Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

28/03/2023

Cynnwys

Contents

1. Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog 1. Questions to the First Minister
2. Datganiad a Chyhoeddiad Busnes 2. Business Statement and Announcement
3. Datganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi: Rhaglen Porthladdoedd Rhydd Cymru 3. Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales
4. Datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: Mynediad at Wasanaethau Gofal Sylfaenol 4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Access to Primary Care Services
5. Datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd: Diweddariad ar y Papur Gwyn ar Dacsis a Cherbydau Hurio Preifat 5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: Update on the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle White Paper
6. Datganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg: Mynd i’r afael ag effaith tlodi ar gyrhaeddiad 6. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
7. Datganiad gan y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a'r Trefnydd: Y Rhaglen Ddiwygiedig ar gyfer Dileu TB 7. Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: The Refreshed TB Eradication Programme
8. Datganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg: Adnodd—Cefnogi’r Cwricwlwm i Gymru 8. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Adnodd—Supporting the Curriculum for Wales
9. Rheoliadau Diodydd Alcoholaidd (Diwygio) (Cymru) 2023 9. The Alcoholic Beverages (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023
10. Cynnig Cydsyniad Deddfwriaethol ar y Bil Tai Cymdeithasol (Rheoleiddio) 10. Legislative Consent Motion on the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill
11. & 12. Cynnig Cydsyniad Deddfwriaethol ar y Bil Caffael: Cynnig 1, a Chynnig Cydsyniad Deddfwriaethol ar y Bil Caffael: Cynnig 2 11. & 12. Legislative Consent Motion on the Procurement Bill: Motion 1, and Legislative Consent Motion on the Procurement Bill: Motion 2
13. Cynnig Cydsyniad Deddfwriaethol ar Fil Cyfraith yr UE a Ddargedwir (Dirymu a Diwygio) 13. Legislative Consent Motion on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill
14. Dadl: Cyfnod Terfynol Bil yr Amgylchedd Hanesyddol (Cymru) 14. Debate: Final Stage of the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill
15. Cyfnod Pleidleisio 15. Voting Time

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.

1. Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog
1. Questions to the First Minister

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jayne Bryant. 

Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item on our agenda this afternoon will be questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Jayne Bryant. 

Rhagnodi Cymdeithasol
Social Prescribing

1. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddefnyddio rhagnodi cymdeithasol yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru? OQ59374

1. Will the Welsh Government provide an update on the use of social prescribing in south-east Wales? OQ59374

Llywydd, I thank Jayne Bryant for the question. There are many examples of social prescribing services in south-east Wales, including the Ffrind i Mi project, which supports those who are lonely or isolated. Recent research demonstrates a clear year-on-year increase in referrals and use of social prescribing in all parts of Wales.

Llywydd, diolch i Jayne Bryant am y cwestiwn. Mae sawl enghraifft o wasanaethau rhagnodi cymdeithasol yn y de-ddwyrain, gan gynnwys prosiect Ffrind i Mi, sy'n cefnogi'r rheiny sy'n unig neu'n ynysig. Mae ymchwil diweddar yn dangos cynnydd clir o flwyddyn i flwyddyn yn nifer yr atgyfeiriadau a'r defnydd o ragnodi cymdeithasol ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. And it's good you've mentioned Ffrind i Mi—a great organisation. I fully welcome the Welsh Government's commitment to developing a national framework for social prescribing. At a time when A&E and GP surgeries are under pressure, it's vital that we grasp every opportunity at preventative care. One example of where this is happening is at the laundry garden at Tredegar House, which is run by the National Trust. Members of Growing Space, a mental health charity, help care for the garden, while members of Woodland Routes to Wellbeing use the garden to gain skills and improve people's mental and physical well-being. And I had the pleasure of inviting you, Prif Weinidog, to see Growing Space back in 2021, so I know you've seen first-hand the excellent work that they do. 

This project in my constituency is an excellent example of using our past and our heritage to improve the well-being of the present. As a country, we pride ourselves on our castles, estates and landscapes; it would be fantastic to see more of them utilised in this way. Prif Weinidog, how are the Welsh Government working with partners like Cadw, Museum Wales, National Resources Wales and the National Trust to promote social prescribing projects, and how are bodies such as these able to work with NHS boards to ensure that front-line staff are aware of the local opportunities so they're best able to refer residents?

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Ac mae'n dda eich bod chi wedi sôn am Ffrind i Mi—sefydliad gwych. Rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn llawn i ddatblygu fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer rhagnodi cymdeithasol. Ar adeg pan fo adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys a meddygfeydd o dan bwysau, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn bachu ar bob cyfle o ran gofal ataliol. Un enghraifft o le mae hyn yn digwydd yw yng ngardd y golchdy yn Nhŷ Tredegar, sy'n cael ei rhedeg gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol. Mae aelodau o Growing Space, elusen iechyd meddwl, yn helpu i ofalu am yr ardd, tra bod aelodau Llwybrau Lles Coetiroedd yn defnyddio'r ardd i feithrin sgiliau a gwella lles meddyliol a chorfforol pobl. Ac fe ges i'r pleser o'ch gwahodd chi, Prif Weinidog, i weld Growing Space nôl yn 2021, felly rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi wedi gweld o lygad y ffynnon y gwaith ardderchog maen nhw'n ei wneud. 

Mae'r prosiect hwn yn fy etholaeth yn enghraifft ardderchog o ddefnyddio ein gorffennol a'n treftadaeth i wella lles y presennol. Fel gwlad, rydym yn ymfalchïo yn ein cestyll, ystadau a thirluniau; byddai'n wych gweld mwy ohonynt yn cael eu defnyddio fel hyn. Prif Weinidog, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydweithio â phartneriaid fel Cadw, Amgueddfa Cymru, Cyfoeth Cenedlaethol Cymru a'r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol i hyrwyddo prosiectau rhagnodi cymdeithasol a sut mae cyrff fel hyn yn gallu gweithio gyda byrddau'r GIG i sicrhau bod staff rheng flaen yn ymwybodol o'r cyfleoedd lleol fel eu bod yn gallu cyfeirio trigolion yn y ffordd orau?

Well, Llywydd, I thank Jayne Bryant for that. And I've been fortunate enough to have a number of opportunities to visit Newport and to see the sorts of projects to which Jayne Bryant referred. In fact, I was with John Griffiths only on Saturday at the Maindee Triangle, where the Ffrind i Mi project operates, and not only was I lucky enough to be at Tredegar House for the Growing Space project, but, of course, the Member for Newport West invited me to the Road to Nature project, another example of where social prescribing—those non-clinical, community-based projects—connects people with nature in a way that we know to be so good for their own physical and mental health. 

Llywydd, around 20 per cent of all GP consultations are with people who primarily have a social rather than a medical need for help. And what social prescribing does is it allows those people to be put in touch with that vast range of different services—befriending, book clubs, choirs, running clubs, community gardens, the national exercise and referral scheme. The list goes on and on of things that people can be put in touch with, and, if they're able to take up those opportunities, then it makes that long-term difference. What the Welsh Government seeks to do is to create a national framework where we have an agreed model, a common understanding, and a shared language that promotes social prescribing even further. There's been a consultation on all of that, and the plan is to publish the final framework, and an action plan to support it, later this summer. 

Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Jayne Bryant am hynna. Ac mi fues i'n ddigon ffodus i gael nifer o gyfleoedd i ymweld â Chasnewydd ac i weld y mathau o brosiectau y cyfeiriodd Jayne Bryant atyn nhw. A dweud y gwir, roeddwn i gyda John Griffiths ddydd Sadwrn yn Nhriongl Maendy, lle mae prosiect Ffrind i Mi yn gweithredu, ac nid yn unig yr oeddwn i'n ddigon ffodus i fod yn Nhŷ Tredegar ar gyfer prosiect Growing Space, ond, wrth gwrs, gwahoddodd yr Aelod dros Orllewin Casnewydd fi i brosiect Road to Nature, enghraifft arall lle mae rhagnodi cymdeithasol—y rhai nad ydynt yn glinigol, prosiectau yn y gymuned—yn cysylltu pobl â byd natur mewn ffordd yr ydym yn gwybod eu bod mor dda i'w hiechyd corfforol a meddyliol eu hunain. 

Llywydd, mae tua 20 y cant o'r holl ymgynghoriadau â meddygon teulu yn ymwneud â phobl sydd ag angen cymdeithasol yn bennaf yn hytrach nag angen meddygol am gymorth. A'r hyn y mae rhagnodi cymdeithasol yn ei wneud yw ei fod yn rhoi'r bobl hynny mewn cysylltiad â'r ystod eang honno o wahanol wasanaethau—cyfeillio, clybiau llyfrau, corau, clybiau rhedeg, gerddi cymunedol, y cynllun ymarfer corff a chyfeirio cenedlaethol. Mae'r rhestr yn mynd ymlaen ac ymlaen o bethau y gall pobl ddod i gysylltiad â nhw, ac, os ydyn nhw'n gallu manteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny, yna mae'n gwneud y gwahaniaeth tymor hir hwnnw. Yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio'i wneud yw creu fframwaith cenedlaethol lle mae gennym fodel y cytunir arno, dealltwriaeth gyffredin, ac iaith gyffredin sy'n hyrwyddo rhagnodi cymdeithasol hyd yn oed ymhellach.  Mae ymgynghoriad wedi bod ar hynny i gyd, a'r bwriad yw cyhoeddi'r fframwaith terfynol, a chynllun gweithredu i'w gefnogi, yn ddiweddarach yr haf hwn. 

Firstly, I'd like to thank my colleague for asking this important question. Now, I wholeheartedly agree with the need for social prescribing, as the service will undoubtedly help individuals whilst also reducing the pressure on GPs. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Caerphilly-based company, Signum Health, which uses artificial intelligence and cloud-based technology to deliver remote healthcare and social prescribing within harder-to-reach communities. This Welsh company has already used its technology to cut waiting times in England, managing to clear a dermatology backlog in Swindon in just six months. Most importantly, patients, GPs, pharmacies and other alternative health services can connect directly and share information, meaning patients can connect with local community providers without a GP appointment. Given that we are looking to reduce waiting lists, First Minister, and reduce pressure on primary care services, as well as increase access to important services such as social prescribing, what conversations has the Welsh Government had with companies such as Signum Health to assist in this area, First Minister? Thank you. 

Yn gyntaf, hoffwn ddiolch i fy nghyd-Aelod am ofyn y cwestiwn pwysig hwn. Nawr, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r angen am ragnodi cymdeithasol, gan y bydd y gwasanaeth yn sicr o helpu unigolion tra bydd hefyd yn lleihau'r pwysau ar feddygon teulu. Yn ddiweddar, cefais y pleser o gyfarfod â'r cwmni o Gaerffili, Signum Health, sy'n defnyddio deallusrwydd artiffisial a thechnoleg gwmwl i ddarparu gofal iechyd o bell a rhagnodi cymdeithasol o fewn cymunedau anoddach eu cyrraedd. Mae'r cwmni hwn o Gymru eisoes wedi defnyddio ei dechnoleg i leihau amseroedd aros yn Lloegr, gan lwyddo i glirio ôl-groniad dermatoleg yn Swindon mewn dim ond chwe mis. Yn bwysicaf oll, mae cleifion, meddygon teulu, fferyllfeydd a gwasanaethau iechyd amgen eraill yn gallu cysylltu'n uniongyrchol a rhannu gwybodaeth, sy'n golygu bod cleifion yn gallu cysylltu â darparwyr cymunedol lleol heb apwyntiad meddyg teulu. O ystyried ein bod ni'n ceisio lleihau rhestrau aros, Prif Weinidog, a lleihau'r pwysau ar wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol, yn ogystal â chynyddu mynediad at wasanaethau pwysig fel rhagnodi cymdeithasol, pa sgyrsiau mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu cael gyda chwmnïau fel Signum Health i gynorthwyo yn y maes hwn, Prif Weinidog? Diolch. 

Well, I thank Natasha Asghar, Llywydd, because she makes an important point, and it's one that's been made a number of times on the floor of the Senedd, that the future of health services has to be based on increased use of those contemporary opportunities that developments in technology and artificial intelligence bring us. We learnt a great deal of this during the COVID pandemic, and, as you know, the Welsh Government has an ambition that, in future, many more consultations will take place remotely, allowing people to avoid difficult journeys, and to increase efficiency in the system. I think the practical examples, through a Welsh company, that the Member has raised this afternoon sound very consistent with that general approach. And I know that the Minister has a very direct interest in making sure that we maximise those opportunities, so that the health service is able to provide in a way that takes advantage of opportunities that weren't there in the past but definitely need to be part of the future here in Wales.

Wel, diolch i Natasha Asghar, Llywydd, oherwydd, mae hi'n gwneud pwynt pwysig, ac mae'n un sydd wedi'i wneud sawl gwaith ar lawr y Senedd, sef bod yn rhaid i ddyfodol gwasanaethau iechyd fod yn seiliedig ar ddefnydd uwch o'r cyfleoedd cyfoes hynny y mae datblygiadau ym maes technoleg a deallusrwydd artiffisial yn eu rhoi i ni. Dysgom lawer iawn am hyn yn ystod pandemig COVID, ac, fel y gwyddoch chi, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru uchelgais y bydd llawer mwy o ymgynghoriadau, yn y dyfodol, yn digwydd o bell, gan ganiatáu i bobl osgoi teithiau anodd, ac i gynyddu effeithlonrwydd yn y system. Rwy'n credu bod yr enghreifftiau ymarferol, trwy gwmni yng Nghymru, y mae'r Aelod wedi'i codi'r prynhawn yma yn swnio'n gyson iawn â'r dull cyffredinol hwnnw. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod gan y Gweinidog ddiddordeb uniongyrchol iawn mewn sicrhau ein bod yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd hynny, fel bod y gwasanaeth iechyd yn gallu darparu mewn ffordd sy'n manteisio ar gyfleoedd nad oeddent yno yn y gorffennol y mae angen iddyn nhw fod yn rhan o'r dyfodol yma yng Nghymru yn bendant.

13:35
Ymchwiliad COVID-19 y DU
UK COVID-19 Inquiry

2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ymgysylltiad Llywodraeth Cymru ag ymchwiliad COVID-19 y DU? OQ59377

2. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's engagement with the UK COVID-19 inquiry? OQ59377

Diolch i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiwn. Llywydd, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru statws cyfranogwr craidd ym modiwlau 1, 2, 2B a modiwl 3 o’r ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i COVID-19. Drwy ein statws cyfreithiol fel darparwyr deunyddiau, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflenwi llawer iawn o dystiolaeth fel y gall yr ymchwiliad graffu’n briodol ar y camau a gafodd eu cymryd yng Nghymru.

I thank Heledd Fychan for the question. Llywydd, the Welsh Government has been granted core participant status in modules 1, 2, 2B and module 3 of the public inquiry into COVID-19. Through our legal status as a material provider, the Welsh Government is supplying a significant volume of evidence to the inquiry to enable it to properly scrutinise action taken in Wales.

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Following last week's visit to the Senedd by COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, a number of constituents from South Wales Central who lost loved ones to COVID-19 have contacted me regarding the nosocomial investigation. I understand that the interim report is imminent, but many bereaved families are concerned, as they still haven't heard anything at all in relation to their loved ones, whilst others have received letters telling them that COVID wasn't the cause of death, despite it being on the death certificate. Their understanding is that only a coroner would be able to change the cause of death, yet families are being told this without being presented with any evidence to support the change. So, rather than receive answers about how their relative contracted COVID-19 in hospital, they are now having to fight, once more, for the cause of death to be acknowledged. Can you please confirm what the purpose of these investigations is: learn lessons and provide answers to families, or is it an exercise to try and reduce the official number of COVID deaths in Wales? Surely, this once again illustrates the need for a Wales-specific COVID inquiry.

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Yn dilyn ymweliad â'r Senedd yr wythnos diwethaf gan COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, mae nifer o etholwyr o Ganol De Cymru a gollodd anwyliaid i COVID-19 wedi cysylltu â mi ynglŷn â'r ymchwiliad nosocomiaidd. Rwy'n deall bod yr adroddiad interim ar fin digwydd, ond mae llawer o deuluoedd mewn profedigaeth yn bryderus, gan nad ydyn nhw wedi clywed unrhyw beth o gwbl mewn cysylltiad â'u hanwyliaid o hyd, tra bod eraill wedi cael llythyrau yn dweud wrthyn nhw nad COVID oedd achos y farwolaeth, er ei fod ar y dystysgrif marwolaeth. Eu dealltwriaeth yw mai dim ond crwner fyddai'n gallu newid achos marwolaeth, ond eto mae teuluoedd yn cael gwybod hyn heb gael unrhyw dystiolaeth i gefnogi'r newid. Felly, yn hytrach na derbyn atebion ynghylch sut y gwnaeth eu perthynas ddal COVID-19 yn yr ysbyty, maen nhw nawr yn gorfod ymladd, unwaith yn rhagor, er mwyn cydnabod achos y farwolaeth. A allwch gadarnhau beth yw diben yr ymchwiliadau hyn: dysgu gwersi a rhoi atebion i deuluoedd, neu a yw'n ymarferiad i geisio lleihau nifer swyddogol y marwolaethau COVID yng Nghymru? Siawns nad yw hyn unwaith eto yn dangos yr angen am ymchwiliad COVID sy'n benodol i Gymru.

Wel, Llywydd, the Member's allegation is both offensive and absurd. Of course the efforts that are being made are not some conspiratorial effort to change the number of people who died from COVID here in Wales. What an utterly, utterly absurd allegation to make here on the floor of the Senedd. The efforts that are being made are led by clinicians—are they part of your conspiracy as well? The purpose of the investment that the Welsh Government has made, the efforts that those clinicians are making, are to provide for family members an understanding of the way in which their family members were treated and what happened to them while they were in the care of the health service. By the end of February, 5,765 cases had been reviewed, with a further 2,301 in progress; there are still a further 10,320 cases to be investigated. Now, in line with everything that was said here on the floor of the Senedd, a national report of learning from this programme is due to be published by the end of this month, and that will lead in time to a comprehensive national learning report, to be published in 2024, at the end of the programme. Individual organisations will also publish their own reports, in line with the reporting requirements that the Minister set out for them when the additional funding to support them in this work was found. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Llywydd, meets with COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice; he met with them last on 16 March. Where there are concerns about the way the system is working, there are ways in which that can legitimately be raised, and those concerns, which are not founded on the sorts of allegations that the Member made, can be properly investigated, and if there are things that need to be improved, then, of course, we will want to see that happen. 

Wel, Llywydd, mae honiad yr Aelod yn sarhaus ac yn hurt. Wrth gwrs nid rhyw ymdrech gynllwyngar ydi'r ymdrechion sy'n cael eu gwneud i newid nifer y bobl fu farw o COVID yma yng Nghymru. Am honiad hollol, hollol hurt i'w wneud yma ar lawr y Senedd. Mae'r ymdrechion sy'n cael eu gwneud yn cael eu harwain gan glinigwyr—ydyn nhw'n rhan o'ch cynllwyn hefyd? Pwrpas y buddsoddiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud, yr ymdrechion y mae'r clinigwyr hynny yn ei wneud, yw darparu dealltwriaeth i aelodau o'r teulu o'r ffordd y cafodd aelodau eu teuluoedd eu trin a'r hyn a ddigwyddodd iddyn nhw tra oedden nhw yng ngofal y gwasanaeth iechyd. Erbyn diwedd Chwefror, roedd 5,765 o achosion wedi'u hadolygu, a 2,301 o rai eraill ar y gweill; mae 10,320 o achosion eraill i'w hymchwilio o hyd. Bellach, yn unol â phopeth a ddywedwyd yma ar lawr y Senedd, mae disgwyl i adroddiad cenedlaethol ar ddysgu o'r rhaglen hon gael ei gyhoeddi erbyn diwedd y mis hwn, a bydd hynny'n arwain mewn pryd at adroddiad dysgu cenedlaethol cynhwysfawr, a gyhoeddir yn 2024, ar ddiwedd y rhaglen. Bydd sefydliadau unigol hefyd yn cyhoeddi eu hadroddiadau eu hunain, yn unol â'r gofynion adrodd a nododd y Gweinidog ar eu cyfer pan ddaethpwyd o hyd i'r cyllid ychwanegol i'w cefnogi yn y gwaith hwn. Mae Dirprwy Brif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru, Llywydd, yn cwrdd â COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice; cyfarfu â nhw ddiwethaf ar 16 Mawrth. Pan geir bryderon am y ffordd y mae'r system yn gweithio, mae yna ffyrdd y gellir codi hynny'n gyfreithlon, a gall y pryderon hynny, nad ydynt wedi eu sylfaenu ar y mathau o honiadau a wnaeth yr Aelod, gael eu hymchwilio'n iawn, ac os oes pethau y mae angen eu gwella, yna, wrth gwrs, byddwn eisiau gweld hynny'n digwydd. 

13:40

As the First Minister will be aware, COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru have submitted considerable concerns to the UK COVID-19 inquiry abut the capability of the Welsh NHS during the pandemic. The list is quite substantial, and one particular point I would like to pick up is their concern regarding the lack of long-term investment in IT infrastructure and digitisation of NHS Wales. We know that NHS Wales is lagging considerably behind its English counterpart on its IT infrastructure, and this ultimately has an impact in many different ways. For example, we have particular issues in interoperability of systems between primary and secondary care and between health systems and the police, which is vital in terms of helping to address mental health issues. With this in mind, First Minister, does this Government have any plans to now ring-fence resources for digital transformation to enable upgraded and new IT systems? And do you believe that we should have a national minimum standard for IT equipment in NHS Wales? Thank you.

Fel y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ymwybodol, mae COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru wedi cyflwyno cryn bryderon i ymchwiliad COVID-19 y DU ynghylch gallu GIG Cymru yn ystod y pandemig. Mae'r rhestr yn eithaf sylweddol, ac un pwynt penodol yr hoffwn ei godi yw eu pryder ynghylch diffyg buddsoddiad hirdymor yn seilwaith TG a digideiddio GIG Cymru. Rydym yn gwybod bod GIG Cymru ar ei hôl hi'n sylweddol o'i gymharu â'r gwasanaeth cyfatebol yn Lloegr o ran ei seilwaith TG, ac yn y pen draw mae hyn yn cael effaith mewn sawl ffordd wahanol. Er enghraifft, mae gennym broblemau penodol o ran y gallu i ryngweithredu systemau rhwng gofal sylfaenol ac eilaidd a rhwng systemau iechyd a'r heddlu, sy'n hanfodol o ran helpu i fynd i'r afael â materion iechyd meddwl. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Prif Weinidog, a oes gan y Llywodraeth hon unrhyw gynlluniau nawr i neilltuo adnoddau ar gyfer trawsnewid digidol er mwyn cael systemau TG wedi'u huwchraddio a rhai newydd? Ac ydych chi'n credu y dylem ni fod â safon ofynnol genedlaethol ar gyfer offer TG yn GIG Cymru? Diolch.

Well, Llywydd, I certainly agree about the importance of digital investment in the health service, and, here in Wales, we have a national digital service, there for many years. I don't accept what the Member said in one of his throwaway remarks about Wales 'lagging behind'. In fact, we have shown the way in Wales as to how a genuinely national service can tackle some of the very real issues there are in other parts of the United Kingdom, where the service has been atomised, where there is no national approach and where there are real vulnerabilities as a result. I wish we had more money to invest in this area, Llywydd, of course I do, but, as Joel James will know, in the second year of the spring statement period, we have £1 million for every capital need that we have in Wales. We invest, I think, significantly and in a sustained way in making sure that those digital opportunities that Natasha Asghar mentioned are made available here in Wales. If we had more opportunities, through a proper capital settlement, then we would be able to do more in that field as in many others. 

Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n sicr yn cytuno ynghylch pwysigrwydd buddsoddi digidol yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, ac, yma yng Nghymru, mae gennym wasanaeth digidol cenedlaethol, yno ers blynyddoedd lawer. Dydw i ddim yn derbyn yr hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod yn un o'i sylwadau ffwrdd-â-hi sef bod Cymru 'ar ei hôl hi'. Mewn gwirionedd, rydym wedi dangos y ffordd yng Nghymru o ran sut y gall gwasanaeth cenedlaethol go iawn fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion real iawn sydd mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig, lle mae'r gwasanaeth wedi cael ei atomeiddio, lle nad oes dull cenedlaethol a lle ceir gwendidau gwirioneddol o ganlyniad. Hoffwn i pe byddai gennym fwy o arian i'w fuddsoddi yn y maes hwn, Llywydd, wrth gwrs yr hoffwn i, ond, fel y bydd Joel James yn gwybod, yn ail flwyddyn cyfnod datganiad y gwanwyn, mae gennym £1 miliwn ar gyfer pob angen cyfalaf sydd gennym yng Nghymru. Rydym yn buddsoddi, rwy'n credu, yn sylweddol ac mewn ffordd barhaus wrth sicrhau bod y cyfleoedd digidol hynny y soniodd Natasha Asghar amdanyn nhw ar gael yma yng Nghymru. Pe bai gennym fwy o gyfleoedd, trwy setliad cyfalaf priodol, yna byddem yn gallu gwneud mwy yn y maes hwnnw fel mewn llawer o rai eraill. 

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Arweinwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies. 

Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies. 

Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, last week, the former chairman of the Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board wrote an opinion piece for the press. He's also written to you, to which he says he hasn't had a response; he might have, by the time I'm asking you this question, had that response. But some of the assertions within that opinion piece do deserve a public answer from you, as leader of the Welsh Government, notably the concerns that were raised by him and the board members with the health Minister and the director general of the NHS here in Wales back in September, when he raised long-standing concerns and issues that simply went unaddressed—his words, not mine. Why did the Welsh Government not respond to these concerns and support the board at the time? 

Diolch. Yr wythnos diwethaf, ysgrifennodd cyn-gadeirydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ddatganiad o'i farn i'r wasg. Mae hefyd wedi ysgrifennu atoch chi, ac mae'n dweud nad yw wedi cael ymateb; efallai y bydd wedi cael yr ateb hwnnw erbyn i mi ofyn y cwestiwn hwn i chi. Ond mae rhai o'r honiadau o fewn y datganiad hwnnw yn haeddu ateb cyhoeddus gennych chi, fel arweinydd Llywodraeth Cymru, yn arbennig y pryderon a godwyd ganddo ef ac aelodau'r bwrdd gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd a chyfarwyddwr cyffredinol y GIG yma yng Nghymru nôl ym mis Medi, pan gododd bryderon a materion hirsefydlog a oedd, yn syml, heb eu datrys—ei eiriau ef, nid fy ngeiriau i. Pam na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ymateb i'r pryderon hyn a chefnogi'r bwrdd ar y pryd? 

Well, Llywydd, I don't accept at all that those things went unnoticed, because the Minister and officials were in very regular dialogue with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, including the board. The board has responsibilities. You don't discharge your responsibilities simply by telling somebody else that you've got a problem. You have an obligation, as a board, to address the issues that are within your legal area of responsibilities. So, while there was undoubtedly a dialogue, and while the Minister and officials here were always responding to concerns that were raised with the Welsh Government, to simply say, 'We told the Welsh Government about that', as though that is the full extent of your responsibility, I simply don't think that that is the way the system is ever intended to operate. 

Wel, Llywydd, dydw i ddim yn derbyn o gwbl na chafodd y pethau hynny sylw, oherwydd roedd y Gweinidog a'r swyddogion yn cael trafodaethau rheolaidd iawn â Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, gan gynnwys y bwrdd. Mae gan y bwrdd gyfrifoldebau. Dydych chi ddim yn cyflawni eich cyfrifoldebau dim ond drwy ddweud wrth rywun arall bod gennych chi broblem. Mae gennych rwymedigaeth, fel bwrdd, i fynd i'r afael â'r materion sydd o fewn eich maes cyfreithiol o gyfrifoldebau. Felly, er bod trafod heb os, ac er bod y Gweinidog a'r swyddogion yma bob amser yn ymateb i bryderon a godwyd gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, mae dweud yn syml, 'Dywedom wrth Lywodraeth Cymru am hynny', fel pe bai dyna oedd pendraw eich cyfrifoldeb, nid wyf yn credu mai dyna'r ffordd y bwriadwyd i'r system weithredu erioed. 

I don't believe that was the point that the chairman was making in his opinion piece. Bear in mind, this was a chairman who was a former chief constable, had served the public for 30 years plus, and then chose to do another public service role by being chair of the health board that covers the whole of north Wales. And he made, in his column in the press last week, that clear categorisation that he was not getting the support from the Welsh Government. He raised this as chair with the Welsh Government, which is the sponsoring body of any health board, because they send the cash and they set the priorities for the health board. I take it that you say that the former chair is not speaking the truth when he says that his concerns and those of the board were not responded to back in September, because that is quite an assertion from you, First Minister, if you believe that the former chair is seeking to mislead public opinion by saying that the Welsh Government stood back and didn't support the board when those concerns and long-standing issues were raised with the Minister and the director general as well.

Dydw i ddim yn credu mai dyna'r pwynt yr oedd y cadeirydd yn ei wneud yn ei ddatganiad o'i farn. Gan gofio, roedd hwn yn gadeirydd a oedd yn gyn-brif gwnstabl, wedi gwasanaethu'r cyhoedd am 30 mlynedd a mwy, ac yna dewisodd swyddogaeth gwasanaeth cyhoeddus arall drwy fod yn gadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd sy'n cwmpasu'r gogledd yn gyfan. Ac fe wnaeth, yn ei golofn yn y wasg yr wythnos diwethaf, y categoreiddio clir hwnnw nad oedd yn cael y gefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Cododd hyn fel cadeirydd gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, sef corff noddi unrhyw fwrdd iechyd, oherwydd eu bod yn anfon yr arian ac yn gosod blaenoriaethau'r bwrdd iechyd. Rwy'n cymryd eich bod yn dweud nad yw'r cyn-gadeirydd yn siarad y gwir pan ddywed nad ymatebwyd i'w bryderon ef na rhai'r bwrdd yn ôl ym mis Medi, oherwydd mae hynny'n dipyn o haeriad gennych chi, Prif Weinidog, os ydych yn credu fod y cyn-gadeirydd yn ceisio camarwain barn y cyhoedd trwy ddweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefyll yn ôl ac nad oedden nhw'n cefnogi'r bwrdd pan godwyd y pryderon hynny a'r problemau hirsefydlog gyda'r Gweinidog a'r cyfarwyddwr cyffredinol hefyd.

13:45

Well, Llywydd, I think the leader of the opposition must allow me to answer his questions, rather than to tell me in his question what I have said. It's my answers that lie on the record, rather than his interpretation of them. First of all, let me say that I do share what the leader of the opposition said about the many years of distinguished public service that the former chair of the board had rendered in north Wales, and I include in that the service that he gave as chair of the board.

The assessment of the Minister and the Welsh Government was that the reports that we had received from independent bodies of the dysfunctional nature of the board could not simply be allowed to lie there without action being taken. That is the culmination of a long dialogue between the board and the Welsh Government, a dialogue in which the Welsh Government took action time after time in order to support the board: significant additional investment above and beyond what its population share would have justified through the normal formula, intervention through national programmes, giving advice, attempting to support the board in the efforts it was making to improve services. Nothing in what the Minister decided should be read as indicating that the board and its chair were not making efforts to put things right. It is simply that the conclusion of independent oversight was that those efforts were not succeeding and that it would have been impossible to put the board as currently, or as then constituted, in a position where it could successfully address those challenges. That is why action was taken. It was necessary action and it will lead, I believe, to a better platform for improvement in the future. 

Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i arweinydd yr wrthblaid ganiatáu i mi ateb ei gwestiynau, yn hytrach na dweud wrthyf yn ei gwestiwn beth rwyf wedi'i ddweud. Fy atebion i sydd ar y cofnod, yn hytrach na'i ddehongliad ef ohonyn nhw. Yn gyntaf oll, gadewch i mi ddweud fy mod yn rhannu'r hyn a ddywedodd arweinydd yr wrthblaid am y blynyddoedd lawer o wasanaeth cyhoeddus nodedig yr oedd cyn-gadeirydd y bwrdd wedi'u cyflawni yn y gogledd, ac rwy'n cynnwys y gwasanaeth a roddodd fel cadeirydd y bwrdd.

Asesiad y Gweinidog a Llywodraeth Cymru oedd nad oedd yr adroddiadau yr oeddem wedi eu cael gan gyrff annibynnol ynghylch natur gamweithredol y bwrdd yn gallu gorwedd yno heb i gamau gweithredu gael eu cymryd. Dyna benllanw deialog hir rhwng y bwrdd a Llywodraeth Cymru, deialog pan fu i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu dro ar ôl tro er mwyn cefnogi'r bwrdd: buddsoddiad ychwanegol sylweddol y tu hwnt i'r hyn fyddai ei chyfran o'r boblogaeth wedi'i gyfiawnhau drwy'r fformiwla arferol, ymyrraeth trwy raglenni cenedlaethol, gan roi cyngor, ceisio cefnogi'r bwrdd yn yr ymdrechion yr oedd yn eu gwneud i wella gwasanaethau. Ni ddylid ystyried dim yn yr hyn a benderfynodd y Gweinidog fel awgrym nad oedd y bwrdd a'i gadeirydd yn gwneud ymdrechion i gywiro pethau. Yn syml, casgliad trosolwg annibynnol oedd nad oedd yr ymdrechion hynny'n llwyddo ac y byddai wedi bod yn amhosib rhoi'r bwrdd yn ei ffurf bresennol neu yn ei ffurf bryd hynny, mewn sefyllfa lle gallai fynd i'r afael â'r heriau hynny yn llwyddiannus. Dyna pam y cymerwyd camau. Roedd yn angenrheidiol gweithredu a bydd yn arwain, rwy'n credu, at lwyfan gwell ar gyfer gwella yn y dyfodol. 

First Minister, my question was relatively straightforward: why didn't the Welsh Government offer the support when it was requested back last September? I've used two of my three questions and I don't feel that we've advanced any further forward in trying to find out why the Minister or the director general did not respond to that direct—and these are the words of the chairman—that direct escalation of matters to the Welsh Government. That stands on the record, those are his comments, not my comments. I've relayed them to you, and we don't seem to have made much progress towards finding an explanation for why Welsh Government did not respond to those comments. But, you've identified the audit report as being the flashpoint for intervention by the Welsh Government and making sure that the board changed and the chairman was removed. In the same article, the chairman highlighted that there were, in his words, clandestine moves to recruit replacement board members to form a new board at least four weeks prior to the publication of the audit report. So, if this clandestine recruitment was going on, can you today tell us when the recruitment process began to find new board members, even though the existing board was in place? And what would that do to give confidence that the Government was working with the then board to rectify matters in north Wales?

Roedd fy nghwestiwn i, yn gymharol syml: pam na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gynnig y gefnogaeth pan ofynnwyd amdano nôl ym mis Medi diwethaf? Rydw i wedi defnyddio dau o fy nhri chwestiwn ac nid wyf yn teimlo ein bod ni wedi symud ymlaen wrth geisio darganfod pam na wnaeth y Gweinidog na'r cyfarwyddwr cyffredinol ymateb i hwnnw'n uniongyrchol—a dyma eiriau'r cadeirydd—yr uwchgyfeirio hwnnw o faterion yn uniongyrchol at Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hynny ar y cofnod, dyna'i sylwadau, nid fy sylwadau i. Rydw i wedi eu trosglwyddo i chi, ac nid yw'n ymddangos ein bod wedi gwneud llawer o gynnydd o ran dod o hyd i esboniad pam na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ymateb i'r sylwadau hynny. Ond, rydych chi wedi nodi mai'r adroddiad archwilio oedd y fflachbwynt ar gyfer ymyrraeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru gan sicrhau bod y bwrdd yn newid ac yna cael gwared â'r cadeirydd. Yn yr un erthygl, amlygodd y cadeirydd fod yna, yn ei eiriau ei hun, symudiadau dirgel i recriwtio aelodau'r bwrdd newydd i ffurfio bwrdd newydd o leiaf bedair wythnos cyn cyhoeddi'r adroddiad archwilio. Felly, os oedd y recriwtio dirgel hwn yn digwydd, a allwch chi heddiw ddweud wrthym pryd ddechreuodd y broses recriwtio ddod o hyd i aelodau newydd y bwrdd, er bod y bwrdd presennol yn dal yn ei le? A beth fyddai hynny'n ei wneud i greu hyder bod y Llywodraeth yn gweithio gyda'r bwrdd ar y pryd i gywiro materion yn y gogledd?

Well, Llywydd, let me return to the leader of the opposition's first questions, because he asked what support the Welsh Government provided to the board. So, let me put them on the record again. The Welsh Government supported the board through financial assistance—£82 million over and above what the board would otherwise have had available to it. Secondly, the Welsh Government corralled a set of professional advice, available to the board through our national programmes, to make sure that the efforts that were being made could draw on expertise from beyond the board itself.

Thirdly, there was a pattern of continuous monitoring of the board. That's the nature of the relationship between the Welsh Government and the board, and senior civil servants here were involved in that continuous dialogue.

Fourthly, the delivery unit—the arm of the Welsh Government that assists boards across Wales in addressing those difficult issues that boards face. The resources of the delivery unit were made available to the board as well. Any idea that the Welsh Government simply stood back and allowed the board to flounder would not be borne out by that continuous set of engagements [Interruption.] Well, I'm explaining to the leader of the opposition why I don't accept that the board was simply left to its own devices. It absolutely and clearly was not.

As to the responsible actions that the Minister took in assessing her options, given the advice that had come from those independent sources, when the Minister was considering whether or not to remove some members of the board, it would have been utterly irresponsible to have done that without giving some thought to what would follow. Imagine what the leader of the opposition would be saying to me today if the Minister had removed the board and had no plan at all for how those legal responsibilities were to be fulfilled. In planning ahead and assessing the options available to the Welsh Government, the Minister absolutely properly asked the question, 'If the current incumbents are not to be there, do we have credible other individuals able to fulfil those legal responsibilities?' It would have been a dereliction of her duty had she not done that.

Wel, Llywydd, gadewch i mi ddychwelyd at gwestiynau cyntaf arweinydd yr wrthblaid, oherwydd gofynnodd pa gefnogaeth yr oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i'r bwrdd. Felly, gadewch i mi gofnodi eto. Cefnogodd Llywodraeth Cymru y bwrdd drwy gymorth ariannol—£82 miliwn yn fwy na'r hyn a fyddai ar gael i'r bwrdd fel arall. Yn ail, fe wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ategu cyfres o gyngor proffesiynol, oedd ar gael i'r bwrdd drwy ein rhaglenni cenedlaethol, i wneud yn siŵr y gallai'r ymdrechion a oedd yn cael eu gwneud dynnu ar arbenigedd o'r tu hwnt i'r bwrdd ei hun.

Yn drydydd, roedd patrwm o fonitro'r bwrdd yn barhaus. Dyna natur y berthynas rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r bwrdd, ac roedd uwch weision sifil yma'n ymwneud â'r ddeialog barhaus honno.

Yn bedwerydd, yr uned gyflawni—cangen Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n cynorthwyo byrddau ledled Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r materion anodd hynny sy'n wynebu byrddau. Roedd adnoddau'r uned gyflawni ar gael i'r bwrdd hefyd. Ni fyddai unrhyw awgrymiadau bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefyll yn ôl a chaniatáu i'r bwrdd golli trywydd yn cael eu cadarnhau gan y gyfres barhaus honno o ymgysylltiadau [Torri ar draws.] Wel, rwy'n egluro i arweinydd yr wrthblaid pam nad ydw i'n derbyn y gadawyd y bwrdd i wneud fel y mynnai. Doedd hynny ddim yn wir o gwbl yn amlwg.

O ran y camau cyfrifol a gymerodd y Gweinidog wrth asesu ei hopsiynau, o ystyried y cyngor a oedd wedi dod o'r ffynonellau annibynnol hynny, pan oedd y Gweinidog yn ystyried a ddylid cael gwared ar rai aelodau o'r bwrdd ai peidio, byddai wedi bod yn gwbl anghyfrifol i wneud hynny heb roi rhywfaint o ystyriaeth i'r hyn fyddai'n dilyn. Dychmygwch beth fyddai arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn ei ddweud wrthyf i heddiw pe bai'r Gweinidog wedi dileu'r bwrdd heb gynllun o gwbl ar gyfer sut oedd y cyfrifoldebau cyfreithiol hynny i'w cyflawni. Wrth gynllunio ymlaen llaw ac asesu'r opsiynau a oedd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru, fe ofynnodd y Gweinidog y cwestiwn yn hollol gywir, 'Os nad yw'r swyddogion presennol i fod yno, a oes gennym unigolion eraill credadwy sy'n gallu cyflawni'r cyfrifoldebau cyfreithiol hynny?' Byddai wedi bod yn esgeulustod ar ei rhan pe na bai wedi gwneud hynny.

13:50

Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.

Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.

Diolch, Llywydd. On Thursday, Ofwat is due to announce its draft decision on whether the plan to extract up to 180 million litres of water a day from Llyn Efyrnwy in Powys and transfer it to the south-east of England is to proceed to the next stage of its rapid investment programme. Do you think it's right, First Minister, that a water regulator answerable to the UK Secretary of State should be making decisions on what should happen to water in Wales? Do you think that Thames Water, which loses 635 million litres a day through leakages, should be able to make up for its own failings by accessing our own water resources? And do you think it's right that Thames Water should be planning to pay just over £5 million for the use of this precious resource when we in Wales pay among the highest water bills anywhere in the UK?

Diolch, Llywydd. Ddydd Iau, mae disgwyl i Ofwat gyhoeddi ei benderfyniad drafft ynghylch a yw'r cynllun i dynnu hyd at 180 miliwn litr o ddŵr y dydd o Lyn Efyrnwy ym Mhowys a'i drosglwyddo i dde-ddwyrain Lloegr yn mynd ymlaen i gam nesaf ei raglen fuddsoddi gyflym. Ydych chi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n iawn, Prif Weinidog, y dylai rheoleiddiwr dŵr sy'n atebol i Ysgrifennydd Gwladol y DU fod yn gwneud penderfyniadau ynghylch beth ddylai ddigwydd i ddŵr yng Nghymru? Ydych chi'n meddwl y dylai Thames Water, sy'n colli 635 miliwn litr y dydd trwy ollyngiadau, allu gwneud yn iawn am ei fethiannau ei hun trwy gael mynediad at ein hadnoddau dŵr ni ein hunain? Ac ydych chi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n iawn fod Thames Water yn bwriadu talu ychydig dros £5 miliwn am ddefnyddio'r adnodd gwerthfawr hwn pan fyddwn ni yng Nghymru yn talu ymhlith y biliau dŵr uchaf yn unrhyw le yn y DU?

Well, Llywydd, I believe that the position may have moved ahead a little today. I am relying simply on a newspaper report of the end of this morning. The Guardian is reporting that the Environment Agency has turned down the Thames Water plan and instructed it to return to the drawing board and to come forward with a better plan, including the plan to extract water from Wales via the River Severn. The Guardian reports that the Environment Agency has told Thames Water that it is not convinced that this is a viable solution and that it will not be prepared to endorse the plan that Thames Water has advanced so far. And it's for the many reasons that the leader of Plaid Cymru set out in his question. Thames Water, instead of producing a plan that relied on remarkable ideas, it seemed to me, extracting water from the Thames itself and replacing it with sewage-polluted water, and taking water from Lake Vyrnwy, that it should do two things. First of all, it should focus on reducing demand for water. We have, in the United Kingdom, some of the highest daily usages of water per head of the population of anywhere. We use on average 141 litres per day. In Belgium, a country just across the channel, the average is 95 litres a day. So, the first thing that Thames Water should be doing is to come forward with credible plans to reduce the use of water, a precious resource that we don't regard preciously enough. And then, as the Environment Agency is being reported as saying, it needs to fix the leaks in its own system—leaks which, if they were to be fixed, would almost match entirely its plan for extracting water out of the Severn and backfilling that through drawing water out of Welsh resources. It looks as though some outbreak of sense may have occurred, and that would be very welcome.

As to what would have happened had the plan gone ahead, then, of course, there are rights for Welsh Ministers in all of this—rights to intervene, rights in relation to the approval of any plan, and Welsh Ministers here would have exercised those rights very much with the points that the leader of Plaid Cymru has made in mind.

Wel, Llywydd, credaf efallai fod y sefyllfa wedi symud ymlaen ychydig heddiw. Rwy'n dibynnu'n syml ar adroddiad papur newydd o ddiwedd y bore 'ma. Mae The Guardian yn adrodd bod Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd wedi gwrthod cynllun Thames Water a'i gyfarwyddo i ddychwelyd i'r bwrdd darlunio ac i gyflwyno cynllun gwell, gan gynnwys y cynllun i dynnu dŵr o Gymru drwy Afon Hafren. Dywed The Guardian fod Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd wedi dweud wrth Thames Water nad yw wedi ei argyhoeddi bod hwn yn ateb hyfyw ac na fydd yn barod i gymeradwyo'r cynllun y mae Thames Water wedi'i ddatblygu hyd yn hyn. Ac am y rhesymau niferus a nodwyd gan arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn ei gwestiwn ef. Yn lle llunio cynllun oedd yn dibynnu ar syniadau rhyfeddol, fel roedd yn ymddangos i mi, sef tynnu dŵr o'r afon Tafwys ei hun a rhoi dŵr wedi ei lygru gan garthion yn ei le, a chymryd dŵr o Lyn Efyrnwy, dylai Thames Water wneud dau beth. Yn gyntaf oll, dylai ganolbwyntio ar leihau'r galw am ddŵr. Mae gennym ni, yn y Deyrnas Unedig, rai o'r defnyddiau dyddiol uchaf o ddŵr y pen o'r boblogaeth mewn unrhyw le. Rydyn ni'n defnyddio 141 litr y dydd ar gyfartaledd. Yng Ngwlad Belg, gwlad ar draws y sianel, mae'r cyfartaledd yn 95 litr y dydd. Felly, y peth cyntaf y dylai Thames Water ei wneud yw cyflwyno cynlluniau credadwy i leihau'r defnydd o ddŵr, adnodd gwerthfawr nad ydym yn ei ystyried yn ddigon gwerthfawr. Ac yna, fel y dywedodd Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd yn ôl yr hyn a adroddir, mae angen iddo drwsio'r gollyngiadau yn ei system ei hun—gollyngiadau a fyddai, pe baen nhw'n cael eu trwsio, bron yn cyfateb yn llwyr â'i gynllun ar gyfer tynnu dŵr allan o afon Hafren ac ôl-lenwi hynny drwy dynnu dŵr allan o adnoddau Cymru. Mae'n ymddangos fel pe bai rhywfaint o synnwyr wedi gorchfygu, a byddai croeso mawr i hynny.

O ran yr hyn a fyddai wedi digwydd petai'r cynllun wedi mynd rhagddo, yna, wrth gwrs, mae gan Weinidogion Cymru hawliau yn hyn i gyd—hawliau i ymyrryd, hawliau mewn cysylltiad â chymeradwyo unrhyw gynllun, a byddai Gweinidogion Cymru yma wedi arfer yr hawliau hynny'n gryf iawn gan ystyried y pwyntiau a wnaeth arweinydd Plaid Cymru.

13:55

I suppose, if you forgive me, First Minister, this is one leak, I think, that we would welcome, isn't it? But, of course, that's one of the three regulators that have been quoted. There is the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and it's Ofwat that will be publishing the formal response on Thursday. We await to see what those two other bodies—. But the point stands, of course, that we have three regulators here, which are answerable to the Secretary of State, making a decision, and hopefully they'll make the right decision, but it's not a decision made here in Wales. Now, Wales already exports 320 million litres a day of water to England from cwm Elan, and Welsh Water receives just £7 million from Severn Trent Water for that as part of an agreement they were obliged to accept in 1984. It's an agreement that will last for almost 100 years and possibly 100 years after that. The Welsh Government, the Minister has said, has no formal powers to change the terms of that agreement, but you are considering how trading agreements can be revised to better reflect current and future circumstances. What does that mean in practice, First Minister, to the price of water currently now being supplied from Wales to England?

Am wn i, os maddeuwch i mi, Prif Weinidog, dyma un gollyngiad, rwy'n credu, y byddem ni yn ei groesawu, onid yw e? Ond, wrth gwrs, dyna un o'r tri rheoleiddiwr sydd wedi cael eu dyfynnu. Mae yna'r Arolygiaeth Dŵr Yfed, ac Ofwat fydd yn cyhoeddi'r ymateb ffurfiol ddydd Iau. Rydyn ni'n aros i weld beth fydd y ddau gorff arall yna—. Ond mae'r pwynt yn sefyll, wrth gwrs, bod gennym dri rheoleiddiwr yma, sy'n atebol i'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, yn gwneud penderfyniad, a gobeithio y byddan nhw'n gwneud y penderfyniad cywir, ond nid yw'n benderfyniad a wneir yma yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae Cymru eisoes yn allforio 320 miliwn litr y dydd o ddŵr i Loegr o Gwm Elan, ac mae Dŵr Cymru'n cael £7 miliwn yn unig gan gwmni Severn Trent Water am hynny fel rhan o gytundeb roedd yn rhaid iddyn nhw ei dderbyn ym 1984. Mae'n gytundeb fydd yn para am bron i 100 mlynedd ac o bosib 100 mlynedd ar ôl hynny. Does gan Lywodraeth Cymru, meddai'r Gweinidog, ddim pwerau ffurfiol i newid telerau'r cytundeb hwnnw, ond rydych chi'n ystyried sut y gellir diwygio cytundebau masnachu er mwyn adlewyrchu'n well amgylchiadau presennol ac yn y dyfodol. Beth mae hynny'n ei olygu yn ymarferol, Prif Weinidog, i bris dŵr sy'n cael ei gyflenwi i Loegr o Gymru ar hyn o bryd?

Well, I don't think it probably does mean anything actually here today because there are existing commercial, contractual relationships in place that govern the price of water today. The leader of Plaid Cymru is right to say that the Welsh Government has a direct interest in how those contracts are shaped for the future. I do not, myself, sign up to a nationalist view of water; I don't object to English people drinking Welsh water. But what I do say is that the economic, environmental and wider benefits for Wales must be demonstrated in any relationship in which the natural resources of Wales are used to the benefit of other citizens in the United Kingdom, and in any renegotiation of those contractual arrangements, then the price that is paid for that precious natural resource must reflect the value of that resource to Wales as well as allowing its beneficial use for other UK citizens.

Wel, dydw i ddim yn credu ei fod, mae'n debyg, yn golygu unrhyw beth yma mewn gwirionedd heddiw oherwydd bod perthnasoedd masnachol, cytundebol presennol ar waith sy'n rheoli pris dŵr heddiw. Mae arweinydd Plaid Cymru'n iawn i ddweud bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddordeb uniongyrchol mewn sut mae'r cytundebau hynny'n cael eu llunio ar gyfer y dyfodol. Nid oes gennyf i safbwynt cenedlaetholgar ynghylch dŵr; dydw i ddim yn gwrthwynebu pobl o Loegr yn yfed dŵr o Gymru. Ond yr hyn a ddywedaf yw bod yn rhaid dangos buddion economaidd, amgylcheddol ac ehangach i Gymru mewn unrhyw berthynas lle defnyddir adnoddau naturiol Cymru er budd dinasyddion eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mewn unrhyw ail-negodi'r trefniadau cytundebol hynny, yna rhaid i'r pris a delir am yr adnodd naturiol gwerthfawr hwnnw adlewyrchu gwerth yr adnodd hwnnw i Gymru yn ogystal â chaniatáu ei ddefnydd buddiol ar gyfer dinasyddion eraill y DU.

That's the point, isn't it? It's about fairness, isn't it? The current agreement doesn't reflect a fair price, particularly when Welsh Water customers face the second highest bills in the whole of England and Wales. Now, it's six years since the UK Government promised to transfer the power to Wales over all of our water resources and infrastructure, not just those controlled by the two Welsh water companies. But to date, the provisions in the Wales Act 2017, which would have given effect to this, have not been brought into force by the UK Secretary of State. Why is that? And is the practical effect of this that the Welsh Government cannot, at the moment, legislate for example to regulate the use of Welsh water by United Utilities, who own Llyn Efyrnwy? So the water could be transferred in the future, but the power is not.

And to the point that you earlier made, can you just say a little bit about the veto power that the Welsh Government would have under those circumstances, given that the transfer of power that was promised six years ago hasn't actually happened yet?

Dyna'r pwynt, onid yw e? Mae'n ymwneud â thegwch, onid yw e? Dyw'r cytundeb presennol ddim yn adlewyrchu pris teg, yn enwedig pan fo cwsmeriaid Dŵr Cymru yn wynebu'r biliau uchaf ond un yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Nawr, mae hi'n chwe blynedd ers i Lywodraeth y DU addo trosglwyddo'r pŵer i Gymru dros ein holl adnoddau dŵr a'n seilwaith, nid dim ond y rhai dan reolaeth y ddau gwmni dŵr Cymreig. Ond hyd yma, nid yw'r darpariaethau yn Neddf Cymru 2017, a fyddai wedi rhoi grym i hyn, nid wedi dod i rym gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol y DU. Pam felly? Ac ai effaith ymarferol hyn yw na all Llywodraeth Cymru, ar hyn o bryd, ddeddfu er enghraifft, i reoleiddio'r defnydd o ddŵr Cymru gan United Utilities, sy'n berchen ar Lyn Efyrnwy? Felly gallai'r dŵr gael ei drosglwyddo yn y dyfodol, ond nid y pŵer.

Ac o ran y pwynt a wnaethoch chi'n gynharach, a allwch chi ddweud ychydig am y pŵer feto fyddai gan Lywodraeth Cymru o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny, o ystyried nad yw trosglwyddo grym a gafodd ei addo chwe blynedd yn ôl wedi digwydd eto?

Well, Llywydd, it's a very good question indeed that the leader of Plaid Cymru raises, because the 2017 Act was a Conservative Government Act. It wasn't an Act made here, it wasn't an Act that reflected the policy preferences of the Welsh Government; it was an Act that a Conservative Secretary of State took through the House of Commons and put on the statute book. What happened, I believe, is the general election of 2019 and the arrival of a very different regime at Westminster. The history of devolution is that, from 1999 to 2019, under Governments of different political persuasion at Westminster, it was possible to have rational discussions about where powers best lay, and that's why the 2017 Act, the result of very significant negotiations over the water issue, allowed for the transfer of those responsibilities. Since 2019, we have faced a Government in Westminster that doesn't respond to issues on that rational basis; it responds to them on the entirely ideological basis that devolution was a mistake and that the work of the Westminster Government is to roll it back in the opposite direction wherever it can, and quite certainly never to transfer new powers to Scotland or Wales, even when it was a Conservative Government that had made the arrangements that would have allowed that to take place.

So, that's my answer to the leader of Plaid Cymru's question: that, when we were dealing with a reasonable and rational Government, albeit of a Conservative nature, we made the progress that the 2017 Act embodied; all of that has been at a standstill over the last four years.

As far as the rights of Welsh Ministers, water companies wholly or mainly in Wales must follow the Welsh Government's guiding principles, principles that we have published and set out, and then Welsh Ministers have a statutory role in the sign-off process for any plans. So, while the powers are not in our hands in the coherent way that we would have wished to see and that the 2017 Act would have assisted, we're not without powers in this area, and, if the reports from this morning don't turn out to be true and further regulators take a different view, then the Welsh Government will use the powers we have to defend Welsh interests in this area.

Wel, Llywydd, mae'n gwestiwn da iawn yn wir y mae arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn ei godi, gan mai Deddf Llywodraeth Geidwadol oedd Deddf 2017. Nid Deddf a wnaed yma, nid Deddf oedd yn adlewyrchu dewisiadau polisi Llywodraeth Cymru; roedd yn Ddeddf a aeth Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Ceidwadol â hi drwy Dŷ'r Cyffredin a'i rhoi ar y llyfr statud. Yr hyn ddigwyddodd, rwy'n credu, yw etholiad cyffredinol 2019 a dyfodiad trefn wahanol iawn yn San Steffan. Hanes datganoli yw, o 1999 i 2019, o dan Lywodraethau o wahanol berswâd gwleidyddol yn San Steffan, roedd modd cael trafodaethau rhesymegol ynglŷn â lle roedd pwerau'n gorwedd orau, a dyna pam roedd Deddf 2017, canlyniad trafodaethau sylweddol iawn dros fater y dŵr, yn caniatáu trosglwyddo'r cyfrifoldebau hynny. Ers 2019, rydym wedi wynebu Llywodraeth yn San Steffan nad yw'n ymateb i faterion ar y sail resymegol honno; mae'n ymateb iddyn nhw ar y sail gwbl ideolegol mai camgymeriad oedd datganoli ac mai gwaith Llywodraeth San Steffan yw ei wrthdroi i'r cyfeiriad arall ble bynnag y gall, ac yn ddigon sicr, byth i drosglwyddo pwerau newydd i'r Alban na Chymru, hyd yn oed pan mai Llywodraeth Geidwadol oedd wedi gwneud y trefniadau a fyddai wedi caniatáu i hynny ddigwydd.

Felly, dyna fy ateb i gwestiwn arweinydd Plaid Cymru: pan oeddem yn ymdrin â Llywodraeth resymol a rhesymegol, er o natur Geidwadol, gwnaethom y cynnydd yr oedd Deddf 2017 yn ei ymgorffori; mae hynny i gyd wedi bod ar stop dros y pedair blynedd diwethaf.

O ran hawliau Gweinidogion Cymru, rhaid i gwmnïau dŵr sy'n gyfan gwbl neu'n bennaf yng Nghymru ddilyn egwyddorion arweiniol Llywodraeth Cymru, egwyddorion yr ydym wedi eu cyhoeddi a'u nodi, ac yna mae gan Weinidogion Cymru rôl statudol yn y broses arwyddo ar gyfer unrhyw gynlluniau. Felly, er nad yw'r pwerau yn ein dwylo yn y ffordd gydlynol y byddem wedi dymuno ei gweld ac y byddai Deddf 2017 wedi cynorthwyo hynny, nid ydym heb bwerau yn y maes hwn, ac, os nad yw'r adroddiadau o'r bore 'ma yn troi allan i fod yn wir ac mae rheoleiddwyr pellach yn cymryd safbwynt gwahanol, yna bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio'r pwerau sydd gennym i amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru yn y maes hwn.

14:00
Darpariaeth Ddeintyddol yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru
Dental Provision in Mid and West Wales

3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella mynediad at ddarpariaeth ddeintyddol yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ59370

3. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve access to dental provision in Mid and West Wales? OQ59370

Wel, diolch i Cefin Campbell, Llywydd. Diwygio contractau, buddion ariannol, mwy o fuddsoddi ac amrywio’r proffesiwn yw rhai o’r camau sy’n cael eu cymryd i wella mynediad i bobl yn rhanbarth yr Aelod.

I thank Cefin Campbell, Llywydd. Contract reform, financial incentives, additional investment and diversification of the profession are among the actions being taken to improve access for the people of the Member's region.

Diolch. Llandeilo, Hwlffordd, Abergwaun—enghreifftiau o ddeintyddion yn fy rhanbarth i lle mae darpariaeth NHS wedi dod i ben dros y misoedd diwethaf. Mae'r sefyllfa ddeintyddol yng Nghymru wledig yn argyfyngus ar hyn o bryd, a'r newid, fel roeddech chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw, yn y cytundebau diweddar, wedi achosi pryderon sylweddol, fel cafodd eu mynegi i mi mewn gohebiaeth ddiweddar gan bwyllgor deintyddol Dyfed Powys. Mae hyd yn oed deintyddion sy'n llwyddo cwrdd â gofynion y cytundebau newydd wedi nodi eu bod nhw'n gwneud hynny ar draul trin eu cleifion presennol, ac mae'r newidiadau hyn yn achosi straen, sy'n golygu bod nifer fawr o ddeintyddion bellach yn ystyried eu dyfodol fel partneriaid NHS. Ym Mhowys yn unig, mae dros 4,500 ar y rhestr aros am ddeintyddion NHS—10 y cant ohonyn nhw'n blant—ac mae mwy a mwy o deuluoedd yn wynebu dewisiadau anodd, gyda nifer yn mynd tramor i gael triniaeth.

Thank you. Llandeilo, Haverfordwest, Fishguard—examples of dental practices in my area where NHS provision has come to an end over recent months. The dental situation in rural Wales is critical at the moment, and the change to contracts recently has caused real concern, as was expressed to me in recent correspondence from the Dyfed Powys dental committee. Even dentists who succeed in meeting the requirements of the new contracts have noted that they're doing so at the expense of treating their current patients, and these changes are causing real stress, which means that many dentists are now considering their future as NHS partners. In Powys alone, over 4,500 are on the waiting list for NHS dentists—10 per cent of those are children—and more and more families are facing difficult decisions, with many travelling abroad for dental treatment.

First Minister, do you agree with the sentiment expressed in the recent Government statement on dental reform that private dentistry is an acceptable alternative, or will we see a real commitment from Welsh Government to work with the profession to ensure a dental service that works for everyone in Wales?

Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â'r farn a fynegwyd yn natganiad diweddar y Llywodraeth ar ddiwygio deintyddol bod deintyddiaeth breifat yn ddewis arall derbyniol, neu a welwn wir ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio gyda'r proffesiwn i sicrhau gwasanaeth deintyddol sy'n gweithio i bawb yng Nghymru?

Well, Llywydd, 20 per cent of dental practices in Wales are private practices; that is simply a fact of life, and it has been a fact of life since the NHS was established. There is nothing new in that at all. I see regularly from dental interests this theme that contracts are being handed back across Wales. I spoke to the Chief Dental Officer for Wales myself last night about this. He tells me that 20 contracts out of 400 have actually been handed back. Many of them are small contracts, and health boards, and health boards in rural parts of Wales, are succeeding when they put those contracts out for retendering. So, in the Member's own area, a major contract in Ammanford—a £1 million contract—has been successfully retendered. In Powys, to which he referred, a contract that was handed back in Newtown has been successfully retendered. It will provide NHS treatment for between 2,000 and 2,500 patients in that part of Wales.

Last year, Llywydd, just under 1 million people in Wales received NHS dental treatment. There were well over 1 million treatments on the NHS, and that included 155,000 additional NHS patients because of contract reform, 20,000 of those shared between Hywel Dda and Powys health board. So, while there are undoubtedly challenges in the field of dentistry, and a lot more ground that we need to gain, actually, it's fewer and fewer, not more and more, Welsh citizens who are needing to find treatment elsewhere. And as we move forward with the contract, in consultation and negotiation with the dental profession, we will be able to do even more, and that will include, Llywydd, the £5,000 salary uplift that we are offering to future dental trainees who are willing to complete their foundation year in dental practices in rural Wales rather than taking up opportunities in the more popular urban areas. That combination of contract reform, further financial investment, liberalisation of the profession—there is a way to go, but there is a formula in Wales that we have started to put in practice and is beginning to succeed.

Wel, Llywydd, mae 20 y cant o'r practisau deintyddol yng Nghymru yn bractisau preifat; mae hynny'n ffaith, ac mae wedi bod yn ffaith ers sefydlu'r GIG. Does dim byd newydd yn hynny o gwbl. Rwy'n gweld yn rheolaidd o ddiddordebau deintyddol y thema hon bod contractau'n cael eu trosglwyddo'n ôl ledled Cymru. Siaradais â Phrif Swyddog Deintyddol Cymru fy hun neithiwr am hyn. Mae'n dweud wrthyf fod 20 o gontractau allan o 400 wedi'u trosglwyddo'n ôl mewn gwirionedd. Contractau bychain yw llawer ohonyn nhw, ac mae byrddau iechyd, a byrddau iechyd mewn rhannau gwledig o Gymru, yn llwyddo pan fo nhw'n rhoi'r cytundebau hynny allan ar gyfer ail-dendro. Felly, yn ardal yr Aelod ei hun, mae contract mawr yn Rhydaman—contract gwerth £1 miliwn—wedi cael ei ail-lenwi'n llwyddiannus. Ym Mhowys, y cyfeiriodd ato, mae contract a gafodd ei drosglwyddo'n ôl yn Y Drenewydd wedi cael ei ail-dendro'n llwyddiannus. Bydd yn darparu triniaeth gan y GIG i rhwng 2,000 a 2,500 o gleifion yn y rhan honno o Gymru.

Y llynedd, Llywydd, cafodd ychydig o dan un filiwn o bobl yng Nghymru driniaeth ddeintyddol y GIG. Roedd yna ymhell dros un filiwn o driniaethau o dan y GIG, ac roedd hynny'n cynnwys 155,000 o gleifion ychwanegol y GIG oherwydd diwygio contractau, Rhannwyd 20,000 o'r rheiny rhwng Hywel Dda a bwrdd iechyd Powys. Felly, er bod heriau heb os ym maes deintyddiaeth, a llawer mwy o dir y mae angen i ni ei ennill, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n llai a llai, nid mwy a mwy, o ddinasyddion Cymru sydd angen dod o hyd i driniaeth mewn mannau eraill. Ac wrth i ni symud ymlaen â'r contract, mewn ymgynghoriad a thrafod â'r proffesiwn deintyddol, byddwn yn gallu gwneud mwy fyth, a bydd hynny'n cynnwys, Llywydd, y codiad cyflog o £5,000 yr ydym yn ei gynnig i hyfforddeion deintyddol yn y dyfodol sy'n fodlon cwblhau eu blwyddyn sylfaen mewn practisau deintyddol yng nghefn gwlad Cymru yn hytrach na manteisio ar gyfleoedd yn yr ardaloedd trefol mwy poblogaidd. Mae'r cyfuniad hwnnw o ddiwygio contractau, buddsoddiad ariannol pellach, ystwytho'r proffesiwn—mae ffordd i fynd, ond mae yna fformiwla yng Nghymru rydyn ni wedi dechrau ei roi ar waith ac sy'n dechrau llwyddo.

14:05

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. I've previously raised the serious concern amongst local dentists in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire about the Welsh Government's current policy direction. And like Cefin, a senior member of Dyfed Powys's local dental committee shared his views that the large financial penalties that were being threatened on dentists if they failed to meet what were described as 'unevidenced and unachievable contract reform targets'—quote—'were driving NHS dentistry provision in Wales towards a cliff edge'—another quote. But a possible solution to this, put to me by a local dentist and orthodontist in my constituency, is to reward the dentist when treatment starts, incentivising practices to see patients. So, would the Welsh Government explore this suggestion, which could help keep dentists in the NHS and support patients across Wales? Diolch.

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Yn y gorffennol rwyf wedi codi'r pryder difrifol sydd ymhlith deintyddion lleol yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Penfro ynglŷn â chyfeiriad polisi presennol Llywodraeth Cymru. Ac fel Cefin, rhannodd uwch aelod o bwyllgor deintyddol lleol Dyfed Powys ei farn bod y cosbau ariannol mawr a oedd yn cael eu bygwth ar ddeintyddion pe baen nhw'n methu â chyrraedd yr hyn a ddisgrifiwyd fel 'targedau diwygio contract amhrofedig ac anghyflawnadwy'—dyfyniad—'a oedd yn gyrru darpariaeth deintyddiaeth y GIG yng Nghymru tuag at ymyl clogwyn'—dyfyniad arall. Ond ateb posib i hyn, a roddwyd i mi gan ddeintydd ac orthodontydd lleol yn fy etholaeth, yw gwobrwyo'r deintydd pan fydd triniaeth yn dechrau, gan gymell practisau i weld cleifion. Felly, a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru'n archwilio'r awgrym hwn, a allai helpu i gadw deintyddion yn y GIG a chefnogi cleifion ledled Cymru? Diolch.

Well, Llywydd, we're always willing to look at ideas that come forward from practitioners. The fact of the matter is that dentistry, uniquely of primary care professions, is paid for the work before they do it, not after it. At the end of the year, there always has been, under the previous contract as well as the current contract, a reconciliation, when you look to see what a practice has actually been able to achieve. If it has not been able to fulfil the terms of its contract, nobody can expect public money to be offered to somebody for a service that hasn't been provided.

Now, we have always had a pragmatic approach to that end-of-year reconciliation, and I know, from my discussions with the chief dental officer last night, that that is exactly the way in which it is being approached this year as well, and particularly because, with a new contract, some of the metrics that are being used are inevitably being used for the first time and need to be tested in practice. The system is not designed at all to penalise practices where there is a reasonable accommodation that can be reached with them. If there are other and better ideas as to how that can be navigated, then of course the system and the people who work in it will be very willing to think those through.

Wel, Llywydd, rydyn ni bob amser yn barod i edrych ar syniadau a gyflwynir gan ymarferwyr. Y gwir amdani yw bod deintyddiaeth, sy'n unigryw ymhlith proffesiynau gofal sylfaenol, yn cael ei dalu am y gwaith cyn iddo gael ei wneud, nid ar ei ôl. Ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn, bu ar hyd yr amser, o dan y contract blaenorol yn ogystal â'r contract presennol, gysoni yn digwydd, pan edrychwch i weld beth mae practis wedi gallu ei gyflawni mewn gwirionedd. Os nad yw wedi gallu cyflawni telerau ei gytundeb, ni all neb ddisgwyl i arian cyhoeddus gael ei gynnig i rywun am wasanaeth na chafodd ei ddarparu.

Nawr, rydym bob amser wedi cael dull o weithredu pragmataidd o ran y cysoni diwedd blwyddyn hwnnw, ac rwy'n gwybod, o fy nhrafodaethau gyda'r prif swyddog deintyddol neithiwr, mai dyna'r union ddull fydd yn cael ei weithredu eleni hefyd, ac yn enwedig oherwydd, gyda chontract newydd, mae rhai o'r metrigau sy'n cael eu defnyddio yn anochel yn cael eu defnyddio am y tro cyntaf ac mae angen eu profi'n yn y practis. Nid yw'r system wedi'i chynllunio o gwbl i gosbi practisau pryd y gellir dod i ddealltwriaeth resymol gyda nhw. Os oes syniadau eraill a gwell ynglŷn â sut y gellir llywio hynny, yna wrth gwrs bydd y system a'r bobl sy'n gweithio ynddi yn barod iawn i'w hystyried.

Good afternoon, First Minister. Today the Welsh Liberal Democrats published a report looking at dentistry, particularly focusing on our concern around two-tier dentistry—and I do make no apology in using that term. We have a system at the moment that means that, if you can pay for dentistry, then you don't have to wait; if you can't, then you do have to wait. And that is the basic truth.

I want to just focus my question, if I may, on children and young people. I'm sure we'd all agree that they should be able to access NHS dentistry. In Powys, as Cefin has mentioned, over 800 children are waiting for an NHS dentist, and, to be fair to Powys, they are one of only two health boards who keep data on children waiting for NHS dentistry. I just wonder if you could provide an update, an outline of the plan the Government has in order to help children who are waiting for NHS dentistry across Wales. Thank you, diolch yn fawr iawn.

Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Heddiw cyhoeddodd Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru adroddiad yn edrych ar ddeintyddiaeth, gan ganolbwyntio yn arbennig ar ein pryder ynghylch deintyddiaeth ddwy haen—ac nid wyf yn ymddiheuro wrth ddefnyddio'r term hwnnw. Mae gennym system ar hyn o bryd sy'n golygu, os gallwch chi dalu am ddeintyddiaeth, yna does dim rhaid aros; os na allwch chi, yna mae'n rhaid i chi aros. A dyna'r gwir sylfaenol.

Rwyf eisiau canolbwyntio fy nghwestiwn, os caf, ar blant a phobl ifanc. Rwy'n siŵr y byddem i gyd yn cytuno y dylen nhw gael mynediad i ddeintyddiaeth y GIG. Ym Mhowys fel mae Cefin wedi sôn, mae dros 800 o blant yn aros am ddeintydd y GIG, ac er mwyn bod yn deg i Bowys, maen nhw'n un o ddim ond dau fwrdd iechyd sy'n cadw data ar blant sy'n aros am ddeintyddiaeth y GIG. Tybed a allech chi ddarparu diweddariad, amlinelliad o'r cynllun sydd gan y Llywodraeth er mwyn helpu plant sy'n aros am ddeintyddiaeth y GIG ledled Cymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

14:10

Diolch i Jane Dodds am y cwestiwn ychwanegol.

Thank you to Jane Dodds for the additional question.

The Minister set out in her oral statement here on the floor of the Senedd practical action that is being taken to increase the provision of NHS dentistry for children, including the pilot that the Minister set out in secondary schools—a pilot being carried out in north Wales in the first instance, and we hope, if it is successful, to be able to do more of that elsewhere. In Powys, to which Jane Dodds referred directly, I think I was able to say in answering a question last week that the health board has been successful in recruiting a paediatric specialist dentist who can carry out more of the specialist treatment that is necessary without children needing to leave the county, and an additional dental therapist focusing exclusively on children. I understand that the figure of 800 to which Jane Dodds referred has already been reduced by more than 100 as a result of that additional resource that the health board has, and, when I spoke with the chief executive of Powys health board before questions last week, she said to me that she felt that the health board had been really successful in recruiting new staff in the dental profession, of a variety of contributions that they could make, to come to be able to make sure that adults, but children as well, are able to receive the sort of service that we would wish to see in that part of Wales. 

Nododd y Gweinidog yn ei datganiad llafar yma ar lawr y Senedd y camau ymarferol sy'n cael eu cymryd i gynyddu'r ddarpariaeth o ddeintyddiaeth y GIG i blant, gan gynnwys y cynllun treialu mewn ysgolion uwchradd a nododd y Gweinidog—cynllun treialu sy'n cael ei gynnal yn y gogledd yn y lle cyntaf, a gobeithiwn, os yw'n llwyddiannus, y gallwn wneud mwy o hynny mewn mannau eraill. Ym Mhowys y cyfeiriodd Jane Dodds ato'n uniongyrchol, rwy'n credu fy mod wedi gallu dweud wrth ateb cwestiwn yr wythnos diwethaf bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi llwyddo i recriwtio deintydd arbenigol pediatrig sy'n gallu cynnal mwy o'r driniaeth arbenigol sy'n angenrheidiol heb fod angen i blant adael y sir, a therapydd deintyddol ychwanegol sy'n canolbwyntio'n llwyr ar blant. Deallaf fod y ffigur o 800 y cyfeiriodd Jane Dodds ato eisoes wedi gostwng mwy na 100 o ganlyniad i'r adnodd ychwanegol hwnnw sydd gan y bwrdd iechyd, a phan siaradais â phrif weithredwr bwrdd iechyd Powys cyn cwestiynau yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd wrthyf ei bod yn teimlo bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi llwyddo'n dda i recriwtio staff newydd yn y proffesiwn deintyddol, o amrywiaeth o gyfraniadau y gallen nhw ei wneud, i allu nawr sicrhau bod oedolion, a phlant hefyd, yn cael y math o wasanaeth y byddem ni'n dymuno ei weld yn y rhan honno o Gymru. 

Gofal Lliniarol a Hosbisau
Palliative Care and Hospices

4. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio i gefnogi gofal lliniarol a hosbisau ledled Cymru? OQ59361

4. How is the Welsh Government working to support palliative care and hospices across Wales? OQ59361

Llywydd, phase 1 of our programme for government commitment to palliative care has been completed. Phase 2 reported at the end of January. The full programme will conclude by January of next year, as part of our continuing investment in a high-quality service across Wales.

Llywydd, mae cam 1 ein rhaglen ar gyfer ymrwymiad y llywodraeth i ofal lliniarol wedi'i gwblhau. Adroddodd cam 2 ddiwedd Ionawr. Daw'r rhaglen lawn i ben erbyn mis Ionawr y flwyddyn nesaf, fel rhan o'n buddsoddiad parhaus mewn gwasanaeth o ansawdd uchel ar draws Cymru.

Thank you, First Minister. Earlier this month I had the pleasure of visiting Sandville self-help centre, which is in Ton Kenfig in my constituency, and they have provided life-changing support for those diagnosed with cancer, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia and other serious life-limiting and life-changing conditions for over 40 years. Sandville relies on the generosity of fundraisers, and they've recently done the most incredible refurbishment of the whole centre, and it includes, but is not limited to, a hydrotherapy pool, counselling rooms, a gym and mobility suite, and also, at the moment, they're working towards having a cabin that can be used for families when a child has cancer, so that the whole family can have respite together. 

Minister, I'm not alone, either, in recognising the work that Sandville does. Callum Hughes, service improvement adviser at Parkinson's UK, recently visited the site and said there is nothing like this in Wales or the rest of the UK, especially with their free, open-to-anyone, drop-in therapy sessions for people with Parkinson's each week. As you can tell, I'm incredibly proud of the Sandville centre, and I would like people from across Wales to be able to benefit from the incredible support, and also learn from their model of care, so that we can have this service across Wales for everybody who needs it.

So, First Minister, I'm just asking you today, really, to join me in congratulating the team and the trustees and the volunteers, as well as so many people from across Wales who have fundraised for Sandville. Diolch. 

Diolch. Prif Weinidog. Yn gynharach y mis hwn cefais y pleser o ymweld â chanolfan hunangymorth Sandville, sydd yn Nhon Cynffig yn fy etholaeth, ac maen nhw wedi darparu cefnogaeth sy'n newid bywyd i'r rhai sy'n cael diagnosis o ganser, clefyd Parkinson, sglerosis ymledol, dementia a chyflyrau difrifol eraill sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd a chyflyrau sy'n newid bywyd ers dros 40 mlynedd. Mae Sandville yn dibynnu ar haelioni codwyr arian, ac yn ddiweddar maen nhw wedi gwneud y gwaith adnewyddu mwyaf anhygoel i'r ganolfan gyfan, ac mae'n cynnwys, ond nid yw'n gyfyngedig i bwll hydrotherapi, ystafelloedd cwnsela, campfa ac ystafell symudedd, a hefyd, ar hyn o bryd, maen nhw'n gweithio tuag at gael caban y gellir ei ddefnyddio gan deuluoedd pan fydd gan blentyn ganser, er mwyn i'r teulu cyfan gael seibiant gyda'i gilydd. 

Gweinidog, nid fi yw'r unig un, chwaith, sy'n cydnabod y gwaith mae Sandville yn ei wneud. Fe wnaeth Callum Hughes, ymgynghorydd gwella gwasanaethau yn Parkinson's UK, ymweld â'r safle yn ddiweddar a dywedodd nad oes unrhyw beth tebyg i hyn yng Nghymru na gweddill y DU, yn enwedig gyda'u sesiynau therapi galw heibio am ddim, agored i unrhyw un, i bobl â Parkinson's bob wythnos. Fel y gallwch ddweud, rwy'n hynod falch o ganolfan Sandville, a hoffwn i bobl o bob cwr o Gymru allu elwa ar y gefnogaeth anhygoel, a dysgu hefyd o'u model o ofal, fel y gallwn gael y gwasanaeth hwn ledled Cymru i bawb sydd ei angen.

Felly, Prif Weinidog, rwy'n gofyn i chi heddiw, mewn gwirionedd, i ymuno â mi i longyfarch y tîm a'r ymddiriedolwyr a'r gwirfoddolwyr, yn ogystal â chymaint o bobl o bob rhan o Gymru sydd wedi codi arian ar gyfer Sandville. Diolch. 

Llywydd, I absolutely echo what Sarah Murphy has said in congratulating Sandville hospice. It is a fine example of the work that hospices do in every part of Wales. It has always been an outstanding example of voluntary and committed effort that people make in improving services in the way that the Member has set out, and the fact that Sandville hospice has been able to offer that service to the people of Bridgend and the surrounding areas for over 40 years is an incredible achievement, and something of which I know Sarah and many other people in that part of Wales are immensely proud. In the work that the Welsh Government is doing, of course, we look forward to continuing to work with the hospice and other hospices in Wales to ensure that anyone with life-changing or life-limiting illnesses has access to the best possible care.

Llywydd, rwy'n adleisio'n llwyr yr hyn y mae Sarah Murphy wedi'i ddweud wrth longyfarch Hosbis Sandville. Mae'n enghraifft wych o'r gwaith mae hosbisau'n ei wneud ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Bu bob amser yn enghraifft ragorol o ymdrech wirfoddol ac ymroddedig y mae pobl yn ei gwneud wrth wella gwasanaethau yn y ffordd y mae'r Aelod wedi'i nodi, ac mae'r ffaith bod hosbis Sandville wedi gallu cynnig y gwasanaeth hwnnw i bobl Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a'r cyffiniau ers dros 40 mlynedd yn gamp anhygoel, a rhywbeth rwy'n gwybod y mae Sarah a llawer o bobl eraill yn y rhan honno o Gymru yn hynod falch ohono. Yn y gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud, wrth gwrs, rydym yn edrych ymlaen at barhau i weithio gyda'r hosbis a hosbisau eraill yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod unrhyw un sydd â salwch sy'n newid bywyd neu'n cyfyngu ar fywyd yn gallu cael mynediad at y gofal gorau posibl.

14:15
Twristiaeth
Tourism

5. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi twristiaeth yng nghanolbarth Cymru? OQ59353

5. How is the Welsh Government supporting tourism in mid Wales? OQ59353

Llywydd, the 'Welcome to Wales' strategy sets out our three key ambitions for the sector: to increase spend in the visitor economy, to spread benefits to all parts of Wales and to extend the tourism season, promoting Wales as a destination to be visited all year round.

Llywydd, mae strategaeth 'Croeso i Gymru' yn nodi ein tri uchelgais allweddol ar gyfer y sector: cynyddu gwariant economi ymwelwyr, lledu manteision i bob rhan o Gymru ac ymestyn y tymor twristiaeth gan hyrwyddo Cymru fel cyrchfan i'w hymweld â hi trwy gydol y flwyddyn.

Thank you, First Minister, and I am pleased that the strategy does include increased spend. But my concern is that there are huge concerns that remain with regard to the Welsh Government's changes requiring many holiday let businesses to be let for 182 days a year, and making them move from the business rates system to the council tax system, which would then increase their tax burden and make many of those businesses unviable.

Can I say, First Minister, of course, that many of these businesses as well are being encouraged to diversify—farming businesses are being encouraged to diversify into that holiday let sector? Many businesses tell me, and I believe it from the casework that I see, that they will simply fold if further exemptions are not brought forward. I'm afraid, so far, that I do believe that the Welsh Government has paid lip service to the concerns that have been raised. I do welcome very much the exemption that has come forward in regard to planning matters—very much welcome indeed—but when are we going to see further exemptions brought forward?

The specific examples that I would bring forward would be where holiday let properties are co-located, so in the same location as, perhaps, where the owner lives, or where holiday let properties share utilities. Those types of properties can't be used for any other purpose except for holiday lets, or it would certainly make it very, very difficult to change from that position. So, can I ask, First Minister: when are we going to see further exemptions that clarify these matters and make sure that these businesses don't fold?

Diolch i chi, Prif Weinidog, ac rwy'n falch bod y strategaeth yn cynnwys mwy o wariant. Ond fy mhryder i yw bod pryderon enfawr yn parhau o ran newidiadau Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gofyn i fusnesau llety gwyliau osod am 182 diwrnod y flwyddyn, a gwneud iddyn nhw symud o'r system ardrethi busnes i'r system y dreth gyngor, a fyddai wedyn yn cynyddu eu baich treth ac yn gwneud llawer o'r busnesau hynny yn anhyfyw.

A gaf i ddweud, Prif Weinidog, wrth gwrs, fod llawer o'r busnesau hyn hefyd yn cael eu hannog i arallgyfeirio—mae busnesau ffermio'n cael eu hannog i arallgyfeirio i'r sector llety gwyliau hwnnw? Mae llawer o fusnesau'n dweud wrthyf, ac rwy'n credu hynny o'r gwaith achos a welaf, y byddant yn mynd i'r wal os na chyflwynir eithriadau pellach. Mae gen i ofn, hyd yn hyn, fy mod i'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi sylw arwynebol yn unig i'r pryderon sydd wedi eu codi. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr yr eithriad sydd wedi ei gyflwyno o ran materion cynllunio—croeso mawr yn wir—ond pryd rydyn ni'n mynd i weld eithriadau pellach yn cael eu cyflwyno?

Yr enghreifftiau penodol y byddwn i'n eu cyflwyno fyddai pan fo adeiladau llety gwyliau yn cael eu cydleoli, felly yn yr un lleoliad â lle mae'r perchennog yn byw efallai, neu lle mae llety gwyliau'n rhannu cyfleustodau. Ni ellir defnyddio'r mathau hynny o eiddo at unrhyw bwrpas arall heblaw fel llety gwyliau, neu byddai'n sicr yn ei gwneud hi'n anodd iawn, iawn newid o'r sefyllfa honno. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, Prif Weinidog: pryd ydyn ni'n mynd i weld eithriadau pellach sy'n egluro'r materion hyn a gwneud yn siŵr nad yw'r busnesau hyn yn mynd i'r wal?

Well, Llywydd, I think the Minister has shown her willingness to listen to cases made in the industry by the way in which—and I know that Russell George welcomed it—she has provided an exemption for properties that can only be occupied for certain times in the year. But let's be clear about what the changes are there to do. They are there to make sure that proper businesses are able to take advantage of small business rate relief, and when they are properties that are let out on an infrequent basis and are not businesses in that sense, then they pay council tax like anybody else.

If you're a business, then I do not think it is unreasonable to say that you should be making your property available to be let for 252 days and that you should actually let it for 182 days; then you are a business. If you're not operating as a business, it doesn't mean you have to fold; it just means that you pay the council tax like anybody else. I think that is a fair basis on which people can be treated. The Minister has shown her flexibility where a case can be made, but the basic principle that people who seek to be treated as businesses operate as businesses, and people who don't operate in a business way are treated like anybody else, that's the basic principle and I don't think we're going to move away from that.

Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod y Gweinidog wedi dangos ei pharodrwydd i wrando ar achosion a wnaed yn y diwydiant yn y ffordd—ac rwy'n gwybod bod Russell George wedi ei groesawu—y mae hi wedi darparu eithriad ar gyfer eiddo na ellir ond ei feddiannu ar adegau penodol yn ystod y flwyddyn. Ond gadewch i ni fod yn glir beth yw diben y newidiadau yna. Maen nhw yno i wneud yn siŵr bod busnesau priodol yn gallu manteisio ar ryddhad ardrethi busnesau bach, a phan fyddant yn eiddo sy'n cael eu gosod allan yn anaml ac nad ydynt yn fusnesau yn yr ystyr hwnnw, yna maen nhw'n talu'r dreth gyngor fel unrhyw un arall.

Os ydych chi'n fusnes, yna nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn afresymol dweud y dylech sicrhau bod eich eiddo ar gael i'w osod am 252 diwrnod ac y dylech ei osod am 182 diwrnod mewn gwirionedd; wedyn rydych chi'n fusnes. Os nad ydych chi'n gweithredu fel busnes, nid yw'n golygu bod yn rhaid i chi fynd i'r wal; mae'n golygu eich bod yn talu'r dreth gyngor fel unrhyw un arall. Rwy'n credu bod honno'n sail deg y gellir ymdrin â phobl arni. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi dangos ei hyblygrwydd lle gellir gwneud achos, ond yr egwyddor sylfaenol yw bod pobl sy'n ceisio cael eu trin fel busnesau, yn gweithredu fel busnesau, ac mae pobl nad ydyn nhw'n gweithredu mewn ffordd fusnes yn cael eu trin fel unrhyw un arall, dyna'r egwyddor sylfaenol a dydw i ddim yn credu ein bod ni'n mynd i wyro o hynny.

Cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU
UK Government Budget

6. Pa asesiad mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud o'r effaith y bydd cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU yn ei chael ar allu awdurdodau lleol Cymru i ddarparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus? OQ59337

6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact the UK Government's budget will have on the ability of Welsh local authorities to deliver public services? OQ59337

Llywydd, I thank Carolyn Thomas for that question. The UK Government’s budget contained almost nothing for public services. Following a decade of Tory austerity, the latest budget continues to let down the people, communities and businesses across Wales who rely on the essential services local authorities provide.

Llywydd, Diolch i Carolyn Thomas am y cwestiwn yna. Roedd cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU yn cynnwys bron dim ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Yn dilyn degawd o gyni Torïaidd, mae'r gyllideb ddiweddaraf yn parhau i siomi'r bobl, cymunedau a busnesau ledled Cymru sy'n dibynnu ar y gwasanaethau hanfodol y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu darparu.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Local authorities are dependent on the dedicated staff who manage and provide front-line services, day in, day out. But they are not immune to the cost-of-living crisis we all face. The Resolution Foundation has said that wage stagnation over the last 15 years means that an average household in the UK is now £11,000 worse off thanks to successive Conservative Governments. First Minister, do you agree with me that UK Government should be growing the economy by putting money into the pockets of our workforce, encouraging people into public sector jobs, and creating better working conditions with better hours? After all, the economy cannot grow without public services, planning, housing, transport and all the support services they deliver, which also take the pressure off our NHS. Thank you.

Diolch am yr ateb yna Prif Weinidog. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn ddibynnol ar y staff ymroddedig sy'n rheoli ac yn darparu gwasanaethau rheng flaen, ddydd ar ôl dydd. Ond dydyn nhw ddim yn ddiogel rhag yr argyfwng costau byw rydyn ni i gyd yn ei wynebu. Mae'r Resolution Foundation wedi dweud bod diffyg twf cyflog dros y 15 mlynedd diwethaf yn golygu bod cartref cyfartalog yn y DU bellach £11,000 yn waeth ei fyd diolch i Lywodraethau Ceidwadol olynol. Prif Weinidog Cymru, a ydych yn cytuno â mi y dylai Llywodraeth y DU fod yn tyfu'r economi drwy roi arian ym mhocedi ein gweithlu, annog pobl i swyddi yn y sector cyhoeddus, a chreu amodau gwaith gwell gydag oriau gwell? Wedi'r cyfan, ni all yr economi dyfu heb wasanaethau cyhoeddus, cynllunio, tai, trafnidiaeth a'r holl wasanaethau cymorth y maen nhw'n eu darparu, sydd hefyd yn tynnu'r pwysau oddi ar ein GIG. Diolch.

14:20

I thank Carolyn Thomas for that very important supplementary question, because she puts her finger exactly on the flaw at the heart of the current UK Government's prospectus. The Chancellor said that his was a budget for growth, but he failed to do the most basic things on which growth depends. It tells us why, since 2010 and the current run of Conservative Governments, growth in the United Kingdom economy has collapsed compared to anything that was achieved in the previous 60 years.

The two basic components of a genuine growth strategy, Llywydd, are investment in people and investment in the infrastructure that allows an economy to grow. Far, far from investing in people, as Carolyn Thomas says, families in every part of Wales are thousands of pounds worse off than they otherwise would have been had the failed and flawed policies of austerity not been followed. There was nothing for those people in the budget, the spring statement of 10 days ago.

As for investment in infrastructure, the derisory £1 million of capital investment that's been offered here in Wales means that those things that would create growth in the economy—investment in digital infrastructure, for example—all of that will be far more difficult. Carolyn Thomas has highlighted and exposed this afternoon, Llywydd, the flaws at the heart of the UK Government's strategy, and the fact that there is a prescription available for them were they to be serious about reversing the 13 years of Tory decline.

Diolch i Carolyn Thomas am y cwestiwn atodol pwysig iawn yna, oherwydd mae hi'n rhoi ei bys yn union ar y diffyg sydd wrth wraidd prosbectws presennol Llywodraeth y DU. Dywedodd y Canghellor mai cyllideb ar gyfer twf oedd hon, ond methodd â gwneud y pethau mwyaf sylfaenol y mae twf yn dibynnu arnyn nhw. Mae'n dweud wrthym pam, ers 2010 a'r rhediad presennol o Lywodraethau Ceidwadol, bod twf yn economi'r Deyrnas Unedig wedi dymchwel o'i gymharu ag unrhyw beth a gyflawnwyd yn y 60 mlynedd blaenorol.

Dwy elfen sylfaenol strategaeth dwf go iawn, Llywydd, yw buddsoddiad mewn pobl a buddsoddiad yn y seilwaith sy'n caniatáu economi i dyfu. Ymhell, ymhell o fuddsoddi mewn pobl, fel y dywed Carolyn Thomas, mae teuluoedd ym mhob rhan o Gymru filoedd o bunnau yn waeth eu byd na fydden nhw fel arall pe na bai polisïau aflwyddiannus a gwallus cyni wedi'u dilyn. Doedd dim byd i'r bobl hynny yn y gyllideb, datganiad y gwanwyn 10 diwrnod yn ôl.

O ran buddsoddi mewn seilwaith, mae'r un filiwn o bunnau gwawdlyd o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf sydd wedi'i gynnig yma yng Nghymru yn golygu bydd y pethau hynny a fyddai'n creu twf yn yr economi—buddsoddi mewn seilwaith digidol, er enghraifft—i gyd yn llawer anoddach. Mae Carolyn Thomas wedi tynnu sylw ac amlygu'r prynhawn yma, Llywydd, y diffygion oedd wrth wraidd strategaeth Llywodraeth y DU, a'r ffaith bod presgripsiwn ar gael iddyn nhw pe baen nhw o ddifrif ynglŷn â gwrthdroi 13 mlynedd o ddirywiad dan y Torïaid.

Gofal Cymdeithasol
Social Care

7. Pa ganllawiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu darparu i awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn â gwneud penderfyniadau am ofal cymdeithasol? OQ59336

7. What guidance does the Welsh Government provide to local authorities on social care decision making? OQ59336

I thank the Member for that, Llywydd. Under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the Welsh Government provides local authorities with guidance in the form of codes of practice and statutory guidance. Topics covered include autism services, prevention, assessment, eligibility and care planning, charging and financial assessment, children who are looked after, safeguarding and partnership working.

Diolch i'r Aelod am hynna, Llywydd. O dan Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n rhoi canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol ar ffurf codau ymarfer a chanllawiau statudol. Ymhlith y pynciau dan sylw mae gwasanaethau awtistiaeth, atal, asesu, cymhwysedd a chynllunio gofal, codi tâl ac asesu ariannol, plant sy'n derbyn gofal, diogelu a gweithio mewn partneriaeth.

Thank you. The findings of the recent Equality and Human Rights Commission's report 'Challenging adult social care decisions in England and Wales' include: local authorities make daily decisions about people's access to social care and people have a right to challenge them, but people are not given crucial information about how to challenge decisions. They fear that if they challenge decisions, they will face negative consequences and lose access to care, and that, as a result, the system is failing those who need it. People are deterred from seeking help and feel ignored and disempowered. Some people are in crisis and desperate for help.

This is certainly reflected in my own constituent casework, particularly in certain counties. How will you therefore respond to the report's recommendation that the Welsh Government work with local authorities and others to improve the collection and analysis of equality data from social care users, including those who challenge decisions? They state this data should be

'used to identify and address poor outcomes'

where they're experienced by people who share particular protected characteristics.

Diolch. Mae canfyddiadau adroddiad diweddar y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol 'Herio penderfyniadau gofal cymdeithasol i oedolion yng Nghymru a Lloegr' yn cynnwys y canlynol: mae awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud penderfyniadau dyddiol ynghylch mynediad pobl at ofal cymdeithasol ac mae gan bobl yr hawl i'w herio, ond nid yw pobl yn cael gwybodaeth hanfodol am sut i herio penderfyniadau. Maen nhw'n ofni pe baen nhw'n herio penderfyniadau, y byddan nhw'n wynebu canlyniadau negyddol ac yn colli mynediad at ofal, a bod y system, o ganlyniad, yn methu'r rhai sydd ei angen. Mae pobl yn cael eu rhwystro rhag gofyn am gymorth ac yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu hanwybyddu a'u datgysylltu. Mae rhai pobl mewn argyfwng ac yn ysu am gymorth.

Mae hyn yn sicr yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn fy ngwaith achos etholwyr fy hun, yn enwedig mewn rhai siroedd. Sut fyddwch felly yn ymateb i argymhelliad yr adroddiad bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ac eraill i wella'r gwaith o gasglu a dadansoddi data cydraddoldeb gan ddefnyddwyr gofal cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n herio penderfyniadau? Maen nhw'n nodi y dylai'r data yma

'gael ei ddefnyddio i nodi a mynd i'r afael â chanlyniadau gwael'

pryd maen nhw'n cael eu profi gan bobl sy'n rhannu nodweddion gwarchodedig penodol.

I certainly agree that people who feel that decisions made in relation to their own care ought to have the right to challenge that decision, and that right of challenge ought to be available to them in a way that is real, that's accessible, and where they feel that their voice has been properly heard. So, in taking forward any recommendation, one of the ways in which we will want to make sure that here in Wales we improve the system is to make sure that the voice of the user is at the heart of any data collection or any improvement in that system in the future.

Under the terms of the guidance that the Welsh Government has provided, Part 10 of the social services and well-being Act—the advocacy section of the Act—means that a code of practice has been provided to local authorities, and the purpose of advocacy is to make sure that those people who feel that their own voice has not been heard fully in the way that services have been provided, that that voice can be supported and amplified, and the active offer of advocacy to children and young people is a particular feature of the way in which that service is provided here in Wales.

But I agree with the basic point that the Member made. People who feel they’ve not received the service to which they were entitled, they have a right to challenge those decisions and the way in which they do so ought to be properly reflected in data capture, and where improvements need to be made, the voice of the user ought to be influential in those decisions.

Rwy'n sicr yn cytuno y dylai pobl, pan wneir penderfyniadau mewn cysylltiad â'u gofal eu hunain, gael yr hawl i herio'r penderfyniad hwnnw, ac y dylai'r hawl i herio fod ar gael iddyn nhw mewn ffordd sy'n real, sy'n hygyrch, a'u bod nhw'n teimlo bod eu llais wedi cael ei glywed yn iawn. Felly, wrth fwrw ymlaen ag unrhyw argymhelliad, un o'r ffyrdd y byddwn eisiau sicrhau yma yng Nghymru ein bod yn gwella'r system yw sicrhau bod llais y defnyddiwr wrth wraidd unrhyw gasglu data neu unrhyw welliant yn y system honno yn y dyfodol.

O dan delerau'r canllawiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu darparu, mae Rhan 10 o'r Ddeddf gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a llesiant—adran eiriolaeth y Ddeddf—yn golygu bod cod ymarfer wedi cael ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol, a phwrpas eiriolaeth yw gwneud yn siŵr bod y bobl hynny sy'n teimlo nad yw eu llais eu hunain wedi cael ei glywed yn llawn o ran y ffordd y cafodd gwasanaethau eu darparu, bod modd cefnogi ac ymhelaethu ar y llais hwnnw, ac mae'r arlwy gweithredol o eiriolaeth i blant a phobl ifanc yn nodwedd arbennig o'r modd y darperir y gwasanaeth hwnnw yma yng Nghymru.

Ond rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt sylfaenol a wnaeth yr Aelod. Pobl sy'n teimlo nad ydyn nhw wedi derbyn y gwasanaeth yr oedd ganddyn nhw hawl iddo, mae ganddyn nhw hawl i herio'r penderfyniadau hynny a dylai'r ffordd y maen nhw'n gwneud hynny gael ei hadlewyrchu'n iawn wrth gipio data, a phan fo angen gwneud gwelliannau, dylai llais y defnyddiwr fod yn ddylanwadol yn y penderfyniadau hynny.

14:25

Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Darren Millar.

Finally, question 8, Darren Millar.

Gwrthsemitiaeth
Antisemitism

8. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i hyrwyddo mabwysiadu diffiniad Cynghrair Ryngwladol Cofio'r Holocost o wrthsemitiaeth gan sefydliadau sy'n derbyn arian gan Lywodraeth Cymru? OQ59334

8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to promote the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism by organisations in receipt of Welsh Government funding? OQ59334

Well, Llywydd, I thank Darren Millar for that. The Welsh Government has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in full and without qualification. Our 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan' provides the framework through which we will take concerted action to tackle antisemitism, including our ongoing support for victims of hate crime.

Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Darren Millar am hynna. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi mabwysiadu diffiniad Cynghrair Cofio'r Holocost Rhyngwladol o wrthsemitiaeth yn llawn ac yn ddi-amod. Mae ein 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol' yn darparu'r fframwaith y byddwn yn ei ddefnyddio i gymryd camau ar y cyd i fynd i'r afael â gwrthsemitiaeth, gan gynnwys ein cefnogaeth barhaus i ddioddefwyr troseddau casineb.

I’m very grateful for that response, First Minister, and I applaud the leadership that the Welsh Government had shown back in 2017 when it did adopt the IHRA definition in full, but we are six years on, and there are still organisations across Wales that are in significant receipt of funds from the Welsh Government that are yet to adopt the IHRA definition; and indeed, some of them have outright rejected it.

This is particularly concerning, I think, in our higher education sector. We have eight universities in Wales; only one, Bangor University, has adopted the IHRA definition, and that compares extremely badly to the higher education system in other parts of the United Kingdom. Can I ask you, as a condition of funding being given to organisations like our universities, colleges, other places of learning, and indeed, the wider public sector, that you require those organisations to adopt this very important definition of antisemitism, which will help to put to bed some of the horrors that we’ve seen in our society in recent years?

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am yr ymateb yna, ac rydw i'n cymeradwyo'r arweinyddiaeth yr oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei dangos yn ôl yn 2017 pan wnaeth fabwysiadu diffiniad yr IHRA yn llawn, ond rydym chwe blynedd yn ddiweddarach, ac mae sefydliadau o hyd ledled Cymru sydd yn derbyn arian sylweddol gan Lywodraeth Cymru sydd eto i fabwysiadu diffiniad yr IHRA; ac yn wir, mae rhai ohonynt wedi ei wrthod yn llwyr.

Mae hyn yn arbennig o bryderus, rwy'n credu, yn ein sector addysg uwch. Mae gennym wyth prifysgol yng Nghymru; dim ond un, Prifysgol Bangor, sydd wedi mabwysiadu diffiniad yr IHRA, ac mae hynny'n cymharu'n eithriadol o wael â'r system addysg uwch mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. A gaf ofyn i chi, fel amod o'r cyllid sy'n cael ei roi i sefydliadau fel ein prifysgolion, colegau, mannau dysgu eraill, ac yn wir, y sector cyhoeddus ehangach, eich bod yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i'r sefydliadau hynny fabwysiadu'r diffiniad pwysig iawn hwn o wrthsemitiaeth, a fydd yn helpu i roi terfyn ar rai o'r erchyllterau a welsom yn ein cymdeithas yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf?

Well, I share the Member’s view of the horror of antisemitism and there’s no doubt at all that there has been a rise in such incidents, and that we all have an obligation to play our part in resisting that. Universities, in the end, Llywydd, are autonomous bodies. The Welsh Government cannot instruct, but the Minister has made it clear in his dealings with universities that while he respects their autonomy, the Welsh Government is keen for them to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

We don’t intend to pursue this through the funding route to which Darren Millar referred, but this is how we intend to take that conversation further forward: higher education institutions in Wales have an obligation to carry out their functions in full recognition of their obligations under their public sector equality duty. We are to carry out a review of that duty here in Wales, and in that review, we will make sure that we engage with those organisations in Wales in receipt of Welsh Government funding—including the university sector—to make sure that the review of the equality and human rights duty in Wales includes consideration of relevant definitions such as the IHRA, so that that definition will be part of the review, universities are obliged under the public sector equality duty to have regard to their responsibilities, and we will be exploring that with them as part of that review.

Wel, rwy'n rhannu barn yr Aelod am erchylltra gwrthsemitiaeth a does dim amheuaeth o gwbl fod cynnydd wedi bod mewn digwyddiadau o'r fath, a bod rhwymedigaeth ar bob un ohonom i chwarae ein rhan i wrthsefyll hynny. Mae prifysgolion, yn y pen draw, Llywydd, yn gyrff ymreolaethol. Ni all Llywodraeth Cymru gyfarwyddo, ond mae'r Gweinidog wedi ei gwneud yn eglur wrth ymwneud â phrifysgolion bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn awyddus iddynt fabwysiadu diffiniad yr IHRA o wrthsemitiaeth er ei fod yn parchu eu hymreolaeth.

Nid ydym yn bwriadu mynd ar ôl hyn drwy'r llwybr ariannu y cyfeiriodd Darren Millar ato, ond dyma sut rydym yn bwriadu mynd â'r sgwrs honno ymhellach ymlaen: mae rhwymedigaeth ar sefydliadau addysg uwch yng Nghymru i gyflawni eu swyddogaethau i gydnabod eu rhwymedigaethau'n llawn o'u rhwymedigaethau o dan eu dyletswydd cydraddoldeb yn y sector cyhoeddus. Byddwn ni'n cynnal adolygiad o'r ddyletswydd honno yma yng Nghymru, ac yn yr adolygiad hwnnw, byddwn ni'n sicrhau ein bod ni'n ymgysylltu â'r sefydliadau hynny yng Nghymru sy'n derbyn arian Llywodraeth Cymru—gan gynnwys y sector prifysgol—i wneud yn siŵr bod yr adolygiad o'r ddyletswydd cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru yn cynnwys ystyriaeth o ddiffiniadau perthnasol fel yr IHRA, er mwyn i'r diffiniad hwnnw fod yn rhan o'r adolygiad, mae'n ofynnol i brifysgolion o dan ddyletswydd cydraddoldeb y sector cyhoeddus roi sylw i'w cyfrifoldebau, a byddwn ni'n archwilio hynny gyda nhw fel rhan o'r adolygiad hwnnw.

2. Datganiad a Chyhoeddiad Busnes
2. Business Statement and Announcement

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hynny. Lesley Griffiths.

The next item will be the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Lesley Griffiths.

Member
Lesley Griffiths 14:29:56
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to this week's business. Firstly, the Minister for Economy will make a statement on the free-port programme in Wales. To accommodate this, the statement on the taxi and private hire vehicle White Paper has been withdrawn. Finally, the legislative consent debate on the Procurement Bill will consist of two motions rather than one. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Mae tri newid i'r busnes yr wythnos hon. Yn gyntaf, bydd Gweinidog yr Economi yn gwneud datganiad ar y rhaglen porthladd rhydd yng Nghymru. Er mwyn darparu ar gyfer hyn, mae'r datganiad ar y Papur Gwyn ar dacsi a cherbyd hurio preifat wedi'i dynnu'n ôl. Yn olaf, bydd y ddadl cydsyniad deddfwriaethol ar y Bil Caffael yn cynnwys dau gynnig yn hytrach nag un. Mae busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos eistedd nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad busnes a'r cyhoeddiad, sydd i'w weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig. 

14:30

Trefnydd, can I call for two statements this week? The first is from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change in relation to his transport responsibilities and seeking an update on the blue badge scheme in Wales. I've had a number of constituents who've been coming forward with concerns about the renewals process for the blue badge scheme. I appreciate that it's only right that these things are reviewed periodically, from time to time, but some of the evidence that they're having to provide seems a little bit ridiculous. I had one constituent who was asked to take a photograph of her walking aid in order to see whether she was eligible for a blue badge. Of course, she did point out to the person asking her for a photograph that she could take a photograph of anybody's walking aid and send that across, but, for whatever reason, that's what she had to do. Clearly, there needs to be some stricter guidance, with some common sense, to make sure that these obstacles can be overcome. 

The second statement that I'd like, please, is from the Deputy Minister for the armed forces on veteran welfare in Wales. I know that this is an issue that the Welsh Government takes very seriously. I met with the Royal British Legion last week, and was alarmed to hear that the number of veterans coming forward for support from their welfare officers has fallen quite significantly post the pandemic. There appears to be no explanation as to why that is the case. Of course, it may be that demand is just generally lower, but given the cost-of-living pressures that we're seeing across Wales at the moment, I really don't believe that that is the case, and I think it requires some further investigation. We know that the Royal British Legion has resources that it wants to make available, and SSAFA and other organisations have resources that they want to make available to support veterans, particularly in their old age. Therefore, I would be grateful if the Minister could commit to working with those organisations to try and do what they can to promote the opportunities that are there. 

Trefnydd, a gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad yr wythnos yma? Y cyntaf gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynglŷn â'i gyfrifoldebau trafnidiaeth ac i ofyn am ddiweddariad ar y cynllun bathodynnau glas yng Nghymru. Rwyf wedi bod â nifer o etholwyr sydd wedi bod yn nodi pryderon am y broses adnewyddu ar gyfer y cynllun bathodyn glas. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi ei bod hi ond yn iawn fod y pethau hyn yn cael eu hadolygu yn gyfnodol, o bryd i'w gilydd, ond mae rhywfaint o'r dystiolaeth y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei darparu yn ymddangos ychydig yn hurt. Roedd gen i un etholwr y gofynnwyd iddi dynnu llun o'i chymorth cerdded er mwyn gweld a oedd hi'n gymwys i gael bathodyn glas. Wrth gwrs, fe wnaeth hi dynnu sylw y person a oedd wedi gofyn iddi am lun at y ffaith y gallai hi dynnu llun o gymorth cerdded unrhyw un ac anfon hwnnw, ond, am ba bynnag reswm, dyna oedd yn rhaid iddi ei wneud. Yn amlwg, mae angen rhywfaint o arweiniad llymach, gyda rhywfaint o synnwyr cyffredin, i wneud yn siŵr bod modd goresgyn y rhwystrau hyn.

Yr ail ddatganiad yr hoffwn i ei gael, os gwelwch yn dda, yw un gan Ddirprwy Weinidog y lluoedd arfog ar les cyn-filwyr yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gwybod bod hwn yn fater y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gymryd o ddifrif. Fe wnes i gyfarfod â'r Lleng Brydeinig Frenhinol yr wythnos diwethaf, ac fe ges i fraw o glywed bod nifer y cyn-filwyr sy'n gofyn am gefnogaeth gan eu swyddogion lles wedi gostwng yn eithaf sylweddol ar ôl y pandemig. Ymddengys nad oes eglurhad pam y mae hynny'n wir. Wrth gwrs, efallai fod y galw hwnnw ar y cyfan yn is, ond o ystyried y pwysau costau byw yr ydym yn eu gweld ledled Cymru ar hyn o bryd, dydw i wir ddim yn credu bod hynny'n wir, ac rwy'n credu bod angen ymchwilio ymhellach iddo. Rydym yn gwybod bod gan y Lleng Brydeinig Frenhinol adnoddau y mae eisiau eu darparu, ac mae gan SSAFA a sefydliadau eraill adnoddau y maen nhw eisiau eu darparu i gefnogi cyn-filwyr, yn enwedig yn eu henaint. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Gweinidog ymrwymo i weithio gyda'r sefydliadau hynny i geisio gwneud yr hyn a allant i hyrwyddo'r cyfleoedd sydd yno. 

Thank you. In relation to your second point, the Deputy Minister is in her seat and has heard your questions. I'm sure she is, and will continue to be, committed to working both with the third sector and any other service provider or organisation in supporting our veterans.

Regarding the blue badge scheme, I am aware that, obviously, the system was looked at holistically—it was probably about three years ago now—and it came forward with a new scheme. I do recognise some of the points that you made from my own constituency mailbag. I will certainly ask the Deputy Minister to update us if there is something further he is able to tell us. I do think there is a difference between local authorities and the criteria that they use, and it could be that it needs to be looked at to make sure there is a level playing field across Wales. 

Diolch. O ran eich ail bwynt, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn ei sedd ac wedi clywed eich cwestiynau. Rwy'n siŵr ei bod hi, a bydd yn parhau i fod, wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda'r trydydd sector ac unrhyw ddarparwr gwasanaeth neu sefydliad arall wrth gefnogi ein cyn-filwyr.

O ran y cynllun bathodyn glas, rwy'n ymwybodol yr edrychwyd ar y system, yn amlwg, yn gyfannol—mae'n debyg mai tua thair blynedd yn ôl oedd hi nawr—a daeth cynllun newydd. Rwy'n cydnabod rhai o'r pwyntiau a wnaethoch chi o fy mag post yn fy etholaeth fy hun. Byddaf yn sicr yn gofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog ein diweddaru os oes rhywbeth arall y mae'n gallu ei ddweud wrthym. Rwy'n credu bod yna wahaniaeth rhwng awdurdodau lleol a'r meini prawf y maen nhw'n eu defnyddio, a gallai fod angen edrych arno i wneud yn siŵr bod chwarae teg ar draws Cymru. 

I'd like to ask for a statement, please, setting out how the Government will urgently increase capacity in community hospitals. A few weeks ago, I raised concerns with the First Minister that ambulances were in effect being used as waiting rooms because of a lack of hospital beds. I've been contacted by a constituent this week whose story, I think, has highlighted another way in which that lack of beds is affecting patients, which is that a lack of capacity in community hospitals means people are being kept in hospitals further away from home for a longer period of time than is necessary. My constituent's wife, who has lung cancer, collapsed at home, and there were no ambulances, so he drove her to the Grange. After waiting for hours on a trolley, she was moved to another unit, but even after she was assessed and she was stable, she couldn't be released, because they were told that there were no beds available in Ystrad Mynach or in Ebbw Vale for her continued treatment and rehabilitation. My constituent said, 'It's real people's lives who are being blighted by this situation', and I agree with him. Could a statement please set out how the Government will get to grips with the serious lack of capacity in community hospitals that's delaying people getting to where they need to be?

Hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, yn nodi sut y bydd y Llywodraeth yn cynyddu'r capasiti ar frys mewn ysbytai cymunedol. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, fe wnes i godi pryderon gyda'r Prif Weinidog bod ambiwlansys mewn gwirionedd yn cael eu defnyddio fel ystafelloedd aros oherwydd diffyg gwelyau ysbyty. Mae etholwr wedi cysylltu â mi yr wythnos hon, y mae ei stori, rwy'n credu, wedi tynnu sylw at ffordd arall y mae'r diffyg gwelyau hwnnw'n effeithio ar gleifion, sef bod diffyg capasiti mewn ysbytai cymunedol yn golygu bod pobl yn cael eu cadw mewn ysbytai ymhellach o'u cartrefi am gyfnod hirach nag sy'n angenrheidiol. Cwympodd gwraig fy etholwr, sydd â chanser yr ysgyfaint, yn eu cartref, a doedd dim ambiwlansys, felly fe wnaeth ei gyrru hi i'r Faenor. Ar ôl aros am oriau ar droli, cafodd ei symud i uned arall, ond hyd yn oed ar ôl iddi gael ei hasesu ac roedd hi'n sefydlog, doedd dim modd ei rhyddhau, oherwydd dywedwyd wrthyn nhw nad oedd gwelyau ar gael yn Ystrad Mynach nac yng Nglyn Ebwy ar gyfer ei thriniaeth barhaus a'i hadferiad. Dywedodd fy etholwr, 'Bywydau pobl go iawn sy'n cael eu difetha gan y sefyllfa yma', ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef. A allai datganiad nodi sut y bydd y Llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â'r diffyg capasiti difrifol mewn ysbytai cymunedol sy'n achosi oedi i bobl gyrraedd lle mae angen iddyn nhw fod?

Thank you. We know, not just in our community hospitals, but in our district general hospitals as well, that delayed transfers of care are causing a great deal of consternation with bed capacity. Obviously, this is something that the Minister for Health and Social Services is looking at across the piece. 

Diolch. Rydyn ni'n gwybod, nid yn unig yn ein hysbytai cymunedol, ond yn ein hysbytai cyffredinol dosbarth hefyd, bod oedi cyn trosglwyddo gofal yn achosi llawer iawn o bryder o ran capasiti gwelyau. Yn amlwg, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn edrych arno ar draws y maes. 

14:35

I would like to ask for a Government statement on the future of the Heart of Wales railway line. I'm told by constituents that trains are regularly cancelled, and that, during summer, they are overcrowded. Can the Government outline its plans for the Heart of Wales railway line?

I would also like a Government statement on how the Government decides on funding to support tourist businesses. Surely, if a tourism operator has a good commercial idea, they should be able to raise money from the financial markets. My concern is that Welsh Government money that could be better spent is supporting these businesses. In Swansea East, £4 million is being given to a zip wire company, at a cost of £40,000 per job.

Hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar ddyfodol rheilffordd Calon Cymru. Rwy'n cael gwybod gan etholwyr bod trenau'n cael eu canslo'n rheolaidd, a'u bod nhw, yn ystod yr haf, yn orlawn. A wnaiff y Llywodraeth amlinellu ei chynlluniau ar gyfer rheilffordd Calon Cymru?

Hoffwn hefyd gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn penderfynu ar gyllid i gefnogi busnesau twristiaeth. Heb os nac oni bai, os oes gan weithredwr twristiaeth syniad masnachol da, dylai allu codi arian o'r marchnadoedd ariannol. Fy mhryder i yw bod arian Llywodraeth Cymru y gellid ei wario'n well yn cefnogi'r busnesau yma. Yn Nwyrain Abertawe, mae £4 miliwn yn cael ei roi i gwmni gwifren wib, ar gost o £40,000 fesul swydd.

The Deputy Minister for Climate Change recently issued a written statement on the Welsh Government's plans for improving rural transport. This confirmed that we would be submitting a proposal shortly to the UK Government's union connectivity fund to develop plans to increase capacity across the Cambrian and Heart of Wales rail lines, and, in doing so, increase cross-border connectivity. I know that the Deputy Minister recently met with Transport for Wales and the Heart of Wales Line Travellers' Association regarding the performance of the line and the importance of Transport for Wales making sure that they provide very clear information to passengers about any disruption to the services.

The methodology applied in deciding investments in relation to tourism is very comprehensive, and it follows a strict code of governance. The due diligence process involves a combination of both Welsh Government investment analysis and expert advice and support commissioned from an outside body.

Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd ddatganiad ysgrifenedig am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gwella trafnidiaeth wledig. Cadarnhawyd yn hwn y byddem yn cyflwyno cynnig yn fuan i gronfa cysylltedd undeb Llywodraeth y DU i ddatblygu cynlluniau i gynyddu capasiti ar linellau rheilffyrdd y Cambrian a Chalon Cymru, ac, wrth wneud hynny, cynyddu cysylltedd trawsffiniol. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog, yn ddiweddar, wedi cwrdd â Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Chymdeithas Teithwyr Rheilffordd Calon Cymru ynglŷn â pherfformiad y rheilffordd a phwysigrwydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn darparu gwybodaeth glir iawn i deithwyr ynglŷn ag unrhyw amharu ar y gwasanaethau.

Mae'r fethodoleg a ddefnyddir wrth benderfynu ar fuddsoddiadau mewn cysylltiad â thwristiaeth yn gynhwysfawr iawn, ac mae'n dilyn cod llywodraethu llym. Mae'r broses diwydrwydd dyladwy yn cynnwys cyfuniad o ddadansoddiad buddsoddi Llywodraeth Cymru a chyngor a chefnogaeth arbenigol a gomisiynir gan gorff allanol.

Minister, can I ask for a statement about the terms and conditions of Welsh Government funding grants? The reason why I ask for this is because Blaenau Gwent council has missed out on nearly £250,000 of funding, which it was going to use for a bus infrastructure project. The project's contractor had been unable to deliver the project within the funding timescale, due to unforeseen circumstances, meaning the money now has to be sent back to the Welsh Government. It now leaves the council in a rather difficult situation, and the project, ultimately, in limbo. One of the things the Welsh Government could do to stop something similar happening again is perhaps having an 'exceptional circumstances' clause—just as an example. Please can we have a statement about what steps the Welsh Government can take to make the grant funding process for Welsh councils easier? Because it would be a shame to see great projects fail because of rigid processes that will only disadvantage the people of Wales in the long term.

Gweinidog, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad am delerau ac amodau grantiau ariannu Llywodraeth Cymru? Y rheswm pam rwy'n gofyn am hwn yw oherwydd bod cyngor Blaenau Gwent ar ei golled o £250,000 o gyllid, yr oedd yn mynd i'w ddefnyddio ar gyfer prosiect seilwaith bysiau. Nid oedd contractwr y prosiect wedi gallu cyflawni'r prosiect o fewn yr amserlen ariannu, oherwydd amgylchiadau annisgwyl, sy'n golygu bod yn rhaid anfon yr arian yn ôl at Lywodraeth Cymru yn awr. Mae bellach yn gadael y cyngor mewn sefyllfa eithaf anodd, a'r prosiect, yn y pen draw, mewn limbo. Un o'r pethau y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i atal rhywbeth tebyg rhag digwydd eto yw cael cymal 'amgylchiadau eithriadol' efallai—fel esiampl. A gawn ni ddatganiad am ba gamau all Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd i wneud y broses arian grantiau ar gyfer cynghorau Cymru yn haws? Oherwydd byddai'n drueni gweld prosiectau mawr yn methu oherwydd prosesau caeth a fydd dim ond yn rhoi pobl Cymru dan anfantais yn yr hirdymor.

The Welsh Government allocates a great deal of funding to local authorities, on a great number of schemes, so I'm not aware of the particular grant that you refer to. But I'm sure the Member would expect—and it is, indeed, the case—that there are very strict criteria, and it's not something that you can just leave to chance. I would think that it's probably best to write to the Minister directly about that specific grant you refer to.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dyrannu llawer iawn o gyllid i awdurdodau lleol, ar nifer fawr o gynlluniau, felly dydw i ddim yn ymwybodol o'r grant penodol rydych chi'n cyfeirio ato. Ond rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Aelod yn disgwyl—ac, yn sicr, mae'n wir—bod meini prawf llym iawn, ac nid yw'n rhywbeth y gallwch chi ei adael i hap a damwain. Byddwn i'n meddwl mae'n debyg mai'r peth gorau yw ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog yn uniongyrchol am y grant penodol hwnnw yr ydych yn cyfeirio ato.

Mae'r clociau wedi eu troi ymlaen ac mae'r gwanwyn o'n blaenau ni. Mae hynny'n destun llawenydd, ac yn rhywbeth sy'n codi calon nifer ohonom ni. Mae'n ddechrau'r tymor twristiaeth traddodiadol, ac wrth gwrs mae hynny'n dod â phob math o fuddiannau a chyfleoedd i rannau helaeth o Gymru. Ond mae yna rai cymunedau lle mae'r adeg yma o'r flwyddyn yn golygu cychwyn ar drafferthion parcio, problemau sbwriel, gwersylla anghyfreithlon, a phwysau difrifol ar isadeiledd lleol. Yr wythnos diwethaf, mi ges i gyfarfod â chynghorau cymuned Capel Curig a Betws-y-coed, ynghyd â phartneriaid yn cynnwys Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, parc cenedlaethol Eryri, yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol ac eraill, i drafod rhai o'r heriau a'r gofidiau yma. Gaf i ofyn felly am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am dwristiaeth ynglŷn â beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i gefnogi'r cymunedau yma, efallai drwy helpu i wella isadeiledd, sicrhau bod gan y partneriaid perthnasol adnoddau angenrheidiol i ddelio â'r problemau, a hefyd help i amddiffyn ecoleg yr ardaloedd yma? Oherwydd mae hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n cael ei ddifrodi gan rai ymwelwyr anghyfrifol, sydd nid yn unig ddim yn parchu'r rheolau ond yn aml iawn yn torri'r gyfraith. 

The clocks have gone forward and spring is facing us. That's a cause of joy, and it raises the spirits of many of us. It's the start of the traditional tourism season, and of course that brings all sorts of opportunities and benefits to large parts of Wales. But there are some communities where this time of the year does mean the beginning of parking difficulties, littering, illegal camping, and great pressures on local infrastructure. Last week, I had a meeting with Capel Curig and Betws-y-coed community councils, as well as partners including Natural Resources Wales, Eryri national park, the National Trust and others, to discuss some of these challenges and concerns. Can I ask therefore for a statement from the Minister responsible for tourism on what the Welsh Government is doing to support these communities, perhaps by helping to improve infrastructure, ensuring that the relevant partners have the necessary resources to deal with problems, and also to help to protect the ecology of these areas? Because that is something that is damaged by some irresponsible visitors, who not only don't respect the rules but very often break the law.

Thank you. You raise a very important point. Obviously, while we want to see tourism absolutely boom here in Wales, unfortunately, as is often the case, the minority spoil it for the majority. I know the Deputy Minister has recently taken tourism into her portfolio and is looking at a variety of issues around tourism, and I'm sure she'll be very happy to update us via a written statement.

Diolch. Rydych chi'n codi pwynt pwysig iawn. Yn amlwg, er ein bod ni eisiau gweld twristiaeth yn ffynnu yn sicr yma yng Nghymru, yn anffodus, fel sy'n digwydd yn aml, mae'r lleiafrif yn ei ddifetha i'r mwyafrif. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Dirprwy Weinidog wedi derbyn twristiaeth i'w phortffolio yn ddiweddar ac yn edrych ar amrywiaeth o faterion yn ymwneud â thwristiaeth, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd hi'n hapus iawn i'n diweddaru trwy ddatganiad ysgrifenedig.

Good afternoon, Minister. It is reported that the chief executive of Dŵr Cymru is to receive a bonus payment of nearly £0.25 million. This is despite sewage being in our rivers and our seas, and our beaches being in a terrible condition. I wonder if I could ask for a statement, please, from the relevant Minister on the performance of Dŵr Cymru, as well as the payment of bonuses to senior staff in the public sector. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Prynhawn da, Gweinidog. Adroddir y bydd prif weithredwr Dŵr Cymru yn derbyn taliad bonws o bron i £0.25 miliwn. Mae hyn er bod carthion yn ein hafonydd a'n moroedd, a'n traethau mewn cyflwr ofnadwy. Tybed a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan y Gweinidog perthnasol ar berfformiad Dŵr Cymru, yn ogystal â thalu taliadau bonws i uwch staff yn y sector cyhoeddus. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

14:40

Thank you. Welsh Ministers do not have a formal role in determining executive pay for Wales's water companies, but the Welsh Government does monitor pay and performance, and we do expect relevant remuneration committees to reflect very carefully on performance and delivery against the breadth of current water sector and environmental challenges that need to be addressed—and you pointed one out immediately. I think we should also remember the way that Dŵr Cymru was set up. I think they should bear that in mind when setting these bonuses that you referred to. 

Diolch. Nid oes gan Weinidogion Cymru rôl ffurfiol wrth benderfynu ar gyflog swyddogion gweithredol cwmnïau dŵr Cymru, ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn monitro cyflog a pherfformiad, ac rydyn ni'n disgwyl i'r pwyllgorau cydnabyddiaeth ariannol perthnasol fyfyrio'n ofalus iawn ynghylch perfformiad a chyflawniad o'u cymharu â'r holl heriau i'r sector dŵr a heriau amgylcheddol ar hyn o bryd y mae angen mynd i'r afael â nhw—ac fe wnaethoch chi nodi un ar unwaith. Rwy'n credu y dylem ni hefyd gofio sut y cafodd Dŵr Cymru ei sefydlu. Rwy'n credu y dylen nhw gofio hynny wrth bennu'r bonysau hyn y cyfeirioch chi atyn nhw. 

Could I ask for two statements, please? The first is on the support that's available for swimming pools to get us through the runaway costs that they are facing at the moment. Swimming pools tend to be something of a money pit to run at normal times; at the moment, they're under intense pressure. Some of the public pools in my area have contacted me to ask the question, which is a genuine question—. Apparently, there has been additional money—new money, according to the Chancellor—announced for distribution via Sport England to pools within England for the next 12 months. So, they're asking—I have to say they're quite sceptical about this—whether we can hear from the Welsh Government whether there are any consequentials that we'll be able to pass on to pools here. I don't expect you can answer now, Trefnydd, on that, but a statement on it would be really welcome. 

The second statement I'd like to ask for is one on the money that has now been clawed back to the UK Treasury—the £155.5 million. I know the committee has reported on this, but the precedent in previous years has been to be flexible in this. I understand that the finance Minister made suggestions to the Treasury to actually change this into capital from revenue spending. This was declined, and several options were declined. We have, in effect, lost £155.5 million. I would like to see a statement on that, how we can avoid this in future, and why it was clawed back from Wales, when, actually, the amount was significantly bigger in some UK Government departments. I'd like to see a statement on that. Thank you, Trefnydd. 

A gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda? Mae'r cyntaf ar y gefnogaeth sydd ar gael ar gyfer pyllau nofio i'n helpu ni drwy'r costau diddiwedd y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd. Mae pyllau nofio yn dueddol o fod yn dipyn o ddraen ar arian i'w gweithredu ar adegau arferol; ar hyn o bryd, maen nhw dan bwysau dwys. Mae rhai o'r pyllau cyhoeddus yn fy ardal i wedi cysylltu â mi i ofyn y cwestiwn, sy'n gwestiwn dilys—. Mae'n debyg bod arian ychwanegol—arian newydd, yn ôl y Canghellor—wedi ei gyhoeddi i'w ddosbarthu drwy Chwaraeon Lloegr i byllau yn Lloegr am y 12 mis nesaf. Felly, maen nhw'n gofyn—mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud eu bod nhw'n eithaf amheus o hyn—a allwn ni glywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru a oes unrhyw symiau canlyniadol y byddwn ni'n gallu eu trosglwyddo i byllau yma. Dydw i ddim yn disgwyl y gallwch chi ateb nawr, Trefnydd, ar hynny, ond byddai croeso mawr i ddatganiad amdano. 

Yr ail ddatganiad yr hoffwn ofyn amdano yw un ar yr arian sydd bellach wedi ei gymryd yn ôl gan Drysorlys y DU—y £155.5 miliwn. Rwy'n gwybod bod y pwyllgor wedi adrodd ar hyn, ond y cynsail mewn blynyddoedd blaenorol oedd bod yn hyblyg yn hyn. Rwy'n deall bod y Gweinidog cyllid wedi gwneud awgrymiadau i'r Trysorlys i newid hwn mewn gwirionedd yn gyfalaf o wariant refeniw. Gwrthodwyd hyn, a gwrthodwyd sawl opsiwn. I bob pwrpas, rydyn ni wedi colli £155.5 miliwn. Fe hoffwn i weld datganiad ar hynny, sut y gallwn ni osgoi hyn yn y dyfodol, a pham y cafodd ei gymryd yn ôl o Gymru, pan oedd y swm, mewn gwirionedd, yn llawer mwy mewn rhai adrannau o Lywodraeth y DU. Hoffwn weld datganiad ar hynny. Diolch, Trefnydd. 

Thank you. In relation to the additional funding for swimming pools, as you say, the UK Government budget did announce further funding for that. As a Cabinet, we are looking at the additional funding that came forward from the spring budget, and obviously decisions will be made collectively.

In relation to the £155 million, obviously that was our money. As a Government, we had plans for how to spend that money, and the rules were changed. In relation to what you were saying about UK Government departments, you're quite right: departments in Whitehall returned about £25 billion to the Treasury. If you look at the Department of Health and Social Care in England alone, they returned £18.6 billion to the Treasury. If you think about what our Barnett consequential share would have been of that funding, we would have had an additional £1 billion. But we didn't return that £1 billion, because we spent more in Wales. Our offer to businesses during the COVID pandemic was much more generous, for example, and we also spent better, avoiding the scandals of those dodgy PPE contracts. 

Diolch. O ran y cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer pyllau nofio, fel y dywedwch chi, fe wnaeth cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU gyhoeddi rhagor o arian ar gyfer hynny. Fel Cabinet, rydyn ni'n edrych ar y cyllid ychwanegol a ddaeth o gyllideb y gwanwyn, ac yn amlwg bydd penderfyniadau'n cael eu gwneud ar y cyd.

O ran y £155 miliwn, yn amlwg ein harian ni oedd hwnnw. Fel Llywodraeth, roedd gennym ni gynlluniau ar gyfer sut i wario'r arian hwnnw, a newidiwyd y rheolau. O ran yr hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ddweud am adrannau Llywodraeth y DU, rydych chi yn llygad eich lle: fe wnaeth adrannau yn Whitehall ddychwelyd tua £25 biliwn i'r Trysorlys. Os edrychwch chi ar yr Adran Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn Lloegr yn unig, fe wnaethon nhw ddychwelyd £18.6 biliwn i'r Trysorlys. Os ydych chi'n meddwl am yr hyn y byddai ein cyfran o gyllid canlyniadol Barnett wedi bod o'r cyllid hwnnw, byddem wedi cael £1 biliwn yn ychwanegol. Ond wnaethom ni ddim dychwelyd yr £1 biliwn hwnnw, oherwydd fe warion ni fwy yng Nghymru. Roedd ein cynnig ni i fusnesau yn ystod pandemig COVID yn llawer mwy hael, er enghraifft, ac fe wnaethom ni hefyd wario'n well, gan osgoi sgandalau'r contractau PPE amheus hynny. 

Trefnydd, could I ask for statement this afternoon from the Government in response to the recent Daily Telegraph survey on the town of Rhyl, which claimed it was one of the least desirable seaside towns in Britain to visit, describing it as having 'no past, no arts or entertainment, no fun'? Even in the past, it's been described as 'Costa del Dole' and 'Blackpool after a neutron bomb', which is quite a nasty way to describe Rhyl, really. Being from the local area, I beg to differ with a lot of those statements, as there are a lot of attractive features in the town. I would encourage anybody to visit the town themselves to see what it's got on offer, including three miles of unspoilt beaches, a sea life centre, SC2, 1891, to just name a few. But generally, how are we ever going to turn round Rhyl's fortunes with this sort of attitude? I know it's had its problems over the years, but there has been a lot of work locally to try and turn things around. What is the Welsh Government's response to this article? Do you accept that such stories don't help Rhyl at all? What partnership working is the Welsh Government undertaking with the likes of Denbighshire County Council, local tourism boards and the public to attract people to visit the town? And what efforts are being made by Welsh Government to invest in seaside towns such as Rhyl to ensure a more buoyant economy and to create well-paid, sustainable jobs in the area to give local people opportunities? Thank you.

Trefnydd, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad y prynhawn yma gan y Llywodraeth mewn ymateb i arolwg diweddar y Daily Telegraph ar dref Y Rhyl, a honnodd ei bod yn un o'r trefi glan môr lleiaf dymunol ym Mhrydain i ymweld â nhw, gan ei disgrifio fel un â 'dim gorffennol, dim celfyddydau nac adloniant, dim hwyl'? Hyd yn oed yn y gorffennol, mae wedi cael ei disgrifio fel 'Costa del Dole' a 'Blackpool ar ôl bom niwtron', sydd yn ffordd eithaf cas o ddisgrifio'r Rhyl, mewn gwirionedd. Gan fy mod i o'r ardal leol, rwy'n anghytuno'n llwyr â llawer o'r datganiadau hynny, gan fod llawer o nodweddion deniadol yn y dref. Byddwn yn annog unrhyw un i ymweld â'r dref ei hun i weld beth sydd ar gael, gan gynnwys tair milltir o draethau godidog, canolfan bywyd môr, SC2, 1891, i enwi ond ychydig. Ond yn gyffredinol, sut ydyn ni byth yn mynd i newid ffawd y Rhyl gyda'r math yma o agwedd? Rwy'n gwybod y bu ganddi ei phroblemau dros y blynyddoedd, ond mae yna lawer o waith wedi bod yn lleol i drio newid pethau. Beth yw ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r erthygl yma? Ydych chi'n derbyn nad yw straeon o'r fath yn helpu'r Rhyl o gwbl? Pa waith partneriaeth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgymryd ag ef gyda sefydliadau fel Cyngor Sir Ddinbych, byrddau twristiaeth lleol a'r cyhoedd i ddenu pobl i ymweld â'r dref? A pha ymdrechion sy'n cael eu gwneud gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fuddsoddi mewn trefi glan môr fel y Rhyl i sicrhau economi fwy bywiog a chreu swyddi cynaliadwy, â chyflog da yn yr ardal i roi cyfleoedd i bobl leol? Diolch.

14:45

Well, I don't read The Daily Telegraph, and I'd advise the Member not to either. I think you make a serious point about Rhyl and, as somebody from north-east Wales, I know Rhyl very well. And you're quite right—some significant funding has gone into the regeneration of Rhyl, and certainly your predecessor, Ann Jones, always ensured that, for whatever money was around, Rhyl was absolutely at the top of every Minister's list when they had a look. I visited Denbighshire County Council last year. We did a day of visits, and I spent a significant part of that day in Rhyl, and it was very pleasing to see the investment that had gone into a number of significant investments—looking at the market, for instance, and the other plans that Denbighshire council has for it. And, alongside that, not just making it a pleasant place to visit, if you look at the funding that's gone into, for instance, flooding defence, because I think that's very important when we talk about seaside towns. 

Wel, dydw i ddim yn darllen y Daily Telegraph, a byddwn i'n cynghori'r Aelod i beidio â gwneud hynny chwaith. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n gwneud pwynt difrifol am Y Rhyl, ac fel rhywun o'r gogledd-ddwyrain, rwy'n adnabod Rhyl yn dda iawn. Ac rydych chi yn llygad eich lle—mae swm sylweddol o gyllid wedi'i fuddsoddi i adfywio'r Rhyl, ac yn sicr fe wnaeth eich rhagflaenydd, Ann Jones, wneud yn siŵr bob amser, fod y Rhyl, am beth bynnag yr oedd yr arian ar ei gyfer, ar frig rhestr pob Gweinidog pan oedden nhw'n cael golwg. Fe ymwelais i â Chyngor Sir Ddinbych y llynedd. Gwnaethom ddiwrnod o ymweliadau, a threuliais ran sylweddol o'r diwrnod hwnnw yn y Rhyl, a braf iawn oedd gweld y buddsoddiad oedd wedi'i wneud i nifer o fuddsoddiadau sylweddol—gan edrych ar y farchnad, er enghraifft, a'r cynlluniau eraill sydd gan Gyngor Sir Ddinbych ar ei gyfer. Ac, ochr yn ochr â hynny, nid dim ond ei wneud yn lle dymunol i ymweld, os edrychwch chi ar y cyllid sydd wedi'i fuddsoddi, er enghraifft, mewn amddiffynfeydd llifogydd, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig iawn pan fyddwn ni'n siarad am drefi glan môr. 

Trefnydd, I'd like a written statement, please, on rail infrastructure funding. I'd like to know how much money has Wales lost over the years due to the delay in the electrification of the Great Western rail line, the fact that HS2 and probably the Northern Powerhouse rail are classified as England-and-Wales projects. Last week, I raised during First Minister's questions the upgrading of the Cardiff west junction in Canton to enable four trains an hour to run through all Cardiff stations. This is the responsibility of Network Rail and UK Government. Since then, it has been pointed out to my office that this originally was included in the Department for Transport Network Rail Cardiff area resignalling and renewal project 2012-15, but, for whatever reason, it didn't happen. They said they were going to do it between 2012 and 2015, but we're still waiting in 2023. Can we please have it set out how much we have missed out on and why we are missing out on this money? The answers we're receiving back from the UK Government are becoming more and more weak, and that is to put it mildly. Diolch yn fawr, Trefnydd.

Trefnydd, hoffwn i ddatganiad ysgrifenedig, os gwelwch yn dda, ar gyllid seilwaith y rheilffyrdd. Hoffwn wybod faint o arian y mae Cymru wedi'i golli dros y blynyddoedd oherwydd yr oedi cyn trydaneiddio llinell reilffordd y Great Western, y ffaith bod HS2 a rheilffordd Pwerdy'r Gogledd, mae'n debyg, yn cael eu dosbarthu fel prosiectau Cymru-a Lloegr. Yr wythnos diwethaf, yn ystod sesiwn gwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog, codais uwchraddio cyffordd gorllewin Caerdydd yn Nhreganna er mwyn galluogi pedwar trên yr awr i redeg drwy holl orsafoedd Caerdydd. Cyfrifoldeb Network Rail a Llywodraeth y DU yw hyn. Ers hynny, mae fy swyddfa wedi cael gwybod bod hyn wedi'i gynnwys yn wreiddiol ym mhrosiect ail-signalu ac adnewyddu ardal Caerdydd yr Adran Drafnidiaeth a Network Rail 2012-15, ond, am ba bynnag reswm, ni ddigwyddodd hynny. Dywedon nhw eu bod nhw'n mynd i'w wneud rhwng 2012 a 2015, ond rydyn ni'n dal i aros yn 2023. A allwn ni os gwelwch chi'n dda gael gwybod faint rydyn ni wedi ei golli a pham ein bod ar ein colled o ran yr arian hwn? Mae'r atebion rydyn ni'n eu cael yn ôl gan Lywodraeth y DU yn mynd yn fwy a mwy gwan, a dweud y lleiaf. Diolch yn fawr, Trefnydd.

Thank you. Well, as you know, the Welsh Government continues to press for the UK Government to call Northern Powerhouse rail exactly what it is, and that's an England-only project, and the same with HS2. I think it would be interesting for Members to see the significant funding that we haven't received in Wales, and I will certainly ask the Deputy Minister, if he has all that information to hand, to update Members in a written statement.  

Diolch. Wel, fel y gwyddoch chi, mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i alw rheilffordd Pwerdy'r Gogledd yn union beth ydy o, sef prosiect i Loegr yn unig, a'r un peth gyda HS2. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddiddorol i'r Aelodau weld yr arian sylweddol nad ydym wedi ei gael yng Nghymru, ac fe wnaf yn sicr ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog, os oes ganddo'r holl wybodaeth honno wrth law, i ddiweddaru Aelodau mewn datganiad ysgrifenedig.  

I would like a statement from the Minister for rural affairs, please. Currently, as she is aware, we are in lambing season and we're still having far too many dog attacks on sheep. I know that, recently, Dan Jones from the Great Orme in Llandudno and other farmers have approached me about the horrific sights and scenes that you see. There needs to be more education, really, for dog owners. There needs to be more education. I know that, in the days when we had dog wardens, they would go in and liaise with pupils so that they could go home and say, 'We need to have our dogs on leads at all times.' I was just wondering—. The north Wales rural crime division are amazing, but they've only got so many resources and they can't be everywhere. What do you think in terms of more actions that we can do so that people realise you do not wander around sheep with your dogs running loose, and also if your dogs are missing and are not at home, that they're not potentially exhausting and chasing sheep until, ultimately, the sheep die, and sometimes, often, the lambs? Thank you.

Hoffwn gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog materion gwledig, os gwelwch yn dda. Ar hyn o bryd, fel y mae hi'n ymwybodol, rydyn ni yn y tymor wyna ac rydyn ni'n dal i gael llawer gormod o ymosodiadau gan gŵn ar ddefaid. Rwy'n gwybod, yn ddiweddar, bod Dan Jones o'r Gogarth yn Llandudno a ffermwyr eraill wedi dod ataf ynghylch y golygfeydd a'r sefyllfaoedd erchyll yr ydych yn eu gweld. Mae angen mwy o addysg, mewn gwirionedd, ar berchnogion cŵn. Mae angen mwy o addysg. Rwy'n gwybod, yn y dyddiau pan oedd gennym ni wardeniaid cŵn, y bydden nhw'n mynd i mewn ac yn cyd-gysylltu gyda disgyblion fel eu bod nhw'n gallu mynd adref a dweud, 'Mae angen i'n cŵn ni fod ar dennyn bob amser.' Meddwl oeddwn i—. Mae adran troseddau gwledig y gogledd yn anhygoel, ond dim ond hyn a hyn o adnoddau sydd ganddyn nhw a dydyn nhw ddim yn gallu bod ym mhob man. Beth ydych chi'n ei feddwl o ran mwy o gamau gweithredu y gallwn ni eu cymryd fel bod pobl yn sylweddoli nad ydych chi'n crwydro o amgylch defaid gyda'ch cŵn yn rhedeg yn rhydd, a hefyd os yw'ch cŵn ar goll ac nad ydynt gartref, nad ydynt o bosib yn blino ac yn hel defaid tan, yn y pen draw, mae'r defaid yn marw, ac weithiau, yn aml, yr ŵyn? Diolch.

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

Thank you. The Member raises a very important point and something that concerns me greatly, and we have done some significant work in relation to it. You mentioned the north Wales rural crime team, and I absolutely agree, along with the other two across the country, that they do some excellent work. And, of course, we've got Rob Taylor, our rural wildlife crime commissioner, who just yesterday—I don't know if Members will have picked it up on social media—was doing a significant piece of work on a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, and he's very happy to go anywhere to help educate people in relation to responsible dog ownership, something that I obviously publicise as well. I'm continuing to have discussions with my UK Government counterparts to see what legislation they could perhaps bring up to date, because some of the dog legislation that we have is incredibly outdated and certainly, I think, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, but not all dogs that attack lambs, of course, are dangerous, so it is really important that we use every tool that we have in the box.

Diolch. Mae'r Aelod yn codi pwynt pwysig iawn a rhywbeth sy'n fy mhryderu i'n fawr, ac rydyn ni wedi gwneud gwaith sylweddol yn gysylltiedig ag o. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am dîm troseddau gwledig y gogledd, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr, ynghyd â'r ddau arall ledled y wlad, eu bod yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni Rob Taylor, ein comisiynydd troseddau bywyd gwyllt gwledig, a oedd dim ond ddoe—dydw i ddim yn gwybod a fydd Aelodau wedi ei weld ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol—yn gwneud darn sylweddol o waith ar fferm ym Mro Morgannwg, ac mae'n hapus iawn i fynd i unrhyw le i helpu i addysgu pobl mewn cysylltiad â pherchnogaeth gyfrifol ar gŵn, rhywbeth yr wyf i yn amlwg yn rhoi cyhoeddusrwydd iddo hefyd. Rwy'n dal i gael trafodaethau gyda fy ngweinidogion cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU i weld pa ddeddfwriaeth y gallen nhw ei diweddaru efallai, oherwydd mae peth o'r ddeddfwriaeth cŵn sydd gennym yn hynod hen ffasiwn ac yn sicr, rwy'n credu, Deddf Cŵn Peryglus 1991, ond nid yw pob ci sy'n ymosod ar ŵyn, wrth gwrs, yn beryglus, felly mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn defnyddio pob offeryn sydd gennym yn y bocs.

14:50
3. Datganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi: Rhaglen Porthladdoedd Rhydd Cymru
3. Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales

Eitem 3 y prynhawn yma yw'r datganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi ar raglen porthladdoedd rhydd Cymru. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Vaughan Gething.

Item 3 this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for Economy on the free-port programme in Wales. I call on the Minister, Vaughan Gething.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. On 23 March, the Welsh Government and the UK Government jointly announced that the Celtic free port and the porthladd rhydd Ynys Môn Anglesey free port will proceed to the next stage of the Welsh free-ports programme process. This outcome was reached through a transparent and competitive application process, with selection being jointly undertaken by both the Welsh Government and the UK Government.

I am pleased that our negotiations secured the important conditions set out by the Welsh Government. We were clear that free ports in Wales must enjoy funding parity with successful bids in England, that the process must be advanced across a partnership of equals where devolution was respected, and that the prospectus provided protections on our priorities of fair work, sustainability and our net-zero future. Dirprwy Lywydd, we also worked to make the case for an additional free port, securing the opportunity for a strong bid to win designation beyond the initial offer from the UK Government of one site. And I believe it was right for Welsh Ministers to hold to those conditions to ensure fair funding for Welsh free ports, clarity on governance, as well as progress on social and environmental justice. I welcome the positive moves made in response to me by the UK Government to recognise the significance of these matters. I'm also grateful for the work undertaken by officials in both Governments that has allowed us to reach this positive outcome. 

The strength of the bids was aided by an agreement between both Governments that led to the joint prospectus and a clear path for businesses and communities to plan against. The First Minister has called again for the UK Government to learn from this positive and constructive process. It offered a level of clarity that is badly needed at a time of such economic uncertainty.

Dirprwy Lywydd, both the Celtic and the Ynys Môn bids are clearly aligned to our economic mission and have the potential to play a key role in creating a stronger, fairer, greener Welsh economy. The Welsh model that we have developed for free ports will ensure that Wales is not set at a disadvantage as compared to English and Scottish sites as they move ahead. At the same time, it should bolster our long-term investments across both sites. 

The Celtic free port will be based around the port of Port Talbot and the port of Milford Haven. I was in Port Talbot yesterday, in the Deputy Presiding Officer's constituency—I understand he won't be asking questions today from the chair—and the plans there focus on low-carbon technologies, such as floating offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and utilisation, and storage, and biofuels to help support the accelerated reduction of carbon emissions. The Welsh Government has already intervened to support the proposed tax sites of Pembrokeshire Science and Technology Park and the Baglan Energy Park because we recognise the long-term role that these assets will play in supporting high-quality jobs.

The Anglesey free port will be based around the port of Holyhead, the Anglesey prosperity zone, Rhosgoch and M-Sparc. The free port will develop the energy island programme by focusing on marine energy technology testing on the seabed—that's both tidal and wind power. The bid focuses on Morlais and M-Sparc as innovation priorities, both of which, of course, have been backed by major investment from the Welsh Government in recent years.

Dirprwy Lywydd, these are not fly-by-night projects based on low-value rental income. The bids demonstrate how the model we have developed in Wales will add to, rather than take away from, the long-term plans we are building for a just transition that delivers the jobs dividend that Wales deserves.

I'm very pleased that both bids demonstrated sufficiently strong cases that allowed Ministers here in the Welsh Government and in Westminster to designate two free ports for Wales to proceed to the next stage. Both bids provided a compelling narrative of how they intend to boost the distinct strengths that both sites boast, harnessing the unique opportunities from offshore wind and marine energy to advanced manufacturing and innovation. With sites in north and south Wales, progressing two free ports is a real win for Wales and, indeed, the whole of UK, with the opportunities for regeneration, the embedding of fair work, the establishment of hubs for global trade, and fostering an innovative environment to be felt in both north and south of our country.

Each free port would be supported by up to £26 million of seed investment funding. That's confirmed parity with England free-port sites. Each site would be able to access a range of customs benefits and tax reliefs. The next phase is an important one, with the development of an outline business case that, again, must be agreed again by both Governments. A package of trade and innovation support will also be available to each free port. Through their outline business cases, the currently successful bids will now need to articulate their overarching strategic vision. This will involve significant development of the content of the original bid.

Dirprwy Lywydd, unfortunately, the Newport free-port bid was unsuccessful. I know this will be very disappointing news for all involved, and I do appreciate the huge amount of resource that went into the development of their bid. We are keen to build on that in any way that we can outside of the free-port process. I continue to recognise the pivotal role that the semiconductor industry plays in the area and how crucial that sector is to both the Welsh and UK economy, now and in the future. It was a particular focus of my time in California last week, and I will be remaking this case to the UK Government, who urgently need to bring forward a funded strategy for the semiconductor sector. This would deliver a major boost for Newport, a city that with global standing in this sector.

Dirprwy Lywydd, people and businesses across the UK remain under intense pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and subdued economic growth. This is all in addition to the ever present geographical inequality, which is why a place-based policy like free ports is an important lever for the Welsh Government to have as part of our economic tool kit. We worked extensively with the UK Government to ensure that the Welsh free-port programme was designed to help deliver our ambitions for fair work. This includes engaging the voice of workers and their trade unions in future governance arrangements, alongside driving a prosperous, green economic future for Wales. Free ports can act as drivers of growth and employment in their areas and, collectively, the bidders estimate that their proposals could create as many as 20,000 high-quality new jobs.

As well as maximising the growth potential of the local area, we also set out that proposals needed to embody the values in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and ensure dignity and fairness for people are at their core. Prioritising the social and environmental needs of Wales and building a more prosperous and resilient well-being economy were essential. That is why the Welsh Government's economic contract was included in the prospectus. This is another distinctive feature of the Welsh model, based on our values and priorities.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I would like to note again the constructive engagement and working relationship that has been developed between the UK Government and the Welsh Government on free ports. Through that engagement with the UK Government, we have been clear that any proposals for investment zones in Wales should follow the same principles and design as outlined for Welsh free ports. Investment zones too would need to align with our policies on fair work and net zero, as well as representing value for money for the people of Wales. I look forward to working with all partners as we move to the next phase of work and to exploring the opportunity to turn the current choice and the next phase of bidding into a catalyst for major investment in high-quality jobs and, of course, a just transition.

Diolch i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ar 23 o fis Mawrth, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig ar y cyd y bydd y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd a phorthladd rhydd Ynys Môn yn mynd ymlaen i gam nesaf proses y rhaglen porthladdoedd rhydd yng Nghymru. Daethpwyd i'r canlyniad hwn drwy broses ymgeisio dryloyw a chystadleuol, gyda'r dewis yn cael ei wneud gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig ar y cyd.

Rwy'n falch fod ein trafodaethau ni wedi sicrhau'r amodau pwysig a nodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Roeddem ni'n eglur y byddai hi'n rhaid i borthladdoedd rhydd yng Nghymru fod â chydraddoldeb ariannol gyda cheisiadau llwyddiannus yn Lloegr, ac y byddai hi'n rhaid datblygu'r broses ar draws partneriaeth o bobl gydradd â'i gilydd gan barchu datganoli, a bod y prosbectws yn darparu amddiffyniadau o ran ein blaenoriaethau ni o waith teg, cynaliadwyedd a dyfodol sero net. Dirprwy Lywydd, fe wnaethom ni weithio hefyd i ddadlau'r achos dros borthladd rhydd ychwanegol, gan sicrhau'r cyfle i gais cryf allu ennill y dynodiad y tu hwnt i gynnig dechreuol Llywodraeth y DU o un safle. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n iawn i Weinidogion Cymru ddal at yr amodau hynny i sicrhau cyllid teg i borthladdoedd rhydd Cymru, eglurder ar lywodraethu, yn ogystal â gweld cynnydd o ran cyfiawnder cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol. Rwy'n croesawu'r symudiadau cadarnhaol sydd wedi bod mewn ymateb i mi oddi wrth Lywodraeth y DU i gydnabod pwysigrwydd y materion hyn. Rwy'n ddiolchgar hefyd am y gwaith a wnaeth swyddogion yn y ddwy Lywodraeth sydd wedi caniatáu inni ddod at y canlyniad cadarnhaol hwn.

Cafodd cryfder y ceisiadau ei ategu gan gytundeb rhwng y ddwy Lywodraeth a arweinodd at brosbectws ar y cyd a'r llwybr eglur i fusnesau a chymunedau gynllunio yn unol ag ef. Mae Prif Weinidog Cymru wedi galw unwaith eto ar Lywodraeth y DU i ddysgu o'r broses gadarnhaol ac adeiladol hon. Roedd yn cynnig cyfradd o eglurder y mae angen taer amdano mewn cyfnod o ansicrwydd economaidd fel hwn.

Dirprwy Lywydd, mae ceisiadau'r porthladd rhydd Celtaidd a phorthladd rhydd Ynys Môn yn amlwg yn cyd-fynd â'n cenhadaeth economaidd ni ac mae'r posibilrwydd ganddyn nhw i fod â rhan allweddol yn lluniad economi gryfach, decach, wyrddach Cymru. Bydd y model a wnaethom ni ei ddatblygu i Gymru ar gyfer porthladdoedd rhydd yn sicrhau nad yw Cymru yn cael ei rhoi dan anfantais o gymharu â safleoedd yn Lloegr a'r Alban wrth symud ymlaen. Ar yr un pryd, fe ddylai gryfhau ein buddsoddiadau hirdymor ni ar draws y ddau safle.

Lleolir y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd o amgylch porthladd Port Talbot a phorthladd Aberdaugleddau. Roeddwn i ym Mhort Talbot ddoe, yn etholaeth y Dirprwy Lywydd—rwy'n deall gan y cadeirydd na fydd ef yn gofyn cwestiynau heddiw—ac mae'r cynlluniau yno'n canolbwyntio ar dechnolegau carbon isel, fel gwynt arnofiol ar y môr, hydrogen, dal, defnyddio a storio carbon, a biodanwyddau i helpu i gefnogi'r gostyngiad cyflym o ran allyriadau carbon. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymyrryd eisoes i gefnogi safleoedd treth arfaethedig Parc Gwyddoniaeth a Thechnoleg Sir Benfro a Pharc Ynni Baglan oherwydd ein bod ni'n cydnabod swyddogaeth hirdymor yr asedau hyn o ran cefnogi swyddi o ansawdd uchel.

Caiff porthladd rhydd Ynys Môn ei leoli o amgylch porthladd Caergybi, parth ffyniant Môn, Rhosgoch ac M-Sparc. Bydd y porthladd rhydd yn datblygu rhaglen ynni'r ynys drwy ganolbwyntio ar brofion technoleg ynni morol ar wely'r môr—dyna ynni llanw a gwynt. Mae'r cais yn canolbwyntio ar Morlais ac M-Sparc fel blaenoriaethau o ran arloesi, gyda chefnogaeth i'r ddau beth, wrth gwrs, gan fuddsoddiad mawr oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf.

Dirprwy Lywydd, nid prosiectau amheus mo'r rhain sy'n seiliedig ar incwm rhent o werth isel. Mae'r ceisiadau yn dangos sut y bydd y model y gwnaethom ni ei ddatblygu yng Nghymru yn ategu, yn hytrach na chymryd oddi wrth, y cynlluniau hirdymor yr ydym ni'n eu meithrin i bontio teg sy'n cynnig y difidend swyddi y mae Cymru yn eu haeddu.

Rwy'n falch iawn fod y ddau gais wedi dangos achosion digon cryf a oedd yn caniatáu i Weinidogion yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn San Steffan ddynodi dau borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru ar gyfer mynd ymlaen i'w camau nesaf. Roedd y ddau gais y rhoi naratif grymus o sut y bydden nhw'n rhoi hwb i'r cryfderau amrywiol amlwg sydd gan y ddau safle, gan harneisio'r cyfleoedd unigryw o ynni gwynt arnofiol ar y môr ac ynni'r môr ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu uwch ac arloesi. Gyda safleoedd yn y gogledd a'r de, mae bwrw ymlaen â dau borthladd rhydd yn fuddugoliaeth wirioneddol i Gymru ac, yn wir, i'r DU gyfan, gyda'r cyfleoedd i adfywio, gwreiddio gwaith teg, sefydlu canolfannau ar gyfer masnach fyd-eang, a meithrin amgylchedd o arloesi a gaiff ei deimlo yng ngogledd a de ein cenedl ni.

Byddai pob porthladd rhydd yn cael ei gefnogi gan hyd at £26 miliwn o gyllid sbarduno buddsoddiad. Mae hynny wedi cadarnhau cydraddoldeb gyda safleoedd porthladd rhydd Lloegr. Fe fyddai pob safle yn gallu cael gafael ar ystod o fuddion tollau a rhyddhad treth. Mae'r cam nesaf yn un pwysig, gyda datblygiad achos busnes amlinellol y mae'n rhaid i'r ddwy Lywodraeth gytuno arno unwaith eto. Bydd pecyn o gymorth masnach ac arloesi ar gael i bob porthladd rhydd hefyd. Trwy eu hachosion busnes amlinellol nhw, fe fydd angen i'r ceisiadau sy'n llwyddiannus ar hyn o bryd fynegi eu gweledigaeth strategol gyffredinol. Fe fydd hyn yn golygu datblygu cynnwys y cais gwreiddiol yn sylweddol.

Dirprwy Lywydd, yn anffodus, bu cais porthladd rhydd Casnewydd yn aflwyddiannus. Fe wn i y bydd hyn yn newyddion siomedig iawn i bawb sy'n gysylltiedig, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r swm enfawr o adnoddau a aeth i ddatblygu eu cais nhw. Rydym ni'n awyddus i adeiladu ar hynny mewn unrhyw ffordd y gallwn ni'r tu allan i broses y porthladdoedd rhydd. Rwy'n parhau i gydnabod swyddogaeth bwysig y diwydiant lled-ddargludyddion yn yr ardal a pha mor hanfodol yw'r sector hwnnw i economi Cymru a'r DU, nawr ac i'r dyfodol. Roedd hwnnw'n ganolbwynt arbennig yn ystod yr amser a dreuliais i yr wythnos diwethaf yng Nghaliffornia, ac fe fyddaf i'n dadlau'r achos hwn unwaith eto gyda Llywodraeth y DU, y mae angen iddi gyflwyno strategaeth a ariennir ar frys i'r sector lled-ddargludyddion. Fe fyddai honno'n rhoi hwb enfawr i Gasnewydd, dinas sydd ag enw drwy'r byd yn y sector hwn.

Dirprwy Lywydd, mae pobl a busnesau ledled y DU yn parhau i fod o dan bwysau mawr oherwydd yr argyfwng costau byw a thwf economaidd gwan. Mae hyn i gyd yn ychwanegol at yr anghydraddoldeb daearyddol sy'n bresennol bob amser, a dyna pam mae polisi ar sail lleoedd fel porthladdoedd rhydd yn sbardun pwysig i Lywodraeth Cymru yn rhan o'n pecyn ni o offer economaidd. Rydym ni wedi gweithio llawer gyda Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod rhaglen Porthladdoedd Rhydd Cymru wedi ei chynllunio i helpu i wireddu ein huchelgeisiau ni ar gyfer gwaith teg. Mae hyn yn cynnwys ymgysylltu â llais gweithwyr a'u hundebau llafur mewn trefniadau llywodraethu yn y dyfodol, ochr yn ochr ag ysgogi dyfodol economaidd ffyniannus, gwyrdd i Gymru. Gall porthladdoedd rhydd fod yn ysgogyddion i dwf a chyflogaeth yn eu hardaloedd nhw a, gyda'i gilydd, mae'r cynigwyr yn amcangyfrif y gallai eu cynigion nhw greu cymaint â 20,000 o swyddi newydd o ansawdd uchel.

Yn ogystal â sicrhau'r potensial gorau o ran twf yr ardal leol, rydym ni'n nodi'r angen hefyd i gynigion ymgorffori'r gwerthoedd yn Neddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 a sicrhau urddas a thegwch gan mai pobl sy'n graidd iddynt. Roedd blaenoriaethu anghenion cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol Cymru a chodi economi llesiant mwy llewyrchus a chydnerth yn hanfodol. Dyna pam y cafodd contract economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru ei gynnwys yn y prosbectws. Mae honno'n nodwedd arbennig arall o'r model Cymreig, sydd wedi'i seilio ar ein gwerthoedd a'n blaenoriaethau ni.

Dirprwy Lywydd, fe hoffwn i nodi unwaith eto'r berthynas o ymgysylltiad a gwaith adeiladol a ddatblygwyd rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â phorthladdoedd rhydd. Drwy'r ymgysylltiad hwnnw â Llywodraeth y DU, rydym ni wedi bod yn eglur y dylai unrhyw gynigion ar gyfer parthau buddsoddi yng Nghymru ddilyn yr un egwyddorion a'r dyluniad a amlinellwyd ar gyfer porthladdoedd rhydd Cymru. Byddai angen i'r parthau buddsoddi ymagweddu â'n polisïau ni ar waith teg a sero net, yn ogystal â chynrychioli gwerth am arian i bobl Cymru. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio gyda'r holl bartneriaid wrth i ni symud i'r cam nesaf o waith ac archwilio'r cyfle i wneud y dewis presennol a cham nesaf y cynnig yn gatalyddion ar gyfer buddsoddiad aruthrol mewn swyddi o ansawdd uchel ac, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer pontio teg.

14:55

Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement today? It is indeed wonderful news that Wales is getting two free ports, not just one, and I'm delighted that there's been such close and effective working between both the Welsh and UK Governments in delivering this objective that all of us in this Chamber, I know, shared a passion to achieve. I have to say as well, my colleague Paul Davies, the Chair of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, isn't here today, but I know that he was leaping for joy as well with the announcement of the free-port bids being successful, particularly, of course, the one that affects his own constituency, the Celtic free-port bid, with Milford Haven being sited in his constituency.

A gaf i ddiolch i chi, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad heddiw? Mae hyn yn wir yn newyddion ardderchog fod Cymru am fod â dau borthladd rhydd, nid dim ond un yn unig, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod gweithio mor agos ac effeithiol wedi bod rhwng Llywodraethau Cymru a'r DU wrth gyflawni'r amcan hwn y mae pob un ohonom ni yn y Siambr hon, fe wn i, mor eiddgar i'w gyflawni. Mae hi'n rhaid i mi ddweud hefyd, nid yw fy nghyd-Aelod Paul Davies, Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, yma heddiw, ond fe wn i ei fod yn neidio mewn gorfoledd hefyd oherwydd y cyhoeddiad am lwyddiant y ceisiadau am borthladdoedd rhydd, yn arbennig felly, wrth gwrs, yr un sy'n effeithio ar ei etholaeth ef, y cais am y porthladd rhydd Celtaidd, ac mae Aberdaugleddau yn ei etholaeth ef.

They do have a huge opportunity to drive significant growth across Wales, make that huge impact as well on the UK economy as a whole, levering in billions of pounds worth of investment and creating at least 20,000 jobs overall. It was obviously a disappointment for Newport that their free-port bid was not successful, but I was very pleased to hear you refer to the need to look for other opportunities to support Newport, particularly that all-important semiconductor industry, and I think that you'll certainly have support on this side of the Chamber in order to achieve that end, because that is going to be important for delivering growth, particularly in south-east Wales.

I think what this whole thing shows us in terms of being able to secure two free-port bids is that, when the Welsh and UK Governments work constructively together and in a collaborative way, we really can achieve great things for our nation, and for me, it's music to my ears hearing a Government Minister, instead of criticizing the UK Government, cheering on the fact that there has been such a close working relationship. 

Now, as you would expect, I've got a few questions that I wanted to ask you about the next steps forward, because we do know, of course, that the Welsh Government has got its enterprise zone initiative and that there is already an enterprise zone in the Haven—Haven Waterway enterprise zone—and that Anglesey's got its own enterprise zone, alongside the energy island sort of focus. So, to me, it's really important now that these are strategically aligned with the free ports so that we can maximise the delivery of all of those programmes. So, can I ask you, what work are you going to do to make sure that they are properly aligned, so that they're not working against one another but that they're working in concert to deliver and squeeze out the maximum possible benefits from these opportunities now that we have these free ports here in Wales?

In addition to that, of course, we're going to need to have the right skills for the individuals who are going to work and hopefully glean the benefits of these incredible new jobs, which I hope will be well-paid jobs across the whole of Wales, as a result of the zones. And, therefore, there's going to need to be a very close working relationship with the higher education sector and the further education college sector as well. So, I wonder what action the Welsh Government is taking to make sure that there is a dialogue and an alignment with our education system so that we can make sure that it is reflecting the needs of these new free ports as they go forward.

You mentioned green technology; we do have ambitious plans to reach net zero by 2050, and obviously, the contribution that these free ports can make, particularly given their focus on green energy and renewables, is going to be huge. But given that you published your net-zero strategy before the free ports were announced, will you now review that strategy to make sure that it reflects perhaps a little more broadly the opportunities that the free ports can bring to contribute to achieving that 2050 goal?

Just finally, if I may, can I also ask what's next from the Welsh Government's perspective? You've hinted at the fact that there's further work to do, obviously, to develop the overarching strategy in each free-port area, but what is the Welsh Government going to do in collaboration with the UK Government to track progress, to make sure that these opportunities aren't missed, that we are holding people's feet to the fire to deliver against the promises that people are expecting to be delivered about growth, about investment, and about jobs? Thank you.

Mae ganddyn nhw gyfle enfawr i ysgogi twf sylweddol ledled Cymru, a chael yr effaith enfawr honno hefyd ar economi'r DU gyfan, gan ddenu gwerth biliynau o bunnoedd o fuddsoddiad a chreu o leiaf 20,000 o swyddi i gyd. Roedd hi'n amlwg yn siom i Gasnewydd nad oedd eu cais nhw am borthladd rhydd yn llwyddiannus, ond roeddwn i'n falch iawn o'ch clywed yn cyfeirio at yr angen i chwilio am gyfleoedd eraill i gefnogi Casnewydd, yn enwedig y diwydiant lled-ddargludyddion holl bwysig, ac rwy'n credu y byddwch chi'n sicr yn cael cefnogaeth ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr i'r perwyl hwnnw, oherwydd fe fydd hynny'n bwysig ar gyfer meithrin twf, yn enwedig yn y de-ddwyrain.

Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y mae hyn i gyd yn ei amlygu i ni o ran gallu sicrhau dau gais am borthladd rhydd yw, pan fydd Llywodraethau Cymru a'r DU yn gweithio mewn ffordd adeiladol gyda'i gilydd ac mewn ffordd gydweithredol, fe allwn ni gyflawni pethau gwych i'n cenedl ni mewn gwirionedd, ac yn fy marn i, mae hi'n felys i'w ryfeddu i glywed Gweinidog yn y Llywodraeth, yn lle beirniadu Llywodraeth y DU, yn rhoi bonllef i'r berthynas waith mor agos sydd wedi bod.

Nawr, fel byddech chi'n ei ddisgwyl, mae gen i ambell gwestiwn yr hoffwn ei ofyn i chi am y camau nesaf ymlaen, oherwydd fe wyddom ni, wrth gwrs, fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ei menter ardaloedd menter a bod parth menter eisoes yn yr Hafan—Ardal Fenter Dyfrffordd y Ddau Gleddau—a bod gan Ynys Môn ei hardal fenter ei hun, ochr yn ochr â'r math o ganolbwyntio ar yr ynys ynni. Felly, i mi, mae hi'n bwysig iawn nawr fod y rhain yn cyd-fynd yn strategol â'r porthladdoedd rhydd er mwyn i ni wneud y mwyaf o gyflawniad y rhaglenni hynny i gyd. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, pa waith a fyddwch chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cyd-fynd yn iawn, fel nad ydyn nhw'n gweithio yn groes i'w gilydd ond eu bod nhw'n gweithio ar y cyd i gyflwyno a gwasgu'r buddion mwyaf posibl o'r cyfleoedd hyn am fod y porthladdoedd rhydd hyn gennym ni nawr yma yng Nghymru?

Yn ogystal â hynny, wrth gwrs, fe fydd angen i ni fod â'r sgiliau cywir ar gyfer yr unigolion a fydd am weithio ac elwa ar fanteision y swyddi newydd anhygoel hyn, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydden nhw'n swyddi sy'n talu yn dda ledled Cymru, o ganlyniad i'r parthau hyn. Ac, felly, fe fydd angen perthynas waith agos iawn gyda'r sector addysg uwch a'r sector colegau addysg bellach hefyd. Felly, tybed pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wneud yn siŵr bod deialog a chydweddiad gyda'n system addysg ni er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr ei bod hi'n adlewyrchu anghenion y porthladdoedd rhydd newydd hyn wrth symud ymlaen.

Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am dechnoleg werdd; mae gennym ni gynlluniau uchelgeisiol i gyrraedd sero net erbyn 2050, ac yn amlwg, bydd y cyfraniad y gall y porthladdoedd rhydd hyn ei wneud, yn enwedig o ystyried eu canolbwyntio ar ynni gwyrdd ac ynni adnewyddadwy, yn enfawr. Ond o ystyried eich bod chi wedi cyhoeddi eich strategaeth sero net cyn cyhoeddi'r porthladdoedd rhydd, a fyddwch chi'n adolygu'r strategaeth honno nawr i wneud yn siŵr ei bod hi'n adlewyrchu ychydig yn fwy eang, efallai, y cyfleoedd y gall y porthladdoedd rhydd eu cyflwyno i gyfrannu at gyrraedd y nod hwnnw yn 2050?

Yn olaf, os caf i, a gaf i ofyn hefyd beth sydd am ddod nesaf o safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru? Rydych chi wedi awgrymu'r ffaith bod gwaith i'w wneud eto, yn amlwg, i ddatblygu'r strategaeth drosfwaol ym mhob ardal lle bydd porthladd rhydd, ond beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru am ei wneud ar y cyd â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i olrhain cynnydd, i wneud yn siŵr nad yw'r cyfleoedd hyn yn cael eu colli, ein bod ni'n pwyso ar bobl mewn gwirionedd i gyflawni o gymharu â'r addewidion y mae pobl yn disgwyl gweld eu gwireddu ynglŷn â thwf, buddsoddiad, a swyddi? Diolch i chi.

15:05

Thank you for the comments and the couple of questions in there as well. I should start by saying that I wish Paul Davies well. I look forward to him returning to the Chamber. I also suspect he'll have sent a map to the leader of the Welsh Conservatives. I saw the video in Cardiff Bay that suggested that the free port was in Carmarthen; I think Milford is still in Pembrokeshire.

But actually, I'm sure that there is lots to be positive about and, on that, it does show that, when we do work together, there are things that we can do, which is what I've set out to do in all of the conversations I've had with UK Ministers. We want to have a pragmatic conversation about what we can do, and what the UK Government can do, whether it's on steel, whether it's on semiconductors or here, on free ports. The challenge is that there are times when the UK Government works in this way and other times when there's a less collaborative approach taken. We talked about the shared prosperity fund and others, and I'm sure that we'll spend time talking about those on other occasions.

On free ports, I'm positive that the process now will take us into further alignment with the work we're already doing. It's part of what we expected in the prospectus, it's why it was designed in that way, and if you look at what each of the free port consortia have been suggesting they want to do, it is aligned with what we're doing and, indeed, with what growth deal areas are looking to do as well. It was one of the conditions that, for any bid, they had to secure the backing of the growth deal area in which they were based. The free-port prospectus that we have agreed and published, and the outlined business case with more detail in it, is in alignment with our economic mission. So, I recognise the points that you make and the question you've asked about what we will need to review again what we're doing to align with free ports; I think it's the other way around, actually. The free-ports process has been done in a way that successful bids should align with what we're already intending to do. And it will build on work that's already undertaken. For example, your question about skills; there is work already under way with the consortia of marine energy businesses and bidders, and they've always included the ports, who recognise that significant investment in port infrastructure is essential to unlocking not just the opportunities to generate low-carbon power, but the jobs that should come from that as well. So, we'll build on that work, and the work that we have already set out with further and higher education providers.

One of the things that businesses are already doing is looking at where they think there are gaps and opportunities and the skills base of where they are, as well as a number of people who could come into work there. So, some of that could be transitioned from workers in other sectors, some of that will be people already in the sector and reskilling them to do the sorts of jobs that will be required in the next three, five and 10 years, and some of that also will be with people who are yet to enter the world of work. So, there'll be a period of time where we'll be developing a network with the bidders, with the businesses, not just around the two free ports, understanding what the gaps are and then planning how we can meet those. So, again, I don't think the net-zero strategy is in conflict with where we are on free ports either; it adds to where we want to go.

The free ports themselves are about trying to incentivise more activity and more pace. They're not about trying to set out on an entirely different direction, not the way they've been designed in Wales. And our challenge will be at the next stage of development, which is your point about holding people's feet to the fire. We expect to see more detail in how the headline promises, the headline expectations, are actually going to be delivered in practice. When we're through that stage and when we've made a decision on the outline business case, I'll expect to provide a further statement to Members, following a joint decision between myself and the UK Government.

Diolch i chi am y sylwadau a'r cwpl o gwestiynau yna hefyd. Fe ddylwn i ddechrau drwy ddweud fy mod i eisiau dymuno yn dda i Paul Davies. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ei weld yn dychwelyd i'r Siambr. Rwy'n amau hefyd ei fod wedi anfon map at arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Fe welais i'r fideo ym Mae Caerdydd a oedd yn awgrymu mai yn sir Gaerfyrddin yr oedd y porthladd rhydd; rwy'n credu mai yn sir Benfro y mae Aberdaugleddau o hyd.

Ond mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n siŵr fod llawer i fod yn bositif yn ei gylch, ac ar hynny, mae hynny'n dangos, pan fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd, fod yna bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud, sef yr hyn yr wyf i wedi bwriadu ei wneud ym mhob un o'r sgyrsiau a gefais i gyda Gweinidogion y DU. Rydyn ni'n dymuno sgwrs bragmataidd ynglŷn â'r hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud, a'r hyn y gall Llywodraeth y DU ei wneud, boed hynny o ran dur, boed hynny o ran lled-ddargludyddion neu fel hyn, o ran porthladdoedd rhydd. Yr hyn sy'n heriol yw'r ffaith fod Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithio fel hyn weithiau a thro arall mae yna ymagwedd lai cydweithredol yn cael ei chymryd. Fe wnaethom ni siarad am y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin a rhai eraill, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwn ni'n treulio amser yn siarad am y rhain ar achlysuron eraill.

O ran porthladdoedd rhydd, rwy'n bositif y bydd y broses nawr yn mynd â ni i alinio ymhellach gyda'r gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud eisoes. Mae hynny'n rhan o'r hyn yr oeddem ni'n ei ddisgwyl yn y prosbectws, dyna pam y cafodd ei ddylunio yn y ffordd honno, ac os edrychwch chi ar yr hyn y mae pob un o'r consortia porthladd rhydd wedi bod yn awgrymu eu bod yn dymuno ei wneud, mae hynny'n cyd-fynd â'r hyn yr ydym ninnau'n ei wneud ac, yn wir, â'r hyn y mae ardaloedd bargen dwf yn bwriadu ei wneud hefyd. Roedd hwnnw'n un o'r amodau y bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw, ynglŷn ag unrhyw gais, sicrhau cefnogaeth ardal y fargen dwf a oedd yn lleol iddyn nhw. Mae'r prosbectws porthladd rhydd y gwnaethom ni gytuno arno a'i gyhoeddi, a'r achos busnes a amlinellwyd gyda mwy o fanylion ynddo, yn cyd-fynd â'n cenhadaeth economaidd ni. Felly, rwy'n cydnabod y pwyntiau a wnaethoch chi a'r cwestiwn y gwnaethoch chi ei ofyn am yr hyn y bydd angen i ni ei adolygu eto o ran yr hyn a wnawn i gydweddu â phorthladdoedd rhydd; rwy'n credu mai i'r gwrthwyneb y mae hi, mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r broses borthladdoedd rhydd wedi cael ei llunio mewn ffordd fel y dylai ceisiadau llwyddiannus gyd-fynd â'r hyn yr ydym ni eisoes yn bwriadu ei wneud. Ac fe fydd yn adeiladu ar waith yr ymgymerwyd ag ef eisoes. Er enghraifft, eich cwestiwn chi ynglŷn â sgiliau; mae gwaith ar y gweill eisoes gyda chonsortia busnesau a chynigwyr ynni'r môr, ac maen nhw wastad wedi cynnwys y porthladdoedd, sy'n cydnabod bod buddsoddiad sylweddol mewn seilwaith porthladdoedd yn hanfodol i ddatgloi nid yn unig y cyfleoedd i gynhyrchu pŵer carbon isel, ond y swyddi a ddylai ddod yn sgil hynny hefyd. Felly, fe fyddwn ni'n adeiladu ar y gwaith hwnnw, a'r gwaith y gwnaethom ni ei nodi eisoes gyda darparwyr addysg bellach ac addysg uwch.

Un o'r pethau y mae busnesau yn ei wneud yn barod yw edrych ar y mannau y maen nhw o'r farn fod bylchau a chyfleoedd a sylfaen sgiliau lle cânt eu lleoli, yn ogystal â'r niferoedd o bobl a allai ddod yno i weithio. Felly, fe allai peth o hynny gael ei drosglwyddo i weithwyr mewn sectorau eraill, gallai peth o hynny fod yn bobl sydd eisoes yn y sector a'u hailsgilio nhw i wneud y mathau o swyddi y bydd eu hangen yn y tair, pump a deng mlynedd nesaf, ac fe fydd peth o'r gwaith hwnnw hefyd gyda phobl sydd heb fynd i mewn i fyd gwaith hyd yn hyn. Felly, fe fydd cyfnod pan fyddwn ni'n datblygu rhwydwaith gyda'r cynigwyr, gyda'r busnesau, nid dim ond o ran y ddau borthladd rhydd, a deall yn lle mae'r bylchau a chynllunio wedyn sut y gallwn ni ymdrin â'r rhain. Felly, unwaith eto, nid wyf i'n credu bod y strategaeth sero net yn gwrthdaro â'n sefyllfa ni o ran porthladdoedd rhydd chwaith; mae hi'n ychwanegu at ein hamcanion ni yn y pen draw.

Mae'r porthladdoedd rhydd yn ymwneud â cheisio cymell mwy o weithgaredd a mwy o gyflymder. Ni fydden nhw'n ceisio darganfod cyfeiriad cwbl wahanol, nid honno yw'r ffordd y maen nhw wedi cael eu dylunio yng Nghymru. A'n her ni fydd, ar gam nesaf y datblygiad, sef eich pwynt chi am bwyso yn wirioneddol ar bobl. Rydym ni'n disgwyl gweld mwy o fanylion yn y modd y bydd y prif addewidion, y prif ddisgwyliadau, yn cael eu cyflawni yn ymarferol mewn gwirionedd. Pan fyddwn ni wedi mynd drwy'r cam hwnnw a phan fyddwn ni wedi gwneud penderfyniad ynglŷn â'r achos busnes amlinellol, fe fyddaf i'n disgwyl rhoi datganiad pellach i Aelodau, yn dilyn penderfyniad ar y cyd rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a minnau.

I thank the Minister for the statement, and I'd also like to place on record my thanks for the Minister's approach on this issue. We've come on quite a long journey, I think. When the UK Government announced its free port prospectus, it was clearly unacceptable that they proposed to offer £26 million for English free ports, only £8 million for one in Wales, and some may have been happy to roll over and say, 'Just take what you’re offered and be grateful for it'. Others of us could see that this lack of parity, this completely unjustified difference, had to be addressed, and I am grateful to Welsh Government for sharing that view, and also the view that we needed assurances around workers' rights and on environmental regulations.

The result, as the Minister said—we got that funding fair play. We'd have been short-changed by £18 million under those original Conservative Government plans. We also got those further assurances. So, when Plaid Cymru-led Anglesey council and Stena put together their plan—and I was only too happy to work with them and support them—they were working from a much stronger, I think, Welsh free-ports prospectus. We were in a much better place.

Now, the Minister also heard my numerous appeals for two free ports to be considered. Again, I congratulate the negotiators on both sides for making that happen. Why did I think two would be valuable? Because I think there were real synergies between the proposals to develop offshore energy proposals in particular, major decarbonising schemes in the north-west and the south-west, and I think the Welsh economy as a whole can benefit from that.

So, now we move forwards; we need to do so with purpose, but with care also. So, a number of questions. How does the Minister intend to work with the winning bids to ensure that jobs created are truly sustainable, because that has to happen, and also, that our social and economic values are respected and pushed forward, as those jobs are created? Also, what opportunities—? Or, how will he ensure, rather, that opportunities for the local workforce are maximised through the skills agenda and through effective upskilling? Because it’s got to be about employing our local workforce. And also, does the Minister agree that there needs to be honesty around the impact of this? This is a valuable economic tool, but there’s never one single lever, so we have to be driving forward with other opportunities too, and here, Government has to work across departmental boundaries.

I would invite the Minister to encourage looking again at how funding could work for strengthening the Menai crossing in response to the free-port designation. That should be another opportunity looked into. And also, we have to see pressing by Welsh Government for UK Government to look again at the issue of consequentials from English rail projects. The fact that we have HS2 and now Northern Powerhouse Rail being designated as English and Welsh projects when they’re clearly England-only projects, leading to the loss of many, many millions of pounds—hundreds of millions of pounds that could be spent on improving Welsh rail that could feed into this free-port project—I would suggest that we use this designation as a springboard to encouraging the UK Conservative Government to look again at that, rather than short-changing Wales.

Rwy'n diolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad, ac fe hoffwn innau ddiolch ar goedd am ymagwedd y Gweinidog ynglŷn â'r mater hwn. Rydym ni wedi teithio ffordd bell iawn, rwy'n credu. Pan gyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU ei phrosbectws porthladdoedd rhydd, roedd hi'n amlwg yn annerbyniol eu bod nhw am gynnig £26 miliwn i borthladdoedd rhydd Lloegr, ond £8 miliwn yn unig i un yng Nghymru, ac efallai y byddai rhai wedi bod yn ddigon hapus i ildio ar unwaith a dweud, 'Cymerwch yr hyn a gynigir i chi a byddwch ddiolchgar am hynny'. Fe allai eraill o'n plith ni weld ei bod hi'n rhaid mynd i'r afael â diffyg cydraddoldeb fel hyn, y gwahaniaeth hwn heb unrhyw gyfiawnhad iddo, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i Lywodraeth Cymru am fod o'r unfarn honno, a'r farn fod angen sicrwydd hefyd ynglŷn â hawliau gweithwyr a rheoliadau amgylcheddol.

Y canlyniad, fel dywedodd y Gweinidog—fe gawsom ni degwch ariannu fel hyn. Fe fyddem ni wedi bod £18 miliwn yn brin o dan gynlluniau gwreiddiol y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. Fe gawsom ni'r sicrwydd pellach hwnnw hefyd. Felly, pan roddodd Cyngor Môn dan arweiniad Plaid Cymru a Stena eu cynllun at ei gilydd—ac nid oeddwn i ond yn rhy hapus i weithio gyda nhw a'u cefnogi—roedden nhw'n gweithio o brosbectws llawer cryfach, rwy'n credu, sef prosbectws porthladdoedd rhydd Cymru. Roeddem ni mewn sefyllfa lawer gwell.

Nawr, fe glywodd y Gweinidog hefyd fy apeliadau niferus am ystyried cael dau borthladd rhydd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n llongyfarch y trafodwyr ar y ddwy ochr am beri i hynny ddigwydd. Pam oeddwn i o'r farn y byddai dau yn werthfawr? Achos rwy'n credu bod synergedd gwirioneddol rhwng y cynigion i ddatblygu cynigion ynni ar y môr yn benodol, cynlluniau datgarboneiddio mawr yn y gogledd-orllewin a'r de-orllewin, ac rwy'n credu y gall economi Cymru gyfan elwa ar hynny.

Felly, nawr fe symudwn ni ymlaen; mae angen i ni wneud hynny gyda phwrpas, ond gyda gofal hefyd. Felly, nifer o gwestiynau. Sut mae'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu gweithio gyda'r ceisiadau buddugol i sicrhau bod y swyddi sy'n cael eu creu yn wirioneddol gynaliadwy, oherwydd mae'n rhaid i hynny ddigwydd, a hefyd, y bydd ein gwerthoedd cymdeithasol ac economaidd yn cael eu parchu a'u gwthio ymlaen, wrth i'r swyddi hynny gael eu creu? Hefyd, pa gyfleoedd—? Neu, sut mae sicrhau, yn hytrach, y gwneir y mwyaf o'r cyfleoedd i'r gweithlu lleol drwy'r agenda sgiliau a thrwy uwchsgilio yn effeithiol? Oherwydd mae'n rhaid bod a wnelo hyn â chyflogi ein gweithlu lleol ni. A hefyd, a yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod angen gonestrwydd ynghylch effaith hyn? Mae hwn yn arf economaidd gwerthfawr, ond nid yw unrhyw ysgogiad unigol fyth yn ddigonol ynddo'i hunan, felly mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn gyrru ymlaen gyda chyfleoedd eraill hefyd, ac yn hyn o beth, mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth weithio ar draws ffiniau adrannol.

Byddwn i'n gwahodd y Gweinidog i annog edrych unwaith eto ar sut y gallai arian weithio i gryfhau achos pont arall dros y Fenai mewn ymateb i'r dynodiad o borthladd rhydd. Fe ddylai hwnnw fod yn gyfle arall i edrych arno. A hefyd, mae'n rhaid i ni weld pwysau gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar Lywodraeth y DU i edrych eto ar fater cyllid canlyniadol yn sgil prosiectau rheilffyrdd yn Lloegr. Mae'r ffaith bod gennym ni HS2 a nawr Rheilffordd Pwerdy'r Gogledd yn cael eu dynodi yn brosiectau i Gymru a Lloegr pan eu bod nhw'n amlwg yn brosiectau i Loegr yn unig, sy'n arwain at golli llawer, miliynau lawer o bunnau—cannoedd o filiynau o bunnau y gellid eu gwario ar wella rheilffyrdd Cymru ac a allai fwydo i mewn i'r prosiect hwn o borthladdoedd rhydd—fe fyddwn i'n awgrymu ein bod yn defnyddio'r dynodiad hwn fel sbardun i annog Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU i edrych unwaith eto ar hynny, yn hytrach na gwneud i Gymru fodloni ar lai.

15:10

Thank you for the comments and questions. Look, on your point around the approach we took, we were very clear that parity had to be delivered for Wales or we wouldn’t be prepared to sign up to a free-ports programme. I think we wasted the first year in a rather circular argument where one of the previous Secretaries of State for Wales said that there would be a free port whether the Welsh Government liked it or not, and that we'd have to take the money that was offered. I wasn’t prepared to do that, and I can certainly tell you that the finance Minister was giving me significant encouragement not to agree to anything less than exactly the same funding settlement that English free ports had received as well.

Having got there now, we do need to see that the detail in the delivery plan is to deliver sustainable employment, but actually, the money, the seed capital and the release are there to try to advance and expand the rate of growth in a sector that we think will need investment in any event. If you’re going to exploit tidal and wider marine power, including floating offshore wind, the jobs we’re talking about are not small or time-limited jobs. There’ll be jobs, of course, in the construction phase, but we’re actually talking, though, about a long-term deployment of manufacturing to go into the Celtic sea. So, these jobs aren’t going to be for two or three years if we get it right, and actually, both free-port bids looked to try to take advantage of the first-mover advantage that is still available in the developing and yet-to-mature sectors of floating offshore wind and tidal energy. Both north and south have something clear to offer on that, and that will help to deliver us a greater economic return, with more jobs being created there rather than things manufactured in other parts of Europe and then put together in Wales at a much later stage.

On skills, there is still a need to see—the construction sector is actually quite resilient, actually, there is still lots of opportunity, but think of the construction that will be required around both of the current free-port bids if they proceed to the final stage, and then, also, the skills for those jobs. I think I covered some of that in answer to Darren Millar as well, but it’s definitely a key focus for us to understand the skills need and be able to plan and to deliver those as well. A more coherent approach and the ability to work with different regions in Wales would help with that. So, there will be a need to try to knit together the way that some of the skills landscape has been pulled apart in the way that different funding streams are put in place. The shared prosperity fund does not allow for that sort of strategic joined-up approach in regions, let alone across the whole country, so there is definitely work to do to take proper advantage of that. We're already seeing that, in this area, a number of Ministers have an interest—so, not just the finance Minister—when it comes to the sort of tax reliefs and what's on offer from Wales as well as the UK. The climate change Minister has an obvious interest in this as well, as, indeed, does the Minister for north Wales. So, we do have a number of departments and we want to see how we can take proper advantage of the opportunity that's there. Regardless of free-port status, I want to see that investment made in the future of the economy and a low-carbon economy, and this, I think, helps us on the way.

Finally, I completely agree with you about HS2 and Northern Powerhouse consequentials. I don't think the Government here could have been any clearer: they're England-only projects, where there should be a consequential for Wales, and that would make a significant difference to our ability to invest in transport infrastructure. To be fair, I think there is a gathering of people who have recognised that and agree with it. Even the Welsh Affairs Select Committee have agreed that HS2 is plainly an England-only project, and that's a committee with a majority of Conservative members. I look forward to more Conservatives joining the cause in both Parliaments to make it clear to the UK Government that we want the rules to be respected and the consequentials that Wales is plainly entitled to to be delivered. 

Diolch i chi am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau. Edrychwch, ynglŷn â'ch pwynt chi o ran yr ymagwedd y gwnaethom ni ei gymryd, roeddem ni'n eglur iawn ei bod hi'n rhaid i ni sicrhau cydraddoldeb i Gymru neu ni fyddem ni'n barod i gyd-fynd â'r rhaglen porthladdoedd rhydd. Rwy'n credu i ni wastraffu'r flwyddyn gyntaf mewn dadl braidd yn gylchol pryd roedd un o Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol blaenorol Cymru yn dweud y byddai yna borthladd rhydd pe byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn hoffi hynny neu beidio, ac y byddai'n rhaid i ni dderbyn yr arian a gynigiwyd. Nid oeddwn i'n barod i wneud felly, ac yn sicr fe allaf i ddweud wrthych chi fod y Gweinidog cyllid yn rhoi anogaeth sylweddol i mi beidio â chytuno i unrhyw beth a fyddai'n llai na'r setliad ariannu llawn y byddai porthladdoedd rhydd Lloegr yn ei gael hefyd.

Wedi cyrraedd y fan nawr, mae angen i ni weld y bydd y manylion yn y cynllun cyflawni yn darparu cyflogaeth sy'n gynaliadwy, ond mewn gwirionedd, mae'r arian, y cyfalaf sbarduno a'r rhyddhau yn eu lle i geisio datblygu ac ehangu cyfradd y twf mewn sector yr ydym ni o'r farn bydd angen buddsoddiad mewn unrhyw achos. Os ydych chi am fanteisio ar ynni llanw ac ynni'r môr yn ehangach, gan gynnwys gwynt arnofiol ar y môr, nid yw'r swyddi yr ydym ni'n siarad amdanyn nhw yn swyddi bychain na chyfyngedig o ran amser. Fe fydd yna swyddi, wrth gwrs, yn y cyfnod adeiladu, ond rydym ni'n siarad mewn gwirionedd, er hynny, am ddefnyddio gweithgynhyrchu yn yr hirdymor yn y môr Celtaidd. Felly, nid yw'r swyddi hyn am fod am ddwy neu dair blynedd o hyd os byddwn ni'n gwneud hyn yn iawn, ac mewn gwirionedd, roedd y ddau gais am borthladd rhydd yn golygu manteisio ar fod yn symudwr cyntaf sy'n dal i fod yn bosibl mewn sectorau sy'n datblygu a heb aeddfedu eto fel ynni gwynt arnofiol a llanw. Mae gan y gogledd a'r de rywbeth amlwg i'w gynnig yn hynny o beth, ac fe fydd hynny'n helpu i sicrhau y bydd mwy o enillion economaidd ar gael i ni, gyda mwy o swyddi yn cael eu creu yno yn hytrach na phethau yn cael eu cynhyrchu mewn rhannau eraill o Ewrop ac yn cael eu rhoi at ei gilydd yng Nghymru wedyn, yn llawer diweddarach.

O ran sgiliau, mae angen gweld o hyd—mae'r sector adeiladu yn gydnerth iawn, mewn gwirionedd, mae llawer o gyfle yn parhau yno, ond meddyliwch chi am y gwaith adeiladu y bydd ei angen o ran y ddau gais presennol am borthladd rhydd pe bydden nhw'n mynd ymlaen i'r cam olaf, ac yna, hefyd, y sgiliau ar gyfer y swyddi hynny. Rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi ymdrin â hynny'n rhannol mewn ateb i Darren Millar hefyd, ond yn bendant mae hwnnw'n ganolbwynt allweddol wrth i ni ddeall mwy am y sgiliau sydd eu hangen a gallu cynllunio a chyflawni'r rhain hefyd. Fe fyddai dull mwy cydlynol a gallu i weithio gyda gwahanol ranbarthau yng Nghymru yn helpu yn hynny o beth. Felly, fe fydd angen ceisio ymblethu'r ffordd y mae peth o'r dirwedd sgiliau wedi cael ei thynnu yn ddarnau o ran y ffordd y mae gwahanol ffrydiau ariannu yn cael eu rhoi ar waith. Nid yw'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn caniatáu'r math hwnnw o ddull cydgysylltiedig strategol mewn rhanbarthau, heb sôn am ledled y wlad, felly, yn bendant, mae yna waith i'w wneud i fanteisio ar hynny'n llawn. Fe welwn ni eisoes, yn y maes hwn, fod gan nifer o Weinidogion ddiddordeb—felly, nid y Gweinidog cyllid yn unig—o ran y math o ryddhad treth a'r hyn a gynigir gan Gymru yn ogystal â'r DU. Mae gan y Gweinidog newid hinsawdd ddiddordeb amlwg yn hyn hefyd, fel Gweinidog gogledd Cymru, yn wir. Felly, mae gennym ni nifer o adrannau ac rydym ni eisiau gweld sut y gallwn fanteisio yn iawn ar y cyfle sydd yno. Nid oes gwahaniaeth beth yw statws porthladd rhydd, rwyf i'n dymuno gweld y buddsoddiad hwnnw'n cael ei wneud yn nyfodol yr economi ac yn yr economi carbon isel, ac mae hyn, yn fy marn i, yn ein helpu ni ar y daith.

Yn olaf, rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â chi am gyllid canlyniadol HS2 a Phwerdy Gogledd Lloegr. Nid wyf i'n credu y gallai'r Llywodraeth hon fod wedi bod yn fwy eglur: prosiectau i Loegr yn unig ydyn nhw, felly fe ddylai fod cyllid canlyniadol i Gymru, ac fe fyddai hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i'n gallu ni i fuddsoddi mewn seilwaith trafnidiaeth. A bod yn deg, rwy'n credu bod cnewyllyn o bobl wedi cydnabod hynny ac yn cytuno ag ef. Mae hyd yn oed y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig wedi cytuno bod HS2 yn amlwg yn brosiect i Loegr yn unig, a phwyllgor gyda mwyafrif o aelodau Ceidwadol yw hwnnw. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld mwy o Geidwadwyr yn ymuno â'r achos yn y ddwy Senedd i'w gwneud hi'n amlwg i Lywodraeth y DU ein bod ni'n dymuno gweld y rheolau yn cael eu parchu yn ogystal â'r cyllid canlyniadol sydd gan Gymru'r hawl amlwg iddo. 

15:15

Before I call the next speaker, I want to remind Members that most of the time allocated has already been used up. I have seven speakers who wish to speak. Make sure you ask your question within your time limit, otherwise, you may not be able to get to it. Mike Hedges.

Cyn i mi alw'r siaradwr nesaf, rwy'n atgoffa'r Aelodau bod y rhan fwyaf o'r amser a ddyrannwyd wedi cael ei ddefnyddio eisoes. Mae gen i saith siaradwr sy'n awyddus i siarad. Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod chi'n gofyn eich cwestiwn o fewn eich amser, fel arall, efallai na fydd gennych chi amser i'w ofyn. Mike Hedges.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome the statement today. Anything that helps the economy of the Swansea bay city region I will support. Using the site of Port Talbot to build and then take out to sea offshore wind turbines will benefit our fight against global warming and create well-paid jobs. I agree with the Minister that, as well as maximising the growth potential of the local area, proposals need to embody the values of the well-being of future generations Act and ensure dignity and fairness for people. Levelling up must be about increasing average wages. How is the Welsh Government going to ensure that employment rights, environmental standards and health and safety rules are followed in the free port?

Diolch i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n croesawu datganiad heddiw. Fe fyddwn i'n cefnogi unrhyw beth sy'n helpu economi dinas-ranbarth bae Abertawe. Fe fydd defnyddio safle Port Talbot i adeiladu tyrbinau cyn mynd â nhw allan ar y môr o fudd i'n brwydr ni yn erbyn cynhesu byd eang ac yn creu swyddi a fydd yn talu'n dda. Rwy'n cytuno â'r Gweinidog, yn ogystal â sicrhau'r potensial mwyaf o ran twf yr ardal leol, mae angen i gynigion ymgorffori gwerthoedd Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol a sicrhau urddas a thegwch i bobl. Mae'n rhaid i ffyniant bro olygu cynyddu cyflogau cyfartalog. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am sicrhau y bydd hawliau cyflogaeth, safonau amgylcheddol a rheolau iechyd a diogelwch yn cael eu dilyn yn y porthladd rhydd?

We've been very clear in the bidding process, and in going through all of these stages, that the bids have to be able to match that—we've been very clear. That's why the regard to the future generations and well-being Act is in the bidding process—you won't find that in England—it's why the points about fair work—you won't find those in England—you won't find the points about the economic contract in Scotland either—that's a unique phase here in Wales—and the workers' collective forum as well. So, we're very clear about the sort of free-port activity that we're prepared to support and not, which is why we're at this point and why we don't have the same outline of what might happen in England.

For example, DP World, which is the company that was behind the sacking of all of those people in P&O Ferries—the unlawful sacking—well, they're apparently going to run a free port in Wales. I don't think they could demonstrate they'd meet all the criteria that we have for a free-ports process here in Wales. We're also going to benchmark where we are with economic activity, so we can actually understand where there's genuine growth and not simply displacement of jobs and other opportunities.

Rydyn ni wedi bod yn eglur iawn yn y broses gynnig, ac wrth fynd drwy'r holl gamau hyn, bod rhaid i'r ceisiadau allu cydweddu â hynny—rydyn ni wedi bod yn eglur iawn. Dyna pam mae ystyriaeth i'r Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol yn y broses gynnig—ni fyddwch ni'n gweld hynny yn Lloegr—dyna pam mae'r pwyntiau ynglŷn â gwaith teg—ni fyddwch yn dod o hyd i'r rheiny yn Lloegr—ni fyddwch yn dod o hyd i'r pwyntiau am y contract economaidd yn yr Alban chwaith—mae hwnnw'n gyfnod unigryw yma yng Nghymru—a fforwm cyfunol y gweithwyr hefyd. Felly, rydym ni'n eglur iawn o ran y math o weithgaredd porthladd rhydd yr ydym ni'n barod i'w gefnogi neu beidio, a dyna pam rydyn ni ar y pwynt hwn a pham nad yw'r un amlinelliad gennym ni yma o gymharu â'r hyn a allai ddigwydd yn Lloegr.

Er enghraifft, DP World, sef y cwmni a oedd y tu ôl i ddiswyddo'r holl bobl hynny yn P&O Ferries—y diswyddo anghyfreithlon—wel, mae'n debyg eu bod nhw'n am fod yn rhedeg porthladd rhydd yng Nghymru. Nid wyf i'n credu y gallen nhw ddangos y bydden nhw'n bodloni'r holl feini prawf sydd gennym ni ar gyfer proses porthladdoedd rhydd yma yng Nghymru. Fe fyddwn ni hefyd yn meincnodi ein sefyllfa ni o ran gweithgarwch economaidd, er mwyn i ni allu deall lle mae twf gwirioneddol ac nid dadleoli swyddi a chyfleoedd eraill yn unig.

I recognise and welcome this really positive statement, but I would like to remind Members that, of course, this doesn't replace the unfettered access we had to the world's largest single market prior to us leaving the EU. But this is a reset for some of our coastal communities that have really struggled. I wondered if I could focus just on one specific question to you, Minister. There are significant concerns about the opportunity and significant risks around money laundering and the trafficking of goods and people. May I ask you what discussions you are having with the UK Government and other agencies to minimise these risks? Thank you—diolch yn fawr iawn.

Rwy'n cydnabod ac yn croesawu'r datganiad cadarnhaol iawn hwn, ond fe hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau nad yw hyn, wrth gwrs, yn cymryd lle'r mynediad didramgwydd a oedd gennym ni i farchnad sengl fwyaf y byd cyn i ni adael yr UE. Ond mae hwn yn ddechrau o'r newydd i rai o'n cymunedau arfordirol ni sydd wedi ei chael hi'n anodd iawn. Tybed a gaf i ganolbwyntio ar ddim ond un cwestiwn penodol i chi, Gweinidog. Fe geir pryderon sylweddol ynglŷn â'r cyfle a'r risgiau sylweddol ynghylch gwyngalchu arian a masnachu nwyddau a phobl. A gaf i ofyn i chi pa drafodaethau ydych chi'n eu cael chi gyda Llywodraeth y DU ac asiantaethau eraill i leihau'r risgiau hyn? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Well, there'll still be customs arrangements in place; these won't be customs-free places. Part of the challenge will be, like I said, reliefs and incentives, rather than saying that rules simply don't apply. I have the fortunate responsibility within the Welsh Government of having borders as part of my suite of responsibilities. So, I'm very much looking at arrangements with the island of Ireland, which I hope we'll be able to take a step forward with in the near future as well, and that's really important for the economic potential and the continued survivorship of a number of our ports as well. We have a particular interest in westward-facing ports here in Wales. So, that will form part of the discussions about what we'll look at when it comes to final bids and the process that should be in place.

I should make it clear that I have never advocated free ports as somehow replacing the way that we were able to trade with our nearest European partners. It's a matter of fact, not opinion, that Wales has more traders reporting overall trade with the European Union than other parts of UK, and, of course, there were free ports whilst we were members of the European Union. This is a new version, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do to deliver on the promises that we have been made and the criteria that Welsh Government have set out for what a successful free port should look like.

Wel, bydd trefniadau tollau ar waith o hyd; ni fydd y rhain yn fannau heb dollau. Rhan o'r her fydd, fel dywedais i, o ran rhyddhad a chymhellion, yn hytrach na dweud yn syml nad yw rheolau yn berthnasol. Yn ffodus, y fi sydd â chyfrifoldeb o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru o fod â ffiniau yn rhan o fy nghyfres i o gyfrifoldebau. Felly, rwy'n edrych yn fanwl iawn ar drefniadau gydag ynys Iwerddon, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn ni'n gallu cymryd cam ymlaen yn hynny o beth yn y dyfodol agos hefyd, ac mae hynny'n bwysig iawn i'r posibiliadau economaidd a'r gallu i oroesi sy'n parhau i fod yn bwysig i nifer o'n porthladdoedd ni hefyd. Mae gennym ni ddiddordeb arbennig mewn porthladdoedd sy'n wynebu'r gorllewin yma yng Nghymru. Felly, fe fydd hynny'n rhan o'r trafodaethau am yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ei ystyried o ran y ceisiadau terfynol a'r broses a ddylai fod ar waith.

Fe ddylwn ei gwneud hi'n glir nad wyf erioed wedi argymell porthladdoedd rhydd fel rhywbeth yn lle'r ffordd yr oeddem ni'n gallu masnachu ynddi hi gyda'n partneriaid Ewropeaidd agosaf. Mae hi'n fater o ffaith, nid barn, fod gan Gymru fwy o fasnachwyr sy'n adrodd am fasnach gyffredinol gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd nag am rannau eraill o'r DU, ac, wrth gwrs, roedd yna borthladdoedd pan oeddem ni'n aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Fersiwn newydd yw hwn, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud i gyflawni'r addewidion sydd wedi cael eu gwneud a'r meini prawf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu pennu ar gyfer beth y dylai ffurf a natur porthladd rhydd llwyddiannus fod.

15:20

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you also, Minister, for your statement today, and I join you, certainly, in welcoming the news that the UK Government plans to establish the two free ports in Wales, and also join the Member for Ynys Môn in highlighting the free port in Anglesey, and also in paying credit to both the work of the local authority and to Stena Line, and also to applaud the efforts of my Conservative colleague Virginia Crosbie, the MP for Ynys Môn, in championing the Holyhead free-port bid in Westminster. Minister, you will be aware, of course, that good transport links will be vital to make sure that the new free ports achieve their potential, creating new jobs, attracting the new investment we want to see and spreading prosperity as well. So, in light of the announcement of the free ports, in particular for Anglesey, what assessment have you made of the roads review on the current and future transport links between Ynys Môn and the rest of Wales? Also, I'm not sure if you answered Rhun ap Iorwerth's question earlier on the third Menai crossing, so what assessment would you make, also, of the third Menai crossing as a result of the announcement last week?

Diolch i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch hefyd, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad chi heddiw, ac rwy'n ymuno â chi, yn sicr, i groesawu'r newyddion bod Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu sefydlu'r ddau borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru, ac yn ymuno ag Aelod Ynys Môn hefyd i dynnu sylw at y porthladd rhydd ym Môn, a hefyd i ganmol gwaith yr awdurdod lleol a Stena Line, a chanmol hefyd ymdrechion fy nghyd-Aelod Ceidwadol, Virginia Crosbie, AS Ynys Môn, wrth hyrwyddo cais porthladd rhydd Caergybi yn San Steffan. Gweinidog, fe wyddoch chi, wrth gwrs, y bydd cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth da yn hanfodol i sicrhau bod y porthladdoedd rhydd newydd yn cyflawni eu potensial nhw, a chreu swyddi newydd, a denu'r buddsoddiad newydd yr ydym ni'n awyddus i'w weld a ffyniant yn ymledu hefyd. Felly, yn sgil cyhoeddi'r porthladdoedd rhydd, yn benodol i Ynys Môn, pa asesiad a wnaethoch chi o'r adolygiad ffyrdd a'r cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth presennol ac i'r dyfodol rhwng Ynys Môn a gweddill Cymru? Hefyd, nid wyf i'n siŵr y gwnaethoch chi ateb cwestiwn Rhun ap Iorwerth yn gynharach ar drydedd bont dros y Fenai, felly pa asesiad a fyddwch chi'n ei wneud, hefyd, ynghylch trydedd bont dros y Fenai yn sgil cyhoeddiad wythnos diwethaf?

We're not going to be able to make a formal announcement on the basis of the free-port bid moving forward to the next stage. Understanding the level of economic activity that the free port can deliver—we'll have greater clarity on that once the outline business case is returned. So, we're going to do exactly what we said we'd do, in understanding whether it moves through the next stage successfully, as I hope it will do, and the sort of economic activity that will get generated, the time frame for that, and we'll, of course, need to take infrastructure choices around that. We would be in a better position to make infrastructure choices, of course, if we had the consequentials from HS2 and Northern Powerhouse that were referred to earlier on. I look forward to Sam Rowlands joining and giving his voice to that call as well on the new free ports that are being jointly established by the Welsh Government and the UK Government, and I look forward to making decisions in the next stage of that process.

Ni fyddwn ni'n gallu gwneud cyhoeddiad ffurfiol gan fod y cais porthladd rhydd yn symud yn ei flaen i'r cam nesaf. Gan ddeall cyfradd y gweithgarwch economaidd y gall y porthladd rhydd ei gyflawni—fe fydd gennym ni fwy o eglurder ynglŷn â hynny pan fydd yr achos busnes amlinellol yn cael ei ddychwelyd. Felly, rydym ni am wneud yr union beth y gwnaethom ni ei ddweud y byddem ni'n ei wneud, o ran deall a yw'n symud drwy'r cam nesaf yn llwyddiannus, fel rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn digwydd, a'r math o weithgarwch economaidd a fydd yn cael ei gynhyrchu, y ffrâm amser ar gyfer hynny, ac fe fydd, wrth gwrs, angen i ni wneud dewisiadau o ran seilwaith yn y cyswllt hwnnw. Fe fyddem mewn sefyllfa well i wneud dewisiadau o ran seilwaith, wrth gwrs, pe byddai'r cyllid canlyniadol gennym ni yn sgil HS2 a Phwerdy Gogledd Lloegr y cyfeiriwyd atyn nhw'n gynharach. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld Sam Rowlands yn ymuno ac yn ychwanegu ei lais ef i'r alwad honno hefyd ynglŷn â'r porthladdoedd rhydd newydd sydd am gael eu sefydlu ar y cyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at wneud penderfyniadau yng ngham nesaf y broses honno.

I'm sure the Minister won't be surprised to learn that my opinion hasn't changed when it comes to free ports. This is nothing more than an abdication of power to companies through creating deregulated zones—trickle-down economics in its purest form, extractive by design. Now, there are a number of questions that need answering in detail. I'm really interested to know how the Government will monitor the free ports going forward. For example, we've talked about safeguarding workers' rights and a living wage. How will the Government ensure that companies operating in a free port zone will meet the requirements in the first instance, but, equally, in the long term, once they're established, what are the mechanisms available to Government to enforce this?

I also think it's important for Government to further elaborate on the role of trade unions. In his statement, the Minister referred to engaging worker voice and trade unions in future governance arrangements. Will they have genuine power and ability—actual decision making—or will their role be merely consultative? Because, if it is the latter, we know how that story goes.

As I said, my view on the concept of free ports remains the same, but my challenge to the Minister, Welsh Government and other Members is to prove me wrong and prove communities wrong. Because time and time again, Welsh workers have been fed the promise of regeneration, and, time and time again, little has changed.

Rwy'n siŵr na fydd y Gweinidog yn synnu o glywed nad yw fy marn wedi newid o ran porthladdoedd rhydd. Nid yw hyn yn ddim mwy nag ildio grym i gwmnïau drwy greu parthau wedi'u dadreoleiddio—economeg diferu ar ei ffurf buraf, yn echdynnol drwy ddyluniad. Nawr, mae nifer o gwestiynau yn gofyn am ateb manwl. Fe hoffwn yn fawr gael gwybod sut mae'r Llywodraeth am fonitro'r porthladdoedd rhydd wrth symud ymlaen. Er enghraifft, rydym ni wedi siarad am ddiogelu hawliau gweithwyr a chyflog byw. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth am sicrhau y bydd cwmnïau sy'n gweithredu ym mharth unrhyw borthladd rhydd yn bodloni'r gofynion yn y lle cyntaf, ond, yn yr un modd, yn yr hirdymor, pan fydd y rhain wedi cael eu sefydlu, beth yw'r mecanweithiau sydd ar gael i'r Llywodraeth i orfodi hyn?

Rwyf i o'r farn ei bod hi'n bwysig i'r Llywodraeth ymhelaethu ymhellach ar swyddogaeth yr undebau llafur. Yn ei ddatganiad ef, fe gyfeiriodd y Gweinidog at ymgysylltu â llais gweithwyr ac undebau llafur mewn trefniadau llywodraethu yn y dyfodol. A fydd ganddyn nhw bŵer a gallu gwirioneddol—i wneud penderfyniadau gwirioneddol—neu ai swyddogaeth ymgynghorol yn unig a fydd ganddyn nhw? Oherwydd, os hynny, fe wyddom ni sut mae'r stori honno'n mynd.

Fel dywedais i, mae fy marn i ynglŷn â'r cysyniad o borthladdoedd rhydd yn aros yn ddigyfnewid, ond rwy'n herio'r Gweinidog, Llywodraeth Cymru ac Aelodau eraill i ddangos fy mod i'n camgymryd a phrofi cymunedau yn anghywir. Oherwydd dro ar ôl tro, mae gweithwyr Cymru wedi clywed addewidion am adfywiad ond, dro ar ôl tro, nid oes fawr ddim wedi newid.

With respect, I think the Member is being consistent in his broad scepticism over free ports, but I think he's judging them on a model that has existed previously, and not the one we've been talking about, the one where we've got into the prospectus that everyone has to bid against and succeed against where fair work is not negotiable, it is part of the expectation that you have to deliver; where not regressing on our environmental standards is part of what has to be delivered. The economic contract that everyone will have to sign up to is part of what has to be agreed to. So, it's a very different type of economic development tool, and, in the next stage, we're going to have more on how we measure a baseline of activity and understand, from each of the bids, how they can demonstrate that they will grow, not displace, the economy. That was one of the concerns we had at the outline of this process, and it's a fair one, as well. But, of course, the seed capital and the devolved reliefs that are coming in have actually got to help deliver much more significant investment—not just sums of money spent, but what that will mean in terms of the number of jobs and the quality of jobs we want to see created.

Now, part of that will be in areas of devolved levers—so, non-domestic rates and our understanding in conversations with the free port bids around how that will be deployed, what that will look like, and what we expect in return. So, there is an active conversation to be had that we'll go through in the next few phases of the process.

And when it comes to trade unions, it was a specific area that we wanted inserted into the prospectus, so there's a workers' collective forum mentioned—that's a work council by any other name—and the challenge and the strength in the trade union voice is how successfully they recruit and they organise. We'll be really clear that the sort of union-busting activities, the sort of awful employment practices, that we saw with DP World when they sacked all of the P&O Ferries staff is exactly the sort of thing that we won't tolerate in Wales. The challenge is whether partners in the UK Government are prepared to follow through, because they appeared, in public, to be outraged when all those workers were unlawfully sacked. There's a challenge now on how they choose to behave, but I'll be very clear that all the devolved levers we have will be used to make sure that people bid against what was said in the prospectus, and we'll then be looking to see how we can hold people to those, including the way that devolved levers and incentives are used.

Gyda pharch, rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn amlygu cysondeb yn ei amheuaeth gyffredinol ynglŷn â phorthladdoedd rhydd, ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn eu barnu ar sail model sydd wedi bodoli yn flaenorol, ac nid hwnnw yw'r un yr ydym ni wedi bod yn sôn amdano, yr un a gawsom ni i mewn i'r prosbectws sef bod yn rhaid i bawb wneud cais yn unol ag ef a llwyddo yn unol â bod yn ddigyfaddawd o ran gwaith teg, mae hynny'n rhan o'r disgwyliad sy'n rhaid i chi ei gyflawni; pan nad yw cilio yn ôl oddi wrth ein safonau amgylcheddol ni'n rhan o'r hyn sy'n rhaid ei gyflawni. Mae'r contract economaidd y bydd yn rhaid i bawb ymrwymo iddo yn rhan o'r hyn y mae'n rhaid cytuno i'w wneud. Felly, mae hwn yn offeryn gwahanol iawn i gael datblygiad economaidd, ac, yn y cam nesaf, fe fydd gennym ni fwy ar sut rydym ni'n mesur llinell sylfaen gweithgaredd ac yn deall, o bob un o'r ceisiadau, sut y gallan nhw ddangos y byddan nhw'n tyfu, ac nid yn dadleoli'r economi. Dyna un o'r pryderon a oedd gennym ni ar ddechrau'r broses hon, ac mae hwnnw'n un teg, hefyd. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae'r cyfalaf sbarduno a'r rhyddhadau datganoledig sy'n cael eu cyflwyno mewn gwirionedd wedi gorfod helpu i gyflawni buddsoddiad llawer mwy sylweddol—nid dim ond o ran symiau o arian a wariwyd, ond beth fydd hynny'n ei olygu o ran nifer y swyddi ac ansawdd y swyddi yr ydyn ni'n awyddus i'w gweld yn cael eu creu.

Nawr, fe fydd hynny'n rhannol ym meysydd ysgogiadau datganoledig—felly, ardrethi annomestig a'n dealltwriaeth ni mewn sgyrsiau gyda'r ceisiadau porthladdoedd rhydd ynghylch sut y caiff hynny ei ddefnyddio, sut olwg fydd ar hynny, a'r hyn yr ydym yn ei ddisgwyl yn gyfnewid. Felly, bydd sgwrs weithredol i'w chynnal y byddwn ni'n mynd drwyddi yn ystod camau nesaf y broses.

Ac o ran yr undebau llafur, roedd hwnnw'n faes penodol yr oeddem ni'n dymuno ei fewnosod i'r prosbectws, felly mae fforwm cyfunol gweithwyr yn cael ei grybwyll—cyngor gwaith yw hwnnw wrth unrhyw enw arall—a'r her a'r cryfder yn llais yr undebau llafur yw pa mor llwyddiannus y maen nhw'n recriwtio a threfnu. Gadewch i ni fod yn eglur iawn mai'r math o weithgareddau i chwalu undebau, y math o arferion cyflogaeth ofnadwy, a welsom ni gyda DP World pan wnaethon nhw ddiswyddo staff P&O Ferries i gyd yw'r union beth na fyddwn ni'n ei oddef yng Nghymru. Yr her yw a yw'r partneriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i ddilyn yr un trywydd, oherwydd roedden nhw'n ymddangos, yn gyhoeddus, wedi gwylltio pan gafodd y gweithwyr hynny i gyd eu diswyddo yn anghyfreithlon. Mae yna her nawr o ran sut bydden nhw'n dewis ymddwyn, ond rwyf i am fod yn eglur iawn y bydd yr holl ysgogiadau datganoledig sydd gennym ni'n cael eu defnyddio i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn gwneud cais yn unol â'r hyn a fynegwyd yn y prosbectws, ac y byddwn ni'n edrych i weld sut y gallwn ni ddal pobl at y pethau hyn, gan gynnwys o ran y ffordd y defnyddir ysgogiadau a chymhellion datganoledig.

15:25

Thank you for clarifying for Conservative Members that it was the Welsh Labour Government who worked hard to ensure we received parity of seed funding with England of £26 million—not the £8 million previously offered—as well as protection for workers' rights and environmental protections. I say this because these made-in-Wales conditions are the reason I also finally agreed to support the Anglesey free-port bid. I am delighted that there will be a focus on green renewable energy. Coleg Llandrillo Menai are currently working with RWE on training apprentices on wind turbine energy and maintenance, and they are concerned that they will have enough apprentices, so could you help promote this sector? And I've also made suggestions that, should there be 106 or social value contributions arising out of planning, it could be used for protecting the Penrhos nature reserve at Holyhead. Would you also support that?

And finally, Minister, please could you ensure that all representatives in north Wales will be involved, and not just those electioneering, as I've had businesses, public sector and constituents making important representations to me? Thank you.

Diolch i chi am egluro i Aelodau Ceidwadol mai Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru a weithiodd yn galed i sicrhau ein bod ni â chydraddoldeb gyda Lloegr o ran y cyllid sbarduno o £26 miliwn—nid yr £8 miliwn a gynigiwyd yn flaenorol—yn ogystal â diogelwch ar gyfer hawliau gweithwyr a diogelu'r amgylchedd. Rwy'n dweud hyn gan mai'r amodau hyn a luniwyd yng Nghymru yw'r rheswm y cytunais i, yn y diwedd, i gefnogi cais porthladd rhydd Ynys Môn. Rwy'n falch iawn y bydd canolbwyntio ar ynni adnewyddadwy gwyrdd. Mae Coleg Llandrillo Menai yn gweithio gydag RWE ar hyn o bryd i  hyfforddi prentisiaid ym maes ynni a chynnal a chadw tyrbinau gwynt, ac maen nhw'n pryderu a fydd ganddyn nhw ddigon o brentisiaid, felly a wnewch chi helpu i hyrwyddo'r sector hwn? Ac rwyf i wedi gwneud awgrymiadau hefyd, os bydd yna 106 o gyfraniadau o werth cymdeithasol yn tarddu o gynllunio, y gellid ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer amddiffyn gwarchodfa natur Penrhos yng Nghaergybi. A fyddech chi'n cefnogi hynny hefyd?

Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, os gwelwch chi'n dda, a wnewch chi sicrhau y bydd pob cynrychiolydd yn y gogledd â chyfranogiad, ac nid dim ond y rhai etholedig, gan fy mod i wedi derbyn sylwadau pwysig oddi wrth fusnesau, y sector cyhoeddus ac etholwyr? Diolch i chi.

Yes. On your final point, I'll of course make sure that north Wales Members are engaged. It's been one of the features, actually, that a range of partners from more than one party have been interested in both of the bids, and I want to try to maintain that cross-party support and expectation that the bidders will deliver on what they've promised in terms of the jobs dividend and the quality of work, which goes back to your point—and it's been made by others—about the terms and conditions. It's not just important for Labour Members, but I have deliberately made sure that, in the prospectus, we're clear about the rights of workers and what fair work should look like.

On the possibility of section 106 agreements in the planning process, I'm not the planning Minister now, but I'm not sure that I should give a cast-iron support, but I recognise the point you're making on what can be delivered through the planning process, not just in consenting, but what it means in terms of return for nearby communities to both the north Wales and the Celtic bid as well. I'll certainly continue to promote the sector as an opportunity for apprentices, for new people to come into the workforce. And I'm pleased that we did hold out, as has been recognised. Initially, we were told there'd be £8 million and the Welsh Government would be expected to make up the difference. I was very clear there wouldn't be a free port delivered on the cheap. When we got through that, and we had direct decision maker to decision maker conversations in the UK Government and the Welsh Government, we were able to make progress, and that is what I want to see continue in a pragmatic, constructive way, and I look forward to seeing all Members across north Wales engaged in supporting the next stage in the process.

Gwnaf. O ran eich pwynt olaf, wrth gwrs fe fyddaf i'n sicrhau bod gan Aelodau'r gogledd ymgysylltiad. Dyma fu un o'r nodweddion, mewn gwirionedd, sef bod ystod o bartneriaid o fwy nag un blaid wedi bod â diddordeb yn y ddau gais, ac rwy'n awyddus i geisio cynnal y gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol honno a'r disgwyliad y bydd y cynigwyr yn cyflawni'r hyn a addawyd o ran y difidend swyddi ac ansawdd y gwaith, sy'n cyfeirio yn ôl at eich pwynt chi—ac fe gafodd ei wneud gan eraill—ynglŷn â'r telerau a'r amodau. Nid i Aelodau Llafur yn unig y mae hynny'n bwysig, ond rwyf i'n fwriadol wedi sicrhau, yn y prosbectws, ein bod ni'n eglur ynglŷn â hawliau gweithwyr a sut wedd ddylai fod ar waith teg.

O ran y posibilrwydd o gytundebau adran 106 yn y broses gynllunio, nid fi yw'r Gweinidog cynllunio nawr, ond nid wyf i'n siŵr a ddylwn i fynegi cefnogaeth cwbl gadarn, ond rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt a wnewch chi o ran yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni drwy'r broses gynllunio, nid yn unig wrth gydsynio, ond yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu o ran talu yn ôl i gymunedau cyfagos gyda chais y gogledd a'r cais Celtaidd hefyd. Yn sicr, fe fyddaf i'n parhau i hyrwyddo'r sector fel cyfle i brentisiaid, i bobl newydd ddod i mewn i'r gweithlu. Ac rwy'n falch i ni ddal at ein hymagwedd, fel sydd wedi cael ei gydnabod. I ddechrau, fe ddywedwyd wrthym ni mai £8 miliwn fyddai ar gael ac fe fyddai disgwyl i Lywodraeth Cymru dalu'r gwahaniaeth. Roeddwn i'n eglur iawn na fyddai porthladd rhydd yn cael ei gyflwyno mewn ffordd grintachlyd. Pan wnaethom ni fwrw drwy hynny, gan gynnal sgyrsiau rhwng y rhai a oedd yn gwneud y penderfyniadau uniongyrchol yn Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru, roeddem ni'n gallu gwneud cynnydd, a dyna'r hyn yr hoffwn ei weld yn parhau mewn ffordd bragmataidd, adeiladol, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld yr holl Aelodau ar draws y gogledd yn cyfranogi wrth roi cefnogaeth i gam nesaf y broses.

Can I join colleagues across the Chamber in congratulating the Welsh Government and the UK Government on delivering the two free ports planned for Anglesey and for the Celtic free port, which is situated partially in my region? And I don't need to regurgitate statistics, but it can be genuinely be transformational, not only for Port Talbot, but for the whole south-west Wales region. But, with that economic boost, one of the things I'm hopeful that we'll get to see is an increase in freight travelling across south Wales, and so my mind immediately went back to a visit that Altaf Hussain and I did last year for National Lorry Week with workers in the haulage industry, and they raised two big issues: first of all, they spoke about the lack of adequate truck rest stops along the Welsh portion of the M4 corridor. So, if we're going to see more freight, would the Welsh Government commit to looking at the potential of the improvement in that area?

And, secondly, the other problem they identified was, unfortunately, sitting in traffic in the Brynglas tunnels on the M4, sometimes knocking them over their allotted hours as a result. So, I know the Welsh Government has taken a decision on the relief road—I don't want to go back over that—but has the Welsh Government commissioned any study into the impact that the free port will have on the M4 and the traffic problems that it causes there? Thank you. 

A gaf i ymuno â chyd-Aelodau ar draws y Siambr i longyfarch Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU o ran y ddarpariaeth o ddau borthladd rhydd a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer Ynys Môn a'r porthladd rhydd Celtaidd, a leolir yn rhannol yn fy rhanbarth i? Ac nid oes unrhyw angen i mi ailadrodd ystadegau, ond fe all hyn fod yn wirioneddol drawsnewidiol, nid yn unig i Bort Talbot, ond i ranbarth y de-orllewin i gyd. Ond, gyda'r hwb economaidd hwnnw, un o'r pethau yr wyf i'n obeithiol y byddwn ni'n ei weld yw cynnydd o ran cludo nwyddau ar draws y de, ac felly aeth fy meddwl yn ôl yn syth at ymweliad a wnaeth Altaf Hussain a minnau'r llynedd ar gyfer Wythnos Genedlaethol y Lorïau gyda gweithwyr yn y diwydiant cludo nwyddau, ac roedden nhw'n codi dau fater mawr: yn gyntaf i gyd, roedden nhw'n sôn am ddiffyg arosfannau gorffwys lorïau digonol ar hyd y darn sydd yng Nghymru o goridor yr M4. Felly os byddwn ni'n gweld mwy o nwyddau, a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i edrych ar bosibiliadau i wella hynny?

Ac, yn ail, y broblem arall a nodwyd ganddyn nhw oedd, yn anffodus, oedi mewn traffig yn nhwneli Brynglas ar yr M4, a bod hynny weithiau yn achosi iddyn nhw fynd dros eu horiau dynodedig. Felly, rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud penderfyniad ynglŷn â'r ffordd liniaru—nid wyf i'n dymuno mynd dros hynny unwaith eto—ond a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi comisiynu unrhyw astudiaeth i'r effaith y bydd y porthladd rhydd yn ei gael ar yr M4 a'r problemau traffig a gaiff eu hachosi yno? Diolch i chi. 

15:30

Well, not only do we have a freight strategy that we're developing, but I'd remind the Member again that we need to get through the next stage in the process. We need to understand whether the headline claims made in the bids—and they are good bids that we've been happy to support through the next stage—to see the detail of that, to understand more about the detail before we make plans on assumptions.

So, regardless of the free-port status, I am confident we'll see more investment in developing and delivering marine energy across our long and windy coastline, which is a natural advantage in, not just power generation, but the economy of the future. And we will, of course, want to take account of what that economic development means for our broader infrastructure, and I'm sure that I, and the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, will be more than happy to take account of that in the future.

Wel, mae gennym ni yn unig strategaeth cludo nwyddau yr ydym yn ei datblygu, ond fe hoffwn i atgoffa'r Aelod unwaith eto bod angen i ni fynd trwy gam nesaf y broses. Mae angen inni ddeall a yw'r prif hawliadau a wnaethpwyd yn y ceisiadau—ac maen nhw'n geisiadau da y buom ni'n hapus i'w cefnogi drwy'r cam nesaf—i weld y manylion hynny, ar gyfer deall mwy am y manylion cyn i ni wneud cynlluniau ar sail rhagdybiaethau.

Felly, beth bynnag fyddo statws y porthladd rhydd, rwy'n hyderus y byddwn ni'n gweld rhagor o fuddsoddiad mewn datblygu a darparu ynni'r môr ar hyd ein harfordir hir a gwyntog ni, sy'n fantais naturiol, nid dim ond o ran cynhyrchu pŵer, ond o ran economi'r dyfodol. Ac fe fyddwn ni, wrth gwrs, yn dymuno ystyried yr hyn y bydd y datblygiad economaidd hwnnw'n ei olygu i'n seilwaith ni'n fwy eang, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddaf i, a'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, yn fwy na pharod i ystyried hynny yn y dyfodol.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. And, Minister, I was delighted to see on Thursday a very happy and smiling First Minister, and a very happy and smiling Prime Minister up in Holyhead, and yourself smiling alongside the Secretary of State for Wales at Port Talbot yesterday, in celebration of the Celtic free-port bid. And what has been really transformational about this—and I say that—is the cross-party work that's gone on in support of both the bids in north Wales, and the Celtic free port in south-west Wales as well. And although he's not allowed to speak, as he's in the Deputy Presiding Officer's chair, I have to pay testament to Dai Rees for his advocacy in that part of the world, including Stephen Kinnock, Simon Hart, Stephen Crabb, Tom Giffard, Paul Davies as well, who's not here. 

But one of the things in talking about the free-port bid is, now, your assessment of the next part of the process. Given the devolved responsibilities of the Welsh Government, how much of a relationship are you going to have with the two bids now going forward, so that, in delivery of the benefits that these bids have, you're involved with those discussions as to what you need to deliver on within Welsh Government devolved responsibility? Diolch.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A, Gweinidog, roedd hi'n bleser o'r mwyaf i mi weld Prif Weinidog Cymru hapus a siriol iawn ddydd Iau, a Phrif Weinidog y DU hapus a siriol iawn yng Nghaergybi, a chwithau'n gwenu ochr yn ochr ag Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ym Mhort Talbot ddoe, i ddathlu'r cais am borthladd rhydd Celtaidd. A'r hyn a fu'n drawsnewidiol iawn ynglŷn â hyn—ac rwy'n dweud hynny—yw'r gwaith trawsbleidiol sydd wedi bod i gefnogi'r ceisiadau yn y gogledd, a'r porthladd rhydd Celtaidd yn y de-orllewin hefyd. Ac er nad yw ef yn cael siarad, gan ei fod ef yng nghadair y Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'n rhaid i mi roi teyrnged i Dai Rees am ei eiriolaeth yn y rhan honno o'r byd, gan gynnwys Stephen Kinnock, Simon Hart, Stephen Crabb, Tom Giffard, Paul Davies hefyd, nad yw yma. 

Ond un o'r pethau ynglŷn â'r sôn am y cais am borthladdoedd rhydd, nawr, yw eich asesiad chi o gam nesaf y broses. O ystyried cyfrifoldebau datganoledig Llywodraeth Cymru, faint o berthynas a fydd gennych chi â'r ddau gais nawr wrth symud ymlaen, fel eich bod chi, wrth gyflawni'r manteision sydd i'r ceisiadau hyn, yn ymwneud â'r trafodaethau hynny o ran yr hyn y mae angen i chi gyflawni yn y cyswllt hwnnw o fewn y cyfrifoldebau a ddatganolir i Lywodraeth Cymru? Diolch.

Well, there is more of a practical conversation to take place now. So, I'm the lead Minister in this area, but, as I've said earlier, it does take in a range of other ministerial portfolios as well—the climate change Minister and the finance Minister being the most obvious ones, as well as the Minister for north Wales—because the devolved reliefs and powers that we'd be looking to exercise, we've got to understand the design of those around each of the bids. So, there will necessarily be a need for Ministers and our officials to be involved and engaged in that, as well as then planning for the potential outcome of those as well. If you think about the skills we talked about earlier, the questions about infrastructure, what we actually want to deliver is a real jobs dividend for Wales—a real jobs dividend in sustainable jobs that will help us on our path to a net-zero future. 

It should also mean, if we get this right, that there is greater confidence in the steel sector as well. It isn't just Tata in Port Talbot, but, actually, if we're going to find our ability to build some of the floating offshore platforms, I'd much rather it was British steel that goes into those, and if it's going to be British steel, then a significant chunk of British steel production takes place in Wales, and that's what I want to see as well. So, it's part of the reason I mentioned earlier the need to have conversations with the UK Government about a range of these things as well. Finalising an investment package for the future of the steel sector will give more confidence, and I hope that the fact that the free-port bids are going through the next stage will give greater impetus for that decision to be made.

Wel, mae yna sgwrs fwy ymarferol i'w chynnal nawr. Felly, fi yw'r Gweinidog arweiniol yn y maes hwn, ond, fel dywedais i'n gynharach, mae hyn yn cynnwys ystod o bortffolios gweinidogol eraill hefyd—y Gweinidog newid hinsawdd a'r Gweinidog cyllid yw'r rhai mwyaf amlwg, yn ogystal â Gweinidog gogledd Cymru—oherwydd y rhyddhadau a'r pwerau datganoledig y byddwn ni'n bwriadu eu hymarfer, fe fydd hi'n rhaid i ni ddeall dyluniad y rheiny o ran pob un o'r ceisiadau. Felly, fe fydd hi'n angenrheidiol i Weinidogion a'n swyddogion ni fod â rhan ac ymgysylltiad yn hynny, yn ogystal â chynllunio wedyn ar gyfer canlyniadau posibl y rhain hefyd. Os ydych chi'n meddwl am y sgiliau y gwnaethom ni siarad amdanyn nhw'n gynharach, y cwestiynau am isadeiledd, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei gyflawni mewn gwirionedd yw difidend swyddi gwirioneddol i Gymru—difidend swyddi gwirioneddol o ran swyddi cynaliadwy a fydd yn ein helpu ni ar hyd ein llwybr at ddyfodol sero net. 

Fe ddylai olygu hefyd, os gwnawn ni hyn yn iawn, y bydd mwy o hyder yn y sector dur hefyd. Nid yn unig Tata ym Mhort Talbot, ond, mewn gwirionedd, os ydym ni am ddod o hyd i'n gallu i adeiladu rhai o'r llwyfannau arnofiol ar y môr, fe fyddai hi'n llawer gwell gen i weld dur o Brydain yn mynd i mewn i'r rhain, ac os dur o Brydain fydd hwnnw, yna mae cyfran sylweddol o gynhyrchiant dur Prydain yn digwydd yng Nghymru, a dyna'r hyn yr wyf i'n dymuno ei weld hefyd. Felly, dyna ran o'r rheswm y soniais i amdano'n gynharach am yr angen i gynnal sgyrsiau gyda Llywodraeth y DU am ystod o'r pethau hyn hefyd. Fe fydd cwblhau pecyn buddsoddi ar gyfer dyfodol y sector dur yn golygu mwy o hyder, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y ffaith bod y ceisiadau am borthladdoedd rhyddion yn mynd drwy eu cam nesaf yn rhoi mwy o ysgogiad i'r penderfyniad hwnnw gael ei wneud.

4. Datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: Mynediad at Wasanaethau Gofal Sylfaenol
4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Access to Primary Care Services

Eitem 4 yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol. A galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Eluned Morgan. 

Item 4 is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: access to primary care services. And I call on the Minister, Eluned Morgan.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today, I am pleased to provide an update on our programme for government commitment to delivering better access to doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals in primary care services.

At the outset, I think it is important to acknowledge that the demand for primary care services outstrips capacity, which undoubtedly provides a challenge in terms of delivering on our commitment to improving access to health professionals, particularly when our budgets are so stretched as a result of long-term austerity and inflationary pressures.

The backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact on waiting times. But, despite this, we all know that the numbers of people in Wales supported by our health and care professionals on a weekly basis is staggering. They are dedicated to providing the best quality of care to all who require it, prioritising on the basis of clinical need where necessary. But we know there's a need to do more.

Our primary care model for Wales is about people accessing the right care, from the right professional for their specific needs, as close to home as possible. Primary care services are integrating, bringing together GPs, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, dentists, optometrists, and other local services, co-ordinating access and effectively using everyone’s expertise and time.

Whilst working together to deliver services, we also want front-line health professionals to collaborate through the primary care clusters to help plan services that better meet the specific needs of their communities. To strengthen their voices, professional collaboratives have been established over recent months for GPs, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists and allied health professionals, and dental professional collaboratives are next. This transformation is underpinned by a programme of contract reform, which provides the legislative platform to accelerate patient access to primary care health professionals. This aligns to 'A Healthier Wales', and is founded on the key principles of prudent healthcare.

In Wales, we promote a digital-first approach, and I am confident that we will be making significant strides in this area in the next few months and years. Patients can get a range of advice and information from the NHS 111 Wales website, including access to 76 symptom checkers. During January, there were 423,600 visits to the NHS 111 Wales website, with 18,600 completed symptom checkers. And I am particularly pleased that the 111 service is now being extended to mental health support, with the latest 111, press 2 service having been switched on in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last week.

Where patients need to contact their GP practice, there are initiatives in place to ensure consistency of access across Wales. But we know many people still find it difficult to make a timely appointment to see a GP. That is why our access commitment, introduced in April last year, requires practices to adopt a planned approach to meeting patient need, moving away from the release of all appointments at 8 a.m.. We want to see this way of working become a future contractual requirement for GPs, and I am pleased to say that our initial phase of access standards will be contractually mandated from next week.

With respect to dentistry, we want to reach a position where everyone in Wales who wants access to NHS dental care can get it, but this is not going to happen overnight. On the whole, dentists are independent providers. We are promoting a new way of working, and it takes time to train the relevant workforce. We are working with health boards, who have the responsibility for the provision of NHS dental services, to address gaps in service provision through their operational plans. The overwhelming majority of dental practices are now working under the principles of dental reform, focusing on prevention and needs-based treatment. This is creating capacity for more patients to access NHS dental provision. During this financial year, over 155,000 patients who have historically struggled to get an appointment have now received treatment. From 1 April last year, £2 million of additional recurrent funding was made available to improve access to NHS dentistry across Wales. Health boards are investing this funding in NHS dental services to address local needs.

As part of the reformed contract for our community pharmacies in Wales, since April last year, pharmacists have been able to prescribe and supply medicines for an extended range of conditions, providing increased access to services for the public, and relieving pressure on GP and other NHS services. Pharmacists can now provide treatment for common minor ailments, they can give access to repeat medicines in an emergency, they can provide annual flu vaccinations, emergency contraception, and some forms of regular contraception. And these services are available in 99 per cent of pharmacies across Wales, and they're all provided free at the point of need.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Heddiw, rwy'n falch o roi diweddariad ar ein rhaglen ar gyfer ymrwymiad y llywodraeth i ddarparu gwell mynediad at feddygon, nyrsys, deintyddion a gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol eraill y gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol.

Ar y cychwyn cyntaf, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig cydnabod bod y galw am wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn fwy na'r gallu i'w darparu, sydd, yn ddiamau, yn cyflwyno her o ran cyflawni ein hymrwymiad ni i wella mynediad at weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol, yn enwedig pan fo gymaint o bwysau ar ein cyllidebau o ganlyniad i gyni hirdymor a phwysau chwyddiant.

Mae'r ôl-groniad a greodd pandemig COVID-19 yn dal i effeithio ar amseroedd aros. Ond er hynny, fe wyddom ni i gyd fod niferoedd y bobl yng Nghymru y mae ein gweithwyr iechyd a gofal proffesiynol yn eu cefnogi bob wythnos yn syfrdanol. Maen nhw'n ymroddedig i ddarparu'r ansawdd gofal gorau i bawb sydd ei angen, gan flaenoriaethu ar sail angen clinigol lle byddo'r angen. Ond fe wyddom ni fod angen gwneud rhagor.

Ystyr ein model gofal sylfaenol i Gymru yw rhoi'r gofal priodol i bobl, gan y gweithiwr proffesiynol cymwys ar gyfer eu hanghenion penodol nhw, mor agos at yr aelwyd â phosibl. Mae gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn integreiddio, gan ddod â meddygon teulu, nyrsys, fferyllwyr, gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol perthynol, deintyddion, optometryddion, a gwasanaethau lleol eraill at ei gilydd, i gydlynu mynediad yn effeithiol gan ddefnyddio arbenigedd ac amser pob un.

Wrth weithio gyda'n gilydd i ddarparu gwasanaethau, rydym ni awyddus hefyd i weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol rheng flaen gydweithio trwy'r clystyrau gofal sylfaenol i helpu i gynllunio gwasanaethau sy'n ateb anghenion penodol eu cymunedau nhw'n well. I gryfhau eu lleisiau nhw, cafodd cydweithredwyr proffesiynol eu sefydlu dros y misoedd diwethaf ar gyfer meddygon teulu, nyrsys, fferyllwyr, optometryddion a gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol perthynol, a chydweithredwyr proffesiynol deintyddol sydd nesaf. Yn sail i'r trawsnewidiad hwn y mae'r rhaglen o ddiwygio contractau, sy'n rhoi sylfaen deddfwriaethol i gyflymu mynediad cleifion at weithwyr iechyd gofal sylfaenol proffesiynol. Mae hyn yn cydredeg â 'Chymru Iachach', ac ar sail egwyddorion allweddol gofal iechyd darbodus.

Yng Nghymru, rydym ni'n hyrwyddo dull digidol yn gyntaf, ac rwy'n ffyddiog y byddwn ni'n cymryd camau breision yn y maes hwn yn ystod y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf. Fe all cleifion gael ystod o gyngor a gwybodaeth ar wefan GIG 111 Cymru, gan gynnwys mynediad at 76 o holiaduron ar gyfer gwirio symptomau. Yn ystod mis Ionawr, ymwelwyd â gwefan GIG 111 Cymru 423,600 o weithiau, gyda 18,600 o holiaduron symptomau wedi eu llenwi. Ac rwy'n arbennig o falch fod y gwasanaeth 111 yn cael ei ymestyn erbyn hyn i gymorth iechyd meddwl, gyda'r gwasanaeth 111 diweddaraf, gwasanaeth pwyso 2 wedi ei roi ar waith ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yr wythnos diwethaf.

Lle bod angen i gleifion gysylltu â'u meddygfeydd nhw, mae yna fentrau ar waith ar gyfer sicrhau cysondeb mynediad ledled Cymru. Ond fe wyddom ni fod llawer o bobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd cael apwyntiad o hyd i weld meddyg teulu mewn amser rhesymol. Dyna pam mae ein hymrwymiad ni i fynediad, a gyflwynwyd ym mis Ebrill y llynedd, yn ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol i feddygfeydd fabwysiadu dull gweithredu a gynlluniwyd o ddiwallu angen cleifion, gan symud i ffwrdd oddi wrth ryddhau pob apwyntiad am 8am. Rydym ni'n awyddus i weld y ffordd hon o weithio yn mynd yn ofyniad contractiol i feddygon teulu yn y dyfodol, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud y bydd ein cam cychwynnol ni o ran safonau mynediad yn cael ei fandadu'n gontractiol o'r wythnos nesaf ymlaen.

O ran deintyddiaeth, rydym ni'n dymuno cyrraedd sefyllfa lle gall pawb yng Nghymru sydd eisiau mynediad at ofal deintyddol y GIG ei gael ef, ond nid yw hyn am ddigwydd dros nos. Ar y cyfan, darparwyr annibynnol yw deintyddion. Rydym ni'n hyrwyddo ffordd newydd o weithio, ac mae hi'n cymryd amser i hyfforddi'r gweithlu perthnasol. Rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r byrddau iechyd, sydd â chyfrifoldeb am ddarparu gwasanaethau deintyddol y GIG, i fynd i'r afael â'r bylchau yn narpariaeth gwasanaethau trwy eu cynlluniau gweithredol nhw. Mae mwyafrif llethol y practisau deintyddol yn gweithio gyda'r egwyddorion ar gyfer diwygio deintyddiaeth, gan ganolbwyntio ar ataliaeth a thriniaeth ar sail anghenion. Mae hyn yn rhoi'r gallu i fwy o gleifion gael mynediad at ddarpariaeth ddeintyddol y GIG. Yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon, mae dros 155,000 o gleifion sydd wedi ei chael hi'n anodd cael apwyntiad yn y gorffennol wedi cael triniaeth erbyn hyn. O 1 Ebrill y llynedd, roedd £2 filiwn ychwanegol o gyllid rheolaidd ar gael i wella mynediad at ddeintyddiaeth y GIG ledled Cymru. Mae'r byrddau iechyd yn buddsoddi'r cyllid hwn yng ngwasanaethau deintyddol y GIG i fynd i'r afael ag anghenion lleol.

Yn rhan o'r contract diwygiedig ar gyfer ein fferyllfeydd cymunedol ni yng Nghymru, ers mis Ebrill y llynedd, mae fferyllwyr wedi gallu rhagnodi a chyflenwi meddyginiaethau ar gyfer ystod estynedig o gyflyrau, gan ddarparu mwy o fynediad i'r cyhoedd at wasanaethau, ac ysgafnu'r pwysau ar wasanaethau meddygon teulu a gwasanaethau eraill y GIG. Fe all fferyllwyr roi triniaeth nawr ar gyfer mân anhwylderau cyffredin, fe allan nhw roi mynediad at feddyginiaethau rheolaidd mewn argyfwng, fe allan nhw gynnig brechiadau ffliw blynyddol, atal cenhedlu brys, a rhai ffurfiau cyffredin o atal cenhedlu. Ac mae'r gwasanaethau hyn ar gael yn 99 y cant y fferyllfeydd ledled Cymru, ac maen nhw i gyd yn cael eu darparu yn rhad ac am ddim pryd a lle bynnag y bo’u hangen.

Ym maes optometreg, rydym ni eisoes yn ehangu'r ddarpariaeth â ffocws clinigol mewn gofal sylfaenol. Mae hynny'n cael ei wneud drwy symud rhai gwasanaethau gofal llygad o'r ysbyty i'r gymuned, lle mae gweithlu medrus ar gael i ateb y galw cynyddol. Cyn bod rhai elfennau o'r diwygio yn gallu dod i rym, bydd angen gwneud newidiadau i'r rheoliadau, ac, wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni yn ymgynghori ar y cynigion. Yn y cyfamser, mae'r broses ar y gweill i gyflwyno gwasanaethau gan optometryddion â chymwysterau uwch, fel rhagnodi annibynnol, glawcoma a retina meddygol, gan ddefnyddio'r cyfarwyddiadau deddfwriaethol presennol. Rŷn ni'n sylweddoli mai'r llwybrau gwasanaeth hyn fydd yn cael yr effaith fwyaf o ran cefnogi gwasanaethau gofal llygad arbenigol mewn ysbytai.

Rydym ni hefyd yn gwneud cynnydd da wrth alluogi cleifion i gael mynediad uniongyrchol at lwybrau awdioleg heb gael eu cyfeirio gan feddyg teulu neu weithiwr proffesiynol arall yn y maes iechyd neu ofal cymdeithasol. I hwyluso'r newid yma, rydyn ni'n ymwneud mwy â'r trydydd sector a'r cynghorau iechyd cymuned, gan greu capasiti mewn gwasanaethau awdioleg drwy gamau cadarn i gynllunio'r gweithlu.

Mae mynediad at weithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd mewn gofal sylfaenol yn flaenoriaeth hefyd, ac mae hyn yn dal i gael ei symud ymlaen drwy'r rhaglen strategol gofal sylfaenol. Ym mis Ionawr, gwnes i gyhoeddi £5 miliwn yn ychwanegol i gynyddu nifer y gweithwyr proffesiynol hyn ac i wella mynediad at wasanaethau adsefydlu yn y gymuned i helpu pobl i ddal i fod yn actif ac yn annibynnol.

Bydd yr ymrwymiad yn y rhaglen lywodraethu i fuddsoddi mewn cenhedlaeth newydd o hybiau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol integredig yn bwysig wrth helpu i greu capasiti cymunedol. Drwy ein cronfa buddsoddi cyfalaf newydd, rŷn ni'n dechrau gweld cynigion yn dwyn ffrwyth, gan gynnwys hyb lles Rhiwbeina, sydd newydd gael ei gwblhau. Mae hwn yn galluogi pobl i gael gafael ar amrywiaeth fwy eang o wasanaethau iechyd, gofal a lles yn nes at adref.

Mae buddsoddiad pellach wedi ei wneud mewn nyrsio cymunedol, sef ychydig o dan £3 miliwn ers 2021. Mae hwn er mwyn datblygu ar yr hyn a gafodd ei ddysgu drwy'r cynlluniau peilot nyrsio yn y gymdogaeth. I gefnogi hyn mae'r system amserlenni electronig yn galluogi timau nyrsio ardal i wneud yn siwr bod eu gwasanaeth i gleifion yn cael ei ddarparu gan y nyrs gywir â'r sgiliau cywir bob tro.

Ar draws yr holl wasanaethau hyn mae sicrhau tegwch mynediad yn hanfodol. Mae'r Llywodraeth yma yn cydnabod yr angen i roi pwyslais penodol ar sicrhau bod grwpiau bregus yn gallu cael gafael ar wasanaethau, gan gynnwys pobl sydd yn cael eu hystyried yn fregus.

Yn ddiweddar, rydym wedi comisiynu ymchwil annibynnol i gael safbwyntiau'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru ynglŷn â mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol a beth mae mynediad da yn ei olygu iddyn nhw. Mae barn y cyhoedd yn hynod o bwysig wrth inni weithio i ddatblygu polisi sy'n cefnogi eu hanghenion gofal sylfaenol.

Yn olaf, dwi eisiau cydnabod fy niolch i i'r gweithwyr proffesiynol sy'n gweithio mewn gofal sylfaenol. Heb eu hymroddiad a'u hyblygrwydd nhw, fyddai dim modd darparu'r gwasanaethau dwi wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw a thrawsnewid y gwasanaethau hynny er lles pobl Cymru. Diolch.

In optometry, we are already expanding clinically focused provision in primary care. That's being done by moving the delivery of some eye-care services from hospitals to the community, where there is a skilled workforce with the capacity to meet increasing demand. Before some aspects of the reform can come into force, some changes will need to be made to regulations, and, of course, we will be consulting on those proposals. In the meantime, the roll-out of services, utilising optometrists with higher qualifications, such as independent prescribing, glaucoma and medical retina, is under way, using existing legislative directions. We recognise that these service pathways will have the greatest impact in terms of supporting specialist hospital eye-care services.

We are also making good progress in terms of providing direct access for patients to audiology pathways without referral by a GP or another health or social care professional. To facilitate this change, we are engaging more with the third sector and community heath councils, establishing capacity in audiology services via robust workforce planning.

Access to allied health professionals in primary care is also a priority, and this continues to be progressed through the strategic programme for primary care. In January, I announced an additional £5 million to increase the number of allied health professionals and to improve access to community-based rehabilitation to help people remain active and independent.

The commitment in the programme for government to invest in a new generation of integrated health and social care hubs will play an important role in helping to build community capacity. Through our new capital investment fund, we are beginning to see proposals come to fruition, including the newly completed Rhiwbina well-being hub, which will provide people with easy and seamless access to a wider range of health, care and well-being services closer to their homes.

There has been further investment for community nursing, namely just under £3 million since 2021. This is to take forward the learning from the neighbourhood district nursing pilot schemes. Supporting this, the electronic scheduling system enables district nursing teams to ensure that their service can provide patients with access to the right nurse with the right skills every visit. 

Across all of these services, ensuring equity of access is vital. This Government recognises the need for a specific focus on access to services by vulnerable groups, including those who are classified as frail.

We have recently commissioned a piece of independent research to gain insight from the public in Wales around accessing primary care services and what good access means to them. The views of the public are extremely important as we work to progress policy that supports their primary care needs. 

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my thanks to the professionals working in primary care. Without their dedication and flexibility, the services that I have highlighted could not be delivered and transformed for the well-being of people across Wales. Thank you.

15:40

Can I thank the Minister for the advance copy of the statement on what is a really important topic, because we see a lot of anecdotal evidence that shows the difficulty in accessing primary care services, and how that drives pressure, of course, on emergency care with lots of people then turning to A&E? Indeed, that was one of the reasons why I brought forward the Welsh Conservatives' GP access plan.

One of the components of that was to upgrade and modernise GP phone systems—that often, I would suggest, don't work for many patients—helping to alleviate long waits when contacting a surgery. I've lost count of the times when I've had correspondence from constituents with regard to the out-of-date methods of trying to make an appointment. We've got that well-known 8 a.m. rush, for example. So, how are you going to support surgeries into the modern world in that regard, Minister? One of these ways could be through an NHS Wales app, so that patients in Wales, like those in England already, could access health records, order prescriptions, contact health professionals and, yes, of course, manage appointments as well. Where are we with this, which I would suggest is vital technology? Perhaps you can give an update in that regard. 

Again, on the plan that I've previously brought forward myself, Minister, have you given any consideration to the suggestion around cutting red tape for GPs so that they can see more patients, by allowing a greater range of professionals to be able to provide medical evidence and certificates, such as fit notes and DVLA checks? If others could do that, it would really free up GPs' time. And what about the improvements in transparency and accountability by increasing the oversight of practices and making health boards collect information on patients? That could certainly be done in a non-burdensome way, using IT, I would suggest. And of course, it's really frustrating for politicians like me, whose job it is to scrutinise the Government, to find that information is just not being collected on matters that are really important to the Welsh people and helping us to make policy judgments. 

Before I move away from GPs, it would be good to know, Minister, if you are happy with the Chancellor's decision to abolish the tax-free lifetime pension allowance, because it addressed in my view one of the driving factors pushing GPs to retire early. This was welcomed, I noticed, by the British Medical Association, who reported the very next day that doctors were already cancelling their retirements to further contribute to the NHS. But I did notice a bit in The Times that reported a dash to retire before Labour reverses this, despite Wes Streeting actually calling for this back in September. So, it would be good to know the Minister's and the Welsh Government's position in this regard, especially in the context that Welsh communities have lost 20 per cent of their GP practices in the last 10 years. 

On e-prescribing, an update on that would be appreciated. Again, in England and Scotland, we've seen that happen there since 2005 and 2009 respectively. Can we have an update on progress in that regard?

I wonder if the Minister also shares my concern that one of the challenges we need to overcome in Wales is the lack of knowledge about different primary care services—an absence of knowledge about what pharmacies and minor injury units can do. And on that note, what is the guidance to A&E units about referring people who are clearly in need of one of these services rather than emergency care in a timely manner? Basically, what I'm saying is that, if somebody turns up, perhaps, at A&E in the Heath hospital with a sprained ankle, they shouldn't be left to go through the system, taking up time and resources; I would suggest they should be then sent away to the more appropriate department straight away. I was just wondering if the Minister shares that view. 

Dentists you've mentioned, Minister. I know in the recent update you provided in that regard you talked about a meeting with the British Dental Association in the next couple of weeks, at the time. Have you had that meeting? Can you update us on what followed that meeting, if it has taken place? 

And finally, you ended your statement by referring to commissioning independent research around accessing primary care services. That's very good, and I very much welcome that. You mentioned that the views of the public are really extremely important, and I agree with that as well. Can you give us any details on the timeline of that work and how can the public engage?

A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am y copi ymlaen llaw o'r datganiad ar beth sy'n bwnc pwysig iawn, oherwydd rydyn ni'n gweld llawer o dystiolaeth anecdotaidd sy'n dangos y drafferth wrth geisio cael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol, a sut mae hynny'n creu pwysau, wrth gwrs, ar ofal brys gyda llawer o bobl wedyn yn troi at yr adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys? Yn wir, dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y gwnes i gyflwyno cynllun mynediad at feddygon teulu y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig.

Un o'r elfennau hynny oedd uwchraddio a moderneiddio systemau ffôn meddygon teulu—nad ydyn nhw'n aml, byddwn i'n ei awgrymu, yn gweithio i lawer o gleifion—gan helpu i leddfu arosiadau hir wrth gysylltu â meddygfa. Rydw i wedi colli cyfrif o'r adegau yr wyf i wedi cael gohebiaeth gan etholwyr ynghylch y dulliau hen ffasiwn o geisio gwneud apwyntiad. Mae gennym ni'r rhuthro adnabyddus hwnnw am 8am, er enghraifft. Felly, sut ydych chi'n mynd i gefnogi meddygfeydd i mewn i'r byd modern yn hynny o beth, Gweinidog? Gallai un o'r ffyrdd hynny fod drwy ap GIG Cymru, fel y gallai cleifion yng Nghymru, fel y rhai yn Lloegr eisoes, gael mynediad at gofnodion iechyd, archebu presgripsiynau, cysylltu â gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol ac, ie, wrth gwrs, rheoli apwyntiadau hefyd. Ble ydym ni gyda hyn, sy'n dechnoleg hanfodol y byddwn i'n ei awgrymu? Efallai y gallwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynghylch hynny. 

Unwaith eto, ar y cynllun yr wyf i wedi'i gyflwyno fy hun o'r blaen, Gweinidog, ydych chi wedi rhoi unrhyw ystyriaeth i'r awgrym ynghylch torri biwrocratiaeth ar gyfer meddygon teulu fel y gallan nhw weld mwy o gleifion, drwy ganiatáu i amrywiaeth ehangach o weithwyr proffesiynol allu darparu tystiolaeth a thystysgrifau meddygol, fel nodiadau ffitrwydd ac arolygon DVLA? Pe bai eraill yn gallu gwneud hynny, byddai wir yn rhyddhau amser meddygon teulu. A beth am y gwelliannau mewn tryloywder ac atebolrwydd drwy gynyddu goruchwylio meddygfeydd a gwneud i fyrddau iechyd gasglu gwybodaeth am gleifion? Yn sicr, byddai modd gwneud hynny mewn ffordd nad yw'n feichus, gan ddefnyddio TG, byddwn i'n ei awgrymu. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n rhwystredig iawn i wleidyddion fel fi, gyda'i gwaith nhw o graffu ar y Llywodraeth, i ganfod nad yw gwybodaeth yn cael ei chasglu ar faterion sy'n wirioneddol bwysig i'r Cymry a'n helpu ni i lunio dyfarniadau polisi. 

Cyn i mi symud i ffwrdd o feddygon teulu, byddai'n dda gwybod, Gweinidog, os ydych chi'n hapus gyda phenderfyniad y Canghellor i ddiddymu'r lwfans di-dreth pensiwn oes, oherwydd y gwnaeth, yn fy marn i, ymdrin ag un o'r ffactorau ysgogi sy'n gwthio meddygon teulu i ymddeol yn gynnar. Roedd croeso i hyn, sylwais i, gan Gymdeithas Feddygol Prydain, a adroddodd y diwrnod canlynol bod meddygon eisoes yn canslo eu hymddeoliadau i gyfrannu ymhellach at y GIG. Ond gwnes i sylwi ar ddarn yn The Times yn adrodd ar ruthro i ymddeol cyn i Lafur wyrdroi hyn, er i Wes Streeting alw am hyn yn ôl ym mis Medi mewn gwirionedd. Felly, byddai'n dda gwybod beth yw safbwynt y Gweinidog a Llywodraeth Cymru yn hyn o beth, yn enwedig yn y cyd-destun bod cymunedau Cymru wedi colli 20 y cant o'u meddygfeydd yn ystod y 10 mlynedd ddiwethaf. 

Ar e-ragnodi, byddai'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar hynny yn cael ei werthfawrogi. Eto, yn Lloegr a'r Alban, rydyn ni wedi gweld hynny'n digwydd yno ers 2005 a 2009 yn y drefn honno. A gawn ni'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar gynnydd yn hynny o beth?

Tybed a yw'r Gweinidog hefyd yn rhannu fy mhryder i mai un o'r heriau sydd angen i ni eu goresgyn yng Nghymru yw'r diffyg gwybodaeth am wahanol wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol—diffyg gwybodaeth ynghylch yr hyn y gall fferyllfeydd ac unedau mân anafiadau ei wneud. Ac ar y nodyn hwnnw, beth yw'r canllawiau i unedau damweiniau ac achosion brys ynglŷn â chyfeirio pobl sy'n amlwg angen un o'r gwasanaethau hyn yn hytrach na gofal brys mewn modd amserol? Yn y bôn, yr hyn rwy'n ei ddweud yw, os bydd rhywun yn ymddangos, efallai, yn uned damweiniau ac achosion brys Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru gyda phigwrn wedi'i hysigo, ni ddylai gael ei adael i fynd trwy'r system, gan gymryd amser ac adnoddau; byddwn i'n awgrymu y dylai wedyn gael ei anfon i ffwrdd i'r adran fwy priodol yn syth. Tybed a yw'r Gweinidog yn rhannu'r farn honno. 

Deintyddion, rydych chi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw, Gweinidog. Rwy'n gwybod yn yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf y gwnaethoch chi ei rhoi ar hyn, y gwnaethoch chi sôn am gyfarfod gyda Chymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, ar y pryd. Ydych chi wedi cael y cyfarfod hwnnw? A allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ar yr hyn a ddilynodd y cyfarfod hwnnw, os yw wedi digwydd? 

Ac yn olaf, gwnaethoch chi ddod â'ch datganiad i ben drwy gyfeirio at gomisiynu ymchwil annibynnol ynghylch cael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol. Mae hynny'n dda iawn, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny'n fawr. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn bod barn y cyhoedd yn hynod o bwysig, ac rwy'n cytuno â hynny hefyd. A allwch chi roi unrhyw fanylion i ni ar linell amser y gwaith hwnnw a sut gall y cyhoedd ymgysylltu?

15:45

Diolch yn fawr. You'll know that, in relation to access to GPs, we've done a huge amount of work on that over the past few years. In fact, we had some access standards set out, and I'm pleased to say that 89 per cent of GP surgeries are already achieving the access standards that we set out. Those access standards include a commitment to make sure that what is offered by GP surgeries, for example, is a blended model of different ways of accessing. It may be that there'll be an opportunity for an urgent on-the-day booking, there'll be prebookable appointments, there'll be telephone consultations available, there'll be digital contact available. The whole point is that there's a broader way of accessing GP surgeries, and that face-to-face contact would depend on the clinical judgment of the GP. Up until now, that has been effectively a voluntary approach, but in three days' time that will become a requirement. I'm hoping that, for those laggards who have not got rid of the 8 a.m. bottleneck, for example, we will see some shift in those from 1 April.

When it comes to the NHS Wales app, it's been very carefully tested. It's live, but for a small group of people, already. What we didn't want to do is to see what they did in England, which was to launch the app and watch all of the GP surgeries just switch it off, so actually your ability to use it was quite restrained. We're taking it very, very carefully, but I'll have some news on that imminently.

In terms of improvements and transparency and making sure that the voice of the patient is heard, of course there is access now to the community health councils. That is the voice of the patient, and of course, that, from 1 April, will be turning to the new patient voice facility, Llais, so hopefully people will know that they can access that as a way of letting the NHS know if they're dissatisfied with the service.

When it comes to the abolition of pension allowance for doctors, we actually lobbied for this. I was very clear that we had to do something to try and stem the flow of doctors retiring early, so we're pleased to see that. Whether it needed to be extended to everybody in that particular tax bracket, I'm not sure about that, but certainly we've welcomed it in relation to the NHS.

We've got more GPs than ever. When it comes to e-prescribing, you will see some changes on that this summer, at the GP level. And of course there are different ways, as you say, of accessing primary care services. One of the things you will have seen, and you will have seen it because you'll have been living in a cave if you haven't seen it, is the 'Help Us to Help You' campaign, which tries to direct people to the right facility for them. And obviously there's also the 111 service that directs people. Very few of the people who phone 111 are directed to accident and emergency.

I did have a meeting with the British Dental Association. There are clearly a number of issues that we still need to iron out with them. We do need to make sure that we perhaps give a much clearer picture of what's coming their way and that we discuss that with them earlier in the process. I have asked the head of dentistry for Welsh Government to continue with that discussion and I've asked for a follow-up, just to see how far we get on that in the next week.

Diolch yn fawr. Byddwch chi'n gwybod, o ran mynediad at feddygon teulu, ein bod ni wedi gwneud llawer iawn o waith ar hynny dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd gennym ni rai safonau mynediad wedi'u nodi, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod 89 y cant o feddygfeydd meddygon teulu eisoes yn cyflawni'r safonau mynediad a gafodd eu nodi gennym ni. Mae'r safonau mynediad hynny'n cynnwys ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod yr hyn sy'n cael ei gynnig gan feddygfeydd, er enghraifft, yn fodel cyfunol o wahanol ffyrdd o gael mynediad. Mae'n bosibl y bydd cyfle i archebu ar frys ar y diwrnod, bydd apwyntiadau y mae modd eu harchebu o flaen llaw, bydd ymgynghoriadau ffôn ar gael, bydd cyswllt digidol ar gael. Yr holl bwynt yw bod ffordd ehangach o gael mynediad at feddygfeydd teulu, ac y byddai cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb yn dibynnu ar farn glinigol y meddyg teulu. Hyd at hyn, mae hynny wedi bod yn ddull gwirfoddol i bob pwrpas, ond ymhen tridiau bydd hynny'n dod yn ofyniad. Rwy'n gobeithio, i'r rhai hynny sydd ar ei hôl hi a heb gael gwared â'r dagfa 8am, er enghraifft, gwelwn ni rywfaint o symudiad yn y rheiny o 1 Ebrill.

O ran ap GIG Cymru, mae wedi cael ei brofi'n ofalus iawn. Mae'n fyw yn barod, ond i grŵp bach o bobl yn unig. Yr hyn nad oeddem ni eisiau'i wneud yw gweld beth wnaethon nhw yn Lloegr, sef lansio'r ap a gwylio pob un o'r meddygfeydd yn ei ddiffodd, felly mewn gwirionedd roedd eich gallu i'w ddefnyddio yn eithaf cynnil. Rydyn ni'n ei gymryd yn ofalus iawn, iawn, ond bydd gennyf i rywfaint o newyddion ar hynny yn fuan.

O ran gwelliannau a thryloywder a gwneud yn siŵr bod llais y claf yn cael eu clywed, wrth gwrs mae mynediad nawr i'r cynghorau iechyd cymuned. Dyna lais y claf, ac wrth gwrs, y bydd, o 1 Ebrill, yn troi at y cyfleuster newydd llais y claf, Llais, felly gobeithio y bydd pobl yn gwybod y gallan nhw gael mynediad at hynny fel ffordd o adael i'r GIG wybod os ydyn nhw'n anfodlon â'r gwasanaeth.

O ran diddymu'r lwfans pensiwn i feddygon, gwnaethom ni lobïo dros hyn a dweud y gwir. Roedden ni'n glir iawn bod rhaid i ni wneud rhywbeth i geisio atal y llif o feddygon sy'n ymddeol yn gynnar, felly rydyn ni'n falch o weld hynny. P'un ai oedd angen ei ymestyn i bawb yn y fraced dreth benodol honno, nid ydw i'n siŵr am hynny, ond yn sicr rydyn ni wedi'i groesawu o ran y GIG.

Mae gennym ni fwy o feddygon teulu nag erioed. O ran e-ragnodi, fe welwch chi rai newidiadau ar hynny yr haf hwn, ar lefel y meddyg teulu. Ac wrth gwrs mae yna wahanol ffyrdd, fel y dywedwch chi, o gael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol. Un o'r pethau y byddwch chi wedi'i weld, a byddwch chi wedi'i weld, oherwydd fe fyddwch chi wedi bod yn byw mewn ogof os nad ydych chi wedi'i weld, yw'r ymgyrch 'Helpwch Ni i'ch Helpu Chi', sy'n ceisio cyfeirio pobl at y cyfleuster cywir ar eu cyfer. Ac yn amlwg mae hefyd y gwasanaeth 111 sy'n cyfarwyddo pobl. Ychydig iawn o'r bobl sy'n ffonio 111 sy'n cael eu cyfeirio at wasanaeth ddamweiniau ac achosion brys.

Fe gefais i gyfarfod â Chymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain. Mae'n amlwg bod nifer o faterion y mae dal angen eu datrys gyda nhw. Mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni efallai'n rhoi darlun llawer cliriach o'r hyn sy'n dod eu ffordd nhw a'n bod ni'n trafod hynny gyda nhw yn gynharach yn y broses. Rydw i wedi gofyn i bennaeth deintyddiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i barhau gyda'r drafodaeth honno ac rydw i wedi gofyn am ddilyniant, dim ond i weld pa mor bell yr ydyn ni'n dod ymlaen â hynny yn ystod yr wythnos nesaf.

15:50

Gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad yna? O bosib y peth mwyaf arwyddocaol ydy'r ffaith bod darn o waith ymchwil wedi cael ei gomisiynu gan y Gweinidog yn ddiweddar er mwyn trio dod i ddeall yn well beth ydy profiadau pobl o gael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol, a beth mae mynediad da yn ei olygu iddyn nhw. Mae'n wirioneddol yn bwysig, dwi'n meddwl, ein bod ni'n deall hyn, achos mor aml mae profiad claf fel mae'n cael ei adrodd i fi ac i lawer ohonom ni, dwi'n siŵr, fel Aelodau o'r Senedd yma, yn wahanol iawn i'r hyn sy'n cael ei ddweud wrthym ni yn swyddogol.

Er enghraifft, mi wnaiff etholwyr i fi ofyn yn aml, 'Pam nad ydy meddygon teulu yn gweld pobl wyneb yn wyneb?' Wel, wrth gwrs, mae meddygon teulu yn gweld pobl wyneb yn wyneb, ac yn wir mi wnaeth meddygon teulu barhau i weld pobl wyneb yn wyneb drwy gyfnod COVID. Ond mae yna'r canfyddiad yma ei bod hi'n anoddach i gael mynediad at apwyntiad wyneb yn wyneb erbyn hyn. Felly mi hoffwn i glywed gan y Gweinidog am y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud er mwyn rhoi eglurder i bobl am y math o wasanaethau y gallan nhw eu disgwyl wyneb yn wyneb gan eu meddygfa, fel eu bod nhw'n gallu cael syniad realistig o beth yn union ydy'r safonau mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu disgwyl ar hyn o bryd.

Dwi'n cyd-fynd yn llwyr efo'r hyn mae'r Llywodraeth yn trio ei wneud o ran siarad am ofal sylfaenol yn ei ddiffiniad mwyaf eang. Mae pobl yn dal i drafod 'mynd i weld y doctor', ond go iawn mynd i gael gwasanaeth iechyd mae angen i bobl ei wneud, a dyna pam ei bod hi mor bwysig bod pobl yn deall am y gwasanaethau sydd ar gael drwy fferyllfeydd ac yn y blaen. Mi fyddwn i'n hoffi clywed gan y Gweinidog am y math o fuddsoddiad mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud neu'n ystyried ei wneud er mwyn mynd i'r afael â’r her addysgu yna sydd yn amlwg angen ei gwneud, oherwydd dim ond os ydy pobl yn deall y gwahanol ffyrdd y gallan nhw gael mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd y byddan nhw yn dechrau mynd i drio cael mynediad at wasanaethau mewn ffyrdd gwahanol a ffyrdd mwy cynaliadwy.

Un pryder arall sydd gen i, wrth droi at yr elfen ddeintyddol yn natganiad y Gweinidog, ydy bod y Llywodraeth, tra yn cyfaddef bod yna heriau, yn trio rhoi yr argraff bod gwasanaethau, ar y cyfan, yn dda mewn deintyddiaeth ar hyn o bryd. Dydw i ddim yn teimlo, o siarad efo deintyddion a llawer o gleifion deintyddol chwaith, bod hynny yn adlewyrchiad realistig. Dwi yn wirioneddol gredu bod yna argyfwng mewn deintyddiaeth yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Rydym ni wedi gallu cyffwrdd ar hynny yma yn Siambr y Senedd droeon dros yr wythnosau ac yn wir y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Dwi yn gofyn am dôn wahanol gan y Llywodraeth wrth drafod deintyddiaeth. Roedd y Prif Weinidog, unwaith eto, yn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog heddiw, yn pwysleisio’r miliwn o bobl sydd wedi cael mynediad at ofal deintyddol dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Wrth gwrs bod yna ystadegau positif mae modd cyfeirio atyn nhw o hyd, ond oni bai ein bod ni'n sylweddoli ein bod ni mewn cyfnod o argyfwng, dwi'n ofni na fydd y brys yna yn ymateb y Llywodraeth i'r argyfwng.

Ac yn olaf, yn dilyn y cyfeiriad gan y Gweinidog at y cynghorau iechyd cymuned yn ei hateb i lefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, mae gen i un cwestiwn penodol ynglŷn â Chyngor Iechyd Cymuned Gogledd Cymru. Rydym ni'n gwybod ein bod ni mewn cyfnod heriol tu hwnt o ran darpariaeth iechyd a gofal ar draws y gogledd, a bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cael ei roi yn ôl mewn mesurau arbennig. Mi fyddwn i yn dadlau ei bod hi’n fwy pwysig nag erioed bod gennym ni gyngor iechyd cymuned sydd wirioneddol yn deall y gymuned honno ac yn gallu ymateb yn gyflym, er enghraifft yn gwneud ymweliadau dirybudd ac ati. Felly, onid oes yna ddadl gref dros alluogi cyngor iechyd cymuned y gogledd i barhau am y tro tra’n bod ni yn dal yn wynebu'r heriau yma efo Betsi Cadwaladr?

May I thank the Minister for her statement? Perhaps the most significant thing is the fact that a piece of research has been commissioned by the Minister recently to try and better understand what people's experiences are in accessing primary care services, and what does good access mean to them. It's very important, I think, that we should understand this, because so often the patient experience as it's reported to me and many of us, I'm sure, as Members of this Senedd, is very different to what we're told officially.

For example, constituents will often ask me, 'Why don't GPs see people face to face?' Well, of course, GPs do see patients face to face, and indeed GPs continued to see people face to face throughout the COVID period, but there is this perception that it's more difficult to access a face-to-face appointment now. Therefore, I'd like to hear from the Minister about the work that's being done in order to provide clarity to people on the kinds of services that they can expect face to face within their surgeries, so that they do have a realistic idea of what exactly the expected standards from Government are at the moment.

I agree entirely with what the Government is trying to do in terms of talking about primary care in its broadest definition. People still talk about 'going to see the doctor', but very often they are accessing a health service, and that's why it is so important that people understand all of the services available through pharmacies and so on. I'd like to hear from the Minister about the kind of investment that the Government is making or considering in order to tackle that educational challenge, which clearly needs to be overcome, because it's only if people understand the different ways that they can access health services will they start to take advantage of those services available in alternative ways and more sustainable ways.

One other concern that I have, in turning to the dentistry element of the Minister's statement, is that the Government, whilst admitting there are challenges, is trying to give the impression that services, generally speaking, are in a good place in dentistry at the moment. Having spoken to dentists and many dental patients, I don't feel that that is a realistic reflection. I truly believe that there is a crisis in dentistry in Wales at the moment. We've touched upon that here in the Senedd Chamber a number of times in recent weeks and indeed in recent years. I would ask for a change of tone from Government in discussing dentistry. The First Minister once again during First Minister's questions today emphasised the million people who've had access to dental services over the past year. Of course, there are positive statistics that can be referenced to, but unless we realise that we are in a period of crisis, then I fear that that urgency in the Government response won't be there.

And finally, following the Minister's reference to the community health councils in her response to the Conservative spokesperson, I have one specific question on the North Wales Community Health Council. We know that we are in a very challenging period in terms of health and care provision across north Wales. Betsi Cadwaladr health board has been put back in special measures. I would argue that it's more important than ever that we have a community health council that truly understands that community and can respond swiftly, for example making no-notice visits and so on. So, isn't there a strong argument for enabling the North Wales Community Health Council to continue for the time being whilst we are still facing these challenges in Betsi Cadwaladr?

15:55

Diolch yn fawr. Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni ystyried beth mae access yn ei olygu i bobl, beth yw eu profiad uniongyrchol nhw, felly diolch am gydnabod bod y gwaith ymchwil yna yn mynd ymlaen. Dwi'n meddwl bod rhaid inni efallai helpu pobl i ddeall bod beth sydd wedi digwydd yn hanesyddol o ran cael access at GP ddim o reidrwydd y ffordd bydd pethau’n gweithio yn y dyfodol, yn rhannol achos dyw hi ddim yn ddefnydd da o’n GPs ni. Dyna pam mae'n rhaid inni eu harallgyfeirio nhw at bobl sydd, efallai, yn mynd i'w trin nhw gyda mwy o arbenigedd mewn un maes sydd yn fwy priodol iddyn nhw. Mae hynny yn newid, a dwi'n deall bod e’n newid sydd yn anodd i rai pobl, ond dwi yn meddwl mai dyna’r newid sydd angen inni ei weld.

Beth rŷn ni'n gobeithio ei weld yw mwy o gydlynu ar lefel clwstwr, felly bydd y GPs ac ati yn gweithio gydag allied health professionals ac eraill sy'n gweithio yn y maes, gyda fferyllfeydd, a bydd y rheini i gyd yn dechrau cydweithio lot yn well nag y maen nhw wedi yn y gorffennol. Mae hynny yn gweithio’n dda mewn rhai llefydd, ond yn amlwg mae'n rhaid inni fynd ymhellach.

O ran access, dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n ddiddorol, achos yn aml iawn rŷn ni'n clywed lot o sŵn am bobl sydd ddim yn cael triniaeth dda, ond mae lot o bobl yn dod lan ataf i a dweud cymaint maen nhw'n hoffi, er enghraifft, yr e-consult model sydd yn gweithio i lot o bobl, yn arbennig pobl, efallai, sydd yn gweithio. Does dim amser gyda nhw i fynd i weld GP ac maen nhw'n hoffi cael yr access yna. Felly, mae pethau’n gweithio’n well i rai pobl nag eraill, a dwi'n meddwl bod rhaid inni gydnabod hynny.

Rŷn ni wedi gwario miliynau ar dreial cael pobl i ddeall bod yna ffyrdd eraill i gael access at gael triniaeth. Dyna pam mae'r 'Help Us to Help You' campaign i'w weld ym mhobman. Mae hi wedi bod yn weladwy. Mae'n anodd i fynd i ffwrdd ohoni. Dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n rhywbeth sydd wedi gweithio. Mae hwnna'n rhoi gwybod i bobl bod pharmacies ar gael, bod 111 ar gael, bod urgent primary care centres ar gael, bod lot o lefydd eraill rŷch chi'n gallu mynd iddyn nhw heblaw am y GP. Dwi'n meddwl bod hynny wedi dechrau gweithio, ond mae'n rhaid i ni jest atgoffa pobl. Unwaith bydd pobl yn deall e am y tro cyntaf, byddan nhw wedyn, gobeithio, yn dilyn hynny yn y dyfodol.

O ran dentistry, dwi'n cydnabod bod yna le i wella, ond dwi jest yn meddwl bod pethau yn gwella. So, mae yna ffordd bell i fynd, ond rŷn ni ar y trywydd, a dwi'n meddwl bod hynny'n bwysig. Ond, beth sy'n glir yw gallwn ni ddim jest troi hwn ymlaen dros nos; mae'r bobl yma'n cymryd amser i ni hyfforddi. Dyna pam dwi'n meddwl bod e'n anodd, yn arbennig pan ŷn ni'n trio newid y system. Felly, beth rŷn ni eisiau gwneud yw defnyddio mwy o'r bobl yma, y dental therapists ac ati. Dyna pam rŷn ni'n agor mwy o ganolfannau mewn llefydd fel yn y gogledd.

Jest o ran y community health councils a'r grŵp newydd, Llais, dwi yn meddwl bod e'n bwysig bod llais y bobl sy'n defnyddio'r NHS yn cael ei glywed yn glir. Mae yna lot o baratoi wedi cael ei wneud o ran symud o'r community health councils i Llais. Felly, mae yna lot o baratoi wedi'i wneud. Bydd y rhan fwyaf o'r bobl a oedd yn gweithio i'r community health councils yn cael eu TUPE-io drosodd, felly yr un bobl ydyn nhw, ond mae'r system yn mynd i fod ychydig yn wahanol. Felly, dwi'n cydnabod a dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig bod pobl yn gwybod bod y system yn mynd i newid ac fe fydd yna ymgyrch i sicrhau bod pobl yn deall bod system newydd mewn lle.

Thank you very much. I think it's important for us to consider what access means to people and what their direct experiences are, so thanks for recognising that that research is ongoing. I think that perhaps we do need to help people to understand that what has happened historically in terms of having access to GPs isn't necessarily the way that things will work in the future, partly because it's not good use of our GPs. That's why we have to divert people to people who are going to treat them with more expertise in one area or another that is more appropriate for them. That is a change, and I do understand that is a difficult one for people to understand, but I do think that that's the change that we need to see.

What we hope to see is more co-ordination on a cluster level, so the GPs and so forth will work with the allied health professionals and others who work in that area, and with pharmacies and so forth, and they will start to collaborate much better than they have in the past. That is working well in some places, but evidently we have to go further.

Regarding access, I think it's interesting because, very often, we hear a lot of noise about people who don't get good treatment, but a lot of people come up to me and tell me how much they like the e-consult model, which is working very well for many people, particularly those who are in employment. They don't have time to go and see GP and they like having that access. So, things are working better for some people than others, and I think we have to acknowledge that.

We have spent millions on trying to get people to understand that there are other ways of obtaining access to treatment. That's why the 'Help Us to Help You' campaign is to be seen everywhere. It's been very visible. It's difficult to escape from it. I think that that has worked well, and it does provide information to people that pharmacies are available, that 111 is available, that urgent primary care centres are available and that there are lots of other places that you can go to instead of the GP. I think that that has started to work well, but we need to just keep on reminding people. Once people understand that for the first time, they will hopefully pursue those options in the future.

In terms of dentistry, I do acknowledge that there is room for improvement, but I do think that things are improving. So, we have a long way to go, but we are on the right track, and I think that that's important. But, what's clear is that we can't just turn things around overnight; these things take time in terms of training people. That's why I think it's difficult, particularly when we're trying to change systems. What we want to do is to use more people such as dental therapists, and that's why we're opening up a greater number of centres in places such as north Wales. 

In terms of the CHCs and the new group, Llais, I do think that it is important that the voice of NHS users is heard clearly. There's been a lot of preparation in terms of moving from the CHCs to Llais, so there is a lot of preparation to do. The majority of the people who worked for the CHCs, they will be TUPE-ed over, so they'll be the same people, but the system is going to be slightly different. So, I do acknowledge that it's important that people do understand that the system is going to change and that there will be a campaign that people do understand that this new system will be in place.

16:00

I very much welcome the statement today. The access commitment introduced in April last year, requiring a GP practice to adopt a planned approach to meeting patient need, moving away from the, 'Release all appointments at 8 a.m., and if you happen to be eighty-first, and they're only taking 80 appointments, then tough, no matter what was wrong with you'—. But how is this being implemented? What is the role of the health board in ensuring that it is implemented?

Last week, I raised a problem that a constituent had had in getting access to primary care. To quote, 'We have called Llansamlet doctors for an appointment for my grandfather every day, twice a day, since 27 February, for an appointment due to a chest infection as he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On 10 March, he accessed a GP, and immediately was sent to hospital'. Does the Minister agree that, until we get primary care working well at all surgeries, hospital admissions will go up? Also, will the Minister join with me in congratulating GP surgeries such as Clydach in the Cwmtawe cluster in Swansea that provide excellent service to all their patients?

On dentistry, after Brexit, we lost in Swansea European Union dentists. Was that true for the rest of Wales?

Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad heddiw yn fawr. Mae'r ymrwymiad i fynediad a gafodd ei gyflwyno ym mis Ebrill y llynedd, sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i feddygfa fabwysiadu dull wedi'i gynllunio o gwrdd ag anghenion cleifion, gan symud i ffwrdd o, 'Rhyddhau pob apwyntiad am 8am, ac os ydych chi'n digwydd bod yn rhif wyth deg un, a'u bod ond yn cymryd 80 apwyntiad, yna dim gobaith, beth bynnag oedd yn bod arnoch chi'—. Ond sut mae hyn yn cael ei weithredu? Beth yw rôl y bwrdd iechyd o ran sicrhau ei fod yn cael ei weithredu?

Yr wythnos diwethaf, codais broblem yr oedd etholwr wedi'i chael wrth geisio cael mynediad at ofal sylfaenol. I ddyfynnu, 'Rydyn ni wedi galw meddygon Llansamlet i gael apwyntiad i fy nhad-cu bob dydd, ddwywaith y dydd, ers 27 Chwefror, ar gyfer apwyntiad oherwydd haint ar y frest gan fod ganddo glefyd rhwystrol cronig yr ysgyfaint. Ar 10 Mawrth, cafodd fynediad at feddyg teulu, a chafodd ei anfon yn syth i'r ysbyty'. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno, tan y byddwn ni'n cael gofal sylfaenol yn gweithredu'n dda ym mhob meddygfa, y bydd derbyniadau i'r ysbyty yn codi? Hefyd, a fydd y Gweinidog yn ymuno â mi i longyfarch meddygfeydd fel Clydach yng nghlwstwr Cwmtawe yn Abertawe sy'n darparu gwasanaeth ardderchog i'w holl gleifion?

O ran deintyddiaeth, ar ôl Brexit, gwnaethom ni golli deintyddion Undeb Ewropeaidd yn Abertawe. Oedd hynny'n wir am weddill Cymru?

Thanks very much, Mike. You're absolutely right; there are some GP practices that are performing much, much better than others when it comes to access. One of the things I've asked my officials to do now is to start getting a lot more granular in terms of where we are hearing the complaints over and over and over again. Because some are performing really well, and as I say, 89 per cent of them are honouring the access commitment now, but that means we've got to chase down the rest of them. But, from April, as I say, it won't be a voluntary approach; it will be a part of their contractual obligations. So, it will be much easier then to push people to deliver on what we're expecting of them.

You're quite right in terms of EU dentists. Certainly, we saw a lot of them returning after Brexit, and it's left a hole. It's left a hole; it's another legacy of Brexit. And, again, that doesn't help when it comes to trying to get people to fill up these spaces. They just don't exist; you can't switch on a dentist overnight, and the ones we had, a lot of them have gone home. I can't be responsible for that. I can be responsible for a lot of things, but that bit, I can't be responsible for it, and it's going to take a while to train up the next generation.

Diolch yn fawr, Mike. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir; mae rhai meddygfeydd sy'n perfformio llawer, llawer gwell na'i gilydd o ran cael mynediad atyn nhw. Un o'r pethau yr ydw i wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion wneud nawr yw dechrau cael llawer mwy o fanylder o ran lle yr ydyn ni'n clywed y cwynion drosodd a throsodd. Oherwydd mae rhai yn perfformio'n dda iawn, ac fel yr ydw i'n ei ddweud, mae 89 y cant ohonyn nhw'n derbyn yr ymrwymiad mynediad nawr, ond mae hynny'n golygu bod rhaid i ni fynd ar ôl y gweddill ohonyn nhw. Ond, o fis Ebrill, fel yr ydw i'n dweud, fydd e ddim yn ddull gwirfoddol; bydd yn rhan o'u rhwymedigaethau contractiol. Felly, bydd hi'n llawer haws wedyn gwthio pobl i gyflawni'r hyn rydyn ni'n ei ddisgwyl ganddyn nhw.

Rydych chi'n hollol gywir o ran deintyddion yr UE. Yn sicr, gwelsom ni lawer ohonyn nhw'n dychwelyd ar ôl Brexit, ac mae wedi gadael bwlch; mae'n waddol arall Brexit. Ac, eto, nid yw hynny'n helpu o ran ceisio cael pobl i lenwi'r bylchau hyn. Nid ydyn nhw'n bodoli; ni allwch chi greu deintydd dros nos, a'r rhai oedd gennym ni, mae llawer ohonyn nhw wedi mynd adref. Ni alla i fod yn gyfrifol am hynny. Rwy'n gallu bod yn gyfrifol am lawer o bethau, ond y darn yna, ni alla i fod yn gyfrifol amdano, ac mae'n mynd i gymryd tipyn o amser i hyfforddi'r genhedlaeth nesaf.

16:05

The performance of primary care is obviously a really complex issue, because if you're serving a deprived population, it is likely that the demand on your services is going to be much greater than in an area where people can afford to simply go to the pharmacist and buy whatever it is they need. So, I think—. I appreciate that the 8 o'clock in the morning call is incredibly stressful for very vulnerable people, particularly those who find it difficult to use their mobile phones. But I did see some really excellent practice in one of my health centres, where the senior receptionist committed to ring the patient at 8 o'clock in the morning, knowing that they needed to be prioritised for some of the limited available spaces. We cannot expect GPs to run on a treadmill even harder—that is the path to burnout. So, it definitely needs human beings to be involved to prioritise urgent need over the worried well. But I think excellent work is obviously being done, Minister, and the better use of pharmacists and optometrists on the high street. And the 111 service—wasn't it great that we didn't rush into trying to replicate what they were doing England?

Mae perfformiad gofal sylfaenol yn amlwg yn fater cymhleth iawn, oherwydd os ydych chi'n gwasanaethu poblogaeth ddifreintiedig, mae'n debygol bod y galw ar eich gwasanaethau yn mynd i fod yn llawer mwy nag mewn ardal lle y gall pobl fforddio mynd i'r fferyllydd a phrynu beth bynnag sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Felly, rwy'n credu—. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod y galwad 8 o'r gloch y bore yn straen aruthrol ar bobl sy'n agored iawn i niwed, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd defnyddio'u ffonau symudol. Ond gwelais i feddygfeydd ardderchog yn un o fy nghanolfannau iechyd, lle ymrwymodd yr uwch dderbynnydd i ffonio'r claf am 8 o'r gloch y bore, gan wybod bod angen ei flaenoriaethu ar gyfer rhai o'r llefydd prin sydd ar gael. Ni allwn ddisgwyl i feddygon teulu redeg yn gyflymach fyth ar felin droed—dyna'r llwybr i ludded. Felly, yn bendant mae angen i fodau dynol fod yn rhan o'r broses o flaenoriaethu'r angen brys dros y rhai iach sy'n gofidio am eu hiechyd. Ond rwy'n credu bod gwaith rhagorol yn amlwg yn cael ei wneud, Gweinidog, a'r defnydd gwell o fferyllwyr ac optometryddion ar y stryd fawr. A'r gwasanaeth 111—onid oedd hi'n wych nad oeddem ni wedi rhuthro i geisio efelychu'r hyn yr oedden nhw'n ei wneud yn Lloegr?

Jenny, you need to ask your question now, please.

Jenny, mae angen i chi ofyn eich cwestiwn nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.

So, my two questions are really around community nursing. I see that you're committing about £3 million to it, and the electronic scheduling system is very powerful in saving senior team leaders' time. But do we not need multidisciplinary teams involved in community nursing, because we can't get all the district nurses we need, therefore we've got to do things differently? So, that is my main question. Thank you.

Felly, mae fy nau gwestiwn yn ymwneud â nyrsio cymunedol mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n gweld eich bod chi'n ymrwymo tua £3 miliwn iddo, ac mae'r system amserlennu electronig yn bwerus iawn wrth arbed amser uwch arweinwyr tîm. Ond onid oes angen timau amlddisgyblaethol sy'n ymwneud â nyrsio cymunedol, oherwydd nid oes modd i ni gael yr holl nyrsys ardal sydd eu hangen arnon ni, felly mae'n rhaid i ni wneud pethau'n wahanol? Felly, dyna fy mhrif gwestiwn. Diolch.