Iorwerth ag ef, byddai'r fformiwla a gynigiwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru wedi arwain at wario mwy o arian ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, er enghraifft, neu Fro Morgannwg, er enghraifft, y mae gan y ddau ohonyn nhw Aelodau Seneddol Ceidwadol. Felly, nid oedd y fformiwla a gynigiwyd gennym ni yn un bleidiol; roedd yn un a oedd â'r nod o gysoni cyllid â lle mae'r angen mwyaf. Nid wnaethom ni lwyddo i berswadio Llywodraeth y DU o hynny—mae ganddyn nhw wrthrychau eraill mewn golwg—a'r canlyniad, fel y dywedodd Rhun ap Iorwerth, yw y bydd gennym ni gyfres o geisiadau brysiog. Mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol roi popeth at ei gilydd—yr holl broses. Mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw wahodd ceisiadau, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw asesu'r ceisiadau hynny, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddangos yr allbynnau y byddan nhw'n eu cyflawni, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddangos y trefniadau llywodraethu a fydd ar waith, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddangos sut y byddan nhw'n gallu ymgynghori, a hynny i gyd cyn 1 Awst. Y siawns y bydd cydlyniad yn y cyllid hwnnw, y siawns y bydd yr arian hwnnw yn cael ei ddefnyddio yn y ffordd orau bosibl—. Nid yw'n golygu ein bod ni'n cael llai o arian yn unig, mae'n cael ei wario'n llai da. Rwy'n credu mai dyna'r gwrthwynebiad sylfaenol iddo.
2. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn sicrhau bod gan awdurdodau lleol ddigon o gymorth ariannol i gyflawni eu dyletswyddau a'u rhwymedigaethau? OQ57945
2. How is the Government ensuring local authorities have enough financial support to fulfil their duties and obligations? OQ57945
I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. We do so by prioritising local government services in the Welsh Government budget. Local authorities will receive £5.1 billion from the Welsh Government in core revenue funding and non-domestic rates for investment in key services in this financial year, plus an additional £1.8 billion in specific revenue and capital grants.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Rydym ni'n gwneud hynny trwy flaenoriaethu gwasanaethau llywodraeth leol yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd awdurdodau lleol yn cael £5.1 biliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn cyllid refeniw craidd ac ardrethi annomestig i'w buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau allweddol yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, ynghyd ag £1.8 biliwn ychwanegol mewn grantiau refeniw a chyfalaf penodol.
Diolch yn fawr. From speaking to council leaders in my region, it's fair to say that many were pleasantly surprised by the latest financial settlement. It must therefore be disappointing, from your perspective, to see your party colleagues in Caerphilly county borough sitting on a reserve of £180 million, an increase of £40 million between the financial years of 2019 and 2021. This is £22 million more than the much larger Cardiff Council has in its reserves. Whilst this cash is hoarded, we see leisure facilities closing, street lights have been turned off and day-care centre provision for profoundly disabled adults being slashed. Cash is not the only solution to these problems, but, in almost all cases, it would help alleviate the situation and restore some services. First Minister, do you get frustrated when you provide adequate financial settlements for your party colleagues in local government only for them to sit on these piles of cash, like some council version of Scrooge?
Diolch yn fawr. O siarad ag arweinwyr cynghorau yn fy rhanbarth i, mae'n deg dweud bod llawer wedi eu synnu ar yr ochr orau gan y setliad ariannol diweddaraf. Felly, mae'n rhaid ei bod hi'n siomedig, o'ch safbwynt chi, i weld cyd-aelodau yn eich plaid ym mwrdeistref sirol Caerffili yn eistedd ar gronfa wrth gefn o £180 miliwn, cynnydd o £40 miliwn rhwng blynyddoedd ariannol 2019 a 2021. Mae hyn £22 miliwn yn fwy na'r hyn sydd gan Gyngor Caerdydd, sy'n llawer mwy, yn ei gronfeydd wrth gefn. Tra bod yr arian hwn yn cael ei gelcio, rydym ni'n gweld cyfleusterau hamdden yn cau, goleuadau stryd wedi'u diffodd a darpariaeth canolfannau gofal dydd ar gyfer oedolion ag anableddau dwys yn cael ei thorri'n sylweddol. Nid arian parod yw'r unig ateb i'r problemau hyn, ond, ym mhob achos bron, byddai'n helpu i leddfu'r sefyllfa ac adfer rhai gwasanaethau. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n teimlo'n rhwystredig pan fyddwch chi'n darparu setliadau ariannol digonol i gyd-aelodau yn eich plaid mewn llywodraeth leol dim ond iddyn nhw eistedd ar y pentyrrau hyn o arian parod, fel rhyw fersiwn cyngor o Scrooge?
Well, Llywydd, there are a series of reasons why councils hold cash in reserve. A great deal of that money will be earmarked reserves. In other words, it's not money available to the council just to spend. It's there because they have a twenty-first century schools programme, for example, and that money is allocated already to make sure that that programme can go ahead. There is money that, because the UK Government provides settlements to us so late in the year, we end up having to pass to local authorities later in the year as well, and, rather than using it in an ineffective way along the lines of the shared prosperity fund, they hold it so that they can plan to make the best use of that expenditure. So, there are reasons why local authorities hold money in reserve, and that is true of local authorities of all political persuasions in many different parts of Wales.
I see that the Finance Committee, of which the Member is, of course, the Chair, is looking for a review of reserves held by local government, and, of course, we're happy to make sure that local government only holds the reserves it needs for the proper sorts of purposes. What I don't think is sensible, Llywydd, and I've looked at the Plaid Cymru manifesto for the Caerphilly area, and was lucky enough to be in Caerphilly yesterday—. I see that the manifesto commits a Plaid Cymru-run Caerphilly council to freezing the council tax next year—a really irresponsible course of action as it seems to me—and then to dip into reserves for recurrent expenditure on youth services. Again, not a course of action that I thought any Chair of a Finance Committee would be willing to recommend to his colleagues.
Wel, Llywydd, mae cyfres o resymau pam mae cynghorau yn dal arian wrth gefn. Bydd llawer iawn o'r arian hwnnw mewn cronfeydd wrth gefn wedi'u clustnodi. Mewn geiriau eraill, nid yw'n arian sydd ar gael i'r cyngor ei wario. Mae yno oherwydd bod ganddyn nhw raglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, er enghraifft, ac mae'r arian hwnnw eisoes wedi'i ddyrannu i wneud yn siŵr y gall y rhaglen honno fynd yn ei blaen. Ceir arian, oherwydd bod Llywodraeth y DU yn darparu setliadau i ni mor hwyr yn y flwyddyn, y mae'n rhaid i ni ei drosglwyddo i awdurdodau lleol yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn hefyd yn y pen draw, ac, yn hytrach na'i ddefnyddio mewn ffordd aneffeithiol yn debyg i'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, maen nhw'n ei gadw fel y gallan nhw gynllunio i wneud y defnydd gorau o'r gwariant hwnnw. Felly, mae rhesymau pam mae awdurdodau lleol yn cadw arian wrth gefn, ac mae hynny yn wir am awdurdodau lleol o bob lliw gwleidyddol mewn sawl gwahanol ran o Gymru.
Rwy'n gweld bod y Pwyllgor Cyllid, y mae'r Aelod, wrth gwrs, yn Gadeirydd arno, yn dymuno cael adolygiad o'r cronfeydd wrth gefn sydd gan lywodraeth leol, ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n hapus i wneud yn siŵr bod llywodraeth leol yn cadw'r cronfeydd wrth gefn sydd eu hangen arni yn unig at y mathau priodol o ddibenion. Yr hyn nad wyf i'n credu sy'n synhwyrol, Llywydd, ac rwyf i wedi edrych ar faniffesto Plaid Cymru ar gyfer ardal Caerffili, ac roeddwn i'n ddigon ffodus i fod yng Nghaerffili ddoe—. Rwy'n gweld bod y maniffesto yn ymrwymo cyngor Caerffili, sy'n cael ei redeg gan Blaid Cymru, i rewi'r dreth gyngor y flwyddyn nesaf—cam gweithredu gwirioneddol anghyfrifol fel y mae'n ymddangos i mi—ac yna i droi at gronfeydd wrth gefn ar gyfer gwariant rheolaidd ar wasanaethau ieuenctid. Eto, nid yw'n gam gweithredu yr oeddwn i'n meddwl y byddai unrhyw Gadeirydd Pwyllgor Cyllid yn fodlon ei argymell i'w gydweithwyr.
Of course, one of the key duties and obligations that councils will be taking on now is the free school meals, part of the co-operation agreement, of course, First Minister, you have with Plaid Cymru over the next few years. But, of course, the revenue funding for that has only been committed for a couple of years from Welsh Government, and, as you'll know, First Minister, your colleagues in Plaid Cymru have suggested that perhaps taxing tourists and taxing tourism businesses should be a way to expand free school meals in the future. So, would you confirm, First Minister, whether it's Welsh Government policy or not to look at taxing tourists and tourism business to fund free school meals?
Wrth gwrs, un o'r dyletswyddau a'r rhwymedigaethau allweddol y bydd cynghorau yn ymgymryd ag ef nawr yw'r prydau ysgol am ddim, sy'n rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithredu, wrth gwrs, Prif Weinidog, sydd gennych chi gyda Phlaid Cymru dros y blynyddoedd nesaf. Ond, wrth gwrs, dim am flwyddyn neu ddwy y mae'r cyllid refeniw ar gyfer hynny wedi cael ei ymrwymo gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac, fel y gwyddoch chi, Prif Weinidog, mae eich cyd-Aelodau ym Mhlaid Cymru wedi awgrymu efallai y dylai trethu twristiaid a threthu busnesau twristiaeth fod yn ffordd o ehangu prydau ysgol am ddim yn y dyfodol. Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau, Prif Weinidog, pa un a yw'n bolisi gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ystyried trethu twristiaid a busnesau twristiaeth i ariannu prydau ysgol am ddim ai peidio?
Llywydd, the Welsh Government's policy is that set out in the co-operation agreement between my party and Plaid Cymru, and that is to make sure that, during the period of that agreement, we are able to provide a free school meal for every child in primary-aged classes in Wales. I'm very proud of that commitment, and it will be a commitment that requires a great deal of effort on behalf of our local government colleagues to make sure that it can be delivered. And the funding set out in the Welsh Government's budget, which is for the full three years of the comprehensive spending review, guarantees that the funding will be there to deliver that commitment.
Llywydd, polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yw'r un a nodir yn y cytundeb cydweithredu rhwng fy mhlaid i a Phlaid Cymru, sef gwneud yn siŵr, yn ystod cyfnod y cytundeb hwnnw, ein bod ni'n gallu darparu pryd ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn mewn dosbarthiadau oedran cynradd yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ymrwymiad hwnnw, a bydd yn ymrwymiad sy'n gofyn am lawer iawn o ymdrech ar ran ein cydweithwyr mewn llywodraeth leol i wneud yn siŵr y gellir ei gyflawni. Ac mae'r cyllid a nodir yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, sydd ar gyfer tair blynedd lawn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant, yn rhoi sicrwydd y bydd y cyllid yno i gyflawni'r ymrwymiad hwnnw.
It really is very, very disappointing to see Plaid Cymru using First Minister's questions for their local election campaign. It's beneath the dignity of this Chamber to do that. Peredur Owen Griffiths is there reading out a question that was clearly written by the leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council. He can do better than that. I know he's better than that. But now he's drawn me into this, let's just clarify what's going on in Caerphilly. Their reserves are being used to build and rebuild twenty-first century schools, they're being used to build council houses and they're being used to ensure that we hit net zero by 2030, and also to say a world-class town reshaping programme that is being seen in Caerphilly, Bargoed and beyond. That is why Caerphilly are keeping reserves. And using capital to spend on revenue, we know, is a mistake and will lead to austerity. What Plaid Cymru are doing in Caerphilly is acting like Conservatives. The only true vote you're going to get is by voting Labour in Caerphilly. The First Minister was there with me yesterday, will he support that view?
Mae'n siomedig dros ben gweld Plaid Cymru yn defnyddio cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ar gyfer eu hymgyrch etholiadau lleol. Mae islaw urddas y Siambr hon i wneud hynny. Mae Peredur Owen Griffiths yn y fan yna yn darllen cwestiwn y mae'n amlwg iddo gael ei ysgrifennu gan arweinydd grŵp Plaid Cymru ar Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili. Gall wneud yn well na hynny. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn well na hynny. Ond nawr ei fod wedi fy nhynnu i mewn i hyn, gadewch i ni egluro yr hyn sy'n digwydd yng Nghaerffili. Mae eu cronfeydd wrth gefn yn cael eu defnyddio i adeiladu ac ailadeiladu ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, maen nhw'n cael eu defnyddio i adeiladu tai cyngor ac maen nhw'n cael eu defnyddio i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cyrraedd sero net erbyn 2030, a hefyd, i ddweud, bod rhaglen ail-lunio trefi o'r radd flaenaf yn cael ei gweld yng Nghaerffili, Bargoed a thu hwnt. Dyna pam mae Caerffili yn cadw cronfeydd wrth gefn. Ac rydym ni'n gwybod bod defnyddio cyfalaf i'w wario ar refeniw yn gamgymeriad ac y bydd yn arwain at gyni cyllidol. Yr hyn y mae Plaid Cymru yn ei wneud yng Nghaerffili yw ymddwyn fel Ceidwadwyr. Yr unig wir bleidlais y byddwch chi'n ei chael yw drwy bleidleisio dros Lafur yng Nghaerffili. Roedd y Prif Weinidog yno gyda mi ddoe, a wnaiff ef gefnogi'r farn honno?
Llywydd, it was a great pleasure to be out on the streets of Caerphilly County Borough Council with Hefin David yesterday. It's a cruel thrust that he makes at Plaid Cymru Members. But what I would say to him, from the conversations that I was having and I could hear him having with people on the doorstep yesterday, is that the thing that matters most to people in Caerphilly are those investments that he mentioned. Time after time, when you're having conversations with people, it's the fact that they have young people in their families who struggle to get the housing that they need. The council house building programme of Caerphilly County Borough Council and other Labour-controlled councils around Wales is one of the things that offers hope to those families, and we heard that loud and clear on the doorstep yesterday.
Llywydd, roedd hi'n bleser mawr cael bod allan ar strydoedd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili gyda Hefin David ddoe. Mae'n ergyd greulon y mae'n ei wneud tuag at Aelodau Plaid Cymru. Ond yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud wrtho, o'r sgyrsiau yr oeddwn i'n eu cael ac y gallwn i ei glywed ef yn eu cael gyda phobl ar garreg y drws ddoe, yw mai'r peth sydd bwysicaf i bobl yng Nghaerffili yw'r buddsoddiadau hynny y soniodd amdanyn nhw. Dro ar ôl tro, pan fyddwch chi'n cael sgyrsiau gyda phobl, y ffaith bod ganddyn nhw bobl ifanc yn eu teuluoedd sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cael y tai sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw y cyfeirir ati. Mae rhaglen adeiladu tai cyngor Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili a chynghorau eraill a reolir gan Lafur ledled Cymru yn un o'r pethau sy'n cynnig gobaith i'r teuluoedd hynny, a chlywsom hynny yn gwbl eglur ar garreg y drws ddoe.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Felly, arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Dare I stray into local government issues, First Minister, especially as there's something happening next Thursday? But I will ask you the question about the agricultural Bill. This is a Bill that has not seen the light of day yet. We were promised it in the spring of this year; we even got promised it in initial form before the last Senedd elections. The Minister sitting next to you informed the committee that scrutinises these matters just before the Easter recess that it's now going to be delayed until Christmas at the earliest. Could you tell me why the Bill has been delayed again?
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Feiddia i grwydro i faterion llywodraeth leol, Prif Weinidog, yn enwedig gan fod rhywbeth yn digwydd ddydd Iau nesaf? Ond gofynnaf y cwestiwn i chi am y Bil amaethyddol. Mae hwn yn Fil nad yw wedi gweld golau dydd eto. Fe'i haddawyd i ni yn y gwanwyn eleni; fe'i haddawyd i ni ar ffurf gychwynnol cyn etholiadau diwethaf y Senedd hyd yn oed. Dywedodd y Gweinidog sy'n eistedd wrth eich ymyl wrth y pwyllgor sy'n craffu ar y materion hyn ychydig cyn toriad y Pasg y bydd yn cael ei ohirio tan y Nadolig ar y cynharaf bellach. A allech chi ddweud wrthyf i pam mae'r Bil wedi cael ei ohirio eto?
The Bill will be introduced in the autumn, Llywydd, and as early in the autumn as we can make that happen. Part of the reason why the Bill is delayed is because of some of the reasons that the Member has himself alluded to on the floor of the Senedd, and quite properly. I remember him asking me a question not that many weeks ago about the way in which we have to rethink some of our ambitions for agriculture in Wales in the context of the war in Ukraine and what that means about food security in places like the United Kingdom. So, we are taking the opportunity to make sure that the Bill we bring forward is a Bill that brings together those two key strands—sustainable food production by the agriculture sector here in Wales and then those other public goods that we know farmers and land managers are capable of producing—and that we bring those two things together in a balanced way in the Bill that we will put in front of the Senedd.
Bydd y Bil yn cael ei gyflwyno yn yr hydref, Llywydd, ac mor gynnar yn yr hydref ag y gallwn ni wneud i hynny ddigwydd. Rhan o'r rheswm pam mae'r Bil wedi ei ohirio yw rhai o'r rhesymau y mae'r Aelod ei hun wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw ar lawr y Senedd, ac yn gwbl briodol. Rwy'n ei gofio yn gofyn cwestiwn i mi nid wythnosau lawer yn ôl am y ffordd y mae'n rhaid i ni ailystyried rhai o'n huchelgeisiau ar gyfer amaethyddiaeth yng Nghymru yng nghyd-destun y rhyfel yn Wcráin a'r hyn y mae hynny yn ei olygu am ddiogelwch bwyd mewn lleoedd fel y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, rydym ni'n achub ar y cyfle i wneud yn siŵr bod y Bil yr ydym ni'n ei gyflwyno yn Fil sy'n tynnu ynghyd y ddau faes allweddol hynny—cynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy gan y sector amaethyddiaeth yma yng Nghymru ac yna'r nwyddau cyhoeddus eraill hynny yr ydym ni'n gwybod y gall ffermwyr a rheolwyr tir eu cynhyrchu—a'n bod ni'n dod â'r ddau beth hynny at ei gilydd mewn ffordd gytbwys yn y Bil y byddwn ni'n ei roi gerbron y Senedd.
Thank you for that explanation, First Minister, because when I questioned the Minister around the food crisis that I see evolving now the Ukraine situation is escalating and the damage it is doing to the supply of food on to the market, the Minister said that there was no crisis and that there was no need to bring the processors, the food producers and the retailers together in the very questioning that you alluded to that I arranged with you some weeks ago in First Minister's questions. So, it is surprising to find now—and I welcome this—that there's a change of heart in the Government to look at using the agricultural Bill to actually enhance the food security element of that Bill, and that is something to be welcomed. But could I also ask on the legislative front as well, because you alluded to manifesto commitments not being kept—? You said about the 2017 Conservative manifesto. Well, your leadership manifesto talked about the clean air Act in 2018 and it being a critical part of your mandate should you become the leader and then the First Minister of Wales. We're now in 2022. We know that 1,400 premature deaths happen a year in Wales because of dirty air. We have not seen even a draft of a clean air Bill come from the Government and we cannot see anything on the horizon emanating out of Cathays Park when it comes to the clean air Act. So, what is the timeline for you hitting this manifesto commitment, because your own time in office, First Minister, is ticking by, by your self-imposed retirement?
Diolch am yr esboniad yna, Prif Weinidog, oherwydd pan holais y Gweinidog am yr argyfwng bwyd yr wyf i'n ei weld yn esblygu nawr mae sefyllfa Wcráin yn gwaethygu a'r niwed y mae'n ei wneud i'r cyflenwad bwyd ar y farchnad, dywedodd y Gweinidog nad oedd argyfwng ac nad oedd angen dod â'r proseswyr, y cynhyrchwyr bwyd a'r manwerthwyr at ei gilydd yn yr union gwestiynau y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio atyn nhw a drefnais gyda chi rai wythnosau yn ôl yn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Felly, mae'n syndod darganfod nawr—ac rwy'n croesawu hyn—bod y Llywodraeth wedi newid ei meddwl i ystyried defnyddio'r Bil amaethyddol i wella elfen diogelu'r cyflenwad bwyd y Bil hwnnw mewn gwirionedd, ac mae hynny yn rhywbeth i'w groesawu. Ond a gaf i hefyd holi am yr agwedd ddeddfwriaethol hefyd, oherwydd fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at fethu â chyflawni ymrwymiadau maniffesto—? Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am faniffesto'r Ceidwadwyr yn 2017. Wel, soniodd eich maniffesto arweinyddiaeth chi am y Ddeddf aer glân yn 2018 a'r ffaith ei bod yn rhan hanfodol o'ch mandad pe baech chi'n dod yn arweinydd ac yna'n Brif Weinidog Cymru. Rydym ni bellach yn 2022. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod 1,400 o farwolaethau cynamserol yn digwydd y flwyddyn yng Nghymru oherwydd aer budr. Nid ydym ni hyd yn oed wedi gweld drafft o Fil aer glân yn dod gan y Llywodraeth ac allwn ni weld dim ar y gorwel sy'n deillio o Barc Cathays pan ddaw i'r Ddeddf aer glân. Felly, beth yw'r amserlen i chi gyflawni'r ymrwymiad maniffesto hwn, oherwydd mae eich amser eich hun yn y swydd, Prif Weinidog, yn mynd heibio, tuag at eich ymddeoliad yr ydych chi wedi ei drefnu eich hun?
Llywydd, can I first of all be clear with the leader of the opposition—there is no crisis in food supply in Wales? There are pressures in global food markets because of the war in Ukraine, and we see some temporary measures that supermarkets are having to take in order to protect certain—and it's a small number—goods, so that there can be a fair distribution of them. But there is no crisis in the food sector and my colleague Lesley Griffiths meets a whole range of relevant interests on a very regular basis. Llywydd, we will publish the clean air White Paper this year. We are on track to make sure that we legislate during this Senedd term and I look forward, as I've said to him before, to the positive support from the Conservative Party here in making sure that that legislation is as good as we can make it.
Llywydd, a gaf i yn gyntaf fod yn eglur gydag arweinydd yr wrthblaid—nid oes argyfwng yn y cyflenwad bwyd yng Nghymru? Mae pwysau mewn marchnadoedd bwyd byd-eang oherwydd y rhyfel yn Wcráin, ac rydym ni'n gweld rhai mesurau dros dro y mae'n rhaid i archfarchnadoedd eu cymryd er mwyn diogelu rhai—ac mae'n nifer fach—nwyddau, fel y gellir eu dosbarthu'n deg. Ond nid oes argyfwng yn y sector bwyd ac mae fy nghyd-Weinidog Lesley Griffiths yn cyfarfod ag ystod eang o fuddiannau perthnasol yn rheolaidd iawn. Llywydd, byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r Papur Gwyn ar aer glân eleni. Rydym ni ar y trywydd iawn i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n deddfu yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon ac edrychaf ymlaen, fel yr wyf i wedi dweud wrtho o'r blaen, at y gefnogaeth gadarnhaol gan y Blaid Geidwadol yma i wneud yn siŵr bod y ddeddfwriaeth honno cystal ag y gallwn ni ei gwneud hi.
First Minister, there is a crisis. Fertiliser, which you need to grow crops, is now £900 to £1,000 a tonne; it is normally about £300 to £350 a tonne. Wheat, the key component of making bread, is north of £300 a tonne; it normally trades at £140 to £150 a tonne. Beef is at £440 a kilo; it normally trades at £340 to £360. I could go on; I like to think I've got my hand on the pulse on this one. And there is a growing storm happening, and if the Government doesn't respond, we will reap a very meagre harvest indeed, and that will play out on the shelves of this country. We need to see Government action when it comes to this particular agenda item. We're not seeing it at the moment; we're seeing delay in bringing this Bill forward. As I said, I welcome the delay if it is about making the Bill more food security-conscious, but from what the Minister has said in her previous statements, that doesn't seem to be the case. So, can you confirm today that food production will be an important element of the Bill and that food production will be a public good that can be supported from the public purse?
Prif Weinidog, mae yna argyfwng. Mae gwrtaith, sydd ei angen arnoch chi i dyfu cnydau, bellach yn £900 i £1,000 y dunnell; fel arfer mae tua £300 i £350 y dunnell. Mae gwenith, yr elfen allweddol o wneud bara, yn uwch na £300 y dunnell; fel arfer mae'n masnachu am £140 i £150 y dunnell. Mae cig eidion yn £440 y cilogram; mae fel arfer yn masnachu am £340 i £360. Gallwn barhau; rwy'n hoffi meddwl bod gen i fy llaw ar y pwls ar yr un yma. Ac mae storm gynyddol yn digwydd, ac os nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn ymateb, byddwn ni'n cael cynhaeaf llwm dros ben, a bydd hynny yn cael ei adlewyrchu ar silffoedd y wlad hon. Mae angen i ni weld y Llywodraeth yn gweithredu pan ddaw'n fater o'r eitem agenda benodol hon. Nid ydym ni'n ei weld ar hyn o bryd; rydym ni'n gweld oedi cyn cyflwyno'r Bil hwn. Fel y dywedais, rwy'n croesawu'r gohiriad os mai ei ddiben yw gwneud y Bil yn fwy ymwybodol o ran diogelu'r cyflenwad bwyd, ond o'r hyn y mae'r Gweinidog wedi ei ddweud yn ei datganiadau blaenorol, nid yw hynny'n ymddangos yn wir. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau heddiw y bydd cynhyrchu bwyd yn elfen bwysig o'r Bil ac y bydd cynhyrchu bwyd yn ddaioni i'r cyhoedd y gellir ei gefnogi o'r pwrs cyhoeddus?
Llywydd, sustainable food production has always been a fundamental pillar of the future that we see for agriculture here in Wales, and there are many, many advantages that Welsh farmers have in that sustainable food production area. There are many headwinds that the agriculture sector faces in Wales. We've rehearsed the impact of the war in Ukraine, but it also faces the headwinds created by trade deals struck by the UK Government in Australia, for example, which we know will not create a level playing field for upland farmers here in Wales.
There isn't a crisis in food in our shops. There are some very significant issues that have to be addressed—in fertiliser, I entirely agree with what the Member said on that—and those things can only be properly addressed on a four-nation basis. It's why my colleague Lesley Griffiths has such regular meetings with the Secretary of State, George Eustice and counterparts in Scotland and when there is an administration in Northern Ireland as well. I believe that there is a meeting of that sort scheduled for tomorrow and many of the issues that the leader of the opposition has highlighted will be discussed there on that four-nation basis.
Llywydd, mae cynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy wedi bod yn un o bileri sylfaenol y dyfodol yr ydym ni'n ei weld ar gyfer amaethyddiaeth yma yng Nghymru erioed, a cheir llawer iawn o fanteision i ffermwyr Cymru yn y maes cynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy hwnnw. Ceir llawer o drafferthion y mae'r sector amaethyddiaeth yn eu hwynebu yng Nghymru. Rydym ni wedi rhoi sylw i effaith y rhyfel yn Wcráin, ond mae hefyd yn wynebu'r trafferthion a grëwyd gan gytundebau masnach a wnaed gan Lywodraeth y DU yn Awstralia, er enghraifft, na fydd, fel y gwyddom, yn sicrhau chwarae teg i ffermwyr yr ucheldir yma yng Nghymru.
Does dim argyfwng bwyd yn ein siopau. Ceir rhai materion arwyddocaol iawn y mae'n rhaid rhoi sylw iddyn nhw—o ran gwrtaith, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod am hynny—a dim ond ar sail pedair gwlad y gellir mynd i'r afael â'r pethau hynny yn briodol. Dyna pam mae fy nghyd-Weinidog Lesley Griffiths yn cael cyfarfodydd mor rheolaidd gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, George Eustice a chymheiriaid yn yr Alban a phan fydd gweinyddiaeth yng Ngogledd Iwerddon hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod cyfarfod o'r math hwnnw wedi'i drefnu ar gyfer yfory a bydd llawer o'r materion y mae arweinydd yr wrthblaid wedi tynnu sylw atyn nhw yn cael eu trafod yno ar y sail pedair gwlad honno.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Diolch yn fawr. Wales has consistently had poor cancer survival rates compared to other similarly developed countries. Why is that?
Diolch yn fawr. Bu gan Gymru gyfraddau goroesi canser gwael yn gyson o'i chymharu â gwledydd datblygedig eraill tebyg. Pam mae hynny?
Well, one-year survival rates and five-year survival rates from cancer in Wales have improved consistently in recent years. They may still not be where other countries are able to achieve things through their health system, but the system in Wales has been gaining ground in survival rates over a number of years. There are many reasons why survival rates are not where we would wish them to be in Wales. That includes our industrial heritage and its impact on the health of people, it includes, particularly, late presentation. It is very difficult to obtain the survival rates that we would like to see when so many cancers in Wales only become apparent when they have already developed to a point where the techniques of intervention that would be available at early stages have already been passed by. There are other reasons as well that could be adduced by people who make this their lifetime study.
Wel, mae cyfraddau goroesi am flwyddyn a chyfraddau goroesi am bum mlynedd o ganser yng Nghymru wedi gwella yn gyson yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Efallai nad ydyn nhw yn yr un sefyllfa ag y gall gwledydd eraill gyflawni pethau drwy eu system iechyd o hyd, ond mae'r system yng Nghymru wedi bod yn ennill tir o ran cyfraddau goroesi dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Mae llawer o resymau pam nad yw cyfraddau goroesi lle y byddem ni'n dymuno iddyn nhw fod yng Nghymru. Mae hynny yn cynnwys ein treftadaeth ddiwydiannol a'i heffaith ar iechyd pobl, mae'n cynnwys, yn benodol, mynd at y meddyg yn hwyr. Mae'n anodd iawn cael y cyfraddau goroesi yr hoffem ni eu gweld pan ddaw cynifer o ganserau yng Nghymru i'r amlwg dim ond pan fyddan nhw eisoes wedi datblygu i bwynt lle mae'r technegau ymyrryd a fyddai ar gael yn gynnar eisoes wedi mynd heibio. Mae yna resymau eraill hefyd y gellid eu dyfynnu gan bobl sy'n gwneud hyn eu hastudiaeth gydol oes.
Which is the reason, of course, why we in Wales, more even than any other country, needs a focus in our cancer strategy on early diagnosis. This month a groundbreaking study in The Lancet found that over 30 per cent of cancers in Wales were diagnosed as a result of admission to A&E. Wales had the third highest figure among the 14 nations and regions studied. For liver cancer, we are one of only two health systems where the majority of liver cancers are identified through emergency admission, whereas in Alberta in Canada, for example, the corresponding figure is less than a third. This means that many more cases of cancer in Wales are only diagnosed once a person's health has deteriorated to a point where they might need to be rushed into hospital. Do you accept that higher levels of emergency presentation are one of the reasons for the lower relative cancer survival in Wales?
Dyna'r rheswm, wrth gwrs, pam rydym ni yng Nghymru, yn fwy nag unrhyw wlad arall hyd yn oed, angen pwyslais yn ein strategaeth canser ar ddiagnosis cynnar. Y mis hwn, canfu astudiaeth arloesol yn The Lancet y sicrhawyd diagnosis o dros 30 y cant o ganserau yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i fynd i'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys. Cymru oedd â'r trydydd ffigur uchaf ymhlith y 14 gwlad a rhanbarth a astudiwyd. Ar gyfer canser yr afu, rydym ni'n un o ddwy system iechyd yn unig lle caiff y rhan fwyaf o ganserau'r afu eu canfod trwy dderbyniadau brys, ond yn Alberta yng Nghanada, er enghraifft, mae'r ffigur cyfatebol yn llai na thraean. Mae hyn yn golygu mai dim ond ar ôl i iechyd unigolyn waethygu i bwynt lle y gallai fod angen ei ruthro i'r ysbyty y caiff llawer mwy o achosion o ganser yng Nghymru eu canfod. A ydych chi'n derbyn mai lefelau uwch o gyflwyniadau brys yw un o'r rhesymau am y gyfradd goroesi canser cymharol is yng Nghymru?
Well, I think that is absolutely the case, Llywydd. It was the point I was trying to make when I said that one of the reasons why we have survival rates of the sort we do is because people present with their cancer late. And people who end up having their cancer diagnosed because they come into an emergency department—and as The Lancet article demonstrates, they're not presenting at the emergency department because of their cancer condition—they've arrived there for some other reason and then the investigations that are carried out reveal the fact that they are suffering from cancer.
We have some very stoical parts of the Welsh population who don't want to bother the doctor and who live with things that they think are just chronic conditions that are part, for example, of the process of getting older. The thrust of the system in Wales is to try to persuade people to present early and then to make sure that we equip our GP population to be able to identify those very early signs—not easy to do. We know that for many cancers, the signs that would lead you to identify a cancer are signs that would also make you think that another more common condition is what you're seeing in front of you. So, it's not an easy thing for our GPs to be able to do, but it's why we invest so much in making sure that they are as well equipped as they can be and that the system rewards them for the work that they undertake in trying to get diagnosis as early in someone's suffering from that condition as possible.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n sicr yn wir, Llywydd. Dyna'r pwynt yr oeddwn i'n ceisio ei wneud pan ddywedais i mai un o'r rhesymau pam mae gennym ni gyfraddau goroesi o'r math sydd gennym ni yw oherwydd bod pobl yn cyflwyno gyda'u canser yn hwyr. Ac mae pobl sy'n cael diagnosis o'u canser yn y pen draw gan eu bod nhw'n dod i adran achosion brys—ac fel y dengys erthygl The Lancet, dydyn nhw ddim yn cyflwyno yn yr adran achosion brys oherwydd eu cyflwr canser—maen nhw wedi cyrraedd yno am ryw reswm arall ac yna mae'r ymchwiliadau a gynhelir yn datgelu'r ffaith eu bod nhw'n dioddef o ganser.
Mae gennym ni rai rhannau stoicaidd iawn o boblogaeth Cymru nad ydyn nhw eisiau trafferthu'r meddyg ac sy'n byw gyda phethau sydd, yn eu barn nhw, ddim ond yn gyflyrau cronig sy'n rhan, er enghraifft, o'r broses o heneiddio. Byrdwn y system yng Nghymru yw ceisio perswadio pobl i gyflwyno'n gynnar ac yna gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n paratoi ein poblogaeth meddygon teulu i allu adnabod yr arwyddion cynnar iawn hynny—nid yw'n hawdd ei wneud. Rydym ni'n gwybod, o ran llawer o ganserau, bod yr arwyddion a fyddai'n eich arwain i adnabod canser yn arwyddion a fyddai hefyd yn gwneud i chi feddwl mai cyflwr arall mwy cyffredin yw'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei weld o'ch blaen. Felly, nid yw'n beth hawdd i'n meddygon teulu allu ei wneud, ond dyna pam rydym ni'n buddsoddi cymaint i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw wedi eu harfogi cystal ag y gallan nhw fod a bod y system yn eu gwobrwyo am y gwaith y maen nhw'n ei wneud i geisio cael diagnosis mor gynnar â phosibl pan fydd rhywun yn dioddef o'r cyflwr hwnnw.
All the cancer charities in Wales would agree with you that we need a new urgent focus on early diagnosis and detection, but they say that needs to be put at the heart of a new comprehensive cancer strategy for Wales, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Now, I heard you say previously that the various existing documents that exist, and you could argue that you can add to that the programme for planned care, which you're publishing today, which raises the 62-day target from 75 per cent to 80 per cent—all of this, you would say, maybe amounts to a strategy. But surely the fact that that target, even before the pandemic, most health boards weren't achieving, the fact that the cancer mortality gap within Wales between deprived and affluent areas is worse now than it was 20 years ago, the fact that people with cancer in Wales are being forced to go private, as the recent Health and Social Care Committee report on waiting times testified, taken together suggests, does it not, even if you maintain, against everything that every cancer charity in Wales is saying, that we do have a cancer strategy, that the strategy is failing and it needs urgently to be replaced if we are to avoid, in the future, thousands of preventable and premature deaths amongst cancer patients in Wales.
Byddai'r holl elusennau canser yng Nghymru yn cytuno â chi ein bod ni angen pwyslais brys newydd ar ddiagnosis a chanfod cynnar, ond maen nhw'n dweud bod angen gwneud hynny yn ganolog i strategaeth ganser gynhwysfawr newydd i Gymru, yn unol ag argymhellion Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd. Nawr, fe'ch clywais chi'n dweud o'r blaen bod y gwahanol ddogfennau presennol sy'n bodoli, ac fe allech chi ddadlau y gallwch chi ychwanegu at hynny y rhaglen ar gyfer gofal wedi'i gynllunio, yr ydych chi'n ei chyhoeddi heddiw, sy'n codi'r targed 62 diwrnod o 75 y cant i 80 y cant—mae hyn i gyd, byddech chi'n dweud, efallai'n gyfystyr â strategaeth. Ond siawns nad oedd y ffaith nad oedd y targed hwnnw, hyd yn oed cyn y pandemig, yn cael ei fodloni gan y rhan fwyaf o fyrddau iechyd, y ffaith bod y bwlch marwolaethau canser yng Nghymru rhwng ardaloedd difreintiedig a chyfoethog yn waeth nawr nag yr oedden nhw 20 mlynedd yn ôl, y ffaith bod pobl â chanser yng Nghymru yn cael eu gorfodi i fynd yn breifat, fel y tystiodd adroddiad diweddar y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ar amseroedd aros, gyda'i gilydd yn awgrymu, onid yw, hyd yn oed os byddwch chi'n cynnal, yn erbyn popeth y mae pob elusen ganser yng Nghymru yn ei ddweud, bod gennym ni strategaeth canser, bod y strategaeth yn methu a bod angen ei disodli ar frys os ydym ni'n mynd i osgoi, yn y dyfodol, miloedd o farwolaethau y gellir eu hatal a marwolaethau cynamserol ymhlith cleifion canser yng Nghymru.
Well, Llywydd, my view of the way in which we make those deaths preventable is not by taking up more time in further strategising. We have all of that in place. Where I want the energy of the system to be focused is on delivering the treatments that the existing strategy already tells us need to be there. I don't think it's sensible to suggest that people in Wales are in large numbers having to take private treatment: 11,300 people in Wales last month alone received the good news that they were not suffering from cancer, having been referred by their GP because cancer was suspected. We know that around one out of every 100 people who are referred actually turn out to suffer from cancer, and, therefore, last month, as I say, 11,300 people received the good news that, having been referred, and hopefully early referred, they weren't suffering from cancer at all. Now, what I want the system to do is to focus on the things it's already dedicated to doing: early identification, rapid referral, quick diagnosis and then, for that small number of people who turn out to be suffering from the condition, that they move into the treatment phase as early as possible in the condition. That is the way, I think, that we will be able to avoid deaths that otherwise would take place, and I think that is where the energy of the system should be directed, not in further getting people away from doing the job of treating patients and writing more plans and strategies.
Wel, Llywydd, nid cymryd mwy o amser yn strategeiddio ymhellach yw'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n gwneud y marwolaethau hynny yn rhai y gellir eu hatal yn fy marn i. Mae hynny i gyd ar waith gennym ni. Y lle yr wyf i eisiau i egni'r system ganolbwyntio yw ar ddarparu'r triniaethau y mae'r strategaeth bresennol eisoes yn dweud wrthym ni fod angen iddyn nhw fod yno. Nid wyf i'n credu ei bod hi'n synhwyrol awgrymu bod pobl yng Nghymru mewn niferoedd mawr yn gorfod cael triniaeth breifat: cafodd 11,300 o bobl yng Nghymru fis diwethaf yn unig y newyddion da nad oedden nhw'n dioddef o ganser, ar ôl cael eu hatgyfeirio gan eu meddyg teulu oherwydd bod amheuaeth o ganser. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod tua un o bob 100 o bobl sy'n cael eu hatgyfeirio mewn gwirionedd yn dioddef o ganser, ac, felly, y mis diwethaf, fel y dywedais i, cafodd 11,300 o bobl y newyddion da nad oedden nhw'n dioddef o ganser o gwbl ar ôl cael eu hatgyfeirio, a'u hatgyfeirio yn gynnar gobeithio. Nawr, yr hyn yr wyf i eisiau i'r system ei wneud yw canolbwyntio ar y pethau y mae eisoes wedi ymrwymo i'w gwneud: nodi cynnar, atgyfeirio cyflym, diagnosis cyflym ac yna, i'r nifer fach honno o bobl y canfyddir eu bod nhw'n dioddef o'r cyflwr, eu bod nhw'n symud i'r cyfnod triniaeth cyn gynted â phosibl yn y cyflwr. Dyna'r ffordd, yn fy marn i, y byddwn ni'n gallu osgoi marwolaethau a fyddai fel arall yn digwydd, ac rwy'n credu mai dyna lle dylid cyfeirio egni'r system, nid at gael pobl ymhellach i ffwrdd o wneud y gwaith o drin cleifion ac ysgrifennu mwy o gynlluniau a strategaethau.
3. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi teuluoedd yn Nwyrain Casnewydd gyda biliau cynyddol yr aelwyd? OQ57943
3. How is the Welsh Government supporting families in Newport East with rising household bills? OQ57943
Llywydd, Newport East families will be supported by the Welsh Government's £380 million package designed to help families across Wales with rising household bills. We will continue to do all we can within our powers to protect the most vulnerable, and we need a UK Government willing to do likewise.
Llywydd, bydd teuluoedd Dwyrain Casnewydd yn cael eu cynorthwyo gan becyn £380 miliwn Llywodraeth Cymru y bwriedir iddo helpu teuluoedd ledled Cymru gyda biliau aelwyd cynyddol. Byddwn yn parhau i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu o fewn ein pwerau i amddiffyn y bobl fwyaf agored i niwed, ac rydym ni angen Llywodraeth y DU sy'n barod i wneud yr un fath.
First Minister, this morning, as chair of the Senedd's cross-party group on poverty, I chaired a joint meeting with our counterparts in the UK and Scottish Parliaments, and we heard from organisations and charities right across the UK on the scale of the current cost-of-living crisis and growing poverty. Clearly, these organisations are very worried indeed, as I think we all are. First Minister, COVID aggravated the existing inequality in Wales and the UK, and now we have these rising household energy costs and food bills, along with much else. I know that the response you referred to, First Minister, is reaching 75 per cent of our households in Wales and that it's proportionately targeted at those in most need, as it should be, with almost twice as much going to households in the bottom half of income distribution compared to those in the top half, and three times as much to those in the bottom fifth compared to those in the top fifth. This is very welcome, First Minister. Could you reassure me today that Welsh Government will continue to follow the principles of social justice in supporting communities in Newport East and across Wales and continue to press UK Government to move away from their traditional regressive approach and adopt a fair set of policies for the future, given the scale of this crisis?
Prif Weinidog, y bore yma, fel cadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar dlodi, cadeiriais gyfarfod ar y cyd â'n cymheiriaid yn Seneddau'r DU a'r Alban, a chlywsom gan sefydliadau ac elusennau ledled y DU am raddfa'r argyfwng costau byw presennol a thlodi cynyddol. Yn amlwg, mae'r sefydliadau hyn yn bryderus dros ben, fel yr ydym ni i gyd, rwy'n credu. Prif Weinidog, gwaethygodd COVID yr anghydraddoldeb presennol yng Nghymru a'r DU, a bellach mae gennym ni'r costau ynni aelwydydd a'r biliau bwyd cynyddol hyn, ynghyd â llawer o bethau eraill. Gwn mai'r ymateb y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato, Prif Weinidog, yw cyrraedd 75 y cant o'n haelwydydd yng Nghymru a'i fod yn cael ei dargedu yn gymesur at y rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf, fel y dylai fod, gyda bron ddwywaith cymaint yn mynd i aelwydydd yn hanner isaf y dosbarthiad incwm o'u cymharu â'r rhai yn yr hanner uchaf, a thair gwaith cymaint i'r rhai yn y pumed isaf o'u cymharu â'r rhai yn y pumed uchaf. Mae hyn i'w groesawu yn fawr, Prif Weinidog. A allwch chi fy sicrhau i heddiw y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ddilyn egwyddorion cyfiawnder cymdeithasol wrth gynorthwyo cymunedau yn Nwyrain Casnewydd a ledled Cymru ac yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i symud oddi wrth eu dull atchweliadol traddodiadol a mabwysiadu cyfres deg o bolisïau ar gyfer y dyfodol, o ystyried maint yr argyfwng hwn?
Well, Llywydd, I thank John Griffiths for that. I think it was the Institute for Fiscal Studies that concluded that the package of help that the UK Government is providing in England contains little direct targeting of resources on the poorest or those most in need. And John Griffiths is right, Llywydd, that the package of help provided here in Wales, which is the most extensive package of help available in any of the four UK nations, is targeted so that most of the help goes to those people at the bottom end of the income distribution. And, of course, that is entirely what we will continue to do.
I've had discussions this week with my colleague Jane Hutt about the £200 winter fuel payment and how we can extend that for the winter that will begin later this year. I was very pleased to see, Llywydd, that the £150 that is being paid not simply to those people who pay council tax but to those people who are exempt from council tax because they qualify for council tax benefit—that's something that doesn't happen across our border—that those payments are already being made: 138,000 households have already received that £150 in Wales; £6 million put into the hands of residents of Cardiff alone since the start of this month. That, I think, is just a clear demonstration of the way in which we want the £380 million that the Welsh Government has been able to secure to go into the pockets of those who need it the most and to do it as rapidly as possible. We rely on our colleagues in local government to help us to make sure that happens, and I'd like to congratulate Newport county borough council, Llywydd, for the £100,000 that it has found from its own budget to support foodbanks in the city—again, a service we wish was not needed but will become an even more necessary part of the landscape as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.
Wel, Llywydd, diolch i John Griffiths am hynna. Rwy'n credu mai'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid a ddaeth i'r casgliad nad yw'r pecyn cymorth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei ddarparu yn Lloegr yn cynnwys llawer o dargedu adnoddau yn uniongyrchol ar gyfer y tlotaf neu'r rhai mwyaf anghenus. Ac mae John Griffiths yn iawn, Llywydd, bod y pecyn cymorth a ddarperir yma yng Nghymru, sef y pecyn cymorth mwyaf helaeth sydd ar gael yn unrhyw un o bedair gwlad y DU, yn cael ei dargedu fel bod y rhan fwyaf o'r cymorth yn mynd i'r bobl hynny ar waelod y dosbarthiad incwm. Ac, wrth gwrs, dyna'n union y byddwn ni'n parhau i'w wneud.
Rwyf i wedi cael trafodaethau yr wythnos hon gyda fy nghyd-Weinidog Jane Hutt am y taliad tanwydd gaeaf o £200 a sut y gallwn ni ymestyn hwnnw ar gyfer y gaeaf a fydd yn dechrau yn ddiweddarach eleni. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o weld, Llywydd, bod y £150 sy'n cael ei dalu nid yn unig i'r bobl hynny sy'n talu'r dreth gyngor ond i'r bobl hynny sydd wedi eu heithrio o'r dreth gyngor gan eu bod yn gymwys i gael budd-dal y dreth gyngor—mae hynny'n rhywbeth nad yw'n digwydd dros ein ffin—bod y taliadau hynny eisoes yn cael eu gwneud: mae 138,000 o aelwydydd eisoes wedi cael y £150 hwnnw yng Nghymru; £6 miliwn wedi'i roi yn nwylo trigolion Caerdydd yn unig ers dechrau'r mis hwn. Mae hynny, rwy'n credu, yn arwydd eglur o'r ffordd yr ydym ni eisiau i'r £380 miliwn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gallu ei sicrhau fynd i bocedi'r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf a gwneud hynny cyn gynted â phosibl. Rydym ni'n dibynnu ar ein cydweithwyr mewn llywodraeth leol i'n helpu i wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n digwydd, a hoffwn longyfarch cyngor bwrdeistref sirol Casnewydd, Llywydd, ar y £100,000 y mae wedi ei ganfod o'i gyllideb ei hun i gefnogi banciau bwyd yn y ddinas—eto, gwasanaeth yr hoffem ni nad oedd ei angen ond a fydd yn dod yn rhan fwy angenrheidiol fyth o'r dirwedd wrth i'r argyfwng costau byw ddwysáu.
Just quickly, First Minister, it's Newport City Council, not borough council. First Minister, at the moment our constituents are all facing a worldwide cost-of-living crisis, where bills are only expected to rise in the coming months. The UK Government has been working hard to ensure that more support than ever is reaching the pockets of our hard-working people of Wales. You had the audacity in a previous question to stand here and say that you're unhappy with the UK Government and how it's been spending its money helping the people of Wales on a local level. With respect, that is rich, First Minister. Just think of all the millions that you wasted on an M4 relief road, the much-needed relief road that was scrapped, and whilst you were waiting, deciding whether you wanted it or not, the millions that you wasted that could have gone back to the pockets of the hard-working people of Wales—. Instead of helping the people of Wales, all you can concentrate on at the moment is spending millions more pounds on more politicians for here in the bay and a tourism tax. Is this really all your Government has to offer the people of Wales at a time when everyone is struggling? To me, it seems your priorities are all wrong.
Yn gyflym iawn, Prif Weinidog, Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd yw ef, nid cyngor bwrdeistref. Prif Weinidog, ar hyn o bryd mae ein hetholwyr ni i gyd yn wynebu argyfwng costau byw byd-eang, lle disgwylir i filiau gynyddu dim ond yn ystod y misoedd nesaf. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed i sicrhau bod mwy o gymorth nag erioed yn cyrraedd pocedi ein pobl sy'n gweithio'n galed yng Nghymru. Roeddech chi'n ddigon digywilydd yn dilyn cwestiwn blaenorol i sefyll yma a dweud eich bod chi'n anhapus gyda Llywodraeth y DU a sut y mae wedi bod yn gwario ei harian yn helpu pobl Cymru ar lefel leol. Gyda pharch, mae honno'n un dda, Prif Weinidog. Meddyliwch am yr holl filiynau y gwnaethoch chi eu gwastraffu ar ffordd liniaru'r M4, y ffordd liniaru y mae mawr ei hangen y cefnwyd arni, a thra'r oeddech chi'n aros, yn penderfynu a oeddech chi ei heisiau ai peidio, y miliynau a wastraffwyd gennych chi a allai fod wedi mynd yn ôl i bocedi pobl Cymru sy'n gweithio'n galed—. Yn hytrach na helpu pobl Cymru, y cwbl y gallwch chi ganolbwyntio arno ar hyn o bryd yw gwario miliynau yn fwy o bunnoedd ar fwy o wleidyddion yma yn y bae a threth twristiaeth. Ai dyma mewn gwirionedd yw'r cyfan sydd gan eich Llywodraeth i'w gynnig i bobl Cymru ar adeg pan fo pawb yn ei chael hi'n anodd? I mi, mae'n ymddangos bod eich blaenoriaethau i gyd yn anghywir.
Well, it's pretty desperate stuff, Llywydd, isn't it? I look forward to seeing the Member back on her feet in two weeks' time, when she can comment on the audacity of people in Wales who will be going to the ballot paper to cast their verdict on her Government. Let's see what she has to say about it then.
Wel, mae hyn braidd yn anobeithiol, Llywydd, onid yw? Edrychaf ymlaen at weld yr Aelod yn ôl ar ei thraed ymhen pythefnos, pan all wneud sylwadau ar ddigywilydd-dra pobl yng Nghymru a fydd yn mynd i'r papur pleidleisio i wneud eu dyfarniad ar ei Llywodraeth hi. Gadewch i ni weld beth sydd ganddi i'w ddweud amdano bryd hynny.
4. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin? OQ57938
4. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the shared prosperity fund? OQ57938
Llywydd, the shared prosperity fund was announced in 2017, but meaningful discussions with the UK Government opened only at the start of this month. It remains the Welsh Government's position that we cannot endorse an approach that removes both funding and decision making from Wales.
Llywydd, cyhoeddwyd y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn 2017, ond dim ond ddechrau'r mis hwn y dechreuodd trafodaethau ystyrlon gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru o hyd yw na allwn ni gymeradwyo dull sy'n cymryd cyllid a phenderfyniadau oddi wrth Cymru.
Thank you, First Minister. Obviously, you've already said that Wales could lose out by over £1 billion as a consequence of the implementation of the shared prosperity fund. That's £1 billion that could have been used to grow the Welsh economy and to support some of the most disadvantaged communities in Wales, including in my constituency. It doesn't feel like levelling up. Is this, therefore, another example of EU funding not being replaced in full, and yet another example of the UK Government breaking its promise that Wales will not be a penny worse off after Brexit?
Diolch yn fawr, Prif Weinidog. Yn amlwg, rydych chi eisoes wedi dweud y gallai Cymru fod ar ei cholled o dros £1 biliwn o ganlyniad i weithredu'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Mae hynny'n £1 biliwn y gellid bod wedi ei ddefnyddio i dyfu economi Cymru ac i gynorthwyo rhai o'r cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys yn fy etholaeth i. Nid yw'n teimlo fel codi'r gwastad. A yw hyn, felly, yn enghraifft arall o beidio â disodli cyllid yr UE yn llawn, ac yn enghraifft arall eto o Lywodraeth y DU yn torri ei haddewid na fydd Cymru geiniog yn waeth ei byd ar ôl Brexit?
Llywydd, I promised earlier that I'd assist Paul Davies further with figures that demonstrate the extent to which Wales has lost out as a result of the decisions made by his Government. I'll give him a preview of it now. Last year, the shortfall between what we would have received had we remained in the European Union and what we got from the UK Government was £328 million. It's £286 million in the current financial year, it'll be £222 million in the following financial year, and it'll be £32 million in 2024-25 when the UK Government claims that it will have got the shared prosperity fund to its maximum. That doesn't include, of course, the top-slicing of that money, the £101 million that will be taken away for the UK Government's Multiply scheme, and it doesn't include the £243 million that we will lose in rural funding. Nor does it include, Llywydd, all the other schemes that citizens of Wales were previously able to participate in and which will be denied to them in the future. So, it doesn’t include what we will lose because the Erasmus+ programme was not replaced by the UK Government to the extent that Erasmus+ operated in Wales; it doesn't include the money that will be lost to Welsh higher education institutions, because participation in the Horizon programme has not been secured; and it doesn't include the fact that we will lose the €100 million that Wales had at our disposal when we had an interterritorial co-operation programme with the Republic of Ireland, a programme that was particularly useful in Paul Davies's own constituency. We won't have that either, yet another part that we were promised would be replaced. We weren't, you remember, to be a penny worse off. Well, that's €100 million on that programme alone that people in Wales will not have at their disposal, which demonstrates exactly the truth of what Ken Skates said in his supplementary question.
Llywydd, addewais yn gynharach y byddwn yn cynorthwyo Paul Davies ymhellach gyda ffigurau sy'n dangos i ba raddau y mae Cymru ar ei cholled o ganlyniad i'r penderfyniadau a wnaed gan ei Lywodraeth. Rhoddaf ragolwg iddo nawr. Y llynedd, £328 miliwn oedd y diffyg rhwng yr hyn y byddem ni wedi ei gael pe baem ni wedi aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a'r hyn a gawsom gan Lywodraeth y DU. £286 miliwn yw'r ffigur yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol, bydd yn £222 miliwn yn y flwyddyn ariannol ganlynol, a bydd yn £32 miliwn yn 2024-25 pan fo Llywodraeth y DU yn honni y bydd wedi cael y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin i'w huchafswm. Nid yw hynny yn cynnwys, wrth gwrs, brigdorri'r arian hwnnw, y £101 miliwn a fydd yn cael ei gymryd ar gyfer cynllun Multiply Llywodraeth y DU, ac nid yw'n cynnwys y £243 miliwn y byddwn ni'n ei golli o ran cyllid gwledig. Ac nid yw'n cynnwys chwaith, Llywydd, yr holl gynlluniau eraill yr oedd dinasyddion Cymru yn gallu cymryd rhan ynddyn nhw yn y gorffennol ac y byddan nhw'n eu colli yn y dyfodol. Felly, nid yw'n cynnwys yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ei golli gan na ddisodlwyd rhaglen Erasmus+ gan Lywodraeth y DU i'r graddau yr oedd Erasmus+ yn gweithredu yng Nghymru; nid yw'n cynnwys yr arian a fydd yn cael ei golli i sefydliadau addysg uwch Cymru, gan na sicrhawyd cyfranogiad yn rhaglen Horizon; ac nid yw'n cynnwys y ffaith y byddwn ni'n colli'r €100 miliwn a oedd ar gael i Gymru pan oedd gennym ni raglen gydweithredu ryngdiriogaethol gyda Gweriniaeth Iwerddon, rhaglen a oedd yn arbennig o ddefnyddiol yn etholaeth Paul Davies ei hun. Ni fydd honno gennym ni chwaith, rhan arall eto yr addawyd i ni y byddai'n cael ei disodli. Ni fyddem ni, cofiwch, geiniog yn waeth ein byd. Wel, dyna €100 miliwn ar y rhaglen honno yn unig na fydd ar gael i bobl yng Nghymru, sy'n dangos yn union y gwir am yr hyn a ddywedodd Ken Skates yn ei gwestiwn atodol.
Good afternoon, First Minister. Local government has shown exceptional leadership in Wales as a key economic driver, able to identify needs and build relationships with partners. What discussion has the Welsh Government had with local authorities on the spending of their allocations under the shared prosperity fund? And does he share my excitement that we're recognising the important role that local authorities play in leading economic renewal based on local needs? Thank you.
Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Mae llywodraeth leol wedi dangos arweinyddiaeth eithriadol yng Nghymru fel ysgogwr economaidd allweddol, sy'n gallu nodi anghenion a meithrin perthynas â phartneriaid. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu cael gydag awdurdodau lleol ar wario eu dyraniadau o dan y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin? Ac a yw'n rhannu fy nghyffro ein bod ni'n cydnabod y rhan bwysig y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei chwarae o ran arwain adnewyddu'r economi yn seiliedig ar anghenion lleol? Diolch.
Well, Llywydd, I do definitely agree with what the Member said about the importance of local authorities. I'm glad that we were able to secure, in our discussions with the UK Government, belated as they were, a recognition that this reduced amount of money is best spent in Wales where local authorities co-operate on a regional basis and on the footprints that we have previously agreed with the UK Government. So, I think that's a step forward as well.
I'm pleased to say that, through our discussions, both with the Welsh Local Government Association and through the work that my colleague Huw Irranca-Davies does in leading committees in this area, that we are securing agreements with our local authority colleagues that the approach in Wales will not result in the elimination from the decision-making process of the voices that previously had been around the table at the programme monitoring committee. So, that is businesses, third sector organisations and universities. Previously, the funds that are said to be replaced by the shared prosperity fund would have been available to those sectors as well: the Business Wales scheme is funded in that way and is very important to businesses in Wales; £103 million secured previously for the third sector in Wales, and over £400 million used by higher education institutions in Wales from exactly those funds.
Now, the importance of local government is a point well made, but those other sectors are also very important in making sure that the funds that will come to Wales are spent to best effect, and I'm glad that, as a result of the discussions we have had with our local government colleagues, there are assurances that those voices will continue to be influential in the way bids and then funding proposals for the shared prosperity fund in Wales are developed.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n bendant yn cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod am bwysigrwydd awdurdodau lleol. Rwy'n falch ein bod ni wedi gallu sicrhau, yn ein trafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU, yn hwyr fel yr oedden nhw, gydnabyddiaeth mai'r ffordd orau o wario'r swm llai hwn o arian yng Nghymru lle mae awdurdodau lleol yn cydweithredu ar sail ranbarthol ac ar yr ôl troed yr ydym ni wedi cytuno arnyn nhw yn flaenorol gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hynny yn gam ymlaen hefyd.
Rwy'n falch o ddweud, drwy ein trafodaethau, gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru a thrwy'r gwaith y mae fy nghyd-Weinidog Huw Irranca-Davies yn ei wneud wrth arwain pwyllgorau yn y maes hwn, ein bod ni'n sicrhau cytundebau gyda'n cydweithwyr yn yr awdurdodau lleol na fydd y dull gweithredu yng Nghymru yn arwain at gael gwared ar y lleisiau a oedd wedi bod o gwmpas y bwrdd yn y pwyllgor monitro rhaglenni o'r blaen o'r broses o wneud penderfyniadau. Felly, busnesau, sefydliadau'r trydydd sector a phrifysgolion. Yn y gorffennol, byddai'r arian y dywedir ei fod yn cael ei ddisodli gan y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin wedi bod ar gael i'r sectorau hynny hefyd: mae cynllun Busnes Cymru yn cael ei ariannu yn y modd hwnnw ac mae'n bwysig iawn i fusnesau yng Nghymru; sicrhawyd £103 miliwn yn flaenorol ar gyfer y trydydd sector yng Nghymru, a defnyddiwyd dros £400 miliwn gan sefydliadau addysg uwch yng Nghymru o'r union gronfeydd hynny.
Nawr, mae pwysigrwydd llywodraeth leol yn bwynt da, ond mae'r sectorau eraill hynny hefyd yn bwysig iawn o ran gwneud yn siŵr bod yr arian a ddaw i Gymru yn cael ei wario yn y ffordd orau bosibl, ac rwy'n falch, o ganlyniad i'r trafodaethau yr ydym ni wedi eu cael gyda'n cydweithwyr mewn llywodraeth leol, bod sicrwydd y bydd y lleisiau hynny yn parhau i fod yn ddylanwadol yn y ffordd y mae ceisiadau ac yna cynigion ariannu ar gyfer gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yng Nghymru yn cael eu datblygu.
5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith cronfa ffyniant gyffredin Llywodraeth y DU ar Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ57944
5. What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact of the UK Government's shared prosperity fund on Mid and West Wales? OQ57944
Diolch yn fawr i Cefin Campbell am y cwestiwn. Llywydd, nid yw Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi bodloni'r addewid i ddarparu cyllid llawn yn lle cyllid yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Nid yw ychwaith wedi bodloni'r addewid na fyddai Cymru yn colli unrhyw bwerau. Bydd llai o lais gan gymunedau Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru a bydd llai o arian ar gael. Ni fydd yr ardaloedd hynny sydd mewn y mwyaf o angen yn cael digon o gymorth, felly.
Thank you very much to Cefin Campbell for the question. Llywydd, the UK Government has failed to honour the commitment to replace EU funding in full. Neither has it honoured its commitment that no devolved power would be lost to Wales. Communities in Mid and West Wales will have less of a say and there will be less funding available. Those places that are most in need will not receive adequate support.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Wel, mae'n amlwg rŷch chi wedi cael digon o gyfle i rihyrsio'r ateb i'r cwestiwn yma yn barod, ond mae angen pwysleisio, wrth gwrs, fod yr arian Ewropeaidd wedi cael ei roi i'r ardaloedd mwyaf anghenus yng Nghymru, ac mae Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru wedi elwa yn sylweddol iawn ar hyd y blynyddoedd o'r arian o wahanol gronfeydd Ewropeaidd—er enghraifft, £2.8 miliwn i ddatblygu canol tref Llanelli a miliynau ar gyfer datblygu porthladdoedd yn Aberdaugleddau a Doc Penfro. Felly, er gwaethaf yr addewidion, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed, na fyddai ceiniog yn llai yn cael ei rhoi i ni yma yng Nghymru, mae'ch dadansoddiad chi yn awgrymu yn glir fod rhyw £1 biliwn yn mynd i gael eu colli i'r ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru.
Felly, gyda phenderfyniadau yn cael eu gwneud yn Llundain, mae yna ddau gwestiwn, mewn gwirionedd, yn un. Pa sgyrsiau ŷch chi wedi eu cael gyda San Steffan er mwyn sicrhau bod mwy o lais gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'r Senedd hon yn y penderfyniadau? A pha asesiad ŷch chi wedi'i wneud o ran llenwi'r bylchau ariannol yna lle mae cymunedau difreintiedig a sefydliadau, yn aml trydydd sector, wedi colli arian oherwydd y diffygion yn y gwariant yma gan y Torïaid?
Thank you very much. It's clear that you've had a few opportunities to rehearse an answer to this question already, but we need to emphasise, of course, that the European funding had been given to the most disadvantaged areas in Wales, and Mid and West Wales had benefited significantly over the years from funding from various European sources—for example, £2.8 million to develop Llanelli town centre and millions for the development of ports in Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock. So, despite the pledges, as we've heard, that not a penny less would be given to us here in Wales, your analysis does suggest clearly that some £1 billion is to be lost in those most disadvantaged areas of Wales.
So, with decisions being taken in London, there are two questions that merge here. What conversations have you had with Westminster in order to ensure that the Welsh Government and this Senedd have a stronger voice in that decision-making process? And what assessment have you made in terms of filling those financial gaps where deprived communities and organisations, often third sector organisations, have lost out because of the deficiencies in this spending by the Tories?
Wel, Llywydd, diolch yn fawr i Cefin Campbell am y cwestiynau ychwanegol yna. Gaf i ddweud wrtho fe, pan oeddwn i wedi bod yn sgwrsio gyda'r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, dwi ddim yn fodlon jest i gael llais mewn penderfyniadau y maen nhw'n mynd i'w gwneud. Dydy hwnna ddim yn adlewyrchu datganoli yma yng Nghymru, pwerau'r Senedd, na'r ffaith mai'r Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru sy'n gyfrifol am y pynciau rŷn ni'n siarad amdanyn nhw. Beth dwi eisiau ei weld yw cydweithio gyda'n gilydd i wneud y penderfyniadau; nid jest llais, ond pwerau yma i ni eu defnyddio.
Nawr, dwi'n fodlon i bara ymlaen i gael mwy o sgyrsiau gyda Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ond ar ddiwedd y dydd, cyn roedden nhw wedi cyhoeddi popeth am y gronfa, doedden ni ddim wedi cytuno ar sut y gallai hi gael ei rhoi yn ei lle. Dydy e jest ddim yn ddigonol i'r Senedd hon i fod jest yn rhan o bethau, yn un o'r cyrff mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig jest yn clywed beth sydd gennym i'w ddweud. Dydy hwnna jest ddim yn adlewyrchu beth sydd wedi digwydd dros y cyfnod o ddatganoli i gyd.
Ar y pwynt arall, am lenwi'r bylchau, mae'n bwysig i fi ddweud yn glir, Llywydd, does dim arian gyda ni fel Llywodraeth i lenwi pob bwlch mae penderfyniadau San Steffan yn mynd i'w creu. Rŷn ni'n gwneud popeth y gallwn ni ei wneud i ddefnyddio'r rhaglenni sydd gyda ni yn barod, i gydweithio â'r awdurdodau lleol ac yn y blaen, ond pan fydd Cymru yn colli mas o fwy na £1 biliwn, mae'n amhosibl meddwl y bydd y Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru jest yn gallu ffeindio arian ar y lefel yna.
Well, Llywydd, thank you very much to Cefin Campbell for those supplementary questions. May I say this to him? When I speak to the Government in Westminster, I am not content just to have a voice in the decisions that they're going to be making. That doesn't reflect devolution here in Wales, the powers of the Senedd, or the fact that it is the Government here in Wales that is responsible for the subjects that we're talking about. What I want to see is collaboration together to make those decisions; not just having a voice, but powers here for us to use.
Now, I am willing to continue to have those conversations with the United Kingdom Government, but at the end of the day, before they had announced everything about the fund, we hadn't agreed on how that could be implemented and put in place. It just isn't adequate and sufficient for this Senedd to be just a part of the things, one of the bodies that the UK Government just hears what we have to say. That doesn't reflect what has happened over the period of devolution as a whole.
On the other point, about filling the gaps, it's important for me to state clearly, Llywydd, that we don't have the money as a Government to fill every gap that the decisions in Westminster are going to create. We're doing everything that we can do to use the programmes that we already have, to work with local authorities and so on, but when Wales is to lose out to the tune of more than £1 billion, it's impossible to think that the Government here in Wales can just find the money at that level.
6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio i ddarparu gofal o ansawdd uchel i blant a phobl ifanc mewn cartrefi preswyl arbenigol? OQ57940
6. How is the Welsh Government working to provide high-quality care for children and young people in specialist residential homes? OQ57940
Llywydd, such care is best provided as a public service and as close to home as possible. To that end, we have provided £3.5 million in revenue funding to regional partnership boards to develop specialist residential services for children with complex needs, and we've complemented that revenue funding by over £14 million in capital funding as well.
Llywydd, y ffordd orau o ddarparu gofal o'r fath yw fel gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ac mor agos i gartrefi pobl â phosibl. I'r perwyl hwnnw, rydym ni wedi darparu £3.5 miliwn o gyllid refeniw i fyrddau partneriaethau rhanbarthol i ddatblygu gwasanaethau preswyl arbenigol i blant ag anghenion cymhleth, ac rydym ni wedi ategu'r cyllid refeniw hwnnw gyda dros £14 miliwn mewn cyllid cyfalaf hefyd.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Children and young people who are in residential care need as much love, compassion and support as possible, and I'm proud that the Welsh Government is committed to that. In Newport, we're starting to see the benefits of the Perthyn project, an ambitious long-term programme that intends to bring children back to the city, where they're from, so that they can receive better standards of care closer to familiar surroundings. Within the city, three purpose-built homes have been set up by Newport City Council. In these homes, there are no offices or locked doors, and the ultimate aim is to create a friendly, home-like, comfortable atmosphere for the children. Some of the young people who have returned to Newport have been able to move back to live with their families after getting the right transitional support in the homes. Prif Weinidog, can you join me in congratulating Newport City Council, under the leadership of Jane Mudd, on this, and in particular Paul Cockeram, who was the cabinet member responsible and whose personal mission and determination to drive down the numbers of out-of-county placements by bringing these young people back to good-quality, compassionate homes has been exceptional?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Mae plant a phobl ifanc sydd mewn gofal preswyl angen cymaint o gariad, tosturi a chefnogaeth â phosibl, ac rwy'n falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i hynny. Yng Nghasnewydd, rydym ni'n dechrau gweld manteision prosiect Perthyn, rhaglen hirdymor uchelgeisiol sy'n bwriadu dod â phlant yn ôl i'r ddinas, o le maen nhw'n dod, fel y gallan nhw dderbyn safonau gofal gwell yn nes at amgylchedd cyfarwydd. O fewn y ddinas, sefydlwyd tri chartref pwrpasol gan Gyngor Dinas Casnewydd. Yn y cartrefi hyn, nid oes unrhyw swyddfeydd na drysau wedi'u cloi, a'r nod yn y pen draw yw creu awyrgylch cyfeillgar, cartrefol a chyfforddus i'r plant. Mae rhai o'r bobl ifanc sydd wedi dychwelyd i Gasnewydd wedi gallu symud yn ôl i fyw gyda'u teuluoedd ar ôl cael y cymorth pontio priodol yn y cartrefi. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i longyfarch Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd, dan arweiniad Jane Mudd, ar hyn, ac yn arbennig Paul Cockeram, sef yr aelod cabinet a oedd yn gyfrifol ac y mae ei genhadaeth a'i benderfyniad personol i leihau nifer y lleoliadau y tu allan i'r sir drwy ddod â'r bobl ifanc hyn yn ôl i gartrefi tosturiol o ansawdd da wedi bod yn eithriadol?
Well, I very much thank Jayne Bryant for that question, and I strongly welcome the Project Perthyn initiative taking place in Newport. It is an absolute public policy priority for this Government to see more children looked after closer to their homes and the communities where they grew up. Too many children in Wales are looked after outside Wales; too many children in Wales are looked after outside the county that has parental responsibility for them. And Newport council, working with other local authorities in Gwent, has I think been a leading example of the way in which, provided we invest in the right sort of facilities, with properly trained staff, it is absolutely possible for those children to be looked after successfully closer to their families and closer to their homes, with better long-term prospects for those children themselves and a better return on the investment that the taxpayer makes in looking after them.
I absolutely pay tribute to Councillor Paul Cockeram, Llywydd. He's somebody who I have known for over a decade and whose work not simply in the field of children's services, but using some of the same ideas in adult services, means that, in Newport, I know the local authority has been able to bring some former privately run residential homes back into the direct service of the local authority, which is financially a more effective way of using the local authority's resources and making sure that the care provided is provided as a public service.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn i Jayne Bryant am y cwestiwn yna, ac rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y fenter Prosiect Perthyn sy'n digwydd yng Nghasnewydd. Mae'n flaenoriaeth polisi cyhoeddus gwbl bendant i'r Llywodraeth hon weld mwy o blant yn derbyn gofal yn nes at eu cartrefi a'r cymunedau lle cawson nhw eu magu. Mae gormod o blant yng Nghymru yn derbyn gofal y tu allan i Gymru; mae gormod o blant yng Nghymru yn derbyn gofal y tu allan i'r sir sydd â chyfrifoldeb rhiant drostyn nhw. Ac mae cyngor Casnewydd, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol eraill yng Ngwent, wedi bod yn enghraifft flaenllaw, rwy'n credu, o'r ffordd, cyn belled â'n bod ni'n buddsoddi yn y math iawn o gyfleusterau, gyda staff sydd wedi'u hyfforddi'n briodol, ei bod hi'n gwbl bosibl i'r plant hynny dderbyn gofal yn llwyddiannus yn nes at eu teuluoedd ac yn nes at eu cartrefi, gyda gwell rhagolygon hirdymor i'r plant hynny eu hunain a gwell elw o'r buddsoddiad y mae'r trethdalwr yn ei wneud mewn gofalu amdanyn nhw.
Rwy'n sicr yn talu teyrnged i'r Cynghorydd Paul Cockeram, Llywydd. Mae'n rhywun yr wyf i wedi ei adnabod ers dros ddegawd ac y mae ei waith nid yn unig ym maes gwasanaethau plant, ond yn defnyddio rhai o'r un syniadau yn y gwasanaethau i oedolion, yn golygu fy mod i'n gwybod, yng Nghasnewydd, bod yr awdurdod lleol wedi gallu dod â rhai hen gartrefi preswyl sy'n cael eu rhedeg yn breifat yn ôl i wasanaeth uniongyrchol yr awdurdod lleol, sy'n ffordd fwy effeithiol yn ariannol o ddefnyddio adnoddau'r awdurdod lleol a gwneud yn siŵr bod y gofal sy'n cael ei ddarparu yn cael ei ddarparu fel gwasanaeth cyhoeddus.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG? OQ57911
7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve access to NHS dentistry services? OQ57911
Llywydd, additional investment, contract reform and new COVID-related guidance are amongst the measures being taken this month to increase safe access to NHS dental services.
Llywydd, mae buddsoddiad ychwanegol, diwygio contractau a chanllawiau newydd yn gysylltiedig â COVID ymhlith y mesurau sy'n cael eu cymryd y mis yma i gynyddu mynediad diogel at wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG.
Thank you, First Minister. I've been contacted—no doubt, many of us here have—by a number of constituents who are struggling to access NHS dentistry services. Certainly, in my constituency, one example was where I was recently contacted by a parent whose children were last seen by a dentist at Easter 2019. They had only been able to be seen by a hygienist since then, as the constituent was insistent on their children being seen in some way by the practice. Another constituent was told that their practice was no longer taking on adult NHS patients, and I know of a local dentist near me where they will not take on new people. However, if you contribute to Denplan, there is suddenly, miraculously lots of capacity.
As I understand it, dentistry services are still in an amber phase of recovery and so patients are still being seen according to clinical need, but I feel that the longer people go without having a regular check-up, the more people's dental health will deteriorate, meaning that there will be more demand for complex treatment hampering the recovery of services. First Minister, what plans does the Welsh Government have to ensure that there is a resumption of regular scheduled check-ups, and how is the Government working with providers to expand the capacity of services, which is clearly needed to tackle the ever-growing waiting list for appointments and treatment? Thank you.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Cysylltwyd â mi—rwy'n siŵr y cysylltwyd â llawer ohonom ni yma—gan nifer o etholwyr sy'n ei chael yn anodd cael gafael ar wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG. Yn sicr, yn fy etholaeth i, un enghraifft oedd lle cysylltodd rhiant â mi yn ddiweddar y cafodd ei blant eu gweld gan ddeintydd ddiwethaf adeg Pasg 2019. Roedden nhw wedi llwyddo i gael eu gweld gan hylenydd yn unig ers hynny, gan fod yr etholwr yn mynnu bod eu plant yn cael eu gweld mewn rhyw ffordd gan y practis. Dywedwyd wrth etholwr arall nad oedd ei bractis yn derbyn cleifion GIG sy'n oedolion mwyach, a gwn am ddeintydd lleol yn agos ataf i lle nad ydyn nhw'n fodlon derbyn pobl newydd. Fodd bynnag, os gwnewch chi gyfrannu at Denplan, mae llawer iawn o gapasiti yn sydyn ac yn wyrthiol.
Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae gwasanaethau deintyddol yn dal i fod mewn cyfnod adfer oren ac felly mae cleifion yn dal i gael eu gweld yn ôl angen clinigol, ond rwy'n teimlo mai'r hwyaf y mae pobl yn mynd heb gael archwiliad rheolaidd, y mwyaf y bydd iechyd deintyddol pobl yn dirywio, sy'n golygu y bydd mwy o alw am driniaeth gymhleth sy'n llesteirio adferiad gwasanaethau. Prif Weinidog, pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod archwiliadau rheolaidd wedi'u trefnu yn ailddechrau, a sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio gyda darparwyr i ehangu capasiti gwasanaethau, y mae'n amlwg sydd eu hangen i fynd i'r afael â'r rhestr aros sy'n ymestyn yn barhaus am apwyntiadau a thriniaeth? Diolch.
Llywydd, I thank Peter Fox for those supplementary questions. There is no dispute that dentistry has been even more significantly affected by COVID conditions than other parts of the health service, because of the nature of aerosol-generating procedures, as he will know, that are inherent in the way that dentists have to go about their profession. Now, I was able to speak yesterday with the new Chief Dental Officer for Wales, Andrew Dickenson, and to discuss with him exactly some of the points that the Member has raised: how can we create a pathway in which we can see a resumption of NHS dental services at a level that was available prior to the COVID pandemic, and how can we build on that further?
So, as well as the additional money that the Minister for Health and Social Services has made available for dentistry in this financial year, and as well as the contract reform that we discussed on the floor of the Senedd some weeks ago, and I'm pleased to say there are promising indications of the number of dental practices that are signing up for the new contract, I also talked to the new chief dental officer about a change in the way that he believes we should be streaming patients into dentistry. So, the proposal is that every patient going to a dentist would provide a respiratory history in advance of their appointment. For people who have histories of respiratory illnesses, some of the COVID protections that are currently in place will continue to be necessary, but for people who have non-respiratory histories, some of the restrictions on the way that dentists operate because of COVID are capable of being lifted, and lifted safely. And that will mean that dentists will be able to see more patients in a session than they have been able to while they've been operating under the amber conditions that Peter Fox referred to.
So, I wanted at least to give him that assurance that there are very active plans being developed under the leadership of the new chief dental officer to find ways in which safely we can restore NHS dentistry to operating conditions, where it's safe to do so, for patients where it's safe to do so, closer to those obtained before the pandemic began.
Llywydd, rwy'n diolch i Peter Fox am y cwestiynau atodol yna. Nid oes amheuaeth bod cyflyrau COVID wedi effeithio yn fwy sylweddol fyth ar ddeintyddiaeth na rhannau eraill o'r gwasanaeth iechyd, oherwydd natur triniaethau sy'n cynhyrchu aerosolau, fel y bydd yn gwybod, sy'n rhan annatod o'r ffordd y mae'n rhaid i ddeintyddion ymgymryd â'u proffesiwn. Nawr, llwyddais i siarad ddoe â'r Prif Swyddog Deintyddol Cymru newydd, Andrew Dickenson, a thrafod gydag ef rai o'r union bwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi eu codi: sut gallwn ni greu llwybr lle gallwn ni weld gwasanaethau deintyddol y GIG yn ailddechrau ar lefel a oedd ar gael cyn pandemig COVID, a sut gallwn ni adeiladu ar hynny ymhellach?
Felly, yn ogystal â'r arian ychwanegol y mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol wedi ei ddarparu ar gyfer deintyddiaeth yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, ac yn ogystal â'r diwygio contractau a drafodwyd gennym ni ar lawr y Senedd rai wythnosau yn ôl, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod arwyddion addawol o ran nifer y practisau deintyddol sy'n cofrestru ar gyfer y contract newydd, siaradais hefyd â'r prif swyddog deintyddol newydd am newid i'r ffordd y mae'n credu y dylem ni fod yn ffrydio cleifion i ddeintyddiaeth. Felly, y cynnig yw y byddai pob claf sy'n mynd at ddeintydd yn darparu hanes anadlol cyn ei apwyntiad. I bobl sydd â hanes o salwch anadlol, bydd rhai o'r amddiffyniadau COVID sy'n weithredol ar hyn o bryd yn parhau i fod yn angenrheidiol, ond i bobl sydd â hanesion nad ydynt yn rhai anadlol, gellir diddymu rhai o'r cyfyngiadau ar y ffordd y mae deintyddion yn gweithredu oherwydd COVID, a'u diddymu yn ddiogel. A bydd hynny yn golygu y bydd deintyddion yn gallu gweld mwy o gleifion mewn sesiwn nag y maen nhw wedi gallu ei wneud tra eu bod nhw wedi bod yn gweithredu o dan yr amodau oren y cyfeiriodd Peter Fox atyn nhw.
Felly, roeddwn i eisiau rhoi sicrwydd iddo o leiaf bod cynlluniau gweithredol iawn yn cael eu datblygu o dan arweinyddiaeth y prif swyddog deintyddol newydd i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd y gallwn ni adfer deintyddiaeth y GIG yn ddiogel i amodau gweithredu, lle mae'n ddiogel gwneud hynny, i gleifion lle mae'n ddiogel gwneud hynny, yn nes at y rhai a gafwyd cyn i'r pandemig ddechrau.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Heledd Fychan.
And finally, question 8, Heledd Fychan.
8. Pa asesiad mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ei wneud o allu Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i arwain ar yr ymwchiliad i COVID-19 yng Nghymru? OQ57921
8. What assessment has the First Minister made of the UK Government's ability to lead the inquiry into COVID-19 in Wales? OQ57921
Llywydd, ni fydd Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn arwain yr ymchwiliad. Cyfrifoldeb y cadeirydd annibynnol, y Farwnes Heather Hallett, fydd gwneud hynny. Roedd y Farwnes Hallett yn arfer bod yn uwch-farnwr uchel ei pharch. Mae ganddi hi brofiad helaeth o gynnal ymchwiliadau sensitif, cymhleth ac uchel eu proffeil, gan gynnwys mewn cyd-destun datganoledig.
Llywydd, the UK Government will not lead the inquiry. That will be the responsibility of its independent chair, Baroness Heather Hallett. Baroness Hallett is a highly respected former senior judge. She has extensive experience of dealing with high-profile, sensitive and complex inquiries, including within a devolved context.
Mi oeddech chi'n glir pan ddaeth y newydd bod Boris Johnson wedi derbyn dirwy am dorri'r rheolau y dylai ymddiswyddo fel Prif Weinidog, a minnau yn cytuno 100 y cant â chi. Ac yntau wedi gwrthod gwneud hynny a chymaint o bobl eraill hefyd wedi eu dirwyo yn Stryd Downing am dorri'r rheolau, onid ydy hi'n amser i ailfeddwl, gan mai nhw sydd wedi comisiynu’r ymchwiliad annibynnol yma sydd yn berthnasol i Gymru? Mae'n glir o'r holl ddatganiadau gan bawb a gollodd anwyliaid yn ystod y pandemig pa mor flin ydyn nhw fod y rhai a wnaeth y rheolau wedi bod yn torri'r rheolau, a'u bod nhw wedi colli pob ffydd yn Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig a'r ymchwiliad hwn. Pam eich bod chi'n parhau i ymddiried yn Boris Johnson o ran yr ymchwiliad i COVID-19? Dydw i ddim yn ymddiried ynddo fo.
You were clear when the news came that Boris Johnson had received a fine for breaking the law that he should resign as Prime Minister, and I agree with you 100 per cent. As he has refused to do that and so many other people in Downing Street have also been fined for breaking the rules, isn't it time to rethink, because they have commissioned this independent inquiry that is relevant to Wales? It's clear from all of the statements by everyone who lost loved ones during the pandemic how discontent they are that those who made the rules had been breaking them, and that they have lost all faith in the UK Government and this inquiry. Why do you continue to put your trust in Boris Johnson in terms of this inquiry into COVID-19? I don't trust him.
I'm afraid the Member simply misses the point. There are many legitimate criticisms that are there to be made of the UK Government, but the claim that the UK Government is to be responsible for the public inquiry is simply not one of them. As I explained in my initial answer, responsibility for the inquiry has moved into the hands of the independent judge who has been appointed to lead it. And under the Inquiries Act 2005, that means that all the key decisions about the inquiry now lie not in the hands of Downing Street at all, but in the hands of the inquiry itself, which will be entirely independent, both of the UK Government and of the Welsh Government, and of the other Governments of the UK whose work it will scrutinise.
I'm pleased to see that there are already strong signs that the inquiry led by Judge Heather Hallett will be committed to ensuring that the inquiry is conducted in a way that is accessible to people in Wales, and provides them with the answers that they want. The very first place that the inquiry visited, as part of its engagement with the public on its terms of reference, was to make a visit to Wales and to hold sessions here in Wales, the first part of the United Kingdom in which it carried out such conversations. I'm pleased to say that if you go to the website of the inquiry, you'll find that it's already available in the Welsh language as well as in English.
All of this says to me that the independence of the inquiry is being exercised in a way that is determined to give confidence to people in Wales that their voice will be heard, that their concerns will be addressed, that it will conduct its work in a way that provides the best answers it can to the questions that are legitimately there for it to investigate, and that it will do it now entirely on the basis of its own authority, and without interference from any Government, of any part of the United Kingdom.
Mae arnaf ofn bod yr Aelod yn methu'r pwynt. Mae llawer o feirniadaethau dilys sydd i'w gwneud o Lywodraeth y DU, ond nid yw'r honiad y dylai Llywodraeth y DU fod yn gyfrifol am yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yn un ohonyn nhw. Fel yr eglurais yn fy ateb cychwynnol, mae'r cyfrifoldeb am yr ymchwiliad wedi symud i ddwylo'r barnwr annibynnol a benodwyd i'w arwain. Ac o dan Ddeddf Ymchwiliadau 2005, mae hynny'n golygu nad yw'r holl benderfyniadau allweddol am yr ymchwiliad bellach yn nwylo Downing Street o gwbl, ond yn nwylo'r ymchwiliad ei hun, a fydd yn gwbl annibynnol, ar Lywodraeth y DU ac ar Lywodraeth Cymru, ac ar Lywodraethau eraill y DU y bydd yn craffu ar eu gwaith.
Rwy'n falch o weld bod arwyddion cryf eisoes y bydd yr ymchwiliad dan arweiniad y Barnwr Heather Hallett wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod yr ymchwiliad yn cael ei gynnal mewn ffordd sy'n hygyrch i bobl yng Nghymru, ac yn rhoi'r atebion y maen nhw eu heisiau iddyn nhw. Y lle cyntaf yr ymwelodd yr ymchwiliad ag ef, yn rhan o'i ymgysylltiad â'r cyhoedd ar ei gylch gorchwyl, oedd ymweliad â Chymru ac i gynnal sesiynau yma yng Nghymru, y rhan gyntaf o'r Deyrnas Unedig lle y cynhaliodd sgyrsiau o'r fath. Rwy'n falch o ddweud, os ewch i wefan yr ymchwiliad, y byddwch yn canfod ei fod eisoes ar gael yn y Gymraeg yn ogystal â'r Saesneg.
Mae hyn i gyd yn dweud wrthyf i fod annibyniaeth yr ymchwiliad yn cael ei harfer mewn ffordd sy'n benderfynol o roi hyder i bobl yng Nghymru y bydd eu llais yn cael ei glywed, y bydd eu pryderon yn cael sylw, y bydd yn gwneud ei waith mewn ffordd sy'n rhoi'r atebion gorau posibl i'r cwestiynau sydd yno yn deg iddo ymchwilio iddyn nhw, ac y bydd yn gwneud hynny yn gyfan gwbl bellach ar sail ei awdurdod ei hun, a heb ymyrraeth gan unrhyw Lywodraeth, o unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd nesaf, ac felly dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hwnnw. Lesley Griffiths.
The business statement and announcement is next, so I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Lesley Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. I've made the following changes to this week's business. Firstly, I've withdrawn the statement on an update on COVID-19, and secondly, subject to a suspension of Standing Orders, we will debate the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 9) Regulations 2022. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwyf i wedi gwneud y newidiadau canlynol i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Yn gyntaf, rwyf i wedi tynnu'r datganiad yn ôl ar yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar COVID-19, ac yn ail, yn amodol ar atal y Rheolau Sefydlog, byddwn ni'n trafod Rheoliadau Dyrannu Tai a Digartrefedd (Cymhwystra) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2022 a Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 5) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 9) 2022. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Thank you, Trefnydd, for your statement. Can I call for two statements from the Minister for Health and Social Services please? The first is a very much needed update on the citizen voice watchdog, and the implementation of the new role of that organisation. Many people in north Wales, as Members in this Chamber will know, have been very impressed with the work of the north Wales community health council over the years, and one thing that I'm personally passionate about is I think that the new citizen voice watchdog ought to be located in north Wales, not in Cardiff, or any other part of the country. North Wales doesn't have many of the headquarters of the different bodies that have been established by the Welsh Government, and I do think that this would really put an important stake in the ground for the region.
The second statement that I want to hear from the Welsh Government is in relation to an update on mental health services in north Wales. Y Byd ar Bedwar, the programme that was broadcast on S4C last night, had some shocking revelations. There were members of staff from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, at the Hergest unit, who said that they were scared to come into work, that they were frightened from speaking out due to potential repercussions about services, that they felt there was a lack of support from management, that there were staffing issues on those wards, and that the working environment was toxic. In addition to that, there were patients alleging that they were denied the in-patient treatment that they needed. And, of course, this comes on top of a report last week that emerged about the suspension of a member of staff in your own constituency's hospital, at Wrexham Maelor, allegedly in relation to WhatsApp messages that were circulated of a patient with dementia who had soiled a bed.
This clearly does not suggest that the issues in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's mental health services have been resolved. Many people have contacted me who had concerns and relatives who were impacted by the Tawel Fan scandal to say that they feel grossly let down by the Welsh Government and the Betsi Cadwaladr health board that theses sorts of things are still going on. When will the culture in our mental health services in north Wales change? People need to know, and they need to know what action the Welsh Government's health Minister is going to take in order to turn this situation around.
Diolch, Trefnydd, am eich datganiad. A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol os gwelwch yn dda? Mae'r cyntaf yn ddiweddariad y mae mawr ei angen ar y corff gwarchod llais dinasyddion, a gweithredu swyddogaeth newydd y sefydliad hwnnw. Dros y blynyddoedd, mae gwaith cyngor iechyd cymuned y gogledd wedi gwneud argraff fawr ar lawer o bobl yn y gogledd, fel y gŵyr Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, ac un peth yr wyf i'n angerddol yn ei gylch yn bersonol, yw fy mod i'n credu y dylai'r corff gwarchod llais y dinesydd newydd gael ei leoli yn y gogledd, nid yng Nghaerdydd, nac unrhyw ran arall o'r wlad. Nid oes gan y gogledd lawer o bencadlysoedd y gwahanol gyrff sydd wedi'u sefydlu gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rwy'n credu y byddai hyn mewn gwirionedd yn creu cynsail dda i'r rhanbarth.
Mae'r ail ddatganiad yr wyf i eisiau'i glywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ymwneud â'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar wasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y gogledd. Roedd gan Y Byd ar Bedwar, y rhaglen a gafodd ei darlledu ar S4C neithiwr, rai datgeliadau ysgytwol. Roedd aelodau o staff o Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, yn uned Hergest, yn dweud bod arnyn nhw ofn dod i'r gwaith, eu bod yn ofni codi eu llais oherwydd sgil-effeithiau posibl ynghylch gwasanaethau, eu bod yn teimlo bod diffyg cefnogaeth gan reolwyr, bod problemau staffio ar y wardiau hynny, a bod yr amgylchedd gwaith yn wenwynig. Yn ogystal â hynny, roedd cleifion yn honni na chawson nhw y driniaeth i gleifion mewnol yr oedd ei hangen arnyn nhw. Ac, wrth gwrs, daw hyn ar ben adroddiad yr wythnos diwethaf a ddaeth i'r amlwg am atal dros dro aelod o staff yn ysbyty eich etholaeth chi eich hun, yn Wrecsam Maelor, yn ôl yr honiadau o ran negeseuon WhatsApp a gafodd eu dosbarthu ynghylch claf â dementia a oedd wedi trochi gwely.
Mae'n amlwg nad yw hyn yn awgrymu bod y problemau yng ngwasanaethau iechyd meddwl Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi'u datrys. Mae llawer o bobl wedi cysylltu â mi a oedd â phryderon a pherthnasau a gafodd eu heffeithio gan sgandal Tawel Fan i ddweud eu bod yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u siomi'n wael gan Lywodraeth Cymru a bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr bod y mathau hyn o bethau'n dal i ddigwydd. Pryd fydd y diwylliant yn ein gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y gogledd yn newid? Mae angen i bobl wybod, ac mae angen iddyn nhw wybod pa gamau y mae Gweinidog iechyd Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w cymryd er mwyn newid y sefyllfa hon.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Thank you. In relation to your first question around the citizen voice watchdog, as far as I'm aware—and the Minister for Health and Social Services is in the Chamber to hear your question—no decision has been made about where it's going to be placed. I agree with you; as the Minister with responsibility for north Wales it's really good to see organisations based in north Wales—the Development Bank of Wales, for instance, which, again, is in my own constituency. But it's really good to see headquarters, and I think we need that right across Wales. I'm sure the Minister, when she comes to that decision, will think about that point as well.FootnoteLink
In relation to the programme, I didn't see the programme myself last night, but I know the Minister for Health and Social Services and her Deputy Minister for mental health did. You raise two points within that programme. Certainly, the incident you referred to in the Maelor hospital last week is subject to a police investigation. The health board are fully engaged in that investigation, so it's really not appropriate to comment further at this time. On the wider issue that you raise around mental health, obviously, the health board is in targeted intervention for its mental health services. Again, I know the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for mental health meet regularly with the health board, as do their officials. There are clear and agreed actions in place, and, again, from my own discussions with the Minister for Health and Social Services, from a Minister for north Wales point of view, I know she is looking at the timeline and whether she needs to bring that forward, to see the improvements that we all want to see.
Diolch. O ran eich cwestiwn cyntaf ynglŷn â'r corff gwarchod llais y dinesydd, hyd y gwn i—ac mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn y Siambr i glywed eich cwestiwn—nid oes penderfyniad wedi'i wneud ynghylch ble y bydd yn cael ei leoli. Rwy'n cytuno â chi; fel y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am y gogledd, mae'n dda iawn gweld sefydliadau wedi'u lleoli yn y gogledd—Banc Datblygu Cymru, er enghraifft, sydd, unwaith eto, yn fy etholaeth i. Ond mae'n dda iawn gweld pencadlys, ac rwy'n credu bod angen hynny arnom ni ledled Cymru. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog, pan ddaw at y penderfyniad hwnnw, yn ystyried y pwynt hwnnw hefyd.FootnoteLink
O ran y rhaglen, ni welais i'r rhaglen fy hun neithiwr, ond gwn i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a'i Dirprwy Weinidog dros iechyd meddwl ei gweld hi. Rydych chi'n codi dau bwynt o'r rhaglen honno. Yn sicr, mae'r digwyddiad y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato yn ysbyty Maelor yr wythnos diwethaf yn destun ymchwiliad gan yr heddlu. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn cymryd rhan lawn yn yr ymchwiliad hwnnw, felly nid yw'n briodol gwneud sylw arall ar hyn o bryd. O ran y mater ehangach yr ydych chi'n ei godi ynghylch iechyd meddwl, yn amlwg, mae'r bwrdd iechyd dan amodau ymyrraeth wedi'i thargedu ar gyfer ei wasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Unwaith eto, rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a'r Dirprwy Weinidog iechyd meddwl yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â'r bwrdd iechyd, fel y mae eu swyddogion. Mae camau gweithredu clir sydd wedi eu cytuno ar waith, ac, unwaith eto, o fy nhrafodaethau fy hun gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, o safbwynt Gweinidog dros y gogledd, gwn ei bod hi'n edrych ar yr amserlen ac a oes angen iddi dod â honno ymlaen, i weld y gwelliannau yr ydym ni i gyd eisiau'u gweld.
I would like to request a written statement from the Minister for Finance and Local Government on support for school transport providers. I've recently been contacted by Pencoed Travel and Cresta Coaches, who have raised concerns regarding the rise in fuel costs. Since their contracts were originally tendered, in June of last year, Pencoed Travel's fuel costs, for example, have risen by 40 per cent. Both Cresta Coaches and Pencoed Travel have contacted Bridgend County Borough Council, requesting help with covering these rapidly increasing costs, but to no avail. BCBC stated that they are waiting for Welsh Government advice before they seek to resolve the issue, as they believe that this is a matter for Welsh Government and not them. However, I am aware of other local authorities that are offering a resolution. I'd be grateful for some clarity on who is responsible for resolving this issue.
Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad ysgrifenedig gan y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol ar gymorth i ddarparwyr cludiant ysgol. Yn ddiweddar mae Pencoed Travel a Cresta Coaches wedi cysylltu â mi, sydd wedi codi pryderon ynghylch y cynnydd mewn costau tanwydd. Ers i'w contractau gael eu tendro'n wreiddiol, ym mis Mehefin y llynedd, mae costau tanwydd Pencoed Travel, er enghraifft, wedi codi 40 y cant. Mae Cresta Coaches a Pencoed Travel wedi cysylltu â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, yn gofyn am gymorth i dalu'r costau hyn sy'n cynyddu'n gyflym, ond bu hynny'n ofer. Dywedodd BCBC eu bod yn aros am gyngor gan Lywodraeth Cymru cyn iddyn nhw geisio datrys y mater, gan eu bod yn credu mai mater i Lywodraeth Cymru ac nid iddyn nhw yw hyn. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n ymwybodol o awdurdodau lleol eraill sy'n cynnig datrysiad. Byddwn i'n ddiolchgar am rywfaint o eglurder ynghylch pwy sy'n gyfrifol am ddatrys y mater hwn.
Thank you. I do think you raise a very important point, because, clearly, we are seeing this escalation in the costs of fuel, which will have an impact on the services to which you refer. I know the Minister for education and the Minister for local government are aware of this. I think the Minister for Finance and Local Government will be having further discussions, and, if guidance is required, that can be given at the appropriate time.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n codi pwynt pwysig iawn, oherwydd, yn amlwg, rydym ni'n gweld y cynnydd hwn yng nghostau tanwydd, a fydd yn effeithio ar y gwasanaethau yr ydych chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw. Gwn fod y Gweinidog addysg a'r Gweinidog llywodraeth leol yn ymwybodol o hyn. Rwy'n credu y bydd y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol yn cael trafodaethau eraill, ac, os oes angen canllawiau, bydd modd eu rhoi ar yr adeg briodol.
Good afternoon, Minister. I wonder if I could request two statements, please, Trefnydd. The first statement is from the Minister for Health and Social Services on what steps the Minister is taking in relation to international GP trainees. The Welsh Government supports around 160 trainee GPs a year, and I understand that NHS Wales has indicated that 80 trainees—half that cohort—will not be eligible to remain in the UK when their training concludes this year, because they will not have yet been here long enough to apply for indefinite leave to remain. Could the Minister make a statement on what steps she is taking in the short term to retain these GPs in Wales, and, more long term, at the support that could be provided by the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership to help individual GP practices retain these GPs?
The second statement is from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to building safety. Earlier this month, the UK Government announced that a number of large-scale housing developers had made financial commitments to help put right building safety failures, many of whom operate in England and Wales, but are only making contributions to remediation work in England. There are also a number of statutory protections that have been afforded to leaseholders in England, through the Building Safety Bill, that have not been extended to Wales. Can the Minister update the Senedd, and, crucially, leaseholders, about the Welsh Government's own legislative plans? Diolch.
Prynhawn da, Gweinidog. Tybed a gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, Trefnydd. Daw'r datganiad cyntaf gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ynghylch pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd o ran hyfforddeion meddygon teulu rhyngwladol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi tua 160 o feddygon teulu dan hyfforddiant y flwyddyn, ac rwy'n deall bod GIG Cymru wedi nodi na fydd 80 o hyfforddeion—hanner y garfan honno—yn gymwys i aros yn y DU pan ddaw eu hyfforddiant i ben eleni, oherwydd ni fyddan nhw wedi bod yma'n ddigon hir eto i wneud cais am ganiatâd amhenodol i aros. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ynghylch y camau y mae hi'n eu cymryd yn y tymor byr i gadw'r meddygon teulu hyn yng Nghymru, ac, yn fwy hirdymor, ar y cymorth y gallai Partneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru ei ddarparu i helpu practisau meddygon teulu unigol i gadw'r meddygon teulu hyn?
Daw'r ail ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd am ddiogelwch adeiladau. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU fod nifer o ddatblygwyr tai ar raddfa fawr wedi gwneud ymrwymiadau ariannol i helpu i unioni methiannau o ran diogelwch adeiladau, y mae llawer ohonyn nhw'n gweithredu yng Nghymru a Lloegr, ond nad ydyn nhw ond yn cyfrannu at waith adfer yn Lloegr. Mae yna hefyd nifer o amddiffyniadau statudol sydd wedi'u rhoi i lesddeiliaid yn Lloegr, drwy'r Bil Diogelwch Adeiladau, nad ydyn nhw wedi'u hymestyn i Gymru. A all y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd, ac, yn hollbwysig, i lesddeiliaid, am gynlluniau deddfwriaethol Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun? Diolch.
Thank you. In relation to the second statement that you're requesting, around building safety, I know the Minister for Climate Change was deeply disappointed that the UK Government decided to go ahead with the building safety levy on an England-only basis, for instance. I know there were calls from both Wales and Scotland for it to be a UK-wide measure. In relation to our own legislation that we've proposed, we know that a fundamental and comprehensive change to the culture and legislative framework in Wales is required. We will be having a White Paper consultation, to be published later this year, and the reforms will include the introduction of a new category of accountable persons, changes to registration and licensing and establishment of a new joint inspection team, and that will start in this financial year.
I think the point you raise around international GP trainees is a really important one. We want to retain as many GP trainees as possible. We've really sold Wales as a fantastic place to come, to learn, to train, to live, to work, and so it's really important that we do all we can to retain those. I know the Minister is having discussions with her UK Government counterparts in relation to that.
Diolch. O ran yr ail ddatganiad yr ydych chi'n gofyn amdano, ynghylch diogelwch adeiladau, gwn fod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn siomedig iawn bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi penderfynu bwrw ymlaen â'r ardoll diogelwch adeiladau ar sail Lloegr yn unig, er enghraifft. Gwn yr oedd galwadau o Gymru a'r Alban iddo fod yn fesur i'r DU gyfan. O ran ein deddfwriaeth ein hunain yr ydym ni wedi'i chynnig, gwyddom ni fod angen newid sylfaenol a chynhwysfawr i'r fframwaith diwylliant a deddfwriaethol yng Nghymru. Byddwn i'n cynnal ymgynghoriad papur gwyn, i'w gyhoeddi yn ddiweddarach eleni, a bydd y diwygiadau'n cynnwys cyflwyno categori newydd o bersonau atebol, newidiadau i gofrestru a thrwyddedu a sefydlu tîm arolygu ar y cyd newydd, a bydd hynny'n dechrau yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Rwy'n credu bod y pwynt yr ydych chi'n ei godi ynghylch hyfforddeion meddygon teulu rhyngwladol yn un pwysig iawn. Rydym ni eisiau cadw cymaint o hyfforddeion meddygon teulu â phosibl. Rydym ni wir wedi gwerthu Cymru fel lle gwych i ddod, i ddysgu, i hyfforddi, i fyw, i weithio ynddo, ac felly mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i'w cadw nhw. Gwn fod y Gweinidog yn cael trafodaethau gyda'i chymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â hynny.
Yesterday, the Deputy Minister for mental health and public health and I attended a wonderful event in the Senedd, the City Hospice Forever Flowers launch, which enables people to sponsor a sunflower to commemorate somebody who's died of cancer, and then it will be displayed in Cardiff castle in the first two weeks in August, both an uplifting idea as well as a very effective way of fundraising. One of the really excellent speakers at this event described the excellent care he and his wife got from the City Hospice and the way in which they didn't have to tell their story over and over again. In contrast, every time they had a different NHS expert involved they had to recount all the latest updates. So, just as pregnant women and, indeed, those receiving continuing care at home have their own notes with them, I wondered if we could have a statement from the health Minister as to what progress we can make on ensuring that patients have their own electronic notes, and, in the case of cancer patients in particular, enabling them to ensure that everybody knows exactly what level of treatment they're getting from different specialists so that everybody is up to date with what they're getting, rather than always asking people to recount the painful history of their treatment.
Secondly, I just wanted to ask about the Istanbul convention on combating domestic violence. On 8 June it will be 10 years since the UK Government signed the Council of Europe Istanbul convention, but, 10 years later, we still haven't ratified it. It was 2015 when we legislated our Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act. I know that the UK Government was behind the curve in not having legislated until last year on this matter, but what now is stopping the UK Government from ratifying this very important convention? I wonder if we can have a statement to update us on what the barriers are and what the Welsh Government might be able to do to get rid of them.
Ddoe, roedd y Dirprwy Weinidog iechyd meddwl ac iechyd y cyhoedd a minnau yn bresennol mewn digwyddiad gwych yn y Senedd, lansiad Forever Flowers Hosbis y Ddinas, sy'n galluogi pobl i noddi blodyn haul i goffáu rhywun sydd wedi marw o ganser, ac yna caiff ei arddangos yng nghastell Caerdydd yn ystod pythefnos cyntaf mis Awst, syniad calonogol yn ogystal â ffordd effeithiol iawn o godi arian. Disgrifiodd un o'r siaradwyr rhagorol iawn yn y digwyddiad hwn y gofal rhagorol a gafodd ef a'i wraig gan Hosbis y Ddinas a'r ffordd nad oedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw adrodd eu stori dro ar ôl tro. I'r gwrthwyneb, bob tro yr oedd ganddyn nhw arbenigwr GIG gwahanol, roedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw adrodd yr holl wybodaeth ddiweddaraf. Felly, yn yr un modd ag y mae gan fenywod beichiog ac, yn wir, y rhai sy'n cael gofal parhaus gartref eu nodiadau eu hunain gyda nhw, meddwl oeddwn i tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd ynghylch pa gynnydd y gallwn ni ei wneud o ran sicrhau bod gan gleifion eu nodiadau electronig eu hunain, ac, yn achos cleifion canser yn benodol, eu galluogi nhw i sicrhau bod pawb yn gwybod yn union pa lefel o driniaeth y maen nhw'n ei chael gan wahanol arbenigwyr fel bod pawb yn cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf o ran yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei gael, yn hytrach na gofyn i bobl adrodd hanes poenus eu triniaeth eto ac eto.
Yn ail, rwyf eisiau gofyn am gonfensiwn Istanbul ar ymdrin â thrais yn y cartref. Ar 8 Mehefin, bydd yn 10 mlynedd ers i Lywodraeth y DU lofnodi confensiwn Istanbul Cyngor Ewrop, ond, 10 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, nid ydym ni eto wedi'i gadarnhau. Roedd yn 2015 pan wnaethom ni ddeddfu ein Deddf Trais yn erbyn Menywod, Cam-drin Domestig a Thrais Rhywiol (Cymru). Gwn i fod Llywodraeth y DU y tu ôl i'r gromlin o ran peidio â deddfu tan y llynedd ar y mater hwn, ond beth nawr sy'n atal Llywodraeth y DU rhag cadarnhau'r confensiwn pwysig iawn hwn? Tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynghylch y rhwystrau a'r hyn y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i gael gwared arnyn nhw.
Thank you. It's very good to hear about the event you attended yesterday and the sunflowers. I think we can learn a great deal from our hospices, not just in the way that you referred in relation to patient experience, but also around fundraising. Just last week, my local hospice, Nightingale House in Wrexham, asked us to send photographs of forget-me-nots to do something very similar. I think we can learn a lot from them. The Minister does make regular statements around the services that are provided by hospices, and I will see if she is able to add what you refer to to one of those statements.
In relation to the Istanbul convention, it is one of the key priorities in protecting victims of domestic violence right across the globe, and as a Government we are very much committed to seeing the UK Government ratify this as soon as possible. As you say, it's taken a long time. I know my colleague, who is here and has heard your question, wrote to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Victoria Atkins, about six months ago, really sharing her disappointment at the plight of migrant women, for instance, who are victims of domestic abuse. It wasn't recognised on the face of their Bill that's now an Act. I will ask the Minister, if she has anything further that she can inform us about, to write to Members.
Diolch. Mae'n braf iawn clywed am y digwyddiad yr oeddech chi'n bresennol ynddo ddoe a'r blodau haul. Rwy'n credu y gallwn ni ddysgu llawer iawn gan ein hosbisau, nid yn unig yn y ffordd y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ati o ran profiad cleifion, ond hefyd o ran codi arian. Yr wythnos diwethaf, gofynnodd fy hosbis leol, Tŷ'r Eos yn Wrecsam, i ni anfon lluniau o flodau ysgorpionllys i wneud rhywbeth tebyg iawn. Rwy'n credu y gallwn ni ddysgu llawer ganddyn nhw. Mae'r Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiadau rheolaidd ynghylch y gwasanaethau y mae hosbisau yn eu darparu, ac fe wnaf weld a all hi ychwanegu'r hyn y gwnaethoch chi ei gyfeirio ato at un o'r datganiadau hynny.
O ran confensiwn Istanbul, mae'n un o'r blaenoriaethau allweddol o ran amddiffyn dioddefwyr trais yn y cartref ledled y byd, ac fel Llywodraeth rydym ni wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i weld Llywodraeth y DU yn cadarnhau hyn cyn gynted â phosibl. Fel y dywedwch chi, mae wedi cymryd amser hir. Rwy'n gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelod, sydd yma ac sydd wedi clywed eich cwestiwn, wedi ysgrifennu at yr Is-ysgrifennydd Gwladol Seneddol, Victoria Atkins, tua chwe mis yn ôl, yn rhannu ei siom o ddifrif am drafferthion menywod mudol, er enghraifft, sy'n dioddef cam-drin domestig. Ni chafodd ei gydnabod ar wyneb eu Bil sydd nawr yn Ddeddf. Gofynnaf i'r Gweinidog ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau, os oes ganddi unrhyw beth arall y gall hi roi gwybod i ni amdano.
I call for a single statement on funding to rescue the curlew from imminent country-level extinction. Last Thursday, 21 April, was World Curlew Day, shining a light on the dangers that curlews face as a result of shifting factors, primarily loss of quality habitat and increasing predation. Last Thursday was also the feast day of St Beuno, the patron saint of curlews in the traditional Welsh calendar. Curlews and their ethereal call are iconic in Wales, central to culture, history and belief. When I became Wales's species champion for the curlew, however, I warned here that we had only 15 years left to prevent their extinction as a breeding population in Wales, and six of those years have now gone and been lost. Well, on World Curlew Day last Thursday, Mick Green—Welsh Ornithological Society and member of Gylfinir Cymru/Curlew Cymru—also wrote to the Minister for Climate Change personally and publicly asking her to live up to her promise given at the launch of the Wales action plan for the recovery of curlew last November, where she pledged to work with Gylfinir Cymru to ensure that we can finance it and get it up and running—quote—an action plan with multiple and multi-species benefits. Mr Green continued, 'We now only have nine breeding seasons left to save this iconic species from its projected extinction. Please instruct your officials to work with Gylfinir Cymru to find an urgent way of getting funding directly to Curlew Action.' He concluded, 'Please, on World Curlew Day, can you ensure me that direct funding will be available to save the curlew from extinction and that Welsh Government ensures its own projects do not further jeopardise this species?' The time for talk is over. If we don't act, they're gone. I call for a statement accordingly.
Rwy'n galw am un datganiad ar gyllid i achub y gylfinir rhag diflannu ar lefel gwlad sydd ar fin digwydd. Dydd Iau diwethaf, 21 Ebrill, oedd Diwrnod Gylfinir y Byd, i amlygu'r peryglon y mae'r gylfinir yn eu hwynebu o ganlyniad i ffactorau sy'n newid, colli cynefin o ansawdd yn bennaf ac ysglyfaethu cynyddol. Dydd Iau diwethaf hefyd oedd diwrnod gwledd Sant Beuno, nawddsant y gylfinir yn y calendr traddodiadol Cymreig. Mae'r gylfinir a'u galwad etheraidd yn eiconig yng Nghymru, yn ganolog i ddiwylliant, hanes a chred. Pan ddes i'n gefnogwr rhywogaeth Cymru ar gyfer y gylfinir, fodd bynnag, gwnes i rybuddio yma mai dim ond 15 mlynedd oedd gennym ni ar ôl i'w hatal rhag diflannu fel poblogaeth fridio yng Nghymru, ac mae chwech o'r blynyddoedd hynny nawr wedi mynd heibio ac wedi'u colli. Wel, ar Ddiwrnod Gylfinir y Byd ddydd Iau diwethaf, ysgrifennodd Mick Green—Cymdeithas Adaregol Cymru ac aelod o Gylfinir Cymru/Gylfinir Cymru—hefyd at y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn bersonol ac yn gyhoeddus yn gofyn iddi wireddu ei haddewid wrth lansio cynllun gweithredu Cymru ar gyfer adfer y gylfinir ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, pan addawodd hi weithio gyda Gylfinir Cymru i sicrhau y gallwn ni ei ariannu a'i roi ar waith—i ddyfynnu—cynllun gweithredu gyda manteision niferus ac aml-rywogaeth. Parhaodd Mr Green, 'Dim ond naw tymor bridio sydd gennym ni ar ôl erbyn hyn i achub y rhywogaeth eiconig hon rhag diflannu yn ôl y rhagamcanion. Rhowch gyfarwyddyd i'ch swyddogion i weithio gyda Gylfinir Cymru i ddod o hyd i ffordd frys o gael cyllid yn uniongyrchol i Curlew Action.' Daeth i'r casgliad, 'Os gwelwch yn dda, ar Ddiwrnod Gylfinir y Byd, a allwch chi roi sicrwydd i mi y bydd cyllid uniongyrchol ar gael i achub y gylfinir rhag diflannu a bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau nad yw ei phrosiectau ei hun yn peryglu'r rhywogaeth hon ymhellach?' Mae'r amser i siarad ar ben. Os nad ydym ni'n gweithredu, maen nhw wedi mynd. Rwy'n galw am ddatganiad yn unol â hynny.
Thank you. Certainly, the Welsh Government is continuing to do all it can in relation to preserving and ensuring that the curlew does survive. I was very fortunate to be on a farm only probably three weeks ago where I heard one, so the work that we have been doing within the agricultural sector is clearly beginning to work. I know the Minister is looking at all the schemes she has within the biodiversity part of her portfolio to ensure that funding is going to the correct places to make sure that—. We do have a nature crisis as well as a climate crisis. So, I will certainly ask the Minister to update us if there is anything new that she is able to tell us from within the schemes she has.
Diolch. Yn sicr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i wneud popeth o fewn ei gallu o ran gwarchod a sicrhau bod y gylfinir yn goroesi. Roeddwn i'n ffodus iawn o fod ar fferm dair wythnos yn ôl, mae'n siŵr, lle y clywais i un, felly mae'r gwaith yr ydym ni wedi bod yn ei wneud yn y sector amaethyddol yn amlwg yn dechrau gweithio. Gwn fod y Gweinidog yn ystyried yr holl gynlluniau sydd ganddi o fewn rhan bioamrywiaeth ei phortffolio i sicrhau bod cyllid yn mynd i'r mannau cywir i sicrhau bod—. Mae gennym ni argyfwng natur yn ogystal ag argyfwng hinsawdd. Felly, byddaf i'n sicr yn gofyn i'r Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni os oes yna unrhyw beth newydd y gall hi sôn wrthym ni amdano o fewn y cynlluniau sydd ganddi.
Gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda? Y cyntaf: gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad ar unrhyw gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth i wella atebolrwydd democrataidd yn ein byrddau iechyd? Byddwch chi'n gwybod bod yna newidiadau sylweddol wedi bod yn y byrddau iechyd tua 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Fe ddaru ni weld, er enghraifft, cartref gofal Dryll y Car yn Llanaber yn cau, yn colli wyth o welyau ar gyfer cleifion iechyd meddwl oedrannus. O ganlyniad, does yna ddim digon o welyau ar gyfer pobl efo anghenion iechyd meddwl oedrannus yn Nwyfor Meirionnydd ac maen nhw wedi gorfod mynd i Hergest, ac wrth gwrs rydyn ni i gyd yn ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa yno. Rŵan, pe buasai llywodraeth leol neu'r Llywodraeth yma neu'r Senedd yma'n gwneud penderfyniad o'r fath, buasai pwyllgor craffu yn edrych ar y penderfyniad er mwyn gweld os oedd yna unrhyw beth y medrid ei wneud yn wahanol. Ond does yna ddim gallu i graffu ar ein byrddau iechyd. Mae'r cyngor iechyd cymuned yn gwneud gwaith clodwiw, ond does ganddyn nhw ddim y gallu na'r dannedd i wneud yr hyn sydd ei angen. Felly, dwi eisiau gweld, os yn bosib, unrhyw ddatganiad, unrhyw gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth er mwyn sicrhau y gallu i graffu ar ein byrddau iechyd yn well.
Yn ail, gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, os gwelwch yn dda, ynghylch pa gamau rydych chi am eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r hyn sy'n ymddangos fel argyfwng yn ein cynghorau cymuned, tref a dinas ni? Edrychwch ar Wynedd, er enghraifft. Mae yna 139 ward ar gyfer cynghorau cymuned, a dim ond wyth ohonyn nhw, dwi'n meddwl, sydd efo cystadleuaeth, sydd efo etholiad. Ond mae hyn yn wir ar draws Cymru. Yn Ogwr, er enghraifft, mae yna ddwy ward heb ddim un ymgeisydd ar gyfer yr etholiadau cyngor cymuned sy'n dod i fyny. Dydy hyn ddim yn gynaliadwy. Mae yna newidiadau wedi bod mewn cynghorau cymuned a thref dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac yn amlwg dydyn nhw ddim wedi gweithio. Felly, pa gamau ydych chi am eu cymryd er mwyn sicrhau bod yr haen yma o lywodraeth leol yn hyfyw?
Can I ask for two statements, please? The first: may I ask for a statement on any plans that the Government has to improve democratic accountability in our health boards? You will be aware that there were significant changes in health boards around 10 years ago. We saw, for example, the Dryll y Car care home in Llanaber closing, losing eight beds for elderly mental health patients. As a result, there aren't sufficient beds available for people with elderly mental health needs in Dwyfor Meirionnydd and they've had to go to Hergest, and we are all aware of the situation there. Now, if local government or this Government or this Senedd were to make such a decision, there would be a scrutiny committee scrutinising the decision in order to see if anything could have been done differently. But there is no scrutiny of our health boards. The community health council does laudable work, but they don't have the ability or the teeth to do what's necessary. So, I want to hear of any plans that the Government has to ensure the ability to scrutinise our health boards more effectively.
Secondly, can I ask for a statement from the Minister for local government on what steps you're going to take in order to tackle what appears to be a crisis in our community, town and city councils? Look at Gwynedd, for example. There are 139 wards for community councils, and only eight of them, I think, have an election. This is true across Wales. In Ogmore, for example, there are two wards without a single candidate for the community council elections. This is not sustainable. There have been changes within town and community councils over recent years, and clearly they haven't worked. So, what steps will you take in order to ensure that this level of local government is viable?
Thank you. I think that the second point that you raised, around the local government and community council elections that we have in Wales next week, is a really important one. I think that it's really disappointing to see so many seats go without an election, and so many candidates not coming forward in the way that we would want. I think that, as a Government, we have done an incredible amount of work to try and increase awareness about how important it is that people are able to make a choice at the ballot box, and I know that this a continuing piece of work that the Minister for Finance and Local Government is undertaking.
In relation to scrutiny of health boards, of course, anybody who goes on one of the health boards goes through the public appointments process, which is very scrupulous. Obviously, the Minister for Health and social Services is responsible for appointing Chairs through the process as well, and through that Chair, is then able to scrutinise the health board as a whole. I am not aware of any further work that is going on, but again, if the Minister knows of anything, she could write to you.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu bod yr ail bwynt y gwnaethoch chi ei godi, ynghylch yr etholiadau llywodraeth leol a chynghorau cymuned sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru yr wythnos nesaf, yn un pwysig iawn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn siomedig iawn gweld cynifer o seddi'n mynd heb etholiad, a chymaint o ymgeiswyr nad ydyn nhw'n camu ymlaen yn y ffordd y byddem ni'n dymuno. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni, fel Llywodraeth, wedi gwneud llawer iawn o waith i geisio cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o ba mor bwysig yw hi fod pobl yn gallu gwneud dewis yn y blwch pleidleisio, a gwn fod hwn yn ddarn parhaus o waith y mae'r Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol yn ei wneud.
O ran craffu ar fyrddau iechyd, wrth gwrs, mae unrhyw un sy'n mynd ar un o'r byrddau iechyd yn mynd drwy'r broses penodiadau cyhoeddus, sy'n ofalus iawn. Yn amlwg, mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn gyfrifol am benodi Cadeiryddion drwy'r broses hefyd, a thrwy'r Cadeirydd hwnnw, mae wedyn yn gallu craffu ar y bwrdd iechyd yn ei gyfanrwydd. Nid wyf i'n ymwybodol o unrhyw waith arall sy'n digwydd, ond eto, os yw'r Gweinidog yn gwybod am unrhyw beth, gallai ysgrifennu atoch chi.
I'd like to bring to the Trefnydd's attention the fact that there's an event taking place called 'Next steps for waste, recycling and the circular economy in Wales' run by an organisation that calls itself the Policy Forum for Wales Online Conference. In fact, it's nothing of the kind. It's a Bracknell-based company. It charges the Welsh public sector £210, plus VAT, per person to attend. All of that money is taken outside of Wales, and the directors are taking millions out of the company. Two of the keynote speakers advertised—and I'm sure that they are doing this in the greatest of faith; I don't think that they are aware of how they are being exploited—are Bettina Gilbert, head of programme delivery for WRAP, and Dr Andy Rees, head of the waste strategy, resource efficiency and circular economy division, Welsh Government. Now, I know that Welsh Government Ministers are boycotting this. It was a decision that the First Minister told me about last term. Would there be a possibility that this Chamber could scrutinise the Welsh Government on whether any further engagement is happening from Welsh Government? And would she take steps to discourage our public sector from engaging with what can only be described as a bunch of cowboys?
Hoffwn i dynnu sylw'r Trefnydd at y ffaith bod digwyddiad yn cael ei gynnal o'r enw 'Next steps for waste, recycling and the circular economy in Wales' sy'n cael ei gynnal gan sefydliad sy'n galw ei hun yn Policy Forum for Wales Online Conference. Yn wir, nid yw'n unrhyw beth o'r fath. Mae'n gwmni o Bracknell. Mae'n codi £210 ynghyd â TAW ar y sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, y pen, i'w fynychu. Mae'r holl arian hwnnw'n mynd allan o Gymru, ac mae'r cyfarwyddwyr yn tynnu miliynau allan o'r cwmni. Dau o'r prif siaradwyr sy'n cael eu hysbysebu—ac rwy'n siŵr eu bod nhw'n gwneud hyn gyda phob ewyllys da; dydw i ddim yn credu eu bod nhw'n ymwybodol o'r ffordd y maen nhw'n cael eu hecsbloetio—yw Bettina Gilbert, pennaeth darparu rhaglenni WRAP, a Dr Andy Rees, pennaeth yr is-adran strategaeth wastraff, effeithlonrwydd adnoddau ac economi gylchol, Llywodraeth Cymru. Nawr, gwn i fod Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn boicotio hwn. Mae'n benderfyniad y rhoddodd y Prif Weinidog wybod i mi amdano y tymor diwethaf. A fyddai posibilrwydd y gallai'r Siambr hon graffu ar Lywodraeth Cymru ynghylch a oes unrhyw ymgysylltu arall yn digwydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru? Ac a fyddai hi'n cymryd camau i annog ein sector cyhoeddus i beidio ag ymgysylltu â'r hyn y gellid ond ei ddisgrifio fel criw o gowbois?
I am aware that you did raise this with the First Minister previously. I think that it was probably about three years ago now. Of course, we welcome all forms of debate on public policy matters in Wales. But, as you say, as Ministers, we consider very carefully events that we speak at—whether we accept invitations to speak at commercially organised, fee-charging events. We have to take a lot of decisions around those, taking a lot of things into consideration. Our officials are the same. They have to consider invitations as well on that basis, if there is a fee-charging event. They need to assure themselves that there is a clear public benefit about them participating. Again, you may be aware that the previous Permanent Secretary wrote around that, following the First Minister's answer to you. I think that it's really important that, obviously, if an official takes part in an event—if a civil servant takes part in an event—there is no perceived breach of political impartiality. But certainly, as Ministers, we take those decisions based on the impact that it would have.
Rwy'n ymwybodol i chi godi hyn gyda'r Prif Weinidog yn flaenorol. Rwy'n credu yr oedd tua thair blynedd yn ôl, mae'n debyg, erbyn hyn. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n croesawu pob math o ddadl ar faterion polisi cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Ond, fel y dywedwch chi, fel Gweinidogion, rydym ni'n ystyried yn ofalus iawn y digwyddiadau yr ydym ni'n siarad ynddyn nhw—a ydym ni'n derbyn gwahoddiadau i siarad mewn digwyddiadau sy'n codi ffioedd ac sydd wedi'i drefnu'n fasnachol. Rhaid i ni wneud llawer o benderfyniadau ynghylch y rheini, gan ystyried llawer o bethau. Mae ein swyddogion yr un fath. Rhaid iddyn nhw ystyried gwahoddiadau hefyd ar y sail honno, os oes digwyddiad sy'n codi ffioedd. Mae angen iddyn nhw sicrhau eu hunain bod budd amlwg i'r cyhoedd o gymryd rhan. Unwaith eto, efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol bod yr Ysgrifennydd Parhaol blaenorol wedi ysgrifennu ynghylch hynny, yn dilyn ateb y Prif Weinidog i chi. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn, yn amlwg, os bydd swyddog yn cymryd rhan mewn digwyddiad—os bydd gwas sifil yn cymryd rhan mewn digwyddiad—nad oes unrhyw achos canfyddedig o dorri didueddrwydd gwleidyddol. Ond yn sicr, fel Gweinidogion, rydym ni'n gwneud y penderfyniadau hynny ar sail yr effaith y byddai'n ei chael.
Minister, I have always been proud of Bridgend as an exciting and vibrant place to live. But, it has become clear that the town centre is struggling, with so many empty shops and premises giving a sense of abandonment. Many businesses have struggled to get back on their feet since the pandemic. Many have reverted to online sales, but the town centre remains important to keep that sense of community. Will the Minister schedule a debate for us to consider the Government's strategy for town-centre renewal, and for the Government to publish what investment has gone into our town centres since the pandemic to ignite their revival? Thank you, Minister.
Gweinidog, rwyf i bob amser wedi bod yn falch o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr fel lle cyffrous a bywiog i fyw ynddo. Ond, mae wedi dod yn amlwg bod canol y dref yn ei chael hi'n anodd, a chymaint o siopau ac adeiladau gwag yn rhoi ymdeimlad o roi'r gorau iddi. Mae llawer o fusnesau wedi cael trafferth mynd yn ôl ar eu traed ers y pandemig. Mae llawer wedi troi at werthu ar-lein, ond mae canol y dref yn parhau i fod yn bwysig er mwyn cadw'r ymdeimlad hwnnw o gymuned. A wnaiff y Gweinidog drefnu dadl i ni ystyried strategaeth y Llywodraeth ar gyfer adnewyddu canol trefi, ac i'r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi pa fuddsoddiad sydd wedi mynd i ganol ein trefi ni ers y pandemig i gynnau eu hadfywiad? Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog.
Thank you. Well, I don't think that it's too long since we did have a statement around regeneration of our town centres, and it's really important that the Welsh Government continues to work with local authorities to ensure that our town centres are as vibrant as they possibly can be. I do think, as you say, that the pandemic brought on far more businesses in a position of struggling than had been the case, but I do think we had seen a change in people's behaviour in relation to shopping ahead of the pandemic and a lot of our shops going online. But it is really important, as you say, for that sense of community. We are seeing our town centres change and becoming much more residential, I think; certainly in my own constituency, I'm seeing flats go above shops in a way that perhaps we hadn't done before. But I don't think it's too long since we did have a statement.
Diolch. Wel, nid wyf i'n credu ei bod yn rhy hir ers i ni gael datganiad am adfywio canol ein trefi, ac mae'n bwysig iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod canol ein trefi mor fywiog ag y gallan nhw fod. Rwy'n credu, fel y dywedwch chi, fod y pandemig wedi arwain at lawer mwy o fusnesau mewn sefyllfa o frwydro nag a fu, ond rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi gweld newid yn ymddygiad pobl o ran siopa cyn y pandemig a llawer o'n siopau'n mynd ar-lein. Ond mae'n bwysig iawn, fel y dywedwch chi, i'r ymdeimlad hwnnw o gymuned. Rydym ni'n gweld canol ein trefi'n newid ac yn dod yn llawer mwy preswyl, rwy'n credu; yn sicr yn fy etholaeth i, rwy'n gweld fflatiau'n mynd uwchben siopau mewn ffordd nad oeddem ni efallai wedi'i wneud o'r blaen. Ond nid wyf i'n meddwl ei bod hi'n rhy hir ers i ni gael datganiad.
Ac yn olaf, Janet Finch-Saunders.
And finally, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Thank you. I'd like to request a statement from the Minister for Climate Change on the planning appeal process in Wales. Only last week, our local authority granted conditional approval for 49 homes to be built behind Ysgol y Gogarth. This was a very controversial planning application, with democratically elected members at all levels opposing this, and the planning office themselves opposing this. On a further application placed before the committee last week, there was a u-turn by the officers, in which they decided to support it, and one of the reasons cited was that they were very concerned about the costs associated with any appeal process. I've been asked since, and indeed by constituents over the years, as to why it is that developers who can afford barristers and things have an appeal process for when an application is refused, yet there is no appeal process for applications such as this, which, in my opinion, if you look at 'Planning Policy Wales', actually breaches some of the actual PPW guidance. And so I have raised with the Minister previously whether we could have a fairer system, so that the appeal process works both ways—not only just for the developer, but indeed for the communities and, in fact, the democratically elected members, so that the true voices of the community are able to have a second go at this, because I know there are a lot of aggrieved constituents on many planning applications where planning officers feel obliged to allow an application to go through because they fear the costs of any appeal process. Thank you.
Diolch i chi. Fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynglŷn â'r broses apêl gynllunio yng Nghymru. Dim ond wythnos diwethaf, fe roddodd ein hawdurdod lleol ni gymeradwyaeth amodol i adeiladu 49 o gartrefi y tu ôl i Ysgol y Gogarth. Roedd hwnnw'n gais cynllunio dadleuol iawn, gydag aelodau a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd ar bob lefel yn ei wrthwynebu, a'r swyddfa gynllunio ei hun yn ei wrthwynebu hefyd. Ynglŷn â chais arall a roddwyd gerbron y pwyllgor yr wythnos diwethaf, gwelwyd tro pedol gan swyddogion, ac fe wnaethon nhw benderfynu cefnogi hwnnw, ac un o'r rhesymau a nodwyd oedd eu bod nhw'n pryderu llawer am y costau sy'n gysylltiedig ag unrhyw broses apelio. Fe ofynnwyd i mi ers hynny, a chan etholwyr dros y blynyddoedd, yn wir, pam y mae gan ddatblygwyr sy'n gallu fforddio bargyfreithwyr a phethau o'r fath broses apelio ar gyfer achos lle gwrthodwyd cais, ac eto nid oes proses apelio ar gyfer ceisiadau fel hwn, sydd, yn fy marn i, os edrychwch ar 'Bolisi Cynllunio Cymru', yn torri rhai o ganllawiau Polisi Cynllunio Cymru, mewn gwirionedd. Ac felly rwyf i wedi gofyn i'r Gweinidog cyn heddiw a fyddai hi'n bosibl i ni gael system fwy cyfiawn, fel bydd y broses apelio yn gweithio'r ddwy ffordd—nid yn unig i'r datblygwr, ond i'r cymunedau ac, yn wir, mewn gwirionedd, i'r aelodau a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd, fel gall lleisiau'r gymuned wirioneddol gael ail gynnig yn hyn o beth, oherwydd fe wn i fod llawer o etholwyr yn cael eu tramgwyddo gan lawer o geisiadau cynllunio pryd mae swyddogion cynllunio o'r farn fod rheidrwydd arnyn nhw i ganiatáu i gais fynd drwodd oherwydd eu bod nhw'n gofidio am gostau unrhyw broses apelio. Diolch i chi.
Thank you. It's not that long since planning policy here in Wales was updated; I think it's been in the past couple of years. I'm not aware of any plans to bring forward an appeal process in the way the Member suggests. I would advise her perhaps to write directly to the Minister, asking that specific question.
Diolch i chi. Nid oes cymaint o amser â hynny ers i'r polisi cynllunio gael ei ddiweddaru yma yng Nghymru; rwy'n credu i hynny ddigwydd yn yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf. Nid wyf i'n ymwybodol o unrhyw gynlluniau i gyflwyno proses apelio yn y ffordd y mae'r Aelod yn ei hawgrymu. Byddwn i yn ei chynghori hi i ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog yn uniongyrchol efallai, i ofyn y cwestiwn arbennig hwnnw.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Mae eitem 3 y prynhawn yma wedi ei thynnu yn ôl.
Item 3 this afternoon has been withdrawn.
Felly, eitem 4, datganiad gan y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol—diweddariad ar Wcráin. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Jane Hutt.
Therefore, item 4 is a statement by the Minister for Social Justice—an update on Ukraine. I call on the Minister, Jane Hutt.
Dirprwy Lywydd, thank you for the opportunity to provide an update to Members today about our ongoing work to support people from Ukraine who are fleeing the devastating conflict in their country. The war and violence in Ukraine shows little sign of abating, and, just over a week ago, Putin launched a new large-scale assault on the Donbas region. And meanwhile, there's been little progress in establishing humanitarian corridors to enable people to leave the country or move to safer areas away from the fighting.
More than 5 million people have now fled Ukraine since the end of February, when Putin's troops began the invasion, and this is around 10 per cent of the population. The latest data from the UK Government shows just over 107,000 visas have been issued to people fleeing the violence, and more than half of these have been issued to people from Ukraine applying to come to the UK via the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme. They also show that 21,600 people from Ukraine have so far arrived in the UK. Of these, the overwhelming majority—some 15,000 people—have come via the Ukraine family scheme route to live with members of their extended family in the UK.
To date, 1,500 visas have been issued to people via the Homes for Ukraine scheme who have a sponsor in Wales. A total of 390 of these are via the Welsh Government supersponsor route. The number of visas being approved continues to increase every day. However, not everyone is travelling as soon as visas are issued, and this may be for a number of reasons. It may be because their permission-to-travel documents are not yet available or because they are not available for everyone in their party. People may also have arranged to travel at a slightly later date, but we know that families who have not had their visas and documents approved at the same time are frustrated by the bureaucracy they face. I continue to raise these issues in my meetings with the UK Government to help improve the system and to make it as safe as possible for people travelling to the UK.
The Welsh Government's supersponsor route was set up to reduce the complexity and bureaucracy for people who wanted to come to Wales and to reduce the risk of being exposed to such exploitation. Everyone who is sponsored by us will be contacted directly by us to help make their arrival in Wales as easy as possible. We've set up arrival hubs at all the major ports and stations to help people from Ukraine with their onward journeys to their host accommodation or welfare centre. And I want to put on record once again my thanks to local authorities, the NHS, the third sector and voluntary links. Together, we've worked tirelessly to ensure the support people from Ukraine need is available throughout Wales.
I also want to thank the businesses, organisations and many individual sponsors who have offered to help, opening their homes and offering practical support with donations of clothing and other goods, offers of jobs and of translation help. We continue to be overwhelmed by the public response to this humanitarian crisis, especially at a time when we are facing our own cost-of-living crisis. There are a great many ways people can help, from offering to sponsor someone from Ukraine, to donating money or goods, or volunteering to help. As a Government we've donated £1 million to the Nation of Sanctuary Croeso fund, and £4 million to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal.
The first people are now being accommodated in our network of welcome centres, where they're receiving wraparound support to help them settle into life in Wales. This includes health checks, support with language skills if needed, help opening a bank account and accessing benefits, education for children and support finding a job. Everyone arriving in Wales, whether at welcome centres or living with an individual sponsor, will have access to health services. This includes mental health and trauma specialists.
Deputy Llywydd, since I last updated Members, we've issued further guidance, updated guidance, to local authorities and to individual sponsors, to help support them with their many responsibilities. The updated guidance to sponsors covers further advice and information about accommodation, including the voluntary use of model tenancy and licensing agreements, what checks need to be carried out, advice about modern slavery and the range of support available from the voluntary sector. We've also issued detailed safeguarding guidance for local authorities and other public bodies, and guidance to childcare providers.
I have regular meetings with the Scottish Government Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Neil Gray, and UK Government refugees Minister, Lord Harrington. These are important opportunities to press for improvements to the visa process to reduce delays. Together with my Scottish counterpart, we continue to call for the UK Government to fund the Ukraine family scheme, and to make funding available for public services, so everyone arriving from Ukraine is properly supported. It's only right that the same level of funding that was available for the Afghan resettlement scheme is available to support people from Ukraine. The Counsel General has also been meeting the UK law officers to discuss a range of issues, including the International Criminal Court investigation into war crimes committed in Ukraine.
So, Deputy Llywydd, I will close this statement today by repeating that help, advice and support is available via our free helpline for sponsors and people coming from Ukraine. Sponsors in Wales can call the free helpline on 0808 175 1508 for advice. For Ukrainian nationals and their families, if they're outside the UK, they can call free on +44 808 164 8810, or if they are in the UK, they can call 0808 164 8810. There is a warm welcome waiting in Wales, which is a nation of sanctuary. Diolch.
Dirprwy Lywydd, diolch i chi am y cyfle heddiw i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am ein gwaith parhaus ni i gefnogi pobl o Wcráin sy'n dianc rhag y dinistr ofnadwy yn eu gwlad nhw. Nid oes unrhyw arwydd bod y rhyfel na'r trais yn Wcráin yn tawelu, ac, ychydig dros wythnos yn ôl, fe lansiodd Putin ymosodiad newydd ar raddfa eang yn rhanbarth Donbas. Ac yn y cyfamser, ychydig o gynnydd sydd wedi bod o ran sefydlu coridorau dyngarol i alluogi pobl i ymadael â'r wlad neu symud i ardaloedd mwy diogel ymhell o faes y gad.
Erbyn hyn, mae dros 5 miliwn o bobl wedi ffoi o Wcráin ers diwedd mis Chwefror, pan ddechreuodd lluoedd Putin yr ymosodiad, a thua 10 y cant o'r boblogaeth yw hynny. Mae'r data diweddaraf gan Lywodraeth y DU yn dangos bod ychydig dros 107,000 o fisâu wedi cael eu rhoi i bobl sy'n ffoi rhag yr ymladd, a rhoddwyd mwy na hanner y rhain i bobl o Wcráin sy'n gwneud cais i ddod i'r DU drwy gynllun nawdd Cartrefi i Wcráin. Maen nhw'n dangos hefyd bod 21,600 o bobl o Wcráin wedi cyrraedd y DU hyd yn hyn. O'r rhain, mae'r mwyafrif llethol—tua 15,000 o bobl—wedi dod drwy lwybr cynllun ar gyfer teuluoedd o Wcráin i fyw gydag aelodau o'u teuluoedd estynedig nhw yn y DU.
Hyd yma, cafodd 1,500 o fisâu eu rhoi i bobl drwy'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin sydd â noddwr yng Nghymru. Mae cyfanswm o 390 o'r rhain ar lwybr uwch-noddi Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae nifer y fisâu sy'n cael eu caniatáu yn parhau i gynyddu bob dydd. Er hynny, nid yw pawb yn teithio cyn gynted ag y caiff fisa ei chyflwyno, ac fe allai hynny fod am nifer o resymau. Efallai mai'r rheswm yw nad yw eu dogfennau nhw ar gyfer caniatâd i deithio ar gael iddyn nhw eto neu am nad ydyn nhw ar gael i bawb yn eu grŵp nhw. Efallai hefyd fod pobl wedi trefnu i deithio ychydig yn hwyrach, ond fe wyddom ni fod yna deuluoedd nad ydyn nhw wedi cael eu fisâu a'u dogfennau wedi'u cymeradwyo ar yr un pryd sy'n teimlo'n rhwystredig oherwydd y fiwrocratiaeth y maen nhw'n ei hwynebu. Rwyf i'n parhau i godi'r materion hyn yn fy nghyfarfodydd â Llywodraeth y DU i helpu i wella'r system a'i gwneud hi mor ddiogel â phosibl i bobl sy'n teithio i'r DU.
Cafodd llwybr uwch-noddi Llywodraeth Cymru ei sefydlu i leihau cymhlethdod a biwrocratiaeth pobl a oedd yn dymuno dod i Gymru a lleihau'r perygl o weld camfanteisio o'r fath. Fe fydd pawb sy'n cael eu noddi gennym ni'n cysylltu â ni'n uniongyrchol i'w helpu nhw i gyrraedd Cymru yn y ffordd hwylusaf bosibl. Ac rwy'n awyddus i fynegi ar goedd fy niolch i awdurdodau lleol, y GIG, y trydydd sector a chysylltiadau gwirfoddol. Gyda'n gilydd, rydym ni wedi gweithio yn ddiflino i sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen ar bobl o Wcráin ar gael ledled Cymru.
Fe hoffwn i ddiolch hefyd i'r busnesau, y sefydliadau, a llawer o noddwyr unigol sydd wedi cynnig helpu, gan agor eu cartrefi nhw a chynnig cymorth ymarferol gyda rhoddion o ddillad a nwyddau eraill, cynigion o swyddi a chymorth cyfieithu. Rydym ni'n dal i gael ein syfrdanu gan faint ymateb y cyhoedd i'r argyfwng dyngarol hwn, yn enwedig ar adeg pan ydym ni'n wynebu ein hargyfwng ein hunain o ran costau byw. Fe geir llawer iawn o ffyrdd y gall pobl helpu, o gynnig noddi rhywun o Wcráin, hyd at gyfrannu arian neu nwyddau, neu wirfoddoli i helpu. Yn y Llywodraeth, rydym ni wedi rhoi £1 miliwn at gronfa Croeso Cenedl Noddfa, a £4 miliwn i apêl Wcráin y Pwyllgor Argyfwng Trychinebau.
Mae'r bobl gyntaf bellach yn cael eu lletya yn ein rhwydwaith ni o ganolfannau croeso, lle maen nhw'n derbyn cymorth cofleidiol i'w helpu nhw i wneud eu nyth yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys archwiliadau iechyd, cymorth gyda sgiliau iaith os oes angen hynny, cymorth i agor cyfrif banc a chael budd-daliadau, addysg i blant a chymorth i ddod o hyd i swydd. Fe fydd pawb sy'n cyrraedd Cymru, mewn canolfannau croeso neu wrth fyw ar aelwyd noddwr unigol, yn gallu manteisio ar wasanaethau iechyd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys arbenigwyr iechyd meddwl a thrawma.
Dirprwy Lywydd, ers i mi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau ddiwethaf, rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau pellach, canllawiau a ddiweddarwyd, i awdurdodau lleol a noddwyr unigol, i'w helpu nhw gyda'u cyfrifoldebau niferus. Mae'r canllawiau diweddaraf i noddwyr yn ymdrin â chyngor a gwybodaeth bellach ynglŷn â llety, gan gynnwys y defnydd gwirfoddol o gytundebau tenantiaeth a thrwyddedu enghreifftiol, pa wiriadau y mae angen eu cynnal, cyngor ynglŷn â chaethwasiaeth fodern a'r ystod o gymorth sydd ar gael gan y sector gwirfoddol. Rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau diogelu manwl hefyd ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol a chyrff cyhoeddus eraill, a chanllawiau ar gyfer darparwyr gofal plant.
Rwy'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd gyda Gweinidog Diwylliant, Ewrop a Datblygu Rhyngwladol Llywodraeth yr Alban, Neil Gray, a Gweinidog ffoaduriaid Llywodraeth y DU, Arglwydd Harrington. Mae'r rhain yn gyfleoedd pwysig i bwyso am welliannau i'r broses fisa ar gyfer cyfyngu ar unrhyw oedi. Ynghyd â'm cyd-Weinidog yn yr Alban, rydym ni'n parhau i alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ariannu cynllun teuluoedd Wcráin, a sicrhau bod cyllid ar gael ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, fel bydd pawb sy'n cyrraedd yma o Wcráin yn cael eu cefnogi mewn ffordd sy'n addas. Mae hi'n iawn i'r un gyfradd o gyllid a oedd ar gael ar gyfer cynllun ailsefydlu pobl o Affganistan fod ar gael i gefnogi pobl o Wcráin. Mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi bod yn cwrdd â swyddogion cyfreithiol y DU i drafod amrywiaeth o faterion hefyd, gan gynnwys ymchwiliad y Llys Troseddol Rhyngwladol i droseddau rhyfel a gyflawnwyd yn Wcráin.
Felly, Dirprwy Lywydd, rwyf i am gloi'r datganiad hwn heddiw drwy ddweud unwaith eto fod cymorth, cyngor a chefnogaeth ar gael drwy ein llinell gymorth rhad ac am ddim ni i noddwyr a phobl sy'n dod o Wcráin. Fe all noddwyr yng Nghymru ffonio'r llinell gymorth rhad ac am ddim ar 0808 175 1508 i gael cyngor. Ar gyfer gwladolion Wcráin a'u teuluoedd nhw, os ydyn nhw y tu allan i'r DU, fe allan nhw ffonio am ddim ar +44 808 164 8810, neu os ydyn nhw yn y DU, fe allan nhw ffonio 0808 164 8810. Mae croeso cynnes yn aros amdanyn nhw yng Nghymru, sy'n genedl noddfa. Diolch.
I thank you very much for the statement. I'm just trying to reconcile—there are so many figures flying around from different people and different places. If I make some mistakes in consequence, no doubt you'll pick me up on those. But your written statement update about the Homes for Ukraine scheme on 21 April said the latest figures published by the UK Government then showed that 1,500 visas had been issued to date where the sponsor was from Wales, 1,100 sponsored by individuals in Wales and 390 sponsored by the Welsh Government as a supersponsor. Yesterday, the Home Secretary stated that 40,000 visas had been issued under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but your party's shadow Home Office Minister stated that only 6,600 Ukrainians had actually arrived in the UK, although you refer to the latest data showing that 21,600 people from Ukraine have so far arrived in the UK. Is it therefore your understanding that that difference is because the 21,600 includes all schemes, including the family scheme? And what is your understanding of how many people have actually arrived in Wales, not just received or been awarded visas?
Diolch yn fawr i chi am y datganiad. Rwy'n ceisio cysoni—mae cymaint o ffigurau yn hedfan o gylch y lle gan wahanol bobl ac o wahanol fannau. Os byddaf i'n gwneud rhai camgymeriadau o ganlyniad i hynny, mae'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n gallu fy nghywiro i yn hynny o beth. Ond roedd eich datganiad ysgrifenedig chi ynglŷn â'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin ar 21 Ebrill yn dweud bod y ffigurau diweddaraf a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU bryd hynny'n dangos bod 1,500 o fisâu wedi cael eu rhoi pryd yr oedd y noddwr o Gymru, 1,100 a noddwyd gan unigolion yng Nghymru a 390 a noddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru fel uwch-noddwr. Ddoe, fe ddywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref fod 40,000 o fisâu wedi cael eu rhoi yn unol â chynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin, ond fe ddywedodd Gweinidog Swyddfa Gartref yr wrthblaid, eich plaid chi mai dim ond 6,600 o Wcrainiaid a oedd wedi cyrraedd y DU mewn gwirionedd, er eich bod chi'n cyfeirio at y data diweddaraf sy'n dangos bod 21,600 o bobl o Wcráin wedi cyrraedd y DU hyd yn hyn. A ydych chi'n credu felly mai'r rheswm am y gwahaniaeth hwnnw yw bod y 21,600 yn cynnwys pob cynllun, gan gynnwys y cynllun ar gyfer teuluoedd? A beth yw eich dealltwriaeth chi ynglŷn â nifer y bobl sydd wedi cyrraedd Cymru mewn gwirionedd, ac nid newydd gael eu fisâu yn unig?
Responding to claims that families who need to travel together cannot do so because just one family member, often a child, will have their visas delayed, the Home Secretary stated yesterday that the refugees Minister, the honourable Member Lord Harrington, went to the region just 10 days ago to find out why and what more could be done to bring families that have been granted their visas over. First and foremost, as we've heard repeatedly from the Ukrainian Government, she said, and from Governments in the region as well, those families want to stay in the region, which I find a bit confusing. I presume that that also means people who perhaps didn't apply for a visa in the first place, but I don't know. So, I thank you again for your call to me yesterday. During this, you stated that you were in regular contact with the UK Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, which, again, you referred to in your statement today, and that more visas were being approved but there were still delays and you were pressing for simpler forms and more support for families.
Well, following my introduction of Link International to you a few weeks ago, I'm pleased that the charity, under its Ukrainian link programme, is now working with north Wales's local authorities in collaboration with other statutory agencies and Welsh Government and bringing together community and faith groups and third sector organisations to support Ukrainians arriving in north Wales. When I attended their north Wales Ukrainian response Zoom meeting yesterday, we heard that, although 256 visas had been issued for north Wales, applications had only been received for 60 Ukrainians in 30 host homes and 150 in the region's welcome centre. What, therefore, is your understanding of the reason for the gap between the number of visas issued, the number of applications received and numbers then arriving? And do you have any evidence regarding this that you're able to share with us, or do your comments in your statement otherwise cover that, indicating that you're still trying to get to the bottom of it yourself in your engagement with the UK Government?
Further, what discussions are you having with Lord Harrington regarding this and the ways to address this? And again, you made some reference to that, but I wonder if there are any further specific points that you could share with us.
During yesterday's north Wales Ukrainian response Zoom meeting, we also heard from an anti-human trafficking organisation in Romania that over 5 million Ukrainians are estimated to have now left Ukraine, with approximately half going to Poland and 700,000 directly to Romania, plus more arriving in Romania via adjoining Moldova. We also heard from them that the most vulnerable people are displaced people and therefore the focus is now on safeguarding. During our call yesterday, you told me that the four UK Governments are now working together on safeguarding. How, therefore, are you engaging with anti-human trafficking organisations such as the one we heard from yesterday, working on the ground with Ukrainian refugees in the countries that they have crossed into?
Finally, I received an e-mail from a constituent last week asking for assistance for Ukrainians and their UK hosts in Flintshire. This states, and I'm quoting:
'The Homes for Ukraine scheme is classifying Ukrainians as guests. The guidance is clear. Asking a newborn 53 questions for security reasons is clearly stating how above and beyond this all is. Now having a local authority claiming to apply foster care checks and full privacy waivers from UK hosts and their Ukrainian guests, for GP documentation, for social media and search engine history, including storage, for 10 years, is a disaster. I urge you to stop this immediately, where hosts have been feeling threatened and overrun with not being approved as hosts if they do not comply'.
So, I wonder if you could tell us whether the process for host applicants and their Ukrainian guests, is, as described by my constituent, determined by the UK Government, by the Welsh Government or by individual local authorities? And how will you ensure that the need for safeguarding, which is critical, of course, is balanced against the need to support legitimate hosts in their genuine desire to provide sanctuary for Ukrainian refugees in their homes?
Wrth ymateb i honiadau na all teuluoedd y mae angen iddyn nhw deithio gyda'i gilydd wneud felly oherwydd oedi o ran fisa i un aelod o'r teulu, plentyn yn aml, fe ddywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref ddoe fod y Gweinidog Ffoaduriaid, yr Aelod anrhydeddus Arglwydd Harrington, wedi mynd i'r rhanbarth dim ond 10 diwrnod yn ôl i ganfod pam a beth arall y gellid ei wneud i ddod â theuluoedd sydd wedi cael eu fisâu i'r wlad hon. Yn bennaf oll, fel clywsom ni'n fynych gan Lywodraeth Wcráin, fel dywedodd hithau, a chan Lywodraethau yn y rhanbarth hefyd, mae'r teuluoedd hynny'n dymuno aros yn y rhan honno o'r byd, ac mae hynny'n peri dryswch i mi. Rwy'n tybio bod hynny hefyd yn golygu pobl nad oedden nhw efallai wedi gwneud cais am fisa yn y lle cyntaf, ond nid wyf i'n gwybod. Felly, diolch i chi eto am yr alwad ffôn a gefais i oddi wrthych chi ddoe. Yn ystod honno, roeddech chi'n dweud eich bod mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â Gweinidog Ffoaduriaid y DU, Arglwydd Harrington, y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio at hynny, unwaith eto, yn eich datganiad heddiw, a bod mwy o fisâu yn cael eu rhoi ond bod yr oedi yn parhau a'ch bod chi'n pwyso am ffurflenni symlach a mwy o gefnogaeth i deuluoedd.
Wel, wedi i mi dynnu eich sylw chi at Link International ychydig wythnosau nôl, rwy'n falch fod yr elusen, o dan ei rhaglen gyswllt Wcráin, yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol y gogledd erbyn hyn mewn cydweithrediad ag asiantaethau statudol eraill a Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn dod â grwpiau cymunedol a ffydd a sefydliadau'r trydydd sector at ei gilydd i gefnogi pobl o Wcráin sy'n cyrraedd gogledd Cymru. Pan euthum i'w cyfarfod Zoom nhw i ymateb i Wcráin yn y gogledd ddoe, fe glywsom ni, er bod 256 o fisâu wedi cael eu rhoi ar gyfer y gogledd, mai dim ond gan 60 o Wcrainiaid mewn 30 o gartrefi lletyol a 150 yng nghanolfan groeso'r rhanbarth y mae ceisiadau wedi dod. Beth, felly, yw eich dealltwriaeth chi o'r rheswm am y bwlch rhwng nifer y fisâu a ganiatawyd, nifer y ceisiadau a gafwyd a'r niferoedd sy'n cyrraedd wedi hynny? Ac a oes gennych chi unrhyw dystiolaeth yn hyn o beth y gallwch ei rannu â ni, neu a yw eich sylwadau yn eich datganiad chi fel arall yn ymdrin â hynny, sy'n dangos eich bod yn dal i geisio datrys y dirgelwch eich hunan wrth i chi ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU?
At hynny, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch chi gydag Arglwydd Harrington ynglŷn â hyn yn ogystal â'r ffyrdd o fynd i'r afael â hyn? Ac eto, roeddech chi'n crybwyll hynny, ond tybed a oes unrhyw bwyntiau penodol pellach y gallech chi eu rhannu nhw gyda ni.
Yn ystod cyfarfod ymateb y gogledd ar Zoom ddoe, fe glywsom ni hefyd oddi wrth sefydliad sy'n gwrthsefyll masnachu mewn pobl yn Romania yr amcangyfrifir bod dros 5 miliwn o Wcrainiaid wedi gadael Wcráin erbyn hyn, gyda thua hanner yn mynd i Wlad Pwyl a 700,000 yn uniongyrchol i Romania, yn ogystal â mwy yn cyrraedd Romania drwy Moldofa sy'n ffinio â'r wlad honno. Fe glywsom ni hefyd ganddyn nhw mai pobl a ddadleolwyd yw'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed ac felly mae'r canolbwyntio erbyn hyn ar ddiogelu. Yn ystod ein galwad ni ddoe, roeddech chi'n dweud wrthyf i fod pedair Llywodraeth y DU yn cydweithio o ran diogelu erbyn hyn. Sut, felly, ydych chi'n ymgysylltu â sefydliadau sy'n gwrthsefyll masnachu mewn pobl fel yr un a glywsom ni oddi wrtho ddoe, gan weithio ar lawr gwlad gyda ffoaduriaid Wcrainaidd yn y gwledydd y maen nhw wedi ffoi iddyn nhw?
Yn olaf, fe gefais i e-bost gan etholwr yr wythnos diwethaf yn gofyn am gymorth i Wcrainiaid a'u gwesteiwyr DU yn sir y Fflint. Roedd hwnnw'n mynegi, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
'Mae'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin yn datgan mai gwesteion yw Wcrainiaid. Mae'r canllawiau yn eglur. Mae gofyn 53 cwestiwn i faban oherwydd rhesymau diogelwch yn dangos yn amlwg iawn pa mor eithafol yw hyn i gyd. Nawr mae cael awdurdod lleol sy'n honni ei fod yn gwneud cais am wiriadau gofal maeth a hepgoriadau preifatrwydd llawn gan noddwyr o'r DU a'u gwesteion Wcrainaidd nhw, ar gyfer dogfennau meddygon teulu, ar gyfer cyfryngau cymdeithasol a hanes chwiliadau rhyngrwyd, gan gynnwys storio, am 10 mlynedd, yn annibendod. Rwy'n pwyso arnoch chi i roi terfyn ar hyn ar unwaith, sy'n gwneud i westeiwyr deimlo bygythiad a gormes oherwydd methiant posibl wrth ennill cymeradwyaeth i fod yn westeiwyr os na wnân nhw gydymffurfio â'r drefn'.
Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym ni a yw'r broses ar gyfer ymgeiswyr lletyol a'u gwesteion Wcrainaidd nhw, fel yr oedd fy etholwr i'n ei disgrifio hi, yn cael ei phennu gan Lywodraeth y DU, gan Lywodraeth Cymru neu gan yr awdurdodau lleol unigol? A sut ydych chi am sicrhau y bydd yr angen am ddiogelu, sy'n hanfodol, wrth gwrs, yn cael ei gydbwyso yn erbyn yr angen i gefnogi gwesteiwyr cyfreithlon yn eu brwdfrydedd gwirioneddol nhw i gynnig noddfa i ffoaduriaid o Wcráin ar eu haelwydydd?
Thank you very much, Mark, and thank you for those important questions, which is very much, as we spoke yesterday, about how the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the supersponsor scheme, is now bedding in in terms of delivery and implementation. There is no doubt there is a delay, a clear delay, recognised by the Minister, Lord Richard Harrington, who I met on Wednesday last week, alongside the Scottish Government Minister, Neil Gray. There is a clear delay in arrivals, a delay between, actually, the approval of visas and actually then being able to get the approval to travel. So, that approval to travel is required in order to be able to then take the next step in order to be able to come to either one of our welcome centres in terms of the Homes for Ukraine supersponsor route, or, indeed, to then be able to travel to meet the sponsor family, the household, so many who are anxiously waiting and communicating with those who they've been matched with and made contact with.
It is right in terms of the figures, and yesterday, obviously, there was a debate and a statement in the House of Commons, but we get our figures, which are shared on a four-nation basis, on a Thursday, and that's when I gave my written statement. So, of the 1,500 visas allocated, 390 are supersponsored, which would be people who could come to our welcome centres, and the rest would be through not just the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but there are also many coming through the Ukraine family scheme. And I think the numbers that you're enquiring about actually relate to the family scheme as well. In fact, as of 20 April, the Ukraine family scheme had received visa applications for 41,200, and then issued 32,500. One of the problems we've got in Wales is that we're not actually given the numbers of people who have come through the family scheme. That's a huge disadvantage. They can't, actually, the UK Government, admit they cannot give us those figures. And we really do need them because, of course, the most successful route through for Ukrainian refugees has been through the family scheme. They were so many of the ones who came here, who managed to come here so early on when they fled the Russian invasion. But it is the family scheme. We have no figures for Wales; they're the overall UK numbers.
So, it is a real problem in terms of the gap between not only application, the whole household or family getting the visas—. I mean, I'm not the only one, I'm sure, in the Senedd today, who has cases in my constituency of people where one person hasn't got a visa. There may be even—. I have a case where the whole family, apart from the father, have got visas, but not the father. In other cases it might be a child who hasn't got the visa. These are real issues. And I did speak to the refugees Minister about his visit to Poland. He also told me about the situation there, the frustration and, of course, the horror that people have experienced. Coming and getting even to Poland has been—you know, it's the trauma and leaving behind their menfolk. Some of them are in temporary accommodation, but still the overwhelming bureaucracy and barriers to getting from there to us here, to our nation of sanctuary, I have to say, is real, and many will have heard that. And, indeed, our contact centre have heard those accounts as well, and we have to deal with them. So, I am raising those issues with the UK Government. Tomorrow I'm meeting with the Scottish Minister as well, and we work as much as possible on a four-nations basis to grasp these issues.
Just very quickly, I'm very grateful again for the update from Link International in north Wales. I've been meeting with them regularly, along with other third sector links across Wales like that, and also there are increasingly now Ukrainian groups who are meeting together. In fact, we are looking to ways in which we can support the voices of Ukraine, the people who are coming into our welcome centres and also to sponsored homes, because they want to work together, they want to volunteer, they want to co-ordinate their experiences, lessons learned and also share the experience that they have had of the warm welcome in Wales that they've had from their sponsor families, but also some of the difficulties as well, and, of course, you do raise a couple of really important issues: the anti-human trafficking work, which is so important, and I've learnt about the work they've done in north Wales—. Of course, we're very closely linked, I can assure you, to those organisations, and I just want to say that this is very linked to what we're doing in terms of safeguarding and the checks.
So, the local authorities have a critical role to play in making sure that we can not just support the people arriving, but also make sure that they are safeguarded. So, we've published separate guidance on safeguarding and modern slavery for local authorities and sponsors. You'll see it on the sanctuary website. We provided advice to welcome centre and contact centre staff and, in fact, there's a third version of safeguarding and modern slavery guidance due to be published next week, and I'll make sure that you have this.
It is vital that local authorities do conduct these local checks. We meet with local authorities' chief executives, at the moment, regularly, and it is up to local authorities themselves to undertake these checks regarding property standards, but, crucially, safeguarding. We have to recognise that, actually, we have got experiences that I can recount to you where there are serious issues that would not have been uncovered unless we had those checks, so I do want to assure people, our Senedd Members today, that the Disclosure and Barring Service process that is happening alongside these checks is vitally important. Of course, the majority of the welcome from households and sponsors is wonderful and it's great that they're working closely together with local authorities and many of these support groups as well, but it's vital that we do undertake these.
Now, we are developing our own guidance, but very much working on a four-nation basis, developing policy and guidance, working through operational issues and, of course, that does include officials working very closely with the Home Office and department for levelling up and housing and representatives from local resilience fora, the third sector and local authority leaders.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mark, a diolch i chi am y cwestiynau pwysig yna, sydd i raddau helaeth iawn, fel buom ni'n ei ddweud ddoe, yn ymwneud â'r ffordd y mae cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin, y cynllun uwch-noddwyr, yn ymsefydlu erbyn hyn o ran ei gyflawniad a'i weithrediad. Nid oes amheuaeth ynglŷn ag oedi, oedi amlwg, y gwnaeth y Gweinidog, Arglwydd Richard Harrington, ei gydnabod pan wnes i gyfarfod ag ef ddydd Mercher diwethaf, ar yr un pryd â Gweinidog Llywodraeth yr Alban, Neil Gray. Fe geir oedi amlwg o ran dyfodiadau, ac oedi rhwng, mewn gwirionedd, cymeradwyo fisâu a gallu cael caniatâd i deithio wedyn. Felly, mae angen caniatâd i deithio ar gyfer cymryd y cam nesaf wedyn i allu dod i un o'n canolfannau croeso ni sydd ar lwybr uwch-noddwyr Cartrefi i Wcráin, neu, yn wir, i allu teithio wedyn i gwrdd â'r teulu sy'n rhoi nawdd, ar yr aelwyd, ac mae llawer yn disgwyl yn bryderus ac yn cyfathrebu â'r rhai y maen nhw wedi cael eu paru â nhw ac wedi cysylltu â nhw.
Mae hynny'n iawn o ran y ffigurau, a ddoe, yn amlwg, bu dadl a datganiad yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin, ond fe gawn ni ein ffigurau ni, sy'n cael eu rhannu ar sail pedair gwlad, ar ddydd Iau, a dyna pryd y cyflwynais fy natganiad ysgrifenedig i. Felly, o'r 1,500 o fisâu a ddyrannwyd, mae 390 yn cael eu huwch-noddi, sef pobl a allai ddod i'n canolfannau croeso ni, ac fe fyddai'r gweddill nid yn unig drwy'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin, ond mae llawer hefyd yn dod drwy gynllun teuluoedd Wcráin. Ac rwy'n credu bod y niferoedd yr ydych chi'n holi amdanyn nhw'n ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â'r cynllun teuluol hefyd. Yn wir, ar 20 Ebrill, roedd cynllun teuluoedd Wcráin wedi cael ceisiadau am fisâu gan 41,200, a rhoi 32,500 ohonyn nhw. Un o'r problemau sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru yw nad ydym ni mewn gwirionedd yn ystyried nifer y bobl sydd wedi dod drwy'r cynllun ar gyfer teuluoedd. Mae honno'n anfantais enfawr. Mewn gwirionedd, nid yw Llywodraeth y DU yn gallu cyfaddef na allan nhw roi'r ffigurau hynny i ni. Ac mae eu hangen nhw arnom ni'n wirioneddol oherwydd, wrth gwrs, y llwybr mwyaf llwyddiannus drwodd sydd wedi bod ar gyfer ffoaduriaid o Wcráin yw'r cynllun ar gyfer teuluoedd. Y rhain oedd llawer iawn o'r dyfodiaid yma, ac fe lwyddon nhw i ddod yma ar gam cynnar iawn wrth ffoi rhag yr ymosodiad o Rwsia. Ond y cynllun ar gyfer teuluoedd ydyw hwnnw. Nid yw'r ffigurau ar gyfer Cymru ar gael; niferoedd ar gyfer y DU gyfan ydyn nhw.
Felly, mae honno'n broblem wirioneddol ynghylch y bwlch rhwng nid yn unig y cais, yr aelwyd gyfan neu'r teulu'n cael y fisâu—. Rwy'n credu, nid myfi yw'r unig un, rwy'n siŵr, yn y Senedd heddiw, sydd ag achosion yn f'etholaeth o bobl lle nad oes fisa gan un unigolyn. Efallai fod hyd yn oed—. Mae achos gennyf i o deulu cyfan, ar wahân i'r tad, wedi cael eu fisâu, ond nid y tad. Mewn achosion eraill, fe allai plentyn fod heb gael fisa. Mae'r rhain yn faterion gwirioneddol. Ac fe siaradais i â'r Gweinidog Ffoaduriaid ynglŷn â'i ymweliad ef â Gwlad Pwyl. Fe drafododd ef y sefyllfa yn y fan honno hefyd, y rhwystredigaeth sydd yno ac, wrth gwrs, yr erchyllter y mae pobl wedi byw drwyddo. Mae gwneud eu ffordd i Wlad Pwyl wedi bod—wyddoch chi, yr archoll, gadael eu tadau, eu gwŷr, a'u meibion ar ôl. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw mewn llety dros dro, ond mae'r fiwrocratiaeth a'r rhwystrau llethol sy'n eu hatal rhag mynd oddi yno a dod yma, i'n cenedl noddfa ni, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, yn rhywbeth gwirioneddol, ac fe fydd llawer wedi clywed am y pethau hynny. Ac, yn wir, mae ein canolfan gyswllt ni wedi clywed yr hanesion hynny hefyd, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ymdrin â nhw. Felly, rwy'n codi'r materion hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Fe fyddaf i'n cyfarfod â Gweinidog yr Alban yfory hefyd, ac rydym ni'n gweithio cymaint â phosibl ar sail pedair gwlad i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn.
Yn gyflym iawn, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn unwaith eto am ddiweddariad gan Link International yn y gogledd. Rwyf i wedi bod yn cwrdd yn rheolaidd â nhw, ynghyd â chysylltiadau eraill â'r trydydd sector ledled Cymru fel hyn, ac fe geir mwy o gyfarfodydd gan grwpiau Wcrainaidd â'i gilydd erbyn hyn. Yn wir, rydym ni'n ystyried ffyrdd y gallwn ni gefnogi lleisiau Wcráin ynddyn nhw, y bobl sy'n dod i'n canolfannau croeso ni a chartrefi noddwyr hefyd, oherwydd eu bod nhw'n awyddus i weithio gyda'i gilydd, maen nhw'n awyddus i wirfoddoli, yn awyddus i gydlynu eu profiadau, y gwersi a ddysgwyd a rhannu'r profiad o'r croeso cynnes yng Nghymru gan deuluoedd sy'n eu noddi nhw, a sôn am rai o'r anawsterau hefyd, ac, wrth gwrs, rydych chi'n codi ychydig o faterion pwysig iawn: y gwaith i wrthwynebu masnachu mewn pobl, sy'n hynod bwysig, ac rwyf i wedi dysgu am y gwaith a wnaethpwyd ganddyn nhw yn y gogledd—. Wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni gysylltiad agos iawn, rwy'n dweud wrthych chi, â'r sefydliadau hynny, ac rwy'n dymuno dweud bod hyn yn gysylltiedig iawn â'r hyn a wnawn ni o ran diogelu a gwiriadau.
Felly, mae gan yr awdurdodau lleol swyddogaeth hollbwysig o ran sicrhau nad ydym yn rhoi cefnogaeth yn unig i'r bobl sy'n cyrraedd yma, ond ein bod ni'n sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael eu diogelu hefyd. Felly, rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau ar wahân ynglŷn â diogelu a chaethwasiaeth fodern ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol a noddwyr. Maen nhw i'w gweld ar y wefan noddfa. Roedd gennym ni gyngor ar gyfer staff y ganolfan groeso a'r ganolfan gyswllt ac, mewn gwirionedd, fe gaiff trydydd fersiwn o ganllawiau diogelu a chaethwasiaeth fodern eu cyhoeddi'r wythnos nesaf, ac fe fyddaf i'n gwneud yn siŵr eich bod chi'n cael hwnnw.
Mae hi'n hanfodol bod awdurdodau lleol yn cynnal y gwiriadau lleol hyn. Rydym ni'n cyfarfod â phrif weithredwyr yr awdurdodau lleol, ar hyn o bryd, yn rheolaidd, a mater i'r awdurdodau lleol eu hunain yw cynnal y gwiriadau hyn ynghylch safonau tai, ond, yn hollbwysig, o ran diogelu. Mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod ein bod ni, mewn gwirionedd, wedi gweld achosion y gallaf i sôn amdanyn nhw wrthych chi o faterion difrifol na fydden nhw'n dod i'r amlwg oni bai fod y gwiriadau hynny wedi digwydd, felly fe hoffwn i sicrhau pobl, ein Haelodau ni yn y Senedd heddiw, fod proses y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd sy'n digwydd yn gyfochrog â'r gwiriadau hyn yn hanfodol bwysig. Wrth gwrs, hyfryd o beth yw'r rhan fwyaf o'r croeso a roddir gan aelwydydd a noddwyr a pheth hyfryd yw eu bod nhw'n cydweithio yn agos ag awdurdodau lleol a llawer o'r grwpiau hyn sy'n estyn cymorth hefyd, ond mae hi'n hanfodol ein bod yn ymgymryd â'r gwiriadau hyn.
Nawr, rydym ni'n datblygu ein canllawiau ein hunain, ond wrth weithio yn ddyfal ar sail pedair gwlad i raddau helaeth iawn, gan ddatblygu polisi ac arweiniad, a gweithio drwy faterion gweithredol ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n cynnwys swyddogion sy'n gweithio yn agos iawn gyda'r Swyddfa Gartref a'r adran ar gyfer codi'r gwastad a thai a chynrychiolwyr o fforymau cydnerthedd lleol, y trydydd sector ac arweinyddion yr awdurdodau lleol.
Rwy'n diolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad. Fore Sadwrn diwethaf, rôn i mewn digwyddiad yn Resolfen i nodi cefnogaeth pobl y gymuned i Wcráin. Roedd y digwyddiad ar iard yr ysgol gynradd leol yn ysgol Ynysfach, â phobl o bob oed wedi troi mas i gydsefyll gyda phobl Wcráin. Casglwyd arian at yr apêl gymorth gan y gangen leol o Sefydliad y Merched oedd wedi coginio teisennau hyfryd, ac roedd nifer o'r trigolion wedi fy holi am y cynllun noddi, a nifer yn datgan eu hawydd i fod yn rhan ohono.
Tra ein bod ni'n gweld y dinistr yn Wcráin yn dwysau yn ddyddiol, y rhyfela yn ffyrnigo a'r gost ddynol yn sgil ymosodiad anghyfreithiol ac annynol Putin yn codi'n uwch ac yn uwch, mae parodrwydd ac ymdrechion pobl Cymru i geisio estyn croeso a chymorth i'r rhai sydd wedi ffoi am eu bywydau yn cynnig gobaith mewn cyfnod tywyll iawn.
Mae cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau mwy o drefn, mwy o sicrwydd a mwy o gefnogaeth i ffoaduriaid o Wcráin drwy'r cynllun uwch-noddwr yn cyferbynnu'n llwyr â'r anhrefn aneffeithiol ac aneffeithlon sy'n nodweddi ymateb Llywodraeth San Steffan. Mae'r niferoedd o fisas sydd wedi cael eu dyfarnu i ffoaduriaid o Wcráin o dan y cynllun yn dal i fod yn hynod ac yn siomedig o isel. Mae'n gwbl warthus, bron union i fis yn ddiweddarach ers inni drafod y sefyllfa fisas yn y Siambr gyda chi ddiwethaf, Weinidog, ein bod ni'n dal i wynebu'r un rhwystrau, yr un rhwystredigaeth, wrth geisio estyn cymorth a chartref a chroeso i bobl sydd wedi colli popeth, sydd wedi gorfod gadael eu heiddo, eu bro, eu cenedl ac, yn aml iawn, eu ceraint.
Rydym wedi darllen adroddiadau yn y wasg dros y dyddiau diwethaf gan staff sy'n gweithio ar linell cymorth fisas Llywodraeth San Steffan, yn dweud bod y cynllun wedi'i ddylunio i fethu, bod staff heb dderbyn hyfforddiant digonol, a bod unrhyw awgrym i wella'r system yn cael ei anwybyddu. Fe soniwyd am addewid gan Lywodraeth San Steffan y byddai'r broses fisas yn cael ei chyflymu yn eich datganiad ysgrifenedig diwethaf, ond mae straeon yn y wasg yn ddyddiol am bobl yn aros am wythnosau i glywed am hynt eu cais, a rhai cannoedd wedi cael eu colli'n gyfan gwbl. Felly, beth yw'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i chael am y broses fisas? A yw Llywodraeth San Steffan am gadw at ei gair a gwella'r broses?
Hefyd, a oes modd i chi gadarnhau bod cyllid yn cael ei ddarparu gan Lywodraeth San Steffan i gefnogi pob agwedd ar y cynllun fisas? Ydy pob teulu sy'n noddi teuluoedd yn uniongyrchol yn derbyn taliadau yn yr un modd â'r rhai sy'n noddi ffoaduriaid drwy'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin? A yw cynllun Llywodraeth Cymru i fod yn uwch-noddwr yn derbyn cefnogaeth ariannol ddigonol gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol? Ac, os felly, pa effaith y mae diffyg cyllid yn ei chael ar y cynlluniau fisas?
Dwi wedi eich holi chi yn y Siambr hefyd ynglŷn â sut y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru gefnogi ein prifysgolion i fedru creu a chydlynu cynllun i fyfyrwyr ac academyddion sy'n ffoi o Wcráin. Fe ysgrifennais atoch rai wythnosau yn ôl am achos myfyriwr oedd am ddod i Brifysgol Abertawe i barhau a'i hastudiaethau, ond iddi gael ateb ei bod yn gorfod gwneud cais fel unrhyw un arall o wlad dramor, ac nad oedd unrhyw gymorth na chefnogaeth benodol nac ystyriaeth arbennig o'i sefyllfa hi ar gael. Oes modd i chi ein diweddaru ar unrhyw gynlluniau i newid hyn, o ystyried y budd dynol i'r unigolion hyn ac i'n sefydliadau ni fel cenedl o'u cael yn rhan o'n cymuned academaidd? Diolch.
I thank the Minister for the statement. Last Saturday morning, I was at an event in Resolven to mark the support of the community for Ukraine. The event was on the local primary school yard at Ynysfach school, and people of all ages had turned out to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Money was raised for the support fund of the local branch of the Women's Institute who had baked lovely cakes, and a number of residents asked me about the sponsorship scheme, and a number of them stated their wish to be part of that scheme.
Whilst we see the devastation in Ukraine increasing on a daily basis, the war intensifying and the human cost as a result of the illegal and inhumane assault by Putin, the willingness and efforts of the people of Wales to try to extend a welcome to those who have fled for their lives does offer us hope in a very dark time.
The Welsh Government plans to ensure more certainty, more security and more support for refugees from Ukraine through the supersponsorship scheme are entirely in contrast with the lack of organisation and the inefficiency that is characteristic of the UK Government's response. The number of visas that have been awarded to refugees from Ukraine under the scheme is still very disappointingly low. It's appalling that, almost a month after we discussed the visa situation in the Siambr with you last time, Minister, we're still facing the same barriers, the same frustration, in trying to extend a welcome and a home to people who have lost everything, who have had to leave their property, their communities, their nation and, very often, those they love.
We've read press reports over the past few days from staff working on the support line of the UK Government for visas, saying that the scheme is designed to fail, that staff haven't received adequate training and that any suggestion to improve the system is ignored. You mentioned the promise by the UK Government that the visa process would be accelerated in your last written statement, but press reports on a daily basis tell us about people waiting for weeks to hear about their cases, and hundreds have been lost entirely. So, what is the most recent information that the Welsh Government has received about the visa process? Is the Westminster Government going to keep to its word and improve that process?
Also, can you confirm that funding is being provided by the UK Government to support every aspect of the visa scheme? Is every family that sponsors a family directly receiving payments in the same way as those who sponsor refugees through the Homes for Ukraine scheme? Is the Welsh Government scheme to be a supersponsor receiving financial support, and adequate support by the UK Government? And, if so, what impact is the lack of funding having on the visa schemes?
I've asked you in the Siambr previously about how Welsh Government could support our universities to create and co-ordinate a scheme for students and academics who are fleeing Ukraine. I wrote to you a few weeks ago about the case of a student who wanted to come to Swansea University to continue her studies, but she received a response that she had to make an application like everyone else from a foreign country, and there was no specific support or special consideration given to her situation. Could you give us an update on any plans to change this, bearing in mind the benefit for these individuals and for our organisations and institutions as a nation of having them be a part of our academic community? Thank you.
Diolch, Sioned. Diolch. It's great to hear of that welcome that was given today that you witnessed, and the fact that the community and the school yard, that parents, the community, want to engage and have engaged in such a positive way. Approximately 10,000 individuals in Wales have registered their interest in participating in the Homes for Ukraine scheme since the register opened on 14 March and 800 households have now submitted applications. That aims to support a combined 1,800 Ukrainians in Wales, and still that option is open in terms of the route through the Ukraine family scheme—the route through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The Ukraine family scheme, of course, as I said, has already perhaps been the most successful way to get a visa, through the Ukraine family scheme, and it's important just to recognise that that Ukraine family scheme is not funded at all. There is no funding available for those extended families all over Wales—and we know them—who have not got any funding, compared with the funding that is given for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, because the Homes for Ukraine scheme is funded and it's important that we recognise that the supersponsor scheme is not funded to the same extent as the Homes for Ukraine funding is supported. I think that's where we need to get the support of the Senedd today in my discussions and my negotiations with the UK Government, because it's vital that those who are supporting their families get proper funding and support, and indeed the supersponsor route.
Just to remind people, the UK Government has made £10,500 per person available for local authorities to provide services, because it's public services that they need to support Ukrainians arriving in their area under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. It's not the same, as I said in my statement—the funding that we're getting for the Ukrainian refugee schemes is not at the same level as we had for the Afghan refugee scheme. It doesn't include the £850 payment for English and Welsh language tuition or the £2,600 payment for health services. They were made available under the recent Afghan resettlement scheme. So, even the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme isn't funded at that level, but the fact is that in terms of the supersponsor scheme we are not getting that funding.
We need the £350 per month payment that is being made available under the Homes for Ukraine scheme to be made available to the Welsh Government for every Ukrainian family that's accommodated under the supersponsor programme. And I just want to say something in support of the supersponsor programme, because it is involving a commitment for us in Wales to support 1,000 people. It skips the need to identify a UK-based individual sponsor. It means they're sponsored directly by the Welsh Government; it makes it easier for people from Ukraine who don't have family ties to seek safety here in Wales. But also, importantly, it skips the delay and safeguarding concerns that we have seen arising associated with Ukrainians needing to identify UK-based sponsors. It ensures that proper welcome services can be put in place. And we are funding this, the Welsh Government is funding this, in terms of access to the public services that are needed in the welcome centres—translation services available, health services available, children starting lessons, advice to people on how they find their way in a new country, help with money and welfare benefits, and advice about finding work.
I will, again, look at the issues around the access to university, because it's crucial in terms of education. We're particularly concerned about ensuring children and young people have the right access to school, and we've issued guidance on school admission applications for children, which is on our sanctuary website. But we also have had very positive responses from universities and further education, so I will provide an update on that as well.
But it is crucial that we do get this message over that there are—. And I'm sure, as you said, there are many delays, unacceptable delays, between getting the visa, the whole family or household getting the visa, and then approval to travel. So, we are looking at issues like transport as well, but it is the UK Government who have got to take responsibility for making this a simpler process in order to get people, refugees, to flee the horror of their experience and their lives in Ukraine at the moment.
Diolch, Sioned. Diolch. Mae hi'n hyfryd clywed am y croeso hwnnw a gawsoch chi heddiw ac a welsoch chi, a'r ffaith bod y gymuned a buarth yr ysgol, bod rhieni, y gymuned, yn eiddgar i ymgysylltu ac wedi bod â rhan mor adeiladol. Mae tua 10,000 o unigolion yng Nghymru wedi mynegi eu diddordeb nhw ar restr i fod â rhan yn y cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin ers i'r gofrestr agor ar 14 o fis Mawrth ac mae 800 o aelwydydd wedi cyflwyno ceisiadau erbyn hyn. Nod hyn yw cefnogi 1,800 o Wcrainiaid yng Nghymru, ac mae'r dewis hwnnw'n dal i fod ar gael o ran y llwybr drwy gynllun teuluoedd Wcráin—y llwybr drwy'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin. Efallai mai cynllun teuluoedd Wcráin, wrth gwrs, fel dywedais i, yw'r ffordd fwyaf llwyddiannus o gael fisa, drwy gynllun teuluoedd Wcráin, ac mae hi'n bwysig cydnabod nad yw cynllun teuluoedd Wcráin yn cael ei ariannu o gwbl. Nid oes cyllid ar gael ar gyfer y teuluoedd estynedig hynny ledled Cymru—ac rydym ni'n gwybod amdanyn nhw—nad ydyn nhw wedi cael unrhyw gyllid, o'i gymharu â'r cyllid a roddir ar gyfer y cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin, oherwydd mae'r cynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin yn cael ei ariannu ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n cydnabod nad yw'r cynllun uwch-noddwyr yn cael ei ariannu i'r un graddau ag y cefnogir cyllid Cartrefi i Wcráin. Rwyf i o'r farn bod angen i ni gael cefnogaeth y Senedd iddo heddiw yn fy nhrafodaethau i a'm trafodaethau i gyda Llywodraeth y DU, oherwydd mae hi'n hanfodol bod y rhai sy'n cefnogi eu teuluoedd nhw'n cael cyllid a chefnogaeth addas, ac yn wir y llwybr uwch-noddwyr.
I atgoffa pobl, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi sicrhau bod £10,500 y pen ar gael i awdurdodau lleol ddarparu gwasanaethau, oherwydd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw ar gyfer cefnogi Wcrainiaid sy'n cyrraedd yn eu hardaloedd nhw yn unol â chynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin. Nid yn yr un ffordd, fel dywedais i yn fy natganiad—nid yw'r cyllid yr ydym ni'n ei gael ar gyfer cynlluniau ffoaduriaid o Wcráin ar yr un gyfradd â'r hyn a oedd i'w gael i ni ar gyfer cynllun ffoaduriaid o Affganistan. Nid yw'n cynnwys y taliad o £850 ar gyfer hyfforddiant iaith Gymraeg a Saesneg na'r taliad o £2,600 ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd. Cafodd y rheiny eu darparu o dan gynllun ailsefydlu Affganistan yn ddiweddar. Felly, nid yw hyd yn oed y cynllun nawdd Cartrefi i Wcráin yn cael ei ariannu ar yr un gyfradd â honno, ond y gwir amdani yw nad ydym ni'n cael yr arian hwnnw o ran y cynllun uwch-noddwyr.
Mae angen i'r taliad o £350 y mis sy'n cael ei ddarparu o dan y cynllun Cartrefi i'r Wcráin fod ar gael i ni yn Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer pob teulu o Wcráin sy'n cael ei letya o dan y rhaglen uwch-noddwyr. Ac rwy'n dymuno dweud rhywbeth i gefnogi'r rhaglen uwch-noddwyr, oherwydd mae hi'n cynnwys ymrwymiad i ni gefnogi 1,000 o bobl yng Nghymru. Mae hynny'n anwybyddu'r angen i nodi noddwr unigol yn y DU. Mae'n golygu eu bod nhw'n cael eu noddi yn uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru; mae hynny'n ei gwneud hi'n haws i bobl o Wcráin nad oes ganddyn nhw gysylltiadau teuluol i gael noddfa yma yng Nghymru. Ond hefyd, yn bwysig iawn, mae hynny'n anwybyddu'r oedi a'r pryderon o ran diogelu a welsom ni'n codi ynghylch Wcrainiaid sydd ag angen iddyn nhw nodi eu noddwyr yn y DU. Dyna fyddai'n sicrhau y gellir rhoi gwasanaethau priodol ar waith i'w croesawu nhw. Ac rydym ni'n ariannu hyn, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu hyn, sef y gallu i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus angenrheidiol yn y canolfannau croeso—gwasanaethau cyfieithu sydd ar gael, y gwasanaethau iechyd sydd ar gael, plant yn dechrau gwersi, cyngor i bobl ynglŷn â dulliau o ymdopi mewn gwlad ddieithr, cymorth gydag arian a budd-daliadau lles, a chyngor ynglŷn â dod o hyd i waith.
Fe fyddaf i, unwaith eto, yn edrych ar y materion sy'n ymwneud â mynediad i brifysgolion, oherwydd mae hynny'n hollbwysig o ran addysg. Rydym ni'n arbennig o bryderus ynghylch sicrhau bod plant a phobl ifanc yn cael mynd i'r ysgol mewn ffordd briodol, ac rydym wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau ar geisiadau i dderbyn plant i ysgolion, sydd ar ein gwefan noddfa ni. Ond rydym ni hefyd wedi cael ymatebion cadarnhaol iawn gan brifysgolion ac addysg bellach, ac felly rwyf i am roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am hynny hefyd.
Ond mae hi'n hanfodol ein bod yn cyfleu'r neges hon—. Ac rwy'n siŵr, fel roeddech chi'n ei ddweud, fod llawer o oedi wedi bod, oedi annerbyniol, rhwng cael y fisa, y teulu i gyd neu'r aelwyd gyfan yn cael y visa, ac yna cael caniatâd i deithio. Felly, rydym ni'n edrych ar faterion fel trafnidiaeth hefyd, ond mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU gymryd ei chyfrifoldeb hi o ran gwneud hon yn broses symlach er mwyn cael pobl, ffoaduriaid, i ddianc rhag arswyd eu profiad a'u bywydau nhw yn Wcráin ar hyn o bryd.
Thank you, Minister. I welcome your statement today. My constituent, Amy, has recently shared a video of the arrival of her Ukrainian guests at Bristol Airport, which has actually now had over 3.2 million views on social media, and she did this to show the people of Ukraine and people across the world that Wales truly is a nation of sanctuary. It's very sad, actually, that Amy's guest was meant to travel with her friend and their eight-year-old son, and decided not to come because they were actually worried about the reception that they would get here, but that is why Amy has shared this video, and I am really proud of how far it has gone, and I think it has done a lot of good.
Amy and other sponsors continue to go above and beyond to ensure that their guests arrive here safely. However, she and many others have shared with me their experience with the UK Government's sponsorship scheme. There is a misconception that the UK Government is linking sponsors with Ukraine nationals. This is not the case. People are relying on Facebook groups to do this. Ukrainian people are posting their personal information and circumstances, and then sponsors are replying in the comments offering their homes. Whilst there are many well-meaning people offering help, this unregulated and unmonitored process raises a number of potential safeguarding concerns for people fleeing Ukraine, as well as sponsors. I have heard a number of absolutely horrific, nightmare stories already.
There is also a misconception that arrangements will be made for them to travel here. Again, this is not the case. My constituent called on friends living in Poland to drive to the Ukrainian border to collect a mother and child, then drive them to the airport so that they could get the flight to the UK. My constituent used her savings to pay for the cost of the flights to get them here because all of the free ones are now gone.
There is also no tracking process to see if they arrive here. The Home Office approves the visa application and that is it. So, what if they arrived here and then went missing? Who would know? Who is checking?
Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog. Rwy'n croesawu eich datganiad chi heddiw. Mae Amy, sy'n etholwraig i mi, wedi rhannu fideo yn ddiweddar o'i gwesteion hi o Wcráin yn cyrraedd Maes Awyr Bryste, sydd wedi cael ei wylio dros 3.2 miliwn o droeon ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ac fe wnaeth hi hyn i ddangos i bobl Wcráin a phobl ledled y byd fod Cymru yn wir genedl noddfa. Mae hi'n drist iawn, mewn gwirionedd, fod gwestai Amy i fod i deithio gyda'i ffrind a'i mab wyth oed, ond fe wnaethon nhw benderfynu peidio â dod am eu bod nhw, mewn gwirionedd, yn pryderu o ran y derbyniad y bydden nhw'n ei gael yma, ond dyna pam mae Amy wedi rhannu'r fideo hwn, ac rwy'n falch iawn o ba mor bell y mae hwnnw wedi treiddio, ac rwy'n credu ei fod wedi gwneud llawer o les.
Mae Amy a noddwyr eraill yn parhau i fynd yr ail filltir i sicrhau bod eu gwesteion yn cyrraedd yma'n ddiogel. Serch hynny, mae hi a llawer un arall wedi rhannu eu profiad nhw gyda mi o gynllun nawdd Llywodraeth y DU. Fe geir camdybiaeth o ran bod Llywodraeth y DU yn cysylltu noddwyr â gwladolion o Wcráin. Nid yw hyn yn wir. Mae pobl yn dibynnu ar grwpiau Facebook i wneud hyn. Mae pobl o Wcráin yn rhoi hysbysiadau o'u gwybodaeth a'u hamgylchiadau personol nhw, ac yna mae noddwyr yn ymateb yn y sylwadau gan gynnig eu cartrefi. Er bod llawer o bobl sy'n llawn bwriadau da yn cynnig cymorth ni chaiff y broses ei rheoleiddio na'i monitro ac mae hynny'n codi nifer o bryderon posibl o ran diogelwch pobl sy'n ffoi o Wcráin, yn ogystal ag o ran diogelwch y noddwyr. Rwyf i wedi clywed nifer o straeon hollol erchyll, hunllefus yn barod.
Mae camdybiaeth yn bod hefyd o ran y bydd trefniadau yn cael eu gwneud iddyn nhw deithio yma. Unwaith eto, nid yw hynny'n wir. Fe ofynnodd fy etholwr i ffrindiau sy'n byw yng Ngwlad Pwyl i yrru cerbyd at y ffin ag Wcráin ar gyfer cynnig cludiant i fam a'i phlentyn, a'u gyrru nhw i'r maes awyr wedyn er mwyn gallu mynd ar awyren i'r DU. Fe wariodd fy etholwraig i ei chynilion i dalu am gost y tocynnau iddyn nhw allu hedfan yma oherwydd mae'r rhai rhad ac am ddim wedi dod i ben erbyn hyn.
Nid oes proses olrhain ychwaith i weld a ydyn nhw'n cyrraedd yma. Mae'r Swyddfa Gartref yn cymeradwyo'r cais am fisa a dyna i gyd. Felly, beth pe bydden nhw'n cyrraedd yma ac yn mynd ar goll wedyn? Pwy fyddai'n gwybod? Pwy sy'n gwirio?
You will need to ask your question now.
Mae'n rhaid i chi ofyn eich cwestiwn chi nawr.
My question then to the Minister—. I just want to say a huge thank you, because you really have engaged with all of the issues and queries that I've put to you. You truly are listening to the sponsors and the guests. And my question is, to the Minister: please, can you continue to work with the UK Government and local authorities to address these safeguarding issues that I'm very concerned about? And, ideally, I do believe that we need funding specifically for community co-ordinators, so that they can wrap around all these services with the Ukrainian guests and they can become independent as soon as possible.
Fy nghwestiwn i'r Gweinidog felly—. Fe hoffwn i ddiolch yn fawr iawn i chi, oherwydd rydych chi wedi ymgysylltu mewn gwirionedd â'r holl faterion a'r ymholiadau a ofynnais i chi. Rydych chi wir yn gwrando ar y noddwyr a'r gwesteion. Fy nghwestiwn i'r Gweinidog yw: os gwelwch chi'n dda, a wnewch chi barhau i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ac awdurdodau lleol i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn o ran diogelu yr wyf i'n pryderu llawer yn eu cylch nhw? Ac, yn ddelfrydol, rwyf i o'r farn fod angen cyllid penodol ar gyfer cydgysylltwyr cymunedol, er mwyn gallu cofleidio'r gwesteion Wcrainaidd â'r gwasanaethau hyn a chaniatáu iddyn nhw fyw yn annibynnol cyn gynted â phosibl.
Diolch yn fawr, Sarah Murphy, and can we also thank Amy for the work that she's done and what she's shared? Hopefully, people will have a look at that video and congratulate her. So, please give our congratulationsto her for her commitment, her support and, indeed, for sharing these crucial experiences that we need to learn from.
I think you've raised points that I've commented on before, particularly in relation to improving and speeding up the approval of visas, and making sure that the communication with those who are fleeing and often, now, are over the border in countries waiting—sometimes in temporary accommodation, being sponsored, being funded for their travel and, indeed, their accommodation by sponsors from Wales who want to give that warm welcome—we would again ensure that we look at those issues. I'll be raising those issues with the Minister for Refugees again at our next meeting, about the dangers that exist where there are informal sponsorship arrangements and matching, which is dangerous. Until a local authority—which has to do the checks of proper, formal sponsors for Homes for Ukraine—until they get engaged, then we know that there are some dangerous situations already happening. So, I would say that the safeguarding information that we provide is crucial.
Just finally I'll say we've got significant concerns about the lack of safeguards in place through the UK Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme. It does provide greater opportunities, but there are some who, I'm afraid, have got intent to prey upon the vulnerability of refugees who need to find sanctuary. We know the vast majority of Homes for Ukraine sponsors are so supportive and well intentioned, but we do have to make sure that we are checking and we are supporting and stopping criminals from engaging in this. So, I would say that's why we're so keen to support not just the links that you've described today, but also the supersponsor route, because that will quicken up the visa access and also safeguard those who are fleeing that horror and the violent experiences that we hear about and we want to address. We have the means to do it here in Wales.
Diolch yn fawr, Sarah Murphy, ac a gawn ninnau ddiolch i Amy hefyd am y gwaith a wnaeth hi a'r hyn a rannodd hi ag eraill? Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pobl yn gwylio'r fideo hwnnw ac yn ei llongyfarch hi. Felly, anfonwch ein llongyfarchiadau ni iddi hi am ei hymrwymiad, ei chefnogaeth ac, yn wir, am rannu'r profiadau hollbwysig hyn y mae angen i ni ddysgu ohonyn nhw.
Rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi gwneud sylwadau yn flaenorol ynglŷn â rhai o'r pwyntiau y gwnaethoch chi eu codi, yn enwedig o ran gwella a chyflymu'r broses o gymeradwyo fisâu, a sicrhau bod y cyfathrebu â'r rhai sy'n ffoi ac yn aml, nawr, yn aros dros ffin y gwledydd cyfagos—weithiau mewn llety dros dro, yn cael eu noddi, yn cael eu hariannu ar gyfer eu teithio ac, yn wir, yn cael eu llety gan noddwyr o Gymru sy'n awyddus i roi'r croeso cynnes hwnnw—fe fyddem ni'n sicrhau ein bod ni'n edrych ar y materion hynny eto. Fe fyddaf i'n codi'r materion hyny eto gyda'r Gweinidog Ffoaduriaid yn ein cyfarfod nesaf ni, ynglŷn â'r peryglon sy'n bodoli lle ceir trefniadau noddi anffurfiol a pharu, sy'n beryglus. Hyd nes y bydd awdurdod lleol—y mae'n rhaid iddo wirio noddwyr mewn ffordd briodol, ffurfiol ar gyfer Cartrefi i Wcráin—nes iddyn nhw ymgysylltu â hynny, fe wyddom ni fod rhai sefyllfaoedd peryglus wedi digwydd eisoes. Felly, fe fyddwn i'n dweud bod yr wybodaeth a ddarparwn ni o ran diogelu yn hollbwysig.
Yn olaf, rwyf i am ddweud bod gennym ni bryderon sylweddol ynglŷn â'r diffyg o ran mesurau diogelu ar waith drwy gynllun Cartrefi i Wcráin Llywodraeth y DU. Mae'r cynllun yn estyn mwy o gyfleoedd, ond fe geir ambell un, mae arnaf i ofn, sydd â bwriad i gymryd mantais ar rai agored iawn i niwed fel gall ffoaduriaid sy'n chwilio am noddfa fod. Fe wyddom ni fod mwyafrif llethol o noddwyr Cartrefi i Wcráin yn llawn cefnogaeth ac yn haelfrydig, ond mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwirio a'n bod ni'n rhoi cefnogaeth ac yn atal troseddwyr rhag cymryd mantais ar hynny. Felly, fe fyddwn i'n dweud mai dyna pam yr ydym ni mor awyddus i gefnogi nid yn unig y cysylltiadau yr ydych chi'n eu disgrifio nhw heddiw, ond y llwybr uwch-noddwr, oherwydd fe fydd hwnnw'n cyflymu'r broses o gael fisâu ac yn diogelu'r rhai sy'n dianc rhag y gyflafan hon hefyd yn ogystal â'r profiadau treisgar yr ydym ni'n clywed amdanyn nhw hefyd ac yn eiddgar i ymdrin â nhw. Mae'r modd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru i wneud hynny.
Good afternoon, Minister. Can I thank you and your officials once again for your hard work on this programme, and also for keeping me updated? I'm very grateful.
As you know, there is a resident, Sarah, in my region, who, with a team in Poland, has worked in applying for over 400 visas for Ukrainian people who have fled to Poland. This was in response to the slow, complicated and over-bureaucratic process to match willing hosts here in Wales with desperate Ukrainian refugees. But visas should not be required. These are desperate people fleeing war. Many refugees would be here, right now, if it were not for the insistence of the UK Government on the requirement for visas. It is shameful.
My question is whether you could kindly update us on how local authorities are able to carry out safeguarding checks. We've heard a lot this afternoon in relation to that, and I'm interested particularly in their capacity, and whether this can be increased, and has been increased, to allow them to carry out the checks quickly, safely and efficiently. Diolch.
Prynhawn da, Gweinidog. A gaf i ddiolch i chi a'ch swyddogion chi unwaith eto am eich gwaith caled ar y rhaglen hon, ac am roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i minnau hefyd? Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn.
Fel gwyddoch chi, mae yna breswylydd, Sarah, yn fy rhanbarth i, sydd, gyda thîm yng Ngwlad Pwyl, wedi gweithio i wneud ceisiadau am dros 400 o fisâu ar gyfer pobl o Wcráin sydd wedi ffoi i Wlad Pwyl. Roedd hyn mewn ymateb i'r broses araf, gymhleth a gor-fiwrocrataidd i baru llety parod yma yng Nghymru â ffoaduriaid truenus o Wcráin. Ond ni ddylid bod ag angen fisâu. Pobl druenus yw'r rhain sy'n ffoi oddi wrth ryfel. Fe fyddai llawer o ffoaduriaid yma, nawr, oni bai fod Llywodraeth y DU yn mynnu bod pobl yn cael fisâu. Cywilydd o beth.
Fy nghwestiwn i yw a wnewch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynglŷn â sut y gall awdurdodau lleol gynnal gwiriadau diogelu. Rydym ni wedi clywed llawer y prynhawn yma ynglŷn â hynny, ac mae gennyf i ddiddordeb arbennig yn eu gallu nhw, ac a ellir cynyddu hyn, ac a gafodd ei gynyddu, i ganiatáu iddyn nhw gynnal y gwiriadau ar gyflymder, yn ddiogel ac yn effeithlon. Diolch.
Diolch, Jane, and thank you also for introducing me to Sarah, who is yet another—like Amy—amazing Welsh citizen playing that crucial part in making those links, not just in Wales, with all the volunteers and sponsor families, but in Ukraine and in Europe. Thank you for enabling us. They're now linking, Sarah's linking up with the north Wales links, with all of the groups who are active in Wales together. I do think that the point that's been made—. I think Sarah made the point about how we can now co-ordinate, perhaps, better at a regional level. We are looking at that, and particularly in terms of Ukrainian links as well for those who've come. There are many who've come who now want to volunteer, want to get into work and jobs, who actually want to support each other, and there is of course Voices for Ukraine, an already existing organisation that we are linked into.
It's crucial that we give support as well as guidance to local authorities in terms of their safeguarding role. Those checks are important. It's about safeguarding, data sharing, accommodation, wraparound support in terms of actually accessing third sector services as well. But, can I also please remind people of our contact centre? I've given the numbers, you've seen it on the written statement today, and the advice given at our welcome centres as well. We are actually supporting our social workers, our housing officers, in local authorities. They're used to, of course, arranging checks, particularly DBS checks, but it's more work, it's additional work that they're having to take on board. Again, I go back to the fact that we haven't got the funding that we should have from the UK Government to make sure that we can support our local authorities. Yes, in terms of Homes for Ukraine, they are getting support for public services, but that has not been applied to the family scheme, as I said, as well, and we have a shortfall of funding to support us in providing those services for the supersponsor scheme. So, today's statement is important, to put on record the needs that we have and for me, again, to discuss this and make sure that the UK Government is aware of what's happening on the ground in our nation of sanctuary.
Diolch, Jane, a diolch i chi hefyd am fy nghyflwyno i Sarah, sydd eto'n un arall—fel Amy—yn ddinesydd anhygoel o Gymru sydd â rhan hanfodol fel hyn wrth wneud y cysylltiadau hynny, nid yn unig yng Nghymru, gyda'r holl wirfoddolwyr a theuluoedd sy'n noddi, ond yn Wcráin ac yn Ewrop. Diolch iddi hi am ein grymuso ni. Maen nhw'n cysylltu nawr, mae Sarah yn cysylltu â chysylltiadau'r gogledd, gyda'r holl grwpiau sy'n weithgar yng Nghymru gyda'i gilydd. Rwy'n credu bod y pwynt a wnaeth—. Rwy'n credu bod Sarah wedi gwneud y pwynt ynglŷn â sut y gallwn ni gydgysylltu nawr yn well, efallai, ar lefel ranbarthol. Rydym ni'n edrych ar hynny, ac yn arbennig felly o ran cysylltiadau o Wcráin hefyd i'r rhai sydd wedi dod. Mae yna lawer sydd wedi dod yn awyddus i wirfoddoli nawr, yn awyddus am waith a swyddi, sydd mewn gwirionedd yn awyddus i gefnogi ei gilydd, ac wrth gwrs mae Voices for Ukraine, sef sefydliad sydd eisoes yn bodoli yr ydym ni'n gysylltiedig ag ef.
Mae hi'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n estyn cymorth yn ogystal â rhoi canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol o ran eu swyddogaeth nhw o ran diogelu. Mae'r gwiriadau hynny'n bwysig. Ystyr hyn yw diogelu, rhannu data, llety, cymorth cofleidiol o ran gallu cael gwasanaethau'r trydydd sector hefyd. Ond, a gaf i atgoffa pobl o'n canolfan gyswllt ni hefyd? Rwyf i wedi rhoi'r rhifau, fe welsoch chi hynny yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig heddiw, a'r cyngor a roddir yn ein canolfannau croeso ni hefyd. Rydym ni'n rhoi cefnogaeth wirioneddol i'n gweithwyr cymdeithasol ni, i'n swyddogion tai ni, ac yn yr awdurdodau lleol. Maen nhw wedi arfer, wrth gwrs, â threfnu gwiriadau, yn enwedig gwiriadau'r Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd, ond mae'n golygu mwy o waith, mae'n waith ychwanegol y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei gymryd. Unwaith eto, rwyf i am ddychwelyd at y ffaith nad oes gennym ni'r arian y dylem ni fod wedi ei gael gan Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau y gallwn ni gefnogi ein hawdurdodau lleol ni. Ie, o ran Cartrefi i Wcráin, maen nhw'n cael cymorth ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ond ni chafodd hynny ei gymhwyso i'r cynllun teuluoedd, fel dywedais i hefyd, ac rydym ni'n wynebu diffyg cyllid i'n cefnogi ni i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau hynny ar gyfer y cynllun uwch-noddwr. Felly, mae datganiad heddiw yn bwysig, i gofnodi'r anghenion sydd gennym ni ac yn fy marn i, unwaith eto, i drafod hyn a sicrhau bod Llywodraeth y DU yn ymwybodol o'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad yn ein cenedl noddfa ni.
Ac yn olaf, Heledd Fychan.
And finally, Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, similarly, sharing experiences from constituents of mine, in terms of not receiving visas for last members in the family, hence the delay in coming here, and also receiving calls from across the region about difficulties in securing school places for those coming to Wales, with not all local authorities being consistent in terms of ensuring that they're responding to queries about school admissions, nor confirming arrangements in terms of transport. And I wondered how we can ensure consistency across every local authority in applying the guidelines that are set out clearly by Welsh Government.
Similarly, I think it would be remiss of me not to raise today something that came up during the recess period, of course, from the UK Government, in terms of Rwanda immigration plans. I know the focus is on Ukraine, but, similarly, as a nation of sanctuary, I know we are condemning that approach, with Mark Drakeford describing the plans as cruel and inhumane and not the way to treat people seeking safety and sanctuary. Therefore, during your discussions with the UK Government, have you had any conversations around this specifically, and is there scope for us to support potential legal action, working with other Governments—such as the Scottish Government—to stop these cruel plans, when they stand in such contradiction to the remarkable public support for those fleeing Ukraine?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, yn yr un modd, wrth rannu profiadau fy etholwyr i, o ran methu â chael fisâu i aelodau olaf y teulu, a dyna pam bu oedi cyn dod yma, a derbyn galwadau hefyd o bob rhan o'r rhanbarth am anawsterau o ran sicrhau lleoedd mewn ysgolion i rai sy'n dod i Gymru, ac nid yw pob awdurdod lleol yn gyson o ran sicrhau eu bod nhw'n ymateb i ymholiadau am dderbyniadau i ysgolion, na chadarnhau trefniadau o ran trafnidiaeth. Ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed sut y gallwn ni sicrhau cysondeb ar draws pob awdurdod lleol wrth gymhwyso'r canllawiau a nodir yn eglur gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Yn yr un modd, rwyf i o'r farn y byddai hi'n esgeulus i mi beidio â chodi rhywbeth heddiw a gododd yn ystod cyfnod y toriad, wrth gwrs, o ran Llywodraeth y DU, o ran cynlluniau i anfon mewnfudwyr i Rwanda. Rwy'n gwybod mai ar Wcráin yr ydym ni'n canolbwyntio, ond, yn yr un modd, yn genedl noddfa, fe wn i ein bod ni'n condemnio dull fel hwnnw, ac fe ddisgrifiodd Mark Drakeford y cynlluniau fel rhai creulon ac annynol ac nid yn ffordd weddus i drin pobl sy'n chwilio am ddiogelwch a noddfa. Felly, yn ystod eich trafodaethau chi gyda Llywodraeth y DU, a ydych wedi cael unrhyw sgyrsiau penodol ynglŷn â hyn, ac a oes cyfle i ni gefnogi camau cyfreithiol o bosibl, gan weithio gyda Llywodraethau eraill—megis Llywodraeth yr Alban—i atal y cynlluniau creulon hyn, gan eu bod nhw'n hollol groes i'r gefnogaeth gyhoeddus ryfeddol i'r bobl sy'n ffoi o Wcráin?
Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. And, again, I'm grateful for the examples that you're giving in terms of constituents and sponsor families, and the ones who they want to sponsor—the refugees—having these barriers and difficulties; that's more evidence that is important for me. But we need to address it, the UK Government needs to address it. We have responsibility for ensuring that children can have access to schools—that is our responsibility. And we've issued guidance, as you know, on school admission applications for children. Obviously, we need to look at the admission arrangements for the school, in terms of the school admissions code, but I think that—. And there will be some issues about vacancies in local schools, we know that, so local authorities have to look at all those issues and look at keeping learners safe. But, again, this is for the local authorities and the guidance is there very clearly on the sanctuary website, but I'm very happy to receive any examples of where these issues are difficult.
Now, I absolutely understand why you have raised the issue, what I feel are the horrors of the announcement that came through during this time of crisis about the situation of Rwanda, being among the 25 poorest countries in the world, from one of the richest countries, our country, being put in this position. I just have to say that the UN Refugee Agency completely supports the view that the measures in the Bill—this comes from the Nationality and Borders Bill—are off-shoring asylum seeker processing, at odds with the refugee convention, to which the UK is a signatory. It's a callous approach and it undermines our standing in the world. We are a nation of sanctuary.
Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. Ac, unwaith eto, rwy'n ddiolchgar am yr enghreifftiau a roddwch chi o ran etholwyr a theuluoedd sy'n noddi, a'r rhai y maen nhw'n dymuno eu noddi—y ffoaduriaid—a bod â'r rhwystrau a'r anawsterau hyn; dyna fwy o dystiolaeth bwysig i mi. Ond mae angen i ni fynd i'r afael â hyn, mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU fynd i'r afael â hyn. Rydym ni'n gyfrifol am sicrhau bod plant yn gallu mynd i'r ysgolion—ein cyfrifoldeb ni yw hwnnw. Ac rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau, fel gwyddoch chi, ynglŷn â cheisiadau i dderbyn plant i ysgolion. Yn amlwg, mae angen i ni edrych ar y trefniadau i dderbyn mewn ysgolion, o ran y cod derbyn i ysgolion, ond rwy'n credu bod—. Ac fe fydd yna rai materion yn codi ynghylch swyddi gwag mewn ysgolion lleol, fe wyddom ni hynny, felly mae hi'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol edrych ar yr holl faterion hynny ac ystyried cadw dysgwyr yn ddiogel. Ond, unwaith eto, mater i'r awdurdodau lleol yw hwn ac mae'r canllawiau yn eglur iawn ar y wefan noddfa yn hyn o beth, ond rwy'n hapus iawn i gael unrhyw enghreifftiau o anhawster ynglŷn â'r materion hyn.
Nawr, rwy'n deall yn llwyr pam yr ydych chi wedi codi'r mater hwn, yr hyn yr wyf i'n ei deimlo yw arswyd y cyhoeddiad a ddaeth yn ystod cyfnod o argyfwng am y sefyllfa gyda Rwanda, sydd ymhlith y 25 o wledydd tlotaf y byd, ac o un o'r gwledydd cyfoethocaf, ein gwlad ni, yn ei rhoi hi yn y sefyllfa hon. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod Asiantaeth Ffoaduriaid y Cenhedloedd Unedig yn llwyr gefnogi'r farn bod y mesurau yn y Bil—o'r Bil Cenedligrwydd a Ffiniau y daw hyn—bod allforio gwaith prosesu ceiswyr lloches, yn groes i'r confensiwn ffoaduriaid, a lofnodwyd gan y DU. Dull didrugaredd yw hwn ac mae'n tanseilio ein statws ni yn y byd. Cenedl sy'n rhoi noddfa ydym ni.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Eitem 5 y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: cynllun adfer gofal wedi'i gynllunio. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Eluned Morgan.
Item 5 this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: planned care recovery plan. I call on the Minister, Eluned Morgan.
Dirprwy Lywydd, thank you for the opportunity to outline how we plan to transform and modernise the way the NHS provides planned care here in Wales. I am today publishing a plan that will help to reduce the long waiting times that have unfortunately built up during the pandemic. It will ensure that people get the right treatment the first time and make sure that they are cared for as close to home as possible, with fewer visits to hospital.
The pandemic has had a massive impact on our health and care services. It has stretched the NHS to its limits, not just here in Wales but across the UK. The NHS has been fantastic in the way it has responded to the pandemic. It's provided incredible care under extraordinarily difficult circumstances and, on top of that, it's delivered the life-saving COVID-19 vaccination programme. We've seen the very best of the NHS and its staff during the pandemic. They've worked tirelessly to keep as many services going as possible. They are the reason we came out on our doorsteps to clap every week at the start of the pandemic.
But the pandemic has brought many changes to the NHS. At the very beginning of the pandemic, we made the difficult decision to cancel planned appointments and treatments to enable staff to focus on caring for all those very sick people with COVID-19. Each subsequent wave of infections has meant that the NHS has had to focus on COVID-19 instead of being able to provide the full and normal mixture of out-patient appointments and planned operations. Services have also had to adapt to the great many infection control procedures and practices, all necessary measures to help keep patients and staff safe. These have also limited how many people can be seen and can receive treatment at any one time.
As we start to move beyond the emergency response to the pandemic, the NHS is providing more planned care than at any point during the pandemic. But, even today, there are almost 1,400 COVID-19 related patients in hospital beds, although only around 16 per cent of these are being actively treated for COVID. At this level, these pandemic pressures continue to affect the amount and type of planned care that the NHS can provide.
Before the pandemic, waiting times were steadily falling across Wales. Today, unfortunately, too many people are waiting far too long for treatment, and this is the same situation in every part of the United Kingdom. There are nearly 700,000 open pathways, with many people waiting for more than 52 weeks. These numbers will keep on growing as people rightly continue to come forward to see their GP. It will take a full Senedd term and a lot of hard work to recover from the impact of the pandemic. This is now my priority and it is the health service’s priority.
The planned care recovery plan is backed by an additional £170 million a year of Welsh Government funding. It will reset and transform planned care services and it's been developed with clinicians. It sets out a wide range of actions to redesign services and, in many cases, redesign what people can expect from the NHS when they are referred by their GP or another healthcare professional for planned treatment. For those who are already waiting, we'll ensure there is support in place. For those coming into the system, we will help them to manage their own condition and, wherever appropriate, we'll provide more treatment alternatives so that surgery isn't the only option available. We'll also do more to address inequalities in care.
I am today making four commitments to people, to help them access the advice and services they need in a timely manner. We'll increase the capacity of the health services. There will be better access to doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare professionals closer to home, so people receive the right care from the right person. We'll prioritise diagnosis and treatment. There'll be faster access to treatments and diagnostic procedures. We'll prioritise people with suspected cancer and other urgent conditions and we'll prioritise children. Clinicians will work with people to make sure treatment options are the best for them.
Dirprwy Lywydd, diolch am y cyfle i amlinellu sut yr ydym ni'n bwriadu trawsnewid a moderneiddio'r ffordd y mae'r GIG yn darparu Gofal a Gynlluniwyd yma yng Nghymru. Heddiw, rwy'n cyhoeddi cynllun a fydd yn helpu i leihau'r amseroedd aros hir sydd, yn anffodus, wedi cronni yn ystod y pandemig. Fe fydd hwn yn sicrhau bod pobl yn cael y driniaeth iawn ar y tro cyntaf ac yn sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael gofal mor agos i'w haelwyd â phosibl, â llai o ymweld ag ysbytai.
Mae'r pandemig wedi cael effaith enfawr ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal ni. Mae wedi ymestyn y GIG i'r eithaf, nid yn unig yma yng Nghymru ond ledled y DU. Mae'r GIG wedi bod yn wych yn y ffordd y mae wedi ymateb i'r pandemig. Mae wedi darparu gofal anhygoel o dan amgylchiadau eithriadol o anodd ac, ar ben hynny, mae wedi cyflawni'r rhaglen frechu COVID-19 sy'n achub bywydau. Rydym ni wedi gweld y gorau o'r GIG a'i staff yn ystod y pandemig. Maen nhw wedi gweithio yn ddiflino i gynnal cymaint o wasanaethau â phosibl. Y nhw yw'r rheswm yr aethom ni i sefyll ar garreg y drws i gymeradwyo bob wythnos ar ddechrau'r pandemig.
Ond fe ddaeth y pandemig â llawer o newidiadau i'r GIG. Ar ddechrau'r pandemig, fe wnaethom ni'r penderfyniad anodd i ganslo apwyntiadau a thriniaethau a gynlluniwyd i ganiatáu staff i ganolbwyntio ar ofalu am yr holl bobl sâl iawn hynny oherwydd COVID-19. Mae pob ton ddilynol o heintiau wedi golygu bod y GIG wedi gorfod canolbwyntio ar COVID-19 yn hytrach na gallu darparu'r gymysgedd lawn ac arferol o apwyntiadau cleifion allanol a llawdriniaethau a gynlluniwyd. Bu'n rhaid i wasanaethau addasu hefyd oherwydd y nifer fawr o weithdrefnau ac arferion i reoli heintio, a'r holl fesurau angenrheidiol i helpu i gadw cleifion a staff yn ddiogel. Mae'r rhain hefyd wedi cyfyngu ar niferoedd y bobl y gellir eu gweld ac sy'n gallu cael triniaeth ar unrhyw amser arbennig.
Wrth i ni ddechrau symud y tu hwnt i'r ymateb brys i'r pandemig, mae'r GIG yn darparu mwy o ofal a gynlluniwyd nawr nag ar unrhyw amser arall yn ystod y pandemig. Ond, hyd yn oed heddiw, mae bron i 1,400 o gleifion sy'n gysylltiedig â COVID-19 mewn gwelyau ysbyty, er mai dim ond tua 16 y cant o'r rhain sy'n cael eu trin yn weithredol oherwydd COVID. Ar y lefel hon, mae pwysau'r pandemig hwn yn parhau i effeithio ar faint a math y gofal a gynlluniwyd y gall y GIG ei ddarparu.
Cyn y pandemig, roedd amseroedd aros yn gostwng yn gyson ledled Cymru, yn anffodus, heddiw mae gormod o bobl yn aros yn rhy hir o lawer am driniaeth, a honno yw'r sefyllfa ym mhob rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae bron i 700,000 o lwybrau agored, gyda llawer o bobl yn aros am fwy na 52 wythnos. Fe fydd y rhifau hyn yn parhau i gynyddu wrth i bobl, yn briodol felly, barhau i fynd i weld eu meddygon teulu. Fe fydd hi'n cymryd tymor Senedd llawn a llawer o waith caled i adfer wedi effaith y pandemig. Honno yw fy mlaenoriaeth i erbyn hyn a blaenoriaeth y gwasanaeth iechyd.
Mae'r cynllun i adfer Gofal a Gynlluniwyd yn cael ei gefnogi gan £170 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn o gyllid oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru. Fe fydd yn ailgychwyn ac yn trawsnewid gwasanaethau Gofal a Gynlluniwyd ac fe gafodd ei ddatblygu gyda mewnbwn gan glinigwyr. Mae'n nodi ystod eang o gamau gweithredu i ailgynllunio gwasanaethau ac, mewn llawer o achosion, ailgynllunio'r hyn y gall pobl ei ddisgwyl gan y GIG wrth gael eu hatgyfeirio gan eu meddygon teulu neu weithiwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol arall ar gyfer triniaeth a gynlluniwyd. I'r rhai sydd eisoes yn disgwyl, fe fyddwn ni'n sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth ar gael. I'r rhai sy'n dod i mewn i'r system, fe fyddwn ni'n eu helpu nhw i reoli eu cyflyrau eu hunain a, lle bynnag y bo hynny'n briodol, fe fyddwn ni'n darparu mwy o ddewisiadau triniaeth amgen fel nad llawdriniaeth yw'r unig ddewis sydd ar gael. Fe fyddwn ni'n gwneud mwy hefyd i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau mewn gofal.
Heddiw, rwyf i'n gwneud pedwar ymrwymiad i bobl, i'w helpu nhw i gael gafael ar y cyngor a'r gwasanaethau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw mewn da bryd. Fe fyddwn ni'n cynyddu gallu'r gwasanaethau iechyd. Fe fydd hi'n haws cael mynd at feddygon, nyrsys, deintyddion a gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol eraill yn nes adref, felly mae pobl yn cael y gofal cywir gan yr unigolyn cywir. Fe fyddwn ni'n blaenoriaethu diagnosis a thriniaeth. Fe fydd triniaethau a gweithdrefnau diagnostig ar gael yn gynt. Fe fyddwn ni'n blaenoriaethu pobl a allai fod â chanser a chyflyrau brys eraill ac fe fyddwn ni'n blaenoriaethu plant. Fe fydd clinigwyr yn gweithio gyda phobl i wneud yn siŵr mai dewis triniaeth yw'r peth gorau iddyn nhw.
Fe fyddwn ni'n trawsnewid y ffordd rydym ni'n darparu gofal sy'n cael ei gynllunio. Fe fydd mwy o ofal a chymorth ar gael gan amrywiaeth ehangach o wasanaethau lleol a gweithwyr proffesiynol i helpu pobl i gadw'n iach ac i aros adref. Fe fyddwn ni'n sefydlu cyfleusterau llawfeddygol pwrpasol ac yn gwahanu gofal a gynlluniwyd oddi wrth ofal brys a gofal argyfwng, pan fo hynny'n bosibl. Fe fyddwn ni'n darparu gwell gwybodaeth a chymorth i bobl, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n aros am driniaeth.
Dwi hefyd wedi gosod targedau clir ac uchelgeisiol i leihau amseroedd aros. Erbyn diwedd 2022, eleni, ni fydd neb yn aros mwy na blwyddyn am eu hapwyntiad cleifion allanol cyntaf. Erbyn gwanwyn 2024, fe fyddwn ni wedi cyflymu profion ac adroddiadau diagnostig i wyth wythnos ac i 14 wythnos ar gyfer ymyriadau therapi. Erbyn gwanwyn 2025, ni fydd neb yn aros am fwy na blwyddyn am lawdriniaeth yn y rhan fwyaf o feysydd arbenigol. Erbyn 2026, fe fydd 80 y cant o'r bobl sy'n cael diagnosis canser yn dechrau'r driniaeth ddiffiniol gyntaf o fewn 62 diwrnod o’r pwynt cyntaf pan amheuir fod canser. Fe fyddwn ni'n gwneud yn siŵr mai'r rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf sydd yn cael eu gweld gyntaf. Ond, gadewch i mi fod yn glir, mae'r dasg o'n blaenau ni yn enfawr.
Mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd ar hyn o bryd o dan bwysau di-baid yn sgil y pandemig a'r gaeaf. Mae'n staff iechyd yn flinedig ar ôl gweithio o dan bwysau enfawr dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Yn yr 20 mlynedd ddiwethaf, rydyn ni wedi cynyddu nifer y staff sy'n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru 54 y cant yn rhagor, ond mae angen mwy arnom ni. Rydyn ni eisoes wedi ymrwymo i hynny drwy gyllideb gwerth £0.25 biliwn i hyfforddi mwy o arbenigwyr. Fe fyddwn ni'n cefnogi’r gwasanaeth iechyd wrth inni ofyn iddo roi'r cynllun hwn ar waith. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i recriwtio staff medrus i ymuno â'r gweithlu ac yn parhau i hyfforddi'r to nesaf o weithwyr gofal iechyd.
Fe fydd gan ofal sylfaenol ran hanfodol i’w chwarae yn llwyddiant y cynllun hwn. Rydyn ni wedi cyflwyno gwasanaeth e-gyngor i feddygon teulu, i’w helpu i gael cyngor cynnar gan dimau arbenigol i gefnogi penderfyniadau a rheoli gofal cleifion. Fe fyddwn ni hefyd yn gwneud defnydd ehangach a gwell o sgiliau ac arbenigedd ein staff nyrsio a'n gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd i gefnogi pobl tra maen nhw'n aros am apwyntiad a thra maen nhw'n adfer ar ôl llawdriniaeth. Does dim ateb sydyn i leihau amseroedd aros hir. Fe fydd angen gwaith caled, fe fydd angen cefnogaeth pobl ar draws Cymru a'r gwasanaeth iechyd, ac fe fydd angen amser i weld canlyniadau gwirioneddol a pharhaol. Gyda'n gilydd, fe wnawn ni adfer o'r pandemig yma. Diolch.
We will transform the way that we provide planned care. There will be more care and support available from a wider range of local services and professionals to help people to stay well and to stay at home. We will set up dedicated surgical facilities and will separate planned care from urgent and emergency care, where we can. We will provide better information and support to people, especially those waiting for treatment.
I've also set some very clear and ambitious targets to reduce waiting times. By the end of 2022, this year, no-one will wait longer than a year for their first out-patient appointment. By the spring of 2024, we will have increased the speed of diagnostic tests and reporting to eight weeks and to 14 weeks for therapy interventions. By the spring of 2025, no-one will wait more than a year for an operation in most specialties. By 2026, 80 per cent of people who receive a cancer diagnosis should start first definitive treatment within 62 days from the first point when cancer was suspected. We will make sure that those with the greatest need are seen first. But, let me be clear, the task in front of us is huge.
Our NHS faces unrelenting pressures as a result of the pandemic and winter pressures. Our NHS staff are tired from working under enormous pressure over the last two years. In the past 20 years, we've increased the number of staff working in the health service in Wales 54 per cent and more, but we need more. We've already committed to doing that through funding worth £0.25 billion to train more specialists. We will support the NHS as we ask it to deliver this plan. We will continue to recruit highly skilled staff to join the workforce and we will continue to train the next generation of healthcare workers.
Primary care will have a vital role to play in the success of this plan. We have introduced an e-advice service for GPs, to help them to seek early advice from specialist teams to support decision making and to manage patient care. We will also make broader and better use of the skills and expertise of our dedicated nursing staff and allied health professionals to support people while they wait for their appointments and as they recover from surgery. There are no quick-fix solutions to reducing long waiting times. This will take hard work, it will take the support of people throughout Wales and the NHS, and it will take time to see real and lasting results. Together, we will recover from the pandemic. Thank you.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Conservative spokesperson, Russell George.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I attach myself to the Minister's comments in regard to the NHS workforce and what tremendous work they've done? We can't reiterate that enough, can we, our thanks for all their work over the past two years.
Can I thank the Minister for her statement today, alongside publishing the plan to reduce waiting times, and also thank the Minister, of course, for the technical briefings that she's provided as well? That's very much appreciated. I'll start by very much welcoming this plan. I do really welcome the fact that this plan has got targets. That's absolutely crucial, and that's a positive element to what I've read through today. I am deeply concerned about setting a target that no-one waits more than a year as far away as 2025. That is, of course, going to be of little comfort to those who are waiting, often in pain and discomfort. We're in 2022 now, and they look and see the year 2025—that's going to be difficult for them to accept. I'm also concerned that the target of 80 per cent for cancer diagnosis and treatment within 62 days by 2026 is just not ambitious enough. There are already people, of course, as it stands now, that are turning to private care.
How and when, Minister, will you ensure that Wales's health boards are effectively communicating with the hundreds and thousands of those waiting for support on waiting lists—those whose, perhaps, physical and mental health is deteriorating in that time as well? How are you going to ensure that health boards are communicating effectively with these people who are waiting for information? Because they're being told they have to wait several years before they are treated. How will these targets be monitored? Will there be an annual report? I know, Minister, that you are going to be holding your officials to account on many of these targets that you've brought forward; how are we in this Senedd going to hold you to account? How can we do that? Are you going to have an annual report? Tell us a little bit more about how we can monitor progress.
I do welcome the use of technology to address some of the pressures on the NHS workforce, but it's been four years since the former health Minister proposed similar plans, and since then we've only just seen the outline plans for e-prescriptions, which could really have lifted much of the bureaucratic burden from doctors and pharmacists. Technology is useful, of course it is, but it's not going to address how an already stretched and strained NHS workforce will be coping, nor will it provide a complete vision for a more flexible and engaged NHS. How will your plan be focusing on retention? What targets are you putting in place for recruitment? How do you think virtual appointments will help someone who needs a hip operation who has been waiting for several years in pain, or somebody who has been losing their sight? How will your online services help those who are unable to access the internet? How will you ensure that face-to-face appointments with doctors are an option?
Being fair, Minister, there are some very positive, high ambitions within your plan. I don't doubt that for a moment. There are some challenging targets that you have put in your plan, in some aspects. But, on first reading, for me, I would like some reassurance that this plan is more than just a sticking plaster. It doesn't address some of the long-term outstanding problems that we've faced within the Welsh NHS. I'm sure you would agree that we want to build back better, don't we, in Wales, after the pandemic. We don't want to just get back to where we were before the pandemic started, we want to be in a better position. So, how is your plan going to do that? Just give us some reassurance that it's not just a sticking plaster on current problems.
Yes, COVID, of course, has impacted on our services. I know you started your statement today, Minister, by saying that you've published your plan to help reduce the long waiting times that have unfortunately built up during the pandemic. That is factually correct. But, what it is also important to say is that we were in a very difficult position before the pandemic started. The number of people on the waiting lists had doubled even before the pandemic hit Wales. We had double the number of people waiting for over a year than in the whole of England in March 2020. That's a pretty staggering statistic considering the size of Wales compared to England's population.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ategu sylwadau'r Gweinidog ynglŷn â gweithlu'r GIG a'r gwaith aruthrol y maen nhw wedi'i wneud? Ni allwn ailadrodd hynny ddigon, sef ein diolch am eu holl waith dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei datganiad heddiw, ochr yn ochr â chyhoeddi'r cynllun i leihau amseroedd aros, a diolch hefyd i'r Gweinidog, wrth gwrs, am y sesiynau briffio technegol y mae wedi'u darparu hefyd? Mae hynny'n cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr. Byddaf yn dechrau drwy groesawu'r cynllun hwn yn fawr. Rwyf i yn croesawu'n fawr y ffaith bod gan y cynllun hwn dargedau. Mae hynny'n gwbl hanfodol, ac mae hynny'n elfen gadarnhaol o'r hyn yr wyf wedi'i ddarllen heddiw. Rwy'n bryderus iawn ynghylch gosod targed nad oes neb yn aros mwy na blwyddyn, mor bell i ffwrdd â 2025. Ychydig iawn o gysur y bydd hynny'n ei roi, wrth gwrs i'r rhai sy'n aros, yn aml mewn poen ac anesmwythder. Rydym yn 2022 yn awr, ac maen nhw'n edrych ac yn gweld y flwyddyn 2025—mae hynny'n mynd i fod yn anodd iddyn nhw ei dderbyn. Rwyf hefyd yn pryderu nad yw'r targed o 80 y cant ar gyfer diagnosis a thriniaeth canser o fewn 62 diwrnod erbyn 2026 yn ddigon uchelgeisiol. Mae pobl eisoes, wrth gwrs, fel y mae hi ar hyn o bryd, yn troi at ofal preifat.
Sut a phryd, Gweinidog, y byddwch yn sicrhau bod byrddau iechyd Cymru'n cyfathrebu'n effeithiol â'r cannoedd ar filoedd o'r rhai hynny sy'n aros am gymorth ar restrau aros—y rhai hynny y mae eu hiechyd corfforol a meddyliol, efallai, yn dirywio yn y cyfnod hwnnw hefyd? Sut ydych chi'n mynd i sicrhau bod byrddau iechyd yn cyfathrebu'n effeithiol â'r bobl hyn sy'n aros am wybodaeth? Oherwydd eu bod yn cael gwybod bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw aros sawl blwyddyn cyn cael triniaeth. Sut caiff y targedau hyn eu monitro? A fydd adroddiad blynyddol? Rwy'n gwybod, Gweinidog, y byddwch yn dwyn eich swyddogion i gyfrif am lawer o'r targedau hyn yr ydych wedi'u cyflwyno; sut ydym ni yn y Senedd hon yn mynd i'ch dwyn chi i gyfrif? Sut y gallwn ni wneud hynny? A fyddwch yn cael adroddiad blynyddol? Dywedwch ychydig mwy wrthym am sut y gallwn fonitro cynnydd.
Rwyf i yn croesawu'r defnydd o dechnoleg i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r pwysau ar weithlu'r GIG, ond mae wedi bod yn bedair blynedd ers i'r cyn Weinidog iechyd gynnig cynlluniau tebyg, ac ers hynny dim ond newydd weld y cynlluniau amlinellol ar gyfer e-bresgripsiynau ydym ni, a allai fod wedi codi llawer o'r baich biwrocrataidd oddi ar feddygon a fferyllwyr. Mae technoleg yn ddefnyddiol, wrth gwrs ei bod, ond nid yw'n mynd i fynd i'r afael â sut y bydd gweithlu'r GIG sydd eisoes dan bwysau a dan straen, yn ymdopi, ac ni fydd ychwaith yn darparu gweledigaeth gyflawn ar gyfer GIG mwy hyblyg ac ymgysylltiol. Sut bydd eich cynllun yn canolbwyntio ar gadw? Pa dargedau ydych chi'n eu rhoi ar waith ar gyfer recriwtio? Sut ydych chi'n meddwl y bydd apwyntiadau rhithwir yn helpu rhywun sydd angen llawdriniaeth ar glun sydd wedi bod yn aros am sawl blwyddyn mewn poen, neu rywun sydd wedi bod yn colli ei olwg? Sut bydd eich gwasanaethau ar-lein yn helpu'r rhai nad ydyn nhw'n gallu defnyddio'r rhyngrwyd? Sut byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod apwyntiadau wyneb yn wyneb gyda meddygon yn ddewis?
A bod yn deg, Gweinidog, mae rhai uchelgeisiau cadarnhaol, uchel iawn yn eich cynllun. Nid wyf yn amau hynny am eiliad. Mae rhai targedau heriol wedi'u gosod yn eich cynllun, mewn rhai agweddau. Ond, ar y darlleniad cyntaf, i mi, hoffwn gael rhywfaint o sicrwydd bod y cynllun hwn yn fwy nag ateb dros dro yn unig. Nid yw'n mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r problemau hirdymor yr ydym wedi eu hwynebu o fewn GIG Cymru. Rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn cytuno bod eisiau i ni ailgodi'n gryfach, onid ydym, yng Nghymru, ar ôl y pandemig. Nid ydym yn dymuno dychwelyd i'r man lle'r oeddem ni cyn i'r pandemig ddechrau, rydym eisiau bod mewn gwell sefyllfa. Felly, sut bydd eich cynllun yn gwneud hynny? Rhowch rywfaint o sicrwydd i ni nad ateb dros dro i broblemau cyfredol yn unig ydyw.
Ydy, mae COVID, wrth gwrs, wedi effeithio ar ein gwasanaethau. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi dechrau eich datganiad heddiw, Gweinidog, drwy ddweud eich bod wedi cyhoeddi eich cynllun i helpu i leihau'r amseroedd aros hir sydd, yn anffodus, wedi cronni yn ystod y pandemig. Mae hynny'n ffeithiol gywir. Ond, yr hyn sy'n bwysig ei ddweud hefyd yw yr oeddem ni mewn sefyllfa anodd iawn cyn i'r pandemig ddechrau. Roedd nifer y bobl ar y rhestrau aros wedi dyblu hyd yn oed cyn i'r pandemig daro Cymru. Roedd gennym ni ddwywaith yn fwy o bobl yn aros am fwy na blwyddyn o'i gymharu â Lloegr gyfan ym mis Mawrth 2020. Mae hynny'n ystadegyn eithaf syfrdanol o ystyried maint Cymru o'i chymharu â phoblogaeth Lloegr.
The Member needs to conclude now, because we have quite a few speakers.
Mae angen i'r Aelod ddod i ben nawr, oherwydd bod gennym ni gryn dipyn o siaradwyr.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'll run through quickly, then.
Can I ask, Minister, about COVID-lite regional hubs? I've gone on about this—I know I've gone on about this, and my predecessor in this position did as well. Tell us when they're going to happen. Tell us when they're going to be in position, because I would really like to know the answer to that today, Minister.
And finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, we've got one in five people in Wales on a waiting list, and a quarter of those are waiting for more than a year for treatment. We've got average waiting times that are 10 times higher than those in England. We've got the worst A&E waiting time records that we've ever seen in Wales, and we've got the second-worst figures just announced on ambulance response times ever. These are all significant records that are being broken in the wrong direction. So, can I ask you, Minister, when the Labour Government will get a grip on some of these issues and stop breaking all the wrong targets and make sure that your plan is actually delivering for the people of Wales?
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fe af i drwyddyn nhw'n gyflym felly.
A gaf i ofyn, Gweinidog, am ganolfannau rhanbarthol sy'n rhydd o COVID? Rwyf wedi sôn am hyn droeon—fe wn i fy mod wedi sôn am hyn droeon, a gwnaeth fy rhagflaenydd yn y swydd hon yr un peth hefyd. Dywedwch wrthym pryd maen nhw'n mynd i ddigwydd. Dywedwch pryd fyddan nhw yn eu lle, oherwydd hoffwn wybod yr ateb i hynny heddiw, Gweinidog.
Ac yn olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae un o bob pump o bobl yng Nghymru ar restr aros, ac mae chwarter ohonyn nhw yn aros am fwy na blwyddyn am driniaeth. Mae gennym amseroedd aros cyfartalog sydd 10 gwaith yn uwch na'r rhai yn Lloegr. Mae gennym yr amseroedd aros gwaethaf ar gyfer adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys a welsom erioed yng Nghymru, a'r ffigurau gwaethaf ond un o ran amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys erioed wedi'u cyhoeddi. Mae'r rhain i gyd yn recordiau arwyddocaol sy'n cael eu torri i'r cyfeiriad anghywir. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Gweinidog, pryd y bydd y Llywodraeth Lafur yn mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion hyn ac yn rhoi'r gorau i dorri'r holl dargedau anghywir a sicrhau bod eich cynllun yn cyflawni ar gyfer pobl Cymru mewn gwirionedd?
Thank you, Russell, for your contribution. I'm pleased that you agree that it was important to have targets. You're absolutely right that our targets are clear that nobody should wait more than a year by 2025, but there is an interim target, and that is that we should eliminate the number waiting for longer than two years in most specialities by March 2023. So, that's a way you can hold us to account this time next year, and I ask you to hold me to account in the sense that I'll be holding my officials to account, and we'll be holding health boards to account. I think it's absolutely clear. We've built these targets alongside the health boards. They are telling us that they can hit these targets. It's really important now that we hold their feet to the fire on that.
Diolch, Russell, am eich cyfraniad. Rwy'n falch eich bod yn cytuno ei bod yn bwysig cael targedau. Rydych yn llygad eich lle bod ein targedau'n glir na ddylai neb aros mwy na blwyddyn erbyn 2025, ond mae targed interim, a hynny yw y dylem weld diwedd ar y nifer sy'n aros am fwy na dwy flynedd yn y rhan fwyaf o arbenigeddau erbyn mis Mawrth 2023. Felly, mae hynny'n ffordd y gallwch ein dwyn i gyfrif yr adeg hon y flwyddyn nesaf, a gofynnaf i chi fy nwyn i gyfrif yn yr ystyr y byddaf yn dwyn fy swyddogion i gyfrif, a byddwn yn dwyn byrddau iechyd i gyfrif. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwbl glir. Rydym wedi adeiladu'r targedau hyn ochr yn ochr â'r byrddau iechyd. Maen nhw'n dweud wrthym ni y gallan nhw gyrraedd y targedau hyn. Mae'n bwysig iawn nawr ein bod ni'n cynnal y pwysau arnyn nhw o ran hyn.
You asked about a communication strategy. You'll know that there has been a very active communication strategy already, particularly with those who are waiting the longest. Your committee has written a very interesting report, and you'll know from that that the Living Well programme gives advice to people in terms of how they can live well while they're waiting for their operations. Obviously we'll be interested to see if and when other health boards will pick up on that. I will be requiring monthly briefings from my team, but I'm sure that they will be monitoring in real time what's been going on. If there are facilities that are not being used—in particular 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. full-time, all of the time—I'll want to know why, and I'm sure you'll be interested to know why as well. There is a target you can hold me to at the end of this year, in fact, as well, where we're saying that people should have their first appointment by the end of this year. We know that many—around 50 per cent, if not more—are waiting for that first initial appointment. So, hopefully, that will help us out.
When it comes to e-prescribing, you know my frustrations, Russell, in relation to this. You'll know that I've put money on the table, but I can assure you that I'm on it. I had a meeting just yesterday to go through how we can speed up the process, because, as you know, I'm not satisfied with waiting for three years for that to happen, and I do think that that could potentially make a big difference in terms of people's time.
You're quite right to focus on not just recruitment, because I think we do have pipelines of recruitment ongoing. We have about 78 per cent more nurses in training than we've had before. We've got about 97 per cent more midwives in training than we've had before. The real issue for me is retention—how do we keep people in the system. In order to do that, we need to incentivise, we need to make sure that there are opportunities for them to make more money, perhaps, through working longer hours. So, all of those things are opportunities for them.
You're quite right to ask what help can a virtual consultation give. What it can do is the preparation work. Obviously, it's not going to help for the operation itself, but there's a lot of pre-op work that can be done virtually, and I think it's really important that that is done. But also, I think we've got to get people to understand that surgery is not always the only option and always the best option. I'm looking at your colleague behind who is an expert in this area, so I'm always very aware of the way I'm speaking when I have such an expert in the Chamber. I was speaking to somebody just this week who was told initially that he may need surgery on his shoulder, and now, actually, some intensive physio has corrected the problem. I think we do need to get people to understand that there are alternatives to surgery.
When you talk about building back better, I was waiting for your surgical hubs, I was waiting for your question around what we're doing in terms of COVID-lite hubs, and I can tell you that, actually, some of these are already up and running. In Cardiff, for example, we have a cataract theatre where, between Cardiff and Swansea, we'll be seeing 600 people per month. That is already up and running. We are going to be seeing a new trauma and orthopaedic centre being developed in Aneurin Bevan in the Royal Gwent. That's going have £1 million, and that's going to see around 3,650 people regularly. There's going to be a new orthopaedic and spinal surgical unit in Swansea and Hywel Dda. That's going to be a green area, that's going to be separate, so it won't be knocked out by urgent care that comes in through the door. I know that's something that surgeons have been asking for. We're going to try and make sure that we separate these paths out as much as possible. It is quite difficult when all the beds are full. It is important that we try and maintain that flow through the system, but also that we have reserve beds, if we can, for surgery to be able to continue.
Then, just in terms of waiting lists, obviously, the pandemic has knocked all of our plans out. We were actually improving as we went into the pandemic. In 2019 there were only 9,000 people waiting for 36 weeks. And I would ask you, Russell, to stop comparing apples and pears. The way that we count in Wales is very, very different from the way they count in England. First of all, it's not all about the numbers of people. So, when we see 700,000 people—
Gofynnoch chi am strategaeth gyfathrebu. Byddwch yn gwybod bod strategaeth gyfathrebu weithgar iawn wedi bod eisoes, yn enwedig gyda'r rhai sy'n aros hiraf. Mae eich pwyllgor wedi ysgrifennu adroddiad diddorol iawn, a byddwch yn gwybod o hynny fod y rhaglen Byw'n Dda yn rhoi cyngor i bobl ar sut y gallan nhw fyw'n dda tra byddan nhw'n aros am eu llawdriniaethau. Yn amlwg, bydd gennym ddiddordeb mewn gweld a fydd byrddau iechyd eraill yn cymryd sylw o hynny a phryd. Byddaf yn gofyn am sesiynau briffio misol gan fy nhîm, ond rwy'n siŵr y byddan nhw'n monitro mewn amser real yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd. Os oes cyfleusterau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu defnyddio—yn enwedig rhwng 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. llawn amser, drwy'r amser—byddaf eisiau gwybod pam, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd gennych ddiddordeb mewn gwybod pam hefyd. Mae targed hefyd y gallwch fy nal i at fy addewid ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn hon, mewn gwirionedd, sef ein bod yn dweud y dylai pobl gael eu hapwyntiad cyntaf erbyn diwedd eleni. Rydym yn gwybod bod llawer—tua 50 y cant, os nad mwy—yn aros am yr apwyntiad cychwynnol cyntaf hwnnw. Felly, gobeithio y bydd hynny'n ein helpu.
O ran e-ragnodi, fe wyddoch chi fy rhwystredigaeth ynghylch hyn, Russell. Byddwch chi'n gwybod fy mod i wedi rhoi arian ar y bwrdd, ond gallaf eich sicrhau fy mod ar drywydd hwn. Cefais gyfarfod ddoe i fynd drwy'r ffordd y gallwn gyflymu'r broses, oherwydd, fel y gwyddoch, nid wyf yn fodlon aros am dair blynedd i hynny ddigwydd, ac rwy'n credu y gallai hynny wneud gwahaniaeth mawr o bosibl o ran amser pobl.
Rydych yn llygad eich lle wrth ganolbwyntio nid yn unig ar recriwtio, gan fy mod i'n credu bod gennym biblinellau recriwtio parhaus. Mae gennym tua 78 y cant yn fwy o nyrsys dan hyfforddiant nag a oedd gennym o'r blaen. Mae gennym tua 97 y cant yn fwy o fydwragedd dan hyfforddiant nag a oedd gennym o'r blaen. Y broblem wirioneddol i mi yw cadw—sut ydym yn cadw pobl yn y system. Er mwyn gwneud hynny, mae angen i ni gymell, mae angen i ni sicrhau bod cyfleoedd iddyn nhw wneud mwy o arian, efallai, drwy weithio oriau hwy. Felly, mae'r holl bethau hynny'n gyfleoedd iddyn nhw.
Rydych yn llygad eich lle wrth ofyn pa gymorth y gall ymgynghoriad rhithwir ei roi. Yr hyn y gall ei wneud yw'r gwaith paratoi. Yn amlwg, nid yw'n mynd i helpu ar gyfer y llawdriniaeth ei hun, ond mae llawer o waith cyn llawdriniaeth y gellir ei wneud yn rhithwir, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod hynny'n cael ei wneud. Ond hefyd, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni gael pobl i ddeall nad llawdriniaeth yw'r unig ddewis bob tro na'r dewis gorau bob tro. Rwy'n edrych ar eich cyd-Aelod y tu ôl i chi sy'n arbenigwr yn y maes hwn, felly rwyf bob amser yn ymwybodol iawn o'r ffordd rwy'n siarad pan fydd gen i arbenigwr o'r fath yn y Siambr. Roeddwn i'n siarad â rhywun yr wythnos hon a gafodd wybod i ddechrau y gallai fod angen llawdriniaeth ar ei ysgwydd, a nawr, mewn gwirionedd, mae rhywfaint o ffisiotherapi dwys wedi cywiro'r broblem. Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni gael pobl i ddeall bod dewisiadau eraill heblaw llawdriniaeth.
Wrth i chi sôn am ailgodi'n gryfach, roeddwn i'n aros am eich canolfannau llawfeddygol, roeddwn i'n aros am eich cwestiwn ynghylch yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud o ran canolfannau sy'n rhydd o COVID, a gallaf ddweud wrthych fod rhai o'r rhain eisoes ar waith. Yng Nghaerdydd, er enghraifft, mae gennym theatr cataract lle byddwn, rhwng Caerdydd ac Abertawe, yn gweld 600 o bobl y mis. Mae honno eisoes ar waith. Byddwn yn gweld canolfan trawma ac orthopedeg newydd yn cael ei datblygu yn Aneurin Bevan yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Gwent. Bydd honno'n cael £1 miliwn, a bydd yn gweld tua 3.650 o bobl yn rheolaidd. Bydd uned lawfeddygol orthopedig ac asgwrn cefn newydd yn Abertawe a Hywel Dda. Bydd honno'n ardal werdd a fydd ar wahân, felly ni fydd gofal brys sy'n dod i mewn drwy'r drws yn torri ar ei thraws. Rwy'n gwybod bod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae llawfeddygon wedi bod yn gofyn amdano. Rydym yn mynd i geisio sicrhau ein bod yn gwahanu'r llwybrau hyn gymaint â phosibl. Mae'n eithaf anodd pan fydd yr holl welyau'n llawn. Mae'n bwysig i ni geisio cynnal y llif hwnnw drwy'r system, ond hefyd fod gennym welyau wrth gefn, os gallwn, er mwyn i lawdriniaeth allu parhau.
Yna, o ran rhestrau aros, yn amlwg, mae'r pandemig wedi difetha ein holl gynlluniau. Roeddem mewn gwirionedd yn gwella wrth i ni fynd i mewn i'r pandemig. Yn 2019 dim ond 9,000 o bobl oedd yn aros am 36 wythnos. A byddwn yn gofyn i chi, Russell, roi'r gorau i gymharu afalau a gellyg. Mae'r ffordd yr ydym yn cyfrif yng Nghymru yn wahanol iawn i'r ffordd y maen nhw'n cyfrif yn Lloegr. Yn gyntaf, nid yw'n ymwneud â nifer y bobl yn unig. Felly, pan welwn ni 700,000 o bobl—
Deliberately different.
Yn wahanol yn fwriadol.
It is very different.
Mae'n wahanol iawn.
Deliberately so.
Yn fwriadol felly.
It's not deliberately so. We want—[Interruption.]
Nid yw'n fwriadol. Rydym eisiau—[Torri ar draws.]
You don't need to answer someone from a sedentary position.
Nid oes angen i chi ateb rhywun sy'n eistedd.
We need to be transparent with the public. We think, for example, that it's important to include things like diagnostics and therapies in our waiting list times because, actually, there are thousands of people who are waiting for those. Those are not included in the English figures, so I would ask you to stop comparing apples and pears.
Mae angen i ni fod yn dryloyw gyda'r cyhoedd. Rydym ni'n credu, er enghraifft, ei bod yn bwysig cynnwys pethau fel diagnosteg a therapïau yn ein hamseroedd rhestrau aros oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, mae miloedd o bobl yn aros amdanyn nhw. Nid ydyn nhw wedi'u cynnwys yn ffigurau Lloegr, felly gofynnaf i chi roi'r gorau i gymharu afalau a gellyg.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad. Y peth cyntaf y dywedaf i yw dwi ddim yn meddwl bod posib imi ofyn pob cwestiwn dwi eisiau ei ofyn heddiw yma, ac a bod yn deg, does dim modd i'r Gweinidog roi bob ateb heddiw yma. Ond heddiw ydy dechrau proses ar ddal y Llywodraeth i gyfri ar y dasg fwyaf pwysig, am wn i, sydd gan y Llywodraeth o'i blaen ar hyn o bryd.
Hefyd, peth pwysig iawn i'w ddweud ar y dechrau fel hyn, wrth ymateb i gyhoeddiad y cynllun hirddisgwyliedig yma ydy mai'r problemau dŷn ni'n siarad amdanyn nhw rŵan yw'r un problemau yn union â'r rhai a oedd yn bodoli cyn y pandemig. Ydyn, maen nhw'n waeth, ac mae'r ffigurau cymaint â hynny'n waeth—y rhestrau aros yn hirach a'r amseroedd aros yn fwy—ond yr un problemau ydy'r rhain. Fel y dywedodd Coleg Brenhinol y Meddygon mewn datganiad heddiw:
Thank you very much, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you to the Minister for her statement. The first thing I'll say is that I don't think it's possible for me to ask every question that I'd like to ask today, and to be fair, it's not possible for the Minister to provide all of the responses this afternoon. But today is the start of a process in holding the Government to account on the most important task that the Government is currently facing.
Another important thing to say at the outset, in response to this long-awaited plan, is that the problems that we are talking about now are the same problems as those that existed prior to the pandemic. Yes, they are worse, and the figures are so much worse—the waiting times are longer and the waiting lists are longer—but these are the same problems. As the Royal College of Surgeons said in a statement today:
the pandemic has simply exacerbated the problem that we were already facing.
mae'r pandemig wedi gwaethygu'r broblem yr oeddem eisoes yn ei hwynebu.
Dyna ydy gwirionedd y sefyllfa, ac mae hynny'n dweud cymaint, onid ydy hi, am fethiant Gweinidogion, un ar ôl y llall, i roi y gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal yng Nghymru ar y seiliau cynaliadwy dŷn ni eu hangen. Beth mae'r pandemig wedi'i wneud ydy dangos pa mor anghynaladwy oedd pethau cynt. Os mai bwriad y Gweinidog ydy mynd â ni nôl i sut oedd pethau cyn i'r pandemig daro, wel, dyn â'n helpo ni.
Mi af i drwy rai o wahanol elfennau'r datganiad heddiw yma. Dwi'n falch bod hwn gennym ni o'r diwedd, y cynllun yma. Dwi'n cytuno efo llawer o'r naratif dŷn ni wedi'i glywed gan y Gweinidog—yr angen i roi'r driniaeth gywir yn y lle cyntaf; yr angen i gynnig gofal mor agos at gartref â phosib—ond mae yna lawer o gwestiynau yn codi ynglŷn â sut yn union mae rhai o'r addewidion yn mynd i gael eu cyflawni.
Os ydyn ni'n sôn am roi blaenoriaeth i gynyddu capasiti o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd, mae o'n bryder mawr i mi nad sôn am gynyddu capasiti o fewn gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal dŷn ni yn fan hyn, achos mae'n rhaid meddwl am y ddau fel un. Mi ddywedodd un prif weithredwr bwrdd iechyd wrthyf i yn ystod y pandemig, pan oedd y Gweinidog yn rhoi tipyn o arian ar gael i'r gwasanaeth iechyd, 'Mi fyddai'n well gen i pe bai'r arian yma yn mynd i wasanaethau gofal, oherwydd yn y fan honno y mae'r broblem.' Hynny ydy, mae'n rhaid meddwl am y gwaith o godi nôl ar ein traed ar ôl y pandemig yma fel her i'r gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal.
Blaenoriaethu diagnosis a thriniaeth, a chyflwyno rhai targedau newydd—dwi'n croesawu'r ffaith bod yna dargedau. Dwi'n hynod o siomedig efo lefel yr uchelgais o ran targedau canser. A bod yn deg, mae'r lefel o uchelgais yn adlewyrchu'r sefyllfa dŷn ni ynddi hi, ond dŷn ni erioed wedi cyrraedd y targed o 75 y cant i ddechrau triniaeth o fewn 62 diwrnod hyd yma. Y cwbl sy'n digwydd ydy cynyddu hynny o 75 i 80, a dwi'n methu â deall sut mae'r Gweinidog yn credu y gall hi gyrraedd y targed hwnnw, hyd yn oed, heb gael cynllun canser, fel mae pawb heblaw Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'n ymddangos, yn galw amdano fo.
O ran y targedau ehangach—
That's the reality of the situation, and that tells us so much about the failure of one Minister after another to put the health and care services of Wales on the sustainable foundations that we need. What the pandemic has done is to show just how unsustainable things were. If it is the Minister's intention to take us back to how things were prior to the pandemic, well, God help us.
I will go through some of the elements of the statement today. I'm pleased that we have had this statement and that this plan is in place. I agree with much of the narrative that we've heard from the Minister—the need to provide the right treatment in the first instance; the need to provide care as close to home as possible—but there are many questions arising as to how, exactly, some of these pledges are to be delivered.
If we're talking about prioritising increasing capacity within the health service, it is a major concern of mine that we are not talking about increasing capacity within health and care services here, because we have to think of these are two halves of the same walnut. One chief executive of a health board told me during the pandemic, when the Minister was making some funding available to the health service, that he would prefer to see the money going to care services because that's where the problem is. We do have to think about the process of recovery post pandemic as a challenge for health and care services.
In terms of prioritising diagnosis and treatment and introducing some new targets, I welcome the fact that there are targets. I am very disappointed with the level of ambition in terms of cancer targets. To be fair, it does reflect the situation that we are in, but we have never reached that target of 75 per cent to start treatment within 62 days. All that's happening is that's being increased from 75 to 80 per cent, and I can't understand how the Minister will be able to achieve that target either without having a cancer plan, which everyone other than the Welsh Government seems to be calling for.
In terms of the broader targets—
I've received some comments today from Cymru Versus Arthritis, worried about the targets that are in relation to cutting waiting times for most specialities, rather than all. Given how long orthopaedic waiting times are, this is one heck of a get-out clause for Welsh Government: 'We'll sort waiting times except those people who are waiting the longest'. I would appreciate an undertaking to publish targets for all specialities, but recognising that the challenge is greater for some specialities, but, again, it's about knowing where we need to go.
Rwyf wedi cael rhai sylwadau heddiw gan Cymru Versus Arthritis, yn poeni am y targedau sy'n ymwneud â thorri amseroedd aros ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o arbenigeddau, yn hytrach na phob un. O ystyried pa mor hir yw amseroedd aros orthopedig, dyma dipyn o esgus i beidio â gwneud rhywbeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru: 'Byddwn yn rhoi trefn ar amseroedd aros ac eithrio'r bobl hynny sy'n aros hwyaf'. Byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi ymrwymiad i gyhoeddi targedau ar gyfer pob arbenigedd, ond gan gydnabod bod yr her yn fwy i rai arbenigeddau, ond, unwaith eto, mae'n ymwneud â gwybod i ble y mae angen i ni fynd.
Technoleg, yn fyr iawn—roeddwn i am bwyso arnoch chi i sôn dipyn am dechnoleg a defnyddio technoleg. Dwi'n falch o'r ymrwymiadau i ddatblygu'r portal i gleifion gael gwybod lle maen nhw arni o fewn y system. Mae ambell i gwestiwn yn codi yn sgil hynny. Pa bryd fydd y portal yma yn barod? A fyddwch chi'n defnyddio staff rheng flaen i helpu datblygu'r cynllun hwnnw? A hefyd, fydd e'n caniatáu cyfathrebu rhwng gofal sylfaenol a gofal eilradd, achos mae'n rhaid inni gael y cyfathrebu di-ffin yma rhwng gwahanol rannau'r gwasanaeth iechyd?
Dwi'n ymwybodol bod fy amser i yn rhedeg allan; mi adawn ni o yn fanna, oherwydd, fel dwi'n dweud, dechrau'r broses ydy hyn o ddal y Llywodraeth i gyfri. A dwi wedi eu dyfynnu unwaith, ac mi wnaf i unwaith eto—Coleg Brenhinol y Meddygon: mae yna syniadau da yma, medden nhw, ond beth sydd ddim yn glir ydy sut mae gwireddu y syniadau yma, yn cynnwys ar beth mor sylfaenol â chynllunio gweithlu. Dŷn ni'n clywed am yr angen i gynllunio gweithlu; wel, dŷn ni'n gwybod bod yna angen i gynllunio gweithlu, ond beth dŷn ni eisiau ei wybod ydy sut mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd i gael ei wneud. Mae yna her enfawr o flaen y Llywodraeth.
Technology, very briefly—I was going to urge you to talk about technology and the use of technology. I'm pleased to see the commitments to develop the portal so that patients can know where they are within the system. Just a few questions arising as a result of that. When will this portal be ready? Will you be using front-line staff to help develop that proposal? And also, will it allow communication between primary care and secondary care, because we do have to have that seamless communication between the different parts of the health service?
I am aware that my time is swiftly running out, so I'll leave it there, because, as I said, this is the beginning of the process of holding the Government to account. And I've quoted them once, and I will do so again, the Royal College of Surgeons—there are good ideas here, but what isn't clear is how these ideas will be delivered, including on something as fundamental as workforce planning. We've heard of the need to plan the workforce; well, we know that, but what we want to know is how that work is going to be done. There's a huge challenge facing the Government.
Diolch yn fawr, Rhun. Yn sicr, mae pethau wedi newid ers i'r pandemig fwrw. Mae'r ffaith ein bod ni i gyd yn defnyddio technoleg mewn ffordd hollol wahanol i'r ffordd roedden ni cyn y pandemig yn golygu bod yna bosibiliadau nawr nad oedd yna cyn y pandemig. Ac felly rŷn ni eisiau manteisio ar y rheini er mwyn newid y system ymlaen. Ond rŷch chi'n eithaf reit, beth sydd angen arnon ni yw datblygu gwasanaethau sy'n gynaliadwy am y tymor hir a dyna pam taw beth rŷn ni'n bwriadu ei wneud fan hyn yw cynyddu capasiti. Ac rŷch chi'n sôn am drawsnewid; dyna beth rŷn ni'n trial gwneud yw trawsnewid, ond mae eisiau i'r cyhoedd ddod gyda ni ar hwn hefyd, i ddeall bod rhaid inni wneud pethau'n wahanol a bod y ffordd rŷn ni wedi gwneud popeth yn y gorffennol—pobl yn jest cymryd yn ganiataol mai yn yr ysbyty fyddan nhw'n cael gofal—mae hwnna'n mynd i newid. Rŷn ni eisiau i'r gofal fod yn agos at bobl, rŷn ni eisiau i'r diagnostics ddigwydd yn ein cymunedau ni, a dim ond mynd i'r ysbyty os oes wirioneddol angen gwneud hynny. Felly, mae blaenoriaeth gyda ni o ran diagnosis a thriniaeth, ac mae hwnna yn bwysig, achos mae yna lot o bobl yn aros am eu diagnosis cyntaf. Mae eisiau inni wybod pwy sy'n aros, er mwyn gwybod os yw hwnna'n mynd i fod yn broblem ddifrifol neu beidio, ac felly dyna pam rŷn ni'n canolbwyntio ar hynny yn ystod y misoedd cyntaf.
Mae, fel y gwyddoch chi, arian mawr eisoes wedi mynd mewn i'r gwasanaeth gofal. Bydd angen mwy, yn sicr, ond fel rŷch chi'n ymwybodol, rŷn ni am y tro cyntaf yn talu'r real living wage i'r bobl sy’n gweithio yn y sector yma. A dyna yw'r her fwyaf, dwi'n meddwl, o ran gofal—talu cyflog sy'n deg i bobl, achos yn y ffordd yna y byddwn ni'n denu mwy o bobl i mewn i'r system. Ond rŷn ni yn gweithio gyda Plaid Cymru i ddod lan â rhaglen ar sut y byddwn ni'n mynd ati i edrych ar ofal yn y tymor hir.
Beth rŷn ni wedi ceisio ei wneud fan hyn yw rhoi mesurau a thargedau mewn lle sy'n realistig, ond sydd hefyd yn rhoi gobaith i bobl, ac mae hynny'n hollbwysig. Ar hyn o bryd, dyw pobl ddim yn gwybod beth i ddisgwyl, ond gyda'r targedau yma, dwi'n gobeithio y byddan nhw'n cael gwell syniad. Ac mae e'n rili bwysig, a dwi eisiau ei gwneud hi'n glir, yn enwedig gyda orthopaedics, er enghraifft—mae'n rhaid inni fod yn ymwybodol, rŷn ni'n dal mewn sefyllfa sydd yn eithaf argyfyngus. Does dim ond angen ichi fynd i A&E ar nos Wener, fel y gwnes i ddydd Gwener diwethaf, jest i weld y pwysau arnyn nhw, ac mi allwch chi weld pam fod pobl yn canslo operations, achos bod yna gymaint o bwysau wrth y drws cefn. Felly, mae cael gwelyau yn hollbwysig os ydych chi'n mynd i barhau.
Dyna pam, o ran orthopaedics, er enghraifft, beth fyddwn ni'n ei wneud yw newid y ffordd rŷn ni'n gwneud hyn, i sicrhau bod yna wasanaethau yn cael eu darparu, lle byddwn ni'n gweld lot o cataracts yn cael eu gwneud mewn ffyrdd cyflym; yr un peth gydag orthopaedics, fel rŷn ni'n bwriadu datblygu, er enghraifft, yn Abertawe. Ond mae'n bwysig hefyd fod pobl yn deall mai'r median wait ar hyn o bryd yw 42 o wythnosau. Felly, er bod rhai pobl yn aros yn hir, y median wait yw 42 o wythnosau. Felly, mae hi'n bwysig bod pobl yn deall hynny.
Mae technoleg a'r ffordd mae'r systemau'n siarad gyda'i gilydd—unwaith eto, rŷn ni wedi bod yn trafod hwn yr wythnos yma. Unwaith eto, mae'n anodd troi hwnna ymlaen dros nos, ond mae yna gynlluniau mewn lle a dwi wedi trio rhoi pwysau ymlaen i weld os gallwn ni symud yn gyflymach yn y system yna.
Ac o ran cynllunio'r gweithlu, byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod rhaglen gyda ni, ond beth sy'n bwysig yw bod yna action plan i'r rhaglen yna. Dyna pam rŷn ni'n gweithio gyda HEIW. A rhan o beth rŷn ni'n mynd i'w roi mewn lle fan hyn yw gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n hollol glir ynglŷn â beth yw'r gweithlu sydd angen ei roi mewn lle. Ac felly dwi'n siŵr byddai gan y pwyllgor ddiddordeb gweld beth rŷn ni'n bwriadu ei wneud yn y maes yna.
Thank you very much, Rhun. Certainly, things have changed since the pandemic hit. The fact that we are all using technology in an entirely different way as compared to how we were using it before the pandemic means that there are possibilities now that weren't in place before the pandemic. We want to take advantage of those opportunities to transform the system going forward. But you're right, what we need is to develop sustainable services in the long term and that's why what we intend to do here is to increase capacity. And you talk about transformation; well, that's what we're trying to do, to transform, but the public needs to come with us on this too, to understand that we do have to do things differently and that the way that we have done things in the past—people just taking it for granted that they would be receiving care in a hospital, for example—will change. We want the care to be taking place closer to the people, we want the diagnostics to happen in the community, and that they'll only attend hospital if they generally have to do so. So, we have a priority in terms of diagnosis and treatment, and that is important, because there are many people waiting for their initial diagnosis. We need to know who is waiting, to find out whether that is going to be a serious problem or not, and that's why we are focusing on that during the first few months.
As you know, major funding has gone into the care service. There will be a need for more, certainly, but as you are aware, for the first time we are paying the real living wage to those people who work in this sector. And that's the greatest challenge, I believe, in terms of care, namely to pay people a fair wage, because it's in that way that we will attract more people into the system. But we are working with Plaid Cymru to come up with a programme on how we will go about looking at care in the longer term.
What we've tried to do here is to put in place measures and targets that are realistic, but that also give people hope, and that is vital. At the moment, people don't know what to expect, but with these targets, I hope that they will get a better idea. And it's really important, and I want to make it clear, particularly with regard to orthopaedics, for example—we have to be aware that we are still in a crisis situation. You only need to go to A&E on a Friday evening, as I did last Friday, just to see the pressure on them, and you can see why people are cancelling operations, because there is so much pressure at the back door. And so having beds is vital if you're going to continue and go forward.
So, in terms of orthopaedics, for example, what we'll be doing is changing the way that we do this, to ensure that there are organisations and services provided where we see a great many cataract procedures done swiftly; the same with orthopaedics, as we intend to develop, for example, a centre in Swansea for that. But it's also important that people understand that the median wait at the moment is 42 weeks. So, even though some people are waiting very long, the median wait is 42 weeks. So, it is important that people do understand that too.
Technology and the way that the systems communicate with each other—once, again, we've been discussing that this week. Again, it's difficult to switch that on overnight, but there are plans in place, and I've tried to apply pressure to see whether we can move more swiftly with regard to those systems.
And in terms of workforce planning, you'll be aware that we have a programme, but what's important is that there is an action plan associated with that programme. That's why we're working with HEIW. And part of what we're going to be putting in place here is to ensure that we are entirely clear in terms of the workforce that we need to have in place. And I'm sure that the committee will be interested in seeing what we intend to do in that field.
Members will be aware that we've already gone beyond the allocated time. I ask all remaining Members—I will call you—to keep your contributions succinct and within the time allocation, and for the Minister to also be succinct in her answers, please. Jenny Rathbone.
Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol ein bod eisoes wedi mynd y tu hwnt i'r amser a neilltuwyd. Gofynnaf i'r holl Aelodau sy'n weddill—byddaf yn eich galw—i gadw'ch cyfraniadau'n gryno ac o fewn yr amser a neilltuir, ac i'r Gweinidog hefyd fod yn gryno yn ei hatebion, os gwelwch yn dda. Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you. I congratulate you on not trying to fix a broken system, but instead to have a whole-system change. So, I fully support the work you outline in your plan.
Cataracts, hips and knees are the biggest issues that I find it very difficult how to advise constituents on, because they're obviously things that need to be done by specialists. I'm aware, for example, that a consultant orthopaedic surgeon up in north Wales has pioneered day-care knee surgery. How well is that pioneering work travelling to ensure that other people are also doing that sort of knee surgery, which involves, obviously, a multidisciplinary team of nurses and others, to ensure that people, including the patient's family, know how to do the exercises to enable all that to happen?
We need to change the way we think about things ourselves. I heard Peter Fox earlier decrying the fact that his constituent's children had only been able to see the hygienist, when, unless they've got special needs, the hygienist is the best person to check a child and give them a routine check.
Similarly, the optometrist providing an enhanced service is surely going to help us ensure that those who most urgently need to see the ophthalmologist will get seen. But it does require the ophthalmologist to look at the images that the optometrist is sending them. I know that this happens in Swansea Bay health board, which is why they have such a low level of waiting times. How are you going to get that sort of good practice embedded across the system so that people, those who really do need urgent cataract treatment, are going to the top of the list?
Diolch. Rwy'n eich llongyfarch am beidio â cheisio trwsio system sydd wedi torri, ond yn hytrach i gael newid system gyfan. Felly, rwy'n llwyr gefnogi'r gwaith yr ydych yn ei amlinellu yn eich cynllun.
Cataractau, cluniau a phengliniau yw'r materion mwyaf yr wyf i'n ei chael yn anodd iawn cynghori etholwyr arnyn nhw, gan eu bod nhw'n amlwg yn bethau y mae angen i arbenigwyr eu gwneud. Rwy'n ymwybodol, er enghraifft, fod llawfeddyg orthopedig ymgynghorol yn y gogledd wedi arloesi llawdriniaeth ben-glin gofal dydd. Pa mor dda y mae'r gwaith arloesol hwnnw'n ymledu i sicrhau bod pobl eraill hefyd yn gwneud y math hwnnw o lawdriniaeth ben-glin, sy'n cynnwys, yn amlwg, dîm amlddisgyblaethol o nyrsys ac eraill, i sicrhau bod pobl, gan gynnwys teulu'r claf, yn gwybod sut i wneud yr ymarferion i alluogi hynny i gyd ddigwydd?
Mae angen i ni newid y ffordd yr ydym yn meddwl am bethau ein hunain. Clywais Peter Fox yn gynharach yn difrïo'r ffaith mai dim ond yr hylenydd yr oedd plant ei etholwr wedi cael ei weld, pan mai'r hylenydd, oni bai fod gan y plentyn anghenion arbennig, yw'r person gorau i roi archwiliad i blentyn a rhoi archwiliad arferol iddyn nhw.
Yn yr un modd, mae'n sicr bod yr optometrydd sy'n darparu gwasanaeth manylach yn mynd i'n helpu i sicrhau y bydd y rhai hynny sydd â'r angen mwyaf brys i weld yr offthalmolegydd yn cael eu gweld. Ond mae'n rhaid i'r offthalmolegydd edrych ar y lluniau y mae'r optometrydd wedi eu hanfon ato. Rwy'n gwybod bod hyn yn digwydd ym mwrdd iechyd Bae Abertawe, a dyna pam mae ganddyn nhw lefel mor isel o amseroedd aros. Sut ydych chi'n mynd i sicrhau bod y math hwnnw o arfer da yn cael ei ymgorffori ar draws y system fel bod pobl, y rhai y mae angen triniaeth cataract gwirioneddol frys arnyn nhw, yn mynd i frig y rhestr?