Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
14/06/2022Cynnwys
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.
Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn y prynhawn yma. Cyn i ni ddechrau, dwi angen nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Cynhelir y cyfarfod hwn ar ffurf hybrid, gyda rhai Aelodau yn y Siambr ac eraill yn ymuno trwy gyswllt fideo. Bydd yr holl Aelodau, 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 Senedd Cymru at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y Cyfarfod yma, ac mae'r rheini wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda.
Cyn i ni gychwyn hefyd, os caf i roi gwybod i'r Aelodau y bydd y balot nesaf ar gyfer Biliau Aelodau yn cael ei gynnal ar 13 Gorffennaf, a bydd gwybodaeth am y broses yma yn cael ei rhannu gyda chi fel Aelodau yn fuan.
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. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's Plenary meeting, and these are set out on your agenda.
Before we begin, if I could inform Members that the next ballot for Member Bills will be held on 13 July, and information on the process will be circulated to Members shortly.
Yr eitem gyntaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jenny Rathbone.
The first item is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Jenny Rathbone.
1. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i inswleiddio'r tai mwyaf aneffeithlon o ran ynni? OQ58189
1. What plans does the Welsh Government have to insulate the most energy inefficient housing? OQ58189
Llywydd, improving energy efficiency of homes in the social rented sector is progressing through the Welsh Government's £220 million optimised retrofit programme and the Welsh quality housing standards. Plans to assist those in privately owned and privately rented sectors, through the Warm Homes programme, will be announced in the autumn.
Llywydd, mae gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni cartrefi yn y sector rhentu cymdeithasol yn mynd rhagddo drwy raglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio Llywodraeth Cymru gwerth £220 miliwn a safon ansawdd tai Cymru. Bydd cynlluniau i gynorthwyo'r rhai hynny mewn sectorau perchnogaeth breifat a rhentu preifat, drwy'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd, yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn yr hydref.
Thank you for that information. As the constituency with the highest number of private sector renters, I know that they are really shivering in all winters, and with bills expected to rise to nearly £3,000 a year per household—something that we have no control over—I wondered why it is not possible to have an emergency programme to protect the most vulnerable households living in fuel poverty. What exactly are the barriers to instituting an immediate insulation programme, targeting the most vulnerable households living in the worst insulated homes, which tend to be in the private sector?
Diolch i chi am yr wybodaeth honno. Fel yr etholaeth sydd â'r nifer uchaf o rentwyr yn y sector preifat, rwy'n gwybod eu bod yn crynu'n wirioneddol bob gaeaf, a gyda'r disgwyliad y bydd biliau yn codi i bron i £3,000 y flwyddyn fesul cartref—rhywbeth nad oes gennym ni unrhyw reolaeth drosto—tybed pam nad yw'n bosibl cael rhaglen frys i ddiogelu'r aelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd. Beth yn union yw'r rhwystrau rhag cychwyn rhaglen insiwleiddio ar unwaith, gan dargedu'r aelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed sy'n byw yn y cartrefi sydd wedi'u hinswleiddio waethaf, sy'n tueddu i fod yn y sector preifat?
Llywydd, there are a series of measures the Welsh Government is taking to assist households with the escalating price of energy. But there are a series of barriers, I'm afraid, to instituting an emergency programme of household insulation. To begin with, we simply don't have the capital available to the Welsh Government to mount such a programme. Astonishingly, Llywydd, the capital available to the Welsh Government will reduce over the period of this Senedd. We will have less capital to invest in infrastructure of all sorts later in the Senedd term than we do now. And when the Chancellor announced his measures in May, I know the Member will recall that there was incredulity on the part of the industry that he did not announce a single penny of additional investment in energy efficiency and insulation measures. It was, the Financial Times said, just a footnote to his announcement, despite the fact that the director general of the Confederation of British Industry had called the day before for an all-out national effort on energy efficiency.
So, we simply lack the means to be able to mount an emergency programme. There are difficulties in implementing such a programme. Unfortunately, those properties that most need to be insulated don't deliver themselves in neatly organised bundles. They exist across the different sectors, clustered though, as the Member said, in the private rented sector. They exist across all geographies, and every home is different. Every home has a history of its own, a set of measures that have already been taken, and every home has to be individually assessed to make sure that the plan for it responds to those measures that have been taken in the past.
And then, thirdly, the third barrier to that sort of emergency programme is the skills deficit in the workforce. Successive UK Government schemes in this field have failed. David Cameron announced the Green Deal, aimed to insulate 14 million houses by 2020. That 14 million house scheme resulted in 14,000 loans being offered—14 million houses to be insulated; 14,000 loans altogether. The result is, Llywydd, that the supply chain, both in materials but also in skills, simply hasn't developed across the United Kingdom to the point where the very sensible suggestion put forward by the Member for Cardiff Central could be easily mounted by the Welsh Government.
Llywydd, mae cyfres o fesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gynorthwyo aelwydydd gyda phris cynyddol ynni. Ond mae cyfres o rwystrau, mae arnaf ofn, rhag sefydlu rhaglen frys o insiwleiddio cartrefi. I ddechrau, nid oes gennym y cyfalaf i fod ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnal rhaglen o'r fath. Yn rhyfeddol, Llywydd, bydd y cyfalaf sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru yn lleihau dros gyfnod y Senedd hon. Bydd gennym lai o gyfalaf i'w fuddsoddi mewn seilwaith o bob math yn ddiweddarach yn nhymor y Senedd nag sydd gennym yn awr. A phan gyhoeddodd y Canghellor ei fesurau ym mis Mai, rwy'n gwybod y bydd yr Aelod yn cofio bod y diwydiant yn methu â choelio na chyhoeddodd yr un geiniog o fuddsoddiad ychwanegol mewn mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni ac inswleiddio. Dywedodd y Financial Times mai dim mwy na throednodyn i'w gyhoeddiad oedd hwn, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod cyfarwyddwr cyffredinol Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain wedi galw'r diwrnod blaenorol am ymdrech genedlaethol fawr ynghylch effeithlonrwydd ynni.
Felly, nid oes gennym y modd i allu cynnal rhaglen argyfwng. Mae anawsterau o ran gweithredu rhaglen o'r fath. Yn anffodus, nid yw'r eiddo hynny y mae angen eu hinswleiddio fwyaf i'w cael mewn bwndeli wedi'u trefnu'n daclus. Maen nhw'n bodoli ar draws y gwahanol sectorau, ond wedi'u clystyru, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, yn y sector rhentu preifat. Maen nhw'n bodoli ar draws pob math o ddaearyddiaeth, ac mae pob cartref yn wahanol. Mae gan bob cartref ei hanes ei hun, cyfres o fesurau sydd eisoes wedi'u cymryd, ac mae'n rhaid asesu pob cartref yn unigol i sicrhau bod y cynllun ar ei gyfer yn ymateb i'r mesurau hynny sydd wedi'u cymryd yn y gorffennol.
Ac yna, yn drydydd, y trydydd rhwystr rhag y math hwnnw o raglen frys yw'r diffyg sgiliau yn y gweithlu. Mae cynlluniau dilynol gan Lywodraeth y DU yn y maes hwn wedi methu. Cyhoeddodd David Cameron y Fargen Werdd, gyda'r nod o inswleiddio 14 miliwn o dai erbyn 2020. Arweiniodd y cynllun hwnnw o 14 miliwn o dai at gynnig 14,000 o fenthyciadau—14 miliwn o dai i'w hinswleiddio; 14,000 o fenthyciadau yn gyfan gwbl. Y canlyniad yw, Llywydd, nad yw'r gadwyn gyflenwi, o ran deunyddiau nac o ran sgiliau chwaith, wedi datblygu ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig i'r pwynt lle y gallai'r awgrym synhwyrol iawn a gyflwynodd yr Aelod dros Ganol Caerdydd gael ei gyflwyno'n hawdd gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Between now and 2028, Wales will need to recruit, on average, an additional 2,000 full-time equivalent workers to carry out the highly technical challenge of decarbonising homes in Wales. Now, during a recent Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting, Mark Bodger, from the Construction Industry Training Board, highlighted that there has always been an appetite for people to retrain and reskill in sectors that can improve and broaden their trade. He also identified a major untapped market—shockingly, only around 3 per cent of these workers are female. So, with the Welsh Government—yes, your Welsh Government, First Minister—failing to publish the net-zero skills action plan, and we're not set to see one until the winter of 2022, which is of course much too late because the cold, harsh weather will have kicked in by then, will you as the First Minister clarify why there has been such a delay to a plan being developed, and what steps are you taking to encourage women to take up decarbonisation roles? Diolch.
Rhwng nawr a 2028, bydd angen i Gymru recriwtio, ar gyfartaledd, 2,000 o weithwyr cyfwerth ag amser llawn ychwanegol i gyflawni'r her hynod dechnegol o ddatgarboneiddio cartrefi yng Nghymru. Nawr, yn ystod cyfarfod diweddar y Pwyllgor Newid hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith, tynnodd Mark Bodger o Fwrdd Hyfforddi'r Diwydiant Adeiladu, sylw at y ffaith y bu awydd erioed i bobl ailhyfforddi ac ailsgilio mewn sectorau a all wella ac ehangu eu masnach. Nododd hefyd farchnad fawr heb ei manteisio arni—er syndod, dim ond tua 3 y cant o'r gweithwyr hyn sy'n fenywod. Felly, gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru—ie, eich Llywodraeth chi, Prif Weinidog—wedi methu â chyhoeddi'r cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net, ac ni fyddwn yn gweld un tan aeaf 2022, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn llawer rhy hwyr oherwydd bydd y tywydd oer, garw wedi dechrau erbyn hynny, a wnewch chi, yn rhinwedd eich swydd yn Brif Weinidog, egluro pam y bu cymaint o oedi cyn datblygu cynllun, a pha gamau yr ydych yn eu cymryd i annog menywod i ymgymryd â swyddogaethau datgarboneiddio? Diolch.
Llywydd, I very much agree with the final point the Member made. The construction industry, unfortunately, continues to attract people from only part of Welsh society. And for women looking to work in it, too often it does not look like the sort of place that you would feel comfortable in working. Now, I do know that, through our colleges, real efforts are being made to attract young women into those occupations and to make them feel welcome, and for them to feel that the necessary adjustments are not adjustments that they need to make but adjustments that need to be made in the workplace so that those people feel that they would be welcome and that they would be able to make the contribution, which, I agree, is there to be made. Our new skills plan in this area has always been scheduled to be published by the end of this calendar year, and we remain on track, Llywydd, to do exactly that.
Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r pwynt olaf a wnaeth yr Aelod. Yn anffodus, mae'r diwydiant adeiladu yn parhau i ddenu pobl o ran o gymdeithas yn unig yng Nghymru. Ac i fenywod sy'n dymuno gweithio ynddo, yn rhy aml nid yw'n edrych fel y math o le y byddech yn teimlo'n gyfforddus yn gweithio ynddo. Nawr, rwyf i yn gwybod, drwy ein colegau, fod ymdrechion gwirioneddol yn cael eu gwneud i ddenu menywod ifanc i'r galwedigaethau hynny ac i wneud iddyn nhw deimlo bod croeso iddyn nhw, ac iddyn nhw deimlo nad yw'r addasiadau angenrheidiol yn rhai mae angen iddyn nhw eu gwneud ond yn addasiadau y mae angen eu gwneud yn y gweithle fel bod y bobl hynny'n teimlo y bydden nhw'n cael croeso ac y bydden nhw'n gallu gwneud y cyfraniad, sydd, rwy'n cytuno, angen ei wneud. Y bwriad erioed fu cyhoeddi ein cynllun sgiliau newydd yn y maes hwn erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn galendr hon, ac rydym yn parhau ar y trywydd iawn, Llywydd, i wneud hynny yn union.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiwn. Dŷn ni wedi clywed Llywodraethau yn sôn droeon am annog perchnogion i retroffitio, neu yn hyrwyddo dulliau adnewyddadwy i gynhyrchu ynni, fel paneli solar ar eu tai. Ond i nifer fawr o fy etholwyr i yn Nwyfor Meirionnydd, dydy'r un o'r opsiynau yma yn realistig, gan eu bod nhw'n byw mewn adeiladau sydd wedi cael eu cofrestru. Meddyliwch am bensaernïaeth hyfryd llefydd fel Dolgellau neu Faentwrog, er enghraifft. Mae perchnogion yr adeiladau yma'n dod ataf i'n gyson, yn mynegi rhwystredigaeth nad ydyn nhw'n medru gwneud dim i arbed eu costau ynni a sicrhau bod eu heiddo'n cyrraedd y safonau amgylcheddol angenrheidiol. Does dim hawl ganddyn nhw i gael double glazing neu baneli solar. Beth ydych chi am ei wneud, felly, i helpu'r bobl yma?
I thank Jenny Rathbone for the question. We've heard Governments many times talking about encouraging owners to retrofit or to use renewable means of producing energy, such as solar panels on their homes. But, for many of my constituents in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, neither of those options is realistic, because they live in buildings that are listed. Think of the wonderful architecture of Dolgellau or Maentwrog, for example. The owners of these homes come to me regularly, expressing frustration that they can do nothing to save on their energy costs and ensure that their properties reach the necessary environmental requirements. They can't have double glazing or solar panels. So, what will you do to help these people?
Well, Llywydd, I understand exactly the point the Member is making about the nature of construction of houses in parts of Wales; it's not confined to the part of Wales that the Member represents. And we have local authorities who have put forward plans to us that allow us to help them to invest in novel and innovative technologies, that, even where the basic construction of a home doesn't lend itself to normal forms of insulation, there are still things that can be done. It is not easy—I do not for a moment suggest that, in the types of houses to which Mabon ap Gwynfor has referred, there are easy solutions in this matter. But we continue to work with the industry and with local authorities, where they are able to come forward with innovative proposals, to try to find solutions for people whose homes, by the nature of their construction, mean that conventional means of insulation simply won't work for them.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n deall yn union y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud ynghylch natur adeiladu tai mewn rhannau o Gymru; nid yw wedi'i gyfyngu i'r rhan o Gymru y mae'r Aelod yn ei chynrychioli. Ac mae gennym ni awdurdodau lleol sydd wedi cyflwyno cynlluniau i ni sy'n caniatáu i ni eu helpu i fuddsoddi mewn technolegau newydd ac arloesol, fel bod pethau y gellir eu gwneud hyd yn oed lle nad yw adeiladwaith sylfaenol cartref yn addas ar gyfer mathau arferol o insiwleiddio. Nid yw'n hawdd—nid wyf am eiliad yn awgrymu, yn y mathau o dai y mae Mabon ap Gwynfor wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw, fod atebion hawdd yn y mater hwn. Ond rydym yn parhau i weithio gyda'r diwydiant a gydag awdurdodau lleol, lle maen nhw'n gallu cyflwyno cynigion arloesol, i geisio dod o hyd i atebion i bobl y mae eu cartrefi, oherwydd y ffordd y cawsant eu hadeiladu, yn anaddas ar gyfer dulliau confensiynol o inswleiddio.
2. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi bwyd ym Mlaenau Gwent? OQ58183
2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle food poverty in Blaenau Gwent? OQ58183
Llywydd, I thank Alun Davies for that question. Sustained investment in community food projects, including foodbanks, together with schemes to alleviate holiday hunger, are amongst the actions being taken in Blaenau Gwent. As an area with high levels of in-work poverty, it will be at the forefront of our commitment to free school meals for all primary-aged pupils.
Llywydd, rwy'n diolch i Alun Davies am y cwestiwn yna. Mae buddsoddiad parhaus mewn prosiectau bwyd cymunedol, gan gynnwys banciau bwyd, ynghyd â chynlluniau i leihau llwgu yn ystod y gwyliau, ymysg y camau sy'n cael eu cymryd ym Mlaenau Gwent. Fel ardal sydd â lefelau uchel o dlodi mewn gwaith, bydd yn flaenllaw yn ein hymrwymiad i gael prydau ysgol am ddim i bob disgybl oedran cynradd.
I'm grateful to the First Minister for that response. I think people across Blaenau Gwent and elsewhere are very grateful that they've got a Welsh Government that stands up for them. I'm aware that it was a visit to Blaenau Gwent that prompted the First Minister's thinking on issues around fuel poverty as well. But we are also aware that the Tory-created cost-of-living crisis is having a real impact—[Interruption.] Well, the Tories laugh about it, but they always laugh at poverty—
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb yna. Rwy'n credu bod pobl ar draws Blaenau Gwent ac mewn mannau eraill yn ddiolchgar iawn bod ganddyn nhw Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n sefyll drostyn nhw. Rwy'n ymwybodol mai ymweliad â Blaenau Gwent a ysgogodd syniadau'r Prif Weinidog ar faterion yn ymwneud â thlodi tanwydd hefyd. Ond rydym hefyd yn ymwybodol bod yr argyfwng costau byw y mae'r Torïaid wedi ei greu yn cael effaith wirioneddol—[Torri ar draws.] Wel, mae'r Torïaid yn chwerthin am y peth, ond maen nhw bob amser yn chwerthin am ben tlodi—
We see them smirk.
Rydym yn eu gweld nhw'n cilwenu.
—and they always laugh when people are suffering.
—ac maen nhw bob amser yn chwerthin pan fydd pobl yn dioddef.
We see them smirking.
Rydym yn eu gweld nhw'n cilwenu.
And that is why—and that is why—they're sitting where they're sitting, and they will continue to sit where they're sitting. It is important—it is important, it is important—First Minister, that the people of Blaenau Gwent have a Government that stands with them and by their side. Can you outline to us this afternoon how the Welsh Government will continue to support people who are being affected by this cost-of-living crisis?
A dyna pam—a dyna pam—maen nhw'n eistedd lle maen nhw'n eistedd, a byddan nhw'n parhau i eistedd lle maen nhw'n eistedd. Mae yn bwysig—mae yn bwysig, mae yn bwysig—Prif Weinidog, fod gan bobl Blaenau Gwent Lywodraeth sy'n sefyll gyda nhw ac ochr yn ochr â nhw. A wnewch chi amlinellu i ni y prynhawn yma sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gefnogi pobl y mae'r argyfwng costau byw hwn yn effeithio arnyn nhw?
Well, I thank Alun Davies for that question, Llywydd. It was a pleasure to visit with him, back in April, the Star Centre at the old Sirhowy infants school in Tredegar and to see the fantastic work that was being done as a distribution centre for food in the pandemic generally and now to focus upon those whose needs are the greatest. But the Member is right, Llywydd, that it was a visit to Ebbw Vale by my colleague Jane Hutt, back on 13 May, that has led, within four weeks, to the Welsh Government being able to fund and organise a national fuel bank scheme, and I congratulate those people in Ebbw Vale who have been pioneers in this. And, as a result of their work, we'll now be in a position to provide that help right across our nation. That extra help will be targeted towards people with prepayment meters and households not connected to mains gas.
Standing charges, Llywydd, I think are one of the scandals of the energy industry, and particularly so for people on prepayment meters. When you run out of credit and you're unable to heat your home, that standing charge continues to rack up day after day. So, when you are able to find money to top up the meter again, you find that a significant part of what you've been able to draw together has already been spent. And we know that standing charges in north Wales are the highest in the whole of the United Kingdom, and are at the top end of that distribution in south Wales as well. That's why the scheme, unveiled by my colleague Jane Hutt, with nearly £4 million-worth of investment, and now working with the Fuel Bank Foundation, will allow us to provide emergency help for people who are at the very sharpest end of the fuel crisis, and is a very practical demonstration of the point that Alun Davies made—that here in Wales there is a Government determined to go on looking all the time for those practical ways in which we can make a difference in those people's lives.
Wel, diolch i Alun Davies am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Roedd yn bleser ymweld gydag ef, yn ôl ym mis Ebrill, â Chanolfan Star yn hen ysgol fabanod Sirhywi yn Nhredegar a gweld y gwaith gwych a oedd yn cael ei wneud fel canolfan ddosbarthu bwyd yn ystod y pandemig yn gyffredinol ac yn awr i ganolbwyntio ar y rhai sydd â'r anghenion mwyaf. Ond mae'r Aelod yn iawn, Llywydd, mai ymweliad gan fy nghyd-Weinidog Jane Hutt â Glynebwy yn ôl ar 13 Mai, sydd wedi arwain, o fewn pedair wythnos, at allu Llywodraeth Cymru i ariannu a threfnu cynllun banc tanwydd cenedlaethol, ac rwy'n llongyfarch y bobl hynny yng Nglynebwy sydd wedi bod yn arloeswyr yn hyn o beth. Ac, o ganlyniad i'w gwaith, byddwn mewn sefyllfa bellach i ddarparu'r cymorth hwnnw ar draws ein cenedl. Bydd y cymorth ychwanegol hwnnw yn cael ei dargedu at bobl sydd â mesuryddion rhagdalu ac aelwydydd nad ydyn nhw wedi'u cysylltu â'r prif gyflenwad nwy.
Mae taliadau sefydlog, Llywydd, yn fy marn i, yn un o sgandalau'r diwydiant ynni, ac yn arbennig felly i bobl ar fesuryddion rhagdalu. Pan fyddwch yn brin o gredyd ac yn methu â chynhesu eich cartref, mae'r tâl sefydlog hwnnw'n parhau i godi ddydd ar ôl dydd. Felly, pan ddowch o hyd i arian i'w roi yn y mesurydd eto, rydych chi'n gweld bod rhan sylweddol o'r hyn yr ydych chi wedi gallu ei gasglu eisoes wedi'i wario. Ac rydym yn gwybod mai taliadau sefydlog yn y gogledd yw'r uchaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan, a'u bod ym mhen uchaf y dosbarthiad hwnnw yn y de hefyd. Dyna pam y bydd y cynllun, a gyflwynwyd gan fy nghyd-Weinidog Jane Hutt, gyda buddsoddiad gwerth bron i £4 miliwn, ac sydd bellach yn gweithio gyda'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd, yn caniatáu i ni ddarparu cymorth brys i bobl sy'n dioddef fwyaf yn sgil yr argyfwng tanwydd, ac sy'n enghraifft ymarferol iawn o'r pwynt a wnaeth Alun Davies—fod yma yng Nghymru, Lywodraeth sy'n benderfynol o fynd ati i edrych drwy'r amser am y ffyrdd ymarferol hynny fel y gallwn wneud gwahaniaeth ym mywydau'r bobl hynny.
First Minister, the pandemic crisis has pushed many families in Blaenau Gwent and elsewhere into hardship and exposes the severity of the UK's food poverty problem, a problem that I cannot deny has been exacerbated by current increases in the cost of living. Last month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced a package of measures to help the most vulnerable people in Wales, including a one-off £650 payment to low-income households on universal credit, tax credits and legacy benefits, one-off payments of £300 to pensioner households, and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits. This new cost-of-living support package will mean that the most vulnerable households in Wales will receive over £1,000 of extra support this year. So, First Minister, will you join me in welcoming these measures, which deliver significant targeted support to those on low incomes, pensioners and disabled people—groups who are most vulnerable to the rising prices in Blaenau Gwent and throughout Wales? Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, mae argyfwng y pandemig wedi gwthio llawer o deuluoedd ym Mlaenau Gwent ac mewn mannau eraill i galedi ac mae'n amlygu difrifoldeb problem tlodi bwyd y DU, problem na allaf wadu sydd wedi ei gwaethygu gan y cynnydd presennol mewn costau byw. Fis diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Canghellor y Trysorlys, Rishi Sunak, becyn o fesurau i helpu'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys taliad untro o £650 i aelwydydd incwm isel ar gredyd cynhwysol, credydau treth a budd-daliadau etifeddol, taliadau untro o £300 i aelwydydd sy'n bensiynwyr, a £150 i unigolion sy'n cael budd-daliadau anabledd. Bydd y pecyn cymorth costau byw newydd hwn yn golygu y bydd yr aelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru yn cael dros £1,000 o gymorth ychwanegol eleni. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i groesawu'r mesurau hyn, sy'n darparu cymorth sylweddol wedi ei dargedu at y rhai hynny ar incwm isel, pensiynwyr a phobl anabl—grwpiau sydd fwyaf agored i niwed oherwydd cynnydd mewn prisiau ym Mlaenau Gwent a ledled Cymru? Diolch yn fawr.
Well, Llywydd, I'm glad for any help that goes to those people who are in the most difficult sets of circumstances. But let's be clear with the Member that the money going to people who rely on universal credit just about makes up for the cut of over £1,000 that was put into those households in September of last year. They're no better off now than they were then. The Chancellor simply restored what he decided they didn't need back in September. And this package, which is too little and too late, also is very badly targeted. The Member talked about the most vulnerable households. Does she know that, in Wales, if you have a second home, you will receive the Chancellor's £400 contribution to your fuel bill this winter? Does she think that that is a sensible use of public money, that we're putting £400 in the hands of people who can afford two homes when the people who can barely afford one home haven't got enough to manage on?
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n falch o unrhyw gymorth sy'n mynd i'r bobl hynny sydd yn y sefyllfaoedd anoddaf. Ond gadewch i ni fod yn glir gyda'r Aelod fod yr arian sy'n mynd i bobl sy'n dibynnu ar gredyd cynhwysol yn gwneud iawn am y toriad o dros £1,000 a wynebodd yr aelwydydd hynny ym mis Medi y llynedd. Nid ydyn nhw ddim gwell eu byd yn awr nag oedden nhw bryd hynny. Yn syml, adferodd y Canghellor yr hyn a benderfynodd nad oedd ei angen arnyn nhw yn ôl ym mis Medi. Ac mae'r pecyn hwn, sy'n rhy ychydig ac yn rhy hwyr, hefyd wedi ei dargedu'n wael iawn. Soniodd yr Aelod am yr aelwydydd mwyaf agored i niwed. Ydy hi'n gwybod, yng Nghymru, os oes gennych chi ail gartref, y cewch chi gyfraniad y Canghellor o £400 tuag at eich bil tanwydd y gaeaf hwn? Ydy hi'n credu bod hynny'n ddefnydd synhwyrol o arian cyhoeddus, ein bod ni'n rhoi £400 yn nwylo pobl sy'n gallu fforddio dau gartref pan nad oes gan y bobl sydd prin yn gallu fforddio un cartref, ddigon i fyw arno?
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. Leader of the Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. With your permission, as it's the fortieth anniversary of the Falklands conflict, and today is the day that the cessation of hostilities was declared in the Falkland islands, I'd like to put my Conservative group's thanks to the servicemen and women who went out in 1982 and commemorate those who lost their lives—the 255 British men and women who lost their lives in that conflict, plus the three Falkland islanders themselves, but also the Argentinian soldiers who lost their lives as well. All war is a horrid function, but, ultimately, when the aggression of the dictatorship that was in Argentina that was perpetrated in 1982 was faced down, it had to be faced down by our military, who we time and time again call on to do that across the globe. I'd like to put on record our sincere thanks and gratitude, and our thanks also to the families that are left behind for the loved ones who will not return.
First Minister, it is also today the date that, five years ago, the Grenfell Tower happened in London, that terrible tragedy of the smouldering inferno that is glued into our images and the suffering that occurred at that time. The Minister was to have a statement today that has been withdrawn off the order paper. I'd be grateful if you could enlighten the Chamber today as to what actions the Government is taking to make sure that people in Wales who suffer from the cladding scandal are going to feel supported by the Welsh Government and supported so they can sleep at night?
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Gyda'ch caniatâd, gan ei bod yn ddeugain mlynedd ers gwrthdaro Ynysoedd Falkland, a heddiw yw'r diwrnod y datganwyd y byddai'r ymladd ar Ynysoedd Falkland yn dod i ben, ar ran fy ngrŵp Ceidwadol hoffwn ddiolch i'r milwyr a aeth allan ym 1982 a choffáu'r rhai a gollodd eu bywydau—y 255 o ddynion a menywod o Brydain a gollodd eu bywydau yn y gwrthdaro hwnnw, yn ogystal â thri o drigolion Ynysoedd Falkland eu hunain, ond hefyd y milwyr o'r Ariannin a gollodd eu bywydau hefyd. Mae pob rhyfel yn erchyll, ond, yn y pen draw, pan wynebwyd ymosodiad gan unbennaeth yr Ariannin ym 1982, bu'n rhaid i'n lluoedd arfog ei hwynebu. Rydym yn galw arnyn nhw dro ar ôl tro i wneud hynny ledled y byd. Hoffwn gofnodi ein diolch a'n diolchgarwch diffuant, a'n diolch hefyd i'r teuluoedd sy'n galaru am eu hanwyliaid na fyddan nhw'n dod yn ôl.
Prif Weinidog, heddiw hefyd yw'r dyddiad, bum mlynedd yn ôl pan ddigwyddodd tân Tŵr Grenfell yn Llundain, y drasiedi ofnadwy honno, y tân yn mudlosgi, delweddau sy'n aros yn ein meddyliau a'r dioddefaint a ddigwyddodd bryd hynny. Roedd y Gweinidog i fod i roi datganiad heddiw ond mae wedi ei dynnu yn ôl oddi ar y papur trefn. Byddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe baech yn egluro i'r Siambr heddiw ba gamau y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod pobl yng Nghymru sy'n dioddef o'r sgandal cladin yn mynd i deimlo eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'u cefnogi er mwyn iddyn nhw allu cysgu'r nos?
I thank the leader of the opposition for those questions, and of course share what he said in opening his questions this afternoon. This is the fortieth anniversary of the Falklands war. It is right that we use this opportunity to think both of those people who served directly in that conflict, but also the families of those people who never returned from the Falklands. I will be at Llandaff cathedral on Thursday, I've no doubt the leader of the opposition will be there too, and we'll see a bringing together of the military community in Wales, with others, in order to have a solemn moment of reflection. And I know that there are events in north Wales involving the armed forces as well. So, I entirely associate myself with his remarks in marking this occasion.
There was to be a statement today, Llywydd. It's five years since the Grenfell fire exactly. We took the decision not to make the statement, partly in order to respect that anniversary and to allow people's thoughts to be with those families who in that event too saw lives being lost and futures being scarred. The Minister will make a statement later in the month and that will update colleagues here in the Chamber on our repair programme. It will bring people up to date on the 248 expressions of interest we received earlier in the year and the 100 properties that have needed more intensive and intrusive survey work to be carried out, and on the investment that will now be made in those properties before the end of this financial year.
We will also, as we have said, bring forward our leasehold programme before the end of this month, and that will set out details of ways in which leaseholders who have been badly affected by the worth of their properties on the open market as a result of anxieties about the standards to which those buildings were completed—how we will help them as well. But, alongside that immediate repair work, we also have a reform programme, and that reform programme is fundamentally important, because what we cannot have is a system that in future just sees the difficulties caused in the past replicated. We will introduce a series of changes to the regulatory regime here in Wales to make sure that those who bear the responsibility for the problems that have been established, and that does not include those people who live in those properties—that those people who bear that responsibility will live up to those responsibilities in the future.
Diolch i arweinydd yr wrthblaid am y cwestiynau yna, ac wrth gwrs rwy'n rhannu'r hyn a ddywedodd wrth agor ei gwestiynau y prynhawn yma. Mae'n ddeugain mlynedd ers rhyfel Ynysoedd Falkland. Mae'n iawn ein bod yn defnyddio'r cyfle hwn i feddwl am y bobl hynny a wasanaethodd yn uniongyrchol yn y gwrthdaro hwnnw, ond hefyd am deuluoedd y bobl hynny na wnaethon nhw ddychwelyd o Ynysoedd Falkland. Byddaf yn eglwys gadeiriol Llandaf ddydd Iau, rwy'n siŵr y bydd arweinydd yr wrthblaid yno hefyd, a byddwn yn gweld y gymuned filwrol yng Nghymru, ac eraill, yn dod at ei gilydd i fyfyrio'n ddwys. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod digwyddiadau yn y gogledd sy'n cynnwys y lluoedd arfog hefyd. Felly, rwy'n cysylltu fy hun yn llwyr â'i sylwadau wrth nodi'r achlysur hwn.
Roedd datganiad i fod heddiw, Llywydd. Mae'n union bum mlynedd ers tân Grenfell. Gwnaethom y penderfyniad i beidio â gwneud y datganiad, yn rhannol er mwyn parchu'r pen-blwydd hwnnw a chaniatáu i feddyliau pobl fod gyda'r teuluoedd hynny a welodd golled bywydau yn y digwyddiad hwnnw hefyd a dyfodol pobl yn cael ei greithio. Bydd y Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiad yn ddiweddarach yn y mis a bydd hynny'n rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i fy nghyd-Aelodau yma yn y Siambr am ein rhaglen atgyweirio. Bydd yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i bobl am y 248 o ddatganiadau o ddiddordeb a gawsom yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn a'r 100 o eiddo y mae angen gwaith arolygu mwy dwys ac ymwthiol arnyn nhw, ac am y buddsoddiad a fydd yn cael ei wneud bellach yn yr eiddo hynny cyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Byddwn hefyd, fel yr ydym wedi ei ddweud, yn cyflwyno ein rhaglen lesddaliad cyn diwedd y mis hwn, a bydd hynny'n nodi manylion am ffyrdd y gall lesddeiliaid yr effeithiwyd yn wael ar werth eu heiddo ar y farchnad agored o ganlyniad i bryderon ynghylch safonau adeiladu'r adeiladau hynny—sut y byddwn yn eu helpu nhw hefyd. Ond, ochr yn ochr â'r gwaith atgyweirio uniongyrchol hwnnw, mae gennym ni raglen ddiwygio hefyd, ac mae'r rhaglen ddiwygio honno'n sylfaenol bwysig, oherwydd yr hyn na allwn ei gael yw system sy'n gweld yr anawsterau a achoswyd yn y gorffennol yn cael eu hailadrodd yn y dyfodol. Byddwn yn cyflwyno cyfres o newidiadau i'r drefn reoleiddio yma yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n gyfrifol am y problemau sydd wedi'u cadarnhau, ac nid yw hynny'n cynnwys y bobl hynny sy'n byw yn yr eiddo—y bydd y bobl hynny sydd â'r cyfrifoldeb hwnnw'n cydnabod y cyfrifoldebau hynny yn y dyfodol.
First Minister, I'm pleased in some respects to hear the reasoning, because I think some of us were a little sceptical that little progress had been made on this very important agenda item, and I hear the reasoning that you're saying is out of due respect to the victims of the Grenfell fire that obviously was five years today. I would hope that, at the earliest opportunity, therefore, the Government will bring this statement forward, so that those who are tied up in this horrible, horrible vortex that they find themselves in, where they feel helpless, and yet bills are landing on their doormats and leasehold demands, and yet they go to bed at night, living in what could potentially be a fire keg, because the cladding on their properties has not been replaced, and is still in existence here in Wales, and across many parts of Wales, in fact—. The Minister announced £375 million at the end of March. Are you in a position to confirm how much of that money has been allocated already, and where has it been allocated to? And if it hasn't been allocated, what is the timeline to issue that money out to people who can benefit from it? Because I recognise it is a significant investment, £375 million, but it's no good sitting in Welsh Government coffers; it needs to be delivered to home owners, so that they can put restitution measures in place.
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n falch i ryw raddau o glywed y rhesymeg, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod rhai ohonom braidd yn amheus mai ychydig o gynnydd a wnaed ar yr eitem bwysig iawn hon ar yr agenda, ac rwy'n clywed y rhesymeg yr ydych yn ei fynegi o ddangos parch dyledus i ddioddefwyr tân Grenfell a oedd yn amlwg bum mlynedd i heddiw. Byddwn i'n gobeithio, ar y cyfle cyntaf, felly, y bydd y Llywodraeth yn cyflwyno'r datganiad hwn, fel bod y rhai sy'n sownd yn y trobwll erchyll, erchyll hwn y maen nhw ynddo, lle maen nhw'n teimlo'n ddiymadferth, ac eto mae biliau'n glanio ar eu matiau drws ynghyd â hawliadau lesddaliad, ac eto maen nhw'n mynd i'r gwely gyda'r nos, yn byw yn yr hyn a allai fod yn gasgen dân, gan nad yw'r cladin ar eu heiddo wedi'i waredu, ac mae'n dal i fodoli yma yng Nghymru, ac mewn sawl rhan o Gymru, mewn gwirionedd—. Cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog £375 miliwn ddiwedd mis Mawrth. A ydych chi mewn sefyllfa i gadarnhau faint o'r arian hwnnw sydd eisoes wedi ei ddyrannu, ac i le y mae wedi ei ddyrannu? Ac os nad yw wedi ei ddyrannu, beth yw'r amserlen ar gyfer rhoi'r arian hwnnw i bobl a all fanteisio arno? Oherwydd, rwy'n cydnabod ei fod yn fuddsoddiad sylweddol, £375 miliwn, ond nid yw o unrhyw werth yn eistedd yng nghoffrau Llywodraeth Cymru; mae angen ei gyflwyno i berchnogion cartrefi, fel y gallan nhw roi mesurau adfer ar waith.
Well, I absolutely agree with that final point: we want the money to leave the Welsh Government and to be doing the good that it's intended to do as fast as possible; it's for spending over three years. Can I make just one specific point to the leader of the opposition? This money is not just for cladding, and this is a big difference between the approach we are taking in Wales and the approach being taken elsewhere. Cladding is only one of the building defects that causes a risk of fire in those blocks. Compartmentalisation is another feature of the way in which buildings were not built according to the standards that would've kept people safe, and there were other aspects as well. So, our approach will offer a more comprehensive set of measures. That's why we have to have the surveys. I know it's frustrating; I imagine it must be hugely frustrating for people who are living in those conditions. The message we have to give to them is that by doing it properly, they will end up in a better position for the long run. That's why the surveys are important, that's why the detailed work is necessary. It will draw together not just the work to be done on cladding, but those other remedial actions that need to be taken. And then we need to see—and I know the leader of the opposition will agree with this—then we need to see those companies that were responsible for the work that was not carried out in the first place come to the table and to make their contribution. I pay tribute to those companies that have done so already, and there are companies in Wales who are playing their part; there are others who are not yet willing even to have a discussion, and the Minister wrote very recently to them again, calling them round the table, so that, alongside the money that the public will now provide, those companies that have profited from the sale and the construction of those properties make their contribution as well.
Wel, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r pwynt olaf yna: rydym eisiau i'r arian adael Llywodraeth Cymru a gwneud lles yn unol â'i fwriad cyn gynted â phosibl; mae i'w wario dros dair blynedd. A gaf i wneud un pwynt penodol i arweinydd yr wrthblaid? Nid ar gyfer cladin yn unig y mae'r arian hwn, ac mae hyn yn wahaniaeth mawr rhwng y dull yr ydym yn ei fabwysiadu yng Nghymru a'r dull sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio mewn mannau eraill. Dim ond un o'r diffygion adeiladu sy'n achosi risg o dân yn y blociau hynny yw cladin. Mae adrannu yn nodwedd arall o'r ffordd na chafodd adeiladau eu hadeiladu yn unol â'r safonau a fyddai wedi cadw pobl yn ddiogel, ac roedd agweddau eraill hefyd. Felly, bydd ein dull gweithredu yn cynnig cyfres fwy cynhwysfawr o fesurau. Dyna pam mae'n rhaid i ni gael yr arolygon. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn peri rhwystredigaeth; rwy'n dychmygu ei fod yn rhwystredig iawn i bobl sy'n byw o dan yr amodau hynny. Y neges y mae'n rhaid i ni ei rhoi iddyn nhw yw y byddan nhw, drwy wneud pethau'n iawn, mewn gwell sefyllfa yn y pen draw yn y tymor hir. Dyna pam mae'r arolygon yn bwysig, dyna pam mae'r gwaith manwl yn angenrheidiol. Bydd yn dwyn ynghyd nid yn unig y gwaith sydd i'w wneud ar gladin, ond y camau adferol eraill hynny y mae angen eu cymryd. Ac yna mae angen i ni weld—ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn cytuno â hyn—yna mae angen i ni weld y cwmnïau hynny a oedd yn gyfrifol am y gwaith nad oedd wedi ei wneud yn y lle cyntaf yn dod at y bwrdd ac yn cyfrannu. Rwy'n talu teyrnged i'r cwmnïau hynny sydd wedi gwneud hynny eisoes, ac mae cwmnïau yng Nghymru sy'n chwarae eu rhan; mae eraill nad ydyn nhw'n fodlon cael trafodaeth hyd yn oed ar hyn o bryd, ac ysgrifennodd y Gweinidog yn ddiweddar iawn atyn nhw eto, gan eu galw o amgylch y bwrdd, er mwyn i'r cwmnïau hynny sydd wedi elwa ar werthu ac adeiladu'r eiddo hynny, ochr yn ochr â'r arian y bydd y cyhoedd yn ei ddarparu bellach, wneud cyfraniad hefyd.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister, but I didn't hear how much of that money had been allocated to date, which I think is important to give people confidence that the money is leaving the Welsh Government, albeit it might be to specific projects. And I fully understand that it does go to more than just cladding, but for many people, the cladding is the issue that they can quite clearly focus on, but compartmentalisation and other factors in the properties to be put right is another important aspect of this funding. But if you could, in your reply to me, highlight how much of this money has left Welsh Government coffers, I think that would give people confidence.
When you talk about developers being brought to the table, that is really important. And other parts of the United Kingdom have developed the strategy—the UK Government, for example, has brought those developers to the table, and significant sums of money have been earmarked to rectify the defects. I have an FOI here that indicates that, through the entire part of 2021, the Minister only met on three occasions with the developers, and those meetings were 45 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes in total. Now, I have had engagement with the Minister, and I know how focused she is on this particular issue—indeed, from a constituency point of view, she does have issues in her own constituency—so I fully understand the direction that she's giving here. But when you see an FOI such as this, which indicates only three meetings taking place of such limited duration, and listing the developers that have engaged with the process, can you confirm to me, First Minister, that Welsh Government is making progress on holding these developers to account, making sure that they contribute to those restoration costs here in Wales, and that there is a stepping up of the intensity that the Welsh Government is using to make sure that those developers are held to account to put money into the system so that residents aren't waking up to a fire alarm, they're waking up to a bedside alarm instead?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog, ond ni chlywais faint o'r arian hwnnw sydd wedi ei ddyrannu hyd yma, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn bwysig er mwyn rhoi hyder i bobl bod yr arian yn gadael Llywodraeth Cymru, er y gallai fod ar gyfer prosiectau penodol. Ac rwy'n deall yn iawn ei fod ar gyfer mwy na chladin yn unig, ond i lawer o bobl, y cladin yw'r mater y gallan nhw ganolbwyntio arno yn amlwg, ond mae adrannu a ffactorau eraill yn yr eiddo sydd i'w cywiro yn agwedd bwysig arall ar y cyllid hwn. Ond os gallwch chi, yn eich ateb i mi, dynnu sylw at faint o'r arian hwn sydd wedi gadael coffrau Llywodraeth Cymru, rwy'n credu y byddai hynny'n rhoi hyder i bobl.
Pan fyddwch chi'n sôn am ddatblygwyr yn cael eu dwyn i'r bwrdd, mae hynny'n bwysig iawn. Ac mae rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig wedi datblygu'r strategaeth—mae Llywodraeth y DU, er enghraifft, wedi dod â'r datblygwyr hynny at y bwrdd, ac mae symiau sylweddol o arian wedi eu clustnodi i unioni'r diffygion. Mae gen i ddatgeliad rhyddid gwybodaeth yma sy'n dangos, drwy gydol 2021, mai dim ond ar dri achlysur y cyfarfu'r Gweinidog â'r datblygwyr, a bod y cyfarfodydd hynny'n 45 munud, 45 munud a 60 munud i gyd. Nawr, rwyf wedi ymgysylltu â'r Gweinidog, ac rwy'n gwybod bod ei sylw hi wedi'i hoelio ar y mater penodol hwn—yn wir, o safbwynt etholaeth, mae ganddi broblemau yn ei hetholaeth ei hun—felly rwy'n deall yn iawn y cyfarwyddyd y mae'n ei roi yma. Ond pan welwch chi ddatgeliad rhyddid gwybodaeth fel hwn, sy'n dangos mai dim ond tri chyfarfod sydd wedi digwydd dros gyfnod mor gyfyngedig ac sy'n rhestru'r datblygwyr sydd wedi ymgysylltu â'r broses, a wnewch chi gadarnhau i mi, Prif Weinidog, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud cynnydd o ran dwyn y datblygwyr hyn i gyfrif, gan sicrhau eu bod yn cyfrannu at y costau adfer hynny yma yng Nghymru, a bod cynnydd yn y dwysedd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddefnyddio i sicrhau bod y datblygwyr hynny'n cael eu dwyn i gyfrif i roi arian i mewn i'r system fel nad yw trigolion yn cael eu deffro gan larwm tân, ond eu bod yn cael eu deffro gan larwm wrth ochr y gwely?
Three points in reply to those questions, Llywydd. I don't have the figure in front of me and I don't just want to guess it from memory. Money is being spent from the £375 million, and I'll make sure that the Member has the accurate figure of what has been spent so far on the survey work and is due to be spent on the remedial and repair work during the rest of this calendar year.
On the meetings, I think the Minister has met regularly with the industry and that is in addition to all the meetings that take place at official level. I can assure the Member, as I'm sure he knows, that a 60-minute meeting with the Minister will have left those companies in no doubt at all about what was expected of them.
In relation to what more can be done with the companies, let me say we were disappointed that in the Bill that went through the House of Commons, the UK Government at the very last minute put in new provisions to raise a levy on those companies and didn't include either Scotland or Wales within those arrangements, despite the fact that, separately, both Scotland and Wales wrote to the UK Government asking to be included. On a more positive note, though, let me say that there was a meeting yesterday under the new inter-governmental relations arrangements involving Michael Gove, the Minister here and the Minister in Scotland as well, which discussed all of that and has resulted in an agreement that further work will be done to see whether it will be possible for us to be included within the scheme that we had hoped to be part of. So, I'm hoping that that work will now bear fruit and that that will give us the extra tool that is available now to Ministers in England, and that could have been made available in Scotland and in Wales. We don't have it at the moment; I hope the work that's been put in hand will result in us having that power and that that will allow us to do what the leader of the opposition has suggested and to accelerate our ability to draw those companies who have so far been reluctant to live up to their responsibilities back around that table.
Tri phwynt wrth ateb y cwestiynau yna, Llywydd. Nid yw'r ffigur gen i o fy mlaen ac nid wyf i eisiau ei ddyfalu o fy nghof. Mae arian yn cael ei wario o'r £375 miliwn, a byddaf yn sicrhau bod gan yr Aelod y ffigur cywir o ran yr hyn sydd wedi ei wario hyd yn hyn ar y gwaith arolygu ac a fydd yn cael ei wario ar y gwaith adfer ac atgyweirio yn ystod gweddill y flwyddyn galendr hon.
O ran y cyfarfodydd, rwy'n credu bod y Gweinidog wedi cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â'r diwydiant a bod hynny yn ychwanegol at yr holl gyfarfodydd sy'n digwydd ar lefel swyddogol. Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod, fel y mae'n ei wybod rwy'n siŵr, y bydd cyfarfod 60 munud gyda'r Gweinidog wedi gadael y cwmnïau hynny heb unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl am yr hyn a ddisgwylir ganddyn nhw.
O ran beth arall y gellir ei wneud gyda'r cwmnïau, gadewch i mi ddweud ein bod ni wedi ein siomi bod Llywodraeth y DU, yn y Bil a aeth drwy Dŷ'r Cyffredin, ar y funud olaf un, wedi cyflwyno darpariaethau newydd i godi ardoll ar y cwmnïau hynny ac na wnaeth gynnwys yr Alban na Chymru yn y trefniadau hynny, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod yr Alban a Chymru, ar wahân, wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU yn gofyn am gael eu cynnwys. Ar nodyn mwy cadarnhaol, serch hynny, gadewch i mi ddweud y bu cyfarfod ddoe o dan y trefniadau cysylltiadau rhynglywodraethol newydd sy'n cynnwys Michael Gove, y Gweinidog yma a'r Gweinidog yn yr Alban hefyd, a drafododd hynny i gyd ac sydd wedi arwain at gytundeb y bydd rhagor o waith yn cael ei wneud i weld a fydd yn bosibl i ni gael ein cynnwys yn y cynllun yr oeddem wedi gobeithio bod yn rhan ohono. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y gwaith hwnnw'n dwyn ffrwyth bellach ac y bydd hynny'n rhoi i ni'r offeryn ychwanegol sydd ar gael yn awr i Weinidogion yn Lloegr, ac y gellid bod wedi ei sicrhau ar gyfer yr Alban a Chymru. Nid yw hwn gennym ni ar hyn o bryd; rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y gwaith sydd wedi ei wneud yn golygu y bydd y pŵer hwnnw gennym ni ac y bydd hynny'n caniatáu i ni wneud yr hyn y mae arweinydd yr wrthblaid wedi ei awgrymu ac i gyflymu ein gallu i ddwyn y cwmnïau hynny sydd hyd yma wedi bod yn amharod i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau yn ôl o amgylch y bwrdd hwnnw.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Thank you, Llywydd. Gross domestic product is down in the UK for the second month running, an initial drop of 0.1 per cent in March followed by an unexpected slump of 0.3 per cent in April. Some would point to COVID and the war in Ukraine as the overriding reasons, but that doesn't explain why the UK is doing so much worse than other countries. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development the UK will next year stagnate and be the worst-performing economy among the group of seven leading industrialised nations by a significant margin. The Centre for European Reform last week said that Britain was £31 billion worse off than it would have been without the dual impact of Brexit and COVID, but that the bigger impact by far was the effect from Brexit. Isn't it the case that far from the promised sunlit uplands, Brexit is beginning to cast a long shadow on our economy at a time when we can least afford it?
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Mae cynnyrch domestig gros wedi gostwng yn y DU am yr ail fis yn olynol, gostyngiad cychwynnol o 0.1 y cant ym mis Mawrth ac yna cwymp annisgwyl o 0.3 y cant ym mis Ebrill. Byddai rhai'n cyfeirio at COVID a'r rhyfel yn Wcráin fel y prif resymau, ond nid yw hynny'n esbonio pam mae'r DU yn gwneud cymaint yn waeth na gwledydd eraill. Yn ôl y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, bydd y DU y flwyddyn nesaf yn aros yn ei hunfan a hi fydd yr economi sy'n perfformio waethaf ymysg y grŵp o saith gwlad ddiwydiannol flaenllaw o gryn dipyn. Dywedodd y Centre for European Reform yr wythnos diwethaf fod Prydain £31 biliwn yn waeth ei byd nag y byddai wedi bod heb effaith ddeuol Brexit a COVID, ond mai'r effaith fwyaf o bell ffordd oedd effaith Brexit. Onid yw'n wir, ymhell o fod yr ucheldiroedd heulog a addawyd, fod Brexit yn dechrau bwrw cysgod hir ar ein heconomi ar adeg pan allwn ei fforddio leiaf?
Llywydd, Adam Price is right, of course. Those were very concerning figures published yesterday, and for the first time since the pandemic began we've had two consecutive months in which GDP has fallen, and, for the first time, we see those falls across all three major sectors of the economy: the service sector shrunk, industrial production shrunk, manufacturing shrunk. These are not solely to be explained by the short-term shocks of the war in Ukraine and by COVID, the leader of Plaid Cymru is absolutely right. It is a recognised impact by the Bank of England and by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The UK economy is 4 per cent smaller than it would have been had we not decided to leave the European Union and will be perpetually. There is a very high price being paid by the UK economy for that decision, but it's not an impact that anybody should be surprised at, because this was pointed out well in advance, and we were told to disregard the views of experts. Well, I'm afraid that expertise is turning out to have been right all along.
Llywydd, mae Adam Price yn iawn, wrth gwrs. Roedd y ffigurau a gyhoeddwyd ddoe yn rhai i beri pryder mawr, ac am y tro cyntaf ers dechrau'r pandemig rydym ni wedi cael dau fis yn olynol pryd y mae cynnyrch domestig gros wedi gostwng, ac, am y tro cyntaf, rydym yn gweld y gostyngiadau hynny ar draws tri phrif sector yr economi: crebachodd y sector gwasanaeth, crebachodd cynhyrchu diwydiannol, crebachodd weithgynhyrchu. Ni ellir egluro'r rhain yn llwyr drwy feio ergydion tymor byr y rhyfel yn Wcráin a COVID, mae arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn llygad ei le. Mae'n effaith gydnabyddedig gan Fanc Lloegr a gan y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol. Mae economi'r DU bedwar y cant yn llai nag y byddai pe na baem wedi penderfynu gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a bydd hynny'n parhau. Mae economi'r DU yn talu pris uchel iawn am y penderfyniad hwnnw, ond nid yw'n effaith y dylai unrhyw un synnu ati, oherwydd nodwyd hyn ymhell ymlaen llaw, a dywedwyd wrthym am ddiystyru barn arbenigwyr. Wel, mae arnaf ofn bod arbenigedd wedi troi allan i fod yn iawn wedi'r cyfan.
Indeed. The First Minister is absolutely correct. Of course, even the Government's own advisory body, the Office for Budget Responsibility, made this very forecast, which has been borne out by the evidence presented. The latest regional gross domestic product figures show London and Northern Ireland are the only parts of the UK that have grown beyond pre-pandemic levels. As the economist Jonathan Portes has been quoted as saying:
'There is some emerging evidence that London’s economic dominance, and hence regional and geographical inequality, has, if anything, been further exacerbated by Brexit.'
So, not levelling up, but levelling down. And the one outrider outside of London, Northern Ireland, is, of course, within the single market. So, First Minister, do you think that's why they have performed better over the last two years compared to Wales and, indeed, every other part of the UK outside of London?
Yn wir. Mae'r Prif Weinidog yn hollol gywir. Wrth gwrs, gwnaeth hyd yn oed corff cynghori'r Llywodraeth ei hun, y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol, yr union ragolwg hwn, sydd wedi ei gadarnhau gan y dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd. Mae'r ffigurau cynnyrch domestig gros rhanbarthol diweddaraf yn dangos mai Llundain a Gogledd Iwerddon yw'r unig rannau o'r DU sydd wedi tyfu y tu hwnt i lefelau cyn y pandemig. Fel y dywedodd yr economegydd Jonathan Portes:
'Mae rhywfaint o dystiolaeth yn dod i'r amlwg bod uchafiaeth economaidd Llundain, ac felly anghydraddoldeb rhanbarthol a daearyddol, yn anad dim wedi ei gwaethygu yn fwy oherwydd Brexit.'
Felly, nid codi'r gwastad, ond gostwng y gwastad. Ac mae'r un sydd y tu allan i Lundain, Gogledd Iwerddon, wrth gwrs, yn y farchnad sengl. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a ydych yn credu mai dyna pam y maen nhw wedi perfformio'n well dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf o'u cymharu â Chymru ac, yn wir, bob rhan arall o'r DU y tu allan i Lundain?
Llywydd, I don't think there's any doubt at all—how could there be—that the availability of being within the single market is having that additional positive impact on the economy in Northern Ireland. Here in this Chamber, many of us advocated a form of Brexit recognising and respecting the result of the referendum but wanting a different form of Brexit, a Brexit that would not have been so damaging to people here in Wales, and continued membership of the single market, proposed, of course, by Mrs May, and a form of continuation in the customs union, would have allowed us to have left—[Interruption.]—would have allowed us to have left the political arrangements of the European Union—we would not have been members of it—but we would have continued to have been part of the trading arrangements with our nearest and most important neighbours, and that would undoubtedly have supported the Welsh economy in the way that the same arrangements can be seen to be supporting the economy in Northern Ireland.
Llywydd, nid wyf i'n credu bod unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl—sut y gellid bod amheuaeth—bod aros yn y farchnad sengl yn cael yr effaith gadarnhaol ychwanegol honno ar yr economi yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Yma yn y Siambr hon, roedd llawer ohonom o blaid math o Brexit, gan gydnabod a pharchu canlyniad y refferendwm ond yn dymuno math gwahanol o Brexit, Brexit na fyddai wedi bod mor niweidiol i bobl yma yng Nghymru, ac aelodaeth barhaus o'r farchnad sengl, a gynigiwyd, wrth gwrs, gan Mrs May, a math o barhad yn yr undeb tollau, a fyddai wedi caniatáu i ni adael—[Torri ar draws.]—a fyddai wedi caniatáu i ni adael trefniadau gwleidyddol yr Undeb Ewropeaidd—ni fyddem wedi bod yn aelodau ohono—ond byddem wedi parhau i fod yn rhan o'r trefniadau masnachu gyda'n cymdogion agosaf a phwysicaf, a byddai hynny'n sicr wedi cefnogi economi Cymru yn y ffordd y gellir gweld yr un trefniadau yn cefnogi'r economi yng Ngogledd Iwerddon.
Westminster, of course, is now risking a trade war over the Northern Ireland protocol, which will not just plunge Northern Ireland into political uncertainty but also add further to the economic pain families are already experiencing throughout the United Kingdom. Now, given that cost-of-living crisis and the challenges we're facing in every sector of the economy, as the First Minister said, in every part of the UK bar London, isn't there a very simple practical solution, which you've just alluded to, which is returning to the principle at the heart of 'Securing Wales' Future', the White Paper we jointly published between us, which is rejoining now the single market and the customs union, as even some Tory MPs have been arguing in the last couple of days? Indeed, even the former Member of the European Parliament, Baron Daniel Hannan, Baron Brexit, has been arguing we should never have left the single market now. Will you make that—? Is that still the policy of the Welsh Government, and will you make that case for single market membership, not just to Boris Johnson, but also, I should add, to the leader of the opposition, who's been a little bit vague on this question to date?
Mae San Steffan, wrth gwrs, bellach yn mentro dechrau rhyfel masnach dros brotocol Gogledd Iwerddon, a fydd nid yn unig yn plymio Gogledd Iwerddon i ansicrwydd gwleidyddol ond hefyd yn ychwanegu ymhellach at y boen economaidd y mae teuluoedd eisoes yn ei dioddef ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Nawr, o ystyried yr argyfwng costau byw hwnnw a'r heriau yr ydym yn eu hwynebu ym mhob sector o'r economi, fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog, ym mhob rhan o'r DU heblaw am Lundain, onid oes ateb ymarferol syml iawn, yr ydych newydd gyfeirio ato, sef dychwelyd at yr egwyddor sydd wrth wraidd 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru', y Papur Gwyn y gwnaethom ei gyhoeddi ar y cyd, sef ailymuno â'r farchnad sengl a'r undeb tollau nawr, fel y mae hyd yn oed rhai ASau Torïaidd wedi bod yn dadlau drosto yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf? Yn wir, mae hyd yn oed cyn-Aelod o Senedd Ewrop, y Barwn Daniel Hannan, Barwn Brexit, wedi bod yn dadlau na ddylem ni byth fod wedi gadael y farchnad sengl nawr. A wnewch chi—? Ai dyna yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru o hyd, ac a wnewch chi gyflwyno'r achos hwnnw dros aelodaeth o'r farchnad sengl, nid yn unig i Boris Johnson, ond hefyd, dylwn i ychwanegu, at arweinydd yr wrthblaid, sydd wedi bod ychydig yn amwys ynghylch y cwestiwn hwn hyd yma?
Well, Llywydd, I continue to believe that, if Wales and the United Kingdom were inside the single market, all those barriers to trade that we see doing such harm to the Welsh manufacturing industry and to Welsh agriculture, those will be removed. It's an inescapable fact that our nearest and biggest trading partners are still in the European Union. Now, trade with them—. Uniquely, as you will remember, nobody was able to find a single example of a treaty agreed that put more barriers in the way of trade rather than trying to remove them. All of this, Llywydd, is now under even greater strain because of the publication yesterday of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, a Bill that 52 of the 90 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly—parties representing 52 of those 90 seats—described today as something they rejected in the strongest possible terms. This is what they said to the Prime Minister:
'We reject in the strongest possible terms your Government’s reckless new protocol legislation, which flies in the face of the expressed wishes of not just most businesses, but most people in Northern Ireland.'
And yet, despite all of that, the Prime Minister's solution to the problem that he himself created—this is his protocol that he agreed, that he described to us in such glowing terms—. He is now prepared to tear that up. The UK Government admits, it says so itself, that it breaches international obligations. It damages our standing in the rest of the world. The good news for this Senedd is that, in the letter received yesterday to my colleague Vaughan Gething from the Foreign Secretary, the UK Government say that the provisions in the Bill are such that a legislative consent motion will be required from the Senedd. And having told us nothing about the Bill, and giving us no advance sight of the Bill at all, the letter has the nerve to go on asking that the Minister should reply confirming that we are content to support a legislative consent motion in front of this Senedd. Well, such a legislative consent motion will be brought forward and it will give Members here an opportunity to look in greater detail at the case for this breach of international law and the impact that it will have here in Wales as a direct result of the barriers to trade that the Prime Minister's deal has imposed upon us.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n dal i gredu, pe bai Cymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig y tu mewn i'r farchnad sengl, y byddai'r holl rwystrau hynny rhag masnachu yr ydym yn eu gweld yn gwneud cymaint o niwed i ddiwydiant gweithgynhyrchu Cymru ac i amaethyddiaeth Cymru, y byddan nhw yn cael eu dileu. Mae'n ffaith anochel bod ein partneriaid masnachu agosaf a mwyaf yn dal i fod yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Nawr, masnachwch gyda nhw—. Yn unigryw, fel y byddwch yn cofio, nid oedd neb yn gallu dod o hyd i'r un enghraifft o gytundeb a oedd yn rhoi mwy o rwystrau rhag masnachu yn hytrach na cheisio eu dileu. Mae hyn i gyd, Llywydd, bellach o dan fwy byth o straen yn sgil cyhoeddi Bil Protocol Gogledd Iwerddon ddoe, sef Bil y disgrifiodd 52 o'r 90 sedd yng Nghynulliad Gogledd Iwerddon—pleidiau sy'n cynrychioli 52 o'r 90 sedd hynny—yn rhywbeth maen nhw'n ei wrthod yn y termau cryfaf posibl. Dyma y gwnaethon nhw ei ddweud wrth Brif Weinidog y DU:
'Rydym yn gwrthod yn y termau cryfaf posibl ddeddfwriaeth protocol newydd ddi-hid eich Llywodraeth, sy'n mynd yn groes i'r dymuniadau a ddatganwyd, nid yn unig gan y rhan fwyaf o fusnesau, ond y rhan fwyaf o bobl yng Ngogledd Iwerddon.'
Ac eto, er gwaethaf hynny i gyd, ateb Prif Weinidog y DU i'r broblem a greodd ef ei hun—dyma ei brotocol ef y cytunodd arno, a ddisgrifiodd i ni mewn termau mor wych—. Mae bellach yn barod i rwygo hwnnw. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn cyfaddef, meddai ei hun, ei bod yn torri rhwymedigaethau rhyngwladol. Mae'n niweidio ein statws yng ngweddill y byd. Y newyddion da i'r Senedd hon yw bod Llywodraeth y DU, yn y llythyr a gafodd fy nghyd-Weinidog Vaughan Gething ddoe oddi wrth yr Ysgrifennydd Tramor, yn dweud bod y darpariaethau yn y Bil yn golygu y bydd angen cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol gan y Senedd. Ac ar ôl dweud dim wrthym am y Bil, a dim golwg ymlaen llaw i ni o ran y Bil o gwbl, mae gan y llythyr yr haerllugrwydd i fynd ymlaen i ofyn i'r Gweinidog ymateb yn cadarnhau ein bod yn fodlon cefnogi cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol o flaen y Senedd hon. Wel, bydd cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol o'r fath yn cael ei gyflwyno a bydd yn rhoi cyfle i'r Aelodau yma edrych yn fanylach ar yr achos o dorri cyfraith ryngwladol a'r effaith y bydd yn ei chael yma yng Nghymru o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r rhwystrau rhag masnachu y mae bargen y Prif Weinidog wedi eu gorfodi arnom.
3. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i bobl yn Ne Clwyd yn sgil yr argyfwng costau byw presennol? OQ58196
3. What support is the Welsh Government providing to people in Clwyd South in light of the current cost-of-living crisis? OQ58196
Llywydd, over 12,000 households have benefited from the £200 winter fuel support payments in the local authorities covered by the Member's constituency. In April alone, over 2,200 payments were made from the discretionary assistance fund in those same local authorities and, of those payments, more than 90 per cent were cash help for emergency food and fuel.
Llywydd, mae dros 12,000 o aelwydydd wedi elwa ar y £200 o daliadau cymorth tanwydd y gaeaf yn yr awdurdodau lleol a gwmpesir gan etholaeth yr Aelod. Ym mis Ebrill yn unig, gwnaed dros 2,200 o daliadau o'r gronfa cymorth dewisol yn yr un awdurdodau lleol hynny ac, o'r taliadau hynny, roedd mwy na 90 y cant yn gymorth arian parod ar gyfer bwyd a thanwydd brys.
Well, thank you, First Minister, that is enormous help for my constituents, but would you agree that the Chancellor's offer to households facing the cost-of-living crisis is simply not enough and, indeed, insulting, given it's to be paid from the cut to universal credit last year? So much more could have been offered to hard-pressed households had the Chancellor not lost £11 billion in failing to ensure against interest rate rises, or by losing £6 billion in fraudulent bounce-back loans. And why, First Minister, do you think that UK Government Ministers just can't bring themselves to call this 'a crisis'?
Wel, diolch, Prif Weinidog, mae hynny'n gymorth enfawr i fy etholwyr i, ond a fyddech chi'n cytuno nad yw cynnig y Canghellor i aelwydydd sy'n wynebu'r argyfwng costau byw yn ddigon ac, yn wir, ei fod yn sarhaus, o gofio ei fod i gael ei dalu o'r toriad i gredyd cynhwysol y llynedd? Gellid bod wedi cynnig cymaint mwy i aelwydydd sydd o dan bwysau pe na bai'r Canghellor wedi colli £11 biliwn wrth fethu ag yswirio yn erbyn codiadau yn y gyfradd llog, neu drwy golli £6 biliwn mewn benthyciadau adfer twyllodrus. A pham, Prif Weinidog, ydych chi'n credu, na wnaiff Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU alw hwn yn 'argyfwng'?
Well, Llywydd, Ken Skates makes a very important point in that contribution and, as a former Minister responsible for the economy here, I can see why he has wanted to highlight the fact that, while this Government struggles and fails to provide the sorts of help for people faced with a cost-of-living crisis, at the same time they are losing money hand over fist in some other schemes that they themselves have responsibility for.
The £11 billion to which Ken Skates referred was highlighted only last week. The Chancellor was warned, time after time, that rising interest rates would have an impact upon his ability to service the £900 billion of reserves created by quantitative easing. He failed to take out those insurance measures and, as a result, he is spending £11 billion more than he would have otherwise have needed to do. Now, imagine what the £11 billion could have done in the lives of the people we have been talking about this afternoon.
And when it comes to fraud from the bounce-back loan scheme, fraud is only a third of the loss that the UK Government itself say they now expect to make through that scheme. Five billion pounds lost directly in fraud, but £17 billion that the Government now does not expect to recover from those loans. Now, there are court cases, Llywydd, going through at the moment that show that those bounce-back loans, those fraudulent loans, were being used to pay for the purchase of private cars, for flying lessons, for pornography websites, and, in a case which is to be in front of the courts next month, a case where someone who obtained a bounce-back loan is alleged to have used it to fund terrorist activity by Islamic State terrorists in Syria. Five billion pounds, which, as we know, the National Audit Office says the Government has failed to take the necessary action to recover, and where the Government Minister, Lord Agnew, the anti-fraud Minister, resigned in January, describing his own Government's efforts to control that fraud as 'woeful'.
Now, the point that Ken Skates makes, Llywydd, is this, isn't it: we have a Government who say that, in the fifth richest country in the world it's not possible to provide enough money for people to stay warm and to be fed during this coming winter, but have managed to contrive the loss of tens of billions of pounds in just two schemes that I've highlighted this afternoon.
Wel, Llywydd, mae Ken Skates yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn yn y cyfraniad yna ac, fel cyn-Weinidog â chyfrifoldeb am yr economi yma, gallaf weld pam y mae wedi dymuno tynnu sylw at y ffaith, er bod y Llywodraeth hon yn ei chael hi'n anodd ac yn methu â darparu'r mathau o gymorth i bobl sy'n wynebu argyfwng costau byw, ar yr un pryd maen nhw'n colli arian fel y mwg mewn rhai cynlluniau eraill y mae ganddyn nhw eu hunain gyfrifoldeb drostyn nhw.
Dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf y tynnwyd sylw at yr £11 biliwn y cyfeiriodd Ken Skates ato. Rhybuddiwyd y Canghellor, dro ar ôl tro, y byddai cyfraddau llog cynyddol yn cael effaith ar ei allu i wasanaethu'r £900 biliwn o gronfeydd wrth gefn a grëwyd drwy leddfu meintiol. Methodd â threfnu'r mesurau yswiriant hynny ac, o ganlyniad, mae'n gwario £11 biliwn yn fwy nag y byddai wedi gorfod ei wneud fel arall. Nawr, dychmygwch yr hyn y gallai'r £11 biliwn fod wedi ei wneud i fywydau'r bobl yr ydym wedi bod yn sôn amdanyn nhw y prynhawn yma.
Ac o ran y mater o dwyll o'r cynllun benthyciadau adfer, dim ond traean o'r golled y mae Llywodraeth y DU ei hun yn dweud ei bod bellach yn disgwyl ei gwneud drwy'r cynllun hwnnw yw twyll. Collodd pum biliwn o bunnau yn uniongyrchol oherwydd twyll, ond £17 biliwn nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn disgwyl ei adennill o'r benthyciadau hynny mwyach. Nawr, mae achosion llys, Llywydd, yn mynd rhagddynt ar hyn o bryd sy'n dangos bod y benthyciadau adfer hynny, y benthyciadau twyllodrus hynny, yn cael eu defnyddio i dalu am geir preifat, ar gyfer gwersi hedfan, ar gyfer gwefannau pornograffi, ac, mewn achos sydd i fod o flaen y llysoedd y mis nesaf, achos lle yr honnir bod rhywun a gafodd fenthyciad adfer wedi ei ddefnyddio i ariannu gweithgaredd terfysgol gan derfysgwyr Gwladwriaeth Islamaidd yn Syria. Pum biliwn o bunnau, fel y gwyddom, y mae'r Swyddfa Archwilio Genedlaethol yn dweud y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi methu â chymryd y camau angenrheidiol i'w adennill, ac ymddiswyddodd Gweinidog y Llywodraeth, yr Arglwydd Agnew, y Gweinidog gwrth-dwyll, ym mis Ionawr, gan ddisgrifio ymdrechion ei Lywodraeth ei hun i reoli'r twyll hwnnw yn 'druenus'.
Nawr, y pwynt y mae Ken Skates yn ei wneud, Llywydd, yw hyn, onid yw: mae gennym ni Lywodraeth sy'n dweud, yn y bumed wlad gyfoethocaf yn y byd, nad yw'n bosibl darparu digon o arian i bobl gadw'n gynnes a chael eu bwydo yn ystod y gaeaf nesaf, ond sydd wedi llwyddo i barhau i golli degau o filiynau o bunnau mewn dau gynllun yn unig yr wyf wedi tynnu sylw atyn nhw y prynhawn yma.
4. Pa gynnydd mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud ar weithredu'r Strategaeth Ryngwladol i Gymru? OQ58192
4. What progress has the Welsh Government made on implementing the International Strategy for Wales? OQ58192
Diolch i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiwn. Llywydd, cafodd y cynnydd ei nodi yn yr adroddiad blynyddol ar ein rhwydwaith tramor, a gafodd ei gyhoeddi fis diwethaf. Roedd yr adroddiad yn cofnodi canlyniadau yn erbyn y strategaeth o ran codi proffil rhyngwladol Cymru, cefnogi masnach ryngwladol, a sefydlu Cymru fel cenedl sy'n gyfrifol yn fyd-eang.
I thank Heledd Fychan for the question. Llywydd, progress was set out in the annual report on our overseas network, which was published last month. The report recorded outcomes against the international strategy in terms of raising the international profile of Wales, supporting international trade and establishing Wales as a globally responsible nation.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Yn amlwg, mae nifer o bethau wedi newid ers i'r strategaeth gael ei hysgrifennu, gan gynnwys y pandemig ac, yn fwy diweddar, wrth gwrs, y ffaith bod tîm pêl-droed dynion Cymru drwodd i Gwpan y Byd. Fel ysgrifennodd Laura McAllister yn ei cholofn yn y Western Mail dros y penwythnos, ac rwyf yn dyfynnu:
Thank you, First Minister. Clearly, a number of things have changed since the strategy was drafted, including the pandemic and, more recently of course, the fact that the Wales men's football team have qualified for the World Cup. As Laura McAllister wrote in a column in the Western Mail over the weekend, and I quote:
'The potential benefits for football are vast, but so, too, is the potential to generate lasting spin-off success for Wales off the field too. It's all about that word "legacy’", but we need to get our act together and move fast if we are to strategically co-opt sport, supported by our wider cultural offer, as a way of amplifying Wales’ global profile and attract the world to Wales to trade, holiday, invest and study.'
'Mae'r manteision posibl i bêl-droed yn enfawr, ond felly hefyd y potensial i greu llwyddiant canlyniadol parhaol i Gymru oddi ar y cae hefyd. Mae'r cyfan yn ymwneud â'r gair "etifeddiaeth" hwnnw, ond mae angen i ni roi trefn ar bethau a symud yn gyflym os ydym am gyfethol chwaraeon yn strategol, gyda chefnogaeth ein cynnig diwylliannol ehangach, fel ffordd o gryfhau proffil byd-eang Cymru a denu'r byd i Gymru i fasnachu, i gael gwyliau, i fuddsoddi ac i astudio.'
Mae'n mynd ymlaen i ddweud y byddai'n anfaddeuol os byddai Cymru yn colli'r cyfle euraidd hwn. Gwn fod Adam Price wedi holi am hyn wythnos diwethaf, ond, gyda dros wythnos wedi bod ers y gêm hanfodol honno, pa gefnogaeth sydd eisoes wedi'i rhoddi gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'r gymdeithas bêl-droed, a pha gefnogaeth fydd yn cael ei rhoddi dros y misoedd nesaf?
She goes on to say that it would be unforgivable if Wales were to miss out on this golden opportunity. I know that Adam Price questioned you on this last week, but, with over a week having passed since that crucial fixture, what support has already been provided by the Welsh Government to the FAW, and what support will be provided over the next few months?
Diolch yn fawr i Heledd Fychan. Y pwynt mae hi'n ei godi yn un pwysig, ac wrth gwrs dwi'n cytuno â beth ddywedodd hi pan oedd hi'n darllen beth oedd yn y Western Mail. Rŷn ni wedi bod yn gwneud pethau yn barod, wrth gwrs, gyda'r FAW, i baratoi am Gymru yn mynd i Qatar. Ces i gyfle i gwrdd â'r ambassador o Qatar, a oedd wedi dod i Gymru wythnos diwethaf, ac dwi'n cwrdd ag ambassador y Deyrnas Unedig i Qatar wythnos nesaf yma yng Nghaerdydd. So, rŷn ni'n paratoi—rŷn ni'n paratoi am bobl o Gymru sy'n mynd i Qatar, i gael popeth yn ei le i fod yn siŵr, gyda'r awdurdodau lleol, y bydd croeso i unrhyw berson sy'n mynd i Qatar, a hefyd gweithio gyda'r FAW a phobl eraill i ddefnyddio'r posibiliadau sy'n mynd i godi i Gymru trwy fod ar lwyfan y byd. Rŷn ni'n tynnu pobl at ei gilydd fel Llywodraeth, nid jest yn y byd pêl-droed, wrth gwrs, ond, fel dywedodd Heledd Fychan, yn ehangach na hynny, i ddefnyddio'r cyfleoedd sydd gyda ni nawr trwy lwyddiant y tîm.
I thank Heledd Fychan. The point that she raises is an important one, and I agree with what she said when she quoted what was in the Western Mail. We've been doing things already, of course, with the FAW to prepare for Wales's visit to Qatar. I had an opportunity to meet with the ambassador from Qatar, who came to Wales last week, and I am meeting with the UK ambassador to Qatar next week here in Cardiff. So, we are preparing for people from Wales going to Qatar and ensuring that everything is in place and ensuring, with the local authorities, that there will be a welcome for any person that goes to Qatar, and working with the FAW and others to use the possibilities that will arise for Wales from being on the global stage. We are drawing people together as a Government, not just in the footballing world, of course, but, as Heledd Fychan said, more broadly, in order to exploit the opportunities that we have now through the success of the team.
First Minister, football, and sport in general, of course, is a huge opportunity for Wales to make itself known on the international stage, but one opportunity that your international strategy really has missed is the opportunity that exists between faith communities in Wales because of their links with faith communities overseas. There are many churches, chapels and mosques across this country that enjoy excellent links in nations overseas and could easily afford an opportunity for Wales to raise its profile in those nations. Why is it that 'faith' does not appear as a word, apart from in terms of the title of the BBC programme Keeping Faith, that tremendous series—? Apart from that, the word 'faith' does not appear in the international strategy at all. Is that something that you will look at in order that we can ensure that these opportunities are not missed?
Prif Weinidog, mae pêl-droed a chwaraeon yn gyffredinol, wrth gwrs, yn gyfle enfawr i Gymru wneud enw i'w hun ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol, ond un cyfle y mae eich strategaeth ryngwladol wedi ei golli mewn gwirionedd yw'r cyfle sy'n bodoli ymysg cymunedau ffydd yng Nghymru oherwydd eu cysylltiadau â chymunedau ffydd dramor. Mae llawer o eglwysi, capeli a mosgiau ledled y wlad hon sy'n mwynhau cysylltiadau rhagorol mewn gwledydd tramor ac a allai'n hawdd roi cyfle i Gymru godi ei phroffil yn y gwledydd hynny. Pam nad yw 'ffydd' yn ymddangos fel gair, ac eithrio yn nheitl rhaglen y BBC Keeping Faith, y gyfres wych honno—? Ar wahân i hynny, nid yw'r gair 'ffydd' yn ymddangos yn y strategaeth ryngwladol o gwbl. A yw hynny'n rhywbeth y byddwch yn edrych arno er mwyn i ni allu sicrhau nad yw'r cyfleoedd hyn yn cael eu colli?
Llywydd, I agree with what Darren Millar said, that we have many faith communities here in Wales who have important links with communities elsewhere in the world, and that brings with those connections opportunities to enrich people's understanding and to develop those connections between people that are to the benefit of us all. The international strategy, though, I think does have a different focus. It is essentially an economic focus, because most of the efforts of our overseas offices and most of the things that you will see in the international strategy are about making sure that there is strong support there for firms in other parts of the world who might be interested to come to Wales, and particularly for firms based in Wales to develop those export opportunities that they are looking for. It may be that there are connections that could be made between the agendas that are set out in the international strategy and the work of those wider communities. And, of course, we don't turn our back on those possibilities at all.
Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd Darren Millar, fod gennym ni lawer o gymunedau ffydd yma yng Nghymru sydd â chysylltiadau pwysig â chymunedau mewn mannau eraill yn y byd, ac sy'n cyflwyno cyfleoedd gyda'r cysylltiadau hynny i gyfoethogi dealltwriaeth pobl ac i ddatblygu'r cysylltiadau hynny rhwng pobl er budd pob un ohonom. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n credu bod gan y strategaeth ryngwladol bwyslais gwahanol. Mae'n bwyslais economaidd yn ei hanfod, gan fod y rhan fwyaf o ymdrechion ein swyddfeydd tramor a'r rhan fwyaf o'r pethau t byddwch yn eu gweld yn y strategaeth ryngwladol yn ymwneud â sicrhau bod cefnogaeth gref yno i gwmnïau mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd a allai fod â diddordeb mewn dod i Gymru, ac yn enwedig i gwmnïau sydd wedi'u lleoli yng Nghymru i ddatblygu'r cyfleoedd allforio hynny y maen nhw'n chwilio amdanyn nhw. Efallai fod cysylltiadau y gellid eu gwneud rhwng yr agendâu a nodir yn y strategaeth ryngwladol a gwaith y cymunedau ehangach hynny. Ac, wrth gwrs, nid ydym yn troi ein cefnau ar y posibiliadau hynny o gwbl.
5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i hybu ymwybyddiaeth o faterion iechyd dynion? OQ58180
5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to promote awareness of men's health issues? OQ58180
Llywydd, the Welsh Government supports the promotion of good physical and mental health for men through a range of existing public health strategies and programmes. These include, for example, our suicide prevention strategy and actions to promote early awareness of prostate cancer and heart disease.
Llywydd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r gwaith o hyrwyddo iechyd corfforol a meddyliol da i ddynion drwy amrywiaeth o strategaethau a rhaglenni iechyd cyhoeddus sy'n bodoli eisoes. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys, er enghraifft, ein strategaeth atal hunanladdiad a chamau gweithredu i hyrwyddo ymwybyddiaeth gynnar o ganser y brostad a chlefyd y galon.
I appreciate your response, First Minister. Thank you. This week is Men's Health Week, marked right up until Father's Day on Sunday. It is hoped that it will help spur men into thinking more about their health. And, really, we're particularly bad at looking after our own health, especially when it comes to mental health. First Minister, the theme of this International Men's Health Week is the DIY MOT. Resources are being provided online to help guide men to look after their health and to give their body and mind an MOT. Will you help spread awareness by undertaking a DIY MOT this week, and do you acknowledge the statistical element of men being less likely to talk about their physical and mental health problems? Thank you.
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich ymateb, Prif Weinidog. Diolch. Mae'n Wythnos Iechyd Dynion yr wythnos hon, sy'n cael ei nodi hyd at Sul y Tadau ddydd Sul. Y gobaith yw y bydd yn helpu dynion i feddwl yn fwy am eu hiechyd. Ac, mewn gwirionedd, rydym yn arbennig o wael am ofalu am ein hiechyd ein hunain, yn enwedig o ran iechyd meddwl. Prif Weinidog, thema'r Wythnos Ryngwladol Iechyd Dynion hon yw cynnal archwiliad iechyd ar eich hun. Mae adnoddau'n cael eu darparu ar-lein i gynnig arweiniad i ddynion o ran gofalu am eu hiechyd a chynnal archwiliad iechyd ar eu corff a'u meddwl. A wnewch chi helpu i ledaenu ymwybyddiaeth drwy gynnal archwiliad iechyd ar eich hun yr wythnos hon, ac a ydych yn cydnabod yr elfen ystadegol bod dynion yn llai tebygol o siarad am eu problemau iechyd corfforol a meddyliol? Diolch.
I thank the Member for that question, and it is by itself an opportunity to do exactly what he said, and I thank him for making those additional points. It is indeed International Men's Health Week. It started yesterday and will run until Sunday of this week, and it's there, as Gareth Davies said, to heighten awareness of preventable health problems for men of all ages. And there is no doubt that there is a cultural issue here, where men in Wales are less likely to report early signs of symptoms, less likely to be willing to carry out the sort of simple self-checks to which the Member referred. And, as a result, too often we see people presenting too late for treatment that otherwise could have been effective for them. So, I entirely agree that anything that we can do to persuade people to do those simple things that can help them is an important step in making sure that men who have health needs can get the help they need in as timely a way as is possible.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, ac mae'n gyfle ar ei ben ei hun i wneud yn union yr hyn a ddywedodd, ac rwy'n diolch iddo am wneud y pwyntiau ychwanegol yna. Mae'n Wythnos Ryngwladol Iechyd Dynion yn wir. Dechreuodd ddoe a bydd yn parhau tan ddydd Sul yr wythnos hon, a'i diben, fel y dywedodd Gareth Davies, yw cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o broblemau iechyd y gellir eu hatal ymhlith dynion o bob oed. Ac nid oes amheuaeth nad oes problem ddiwylliannol yma, lle mae dynion yng Nghymru yn llai tebygol o adrodd am arwyddion cynnar o symptomau, yn llai tebygol o fod yn barod i gynnal y math o hunan archwiliadau syml y cyfeiriodd yr Aelod atyn nhw. Ac, o ganlyniad, yn rhy aml rydym yn gweld pobl yn cyflwyno eu hunain yn rhy hwyr am driniaeth a allai fel arall fod wedi bod yn effeithiol iddyn nhw. Felly, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod unrhyw beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i berswadio pobl i wneud y pethau syml hynny a all eu helpu, yn gam pwysig tuag at sicrhau y gall dynion sydd ag anghenion iechyd gael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw mewn ffordd mor amserol ag sy'n bosibl.
6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi rhieni disgyblion ysgolion cynradd yn Islwyn gyda chost y diwrnod ysgol? OQ58190
6. How is the Welsh Government supporting parents of primary school pupils in Islwyn with the cost of the school day? OQ58190
Well, Llywydd, in addition to free breakfasts, extra help through the pupil development grant access scheme and now free school dinners, parents in Islwyn will be supported through the National Music Service, helping with the costs of instruments and tuition. Those parents will know how much this is due to the sustained campaigning of their Senedd Member.
Wel, Llywydd, yn ogystal â brecwast am ddim, cymorth ychwanegol drwy'r cynllun mynediad i grant datblygu disgyblion a chinio ysgol am ddim bellach, bydd rhieni yn Islwyn yn cael eu cefnogi drwy'r Gwasanaeth Cerdd Cenedlaethol, a fydd yn helpu gyda chostau offerynnau a hyfforddiant. Bydd y rhieni hynny'n gwybod faint o hyn sy'n deillio o ymgyrchu parhaus eu Haelod o'r Senedd.
Thank you for that, First Minister. I am proud, however, that our Welsh Labour Government has rightly committed to delivering free school meals to all primary school children in Wales. A recent letter to the UK Government from teaching unions set out the benefits provided by free school meals, and it said:
'Every school day we see the benefits free school meals provide to those currently entitled. For many it is the only hot, nutritious meal they have in a day. A quality school meal helps improve children's concentration and behaviour during lessons. We witness, first-hand, the effect they can have on improving school attendance, on children's health, and academic performance.'
Locally, in my own constituency, Caerphilly's Labour council have been rightly praised for how they responded throughout the pandemic with their delivery of decent, healthy free school meals. But sadly, the cost-of-living crisis is putting more and more strain on families' budgets. While in Wales, our Labour Government is taking actions that will support families in places like Islwyn, the Tory UK Government, however, refuses to expand free school meal provision in England. So, First Minister, can you provide an update on the progress that is being made to deliver universal free school meals to primary-age children in Wales, and how else will the Welsh Government support parents in Islwyn with school costs through this cost-of-living crisis? Thank you.
Diolch am hynna, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n falch, fodd bynnag, fod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi ymrwymo'n briodol i ddarparu prydau ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn ysgol gynradd yng Nghymru. Mewn llythyr diweddar at Lywodraeth y DU gan undebau athrawon nodwyd y manteision a ddarperir gan brydau ysgol am ddim, a dywedodd:
'Bob diwrnod ysgol rydym yn gweld y manteision y mae prydau ysgol am ddim yn eu rhoi i'r rhai sydd â hawl ar hyn o bryd. I lawer, dyma'r unig bryd poeth, maethlon y maen nhw'n ei gael mewn diwrnod. Mae pryd ysgol o safon yn helpu i wella gallu plant i ganolbwyntio a'u hymddygiad yn ystod gwersi. Rydym yn gweld, yn uniongyrchol, yr effaith y gallan nhw ei chael ar wella presenoldeb yn yr ysgol, ar iechyd plant, a pherfformiad academaidd.'
Yn lleol, yn fy etholaeth i, mae cyngor Llafur Caerffili wedi ei ganmol yn briodol am y ffordd y gwnaeth ymateb drwy gydol y pandemig wrth iddo ddarparu prydau ysgol iach a digonol am ddim. Ond yn anffodus, mae'r argyfwng costau byw yn rhoi mwy a mwy o straen ar gyllidebau teuluoedd. Er bod ein Llywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru yn cymryd camau a fydd yn cefnogi teuluoedd mewn lleoedd fel Islwyn, mae Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU, serch hynny, yn gwrthod ehangu'r ddarpariaeth prydau ysgol am ddim yn Lloegr. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud i ddarparu prydau ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn oedran cynradd yng Nghymru, a sut arall y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi rhieni yn Islwyn gyda chostau ysgol drwy'r argyfwng costau byw hwn? Diolch.
Llywydd, I'm very pleased to provide an update on the £225 million that, as a result of the co-operation agreement, we will be investing in providing universal free school meals to primary-age students. The first of those schools will come on stream in September of this year, and then a lot of work is going on with other schools to make sure that the barriers to their participation—and they're often physical barriers: canteen kitchen facilities, and so on—that we are able to use the capital that we've also put aside for this programme to help to bring them on stream as well. When we're able to have universal free school meals in the Caerphilly local authority area, an additional 10,700 pupils will benefit from this development. And I'm very pleased indeed to be able to pay tribute to the work of the local authority in making that happen as quickly as we are able.
We will go on, though, as the Member for Islwyn has said, Llywydd, in doing other things that will help with the cost of the school day. The additional money that my colleague Jeremy Miles announced earlier in the year for the pupil development grant access fund this year, the fact that we will be providing free school meals during the summer holidays, and that we will go on expanding the services that we are providing in terms of early years education and childcare provision, all of which leaves money in the pockets of those families who otherwise would be having to fund those services for themselves. That strategy, which has been pursued by successive Governments here in the Senedd—the social wage, as it's known—means that collective provision reaches deepest into the lives of those people who need that help the most, and that is a strategy that we will continue to pursue through the rest of this Senedd term.
Llywydd, rwy'n falch iawn o roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y £225 miliwn y byddwn, o ganlyniad i'r cytundeb cydweithredu, yn ei fuddsoddi mewn darparu prydau ysgol am ddim i bob myfyriwr oedran cynradd. Bydd y cyntaf o'r ysgolion hynny'n dechrau gweithredu hyn ym mis Medi eleni, ac yna mae llawer o waith yn mynd rhagddo gydag ysgolion eraill i sicrhau bod y rhwystrau rhag cyfranogi—ac maen nhw'n aml yn rhwystrau ffisegol: cyfleusterau cegin ffreutur, ac ati—ein bod yn gallu defnyddio'r cyfalaf yr ydym hefyd wedi ei roi o'r neilltu ar gyfer y rhaglen hon i'w helpu i ddechrau gweithredu hefyd. Pan fyddwn yn gallu sicrhau prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb yn ardal awdurdod lleol Caerffili, bydd 10,700 o ddisgyblion ychwanegol yn manteisio ar y datblygiad hwn. Ac rwy'n falch iawn o allu talu teyrnged i waith yr awdurdod lleol wrth sicrhau bod hynny yn digwydd cyn gynted ag y gallwn.
Byddwn ni yn parhau, serch hynny, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod dros Islwyn, Llywydd, i wneud pethau eraill a fydd yn helpu gyda chost y diwrnod ysgol. Yr arian ychwanegol a gyhoeddodd fy nghyd-Weinidog Jeremy Miles yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn ar gyfer cronfa mynediad grant datblygu disgyblion eleni, y ffaith y byddwn yn darparu prydau ysgol am ddim yn ystod gwyliau'r haf, ac y byddwn yn parhau i ehangu'r gwasanaethau yr ydym yn eu darparu o ran addysg y blynyddoedd cynnar a'r ddarpariaeth gofal plant, mae pob un ohonyn nhw yn gadael arian ym mhocedi'r teuluoedd hynny a fyddai fel arall yn gorfod ariannu'r gwasanaethau hynny eu hunain. Mae'r strategaeth honno, a ddilynwyd gan Lywodraethau olynol yma yn y Senedd—y cyflog cymdeithasol, fel y'i gelwir—yn golygu bod darpariaeth gyfunol yn cyrraedd bywydau'r bobl hynny y mae angen y cymorth hwnnw arnyn nhw fwyaf, ac mae honno'n strategaeth y byddwn yn parhau i'w dilyn drwy weddill tymor y Senedd hon.
7. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith costau byw cynyddol ar bobl Ogwr? OQ58193
7. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the rising cost of living on the people of Ogmore? OQ58193
Llywydd, our assessments show the crisis is having a significant effect on people across Wales, including Ogmore. Up to 45 per cent of households in Wales could already be in fuel poverty following the price increase in April. Ofgem reported that householders can expect typical dual fuel bills to rise to £2,800 in October of this year.
Llywydd, mae ein hasesiadau yn dangos bod yr argyfwng yn cael effaith sylweddol ar bobl ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys Ogwr. Gallai hyd at 45 y cant o aelwydydd yng Nghymru fod mewn tlodi tanwydd eisoes yn dilyn y cynnydd mewn prisiau ym mis Ebrill. Dywedodd Ofgem y gall deiliaid tai ddisgwyl i filiau tanwydd deuol nodweddiadol godi i £2,800 ym mis Hydref eleni.
I think the First Minister's response describes well the tsunami now that is affecting people right across Wales, from Ogmore north, south, east and west, and it really is happening, and it's not hidden away—we're actually seeing it now evidently every single day. But there are things we can do. Much of the measures, the well-targeted measures of Welsh Government, have been mentioned this afternoon, but also at a local level. Local authorities are playing a key role here, targeting the discretionary housing payments; the fuel payments administration; the business rates relief; co-ordinating the Big Bocs Bwyd scheme within Ogmore, which is going to be rolled out; support for community pantries; the freezing of council tax this year in Bridgend; and, as of last week, having paid out in Bridgend over 29,000 cost-of-living payments to those who pay direct debits in bands A, B, C and D, and they're moving on to others rapidly as well.
First Minister, can I ask you? This Saturday, in the face of this crisis, thousands of people are going to be descending on London as part of the Trades Union Congress campaign to force the Government to do more on sick pay, on wages, to raise universal credit, to tax energy profits to help people pay their bills, and banning the appalling practice of fire and rehire, and more. What message do you have for all those travelling from Wales to London this Saturday, who are demanding better from the UK Government for working people facing this Conservative cost-of-living crisis?
Rwy'n credu bod ymateb y Prif Weinidog yn disgrifio'n dda y tswnami sy'n effeithio ar bobl ledled Cymru bellach, o Ogwr, y gogledd, y de, y dwyrain a'r gorllewin, ac mae yn digwydd yn wirioneddol, ac nid yw wedi ei guddio—rydym mewn gwirionedd yn ei weld bob dydd bellach. Ond mae yna bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud. Mae llawer o'r mesurau, sef mesurau Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi'u targedu'n dda, wedi'u crybwyll y prynhawn yma, ond hefyd ar lefel leol. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn chwarae rhan allweddol yma, gan dargedu'r taliadau tai yn ôl disgresiwn; gweinyddu taliadau tanwydd; y rhyddhad ardrethi busnes; cydlynu'r cynllun Bocs Bwyd Mawr yn Ogwr, a fydd yn cael ei gyflwyno; cymorth ar gyfer pantrïoedd cymunedol; rhewi'r dreth gyngor eleni ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr; ac, ers yr wythnos diwethaf, talwyd dros 29,000 o daliadau costau byw ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr i'r rhai sy'n talu debydau uniongyrchol ym mandiau A, B, C a D, ac maen nhw'n symud ymlaen i eraill yn gyflym hefyd.
Prif Weinidog, a gaf i ofyn i chi? Ddydd Sadwrn yma, yn wyneb yr argyfwng hwn, bydd miloedd o bobl yn cyrraedd Llundain fel rhan o ymgyrch Cyngres yr Undebau Llafur i orfodi'r Llywodraeth i wneud mwy o ran tâl salwch, cyflogau, codi credyd cynhwysol, trethu elw ynni i helpu pobl i dalu eu biliau, a gwahardd yr arfer ofnadwy o ddiswyddo ac ailgyflogi, a mwy. Pa neges sydd gennych chi i bawb sy'n teithio o Gymru i Lundain ddydd Sadwrn yma, sy'n mynnu gwell gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer pobl sy'n gweithio sy'n wynebu'r argyfwng costau byw hwn o eiddo'r Ceidwadwyr?
Llywydd, I thank Huw Irranca-Davies. Those were really important and pertinent points for us here in Wales. I was able to speak at a rally in Llandudno at the Wales TUC conference in May, which was designed entirely to highlight the march that will take place on Saturday of this week. The purposes of the march, as Huw Irranca-Davies has said, are both to highlight the challenges that are facing the lives of so many of our fellow citizens, but also to advance constructive ideas that this Government at Westminster should examine and should be prepared to put into practice to help those families too. My message to those many people who will go from Wales to London on Saturday is that their willingness to take part in such a demonstration is a sign of their commitment to doing things better in the lives of their fellow citizens, and I wish them all every success in the demonstration of their determination that a better set of solutions can be found and put into place in the lives of those who need them the most.
Llywydd, diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies. Roedden nhw yn bwyntiau pwysig a pherthnasol iawn i ni yma yng Nghymru. Cefais gyfle i siarad mewn rali yn Llandudno yng nghynhadledd TUC Cymru ym mis Mai, a gynlluniwyd yn gyfan gwbl i dynnu sylw at yr orymdaith a fydd yn digwydd ddydd Sadwrn yr wythnos hon. Diben yr orymdaith, fel y dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies, yw tynnu sylw at yr heriau i fywydau cynifer o'n cyd-ddinasyddion, ond hefyd i ddatblygu syniadau adeiladol y dylai'r Llywodraeth hon yn San Steffan eu harchwilio ac y dylen nhw fod yn barod i'w rhoi ar waith i helpu'r teuluoedd hynny hefyd. Fy neges i'r niferoedd mawr hynny o bobl a fydd yn mynd o Gymru i Lundain ddydd Sadwrn yw bod eu parodrwydd i gymryd rhan mewn gwrthdystiad o'r fath yn arwydd o'u hymrwymiad i wneud pethau'n well ym mywydau eu cyd-ddinasyddion, a dymunaf bob llwyddiant i bob un ohonyn nhw wrth ddangos eu penderfyniad y gellir dod o hyd i gyfres well o atebion a'u rhoi ar waith ym mywydau'r rhai sydd eu hangen fwyaf.
8. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi'r sector ynni alltraeth? OQ58160
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the offshore energy sector? OQ58160
Diolch yn fawr i Paul Davies, Llywydd. Rydym yn cefnogi'r sector drwy gyllid uniongyrchol ar gyfer ymchwil mewn technolegau cychwynnol a buddsoddi mewn seilwaith. Rydym yn gweithio gyda'r diwydiant i ddarparu trefn gydsynio sy'n gefnogol i'r sector, gan fodloni ein rhwymedigaeth amgylcheddol hefyd. Rydym yn cydweithio â phartneriaid i sicrhau'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar gyfer swyddi'r dyfodol.
Thank you very much to Paul Davies, Llywydd. We support the sector through direct funding for research in nascent technologies and infrastructure investment. We work with the industry to provide a consenting regime that is supportive of the sector, while also meeting our environmental obligations. We co-operate with partners to secure the skills needed for the jobs of the future.
Dwi'n ddiolchgar ichi am yr ateb yna. Er mwyn darparu ynni gwynt ar y môr sy'n arnofio, ac er mwyn i Gymru wireddu'r manteision economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol sydd ar gael, mae angen diwygiadau cynllunio morol i gyflawni prosiectau cyn gynted ag sydd yn bosib. Yn wir, byddai prosesau symlach ar gyfer cynllunio morol yn helpu i sicrhau bod prosiectau fel Erebus gan Blue Gem Wind, fydd yn cymryd lle oddi ar arfordir sir Benfro, yn gallu cael eu cyflawni cyn prosiectau llawer mwy mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Dwi'n deall bod ymrwymiad i leihau amserlenni penderfyniadau cynllunio i 12 mis wedi ei wneud mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod caniatâd cynllunio amserol yn cael ei roi ar gyfer y prosiectau yma yng Nghymru, fel nad yw Cymru ar ei cholled o gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig?
I'm grateful to you for that response. In order to provide floating offshore wind energy, and for Wales to deliver the economic, social and environmental benefits available, we need marine planning reforms to deliver projects as soon as possible. Indeed, a simpler process for marine planning would mean that projects such as the Erebus project by Blue Gem Wind, which will be off the Pembrokeshire coast, could be delivered before far larger projects in other parts of the UK. I do understand that there is a commitment to reduce timetables for planning decisions to 12 months, which has been put in place in other parts of the UK. So, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure that timely planning consent is given for these projects in Wales, so that Wales doesn't lose out as compared to other parts of the UK?
Diolch yn fawr i Paul Davies am y cwestiynau ychwanegol yna. Ces i gyfle i ddarllen ei gyfraniad e ar ôl datganiad Vaughan Gething ym mis Mai, a dwi'n cytuno ei bod yn bwysig inni gael system gynllunio yma yng Nghymru sy'n gefnogol i'r sector, ond sydd hefyd yn parchu'r rhwymedigaethau amgylcheddol sydd gennym ni, ac mae hwnna'n anodd. Dwi wedi cael mwy nag un cyfarfod; roedd cyfarfod gen i a Lesley Griffiths â'r sector i gyd, a gyda’r trydydd sector, sy’n rhan o’r broses yma yng Nghymru.
Dwi eisiau gweld dyfodol ble mae cwmnïau yn gallu dod i Gymru, ble maen nhw'n gallu cael sicrwydd am y system a ble maen nhw'n gallu ein helpu ni hefyd i ffeindio'r dystiolaeth sy'n bwysig pan ŷn ni'n siarad am ffyrdd newydd o greu ynni o'r môr. Dwi eisiau gweld hwnna, pan ŷn ni'n parchu'r rhwymedigaethau amgylcheddol, ond dwi'n cytuno â'r Aelod ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni yma yng Nghymru i fod yn lle ble mae'r cwmnïau yn gallu dod, yn gallu gwybod y bydd system gennym ni fydd yn eu helpu nhw yn y gwaith pwysig maen nhw eisiau ei wneud ar bethau sy'n mynd i fod mor bwysig i ni yn y dyfodol.
I thank Paul Davies for those additional questions. I had an opportunity to read his contribution after the statement made by Vaughan Gething back in May, and I do agree that it is important for us to have a planning system here in Wales that is supportive of the sector, but also respects the environmental obligations that we have, and that's difficult. I've had more than one meeting; I had a meeting with Lesley Griffiths and the sector, and with the third sector, which is part of this process here in Wales.
I want to see a future where companies can come to Wales and can have certainty about the system and where they can help us to find the important evidence when we're talking about new ways of creating marine energy. I want to see that, when we respect the environmental obligations, but I do agree with the Member that it's important for us here in Wales to be a place where companies can come and can know that we will have a system that is going to help them in the important work that they want to do about the things that are going to be so important for us in the future.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
I thank the First Minister.
Y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd nesaf, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hynny. Lesley Griffiths.
The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Lesley Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. I have two changes to today's agenda: the Minister for Social Justice will shortly make a statement on the cost of living, and the statement on building safety has been withdrawn. 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. Mae gen i ddau newid i'r agenda heddiw: bydd y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yn gwneud datganiad maes o law ar gostau byw, ac mae'r datganiad ar ddiogelwch adeiladau wedi ei dynnu yn ôl. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi ei nodi ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymysg y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Minister, unfortunately, late last week, I had to go to A&E at the Grange hospital after taking advice from my doctor. Let me be clear that what I'm about to share with the Senedd is not at all a criticism of the staff, because every single person I spoke to, from the receptionist to the hardworking nurses, was absolutely fantastic, and I cannot fault them at all. Prior to my election last year, I had heard the news, like many people outside this Chamber, and read in the papers, and after being elected here, more and more residents of south-east Wales have come to me and spoken about their disenchantment with the Grange hospital. And I stand in front of you today to agree with all of them that the Grange hospital is, without a doubt, in shambles.
For background, I just want to make you aware that I filmed my entire experience whilst there—you can call it my own version of my Panorama exposé—and even posted it on social media yesterday. I did not tell anyone that I was going to the hospital, and I wore a mask the entire time so that no-one would recognise me, as I did not want to be treated differently to anyone else due to being a Member of the Senedd. It became very clear very quickly that the problems started before you even reached the hospital. Firstly, as someone who's foot was double the size, and in pain, I had to park a very, very long way away from the main building in an offshoot car park as there was nothing even close to the doors to park a car. Fortunately, I was able to hobble to the entrance, but how can any of us expect someone who's severely ill, disabled or elderly to walk all the way that I did? One woman I'd spoken to, who was there with severe chest pains, was forced to battle with public transport to get to the hospital because she was told there were no ambulances available.
Simply trying to find A&E is like trying to walk through a maze that even Harry Potter would find difficult, because there was just clearly no signposting from the entrance to the actual A&E section. I walked through the main entrance, then wandered around various corridors and departments, spoke to various members of staff before being guided to the right place. The highlight after walking through what I felt was the entire hospital was that I was sent outside again to take my temperature, only to walk back in again to be told with a slip that I could now go in and make my appointment. The friend who I was with, who walked by my side the entire time, did not have to take any of the tests.
This was my first time at the Grange hospital, and for anyone who's not been there before, when you arrive at A&E, you're greeted with a shockingly small waiting room, which is clearly not fit for a hospital covering an area such as south-east Wales. After being checked by a lovely receptionist, I was forced to sit on the doorstep because there just weren't enough chairs inside. I sat there watching an ever-growing number of ambulances waiting with patients inside and onboard for a very long time. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait a long time to be seen, but one gentleman had been waiting for 17 hours before finally giving up and going home with another elderly lady who was waiting there for five hours.
I have an elderly mother, Minister, a disabled mother, and like her, many people who are diabetic or weak naturally get hungry after waiting for so long for an appointment. What are the options if you want a bite to eat at the Grange hospital? Let me tell you. One of your options—
Gweinidog, yn anffodus, ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf, bu'n rhaid i mi fynd i'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys yn ysbyty y Faenor ar ôl cael cyngor gan fy meddyg. Gadewch i mi fod yn glir nad yw'r hyn yr wyf i ar fin ei rannu â'r Senedd yn feirniadaeth o gwbl ar y staff, oherwydd yr oedd pob un person y siaradais ag ef, o'r derbynnydd i'r nyrsys gweithgar, yn hollol wych, ac ni allaf eu beio nhw o gwbl. Cyn fy ethol y llynedd, roeddwn i wedi clywed y newyddion, fel llawer o bobl y tu allan i'r Siambr hon, ac wedi darllen yn y papurau, ac ar ôl cael fy ethol yma, mae mwy a mwy o drigolion y de-ddwyrain wedi dod ataf i a siarad am eu dadrithiad gydag ysbyty y Faenor. Ac rwy'n sefyll o'ch blaen chi heddiw i gytuno â phob un ohonyn nhw fod ysbyty y Faenor, heb amheuaeth, mewn anhrefn.
O ran cefndir, rwyf i eisiau'ch gwneud chi'n ymwybodol fy mod i wedi ffilmio fy holl brofiad tra'r oeddwn i yno—gallwch chi ei alw'n fersiwn fy hun o fy exposé Panorama—a gwnes i hyd yn oed ei bostio ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ddoe. Ni ddywedais wrth neb fy mod i'n mynd i'r ysbyty, ac roeddwn i'n gwisgo gorchudd wyneb drwy'r amser fel na fyddai neb yn fy adnabod, gan nad oeddwn i eisiau cael fy nhrin yn wahanol i neb arall oherwydd fy mod i'n Aelod o'r Senedd. Daeth yn amlwg iawn yn gyflym iawn fod y problemau'n dechrau cyn i chi gyrraedd yr ysbyty hyd yn oed. Yn gyntaf, fel rhywun â throed a oedd yn ddwywaith ei maint, ac mewn poen, bu'n rhaid i mi barcio ymhell iawn i ffwrdd o'r prif adeilad mewn maes parcio atodol gan nad oedd dim lle hyd yn oed yn agos at y drysau i barcio car. Yn ffodus, roeddwn i'n gallu hercian i'r fynedfa, ond sut y gall unrhyw un ohonom ni ddisgwyl i rywun sy'n ddifrifol wael, yn anabl neu'n oedrannus gerdded yr holl ffordd y gwnes i? Roedd un fenyw yr oeddwn i wedi siarad â hi, a oedd yno gyda phoenau difrifol yn y frest, wedi gorfod brwydro gyda thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i gyrraedd yr ysbyty oherwydd cafodd hi wybod nad oedd ambiwlansys ar gael.
Mae hyd yn oed ceisio dod o hyd i'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys fel ceisio cerdded drwy ddrysfa y byddai hyd yn oed Harry Potter yn ei chael yn anodd, oherwydd mae'n amlwg nad oedd unrhyw arwyddion o'r fynedfa i'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys ei hun. Cerddais drwy'r brif fynedfa, yna crwydrais o amgylch gwahanol goridorau ac adrannau, siaradais â gwahanol aelodau o staff cyn cael fy arwain i'r lle iawn. Yr uchafbwynt ar ôl cerdded drwy'r hyn a oedd teimlo fel yr ysbyty cyfan oedd cael fy anfon allan eto i gymryd fy nhymheredd, dim ond i gerdded yn ôl i mewn eto a chael gwybod gan ddarn bach o bapur y gallwn i fynd i mewn a gwneud fy apwyntiad. Nid oedd yn rhaid i'r ffrind a oedd gyda mi, a gerddodd wrth fy ochr i drwy'r amser, gymryd unrhyw un o'r profion.
Hwn oedd y tro cyntaf i mi yn ysbyty y Faenor, ac i unrhyw un nad yw wedi bod yno o'r blaen, pan fyddwch chi'n cyrraedd yr Adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys, rydych chi'n cael eich cyfarch ag ystafell aros frawychus o fach, y mae'n amlwg nad yw'n addas ar gyfer ysbyty sy'n cwmpasu ardal fel y de-ddwyrain. Ar ôl cael fy archwilio gan dderbynnydd hyfryd, cefais fy ngorfodi i eistedd ar garreg y drws gan nad oedd digon o gadeiriau y tu mewn. Eisteddais yno yn gwylio nifer cynyddol o ambiwlansys yn aros gyda chleifion y tu mewn iddyn nhw am gyfnod hir iawn. Diolch byth, nid oedd yn rhaid i mi aros yn hir i gael fy ngweld, ond roedd un dyn wedi bod yn aros am 17 awr cyn rhoi'r gorau iddi yn y diwedd a mynd adref gyda gwraig oedrannus arall a fu'n aros yno am bum awr.
Mae gen i fam oedrannus, Gweinidog, mam anabl, ac fel hi, mae llawer o bobl sy'n ddiabetig neu'n wan yn naturiol yn llwglyd ar ôl aros cyhyd am apwyntiad. Beth yw'r opsiynau os ydych chi eisiau tamaid i'w fwyta yn ysbyty y Faenor? Gadewch i mi ddweud wrthych chi. Un o'ch dewisiadau—
I think I have been very, very generous in allowing you to explain your situation.
Rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi bod yn hynod hael wrth ganiatáu i chi egluro'ch sefyllfa.
So, my question, Minister, after going through all of this, and my issues and concerns are—and they have been raised by numerous patients—that I'd like the Minister to make a statement in this Chamber, as soon as possible, about what the Welsh Government is going to do now to make the Grange hospital fit for purpose as a matter of urgency. Because with the footflow heading its way from the Royal Gwent and other hospitals in the area, I'm sincerely worried that we're heading towards a disaster. Thank you very much.
Felly, fy nghwestiwn i, Gweinidog, ar ôl mynd drwy hyn i gyd, a fy nghwynion a fy mhryderon yw—ac maen nhw wedi eu codi gan nifer o gleifion—yr hoffwn i ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog yn y Siambr hon, cyn gynted â phosibl, ynghylch yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w wneud yn awr i sicrhau bod ysbyty y Faenor yn addas i'r diben fel mater o frys. Oherwydd gyda'r nifer o ddefnyddwyr yn mynd yno o Ysbyty Brenhinol Gwent ac ysbytai eraill yn yr ardal, rwy'n poeni'n wirioneddol ein bod ni'n wynebu trychineb. Diolch yn fawr.
That was certainly a very long question to ask for a statement. I'm sorry to hear you had to attend the Grange hospital. Obviously, you set out many issues that will have raised concerns, particularly with the Minister for Health and Social Services, who will have heard your question. I think it's really important that people attend the correct health setting when they have a problem. I think that is something that many of us should reiterate whenever we get the opportunity to do so. I know that there is ongoing work to improve the spaces at the emergency department at the Grange and the majors area. Unfortunately, they've got to install cameras for safety reasons, but also, they're installing screens, and you'll be aware that there was a Healthcare Inspectorate Wales unannounced visit that made recommendations. I know all these things are being addressed by the health board.
Roedd hwnnw yn sicr yn gwestiwn hir iawn i'w ofyn am ddatganiad. Mae'n ddrwg gen i glywed y bu'n rhaid i chi fynd i ysbyty y Faenor. Yn amlwg, rydych chi'n nodi llawer o faterion a fydd wedi codi pryderon, yn enwedig gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, a fydd wedi clywed eich cwestiwn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod pobl yn mynd i'r lleoliad iechyd cywir pan fydd ganddyn nhw broblem. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y dylai llawer ohonom ni ei ailadrodd pryd bynnag y cawn ni'r cyfle i wneud hynny. Rwy'n gwybod bod gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i wella'r mannau yn yr adran achosion brys yn ysbyty y Faenor a'r ardal achosion mawr. Yn anffodus, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw osod camerâu am resymau diogelwch, ond hefyd, maen nhw'n gosod sgriniau, a byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod ymweliad dirybudd Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru wedi ei gynnal a wnaeth argymhellion. Rwy'n gwybod bod y bwrdd iechyd yn ymdrin â'r holl bethau hyn.
Trefnydd, there are serious question marks about the future of peer mentoring services for people with drug, alcohol and mental health issues in Wales. Some in the sector believe that services could collapse over the summer as the new contract is yet to be put out to tender and may not be in place until October or November of this year. This means that peer mentoring services will not be able to accept new clients from the beginning of next month, and that mentors, many of whom will have had personal experience of addiction, and are therefore vulnerable themselves, will be out of work at the end of August.
Your Government's response to this matter has been to call on service providers to run the service without funding until it is eventually tendered out later this year. I've been told that this could well be illegal as it would mean that charities are subsidising the Welsh Government. I raised the matter with the Deputy Minister—and I see the Deputy Minister is here as well—in correspondence at the end of last week, but the situation is so pressing, it needs dealing with urgently. Can we therefore have an urgent Government statement on this issue, with a view to providing a solution to the problem that does not imperil vulnerable clients, vulnerable staff, and risk the sustainability of charities that have worked so diligently and effectively over the length of the current contract?
Trefnydd, mae cwestiynau difrifol am ddyfodol gwasanaethau mentora cymheiriaid i bobl â phroblemau cyffuriau, alcohol ac iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru. Mae rhai yn y sector yn credu y gallai gwasanaethau chwalu yn ystod yr haf gan nad yw'r contract newydd wedi ei gynnig i dendro eto ac efallai na fydd ar waith tan fis Hydref neu fis Tachwedd eleni. Mae hyn yn golygu na fydd gwasanaethau mentora cymheiriaid yn gallu derbyn cleientiaid newydd o ddechrau'r mis nesaf, ac y bydd mentoriaid, y bydd gan lawer ohonyn nhw brofiad personol o fod yn gaeth i sylweddau, ac felly'n agored i niwed eu hunain, yn ddi-waith ddiwedd mis Awst.
Ymateb eich Llywodraeth i'r mater hwn fu galw ar ddarparwyr gwasanaethau i gynnal y gwasanaeth heb gyllid nes iddo gael ei dendro, yn y pen draw, yn ddiweddarach eleni. Cefais wybod ei bod yn bosibl iawn y gallai hyn fod yn anghyfreithlon gan y byddai'n golygu bod elusennau'n rhoi cymhorthdal i Lywodraeth Cymru. Codais i'r mater gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog—ac rwy'n gweld bod y Dirprwy Weinidog yma hefyd—mewn gohebiaeth ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf, ond mae'r sefyllfa mor bwysig, mae angen ymdrin â hi ar frys. A gawn ni ddatganiad brys felly gan y Llywodraeth ar y mater hwn, gyda'r nod o ddarparu ateb i'r broblem nad yw'n amharu ar gleientiaid sy'n agored i niwed, staff sy'n agored i niwed, ac yn peryglu cynaliadwyedd elusennau sydd wedi gweithio mor ddiwyd ac effeithiol dros gyfnod y contract presennol?
Thank you. You've done absolutely the right thing writing to the Deputy Minister, who, as you say, is listening to your question, and I'm sure she will respond as soon as she's able to do so. I am aware there was an out-of-work peer mentoring service that was provided by ESF funding. Unfortunately, that funding will be coming to a close, and the Deputy Minister has announced, I think, about £8 million of funding, from memory, for extending that peer mentoring service. But I'm sure the Minister will address those points in her response to you.
Diolch. Rydych chi wedi gwneud y peth iawn drwy ysgrifennu at y Dirprwy Weinidog, sydd, fel yr ydych wedi ei ddweud, yn gwrando ar eich cwestiwn, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd hi'n ymateb cyn gynted ag y gall wneud hynny. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod gwasanaeth mentora cymheiriaid i bobl heb waith wedi'i ddarparu gan gyllid Cronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop. Yn anffodus, bydd yr arian hwnnw yn dod i ben, ac mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi cyhoeddi, rwy'n credu, tua £8 miliwn o gyllid, o'r cof, ar gyfer ymestyn y gwasanaeth mentora cymheiriaid hwnnw. Ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi sylw i'r pwyntiau hynny yn ei hymateb i chi.
First of all, I'm requesting a Welsh Government statement on this year's A-level, AS-level and GCSE examinations, and in particular, GCSE Welsh second language; French GCSE, which included a question on a topic that schools had been told had been removed; AS-level pure mathematics; A-level physics, which the teachers were told would be non-synoptic, but was synoptic; and AS-level chemistry, where the actual exam paper was very different to any previous practice papers or past papers. Can we have the statement as a matter of urgency rather than when the results come out?
Also, I'm requesting a statement on the provision of 3G and 4G sports pitches in Wales. The biggest problem we have is finding places for children to play throughout winter. It is no good for them being enthused by Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Gareth Bale and others if there aren't enough quality pitches for them to use. Will the Welsh Government make a statement on how many new 3G and 4G full-sized football pitches they expect to be built during this term and the sport being provided?
Finally, I'm requesting either a written or oral statement on the result of the meeting of the steel council, which I believe took place this week.
Yn gyntaf, rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar yr arholiadau Safon Uwch, UG a TGAU eleni, ac yn arbennig, TGAU Cymraeg ail iaith; TGAU Ffrangeg, a oedd yn cynnwys cwestiwn ar bwnc y cafodd ysgolion wybod ei fod wedi ei ddileu; Safon UG mathemateg bur; Safon Uwch ffiseg, y cafodd yr athrawon wybod na fydden nhw'n synoptig, ond yr oedden nhw'n synoptig; a Safon UG cemeg, lle'r oedd y papur arholiad ei hun yn wahanol iawn i unrhyw bapurau ymarfer blaenorol neu bapurau blaenorol. A gawn ni ddatganiad fel mater o frys yn hytrach na phan gaiff y canlyniadau eu cyhoeddi?
Hefyd, rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad ar ddarparu caeau chwaraeon 3G a 4G yng Nghymru. Y broblem fwyaf sydd gennym yw dod o hyd i leoedd i blant chwarae drwy gydol y gaeaf. Nid oes unrhyw bwynt iddyn nhw gael eu hudo gan Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Gareth Bale ac eraill os nad oes digon o gaeau o safon ar gael iddyn nhw eu defnyddio. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ddatganiad ynghylch faint o gaeau pêl-droed maint llawn 3G a 4G newydd y maen nhw'n disgwyl iddyn nhw gael eu hadeiladu yn ystod y tymor hwn a'r chwaraeon sy'n cael eu darparu?
Yn olaf, rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad ysgrifenedig neu lafar ar ganlyniad cyfarfod y cyngor dur, a gafodd ei gynnal yr wythnos hon rwy'n credu.
Thank you. There were three issues that Mike Hedges raised, the first one around examinations that will be taking place this summer. Obviously, it has been quite a difficult time for our learners over the past two years. I think learners have really had to adapt and cope with new and often challenging arrangements as a result of that significant disruption we've had to both teaching and learning. I know that the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language is aware of the concern around a number of exam papers. I'm not quite sure of all the subjects, but I'm sure Mike Hedges covered many of them. He meets regularly with the WJEC and Qualifications Wales, not only about concerns around the examinations you referred to, but to make sure that learners are fully supported throughout this examination series this year.
In relation to 3G and 4G pitches, the Welsh Government has committed, as I'm sure Mike is aware, £24 million of capital funding over the next three years for our sporting facilities. You're quite right in saying that, if we are going to unleash the benefits of sport for everyone, we need to ensure that we have those facilities for both sport and physical activity accessible to absolutely everyone. I know the Deputy Minister for culture and sport continues to work very closely with Sport Wales. She's had some very positive and constructive dialogue with some of our national partners also about delivering those facilities going forward. Sport Wales has recently established a strategic capital investments group, so that they do have a strategic plan for directing the funding and prioritising capital investment in facilities.
In relation to your question around the steel council, I will certainly ask the Minister for Economy, who I assume undertook that, to provide a written statement.
Diolch. Cododd Mike Hedges dri mater, yr un cyntaf ynghylch arholiadau a fydd yn cael eu cynnal yr haf hwn. Yn amlwg, mae wedi bod yn gyfnod eithaf anodd i'n dysgwyr dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Rwy'n credu bod dysgwyr wedi gorfod addasu ac ymdopi â threfniadau newydd sy'n aml yn heriol o ganlyniad i'r aflonyddwch sylweddol hwnnw yr ydym ni wedi ei gael i addysgu a dysgu. Rwy'n gwybod bod Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg yn ymwybodol o'r pryder ynghylch nifer o bapurau arholiad. Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr o'r holl bynciau, ond rwy'n siŵr bod Mike Hedges wedi ymdrin â llawer ohonyn nhw. Mae'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â CBAC a Cymwysterau Cymru, nid yn unig ynghylch y pryderon o ran yr arholiadau y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio atyn nhw, ond hefyd i sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael eu cefnogi'n llawn drwy gydol y gyfres arholiadau hon eleni.
O ran caeau 3G a 4G, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo, fel y mae Mike yn gwybod, rwy'n siŵr, £24 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf yn ystod y tair blynedd nesaf ar gyfer ein cyfleusterau chwaraeon. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir wrth ddweud, os ydym ni eisiau rhyddhau manteision chwaraeon i bawb, fod angen i ni sicrhau bod gennym ni'r cyfleusterau hynny ar gyfer chwaraeon ac ymarfer corfforol sydd ar gael i bob un wan jac. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog diwylliant a chwaraeon yn parhau i weithio'n agos iawn gyda Chwaraeon Cymru. Mae hi wedi cael trafodaethau cadarnhaol ac adeiladol iawn gyda rhai o'n partneriaid cenedlaethol hefyd ynglŷn â darparu'r cyfleusterau hynny wrth symud ymlaen. Mae Chwaraeon Cymru wedi sefydlu grŵp buddsoddiad cyfalaf strategol yn ddiweddar, fel bod ganddyn nhw gynllun strategol ar gyfer cyfarwyddo'r cyllid a blaenoriaethu buddsoddiad cyfalaf mewn cyfleusterau.
O ran eich cwestiwn ynglŷn â'r cyngor dur, byddaf i'n sicr yn gofyn i Weinidog yr Economi, yr wyf yn tybio iddo ymgymryd â hynny, ddarparu datganiad ysgrifenedig.
Trefnydd, could I have a statement, please, from the Deputy Minister for transport regarding the shocking state of the rail service in Wales? It's not that long ago since I was stood here, Llywydd, after we'd had a horrendous journey down from north to south—it took quite a few hours. But only last Monday, coming down here, I had a terrible journey. I was told the reason was that the mark 5 train that was scheduled to operate on this journey on 6 June developed a serious fault with its brakes and was unable to be used for this service. Going back—I was unwell last week; I was taken ill, actually—it took me five and a quarter hours, door to door, and there wasn't a trolley on there. I asked, I begged for a bottle of water, because I'd been quite unwell. Again, that's not satisfactory on a four- or five-hour journey.
But more importantly, last Saturday morning, passengers in Wales saw further chaos on Transport for Wales trains. A train running from Holyhead to Cardiff had only two carriages and was already full by 11.10 a.m. at Bangor. It was all kicking off on Twitter, and I have to say I do believe I saw the Deputy Minister get involved. There were questions raised with TfW, and TfW came back and stated, and I quote:
'there are no upper limits on the number of customers permitted to travel on board a train, unlike other modes of transport, such as bus and aircraft.'
For me, now that the air link has stopped from Cardiff—I have to say I've never used it, but because the train service is getting so bad, it's something I would have contemplated—when is the rail service going to improve? And would the Deputy Minister, instead of tweeting, come in here and make a statement? Because, if any Members here have heard a statement from the Deputy Minister in months, then I must have missed something. I do believe it's time he came here and made a statement on the shocking state of our rail service in Wales. Thank you.
Trefnydd, a gaf i ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan y Dirprwy Weinidog trafnidiaeth ynghylch cyflwr brawychus y gwasanaeth trenau yng Nghymru? Nid yw mor bell yn ôl ers i mi sefyll yma, Llywydd, ar ôl i ni gael taith erchyll i lawr o'r gogledd i'r de—cymerodd nifer fawr o oriau. Ond ddydd Llun diwethaf, wrth ddod i lawr yma, cefais i daith ofnadwy. Cefais i wybod mai'r rheswm oedd bod y trên marc 5 a oedd i fod i weithredu ar y daith hon ar 6 Mehefin wedi datblygu problem ddifrifol gyda'i freciau ac nad oedd modd ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer y gwasanaeth hwn. Gan fynd yn ôl—roeddwn i'n sâl yr wythnos diwethaf; cefais fy nghymryd yn sâl, mewn gwirionedd—cymerodd bum awr a chwarter i mi, o ddrws i ddrws, ac nid oedd troli yno. Gofynnais, fe wnes i erfyn arnyn nhw am botel o ddŵr, oherwydd roeddwn i wedi bod yn bur sâl. Unwaith eto, nid yw hynny'n foddhaol ar daith bedair neu bum awr.
Ond yn bwysicach na hynny, fore Sadwrn diwethaf, gwelodd teithwyr yng Nghymru ragor o anhrefn ar drenau Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Dim ond dau gerbyd oedd gan drên a oedd yn rhedeg o Gaergybi i Gaerdydd ac roedd eisoes yn llawn erbyn 11.10 a.m. ym Mangor. Roedd helbul mawr yn dechrau codi storm ar Twitter, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud fy mod i'n credu i mi weld y Dirprwy Weinidog yn cymryd rhan. Cafodd cwestiynau eu codi gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac atebodd Trafnidiaeth Cymru gan ddweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
'nid oes terfynau uchaf ar nifer y cwsmeriaid sy'n cael teithio ar drên, yn wahanol i ddulliau eraill o deithio, fel bysiau ac awyrennau.'
I mi, gan fod y cyswllt awyr wedi dod i ben o Gaerdydd bellach—mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud nad wyf i erioed wedi ei ddefnyddio, ond oherwydd bod y gwasanaeth trenau yn mynd mor wael, mae'n rhywbeth y byddwn i wedi ei ystyried—pryd mae'r gwasanaeth trenau'n mynd i wella? Ac yn lle trydar, a wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog ddod yma a gwneud datganiad? Oherwydd, os oes unrhyw Aelodau yma wedi clywed datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog ers misoedd, yna mae'n rhaid fy mod i wedi colli rhywbeth. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bryd iddo ddod yma a gwneud datganiad am gyflwr brawychus ein gwasanaeth trenau yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
It was certainly very disappointing to see the overcrowding on Transport for Wales services in north Wales over the weekend. I know the Deputy Minister has certainly told Transport for Wales to make every effort to focus resource to the busier services. Of course, there was an international football match on Saturday, so far more people I'm sure were travelling down from north Wales. I too saw people getting very frustrated on social media and I absolutely understand that frustration. It wasn't good enough, and, as I say, we do understand passengers' frustrations.
You'll be aware of the incident that happened at Craven Arms recently, where a Transport for Wales train hit a stolen mini digger that had been abandoned on the line, so that took some carriages out. So, unfortunately, they do have fewer trains. You mentioned why a train wasn't used last week, and, of course, if there is a serious fault, we would not want it to be used. You will be aware that we have got new trains coming in later this year. They are currently being tested. They're not ready at the moment, but they will be later this year. But, please be assured that the Deputy Minister is in regular discussions with Transport for Wales.
Roedd yn sicr yn siomedig iawn gweld y gorlenwi ar wasanaethau Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn y gogledd dros y penwythnos. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog yn sicr wedi dweud wrth Trafnidiaeth Cymru am wneud pob ymdrech i ganolbwyntio adnoddau ar y gwasanaethau prysurach. Wrth gwrs, roedd gêm bêl-droed ryngwladol ddydd Sadwrn, felly rwy'n siŵr bod llawer mwy o bobl yn teithio i lawr o'r gogledd. Gwelais i hefyd bobl yn mynd yn rhwystredig iawn ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ac rwy'n deall y rhwystredigaeth honno yn llwyr. Nid oedd yn ddigon da, ac, fel y dywedais i, rydym ni yn deall rhwystredigaethau teithwyr.
Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol o'r hyn a ddigwyddodd yn Craven Arms yn ddiweddar, lle'r oedd trên Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi taro peiriant cloddio bach a oedd wedi ei ddwyn a'i adael ar y lein, felly fe wnaeth hynny ddifetha rhai cerbydau. Felly, yn anffodus, mae ganddyn nhw lai o drenau. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn pam nad oedd trên yn cael ei ddefnyddio'r wythnos diwethaf, ac, wrth gwrs, os oes nam difrifol, ni fyddem ni eisiau iddo gael ei ddefnyddio. Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod gennym ni drenau newydd yn cyrraedd yn ddiweddarach eleni. Maen nhw'n cael eu profi ar hyn o bryd. Nid ydyn nhw'n barod ar hyn o bryd, ond byddan nhw'n barod yn ddiweddarach eleni. Ond, byddwch yn dawel eich meddwl bod y Dirprwy Weinidog yn cynnal trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru.
Minister, we're waiting to see what happens today with the scheduled flight of asylum seekers to Rwanda. But I would be grateful for a Welsh Government update on its discussion with the UK Government on this particular matter. The Counsel General provided a useful account last week, but it would be good to have an oral statement that Members might have an opportunity to speak to. It's an ugly policy. It's an insult to our country's reputation, as is the mess over the Northern Ireland protocol. It's stupid, it's expensive and it's ineffective. There may be as few as seven people on today's first flight. That is a massive waste of taxpayers' money, and it won't work. Even the Home Office says there's no evidence of a deterrent effect. It's a cynical attempt to distract from the Tories' cost-of-living failures and their own infighting. That's my opinion. Conservative Senedd Members here might disagree with that. So, I think it would be a good time to timetable a discussion to get the real feeling on this horrendous policy from all Members that want to participate in it in this Chamber.
Gweinidog, rydym ni'n aros i weld beth sy'n digwydd heddiw gyda'r awyren sydd wedi ei drefnu ar gyfer ceiswyr lloches i Rwanda. Ond byddwn i'n ddiolchgar am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gan Lywodraeth Cymru am ei thrafodaeth gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar y mater penodol hwn. Darparodd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol gyfrif defnyddiol yr wythnos diwethaf, ond byddai'n dda cael datganiad llafar y gallai Aelodau gael cyfle i siarad arno. Mae'n bolisi hyll. Mae'n sarhad ar enw da ein gwlad, fel y mae'r llanastr dros brotocol Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae'n hurt, mae'n ddrud ac mae'n aneffeithiol. Efallai y bydd cyn lleied â saith o bobl ar yr awyren gyntaf heddiw. Mae hynny'n wastraff enfawr ar arian trethdalwyr, ac ni fydd yn gweithio. Mae hyd yn oed y Swyddfa Gartref yn dweud nad oes unrhyw dystiolaeth o effaith ataliol. Mae'n ymgais sinigaidd i dynnu sylw oddi ar fethiannau costau byw y Torïaid a'u brwydro mewnol eu hunain. Dyna fy marn i. Efallai y bydd Aelodau Ceidwadol y Senedd yma yn anghytuno â hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu y byddai'n amser da amserlennu trafodaeth i gael y gwir deimlad ar y polisi erchyll hwn gan bob Aelod sy'n dymuno cymryd rhan ynddo yn y Siambr hon.
Thank you. I don't disagree with anything that Joyce Watson says. I think it's cruel, I think it's immoral, I think it's ineffective, I think it's expensive, and I know that the Minister made those views very clear in the letter jointly with the Scottish Government on 19 May. It's diametrically opposite to our nation of sanctuary approach that we have here in Wales, and we're very proud to be a nation of sanctuary.
I agree with you as well about the effect it will have. I think absolutely it will lead to more trafficking of people, rather than less. If you look at those who are going to be transported to Rwanda, they're going to be very vulnerable to criminal gangs who will be seeking to exploit the situation. It's not that long ago, I'm sure, that we had refugees from Rwanda as well. Suddenly, the UK Government believe that it's okay to transport refugees and asylum seekers there. I think it really will make it more challenging for people to seek safety from war and persecution going forward, and lead to longer delays—and they're already far too long—in the asylum system.
Diolch. Nid wyf i'n anghytuno ag unrhyw beth y mae Joyce Watson yn ei ddweud. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn greulon, rwy'n credu ei fod yn anfoesol, rwy'n credu ei fod yn aneffeithiol, rwy'n credu ei fod yn ddrud, ac rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog wedi gwneud y safbwyntiau hynny yn glir iawn yn y llythyr ar y cyd â Llywodraeth yr Alban ar 19 Mai. Mae'n gwbl groes i'n hymagwedd cenedl noddfa sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn falch iawn o fod yn genedl noddfa.
Rwy'n cytuno â chi hefyd ynglŷn â'r effaith y bydd yn ei chael. Rwy'n credu'n llwyr y bydd yn arwain at fwy o fasnachu pobl, yn hytrach na llai. Os edrychwch chi ar y rhai sy'n mynd i gael eu cludo i Rwanda, maen nhw'n mynd i fod yn agored iawn i gangiau o droseddwyr a fydd yn ceisio manteisio ar y sefyllfa. Nid yw mor bell yn ôl, rwy'n siŵr, yr oedd gennym ni ffoaduriaid o Rwanda hefyd. Yn sydyn, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn credu ei bod yn iawn cludo ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches yno. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn ei gwneud hi'n wirioneddol fwy heriol i bobl geisio diogelwch rhag rhyfel ac erledigaeth wrth symud ymlaen, gan arwain at oedi hirach—ac maen nhw eisoes yn rhy hir o lawer—yn y system lloches.
Two statements, please, Trefnydd. As the leader of the opposition reminded us earlier, our minds are turning towards Grenfell Tower today, five years or half a decade after that tragic incident. I heard the reasoning of the First Minister on why the statement was pulled, but the residents that I've spoken to were actually offended by the fact that it was pulled on this day, and they saw it as an insult. I heard the First Minister say that the statement will be done at the end of this month. I've tried to look online to find when, because there's a vigil on the Senedd steps today and it will be asked of us when, so can you tell us exactly what day the statement will be heard?
And following on from my friend Joyce Watson on Rwanda, I'd also echo her request for a debate. When we have famous left-wing activists such as the heir to the English throne, the archbishops of Canterbury and York and all the bishops of the House of Lords coming our against this cruel policy, and also Councillor Joel Williams, and a Conservative staffer, I think, also coming out in the Western Mail against this policy, surely they need to wake up? So, can we please have a debate on that, as Joyce Watson requested? Diolch yn fawr, Trefnydd.
Dau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, Trefnydd. Fel y gwnaeth arweinydd yr wrthblaid ein hatgoffa ni'n gynharach, mae ein meddyliau'n troi tuag at Dŵr Grenfell heddiw, bum mlynedd neu hanner degawd ar ôl y digwyddiad trasig hwnnw. Clywais i resymu'r Prif Weinidog ynghylch pam y cafodd y datganiad ei dynnu yn ôl, ond roedd y trigolion yr wyf i wedi siarad â nhw wedi eu tramgwyddo gan y ffaith ei fod wedi ei dynnu yn ôl ar y diwrnod hwn, ac roedden nhw'n ei ystyried yn sarhad. Clywais i'r Prif Weinidog yn dweud y bydd y datganiad yn cael ei wneud ddiwedd y mis hwn. Rwyf i wedi ceisio edrych ar-lein i ddarganfod pryd, gan fod gwylnos ar risiau'r Senedd heddiw a bydd gofyn i ni ddweud pryd, felly a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni yn union pa ddiwrnod y bydd y datganiad yn cael ei glywed?
A gan ddilyn ymlaen o fy nghyfaill Joyce Watson ar Rwanda, hoffwn i hefyd adleisio ei chais hi am ddadl. Pan fydd gennym ni weithredwyr asgell chwith enwog fel yr etifedd i orsedd Lloegr, archesgobion Caergaint ac Efrog a holl esgobion Tŷ'r Arglwyddi yn gwrthwynebu'r polisi creulon hwn, a hefyd y Cynghorydd Joel Williams, ac aelod o staff y Ceidwadwyr, rwy'n credu, hefyd yn gwrthwynebu'r polisi hwn yn y Western Mail, siawns nad oes angen iddyn nhw ddeffro? Felly, a gawn ni ddadl ar hynny, os gwelwch yn dda, fel y gofynnodd Joyce Watson? Diolch yn fawr, Trefnydd.
So, just to add to what I said to Joyce Watson, I mentioned that the Minister had written to the UK Government. One of the things that was asked for was a four-nations meeting to discuss the Rwandan policy. I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear no response has been received to date. So, I will ask the Minister to follow up with that letter to see if it's possible, and then that, I think, would be the appropriate time for Members to be updated.
In relation to the building safety oral statement being withdrawn, I just want to reassure everyone no insult was intended at all. As the First Minister said, there was work that we had hoped would be done ahead of the oral statement today that hasn't, but as soon as that work has been done, the Minister will be making a statement. I'm unable to give you a date, but clearly it will be before the summer recess.
Felly, i ychwanegu at yr hyn a ddywedais wrth Joyce Watson, fe wnes i sôn bod y Gweinidog wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU. Un o'r pethau y cafodd ei ofyn amdano oedd cyfarfod rhwng y pedair gwlad i drafod polisi Rwanda. Rwy'n siŵr na fyddwch chi'n synnu o glywed nad oes ymateb wedi dod i hynny hyd yn hyn. Felly, byddaf yn gofyn i'r Gweinidog fynd ar drywydd y llythyr hwnnw i weld a yw'n bosibl, ac yna, rwy'n credu mai dyna fyddai'r adeg briodol i'r Aelodau gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf.
O ran tynnu'r datganiad llafar ar ddiogelwch adeiladau yn ôl, rwyf i eisiau sicrhau pawb nad oedd yn fwriad i sarhau unrhyw un o gwbl. Fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog, yr oedd gwaith yr oeddem ni wedi gobeithio y byddai wedi ei wneud cyn y datganiad llafar heddiw ond nad yw wedi ei wneud, ond cyn gynted ag y bydd y gwaith hwnnw wedi ei wneud, bydd y Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiad. Ni allaf roi dyddiad i chi, ond yn amlwg y bydd cyn toriad yr haf.
Minister, last week, BBC Wales carried a story featuring a range of concerns from the Bevan Foundation about the roll-out of the Welsh Government's free-school-meals option for all primary schools, which is to be commenced in September. Many schools simply don't have the infrastructure to offer a meal to all pupils. There will be limitations on kitchens, seating and staffing capacity. Before the end of the summer term, we really do need an update from the education Minister setting out the key challenges, whether they have been overcome, and what steps he and local authorities are going to take to meet the expectation among parents that you have created. Thank you, Minister.
Gweinidog, yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd BBC Cymru stori yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o bryderon gan Sefydliad Bevan ynghylch cyflwyno dewis Llywodraeth Cymru o ran prydau ysgol am ddim i bob ysgol gynradd, a fydd yn dechrau ym mis Medi. Yn syml, nid oes gan lawer o ysgolion y seilwaith i gynnig pryd o fwyd i bob disgybl. Bydd cyfyngiadau ar geginau, seddi a gallu staffio. Cyn diwedd tymor yr haf, mae angen gwirioneddol i ni gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gan y Gweinidog addysg sy'n nodi'r heriau allweddol, ac a ydyn nhw wedi eu goresgyn, a pha gamau y mae ef ac awdurdodau lleol yn mynd i'w cymryd i fodloni'r disgwyliadau ymhlith rhieni yr ydych chi wedi eu creu. Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog.
Thank you. Well, I'm very proud the Welsh Government, along with Plaid Cymru as part of our co-operation agreement, are bringing forward free school meals. Clearly, there are issues to be addressed, and I think capacity within schools is one. There are other issues that are being worked through. It's very much a cross-Government piece of work. The Minister for Social Justice is involved, and I am from a food point of view, as well as the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. So, that work is being done at pace ahead of the introduction of what I think is a fantastic policy in September.
Diolch. Wel, rwy'n falch iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru, ynghyd â Phlaid Cymru fel rhan o'n cytundeb cydweithredu, yn cyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim. Yn amlwg, mae materion y mae angen ymdrin â nhw, ac rwy'n credu bod gallu mewn ysgolion yn un. Mae materion eraill sy'n cael eu datrys. Mae'n ddarn o waith i bob rhan o'r Llywodraeth i raddau helaeth. Mae'r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yn cymryd rhan, ac rwyf i hefyd o safbwynt bwyd, yn ogystal â Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg. Felly, mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n cael ei wneud yn gyflym cyn cyflwyno'r hyn sydd, yn fy marn i, yn bolisi gwych ym mis Medi.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
We know that the pandemic has had a profound effect on our health service, with waiting times proving a real problem. I welcome the announcement made by the health Minister earlier this year ensuring that, by 2025, no-one will be waiting more than a year for treatment in more specialities, but we need to see more urgent action on cancer waiting times. A constituent contacted my office this month. They were told they had an urgent cancer referral following a visit to their GP, only to find out that urgent referrals are now 16 weeks or more. The worry and angst caused over these four months has an astronomically detrimental affect not only on the individuals, but their families and friends too. Will the Minister make a statement please on how the Welsh Government will reduce the number of weeks and months people are waiting for cancer referrals?
Rydym yn gwybod bod y pandemig wedi cael effaith ddwys ar ein gwasanaeth iechyd, gydag amseroedd aros yn broblem wirioneddol. Rwy'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiad a gafodd ei wneud gan y Gweinidog iechyd yn gynharach eleni yn sicrhau na fydd neb, erbyn 2025, yn aros mwy na blwyddyn am driniaeth mewn mwy o arbenigeddau, ond mae angen i ni weld mwy o weithredu brys ar amseroedd aros canser. Cysylltodd etholwr â fy swyddfa y mis hwn. Cafodd wybod bod ganddo atgyfeiriad brys am ganser yn dilyn ymweliad â'r meddyg teulu, dim ond i gael gwybod bod atgyfeiriadau brys yn 16 wythnos neu fwy ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r pryder a'r gofid sydd wedi'u hachosi yn ystod y pedwar mis hyn yn cael effaith andwyol iawn nid yn unig ar yr unigolion, ond ar eu teuluoedd a'u ffrindiau hefyd. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ynghylch sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn lleihau nifer yr wythnosau a'r misoedd y mae pobl yn aros am atgyfeiriadau canser?
Thank you. I absolutely accept what a worrying time it is for anyone who is referred with the possibility of having cancer and, as you say, the impact it has not just on them, but on the wider family and friends. You'll be aware that the Minister did launch the programme for transforming our NHS, as you referred to, earlier this year. The pandemic has, inevitably, had a significant impact on cancer care. We saw back in the early days of the pandemic people not going forward for investigation, some of our screening programmes were suspended and some people didn't want to attend their appointments, and therapies had to be altered to reduce their risk. The Minister has set out her expectations, and you'll be aware, again, I'm sure, that, prior to the pandemic, we'd invested heavily in radiotherapy equipment and we'd introduced the UK's first complete overhaul of cancer waiting times. So, the Minister has made it very clear to NHS staff, who are continuing to work incredibly hard to respond to the waiting times, what she expects from them, and how we've increased training places to support the NHS, going forward. And we know now that all health boards have initiated rapid diagnostic centres—one-stop shop clinics—for people with symptoms that they can attend as well.
Diolch. Rwy'n llwyr dderbyn pa mor ofidus yw'r amser i unrhyw un sy'n cael ei atgyfeirio oherwydd y posibilrwydd fod canser arno, fel rydych chi'n dweud, effaith hynny nid yn unig ar yr unigolyn, ond yn fwy eang ar ei deulu a'i ffrindiau. Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod y Gweinidog wedi lansio'r rhaglen ar gyfer trawsnewid ein GIG ni, y cyfeirioch chi ati, yn gynharach eleni. Mae'r pandemig, yn anochel felly, wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar ofal canser. Roeddem ni'n gweld nôl yn nyddiau cynnar y pandemig nad oedd pobl yn mynd ymlaen i gael eu harchwilio, ac fe ataliwyd rhai o'n rhaglenni sgrinio ni ac roedd rhai pobl yn amharod i fynd i'w hapwyntiadau nhw, ac fe fu'n rhaid altro therapïau i leihau'r risgiau iddyn nhw. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi nodi ei disgwyliadau hi, ac rydych chi'n ymwybodol, unwaith eto, rwy'n siŵr, ein bod ni, cyn y pandemig, wedi buddsoddi yn helaeth ar offer radiotherapi a'n bod ni wedi cyflwyno'r ymdrech gyntaf yn y DU i ad-drefnu'r amseroedd aros yn llwyr o ran triniaethau canser. Felly, mae'r Gweinidog wedi mynegi yn eglur iawn i staff y GIG, sy'n parhau i weithio yn eithriadol o galed i ymateb i'r amseroedd aros, yr hyn y mae hi'n ei ddisgwyl ganddyn nhw, a sut yr ydym ni wedi cynyddu niferoedd y lleoedd ar gyfer hyfforddiant i gefnogi'r GIG, wrth symud ymlaen. Ac fe wyddom ni nawr fod pob bwrdd iechyd wedi cychwyn canolfannau diagnostig cyflym—clinigau siop un stop—ar gyfer pobl â symptomau fel gallan nhw fynd i'r mannau hynny hefyd.
Ac yn olaf, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
And finally, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome the statement made by the First Minister about an hour ago, saying that we should expect a statement on building safety before the end of the month—we need some clarity exactly when on that. It is disappointing that today's announcement was pulled. It's five years since the Grenfell tragedy. Seventy-two people tragically lost their lives and, of course, today our thoughts are with their loved ones. These people suffered and died because other selfish people cut corners and put their own greed before the well-being of others. This should never happen again. People continue to live with anxiety and fear today. There's more that both Governments can do, and we need to a sense of urgency in order to resolve this. Leaseholders today are already paying thousands of pounds extra for remediation works, on top of the service charges costs, which they shouldn't have to pay for. Often, this cost is transferred to the tenants. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with those selfish and devious developers and their companies. Those who refuse to take responsibility and pay for the works needed to correct these faults should be banned from any further developments here in Wales, and their directors should have their bank accounts frozen. Then they would realise how these innocent leaseholders and tenants feel. The fact that Michael Gove has gone ahead and secured an England-only developer pledge shows how little the UK Government cares for Wales as well. So, as part of the statement, will the Minister therefore provide us with an update on how the Government's discussion with the UK Government on this England-only approach is going, and can she give us the next steps that are planned to urgently resolve this issue?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog rhyw awr yn ôl, yn dweud y dylem ni ddisgwyl datganiad ynglŷn â diogelwch adeiladau cyn diwedd y mis—mae angen rhywfaint o eglurder arnom ni ynghylch pryd yn union y bydd hynny'n digwydd. Mae hi'n siomedig fod cyhoeddiad heddiw wedi cael ei dynnu yn ôl. Mae hi'n bum mlynedd ers trychineb Grenfell. Fe gollodd 72 o bobl eu bywydau nhw'n drist iawn ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n cofio am eu hanwyliaid nhw heddiw. Achoswyd dioddefaint a marwolaethau'r bobl hyn gan hunanoldeb wrth dorri corneli a rhoi ariangarwch rhai o flaen lles pobl eraill. Ni ddylai hyn fyth ddigwydd eto. Mae pobl yn parhau i fyw gyda phryder ac ofn heddiw. Mae yna fwy y gall y ddwy Lywodraeth ei wneud, ac mae angen i ni fod ag ymdeimlad o frys ar gyfer datrys hyn. Mae lesddeiliaid eisoes yn talu miloedd o bunnau ychwanegol am waith i adfer heddiw, ar ben costau'r taliadau gwasanaeth, na ddylen nhw orfod talu amdanyn nhw. Yn aml, fe gaiff y gost honno ei throsglwyddo i'r tenantiaid. Yn y pen draw, y datblygwyr hunanol a chyfrwys hynny a'u cwmnïau nhw sy'n gyfrifol. Fe ddylai'r rhai sy'n gwrthod cymryd cyfrifoldeb a thalu am y gwaith sydd ei angen i gywiro'r diffygion hyn gael eu gwahardd rhag unrhyw ddatblygiadau pellach yma yng Nghymru, ac fe ddylai eu cyfrifon banc nhw gael eu rhewi gan eu cyfarwyddwyr. Fe fydden nhw'n sylweddoli wedyn sut mae'r lesddeiliaid a'r tenantiaid diniwed hyn yn teimlo. Mae'r ffaith bod Michael Gove wedi mynd yn ei flaen ac wedi sicrhau addewid i ddatblygwyr ar gyfer Lloegr yn unig yn dangos cyn lleied yw ystyriaeth Llywodraeth y DU o Gymru hefyd. Felly, yn rhan o'r datganiad, a wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni felly ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae trafodaeth y Llywodraeth gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar y dull hwn ar gyfer Lloegr yn unig yn mynd rhagddi, ac a wnaiff hi ddweud beth yw'r camau nesaf y bwriedir eu cymryd i ddatrys y mater hwn ar fyrder?
Thank you. Well, I certainly agree with what the Member said around the 72 people who sadly lost their lives, and our thoughts are with their families and, of course, the significant impact it will have had on their lives, but also with people who are having to live with issues around building safety, which you referred to. I don't think I've got anything further to add to what the First Minister said. As I said, the statement will be done before the summer recess. We only have four sitting weeks after this week, so I will ensure it's on the business statement and announcement as quickly as possible, so Members and, obviously, our constituents are aware of that. I don't think the Minister could do anything more quickly or more urgently than she's doing, but I will certainly ask her to take your concerns and the specific points you raise, particularly about her discussions with the UK Government, into consideration when she brings forward her statement.
Diolch i chi. Wel, rwy'n sicr yn cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod ynghylch y 72 o bobl a gollodd eu bywydau yn drist iawn, ac rydym ni'n cofio am eu teuluoedd nhw ac, wrth gwrs, am yr effaith sylweddol a gafodd hynny ar eu bywydau nhw, ond am bobl sy'n gorfod byw gyda materion yn ymwneud â diogelwch adeiladu hefyd, yr oeddech chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw. Nid wyf i'n credu bod gennyf i unrhyw beth pellach i'w ychwanegu at yr hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog. Fel dywedais i, fe wneir y datganiad cyn toriad yr haf. Dim ond pedair wythnos o eistedd sydd gennym ni ar ôl yr wythnos hon, felly fe fyddaf i'n sicrhau bod hynny ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes cyn gynted â phosibl, fel bod Aelodau ac, yn amlwg, ein hetholwyr ni'n ymwybodol o hynny. Nid wyf i o'r farn y gallai'r Gweinidog wneud unrhyw beth yn gynt nac ar fwy o frys na'r hyn y mae hi'n ei wneud, ond fe fyddaf i'n sicr yn gofyn iddi hi ystyried eich pryderon chi a'r pwyntiau penodol yr ydych chi'n eu codi, yn arbennig felly o ran ei thrafodaethau hi gyda Llywodraeth y DU, pan fydd hi'n cyflwyno ei datganiad.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Eitem 3 y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol—diweddariad ar gostau byw. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Jane Hutt.
Item 3 this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for Social Justice—cost-of-living update. I call on the Minister, Jane Hutt.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, for the opportunity to update Members today about the deepening cost-of-living crisis, which is being acutely felt by the most vulnerable, by disabled people and by lower income households. Over the last week, we've seen further evidence of just how quickly prices are rising. The cost of filling up an average-sized family car passed £100 for the first time, and, a week ago today, prices at the pump recorded their biggest one-day increase in 17 years. A great many households are struggling to make ends meet. Work by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research has found that some 48,000 Welsh households are already facing food and energy bills that are greater than their disposable incomes. Unfortunately, this crisis will get worse as we head towards winter, with another energy price cap rise in October, which could add a further £800 to energy bills.
Dirprwy Lywydd, our focus as a Government has always been to help people with everyday costs by introducing a wide range of programmes that put money back in their pockets. We provide thousands of free breakfasts for primary school pupils every year and, as a result of the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, we will be extending free school meals to all primary school children from September. We provide help with the costs of sending children to school. Our Healthy Start vouchers give families money off their shopping. We provide free swimming for the old and the young, and we support hundreds of thousands of people with council tax bills every year. We help people get the benefits that they are entitled to—we've run two successful 'Claim what's yours' campaigns and the most recent in March helped people to claim more than £2.1 million of additional income. Our single advice fund's benefit advice services were launched two years ago to help people navigate the benefit system. And our Warm Homes scheme has improved the home energy efficiency of more than 67,000 lower income households, and more than 160,000 people have received energy-efficiency advice since its launch in 2011. We are now developing the next iteration of the programme.
But this cost-of-living crisis is unprecedented. The Office for Budget Responsibility says that this year will see the biggest fall in living standards in the UK since records began. We will continue to do everything we can to help people in Wales through this crisis, with support targeted towards those who need it most. As the crisis has worsened, we have introduced two new packages of measures that are unique to Wales and are targeted at those who need our help the most. Just a few days ago, I announced £4 million to help people on prepayment meters and households not on mains gas—two groups that were left out of the Chancellor's most recent package of measures. We are funding the Fuel Bank Foundation to provide fuel vouchers to help people on prepayment meters who are facing real hardship. Around 120,000 people will be eligible. People on prepayment meters have been hit particularly hard by rises in standing charges in recent months; the increases have been highest in north Wales. Vouchers worth £30 in the summer and £49 in the winter will be available to all eligible households, and people will be able to claim up to three times in a six-month period. We are also launching a heat fund to help those households not on mains gas, many of whom are in rural Wales, and will have experienced rapidly rising costs for oil or liquid gas, and this will help an estimated 2,000 households across Wales. This is in addition to the support payments for off-grid households available through the discretionary assistance fund. More than 1,000 people have received grants worth almost £192,000 between October and April.
Last week, the Deputy Minister for Social Services announced an additional £4.5 million for the carers support fund over the next three years. Unpaid carers will be able to apply for up to £500 to pay for food, household items and electronic items. Dirprwy Lywydd, this support is on top of our other all-Wales schemes, such as the £200 winter fuel support payment and the £150 payment for everyone in council tax bands A to D, which continues to be paid into people's bank accounts today. Beyond these schemes, I have met with energy suppliers to discuss what help is available to households struggling with energy bills and debt. Many companies fund grants of up to £600 to households with long-term debt issues. The suppliers supported our calls for the UK Government to extend the Warm Home Discount Scheme and to introduce an energy social tariff for lower income households. I've also hosted a cost-of-living summit, chaired a food poverty round-table, and met with the Wales Race Forum to better understand the impact of the crisis in our communities. I'll be meeting the Disability Equality Forum later this month and will be holding a follow-up summit in July. All these events will help to shape our actions and build partnerships to strengthen our response over the coming months.
But, Dirprwy Lywydd, this is a cost-of-living crisis with its roots firmly in Downing Street and the actions of successive Conservative Governments. It is the UK Government, with its tax and benefit powers, that can and must make a real difference to this crisis. We need to see benefit payments urgently uprated to match rising inflation and a lower energy tariff for lower income households, and a reinstatement of funding for discretionary housing payments. Without such action, there is a real risk that a great many families will be faced with the terrible choice between heating and eating this winter. In a rich country like ours, that's a choice no-one should ever have to make.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, am y cyfle i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau heddiw ynglŷn â'r argyfwng costau byw cynyddol, sy'n cael ei deimlo yn enbyd gan y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed, gan bobl anabl a chartrefi incwm is. Dros yr wythnos diwethaf, rydym ni wedi gweld tystiolaeth bellach o ba mor gyflym y mae prisiau yn codi. Aeth y gost o lenwi car teulu o faint cyfartalog dros £100 am y tro cyntaf, ac, wythnos yn ôl i heddiw, fe welodd prisiau wrth y pwmp eu cynnydd undydd mwyaf mewn 17 mlynedd. Mae llawer iawn o aelwydydd yn ei chael hi'n anodd cael dau ben llinyn ynghyd. Mae gwaith gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ymchwil Economaidd a Chymdeithasol wedi canfod bod tua 48,000 o gartrefi yng Nghymru eisoes yn wynebu biliau bwyd ac ynni sy'n fwy na'u hincwm gwario nhw. Yn anffodus, fe fydd yr argyfwng hwn yn gwaethygu wrth i ni nesáu at y gaeaf, gyda'r cap arall ar brisiau ynni yn codi ym mis Hydref, a allai ychwanegu £800 arall at filiau ynni.
Dirprwy Lywydd, yn y Llywodraeth rydym ni bob amser wedi canolbwyntio ar helpu pobl gyda chostau bob dydd drwy gyflwyno ystod eang o raglenni sy'n rhoi arian yn ôl yn eu pocedi nhw. Rydym ni'n darparu miloedd o frecwastau rhad ac am ddim i ddisgyblion ysgolion cynradd bob blwyddyn ac, o ganlyniad i'r cytundeb cydweithredu â Phlaid Cymru, fe fyddwn ni'n ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn ysgol gynradd o fis Medi ymlaen. Rydym ni'n darparu cymorth gyda chostau o ran danfon plant i'r ysgol. Mae ein talebau Cychwyn Iach ni'n rhoi gostyngiadau ariannol i deuluoedd ar eu neges nhw o'r siopau. Rydym ni'n cynnig nofio rhad ac am ddim i'r hen a'r ifanc, ac rydym ni'n cefnogi cannoedd o filoedd o bobl gyda biliau'r dreth gyngor yn flynyddol. Rydym ni'n helpu pobl i gael y budd-daliadau y mae ganddyn nhw'r hawl i'w cael nhw—rydym ni wedi cynnal dwy ymgyrch lwyddiannus 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy’n ddyledus i chi' ac mae'r un ddiweddaraf ym mis Mawrth wedi helpu pobl i hawlio mwy na £2.1 miliwn o incwm ychwanegol. Lansiwyd gwasanaethau cyngor ar fudd-daliadau ein cronfa gynghori sengl ni i helpu pobl i lywio'r system fudd-daliadau ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Ac mae ein cynllun Cartrefi Clyd ni wedi gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni cartref ar dros 67,000 o aelwydydd incwm is, ac mae dros 160,000 o bobl wedi cael cyngor effeithlonrwydd ynni ers ei lansio ef yn 2011. Rydym ni'n datblygu fersiwn nesaf y rhaglen ar hyn o bryd.
Ond mae'r argyfwng costau byw hwn yn un digynsail. Mae'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn dweud bydd eleni yn gweld y gostyngiad mwyaf mewn safonau byw yn y DU ers dechrau cadw cofnod o hynny. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i wneud popeth yn ein gallu ni i helpu pobl yng Nghymru drwy'r argyfwng hwn, gyda chymorth a anelir at y rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf amdano. Wrth i'r argyfwng waethygu, rydym ni wedi cyflwyno dau becyn newydd o fesurau sy'n unigryw i Gymru ac a anelir at y rhai y mae angen ein cymorth ni arnyn nhw fwyaf. Ychydig ddyddiau nôl, fe gyhoeddais i £4 miliwn i helpu pobl ar fesuryddion rhagdalu ac aelwydydd nad ydyn nhw'n cael nwy o'r prif gyflenwad—dau grŵp a adawyd allan o becyn mesurau diweddaraf y Canghellor. Rydym ni'n ariannu'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd i ddarparu talebau tanwydd i helpu pobl ar fesuryddion rhagdalu sy'n wynebu caledi gwirioneddol. Fe fydd tua 120,000 o bobl yn gymwys. Mae pobl ar fesuryddion rhagdalu wedi cael eu taro yn arbennig o galed gan godiadau mewn taliadau sefydlog yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf; mae'r cynnydd wedi bod ar ei uchaf yn y gogledd. Bydd talebau gwerth £30 yn yr haf a £49 yn y gaeaf ar gael i bob aelwyd gymwys, ac fe fydd pobl yn gallu hawlio hyd at dair gwaith mewn cyfnod o chwe mis. Rydym ni hefyd yn lansio cronfa wres i helpu'r aelwydydd hynny nad ydyn nhw'n cael nwy o'r prif gyflenwad, y mae llawer ohonyn nhw'n byw yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, ac wedi gweld costau yn codi yn gyflym, gyflym iawn am olew neu nwy hylif, ac fe fydd hyn yn helpu tua 2,000 o aelwydydd ledled Cymru. Mae hynny ar ben y taliadau cymorth ar gyfer aelwydydd oddi ar y grid sydd ar gael drwy'r gronfa cymorth dewisol. Mae dros 1,000 o bobl wedi cael grantiau gwerth bron i £192,000 rhwng mis Hydref a mis Ebrill.
Wythnos diwethaf, fe gyhoeddodd y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol £4.5 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y gronfa cymorth i ofalwyr dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Bydd gofalwyr di-dâl yn gallu gwneud cais am hyd at £500 i dalu am fwyd, eitemau cartref ac eitemau electronig. Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r cymorth hwn ar ben ein cynlluniau eraill ni i Gymru gyfan, fel y taliad cymorth tanwydd gaeaf o £200 a'r taliad o £150 i bawb ym mandiau A i D y dreth gyngor, sy'n parhau i gael ei dalu i gyfrifon banc pobl heddiw. Y tu hwnt i'r cynlluniau hyn, rwyf i wedi cyfarfod â chyflenwyr ynni i drafod pa gymorth sydd ar gael i aelwydydd sy'n cael trafferth gyda biliau ynni a dyledion. Mae llawer o gwmnïau yn ariannu grantiau o hyd at £600 i aelwydydd sydd â phroblemau dyled hirdymor. Fe gefnogodd y cyflenwyr ein galwadau ni ar Lywodraeth y DU i ymestyn y Cynllun Gostyngiad Cartrefi Cynnes a chyflwyno tariff cymdeithasol ynni ar gyfer aelwydydd incwm is. Rwyf i wedi cynnal uwchgynhadledd costau byw hefyd, wedi cadeirio bwrdd crwn tlodi bwyd, ac wedi cyfarfod â Fforwm Hil Cymru i ddeall effaith yr argyfwng ar ein cymunedau ni'n well. Fe fyddaf i'n cwrdd â'r Fforwm Cydraddoldeb i Bobl Anabl yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn ac fe fyddaf i'n cynnal uwchgynhadledd ddilynol ym mis Gorffennaf. Fe fydd yr holl ddigwyddiadau hyn yn helpu i lywio ein camau ni ac yn meithrin partneriaethau i gryfhau ein hymateb ni dros y misoedd nesaf.
Ond, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn Stryd Downing ac oherwydd camau gan Lywodraethau Ceidwadol olynol y mae'r argyfwng costau byw hwn yn tarddu, yn sicr. Llywodraeth y DU, gyda'i phwerau hi o ran trethu a budd-daliadau, sydd â'r gallu i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i'r argyfwng hwn, ac fe ddylai hi wneud hynny. Mae angen i ni weld taliadau budd-daliadau yn cael eu huwchraddio ar fyrder i gyfateb i chwyddiant cynyddol a thariff ynni is ar gyfer aelwydydd incwm is, ac adfer cyllid ar gyfer taliadau tai yn ôl disgresiwn. Heb weithredu fel hyn, mae yna berygl gwirioneddol y bydd llawer iawn o deuluoedd yn wynebu'r dewis ofnadwy rhwng gwresogi neu fwyta yn ystod y gaeaf sydd i ddod. Mewn gwlad gyfoethog fel ein gwlad ni, dewis yw hwnnw na ddylai neb fyth orfod ei wneud.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Mark Isherwood.
The Conservative spokesperson, Mark Isherwood.
Diolch. You say—. I'll begin with the end and get the controversial bit over with. You say the cost-of-living crisis has 'its roots firmly in Downing Street'. In fact, inflation to May, which are the last international figures I can find, point to inflation in Holland at 8.8 per cent, the US at 8.6 per cent, Germany at 7.9 per cent, and in the Baltic states as high as 20 per cent. Is Downing Street responsible for all of this, or is somehow the cost-of-living crisis—and I'm happy to use that word—in the UK unique to us and somehow unrelated to the global cost-of-living crisis impacting in desperate ways in so many parts of the world?
Further to your written statement last Friday announcing a Welsh Government fuel voucher scheme, aimed at providing crisis help to those households that have to pay in advance for their energy and are unable to do so, with top-up vouchers for customers on prepayment meters, sector representatives told me, as chair of the cross-party group on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, that although this was welcome news, further information was still needed. National Energy Action estimate the price cap increase from April will bring an additional 100,000 households in Wales into fuel poverty, taking the total to 280,000. Both your written statement and the press release refer to individuals and people in respect of the voucher scheme. So, how many households does the Welsh Government therefore anticipate this voucher scheme support will reach?
Your statement says the scheme will see the launch of a new crisis service for households that are off the gas grid and are unable to afford to buy gas bottles or fill their oil tank, log store or coal bunker. When will this be launched? You state that the funding will also provide Fuel Bank heat fund support to help 2,000 households—so you identified the number in this instance—living off the gas grid reliant on unregulated heating, oil and liquid gas for their domestic space and water heating, which will benefit some 4,800 individuals, depending on the number of people living in the household. Is it your intention that the Fuel Bank heat fund is to fully cover the cost of 500 litres of oil, where it is noted that similar support available via the discretionary assistance fund is currently limited to £250, meaning that many low-income, vulnerable households cannot always afford the minimum delivery? Overall, what, if any, are the proposed eligibility criteria for the scheme, how long will this funding be available for, and/or how will it work alongside similar support currently available via the discretionary assistance fund?
Questioning you here last week, I asked whether the Welsh Government will ensure that the £25 million consequential funding flowing to the Welsh Government from the UK Government extension to the household support fund will be targeted, in its entirety, at households hardest hit by the cost-of-living increases beyond the funding announcements you made before this additional funding was announced. Your response was unclear. Will the Welsh Government therefore target this funding, in its entirety, at households hardest hit by the cost-of-living increases—yes or no? If yes, when will its allocation be announced and are the Welsh Government fuel voucher scheme and Fuel Bank heat fund part of this?
I was a member of the Equality, Local Government and Communities committee that undertook the inquiry into 'Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery' during the last Senedd term. After hearing from a range of witnesses, including the Bevan Foundation and Community Housing Cymru, our 2019 committee report recommended the establishment of
'a coherent and integrated "Welsh benefits system" for all the means-tested benefits for which it is responsible...co-produced with people who claim these benefits and the wider Welsh public.'
As the committee stated:
'It is a matter of basic fairness that people receive all the support to which they are entitled, as easily as possible.'
The Welsh Government accepted this recommendation. What action have you therefore taken to deliver on this?
Research by the Building Communities Trust prior to the 2021 Senedd elections found that people in Wales feeling increasingly less able to influence decisions affecting their local area. They highlighted the Local Trust's 'Left behind?' report in England, which evidences the poorer areas with greater community capacity and social infrastructure have better health and well-being outcomes, higher rates of employment and lower levels of child poverty compared to poorer areas without, adding:
'We believe there is big opportunity for a future Welsh Government to develop better support for community-led, long-term, local approaches in Wales'.
What consideration have you therefore given to the 'Left behind?' report, or will you be doing so?
The Welsh Government's—
Diolch. Rydych chi'n dweud—. Rwyf i am ddechrau gyda'r pwynt olaf a chael diwedd ar y rhan ddadleuol. Rydych chi'n dweud bod yr argyfwng costau yn tarddu yn sicr o Stryd Downing. Yn wir, mae chwyddiant hyd at fis Mai, sef y ffigurau rhyngwladol diwethaf yr wyf i'n gallu cael gafael arnyn nhw, yn cyfeirio at chwyddiant yn yr Iseldiroedd ar 8.8 y cant, yr Unol Daleithiau ar 8.6 y cant, yr Almaen ar 7.9 y cant, ac yng ngwladwriaethau'r Baltig cyn uched ag 20 y cant. A yw Stryd Downing yn gyfrifol am hyn i gyd, neu a yw'r argyfwng costau byw rywsut—ac rwy'n fodlon defnyddio'r gair hwnnw—yn unigryw i ni yn y DU a heb unrhyw gysylltiad â'r argyfwng costau byw byd-eang sy'n cael effaith mewn ffyrdd difrifol mewn cymaint o rannau o'r byd?
Yn dilyn eich datganiad ysgrifenedig chi ddydd Gwener diwethaf a oedd yn cyhoeddi cynllun talebau tanwydd Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda'r nod o estyn cymorth argyfwng i'r aelwydydd hynny sy'n gorfod talu ymlaen llaw am eu hynni nhw a heb fodd i wneud hynny, gyda thalebau atodol i gwsmeriaid ar fesuryddion rhagdalu, fe ddywedodd cynrychiolwyr y sector wrthyf i, ac yntau'n gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dlodi tanwydd ac effeithlonrwydd ynni, er bod hyn yn newyddion i'w groesawu, roedd angen rhagor o wybodaeth eto. Mae'r Cam Gweithredu Ynni Cenedlaethol yn amcangyfrif y bydd y cynnydd yn y cap ar brisiau o fis Ebrill ymlaen yn golygu y bydd 100,000 o aelwydydd ychwanegol yng Nghymru mewn tlodi tanwydd, gan wneud cyfanswm o 280,000. Mae eich datganiad ysgrifenedig chi a'r datganiad i'r wasg yn cyfeirio at unigolion a phobl o ran y cynllun talebau. Felly, faint o aelwydydd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhagweld y bydd y cynllun talebau hwn yn eu cwmpasu?
Mae eich datganiad chi'n dweud y bydd y cynllun yn arwain at lansio gwasanaeth argyfwng newydd i aelwydydd sydd oddi ar y grid nwy ac nad ydyn nhw'n gallu fforddio prynu poteli nwy na llenwi eu tanc olew nhw, na rhoi dim yn y storfa goed tân na'r cwt glo. Pryd fydd hwnnw'n cael ei lansio? Rydych chi'n dweud y bydd yr arian yn darparu cymorth cronfa gwres y Banc Tanwydd i helpu 2,000 o aelwydydd hefyd—felly fe wnaethoch chi nodi'r nifer yn yr achos hwn—sy'n byw oddi ar y grid nwy sy'n ddibynnol ar wresogi sydd heb ei reoleiddio, olew a nwy hylif ar gyfer eu hanghenion domestig a gwresogi dŵr, a fydd o fudd i ryw 4,800 o unigolion, yn dibynnu ar nifer y bobl sy'n byw ar yr aelwyd. A ydych chi'n bwriadu i gronfa wres y Banc Tanwydd dalu yn llawn am gost 500 litr o olew, lle nodir y bydd cymorth tebyg i'r hyn sydd ar gael o'r gronfa cymorth dewisol a gyfyngir i £250 ar hyn o bryd, sy'n golygu na all llawer o aelwydydd ar incwm isel sy'n agored i niwed fforddio'r danfoniad lleiaf bob amser? Yn gyffredinol, beth, os o gwbl, yw'r meini prawf cymhwysedd arfaethedig ar gyfer y cynllun hwn, am ba hyd y bydd y cyllid hwn ar gael, a/neu sut y bydd yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â chymorth tebyg sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd drwy'r gronfa cymorth dewisol?
Wrth eich holi chi yn y fan hon wythnos diwethaf, fe ofynnais i a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau y bydd y £25 miliwn o gyllid canlyniadol sy'n llifo i Lywodraeth Cymru o estyniad Llywodraeth y DU i'r gronfa cymorth i gartrefi yn cael ei anelu, yn ei gyfanrwydd, at aelwydydd a ergydiwyd fwyaf gan y cynnydd mewn costau byw y tu hwnt i'r cyhoeddiadau ariannu a wnaethoch chi cyn cyhoeddi'r arian ychwanegol hwn. Roedd eich ymateb chi'n aneglur. A fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn anelu'r cyllid hwn felly, yn ei gyfanrwydd, at aelwydydd a drawyd fwyaf gan y cynnydd mewn costau byw—bydd neu na fydd? Os bydd, pryd caiff ei ddyraniad ei gyhoeddi ac a fydd cynllun talebau tanwydd Llywodraeth Cymru a chronfa wres y Banc Tanwydd yn rhan o hynny?
Roeddwn i'n aelod o'r Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau a gynhaliodd yr ymchwiliad i 'Budd-daliadau yng Nghymru: opsiynau i'w cyflawni'n well' yn ystod tymor y Senedd ddiwethaf. Ar ôl clywed oddi wrth amrywiaeth o dystion, gan gynnwys Sefydliad Bevan a Chartrefi Cymunedol Cymru, fe argymhellodd adroddiad ein pwyllgor ni yn 2019 y dylid sefydlu
'“system fudd-daliadau Gymreig” gydlynol ac integredig ar gyfer yr holl fudd-daliadau sy’n seiliedig ar brawf modd y mae’n gyfrifol amdanynt.... Dylai’r egwyddorion hyn gael eu cydgynhyrchu gyda phobl sy’n hawlio’r budd-daliadau hyn a’r cyhoedd ehangach yng Nghymru.'
Fel dywedodd y pwyllgor:
'Mae’n fater o degwch sylfaenol bod pobl yn cael yr holl gymorth y mae ganddynt hawl iddo, a hynny mewn ffordd mor hawdd â phosibl.'
Fe dderbyniodd Llywodraeth Cymru'r argymhelliad hwn. Pa gamau y gwnaethoch chi eu cymryd i gyflawni hyn felly?
Roedd ymchwil gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Adeiladu Cymunedau cyn etholiadau'r Senedd yn 2021 yn canfod bod pobl yng Nghymru yn teimlo'n fwyfwy analluog i ddylanwadu ar benderfyniadau sy'n effeithio ar eu hardal leol. Roedden nhw'n tynnu sylw at adroddiad 'Left behind?' yr Ymddiriedolaeth Leol yn Lloegr, sy'n dangos bod gan yr ardaloedd tlotach sydd â mwy o gapasiti cymunedol a seilwaith cymdeithasol ganlyniadau iechyd a llesiant gwell, cyfraddau cyflogaeth uwch a lefelau is o dlodi plant o gymharu ag ardaloedd tlotach heb y capasiti hwnnw, gan ychwanegu:
'Credwn fod cyfle mawr i Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol ddatblygu gwell cefnogaeth ar gyfer dulliau lleol hirdymor a arweinir gan y gymuned yng Nghymru'.
Pa ystyriaeth a wnaethoch chi ei rhoi felly i'r adroddiad 'Left behind?', neu a ydych chi'n bwriadu gwneud hynny?
Mae—
Mark, you've had over your time now, so conclude, please.
Mark, rydych chi wedi cael mwy na'ch amser chi nawr, felly tynnwch tua'r terfyn, os gwelwch chi'n dda.
Okay, I'll finish. The Welsh Government's cost-of-living support scheme guidance for local authorities allows for payments to be made until the scheme closes on 30 September, but leaves it to them to decide when. What action, finally, therefore, is the Welsh Government taking to address concerns raised by residents in a number of local authority areas about the delay in paying the council tax rebate to those who do not pay their council tax by direct debit?
Iawn, fe wnaf i hynny. Mae canllawiau cynllun cymorth costau byw Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol yn caniatáu i daliadau gael eu gwneud hyd nes y bydd y cynllun yn cau ar 30 o fis Medi, ond yn gadael iddyn nhw benderfynu pryd yn union y byddai hynny'n digwydd. Pa gamau, yn olaf, felly, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a godwyd gan drigolion mewn nifer o ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn ag oedi cyn talu'r ad-daliad treth gyngor i'r rhai nad ydyn nhw'n talu eu treth gyngor drwy ddebyd uniongyrchol?
Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood. I would be very surprised, as chair of the cross-party group on fuel poverty, if you did not recognise the deepening of the cost-of-living crisis and the failure of the UK Government to address these issues with their tax and welfare powers. It's just in terms of recognising, as I've said, that the UK Government holds the primary levers for the tax and benefits system.
Welsh Ministers have repeatedly called on UK Ministers to introduce a lower price cap for low-income households, and I got that support from energy providers I met, to ensure they're able to meet the costs of energy needs now and in the future. No response from the UK Government. We also have asked for them to introduce a significant increase in the rebate paid through schemes such as the Warm Homes discount and winter fuel schemes. We've asked them to remove all social and environmental policy costs from household energy bills and meet these costs from general taxation. We've asked for the £20 uplift in universal credit to be restored, but crucially important, and this is where it does lie, the responsibility, in Downing Street, they should uplift, uprate benefit payments for 2022-23 to match inflation instead of using the September 2021 consumer price index figure of 3.1 per cent. Inflation is now 9 per cent and rising.
I won't spend time today actually quoting what other countries are doing, certainly in the EU, which is a great deal more than this UK Government, but look to France, Italy and Germany. Germany is introducing subsidies for low-income households, spending an extra €15 billion on fuel subsidies, cutting petrol and diesel taxes, providing people with one-off payments, extra childcare support, public transport discounts. Those are the sorts of measures that we should be seeing from the UK Government.
But I'm glad that you do welcome the announcement I made on Friday. There is a full written statement, of course, that came out on Friday, Mark, and you will know that I launched this in Wrexham. I launched it in in Wrexham because the figures show people on prepayment metres in north Wales have been the hardest hit in the UK by rising standing charges. In fact, the First Minister commented on that in his questions. Costs are increasing in north Wales by 102 per cent, the highest in the UK, and standing charges for people on prepayment metres in south Wales have risen by 94 per cent, the fourth highest in Britain.
Now, we're doing this with the Fuel Bank Foundation. They have already engaged—we heard earlier on about some foodbanks, including Blaenau Gwent, which I visited and met the fuel foundation, and also in north Wales, in Wrexham, where there are eight centres. There are eight centres—eight centres—for the Wrexham foodbank, and they've already, with funding previously from the Welsh Government for tackling winter pressures, been actually providing these fuel vouchers. Now, the whole of Wales will be benefiting, and it is important that, as you see in the written statement and response to your questions, nearly 120,000 people—it was in my statement—will be eligible for approximately 49,000 vouchers to support them during the cost-of-living crisis.
Now, the heat fund is important too. It'll provide direct support to eligible households living off the gas grid, reliant on oil and liquid gas. I've already said in my statement it should help up to 2,000 households in Wales. I think it would be very helpful, actually, if Mark, as chair of the cross-party group on fuel poverty, could invite the fuel bank heat fund perhaps to one of your cross-party group meetings, because they're now fully engaged and a partnership—[Interruption.] Good, good. Well, I'm very glad to hear that. So, what is clear to us is that we have to work in partnership—in answer to your questions—with the third sector. National Energy Action joined the meeting I had with energy providers only two weeks ago. Citizens Advice is obviously crucial. When I met with Wrexham foodbank volunteers, and the Fuel Bank Foundation, they were saying one of the most important points about visiting a foodbank—and there are many other food initiatives that are very important—is it starts to signpost people to other support, to be able to claim for other benefits. People with prepayment meters are the most susceptible to rising costs and increased standing charges, and those who are not connected to the mains gas network, as I said last week, are suffering from rising fuel costs and being forced into fuel poverty, with approximately one in 10 households reliant on heating oil in Wales. But I can assure you, in terms of engaging at community level and, indeed, in terms of those national charities and campaign groups, they were all involved in our cost-of-living summit last February and then forward into the food poverty summit, and the summit that we're going to have, they'll be invited to again, in July.
You did ask—and I'll finish on this point—an important point about the payment of the council tax cost-of-living payment. It's being provided, as everyone knows, to council tax bands A to D, and, indeed, to those who already have accounts. It is going directly into their accounts, and I'm sure all the Members will be aware of people saying, 'It's gone into my account.' Those who don't have accounts, which is your question, it is the responsibility of the local authority to explore, to find out from that particular benefit recipient for the £150, the best way to make that payment, and that's being monitored very carefully by the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and indeed my own officials. But the payments that are being made extensively across Wales will continue to be paid and we will continue to address those to ensure that they claim what's theirs. Indeed, that's why we can ensure—as our £200 winter fuel support payment and then the £150 payment—indeed, this is where we can get money straight to people, and the fuel voucher now is one more step on the way in terms of helping people face this horrendous cost-of-living crisis, which was made in Downing Street, I would still maintain.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mark Isherwood. Fe fyddwn i'n rhyfeddu yn fawr iawn, gan eich bod chi'n gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dlodi tanwydd, pe na fyddech chi'n cydnabod llymhau'r argyfwng costau byw a methiant Llywodraeth y DU i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn gyda'u pwerau nhw o ran trethu a budd-daliadau. Dim ond o ran cydnabod, fel dywedais i, mai Llywodraeth y DU sydd â'r cyfrifoldeb mwyaf am y system dreth a budd-daliadau.
Mae Gweinidogion Cymru wedi galw dro ar ôl tro ar Weinidogion y DU i gyflwyno cap pris is ar gyfer aelwydydd incwm isel, ac fe gefais i gefnogaeth i hynny gan y darparwyr ynni y bûm i'n cyfarfod â nhw, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gallu talu costau eu hanghenion ynni nawr ac yn y dyfodol. Ni chafwyd ymateb oddi wrth Lywodraeth y DU. Rydym ni hefyd wedi gofyn iddyn nhw gyflwyno cynnydd sylweddol yn yr ad-daliad sy'n dod drwy gynlluniau fel gostyngiad Cartrefi Cynnes a chynlluniau tanwydd gaeaf. Rydym ni wedi gofyn iddyn nhw ddileu'r holl gostau polisi cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol o filiau ynni'r cartref a thalu'r costau hyn o drethiant cyffredinol. Rydym ni wedi gofyn am adfer y cynnydd o £20 mewn credyd cynhwysol unwaith eto, ond yn hanfodol bwysig, ac yn y fan honno mae'r cyfrifoldeb yn aros, yn Stryd Downing, a'r hyn y dylen nhw fod yn ei wneud yw cynyddu ac uwchraddio taliadau o fudd-daliadau ar gyfer 2022-23 i gyfateb i chwyddiant yn hytrach na defnyddio ffigur mynegai prisiau defnyddwyr mis Medi 2021 o 3.1 y cant. Mae chwyddiant ar 9 y cant erbyn hyn ac yn codi.
Nid wyf i am dreulio fy amser i heddiw yn dyfynnu'r hyn mewn gwirionedd y mae gwledydd eraill yn ei wneud, yn sicr yn yr UE, sef llawer mwy na'r Llywodraeth hon yn y DU, ond edrychwch chi ar Ffrainc, yr Eidal a'r Almaen. Mae'r Almaen yn cyflwyno cymorthdaliadau ar gyfer aelwydydd incwm isel, gan wario €15 biliwn yn ychwanegol ar gymorthdaliadau tanwydd, torri trethi petrol a disel, darparu taliadau untro i bobl, estyn cymorth gofal plant ychwanegol, rhoi gostyngiadau ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Dyna'r math o fesurau y dylem ni fod yn eu gweld oddi wrth Lywodraeth y DU.
Ond rwy'n falch eich bod chi'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiad a wnes i ddydd Gwener. Mae yna ddatganiad ysgrifenedig llawn, wrth gwrs, a gyhoeddwyd ddydd Gwener, Mark, ac fe wyddoch chi fy mod i wedi lansio hwnnw yn Wrecsam. Cafodd ei lansio gennyf i yn Wrecsam oherwydd bod y ffigurau yn dangos mai pobl â mesuryddion rhagdalu yn y gogledd yw'r rhai sydd wedi cael eu taro galetaf yn y DU gan daliadau sefydlog cynyddol. Yn wir, fe soniodd Prif Weinidog Cymru am hynny yn ei gwestiynau ef. Mae costau yn cynyddu 102 y cant yn y gogledd, yr uchaf yn y DU, ac mae taliadau sefydlog i bobl â mesuryddion rhagdalu yn y de wedi codi 94 y cant, y pedwerydd uchaf ym Mhrydain.
Nawr, rydym ni'n gwneud hyn gyda'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd. Maen nhw wedi ymgysylltu eisoes—fe glywsom ni'n gynharach am rai banciau bwyd, gan gynnwys ym Mlaenau Gwent, y bûm i ar ymweliad â nhw a chyfarfod â nhw a chyfarfod â'r sefydliad tanwydd, ac yn y gogledd hefyd, yn Wrecsam, lle mae yna wyth o ganolfannau. Mae yna wyth o ganolfannau—wyth canolfan—ar gyfer banc bwyd Wrecsam, ac maen nhw eisoes, gyda chyllid blaenorol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â phwysau'r gaeaf, wedi bod yn darparu'r talebau tanwydd hyn mewn gwirionedd. Nawr, fe fydd Cymru gyfan yn elwa ar hynny, ac mae hi'n bwysig ystyried, fel gwelwch chi yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig a'r ymateb i'ch cwestiynau chi, y bydd bron i 120,000 o bobl—roedd hyn yn fy natganiad i—yn gymwys i gael tua 49,000 o dalebau i'w cefnogi nhw yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw.
Nawr, mae'r gronfa wres yn bwysig hefyd. Bydd honno'n rhoi cymorth uniongyrchol i aelwydydd cymwys sy'n byw oddi ar y grid nwy, gan ddibynnu ar olew a nwy hylif. Rwyf i wedi dweud eisoes yn fy natganiad y dylai hi fod o gymorth i hyd at 2,000 o aelwydydd yng Nghymru. Rwyf i o'r farn y byddai hynny'n ddefnyddiol iawn, mewn gwirionedd, pe gallai Mark, yn gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dlodi tanwydd, wahodd rhywun o gronfa gwres y banc tanwydd efallai i un o'ch cyfarfodydd grŵp trawsbleidiol chi, oherwydd maen nhw'n ymgysylltu erbyn hyn yn llawn ac mae partneriaeth—[Torri ar draws.] Da iawn, wir. Wel, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed hynny. Felly, yr hyn sy'n amlwg i ni yw bod rhaid i ni weithio mewn partneriaeth—wrth ateb eich cwestiynau chi—gyda'r trydydd sector. Ymunodd National Energy Action â'r cyfarfod a gefais i gyda darparwyr ynni bythefnos yn ôl. Mae Cyngor ar Bopeth yn hanfodol, mae hi'n amlwg. Pan wnes i gyfarfod â gwirfoddolwyr banciau bwyd Wrecsam, a Sefydliad y Banc Tanwydd, roedden nhw'n dweud un o'r pwyntiau pwysicaf am ymweld â banc bwyd—ac mae llawer o fentrau bwyd eraill sy'n bwysig iawn—yw ei fod yn cyfeirio pobl at gymorth arall, er mwyn gallu hawlio budd-daliadau eraill. Pobl â mesuryddion rhagdalu yw'r rhai sydd fwyaf agored i gostau cynyddol a thaliadau sefydlog uwch, ac mae'r rhai nad ydyn nhw â chysylltiad â'r prif rwydwaith nwy, fel dywedais i wythnos diwethaf, yn gweld costau tanwydd cynyddol ac yn cael eu gyrru i dlodi tanwydd, gyda thua un o bob 10 aelwyd yn dibynnu ar olew gwresogi yng Nghymru. Ond rwy'n gallu eich sicrhau chi, o ran ymgysylltu ar lefel gymunedol ac, yn wir, o ran yr elusennau a'r grwpiau ymgyrchu cenedlaethol hynny, roedden nhw i gyd yn rhan o'n huwchgynhadledd costau byw ni fis Chwefror diwethaf ac yna ymlaen i'r uwchgynhadledd tlodi bwyd, a'r uwchgynhadledd y byddwn ni'n ei chynnal, fe fyddan nhw'n cael eu gwahodd unwaith eto, ym mis Gorffennaf.
Fe wnaethoch chi ofyn—ac rwyf i am orffen ar y pwynt hwn—pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â thalu taliad costau byw'r dreth gyngor. Mae'n hwnnw'n cael ei roi, fel gŵyr pawb, i fandiau A i D y dreth gyngor, ac, yn wir, i'r rhai sydd â chyfrifon eisoes. Mae'n mynd yn syth i'w cyfrifon nhw, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd pob Aelod yn ymwybodol bod bobl yn dweud, 'Mae wedi mynd i mewn i fy nghyfrif i.' O ran y rhai nad oes cyfrifon ganddyn nhw, sef eich cwestiwn chi, cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdod lleol yw archwilio hynny, i gael gwybod gan y sawl sy'n cael budd-daliadau penodol am y £150, o ran y ffordd orau o wneud y taliad hwnnw, ac mae hynny'n cael ei fonitro yn ofalus iawn gan y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, ac yn wir fy swyddogion i fy hun. Ond fe fydd y taliadau sy'n cael eu gwneud yn eang ledled Cymru yn parhau i gael eu talu ac fe fyddwn ninnau'n parhau i fynd i'r afael â hynny i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n hawlio'r hyn y dylen nhw fod yn ei gael. Yn wir, dyna pam y gallwn ni sicrhau—fel ein taliad cymorth tanwydd gaeaf o £200 ac yna'r taliad o £150—yn wir, dyma sut y gallwn gael arian yn uniongyrchol i bobl, ac mae'r daleb tanwydd yn un cam arall nawr ar y ffordd o ran helpu pobl i wynebu'r argyfwng costau byw erchyll hwn, a luniwyd yn Stryd Downing, fe fyddwn i'n dadlau o hyd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Sioned Williams.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you for your statement, Minister. The scale of the crisis facing too many households in Wales is truly horrifying. Inflation, as we've heard, is at a 40-year high, and energy prices are going up 23 times faster than wages. Given this emergency facing households, Plaid Cymru agrees that the UK Government should reinstate the £20 uplift to universal credit from July in order to protect vulnerable households from the cost-of-living crisis, and we believe that that uplift should also be extended to those in receipt of legacy benefits, and that all benefits should be uprated in line with inflation and automatic deductions stopped.
The Child Poverty Action Group have estimated that in Wales approximately 92,000 households claiming universal credit are receiving an average of £60 less each month than they're entitled to because of automatic deductions from their universal credit payment. These deductions affect an estimated 106,000 children in Wales. Wales has the highest poverty rate among the four UK nations, with almost one in four people living in poverty, and thus, if Westminster is unwilling to show the most basic level of human decency and adequately address the scale of this crisis, do you agree, Minister, there can be no argument against demanding powers over welfare so we can better support and protect the people of Wales, those people who need the most help, help that can be best targeted through the benefits system?
We know, as you've said, that the picture will get even worse and the number of those living in fuel poverty or at risk of fuel poverty will rise yet again in the autumn. Can the Minister provide clarity on when the next winter fuel support scheme payment will be made? Will it be made, as she has indicated previously, before October?
The measure announced last week, that of a fuel voucher scheme to help households with prepayment meters that have to pay in advance for their energy, and often, as you said, the poorest of households, is most welcome. I would like to ask—. The First Minister talked about it earlier. He drew attention to the fact, and you have also, that requirements that standing charges and debts are paid off before supply starts up—could this impact the effectiveness of this measure? This would mean that adding a £30-worth fuel voucher to a prepayment account would in some cases not be enough to enable the customer to switch those lights back on, to use the fridge and the cooker, to heat the home. So, how will this new scheme ensure that people will receive enough credit to avoid this situation? And also how do we know if we are helping those who need help? We know that uptake of other measures to tackle fuel poverty has not always been optimal, and so is referral to this scheme the most effective method of distribution? What happens to those who are not in contact with organisations or aware of the scheme?
As costs rise, one of the biggest expenses for families on low incomes is furniture and appliances. The cost of furniture is continuing to rise and, over the past 10 years, the cost of furniture has risen by 32 per cent, while household appliances have risen 17 per cent. Brexit and inflation are now driving these prices even higher. At least 10,000 children in the UK don't have their own bed to sleep on, and 4.8 million are living without at least one essential household appliance, like a cooker or fridge, and these are pre-pandemic figures, which we know will have most likely risen much higher by now.
Only 2 per cent of social housing properties in the UK are let as furnished or partly furnished, compared to 29 per cent in the private rental sector, and some of the research I've done in Wales shows this is the case with many housing associations here too. Furnished tenancies have huge benefit for tenants and landlords, and can ease pressure on crisis support funds like the DAF. Living without essential furniture can have a huge impact on people's mental and physical well-being and create extra cost. For example, up to 15 per cent of heat in your home is lost without flooring, and it is also extremely hard to obtain when you are on a low income. There are charities that provide funding pots for items like this, but not much provision is made for items like flooring, and many social landlords remove flooring, and in some cases there have been cases where tenants have been charged to lift up flooring at the end of their tenancy. So, I wonder, Minister, could you consider working alongside social housing providers to encourage engagement with tenants regarding the retention of former flooring and furniture when applicable. Could this be added to the supplementary terms of the next Renting Homes (Wales) Act contracts? And can the Welsh Government review the terms of the DAF and other crisis funds to include the provision of appropriate flooring? Diolch.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Mae maint yr argyfwng sy'n wynebu llawer gormod o aelwydydd yng Nghymru yn wirioneddol arswydus. Mae chwyddiant, fel clywsom ni, ar ei uchaf ers 40 mlynedd, ac mae prisiau ynni yn codi 23 gwaith yn gynt na chyflogau. O ystyried yr argyfwng sy'n wynebu'r aelwydydd hyn, mae Plaid Cymru yn cytuno y dylai Llywodraeth y DU adfer y cynnydd o £20 i gredyd cynhwysol o fis Gorffennaf ymlaen i amddiffyn aelwydydd sy'n agored i niwed rhag yr argyfwng costau byw, ac rydym ni o'r farn y dylid ymestyn y cynnydd hwnnw hefyd i'r rhai sy'n cael budd-daliadau etifeddol, ac y dylid uwchraddio'r budd-daliadau i gyd yn unol â chwyddiant ac atal didyniadau awtomatig.
Mae'r Grŵp Gweithredu ar Dlodi Plant wedi amcangyfrif bod tua 92,000 o aelwydydd sy'n hawlio credyd cynhwysol yng Nghymru yn cael £60 yn llai ar gyfartaledd bob mis nag y mae ganddyn nhw'r hawl iddo oherwydd didyniadau awtomatig o'u taliad credyd cynhwysol nhw. Mae'r didyniadau hyn yn effeithio ar tua 106,000 o blant yng Nghymru. Cymru sydd â'r gyfradd tlodi uchaf ymhlith pedair gwlad y DU, gyda bron i un o bob pedwar o bobl yn byw mewn tlodi, ac felly, os nad yw San Steffan yn fodlon arddangos y mymryn lleiaf o barch tuag at bobl a mynd i'r afael â maint yr argyfwng hwn mewn ffordd ddigonol, a ydych chi, Gweinidog, yn cytuno â mi na ellir dadlau yn erbyn galw am bwerau dros les er mwyn i ni allu cefnogi ac amddiffyn pobl Cymru yn well, y bobl hynny sydd angen y cymorth mwyaf, cymorth y gellir ei anelu orau drwy'r system fudd-daliadau?
Fe wyddom ni, fel rydych chi wedi dweud, y bydd y darlun yn gwaethygu eto hyd yn oed ac y bydd nifer y rhai sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd neu sydd mewn perygl o fynd i dlodi tanwydd yn codi eto yn yr hydref. A fyddai'r Gweinidog yn egluro pryd y bydd y taliad cynllun cymorth tanwydd gaeaf nesaf yn cael ei roi? A fydd hwnnw'n cael ei roi, fel nododd hi o'r blaen, cyn mis Hydref?
Mae'r mesur a gyhoeddwyd wythnos diwethaf, sef y cynllun talebau tanwydd i helpu aelwydydd â mesuryddion rhagdalu sy'n gorfod talu ymlaen llaw am eu hynni nhw, ac yn aml, fel roeddech chi'n dweud, y nhw yw'r aelwydydd tlotaf, i'w groesawu yn fawr. Fe hoffwn i ofyn—. Roedd y Prif Weinidog yn sôn am hynny'n gynharach. Fe dynnodd ef sylw at y ffaith, ac rydych chithau wedi gwneud hynny, fod gofynion bod taliadau sefydlog a dyledion yn cael eu talu cyn i'r cyflenwad ddechrau—a allai hynny effeithio ar effeithiolrwydd y mesur hwn? Byddai hynny'n golygu na fyddai ychwanegu taleb tanwydd gwerth £30 at gyfrif rhagdalu yn ddigon mewn rhai achosion i alluogi'r cwsmer i droi'r goleuadau hynny ymlaen, i ddefnyddio'r oergell a'r popty, i wresogi'r cartref. Felly, sut fydd y cynllun newydd hwn yn sicrhau y bydd pobl yn cael digon o fodd ariannol i osgoi'r sefyllfa hon? A hefyd sut ydym ni'n gwybod a ydym ni'n helpu'r rhai sydd ag angen cymorth? Fe wyddom ni nad yw'r defnydd o fesurau eraill i fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd wedi bod yn ddelfrydol bob amser, ac felly ai cyfeirio at y cynllun hwn yw'r dull mwyaf effeithiol o wneud hynny? Beth sy'n digwydd i'r rhai nad oes ganddyn nhw gysylltiad â sefydliadau neu heb fod yn ymwybodol o'r cynllun?
Wrth i gostau godi, un o'r costau mwyaf sydd gan deuluoedd ar incwm isel yw dodrefn ac offer arall. Mae cost dodrefn yn parhau i godi ac mae cost dodrefn, dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, wedi codi 32 y cant, tra bod offer i'r cartref wedi codi 17 y cant. Mae Brexit a chwyddiant yn gyrru'r prisiau hyn yn uwch eto, hyd yn oed. Nid oes gan o leiaf 10,000 o blant yn y DU eu gwely nhw eu hunain i gysgu ynddo, ac mae 4.8 miliwn yn byw heb o leiaf un teclyn cartref hanfodol, fel popty neu oergell, ac mae'r rhain yn ffigurau o'r amser cyn y pandemig, yr ydym ni'n gwybod eu bod nhw wedi codi llawer mwy erbyn hyn.
Dim ond 2 y cant o dai cymdeithasol yn y DU sy'n cael eu gosod yn rhai â chelfi neu â rhywfaint o gelfi, o gymharu hynny â 29 y cant yn y sector rhentu preifat, ac mae rhywfaint o'r ymchwil a wnes i yng Nghymru yn dangos bod hynny'n wir am lawer o gymdeithasau tai yma hefyd. Mae tenantiaethau â chelfi o fudd enfawr i denantiaid a landlordiaid, ac maen nhw'n gallu ysgafnu'r pwysau ar gronfeydd cymorth argyfwng fel y gronfa cymorth dewisol. Fe all byw heb ddodrefn hanfodol gael effaith enfawr ar lesiant meddyliol a chorfforol pobl a chreu cost ychwanegol. Er enghraifft, mae hyd at 15 y cant o wres eich cartref chi'n cael ei golli os nad oes deunydd llawr gennych, ac mae hi'n anodd iawn cael hwnnw pan fyddwch chi ar incwm isel. Mae elusennau sy'n darparu moddion ariannol ar gyfer eitemau fel hyn, ond nid oes llawer o ddarpariaeth yn cael ei gwneud ar gyfer eitemau fel deunydd llawr, ac mae llawer o landlordiaid cymdeithasol yn cael gwared ar ddeunydd llawr, ac mewn rhai achosion bu achosion pan godwyd tâl ar denantiaid am godi lloriau ar derfyn eu tenantiaeth nhw. Felly, tybed, Gweinidog, a fyddech chi'n ystyried gweithio ochr yn ochr â darparwyr tai cymdeithasol i annog ymgysylltu â thenantiaid ynghylch cadw hen ddeunydd lloriau a dodrefn pan fo hynny'n berthnasol. A ellid ychwanegu hyn at delerau atodol contractau nesaf Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru)? Ac a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru adolygu telerau'r gronfa cymorth dewisol a chronfeydd argyfwng eraill i gynnwys darparu deunydd lloriau addas? Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. Yes, you clearly identify, as I have done, the scale of the crisis—inflation now at its highest level since March 1982, when it stood at 9.1 per cent; April's rise, driven by energy costs, increased by more than 50 per cent by the rise in the energy cap; and the Institute of Fiscal Studies saying the poorest households face inflation rates of 10.9 per cent. The Jack Monroe, I think, analysis is really appropriate for us to recognise—they are 3 per cent higher than inflation rates for the richest decile, and I really do value that focus on what it actually means for the poorest households in Wales, And, of course, there's the fact that we've got the NIESR—National Institute of Economic and Social Research—saying that food and energy bills are greater than their disposable income. They're warning, I think—and this is why this is such a key issue, and throughout this afternoon already, in the First Minister's questions—this is going to push thousands of households, if we can't intervene and the UK Government doesn't take immediate action, into debt and destitution. But this where the options that we've taken, particularly in terms of the fuel vouchers and that partnership with the fuel foundation, I think, are so important. They already have a partnership with the Scottish Government, and they're well-established in terms of how this can operate, so I'm glad that the chair of the cross-party group on fuel poverty is now engaging with the Fuel Bank Foundation, because they have experience of how to manage it. And yes, there are criteria in terms of access to the fuel bank support: clearly, they've got to be pre-payment energy customers or off the gas grid and be in intense financial crisis. But the situation in terms of the credit going as far as the debt emerging from the standing charges—I will clarify that point with them in terms of how this scheme will operate. We need to make it operate based on experience and based on how we can help people at the sharp end.
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. Ydych, rydych chi'n nodi, fel gwnes innau, pa mor eang yw'r argyfwng—chwyddiant sydd ar ei lefel uchaf ers mis Mawrth 1982 erbyn hyn, pan oedd ar 9.1 y cant; y cynnydd ym mis Ebrill, sy'n cael ei yrru gan gostau ynni, o fwy na 50 y cant oherwydd codi'r cap ynni; a'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid yn dweud bod yr aelwydydd tlotaf yn wynebu cyfraddau chwyddiant o 10.9 y cant. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n wirioneddol briodol i ni gydnabod dadansoddiad Jack Monroe—mae'r cyfraddau 3 y cant yn uwch na chyfraddau chwyddiant ar gyfer y degradd cyfoethocaf, ac rwy'n gweld gwerth y pwyslais hwnnw mewn gwirionedd o ran yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu i'r aelwydydd tlotaf yng Nghymru, Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r ffaith bod y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ymchwil Economaidd a Chymdeithasol yn dweud wrthym ni fod biliau bwyd ac ynni yn fwy na'u hincwm gwario. Maen nhw'n rhybuddio, rwy'n credu—a dyna pam mae hwn yn fater mor allweddol, a thrwy gydol y prynhawn yn barod, yng nghwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog—fe fydd hyn yn gwthio miloedd o aelwydydd, os na wnawn ni ymyrryd ac nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithredu ar unwaith, i ddyled ac ansefydlogrwydd. Ond dyna pam mae ein dewisiadau ni, yn enwedig o ran y talebau tanwydd a'r bartneriaeth honno gyda'r sefydliad tanwydd, yn fy marn i, wedi bod mor bwysig. Mae ganddyn nhw bartneriaeth gyda Llywodraeth yr Alban eisoes, ac maen nhw wedi hen ennill eu plwyf o ran sut y gall hyn weithredu, felly rwy'n falch fod cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dlodi tanwydd yn ymgysylltu â'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd erbyn hyn, oherwydd mae ganddyn nhw brofiad o sut i'w reoli. Ac oes, mae yna feini prawf o ran cael cymorth oddi wrth y banc tanwydd: yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw fod yn gwsmeriaid ynni sy'n rhagdalu neu oddi ar y grid nwy a bod mewn argyfwng ariannol dwys. Ond y sefyllfa o ran y credyd sy'n mynd cyn belled â'r ddyled sy'n deillio o'r taliadau sefydlog—fe fyddaf i'n egluro'r pwynt hwnnw gyda nhw o ran sut y bydd y cynllun hwn yn gweithio. Mae angen i ni sicrhau ei fod yn gweithio ar sail profiad ac ar sail ar sut y gallwn ni helpu pobl sy'n ei chael hi galetaf.
People who are struggling as a result of the cost-of-living crisis obviously can turn to their single advice fund providers, and I will go on to the discretionary assistance fund as well, because, obviously, that's already in place. I think it is important that we get this message out, isn't it, about the access to the new fuel voucher scheme. We're getting it out, obviously, through our foodbanks, but of course many people who are going to foodbanks are referred; they have contact with agencies. But this is something where we need to have a publicity campaign, a communications campaign, and I certainly welcome the fact that you're asking these questions. I did some publicity about it on Friday, but we need to get the message through to people, and I know that the fuel foundation want to engage. We did it very quickly—we got this scheme under way, and now we have to make it operational and implement it so we reach out to the most needy and vulnerable. But I'm sure all of us as Senedd Members will know people who've stopped us in the street, who've come to our surgeries, who are in this position—the heating or eating circumstances. And we can now point to the scheme, particularly as so many of those are dependent on prepayment meters.
The next winter fuel support scheme—well, we certainly want to get it out before October; I want to get it out in September. I'll certainly be announcing very shortly the extended criteria for the winter fuel support scheme, because we came to it last December because of the emerging cost-of-living crisis. It's going to be extending the eligibility, as I've said. It's crucial that local authorities are fully engaged in this as well—they're the ones who are managing the winter fuel support payments—and, indeed, alongside the emerging way in which we are actually being a force for social security. I like the word 'social security'. I like the fact that social security is what we believe in. Yes, we're talking about welfare, we're talking in our co-operation agreement about looking at our powers in relation to welfare, and we've had all the work that was done by John Griffiths in the former Senedd, so we've got an extensive evidence base and we have an agreement to progress this in terms of what we could achieve, what we could—you know, in terms of UK Government's centralising force, where are we here? They're not delivering, so I look forward to progressing that. But we now have such a range of direct benefits that we're paying that this makes sense, doesn't it, to progress this one.
Finally, I will come to your point about the other needs that people have in terms of flooring, as well as other equipment as well. I think that's something I want to now discuss with officials and the third sector in terms of discretionary assistance payments. I think the discretionary assistance payments scheme, which we've of course extended for the pandemic, as you know—and you have supported the fact that this is continuing, in the ways in which we're funding it—I think the discretionary assistance fund is very important, because it does enable people to have more than one payment in terms of support—more than £100 million invested in the discretionary assistance fund and the winter fuel support scheme this year. And indeed, this is going to ensure more people continue to receive urgent and emergency support when they need it, and that's including white goods, but we need to look at these other aspects.
But I will finally say, and I think the Minister for Climate Change is here with me, that, yes, indeed—the Minister was with me, speaking as well on a whole range of issues and her responsibilities about the cost-of-living crisis, but registered social landlord partners and local authorities in terms of housing providers, they're all engaged in this, and we will certainly raise this in terms of, particularly, your reference to flooring. Many of us have also got charities in our constituencies now that are playing a role in this respect. There used to be something wonderful called the social fund. That all went. Previous Conservative Governments got rid of the social fund. We kept the funding going and developed the discretionary assistance fund. But we are actually evaluating the discretionary assistance fund later on this year to see its role and its context. So, certainly, that is very helpful. And finally, of course, we've always called for the reinstatement of that £20, that lost, cruel cut of £20 to universal credit.
Mae hi'n amlwg y gall pobl sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd o ganlyniad i'r argyfwng costau byw droi at ddarparwyr eu cronfa gynghori sengl nhw, ac rwyf i am fynd ymlaen at y gronfa cymorth dewisol hefyd, oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae honno eisoes ar waith. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni gyfleu'r neges hon, onid yw hi, ynglŷn â mynediad i'r cynllun talebau tanwydd newydd. Rydym ni'n hysbysu pobl am hynny, yn amlwg, drwy gyfrwng ein banciau bwyd ni, ond wrth gwrs mae llawer o bobl sy'n mynd i fanciau bwyd wedi'u hatgyfeirio; mae ganddyn nhw ffordd i gysylltu ag asiantaethau. Ond mae hwn yn rhywbeth y mae angen i ni fod ag ymgyrch gyhoeddusrwydd yn ei gylch, ymgyrch gyfathrebu, ac rwy'n sicr yn croesawu'r ffaith eich bod chi'n gofyn y cwestiynau hyn. Roeddwn i'n gwneud rhywfaint o waith cyhoeddusrwydd ynglŷn â hyn ddydd Gwener, ond mae angen i ni gyfleu'r neges i bobl, ac fe wn i fod y sefydliad tanwydd yn awyddus i ymgysylltu. Fe wnaethom ni hynny'n gyflym iawn—rhoddwyd y cynllun hwn ar waith gennym ni, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ei roi ar waith nawr a'i redeg fel ein bod ni'n estyn allan at y rhai mwyaf anghenus a bregus eu sefyllfaoedd. Ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd pob un ohonom ni Aelodau'r Senedd yn adnabod pobl sydd wedi ein stopio ni ar y stryd, sydd wedi dod i'n cymorthfeydd ni, yn y sefyllfa hon—yr amgylchiadau hyn o orfod dewis rhwng gwresogi neu fwyta. Ac fe allwn ni eu cyfeirio nhw nawr at y cynllun hwn, yn arbennig felly am fod cymaint o'r rhain yn ddibynnol ar fesuryddion rhagdalu.
Cynllun cymorth tanwydd y gaeaf nesaf—wel, rydym ni'n sicr yn awyddus i'w roi ar waith cyn mis Hydref; rwy'n awyddus i'w ddosbarthu ym mis Medi. Fe fyddaf i'n sicr yn cyhoeddi'r meini prawf estynedig ar gyfer cynllun cymorth tanwydd y gaeaf yn fuan iawn, oherwydd fe wnaethom ni hynny fis Rhagfyr y llynedd oherwydd yr argyfwng costau byw a oedd yn dod i'r amlwg. Bydd yn ymestyn y cymhwysedd, fel dywedais i. Mae hi'n hanfodol fod awdurdodau lleol â rhan lawn yn hyn o beth hefyd—y nhw sy'n rheoli taliadau cymorth tanwydd y gaeaf—ac, yn wir, ochr yn ochr â'r dull sydd gennym ni o fod yn rym gwirioneddol o ran nawdd cymdeithasol. Rwy'n hoffi'r ymadrodd 'nawdd cymdeithasol'. Rwy'n hoffi'r ffaith mai nawdd cymdeithasol yw'r hyn yr ydym ni'n credu ynddo. Ie, sôn am les yr ydym ni, rydym ni'n siarad yn ein cytundeb cydweithredu am edrych ar ein pwerau ni o ran lles, ac mae'r holl waith a wnaeth John Griffiths yn y Senedd flaenorol gennym ni, felly mae gennym ni sylfaen gref o ran tystiolaeth ac mae gennym ni gytundeb i fwrw ymlaen â hyn o ran yr hyn y gallem ni ei gyflawni, beth allem ni—wyddoch chi, o ran grym canoli Llywodraeth y DU, beth yw ein sefyllfa ni? Nid ydyn nhw'n cyflawni unrhyw beth, felly rwy'n edrych ymlaen at fwrw ymlaen â hynny. Ond erbyn hyn mae gennym ni ystod mor eang o fuddion uniongyrchol yr ydym ni'n eu talu fel bod hyn yn gwneud synnwyr, onid yw, i fwrw ymlaen fel hyn.
Yn olaf, rwy'n dod at eich pwynt chi ynglŷn â'r anghenion eraill sydd gan bobl o ran deunydd lloriau, yn ogystal ag offer arall hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth yr hoffwn ei drafod nawr gyda swyddogion a'r trydydd sector o ran taliadau cymorth yn ôl disgresiwn. Rwy'n credu bod y cynllun taliadau cymorth dewisol, y gwnaethom ni ei ymestyn, wrth gwrs, oherwydd y pandemig, fel gwyddoch chi—ac rydych chi wedi cefnogi'r ffaith bod hynny'n parhau, yn y ffyrdd yr ydym ni'n ei ariannu—rwy'n credu bod y gronfa cymorth dewisol yn bwysig iawn, oherwydd mae hi'n galluogi pobl i gael mwy nag un taliad o ran cymorth—a buddsoddi mwy na £100 miliwn yn y gronfa cymorth dewisol a chynllun cymorth tanwydd y gaeaf eleni. Ac yn wir, fe fydd hyn yn sicrhau y bydd mwy o bobl yn parhau i gael cymorth ar frys ac mewn argyfwng pan fydd ei angen ef arnyn nhw, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys offer i'r tŷ fel oergell ac ati, ond mae angen i ni edrych ar yr agweddau eraill hyn.
Ond rwyf i am ddweud yn olaf un, ac rwy'n credu bod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn y fan hon, sef, ydi, wir—roedd y Gweinidog gyda mi, yn siarad hefyd ar ystod eang o faterion a'i chyfrifoldebau hi o ran yr argyfwng costau byw, ond partneriaid sy'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig ac awdurdodau lleol o ran darparwyr tai, maen nhw i gyd â rhan yn hyn, ac fe fyddwn ni'n sicr yn codi hyn o ran yr hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ddweud, yn arbennig, am ddeunydd lloriau. Mae llawer ohonom ni hefyd wedi gweld elusennau yn ein hetholaethau ni sydd â rhan yn hynny erbyn hyn. Roedd rhywbeth gwych a elwid yn gronfa gymdeithasol yn arfer bod. Ond fe aeth hynny i gyd. Cafodd Llywodraethau Ceidwadol blaenorol wared ar y gronfa gymdeithasol. Ac fe wnaethom ni barhau i roi'r arian ar waith a datblygu'r gronfa cymorth dewisol. Ond fe fyddwn ni, mewn gwirionedd, yn gwerthuso'r gronfa cymorth dewisol yn ddiweddarach eleni i ystyried ei swyddogaeth a'i chyd-destun hi. Felly, yn sicr, mae hynny'n ddefnyddiol iawn. Ac yn olaf, wrth gwrs, rydym ni wastad wedi galw am adfer yr £20 ychwanegol, sef y toriad creulon o £20 i gredyd cynhwysol.
I thank the Minister for bringing this statement today. It is very expensive to be poor. You pay more for energy via tokens, you are more likely to live in a very poorly insulated house, you go to bed early to avoid heating costs, and in winter you wake up to windows with ice from your breath on the inside. Rent has gone up, gas has gone up, electricity has gone up, the general cost of living has gone up to a point where people have less to spend on food, and many value products have increased far more than the general increase in the cost of food. People are eating less or skipping meals, or are having less nutritious food, bulking out on white rice and pasta and cutting out the more expensive fresh fruit and vegetables, and producing filling meals, not nutritious meals. And, of course, in the end, children eat and parents don't.
I welcome the Welsh Government's actions—I won't name them all, but things such as help with fuel costs support, the cost of sending your children to school, Healthy Start vouchers, support for hundreds of thousands of people with council tax bills every year, and I also welcome the two successful 'Claim what's yours' campaigns, and the most recent was very successful. Does the Minister agree, however, that the most effective action would be to strip out the built-in five-week delay for the first universal credit payment, which drives people into poverty immediately, and to reverse the universal credit cut? This is not a panacea that will solve all the problems, but it would make what is very bad just bad.
Rwy'n diolch i'r Gweinidog am roi'r datganiad hwn gerbron heddiw. Busnes costus iawn yw bod yn dlawd. Rydych chi'n talu mwy am ynni gyda thalebau rhagdalu, rydych chi'n fwy tebygol o fyw mewn tŷ sydd ag inswleiddio gwael iawn, rydych chi'n mynd i'r gwely yn gynnar i osgoi costau gwresogi, ac yn y gaeaf rydych chi'n deffro i weld rhew o'ch anadl chi ar y tu mewn i'ch ffenestri chi. Mae rhent wedi codi, mae nwy wedi codi, mae trydan wedi codi, mae costau byw cyffredinol wedi codi hyd at bwynt pan fo gan bobl lai i'w wario ar fwyd, ac mae llawer o gynhyrchion rhesymol wedi codi llawer iawn mwy yn eu pris na'r cynnydd cyffredinol yng nghost bwyd. Mae pobl yn bwyta llai neu'n colli prydau bwyd, neu'n bwyta llai o fwyd maethlon, yn bwyta pethau sy'n llenwi fel reis gwyn a phasta ac yn hepgor ffrwythau a llysiau ffres sy'n costio mwy, ac yn gwneud prydau bwyd sy'n llenwi, ond heb fod yn brydau maethlon. Ac, wrth gwrs, yn y pen draw, mae'r plant yn cael bwyd a'u rheini nhw'n gwneud heb fwyd.
Rwyf i'n croesawu camau Llywodraeth Cymru—nid wyf i am eu henwi nhw i gyd, ond pethau fel cymorth gyda chostau tanwydd, a chost anfon eich plant i'r ysgol, talebau Cychwyn Iach, cymorth i gannoedd o filoedd o bobl bob blwyddyn o ran biliau'r dreth gyngor, ac rwyf i'n croesawu dwy ymgyrch lwyddiannus 'Hawlio'r hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi', ac fe fu'r un ddiweddaraf yn llwyddiannus iawn. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno, serch hynny, mai'r cam mwyaf effeithiol fyddai diddymu'r oedi o bum wythnos ar gyfer y taliad credyd cynhwysol cyntaf, sy'n gyrru pobl i dlodi ar unwaith, a gwyrdroi'r toriad o ran credyd cynhwysol? Nid fyddai hynny'n datrys y problemau i gyd, ond fe fyddai hynny'n gwella rhyw ychydig ar sefyllfa enbyd iawn.
Well, thank you very much, Mike Hedges. You graphically describe what it is like to be poor, and it is more expensive to be poor in every aspect of life, and how cruel that is, in terms of food, heating, housing. So, thanks for welcoming many of the measures that we're taking. I completely agree with you, and I will return to that issue with the UK Government, about the five-week delay, because, when universal credit was introduced, we all said this was going to be disastrous, and, indeed, it was disastrous, just in terms of the pilot roll-out and the debt that started to accrue.
Now, one of the things that is very clear is that, also, it's not only expensive to be poor, but in every way, in terms of your health, well-being, mental health, your whole self-esteem and your whole reason for living is under threat and attacked by poverty. And to then have to deal with the debt imposed on you by that five-week delay is absolutely shameful. So, thank you for raising that. Of course, I've already said that we call for the reverse of the universal credit cut, but I will be going back now to look at these issues. And, indeed, of course, they did come up with the equality and social justice review on debt, but I will go back on that to the UK Government.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Mike Hedges. Rydych chi'n disgrifio gwirioneddau bod yn dlawd yn eglur iawn, ac mae hi'n costio mwy i chi fod yn dlawd ym mhob agwedd ar fywyd, a pha mor greulon yw'r sefyllfa honno, o ran bwyd, gwres, a thai. Felly, diolch i chi am groesawu llawer o'r mesurau yr ydym ni'n eu cymryd. Rwyf i'n cytuno yn llwyr â chi, ac rwyf i am fynd yn ôl at y mater hwnnw gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ynglŷn â'r oedi o bum wythnos, oherwydd, pan gyflwynwyd credyd cynhwysol, roeddem ni i gyd yn dweud mai trychineb fyddai hynny, ac, yn wir, roedd hi yn drychinebus, o ran cyflwyno'r cynllun treialu yn unig a'r ddyled a ddechreuodd gronni wedyn.
Nawr, un o'r pethau sy'n eglur iawn yw ei bod hi, hefyd, nid yn unig yn gostus i fod yn dlawd, ond ym mhob ffordd arall, o ran eich iechyd, eich llesiant, eich iechyd meddwl, eich hunan-barch i gyd oherwydd mae pob ystyr sydd i'ch bywyd chi dan fygythiad a than warchae gan dlodi. Ac yna mae'n rhaid i chi ymdrin â'ch dyledion chi oherwydd yr oedi am bum wythnos, sy'n gwbl gywilyddus. Felly, diolch i chi am godi hynny. Wrth gwrs, rwyf i wedi dweud eisoes ein bod ni'n galw am wyrdroi'r toriad o ran credyd cynhwysol, ond fe fyddaf i'n mynd nôl nawr i ystyried y materion hyn. Ac, yn wir, wrth gwrs, fe wnaethon nhw gyflwyno'r adolygiad cydraddoldeb a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol ynglŷn â dyled, ond rwyf i am fynd nôl at Lywodraeth y DU yn hynny o beth.
Dwi a Phlaid Cymru wedi codi'r cyswllt rhwng yr argyfwng costau byw a chostau tai nifer o weithiau ar lawr y Senedd yma, ac mae'r cyswllt yn amlwg. Rydyn ni wedi gweld rhentu yn cynyddu'n aruthrol yma yng Nghymru—cynnydd o tua 12, 13 y cant yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn unig, a hyn ar adeg pan nad ydy'r ddeddfwriaeth ar gyfer rhentu tai yn weithredol er mwyn gwarchod tenantiaid rhag cael eu lluchio allan y tu hwnt i rybudd o ddau fis.
Hyd yma, mae'n flin gen i ddweud nad ydy'r atebion sydd wedi cael eu cyflwyno heddiw, yn sicr, nac yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, wedi mynd yn ddigon pell er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r elfen o dai o'r argyfwng costau byw. Yr wythnos yma, fe gyhoeddodd y Sefydliad Bevan ei hymchwil yn dangos mai dim ond 24 eiddo oedd ar gael trwy Gymru gyfan ar gyfraddau'r LHA—y lwfans tai lleol. Mae rhaid, rhaid i ni weld y lwfans yma yn cael ei gynyddu. Felly, pa drafodaethau ydych chi wedi'u cael efo Llywodraeth San Steffan er mwyn gweld y lwfans yma'n codi?
Ac, yn olaf, mae'r argyfwng tai presennol yn boenus o acíwt. Felly, mae'n rhaid defnyddio pob arf o fewn ein gallu. Fel y sonioch chi yn eich cyhoeddiad, mae gennym ni yma y gallu i ddefnyddio taliadau disgresiwn at gostau tai—y DHP. Gan nad ydy'r Ddeddf rhentu tai mewn grym eto, a bod yna argyfwng go iawn yn wynebu nifer o bobl, a wnewch chi gydweithio efo'r Gweinidog cyllid er mwyn sicrhau bod yna gynnydd yn y taliadau disgresiwn ar gostau tai, a sicrhau bod yr awdurdodau lleol yn manteisio yn llawn ar y pot yma o bres?
I and Plaid Cymru have raised the link between the cost-of-living crisis and the cost of housing a number of times on the floor of the Senedd, and the link is clear. We've seen the cost of rental going up very much here in Wales, an increase of 12 or 13 per cent over the past 12 months alone, and this at a time when the legislation for renting homes isn't operational in order to safeguard tenants from being evicted with notice of two months.
To date, I'm sorry to say that the solutions provided today or during the last 12 months have not gone far enough in order to tackle the housing element of the cost-of-living crisis. This week, the Bevan Foundation published research showing that only 24 properties were available throughout Wales at the LHA rates—the local housing allowance rates. Now, we must see this allowance being increased. So, what discussions have you had with the Westminster Government in order to see the allowance increased?
And, finally, the current housing crisis is painfully acute. So, we must use all tools possible. As you mentioned in your statement, we do have the power here to use discretionary payments for housing costs—the DHP. As the renting homes Act isn't in force as of yet, and there's a real crisis facing many people, will you work with the Minister for finance in order to ensure that there is an increase in the discretionary payments for housing, and ensure that local authorities do take full advantage of that pot of funding?
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn.
Thank you very much for your very important question.
Of course, as we've said, and as we know—and the Minister for Climate Change is with us this afternoon and engaged with all of these discussions—it's a cross-government responsibility in terms of tackling the cost-of-living crisis, with housing providers, social housing providers, but also the private rented sector being engaged as well.
Just in terms of cuts to the local housing allowance, the cuts have been over the years and it hasn't been increased and it's remained frozen. But, I think you will be aware of the statement made by the climate change Minister on 8 April about the discretionary housing payments. I've raised all of the points that have been raised with the UK Government about what we expect them to do in terms of energy costs and support, the Warm Homes discount, et cetera, but also, as Julie James did last April, we've called upon the UK Government to reinstate its funding for discretionary housing payments—another round of substantial cuts to this valuable source of funding. That money is used by local authorities, as you know, to mitigate the impacts of other welfare reforms, including the bedroom tax, people affected by the benefit cap, and, of course, the impact of rising rents. And it does help tenants from getting into rent arrears when people are facing this cost-of-living crisis, as you say, with rents increasing. And it is impossible to fathom why—and I'm quoting the Minister for Climate Change:
'it is impossible to fathom why the UK government has seen fit to inflict such savage cuts',
in terms of discretionary housing payments. Many people are not aware of all these details, are they, and what's going on, but, actually, the reduction in DHP funding available to Welsh local authorities in this financial year amounts to approximately a 27 per cent cut compared to 2021-22. So, we've topped it up. The Welsh Government's topped up the fund last year by £4.1 million, and the amount of money that we are now putting into all of these schemes and also the top-ups, to something that is a UK Government responsibility, this has to be addressed by the UK Government, and I can assure you that's what we're seeking to call for.
Wrth gwrs, fel rydym ni wedi dweud, ac fel gwyddom ni—ac mae'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd gyda ni'r prynhawn yma ac wedi ymgysylltu â'r trafodaethau hyn i gyd—mae hwn yn gyfrifoldeb traws lywodraeth o ran mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng costau byw, gyda darparwyr tai, darparwyr tai cymdeithasol, ond gyda'r sector rhentu preifat yn ymgysylltu hefyd, yn ogystal â hynny.
O ran toriadau i'r lwfans tai lleol, mae'r toriadau wedi bod dros flynyddoedd ac ni chafodd hynny ei gynyddu ac fe gafodd ei rewi unwaith eto. Ond, rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o'r datganiad a wnaeth y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar 8 o fis Ebrill am daliadau tai yn ôl disgresiwn. Rwyf i wedi codi'r holl bwyntiau a godwyd gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r hyn yr ydym ni'n disgwyl iddyn nhw ei wneud o ran costau a chymorth ynni, y gostyngiad Cartrefi Cynnes, ac ati, ond hefyd, fel gwnaeth Julie James fis Ebrill diwethaf, rydym ni wedi galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i adfer ei chyllid ar gyfer taliadau tai yn ôl disgresiwn—cylch arall o doriadau sylweddol i'r ffynhonnell werthfawr hon o gyllid. Fe ddefnyddir yr arian hwnnw gan awdurdodau lleol, fel gwyddoch chi, i liniaru effeithiau diwygiadau lles eraill, gan gynnwys y dreth ystafell wely, pobl yr effeithir arnyn nhw gan y cap ar fudd-daliadau, ac, wrth gwrs, effaith rhenti cynyddol. Ac mae hynny'n helpu tenantiaid i beidio â mynd i ôl-ddyledion rhent pan fydd pobl yn wynebu'r argyfwng hwn o ran costau byw, fel yr ydych chi'n dweud, gyda'r rhent yn codi. Ac mae hi'n amhosibl deall pam—ac rwy'n dyfynnu'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd:
'mae'n amhosibl deall pam mae llywodraeth y DU wedi penderfynu gwneud toriadau mor llym',
o ran taliadau tai yn ôl disgresiwn. Mae llawer o bobl nad ydyn nhw'n ymwybodol o'r manylion hyn i gyd, na'r hyn sy'n digwydd, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae'r gostyngiad yn y cyllid Taliad Disgresiwn at Gostau Tai sydd ar gael i awdurdodau lleol Cymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon yn cyfateb i doriad o tua 27 y cant o'i gymharu â 2021-22. Felly, rydym ni wedi rhoi rhywbeth ar ben hwnnw. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ychwanegu £4.1 miliwn at y gronfa y llynedd, a'r swm o arian yr ydym ni'n ei roi nawr i bob un o'r cynlluniau hyn a'r taliadau atodol hefyd, at rywbeth sy'n gyfrifoldeb i Lywodraeth y DU mewn gwirionedd, mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU fynd i'r afael â hyn, ac fe allaf i eich sicrhau chi mai dyna'r hyn yr ydym ni'n bwriadu galw amdano.
Ac, yn olaf, Huw Irranca-Davies.
And, finally, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. One of the defining characteristics of much of the support that Welsh Government has provided to date is how well targeted it is at those who are most in need. So, whether we look at the fuel voucher scheme, the heat fund, the healthy start fund, the new fund for carers, it's really going directly to those who most need it now. The same cannot be said, Dirprwy Lywydd, I have to say, of one of the UK Government's schemes, which is the energy grant to all households, which is going to every household, and if you own more than one household, then it goes to you no matter how many homes you own.
But can I raise one specific aspect of this that I'd like the Minister—? And also, it's great to have the other Minister here with responsibility for housing as well. They've probably twigged this already. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the UK department, has said, regardless of whether you are on the utility bills as a tenant or not, then this payment of £400 should be passed directly to you as a tenant; it should not be going to the landlords. But it's not stipulated anywhere; it's not a requirement, it's just 'should' be. Citizens Advice have asked for clear guidance on this, but again, that's guidance. I wonder, Minister, whether in your discussions with UK Ministers and Cabinet colleagues, you can look at how we can make sure that this money goes directly to tenants and not to landlords.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Un o'r nodweddion sy'n diffinio llawer o'r cymorth a roddodd Llywodraeth Cymru hyd yma yw pa mor effeithiol yr anelwyd hwnnw at y rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf. Felly, os ydym ni'n edrych ar y cynllun talebau tanwydd, y gronfa wres, y gronfa cychwyn iach, y gronfa newydd i ofalwyr, mae hynny'n mynd yn uniongyrchol i'r rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf nawr. Ni ellir dweud yr un peth, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, am un o gynlluniau Llywodraeth y DU, sef y grant ynni i bob aelwyd, sy'n mynd i bob cartref, ac os ydych chi'n berchen ar fwy nag un cartref, yna fe gewch chi'r grant hwnnw sawl tro, ni waeth faint o gartrefi sydd gennych chi.
Ond a gaf i godi un agwedd benodol ar hyn yr hoffwn i'r Gweinidog—? A hefyd, mae hi'n wych bod â'r Gweinidog arall yn y fan hon sy'n gyfrifol am dai hefyd. Mae hi'n debyg eu bod nhw wedi ystyried hyn yn barod. Mae'r Adran Busnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol, adran y DU, wedi dweud, os ydych chi'n denant ar y biliau cyfleustodau neu beidio, yna fe ddylid trosglwyddo'r taliad hwn o £400 yn uniongyrchol i chi'r tenant; ni ddylai fynd i'r landlord. Ond ni chafodd hynny ei nodi yn unman; nid yw'n ofyniad, dim ond felly y 'dylai' hi fod. Mae Cyngor ar Bopeth wedi gofyn am arweiniad clir ynglŷn â hyn, ond unwaith eto, canllawiau yw'r rhain. Tybed, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi, yn eich trafodaethau chi gyda Gweinidogion y DU a'ch cyd-Weinidogion yn y Cabinet, ystyried sut y gallwn ni sicrhau y bydd yr arian hwn yn mynd yn uniongyrchol i'r deiliaid ac nid i'r landlordiaid.
Diolch yn fawr. That's a really important point. I'm sure the Minister for Climate Change is already aware of that, concerns again coming from Citizens Advice, our single advice providers, and unless it's absolutely clear and mandated that it goes to the tenant, we can't trust it. So, we will take that point up. Thank you very much, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch yn fawr. Pwynt pwysig iawn yw hwnnw. Rwy'n siŵr bod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn ymwybodol o hynny eisoes, sef y pryderon eto gan Cyngor ar Bopeth, ein darparwyr cynghori sengl ni, ac oni bai ei bod hi'n gwbl eglur a gorfodol ei fod yn mynd i'r deiliad, ni allwn ni ymddiried yn hynny. Felly, fe fyddwn ni'n codi'r pwynt hwnnw. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Eitem 4 sydd nesaf, datganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar wastadeddau Gwent, ardaloedd sy'n esiampl i eraill o ran adfer natur. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Julie James.
Item 4 is next, a statement by the Minister for Climate Change on the Gwent levels, nature recovery exemplar areas. And I call on the Minister, Julie James.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am really pleased to be able to speak today about the progress being made across one of Wales's most important protected areas, the Gwent levels. As a Government, tackling the climate and nature emergencies is very much at the heart of everything we do. We must protect our environment for future generations to enjoy, and to play our part on the global stage. Globally, nature is still being lost at a frightening rate, and the situation in Wales is similar, with a rapid decline in our most precious species and habitats. I am absolutely committed to helping reverse this decline, and that is why I am currently working on a biodiversity deep dive, focused on our 30x30 target, to, at the very least, protect 30 per cent of our land and sea by 2030.
The Gwent levels are an important part of the contribution to meeting this ambition, and the focus must now be on improving the condition of this protected area and its margins. The levels are of national importance for their biodiversity and landscape, being designated by a series of sites of special scientific interest, as well as being a landscape of outstanding historic interest. Their location, adjacent to Cardiff and Newport, and into Monmouthshire, also make them a valuable cultural and recreation asset for locals and visitors.
In July last year, I released a written statement on taking action to better protect and manage the Gwent levels, following the decision not to proceed with the M4 relief road in 2019. Today, I am updating Members on the progress being made and the measures I am supporting to ensure the levels have the right level of protection and management in place to preserve their unique interest.
In February 2020, the Welsh Government convened a Gwent levels working group, chaired by John Griffiths MS, to explore how the levels could be better protected and managed. The group is now well-established and includes representation from the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, local government, environmental non-governmental organisations, and other local groups, and has developed a strategic action plan of its shared priorities.
Having visited the levels last July, and met members of the working group last September, I've been very impressed by their enthusiasm and dedication to the protection and management of the Gwent levels. This partnership approach, adopted by the Living Levels Landscape Partnership, has delivered significant achievements on the ground in terms of habitat restoration and management, as well as extensive community participation and engagement with nature and the cultural history of the area. This is an exemplar of the partnership approach that is so vital across an area or landscape, to focus the many actions that are needed to reverse biodiversity loss and help nature recovery. Since July, good progress has been made.
I'm very pleased to say that, thanks to the hard work of the Living Levels partnership and the working group members, further funding has now been secured to support the partnership for a further 18 months. This will help the partnership develop longer term management arrangements and vision for the levels, as well as the co-ordination of more restoration work and continued engagement activities.
One of the priorities identified by the working group is to help address the pressures for development on the SSSI sites by developing a better evidence base and guidance for developers and planners to inform development decisions. Getting this right is absolutely vital for these SSSI sites, and I have approved the development of strategic planning guidance for the area, which I want to see taken forward at pace. This will be the first pilot of the 'Future Wales' policy 9 approach to proactively embed biodiversity considerations into planning policies within national natural resource management areas in Wales.
The working group also identified the need to accelerate the programme of habitat restoration and management on the levels, so it can continue to support wildlife and deliver the huge range of benefits it does, both globally, locking up carbon, and locally, providing a natural and culturally rich place for people to enjoy. Drawing on the great work that has already been achieved, the partnership will continue to work with farmers, land managers and volunteer groups, who are vital to the success of this work.
To contribute towards the habitat restoration and management work, I have agreed with the First Minister to review the suitability of land that was acquired for the M4 relief road. This will help us better understand the biodiversity potential of these sites, which will help inform the decisions we make on their future. I'm pleased that consultants have now been appointed to produce a strategic enhancement plan, which will start with site survey work this summer, and will be completed by the end of this financial year.
And, as already mentioned, I am currently conducting a biodiversity deep dive. This is focused on the Wales approach to implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 global biodiversity framework to protect 30 per cent of our land and 30 per cent of our sea by 2030. I'll be asking participants how we can harness and expand the collaborative working exemplified by the Living Levels partnership, and other similar partnerships across Wales, to ensure our valuable sites are protected and effectively managed for the future. I look forward to sharing the outcomes of the biodiversity deep dive and its recommendations with Members in September, once it's concluded. Diolch.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch iawn o allu siarad heddiw am y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud ledled un o ardaloedd gwarchodedig pwysicaf Cymru, sef gwastadeddau Gwent. Fel Llywodraeth, mae ymdrin â'r argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur wrth wraidd popeth a wnawn. Rhaid i ni ddiogelu ein hamgylchedd i genedlaethau'r dyfodol ei fwynhau, a chwarae ein rhan ar y llwyfan byd-eang. Yn fyd-eang, mae natur yn dal i gael ei cholli ar gyfradd frawychus, ac mae'r sefyllfa yng Nghymru yn debyg, gyda dirywiad cyflym yn ein rhywogaethau a'n cynefinoedd mwyaf gwerthfawr. Rwyf i wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i helpu i wrthdroi'r dirywiad hwn, a dyna pam yr wyf i ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio ar ystyriaeth fanwl o fioamrywiaeth, sy'n canolbwyntio ar ein targed o 30x30, i ddiogelu o leiaf 30 y cant o'n tir a'n môr erbyn 2030.
Mae gwastadeddau Gwent yn rhan bwysig o'r cyfraniad at gyflawni'r uchelgais hwn, a rhaid canolbwyntio nawr ar wella cyflwr yr ardal warchodedig hon a'i ffiniau. Mae'r gwastadeddau o bwysigrwydd cenedlaethol am eu bioamrywiaeth a'u tirwedd, gan eu bod yn cael eu dynodi gan gyfres o safleoedd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig, yn ogystal â bod yn dirwedd o ddiddordeb hanesyddol eithriadol. Mae eu lleoliad, gerllaw Caerdydd a Chasnewydd, ac i mewn i sir Fynwy, hefyd yn eu gwneud yn ased diwylliannol a hamdden gwerthfawr i bobl leol ac ymwelwyr.
Ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd, cyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ar gymryd camau i ddiogelu a rheoli gwastadeddau Gwent yn well, yn dilyn y penderfyniad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â ffordd liniaru'r M4 yn 2019. Heddiw, rwyf i'n rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud a'r mesurau yr wyf i'n eu cefnogi i sicrhau bod gan y gwastadeddau'r lefel gywir o ddiogelwch a rheolaeth ar waith i ddiogelu eu diddordeb unigryw.
Ym mis Chwefror 2020, gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gynnal gweithgor ar wastadeddau Gwent, dan gadeiryddiaeth John Griffiths AS, i archwilio sut y byddai modd diogelu a rheoli'r gwastadeddau'n well. Mae'r grŵp erbyn hyn wedi hen ennill ei blwyf ac mae'n cynnwys cynrychiolaeth o Lywodraeth Cymru, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, llywodraeth leol, sefydliadau anllywodraethol amgylcheddol, a grwpiau lleol eraill, ac mae wedi datblygu cynllun gweithredu strategol o'i flaenoriaethau cyffredin.
Ar ôl ymweld â'r gwastadeddau fis Gorffennaf diwethaf, a chwrdd ag aelodau'r gweithgor fis Medi diwethaf, mae eu brwdfrydedd a'u hymroddiad i ddiogelu a rheoli gwastadeddau Gwent wedi creu argraff fawr arnaf i. Mae'r dull partneriaeth hwn, sydd wedi'i fabwysiadu gan Bartneriaeth Tirlun y Lefelau Byw, wedi darparu cyflawniadau sylweddol ar lawr gwlad o ran adfer a rheoli cynefinoedd, yn ogystal â chyfranogiad ac ymgysylltiad helaeth gan y gymuned â natur a hanes diwylliannol yr ardal. Mae hyn yn enghraifft o'r dull partneriaeth sydd mor hanfodol ledled ardal neu dirlun, i ganolbwyntio'r camau niferus sydd eu hangen i wrthdroi colli bioamrywiaeth a helpu i adfer natur. Ers mis Gorffennaf, mae cynnydd da wedi'i wneud.
Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud, diolch i waith caled Partneriaeth Tirlun y Lefelau Byw ac aelodau'r gweithgor, fod cyllid arall nawr wedi'i sicrhau i gefnogi'r bartneriaeth am 18 mis arall. Bydd hyn yn helpu'r bartneriaeth i ddatblygu trefniadau rheoli a gweledigaeth tymor hwy ar gyfer y gwastadeddau, yn ogystal â chydgysylltu mwy o waith adfer a gweithgareddau ymgysylltu parhaus.
Un o'r blaenoriaethau sydd wedi'i nodi gan y gweithgor yw helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r pwysau i ddatblygu ar safleoedd SoDdGA drwy ddatblygu sylfaen dystiolaeth a chanllawiau gwell i ddatblygwyr a chynllunwyr lywio penderfyniadau datblygu. Mae cael hyn yn gywir yn gwbl hanfodol i'r safleoedd SoDdGA hyn, ac yr wyf i wedi cymeradwyo datblygu canllawiau cynllunio strategol ar gyfer yr ardal, yr wyf i eisiau eu gweld yn cael eu datblygu'n gyflym. Hwn fydd y cynllun treialu cyntaf o ddull polisi 9 'Cymru'r Dyfodol' i ymgorffori ystyriaethau bioamrywiaeth yn rhagweithiol mewn polisïau cynllunio mewn ardaloedd rheoli adnoddau naturiol cenedlaethol yng Nghymru.
Nododd y gweithgor hefyd yr angen i gyflymu'r rhaglen o adfer a rheoli cynefinoedd ar y gwastadeddau, fel y gall barhau i gynnal bywyd gwyllt a chyflawni'r amrywiaeth enfawr o fanteision y mae'n eu gwneud, yn fyd-eang, gan gloi carbon, ac yn lleol, gan ddarparu lle naturiol a diwylliannol gyfoethog i bobl ei fwynhau. Gan ddefnyddio'r gwaith gwych sydd eisoes wedi'i gyflawni, bydd y bartneriaeth yn parhau i weithio gyda ffermwyr, rheolwyr tir a grwpiau gwirfoddol, sy'n hanfodol i lwyddiant y gwaith hwn.
Er mwyn cyfrannu at y gwaith o adfer a rheoli cynefinoedd, rwyf i wedi cytuno gyda'r Prif Weinidog i adolygu addasrwydd tir a gafodd ei gaffael ar gyfer ffordd liniaru'r M4. Bydd hyn yn ein helpu ni i ddeall potensial bioamrywiaeth y safleoedd hyn yn well, a fydd yn helpu i lywio'r penderfyniadau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud ynghylch eu dyfodol. Rwy'n falch bod ymgynghorwyr nawr wedi'u penodi i lunio cynllun gwella strategol, a fydd yn dechrau gyda gwaith arolygu safleoedd yr haf hwn, ac a fydd yn cael ei gwblhau erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Ac, fel soniwyd eisoes, rwyf i'n cynnal ystyriaeth fanwl o fioamrywiaeth ar hyn o bryd. Mae hyn yn canolbwyntio ar ddull Cymru o weithredu fframwaith bioamrywiaeth byd-eang y Confensiwn ar Amrywiaeth Fiolegol ar ôl 2020 i ddiogelu 30 y cant o'n tir a 30 y cant o'n môr erbyn 2030. Byddaf i'n gofyn i gyfranogwyr sut y gallwn ni ddefnyddio ac ehangu'r cydweithio sydd wedi'i ddangos gan y bartneriaeth Lefelau Byw, a phartneriaethau tebyg eraill ledled Cymru, i sicrhau bod ein safleoedd gwerthfawr ni'n cael eu diogelu a'u rheoli'n effeithiol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at rannu canlyniadau'r ystyriaeth fanwl o fioamrywiaeth a'i hargymhellion gydag Aelodau ym mis Medi, unwaith y bydd wedi dod i ben. Diolch.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Conservative spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you, Minister, for the statement. I think there's one thing we can agree on and that is the need to protect 30 per cent of our land and sea by 2030. Now, however, as you know, I've been asking, since October, what is the reason why we can't set these targets into law. You responded to me then, saying, 'I am considering the role that legislation can play in underpinning nature recovery targets more broadly, including the 30x30 target.' So, eight months on, have you made a legislative decision on the 30x30 target, or are you going to make Wales wait until you have the outcome of the biodiversity deep dive?
I suppose, for me, it's a little extraordinary that the statement has just been made in relation to the Gwent levels specifically, because it gives me the impression that you regard the SSIs there with greater priority and importance than those in every other corner of Wales. If not, will we be seeing oral statements on SSIs everywhere else in Wales coming forward? What is the crux, really, of this statement? Is it that you are taking steps to further campaign against an M4 relief road for Newport? And, in light of the decision to review the suitability of land that was acquired for the M4 relief road, will you clarify whether it is your ambition to see the land blocked from being used for a highway, and state—tell us—how much the consultants are being paid for the strategic enhancement plan?
As you know, the Gwent levels working group has already been created to explore better methods of protecting the Gwent levels, while acknowledging the need to maintain the area's significant historical importance to Wales. The working group is made up of representatives from the Welsh Government, NRW and other environmental NGOs, and they've met six times since it was formed, but have yet to publish an action plan. And according to you, any plan formalised would not necessarily be made public. I suppose I ask why that's the case. And how can we expect the people of Wales to entrust us with safeguarding them and their livelihoods, if you will not consult and communicate with them on your action plan for the Gwent levels? Currently, Wales is the only country in the UK that is not contributing data to the UK biodiversity indicator on the condition of areas or sites of special scientific interest. So, as a result, 70 per cent of the 60 SSI feature condition assessments on the Gwent levels are unknown. So, why, Minister, has the Welsh Government been so inactive on changing this by taking the initiative to improve data collection? And what assurances can you give that the target of having 100 per cent of SSIs in a favourable condition by 2026 will be achieved?
It's not just me that's worried about this. In fact, Wales Environment Link have produced a checklist for nature recovery. It includes how Ministers do need to be engaged in delivering a coherent response, as well as regular monitoring, review and reporting against targets. So, Minister, would you outline what steps you have taken to co-operate with environmental stakeholders, so that any future work is developed based on a broad and experienced group? And can we, please, have some transparency and allow any reports, any plans, to be made public? Thank you. Diolch.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch, Gweinidog, am y datganiad. Rwy'n credu bod un peth y gallwn ni gytuno arno a dyna'r angen i ddiogelu 30 y cant o'n tir a'n môr erbyn 2030. Nawr, fodd bynnag, fel y gwyddoch chi, rwyf i wedi bod yn gofyn, ers mis Hydref, beth yw'r rheswm pam na allwn ni osod y targedau hyn yn y gyfraith. Gwnaethoch chi ymateb i mi bryd hynny, gan ddweud, 'Rwy'n ystyried y rhan y gall deddfwriaeth ei chwarae wrth ategu targedau adfer natur yn ehangach, gan gynnwys y targed 30x30.' Felly, wyth mis yn ddiweddarach, a ydych chi wedi gwneud penderfyniad deddfwriaethol ar y targed 30x30, neu a ydych chi'n mynd i wneud i Gymru aros nes y cewch chi ganlyniad yr ystyriaeth fanwl o fioamrywiaeth?
Rwy'n tybio, i mi, ei bod hi braidd yn rhyfeddol bod y datganiad newydd gael ei wneud ynglŷn â gwastadeddau Gwent yn benodol, oherwydd mae'n rhoi'r argraff i mi eich bod chi'n ystyried y SoDdGA yno gyda mwy o flaenoriaeth a phwysigrwydd na'r rhai ym mhob cwr arall o Gymru. Os na, a fyddwn ni'n gweld datganiadau llafar yn cael eu cyflwyno ar SoDdGA ym mhobman arall yng Nghymru? Beth yw craidd y datganiad hwn, mewn gwirionedd? Ai eich bod chi'n cymryd camau i ymgyrchu ymhellach yn erbyn ffordd liniaru'r M4 ar gyfer Casnewydd? Ac, yng ngoleuni'r penderfyniad i adolygu addasrwydd tir a gafodd ei gaffael ar gyfer ffordd liniaru'r M4, a wnewch chi egluro ai eich uchelgais chi yw gweld y tir yn cael ei rwystro rhag cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer priffordd, a datgan—dywedwch chi wrthym ni—faint y mae'r ymgynghorwyr yn cael eu talu am y cynllun gwella strategol?
Fel y gwyddoch chi, mae gweithgor gwastadeddau Gwent eisoes wedi'i greu i archwilio dulliau gwell o ddiogelu gwastadeddau Gwent, wrth gydnabod yr angen i gynnal pwysigrwydd hanesyddol sylweddol yr ardal i Gymru. Mae'r gweithgor yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o Lywodraeth Cymru, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a chyrff anllywodraethol amgylcheddol eraill, ac maen nhw wedi cyfarfod chwe gwaith ers ei ffurfio, ond nid ydyn nhw wedi cyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu eto. Ac yn ôl chi, ni fyddai unrhyw gynllun a fyddai'n cael ei ffurfioli o reidrwydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi. Rwy'n tybio fy mod i'n gofyn pam mae hynny'n wir. A sut y gallwn ni ddisgwyl i bobl Cymru ymddiried ynom ni i'w diogelu nhw a'u bywoliaeth, os na fyddwch chi'n ymgynghori a chyfathrebu â nhw ar eich cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer gwastadeddau Gwent? Ar hyn o bryd, Cymru yw'r unig wlad yn y DU nad yw'n cyfrannu data at ddangosydd bioamrywiaeth y DU ar gyflwr ardaloedd neu safleoedd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig. Felly, o ganlyniad, nid yw 70 y cant o'r 60 asesiad cyflwr nodweddion SoDdGA ar lefelau Gwent yn hysbys. Felly, pam, Gweinidog, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod mor anweithgar wrth newid hyn drwy gymryd y cam cyntaf i wella'r broses o gasglu data? A pha sicrwydd y gallwch chi ei roi y bydd y targed o gael 100 y cant o SoDdGA mewn cyflwr ffafriol erbyn 2026 yn cael ei gyflawni?
Nid fi yn unig sy'n poeni am hyn. Yn wir, mae Cyswllt Amgylchedd Cymru wedi cynhyrchu rhestr wirio ar gyfer adfer natur. Mae'n cynnwys sut y mae angen i Weinidogion fod yn rhan o'r gwaith o ddarparu ymateb cydlynol, yn ogystal â monitro, adolygu ac adrodd yn rheolaidd o gymharu â thargedau. Felly, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi'n amlinellu pa gamau yr ydych chi wedi'u cymryd i gydweithredu â rhanddeiliaid amgylcheddol, fel y caiff unrhyw waith yn y dyfodol ei ddatblygu ar sail grŵp eang a phrofiadol? Ac a allwn ni, os gwelwch yn dda, gael rhywfaint o dryloywder a chaniatáu i unrhyw adroddiadau, unrhyw gynlluniau, gael eu cyhoeddi? Diolch.
Well, I don't know quite where to start with that, Janet. The level of cynicism shown in your remarks has quite staggered me, frankly, even for your good self. So, I'll try and address some of the things that you raised.
So, first of all, the Living Levels partnership has worked its socks off. It's chaired by John Griffiths, whom I'm sure will make a contribution shortly to the debate, and who was recently joined by Jayne Bryant MS. It's a series of people who've come together because they really care about their area. And the idea that this is somehow conducted in a cloak of secrecy, et cetera, et cetera, is just rubbish, frankly—absolute rubbish. I just don't know where you're coming from with any of that.
In terms of the actual targets, '30 per cent of the land, 30 per cent of the sea, by 2030' is a really great global headline, but we don't yet know what it means in order to present targets. Is it 30 per cent of every local authority area, of every community council, 30 per cent of the overall land mass of Wales? We don't know what it means. I want to have targets that mean something, that mean that we can have our feet held to the fire properly so that, when we have these targets in place, we know what they mean. The biodiversity deep dive is made up of a whole series of experts on this, and a series of stakeholder meetings meeting in parallel. They are the people who will help us do that to make sense of what the global '30 by 30' means. That's a great slogan, but it doesn't translate into a detailed target, and that's what we're working on.
Wel, nid wyf i'n gwybod yn iawn ble i ddechrau gyda hynny, Janet. Mae lefel y sinigiaeth sydd wedi'i dangos yn eich sylwadau wedi fy syfrdanu i'n llwyr, a dweud y gwir, hyd yn oed gennych chi. Felly, fe geisiaf i ymdrin â rhai o'r pethau a gafodd eu codi gennych chi.
Felly, yn gyntaf oll, mae'r bartneriaeth Lefelau Byw wedi gweithio'n galed iawn. Mae John Griffiths yn ei gadeirio, a fydd, rwy'n siŵr, yn gwneud cyfraniad yn fuan i'r ddadl, ac ymunodd Jayne Bryant AS ag ef yn ddiweddar. Mae'n gyfres o bobl sydd wedi dod at ei gilydd oherwydd eu bod yn poeni'n fawr am eu hardal. Ac mae'r syniad bod hyn i gyd rywsut yn cael ei gynnal yn gyfrinachol, ac ati, yn rwtsh, a dweud y gwir—rwtsh llwyr. Nid wyf yn gwybod beth sydd y tu ôl i hynna i gyd.
O ran y targedau eu hunain, mae '30 y cant o'r tir, 30 y cant o'r môr, erbyn 2030' yn bennawd byd-eang mawr iawn, ond nid ydym ni'n gwybod eto beth mae'n ei olygu er mwyn cyflwyno targedau. A yw'n 30 y cant o bob ardal awdurdod lleol, o bob cyngor cymuned, yn 30 y cant o gyfanswm màs tir Cymru? Nid ydym ni'n gwybod beth mae'n ei olygu. Rwyf i eisiau cael targedau sy'n golygu rhywbeth, sy'n golygu y bydd pwysau gwirioneddol arnom ni, fel ein bod ni'n gwybod, pan fydd y targedau hyn gennym ni ar waith, yr hyn y maen nhw'n yn ei olygu. Mae'r astudiaeth ddofn o fioamrywiaeth yn cynnwys cyfres gyfan o arbenigwyr ar hyn, a chyfres o gyfarfodydd rhanddeiliaid yn cyfarfod ochr yn ochr. Nhw yw'r bobl a fydd yn ein helpu ni i wneud hynny, i wneud synnwyr o'r hyn y mae'r '30 wrth 30' byd-eang yn ei olygu. Mae hynny'n slogan gwych, ond nid yw'n troi'n darged manwl, a dyna'r hyn yr ydym ni'n gweithio arno.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As we know, the Gwent levels are a vital hub for nature, protected nationally and internationally. The 900 miles of waterways know locally as reens are a chorus of life and home to hundreds of rare creatures. Numerous rare birds live there and migrate there to breed. More than 144 species of threatened bugs and beetles are also amongst those that have made their home there. I'm proud to be the species champion for one of the Gwent levels' smallest residents, the shrill carder bee, one of the UK's rarest bumblebees. The numbers of this bumblebee have sharply declined in recent years, and over the last century as well. It's now found in only seven areas in southern England and in Wales, including the Gwent levels. They are a vital hub for biodiversity and recreation. They're an example of international best practice when it comes to conservation as well, and I'll be asking you about that in a moment, Minister.
The vibrant cities and towns in my region that surround the edges of the levels reinforce a sense of tranquillity, remoteness, wildness away from human occupation in many places, but it is an area that belongs to all of us, those living now and those yet to be born, of course. The successful conservation work that has taken place in the Gwent levels has only been possible due to the provision of sufficient funding in recent years. Could you please outline, Minister, or could you give us an indication of, the funding that will be allocated in the long term to the conservation projects that are going on in the Gwent levels?
In order to inform effective conservation work, monitoring, as we've heard already, is absolutely essential. But, across Wales, monitoring is insufficient. There are gaps in vitally important data. While monitoring should be undertaken by professionals or by experts, there is scope to empower local people or visitors to nature sites to undertake their own monitoring as well through uploading photographs to databases. That would really help us to make sure that, when we're addressing the nature crisis, the nature emergency that we have, everyone feels that they have a stake in this—that it's something that we shouldn't just be concerned about, but actually trying to solve it is something that we can all be involved in, and we can celebrate the wonderful diversity that's there. So, I'd like to know how the Welsh Government is supporting monitoring work in the Gwent levels, please, and beyond. Could you provide us some further information on this, particularly on how local people or visitors from any part of Wales or the world can be part of that?
And finally, in terms of the lessons that you've learned from effective conservation work in the Gwent levels in terms of best practice in conservation and nature recovery, what bearing will any findings have on the Welsh Government's efforts to halt biodiversity decline and bring about substantive nature recovery in the long term, please? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fel y gwyddom ni, mae gwastadeddau Gwent yn ganolfan hanfodol ar gyfer natur, wedi'i diogelu'n genedlaethol ac yn rhyngwladol. Mae'r 900 milltir o ddyfrffyrdd sy'n cael eu hadnabod yn lleol fel ffosydd draenio yn gorws o fywyd ac yn gartref i gannoedd o greaduriaid prin. Mae nifer o adar prin yn byw yno ac yn mudo yno i fridio. Mae mwy na 144 rhywogaeth o bryfed a chwilod dan fygythiad hefyd ymhlith y rhai sydd wedi gwneud eu cartref yno. Rwy'n falch o fod yn hyrwyddwr rhywogaethau un o drigolion lleiaf gwastadeddau Gwent, y Gardwenynen Feinlais, un o'r gwenyn mwyaf prin yn y DU. Mae niferoedd y wenynen hon wedi gostwng yn sylweddol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac yn ystod y ganrif ddiwethaf hefyd. Dim ond mewn saith ardal yn ne Lloegr ac yng Nghymru y mae i'w canfod nawr, gan gynnwys gwastadeddau Gwent. Mae'n ganolfan hanfodol ar gyfer bioamrywiaeth a hamdden. Mae'n enghraifft o arfer gorau rhyngwladol o ran cadwraeth hefyd, a byddaf i'n eich holi chi am hynny mewn munud, Gweinidog.
Mae'r dinasoedd a threfi bywiog yn fy rhanbarth i sy'n amgylchynu ymylon y gwastadeddau yn atgyfnerthu ymdeimlad o dawelwch, pellter, gwylltineb i ffwrdd o feddiannaeth ddynol mewn llawer o leoedd, ond mae'n ardal sy'n perthyn i bob un ohonom ni, y rhai sy'n byw nawr a'r rhai sydd eto i'w geni, wrth gwrs. Mae'r gwaith cadwraeth llwyddiannus sydd wedi digwydd yng ngwastadeddau Gwent dim ond wedi bod yn bosibl oherwydd bod digon o arian wedi'i ddarparu yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. A wnewch chi amlinellu, Gweinidog, neu a wnewch chi roi syniad i ni o'r cyllid a gaiff ei ddyrannu yn y tymor hir i'r prosiectau cadwraeth sy'n digwydd yng ngwastadeddau Gwent?
Er mwyn llywio gwaith cadwraeth effeithiol, mae monitro, fel yr ydym ni wedi clywed eisoes, yn gwbl hanfodol. Ond, ledled Cymru, mae'r monitro'n annigonol. Mae bylchau mewn data hanfodol bwysig. Er y dylai gweithwyr proffesiynol neu arbenigwyr fonitro, mae lle i rymuso pobl leol neu ymwelwyr â safleoedd natur i ymgymryd â'u gwaith monitro eu hunain yn ogystal â thrwy lanlwytho ffotograffau i gronfeydd data. Byddai hynny wir yn ein helpu ni i sicrhau, pan fyddwn ni'n mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng natur, yr argyfwng natur sydd gennym ni, fod pawb yn teimlo bod ganddyn nhw ran yn hyn o beth—ei fod yn rhywbeth na ddylem ni boeni amdano'n unig, ond mewn gwirionedd mae ceisio ei ddatrys yn rhywbeth y gallwn ni i gyd fod yn rhan ohono, a gallwn ni ddathlu'r amrywiaeth wych sydd yno. Felly, hoffwn i wybod sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi gwaith monitro ar wastadeddau Gwent, a thu hwnt, os gwelwch yn dda. A allwch chi roi rhagor o wybodaeth i ni am hyn, yn enwedig ynghylch sut y gall pobl leol neu ymwelwyr o unrhyw ran o Gymru neu'r byd fod yn rhan o hynny?
Ac yn olaf, o ran y gwersi yr ydych chi wedi'u dysgu o waith cadwraeth effeithiol yng ngwastadeddau Gwent o ran arfer gorau ym maes cadwraeth ac adfer natur, pa effaith y bydd gan unrhyw ganfyddiadau ar ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i atal dirywiad bioamrywiaeth a sicrhau adferiad sylweddol o ran natur yn y tymor hir, os gwelwch yn dda? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Delyth. I share your enthusiasm for it. I haven't been lucky enough to see one of the bees yet, but I've tried a couple of times. I've certainly seen pictures and videos, but not yet in person, so I'm looking forward to that.
The reason for bringing this forward today is because what we're looking to see if we can develop is a long-term sustainable management vehicle for areas such as the Gwent levels. Clearly, we're not just talking about the Gwent levels, but the whole landmass of Wales. What we're looking to do is see if we can develop a sustainable management model that allows all partners to come together. The Gwent levels partnership is supported by the Welsh Government, but it's also supported by the RSPB, the Gwent Wildlife Trust, NRW, and a number of other partners. What we're looking to see is how we can get that sustainable model to work in a number of different areas and types of landscape in Wales.
Clearly, the Welsh Government cannot fund all of this. If that's what we're going to try and do, we'll be miles off our target. This is about how we can facilitate the best model to come together of citizen science and local volunteers and all of the NGOs that come together, alongside the charities and third sector organisations in that sustainable model. It crucially isn't pivotal on one enthusiastic individual being the pivot point; we're all familiar across the Chamber with places where that happens. So, that's why we're focusing on it—because it's a bit more advanced, it's got a number of people very interested in it.
Part of what the Living Levels partnership is doing is looking at the models of data collection—how do you do some kind of baseline, what does good conservation status really look like, how can we spread that out. I'm also very interested—and I'm using the biodiversity deep dive expertise to do this—in what kind of protection should areas like the Gwent levels have. It's not a national park, it's not currently designated, but it has got a lot of sites of special scientific interest. I say this a lot, and I make no apology for repeating it: if you stop Mr and Mrs Jones on the street somewhere in Wales and you say, 'What level of protection does a piece of land of special scientific interest have?', they're unlikely to think that you could put a car park on it. But, at the moment, you could, really, in some circumstances, do that. So, one of the big things we're also doing is looking at the strategic planning guidance for these areas to actually firm up on the protections—what does this mean.
My own personal view, and I stress it's not the Government's view, is that that hurdle should be very high indeed. You can't say 'never, never, never', because you don't know what will happen, but you can say 'almost never, never, never', depending on a really extreme circumstance where that is, so that we can secure these areas in order to halt the decline that we see at the moment, and then, of course, reverse it and then spread out. There's a big issue as well about the buffer zones around the edge, and so on. So, the Living Levels partnership is just a model that we're looking at to see if we can spread that out.
Diolch, Delyth. Rwyf innau'n rhannu'ch brwdfrydedd drosto. Nid wyf i wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus i weld un o'r gwenyn eto, ond yr wyf i wedi rhoi cynnig arni ambell waith. Yn sicr, rwyf i wedi gweld lluniau a fideos, ond nid yn bersonol eto, felly rwy'n edrych ymlaen at hynny.
Y rheswm dros gyflwyno hyn heddiw yw oherwydd mai'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei ystyried yw os gallwn ni ddatblygu cyfrwng rheoli cynaliadwy hirdymor ar gyfer ardaloedd fel gwastadeddau Gwent. Yn amlwg, nid sôn am wastadeddau Gwent yn unig yr ydym ni, ond holl dir Cymru. Yr hyn yr ydym ni eisiau'i wneud yw gweld a allwn ni ddatblygu model rheoli cynaliadwy sy'n caniatáu i bob partner ddod at ei gilydd. Mae partneriaeth lefelau Gwent yn cael ei chefnogi gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ond mae hefyd yn cael ei chefnogi gan yr RSPB, Ymddiriedolaeth Bywyd Gwyllt Gwent, CNC, a nifer o bartneriaid eraill. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei ystyried yw sut y gallwn ni gael y model cynaliadwy hwnnw i weithio mewn nifer o wahanol ardaloedd a mathau o dirwedd yng Nghymru.
Yn amlwg, ni all Llywodraeth Cymru ariannu hyn i gyd. Os dyna'r hyn yr ydym ni'n mynd i geisio'i wneud, byddwn ni filltiroedd oddi ar ein targed. Mae hyn yn ymwneud â sut y gallwn ni hwyluso'r model gorau i ddod ynghyd o wyddoniaeth dinasyddion a gwirfoddolwyr lleol a'r holl gyrff anllywodraethol sy'n dod at ei gilydd, ochr yn ochr â'r elusennau a sefydliadau'r trydydd sector yn y model cynaliadwy hwnnw. Yn hollbwysig, nid yw'n ddibynnol ar un unigolyn brwdfrydig yn bwynt pifodol; rydym ni i gyd yn gyfarwydd, ar draws y Siambr, â lleoedd lle mae hynny'n digwydd. Felly, dyna pam yr ydym ni'n canolbwyntio arno—oherwydd mae ychydig yn fwy datblygedig, mae gan nifer o bobl ddiddordeb mawr ynddo.
Rhan o'r hyn y mae'r bartneriaeth Lefelau Byw yn ei wneud yw ystyried y modelau casglu data—sut yr ydych chi'n gwneud rhyw fath o linell sylfaen, sut y mae statws cadwraeth da yn edrych mewn gwirionedd, sut y gallwn ni ledaenu hynny. Mae gennyf i ddiddordeb mawr hefyd—ac yr wyf i'n defnyddio'r arbenigedd o astudiaeth ddofn o fioamrywiaeth i wneud hyn—ym mha fath o amddiffyniad y dylai ardaloedd fel gwastadeddau Gwent ei gael. Nid yw'n barc cenedlaethol, nid yw wedi'i ddynodi ar hyn o bryd, ond mae ganddo lawer o safleoedd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig. Rwy'n dweud hyn lawer, ac nid wyf i'n ymddiheuro am ei ailadrodd: os byddwch chi'n mynd at Mr a Mrs Jones ar y stryd rywle yng Nghymru a'ch bod chi'n dweud, 'Pa lefel o ddiogelwch sydd gan ddarn o dir o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig?', maen nhw'n annhebygol o feddwl y gallech chi roi maes parcio arno. Ond, ar hyn o bryd, gallech chi, mewn gwirionedd, o dan rai amgylchiadau, wneud hynny. Felly, un o'r pethau mawr yr ydym ni'n ei wneud hefyd yw edrych ar y canllawiau cynllunio strategol ar gyfer yr ardaloedd hyn i gyd-fynd â'r amddiffyniadau—beth mae hyn yn ei olygu.
Fy marn bersonol i, ac rwy'n pwysleisio nad barn y Llywodraeth ydyw, yw y dylai'r rhwystr hwnnw fod yn uchel iawn yn wir. Ni allwch chi ddweud 'byth, byth, byth', oherwydd nid ydych chi'n gwybod beth fydd yn digwydd, ond gallwch chi ddweud 'bron byth, byth, byth', yn dibynnu ar amgylchiadau eithafol iawn lle y maen nhw, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau'r ardaloedd hyn er mwyn atal y dirywiad y gwelwn ni ar hyn o bryd, ac yna, wrth gwrs, ei wrthdroi ac yna ei ledaenu. Mae problem fawr hefyd ynglŷn â'r lleiniau clustogi o amgylch yr ymyl, ac ati. Felly, dim ond model yr ydym ni'n ei ystyried i weld a allwn ni ledaenu hynny yw'r bartneriaeth Lefelau Byw.
Minister, thank you very much for your statement today, but also thank you very much for your commitment and Welsh Government's commitment to taking forward protection and sustainability for the Gwent levels. As you know, a great deal of good work has already happened through the Living Levels partnership, and we really need to build on that through a body that can take forward that work, and have long-term sustainable funding, and then focus with partners on the action that's required to take forward biodiversity and the ecosystems. I know you are very committed to that, Minister, and I would like you just to say a little bit about how that future can be ensured.
On the planning issues, it's very good to see the work that's going on in terms of the strategic policy 9 and everything that goes around it, but you will know as well, Minister, that there are some current short-term pressures in terms of planning applications, for example solar farms, which, taken with those already in place, really change the nature of the area because of the prevalence of solar farms and the applications coming in. I know, Minister, you would expect developing Welsh Government policy and statements to be taken into account in the short term while the longer term work goes on, and I wonder if you could just say a little about those current applications in general—not any particular one—and developing Welsh Government thinking and the impact that that should have on decision making. And—
Gweinidog, diolch yn fawr am eich datganiad heddiw, ond diolch yn fawr iawn i chi hefyd am eich ymrwymiad ac ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i fwrw ymlaen â diogelwch a chynaliadwyedd ar gyfer gwastadeddau Gwent. Fel y gwyddoch, chi, mae llawer iawn o waith da eisoes wedi digwydd drwy'r bartneriaeth Lefelau Byw, ac mae gwir angen i ni ddatblygu hynny drwy gorff a all fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwnnw, a chael cyllid cynaliadwy hirdymor, ac yna canolbwyntio gyda phartneriaid ar y camau y mae eu hangen i ddatblygu bioamrywiaeth a'r ecosystemau. Gwn i eich bod chi wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i hynny, Gweinidog, a hoffwn i chi ddweud ychydig am sut y mae modd sicrhau'r dyfodol hwnnw.
O ran y materion cynllunio, mae'n dda iawn gweld y gwaith sy'n digwydd o ran y polisi strategol 9 a phopeth sy'n digwydd o'i gwmpas, ond gwyddoch chi hefyd, Gweinidog, fod rhai pwysau tymor byr ar hyn o bryd o ran ceisiadau cynllunio, er enghraifft ffermydd solar, sydd, o'u cymryd gyda'r rhai sydd eisoes ar waith, wir yn newid natur yr ardal oherwydd nifer y ffermydd solar a'r ceisiadau sy'n dod i mewn. Gwn i, Gweinidog, y byddech chi'n disgwyl i bolisïau a datganiadau Llywodraeth Cymru gael eu hystyried yn y tymor byr wrth i'r gwaith tymor hwy fynd rhagddo, a tybed a allwch chi ddweud ychydig am y ceisiadau presennol hynny'n gyffredinol—nid unrhyw un penodol—a datblygu syniadau Llywodraeth Cymru a'r effaith y dylai hynny ei chael ar wneud penderfyniadau. Ac—
No, John. You've had your time, I'm sorry, and you've asked the questions.
Na, John. Rydych chi wedi cael eich amser, mae'n ddrwg gen i, ac yr ydych chi wedi gofyn y cwestiynau.
Okay. Diolch yn fawr.
Iawn. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, John. I know, John, you're very enthusiastic, and I'm very grateful for your chairing of the Living Levels partnership, which has certainly helped us move it on. We absolutely do need to improve the strategic planning guidance for the areas I mentioned previously. I can't comment on a number of outstanding planning applications for obvious reasons, so I'm not going anywhere near that. But just in general terms, as I said, this is going to be the first pilot of 'Future Wales' policy 9, the approach for mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem resilience into planning policies, and to ensure that as part of that pilot of policy 9, we get the right social, economic, cultural and environmental developments in the right place to enhance that biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. That's going to take the form of a masterplan for the area, which we've got, as you know, consultants working on.
We've sought views—as I know you know, John, from the Gwent Living Levels working group—on the governance approach needed to represent the political and technical interests around building this policy up and the guidance that needs to go with it on biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. I'm absolutely determined to make this a pilot area for this model of governance and planning policy, because this is a vital area—alongside many others in Wales, of course—of biodiversity and resilience. It's the green lungs of a big set of urban conurbations around its edges, as you know, John, and it's a source of rich carbon depositing and biodiversity. It's a really good example of carbon capture in a non-tree form as well, because, as I keep saying to people, the tree's just the iconic symbol for a whole range of different landscape types across Wales that support a range of biodiversity. I'm very determined to get that pilot up and running ASAP. We'll get the strategic planning guidance out and I remain very grateful indeed for your part in chairing the group.
Diolch, John. Rwy'n gwybod, John, eich bod chi'n frwdfrydig iawn, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi am gadeirio'r bartneriaeth Lefelau Byw, sydd yn sicr wedi ein helpu ni i'w symud ymlaen. Mae gwir angen i ni wella'r canllawiau cynllunio strategol ar gyfer y meysydd y gwnes i eu crybwyll o'r blaen. Ni allaf i wneud sylw ar nifer o geisiadau cynllunio sy'n weddill am resymau amlwg, felly nid wyf i'n mynd yn agos at hynny. Ond yn gyffredinol, fel y dywedais i, dyma fydd y cynllun treialu cyntaf o bolisi 9 'Cymru'r Dyfodol', y dull o brif ffrydio bioamrywiaeth a chydnerthedd ecosystemau mewn polisïau cynllunio, a sicrhau ein bod ni, fel rhan o'r cynllun treialu hwnnw o bolisi 9, yn cael y datblygiadau cymdeithasol, economaidd, diwylliannol ac amgylcheddol cywir yn y lle cywir i wella'r fioamrywiaeth a chydnerthedd yr ecosystemau hynny. Mae hynny'n mynd i fod ar ffurf uwchgynllun ar gyfer yr ardal, ac mae gennym ni, fel y gwyddoch chi, ymgynghorwyr sy'n gweithio arno.
Rydym ni wedi ceisio barn—fel y gwyddoch, John, o weithgor Lefelau Byw Gwent—ar y dull llywodraethu sydd ei angen i gynrychioli'r buddiannau gwleidyddol a thechnegol sy'n gysylltiedig â datblygu'r polisi hwn a'r canllawiau cysylltiedig y mae eu hangen ar fioamrywiaeth a chydnerthedd ecosystemau. Rwy'n gwbl benderfynol o wneud hon yn ardal dreialu ar gyfer y model hwn o bolisi llywodraethu a chynllunio, oherwydd mae hon yn ardal hollbwysig—ochr yn ochr â llawer o rai eraill yng Nghymru, wrth gwrs—o fioamrywiaeth a chydnerthedd. Mae'n ysgyfaint gwyrdd cyfres fawr o gytrefi trefol o amgylch ei ymylon, fel y gwyddoch chi, John, ac mae'n ffynhonnell gyfoethog o ddyddodi carbon a bioamrywiaeth. Mae'n enghraifft dda iawn o ddal carbon ar ffurf nad yw'n goeden hefyd, oherwydd, fel yr wyf i'n dal i ddweud wrth bobl, nid yw'r goeden ond yn symbol eiconig ar gyfer amrywiaeth eang o wahanol fathau o dirweddau ledled Cymru sy'n cynnal amrywiaeth o fioamrywiaeth. Rwy'n benderfynol iawn o roi'r cynllun treialu hwnnw ar waith. Byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi'r canllawiau cynllunio strategol ac yr wyf i dal yn ddiolchgar iawn am eich rhan chi yn cadeirio'r grŵp.
Ac yn olaf, Jayne Bryant.
Finally, Jayne Bryant.
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Thank you for that important statement, Minister. I'd like to pay tribute to the group chaired by my good friend John Griffiths, because it's done some incredible work over the time that it's been formed. The Gwent levels are a fantastic resource that needs to be treasured and protected. It formed around 8,000 years ago, and the man-made landscape dates back to the Romans. It really is a stunning part of Wales that I would urge anyone who hasn't been to visit.
I know that its importance is very much recognised by you, Minister, but I'd like to take this opportunity to push for more tools to be given to public bodies for them to be able to fight effectively in its defence. A particular threat is that of industrial-scale fly-tipping, where criminals utilise the levels' isolation but relatively easy access to the M4 to dump tonnes of refuse and waste. Local government and NRW do their best to issue fines and notices, but community groups have often found these processes arduous, and the fines issued comparatively ineffective. Can the Minister please look at the processes we use to protect the levels and whether there are any ways we can look to arm public bodies with stronger powers and deterrents, so that firmer and swifter action can be taken against the selfish criminal organisations that exploit this fantastic landscape?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch am y datganiad pwysig yna, Gweinidog. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r grŵp dan gadeiryddiaeth fy nghyfaill da John Griffiths, oherwydd mae wedi gwneud gwaith anhygoel dros yr amser y mae wedi'i ffurfio. Mae gwastadeddau Gwent yn adnodd gwych y mae angen ei drysori a'i ddiogelu. Fe'i ffurfiwyd tua 8,000 o flynyddoedd yn ôl, ac mae'r dirwedd a wnaed gan ddyn yn dyddio'n ôl i'r Rhufeiniaid. Mae'n rhan anhygoel o Gymru a byddwn yn annog unrhyw un nad yw wedi bod yno i wneud hynny.
Rwy'n gwybod bod eu pwysigrwydd yn sicr yn cael ei gydnabod gennych chi, Gweinidog, ond hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i bwyso am roi mwy o arfau i gyrff cyhoeddus er mwyn iddyn nhw allu brwydro yn effeithiol i'w hamddiffyn. Un bygythiad penodol yw tipio anghyfreithlon ar raddfa enfawr, pan fo troseddwyr yn defnyddio arwahanrwydd y gwastadeddau, ond sydd â mynediad cymharol hawdd i'r M4, i ollwng tunelli o sbwriel a gwastraff. Mae llywodraeth leol a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gwneud eu gorau i gyflwyno dirwyon a hysbysiadau, ond mae grwpiau cymunedol yn aml wedi canfod bod y prosesau hyn yn anodd, ac mae'r dirwyon a roddwyd yn gymharol aneffeithiol. A wnaiff y Gweinidog edrych ar y prosesau yr ydym ni'n eu defnyddio i ddiogelu'r gwastadeddau ac a oes unrhyw ffyrdd y gallwn ni geisio arfogi cyrff cyhoeddus â phwerau ac ataliadau cryfach, fel y gellir cymryd camau cadarnach a chyflymach yn erbyn y sefydliadau troseddol hunanol sy'n manteisio ar y dirwedd wych hon?
Thank you very much indeed, Jayne Bryant. That's a very important point, isn't it, because we need to do a number of things. I'm very happy to look again at whether we can strengthen the enforcement abilities of the various agencies around it, but actually, what we really need to do is make it so obvious that this is a site of special scientific interest and nature conservation that it becomes just unthinkable that somebody would behave in such a way. This goes for all the sites across Wales, not just this particular one. So, we need to do more, don't we? We need to make sure that it's actively buzzing with nature—if you'll forgive the pun—and that's a deterrent in itself, really. So, I think there are two strands to that.
I'm very, very happy to look again at what can be done about the very specific issue that you raise. I'd be very grateful, if you have any instances you'd like to bring to my attention specifically, if you do that. But more importantly, this is about making sure that the network of people across the levels—and, of course, the other sites across Wales—come together to make it just socially unacceptable in the biggest way possible for anyone to behave like that. We know that getting hearts and minds on board, getting inclusion on board, is one of the best ways to do that. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jayne Bryant. Mae hwnnw'n bwynt pwysig iawn, onid ydy, oherwydd mae angen i ni wneud nifer o bethau. Rwy'n hapus iawn i edrych eto i weld a allwn ni gryfhau galluoedd gorfodi'r gwahanol asiantaethau yn y maes, ond mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn y mae gwir angen i ni ei wneud yw ei gwneud yn amlwg iawn bod hwn yn safle o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig a chadwraeth natur nes ei bod yn mynd yn beth y tu hwnt i amgyffred y byddai rhywun yn ymddwyn yn y fath fodd. Mae hyn yn wir am yr holl safleoedd ledled Cymru, nid dim ond yr un penodol hwn. Felly, mae angen i ni wneud mwy, onid oes? Mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn llawn o swnian natur—os maddeuwch y chwarae ar eiriau—ac mae hynny'n ataliad ynddo'i hun, mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod dwy elfen i hynny.
Rwy'n hapus iawn i edrych eto ar yr hyn y gellir ei wneud am y mater penodol iawn yr ydych yn ei godi. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn, os oes gennych unrhyw achosion yr hoffech dynnu fy sylw atyn nhw'n benodol, os gwnewch chi hynny. Ond yn bwysicach na hynny, mae a wnelo hyn â sicrhau bod y rhwydwaith o bobl ar draws y gwastadeddau—ac, wrth gwrs, y safleoedd eraill ledled Cymru—yn dod at ei gilydd i'w wneud yn gwbl annerbyniol yn gymdeithasol yn y ffordd fwyaf posibl i unrhyw un ymddwyn felly. Gwyddom mai ennill calonnau a meddyliau i'r achos, a sicrhau cynhwysiant, yw un o'r ffyrdd gorau o wneud hynny. Diolch.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Eitem 5, datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar y cynllun gweithredu drafft ar HIV. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Eluned Morgan.
Item 5, a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services on the draft HIV action plan. I call on the Minister, Eluned Morgan.