Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

03/05/2023

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 Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd
1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jane Dodds.

Good afternoon and welcome, all, to this Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Climate Change, and the first question is from Jane Dodds.

Rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd
The Warm Homes Programme

1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y fersiwn ddiweddaraf o'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd? OQ59427

1. Will the Minister provide an update on the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme? OQ59427

Thank you, Jane. The underpinning policy for the new scheme was discussed at Cabinet on 24 April and will be published shortly, and I will also be publishing the tender specification for the procurement of a new, demand-led scheme.

Diolch, Jane. Trafodwyd y polisi sy'n sail i'r cynllun newydd yn y Cabinet ar 24 Ebrill a bydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi cyn bo hir, a byddaf hefyd yn cyhoeddi manyleb y tendr ar gyfer caffael cynllun newydd sy’n seiliedig ar alw.

Thank you so much. Diolch yn fawr iawn. It's good to hear that there will be a new scheme coming soon. It would be good, too, if you could just clarify what the timescales may be, if you know that. We've highlighted, as you know, on the basis of completion rates in 2016-17, that it would take 111 years to insulate every fuel-poor household in Wales, so we really can't wait. Also, it would be good to hear from you as well around your view of the Warm Homes programme. I understand that you might have said to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee that the Warm Homes programme will make no difference at all to the households currently in fuel poverty. So, it would be good to have some clarity on that, if you don't mind. It's good to hear that you're moving forward, and it would be great to have a timescale, please, given that we know that this is really important for those fuel-poor homes. Would you also consider a green homes Act, reducing energy bills, reducing demand on the grid, and driving investment in warm, sustainable homes? Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae’n dda clywed y bydd cynllun newydd cyn bo hir. Byddai’n dda hefyd pe gallech egluro beth yw’r amserlenni, os ydych yn ymwybodol o hynny. Rydym wedi nodi, fel y gwyddoch, ar sail cyfraddau cwblhau yn 2016-17, y byddai'n cymryd 111 o flynyddoedd i insiwleiddio pob aelwyd sy'n dlawd o ran tanwydd yng Nghymru, felly ni allwn aros mewn gwirionedd. Hefyd, byddai’n dda clywed eich barn hefyd ar raglen Cartrefi Clyd. Deallaf y gallech fod wedi dweud wrth y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith na fydd rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd yn gwneud unrhyw wahaniaeth o gwbl i’r aelwydydd sydd mewn tlodi tanwydd ar hyn o bryd. Felly, byddai'n dda cael rhywfaint o eglurder gennych ynglŷn â hynny, os nad oes ots gennych. Mae’n dda clywed eich bod yn bwrw ymlaen, a byddai’n wych cael amserlen, os gwelwch yn dda, o ystyried ein bod yn gwybod bod hyn yn wirioneddol bwysig i’r cartrefi hynny sy’n dlawd o ran tanwydd. A wnewch chi hefyd ystyried Deddf cartrefi gwyrdd, i leihau biliau ynni, lleihau’r galw ar y grid, a hybu buddsoddiad mewn cartrefi cynnes, cynaliadwy? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you, Jane. I think the point I was making to the committee was that this scheme doesn't cover all households—not that it won't affect fuel poverty. It's important to remember that this is a scheme that's aimed at owner-occupiers; we have other schemes for other tenures. There is a different scheme for social tenants, for example. So, I think that that's the point I was making—that it won't cover all households in fuel poverty.

The idea of the new scheme is to begin the process of tackling both the climate emergency and fuel poverty together. So, we will be moving away from an automatic assumption that the replacement of an inefficient gas boiler with a new gas boiler is the way to go, but we have to do that—and I will publish the policy process behind it—in a proportionate way, and guarding against making fuel poverty worse. Because, in some instances, if you swapped a house that was on a gas boiler to an electric source of heat, their bill might go up. So, it's a very careful judgment. So, what we're looking to do is a balance between those two things, so that if you have a gas boiler that's capable of a repair that would make it much more efficient, we will do that, but if it needs complete replacement, then we will look to have a whole-fabric approach to the house, to replace it with a heating system that doesn't contribute to the climate emergency. There'll be a balance to be drawn. And it's a difficult one, so we need to transition to that new scheme smoothly. We want to continue the scheme for fuel-poor households—that's who it's targeted at. We will also develop other schemes for households who aren't perhaps absolutely in fuel poverty but who live in very inefficient homes, with plenty of carbon footprint, but who might not meet the definition of fuel poverty. And fuel poverty is a difficult one, isn't it? Somebody can be in fuel poverty and have quite a decent income, but they might be spending 65 per cent of that decent income on fuel, and that will put them into that definition. So, it's quite a difficult judgment all the way through. We'll extend the current Nest contract in the meantime, so that there isn't a gap, so we still can help everyone. But I do want to get this next one right, because it will run for many years, and so we want to get that just right. So, I will publish that, Llywydd, and I will expect Members to be able to comment on it when I have.

Diolch, Jane. Credaf mai'r pwynt roeddwn yn ei wneud i'r pwyllgor oedd nad yw'r cynllun hwn yn berthnasol i bob aelwyd—nid na fydd yn cael effaith ar dlodi tanwydd. Mae'n bwysig cofio mai cynllun yw hwn sydd wedi'i anelu at berchen-feddianwyr; mae gennym gynlluniau eraill ar gyfer deiliadaethau eraill. Ceir cynllun gwahanol ar gyfer tenantiaid cymdeithasol, er enghraifft. Felly, credaf mai dyna'r pwynt roeddwn yn ei wneud—na fydd yn berthnasol i bob aelwyd mewn tlodi tanwydd.

Diben y cynllun newydd yw dechrau'r broses o fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a thlodi tanwydd gyda'i gilydd. Felly, byddwn yn symud oddi wrth ragdybiaeth awtomatig mai gosod boeler nwy newydd yn lle boeler nwy aneffeithlon yw’r peth i wneud, ond mae'n rhaid inni wneud hynny—a byddaf yn cyhoeddi’r broses bolisi y tu ôl i hyn—mewn ffordd gymesur, gan warchod rhag gwaethygu tlodi tanwydd. Oherwydd, mewn rhai achosion, pe baech yn cyfnewid boeler nwy mewn tŷ am ffynhonnell wres drydanol, gallai eu bil godi. Felly, mae angen ystyried yn ofalus. Felly, yr hyn rydym yn bwriadu ei wneud yw sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng y ddau beth hynny, felly, os oes gennych foeler nwy y gellir ei atgyweirio fel ei fod yn llawer mwy effeithlon, byddwn yn gwneud hynny, ond os oes angen ei newid yn gyfan gwbl, byddwn yn ystyried dull o weithredu 'ffabrig cyfan' ar gyfer y tŷ, a gosod system wresogi nad yw'n cyfrannu at yr argyfwng hinsawdd. Bydd cydbwysedd i'w sicrhau. Ac mae'n un anodd, felly mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn pontio i'r cynllun newydd hwnnw'n ddidrafferth. Rydym am barhau â’r cynllun ar gyfer aelwydydd sy’n dlawd o ran tanwydd—at y rheini y mae wedi’i dargedu. Byddwn hefyd yn datblygu cynlluniau eraill ar gyfer aelwydydd nad ydynt yn gyfan gwbl mewn tlodi tanwydd, efallai, ond sy’n byw mewn cartrefi aneffeithlon iawn, gydag ôl troed carbon mawr, ond nad ydynt efallai’n bodloni’r diffiniad o dlodi tanwydd. Ac mae tlodi tanwydd yn fater anodd, onid yw? Gall rhywun fod mewn tlodi tanwydd er bod ganddynt incwm go fawr, ond efallai eu bod yn gwario 65 y cant o’r incwm hwnnw ar danwydd, a bydd hynny’n golygu eu bod yn cyd-fynd â'r diffiniad. Felly, mae'n ystyriaeth anodd drwyddi draw. Byddwn yn ymestyn contract presennol Nyth yn y cyfamser, fel nad oes bwlch, fel y gallwn barhau i helpu pawb. Ond rwy'n awyddus i sicrhau bod yr un nesaf yn iawn, gan y bydd ar waith am flynyddoedd lawer, felly rydym yn awyddus i sicrhau ei fod yn hollol iawn. Felly, byddaf yn cyhoeddi hynny, Lywydd, a byddaf yn disgwyl i'r Aelodau allu gwneud sylwadau arno pan fyddaf wedi gwneud hynny.

Minister, whilst I agree with Jane that we urgently need the new Warm Homes programme in place, I'd also urge the Minister to ensure that the next iteration is fit for purpose. My constituents suffered greatly under the Arbed 1 scheme. Residents in Caerau, near Maesteg, had their homes made virtually uninhabitable due to faulty insulation—insulation totally unsuitable for the properties, and funded via the Warm Homes programme. Work was undertaken by a company owned by a Bridgend County Borough Council cabinet member, and, thanks to an internal audit, it was found that no procurement process was followed and no due diligence checks were carried out. The Auditor General for Wales said that, overall, contract management arrangements needed to be strengthened in any future schemes. This includes closer monitoring of the contract compliance, addressing significant variations of costs charged for supplying and fitting the same energy efficiency measures, and improving management information. Minister, how will you ensure that the next iteration of the Warm Homes scheme is not open to fraud and corruption and will not leave recipients' homes in a worse state?

Weinidog, er fy mod yn cytuno â Jane fod arnom angen rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd ar frys, hoffwn annog y Gweinidog hefyd i sicrhau bod yr iteriad nesaf yn addas at y diben. Dioddefodd fy etholwyr yn fawr o dan gynllun Arbed 1. Cafodd cartrefi trigolion yng Nghaerau, ger Maesteg, eu gwneud bron yn anaddas i fyw ynddynt oherwydd gwaith inswleiddio diffygiol— inswleiddio a oedd yn gwbl anaddas ar gyfer yr eiddo, ac a gafodd ei ariannu drwy raglen Cartrefi Clyd. Gwnaed gwaith gan gwmni a oedd yn eiddo i aelod o gabinet Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, a diolch i archwiliad mewnol, canfuwyd na ddilynwyd unrhyw broses gaffael ac na chynhaliwyd unrhyw wiriadau diwydrwydd dyladwy. Dywedodd Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru, yn gyffredinol, fod angen i drefniadau rheoli contractau fod yn gryf mewn unrhyw gynlluniau yn y dyfodol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys monitro cydymffurfiad â chontractau yn agosach, mynd i'r afael ag amrywiadau sylweddol yn y costau a godir am gyflenwi a gosod yr un mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni, a gwella gwybodaeth reoli. Weinidog, sut y byddwch yn sicrhau nad yw iteriad nesaf cynllun Cartrefi Clyd yn agored i dwyll a llygredigaeth ac na fydd yn gadael cartrefi derbynwyr mewn cyflwr gwaeth?

13:35

Thank you. We are absolutely aware that, for some people, what was done during some of the other schemes, including UK Government schemes, was not right. And one of the real big lessons to be learnt is that one size does not fit all. So, many, many thousands of homes were helped during those programmes, but for those for whom the wrong thing was done, then that has had poor consequences, and we've put an amount of money aside to try and fix that, including UK Government schemes that also suffered from that. I just don't want to give people across Wales the wrong impression, because for some of the schemes that the UK Government ran, we're not able to step into that. I know a number of Members have brought that up with me, and we have been able to fix some of the others. 

We very much want to learn the lessons of that, so this is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's why the policy needs to be nuanced, and it's why the policy needs to evolve from where we were. So, we need to tackle the climate emergency at the same time as making sure that people have as affordable a bill as we can manage. The energy crisis really hasn't helped that. So, I can assure you that we will be learning lessons from the way that we've done it in the past, and that's why we're being very careful with this process. And, as I said, in the meantime, we've extended the current Nest contract so that there will be no gap in provision. I also don't want to give people the impression that there hasn't been provision in place. We had two programmes running. We've only got one programme at the moment; we'll then put another demand-led programme in place. 

Ie, diolch. Rydym yn gwbl ymwybodol nad oedd yr hyn a ddigwyddodd i rai pobl gyda rhai o’r cynlluniau eraill, gan gynnwys cynlluniau Llywodraeth y DU, yn iawn. Ac un o'r gwersi mawr iawn i'w dysgu yw nad yw un ateb yn addas i bawb. Felly, cafodd miloedd lawer o gartrefi eu helpu drwy'r rhaglenni hynny, ond i’r rhai y gwnaed y peth anghywir iddynt, mae hynny wedi arwain at ganlyniadau gwael, ac rydym wedi neilltuo swm o arian i geisio unioni hynny, gan gynnwys rhai sydd wedi dioddef yn sgil cynlluniau Llywodraeth y DU. Nid wyf am roi'r argraff anghywir i bobl ledled Cymru, oherwydd ar gyfer rhai o gynlluniau Llywodraeth y DU, nid ydym yn gallu camu i mewn i helpu gyda hynny. A gwn fod nifer o Aelodau wedi codi hynny gyda mi, ac rydym wedi gallu unioni rhai o'r lleill.

Rydym yn awyddus iawn i ddysgu gwersi o hynny, felly nid yw hwn yn ddull un ateb addas i bawb. Dyna pam fod angen i'r polisi fod yn drylwyr, a pham fod angen i'r polisi esblygu o'r sefyllfa fel y saif pethau. Felly, mae angen inni fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd gan wneud yn siŵr ar yr un pryd fod pobl yn cael bil mor fforddiadwy ag y gallwn ei sicrhau iddynt. Nid yw'r argyfwng ynni wedi helpu yn hynny o beth. Felly, gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y byddwn yn dysgu gwersi o'r ffordd rydym wedi gwneud pethau yn y gorffennol, a dyna pam ein bod yn bod yn ofalus iawn gyda'r broses hon. Ac fel y dywedais, yn y cyfamser, rydym wedi ymestyn contract presennol Nyth fel na fydd unrhyw fwlch yn y ddarpariaeth. Nid wyf ychwaith am roi'r argraff i bobl nad oes darpariaeth wedi bod ar waith. Roedd gennym ddwy raglen ar waith. Dim ond un rhaglen sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd; byddwn wedyn yn rhoi rhaglen arall ar waith a fydd yn seiliedig ar alw.

The Net Zero Wales plan was published 18 months ago, so I'm concerned that the decarbonisation implementation group is only now looking at strategic themes. When will you be able to provide clarity to people who are renting privately, or asset-rich and income poor, privately owning their houses, in cold homes they can't afford to heat, and what help they might be able to get from the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme?

Cyhoeddwyd cynllun Cymru Sero Net 18 mis yn ôl, felly rwy’n pryderu mai dim ond nawr y mae’r grŵp gweithredu ar ddatgarboneiddio'n edrych ar bethau strategol. Pryd fyddwch chi'n gallu darparu eglurder i bobl sy’n rhentu’n breifat, neu sydd â mwy o asedau nag arian, sy’n berchen ar eu tai yn breifat, mewn cartrefi oer na allant fforddio eu gwresogi, a pha gymorth y gallent ei gael drwy iteriad nesaf rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd?

This programme is not designed to help people in the private rented sector; there are other programmes designed to do that, not least Leasing Scheme Wales.FootnoteLink So, any landlord that has a real problem getting their property up to spec really needs to look at Leasing Scheme Wales in order to get the assistance of the Government to bring that home up to spec. We have been liaising with the UK Government about their energy performance certificate E rating for the PRS. We're very concerned that, without a grant programme to go with it, we might drive some landlords from the market, particularly, Jenny, in your constituency, where there are larger homes with multigenerational families living in them, and they tend to not meet the EPC E rating. So, it's important that we cover off the bases. 

Vaughan Gething and I have recently announced some work with the Development Bank for Wales to put in place a loan—possibly a grant loan scheme—for people who don't meet the income criteria for this iteration of the Warm Homes programme. We will be bringing that forward. It is important to have a range of different measures in place, not a one-size-fits-all. And you'll have all heard me talking many times about the roll-out of the optimised retrofit programme. We're about to roll out that into a hub, which will give people the right advice on how to decarbonise their home, how to get the right advice to do it and how to get the maximum benefit out of it. So, I don't want you to think that nothing's been happening; quite a lot's been happening. But there's no doubt at all that the Government cannot afford to decarbonise all of the homes in Wales by itself, so we must find ways to lever in private sector investment, including the investment that individuals make in their own homes. 

Felly, nid yw’r rhaglen hon wedi’i chynllunio i helpu pobl yn y sector rhentu preifat; mae rhaglenni eraill wedi'u cynllunio i wneud hynny, megis Cynllun Lesio Cymru.FootnoteLink Felly, mae gwir angen i unrhyw landlord sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn gwella eu heiddo edrych ar Gynllun Lesio Cymru er mwyn cael cymorth y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod y cartref hwnnw yn cyrraedd y safon. Rydym wedi bod yn cysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch eu sgôr tystysgrif perfformiad ynni E ar gyfer y sector rhentu preifat. Heb raglen grant i gyd-fynd â hynny, rydym yn bryderus iawn y gallem yrru rhai landlordiaid o'r farchnad, yn enwedig, Jenny, yn eich etholaeth chi, lle ceir cartrefi mwy o faint gyda theuluoedd sawl cenhedlaeth yn byw ynddynt, sy'n tueddu i fethu cyrraedd sgôr tystysgrif perfformiad ynni E. Felly, mae'n bwysig inni fod yn gwbl drylwyr.

Mae Vaughan Gething a minnau wedi gwneud cyhoeddiad yn ddiweddar am waith gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru i roi benthyciad ar waith—cynllun benthyciad grant, o bosibl—ar gyfer pobl nad ydynt yn bodloni’r meini prawf incwm ar gyfer iteriad presennol rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd. Byddwn yn cyflwyno hynny. Mae'n bwysig cael ystod o wahanol fesurau ar waith, nid un ateb addas i bawb. A bydd pob un ohonoch wedi fy nghlywed yn sôn droeon am gyflwyno'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio. Rydym ar fin ei chyflwyno mewn hyb a fydd yn rhoi’r cyngor cywir i bobl ar sut i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartrefi, sut i gael y cyngor cywir i wneud hynny, a sut i gael y budd mwyaf ohono. Felly, nid wyf am ichi feddwl nad oes unrhyw beth wedi bod yn digwydd; mae cryn dipyn wedi bod yn digwydd. Ond nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth na all y Llywodraeth fforddio datgarboneiddio pob un o gartrefi Cymru ar ei phen ei hun, felly mae'n rhaid inni ddod o hyd i ffyrdd o ysgogi buddsoddiad gan y sector preifat, gan gynnwys y buddsoddiad y mae unigolion yn ei wneud yn eu cartrefi eu hunain.

Terfyn Cyflymder 20 mya
The 20 mph Speed Limit

2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda busnesau ynghylch cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder 20 mya cyn bo hir?  OQ59426

2. What discussions has the Minister had with businesses about the upcoming roll-out of 20 mph speed limits?  OQ59426

Thank you. The Wales 20 mph taskforce group set out the recommendations that the Welsh Government should take forward for the implementation of 20 mph on residential streets and busy pedestrian areas, and I was pleased that the Conservatives supported that at the time. Organisations representing businesses were invited to participate, and officials have continued to engage with them. 

Diolch. Nododd grŵp tasglu 20 mya Cymru yr argymhellion y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru fwrw ymlaen â nhw ar gyfer rhoi'r terfyn 20 mya ar waith ar strydoedd preswyl ac ardaloedd prysur i gerddwyr, ac roeddwn yn falch fod y Ceidwadwyr wedi cefnogi hynny ar y pryd. Gwahoddwyd sefydliadau sy'n cynrychioli busnesau i gymryd rhan, ac mae swyddogion wedi parhau i ymgysylltu â nhw.

13:40

Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. More often than not, the roll-out of 20 mph speed limits is a hot topic of conversation, especially when I meet businesses and residents in my region, whether that is because of the obscene amounts of cash being spent on it or because they realise that a blanket roll-out is indeed ridiculous, especially all across Wales. I spoke with one major business in my region recently and they are very concerned about the impact that 20 mph will have on their trade. At the moment, they make hundreds of deliveries every day, but with this Labour Government actively slowing Wales down, their ability to make so many deliveries could indeed be significantly hampered. And, of course, we already know that this 20 mph scheme will cost the Welsh economy £4.5 billion. So, Deputy Minister, what would you say to those businesses who fear that your 20 mph pet project will have a hugely detrimental impact on them, going forward?

Diolch am eich ateb, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Yn amlach na pheidio, mae cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder 20 mya yn bwnc llosg, yn enwedig pan fyddaf yn cyfarfod â busnesau a thrigolion yn fy rhanbarth, boed hynny oherwydd y symiau gwarthus o arian sy’n cael eu gwario arno neu oherwydd eu bod yn sylweddoli bod cyflwyno terfyn cyffredinol yn gwbl hurt, yn enwedig ledled Cymru gyfan. Siaradais ag un busnes mawr yn fy rhanbarth yn ddiweddar ac maent yn bryderus iawn am yr effaith y bydd 20 mya yn ei chael ar eu masnach. Ar hyn o bryd, maent yn gwneud cannoedd o ddanfoniadau bob dydd, ond gyda’r Llywodraeth Lafur hon yn mynd ati'n weithredol i arafu Cymru, gallai eu gallu i wneud cymaint o ddanfoniadau gael ei rwystro’n sylweddol. Ac wrth gwrs, gwyddom eisoes y bydd y cynllun 20 mya hwn yn costio £4.5 biliwn i economi Cymru. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, beth fyddech chi'n ei ddweud wrth y busnesau sy'n ofni y bydd eich prosiect hoff 20 mya yn cael effaith hynod andwyol arnynt wrth symud ymlaen?

It's disappointing that the Member keeps repeating falsehoods, even though she knows they are falsehoods. I think it does a disservice to all of us when this kind of inflammatory approach is taken. I'd hoped that she would be better than that, but I'm still awaiting the evidence. To say that an obscene amount of cash has been spent, we have published academic studies showing that the cost of implementation will be repaid threefold in the first year alone from savings to the NHS, from a reduction in serious casualties and deaths on the road. Every year in Wales, 80 people die in road accidents; half of those on roads where the speed limit is 30 mph. We've seen from experience and evidence in Edinburgh that there's been a 25 per cent reduction in casualties as a result of the 20 mph. And this is a policy being pursued by Conservative local government in England too. So, she does a disservice to a serious issue to try and reduce it to these kinds of cheap headlines.

It's also factually inaccurate to say that this is a blanket policy. It's not a blanket policy. We are changing the default speed limit on regulated roads from 30 mph to 20 mph. Local highway authorities have the legal ability to change them back where there is a good case. So, there's no blanket ban. And as you'd have seen if you'd taken the trouble to look at the detail of this, rather than just looking for a headline, you'd have seen that a number of local authorities are planning exceptions in their areas, proving once again that it's not a blanket ban.

As for the cost to the economy, the figures that we were obliged to produce by the Treasury Green Book are heavily discredited and academically disputed. They don't take into account the significant benefits to the economy from the figures I've just mentioned on road casualty reductions, and my experience of speaking to business, of which I've done a fair bit, is that views are mixed. I've certainly had conversations these last few days with small businesses who are very concerned about the impact it'll have on their businesses, and I understand the anxiety, and I've spoken to larger businesses who are very relaxed about the policy. So, I think that we need to approach this in a pragmatic way, working closely with communities and local government, and with businesses, and I hope that we will see the hysteria that the Conservatives are determined to generate, even though they supported this at the first stage vote in this Senedd—. They've sniffed an opportunity to stir up trouble, and that's all they ever do.

Mae'n siomedig fod yr Aelod yn parhau i ailadrodd anwireddau, er ei bod yn gwybod mai anwireddau ydynt. Credaf fod mabwysiadu'r math hwn o ymagwedd ymfflamychol yn gwneud anghymwynas â phob un ohonom. Byddwn wedi gobeithio y byddai'n well na hynny, ond rwy'n dal i aros am y dystiolaeth. Mae dweud bod swm gwarthus o arian wedi’i wario, rydym wedi cyhoeddi astudiaethau academaidd sy’n dangos y bydd cost rhoi'r cynllun hwn ar waith yn cael ei had-dalu deirgwaith drosodd yn y flwyddyn gyntaf yn unig drwy arbedion i’r GIG, drwy'r gostyngiad mewn anafiadau difrifol a marwolaethau ar y ffyrdd. Bob blwyddyn yng Nghymru, mae 80 o bobl yn marw mewn damweiniau ar y ffyrdd; mae hanner y rheini'n digwydd ar ffyrdd lle mae'r terfyn cyflymder yn 30 mya. Rydym wedi dysgu o brofiad a thystiolaeth yng Nghaeredin y bu gostyngiad o 25 y cant yn nifer yr anafusion o ganlyniad i'r terfyn 20 mya. Ac mae hwn yn bolisi sy'n cael ei arddel gan Geidwadwyr mewn llywodraeth leol yn Lloegr hefyd. Felly, mae'n gwneud anghymwynas â mater difrifol drwy geisio ei leihau i'r mathau hyn o benawdau dirmygus.

Mae hefyd yn ffeithiol anghywir i ddweud bod hwn yn bolisi cyffredinol. Nid yw'n bolisi cyffredinol. Rydym yn newid y terfyn cyflymder diofyn ar ffyrdd a reoleiddir o 30 mya i 20 mya. Mae gan awdurdodau priffyrdd lleol allu cyfreithiol i’w newid yn ôl lle ceir achos da dros wneud hynny. Felly, nid oes gwaharddiad cyffredinol. Ac fel y byddech wedi gweld pe baech wedi trafferthu edrych ar y manylion, yn hytrach na dim ond chwilio am bennawd, byddech wedi gweld bod nifer o awdurdodau lleol yn cynllunio eithriadau yn eu hardaloedd, gan brofi unwaith eto nad yw'n waharddiad cyffredinol.

O ran y gost i’r economi, mae’r ffigurau y cawsom ein gorfodi i'w cynhyrchu gan Lyfr Gwyrdd y Trysorlys wedi'u cwestiynu'n fawr ac yn destun dadl academaidd. Nid ydynt yn ystyried y manteision sylweddol i'r economi o'r ffigurau rwyf newydd eu crybwyll ar leihau anafiadau ar y ffyrdd, a'm profiad i o siarad â busnesau, sy'n rhywbeth rwyf wedi gwneud cryn dipyn ohono, yw bod y safbwyntiau'n gymysg. Yn sicr, rwyf wedi cael sgyrsiau dros y dyddiau diwethaf â busnesau bach sy’n bryderus iawn am yr effaith y bydd yn ei chael ar eu busnesau, ac rwy’n deall y pryderon, ac rwyf wedi siarad â busnesau mwy o faint sy’n ddigyffro iawn am y polisi. Felly, credaf fod angen inni fynd i’r afael â hyn mewn ffordd bragmatig, gan weithio’n agos â chymunedau a llywodraeth leol, a chyda busnesau, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn gweld yr hysteria y mae’r Ceidwadwyr yn benderfynol o’i greu, er iddynt gefnogi hyn yn y bleidlais cyfnod cyntaf yn y Senedd hon—. Maent wedi synhwyro cyfle i godi cynnen, a dyna maent yn ei wneud bob amser.

Minister, I'm very supportive, as I know so many are in Wales, of the 20 mph policy, which is, as you say, so positive for road safety and allowing communities and neighbourhoods to reclaim their streets. The pilots, I think, are very useful in allowing for possible tweaking once the experience of the pilots has worked through.

Minister, could you say a little bit in terms of the roll-out and how it will link with other very important policies that are of a similar nature, such as active travel, such as safe play streets, and such as the urban walking routes that are increasingly being worked up here in Wales, to allow people to get the benefits of exercise and being more familiar with our local environment?

Weinidog, rwy’n gefnogol iawn, fel cymaint o bobl yng Nghymru, i’r polisi 20 mya, sydd, fel y dywedwch, mor gadarnhaol ar gyfer diogelwch ar y ffyrdd ac er mwyn caniatáu i gymunedau a chymdogaethau adennill eu strydoedd. Credaf fod y cynlluniau peilot yn ddefnyddiol iawn i ganiatáu ar gyfer addasiadau posibl pan welir tystiolaeth y cynlluniau peilot hynny.

Weinidog, a wnewch chi ddweud rhywfaint am gyflwyno'r terfyn a sut y bydd yn cysylltu â pholisïau pwysig iawn eraill o natur debyg, megis teithio llesol, megis strydoedd diogel i chwarae, a megis y llwybrau cerdded trefol sy’n cael eu creu'n gynyddol yma yng Nghymru, i alluogi pobl i fwynhau manteision ymarfer corff a bod yn fwy cyfarwydd â’n hamgylchedd lleol?

Thank you very much. I once again pay tribute to John Griffiths in his role in campaigning for this policy over many years before it became more widely supported in this Chamber. John was among a small number of others who made the case for this. And, in fact, the first meeting I had on being appointed a Minister four years ago was with John and Rod King from the 20's Plenty for Us campaign—others in the Chamber have met him and some have even had their photos taken with him, although they seem to be suffering from short-term memory loss. That was instrumental, really, in setting us on the path of a default approach, rather than just extending the zones. I think that default approach, the trials are suggesting, is the right way to go.

He mentioned the way that exceptions have been used in Caldicot, for example, in one of the pilots where, sensibly, through real-life experience, the scheme was changed. That was the whole point of piloting it. And what we've seen consistent in the data coming through from the pilots is an increase in walking and cycling. So, that's where the main air quality benefits come from. The air quality evidence is somewhat mixed, but what is a very clear benefit is that a more friendly environment for pedestrians and for cyclists is encouraging more people to cycle and walk, and that is producing a meaningful modal shift. Interestingly, the project we're doing with Living Streets in primary schools—the WOW tracker—to try to encourage more children to walk to school, in those areas it's operating with a 20 mph zone, we're seeing significantly more uptake from children willing to leave the car at home and to walk to school.

He also mentioned the safe streets initiative, which is something that we've been rolling out. Some great work has been done in Newport on piloting that approach. I'm sure we all know, in this Chamber, from our constituency experience, that it's an issue in almost every school, and primary schools in particular, around parking by parents in the mornings, and this is a really exciting project to try and address that, and we're rolling that out gradually. It's all part of a package; it's a coherent vision for a more civilised and safe local neighbourhood as part of our broader efforts to tackle climate change.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n talu teyrnged unwaith eto i John Griffiths a’i rôl yn ymgyrchu dros y polisi hwn am flynyddoedd lawer cyn iddo gael ei gefnogi’n ehangach yn y Siambr hon. Roedd John ymhlith nifer fechan o rai eraill a fu'n dadlau o blaid hyn. Ac mewn gwirionedd, roedd y cyfarfod cyntaf a gefais ar ôl cael fy mhenodi’n Weinidog bedair blynedd yn ôl gyda John a Rod King o ymgyrch 20's Plenty for Us—mae eraill yn y Siambr wedi cyfarfod ag ef, ac mae rhai hyd yn oed wedi cael tynnu eu lluniau gydag ef, er eu bod wedi anghofio am hynny yn ôl pob golwg. Roedd hynny'n allweddol i'n rhoi ar y llwybr tuag at ymagwedd ddiofyn, yn hytrach na dim ond ymestyn y parthau. Credaf mai dull diofyn, fel y mae'r treialon yn ei awgrymu, yw'r ffordd iawn o wneud hyn.

Soniodd am y ffordd y mae eithriadau wedi cael eu defnyddio yng Nghil-y-coed er enghraifft, yn un o’r cynlluniau peilot lle'r aethpwyd ati, yn ddigon synhwyrol ac yn sgil profiad gwirioneddol, i newid y cynllun. Dyna oedd holl bwynt ei dreialu. A'r hyn rydym wedi'i weld yn gyson yn y data a ddaw o'r cynlluniau peilot yw cynnydd mewn cerdded a beicio. Felly, dyna lle mae'r prif fanteision i ansawdd aer. Mae’r dystiolaeth o ran ansawdd aer braidd yn gymysg, ond un fantais amlwg iawn yw bod amgylchedd mwy cyfeillgar i gerddwyr ac i feicwyr yn annog mwy o bobl i feicio a cherdded, ac mae hynny’n sicrhau newid ystyrlon o ran dulliau teithio. Yn ddiddorol, mae'r prosiect rydym yn ei gynnal gyda Living Streets mewn ysgolion cynradd—traciwr WOW—i geisio annog mwy o blant i gerdded i'r ysgol, yn yr ardaloedd lle mae'n weithredol mewn parth 20 mya, rydym yn gweld llawer mwy o blant yn barod i adael y car gartref a cherdded i'r ysgol.

Soniodd hefyd am y fenter strydoedd diogel, sy’n rhywbeth rydym wedi bod yn ei gyflwyno fesul cam. Mae gwaith gwych wedi’i wneud yng Nghasnewydd ar dreialu’r dull hwnnw. Rwy’n siŵr fod pob un ohonom yn gwybod, yn y Siambr hon, o’n profiad etholaethol, fod rhieni'n parcio yn y boreau yn broblem ym mhob ysgol bron, mewn ysgolion cynradd yn enwedig, ac mae hwn yn brosiect cyffrous iawn i geisio mynd i’r afael â hynny, ac rydym yn cyflwyno hynny’n raddol. Mae'r cyfan yn rhan o becyn; mae'n weledigaeth gydlynol ar gyfer cymdogaeth leol fwy gwaraidd a diogel fel rhan o'n hymdrechion ehangach i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd.

13:45

Can I commend the Minister for taking forward this policy, but also many of our local authorities, who are indeed taking it forward in a very considered, pragmatic way as they look at moving to a default of 20 mph? They are in open public consultation, and I've been through every map in my constituency to look at it. It's very sensible, and some of the suggestions of where there should be exemptions seem like sensible ones. But would he join me in encouraging not only local residents, but also businesses to get involved in those consultations right across Wales—in Bridgend, RCT and elsewhere—and to put their views in? Would he agree with me also that the evidence internationally shows that, where you actually put this in place—yes, it's a bit of a mind change, it's a bit of a culture change—the effects on communities, on people, are manifold, and people rapidly say, 'What was all the fuss about?'

A gaf fi ganmol y Gweinidog am fwrw ymlaen â’r polisi hwn, a llawer o’n hawdurdodau lleol hefyd, sy'n bwrw ymlaen ag ef mewn ffordd bragmatig, ystyriol iawn wrth iddynt edrych ar newid i derfyn diofyn o 20 mya? Maent yn ymgynghori'n agored â'r cyhoedd, ac rwyf wedi bod drwy bob map yn fy etholaeth i edrych arno. Mae'n synhwyrol iawn, ac mae rhai o'r awgrymiadau ynglŷn â lle dylid cael eithriadau yn rhai synhwyrol yn ôl pob golwg. Ond a wnaiff ymuno â mi i annog nid yn unig trigolion lleol ond busnesau hefyd i gymryd rhan yn yr ymgynghoriadau hynny ledled Cymru—ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Rhondda Cynon Taf a mannau eraill—ac i fynegi eu barn? A yw'n cytuno â mi hefyd fod y dystiolaeth ryngwladol yn dangos, lle rydych yn rhoi hyn ar waith—ydy, mae’n dipyn o newid meddwl, mae’n dipyn o newid diwylliant—fod yr effeithiau ar gymunedau, ar bobl, yn niferus, a chyn hir, mae pobl yn gofyn, 'Beth oedd achos yr holl ffws?'

Thank you very much. The Member makes some very strong points. It is significant, isn't it, that more and more towns and cities across the UK and across Europe are now adopting 20 mph as a default limit. None that I'm aware of have reversed that decision after having brought it in. I do understand the anxieties people have and particularly understand those that some businesses have who are in logistics and rely on just-in-time delivery, because even though the average increase in journey times is one minute, clearly, if you're doing multiple trips in one day and your business relies upon it, that is a concern. I met this morning with a number of business representatives and offered to meet with them again some three months into the implementation, so that we can review how it's going, and if there are some sections of road—and we've had the same conversation with bus companies—where they think, in practice, it's turned out to be a problem, then local authorities are able to change the default, and we will make some funding available to allow them to make some small changes where there's a good case for those to be made.

And it is important, as the Member said, for councils to properly consult with people. I've been a little concerned about the amount of consultation they've had to do—it's patchy—but I think that the reality is that, because of the Tory austerity cuts, the number of people in local authorities now who are dealing with this is much depleted, and that has constrained their ability to openly engage. But the message I've emphasised to them is that I expect to see a commonsense approach. We've changed the enforcement guidelines as a result of the pilot project we had in Buckley in Flintshire, to demonstrate the flexibility they have to adapt their decisions to the local environment, based on a good case. So, I'm sure, in every single street in Wales, it's not going to be completely plain sailing come 17 September. It'll take a little while to bed in. From the pilot, certainly, in Dafen in my own constituency, for the first six weeks there was a lot of noise. That has died down. We do need to keep iterating it and adapting it to make sure it fits with local circumstances, but I don't think, once we've done it and once it's bedded in, we will think of going backwards.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae’r Aelod yn gwneud pwyntiau cryf iawn. Mae’n dweud y cyfan, onid yw, fod mwy a mwy o drefi a dinasoedd ledled y DU a ledled Ewrop bellach yn mabwysiadu 20 mya fel terfyn diofyn. Nid oes unrhyw un ohonynt, hyd y gwn i, wedi gwrthdroi’r penderfyniad hwnnw ar ôl ei gyflwyno. Rwy’n deall y pryderon sydd gan bobl, yn arbennig gan fusnesau ym maes logisteg ac sy’n dibynnu ar gyflenwi mewn union bryd, oherwydd er mai un funud yn unig yw'r cynnydd cyfartalog mewn amseroedd teithio, yn amlwg, os ydych yn gwneud sawl taith mewn diwrnod a bod eich busnes yn dibynnu ar hynny, mae hynny'n bryder. Cyfarfûm y bore yma â nifer o gynrychiolwyr busnes a chynigais gyfarfod â nhw eto ymhen ryw dri mis ar ôl rhoi'r cynlluniau ar waith, er mwyn inni allu adolygu sut mae pethau’n mynd, ac os oes rhai rhannau o ffyrdd—ac rydym wedi cael yr un sgwrs gyda chwmnïau bysiau—lle maent yn credu, yn ymarferol, ei fod yn creu problem, gall awdurdodau lleol newid y terfyn diofyn, a byddwn yn darparu rhywfaint o gyllid iddynt wneud rhai newidiadau bach lle ceir achos da dros wneud hynny.

Ac mae’n bwysig, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, i gynghorau ymgynghori’n briodol â phobl. Rwyf wedi bod braidd yn bryderus ynghylch faint o ymgynghori y bu’n rhaid iddynt ei wneud—mae’n dameidiog—ond credaf mai’r realiti yw, oherwydd toriadau cyni'r Torïaid, fod nifer y bobl mewn awdurdodau lleol sy’n ymdrin â'r mater hwn nawr yn llai o lawer, ac mae hynny wedi cyfyngu ar eu gallu i ymgysylltu'n agored. Ond y neges rwyf wedi ei phwysleisio iddynt yw fy mod yn disgwyl gweld ymagwedd synnwyr cyffredin. Rydym wedi newid y canllawiau gorfodi o ganlyniad i’r prosiect peilot a oedd gennym ym Mwcle yn sir y Fflint, i ddangos yr hyblygrwydd sydd ganddynt i addasu eu penderfyniadau i’r amgylchedd lleol, yn seiliedig ar achos da. Felly, rwy'n siŵr, ym mhob stryd yng Nghymru, na fydd pethau'n digwydd yn gwbl ddidrafferth ar 17 Medi. Bydd angen rhywfaint o amser i'r cynllun ymsefydlu. O'r cynllun peilot, yn sicr, yn Nafen yn fy etholaeth i, roedd llawer o sŵn am y chwe wythnos gyntaf. Mae hynny wedi tawelu. Mae angen inni barhau i'w ailadrodd a'i addasu er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn gweddu i amgylchiadau lleol, ond pan fyddwn wedi gwneud hyn a phan fydd wedi ymsefydlu, nid wyf yn credu y byddwn yn ystyried mynd yn ôl i fel oedd hi.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, Natasha Asghar.

Questions now from party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson first of all, Natasha Asghar.

Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Deputy Minister, I know that I've already mentioned the 20 mph speed limit today, but I'm going to stick to that theme for the first question—[Interruption.] Yes, I am going to. The price tag involved in rolling out 20 mph speed limits across Wales is upward of £30 million. But now we've learned that the price is already rising, with extra cash being made available to pay for extra speed camera enforcement. I'm really glad that you mentioned health before, because let me tell you the reality of the health service. It is in a dire state across Wales—north, south, east, west—with incredibly long waiting times, leaving patients languishing in pain. Fixing the NHS is a top priority for the people of Wales, and I'm sure every politician from all benches would agree, yet it appears that the Labour Government doesn't see it like that. Instead, you're pumping money into ridiculous vanity projects such as politicians in this place, a failing airport and 20 mph schemes. How can you justify wasting this much money on pet projects, whilst there are much bigger problems out there to be solving?

Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Ddirprwy Weinidog, gwn fy mod eisoes wedi sôn am y terfyn cyflymder 20 mya heddiw, ond rwy’n mynd i aros gyda'r thema honno ar gyfer y cwestiwn cyntaf—[Torri ar draws.] Ydw, rwy’n mynd i wneud hynny. Mae’r pris ar gyfer cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder 20 mya ledled Cymru yn fwy na £30 miliwn. Ond rydym bellach wedi dysgu bod y pris eisoes yn codi, gydag arian ychwanegol yn cael ei ddarparu i dalu am orfodaeth camerâu cyflymder ychwanegol. Rwy’n falch iawn ichi sôn am iechyd, oherwydd gadewch imi ddweud wrthych beth yw realiti’r gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae mewn cyflwr enbyd ledled Cymru—gogledd, de, dwyrain, gorllewin—gydag amseroedd aros anhygoel o hir, sy'n gadael cleifion yn dihoeni mewn poen. Mae datrys problemau'r GIG yn flaenoriaeth hollbwysig i bobl Cymru, ac rwy’n siŵr y byddai pob gwleidydd ar bob mainc yn cytuno, ond serch hynny, ymddengys nad yw’r Llywodraeth Lafur o'r un farn. Yn lle hynny, rydych yn pwmpio arian i mewn i brosiectau porthi balchder hurt fel gwleidyddion yn y lle hwn, maes awyr sy’n methu a chynlluniau 20 mya. Sut y gallwch gyfiawnhau gwastraffu cymaint o arian ar brosiectau hoff, tra bo problemau llawer mwy i'w datrys?

13:50

I'll just remind Natasha Asghar she's no longer at the Welsh Conservative conference in Newport. I think we deserve to have a more serious consideration of matters in this Chamber. She seems unable to adapt the question from the one I've already answered, where I covered the cost and the benefits of 20 mph. I would just refer her to the study by Edinburgh Napier University, which showed the expected modelled impacts on the NHS of reduced deaths, reduced casualties and reduced injuries, which will more than pay for the introduction costs, three times over in the first year alone. 

Hoffwn atgoffa Natasha Asghar nad yw yng nghynhadledd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yng Nghasnewydd mwyach. Credaf ein bod yn haeddu cael ystyriaeth fwy difrifol o faterion yn y Siambr hon. Ymddengys nad yw'n gallu addasu'r cwestiwn o'r un rwyf eisoes wedi'i ateb, lle nodais gost a manteision y terfyn 20 mya. Hoffwn ei chyfeirio at yr astudiaeth gan Brifysgol Napier Caeredin, a ddangosodd yr effeithiau disgwyliedig ar y GIG a fodelwyd yn sgil llai o farwolaethau, llai o anafusion a llai o anafiadau, a fydd yn talu am fwy na chost cyflwyno hyn, deirgwaith drosodd yn y flwyddyn gyntaf yn unig.

Thanks, Deputy Minister. For anyone who would like to know, I do feel that I'm very much in the Senedd today. I think you're really going to appreciate this next question, because it's going to bring everyone back to reality. I would have thought, based on the rhetoric we hear from you in this Chamber, that you would be tucking your trousers into your socks and jumping onto your bike, or maybe catching a bus or a train, every time you needed to go somewhere. But as we found out recently, that simply isn't the case, and you have claimed expenses for nearly 12,000 miles, totalling nearly £5,500, and submitted just three claims for rail tickets. And that's not all—[Interruption.]

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. I unrhyw un a hoffai wybod, rwy'n teimlo o ddifrif fy mod yn y Senedd heddiw. Rwy'n credu y byddwch yn gwerthfawrogi'r cwestiwn nesaf hwn yn fawr, gan y bydd yn dod â phawb yn ôl i realiti. Ar sail y rhethreg a glywn gennych yn y Siambr hon, byddwn wedi meddwl y byddech yn rhoi godre'ch trowsus yn eich sanau ac yn neidio ar gefn eich beic, neu efallai’n dal bws neu drên, bob tro y byddai angen i chi fynd i rywle. Ond fel y clywsom yn ddiweddar, nid yw hynny'n wir, ac rydych wedi hawlio treuliau am bron i 12,000 o filltiroedd, cyfanswm o bron i £5,500, ac wedi cyflwyno tri hawliad yn unig am docynnau trên. Ac nid dyna'r cyfan—[Torri ar draws.]

I can't hear the question. I really do need to hear the question, as does the Minister. 

Ni allaf glywed y cwestiwn. Mae gwir angen i mi a'r Gweinidog glywed y cwestiwn.

Thank you. It turns out that you've been regularly using one of the Welsh Government's ministerial motors to travel just 5 miles, give or take. In fact, you have made the short trip from Penarth to Cardiff, or vice versa, in a luxurious chauffeur-driven car just shy of 40 times, racking up 200 miles. So, Deputy Minister, do you not think that you have been a total hypocrite here, especially as you've been the poster boy for Labour's project to get people out of cars and onto public transport? 

Diolch. Ymddengys eich bod wedi bod yn defnyddio un o geir gweinidogol Llywodraeth Cymru yn rheolaidd i deithio 5 milltir yn unig, fwy neu lai. A dweud y gwir, rydych wedi gwneud y daith fer o Benarth i Gaerdydd, neu yn ôl, mewn car moethus sy'n cael ei yrru gan yrrwr bron i 40 o weithiau, cyfanswm o 200 milltir. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, onid ydych yn credu eich bod wedi bod yn gwbl ragrithiol, yn enwedig gan mai chi yw wyneb prosiect Llafur i ddod â phobl allan o'u ceir ac ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus?

Llywydd, I really do regret the tone the Member has struck yet again. Our exchanges are becoming, I think, caricatures of themselves and are degenerating from a pretty low base, I must say. Let's try, both of us, to do better.

Let me just set the facts out. She claims that I claimed, in a personal Senedd Member capacity, for 12,000 miles of trips. This was, she should explain, over four years. That equates to one journey a week between Llanelli, which I represent, and Cardiff, where I represent the constituency in the Senedd. I'm sure if she were to compare that to the claims of other Members, she would find that would be in the bottom half of the league table.

Indeed, I've claimed for three train journeys over four years. That's because I don't claim for every train journey I make. In fact, and as I've said, since last summer I've abandoned my second car and am now regularly travelling by bike and by train. The job of a Minister, which I'm pleased to say she will never discover, is an extremely complex and stressful one, involving very difficult journey patterns, where it's often not practical to use public transport, because you have to be in multiple places in very tight timetables. You have to read and carry sensitive papers and there are also security considerations that need to be taken into account.

I think she has quoted a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request on how many times I have used a ministerial car. Again, she will find that most times of the week I am travelling by bike, but there are some times when a ministerial car is needed.

I think this sort of cheap personality politics, where you're trying to denigrate my motivations and my motives for a policy that has cross-party support here as somehow I'm a hypocrite, really is beneath her. It should be. I hope we can strike a more elevated tone in future. 

Lywydd, rwy'n gresynu'n fawr at gywair yr Aelod unwaith eto. Rwy'n credu bod ein sgyrsiau'n dod yn wawdluniau ohonynt eu hunain ac yn iselhau'r drafodaeth, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud. Gadewch i'r ddau ohonom geisio gwneud yn well.

Gadewch imi nodi'r ffeithiau. Mae’n honni imi hawlio, mewn capasiti personol fel Aelod o'r Senedd, ar gyfer 12,000 o filltiroedd o deithiau. Roedd hyn, dylai esbonio, dros bedair blynedd. Mae hynny’n cyfateb i un daith yr wythnos rhwng Llanelli, lle rwy'n ei gynrychioli, a Chaerdydd, lle rwy’n cynrychioli’r etholaeth yn y Senedd. Rwy’n siŵr, pe bai'n cymharu hynny â hawliadau'r Aelodau eraill, y byddai’n gweld bod hynny yn hanner gwaelod y tabl.

Yn wir, rwyf wedi hawlio am dair taith trên dros bedair blynedd. Mae hynny oherwydd nad wyf yn hawlio am bob taith a wnaf ar y trên. A dweud y gwir, ac fel y dywedais, ers yr haf diwethaf, rwyf wedi cael gwared ar fy ail gar, ac rwyf bellach yn teithio'n rheolaidd ar feic ac ar drên. Mae swydd Gweinidog, fel na fydd byth yn ei ddarganfod, rwy'n falch o ddweud, yn un hynod gymhleth ac anodd, yn cynnwys patrymau teithiau anodd iawn, lle mae'n aml yn anymarferol i ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, gan fod angen ichi fod mewn sawl mawn o fewn amserlenni tynn iawn. Mae'n rhaid ichi ddarllen a chludo papurau sensitif, a cheir materion diogelwch sydd angen eu hystyried hefyd.

Credaf iddi ddyfynnu cais Deddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 ynghylch sawl gwaith rwyf wedi defnyddio car gweinidogol. Unwaith eto, bydd yn gweld fy mod yn teithio ar feic y rhan fwyaf o’r wythnos, ond ceir rhai adegau pan fydd angen car gweinidogol.

Credaf fod y math hwn o wleidyddiaeth bersonol ddirmygus, lle rydych yn ceisio pardduo fy nghymhellion a fy rhesymau dros bolisi sydd wedi ennyn cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol yma drwy ddweud fy mod rywsut yn rhagrithiol, islaw ei hurddas. Fe ddylai fod. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn daro cywair mwy dyrchafedig yn y dyfodol.

Thanks, Deputy Minister. I appreciate the response you just gave, but I must say details of your ministerial trips did make for some interesting reading. Not so long ago, you were chauffeured from Penarth to Coventry, a trip of around about 125 miles—[Interruption.] I'm going to make my point. You then travelled 6 miles or so to Kenilworth, before being taken back to Penarth, 117 miles or so, a little excursion amounting to 250 miles. And then you took a 100-mile or so round trip from Penarth to Bristol in a ministerial car. As I mentioned, I appreciate the fact of sensitive documents—I get all of that. However, what's wrong with taking the bus or the train, Deputy Minister? In this case, it does seem to be one rule for Labour Ministers and another rule for the rest of us. 

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Rwy’n gwerthfawrogi’r ymateb rydych newydd ei roi, ond mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod manylion eich teithiau gweinidogol yn ddiddorol iawn. Heb fod mor bell yn ôl a hynny, cawsoch eich gyrru o Benarth i Coventry, taith o oddeutu 125 milltir—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n mynd i wneud fy mhwynt. Yna, fe deithioch chi oddeutu 6 milltir i Kenilworth, cyn cael eich cludo'n ôl i Benarth, oddeutu 117 milltir, taith fach o 250 milltir i gyd. Ac yna, fe aethoch ar daith gron o oddeutu 100 milltir o Benarth i Fryste mewn car gweinidogol. Fel y soniais, rwy’n derbyn eich bod yn cludo dogfennau sensitif—rwy’n deall hynny. Fodd bynnag, beth sydd o'i le ar fynd ar y bws neu'r trên, Ddirprwy Weinidog? Yn yr achos hwn, ymddengys bod un rheol i Weinidogion Llafur a rheol arall i’r gweddill ohonom.

I think I've addressed that, and I regret that she's continuing this line of argument. 

Credaf fy mod wedi ateb y pwynt hwnnw, ac rwy'n gresynu ei bod yn parhau â'r ddadl hon.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell. 

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, we are now in the month of May, which is once again being marked as No Mow May, a chance for all of us to change our habits and encourage wildlife to thrive in our gardens and parks. I'm sure that you, like me, will be urging people to step away—[Interruption.]

Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, rydym bellach ym mis Mai, sy’n cael ei nodi unwaith eto fel No Mow May, cyfle i bob un ohonom newid ein harferion ac annog bywyd gwyllt i ffynnu yn ein gerddi a’n parciau. Rwy’n siŵr y byddwch chi, fel finnau, yn annog pobl i gamu oddi wrth—[Torri ar draws.]

13:55

Okay. Let me hear the question, now. I don't think we need the previous question to continue into this one. Delyth Jewell.

Iawn. Gadewch imi glywed y cwestiwn, nawr. Ni chredaf fod angen i'r cwestiwn blaenorol barhau i mewn i'r cwestiwn hwn. Delyth Jewell.

So, talking about No Mow May, I'm sure that you, like me, will be encouraging people to step away from the lawn mower; to resist the urge to start cutting the grass now and to embrace, yes, a more messy garden, but also one that is vibrant, that's teeming with wildflowers to give pollen to bumble-bees—grassy spaces that aren't manicured but wild, just like our wildlife needs. And our bumble-bees do need help. I wrote to the Government recently asking for a meeting about how Wales can push to strengthen pesticide regulation across the UK. I know that Pesticide Action Network UK have been leading a campaign for pesticide-free towns. As far as I'm aware, no town or city in Wales has yet to take up that pledge, so we are lagging behind. So, could you tell me what work you're doing to minimise the risks of pesticides? And any comment you could make about No Mow May would also be useful, please.

Felly, wrth sôn am No Mow May, rwy’n siŵr y byddwch chi, fel finnau, yn annog pobl i gamu oddi wrth y peiriant torri gwair; i wrthsefyll yr ysfa i ddechrau torri’r gwair nawr a mwynhau, ie, gardd flerach, ond un sydd hefyd yn llawn bywyd, sy’n llawn o flodau gwyllt i roi paill i wenyn—mannau glaswelltog nad ydynt yn drwsiadus ond yn wyllt, yn union fel sydd ei angen ar ein bywyd gwyllt. Ac mae angen cymorth ar ein gwenyn. Ysgrifennais at y Llywodraeth yn ddiweddar i ofyn am gyfarfod ynglŷn â sut y gall Cymru wthio i gryfhau rheoliadau plaladdwyr ledled y DU. Gwn fod Pesticide Action Network UK wedi bod yn arwain ymgyrch dros drefi di-blaladdwyr. Hyd y gwn i, nid oes unrhyw dref na dinas yng Nghymru wedi ymrwymo i'r addewid hwnnw eto, felly rydym ar ei hôl hi. Felly, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthyf pa waith rydych yn ei wneud i leihau risgiau plaladdwyr? A byddai unrhyw sylw y gallech ei wneud am No Mow May hefyd yn ddefnyddiol, os gwelwch yn dda.

Yes. Thank you very much, Delyth. I'm very much a fan of No Mow May and have been a fan of No Mow May well before I even heard the phrase 'no mow May'. The point of it is to let wildflowers flower and then seed, because they provide shelter and food, both for invertebrates and also for birds, particularly returning birds. It was delightful over the last weekend to see the swallows back again. It always lifts your heart, doesn't it? But, watch what they feed on; they're feeding on the small insects that are feeding on the things in your grass that aren't there if you cut your grass with nail scissors, and it is that kind of bowling green-type effect that some people like. So, I'm a big fan of that. But, it's actually not just No Mow May; I'm afraid, it's No Mow June and No Mow July, if you want to get the seeds as well. And I'm a big fan of that, so for many years now, we've only cut our lawn twice a year. It also reduces the need to mow the lawn, which I'm a big fan of. [Laughter.]

But you absolutely can see the difference in a garden or a park where that is the policy, because you can absolutely hear the buzz of insects, and so on, which you cannot hear on bowling green lawns. So, we've been encouraging councils to do that and I'm very happy to write out once more to councils—I've brought it up with the local government Minister as well—to ask councils to review their pesticide policies. But this is a big mind change, isn't it? People have learned to think that neatness is a lack of weeds and that weeds are anything you don't want there, so dandelions are the classic one—'Dandelions are weeds.' Well, dandelions are an enormously valuable source of food for a huge range of insects and the birds that feed on the insects, and actually need to be encouraged, as do buttercups and others—cowslips, all of those sorts of things. So, for some time now, we've been encouraging local authorities to allow their verges to grow and to actually plant native wildflower seeds. And Carolyn did a really good job with the local authorities of pushing that forward for us and I know that she's a big champion of this. But it is important that they're native wildflowers. Some local authorities have wildflowers planted, but they're not native wildflowers and they need to be replanted every year—that kind of defeats the purpose, really; they might be pretty, but they're not really performing the function.

So, Delyth, I'm very happy to reiterate that. People really should think very seriously about what 'pretty' really looks like, and what 'neat' really looks like. And I'm more than happy to write out once more to the local authorities asking them to sign up to the pledge.

Iawn. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Delyth. Rwy'n hoff iawn o No Mow May, ac wedi bod yn hoff iawn o No Mow May ymhell cyn imi hyd yn oed glywed yr ymadrodd 'no mow May'. Ei ddiben yw gadael i flodau gwyllt flodeuo a hadu, gan eu bod yn darparu cysgod a bwyd i infertebratau ac i adar hefyd, yn enwedig adar sy'n dychwelyd. Roedd yn hyfryd gweld y gwenoliaid yn ôl eto y penwythnos diwethaf. Mae bob amser yn codi'ch calon, onid yw? Ond edrychwch ar yr hyn y maent yn ei fwyta; maent yn bwydo ar y pryfed bach sy'n bwydo ar y pethau yn eich glaswellt nad ydynt yno os ydych chi'n torri'ch glaswellt â siswrn ewinedd tan ei fod yn edrych fel lawnt fowlio, fel y mae rhai pobl yn ei hoffi. Felly, rwy'n hoff iawn o hynny. Ond mewn gwirionedd, mae'n ymwneud â mwy na pheidio â thorri glaswellt ym mis Mai yn unig; mae arnaf ofn ei fod yn galw am beidio â thorri glaswellt ym mis Mehefin a mis Gorffennaf hefyd os ydych chi am gael yr hadau hefyd. Ac rwy'n hoff iawn o hynny, felly, ers blynyddoedd bellach, dim ond dwywaith y flwyddyn rydym wedi torri ein lawnt ni. Mae hefyd yn lleihau'r angen i dorri'r lawnt, ac rwy'n hoff iawn o hynny. [Chwerthin.]

Ond yn sicr, gallwch weld y gwahaniaeth mewn gardd neu barc lle mae'r polisi hwnnw ar waith, gan y gallwch glywed sŵn pryfaid ac ati, na allwch ei glywed pan fo'r glaswellt mor fyr â lawntiau bowlio. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn annog cynghorau i wneud hynny, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i ysgrifennu eto at gynghorau—rwyf wedi codi'r mater gyda'r Gweinidog llywodraeth leol hefyd—i ofyn i gynghorau adolygu eu polisïau plaladdwyr. Ond mae hwn yn newid meddwl mawr, onid yw? Mae pobl wedi dysgu meddwl bod taclusrwydd yn golygu diffyg chwyn, a bod chwyn yn golygu unrhyw beth nad ydych am ei weld yno, felly dant y llew yw'r un rydych yn ei glywed yn aml—'Chwyn yw dant y llew.' Wel, mae dant y llew'n ffynhonnell hynod werthfawr o fwyd ar gyfer amrywiaeth enfawr o bryfed a’r adar sy’n bwydo ar y pryfed hynny, ac mae angen eu hannog, fel blodau menyn ac eraill—briallu Mair, pob un o’r mathau hynny o bethau. Felly, ers amser bellach, rydym wedi bod yn annog awdurdodau lleol i adael i ymylon ffyrdd dyfu ac i blannu hadau blodau gwyllt brodorol. A gwnaeth Carolyn waith da iawn gyda'r awdurdodau lleol ar bwysleisio hynny i ni, a gwn ei bod yn hyrwyddo hyn yn frwd. Ond mae'n bwysig eu bod yn flodau gwyllt brodorol. Mae rhai awdurdodau lleol wedi plannu blodau gwyllt, ond nid blodau gwyllt brodorol mohonynt, ac mae angen eu hailblannu bob blwyddyn—mae'r math hwnnw o beth yn mynd yn groes i'r nod, a dweud y gwir; efallai eu bod yn hardd, ond nid ydynt yn cyflawni'r swyddogaeth.

Felly, Delyth, rwy'n fwy na pharod i ailadrodd hynny. Dylai pobl feddwl yn ddifrifol iawn beth yw ystyr 'hardd', a beth yw 'taclus' mewn gwirionedd. Ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i ysgrifennu unwaith eto at yr awdurdodau lleol i ofyn iddynt ymrwymo i'r addewid.

Thank you very much for that.

Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Byddaf i'n gofyn yr ail gwestiwn am ynni adnewyddol. Un o'r argymhellion o'r plymio dwfn ar ynni adnewyddol fydd i annog mwy o fuddsoddiad ym mhorthladdoedd Cymru ac i alw ar Ystad y Goron a Llywodraeth San Steffan i wneud y mwyaf o'r cyfleoedd yna ar gyfer datblygu isadeiledd a gwerth ein cadwyni cyflenwi. Yng Nghymru, mewn ffordd, dŷn ni wedi ein lleoli mewn ffordd unigryw i allu elwa o'r cyfleoedd hyn yng nghyd-destun cynhyrchu ynni gwynt a hydrogen gwyrdd, ond bydd angen isadeiledd yn ein porthladdoedd i wireddu'r potensial yna. Pa newid, plis, neu gynnydd sydd wedi bod yn natblygiad strategaeth aml-borthladd ar gyfer FLOW—floating offshore wind—ar gyfer datblygu Port Talbot a hefyd Doc Penfro? Allwch chi roi mwy o wybodaeth i ni am y trafodaethau dŷch chi'n eu cael gyda Banc Isadeiledd y Deyrnas Gyfunol am y posibiliadau yna o ran buddsoddi, plis?

I'll be asking the second question on renewable energy. One of the recommendations arising from the deep-dive into renewable energy will be to encourage greater investment in Welsh ports and to call on the Crown Estate and Westminster Government to maximise the opportunities available to develop infrastructure and the value of our supply chains. In Wales, in a way, we are uniquely positioned to be able to benefit from these opportunities in the context of wind energy generation and green hydrogen, but our ports need infrastructure to fulfil that potential. What change or progress, please, has been made in developing the multiport strategy for FLOW—floating offshore wind—to develop Port Talbot and also Pembroke Dock? Can you give us additional information about the discussions you are having with the UK Infrastructure Bank about the possibilities there in terms of investment?

Diolch, Delyth. Actually, only yesterday, Vaughan Gething and I met with both the Associated British Ports chief executive and investment team and then, later in the day, with the Crown Estate for exactly the discussion you've just outlined. We will be writing, together, to the UK Government about the eligibility criteria for spend under the floating offshore wind manufacturing investment grant scheme. It's very important that development costs are included in that so that some de-risking can take place. We've also been working with what's called the south Wales industrial cluster around the free ports for the Celtic sea opportunity. So, there's been quite a lot of work done on trying to encourage the supply chains to come forward, to get the right kind of investment opportunities, to understand what the skills mix looks like and, actually, at what point what is needed. So, we're going to go into a build and develop phase, and different skills are needed at different stages. So, officials have been working for many years now, actually, on developing that, and large numbers of businesses have come to supply chain days, tier 1 days and so on for that, so we're very hopeful. I'm also hopeful that the Crown Estate will firm up its policy on local procurement and local supply chains, and that will be very important, and there was an encouraging meeting yesterday.

And then we've also got an ask of the UK Government around steel. So, we need to be able to ensure that our steel manufacturing can green itself up as fast as possible, and, actually, and much more importantly, really, produce the right kind of steel to build the towers and the blades for the floating offshore wind, because otherwise they'll be imported and we'll just be assembling them, and, whilst the assembly jobs are great, the real benefit is to get the engineering and design and construction jobs here.

So, it'll be really important to have all of those aspects, but, both separately and together, Vaughan and I have met with all of the ports and the Crown Estate, and, indeed, only this morning, I met with Ofgem, with the Minister for Social Justice, to talk about the grid roll-out and the connection timescales and what we can do about that.

Diolch, Delyth. A dweud y gwir, ddoe ddiwethaf, cyfarfu Vaughan Gething a minnau â phrif weithredwr a thîm buddsoddi Associated British Ports ac yna, yn nes ymlaen yn y dydd, ag Ystad y Goron i gael yr union drafodaeth rydych newydd ei hamlinellu. Byddwn yn ysgrifennu, gyda’n gilydd, at Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch y meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer gwariant o dan y cynllun buddsoddi mewn gweithgynhyrchu ynni gwynt arnofiol ar y môr. Mae'n bwysig iawn fod costau datblygu'n cael eu cynnwys yn hynny fel y gellir gwneud rhywfaint o ddadrisgio. Rydym hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’r hyn a elwir yn glwstwr diwydiannol de Cymru o amgylch y porthladdoedd rhydd ar gyfer cyfle’r môr Celtaidd. Felly, mae cryn dipyn o waith wedi'i wneud ar geisio annog y cadwyni cyflenwi i gamu ymlaen, i gael y math cywir o gyfleoedd buddsoddi, i ddeall sut olwg sydd ar y cymysgedd sgiliau, ac mewn gwirionedd, beth sydd ei angen a phryd. Felly, byddwn yn cael cyfnod o adeiladu a datblygu, ac mae angen sgiliau gwahanol ar gamau gwahanol. Felly, mae swyddogion wedi bod yn gweithio ar ddatblygu hynny ers blynyddoedd lawer bellach, ac mae nifer fawr o fusnesau wedi dod i ddiwrnodau cadwyn gyflenwi, diwrnodau haen 1 ac ati ar gyfer hynny, felly rydym yn obeithiol iawn. Rwyf hefyd yn obeithiol y bydd Ystad y Goron yn cryfhau ei pholisi ar gaffael lleol a chadwyni cyflenwi lleol, a bydd hynny’n bwysig iawn, a chafwyd cyfarfod calonogol ddoe.

Ac yna, mae gennym hefyd gais i Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch dur. Felly, mae angen inni allu sicrhau bod ein sector gweithgynhyrchu dur yn gallu gwyrddu ei hun cyn gynted â phosibl, ac yn bwysicach o lawer, mewn gwirionedd, yn cynhyrchu'r math cywir o ddur i adeiladu'r tyrau a'r llafnau ar gyfer ynni gwynt arnofiol ar y môr, oherwydd fel arall, byddant yn cael eu mewnforio a dim ond eu cydosod yn unig y byddwn yn ei wneud, ac er bod y swyddi cydosod yn wych, y fantais wirioneddol yw cael y swyddi peirianneg a chynllunio ac adeiladu yma.

Felly, bydd yn bwysig iawn cael pob un o'r agweddau hynny, ond ar wahân a chyda'n gilydd, mae Vaughan a minnau wedi cyfarfod â phob un o'r porthladdoedd ac Ystad y Goron, ac yn wir, y bore yma, cyfarfûm ag Ofgem, gyda’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, i drafod cyflwyno’r grid a’r amserlenni cysylltu a’r hyn y gallwn ei wneud ynglŷn â hynny.

14:00
Grwpiau Gweithredu Llifogydd
Flood Action Groups

3. Pa gefnogaeth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i gymunedau sydd eisiau sefydlu grwpiau gweithredu llifogydd? OQ59428

3. What support does the Welsh Government provide to communities that want to establish flood action groups? OQ59428

Diolch, Heledd. The Welsh Government provides funding to Natural Resources Wales to provide guidance and advice to the public, including on establishing community groups. NRW run volunteer network support events across Wales and advise community groups on the completion and testing of community flood plans to enable communities to be more proactive and resilient.

Diolch, Heledd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi arian i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i ddarparu arweiniad a chyngor i'r cyhoedd, gan gynnwys arweiniad a chyngor ar sefydlu grwpiau cymunedol. Mae CNC yn cynnal digwyddiadau cymorth rhwydwaith gwirfoddolwyr ar draws Cymru ac yn cynghori grwpiau cymunedol ar gwblhau a phrofi cynlluniau llifogydd cymunedol er mwyn galluogi cymunedau i fod yn fwy rhagweithiol a gwydn.

Diolch, Weinidog, ac, yn sicr, o edrych ar y rhanbarth dwi'n ei chynrychioli, lle mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi ariannu grwpiau gweithredu llifogydd yn Ninas Powys ac yng Ngelli, maen nhw wedi bod yn llwyddiannus, ond, yn anffodus, yn enwedig pan fo'r arian yn dod i ben, yng Ngelli'n benodol, mae'r gweithgarwch hwnnw'n stopio, lle, mewn ardal fel Dinas Powys, lle mae gennych chi nifer o bobl broffesiynol, efallai rhai sydd yn gweithio yn y maes rheoli llifogydd ac yn gallu gyrru'r gwaith hwn rhagddo, mae grŵp fel yna yn gallu bod yn llwyddiannus. Yr hyn sydd yn fy mhryderu i ydy'r nifer o ardaloedd o fewn Rhondda Cynon Taf yn benodol—mae nifer o'r rheini efo risg parhaus o lifogydd yn ardaloedd difreintiedig lle efallai nad oes ganddynt y sgiliau er mwyn ysgrifennu cynllun ag ati. Felly, a gaf i ofyn oes yna gymorth ychwanegol ar gael? Oherwydd mae yna adnoddau gwych gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, ond mae'n rhaid i chi wybod sut mae ysgrifennu cynllun a wedyn sut mae ei weithredu fo. Felly, ydych chi'n edrych, neu ydych chi'n gallu edrych, yn bellach, os gwelwch yn dda, o ran pa gefnogaeth benodol fedrwn ni ei rhoi i bob ardal sicrhau cael y budd o'r adnoddau hyn?

Thank you, Minister, and, certainly, in looking at the region that I represent, where NRW has funded flood action groups in Dinas Powys and Gelli, they have been successful, but, unfortunately, particularly when the funding comes to an end, in the case of Gelli particularly, that activity does stop, whereas in areas such as Dinas Powys, where you have many professional people, perhaps some working in flood management and who can drive this work forward, a group like that can be successful. What concerns me is the number of areas within Rhondda Cynon Taf specifically—a number facing ongoing risks of flooding are disadvantaged areas and perhaps they don't have the skills to write a plan and so on. So, can I ask, therefore, is there additional support available? Because there are excellent resources from NRW, but you have to know how to write up a plan and how to implement that plan. So, are you looking, or can you look, further perhaps at what specific support we can provide to every area in order that they can benefit from these resources?

Diolch, Heledd. That's a very good point, actually. It's not one I'd considered, but I'm more than happy to. I can quite see that some communities will want some additional help to actually come together in the first place. So, I'm more than happy to help with that. If you want to write to me with some specifics, that would be great. It's always to good to have an example; it doesn't have to be every example. If you also want to highlight to me the one where the funding has stopped, I can have a look at that as well, because it's certainly not the intention. The idea is that they become resilient groups, so that they go on. So, it's not the intention that, if the funding stops, the whole thing just stops. Clearly, that's counterproductive. So, if you want to highlight that to me, I can have a look at exactly what's happened there and see what we can do.

Diolch, Heledd. Mae hwnnw'n bwynt da iawn, mewn gwirionedd. Nid yw'n un yr oeddwn wedi ei ystyried, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. Gallaf weld y bydd rhai cymunedau eisiau rhywfaint o gymorth ychwanegol i ddod at ei gilydd yn y lle cyntaf mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rwy'n fwy na pharod i helpu gyda hynny. Os ydych chi eisiau ysgrifennu ataf gyda'r manylion, byddai hynny'n wych. Mae bob amser yn dda cael enghraifft; nid oes rhaid cael pob enghraifft. Os ydych chi eisiau tynnu sylw at yr un lle mae'r cyllid wedi dod i ben, gallaf gael golwg ar hynny hefyd, oherwydd yn sicr nid dyna'r bwriad. Y syniad yw eu bod yn dod yn grwpiau gwydn, fel eu bod yn gallu parhau. Felly, os yw'r arian yn dod i ben, nid y bwriad yw i'r cyfan ddod i ben. Yn amlwg, mae hynny'n wrthgynhyrchiol. Felly, os ydych chi eisiau tynnu sylw at hynny, gallaf gael golwg ar beth yn union sydd wedi digwydd yno a gweld beth y gallwn ei wneud.

I thank Heledd Fychan for raising this important issue today, as well. And, Minister, you'll be aware that the area that I represent in North Wales has huge risk in terms of flooding, particularly on the coastal stretches of north Wales, and I'm really grateful and pleased to see the investment that Welsh Government, working with local authorities, is making in those flood defence schemes. I'm aware that the flood defence scheme, for example, in Kinmel Bay is due to start work a little bit later this year, and the residents in the town of Kinmel Bay are really supportive of that work going ahead, because we know of the terrible flooding that took place back in 1990, of course, and that continued flood risk in the area. And I'm also aware that flood action groups in places like Kinmel Bay are in place and want to continue to work successfully. I know that it's an obvious point, but, of course, flood waters don't take any account of local authority boundaries. I'm aware that a place like Kinmel Bay is right on the boundary between Conwy and Denbighshire, and that this happens elsewhere across north Wales. I wonder if you would be able to make a statement outlining how you would expect local authorities to work together to ensure that these action groups are able to tap into these resources, especially when it crosses local authority boundaries—whether it is formally through things like PSBs or other fora, or just informally, to ensure that these flood action groups can have the resources and support that they need across local authority boundaries, in particular. Thank you. 

Diolch i Heledd Fychan am godi'r mater pwysig hwn heddiw hefyd. A Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod yna risg enfawr i'r ardal rwy'n ei chynrychioli yng Ngogledd Cymru o ran llifogydd, yn enwedig arfordiroedd gogledd Cymru, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar ac yn falch iawn o weld y buddsoddiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, yn ei wneud yn y cynlluniau amddiffyn rhag llifogydd hynny. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod y cynllun amddiffyn rhag llifogydd ym Mae Cinmel, er enghraifft, i fod i ddechrau ar y gwaith ychydig yn ddiweddarach eleni, ac mae'r trigolion yn nhref Bae Cinmel yn gefnogol iawn i'r gwaith hwnnw, oherwydd rydym yn gwybod am y llifogydd ofnadwy a ddigwyddodd yn ôl ym 1990, wrth gwrs, a'r perygl parhaus o lifogydd yn yr ardal. Ac rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol fod grwpiau gweithredu perygl llifogydd mewn llefydd fel Bae Cinmel yn eu lle ac eisiau parhau i weithio'n llwyddiannus. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn bwynt amlwg, ond wrth gwrs, nid yw llifogydd yn ystyried ffiniau awdurdodau lleol. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod rhywle fel Bae Cinmel ar y ffin rhwng Conwy a sir Ddinbych, ac mae hyn yn digwydd mewn mannau eraill ar draws gogledd Cymru. Tybed a fyddech chi'n gallu gwneud datganiad yn amlinellu sut y byddech chi'n disgwyl i awdurdodau lleol weithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau bod y grwpiau gweithredu hyn yn gallu manteisio ar yr adnoddau hyn, yn enwedig pan fo llifogydd yn croesi ffiniau awdurdodau lleol—boed hynny'n ffurfiol drwy bethau fel byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus neu fforymau eraill, neu'n anffurfiol, i sicrhau y gall y grwpiau gweithredu perygl llifogydd hyn gael yr adnoddau a'r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt ar draws ffiniau awdurdodau lleol yn enwedig. Diolch. 

14:05

Again, Sam, I'm sorry but I didn't realise that the local authority boundary was causing any kind of problem. If you have got an example that you would care to share with me, that would be great. It's NRW that support this. They do work with the local authorities to do it, and obviously, NRW are not bound by local authority boundaries. So, I would quite like to understand, in a bit more detail, quite what the problem is there. But I absolutely want to agree with you that that isn't the intention at all. Of course, floods don't recognise local authority boundaries, and you will know from a previous job that I have got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the invisible force fields that go up on boundaries of that sort. So, I would be more than happy to engage with you if you have got an example that we can have a look at.  

Unwaith eto, Sam, mae'n ddrwg gennyf ond nid oeddwn yn sylweddoli bod ffiniau awdurdodau lleol yn achosi unrhyw fath o broblem. Os oes gennych chi enghraifft y byddech yn fodlon ei rhannu gyda mi, byddai hynny'n wych. CNC sy'n cefnogi hyn. Maent yn gweithio gyda'r awdurdodau lleol i'w wneud, ac yn amlwg, nid yw CNC wedi'u cyfyngu i ffiniau awdurdodau lleol. Felly, hoffwn ddeall, mewn ychydig mwy o fanylder, beth yn union yw'r broblem yno. Ond rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr nad dyna'r bwriad o gwbl. Wrth gwrs, nid yw llifogydd yn cydnabod ffiniau awdurdodau lleol, ac fe fyddwch yn gwybod o swydd flaenorol fod gennyf chwilen yn fy mhen ynghylch y grymoedd anweledig sydd i'w cael ar ffiniau o'r math hwnnw. Felly, byddwn yn fwy na pharod i ymgysylltu â chi os oes gennych enghraifft y gallwn gael golwg arni.  

Cynllun Adfer Natur
Nature Recovery Plan

4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am weithredu'r cynllun adfer natur? OQ59430

4. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the nature recovery plan? OQ59430

Thank you, Mark. Our nature recovery action plan is currently being refreshed to take account of the new global biodiversity framework agreed at COP 15 and the biodiversity deep-dive recommendations. As part of the refresh, officials will consider how the current plan has been implemented and what further actions are also needed.

Diolch, Mark. Mae ein cynllun adfer natur yn cael ei ddiweddaru ar hyn o bryd i ystyried y fframwaith bioamrywiaeth byd-eang newydd a gytunwyd yn COP 15 ac argymhellion yr archwiliad dwfn bioamrywiaeth. Fel rhan o'r diweddaru, bydd swyddogion yn ystyried sut mae'r cynllun presennol wedi cael ei weithredu a pha gamau pellach sydd eu hangen hefyd.

You won't be surprised to hear me refer to the iconic curlew, because it is our most pressing bird conservation priority. Although curlew recovery would benefit multiple species, estimated at around 70, it will be extinct as a breeding population in Wales within a decade without intervention.

Questioning you here in March, I asked you what specific action you are taking to ensure that the Welsh Government's target for woodland planting in Wales takes account of the fact that woodland in the wrong places provides an ideal habitat for apex predators, whose predation of nests and chicks is a primary cause of curlew breeding failure. In your reply, you stated that you were really pleased to be working alongside Gylfinir Cymru's curlew recovery programme, which identifies specific important curlew areas requiring focused conservation action.

How, therefore, will you act to protect these areas in the context of e-mails subsequently received from Gylfinir Cymru members, stating, for example:

'I visited one site yestereday where, last year, there were two pairs of curlews present, to find that one of their main feeding fields has just been planted with trees. Incidentally, this was also a favoured winter feeding area for golden plover, lapwing, woodcock, snipe and jack snipe'?

And, a second one:

'I have sent my records in but didn't stop tree planting. Surely, planting needs consent, so why is curlew presence not being taken into account?' 

Ni fyddwch yn synnu fy nghlywed yn cyfeirio at y gylfinir eiconig, oherwydd dyma yw ein blaenoriaeth fwyaf difrifol ym maes gwarchod adar. Er y byddai adfer y gylfinir o fudd i oddeutu 70 o rywogaethau, yn ôl amcangyfrif, bydd y boblogaeth nythu yng Nghymru yn diflannu o fewn degawd os na fyddwn yn ymyrryd.

Wrth eich holi yma ym mis Mawrth, gofynnais i chi pa gamau penodol rydych yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod targed Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer plannu coetiroedd yng Nghymru yn ystyried y ffaith bod coetiroedd yn y mannau anghywir yn darparu cynefin delfrydol i brif ysglyfaethwyr, ac un o'r prif resymau dros fethiant gylfinirod i nythu yw bod y prif ysglyfaethwyr hyn yn rheibio eu nythod a'u cywion. Yn eich ateb, fe ddywedoch chi eich bod yn falch iawn o weithio ochr yn ochr â rhaglen adfer gylfinirod Gylfinir Cymru, sy'n nodi ardaloedd penodol pwysig iawn i gylfinirod sydd angen camau cadwraeth arbennig.

Sut, felly, y byddwch yn gweithredu i ddiogelu'r ardaloedd hyn yng nghyd-destun e-byst a ddaeth i law yn ddiweddarach gan aelodau Gylfinir Cymru, a oedd yn datgan, er enghraifft:

'Fe ymwelais ag un safle ddoe, lle roedd yna ddau bâr o gylfinirod yn bresennol y llynedd, a gweld bod coed newydd gael eu plannu yn un o'u prif gaeau bwydo. Gyda llaw, roedd hon hefyd yn ardal fwydo dros y gaeaf a ffafrid gan gwtiaid aur, cornchwiglod, cyffylogod, giachod a giachod bach?

Ac ail un:

'Rwyf wedi anfon fy nghofnodion i mewn ond ni wnaeth hynny roi diwedd ar blannu coed. Mae angen caniatâd i blannu coed, felly pam nad yw presenoldeb y gylfinir yn cael ei ystyried?'  

Thank you, Mark. You have been a really excellent champion for the curlew. I was really very pleased to attend the launch of the recovery plan, and I'm very delighted to have put £1 million into the programme. I'm really sorry to hear that we have got that kind of e-mail coming in. If you want to send it in to me, I'm more than happy to have a look at it. A number of explanations spring to mind but I'm not going to hazard them because I don't know the exact circumstances of that. But we are looking to protect open grassland areas.

Obviously, tree planting is an issue for ground-nesting birds, and the whole point of some of the peatland recovery plans, for example, is to encourage the kinds of grassland that curlew and other ground-nesting birds particularly like. We are very aware of the fact that nearby woodlands can harbour predator species, and that's very much part of—. I'm teaching you to suck eggs now, and I know that you know what the plan says. So, if you want to give me some detail of that, I am more than happy to have a look at it for you.

Diolch, Mark. Rydych wedi bod yn hyrwyddwr rhywogaeth ardderchog iawn dros y gylfinir. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o fynychu lansiad y cynllun adfer, ac rwy'n falch iawn fy mod wedi rhoi £1 filiwn tuag at y rhaglen. Mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf glywed bod e-bost o'r fath wedi dod i law. Os ydych eisiau ei anfon ataf, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael golwg arno. Gallaf feddwl am nifer o esboniadau ond nid wyf am geisio dyfalu am nad wyf yn gwybod beth yw union amgylchiadau hynny. Ond rydym yn ceisio diogelu ardaloedd o laswelltir agored.

Yn amlwg, mae plannu coed yn broblem i adar sy'n nythu ar y ddaear, a holl bwynt rhai o'r cynlluniau adfer mawndir, er enghraifft, yw annog y mathau o laswelltiroedd y mae gylfinirod ac adar eraill sy'n nythu ar y ddaear yn arbennig o hoff ohonynt. Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn o'r ffaith bod coetiroedd cyfagos yn gallu bod yn lloches i rywogaethau ysglyfaethus, ac mae hynny'n rhan fawr o—. Rwy'n dysgu pader i berson nawr, ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn gwybod beth mae'r cynllun yn ei ddweud. Felly, os hoffech roi manylion hynny i mi, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael golwg arno i chi.

Mae cwestiwn 5 [OQ59446] wedi'i dynnu yn ôl. Felly, cwestiwn 6, John Griffiths.

Question 5 [OQ59446] has been withdrawn. So, question 6, John Griffiths.

Tai Fforddiadwy yn Sir Fynwy
Affordable Housing in Monmouthshire

6. Sut mae'r Gweinidog yn gweithio gyda Chyngor Sir Fynwy i gynyddu'r ddarpariaeth o dai fforddiadwy? OQ59433

6. How is the Minister working with Monmouthshire County Council to increase the provision of affordable housing? OQ59433

Diolch, John. I am committed to working with Monmouthshire County Council and all local authorities and social housing providers to support them to deliver 20,000 homes for rent in the social sector. I have allocated record levels of funding of £1.2 billion over the first four years of this Senedd term to do so.

Diolch, John. Rwy'n ymroddedig i weithio gyda Chyngor Sir Fynwy a phob awdurdod lleol a darparwr tai cymdeithasol i'w cefnogi i ddarparu 20,000 o dai i'w rhentu yn y sector cymdeithasol. Rwyf wedi dyrannu'r lefelau uchaf erioed o gyllid, £1.2 biliwn, dros bedair blynedd gyntaf tymor y Senedd hon i wneud hynny.

Thank you very much, Minister. As you will know, as is the case right across Wales, there is a great deal of pressure in the local housing market in Monmouthshire. Prices are relatively high, Minister, both to buy and to rent, and we have a new administration, of course, in Monmouthshire, and it's taking forward a replacement local development plan. They're in the process at the moment of going through the plan preparation procedure. Part of that is very much about affordable housing, Minister, and I know that the administration is very much committed to understanding and meeting local housing need in terms of affordability, as well as many other factors, and also in terms of taking forward the associated infrastructure that's necessary to support that. So, could you just reassure me today, Minister, that you will continue working with the new administration with new ideas to make sure that these plans come to fruition and the provision locally of affordable housing is much closer to identified need?

Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, fel sy'n digwydd ledled Cymru, mae yna bwysau mawr ar y farchnad dai leol yn sir Fynwy. Mae'r prisiau'n gymharol uchel, Weinidog, i brynu ac i rentu, ac mae gennym weinyddiaeth newydd yn sir Fynwy, wrth gwrs, ac mae'n bwrw ymlaen â chynllun datblygu lleol newydd. Maent yn y broses o baratoi'r cynllun ar hyn o bryd. Mae rhan o hynny'n ymwneud â thai fforddiadwy, Weinidog, ac rwy'n gwybod bod y weinyddiaeth wedi ymrwymo'n gryf i ddeall a diwallu'r angen am dai lleol o ran fforddiadwyedd, yn ogystal â nifer o ffactorau eraill, a hefyd o ran bwrw ymlaen â'r seilwaith cysylltiedig sy'n angenrheidiol i gefnogi hynny. Felly, a wnewch chi dawelu fy meddwl heddiw, Weinidog, y byddwch yn parhau i weithio gyda'r weinyddiaeth newydd gyda syniadau newydd i sicrhau bod y cynlluniau hyn yn dwyn ffrwyth a bod y ddarpariaeth leol o dai fforddiadwy yn llawer agosach at yr angen a nodwyd?

14:10

Yes, of course, John. We're working very closely with officials in Monmouthshire council to align their replacement LDP more closely with the national policies, and I absolutely do welcome the renewed focus on the delivery of affordable housing in that replacement LDP. We absolutely will continue to liaise and offer support to Monmouthshire as they work to replace their LDP and deliver the affordable housing required and to ensure the plan is compliant with national policy.

We tripled Monmouthshire's social housing grant allocation between 2020-21 and 2022-23, and provided funding for schemes that I know you're familiar with, like the one at Melyn Bach and the one at Brynteg. I've definitely met you at one of those, I can't remember which one it was. We support a range of initiatives being brought forward as well towards the 20,000 target, like acquiring properties that are already built or off plan, remodelling existing accommodation and converting buildings into good-quality accommodation. We've got £76 million in more homes projects through the transitionary accommodation capital programme, and that's got £3.2 million funding in Monmouthshire for the registered social landlords there to bring forward those homes as well. So, I think the short answer is yes, absolutely, we're very keen to work with councils right across Wales, including Monmouthshire, to make sure that the LDPs are fit for purpose and bring forward those homes as fast as is humanly possible, because we really need them.

Wrth gwrs, John. Rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda swyddogion yng nghyngor sir Fynwy i alinio eu cynlluniau datblygu lleol newydd yn well â'r polisïau cenedlaethol, ac rwy'n croesawu'r ffocws newydd ar ddarparu tai fforddiadwy yn y CDLl newydd hwnnw. Byddwn yn parhau i gysylltu â sir Fynwy a chynnig cefnogaeth wrth iddynt weithio ar eu cynlluniau datblygu lleol newydd a darparu'r tai fforddiadwy sydd eu hangen ac i sicrhau bod y cynllun yn cydymffurfio â'r polisi cenedlaethol.

Fe wnaethom dreblu dyraniad grant tai cymdeithasol sir Fynwy rhwng 2020-21 a 2022-23, a darparu cyllid ar gyfer cynlluniau y gwn eich bod yn gyfarwydd â hwy, fel yr un ym Melyn Bach a'r un ym Mrynteg. Rwy'n bendant wedi cyfarfod â chi yn un o'r rheini, ni allaf gofio pa un. Rydym yn cefnogi amrywiaeth o fentrau sy'n cael eu cyflwyno i weithio tuag at y targed o 20,000 hefyd, fel caffael eiddo sydd eisoes wedi'u hadeiladu neu sydd heb eu cwblhau, ailfodelu llety presennol a throi adeiladau'n llety o ansawdd da. Mae gennym £76 miliwn mewn prosiectau i adeiladu mwy o gartrefi drwy'r cynllun cyfalaf llety trosiannol, ac mae'r rhaglen honno'n cynnwys cyllid o £3.2 miliwn i'r landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig yn sir Fynwy allu cyflwyno'r cartrefi hynny hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r ateb byr yw ydym, yn sicr, rydym yn awyddus iawn i weithio gyda chynghorau ym mhob cwr o Gymru, gan gynnwys sir Fynwy, i wneud yn siŵr fod y cynlluniau datblygu lleol yn addas i'r diben ac yn cyflwyno'r cartrefi hynny mor gyflym ag sy'n bosibl, oherwydd mae eu hangen yn fawr.

It's refreshing to see the rising focus on Monmouthshire as, during my 13 years as leader, I felt like a lone voice. The need for affordable housing, as John pointed out, in Monmouthshire is undeniable, and the need is constantly growing, with over 3,000 people currently waiting. Under Conservative control, our replacement LDP had an ambitious target, with our preferred strategy back in June 2021 planning to build over 8,000 houses, which included 2,450 affordable homes. But due to an objection from the Welsh Government, our target had to be reduced dramatically, reducing the number of affordable homes to between 1,580 and 1,850. Minister, I now note that the new Labour-controlled council revised their preferred strategy again in December 2022 and has reduced the number of affordable housing proposed from between 1,400 and 1,600 with total house building projected at 5,500 over 15 years, only 2,000 of which are new homes, with the others currently land banked. Minister, would you agree that the new Labour administration, and, indeed, it would seem, the Government, lack ambition for housing and affordable housing in Monmouthshire?

Mae'n braf gweld mwy o ffocws ar sir Fynwy oherwydd, yn ystod fy 13 mlynedd fel arweinydd, roeddwn yn teimlo fel llais unig. Ni ellir gwadu'r angen am dai fforddiadwy yn si Fynwy, fel y nododd John, ac mae'r angen yn tyfu'n gyson, gyda dros 3,000 o bobl yn aros ar hyn o bryd. O dan reolaeth y Ceidwadwyr, roedd gan ein CDLl newydd darged uchelgeisiol, a'n hoff strategaeth yn ôl ym mis Mehefin 2021 oedd cynllunio i adeiladu dros 8,000 o dai, a oedd yn cynnwys 2,450 o dai fforddiadwy. Ond oherwydd gwrthwynebiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, bu'n rhaid lleihau ein targed yn ddramatig, gan leihau'r nifer o dai fforddiadwy i rhwng 1,580 ac 1,850. Weinidog, rwyf bellach yn nodi bod y cyngor newydd a reolir gan Lafur wedi diwygio eu hoff strategaeth eto ym mis Rhagfyr 2022 ac wedi lleihau nifer y tai fforddiadwy a gynigir o rhwng 1,400 a 1,600, gan ragweld cyfanswm o 5,500 o dai yn cael eu hadeiladu dros 15 mlynedd, gyda dim ond 2,000 ohonynt yn gartrefi newydd, a'r lleill ar hyn o bryd yn dir wedi'i fancio. Weinidog, a fyddech chi'n cytuno nad oes gan y weinyddiaeth Lafur newydd, na'r Llywodraeth yn wir yn ôl pob golwg, unrhyw uchelgais ar gyfer tai a thai fforddiadwy yn sir Fynwy?

Well, Peter, I'm very surprised that you found that you were a lone voice when you were leader of Monmouthshire council, because I felt I was practically living with you. [Laughter.] So, that's a very interesting difference of opinion. We spent a very large amount of time together, as you know, so I don't quite see how those two things match up.

We spent a lot of time working with you and the previous administration on the LDP. You know as well as I do that one of the big problems that we had was that the affordable homes you're talking about came on the back of private development that was against the LDP policy on greenfield. We had many, many conversations about it, as you know, and, actually, I tried very hard to help you get to where you needed to be with that LDP. So, I'm a bit disappointed, Peter, to find you saying that that's a political thing, because it certainly was not, and we spent a lot of time together doing that. And, similarly, we've worked very closely with the current administration too, as we work with every administration across Wales to make their LDP fit for purpose. 

Wel, Peter, rwy'n synnu'n fawr eich bod wedi teimlo fel llais unig pan oeddech chi'n arweinydd cyngor sir Fynwy, oherwydd roeddwn i'n teimlo fel pe bawn i'n byw gyda chi bron iawn. [Chwerthin.] Felly, mae hwnnw'n wahaniaeth barn diddorol iawn. Fe wnaethom dreulio llawer iawn o amser gyda'n gilydd, fel y gwyddoch, felly nid wyf yn gweld sut cysoni hynny.

Fe wnaethom dreulio llawer o amser yn gweithio gyda chi a'r weinyddiaeth flaenorol ar y CDLl. Rydych yn gwybod cystal â mi mai un o'r problemau mawr a oedd gennym oedd bod y cartrefi fforddiadwy rydych yn sôn amdanynt wedi dod ar gefn datblygiad preifat a oedd yn erbyn y polisi CDLl ar safleoedd maes glas. Cawsom lawer o sgyrsiau am y peth, fel y gwyddoch, ac mewn gwirionedd, fe ymdrechais yn galed iawn i'ch helpu i gyrraedd lle roedd angen i chi ei gyrraedd gyda'r CDLl hwnnw. Felly, rwyf braidd yn siomedig, Peter, i'ch clywed chi'n dweud bod hwnnw'n fater gwleidyddol, oherwydd yn sicr nid oedd yn fater gwleidyddol, ac fe wnaethom dreulio llawer o amser gyda'n gilydd yn gwneud hynny. Ac yn yr un modd, rydym wedi gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r weinyddiaeth bresennol hefyd, fel y gweithiwn gyda phob gweinyddiaeth ledled Cymru i wneud eu CDLl yn addas i'r diben. 

Parc Ynni Arfaethedig Nant Mithil
The Proposed Nant Mithil Energy Park

7. Pa drafodaethau mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Bute Energy ynghylch parc ynni arfaethedig Nant Mithil? OQ59434

7. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Bute Energy about the proposed Nant Mithil energy park? OQ59434

I have regular discussions with industry at pre-planning stages. Notes on my meetings with Bute Energy are freely available. Regarding the proposed Nant Mithil energy park, Welsh Ministers are the decision makers on developments of national significance and, consequently, I'm unable to comment on the specifics of the project.

Rwy'n cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda'r diwydiant ar gamau rhag-gynllunio. Mae nodiadau ar fy nghyfarfodydd gyda Bute Energy ar gael i'w darllen. O ran parc ynni arfaethedig Nant Mithil, Gweinidogion Cymru yw'r rhai sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau ar ddatblygiadau o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol ac oherwydd hynny, ni allaf wneud sylw ar fanylion y prosiect.

14:15

Minister, Bute Energy's proposals in the Radnor Forest—as it's known locally—to construct an industrial-scale windfarm has actually gone down extremely badly with a lot of my constituents. Minister, many of the turbines sit outside of the pre-assessed area in the national development framework. Does this now mean that the NDF is no longer valid, and that energy companies with the biggest cheque books can do what they want in rural mid Wales?

Weinidog, mae cynigion Bute Energy yng Nghoedwig Maesyfed—fel y'i gelwir yn lleol—i adeiladu fferm wynt ar raddfa ddiwydiannol wedi siomi llawer o fy etholwyr. Weinidog, mae llawer o'r tyrbinau y tu allan i'r ardal a aseswyd ymlaen llaw yn y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol. A yw hyn yn golygu nawr nad yw'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol yn ddilys mwyach, ac y gall y cwmnïau ynni sydd â'r llyfr sieciau mwyaf wneud beth a ddymunant yng nghefn gwlad canolbarth Cymru?

National planning policy sets out the Welsh Government's preferred position on new power lines that, where possible, should be underground. It also sets out where pre-assessed areas are. As I have said repeatedly in this Chamber—I do wish the Conservatives would listen to the answer instead of just reading out the question—that does not mean that they can't go anywhere else. It simply means that the planning hurdles there need to be crossed. This is a development of national significance, so I certainly am not going to discuss it with you in this Chamber, as I have made very clear. I am the planning Minister; the decision needs to be made properly in a quasi-judicial manner, and that is what we will do.

Mae polisi cynllunio cenedlaethol yn nodi'r safbwynt y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ffafrio ar linellau pŵer newydd a ddylai fod o dan y ddaear lle bynnag y bo'n bosibl. Mae hefyd yn nodi lle mae'r ardaloedd a aseswyd ymlaen llaw. Fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr hon—hoffwn pe bai'r Ceidwadwyr yn gwrando ar yr ateb yn lle dim ond darllen y cwestiwn—nid yw hynny'n golygu na allant fynd i unman arall. Mae'n golygu'n syml fod angen croesi'r rhwystrau cynllunio yno. Mae hwn yn ddatblygiad o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol, felly yn sicr nid wyf am ei drafod gyda chi yn y Siambr hon, fel rwyf wedi dweud yn glir iawn. Fi yw'r Gweinidog cynllunio; mae angen i'r penderfyniad gael ei wneud yn briodol mewn modd lled-farnwrol, a dyna fyddwn ni'n ei wneud.

Cwestiwn 8, Ken Skates.

Question 8, Ken Skates.

Can Ken Skates be unmuted, please?

A gawn ni agor meicroffon Ken Skates, os gwelwch yn dda?

Cerbydau oddi ar y Ffordd
Off-road Vehicles

8. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i daclo cerbydau oddi ar y ffordd sy'n niweidio'r amgylchedd mewn cymunedau gwledig anghysbell? OQ59419

8. What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle off-road vehicles damaging the environment in remote rural communities? OQ59419

Thank you, Ken. Illegal off-roading damages our open spaces, which are crucial for the environment and the health and well-being of those accessing the countryside for legitimate recreation. We are providing £5.6 million during 2022 to 2025 to authorities via the access improvement grant, some of which will be for improvements to tackle this issue.

Diolch, Ken. Mae gyrru anghyfreithlon oddi ar y ffordd yn niweidio ein mannau agored, sy'n hanfodol i'r amgylchedd ac iechyd a llesiant y rhai sy'n ymweld â chefn gwlad ar gyfer adloniant cyfreithlon. Rydym yn darparu £5.6 miliwn i awdurdodau yn ystod 2022 i 2025 drwy'r grant gwella mynediad, a bydd rhywfaint o'r arian hwnnw'n cael ei wario ar welliannau i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn.

Minister, I'm incredibly grateful for your answer. The £5.6 million will be immensely helpful in trying to crack down on irresponsible 4x4 tourists, who are tearing up the countryside. I do appreciate that this matter crosses portfolio boundaries, so I appreciate your concern in this area. We have a particular problem in the Ceiriog Valley here in Clwyd South, and also in the Dee Valley—fabulous natural environments that are being torn up regularly by people who are driving irresponsibly, often using green lanes to access fields, and then causing immense damage. So, I'm very grateful that the Welsh Government is taking action in this area. Minister, if further action is required, would the Welsh Government consider any measures that might be necessary to deal with this problem?

Weinidog, rwy'n hynod ddiolchgar am eich ateb. Bydd y £5.6 miliwn o gymorth aruthrol wrth geisio cosbi twristiaid 4x4 anghyfrifol sy'n niweidio cefn gwlad. Rwy'n sylweddoli bod y mater hwn yn croesi ffiniau portffolio, felly rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich pryder ynghylch hyn. Mae gennym broblem benodol yn Nyffryn Ceiriog yma yn Ne Clwyd, a hefyd yn Nyffryn Dyfrdwy—amgylcheddau naturiol gwych sy'n cael eu niweidio'n rheolaidd gan bobl sy'n gyrru'n anghyfrifol, yn aml gan ddefnyddio lonydd gwyrdd i gael mynediad at gaeau, ac yna'n achosi difrod aruthrol. Felly, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu yn y maes hwn. Weinidog, os oes angen camau gweithredu pellach, a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried unrhyw fesurau a allai fod yn angenrheidiol i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem hon?

Yes, indeed, Ken. Thank you very much. Welsh Government launched the first Wales wildlife and rural crime strategy on 27 April, earlier this year. Habitat protection is one of the six rural priorities and part of the habitats work is Operation Taurus Cymru, which is an ongoing joint police operation that addresses illegal off-roading across the whole of Wales through education and enforcement. Already, officers are seeing significant progress by the use of joint targeted days, use of drones, and social media. Several vehicles have already been seized and the operation is proving very effective.

The operation tourist Cymru partner, North Wales Police, are responsible for policing the Dee and Ceiriog valleys. They have a well-established rural crime team, with officers trained specifically in enforcement and education of rural crimes, such as illegal off-roading and other forms of habitat damage. I think, though, it is worth mentioning that off-roading can be within the law, and there is a need to draw a distinction between illegal off-roading and legitimate recreational activities, such as driving on byways open to all traffic. But I do agree with you that people using those byways should do so in a proportionate way that doesn't then cause a nuisance to other road users or other users of the countryside, and that good maintenance of all public rights of way, including good signage about where it is and isn't permissible to do these things, is necessary, and we have taken that into account in designing the scheme.

Yn wir, Ken. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fe lansiodd Llywodraeth Cymru strategaeth troseddau bywyd gwyllt a chefn gwlad gyntaf Cymru ar 27 Ebrill, yn gynharach eleni. Mae diogelu cynefinoedd yn un o'r chwe blaenoriaeth wledig a rhan o'r gwaith ar gynefinoedd yw Ymgyrch Taurus Cymru, sef ymgyrch barhaus gan yr heddluoedd ar y cyd sy'n mynd i'r afael â gyrru anghyfreithlon oddi ar y ffordd ar draws Cymru gyfan drwy addysg a gorfodaeth. Eisoes, mae swyddogion yn gweld cynnydd sylweddol drwy ddefnyddio diwrnodau wedi'u targedu, defnydd o dronau, a chyfryngau cymdeithasol. Cymerwyd meddiant o sawl cerbyd eisoes ac mae'r ymgyrch yn effeithiol iawn.

Partner yn Ymgyrch Taurus Cymru, Heddlu Gogledd Cymru, sy'n gyfrifol am blismona dyffryn Dyfrdwy a dyffryn Ceiriog. Mae ganddynt dîm troseddau gwledig sefydledig, gyda swyddogion wedi'u hyfforddi'n benodol i orfodi ac addysgu am droseddau gwledig, megis gyrru anghyfreithlon oddi ar y ffordd a mathau eraill o ddifrod i gynefinoedd. Er hynny, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth sôn y gall gyrru oddi ar y ffordd fod yn gyfreithlon, ac mae angen gwahaniaethu rhwng gyrru anghyfreithlon oddi ar y ffordd a gweithgareddau hamdden cyfreithlon, fel gyrru ar gilffyrdd sy'n agored i bob traffig. Ond rwy'n cytuno â chi y dylai pobl sy'n defnyddio'r cilffyrdd hyn wneud hynny mewn ffordd gymesur nad yw'n achosi niwsans i ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd eraill neu ddefnyddwyr eraill yng nghefn gwlad, a bod angen cynnal pob hawl tramwy cyhoeddus yn dda, gan gynnwys arwyddion da ynglŷn â lle mae hawl gan bobl i wneud y pethau hyn a lle nad oes hawl ganddynt i'w gwneud, ac rydym wedi ystyried hynny wrth lunio'r cynllun.

Ansawdd Eiddo sydd ar Rent
The Quality of Rented Properties

9. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella ansawdd yr eiddo sydd ar rent yng Nghymru? OQ59438

9. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve the quality of properties rented in Wales? OQ59438

Diolch, Rhys. The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 transforms renting in Wales, bringing in strengthened regulations around standards in rented properties. The fitness for human habitation regulations, introduced in December 2022, give tenants the power to act if their property is below standard, including the ability to withhold rent.

Diolch, Rhys. Mae Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 yn trawsnewid rhentu yng Nghymru, gan gyflwyno rheoliadau cryfach ynghylch safonau mewn eiddo rhent. Mae'r rheoliadau rhentu cartrefi (ffitrwydd annedd i bobl fyw ynddi), a gyflwynwyd ym mis Rhagfyr 2022, yn rhoi pŵer i denantiaid weithredu os yw eu heiddo'n is na'r safon, gan gynnwys y gallu i atal rhent.

Thank you very much for that answer, Minister. I'd be interested to know what work is being done to make sure that renters know their new rights through this piece of legislation, because I'm sure that you're contacted often, like I am, with housing issues—damp and mould in people's properties. And another thing that comes up time and time again is that contractors that are used by social housing, used by local authorities are constantly not finishing the work and charging too much for that work. So, what further discussions are you having with renters and also housing associations, councils and private landlords to improve homes in Wales?

Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Hoffwn wybod pa waith sy'n cael ei wneud i sicrhau bod rhentwyr yn gwybod am eu hawliau newydd drwy'r ddeddfwriaeth hon, oherwydd rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn cael pobl yn cysylltu â chi'n aml, fel fi, mewn perthynas â materion tai—lleithder a llwydni yn eiddo pobl. A pheth arall sy'n codi dro ar ôl tro yw nad yw contractwyr sy'n cael eu defnyddio gan dai cymdeithasol, sy'n cael eu defnyddio gan awdurdodau lleol, yn gorffen y gwaith a'u bod yn codi gormod o dâl am y gwaith hwnnw. Felly, pa drafodaethau pellach rydych chi'n eu cael gyda rhentwyr, a chymdeithasau tai, cynghorau a landlordiaid preifat hefyd, i wella cartrefi yng Nghymru?

14:20

Thank you, Rhys. Those are different categories of tenure, and we have a slightly different approach depending on the category of tenure. For social homes in Wales, I very recently wrote out to social landlords and council stockholding authorities, reminding them of their duty under the human habitation arrangements, and reminding them to make sure that they have the right procedures and processes in place and are transparent to their tenants to make sure that we don't have issues with mould and damp, which have caused such problems elsewhere. We monitor that very carefully, and I'm very happy to write again, but I have very recently written out to say that.

As I say, in private rented accommodation, the new Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 has done that. We have written out, in a number of ways. We work very closely with TPAS, the tenant organisation, for example. We've got a tenant liaison group that we highlight it through, and we also do it through Rent Smart Wales, asking each landlord to be in touch with their tenants. I'm very happy to contemplate anything else that you think might be useful, and if MSs feel that they could do something via their own websites and so on, materials can be made available. We're more than happy to try and do anything at all that helps tenants understand their rights. We also fund Shelter to give advice to tenants on their rights, and we fund them to do that on an ongoing basis. I'm more than happy to engage on anything else you want us to do, but we are trying very hard to make sure that tenants understand their new rights. This is a step change in the way that housing is conducted in Wales. It will take a little while for people to understand exactly what their rights are, but I'm very pleased that we've finally implemented it, and I'm sure, as it beds in, people will become more aware of their ability to take action.

Diolch, Rhys. Mae'r rheini'n wahanol gategorïau o ddeiliadaeth, ac mae gennym ddull ychydig yn wahanol yn dibynnu ar y categori deiliadaeth. Ar gyfer cartrefi cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, ysgrifennais yn ddiweddar iawn at landlordiaid cymdeithasol ac awdurdodau sy'n dal stoc dai cyngor, gan eu hatgoffa o'u dyletswydd o dan y trefniadau anheddau dynol, a'u hatgoffa i wneud yn siŵr fod ganddynt weithdrefnau a phrosesau cywir ar waith a'u bod yn dryloyw gyda'u tenantiaid i wneud yn siŵr nad oes gennym broblemau gyda llwydni a lleithder, sydd wedi achosi problemau mewn mannau eraill. Rydym yn monitro hynny'n ofalus iawn, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i ysgrifennu eto, ond rwyf wedi ysgrifennu atynt yn ddiweddar iawn i ddweud hynny.

Fel y dywedais, mae'r ddeddf newydd, Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016, wedi gwneud hynny mewn eiddo rhent preifat. Rydym wedi ysgrifennu'n llawn mewn sawl ffordd. Rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r Gwasanaeth Ymgynghorol Cyfranogiad Tenantiaid (TPAS), y sefydliad tenantiaid, er enghraifft. Mae gennym grŵp cyswllt tenantiaid lle rydym yn tynnu sylw ato, ac rydym hefyd yn ei wneud drwy Rhentu Doeth Cymru, gan ofyn i bob landlord fod mewn cysylltiad â'u tenantiaid. Rwy'n hapus iawn i ystyried unrhyw beth arall y credwch y gallai fod yn ddefnyddiol, ac os yw Aelodau o'r Senedd yn teimlo y gallent wneud rhywbeth drwy eu gwefannau eu hunain ac yn y blaen, gellir sicrhau bod deunyddiau ar gael. Rydym yn fwy na pharod i geisio gwneud unrhyw beth o gwbl sy'n helpu tenantiaid i ddeall eu hawliau. Rydym hefyd yn ariannu Shelter i roi cyngor i denantiaid ar eu hawliau, ac rydym yn eu hariannu i wneud hynny ar sail barhaus. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i ymgysylltu ar unrhyw beth arall rydych chi eisiau i ni ei wneud, ond rydym yn ymdrechu'n galed iawn i wneud yn siŵr fod tenantiaid yn deall eu hawliau newydd. Mae hwn yn newid mawr yn y ffordd y caiff y diwydiant tai ei weithredu yng Nghymru. Bydd yn cymryd ychydig o amser i bobl ddeall beth yn union yw eu hawliau, ond rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi ei weithredu o'r diwedd, ac wrth iddo ymwreiddio, rwy'n siŵr y daw pobl yn fwy ymwybodol o'u gallu i weithredu.

2. Cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg
2. Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Paul Davies.

The next item, therefore, is questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and the first question is from Paul Davies.

Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer Ysgolion yn Sir Benfro
Priorities for Schools in Pembrokeshire

1. Beth yw blaenoriaethau'r Gweinidog ar gyfer ysgolion yn sir Benfro ar gyfer y 12 mis nesaf? OQ59436

1. What are the Minister's priorities for schools in Pembrokeshire for the next 12 months? OQ59436

Schools in Pembrokeshire will continue to benefit from significant capital investment through the Welsh Government's sustainable communities for learning programme. The local authority will also continue the roll-out of universal primary free school meals across all primary schools and the delivery of its Welsh in education strategic plan.

Bydd ysgolion yn sir Benfro yn parhau i elwa o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf sylweddol drwy raglen cymunedau dysgu cynaliadwy Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd yr awdurdod lleol hefyd yn parhau i gyflwyno prydau am ddim i holl ddisgyblion ysgolion cynradd a chyflawni ei chynllun strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg.

Thank you for that response, Minister. I recently visited Haverfordwest high school, where I had an excellent tour of their facilities and a really interesting discussion about everything from teacher recruitment and retention to how we can best eliminate bureaucracy from the education system. Now, during the discussion, the headteacher made it very clear that she would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss some of these matters further. Therefore, Minister, can I extend an invitation to you to Haverfordwest high school, so that you can see their excellent facilities for yourself and so that we can discuss some of the pressing priorities, and indeed challenges, facing schools in Pembrokeshire for the next 12 months?

Diolch am yr ymateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Ymwelais ag ysgol uwchradd Hwlffordd yn ddiweddar, lle cefais daith ardderchog o gwmpas eu cyfleusterau a thrafodaeth ddiddorol iawn am bopeth o recriwtio a chadw athrawon i'r ffordd orau o gael gwared ar fiwrocratiaeth o'r system addysg. Nawr, yn ystod y drafodaeth, fe ddywedodd y pennaeth yn glir iawn y byddai'n croesawu cyfle i gyfarfod â chi i drafod rhai o'r materion hyn ymhellach. Felly, Weinidog, a gaf fi estyn gwahoddiad i chi i ysgol uwchradd Hwlffordd, er mwyn i chi allu gweld eu cyfleusterau ardderchog drosoch eich hun ac er mwyn inni allu trafod rhai o'r blaenoriaethau pwysig, a'r heriau yn wir, sy'n wynebu ysgolion yn sir Benfro dros y 12 mis nesaf?

Yes. Haverfordwest high school is one of the investments in the county that, of course, we've been able to co-fund with the council—a £48 million investment. As well as the fantastic facilities, it has community facilities as well, including sporting facilities. I am keen to speak to as many heads as I can. I would be very, very happy to speak with the head. In fact, I've had the opportunity of meeting with her virtually in other contexts, but I would be very happy to visit the school. I have a standing invitation each week to heads to join me for a headteacher round-table, which I hold every month, and I try to speak to one or two heads by Zoom every week, so any head watching the proceedings today is welcome to get in touch and to be put on the list for contact, but I'd be very happy to visit the school with the Member.

Ie. Mae ysgol uwchradd Hwlffordd yn un o'r buddsoddiadau yn y sir y bu modd i ni eu cyd-ariannu gyda'r cyngor wrth gwrs—buddsoddiad o £48 miliwn. Yn ogystal â'r cyfleusterau gwych, mae ganddi gyfleusterau cymunedol hefyd, gan gynnwys cyfleusterau chwaraeon. Rwy'n awyddus i siarad â chymaint o benaethiaid ag y gallaf. Byddwn yn hapus iawn i siarad â'r pennaeth. A dweud y gwir, rwyf wedi cael cyfle i gyfarfod â hi'n rhithwir mewn cyd-destunau eraill, ond byddwn yn hapus iawn i ymweld â'r ysgol. Mae gennyf wahoddiad sefydlog bob wythnos i benaethiaid ymuno â mi ar gyfer bwrdd crwn i benaethiaid a gynhelir gennyf bob mis, ac rwy'n ceisio siarad ag un neu ddau o benaethiaid ar Zoom bob wythnos, felly mae croeso i unrhyw bennaeth sy'n gwylio'r trafodion heddiw gysylltu â mi a byddaf yn eu hychwanegu at y rhestr gyswllt, ond byddwn yn hapus iawn i ymweld â'r ysgol gyda'r Aelod.

Pobl Niwroamrywiol
Neurodiverse People

2. Pa drafodaethau mae'r Gweinidog wedi eu cael gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ynghylch asesiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg ar gyfer pobl niwroamrywiol? OQ59447

2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social Services about Welsh-medium assessments for neurodiverse people? OQ59447

Rŷn ni'n cyflwyno rhaglen gwella niwrowahaniaeth, sy'n cael ei chefnogi gan £12 miliwn. Rydyn ni'n defnyddio dull system gyfan wrth ddatblygu gwasanaethau cynaliadwy sy'n diwallu anghenion a nodwyd, gan gynnwys gwella mynediad at asesiadau Cymraeg. Rydyn ni eisiau datblygu capasiti ymysg ein gweithlu i gynyddu’r gwasanaethau a'r cymorth sydd ar gael yn Gymraeg.

We are delivering a neurodivergence improvement programme, which is backed by £12 million. We are taking a whole-system approach to developing sustainable services that meet identified needs, including improved access to Welsh language assessment. We want to develop capacity amongst our workforce to increase the availability of services and support in Welsh.

Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb. Tan yn ddiweddar, roedd bwrdd iechyd y gogledd wedi contractio cwmni Healios i wneud asesiadau niwroamrywiol. Yn ôl y deallaf, doedden nhw ddim yn cynnig asesiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg. Mae ar y plant a'r bobl yma angen asesiad ar gyfer anhwylderau cyfathrebu. Mae angen clinigol ac mae'n gwbl angenrheidiol i dderbyn yr asesiad yn iaith gyntaf yr unigolion, eu hiaith ddewisol. Ond mae'r system yn y gogledd yn golygu nad ydy pobl yn derbyn yr asesiadau yn eu hiaith ddewisol, ac mae'r rhai sydd am dderbyn asesiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg yn gorfod aros llawer iawn yn fwy am asesiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg na rhai di-Gymraeg. Mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn mynd yn groes i bolisi 'Mwy na Geiriau' y Llywodraeth a gafodd ei lansio'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf ac yn mynd yn groes i hawliau dynol pobl fregus ddylai ddisgwyl medru derbyn yr asesiadau yma drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Ydych chi, felly, yn fodlon nad ydy'r bwrdd iechyd yn torri'r gyfraith wrth fethu â darparu’r gwasanaeth yma drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg? A pha gamau ydych chi am eu cymryd i sicrhau bod pobl ag anghenion niwroamrywiol Cymraeg eu hiaith yn y gogledd yn cael eu trin yr un fath â phawb arall?

I thank the Minister for that response. Until recently, the north Wales health board had contracted the Healios company to carry out neurodivergent assessment. As I understand it, they didn't offer Welsh-medium assessments. These children and young people need assessment for communication difficulties. There is a clinical need, and it is crucial that they get that assessment in the individuals' first language, the language of their choice. But the system in north Wales means that people don't get the assessments in their language of choice, and those who want Welsh-medium assessments have to wait far, far longer for Welsh-medium assessments rather than those not through the medium of Welsh. This is contrary to the 'More than just words' policy launched by the Government last year, and is contrary to the human rights of vulnerable people who should expect to have these assessments through the medium of Welsh. Are you therefore content that the health board is not in breach of the law in failing to provide these services through the medium of Welsh? And what steps will you take in order to ensure that Welsh-speaking people with neurodivergence issues in north Wales are treated like everybody else?

14:25

Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Byddwn i'n hapus i edrych i mewn i'r enghraifft benodol mae e wedi ei nodi yma heddiw. Yn ôl y cynllun gwnaeth e gyfeirio ato fe, 'Mwy na Geiriau', y cynllun pum mlynedd diweddaraf, un o'r amcanion erbyn 2027 yw sicrhau bod gennym ni asesiadau diagnostaidd yn y Gymraeg fel rhywbeth cyffredinol, a bod adnoddau ar gael i gefnogi siaradwyr Cymraeg. Mae hyn yn flaenoriaeth yn y cynllun ac, wrth gwrs, byddwn ni'n edrych ar beth fydd yn digwydd o ran cynnydd bob blwyddyn ac yn adrodd yn ôl i'r Senedd yn flynyddol am y cynnydd yn erbyn y nod hwnnw. Mae'r pwynt mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud yn bwysig, a dwi'n hapus iawn i edrych ar yr enghraifft benodol mae e wedi ei rhoi heddiw.FootnoteLink

Well, I thank the Member for the question. I'm content to look into the specific matter that he's raised with me today. In terms of the 'More than just words' programme that he referred to, the five-year programme, one of the objectives for 2027 is to ensure that we have Welsh-medium diagnostic assessments as a rule, and that there are resources available to support Welsh speakers. That's a priority in that plan. Of course, we'll be looking at what is happening in terms of progress on an annual basis and will be reporting back to the Senedd on an annual basis about progress against that objective. The point that the Member makes is very important, and I'm very happy to look at the specific example he gave.FootnoteLink

Minister, it is very important that anybody gets the support and assistance they need if they've got a neurodiverse condition, and in the language in which they choose to speak, but a lot of young people who have those conditions are leaving school altogether and not returning to the education setting. So, I'd like to know what work are you doing as the education Minister to make sure that, if young children are leaving school settings, our schools are supporting families to get those young people back into school so that they're not missing out on any of their education, whether that be through the medium of Welsh or the medium or English.

Weinidog, mae'n bwysig iawn fod pawb yn cael y gefnogaeth a'r cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt os oes ganddynt gyflwr niwroamrywiol, a hynny yn yr iaith y maent yn dewis ei siarad, ond mae llawer o bobl ifanc sydd â'r cyflyrau hynny'n gadael yr ysgol yn gyfan gwbl ac nid ydynt yn dychwelyd i'w lleoliad addysg. Felly, hoffwn wybod pa waith rydych chi'n ei wneud fel Gweinidog addysg i wneud yn siŵr, os yw plant ifanc yn gadael lleoliad addysg, fod ein hysgolion yn cynorthwyo teuluoedd i gael y bobl ifanc hynny yn ôl i'r ysgol fel nad ydynt yn colli unrhyw ran o'u haddysg, boed hynny drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg neu drwy gyfrwng y Saesneg.

Well, I know that schools right across Wales and education settings right across Wales are doing absolutely everything they can to make sure that young people are in school, in college, being able to take full advantage of their education. There are some very innovative approaches that schools are undertaking. They can be quite challenging circumstances, but I know that all heads and principals are focused on that as a priority.

Wel, rwy'n gwybod bod ysgolion ledled Cymru a lleoliadau addysg ledled Cymru yn gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn yr ysgol, yn y coleg, ac yn gallu manteisio'n llawn ar eu haddysg. Mae ysgolion yn mabwysiadu dulliau arloesol iawn. Gallant fod yn amgylchiadau eithaf heriol, ond rwy'n gwybod bod pob pennaeth a phrifathro yn canolbwyntio ar hynny fel blaenoriaeth.

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Samuel Kurtz.

Questions now from party spokespeople. Conservative spokeperson, Samuel Kurtz.

Diolch, Llywydd, a phrynhawn da, Weinidog.

Thank you very much and good afternoon, Minister.

I'm sure that you recognise that forward planning is essential to developing pupil numbers across Wales. There are more young people in full-time education than ever before—something we should be incredibly proud of, but we must ensure that there is sufficient planning in place to support growth in pre-existing numbers. One school in west Wales, built in 2019, has already exceeded their safe accommodation levels and have had to invest in extra portakabins in order to accommodate a surplus of pupils. Another school known to me has been noted as having serious concerns about the structure of buildings on site, leaving parts of the estate at risk of falling debris. These issues are beginning to have a significant impact on educational standards. Headteachers and local authorities are having to choose between funding refurbs or recruitment, between purchasing equipment or delivering the new curriculum. So, how are you, Minister, working with our schools and local authorities to assist with successful forward planning amidst constraining budgets?

Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn cydnabod bod blaengynllunio'n hanfodol i ddatblygu niferoedd disgyblion ledled Cymru. Mae mwy o bobl ifanc mewn addysg llawn amser nag erioed o'r blaen—rhywbeth y dylem fod yn hynod falch ohono, ond mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod digon o gynllunio ar waith i gefnogi cynnydd mewn niferoedd sy'n bodoli eisoes. Mae un ysgol yng ngorllewin Cymru, a gafodd ei hadeiladu yn 2019, eisoes wedi mynd y tu hwnt i'w lefelau diogel ar gyfer yr adeilad ac wedi gorfod buddsoddi mewn portakabins ychwanegol er mwyn darparu ar gyfer niferoedd gormodol o ddisgyblion. Nodwyd bod ysgol arall y gwn amdani yn wynebu pryderon difrifol am strwythur adeiladau ar y safle, gan adael rhannau o'r ystad mewn perygl o falurion yn disgyn. Mae'r materion hyn yn dechrau cael effaith sylweddol ar safonau addysgol. Mae penaethiaid ac awdurdodau lleol yn gorfod dewis rhwng cyllido gwaith adnewyddu neu recriwtio, rhwng prynu offer neu gyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd. Felly, Weinidog, sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda'n hysgolion a'n hawdurdodau lleol i gynorthwyo gyda blaengynllunio llwyddiannus gyda chyllidebau cyfyngedig?

I thank the Member for that question. Obviously, we want to make sure that local authorities are planning for the number of school places that they require in their local authority areas, and that the school estate available in that area is adequate and in good condition in order to provide our young people with the education that they deserve. So, right across Wales, local councils are in a continuous process of projecting numbers of school pupils and, obviously, looking at the school estate. As the Member will know, for the larger projects—major refurbishments and new investment in new schools and colleges—the Welsh Government supports local authorities very significantly with a £1.5 billion programme through the sustainable communities for learning fund, and there are other refurbishment projects, which are at a smaller scale, in which local authorities invest their own capital. He will also be aware that, very recently, I provided extra funding of £50 million to local authorities to assist with some of those refurbishment requirements, in particular in relation to sustainability challenges.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Yn amlwg, rydym eisiau gwneud yn siŵr fod awdurdodau lleol yn cynllunio ar gyfer nifer y lleoedd ysgol sydd ei angen arnynt yn eu hardaloedd awdurdod lleol, a bod yr ystad ysgolion sydd ar gael yn yr ardal honno yn ddigonol ac mewn cyflwr da i allu darparu'r addysg y maent yn ei haeddu i'n pobl ifanc. Felly, ar draws Cymru, mae cynghorau lleol mewn proses barhaus o amcangyfrif niferoedd disgyblion ysgol ac yn amlwg maent yn edrych ar yr ystad ysgolion. Fel y bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, ar gyfer y prosiectau mwy—adnewyddiadau mawr a buddsoddiad newydd mewn ysgolion a cholegau newydd—mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n cefnogi awdurdodau lleol yn sylweddol iawn gyda rhaglen £1.5 biliwn drwy'r gronfa cymunedau dysgu cynaliadwy, a cheir prosiectau adnewyddu eraill, ar raddfa lai, lle mae awdurdodau lleol yn buddsoddi eu cyfalaf eu hunain. Fe fydd hefyd yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi darparu cyllid ychwanegol o £50 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol yn ddiweddar iawn i gynorthwyo gyda rhai o'r gofynion adnewyddu hynny, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â heriau cynaliadwyedd.

I appreciate the answer, Minister. And, as you mentioned, this is an issue that's being felt right across local authorities in Wales. Because of budget constraints, schools are unable to meet their statutory obligations. We've seen this first hand in the Vale of Glamorgan. I'm sure that you'll be aware of the recent letter addressed to you by the Vale School Governors' Association. In that letter, school governors from across the county stated that the low level of education funding received from Welsh Government borderlines unlawful, will result in mass redundancies and will cause education standards to plummet. As it stands, most of the schools in the Vale are in the position of setting unsustainable deficit budgets for 2023-24; even schools who carried a surplus forward in 2022-23 are forecasting considerable budget losses for the current financial year. One school has forecasted a positive carry-forward of £140,000 for 2022-23, and a budgeted loss of £312,000 for 2023-24. With budgets in the red, and reserves being used up, we are in a position where schools are going to struggle to meet their statutory obligations, due to the drastic spending cuts that will be needed to be made. Given the serious concerns outlined in this letter addressed to you, what response have you provided to the Vale of Glamorgan governors' association?

Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r ateb, Weinidog. Ac fel y sonioch chi, mae hwn yn fater sy'n cael ei deimlo ar draws awdurdodau lleol Cymru. Oherwydd cyfyngiadau ar y gyllideb, ni all ysgolion fodloni eu rhwymedigaethau statudol. Rydym wedi gweld hyn â'n llygaid ein hunain ym Mro Morgannwg. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn ymwybodol o'r llythyr diweddar a anfonwyd atoch gan Gymdeithas Llywodraethwyr Ysgolion y Fro. Yn y llythyr hwnnw, dywedodd llywodraethwyr ysgolion o bob rhan o'r sir fod y lefel isel o gyllid addysg a dderbyniwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ymylu ar fod yn anghyfreithlon, y bydd yn arwain at ddiswyddiadau torfol ac y bydd yn achosi i safonau addysg blymio. Fel mae'n sefyll, mae'r rhan fwyaf o ysgolion y Fro mewn sefyllfa lle maent yn gosod cyllidebau diffyg anghynaliadwy ar gyfer 2023-24; mae hyd yn oed ysgolion a oedd â gwarged yn 2022-23 yn rhagweld colledion sylweddol yn y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol bresennol. Mae un ysgol wedi rhagweld y bydd £140,000 yn cael ei gario ymlaen ar gyfer 2022-23, a cholled gyllidebol o £312,000 ar gyfer 2023-24. Gyda chyllidebau yn y coch, a chronfeydd wrth gefn yn cael eu defnyddio, rydym mewn sefyllfa lle bydd ysgolion yn ei chael hi'n anodd cyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau statudol, oherwydd y toriadau gwariant llym y bydd angen eu gwneud. O ystyried y pryderon difrifol a amlinellwyd yn y llythyr a gyfeiriwyd atoch chi, pa ymateb rydych chi wedi ei roi i gymdeithas llywodraethwyr Bro Morgannwg?

14:30

Well, the letter was—I think I read it in Wales Online on 31 March, actually, from the governor of a school in the Vale. And as it happens, we had already written to each authority, explaining the further funding we're providing to each authority in order to help them with the new pay liabilities, as a result of the successful negotiation with the teaching unions here in Wales. There is no question that schools are facing budgetary pressures, despite the further funding that we have been able to provide for them, and that is, frankly, as a consequence of a period of Tory austerity right across the UK, which has underfunded public services, and, as a result, devolved Governments do not have access to the funding that they would like to have to fully support public services for the ambitious programme that we have for our young people in Wales. I know, though, that he will have seen recent figures by the IFS, which show that the per-pupil spend on schools in both England and Wales is comparable. Certainly, in Wales, we'd like to be able to increase that, and, with a Government in Westminster also committed to public services, I'm hopeful in future that we can.

Wel, roedd y llythyr—rwy'n credu i mi ei ddarllen ar Wales Online ar 31 Mawrth, gan lywodraethwr ysgol yn y Fro. Ac fel mae'n digwydd, roeddem eisoes wedi ysgrifennu at bob awdurdod yn egluro'r cyllid pellach a ddarperir gennym i bob awdurdod er mwyn eu helpu gyda'r rhwymedigaethau cyflog newydd, o ganlyniad i drafod llwyddiannus gyda'r undebau athrawon yma yng Nghymru. Nid oes amheuaeth fod ysgolion yn wynebu pwysau cyllidebol, er gwaethaf y cyllid pellach y gallasom ei ddarparu ar eu cyfer, a hynny, a dweud y gwir, o ganlyniad i gyfnod o gyni Torïaidd ar draws y DU, sydd wedi tanariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ac o ganlyniad, nid oes gan Lywodraethau datganoledig mo'r cyllid y byddent yn hoffi ei gael i gefnogi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn llawn gyda'r rhaglen uchelgeisiol sydd gennym i'n pobl ifanc yng Nghymru. Er hynny, rwy'n gwybod y bydd wedi gweld ffigyrau diweddar gan y Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid, sy'n dangos bod gwariant fesul disgybl ar ysgolion yng Nghymru a Lloegr yn debyg. Yn sicr, hoffem allu ei gynyddu yng Nghymru, a chyda llywodraeth yn San Steffan a fyddai wedi ymrwymo i wasanaethau cyhoeddus, rwy'n obeithiol y gallwn wneud hynny yn y dyfodol.

I take it from the masked political response there that the Vale governors have not received a response from you, Minister, and I'm sure they will find that disappointing, given that you are the education Minister here in Wales. But the situation is untenable. Very real pressures—your words from this morning's press briefing—have left our education workforce on its knees. I recently met with a deeply concerned headteacher. They contacted me to express their anxiety about the direction of school budgets. Inflationary pressures, a substantial rise in energy costs, paired with being tasked to partially meet staff pay rises, has left schools unable to meet their day-to-day financial commitments. As a consequence, governing bodies are being forced to make monetary decisions that push schools into budget deficits. If this situation is not dealt with, schools will be forced to lay off a greater number of staff, educational standards will falter, and our young people—often the most disadvantaged—will be left at the wayside. A previous Welsh First Minister admitted to taking his eye off the ball when it came to education. Is this Government in danger of doing that again?

Rwy'n cymryd o'r ymateb niwlog gwleidyddol nad yw llywodraethwyr y Fro wedi cael ymateb oddi wrthych, Weinidog, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd hynny'n siom iddynt o gofio mai chi yw'r Gweinidog addysg yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae'r sefyllfa'n anghynaladwy. Mae pwysau real iawn—eich geiriau chi yn sesiwn briffio'r wasg y bore yma—wedi llorio ein gweithlu addysg. Cyfarfûm â phrifathro pryderus iawn yn ddiweddar. Fe wnaeth gysylltu â mi i fynegi pryder am gyfeiriad cyllidebau ysgolion. Mae pwysau chwyddiant, cynnydd sylweddol mewn costau ynni, ynghyd â gorfod ysgwyddo'r baich o dalu'n rhannol am godiadau cyflog staff, wedi golygu bod ysgolion yn methu cyflawni eu hymrwymiadau ariannol o ddydd i ddydd. O ganlyniad, mae cyrff llywodraethol yn cael eu gorfodi i wneud penderfyniadau ariannol sy'n gwthio ysgolion i ddiffyg cyllidebol. Os nad eir i'r afael â'r sefyllfa hon, bydd ysgolion yn cael eu gorfodi i ddiswyddo mwy o staff, bydd safonau addysgol yn gostwng, a bydd ein pobl ifanc—y rhai mwyaf difreintiedig yn aml—yn cael eu gadael ar ôl. Fe wnaeth Prif Weinidog blaenorol yng Nghymru gyfaddef iddo dynnu ei lygad oddi ar y bêl mewn perthynas ag addysg. A yw'r Llywodraeth hon mewn perygl o wneud hynny eto?

Llywydd, this is completely Kafkaesque from a party that does not believe in funding public services, and the only party in the Senedd that pledged at an election to cut education spending by 12 per cent. So, I'll take absolutely no lectures from Samuel Kurtz in relation to the funding of public services. He will absolutely know that the way forward for public services across the UK is a Labour Government in Westminster, committed to public services in a way that his party is absolutely not.

Lywydd, mae naws Kafka-aidd iawn i hyn gan blaid nad yw'n credu mewn ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a'r unig blaid yn y Senedd a addawodd mewn etholiad i dorri gwariant ar addysg 12 y cant. Felly, nid wyf am dderbyn unrhyw bregeth gan Samuel Kurtz ynghylch ariannu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Fe fydd yn gwybod yn iawn mai'r ffordd ymlaen ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled y DU yw Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan sydd wedi ymrwymo i wasanaethau cyhoeddus mewn ffordd nad yw'n wir o gwbl am ei blaid ef.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Heledd Fychan.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Heledd Fychan.

Diolch, Llywydd. Yn ddiweddar, Weinidog, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi buddsoddiad cyfalaf o £44.7 miliwn ar gyfer tair ysgol newydd sero net. Wrth eu cyhoeddi, fe ddywedoch chi, ac rwyf yn dyfynnu:

'Mae'r tri phrosiect hyn yn rhai cyffrous iawn ac maent yn batrwm ar gyfer datblygu ysgolion yn y dyfodol. Maent yn cynnig cyfle i ddysgu am gynaliadwyedd, ond hefyd i ddysgwyr gael cyfle i ymwneud â dylunio a chreu'r adeiladau hyn, i siapio'r amgylchedd y byddant yn dysgu ynddo ac i ddeall sut mae penderfyniadau a wneir heddiw yn effeithio ar eu dyfodol'.

Gaf i ofyn, felly, i ba raddau roedd cynaliadwyedd ieithyddol yn rhan o'r penderfyniad, ac a wnaeth y Llywodraeth asesu'r effaith ieithyddol hyn ar yr ardaloedd wrth ddyrannu'r arian?

Thank you, Llywydd. Recently, Minister, you announced capital investment of £44.7 million for three new net-zero schools. In making that announcement, you said, and I quote:

'These three projects are extremely exciting as well as a blueprint for our future school developments. They offer an opportunity to learn about sustainability, but also for learners to have an opportunity to be involved with the design and delivery of these buildings, to shape the environment they will learn and to understand how decisions taken today have an impact on their future'.

May I ask, therefore, to what extent linguistic sustainability was part of the decision, and whether the Government assessed the linguistic impact on the areas in allocating this funding?

Rwy'n diolch i'r Aelod am y croeso y mae hi'n ei roi i'r cynllun. Mae dwy o'r tair ysgol yn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, ac, yn y drydedd ysgol—rwy'n credu sydd yn etholaeth yr Aelod—mae'r cyngor wedi ymrwymo i wneud asesiad o'r capasiti i sicrhau bod darpariaeth Gymraeg addas yn yr ysgol honno. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at yr Aelod ynghylch hynny, fel y bydd hi efallai yn ei wybod erbyn hyn. Mae'r awdurdod wedi ymrwymo i sefydlu darpariaeth gofal plant cyfrwng Cymraeg a Saesneg ar wahân ar safle'r ysgol, a hefyd wedi ymrwymo i leihau capasiti cyfrwng Saesneg arfaethedig yr ysgol, i sicrhau bod hyn yn adlewyrchu'r galw gwirioneddol a rhagamcanol o fewn y dalgylch, ac, yn dilyn lleihau'r capasiti cyfrwng Saesneg arfaethedig, yn ymrwymo i roi ystyriaeth i'r defnydd o'r ardal dros ben i ddarparu ar gyfer y darpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg fel rhan o newid i'r categori ieithyddol yn y dyfodol. 

I thank the Member for the welcome that she gave to this programme. Two of the three schools are Welsh-medium schools, and in the third—which I think is in the Member's constituency—the council has committed to make an assessment of capacity to ensure that there is appropriate Welsh-medium provision in that school. I have written to the Member about that, as she will perhaps know by now. The authority is committed to establishing Welsh-medium and English-medium childcare separately on the school site, and also committed to reducing the school's proposed English-medium capacity in order to ensure that this reflects the actual and predicted demand within the catchment area, and, following the reduction of the proposed English-medium capacity, is committed to considering using what is left to make provision for Welsh-medium provision as part of the change to the language category in the future. 

14:35

Diolch, Weinidog, ac, yn sicr, rydym ni wedi cyfathrebu nifer fawr o ran achos penodol, ond eisiau edrych ar y pwynt ehangach ydw i o ran buddsoddiad mewn ysgolion newydd ledled Cymru. Ac yn benodol, mae Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg wedi bod yn rhan o nifer o ymgyrchoedd ledled Cymru lle mae yna ysgolion cyfrwng Saesneg newydd wedi cael eu hadeiladu, a'r effaith mae hynny wedyn yn ei gael ar ddarpariaeth Gymraeg. Efallai fod yna ysgol Gymraeg, ond mae yna dystiolaeth wedi bod yn cael ei rhoi fod y rhieni'n dewis ysgolion newydd sbon, oherwydd y math o gyfleusterau sydd ganddyn nhw, yn aml o ran chwaraeon ac ati, a'r cyfle allgyrsiol sydd ynghlwm efo hynny, a hefyd fod rhai athrawon yn dewis gadael dysgu mewn ysgol Gymraeg oherwydd bod yna adnoddau gwell.

Felly, eisiau gofyn ydw i: pan fo hwn yn arian gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n mynd tuag at ysgolion newydd, ac mae gennym ni'r targed o filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, sut ydych chi nid jest yn gadael yr asesiad i'r awdurdodau lleol hynny, ond yn sicrhau dyw Llywodraeth Cymru ddim yn ariannu unrhyw gynllun sy'n mynd i niweidio dyfodol y Gymraeg mewn unrhyw ardal?

Thank you, Minister, and, certainly, we have communicated a great deal about that specific case, but I want to look at the wider point in terms of investment in new schools across Wales. And specifically, Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg have been part of a number of campaigns across Wales where there are English-medium schools that have been built, and then the impact that that has on the Welsh language provision. Perhaps there is a Welsh-medium school, but there is evidence that has been put forward that the parents choose brand-new schools, because of the kinds of resources and facilities that they have, often in terms of sport and the extracurricular opportunities related to that, and also some teachers choose to leave their posts in a Welsh-medium school because there are better resources available elsewhere. 

So, I wanted to ask: when this is Welsh Government funding going towards new schools, and we have that target of a million Welsh speakers, how do you not only allow the local authorities to assess, but also ensure that the Welsh Government isn't funding any scheme that is damaging the future of the Welsh language in any area?

Wel, dŷn ni ddim yn gwneud hynny, ac rŷn ni'n ofalus iawn i sicrhau bod ein buddsoddiad ni yn adlewyrchu'r egwyddorion mae'r Aelod wedi eu hesbonio yn ei chwestiwn. Felly, wrth edrych ar gynlluniau pob awdurdod lleol, mae'n rhaid sicrhau nad yw'r cynlluniau, nid jest o fewn y CSCA, ond y cynlluniau ehangach o ran buddsoddi yn yr ystadau ysgolion lleol, yn cael effaith andwyol ar y Gymraeg. Mae'r pwynt mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud yn bwysig: hynny yw, bod pobl yn gweld ysgol newydd yn beth atyniadol. Mae hynny'n gallu cael effaith, felly mae angen edrych ar hynny pan fydd awdurdodau yn cynllunio eu hystadau ysgol, ac rŷn ni'n gweithio gyda phob awdurdod i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gwneud hynny. 

Well, we don't do that, and we're very careful to ensure that our investment does reflect the principles that the Member explained in her question. So, in looking at the plans of all local authorities, we have to ensure that the plans, not only within the WESP, but also broader plans in terms of the investment in local school estates, don't have a detrimental impact on the Welsh language. The point that the Member makes is important: that is to say that people see a new school as being very attractive. That can have an impact, so we need to consider that when authorities are planing their school estates, and we work with all authorities to ensure that they do that. 

Asesiadau Niwroddatblygiadaol
Neurodevelopmental Assessments

3. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith yr oedi mewn cwblhau asesiadau niwroddatblygiadaol ar ddatblygiad addysgol disgyblion yr Arfon? OQ59421

3. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of delays in completing neurodevelopmental assessments on the educational development of pupils in Arfon? OQ59421

Bydd anghenion unigol disgyblion yn Arfon yn cael lle canolog wrth inni weithredu ein diwygiadau ym maes addysg. Byddwn yn sicrhau hynny drwy ddull cynllunio sy’n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn, a chymorth ar gyfer cynnydd unigol. Does dim angen diagnosis meddygol i gael gafael ar gymorth mewn addysg nac i benderfynu ar anghenion dysgu ychwanegol dysgwr.

The individual needs of pupils in Arfon will have a central role as we take through our reforms in education. We'll secure that through person-centred planning and support for individual progression. A medical diagnosis is not required to access support in education or to inform a decision on a learner’s additional learning needs.

Roeddwn i'n falch o glywed ddoe mewn datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol fod camau ar droed i wella'r amseroedd aros am asesiad cyflyrau niwroddatblygiadol. Mae yna nifer cynyddol o etholwyr yn Arfon yn cysylltu efo fi yn cwyno am yr oedi. Ac, o dderbyn beth rydych chi'n ei ddweud, nad oes rhaid cael y dadansoddiad yma, mae'r oedi yn yr asesiadau yn gallu arwain at oedi yn y cymorth ychwanegol sydd ar gael drwy ysgolion.

Yn Ionawr eleni, mi ddywedodd bwrdd iechyd y gogledd, mewn gohebiaeth atom ni fel swyddfa yn Arfon, fod rhwng dwy a thair blynedd o amser aros ar gyfer asesiad, a bod yna 2,645 o blant ar restrau aros y bwrdd iechyd am asesiad; 1,669 ohonyn nhw wedi bod yn aros dros 26 wythnos, sydd yn amlwg ddim yn sefyllfa dderbyniol. Ydy'r camau a gyhoeddwyd ddoe yn mynd i fod yn ddigonol ar gyfer cyflymu'r broses o gynnal asesiadau, ac a fyddwn ni'n gweld gwellhad parhaol yn y sefyllfa, yn enwedig yn y gogledd?

I was very pleased to hear yesterday in the statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services that steps are being taken to improve the waiting times for assessments with regard to neurodevelopmental conditions. An increasing number of constituents in Arfon are contacting me to complain about the delays. Accepting what you’ve said, that you don’t have to have that medical diagnosis, the delay in the assessments can lead to a delay in the additional support that is available through schools.

In January of this year, the north Wales health board said, in correspondence with us as an office in Arfon, that there is between a two- and three-year waiting time for assessment, and that 2,645 children are on the health board’s waiting list for an assessment; 1,669 of them have been waiting for over 26 weeks, which clearly isn’t an acceptable situation. So, will the steps announced yesterday be sufficient to accelerate the process of holding these assessments, and will we see an ongoing improvement in the situation, particularly in north Wales?

Diolch i Siân Gwenllian am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Wel, beth mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi'i ddatgan yw cynllun dros dair blynedd, gyda £12 miliwn o fuddsoddiad. A bwriad hwnnw yw i fynd i'r afael â'r pwysau presennol sydd ar y gwasanaethau, fel mae hi wedi eu disgrifio yn ei chwestiwn, ond hefyd gwella'r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael o fewn y gwasanaethau mae pobl yn aros amdanyn nhw. Felly, rŷn ni wir yn gobeithio y gwnaiff hynny gael effaith bositif, nid jest ar ddiwedd y dair blynedd, ond, wrth gwrs, yn y cyfamser hefyd. Ond mae wir yn bwysig, yr egwyddor honno nad oes angen diagnosis er mwyn cael y gefnogaeth. Rwy'n deall, efallai, ar lawr gwlad, fod hynny, yn ymarferol, efallai'n heriol, neu'n gallu bod, ond mae wir yn bwysig bod hynny yn egwyddor sydd yn sail i'r system hefyd. Ond bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog wedi clywed sylwadau yr Aelod heddiw hefyd. 

I thank Siân Gwenllian for that question. What the Deputy Minister has announced is a three-year plan, with £12 million of investment. The intention there is to tackle the current pressures on the services, as she’s described them in her question, but also to improve the support that’s available within the services that people are currently waiting for. So, I do very much hope that that will have a positive impact, not just at the end of the three years, but in the meantime too. But it is truly important, that principle that you don’t need a diagnosis to access support. Now, on the ground, I understand that that can be challenging, but it is very important that that is a founding principle of the system. But the Deputy Minister will have heard the Member’s comments today too.

I thank Siân Gwenllian for raising this important issue again here today. As we will know and certainly sympathise with, any delays in this process will certainly have an impact on pupils and parents not just immediately, but long term as well. So, I appreciate the comments in terms of understanding the seriousness of this issue, Minister. Your own report, Minister, last year, said that demand for diagnostic assessment for neurodevelopmental conditions has outstripped the capacity of services for many years. That capacity and the staffing, therefore, is an issue. And I appreciate the comments made in terms of other ministry areas or other Government departments playing their part in this as well, but, in terms of your ministry, I wonder if you could expand on your thoughts on the role of schools and the role they can play in supporting the process and identifying issues with their learners. And also how are you looking to utilise things like higher education support, with the likes of Cardiff University's neurodevelopmental assessment unit, to support schools and teachers as well? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Diolch i Siân Gwenllian am godi'r mater pwysig hwn yma heddiw eto. Fel y byddwn yn gwybod ac yn sicr yn cydymdeimlo ag ef, bydd unrhyw oedi yn y broses hon yn sicr o gael effaith ar ddisgyblion a rhieni nid yn unig yn uniongyrchol, ond yn hirdymor hefyd. Felly, rwy'n derbyn y sylwadau o ran deall difrifoldeb y mater hwn, Weinidog. Dywedodd eich adroddiad eich hun y llynedd, Weinidog, fod y galw am asesiad diagnostig ar gyfer cyflyrau niwroddatblygiadol yn fwy na chapasiti gwasanaethau ers blynyddoedd lawer. Mae'r capasiti hwnnw a'r staffio'n broblem felly. Ac rwy'n derbyn y sylwadau a wnaed ynghylch meysydd gweinidogol eraill neu adrannau eraill y Llywodraeth yn chwarae eu rhan yn hyn hefyd, ond yng nghyd-destun eich adran weinidogol chi, tybed a wnewch chi ehangu ar eich syniadau am rôl ysgolion a'r rôl y gallant ei chwarae yn cefnogi'r broses a nodi problemau gyda'u dysgwyr. A hefyd sut rydych chi'n ceisio defnyddio pethau fel cymorth addysg uwch, gyda phethau tebyg i uned asesu niwroddatblygiadol Prifysgol Caerdydd, i gefnogi ysgolion ac athrawon hefyd? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

14:40

Well, he's right to identify the connection between healthcare and education in relation to the additional learning needs regime, if you like. That cooperation between both public services is obviously at the heart of that. And as I just mentioned to Siân Gwenllian, whilst the diagnosis can be helpful it's not required for a decision on a learner's additional learning needs, and, wherever possible, from a school's perspective, the individual development plan or the support required should not be delayed whilst waiting for a diagnosis. One of the points I think he was referring to in his question is what can schools, what can staff, do in order to help identify some of those needs. I think it's really important to note that, in both initial teacher education and our continuing professional learning for teachers and teaching assistants in practice, that ability to identify and meet the needs of all learners is a priority within that. Supporting learners with ALN is now part of the student teachers' core early years studies, and we've alongside that developed an online ALN national professional learning programme, aimed principally at additional learning needs co-ordinators, but teachers and also lecturers, so that they can, if you like, develop their ability to support learners with ALN. So, there's a range of interventions that we're making in the education space, obviously complementing the reforms that the Deputy Minister has announced in relation to the neurodevelopmental waiting times, and I think the aggregate picture is designed obviously to support each learner. 

Wel, mae'n iawn i nodi'r cysylltiad rhwng gofal iechyd ac addysg mewn perthynas â'r drefn anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, os mynnwch. Mae'r cydweithrediad rhwng y ddau wasanaeth cyhoeddus yn amlwg yn ganolog i hynny. Ac fel y soniais wrth Siân Gwenllian nawr, er bod y diagnosis yn gallu bod yn ddefnyddiol, nid oes angen penderfyniad ynghylch anghenion dysgu ychwanegol dysgwr, a lle bynnag y bo modd, o safbwynt ysgol, ni ddylid oedi'r cynllun datblygu unigol na'r gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen wrth aros am ddiagnosis. Un o'r pwyntiau y credaf ei fod yn cyfeirio ato yn ei gwestiwn yw beth y gall ysgolion, beth y gall staff, ei wneud er mwyn helpu i nodi rhai o'r anghenion hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn nodi, yn ystod addysg gychwynnol i athrawon a'n dysgu proffesiynol parhaus i athrawon a chynorthwywyr addysgu yn ymarferol, fod y gallu i nodi a diwallu anghenion pob dysgwr yn flaenoriaeth o fewn hynny. Mae cefnogi dysgwyr ag ADY bellach yn rhan o astudiaethau blynyddoedd cynnar craidd darpar athrawon, ac ochr yn ochr â hynny rydym wedi datblygu rhaglen dysgu proffesiynol cenedlaethol ADY ar-lein, wedi'i hanelu'n bennaf at gydlynwyr anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ac athrawon a darlithwyr hefyd, fel y gallant ddatblygu eu gallu i gefnogi dysgwyr ag ADY. Felly, ceir ystod o ymyriadau rydym yn eu gwneud yn y maes addysg, gan ategu'r diwygiadau y mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi'u cyhoeddi mewn perthynas â'r amseroedd aros niwroddatblygiadol wrth gwrs, ac rwy'n credu bod y darlun cyflawn wedi'i lunio'n amlwg i gefnogi pob dysgwr. 

Darpariaeth Addysg Bellach yng Nghasnewydd
Further Education Provision in Newport

4. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi darpariaeth addysg bellach yng Nghasnewydd? OQ59432

4. How is the Welsh Government supporting further education provision in Newport? OQ59432

I'm proud of this Government’s investment in Wales's further education sector, which has allowed more learners to stay in post-16 education. I announced on 17 April that Wales is the first UK nation to increase the education maintenance allowance, benefiting around 16,000 further education students, including over 1,000 in Newport.

Rwy'n falch o fuddsoddiad y Llywodraeth hon yn sector addysg bellach Cymru, sydd wedi caniatáu i fwy o ddysgwyr aros mewn addysg ôl-16. Cyhoeddais ar 17 Ebrill mai Cymru yw gwlad gyntaf y DU i gynyddu'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg, er budd oddeutu 16,000 o fyfyrwyr addysg bellach, gan gynnwys dros 1,000 yng Nghasnewydd.

Minister, as you know, there are exciting plans to relocate Coleg Gwent to Newport city centre, which would put further education at the fore in the city and would also be part of the knowledge quarter, being alongside the University of South Wales city centre campus. It would also involve a new leisure centre and other development, which would increase footfall in the city centre, and, basically, take forward, I think, a great deal of development. At the time the project was announced, Minister, Coleg Gwent's principal said: 

'This is a very exciting opportunity to create a home for the College in the heart of the city, as well as delivering brand new leisure facilities. It will enable us to provide excellent education and training, in state-of-the-art facilities, for all the people and businesses of Newport.'

So, I think this potentially would be a real game changer in many ways for the city and for further education in the area, Minister. So, I wonder if you could just update the Senedd, really, on Welsh Government's work with Coleg Gwent and Newport City Council in taking this project forward. 

Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, mae yna gynlluniau cyffrous i adleoli Coleg Gwent i ganol dinas Casnewydd, cynlluniau a fyddai'n rhoi lle blaenllaw i addysg bellach yn y ddinas ac a fyddai hefyd yn rhan o'r ardal wybodaeth, ochr yn ochr â champws canol dinas Prifysgol De Cymru. Byddai hefyd yn cynnwys canolfan hamdden newydd a datblygiadau eraill, a fyddai'n cynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr â chanol y ddinas, ac yn y bôn, byddai'n bwrw ymlaen â llawer iawn o ddatblygu. Ar yr adeg y cyhoeddwyd y prosiect, Weinidog, dywedodd prifathro Coleg Gwent: 

'Mae hwn yn gyfle cyffrous iawn i greu cartref i'r Coleg yng nghanol y ddinas, yn ogystal â chyflwyno cyfleusterau hamdden newydd sbon. Bydd yn ein galluogi i ddarparu addysg a hyfforddiant rhagorol, mewn cyfleusterau o'r radd flaenaf, i holl bobl a busnesau Casnewydd.'

Felly, rwy'n credu y byddai hyn o bosibl yn newid byd go iawn mewn sawl ffordd i'r ddinas ac i addysg bellach yn yr ardal, Weinidog. Felly, a wnewch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd am waith Llywodraeth Cymru gyda Choleg Gwent a Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd ar ddatblygu'r prosiect hwn. 

I thank John Griffiths for that question. And I absolutely would recognise the points that he made in his question about the importance of modern facilities to give every young learner in Newport the opportunity of having the best possible post-16 experience at Coleg Gwent. And as he said, it enables also the coleg to collaborate with the University of South Wales. I actually met both with the University of South Wales and Coleg Gwent only last week to discuss the work they're doing together. We met in the USW campus in Newport and learned more about the work they're doing too in very exciting technology sectors and others through their partnership arrangements to offer that wider offer to students in Newport. I know that the college is in very regular discussion with my officials about these plans, which I regard as exciting plans, and I hope very much that those will be able to come to fruition.

Diolch i John Griffiths am y cwestiwn. A byddwn yn cydnabod yn llwyr y pwyntiau a wnaeth yn ei gwestiwn am bwysigrwydd cyfleusterau modern i roi cyfle i bob dysgwr ifanc yng Nghasnewydd gael y profiad ôl-16 gorau posibl yng Ngholeg Gwent. Ac fel y dywedodd, mae'n galluogi'r coleg hefyd i gydweithio â Phrifysgol De Cymru. Cyfarfûm â Phrifysgol De Cymru a Choleg Gwent yr wythnos diwethaf i drafod y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud gyda'i gilydd. Fe gyfarfuom ar gampws Prifysgol De Cymru yng Nghasnewydd a dysgu mwy am y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud hefyd mewn sectorau technoleg cyffrous iawn a sectorau eraill drwy eu trefniadau partneriaeth i ddarparu cynnig ehangach i fyfyrwyr yng Nghasnewydd. Gwn fod y coleg yn trafod y cynlluniau hyn yn rheolaidd iawn gyda fy swyddogion, ac rwy'n eu hystyried yn gynlluniau cyffrous, ac yn gobeithio'n fawr y byddant yn dwyn ffrwyth.

14:45
Cefnogaeth i Ddisgyblion Ysgol Byddar
Support for Deaf School Pupils

5. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi disgyblion ysgol byddar? OQ59429

5. How does the Welsh Government support deaf school pupils? OQ59429

We continue to support deaf pupils. Equity and inclusion are at the heart of both the additional learning needs system and the Curriculum for Wales, which aim to help ensure all children and young people have access to an education that enables them to reach their potential.

Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi disgyblion byddar. Mae tegwch a chynhwysiant yn ganolog yn y system anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru, sydd â'r nod o helpu i sicrhau bod pob plentyn a pherson ifanc yn cael mynediad at addysg sy'n eu galluogi i gyrraedd eu potensial.

During the business statement here on 8 February, I stated that

'National Deaf Children's Society Cymru have warned of a looming educational crisis for deaf children in Wales. Their Consortium for Research into Deaf Education survey of local authorities shows that the numbers of teachers that are deaf in Wales has fallen by 20 per cent over the last decade. In addition, more than a third of teachers that are deaf across Wales are over the age of 50, meaning they're likely to retire in the next 10 to 15 years.'

After I then detailed their calls on the Welsh Government, the Trefnydd told me that she would ask you to write to me. During a follow-up meeting with the National Deaf Children Society, I learned that, across Wales, there are 59 children per teacher that are deaf, rising to 81 in north-east Wales. How do you therefore respond to their call for the Welsh Government to look at the teacher of the deaf network and workforce planning in Wales, with sustainable, affordable, long-term funding, where, without these actions, deaf children will continue to fall behind, and the gap between them and their hearing peers risks becoming even wider than it already is?

Yn ystod y datganiad busnes yma ar 8 Chwefror, dywedais

'Mae Cymdeithas Genedlaethol Plant Byddar Cymru wedi rhybuddio am argyfwng addysgol ar y gorwel i blant byddar yng Nghymru. Mae arolwg y Consortiwm ar gyfer Ymchwil i Addysg Fyddar o awdurdodau lleol yn dangos bod nifer yr athrawon sy'n fyddar yng Nghymru wedi gostwng 20 y cant dros y degawd diwethaf. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae mwy na thraean o athrawon sy'n fyddar ledled Cymru dros 50 oed, sy'n golygu eu bod nhw'n debygol o ymddeol yn y 10 i 15 mlynedd nesaf.'

Ar ôl imi fanylu ar eu galwadau ar Lywodraeth Cymru, dywedodd y Trefnydd wrthyf y byddai'n gofyn i chi ysgrifennu ataf. Yn ystod cyfarfod dilynol gyda Chymdeithas Genedlaethol Plant Byddar, dysgais fod 59 o blant byddar i bob athro, gan godi i 81 yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru. Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'w galwad ar Lywodraeth Cymru felly i edrych ar rwydwaith athrawon i'r byddar a chynllunio gweithlu yng Nghymru, gyda chyllid cynaliadwy, fforddiadwy, hirdymor, lle bydd plant byddar, heb y camau hyn, yn parhau ar ei hôl hi, a lle mae perygl i'r bwlch rhyngddynt a'u cyfoedion sy'n gallu clywed dyfu hyd yn oed yn fwy nag y mae eisoes?

I thank Mark Isherwood for this important question. I also received correspondence from George Baldwin of the National Deaf Children's Society back in February, to which I responded at the time, and I've also read the report that was helpfully sent to me at that time in relation to the Consortium for Research into Deaf Education report, which is a very detailed and thorough analysis of the situation. I recognise the points that NDCS Cymru make in relation to workforce strategy and ensuring sufficient provision in relation to teachers of the deaf.

As he will know, the ALN reforms include the ALN code, which lists teachers of the deaf amongst those that local authorities should consult to obtain their views and emerging needs and patterns of needs, and the workforce skills profile, in order to ensure that we can support learners with hearing impairment. A key part of our reforms is to ensure that the teaching workforce is sufficiently skilled to be able to provide for the needs of each individual child and also to be able to make best use of experts' advice and support provided by specialists like teachers of the deaf. We have in the past provided funding, as I'm sure he will recall, to ensure that we have postgraduate training of local authority-based specialists and advisory teachers of learners with sensory impairment, including teachers of the deaf. But, we will reflect further on the report to see what more we can do.

Diolch i Mark Isherwood am y cwestiwn pwysig hwn. Cefais ohebiaeth hefyd gan George Baldwin o Gymdeithas Genedlaethol Plant Byddar yn ôl ym mis Chwefror, ac fe ymatebais iddo ar y pryd, ac rwyf hefyd wedi darllen yr adroddiad a anfonwyd ataf ar y pryd mewn perthynas ag adroddiad y Consortiwm ar gyfer Ymchwil i Addysg Fyddar, sy'n ddadansoddiad manwl a thrylwyr iawn o'r sefyllfa. Rwy'n cydnabod y pwyntiau y mae Cymdeithas Genedlaethol Plant Byddar Cymru yn eu gwneud ar strategaeth y gweithlu a sicrhau darpariaeth ddigonol o athrawon i'r byddar.

Fel y bydd yn gwybod, mae'r diwygiadau ADY yn cynnwys y cod ADY, sy'n rhestru athrawon plant byddar ymhlith y rhai y dylai awdurdodau lleol ymgynghori â nhw er mwyn cael eu barn a'u hanghenion a phatrymau anghenion sy'n dod i'r amlwg, a phroffil sgiliau'r gweithlu, er mwyn sicrhau y gallwn gefnogi dysgwyr â nam ar eu clyw. Rhan allweddol o'n diwygiadau yw sicrhau bod y gweithlu addysgu'n ddigon medrus i allu darparu ar gyfer anghenion pob plentyn unigol a hefyd yn gallu gwneud y defnydd gorau o gyngor a chefnogaeth arbenigol a ddarperir gan arbenigwyr fel athrawon plant byddar. Yn y gorffennol rydym wedi darparu cyllid, fel y bydd yn cofio rwy'n siŵr, i sicrhau bod gennym hyfforddiant ôl-raddedig i arbenigwyr yn yr awdurdodau lleol ac athrawon ymgynghorol ar gyfer dysgwyr â nam synhwyraidd, gan gynnwys athrawon plant byddar. Ond fe edrychwn ymhellach ar yr adroddiad i weld beth arall y gallwn ei wneud.

Prentisiaethau Gweithgynhyrchu
Manufacturing Apprenticeships

6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n sicrhau bod gan bobl sy'n gadael ysgol yr adnoddau i ymgymryd â phrentisiaethau gweithgynhyrchu? OQ59439

6. How is the Welsh Government ensuring that school leavers are equipped to take up manufacturing apprenticeships? OQ59439

Our Have a Go programme encourages greater engagement from schoolchildren in apprenticeships and raises learner awareness of work sectors, including manufacturing. The integral skills taught under the Curriculum for Wales are designed to give learners the planning, organising and problem-solving skills that they need to transition successfully into apprenticeships.

Mae ein rhaglen Have a Go yn annog mwy o ymwneud gan blant ysgol mewn prentisiaethau ac yn codi ymwybyddiaeth dysgwyr o sectorau gwaith, gan gynnwys gweithgynhyrchu. Nod y sgiliau hanfodol sy'n cael eu dysgu o dan y Cwricwlwm i Gymru yw rhoi sgiliau cynllunio, trefnu a datrys problemau i ddysgwyr fel sydd eu hangen arnynt er mwyn pontio'n llwyddiannus i brentisiaethau.

I'm grateful to the Minister for that answer. On Friday of last week, I visited Granada Material Handling Ltd in my constituency in Alyn and Deeside, who manufacture lifting equipment for a number of challenging applications sold across the globe. During my visit, I heard all about their work in meeting the needs of manufacturers producing next generation technology products like modular housing and the wings for the aerospace sector, just to name a few. But during that visit, Minister, I was particularly pleased to see their commitment to training apprentices, as a former manufacturing apprentice myself, Llywydd. Minister, we do need to ensure that our school leavers feel confident and are prepared to keep up with the pace of innovation from such employers like Granada Material Handling Ltd. Can I ask how your department works with employers like them, to make sure young people are aware of the opportunities in front of them and to support them through their journey?

Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb hwnnw. Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, ymwelais â Granada Material Handling Ltd yn fy etholaeth yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy, sy'n cynhyrchu offer ar gyfer sawl math o ddefnydd heriol i'w werthu ledled y byd. Yn ystod fy ymweliad, clywais am eu gwaith yn diwallu anghenion gweithgynhyrchwyr sy'n cynhyrchu cynhyrchion technoleg y genhedlaeth nesaf fel tai modiwlar ac adenydd ar gyfer y sector awyrofod, ymhlith nifer o bethau eraill. Ond yn ystod yr ymweliad hwnnw, Weinidog, roeddwn yn arbennig o falch o weld eu hymrwymiad i hyfforddi prentisiaid, fel cyn brentis gweithgynhyrchu fy hun, Lywydd. Weinidog, mae angen inni sicrhau bod y bobl ifanc sy'n gadael yr ysgol yn teimlo'n hyderus ac yn barod i gadw llygad ar ddatblygiadau arloesol cyflogwyr tebyg i Granada Material Handling Ltd. A gaf fi ofyn sut mae eich adran yn gweithio gyda chyflogwyr fel y rhain er mwyn sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn ymwybodol o'r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael iddynt ac i'w cefnogi ar eu taith?

14:50

I thank Jack Sargeant for the further question and his passionate advocacy for the cause of apprentices, based obviously on his own expertise and experience of that. I think the point he makes is really important. I actually had a conversation this morning, in a discussion with the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, about what more we can do at a school level to make sure that young people are aware, obviously, of STEM subject choices, but also of the range of opportunities in their local economy. And I've also commissioned a report from Hefin David, as I know the Member is aware, into what more we can do at a school level, which has just been submitted to us and contains some very interesting proposals. He will know that we've tasked Qualifications Wales with identifying how the qualifications system can support young people coming through the education system to be ready for the world of work or apprenticeships when they leave. The pre-vocational qualifications that QW have proposed, which are in the full-offer consultation that is currently open, are designed to give a broad progression to post-16 study or apprenticeships, and I think they will play a very important role in being able to support young people into the world of work and into apprenticeships particularly.

Diolch i Jack Sargeant am y cwestiwn pellach a'i gefnogaeth frwd i brentisiaethau, sy'n amlwg yn seiliedig ar ei arbenigedd a'i brofiad ei hun o hynny. Rwy'n credu bod y pwynt y mae'n ei wneud yn bwysig iawn. Cefais sgwrs y bore yma, mewn trafodaeth gyda Phrif Gynghorydd Gwyddonol Cymru, ynglŷn â beth arall y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel ysgol i wneud yn siŵr fod pobl ifanc yn ymwybodol o ddewisiadau pynciau STEM, wrth gwrs, ond hefyd o'r ystod o gyfleoedd yn eu heconomi leol. Ac rwyf hefyd wedi comisiynu adroddiad gan Hefin David, fel y gwn fod yr Aelod yn gwybod, ar beth arall y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel ysgol, ac mae'r adroddiad hwnnw newydd gael ei gyflwyno i ni ac mae'n cynnwys cynigion diddorol iawn. Fe fydd yn gwybod ein bod wedi gofyn i Cymwysterau Cymru nodi sut y gall y system gymwysterau gefnogi pobl ifanc sy'n dod drwy'r system addysg i fod yn barod ar gyfer byd gwaith neu brentisiaethau pan fyddant yn gadael yr ysgol. Mae'r cymwysterau cyn-alwedigaethol y mae Cymwysterau Cymru wedi'u hargymell, sydd yn yr ymgynghoriad ar y cynnig llawn sy'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd, wedi'u cynllunio i allu camu ymlaen i astudio neu ddilyn prentisiaeth ôl-16, ac rwy'n credu y byddant yn chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn cefnogi pobl ifanc i fyd gwaith ac i brentisiaethau yn enwedig.

Minister, just as manufacturing is important to Jack's constituency, it's also a key part of my region's economy and is set to become more so as we seek to embrace the green energy revolution. Not only do we need to ensure that school leavers have the right STEM skills needed to equip them for a career in manufacturing, but we also need industry to work closely with schools and colleges. The excellent Bridgend College in my region has fostered many such links and offers a range of manufacturing apprenticeships with large employers like Sony. Minister, how can the Welsh Government foster closer links with industry and our education providers in order to not only equip students with the necessary skills, but also jobs at the forefront of the next industrial revolution?

Weinidog, yn union fel y mae gweithgynhyrchu yn bwysig i etholaeth Jack, mae hefyd yn rhan allweddol o economi fy rhanbarth i ac mae ar fin dod yn fwy felly wrth inni groesawu'r chwyldro ynni gwyrdd. Nid yn unig y mae angen inni sicrhau bod gan y rhai sy'n gadael yr ysgol y sgiliau STEM cywir sydd eu hangen i'w harfogi ar gyfer gyrfa mewn gweithgynhyrchu, mae angen i ddiwydiant hefyd weithio'n agos gydag ysgolion a cholegau. Mae'r coleg ardderchog yn fy rhanbarth i, Coleg Penybont, wedi meithrin llawer o gysylltiadau o'r fath ac yn cynnig amrywiaeth o brentisiaethau gweithgynhyrchu gyda chyflogwyr mawr fel Sony. Weinidog, sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru feithrin cysylltiadau agosach gyda diwydiant a'n darparwyr addysg er mwyn rhoi sgiliau angenrheidiol i fyfyrwyr, a swyddi blaenllaw hefyd yn y chwyldro diwydiannol nesaf?

I thank Altaf Hussain for that question. The careers and work-related experiences element of our new Curriculum for Wales, from three to 16, puts the world of work very much at the heart of school life and, obviously, that will be best delivered by schools working together with other organisations who can explain to young people what the careers available to them are and how best to go about qualifying for those roles. Careers Wales plays its role in relation to that as well, works closely with schools to help deliver a range of activities to showcase the world of work, and I hope the Senedd will have an opportunity very shortly to discuss the response to the report, which I mentioned in my answer to Jack Sargeant as well, which I think you will see sets out some quite innovative proposals.

Diolch i Altaf Hussain am y cwestiwn. Mae elfen gyrfaoedd a phrofiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith ein Cwricwlwm newydd i Gymru, o dair i 16 oed, yn rhoi'r byd gwaith wrth galon bywyd ysgol, ac yn amlwg, y ffordd orau o ddarparu hynny yw i ysgolion gydweithio â sefydliadau eraill a all esbonio i bobl ifanc beth yw'r gyrfaoedd sydd ar gael iddynt a'r ffordd orau o fynd ati i gymhwyso ar gyfer y rolau hynny. Mae Gyrfa Cymru yn chwarae ei rôl mewn perthynas â hynny hefyd, mae'n gweithio'n agos gydag ysgolion i helpu i gyflwyno ystod o weithgareddau i arddangos byd gwaith, ac rwy'n gobeithio y caiff y Senedd gyfle yn fuan iawn i drafod yr ymateb i'r adroddiad, a grybwyllais yn fy ateb i Jack Sargeant hefyd, a chredaf y gwelwch ei fod yn cynnwys cynigion eithaf arloesol.

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2023
The 2023 National Eisteddfod

7. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei rhoi i Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2023? OQ59422

7. What support does the Welsh Government provide to the National Eisteddfod 2023? OQ59422

Mae'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn bartner hollbwysig i ni ac, eleni, rŷn ni'n cynnig grant o £1 filiwn i gefnogi ystod eang o weithgareddau i gynyddu defnydd y Gymraeg yn y gymuned. Mae'n fwy na dim ond gŵyl wythnos; mae'n benllanw tair blynedd o waith cymunedol Cymraeg.

The National Eisteddfod is a vital partner to us and, this year, we are providing a grant of £1 million to support a wide range of activities to increase the use of the Welsh language in the community. It's more than a week-long festival; it's the culmination of three years of community work in the Welsh language.

Diolch. I longyfarch y Llywydd, fe gododd aelodau lleol dros £460,000 tuag at gynnal yr ŵyl yn Nhregaron. Roedd eu brwdfrydedd yn adlewyrchu ymdrech sir Conwy lle, er enghraifft, fe gododd tref Llanrwst ei hun dros £50,000. Dwi'n ymwybodol bod pobl Llŷn ac Eifionydd eleni yn parhau i drefnu gweithgareddau i godi arian. Mae Cymru yn gwneud cymaint i ariannu’r Eisteddfod, ac mae’r Eisteddfod yn gwneud cymaint i hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg. A fuasai’r Llywodraeth Cymru’n fodlon gwobrwyo’r ymdrechion yma drwy ariannu mynediad am ddim i Eisteddfod 2023? Diolch.

Thank you. To congratulate the Llywydd, local people raised over £460,000 towards holding the festival in Tregaron. Their enthusiasm reflected the efforts of the county of Conwy, where, for example, the town of Llanrwst alone raised over £50,000. I'm aware that the people of Llŷn and Eifionydd are this year continuing to organise fundraising events. Wales does so much to fund the Eisteddfod, and the Eisteddfod does so much to promote the Welsh language. Would the Welsh Government be willing to reward these efforts by funding free entry to the Eisteddfod in 2023? Thank you.

14:55

Diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am y cwestiwn, ac am ofyn y cwestiwn yn y Gymraeg, a llongyfarchiadau iddi hi am wneud hynny, hefyd. Mae penderfyniadau o ran mynediad yn faterion i’r Eisteddfod, wrth gwrs. Mater iddyn nhw yw ystyried cynnig tocynnau fforddiadwy, er enghraifft. Ond rwy’n gwybod eu bod nhw’n cynnal trafodaethau gyda Chyngor Gwynedd i drafod sut y gall pawb elwa o gael y maes yn Llŷn ac Eifionydd eleni. Rwy’n siŵr y bydd y Llywydd yn falch o glywed y teyrnged a dalwyd i bwyllgor gwaith Eisteddfod Tregaron ar eu gallu nhw i godi arian, hefyd.

Mae’r grant rŷn ni’n talu i'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol eleni yn gynnydd ar yr hyn wnaethon ni dalu iddyn nhw y llynedd, a phwrpas yr ychwanegiad, y cynnydd, yw caniatáu a chefnogi’r Eisteddfod i gyfrannu at raglen allgymorth, neu outreach, yn y gymuned. Mae’r pwynt mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud yn bwysig o ran cyfraniad ehangach y gymuned yn ariannol, ond mewn ffurf diwylliannol ac mewn ffurf amgen, ac felly mae’r cyfle i’r Eisteddfod ymgysylltu â’r gymuned ehangach yn un pwysig. Yn sgil yr arian ychwanegol rŷn wedi’i ddarparu eleni, mae rheolwyr cyfathrebu, cystadlaethau a thechnolegol, ynghyd â dau gydlynydd, eisoes wedi’u penodi, gyda swyddog hollbwysig, swyddog codi arian, i ddod dros y misoedd nesaf hefyd. Felly, rŷn ni i gyd yn edrych ymlaen, rwy’n siŵr, i Eisteddfod lwyddiannus iawn yn Llŷn ac Eifionydd eleni.

I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for her question, and for asking her question in Welsh. Congratulations to her on doing so, too. Decisions in terms of access and entry are issues for the Eisteddfod, of course. It’s a matter for them to provide affordable tickets, for example, but I know that they are having discussions with Gwynedd Council to discuss how everyone can benefit from having the maes in Llŷn and Eifionydd this year. I’m sure that the Llywydd will be pleased to hear tribute paid to the working group for the Tregaron Eisteddfod around their ability to raise funds, too.

The grant that we are paying to the National Eisteddfod this year is an increase on the award that we made last year. The purpose of the addition, the increase, is to enable and support the Eisteddfod to contribute to an outreach programme in the community. The point that the Member makes is important in terms of the wider contribution of the community financially, but culturally too, and in alternative ways. So, the opportunity for the Eisteddfod to engage with the wider community is very important. As a result of the additional funding we’ve provided this year, the communications manager, competitions manager and technology manager have already been appointed, along with two co-ordinators, with a vital officer, the fundraising officer, to come in the next months, too. So, we all look forward, I’m sure, to a successful Eisteddfod in Llŷn and Eifionydd this year.

Deddfwriaeth Addysg yn y Cartref
Home Education Legislation

8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu deddfwriaeth addysg yn y cartref? OQ59423

8. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's plans to develop home education legislation? OQ59423

We intend to publish statutory guidance very shortly that will enhance learning opportunities for home-educated children, encourage greater access to universal services and ensure that all children have access to a suitable and efficient education.

Rydym yn bwriadu cyhoeddi canllawiau statudol yn fuan iawn a fydd yn gwella cyfleoedd dysgu i blant sy'n cael eu haddysgu yn y cartref, yn annog mwy o fynediad at wasanaethau cyffredinol ac yn sicrhau bod gan bob plentyn fynediad at addysg addas ac effeithlon.

Thank you so much for your update, Minister. I’ve been contacted by several constituents in recent weeks who have shared their concerns when it comes to the Welsh Government’s home education proposals. They said that they’ve tried to express their worries to you, Minister, but they said that, in their words, you weren’t listening or engaging with them. One parent told me, and I quote from them directly, 'I feel so let down by our Welsh Government'. The main concerns they have surround the mandatory meetings and the creation of a database of all children with data compiled from health records to keep track of home educators. Some of the reasons behind these concerns are extremely sensitive, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to raise them in public like this, but I’m more than happy to share them with you privately afterwards if you so wish. It’s clear many parents who home school their children have legitimate concerns that do need to be addressed. So, Minister, can I have a commitment from you, please, that you will take these concerns seriously and engage with the parents who home school their children in order to address them? Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, Weinidog. Mae sawl etholwr wedi cysylltu â mi yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf i rannu eu pryderon ynghylch cynigion Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer addysg yn y cartref. Roeddent yn dweud eu bod wedi ceisio mynegi eu pryderon wrthych chi, Weinidog, ond roeddent yn dweud, yn eu geiriau hwy, nad oeddech chi'n gwrando nac yn ymgysylltu â hwy. Dywedodd un rhiant wrthyf, ac rwy'n eu dyfynnu'n uniongyrchol, 'Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi fy siomi'. Mae'r prif bryderon sydd ganddynt yn ymwneud â'r cyfarfodydd gorfodol a chreu cronfa ddata o'r holl blant, gyda data wedi'i gasglu o gofnodion iechyd i gadw golwg ar addysgwyr yn y cartref. Mae rhai o'r rhesymau sy'n sail i'r pryderon hyn yn hynod sensitif, ac ni fyddai'n briodol imi eu crybwyll yn gyhoeddus fel hyn, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i'w rhannu gyda chi'n breifat wedyn os hoffech chi. Mae'n amlwg fod gan lawer o rieni sy'n darparu addysg yn y cartref i'w plant bryderon dilys sy'n galw am sylw. Felly, Weinidog, a gaf fi ymrwymiad gennych, os gwelwch yn dda, y byddwch chi o ddifrif ynghylch y pryderon hyn ac yn ymgysylltu â'r rhieni sy'n addysgu eu plant yn y cartref er mwyn eu datrys? Diolch.

In relation to the proposals to which the Member refers, the point I made is they haven’t yet been published, so she should, I think, take note of that. In relation to engagement with members of the elective home education community, there has been a very significant level of engagement. Obviously that hasn't encompassed every single home educator, but, in 2018, the Welsh Government facilitated a national meeting to look at discussions between home educators right across Wales; in 2019 and 2020, there were consultations; in 2022, I myself met with Education Otherwise. Welsh Government officials have had meetings with various organisations representing home educators. It’s really important that we hear the voices of all people, and I’m absolutely confident that we have engaged, and I’ve given you some examples of how that has happened.

As I say, the guidance will follow shortly, but an important part of that, alongside the arrangements to which she refers in her question, is a wider package of support for home educators, which is actually unique in its scale right across the UK. She’ll have heard me mention previously references to a fund of £1.7 million, which is the largest in any part of the UK, supporting home educators. And there’ll be a wider package of support that will be a core offer across all 22 authorities in Wales. That’s been informed, by the way, directly by feedback from families who home educate. They have been developed in partnership with local authorities and will include a designated examination centre that provides for external candidates, which home educators have said to us they would find very helpful. Also, access to local authority counselling services, access to youth support services, ALN support services, support from Careers Wales and a range of other ways as well, including a handbook for home educators. So, there is a wide offer of support alongside the regulatory change that we contemplate. I very much hope that home educators will find that a positive development when they see the publication.

O ran y cynigion y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio atynt, y pwynt a wneuthum yw nad ydynt wedi'u cyhoeddi eto, felly rwy'n credu y dylai nodi hynny. O ran ymgysylltu ag aelodau o'r gymuned addysg ddewisol yn y cartref, cafwyd lefel sylweddol iawn o ymgysylltu. Yn amlwg nid yw hynny wedi cynnwys pob addysgwr unigol yn y cartref, ond yn 2018, hwylusodd Llywodraeth Cymru gyfarfod cenedlaethol i edrych ar drafodaethau rhwng addysgwyr yn y cartref ledled Cymru; yn 2019 a 2020, cafwyd ymgynghoriadau; yn 2022, cyfarfûm ag Education Otherwise. Mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael cyfarfodydd gyda gwahanol sefydliadau sy'n cynrychioli addysgwyr yn y cartref. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn clywed lleisiau pawb, ac rwy'n gwbl hyderus ein bod wedi ymgysylltu, a rhoddais enghreifftiau i chi o sut mae hynny wedi digwydd.

Fel y dywedaf, bydd y canllawiau'n dilyn yn fuan, ond rhan bwysig o hynny, ochr yn ochr â'r trefniadau y cyfeiria atynt yn ei chwestiwn, yw pecyn ehangach o gymorth i addysgwyr yn y cartref, sy'n unigryw yn y DU o ran ei raddfa. Bydd wedi fy nghlywed yn sôn o'r blaen am gronfa o £1.7 miliwn, sef y fwyaf mewn unrhyw ran o'r DU, i gefnogi addysgwyr yn y cartref. A bydd yna becyn cymorth ehangach a fydd yn gynnig craidd ar draws pob un o'r 22 awdurdod yng Nghymru. Cafodd hwnnw ei lywio'n uniongyrchol, gyda llaw, gan adborth gan deuluoedd sy'n addysgu yn y cartref. Cawsant eu datblygu mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol a byddant yn cynnwys canolfan arholi ddynodedig sy'n darparu ar gyfer ymgeiswyr allanol, ac mae addysgwyr yn y cartref wedi dweud wrthym y byddai honno'n gymorth mawr. Hefyd, mynediad at wasanaethau cwnsela awdurdodau lleol, mynediad at wasanaethau cymorth ieuenctid, gwasanaethau cymorth ADY, cymorth gan Gyrfa Cymru ac amryw o ffyrdd eraill hefyd, gan gynnwys llawlyfr i addysgwyr yn y cartref. Felly, mae yna gynnig eang o gefnogaeth ochr yn ochr â'r newid rheoleiddiol sydd dan ystyriaeth gennym. Rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd addysgwyr yn y cartref yn gweld hwnnw'n ddatblygiad cadarnhaol pan gaiff ei gyhoeddi.

15:00

Cwestiwn 8, dwi'n meddwl, Llywydd.

I think it's question 8, Llywydd.

Cywirdeb Ieithyddol yn yr Iaith Gymraeg
Welsh Language Linguistic Accuracy

9. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n annog a sicrhau—

9. How does the Welsh Government encourage and ensure— 

I gywiro'r Aelod, cwestiwn 9.

To correct the Member, it is question 9.

9. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n annog a sicrhau cywirdeb ieithyddol yn yr iaith Gymraeg gan gyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru? OQ59444

9. How does the Welsh Government encourage and ensure Welsh language linguistic accuracy by public bodies in Wales? OQ59444

Mae'r wefan yn rong, felly.

The website is wrong, therefore.

Rŷm ni wedi hwyluso hyn drwy ariannu adnoddau megis offer gwirio sillafu a gramadeg Cymraeg. Ar ben hyn, rŷm ni'n ariannu Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru i ddatblygu’r sector cyfieithu a’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol i feithrin sgiliau iaith. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gan safonau a chynlluniau iaith gyfraniad i'w wneud at hyn hefyd.

We have facilitated this through funding resources such as Welsh language spell-checkers and grammar checkers. On top of this, we are funding the Association of Welsh Translators to develop the translation sector, and the National Centre for Learning Welsh to develop language skills. Of course, Welsh language standards and language schemes have a contribution to make as well. 

Diolch i chi am ateb y cwestiwn, Weinidog. Mae pawb yn gweld enghreifftiau—rhai efallai’n fwy anffodus na’i gilydd—o gam-gyfieithu neu gamsillafu o bryd i’w gilydd. Maen nhw’n ddoniol, efallai, ar yr olwg gyntaf, ond wrth gwrs maen nhw’n anfon neges anffodus iawn o safbwynt statws y Gymraeg, pan ein bod ni’n gweld enghreifftiau fel hyn yn cael eu goddef yn rhy aml o lawer.

Mi welom ni ymarferiad y neges destun gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn honni mai’r bwriad oedd ein cadw ni’n 'vogel' yn lle’n ddiogel. Rŷm ni hefyd wedi gweld gwefan Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn ein hannog ni i regi i Dduw omnipotent, yn hytrach na thyngu llw i Dduw hollalluog, yng nghyd-destun y coroni a fydd yn dod yn fuan. Ond dydw i ddim jest yn pwyntio bys at Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae yna enghreifftiau anffodus yn digwydd ar draws y sector cyhoeddus.

A wnewch chi felly, fel Llywodraeth, ysgrifennu at gyrff sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, jest i’w hannog a’u hatgoffa nhw o’u cyfrifoldeb yn hyn o beth, ac efallai cyfleu yr un neges i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig?

Thank you for answering that question, Minister. Everyone sees examples—some more unfortunate that others—of mistranslations or spelling errors from time to time. They can be amusing at first sight, but of course they do send a very unfortunate message in terms of the status of the Welsh language, when we see these examples being tolerated far too often.

We saw the UK Government's text message test claiming that they were going to keep us 'vogel' rather than 'ddiogel', safe. We also saw the UK Government's website encouraging us to 'rhegi i Dduw' omnipotent, rather than to swear an oath in the context of the coronation. But I’m not just pointing the finger at the UK Government; there are unfortunate examples across the public sector.

Will you as a Government, therefore, write to public sector bodies in Wales just to encourage them and to remind them of their responsibilities in this regard, and to convey the same message to the UK Government too?

Rwy'n hapus iawn i wneud hynny, ac efallai petasai llai o bwyslais ar y cwyno yn erbyn enwi Bannau Brycheiniog, a mwy o bwyslais ar gywirdeb, efallai y byddem i gyd yn hapusach.

I’m very happy to do that. Perhaps if there was less emphasis on complaining about renaming Bannau Brycheiniog, and more emphasis on accuracy, we might all be happier.

Cyllid Ysgolion yn Sir Ddinbych
Schools Funding in Denbighshire

10. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gyllid ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain ar gyfer cyfleusterau addysg yn sir Ddinbych? OQ59440

10. Will the Minister provide an update on access to twenty-first century schools funding for education facilities in Denbighshire? OQ59440

Certainly. Through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, £90 million has been invested in the education estate in Denbighshire in band A, and a further £51 million is planned for band B. Education facilities in Denbighshire have also benefited from other grant investments targeting Welsh-medium, childcare, school maintenance and community-focused schools.

Yn sicr. Drwy raglen Cymunedau Dysgu Cynaliadwy, mae £90 miliwn wedi'i fuddsoddi yn yr ystad addysg yn sir Ddinbych ym mand A, ac mae £51 miliwn pellach wedi'i gynllunio ar gyfer band B. Mae cyfleusterau addysg yn sir Ddinbych hefyd wedi elwa o fuddsoddiadau grant eraill sy'n targedu addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, gofal plant, cynnal a chadw ysgolion ac ysgolion bro.

I appreciate your answer, Minister. The reason that I asked the question this afternoon is that I undertake quite a lot of school visits in my constituency, where Christ the Word School has been built in the last few years, and also Rhyl High School, with fantastic modern facilities in my constituency, but then, in the neighbouring town of Prestatyn and just down the road in Denbigh, they have got science labs and some facilities that date back as far as the 1950s. Also in Denbigh, we have got Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn for children with additional learning needs, and although the building is only roughly 15 years old, it has become too small for the needs of the pupils.

So, in light of some of those issues, could I ask for an update from yourself about whether the likes of Prestatyn, Denbigh and Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn might have some good news on the horizon—that they can have twenty-first century schools fit for modern purposes? Thank you. 

Rwy’n gwerthfawrogi eich ateb, Weinidog. Y rheswm pam y gofynnais y cwestiwn y prynhawn yma yw am fy mod yn ymweld â chryn dipyn o ysgolion yn fy etholaeth, lle adeiladwyd Ysgol Crist y Gair yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf, yn ogystal ag Ysgol Uwchradd y Rhyl, gyda chyfleusterau modern gwych yn fy etholaeth, ond wedyn, yn nhref gyfagos Prestatyn ac i lawr y ffordd yn Ninbych, mae ganddynt labordai gwyddoniaeth a rhai cyfleusterau sy'n dyddio'n ôl mor bell â'r 1950au. Hefyd yn Ninbych, mae gennym Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn ar gyfer plant ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ac er mai dim ond oddeutu 15 oed yw'r adeilad, mae wedi mynd yn rhy fach i anghenion y disgyblion.

Felly, yng ngoleuni rhai o'r materion hynny, a gaf fi ofyn am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gennych ynglŷn ag a allai fod newyddion da ar y gorwel i ysgolion fel Prestatyn, Dinbych ac Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn—y gallant gael ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain sy'n addas i ddibenion modern? Diolch.

Well, we have a £1.5 billion school building programme in Wales under the Welsh Labour Government. Obviously, the Conservatives scrapped the school building programme in England. But his constituents will be able to take advantage of the funding that we are making available here in Wales. Denbigh High School has been identified for investment within Denbighshire's original strategic outline programme for band B, and Welsh Government officials are working with the council in relation to that. He mentioned a number of the other investments, and they are, I agree, very important, so that we can make sure that young people, wherever possible, have access to the best possible facilities to get the best possible start in life. 

Wel, mae gennym raglen adeiladu ysgolion gwerth £1.5 biliwn yng Nghymru o dan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru. Yn amlwg, fe wnaeth y Ceidwadwyr ddileu’r rhaglen adeiladu ysgolion yn Lloegr. Ond bydd ei etholwyr yn gallu manteisio ar y cyllid a ddarparwn yma yng Nghymru. Mae Ysgol Uwchradd Dinbych wedi’i nodi ar gyfer buddsoddiad o fewn rhaglen amlinellol strategol wreiddiol sir Ddinbych ar gyfer band B, ac mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda’r cyngor mewn perthynas â hynny. Soniodd am nifer o’r buddsoddiadau eraill, ac rwy’n cytuno, maent yn bwysig iawn er mwyn inni allu sicrhau bod pobl ifanc, lle bynnag y bo modd, yn gallu defnyddio'r cyfleusterau gorau posibl i gael y dechrau gorau posibl mewn bywyd.

Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr atebion y prynhawn yma.

I thank the Minister for those responses this afternoon.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Y cwestiynau amserol fyddai'r eitem nesaf, ond does yna ddim cwestiynau amserol heddiw.

The topical questions would have been the next item, but no topical questions have been accepted.

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Felly, y datganiadau 90-eiliad—un o'r rheini gan Natasha Asghar.

So, I will move on to the 90-second statements. There's one of those, by Natasha Asghar.

Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. During COVID, a lot of people across Wales lost loved ones, and for many dealing with that grief has indeed been incredibly tough. It's no secret that the death of my father was an extremely hard time for my whole family, but more so for my 70-year-old mother. Despite attending countless bereavement groups, counselling sessions and therapies, nothing seemed to help my mum with her painful grief. That was until we came across the STEPS bereavement programme, which is sponsored by Tovey Brothers funeral directors, a family-owned funeral directors in south-east Wales, established in 1860. And today I would like to pay tribute to the dedicated team of STEPS and also Tovey Brothers.

This free bereavement service is put on several times a year in Newport for anyone who is suffering with bereavement, and in the 10 years the group has been running, they have helped countless people in their darkest hour. The support group provides a caring environment in which people can work through many emotions, and tasks that lead to reconciliation and help them to live and accept their grief. It's a place where people can discover that their reactions to grief are normal and be amongst like-minded people who will understand exactly what they're going through. I would encourage anyone who is experiencing a bereavement, and is struggling, to get in touch with the fantastic team at STEPS and also Tovey Brothers. I would also like to reiterate that this is a free service, and to find out more about the support group, please get in touch with Tovey Brothers funeral directors.

Deputy Presiding Officer, thank you for giving me the time to raise awareness of this truly wonderful support group today.

Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Yn ystod COVID, collodd llawer o bobl ledled Cymru anwyliaid, ac i lawer, mae ymdopi â’r galar hwnnw wedi bod yn ofnadwy o anodd. Nid yw'n gyfrinach fod marwolaeth fy nhad wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd iawn i fy nheulu cyfan, ond yn fwy felly i fy mam 70 oed. Er iddi fynychu llawer iawn o grwpiau profedigaeth, sesiynau cwnsela a therapïau, nid oedd unrhyw beth i'w weld yn helpu fy mam gyda'i galar poenus. Yna, fe wnaethom ddarganfod rhaglen brofedigaeth STEPS, a noddir gan Tovey Brothers, cwmni teuluol o drefnwyr angladdau yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru a sefydlwyd ym 1860. A hoffwn dalu teyrnged heddiw i dîm ymroddedig STEPS yn ogystal ag i Tovey Brothers.

Mae’r gwasanaeth profedigaeth rhad ac am ddim hwn yn cael ei gynnig sawl gwaith y flwyddyn yng Nghasnewydd ar gyfer unrhyw un sy’n dioddef profedigaeth, ac yn y 10 mlynedd y bu’r grŵp yn weithredol, maent wedi helpu llu o bobl yn eu hawr dywyllaf. Mae’r grŵp cymorth yn darparu amgylchedd gofalgar lle gall pobl weithio drwy lawer o emosiynau, a thasgau sy’n arwain at dawelwch meddwl ac yn eu helpu i fyw a derbyn eu galar. Mae'n fan lle gall pobl ddarganfod bod eu hymatebion i alar yn normal a bod ymhlith pobl o'r un anian a fydd yn deall yn iawn beth maent yn mynd drwyddo. Byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sydd mewn profedigaeth, ac yn ei chael hi'n anodd, i gysylltu â’r tîm gwych yn STEPS a Tovey Brothers hefyd. Hoffwn ailadrodd hefyd fod hwn yn wasanaeth rhad ac am ddim, ac i ddarganfod mwy am y grŵp cymorth, cysylltwch â threfnwyr angladdau Tovey Brothers.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, diolch am roi amser imi godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r grŵp cymorth gwirioneddol wych hwn heddiw.

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

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

15:05
5. Dadl ar Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol—'Cysylltu'r dotiau: mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru'
5. Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee Report—'Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales'

Eitem 5 heddiw yw dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, 'Cysylltu'r dotiau: mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Russell George.

Item 5 today is the debate on the Health and Social Care Committee report, 'Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Russell George.

Cynnig NDM8249 Russell George

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ‘Cysylltu'r dotiau: mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru’, a osodwyd ar 19 Rhagfyr 2022.

Motion NDM8249 Russell George

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report ‘Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales’, laid on 19 December 2022.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank you today for this item? I move the motion in my name.

We all have mental health. Our mental health is strongly linked with our circumstances, including our physical, emotional and spiritual health. Sometimes our mental health will be positive; sometimes it may be poor. Some of us may become more seriously unwell through our mental health.

Sadly, the evidence shows that some groups and communities are at greater risk of poor mental health than others. Such groups may have the most difficulty in accessing services, and when they do get support, their experiences and outcomes are poorer. Part of our role is to shine a light on people’s experiences and amplify their voices. We do this by listening and understanding their stories, but we know this can be difficult and also traumatic.

We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to our work, and this includes partner organisations who helped organise focus groups and visits, and who made sure that everyone felt supported. And I would especially like to thank our online advisory group for their views, lived experiences, expertise and constructive challenge as we prepared our report and considered the Welsh Government’s response. And I am delighted that some are in the public gallery today, and I know others will be watching on Senedd.tv. And I’m also pleased that some members of the committee were able to meet the advisory group this afternoon prior to this debate.

Our central message is that the mental health and well-being of the population will not improve, and may actually get worse, unless effective action is taken to recognise and address the impact of trauma, and tackle inequalities in society and the wider causes of poor mental health.

The welcome our report had from organisations such as the Welsh NHS Confederation, Samaritans Cymru, Mind Cymru, and more than 100-plus clinicians, who have signed an open letter co-ordinated by Psychologists for Social Change Cymru, shows just how strongly this message resonates across the health and social care sectors. We want this message, and a clear ambition to reduce mental inequalities, to be at the centre of the Welsh Government’s new mental health strategy.

Throughout our inquiry, it became clear that the key to tackling mental health inequalities is connection. For example, connecting poor mental health with the wider causes gives us the opportunity to address those causes, not just patch up the symptoms. We know that addressing the wider causes isn’t easy—we appreciate that—and we have called for a frank appraisal of which policy, legislative and financial levers for tackling poverty and other social determinants of mental health are controlled by the Welsh and the UK Governments.

The Welsh Government accepted the recommendations in principle. It said that its ability to tackle poverty is limited without radical change in the UK Government’s approach. However, the response said nothing about how the Welsh and UK Governments are working together, and it lacked detail on many of the wider determinants of mental health and well-being, such as housing, transport and access to education and employment.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi ddiolch i chi heddiw am yr eitem hon? Rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn fy enw i.

Mae gan bob un ohonom iechyd meddwl. Mae cysylltiad cryf rhwng ein hiechyd meddwl a’n hamgylchiadau, gan gynnwys ein hiechyd corfforol, emosiynol ac ysbrydol. Weithiau, bydd ein hiechyd meddwl yn gadarnhaol; weithiau, gall fod yn wael. Gall rhai ohonom fynd yn ddifrifol wael oherwydd ein hiechyd meddwl.

Yn anffodus, mae’r dystiolaeth yn dangos bod rhai grwpiau a chymunedau mewn mwy o berygl o iechyd meddwl gwael nag eraill. Gallai fod yn anoddach i grwpiau o’r fath gael mynediad at wasanaethau nag unrhyw grŵp arall, a phan fyddant yn cael cymorth, mae eu profiadau a’u canlyniadau'n waeth. Rhan o'n rôl yw taflu goleuni ar brofiadau pobl a sicrhau bod eu lleisiau'n cael eu clywed. Rydym yn gwneud hyn drwy wrando ar eu straeon a'u deall, ond gwyddom y gall hyn fod yn anodd ac yn drawmatig.

Rydym yn ddiolchgar i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu at ein gwaith, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys sefydliadau partner a helpodd i drefnu grwpiau ffocws ac ymweliadau, ac a sicrhaodd fod pawb yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi. A hoffwn ddiolch yn arbennig i'n grŵp cynghori ar-lein am eu barn, eu profiadau, eu harbenigedd a'u her adeiladol wrth inni baratoi ein hadroddiad ac ystyried ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru. Ac rwyf wrth fy modd fod rhai ohonynt yn yr oriel gyhoeddus heddiw, a gwn y bydd eraill yn gwylio ar Senedd.tv. Ac rwyf hefyd yn falch fod rhai o aelodau'r pwyllgor wedi gallu cyfarfod â'r grŵp cynghori y prynhawn yma cyn y ddadl hon.

Ein neges ganolog yw na fydd iechyd meddwl a lles y boblogaeth yn gwella, ac y gallai waethygu mewn gwirionedd, oni bai bod camau effeithiol yn cael eu cymryd i gydnabod a mynd i’r afael ag effaith trawma, a mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau mewn cymdeithas ac achosion ehangach iechyd meddwl gwael.

Mae’r croeso a gafodd ein hadroddiad gan sefydliadau fel Conffederasiwn GIG Cymru, y Samariaid, Mind Cymru, a mwy na 100 o glinigwyr, sydd wedi llofnodi llythyr agored a gydgysylltwyd gan Seicolegwyr dros Newid Cymdeithasol Cymru, yn dangos pa mor gryf y mae’r neges hon yn atseinio ar draws y sectorau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Rydym am i’r neges hon, ac uchelgais clir i leihau anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl, fod yn ganolog i strategaeth iechyd meddwl newydd Llywodraeth Cymru.

Drwy gydol ein hymchwiliad, daeth yn amlwg mai’r allwedd i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yw cysylltiad. Er enghraifft, mae cysylltu iechyd meddwl gwael â’r achosion ehangach yn rhoi cyfle inni fynd i’r afael â’r achosion hynny, nid gosod plastr dros y symptomau'n unig. Gwyddom nad yw mynd i’r afael â’r achosion ehangach yn hawdd—rydym yn deall hynny—ac rydym wedi galw am werthusiad gonest o ba ysgogiadau polisi, deddfwriaethol ac ariannol ar gyfer trechu tlodi a phenderfynyddion cymdeithasol eraill iechyd meddwl sy’n cael eu rheoli gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU.

Derbyniodd Llywodraeth Cymru yr argymhellion mewn egwyddor. Dywedodd fod ei gallu i drechu tlodi'n gyfyngedig heb newid radical yn null gweithredu Llywodraeth y DU. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd yr ymateb yn dweud unrhyw beth ynglŷn â sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd, ac roedd yn brin o fanylion am lawer o benderfynyddion ehangach iechyd meddwl a lles, megis tai, trafnidiaeth a mynediad at addysg a chyflogaeth.

Mental health and well-being is not just a matter, of course, for the NHS or specialist services; it is much broader than that. It's a much broader public health issue. Mental health is made in our communities. Community connection is vital in preventing mental ill health, promoting and protecting mental well-being, and supporting people who are living with mental ill health.

It is disappointing, and we were disappointed as a committee, that the Deputy Minister only accepted our recommendation for the establishment of an online directory for community and digital mental health services in principle. The Government’s response said that rather than developing a new directory, it aimed to improve the information available and people's awareness of how to access resources. It also highlighted the 111 and 'press 2' services.

When we spoke to our advisory group earlier today, our advisory group echoed our own views that they were frustrated with this response, saying that it failed to recognise the barriers people face in accessing the current systems. It isn't always that first port of call, that telephone service. There needs to be much more done in the community. Connection is also needed between services. Joined-up, person-centred working and co-production with people with lived experience and expertise is key to ensuring that everyone can get the help and support they need, when and how they need it.

In addition to a number of recommendations to address specific barriers affecting particular groups, we called for a clear road map setting out the actions at national and local level to improve mental health among neurodivergent people, including how the neurodivergence assessment and diagnosis process could be made more accessible. The Government accepted this recommendation, but disappointingly the response did not provide the road map that we had requested. Our advisory group was also disappointed. They wanted more detail about the make-up of the neurodivergence ministerial advice group, and the response didn't convince them that the Welsh Government was committed to the social model of disability or to prioritising support for neurodivergent people with co-occurring conditions.

Looking ahead, the review and refresh of the Welsh Government's mental health strategy provides a valuable opportunity to tackle mental health inequalities and embed the needs of diverse communities into Wales's approach to mental health. If the new mental health strategy is to deliver meaningful action and tangible impacts on the ground, we also need to have that connection within Government. We must see effective cross-Government working, including co-ordination with other relevant plans and policies, especially those relating to groups who experience disadvantage. To help us monitor this, we called for an annual update on the progress made in implementing our recommendations, with the first update to be provided in December 2023. Like our advisory group, we were disappointed and frustrated that the Government only committed to providing updates when the Government considers it appropriate to do so.

The acceptance by the Government of a recommendation is a commitment to implement that recommendation. Monitoring progress on such commitments is an important part of our role in holding the Welsh Government to account. Updates are essential in helping us to understand which recommendations have been completed, which require further work, and where evolving circumstances may mean that the Welsh Government's views on a particular recommendation may have changed. Such information is not only of interest and value to us as a committee, but also to other Members of the Senedd and to external stakeholders, many of whom have devoted significant time, energy and resources contributing to our work. Our view is that annual updates are appropriate and proportionate, and I would urge the Deputy Minister to reconsider her response and make that commitment today.

Overall, our report provides an ambitious and hopeful vision for reducing inequalities and improving mental health and well-being in Wales. I do know it's an agenda to which the Deputy Minister is personally committed, and it is welcome that she was able to accept most of our recommendations, albeit some in principle. However, as a committee, we share our online advisory group’s disappointment that the response didn't fully reflect our report’s ambition. Platfform recently described the response as a missed opportunity, and I’m quoting them here:

'This could have been another bold watershed moment in our country, to set a new direction in public services and beyond. Instead, it feels like the depth of the report, and the implications for Wales, were missed. We need clear vision and leadership to drive the shift needed here.'

I invite the Deputy Minister to share her vision for closing the mental health inequalities gap, so that we can ensure that Wales is a place that helps people to build and sustain their mental health and well-being; that supports people when they experience poor mental health; that sees people as more than just their conditions; and in which communities, health services and wider public services are connected and able to recognise and respond to people's needs. I look forward to the debate this afternoon. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Wrth gwrs, nid mater i’r GIG neu wasanaethau arbenigol yn unig yw iechyd meddwl a lles; mae'n llawer ehangach na hynny. Mae'n fater iechyd y cyhoedd ehangach o lawer. Mae iechyd meddwl yn cael ei greu yn ein cymunedau. Mae cysylltiad cymunedol yn hanfodol i atal salwch meddwl, gan hyrwyddo a diogelu lles meddyliol, a chefnogi pobl sy'n byw gyda salwch meddwl.

Mae’n siomedig, ac roeddem ni'n siomedig fel pwyllgor, mai dim ond mewn egwyddor y derbyniodd y Dirprwy Weinidog ein hargymhelliad y dylid sefydlu cyfeiriadur ar-lein ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl cymunedol a digidol. Dywedodd ymateb y Llywodraeth ei bod, yn hytrach na datblygu cyfeiriadur newydd, yn anelu at wella’r wybodaeth sydd ar gael ac ymwybyddiaeth pobl o sut i gael gafael ar adnoddau. Tynnodd sylw hefyd at y gwasanaethau 111 a 'dewis 2'.

Pan siaradom â’n grŵp cynghori yn gynharach heddiw, adleisiodd ein grŵp cynghori ein barn ein hunain eu bod yn rhwystredig ynghylch yr ymateb hwn, gan ddweud ei fod wedi methu cydnabod y rhwystrau y mae pobl yn eu hwynebu wrth gael mynediad at y systemau presennol. Nid dyna'r man cyswllt cyntaf bob amser, y gwasanaeth ffôn hwnnw. Mae angen gwneud llawer mwy yn y gymuned. Mae angen cysylltiad rhwng gwasanaethau hefyd. Mae gweithio cydgysylltiedig sy’n canolbwyntio ar unigolion a chydgynhyrchu gyda phobl sydd â phrofiad ac arbenigedd yn allweddol i sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu cael y cymorth a’r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt, pan maent eu hangen ac yn y modd maent eu hangen.

Yn ogystal â nifer o argymhellion i fynd i’r afael â rhwystrau penodol sy’n effeithio ar grwpiau penodol, gwnaethom alw am fap ffordd sy'n nodi camau clir ar lefel genedlaethol a lleol i wella iechyd meddwl ymhlith pobl niwrowahanol, gan gynnwys sut y gellid gwneud y broses o asesu a gwneud diagnosis o niwrowahaniaeth yn fwy hygyrch. Derbyniodd y Llywodraeth yr argymhelliad hwn, ond yn siomedig, ni ddarparodd yr ymateb y map ffordd yr oeddem wedi gofyn amdano. Roedd ein grŵp cynghori hefyd yn siomedig. Roeddent wedi gobeithio cael mwy o fanylion am aelodau'r grŵp cynghori gweinidogol ar niwrowahaniaeth, ac nid oedd yr ymateb yn eu darbwyllo bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i’r model cymdeithasol o anabledd nac i flaenoriaethu cymorth i bobl niwrowahanol â chyflyrau sy’n cyd-ddigwydd.

Gan edrych tua'r dyfodol, mae adolygu ac adnewyddu strategaeth iechyd meddwl Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfle gwerthfawr i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl ac ymgorffori anghenion cymunedau amrywiol yn null Cymru o weithredu ar iechyd meddwl. Os yw’r strategaeth iechyd meddwl newydd yn mynd i gyflawni camau gweithredu ystyrlon ac effeithiau diriaethol ar lawr gwlad, mae angen i ni hefyd gael y cysylltiad hwnnw o fewn y Llywodraeth. Mae'n rhaid inni weld gwaith trawslywodraethol effeithiol, gan gynnwys cydgysylltu â chynlluniau a pholisïau perthnasol eraill, yn enwedig y rhai sy’n ymwneud â grwpiau sy’n profi anfantais. Er mwyn ein helpu i fonitro hyn, fe wnaethom alw am ddiweddariad blynyddol ar y cynnydd a wneir ar weithredu ein hargymhellion, gyda’r diweddariad cyntaf i’w ddarparu ym mis Rhagfyr 2023. Fel ein grŵp cynghori, roeddem yn siomedig ac yn rhwystredig mai dim ond ymrwymo i ddarparu diweddariadau pan fydd y Llywodraeth yn ystyried ei bod yn briodol gwneud hynny a wnaeth y Llywodraeth.

Drwy dderbyn argymhelliad, mae'r Llywodraeth yn ymrwymo i roi’r argymhelliad hwnnw ar waith. Mae monitro cynnydd ar ymrwymiadau o’r fath yn rhan bwysig o’n rôl yn dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif. Mae diweddariadau'n hanfodol i’n helpu i ddeall pa argymhellion sydd wedi’u cwblhau, ar ba rai y mae angen rhagor o waith, a lle gallai amgylchiadau esblygol olygu y gallai safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar argymhelliad penodol fod wedi newid. Mae gwybodaeth o’r fath nid yn unig o ddiddordeb ac o werth i ni fel pwyllgor, ond hefyd i Aelodau eraill o’r Senedd ac i randdeiliaid allanol, y mae llawer ohonynt wedi rhoi cryn dipyn o amser, egni ac adnoddau i gyfrannu at ein gwaith. Ein barn ni yw bod diweddariadau blynyddol yn briodol ac yn gymesur, a hoffwn annog y Dirprwy Weinidog i ailystyried ei hymateb a gwneud yr ymrwymiad hwnnw heddiw.

Yn gyffredinol, mae ein hadroddiad yn darparu gweledigaeth uchelgeisiol a gobeithiol ar gyfer lleihau anghydraddoldebau a gwella iechyd meddwl a lles yng Nghymru. Gwn ei bod yn agenda y mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi ymrwymo’n bersonol iddi, ac mae'r ffaith ei bod wedi gallu derbyn y rhan fwyaf o’n hargymhellion i’w chroesawu, er mai mewn egwyddor yn unig y derbyniwyd rhai ohonynt. Fodd bynnag, fel pwyllgor, rydym yn rhannu siom ein grŵp cynghori ar-lein nad oedd yr ymateb yn adlewyrchu uchelgais ein hadroddiad yn llawn. Disgrifiodd Platfform yr ymateb yn ddiweddar fel cyfle a gollwyd, ac rwy'n eu dyfynnu yma:

'Gallai hyn fod wedi bod yn drobwynt beiddgar arall yn ein gwlad, i bennu cyfeiriad newydd yn y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a thu hwnt. Yn hytrach, mae’n teimlo fel pe bai dyfnder yr adroddiad, a’r goblygiadau i Gymru, wedi’u methu. Mae angen gweledigaeth ac arweiniad clir i sicrhau'r newid sydd ei angen yma.'

Gwahoddaf y Dirprwy Weinidog i rannu ei gweledigaeth ar gyfer cau’r bwlch anghydraddoldeb iechyd meddwl, fel y gallwn sicrhau bod Cymru yn lle sy’n helpu pobl i feithrin a chynnal eu hiechyd meddwl a lles; lle sy'n cefnogi pobl pan fyddant yn dioddef iechyd meddwl gwael; lle sy'n gweld pobl fel mwy na'u cyflyrau'n unig; a lle mae cymunedau, gwasanaethau iechyd a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ehangach wedi'u cysylltu ac yn gallu nodi ac ymateb i anghenion pobl. Edrychaf ymlaen at y ddadl y prynhawn yma. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

15:15

Yn gyntaf, gaf i ddiolch i fy nghyd-Aelodau ar y pwyllgor am gael cydweithio ar yr adroddiad yma? Diolch i'r holl staff clercio, ymchwil, a staff cefnogol sydd wedi bod yn rhan o'r gwaith. Ac, wrth gwrs, diolch i bawb siaradodd mor agored efo ni, fel arbenigwyr ac unigolion efo profiadau uniongyrchol. A dwi am roi sylw yn arbennig i'r grŵp fu'n ein cynghori ni, a hynny'n seiliedig ar eu profiadau nhw, ac mae nifer, fel rydym ni wedi clywed, yma yn y Senedd yn y galeri heddiw.

Mae hwn yn un arall o'r adroddiadau yna roedden ni angen ei wneud. Ydy, mae o yn bwrw goleuni eto ar iechyd meddwl yn gyffredinol, yn ein hatgoffa ni pa mor bwysig ydy hi i siarad am iechyd meddwl a pha mor bwysig ydy gweithredu gan Lywodraeth i wella'r ddarpariaeth sydd ar gael. Ond mae hwn yn adroddiad sydd yn mynd yn ddyfnach na hynny hefyd, yn canolbwyntio ar y ffaith bod problemau iechyd meddwl yn fwy tebyg o daro rhai pobl, rhai grwpiau, rhai cymunedau fwy nag eraill, ac yn aml iawn y rheini sy'n ei chael hi'n fwyaf anodd i gael help. Mae'r adroddiad yn mynd at wraidd llawer o broblemau iechyd meddwl o'r dechrau un, efo'r argymhelliad cyntaf un yn cyfeirio at y gair 'trawma' sydd yn cael ei glywed yn amlach erbyn hyn, dwi'n falch o ddweud—y ffactorau hynny mewn bywyd sydd i raddau helaeth yn ein gwneud ni beth ydym ni.

Mae cyflwr ein hiechyd meddwl yn cael ei siapio gan ein hamgylchiadau cymdeithasol, ein sefyllfa economaidd ac ati, ac mae anghydraddoldebau yn creu trawma. Felly, allwn ni ddim rhoi label 'iechyd' yn unig ar iechyd meddwl—mae taclo problemau iechyd meddwl yn golygu sortio tai, addysg, swyddi, y wladwriaeth les ac yn y blaen. A dyna pam bod argymhelliad 2 yn gofyn am arfarniad onest gan Lywodraeth Cymru o beth yn union ydy'r lifers sydd ganddyn nhw i fynd i'r afael â’r ffactorau yna sy'n creu a dyfnhau anghydraddoldebau a sut i'w defnyddio nhw. Rydyn ni angen adnabod pa bwerau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, pa bwerau sydd gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, lle mae'r crossover rhwng y ddau, lle mae angen cydweithio, achos heb daclo'r hyn sy'n creu anghydraddoldebau sy'n sail i gymaint o broblemau iechyd meddwl, fyddwn ni ddim yn gallu gwneud gwir wahaniaeth.

Y nod, wrth gwrs, ydy ceisio atal problemau iechyd meddwl rhag troi yn grisis, ond weithiau, wrth gwrs, mi fydd pobl yn canfod eu hunain mewn sefyllfa o grisis, a dyna pam bod gwendidau parhaus efo llawer o'r ddarpariaeth iechyd meddwl acíwt dal yn achosi cymaint o bryder inni. Dim ond wythnos yn ôl mi gafwyd cadarnhad bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn cael ei erlyn mewn perthynas â cholli bywyd claf yn uned Hergest yn Ysbyty Gwynedd yn 2021, a hynny ar ôl i'r bwrdd gael ei dynnu allan o fesurau arbennig, er ei bod hi'n reit amlwg bod yna broblemau sylweddol yn parhau i wynebu'r gwasanaeth penodol hwnnw. Felly, mi barhawn ni i sgrwtineiddio'r ddarpariaeth acíwt.

Ond yn ôl at yr adroddiad yma, sydd yn rhoi iechyd meddwl mewn mwy o gyd-destun na hynny. Mi wna i droi at ymateb y Llywodraeth. Mae gen i ofn fy mod i a'n bod ni fel pwyllgor, fel y dywedodd y Cadeirydd, yn siomedig iawn efo ymateb y Llywodraeth y tro hwn. Wrth drafod efo'n grŵp cynghori ni—pobl, fel y dywedais i, sy'n gallu siarad o brofiad personol; pobl a oedd yn falch iawn o fod wedi gallu cyfrannu atebion, cyfrannu atebion a syniadau ar sut i gryfhau gwasanaethau—dwi ddim yn meddwl fy mod i erioed wedi gweld cymaint o siom mewn ymateb Llywodraeth. Roedden nhw'n croesawu'r adroddiad gan y pwyllgor ac yn ei ddisgrifio fo fel dogfen a oedd yn wir adlewyrchu eu gofynion nhw. Mi roedden nhw wedi cael siom wedyn yn niffyg pendantrwydd yr ymateb gan y Llywodraeth—y methiant i gytuno i amserlen glir ar gyfer gweithredu, er enghraifft.

Mi wna i roi sylw i argymhelliad 22, achos mae hwnnw'n crynhoi'r rhwystredigaeth. Gofyn mae hwn am i'r Llywodraeth adrodd yn ôl yn flynyddol ar eu cynnydd yn erbyn y cyfres o argymhellion rydyn ni wedi'u gwneud yn ein hadroddiad. Er mai derbyn mewn egwyddor oedd yr ymateb, waeth i'r Llywodraeth fod wedi'i wrthod o ddim, achos eu hymateb oedd y byddan nhw'n adrodd am gynnydd mewn perthynas â'r argymhellion 'fel y bo'n briodol'. Rhan o'n gwaith sgrwtini ni fel pwyllgor a ni fel seneddwyr ydy'r adroddiad yma, ac eto mae'r Llywodraeth yn dweud y byddan nhw'n derbyn sgrwtini ar eu telerau eu hunain. Dydy hynny, Ddirprwy Lywydd, dwi'n credu, ddim yn dderbyniol.

Mae'n wir ddrwg gen i dros yr aelodau o'r grŵp cynghori sy'n ofni bod eu hamser nhw wedi cael ei wastraffu, ond gadewch i ni roi ymrwymiad nad ydy eu hamser nhw wedi cael ei wastraffu, ac y byddwn ni'n parhau i geisio bwrw'r maen i'r wal nes y byddwn ni'n gallu gweld bod pob cam posib yn cael eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau iechyd meddwl a'r anghydraddoldebau sy'n achosi cymaint ohonyn nhw.

First of all, may I thank my fellow Members for being able to collaborate on this report? Thank you to all of the clerking staff, the research staff, and the support staff who have been part of this work. And also thank you to everyone who spoke so openly to us as experts and specialists and individuals with direct experience. And I want to give particular attention to the group that advised us based on their own experiences, and a number of them, as we've already heard, are joining us in the Senedd in the gallery today.

This is another one of those reports that we needed to undertake. Yes, it does shed light on mental health again in general, but it reminds us how important it is to talk about mental health and how important it is for the Government to take action to improve the provision available. But this is also a report that goes deeper than that too. It focuses on the fact that mental health issues are more likely to affect some people, some individuals, some communities more than others, and very often it's those who find it hardest to access help. The report goes to the heart of many mental health issues, with the first recommendation referring to the word 'trauma', which is heard more often these day, I'm pleased to say—those factors in life, to a great extent, that make us what we are.

The state of our mental health is shaped by our social circumstances, our economic situation and so on, and inequalities do create trauma. So we can't put a 'health' label on mental health alone—tackling mental issues means sorting housing, education, employment, the welfare state and so on. And that's why recommendation 2 asks for an honest appraisal by the Welsh Government of what exactly the levers it has are to tackle those factors that create and exacerbate inequalities and how to use those levers. We need to identify what powers the Welsh Government has, what powers the UK Government has, where the crossover is between those two, where we need to collaborate, because without tackling what causes those inequalities that are the basis of so many mental health issues, we won't be able to make a difference.

The aim, of course, is to try to prevent mental health issues from turning into crisis, but sometimes people will find themselves in a situation of crisis, and that's why ongoing weaknesses with a great deal of acute mental health provision is still causing so much concern. Just a week ago we had confirmation that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is being prosecuted in relation to a patient death in Hergest in 2021, after the board was taken out of special measures, although it was clear that there were significant problems continuing there, facing that particular service. So, we will continue to scrutinise the acute provision.

But returning to this report that places mental health in a wider context, I'll turn to the Government's response. I'm afraid that I, and that we as a committee, as the Chair said, are very disappointed with the Government's response this time around. In discussing with our advisory group—people, as I said, that can speak from personal experience; people who are very pleased and proud to have been able to contribute solutions, answers and ideas on how to strengthen services—I don't think I've ever seen such disappointment expressed with regard to a Government response. They welcomed the report by the committee; they described it as a document that truly reflected their needs and requirements. They were then disappointed by the lack of specifics in the Government response—the failure to agree to a clear timeline for action, for example.

I'll refer to recommendation 22, because that summarises the frustration. It asks for the Government to report back on an annual basis on progress against the series of recommendations that we've made in our report. Although they've accepted it in principle, the Government might as well have rejected it, because the response is that they will be reporting on progress in terms of the recommendations 'as appropriate'. This report is part of our scrutiny work as a committee and as parliamentarians, and yet the Government says that they will be accepting scrutiny on their own terms. That isn't acceptable, I don't think, Dirprwy Lywydd. 

I'm sorry for those advisory groups who fear that their time has been wasted, but let's give a commitment here today that their time hasn't been wasted and that we will continue to try to drive action on this until we can see that every step has been taken to tackle mental health issues and the inequalities that cause so many of them.

15:20

I'd like to start by thanking everyone who spoke to us about tackling mental health inequalities in Wales. We had 90 responses, and for many of those who gave evidence, it was based on their lived experience or their expertise in this area. Words cannot do justice to how selfless, brave and determined you are to do this, and your evidence is threaded throughout our report. It's this responsibility to you that I know that myself and my colleagues and the committee clerks and the support staff have had at the forefront of our minds. I'm also pleased that the report has been widely welcomed by stakeholders, and I appreciate everyone who has contacted me to share their views and responses. Thank you all, and to our Deputy Minister for your response today, and for accepting most of the recommendations.

There is no doubt that this is a really groundbreaking report that was published towards the end of last year, and it has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach mental health in our country. As our Chair has stated, our mental health is inextricably linked to our physical, emotional and spiritual health, and the circumstances in which we live. We all have human needs that must be met if we are to thrive, but evidence shows that some groups and communities are at greater risk of poor mental health than others, and that such groups may have the most difficulty then in accessing the services.

This has been supported by the Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance. They gave some very stark facts and figures, where they said that nearly three quarters of mothers with newborn babies report that the cost of living is impacting their mental health and well-being. This is concerning given the already high incidence of perinatal mental health problems, which can impact on both the mother and the child, and the risk of suicide in this group across Wales.

Also, people with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are at a greater risk of poor physical health, and die on average 15 to 20 years earlier than the general population. It is estimated that two in three of these deaths are from preventable illnesses. People from ethnic minority groups are at a significantly increased risk of involuntary psychiatric detention compared to those from white ethnic groups.

To start with, I'd like to say that I'm really pleased to see that recommendation 10 was accepted by the Welsh Government. This is to endorse recommendation 1 made by the Equality and Social Justice Committee in our October 2022 report on gender-based violence. This was on the needs of migrant women, and that the Welsh Government should consider creating and maintaining a directory of recognised interpreters. So, I'm really pleased to see that that has been accepted.

However, I would like to ask today for further clarification about why recommendations 11, 12 and 13 were only accepted in principle. Recommendation 11 is

'to publish key deliverables and qualitative and quantitative measures for the impact of the trauma-informed framework for Wales, and put in place a robust evaluation framework.'

I do understand that this comes under, potentially, another portfolio, but if you could expand, Deputy Minister, on your department's role in this, please, and how you'll work across those portfolios, that would be wonderful. Thank you.

Recommendation 12 is similar in that it's also calling for improvements in the provision of information on

'attachment and parent-child relational health for expectant and new parents'.

But this has also only been accepted in principle. Again, we asked for an update from the Welsh Government on this work by December 2023, but there was no mention of this in the response. It says instead that

'We will consider what further action we can take to develop parent relationships, work in planned learning to include potential areas of learning from the delivery models and approaches being piloted through the early years pathfinder projects.'

Can you please tell us today, then, more about these pilot projects and when they're due to be completed and what is hoped to be achieved from these?

Finally, in relation to recommendation 13, it states:

'The Welsh Government should work with partners including local authorities, Regional Partnership Boards and community organisations to use the outcomes of its recent community mental health service mapping exercise to co-produce an online directory of community and digital services available locally, regionally and nationally across Wales.' 

But, as we discussed today with the stakeholder advisory group, who came in to speak to us and give us some feedback, in the response from the Welsh Government, it states that we have the NHS 111 website. But if you have a look through the examples on there of where you can get support, mostly you need to have a GP referral. It was also said in the Welsh Government response about Dewis, but again, if you have a look through that, it's a directory that really only identifies your local opticians and your dentists and your GPs. And, actually, a lot of the links, we were told today by the advisory group, are actually broken.

I'd just like to point to some good co-production that myself and Huw Irranca-Davies, MS for Ogmore, have done in our Bridgend county borough, where we got together with all of our local mental health groups and services. We asked them what we could do to help them, and they said, 'We would love to have a website that is just for our local groups. Maybe we're not funded with public funding, maybe we're not constituted, but we're out in the community and we're making a big difference.'

Finally, I would just like to say, overall, a key part of our recommendations was to request the timescales for performance measures and how they should be developed and focused on reducing inequalities. They're a coherent cross-sector and cross-Government action to tackle these mental health inequalities. As we heard today from our stakeholders, they said, 'Nothing for us without us', and I hope we can hear more today, Deputy Minister, of how we can go ahead and do that. Diolch.

Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i bawb a siaradodd â ni am fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru. Cawsom 90 o ymatebion, ac i lawer o’r rheini a roddodd dystiolaeth, roedd yn seiliedig ar eu profiadau neu eu harbenigedd yn y maes hwn. Ni all geiriau wneud cyfiawnder â pha mor anhunanol, dewr a phenderfynol rydych chi i wneud hyn, ac mae eich tystiolaeth yn gweu drwy ein hadroddiad ar ei hyd. Gwn fod y cyfrifoldeb hwn i chi wedi bod yn hollbwysig i mi a'm cyd-Aelodau a chlercod y pwyllgor a'r staff cymorth. Rwyf hefyd yn falch fod yr adroddiad wedi'i groesawu'n eang gan randdeiliaid, ac rwy’n gwerthfawrogi cyfraniad pawb sydd wedi cysylltu â mi i rannu eu barn a’u hymatebion. Diolch i bob un ohonoch, ac i’n Dirprwy Weinidog am eich ymateb heddiw, ac am dderbyn y rhan fwyaf o’r argymhellion.

Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod hwn yn adroddiad gwirioneddol arloesol a gyhoeddwyd tuag at ddiwedd y llynedd, a bod ganddo botensial i chwyldroi’r ffordd rydym yn ymdrin ag iechyd meddwl yn ein gwlad. Fel y mae ein Cadeirydd wedi’i nodi, mae cyswllt annatod rhwng ein hiechyd meddwl a’n hiechyd corfforol, emosiynol ac ysbrydol, a’r amgylchiadau rydym yn byw ynddynt. Mae gan bob un ohonom anghenion dynol sy’n rhaid eu diwallu os ydym am ffynnu, ond mae tystiolaeth yn dangos bod rhai grwpiau a chymunedau mewn mwy o berygl o iechyd meddwl gwael nag eraill, ac y gallai grwpiau o’r fath ei chael hi'n anos nag unrhyw grŵp arall felly i gael mynediad at y gwasanaethau.

Mae hyn wedi cael ei gefnogi gan Gynghrair Iechyd a Lles Conffederasiwn GIG Cymru. Fe wnaethant nodi ffeithiau a ffigurau llwm iawn, lle dywedasant fod bron i dri chwarter y mamau â babanod newydd-anedig yn dweud bod costau byw yn effeithio ar eu hiechyd meddwl a'u lles meddyliol. Mae hyn yn peri pryder o ystyried y nifer uchel o achosion eisoes o broblemau iechyd meddwl amenedigol, a all effeithio ar y fam a’r plentyn, a’r risg o hunanladdiad yn y grŵp hwn ledled Cymru.

Hefyd, mae pobl â salwch meddwl difrifol, fel sgitsoffrenia neu anhwylder deubegynol, mewn mwy o berygl o iechyd corfforol gwael, ac yn marw 15 i 20 mlynedd yn gynharach ar gyfartaledd na’r boblogaeth gyffredinol. Amcangyfrifir bod dwy ran o dair o'r marwolaethau hyn yn deillio o salwch y gellir ei atal. Mae pobl o grwpiau ethnig leiafrifol yn wynebu risg sylweddol uwch o gael eu cadw’n anwirfoddol oherwydd rhesymau seiciatrig o gymharu â phobl o grwpiau ethnig gwyn.

I ddechrau, hoffwn ddweud fy mod yn falch iawn o weld bod argymhelliad 10 wedi'i dderbyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Argymhelliad oedd hwn i gymeradwyo argymhelliad 1 a wnaed gan y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yn ein hadroddiad ym mis Hydref 2022 ar drais ar sail rhywedd. Roedd yr adroddiad hwn yn ymwneud ag anghenion menywod mudol, ac yn nodi y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried creu a chynnal cyfeiriadur o gyfieithwyr cydnabyddedig. Felly, rwy’n falch iawn o weld bod hwnnw wedi’i dderbyn.

Fodd bynnag, hoffwn ofyn heddiw am eglurhad pellach ynglŷn â pham mai mewn egwyddor yn unig y derbyniwyd argymhellion 11, 12 a 13. Argymhelliad 11 yw i

'gyhoeddi’r deilliannau allweddol a mesurau ansoddol a meintiol ar gyfer effaith y fframwaith ystyriol o drawma i Gymru, a rhoi fframwaith gwerthuso cadarn ar waith.'

Rwy'n deall bod hyn yn dod o dan bortffolio arall o bosibl, ond os gallwch ymhelaethu, Ddirprwy Weinidog, ar rôl eich adran yn hyn o beth, os gwelwch yn dda, a sut y byddwch yn gweithio ar draws y portffolios hynny, byddai hynny'n wych. Diolch.

Mae argymhelliad 12 yn debyg yn yr ystyr ei fod hefyd yn galw am welliannau yn y ddarpariaeth o wybodaeth am

'ymlyniad ac iechyd y berthynas rhwng rhiant a phlentyn i rieni beichiog a rhieni newydd'.

Ond mewn egwyddor yn unig y cafodd hyn ei dderbyn hefyd. Unwaith eto, fe wnaethom ofyn am ddiweddariad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y gwaith hwn erbyn mis Rhagfyr 2023, ond nid oedd unrhyw sôn am hyn yn yr ymateb. Dywed, yn lle hynny,

'Byddwn yn ystyried pa gamau eraill y gallwn eu cymryd er mwyn datblygu gwaith ar y berthynas rhwng rhiant a baban drwy ddysgu a gynllunnir, gan gynnwys meysydd dysgu posibl sy'n deillio o'r modelau cyflawni a’r dulliau sy'n cael eu treialu drwy brosiectau braenaru’r blynyddoedd cynnar.'

A allwch ddweud mwy wrthym heddiw, felly, am y prosiectau peilot hyn a phryd y disgwylir iddynt gael eu cwblhau, a beth y gobeithir ei gyflawni o'r rhain?

Yn olaf, mewn perthynas ag argymhelliad 13, mae’n datgan:

'Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda phartneriaid, gan gynnwys awdurdodau lleol, Byrddau Partneriaeth Rhanbarthol a sefydliadau cymunedol i ddefnyddio canlyniadau ei hymarfer mapio gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl cymunedol diweddar i gydgynhyrchu cyfeirlyfr ar-lein o wasanaethau cymunedol a digidol sydd ar gael yn lleol, yn rhanbarthol ac yn genedlaethol ledled Cymru.'

Ond fel rydym wedi trafod heddiw gyda’r grŵp cynghori rhanddeiliaid, a ddaeth i mewn i siarad â ni a rhoi rhywfaint o adborth i ni, yn yr ymateb gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mae’n nodi bod gennym wefan GIG 111. Ond os edrychwch drwy'r enghreifftiau sydd yno o ble y gallwch gael cymorth, gan amlaf mae angen ichi gael atgyfeiriad gan feddyg teulu. Dywedwyd hynny hefyd yn ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â Dewis, ond eto, os edrychwch drwy hwnnw, nid yw'n ddim mwy na chyfeiriadur sy'n nodi pwy yw eich optegwyr lleol a’ch deintyddion a’ch meddygon teulu. Ac mewn gwirionedd, dywedwyd wrthym heddiw gan y grŵp cynghori fod llawer o'r dolenni ddim yn gweithio.

Hoffwn dynnu sylw at rywfaint o gydgynhyrchu da gan Huw Irranca-Davies, yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Ogwr, a minnau yn ein bwrdeistref sirol ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, lle daethom ynghyd gyda’n holl grwpiau a gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl lleol. Fe wnaethom ofyn iddynt beth y gallem ei wneud i’w helpu, a dywedasant, 'Byddem wrth ein bodd yn cael gwefan ar gyfer ein grwpiau lleol yn unig. Efallai nad ydym yn cael ein hariannu gan arian cyhoeddus, efallai nad ydym yn gyrff a gyfansoddwyd, ond rydym allan yn y gymuned, ac rydym yn gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr.'

Yn olaf, hoffwn ddweud, yn gyffredinol, mai rhan allweddol o'n hargymhellion oedd gofyn am yr amserlenni ar gyfer mesurau perfformiad a sut y dylid eu datblygu a sicrhau eu bod yn canolbwyntio ar leihau anghydraddoldebau. Maent yn gamau gweithredu traws-sector a thrawslywodraethol cydlynol i fynd i'r afael â'r anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl hyn. Fel y clywsom heddiw gan ein rhanddeiliaid, roeddent yn dweud, 'Dim byd i ni hebom ni', ac rwy'n gobeithio y cawn glywed mwy heddiw, Ddirprwy Weinidog, ynglŷn â sut y gallwn fwrw ymlaen i wneud hynny. Diolch.

15:25

I'm not a member of the committee, but I would like to extend my deep and profound thanks to the committee and to those Members who've brought this report forward, but more specifically, to those stakeholders who contributed towards it. I don't think there's anybody here in this Siambr or indeed any Senedd Member who hasn't been directly affected by mental health issues. I'm sure we know of somebody or perhaps ourselves have been through these sorts of issues, and so it is such an important report, and I hope we'll be looking to have a good debate and looking to take things forward.

I just want to focus on three things, if I may, from the report: children and adult mental health services; the role of poverty in mental health; and community resilience. So firstly, CAMHS. As the chair of the cross-party group on children and families and children in our care, there is a continued deterioration in our CAMHS services. 'CAMHS is a joke.' That doesn't come from me; that comes from the Welsh Youth Parliament, who saw that young people see no point in the service, due to inadequate support and the lengthy waiting times. I know, from my previous role as a child protection social worker, that it hasn't changed. CAMHS is seen as a real twilight service, which is so hard to get into, and if you're in it, then it's so hard to be able to maintain a service that meets your needs. The situation with CAMHS across not just Wales but the UK is struggling massively, and it needs significant investment, it needs a surfeit of fresh funds and resources to ensure that young people have access to quality therapy.

Secondly, poverty. The report really highlights the devastating role poverty and inequality has upon mental health and the need for a more holistic, trauma-informed approach to mental health. Poverty and mental health are a two-way street. Poverty can be both a cause and a consequence of mental health, as well as a barrier to mental health. So, we really need to look at the issues around inequality and mental health, and to really turbo-charge our approach to mental health in those communities affected by poverty. As we've heard, Platfform has made clear in their 2022 manifesto for change that mental health difficulties disproportionately affect people in poverty, or who live in communities that have been left behind.

We need to have bold responses to tackling health inequalities, such as universal basic income, which have significant mental health consequences in those pilots that have taken place so far. I'll just mention two. In Finland's two-year universal basic income study, participants experienced less mental health strain, less depression, less sadness and loneliness than in the control group, and, in general, were much more satisfied with their lives. And secondly, in a similar experiment in Canada, there was an 8.5 per cent reduction in hospitalisation and reduced contact with physicians regarding mental health. Even the First Minister recognises the benefits of universal basic income upon mental health, writing a foreword to a recent Royal Society of Arts report into the mental health benefits of such a policy. And obviously, we're very pleased to see the universal basic income pilot with care-experienced young people here in Wales, and we hope to see a significant recognition of that particular aspect. The Welsh Government needs to use what levers it can to address inequalities and the huge mental toll that they place on our poorest communities.

And finally, community resilience. The report recognises, as we've heard from Sarah, the part that communities play in preventing mental ill-health. Yet, community and third sector organisations still struggle to get sustainable and long-term funding. More needs to be done to help build up the capacity of local groups so that they can deliver and develop services without fear of a collapse of funding. Again, as Platfform has put in their report, solving the mental health crisis isn't just about access to therapies or creating more services, it is about creating healthy, thriving communities in which people can grow, live and heal. Our mental health strategy recognises that we need to move forward in creating resilient communities, and I look forward to hearing the Minister's response on those particular issues. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Nid wyf yn aelod o’r pwyllgor, ond hoffwn ddiolch o galon i’r pwyllgor ac i’r Aelodau sydd wedi cyflwyno’r adroddiad hwn, ond yn fwy penodol, i’r rhanddeiliaid a gyfrannodd ato. Ni chredaf fod unrhyw un yma yn y Siambr hon, nac yn wir, unrhyw Aelod o'r Senedd, nad yw materion iechyd meddwl wedi cael effaith uniongyrchol arnynt. Rwy'n siŵr ein bod yn gwybod am rywun, neu efallai ein bod ni ein hunain wedi wynebu'r mathau hyn o broblemau, ac felly mae'n adroddiad mor bwysig, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn gael dadl dda a cheisio symud pethau yn eu blaen.

Hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar dri pheth yn yr adroddiad, os caf: gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed, CAHMS; rôl tlodi mewn iechyd meddwl; a chadernid cymunedol. Felly yn gyntaf, CAMHS. Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar blant a theuluoedd a phlant yn ein gofal, mae dirywiad parhaus yn ein gwasanaethau CAMHS. 'Mae CAMHS yn jôc.' Nid fi sy'n dweud hynny; daw hynny gan Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru, a welodd nad yw pobl ifanc yn gweld unrhyw bwynt yn y gwasanaeth, oherwydd y cymorth annigonol a’r amseroedd aros hir. O fy rôl flaenorol fel gweithiwr cymdeithasol amddiffyn plant, gwn nad yw wedi newid. Mae CAMHS yn cael ei ystyried yn wasanaeth yr hwyr go iawn, gwasanaeth sydd mor anodd cael mynediad ato, ac os ydych ynddo, mae mor anodd gallu cynnal gwasanaeth sy’n diwallu eich anghenion. Mae CAMHS mewn sefyllfa enbyd nid yn unig yng Nghymru ond ledled DU, ac mae arnynt angen buddsoddiad sylweddol, a chryn dipyn o arian ac adnoddau newydd i sicrhau bod therapi o safon ar gael i bobl ifanc.

Yn ail, tlodi. Mae’r adroddiad yn amlygu effaith ddinistriol tlodi ac anghydraddoldeb ar iechyd meddwl a’r angen am ymagwedd fwy cyfannol tuag at iechyd meddwl, ymagwedd sy'n ystyriol o drawma. Mae tlodi ac iechyd meddwl yn stryd ddwy ffordd. Gall tlodi fod yn achos ac yn ganlyniad iechyd meddwl, yn ogystal â bod yn rhwystr i iechyd meddwl. Felly, mae gwir angen inni edrych ar y materion sy'n ymwneud ag anghydraddoldeb ac iechyd meddwl, a rhoi hwb gwirioneddol i'n hymagwedd at iechyd meddwl yn y cymunedau y mae tlodi'n effeithio arnynt. Fel y clywsom, mae Platfform wedi nodi'n glir yn eu maniffesto ar gyfer newid 2022 fod anawsterau iechyd meddwl yn effeithio’n anghymesur ar bobl mewn tlodi, neu sy’n byw mewn cymunedau sydd wedi cael eu gadael ar ôl.

Mae angen inni gael ymatebion beiddgar i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd, megis incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol, sydd wedi arwain at ganlyniadau iechyd meddwl sylweddol yn y cynlluniau peilot a gyflawnwyd hyd yn hyn. Rwyf am sôn am ddau ohonynt. Yn astudiaeth incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol ddwy flynedd y Ffindir, nododd y cyfranogwyr lai o straen iechyd meddwl, llai o iselder a llai o dristwch ac unigrwydd na'r grŵp rheoli, ac yn gyffredinol, roeddent yn llawer mwy bodlon â'u bywydau. Ac yn ail, mewn arbrawf tebyg yng Nghanada, gwelwyd gostyngiad o 8.5 y cant mewn derbyniadau i'r ysbyty a llai o gyswllt â meddygon ynghylch iechyd meddwl. Mae hyd yn oed y Prif Weinidog yn cydnabod manteision incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol i iechyd meddwl, gan iddo ysgrifennu rhagair i adroddiad diweddar gan Gymdeithas Frenhinol y Celfyddydau ar fanteision polisi o’r fath i iechyd meddwl. Ac yn amlwg, rydym yn falch iawn o weld y cynllun peilot incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol gyda phobl ifanc â phrofiad o fod mewn gofal yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn gobeithio gweld cydnabyddiaeth sylweddol i'r agwedd benodol honno. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio'r holl ysgogiadau sydd ganddi i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau a’r niwed meddyliol enfawr a wnânt i'n cymunedau tlotaf.

Ac yn olaf, cadernid cymunedol. Fel y clywsom gan Sarah, mae'r adroddiad yn cydnabod y rhan y mae cymunedau’n ei chwarae yn atal salwch meddwl. Ac eto, mae sefydliadau cymunedol a sefydliadau'r trydydd sector yn dal i'w chael hi'n anodd cael cyllid cynaliadwy a hirdymor. Mae angen gwneud mwy i helpu i adeiladu capasiti grwpiau lleol fel y gallant ddarparu a datblygu gwasanaethau heb ofni y bydd y cyllid yn diflannu. Unwaith eto, fel y mae Platfform wedi'i nodi yn eu hadroddiad, mae datrys yr argyfwng iechyd meddwl yn ymwneud â mwy na mynediad at therapïau neu greu mwy o wasanaethau yn unig, mae'n ymwneud â chreu cymunedau iach, ffyniannus lle gall pobl dyfu, byw a gwella. Mae ein strategaeth iechyd meddwl yn cydnabod bod angen inni fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o greu cymunedau cadarn, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed ymateb y Gweinidog ar y materion penodol hynny. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

15:30

Presiding Officer, when the Health and Social Care Committee in this Senedd was formed, the committee members undertook a piece of work to highlight what areas they would like to look at in the next five years, and this was one that I was really keen to see take place, and I think I speak for all members of the committee when I say that. But I do say, Presiding Officer, that, actually, this inquiry took its toll on me personally; I found it personally difficult. I've no doubt in saying and I'm not ashamed of saying that I found this inquiry hard, I found myself struggling throughout its duration, because the content was just so close to home. I have spoken before in this Chamber, Presiding Officer, about my own issues following trauma, and this inquiry really challenged my ongoing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. I'm mindful, though, that it cannot have been easy for other members of the committee, the committee team, the advisory group who have been here this afternoon, and, of course, those witnesses who gave evidence throughout the inquiry. And I would like to take the opportunity, Presiding Officer, if I may, just to pay particular tribute to my colleague and good friend Ken Skates, who stepped in for me, substituted for me, when it was just too difficult to carry on with.

I wasn't going to speak today, Presiding Officer, but, actually, I felt the need to speak today. I think that this report and this debate emphasises the importance of mental health in Wales and in the United Kingdom. Presiding Officer, I've spoken many times in this Chamber about the importance of better mental health services. It will be no surprise, Presiding Officer, when I say that I want those services to be more trauma-informed, or, perhaps, kinder. This is not an add-on. If we're going to design services that support people who have often experienced trauma, who we know will react differently to anyone in authority, then we have to embed this approach in our mental health services. And I want to spend the small amount of time I have this afternoon to focus my remarks on recommendation 2, already referenced by the Chair of the committee in his opening remarks, and referenced by Jane Dodds, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats as well.

Now, poverty alleviation is key, and I think we all in this Chamber understand that all the levers do not sit with the Welsh Government. Frankly—and I've said this before, Presiding Officer—the UK Government's failure to address growing levels of poverty is at the heart of the mental health crisis that we face. But, I must say, I was surprised that the Welsh Government response didn't choose to highlight the work that is happening here in Wales. Poor and precarious housing—a huge detriment to people's mental health. This is part of the reason that we in Wales are so determined to build council housing at large scales. Similarly, the free school meal programme—a direct intervention to support people at a time when support has never been more needed. We've heard this afternoon the Minister for education about the increase in educational maintenance allowance—again, a vital intervention. And we've heard Jane Dodds reference the basic income pilot and what a universal basic income offers. And through our pilot, we are supporting one of the most disadvantaged cohorts of people—care leavers. And from the conversations I've had with care leavers, and care-experienced parents, through my role as the Petitions Committee Chair, I know the difference that this trial will make. 

These are all things I'm proud of as a Welsh Labour Member, and I'm proud of this Government for doing them. So, I would ask the Minister, the Deputy Minister, to reflect on this important piece of work in front of us today, reflect on the response, reflect on the things that are happening, because we do do stuff in Wales, but we should be doing more; there's no doubt about that. And in responding to this debate this afternoon, to respond in that collaborative spirit, which I do believe this recommendation in particular, recommendation 2, and the entirety of the report was drafted in. Presiding Officer, I'll close by saying at the top, this was a personally difficult inquiry for me, but this has to be done. I thank Members, and I echo the comments of Members, and what they've said about others, and everyone involved in this inquiry today. Diolch yn fawr.

Lywydd, pan ffurfiwyd y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn y Senedd hon, cyflawnodd aelodau'r pwyllgor waith i dynnu sylw at ba feysydd y byddent yn hoffi edrych arnynt yn y pum mlynedd nesaf, ac roedd hwn yn un yr oeddwn yn awyddus iawn i'w weld yn digwydd, ac rwy'n credu fy mod yn siarad ar ran holl aelodau'r pwyllgor pan fyddaf yn dweud hynny. Ond rwyf eisiau dweud, Lywydd, fod yr ymchwiliad hwn wedi gadael ei ôl arnaf yn bersonol; rwyf wedi'i chael hi'n anodd yn bersonol. Nid oes gennyf amheuaeth o hynny ac nid oes arnaf gywilydd dweud fy mod wedi gweld yr ymchwiliad hwn yn anodd, roeddwn yn ei chael hi'n anodd drwy gydol yr ymchwiliad, am fod y cynnwys yn taro tant i'r fath raddau. Rwyf wedi siarad o'r blaen yn y Siambr hon, Lywydd, am fy mhroblemau fy hun yn dilyn trawma, ac fe wnaeth yr ymchwiliad hwn herio fy iselder a fy anhwylder straen ôl-drawmatig parhaus. Er hynny, rwy'n ymwybodol na allai fod wedi bod yn hawdd i aelodau eraill y pwyllgor, tîm y pwyllgor, y grŵp cynghori sydd wedi bod yma y prynhawn yma, ac wrth gwrs, y tystion a roddodd dystiolaeth drwy gydol yr ymchwiliad. A hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle, Lywydd, os caf, i dalu teyrnged arbennig i fy nghyd-Aelod a fy nghyfaill, Ken Skates, a gamodd i'r adwy, a chymryd fy lle, pan oedd hi'n rhy anodd imi barhau â'r gwaith.

Nid oeddwn yn mynd i siarad heddiw, Lywydd, ond mewn gwirionedd, roeddwn yn teimlo bod angen i mi siarad heddiw. Rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad hwn a'r ddadl hon yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru ac yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Lywydd, rwyf wedi siarad droeon yn y Siambr hon am bwysigrwydd gwell gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Ni fydd yn syndod, Lywydd, pan ddywedaf fy mod eisiau i'r gwasanaethau hynny fod yn fwy ystyriol o drawma, neu efallai, yn fwy caredig. Nid ychwanegiad yw hwn. Os ydym am ddylunio gwasanaethau sy'n cefnogi pobl sydd wedi profi trawma'n aml, y gwyddom y byddant yn ymateb yn wahanol i unrhyw un sydd mewn awdurdod, mae'n rhaid i ni ymgorffori'r dull hwn yn ein gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Ac rwyf am dreulio'r ychydig amser sydd gennyf y prynhawn yma i ganolbwyntio fy sylwadau ar argymhelliad 2, sydd eisoes wedi cael ei grybwyll gan Gadeirydd y pwyllgor yn ei sylwadau agoriadol, a chan Jane Dodds, arweinydd Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru hefyd.

Nawr, mae lliniaru tlodi yn allweddol, a chredaf ein bod ni i gyd yn y Siambr hon yn deall nad yw'r holl ysgogiadau yn nwylo Llywodraeth Cymru. A bod yn onest—ac rwyf wedi dweud hyn o'r blaen, Lywydd—methiant Llywodraeth y DU i fynd i'r afael â lefelau cynyddol o dlodi sydd wrth wraidd yr argyfwng iechyd meddwl sy'n ein hwynebu. Ond rhaid imi ddweud, roeddwn yn synnu nad oedd ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru yn dewis tynnu sylw at y gwaith sy'n digwydd yma yng Nghymru. Tai gwael ac ansicr—anfantais enfawr i iechyd meddwl pobl. Dyma ran o'r rheswm pam ein bod ni yng Nghymru mor benderfynol o adeiladu tai cyngor ar raddfa fawr. Yn yr un modd, y rhaglen prydau ysgol am ddim—ymyrraeth uniongyrchol i gefnogi pobl ar adeg pan fo mwy o angen cefnogaeth nag erioed. Rydym wedi clywed y Gweinidog addysg yn sôn y prynhawn yma am y cynnydd yn y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg—unwaith eto, ymyrraeth hanfodol. Ac rydym wedi clywed Jane Dodds yn cyfeirio at y peilot incwm sylfaenol a'r hyn y mae incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol yn ei gynnig. A thrwy ein cynllun peilot, rydym yn cefnogi un o'r carfanau mwyaf difreintiedig o bobl—pobl sy'n gadael gofal. Ac o'r sgyrsiau a gefais gyda phobl sy'n gadael gofal, a rhieni â phrofiad o ofal, drwy fy rôl fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, rwy'n gwybod cymaint o wahaniaeth y bydd y treial hwn yn ei wneud. 

Mae'r rhain i gyd yn bethau rwy'n falch ohonynt fel Aelod Llafur Cymru, ac rwy'n falch o'r Llywodraeth am eu gwneud. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog, y Dirprwy Weinidog, fyfyrio ar y gwaith pwysig sydd ger ein bron heddiw, myfyrio ar yr ymateb, myfyrio ar y pethau sy'n digwydd, oherwydd rydym yn gwneud pethau yng Nghymru, ond dylem fod yn gwneud mwy; nid oes amheuaeth ynglŷn â hynny. Ac wrth ymateb i'r ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, i ymateb yn yr un ysbryd cydweithredol y credaf fod yr argymhelliad hwn yn arbennig, argymhelliad 2, a'r adroddiad cyfan wedi'i lunio ynddo. Lywydd, rwyf am ddirwyn i ben drwy ddweud ar y dechrau fod hwn yn ymchwiliad anodd i mi'n bersonol, ond mae'n rhaid iddo gael ei wneud. Diolch i'r Aelodau, ac rwy'n adleisio sylwadau'r Aelodau, a'r hyn y maent wedi'i ddweud am eraill, a phawb sy'n rhan o'r ymchwiliad hwn heddiw. Diolch yn fawr.

15:35

I want to start off my contribution by thanking the Chair and members of the Health and Social Care Committee for their report into mental health inequalities in Wales, and for shining a light on the very real mental health epidemic that is too often mistaken and given a lower status than physical health, and that just simply cannot be right. A striking element of the report was in recommendation 1 for me, where it states that the mental health of the population won't improve, and will continue to deteriorate without effective action to address the impacts of trauma and tackle inequalities in society and the wider determinants of mental health. Now, if that doesn't shock Members in here, I don't know what does, because that does call to me that we need to do everything we can to address mental health issues in Wales. 

The report in total outlines 27 recommendation from the committee on how the Welsh Government could improve the mental health outcomes of the people of Wales. Whilst there are positives to be taken from the Welsh Government accepting 17 of the 27 recommendations, this still leaves us with the 10 recommendations that are yet to be accepted, and I hope that the Minister will look at these again with her officials and, hopefully, bring these forward. It was not just me who was saddened by the response from the Welsh Government. The advisory group, formed of lived-experience experts, said that they were disappointed and frustrated with the Welsh Government response. I know that many stakeholders who took part in this inquiry said that there was a lack of ambition, and that we don't have the joined-up structures to address the issues. These are not my words, but the words of experts and charities from across Wales, and unfortunately, this isn't isolated—this response from the Welsh Government. We're seeing time and time again responses from all Welsh Government departments, which basically fob off committee reports and committee letters, and it is simply not good enough, and the Welsh Government must do more to engage better with this Senedd. 

We can all read the report for ourselves and digest the detail of each of the recommendations. Some key standouts for me are the recommendations around moving away from the current status of sharing information as appropriate to moving towards an annual report, and I think it's very, very important that we have data in a timely manner so that we can scrutinise the Welsh Government and all elements of its performance. I welcome the moves to help children who are neurodivergent and suffering with mental health trauma. But I think it is disappointing that we don't see timescales or a road map for those improvements. I'd like to hear the Minister's views on those today. 

I want to draw attention to recommendation 21, which was accepted by the Government, which asks for Welsh Government civil servants and Ministers, when taking decisions on all Government business, to recommend how they will improve the mental health of the nation. As I said, I'm pleased that the Government took this up, because it is everybody's business across Government and in this Senedd to improve the mental health and well-being of the people in Wales, and it's very positive that the Government brought that forward. 

One of the things that was rejected by the Government was recommendation 16 on social prescribing. The Minister knows that this is something that's very important to me, and we've discussed this on a number of occasions—the key role that it can play in helping people to thrive and reducing their dependencies on medication where appropriate. I know that not all of the levers sit with you regarding this, but I'd like to hear more about what the Government is doing around social prescribing. 

Recommendation 26: working with police forces. That's also a very important recommendation, because all too often, our emergency services are picking up the pieces and dealing with acute mental health crises, at a time when our emergency services should be dealing with other issues. Our police and other emergency services are not social workers. So, any further work that the Government can do around working with the police is very welcome. 

The successor to the 'Together for Mental Health' strategy gives us a huge opportunity here in Wales to be bold and ambitious to start addressing some of the issues outlined in the report. And I think this report is a springboard to embed better practices across Government, and, as I said, embed some of the recommendations that have come forward in this report.

As the shadow Minister for mental health, I take my role extremely seriously in the Senedd. I have the platform and very privileged position to ask the Minister questions quite regularly and also to meet with her privately to discuss issues. So, I think it's very, very important that we also provide solutions to the problems that we face, because I want to see more accountability across Government portfolios and embed that whole-Government approach in designing policy to improve the mental health of the people of Wales. We need to be proactive and work on preventative measures where possible: better systems in our schools to support children and young people before they reach adulthood. Mental health services should be co-designed with the people who rely on the services at the core of everything they do. And that's why I'm very pleased about this report and the recommendations that it outlines. 

One of the things that I think we could do here in Wales to embed this report and make things better here in Wales is to implement and have an individual mental health Act specifically for Wales, making Welsh law in this area for Welsh people, moving away from the UK Mental Health Act 1983 and designing one for Wales, for Welsh people. And, at a minimum, I think we should be looking at the mental health Measure, and re-looking at that and setting new targets and standards on how we want to see mental health being improved here in Wales. My ex-colleague Jonathan Morgan brought that forward. It's outdated, it needs to be looked at again and made fit for purpose for the twenty-first century. 

Rwyf am ddechrau fy nghyfraniad drwy ddiolch i Gadeirydd ac aelodau'r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol am eu hadroddiad ar anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru, ac am daflu goleuni ar yr epidemig iechyd meddwl gwirioneddol sy'n rhy aml yn cael ei gamgymryd ac sy'n cael statws is nag iechyd corfforol, ac ni all hynny fod yn iawn. Un elfen drawiadol o'r adroddiad oedd argymhelliad 1 i mi, lle mae'n dweud na fydd iechyd meddwl a llesiant y boblogaeth yn gwella, ac y bydd yn parhau i ddirywio heb weithredu effeithiol i fynd i'r afael ag effaith trawma a gwrthsefyll anghydraddoldebau mewn cymdeithas a phenderfynyddion ehangach iechyd meddwl gwael. Nawr, os nad yw hynny'n dychryn yr Aelodau yma, nid wyf yn gwybod beth sydd, oherwydd mae'n dangos i mi fod angen inni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i fynd i'r afael â materion iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru. 

Mae'r adroddiad yn amlinellu cyfanswm o 27 argymhelliad gan y pwyllgor ynghylch sut y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru wella canlyniadau iechyd meddwl pobl Cymru. Er bod pethau cadarnhaol yn y ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn 17 o'r 27 argymhelliad, mae hyn yn dal i'n gadael gyda'r 10 argymhelliad sydd eto i'w derbyn, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn edrych ar y rhain eto gyda'i swyddogion ac y bydd, gobeithio, yn cyflwyno'r rhain hefyd. Nid fi oedd yr unig un i gael fy siomi gan ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru. Dywedodd y grŵp cynghori o arbenigwyr â phrofiad bywyd eu bod yn siomedig ac yn rhwystredig gydag ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o randdeiliaid a gymerodd ran yn yr ymchwiliad hwn wedi dweud bod yna ddiffyg uchelgais, ac nad oes gennym strwythurau cydgysylltiedig i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn. Nid fy ngeiriau i yw'r rhain, ond geiriau arbenigwyr ac elusennau o bob cwr o Gymru, ac yn anffodus, nid un digwyddiad yw hwn—yr ymateb hwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rydym yn gweld ymatebion dro ar ôl tro gan holl adrannau Llywodraeth Cymru, sydd fwy neu lai'n diystyru adroddiadau pwyllgorau a llythyrau pwyllgorau, ac nid yw'n ddigon da, ac mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud mwy i ymgysylltu'n well â'r Senedd hon. 

Gallwn i gyd ddarllen yr adroddiad ein hunain a threulio manylion pob un o'r argymhellion. Rhai o'r prif bethau sy'n sefyll allan i mi yw'r argymhellion sy'n ymwneud â symud oddi wrth y sefyllfa bresennol o rannu gwybodaeth fel sy'n briodol a symud tuag at adroddiad blynyddol, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael data mewn modd amserol fel y gallwn graffu ar Lywodraeth Cymru a phob elfen o'i pherfformiad. Rwy'n croesawu'r camau i helpu plant sy'n niwroamrywiol ac sy'n dioddef gyda thrawma iechyd meddwl. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn siomedig nad oes gennym amserlenni na map ffordd ar gyfer y gwelliannau hynny. Hoffwn glywed barn y Gweinidog am y rheini heddiw. 

Rwyf am dynnu sylw at argymhelliad 21, a dderbyniwyd gan y Llywodraeth, sy'n gofyn i weision sifil a Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth wneud penderfyniadau ar holl fusnes y Llywodraeth, argymell sut y byddant yn gwella iechyd meddwl y genedl. Fel y dywedais, rwy'n falch fod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn hyn, oherwydd mae gwella iechyd meddwl a lles meddyliol pobl Cymru yn fusnes i bawb ar draws y Llywodraeth a'r Senedd hon, ac mae'n gadarnhaol iawn fod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn hynny. 

Un o'r pethau a gafodd ei wrthod gan y Llywodraeth oedd argymhelliad 16 ar bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol. Mae'r Gweinidog yn gwybod bod hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n bwysig iawn i mi, ac rydym wedi ei drafod ar sawl achlysur—y rôl allweddol y gall ei chwarae yn helpu pobl i ffynnu a lleihau eu dibyniaeth ar feddyginiaeth lle bo hynny'n briodol. Gwn nad yw pob un o'r ysgogiadau yn eich dwylo chi, ond hoffwn glywed mwy am yr hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud mewn perthynas â phresgripsiynu cymdeithasol. 

Argymhelliad 26: gweithio gyda heddluoedd. Mae hwn hefyd yn argymhelliad pwysig iawn, oherwydd yn rhy aml o lawer, mae ein gwasanaethau brys yn codi'r darnau ac yn ymdrin ag argyfyngau iechyd meddwl acíwt, ar adeg pan ddylai ein gwasanaethau brys fod yn ymdrin â materion eraill. Nid gweithwyr cymdeithasol yw ein heddlu a'r gwasanaethau brys eraill. Felly, mae croeso i unrhyw waith pellach y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud mewn perthynas â gweithio gyda'r heddlu. 

Mae olynydd strategaeth 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl' yn rhoi cyfle enfawr i ni yma yng Nghymru i fod yn feiddgar ac uchelgeisiol wrth ddechrau mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion a amlinellir yn yr adroddiad. Ac rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad hwn yn sbardun i ymgorffori arferion gwell ar draws y Llywodraeth, ac fel y dywedais, i ymgorffori rhai o'r argymhellion sydd wedi cael eu cyflwyno yn yr adroddiad hwn.

Fel Gweinidog yr wrthblaid dros iechyd meddwl, rwy'n gyfan gwbl o ddifrif ynglŷn â fy rôl yn y Senedd. Mae gennyf blatfform ac rwyf mewn sefyllfa freintiedig iawn i ofyn cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog yn eithaf rheolaidd a hefyd i'w chyfarfod yn breifat i drafod materion. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod hefyd yn darparu atebion i'r problemau sy'n ein hwynebu, oherwydd rwyf eisiau gweld mwy o atebolrwydd ar draws portffolios y Llywodraeth a gwreiddio'r dull Llywodraeth gyfan o lunio polisi i wella iechyd meddwl pobl Cymru. Mae angen i ni fod yn rhagweithiol a gweithio ar fesurau ataliol lle bo'n bosibl: systemau gwell yn ein hysgolion i gefnogi plant a phobl ifanc cyn iddynt ddod yn oedolion. Dylid cydgynllunio gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl gyda'r bobl sy'n dibynnu ar y gwasanaethau sydd wrth wraidd popeth a wnânt. A dyna pam rwy'n falch iawn o'r adroddiad hwn a'r argymhellion y mae'n eu hamlinellu. 

Un o'r pethau rwy'n credu y gallem eu gwneud yma yng Nghymru i sefydlu'r adroddiad hwn a gwella pethau yma yng Nghymru yw gweithredu a chael Deddf Iechyd Meddwl unigol yn benodol ar gyfer Cymru, gan greu cyfraith i Gymru yn y maes hwn ar gyfer pobl Cymru, a symud oddi wrth Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl y DU 1983 a llunio un i Gymru, ar gyfer pobl Cymru. Ac rwy'n credu y dylem o leiaf edrych ar y Mesur iechyd meddwl, ac ailedrych ar hwnnw a gosod targedau a safonau newydd mewn perthynas â sut rydym eisiau gweld iechyd meddwl yn cael ei wella yma yng Nghymru. Cafodd hwnnw ei gyflwyno gan fy nghyn gyd-Aelod, Jonathan Morgan. Mae wedi dyddio, mae angen edrych arno eto a'i wneud yn addas i'r diben ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. 

15:40

James, you need to finish now, please. 

James, mae angen i chi ddirwyn i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda. 

I am finishing just now. So, I believe that this is a great report. It highlights a lot of important issues here that need to be addressed, and I think the people of Wales want to see action on this issue, Minister, and change cannot come soon enough. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.  

Rwy'n dirwyn i ben nawr. Felly, credaf fod hwn yn adroddiad gwych. Mae'n tynnu sylw at lawer o faterion pwysig sydd angen mynd i'r afael â hwy, ac rwy'n credu bod pobl Cymru eisiau gweld gweithredu ar y mater hwn, Weinidog, a newid cyn gynted ag y bo modd. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.  

I'd like to start by thanking the committee for producing this report. I think it's a really important snapshot of where we are. We know that a substantial number of people in Wales experience mental health challenges. We know wider pressures, like the cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic, had and are having a dreadful impact, but, as the report demonstrates, ingrained factors are also involved. So, it's vital that we have this discussion and work to ensure that the right support and services are in place.

Before I get on to the substance of the report, I just want to mention a few of the excellent groups in Cynon Valley who are working to make sure local people can get that support. Often, these are local people affected by some of the inequalities the report described. Signposted Cymru developed out of a community-based boot camp started by Darren Thomas during the pandemic. Those who have attended have been or were suffering from mental health issues, and the boot camp gave focus and goals. Since then, Signposted Cymru has become a self-sustaining charity, with a well-deserved reputation for developing and delivering community-based mental health and well-being services. They offer immediate intervention for individuals who are struggling, suffering and needing support. I know, with their Wales-wide remit, they would welcome the chance to engage with Senedd colleagues, and I look forward to my forthcoming visit to them with Lynne Neagle.

There's also Valleys Steps, who were founded as a well-being charity to help people take action to improve their mental health. Their focus is on everyday well-being, built on a passionate belief that everyone should have the opportunity to learn ways of managing the psychological difficulties that we can all face.

I also recently visited one of the support groups run by Mothers Matter. They offer prenatal and postnatal support for women and their families during pregnancies and after babies are born. There's also Friends R Us, a local support group for people affected by mental health challenges and their friends, family and carers. They offer the opportunity for people to meet, relax and socialise in a homely, happy atmosphere. I'm proud to serve as their president and to support them in their work.

To all these groups: thank you for all that you do.

Turning to the report before us today, I want to touch on three key recommendations. Recommendation 1 urges that effective action and a clear ambition to reduce mental health inequalities must be at the centre of Welsh Government’s approach. I'm glad that Ministers have accepted this recommendation. All the good work carried out by the groups I mentioned requires participation and frameworking from government. It's positive that this work is taking place. The programme for government, backed by £6.3 million of funding, prioritises service redesign to improve prevention, tackle stigma and promote a 'no wrong door' approach to mental health support. I'm also keenly following the progress of measures such as ‘111 press 2’ for instant mental health support.

Recommendation 14 talks about social prescribing. Another excellent Cynon Valley organisation doing exceptional work in this field is Cynon Valley Organic Adventures. Janis Werrett and her team have worked with Cardiff University to develop a green social prescribing model that saw them winning numerous awards, including the 2021 National Lottery Wales Project of the Year. They already have good buy-in from local primary healthcare services, but I would like to see this strengthened and deepened, and to see their success rolled out as a model in other parts of Wales.

And finally recommendation 24, which is all about collation and publishing of data. I think this is fundamentally important if we are to monitor and track progress to see if interventions are having the necessary impact. I was pleased to see the measures Welsh Government have taken in response to this. I look forward to the publication of this data in due course, so that we can follow progress and ensure good mental health, and good access to good mental health services, for all citizens in Wales.

Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am gynhyrchu'r adroddiad hwn. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn cynnig cipolwg pwysig iawn ar ein sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yn gwybod bod nifer sylweddol o bobl Cymru yn profi heriau iechyd meddwl. Rydym yn gwybod bod pwysau ehangach, fel yr argyfwng costau byw a'r pandemig, wedi cael ac yn dal i gael effaith ofnadwy, ond fel y mae'r adroddiad yn dangos, mae yna ffactorau creiddiol yn rhan o hyn hefyd. Felly, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cael y drafodaeth a'r gwaith hwn i sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth a'r gwasanaethau priodol ar waith.

Cyn i mi fwrw ymlaen at sylwedd yr adroddiad, rwyf am sôn am rai o'r grwpiau gwych yng Nghwm Cynon sy'n gweithio i sicrhau bod pobl leol yn gallu cael y gefnogaeth honno. Yn aml, mae'r rhain yn bobl leol sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan rai o'r anghydraddoldebau a ddisgrifiwyd yn yr adroddiad. Datblygodd Signposted Cymru o bŵtcamp cymunedol a gynhaliwyd gan Darren Thomas yn ystod y pandemig. Roedd y rhai a'i mynychai'n dioddef o broblemau iechyd meddwl, ac roedd y bŵtcamp yn cynnig ffocws a nodau. Ers hynny, mae Signposted Cymru wedi tyfu i fod yn elusen hunangynhaliol, gydag enw da haeddiannol am ddatblygu a darparu gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a lles meddyliol yn y gymuned. Maent yn cynnig ymyrraeth uniongyrchol i unigolion sy'n cael trafferth, yn dioddef ac angen cymorth. Gyda'u gwaith yn ymestyn ledled Cymru, gwn y byddent yn croesawu'r cyfle i ymgysylltu â fy nghyd-Aelodau o'r Senedd, ac edrychaf ymlaen at ymweld â hwy'n fuan gyda Lynne Neagle.

Cafodd Camau'r Cymoedd ei sefydlu fel elusen llesiant i helpu pobl i weithredu i wella eu hiechyd meddwl. Mae eu ffocws ar lesiant bob dydd, wedi'i adeiladu ar gred angerddol y dylai pawb gael cyfle i ddysgu ffyrdd o reoli'r anawsterau seicolegol y gallwn i gyd eu hwynebu.

Yn ddiweddar hefyd, ymwelais ag un o'r grwpiau cymorth sy'n cael eu rhedeg gan Mothers Matter. Maent yn cynnig cefnogaeth gynenedigol ac ôl-enedigol i fenywod a'u teuluoedd yn ystod beichiogrwydd ac ar ôl i fabanod gael eu geni. Grŵp cymorth lleol yw Friends R Us i bobl sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan heriau iechyd meddwl a'u ffrindiau, eu teuluoedd a'u gofalwyr. Maent yn cynnig cyfle i bobl ddod at ei gilydd, ymlacio a chymdeithasu mewn awyrgylch cartrefol, hapus. Rwy'n falch o wasanaethu fel eu llywydd a'u cefnogi yn eu gwaith.

I'r grwpiau hyn i gyd: diolch am bopeth rydych yn ei wneud.

Os caf droi at yr adroddiad sydd ger ein bron heddiw, rwyf eisiau cyffwrdd â thri argymhelliad allweddol. Mae argymhelliad 1 yn dweud bod yn rhaid i weithredu effeithiol ac uchelgais clir i leihau anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl fod yn ganolog i ddull Llywodraeth Cymru o weithredu ar iechyd meddwl. Rwy'n falch fod Gweinidogion wedi derbyn yr argymhelliad hwn. Mae'r holl waith da a wnaed gan y grwpiau y soniais amdanynt angen cyfranogiad a fframwaith gan lywodraeth. Mae'n gadarnhaol fod y gwaith hwn yn digwydd. Mae'r rhaglen lywodraethu, wedi'i chefnogi gan £6.3 miliwn o gyllid, yn blaenoriaethu ailgynllunio gwasanaethau i wella atal, mynd i'r afael â stigma a hyrwyddo dull 'dim drws anghywir' ar gyfer cymorth iechyd meddwl. Rwyf hefyd yn dilyn cynnydd mesurau fel '111 dewis 2' am gymorth iechyd meddwl ar unwaith.

Mae argymhelliad 14 yn sôn am bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol. Sefydliad ardderchog arall yng Nghwm Cynon sy'n gwneud gwaith eithriadol yn y maes hwn yw Anturiaethau Organig Cwm Cynon. Mae Janis Werrett a'i thîm wedi gweithio gyda Phrifysgol Caerdydd i ddatblygu model presgripsiynu cymdeithasol gwyrdd sydd wedi ennill nifer o wobrau, gan gynnwys Prosiect y Flwyddyn Loteri Genedlaethol Cymru 2021. Mae gwasanaethau gofal iechyd sylfaenol lleol eisoes yn troi atynt, ond hoffwn weld hyn yn cael ei gryfhau a'i ddyfnhau, a hoffwn weld eu llwyddiant yn cael ei gyflwyno fel model mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru.

Ac yn olaf argymhelliad 24, sy'n ymwneud â chasglu a chyhoeddi data. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn sylfaenol bwysig os ydym am fonitro ac olrhain cynnydd i weld a yw ymyriadau'n cael yr effaith angenrheidiol. Roeddwn yn falch o weld y mesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cymryd mewn ymateb i hyn. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld y data'n cael ei gyhoeddi maes o law, fel y gallwn ddilyn cynnydd a sicrhau iechyd meddwl da, a mynediad da at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl da, i bob dinesydd yng Nghymru.

15:45

Can I begin by thanking the committee for the opportunity to step in as a substitute for my good friend and colleague Jack Sargeant, who has demonstrated again today how trauma and mental ill health can affect every one of us at some point in life? 

I'd like to just focus on recommendation 21, if I may. It has already been raised by James Evans, and it has been accepted in principle by the Deputy Minister. Now, every one of us agrees that mental health needs to be a cross-Government priority, not just in aspiration, but in practice as well. And yes, recommendation 21 is about process, largely, but process counts—hugely so in combatting what is known as departmentalitis, which can materialise not just in Ministers, but also in civil servants. Implementing recommendation 21 would ensure portfolio boundaries don't get in the way, they don't hinder delivery and improvement. So, as a very minimum, I would urge the Welsh Government not just to accept in principle, but to accept fully, the implementation of recommendation 21 in regard to what are known as ministerial advice submissions—within Government, simply 'MAs'. These are vitally important submissions that require a decision from the appropriate Minister.

Mental health should be a consideration, in my view, in all ministerial advice submissions if we are to change the culture for the better within Government and ensure that mental health improvements, and tackling inequalities in terms of service provision, is truly cross-Government in its nature. This is a recommendation that comes with zero cost to the Welsh Government, which would, as I say, change the culture of the organisation for the better and most certainly help the Deputy Minister in her vital role within Government.

Finally, I'd like to thank, as many others have already done, all of those individuals and organisations that contributed so well to this inquiry. It's a hugely important report. The very many recommendations will, I hope, be considered further by the Welsh Government. Finally, I'd like to thank the Deputy Minister for her response, and I look forward to hearing her further thoughts and views today this afternoon during this debate.

A gaf fi ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am y cyfle i gamu i'r adwy fel dirprwy i fy nghyfaill a fy nghyd-Aelod Jack Sargeant, sydd wedi dangos eto heddiw sut y gall trawma a salwch meddwl effeithio ar bob un ohonom ar ryw adeg mewn bywyd? 

Hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar argymhelliad 21, os caf. Mae eisoes wedi cael ei grybwyll gan James Evans, ac fe'i derbyniwyd mewn egwyddor gan y Dirprwy Weinidog. Nawr, mae pob un ohonom yn cytuno bod angen i iechyd meddwl fod yn flaenoriaeth drawslywodraethol, nid yn unig fel dyhead, ond yn ymarferol hefyd. Ac ydy, mae argymhelliad 21 yn ymwneud â phroses i raddau helaeth, ond mae proses yn cyfrif—yn aruthrol felly wrth fynd i'r afael â'r hyn a elwir yn ysfa i adranoli, sy'n gallu effeithio nid yn unig ar Weinidogion, ond hefyd ar weision sifil. Byddai gweithredu argymhelliad 21 yn sicrhau nad yw ffiniau portffolio'n mynd yn y ffordd, ac nad ydynt yn rhwystr rhag cyflawni a gwella. Felly, fan lleiaf, byddwn yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i dderbyn argymhelliad 21 yn llawn, ac nid mewn egwyddor yn unig, o ran yr hyn a elwir yn gyflwyniadau cyngor gweinidogol—'MAs' o fewn y Llywodraeth. Cyflwyniadau hanfodol bwysig sy'n galw am benderfyniad gan y Gweinidog priodol yw'r rhain.

Dylai iechyd meddwl fod yn ystyriaeth, yn fy marn i, ym mhob cyflwyniad cyngor gweinidogol os ydym am newid y diwylliant er gwell o fewn y Llywodraeth a sicrhau bod gwelliannau i iechyd meddwl, a mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau yn y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau, yn wirioneddol drawslywodraethol ei natur. Dyma argymhelliad heb unrhyw gost i Lywodraeth Cymru, a fyddai, fel y dywedaf, yn newid diwylliant y sefydliad er gwell ac yn sicr yn helpu'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn ei rôl hanfodol o fewn y Llywodraeth.

Yn olaf, fel y mae llawer o bobl eraill eisoes wedi'i wneud, hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl unigolion a sefydliadau a gyfrannodd gymaint at yr ymchwiliad hwn. Mae'n adroddiad hynod o bwysig. Bydd yr argymhellion niferus iawn, gobeithio, yn cael eu hystyried ymhellach gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Yn olaf, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei hymateb, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed ei meddyliau a'i safbwyntiau pellach y prynhawn yma yn ystod y ddadl hon.

15:50

Galwaf yn awr ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, Lynne Neagle.

I now call on the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, Lynne Neagle.

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I start by thanking the committee for their detailed work on this report? I know, from my own time as a committee Chair, how much work goes into producing a report of this nature. As Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, I am determined to do everything that I can to ensure that equity and access to, and outcomes from, mental health services are the very best that they can be.

I recognise that, despite improvements, there will be people who have not had the experience that we or they would want. Hearing from and working with people who have lived experience of our services is key to driving the improvement we need. I am very grateful to all those who engaged with the committee through their advisory panel.

As Members have said, from the 27 recommendations in the committee’s report, we accepted 17 in full and a further nine in principle. Now, I know, from my time as a committee Chair, that committees are often not fond of ‘accept in principle’ responses, and I understand that. But I will say—and I will try and pick up on some of those ‘accept in principles’ in my response—that, in every one where we've done that, it’s because work is already under way, or because we're unable to comply with the entire detail of the recommendation.

Let me also assure the committee and the advisory panel that we are fully committed to tackling inequalities in mental health. It is an area of focus in our current strategy, as I set out in some considerable detail when I came to the committee, talking about initiatives in employment, housing, tackling poverty et cetera, and it will be central to the development of our successor strategy in Wales.

To support this, we too are working closely with those people with lived experience of services, including our national service user and carer forum. We have also convened our ethnic minority task and finish group in the summer of 2021 to identify ways to better support access to mental health services amongst ethnic minority communities and to promote equity of access. This is one key reference group as we develop our new mental health strategy for Wales. I'm also in the process of establishing a young persons’ reference group for the new strategy.

I note the committee’s concerns about levels of detail within the response from the Government. I very much welcome the committee’s report, especially coming, as it did, at the start of our process to develop a new mental health strategy for Wales. But our strategy, I've been very clear, is going to be co-produced, in as transparent a way as possible, with people with lived experience and with stakeholders. It would have been quite wrong for me to have pre-empted that process, which is going to take several months, because it is going to be very thorough, by setting out in the response to the committee exactly what that strategy will look like.

Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith manwl ar yr adroddiad hwn? O fy nghyfnod i fel Cadeirydd pwyllgor, rwy'n gwybod faint o waith yw cynhyrchu adroddiad o'r natur hwn. Fel Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, rwy'n benderfynol o wneud popeth yn fy ngallu i sicrhau bod cydraddoldeb a mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl, a chanlyniadau'r gwasanaethau hynny, mor dda ag y gallant fod.

Rwy'n cydnabod, er gwaethaf gwelliannau, y bydd yna bobl sydd heb gael y profiad y byddent hwy a ninnau eisiau iddynt ei gael. Mae clywed gan bobl a gweithio gyda phobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd o'n gwasanaethau yn allweddol i ysgogi'r gwelliannau sydd eu hangen arnom. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i bawb a ymgysylltodd â'r pwyllgor drwy eu panel cynghori.

Fel y dywedodd yr Aelodau, o'r 27 o argymhellion yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, fe wnaethom dderbyn 17 yn llawn a naw arall mewn egwyddor. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod, o fy nghyfnod i fel Cadeirydd pwyllgor, fod pwyllgorau'n aml heb fod yn hoff o ymatebion 'derbyn mewn egwyddor', ac rwy'n deall hynny. Ond rwyf am ddweud—a byddaf yn ceisio mynd ar drywydd rhai o'r ymatebion 'derbyn mewn egwyddor' yn fy ymateb—ym mhob achos lle rydym wedi gwneud hynny, mae'n digwydd am fod gwaith eisoes ar y gweill, neu am na allwn gydymffurfio â holl fanylion yr argymhelliad.

Gadewch i mi sicrhau'r pwyllgor a'r panel cynghori ein bod wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau ym maes iechyd meddwl. Mae'n faes ffocws yn ein strategaeth bresennol, fel y nodais mewn cryn fanylder pan ddeuthum i'r pwyllgor, a siarad am gynlluniau ym maes cyflogaeth, tai, mynd i'r afael â thlodi ac yn y blaen, a bydd yn ganolog i ddatblygiad ein strategaeth olynol yng Nghymru.

I gefnogi hyn, rydym hefyd yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r bobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd o wasanaethau, gan gynnwys ein fforwm cenedlaethol gofalwyr a defnyddwyr gwasanaethau. Rydym hefyd wedi cynnull ein grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen lleiafrifoedd ethnig yn haf 2021 i nodi ffyrdd wella cymorth ar gyfer mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd meddwl ymysg cymunedau lleiafrifol ethnig ac i hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb o ran mynediad. Dyma un grŵp cyfeirio allweddol wrth inni ddatblygu ein strategaeth iechyd meddwl newydd ar gyfer Cymru. Rwyf hefyd yn y broses o sefydlu grŵp cyfeirio pobl ifanc ar gyfer y strategaeth newydd.

Rwy'n nodi pryderon y pwyllgor am lefel y manylder yn yr ymateb gan y Llywodraeth. Rwy'n croesawu adroddiad y pwyllgor yn fawr, yn enwedig gan ei fod yn dod ar ddechrau ein proses i ddatblygu strategaeth iechyd meddwl newydd i Gymru. Ond rwyf wedi dweud yn glir iawn y bydd ein strategaeth yn cael ei chydgynhyrchu, mewn ffordd mor dryloyw â phosib, gyda phobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd a chyda rhanddeiliaid. Byddai wedi bod yn hollol anghywir imi achub y blaen ar y broses honno, a fydd yn cymryd sawl mis oherwydd fe fydd yn drylwyr iawn, drwy nodi yn yr ymateb i'r pwyllgor beth yn union fydd yn y strategaeth honno.

One of the great strengths of committees has always been that they are evidence based. I know that the committee took a great deal of evidence on a range of issues, and I do feel that the committee has largely focused on the social determinants of mental health. The committee took very strong evidence on serious mental illness, where you heard that people living with a serious mental illness can often die 15 to 20 years sooner than people without a serious mental illness, yet there's been little reference to that in the committee's report. Multiple witnesses gave evidence about the inequalities facing children and young people, which is something that is very, very close to my heart and a top priority for me as Minister—again, very little reference to that in the report.

So, the social determinants of mental health will be a key part of our new strategy, but it will not be the only part, and I want to be really clear with Members about that today. We all have mental health, and, yes, people's mental health is affected by the social determinants of mental health and by trauma, but there are also many, many people who have had much easier lives, lived comfortable lives and who haven't experienced trauma who suffer with their mental health. And this Government will develop a strategy for all of those people.

And I just wanted to say a few words now, if it's okay, about the work of your advisory group, which I really, really welcome. I know how hard it is for people with lived experience to talk about that lived experience, especially when it has not been all that they expected it to be. So, I really appreciate the contribution that the advisory group has made. I want to say to the advisory group that I have read your report and listened carefully to what you were saying in that report. I'd also like to give you some assurances. So, just referring to your report, you've talked about the levers for tackling poverty, where you've said that, apart from the police, the majority of everything else has been devolved and, therefore, the reliance should not be on the UK Government to do anything. But that is not the case, and the committee is well aware of that. The main levers, the tax and benefits system, aren't devolved, and this Government has spent £1.6 billion on schemes that target the cost-of-living crisis and on programmes that put money back in people's pockets—a cost-of-living crisis, I might add, that has been made and sustained by the UK Government.

Jack, I did set out in some considerable detail when I came to the committee all the steps that have been taken to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. If we had done that again in our written response, it would have been like War and Peace. I'm sure, if you want to go back and have a look at the Record, you can see some of the detail that I set out.

I am very happy to meet the advisory group to discuss any of these issues. I know that they had concerns about how co-productive the work on neurodiversity was. I know that one of the questions asked was: does anyone with ND conditions sit on the neurodiversity advisory group for the Government, or is it just a bunch of suits? Well, I'm very pleased to assure the group that the group is co-chaired by people with lived experience of neurodivergence. And as Julie Morgan set out very clearly yesterday, co-production is written through that work that she is leading like it is through a stick of rock.

Can I just, finally, reassure the advisory group on the workforce plan, where you said that the workforce plan will probably cost 2p, that actually we're investing £6.3 million in the workforce plan? That is absolutely critical if we are to have a sustainable, inclusive and diverse workforce to deliver our new strategy for Wales.

I would very quickly like to just pick up on a few of the areas where Members have raised particular concerns. On the 'accept in principle' on the trauma framework, Sarah, you won't find anyone that's more passionate about trauma-informed services than me. Julie Morgan and I fully support the framework. We attended the launch, we wrote the foreword, we're meeting Traumatic Stress Wales and the ACEs hub shortly to discuss it, but it's not our framework, and it is important that that framework is co-produced by people in Wales, by Welsh society, that it's owned by everyone in Wales, so we are taking that co-productive approach to that.

Several Members have mentioned the directory, and our accept in principle on that. Just to say that we have got no problem with improving information that's available to the public, but there are already lots of things in place, and we want to refine and improve that before we go to the lengths of duplicating effort. And it is not the case that you need a GP referral to access lots of the services that are advertised online: things like SilverCloud are open access; '111 press 2' is open access.

Russell, and several Members, and Jane as well, have talked about community connection—

Un o gryfderau mawr pwyllgorau yw eu bod yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth. Gwn i'r pwyllgor glywed llawer iawn o dystiolaeth ar ystod o faterion, ac rwy'n teimlo bod y pwyllgor wedi canolbwyntio i raddau helaeth ar benderfynyddion cymdeithasol iechyd meddwl. Cafodd y pwyllgor dystiolaeth gref iawn ar salwch meddwl difrifol, lle clywsoch fod pobl sy'n byw gyda salwch meddwl difrifol yn aml yn gallu marw 15 i 20 mlynedd yn gynt na phobl heb salwch meddwl difrifol, ac eto ychydig o gyfeiriadau at hynny a gafwyd yn adroddiad y pwyllgor. Rhoddodd nifer o dystion dystiolaeth am yr anghydraddoldebau sy'n wynebu plant a phobl ifanc, rhywbeth sy'n agos iawn at fy nghalon ac yn brif flaenoriaeth i mi fel Gweinidog—eto, ychydig iawn o gyfeirio a fu at hynny yn yr adroddiad.

Felly, bydd penderfynyddion cymdeithasol iechyd meddwl yn rhan allweddol o'n strategaeth newydd, ond nid dyna fydd yr unig ran, ac rwyf eisiau bod yn glir iawn ynglŷn â hynny gyda'r Aelodau heddiw. Mae gan bob un ohonom iechyd meddwl, ac ydy, effeithir ar iechyd meddwl pobl gan benderfynyddion cymdeithasol iechyd meddwl a chan drawma, ond mae yna hefyd lawer o bobl sydd wedi cael bywydau llawer haws, wedi byw bywydau cyfforddus ac sydd heb brofi trawma sy'n dioddef gyda'u hiechyd meddwl. A bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn datblygu strategaeth ar gyfer y bobl hynny i gyd.

Ac roeddwn eisiau dweud ychydig eiriau nawr, os yw'n iawn, am waith eich grŵp cynghori, gwaith rwy'n ei groesawu'n fawr. Rwy'n gwybod pa mor anodd yw hi i bobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd siarad am y profiad bywyd hwnnw, yn enwedig pan nad yw wedi bod yn union fel roeddent yn disgwyl iddo fod. Felly, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi cyfraniad y grŵp cynghori. Hoffwn ddweud wrth y grŵp cynghori fy mod wedi darllen eich adroddiad ac wedi gwrando'n ofalus ar yr hyn roeddech yn ei ddweud yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Hoffwn hefyd roi rhywfaint o sicrwydd i chi. Felly, gan gyfeirio at eich adroddiad, rydych wedi siarad am yr ysgogiadau ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â thlodi, lle rydych chi wedi dweud, ar wahân i'r heddlu, fod y rhan fwyaf o bethau eraill wedi'u datganoli, ac felly, na ddylai fod dibyniaeth ar Lywodraeth y DU i wneud unrhyw beth. Ond nid yw hynny'n wir, ac mae'r pwyllgor yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny. Nid yw'r prif ysgogiadau, y system dreth a budd-daliadau, wedi'u datganoli, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi gwario £1.6 biliwn ar gynlluniau sy'n targedu'r argyfwng costau byw ac ar raglenni sy'n rhoi arian yn ôl ym mhocedi pobl—argyfwng costau byw, gallwn ychwanegu, sydd wedi'i greu a'i gynnal gan Lywodraeth y DU.

Jack, pan ddeuthum i'r pwyllgor, fe nodais mewn cryn fanylder yr holl gamau sydd wedi'u cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng costau byw. Pe baem wedi gwneud hynny eto yn ein hymateb ysgrifenedig, byddai wedi bod fel War and Peace. Os hoffech fynd yn ôl i edrych ar y Cofnod, rwy'n siŵr y gwelwch rai o'r manylion a nodais.

Rwy'n hapus iawn i gyfarfod â'r grŵp cynghori i drafod unrhyw un o'r materion hyn. Rwy'n gwybod bod ganddynt bryderon ynghylch pa mor gydgynhyrchiol oedd y gwaith ar niwroamrywiaeth. Gwn mai un o'r cwestiynau a ofynnwyd oedd: a oes unrhyw un sydd â chyflyrau niwroamrywiol yn aelod o grŵp cynghori niwroamrywiaeth y Llywodraeth, neu ai dim ond criw o siwtiau ydynt? Wel, rwy'n falch iawn o sicrhau'r grŵp fod y grŵp yn cael ei gadeirio ar y cyd gan bobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd o niwrowahaniaeth. Ac fel y dywedodd Julie Morgan yn glir iawn ddoe, mae cydgynhyrchu'n rhan gwbl greiddiol o'r gwaith hwnnw.

I orffen, a gaf fi dawelu meddyliau'r grŵp cynghori ynglŷn â chynllun y gweithlu, lle roeddech chi'n dweud y bydd cynllun y gweithlu yn debygol o gostio 2g, mewn gwirionedd rydym yn buddsoddi £6.3 miliwn yng nghynllun y gweithlu? Mae hynny'n gwbl hanfodol os ydym am gael gweithlu cynaliadwy, cynhwysol ac amrywiol i gyflawni ein strategaeth newydd i Gymru.

Yn gyflym iawn, hoffwn grybwyll ambell un o'r meysydd lle mae'r Aelodau wedi mynegi pryderon penodol. Ar 'dderbyn mewn egwyddor' y fframwaith trawma, Sarah, ni chewch hyd i neb sy'n fwy angerddol am wasanaethau sy'n ystyriol o drawma na fi. Mae Julie Morgan a minnau'n cefnogi'r fframwaith yn llwyr. Aethom i'r lansiad, fe wnaethom ysgrifennu'r rhagair, rydym yn cyfarfod â Straen Trawmatig Cymru a'r Hyb Profiadau Niweidiol yn ystod Plentyndod yn fuan i'w drafod, ond nid ein fframwaith ni ydyw, ac mae'n bwysig fod y fframwaith hwnnw'n cael ei gydgynhyrchu gan bobl yng Nghymru, gan gymdeithas Cymru, a'i fod yn eiddo i bawb yng Nghymru, felly rydym yn mabwysiadu'r ymagwedd gydgynhyrchiol honno tuag at hynny.

Mae sawl Aelod wedi sôn am y cyfeiriadur, a'r ffaith ein bod yn derbyn hynny mewn egwyddor. Hoffwn ddweud nad oes gennym broblem gyda gwella gwybodaeth sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd, ond mae llawer o bethau eisoes ar waith, ac rydym eisiau mireinio a gwella hynny cyn inni fynd mor bell â dyblygu ymdrechion. Ac nid yw'n wir fod angen atgyfeiriad gan feddyg teulu arnoch i gael mynediad at lawer o'r gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu hysbysebu ar-lein: ceir mynediad agored at bethau fel SilverCloud; ceir mynediad agored at '111 dewis 2'.

Mae Russell, a sawl Aelod, a Jane hefyd, wedi siarad am gysylltiad cymunedol—

16:00

Minister, I've been very lenient, and you have gone well over your time.

Weinidog, rwyf wedi bod yn drugarog iawn, ac mae eich amser wedi hen ddod i ben.

Okay. Well, I'll just conclude on this, then, and just say that I recognise the strong approach to relational approaches in the committee report, and that's what you were talking about, Jane; it's about having strong communities and keeping people connected. All our approaches in Welsh Government are already based on that: our NEST framework, our whole-school approach to mental health. Only before Easter, the Gwent attachment team came in and did training for Welsh Government on attachment and trauma principles. So, we aren't just talking the talk on this; we are walking the walk, as Welsh Government.

I'm going to conclude there, because I can see that I've run out of time. I'm very happy to have further discussions with the committee about the areas of concern they have, and to assure everyone that our strategy will be cross-Government; it will tackle mental health inequalities, but it will also make sure that everyone with a mental health need in Wales has access to the services that they need. Diolch.

O'r gorau. Wel, rwyf am ddod i ben gyda hyn felly, a dweud fy mod i'n cydnabod y dull cryf o weithredu dulliau perthynol yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, a dyna roeddech chi'n sôn amdano, Jane; mae'n ymwneud â chael cymunedau cryf a chadw pobl yn gysylltiedig. Mae ein holl ddulliau yn Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi'u seilio ar hynny: ein fframwaith NYTH, ein dull ysgol gyfan o ymdrin ag iechyd meddwl. Cyn y Pasg, daeth tîm ymlyniad Gwent i mewn a darparu hyfforddiant i Lywodraeth Cymru ar egwyddorion ymlyniad a thrawma. Felly, nid siarad am hyn yn unig a wnawn; rydym hefyd yn gweithredu, fel Llywodraeth Cymru.

Rwyf am orffen yn y fan honno gan y gallaf weld bod fy amser wedi dod i ben. Rwy'n hapus iawn i gael trafodaethau pellach gyda'r pwyllgor am y meysydd pryder sydd ganddynt, ac i sicrhau pawb y bydd ein strategaeth yn drawslywodraethol; bydd yn mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl, ond bydd hefyd yn sicrhau bod gan bawb sydd ag angen iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru fynediad at y gwasanaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt. Diolch.

Galwaf ar Russell George i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Russell George to reply to the debate.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Members who took part in this debate today, and echo some of the other Members' comments to thank the committee service and the wider integrated team for their huge support in helping us prepare this report? And I thank everyone who shared their lived experience with us as a committee, especially those who took part in the online advisory group. We're very grateful for the huge input into our work from the advisory group.

To comment on some of the comments from this afternoon: Rhun shed some light on mental health in general, and reminded us how important it is to talk about mental health and to take action to improve prevention. He went on to emphasise trauma and the role of communities, the need to tackle the root causes, if we're to make a real difference. And, of course, Rhun also outlined his disappointment that we provided—we think we provided as a committee—ideas and solutions that we don't think were adequately taken up. I'm disappointed about the failure to provide timelines.

And the bit I wrote down of what Rhun said: Welsh Government shouldn't be accepting of scrutiny on its own terms. Sarah: thank you, Sarah, for your comments, Sarah Murphy, talking about the groundbreaking report. Yes, I will take an intervention.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelodau a gymerodd ran yn y ddadl hon heddiw, ac adleisio rhai o sylwadau'r Aelodau eraill drwy ddiolch i'r gwasanaeth pwyllgor a'r tîm integredig ehangach am eu cefnogaeth enfawr yn ein helpu i baratoi'r adroddiad hwn? A diolch i bawb a rannodd eu profiad byw gyda ni fel pwyllgor, yn enwedig y rhai a gymerodd ran yn y grŵp cynghori ar-lein. Rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn am y mewnbwn enfawr i'n gwaith gan y grŵp cynghori.

Os caf roi sylw i rai o'r sylwadau y prynhawn yma: fe daflodd Rhun rywfaint o oleuni ar iechyd meddwl yn gyffredinol, gan ein hatgoffa pa mor bwysig yw siarad am iechyd meddwl a gweithredu i wella atal. Aeth yn ei flaen i bwysleisio trawma a rôl cymunedau, yr angen i fynd i'r afael â'r achosion sylfaenol os ydym am wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol. Ac wrth gwrs, amlinellodd Rhun ei siom ein bod wedi darparu—y credwn ein bod wedi darparu fel pwyllgor—syniadau ac atebion nad ydym yn credu yr aethpwyd ar eu trywydd yn ddigonol. Rwy'n siomedig am y methiant i ddarparu amserlenni.

A'r darn a ysgrifennais am yr hyn a ddywedodd Rhun: ni ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru dderbyn craffu ar ei thelerau ei hun. Sarah: diolch am eich sylwadau, Sarah Murphy, wrth siarad am yr adroddiad arloesol. Iawn, fe dderbyniaf ymyriad.

I know it's a terrible thing to try and intervene, but one of the points that I didn't get a chance to refer to was the updates. We will provide an update by December 2023. The only reason we didn't commit to doing that annually is because what I'd like to do is align the reporting against the new strategy with the reports to the committee. So, there is absolutely no attempt to avoid scrutiny.

Gwn ei bod yn ofnadwy fy mod yn gofyn am ymyriad, ond un o'r pwyntiau na chefais gyfle i gyfeirio ato oedd y diweddariadau. Byddwn yn darparu diweddariad erbyn mis Rhagfyr 2023. Yr unig reswm na wnaethom ymrwymo i wneud hynny'n flynyddol yw oherwydd mai'r hyn yr hoffwn ei wneud yw alinio'r adrodd yn erbyn y strategaeth newydd gyda'r adroddiadau i'r pwyllgor. Felly, nid oes unrhyw ymgais o gwbl i osgoi craffu.

Thank you, Deputy Minister.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog.

Thank you for taking the intervention.

Diolch i chi am dderbyn yr ymyriad.

That's certainly on the record, and it sounds like you're open to giving annual reports, but in a particular mechanism and I can see, for the record, the Minister nodding. So, that's very much appreciated, because that was a concern of our committee and the online advisory group also, so I very much welcome that, Deputy Minister.

Sarah was also talking about the difficulties for people from ethnic minority backgrounds and communities. And Sarah was also talking about recommendation 10, which endorses the ESJ committee's recommendations in relation to a directory for interpreters as well. We heard that, didn't we, in our visits last year?

Thank you to Jane Dodds for taking part, talking about CAMHS and the need for investment and funds, community resilience, lack of sustainable long-term funding—also raised with us as well in our evidence sessions.

Thank you to Jack for taking part in this debate today and talking very honestly about the impact this inquiry had on you. So, thank you, Jack. Jack went on to talk about the need for services to be trauma informed, and kindness. He highlighted the role of the UK Government, surprised that the Government's response didn't focus more on what work the Welsh Government is doing in Wales. Jack finished by asking the Deputy Minister to reflect on the Government's response and what the Welsh Government is doing in Wales.

James, thank you for taking part in this debate. A lack of parity between mental health and physical health, the need to engage better with the Senedd, echoed the need for timescales and clear road maps, social prescribing—a really interesting part of our evidence sessions. They were really fascinating sessions we had in regard to social prescribing. Working with the police, and again that whole-Government approach, as James raised, and James outlined his view about the need for reform of mental health legislation in Wales.

I thank Vikki. Thank you for taking part in the debate. Again, we need to address the causes of poorer mental health and the role of community organisations.

Thank you to Ken Skates, who took part in this debate today, but also who was a temporary member of our committee during the course of this session. So, I thank you, Ken, for your input and your focus on recommendation 21—mental health must be a cross-Government priority—and a focus on combating that 'departmentitis', I think you referred to it as, in terms of improving those barriers and improving as well.

Deputy Minister, I know that you're really personally committed—I can see the time, the clock is just going—to your role, and to tackling mental health inequalities. I should say that we know mental health is devolved, and that's why our recommendation 3 talked about research into the potential impact of devolving that area. But I think the online advisory group will be very happy that you've agreed to meet with them, and you indicated your support and willingness to meet with us as well, so as a committee I'll make sure we reach out and arrange that. It would be helpful to have that informal session, so we can explore some further possibilities. Thank you, Deputy Minister, for that.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Deputy Presiding Officer, to those who have taken part in the debate this afternoon.

Mae hynny'n sicr wedi'i gofnodi, ac mae'n swnio fel pe baech yn agored i roi adroddiadau blynyddol, ond mewn peirianwaith penodol ac os caf gofnodi fy mod yn gallu gweld y Gweinidog yn nodio. Felly, mae hynny'n cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr, oherwydd roedd hwnnw'n destun pryder i'n pwyllgor a'r grŵp cynghori ar-lein hefyd, felly rwy'n croesawu hynny'n fawr, Ddirprwy Weinidog.

Roedd Sarah hefyd yn sôn am yr anawsterau i bobl o gefndiroedd a chymunedau lleiafrifol ethnig. Ac roedd Sarah hefyd yn siarad am argymhelliad 10, sy'n cymeradwyo argymhellion y pwyllgor cydraddoldeb a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol mewn perthynas â chyfeirlyfr ar gyfer cyfieithwyr hefyd. Fe glywsom hynny, oni wnaethom, yn ein hymweliadau y llynedd?

Diolch i Jane Dodds am gymryd rhan, a siarad am CAMHS a'r angen am fuddsoddiad a chronfeydd, cadernid cymunedol, diffyg cyllid cynaliadwy hirdymor—a gafodd ei ddwyn i'n sylw hefyd yn ystod ein sesiynau tystiolaeth.

Diolch i Jack am gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon heddiw a siarad yn onest iawn am yr effaith a gafodd yr ymchwiliad hwn arnoch chi. Felly, diolch, Jack. Aeth Jack yn ei flaen i siarad am yr angen i wasanaethau fod yn ystyriol  o drawma, a charedigrwydd. Tynnodd sylw at rôl Llywodraeth y DU, a synnu nad oedd ymateb y Llywodraeth yn canolbwyntio mwy ar ba waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud yng Nghymru. Gorffennodd Jack drwy ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog ystyried ymateb y Llywodraeth a'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud yng Nghymru.

James, diolch am gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon. Roedd diffyg cydraddoldeb rhwng iechyd meddwl ac iechyd corfforol, yr angen i ymgysylltu'n well â'r Senedd, yn adleisio'r angen am amserlenni a chynlluniau clir, presgripsiynu cymdeithasol—rhan wirioneddol ddiddorol o'n sesiynau tystiolaeth. Cawsom sesiynau hynod ddiddorol ar bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol. Gan weithio gyda'r heddlu, ac unwaith eto y dull Llywodraeth gyfan hwnnw, fel y nododd James, ac amlinellodd James ei farn am yr angen i ddiwygio deddfwriaeth iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru.

Diolch i Vikki. Diolch am gymryd rhan yn y ddadl. Unwaith eto, mae angen inni fynd i'r afael ag achosion iechyd meddwl gwaelach a rôl sefydliadau cymunedol.

Diolch i Ken Skates, a gymerodd ran yn y ddadl hon heddiw, ond a oedd hefyd yn aelod dros dro o'n pwyllgor yn ystod y sesiwn hon. Felly, diolch i chi, Ken, am eich mewnbwn a'ch ffocws ar argymhelliad 21—rhaid i iechyd meddwl fod yn flaenoriaeth drawslywodraethol—a ffocws ar frwydro yn erbyn yr ysfa i adranoli—rwy'n credu mai dyna roeddech chi'n ei alw—er mwyn gwella'r rhwystrau hynny a gwella hefyd.

Ddirprwy Weinidog, rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi wedi ymrwymo'n bersonol—gallaf weld y cloc yn mynd—i'ch rôl, ac i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl. Dylwn ddweud ein bod yn gwybod bod iechyd meddwl wedi'i ddatganoli, a dyna pam y soniai ein hargymhelliad 3 am ymchwil i effaith bosibl datganoli'r maes hwnnw. Ond rwy'n credu y bydd y grŵp cynghori ar-lein yn hapus iawn eich bod wedi cytuno i gyfarfod â hwy, ac fe wnaethoch nodi eich cefnogaeth a'ch parodrwydd i gyfarfod â ni hefyd, felly fel pwyllgor byddaf yn sicrhau ein bod yn estyn allan ac yn trefnu hynny. Byddai'n ddefnyddiol cael y sesiwn anffurfiol honno, fel y gallwn archwilio posibiliadau pellach. Diolch am hynny, Ddirprwy Weinidog.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, diolch yn fawr iawn i'r rhai a gymerodd ran yn y drafodaeth y prynhawn yma.

16:05

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Dwi ddim yn clywed gwrthwynebiad, felly derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? I don't hear an objection, and therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

6. Dadl ar Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith—'Datgarboneiddio’r sector tai preifat'
6. Debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee Report—'Decarbonising the private housing sector'

Eitem 6 y prynhawn yma yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith, 'Datgarboneiddio'r sector tai preifat'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig, Llyr Gruffydd.

Item 6 this afternoon is the debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee's report on 'Decarbonising the private housing sector'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion, Llyr Gruffydd.

Cynnig NDM8248 Llyr Gruffydd

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith: ‘Datgarboneiddio’r sector tai preifat’, a osodwyd ar 28 Chwefror 2023.

Motion NDM8248 Llyr Gruffydd

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report: ‘Decarbonising the private housing sector’, laid on 28 February 2023.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch o galon, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch am y cyfle i agor y ddadl ar yr adroddiad pwysig yma. Mae yna 1.4 miliwn o gartrefi yng Nghymru sy'n gyfrifol am 11 y cant o gyfanswm ein hallyriadau carbon ni. Nawr, mae 1.1 miliwn o'r cartrefi hynny mewn perchnogaeth breifat, felly mae hi'n gwbl amlwg, onid yw hi, os yw Cymru am gyrraedd ei thargedau statudol ar gyfer lleihau allyriadau carbon, yna mi fydd angen ôl-osod neu retroffitio y cartrefi hynny er mwyn gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni a galluogi'r newid i wresogi carbon isel. Dyma, wrth gwrs, oedd yn flaenllaw ym meddyliau aelodau'r pwyllgor wrth inni gynnal ein hymchwiliad i ystyried sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn helpu i ddatgarboneiddio’r sector tai preifat, ac wrth inni edrych hefyd ar y cynnydd a wnaed hyd yn hyn.

Mae ein hadroddiad ni, a gyhoeddwyd ddiwedd mis Chwefror, yn gwneud 29 o argymhellion, ac mae'r Llywodraeth wedi derbyn 17 ohonyn nhw ac mae yna 12 ohonyn nhw wedi cael eu derbyn mewn egwyddor. Er ein bod ni'n ddiolchgar am ymateb y Gweinidog, rŷn ni yn siomedig ei fod yn rhy aml ddim yn gwneud unrhyw ymrwymiadau penodol, yn methu â mynd i'r afael yn uniongyrchol â'r argymhelliad, yn rhy aml o lawer, neu, yn syml, jest yn ailadrodd rhethreg ynglŷn â pha mor anodd yw hyn i gyd, ac mi fyddaf i yn gwneud sylw ar y rhain wrth i fi siarad am rai o'r argymhellion allweddol.

Nawr, hyd yma, mae ymdrech Llywodraeth Cymru i ddatgarboneiddio'r stoc dai bresennol wedi canolbwyntio bron yn llwyr ar gartrefi cymdeithasol, a hynny drwy'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio. Mae yna bryder mawr gan weithwyr proffesiynol yn y maes tai, ac eraill, fod y sector tai preifat yn cael ei anwybyddu ac yn cael ei adael ar ôl. Fel y dywedodd Sefydliad Tai Siartredig Cymru, y sector tai preifat yw'r eliffant yn yr ystafell o safbwynt datgarboneiddio. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi dweud wrthym ni dro ar ôl tro fod y sector tai cymdeithasol ymhellach ymlaen ar y daith tuag at ddatgarboneiddio, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn dewis blaenoriaethu buddsoddiad mewn cartrefi cymdeithasol oherwydd mai dyna lle mae ganddi'r mwyaf o bwerau a dyna lle mae ganddi'r mwyaf o fesurau y gall eu defnyddio. A dydyn ni, wrth gwrs, ddim yn anghytuno â hynny. Yn hytrach, yr hyn rŷn ni'n ei ddweud fel pwyllgor yw bod yna gamau y gall ac y dylai'r Llywodraeth eu cymryd ochr yn ochr â hynny i baratoi'r sector tai preifat i ddatgarboneiddio.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for the opportunity to open the debate on this important report. Wales has 1.4 million homes and they account for 11 per cent of our overall carbon emissions. Now, 1.1 million of those homes are privately owned, so it's quite clear that if Wales wants to reach its statutory carbon emission reduction targets then these homes will need to be retrofitted to improve energy efficiency and to enable the switch to low-carbon heating. Of course, this was forefront in the minds of committee members as we held our inquiry to consider how the Welsh Government is helping to decarbonise the private housing sector, and as we look at the progress made to date.

Our report, which was published at the end of February, makes 29 recommendations, and the Welsh Government has accepted 17 of these and 12 have been accepted in principle. While we're grateful for the Minister's response, we are disappointed that it's too often non-committal, that it fails to directly address the recommendations, far too often, or simply rehashes rhetoric about how difficult all of this is, and I will be commenting on this as I mention some of our key recommendations.

Now, the Welsh Government's efforts to date to decarbonise the existing housing stock have focused almost exclusively on social homes, through the optimised retrofit programme. There is deep concern among housing professionals, and others, that the private housing sector is being overlooked and left behind. As the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru so neatly put it, the private housing sector is the elephant in the room when it comes to decarbonisation. The Minister has repeatedly told us that the social housing sector is further forward on its journey towards decarbonising, with the Welsh Government choosing to prioritise investment in social homes because that's where it has the most powers and most levers. We're not disputing that, of course. Rather, what we're saying as a committee is that there are actions that can and should be taken by Government in parallel to prepare the private housing sector to decarbonise.

16:10

Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

Now, first of all, on the matter of a strategy, while stakeholders acknowledged the commitments made in 'Net Zero Wales', they called for a comprehensive, long-term strategy or plan for decarbonising the sector, not least to send a clear signal to consumers and the industry about the direction of travel, and also to help drive market behaviour. Having heard from the Minister, I have to say we're no clearer about whether the Welsh Government intends to publish such a strategy. The purpose of recommendation 2 was to try and get a definitive answer, and that answer it seems is 'no'. According to the Minister, 'Net Zero Wales' tells us as much as we need to know. Well, I’m afraid the overwhelming majority of stakeholders simply don't agree. And while the Welsh Government remains resistant to calls for a long-term strategy, it has committed, of course, to developing a residential housing decarbonisation route-map. Now, we're told this will,

'give direction and drive progress towards decarbonising Wales existing homes.'

In accepting recommendation 4, the Minister has agreed to report back to us on progress towards developing the route-map. We welcome this, clearly, but I'd like to press the Minister further on when the route-map is likely to be published. Are we looking at a year? Eighteen months? Maybe two years even? Clearly, it's needed sooner rather than later.

The Minister has accepted in principle our recommendation for the route-map to include key policy milestones and interim targets for the sector to help drive progress. Well, Minister, it's a simple question, I suppose: you're either prepared to include milestones and targets in your route-map or you're not. So, I'm not sure what 'accept in principle' means in this context, so we'd like maybe some assurance on that point as well. 

Moving on to learning from the optimised retrofit programme. From what we know of the programme, it is, in many respects, exemplary and has the potential to help support other tenures to decarbonise. However, over a year ago, the Minister told the committee the programme will,

'provide the springboard to rapidly start the decarbonising of homes in other tenures by 2023.'

Well, here we are, over four months into 2023, and we've seen no evidence of this. The Minister's response to recommendation 6 sounds very familiar, telling us again that the programme will,

'provide the springboard to start the decarbonisation of homes in other tenures as we move forward.'

Well, Minister, one thing is clear from that response: very little progress has been made. 

As part of our inquiry, we looked at existing support for energy efficiency improvements, including the Warm Homes programme. Members will be familiar, I'm sure, with the Equality and Social Justice Committee's report on the programme, which was published in July of last year. Since September, we've been waiting patiently for the Welsh Government to publish details on the next iteration of the programme. In responding to our report, the Minister told us this would be done shortly after the end of March. Well, it's May, still there's nothing. The delay in publication has gone, I have to say, from being mildly frustrating to deeply concerning. And you were asked about this earlier in questions this afternoon, but merely said that an announcement would be made shortly. So, maybe, in responding to the debate, I'll try again and ask you: how much longer do we have to wait?

Our report points to a combination of regulatory standards and incentives being needed to accelerate retrofit in the private housing sector. I don't want to take up time talking about regulatory standards, as these are outside of the control of the Welsh Government. That said, I'd like to thank the Minister for her comprehensive response to recommendations 15 through to 18 in our report, which relate to future standards and enforcement.

On incentivising retrofit, it's safe to say that, to date, policies and programmes designed to incentivise retrofit have failed to deliver at scale and pace. This has led to growing support for a tax-based incentive to stimulate demand for retrofit, with many experts heralding an energy-adjusted land transaction tax as a potential game changer. The Welsh Government previously ruled out a tax-based incentive, favouring more targeted grants and improved Government communication to encourage take-up of energy efficiency improvements. But the consensus outside of Government is that this approach isn't working. Our report calls for the Welsh Government to reconsider its position, therefore. Although the Minister has accepted in principle our recommendation, the response strongly suggests that a tax-based incentive is off the table, which is disappointing. According to the Minister, other types of, and I quote,

'more direct financial levers or incentives may be preferable.'

That obviously therefore begs the question, 'What are they?' What kind of things are we talking about and when will they potentially be introduced?

Finally, and crucially, our report considers financial solutions for those able to pay, recognising, of course, that public finances won't stretch to meet the cost of retrofitting all of Wales's homes. With grant funding mainly targeted at low-income, fuel-poor households, a significant number of property owners will need to find other ways to fund retrofit, and with cost estimates of between £17,000 and up to over £66,000, this obviously will be easier said than done, particularly given the lack of financial solutions currently on offer. Although work to evaluate financing options for the sector may be under way in Wales, the Welsh Government needs to step up the pace to ensure that retrofit is affordable for the many, not the few, as somebody once said.

Property-linked finance enables retrofit to be funded by attaching debt to the property rather than to the individual. It's well established in parts of the US and will soon be piloted in England as well. Calls for a property-linked finance model for Wales are growing, with the New Economics Foundation, the future generations commissioner and the Chartered Institute of Housing amongst its supporters. So, we recommend the Welsh Government bring forward fully worked-up proposals for financial solutions, including property-linked finance, within the next 12 months. Although the Minister has accepted the recommendation, there is no particular mention of property-linked finance in her response, so maybe, Minister, you could explain where you are in looking at this and developing such a model for Wales when you respond to the debate.

Nawr, yn gyntaf oll, ar fater strategaeth, er bod rhanddeiliaid yn cydnabod yr ymrwymiadau a wnaed yn 'Cymru Sero Net', roeddent yn galw am strategaeth neu gynllun cynhwysfawr, hirdymor ar gyfer datgarboneiddio'r sector, yn anad dim er mwyn anfon arwydd clir i ddefnyddwyr a'r diwydiant am gyfeiriad y teithio, a hefyd i helpu i ysgogi ymddygiad y farchnad. Ar ôl clywed gan y Gweinidog, rhaid imi ddweud nad ydym ronyn cliriach a yw Llywodraeth Cymru'n bwriadu cyhoeddi strategaeth o'r fath. Pwrpas argymhelliad 2 oedd ceisio cael ateb pendant, ac mae'n ymddangos mai'r ateb hwnnw yw 'na'. Yn ôl y Gweinidog, mae 'Cymru Sero Net' yn dweud cymaint ag sydd angen inni ei wybod. Wel, mae arnaf ofn nad yw'r mwyafrif llethol o randdeiliaid yn cytuno. Ac er bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n parhau i wrthwynebu galwadau am strategaeth hirdymor, mae wedi ymrwymo, wrth gwrs, i ddatblygu trywydd ar gyfer datgarboneiddio tai preswyl. Nawr, clywn y bydd hwn,

'yn rhoi cyfeiriad ac yn ysgogi cynnydd tuag at ddatgarboneiddio cartrefi presennol Cymru.'

Wrth dderbyn argymhelliad 4, mae'r Gweinidog wedi cytuno i adrodd yn ôl i ni ar gynnydd tuag at ddatblygu'r trywydd. Rydym yn croesawu hyn yn amlwg, ond hoffwn ofyn ymhellach i'r Gweinidog ddweud pryd fydd y trywydd yn debygol o gael ei gyhoeddi. A ydym yn edrych ar flwyddyn? Deunaw mis? Dwy flynedd hyd yn oed? Yn amlwg, mae ei angen yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach.

Mae'r Gweinidog wedi derbyn mewn egwyddor ein hargymhelliad y dylai'r trywydd gynnwys cerrig milltir polisi allweddol a thargedau dros dro i'r sector er mwyn helpu i ysgogi cynnydd. Wel, Weinidog, mae'n gwestiwn syml, am wn i: rydych chi naill ai'n barod i gynnwys cerrig milltir a thargedau yn eich trywydd neu nid ydych yn barod i wneud hynny. Felly, nid wyf yn siŵr beth yw ystyr 'derbyn mewn egwyddor' yn y cyd-destun hwn, felly hoffem rywfaint o sicrwydd ar y pwynt hwnnw hefyd. 

Gan symud ymlaen i ddysgu o'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimieiddio. O'r hyn a wyddom am y rhaglen, mae'n enghreifftiol mewn sawl ffordd ac mae ganddi botensial i helpu i gynorthwyo mathau eraill o ddeiliadaeth i ddatgarboneiddio. Fodd bynnag, dros flwyddyn yn ôl, dywedodd y Gweinidog wrth y pwyllgor y bydd y rhaglen

'yn darparu ysgogiad i ddechrau datgarboneiddio cartrefi mewn mathau eraill o ddeiliadaeth yn gyflym erbyn 2023.'

Wel, dyma ni, dros bedwar mis i mewn i 2023, ac nid ydym wedi gweld unrhyw dystiolaeth o hyn. Mae ymateb y Gweinidog i argymhelliad 6 yn swnio'n gyfarwydd iawn, ac mae'n dweud wrthym eto mai'r rhaglen

'fydd y sbringfwrdd i ddechrau datgarboneiddio cartrefi mewn deiliadaethau eraill yn y dyfodol.'

Wel, Weinidog, mae un peth yn glir o'r ymateb hwnnw: ychydig iawn o gynnydd a wnaed. 

Fel rhan o'n hymchwiliad, buom yn edrych ar y cymorth sy'n bodoli eisoes ar gyfer gwelliannau effeithlonrwydd ynni, gan gynnwys y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelodau'n gyfarwydd ag adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ar y rhaglen, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd. Ers mis Medi, rydym wedi bod yn aros yn amyneddgar i Lywodraeth Cymru gyhoeddi manylion iteriad nesaf y rhaglen. Wrth ymateb i'n hadroddiad, dywedodd y Gweinidog wrthym y byddai hyn yn cael ei wneud yn fuan ar ôl diwedd mis Mawrth. Wel, mae'n fis Mai, ac nid oes unrhyw beth wedi'i gyhoeddi. Rhaid imi ddweud bod yr oedi cyn cyhoeddi wedi mynd o fod ychydig yn rhwystredig i fod yn destun pryder mawr. A gofynnwyd i chi am hyn yn gynharach mewn cwestiynau y prynhawn yma, ond y cyfan a ddywedoch chi yw y byddai cyhoeddiad yn cael ei wneud yn fuan. Felly, efallai wrth ymateb i'r ddadl y rhoddaf gynnig arall arni a gofyn i chi: faint yn hirach sy'n rhaid i ni aros?

Mae ein hadroddiad yn cyfeirio at yr angen am gyfuniad o safonau rheoleiddio a chymhellion i gyflymu ôl-osod yn y sector tai preifat. Nid wyf am lyncu amser yn siarad am safonau rheoleiddio, gan fod y rhain y tu hwnt i reolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Wedi dweud hynny, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei hymateb cynhwysfawr i argymhellion 15 i 18 yn ein hadroddiad, sy'n ymwneud â safonau a gorfodaeth yn y dyfodol.

Ar gymell ôl-osod, mae'n ddiogel dweud, hyd yma, fod polisïau a rhaglenni a gynlluniwyd i gymell ôl-osod wedi methu cyflawni ar raddfa fawr ac yn gyflym. Mae hyn wedi arwain at gefnogaeth gynyddol i gymhelliad sy'n seiliedig ar dreth i ysgogi'r galw am ôl-osod, gyda llawer o arbenigwyr yn cefnogi treth trafodion tir wedi'i haddasu ar gyfer ynni fel rhywbeth  a allai arwain at newid mawr. Yn flaenorol fe wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ddiystyru cymhelliad sy'n seiliedig ar dreth, gan ffafrio mwy o grantiau wedi'u targedu a gwell cyfathrebu gan y Llywodraeth i annog pobl i wneud gwelliannau effeithlonrwydd ynni. Ond y consensws y tu allan i'r Llywodraeth yw nad yw'r dull hwn yn gweithio. Mae ein hadroddiad felly'n galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ailystyried ei safbwynt. Er bod y Gweinidog wedi derbyn ein hargymhelliad mewn egwyddor, mae'r ymateb yn awgrymu'n gryf na ellir ystyried cymhelliad sy'n seiliedig ar dreth, sy'n siomedig. Yn ôl y Gweinidog, gallai fod yn well cael mathau eraill o

'ysgogiadau neu gymhellion ariannol... sy'n fwy uniongyrchol.'

Mae hynny'n amlwg felly yn arwain at ofyn y cwestiwn, 'Beth ydynt?' Pa fath o bethau y siaradwn amdanynt a phryd y gellid eu cyflwyno?

Yn olaf, ac yn hollbwysig, mae ein hadroddiad yn ystyried atebion ariannol i'r rhai sy'n gallu talu, gan gydnabod, wrth gwrs, na fydd cyllid cyhoeddus yn ymestyn i dalu cost ôl-ffitio holl gartrefi Cymru. Gyda chyllid grant wedi'i dargedu'n bennaf at aelwydydd incwm isel, tlawd o ran tanwydd, bydd angen i nifer sylweddol o berchnogion eiddo ddod o hyd i ffyrdd eraill o ariannu ôl-osod, a chydag amcangyfrifon cost o rhwng £17,000 a hyd at dros £66,000, bydd yn amlwg yn haws dweud na gwneud, yn enwedig o ystyried y diffyg atebion ariannol sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd. Er bod gwaith i werthuso opsiynau ariannu ar gyfer y sector ar y gweill yng Nghymru, mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflymu gwaith er mwyn sicrhau bod ôl-osod yn fforddiadwy i'r lliaws yn hytrach nag i'r ychydig, fel y dywedodd rhywun unwaith.

Mae cyllid cysylltiedig ag eiddo yn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl ariannu ôl-osod drwy gysylltu dyled ag eiddo yn hytrach nag â'r unigolyn. Mae wedi hen ennill ei blwyf mewn rhannau o'r Unol Daleithiau a chyn bo hir bydd yn cael ei dreialu yn Lloegr hefyd. Mae galwadau am fodel cyllid cysylltiedig ag eiddo i Gymru yn tyfu, gyda'r Sefydliad Economeg Newydd, comisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol a'r Sefydliad Tai Siartredig ymysg ei gefnogwyr. Felly, rydym yn argymell y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno cynigion wedi'u cyfrifo'n llawn ar gyfer atebion ariannol, gan gynnwys cyllid cysylltiedig ag eiddo, o fewn y 12 mis nesaf. Er bod y Gweinidog wedi derbyn yr argymhelliad, nid oes sôn penodol am gyllid cysylltiedig ag eiddo yn ei hymateb, felly efallai y gallech egluro, Weinidog, ble rydych chi arni wrth edrych ar hyn a datblygu model o'r fath i Gymru pan fyddwch chi'n ymateb i'r ddadl.

Os caf i grynhoi, mae yna ymdeimlad bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n gwthio rhai o'r penderfyniadau anodd tan rhyw amser ymhell ymlaen yn y dyfodol pan fo'n dod i ddatgarboneiddio tai'r sector breifat. Ym marn y pwyllgor, dyw hi ddim yn gallu fforddio gwneud hynny. Waeth pa mor aml mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ein hatgoffa ni o'r heriau a'r cymhlethdodau o ran datgarboneiddio'r sector, mae'r ffaith yn aros, onid yw hi: mae angen gwneud y gwaith, a does dim llawer o amser gyda ni i wneud y gwaith hwnnw.

Mae'n rhaid i ni weld tystiolaeth o gynnydd yn y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf. Mae angen i'r map ffordd roeddwn i'n sôn amdano'n gynharach gael ei roi yn ei le a chael ei gyflawni; mae angen polisïau credadwy i annog gwaith ôl-osod sy'n addas i anghenion Cymru; mae angen amrywiaeth o opsiynau ariannu fforddiadwy i wneud gwaith ôl-osod yn realiti i bawb, i enwi dim ond rhai o'r pethau sydd angen i'r Llywodraeth eu gwneud. 

Rŷn ni fel pwyllgor, wrth gwrs, yn edrych ymlaen at ddilyn hynt y gwaith yma rhwng nawr a diwedd y chweched Senedd, a gobeithio y bydd ein hadroddiad ni, ac, yn wir, y ddadl yma y prynhawn yma, yn sbardun pellach i ni weld cynnydd—y cynnydd rŷn ni i gyd eisiau ei weld.

To sum up, there's a sense that the Welsh Government is kicking some of the tough decisions down the road when it comes to decarbonising the private housing sector. In the committee's view, it can't afford to do that. No matter how often the Welsh Government reminds us of the challenges and complexities involved in decarbonising the sector, the fact remains: it needs to be done, and we don't have much time left to do that work.

We must see demonstrable progress in the coming months and years. The route-map that I mentioned earlier needs to be put in place and to be delivered; we need credible policies to incentivise retrofit that meet the needs of Wales; we need a range of affordable funding options to make retrofit a reality for all, to name but a few of the things that the Government needs to do.

We as a committee, of course, look forward to following the progress of this work between now and the end of the sixth Senedd, and hopefully our report and this debate, indeed, will be a further incentive to see progress—the progress that we all want to see in this area.

16:15

I refer Members to my declaration of interest in terms of property ownership.

In terms of reducing the climate impact of Wales, 1.1 million privately owned homes is an immense challenge, because we all know that the privately owned sector makes up over 80 per cent of the total housing stock. Whilst welcoming this report, I do have concerns because of those figures: 80 per cent of the total housing stock in Wales. That's the larger part of the equation that needs solving, if you like, and the focus of the Welsh Government has been on the social housing. The optimised retrofit programme was aimed at social housing. Minister, you've claimed that this is because it's the sector where you are most able to set direction and influence, but for climate change targets, we've got to really embrace properties of all natures, be it in the private rented sector, be it privately owned, and the rental sector. We need a long-term housing decarbonisation strategy and firm policies and programmes.

In response to recommendation 1, you note that

'officials are working with the Decarbonisation Implementation Group in setting up and implementing a residential housing decarbonisation route map for Wales.'

What will this map look like and when will it be published?

On recommendation 2, you state that the group 

'are at the initial stage of identifying relevant themes and actions at a strategic level.'

I suppose, really, again, it's all about timescales, isn't it? We know that clock is ticking. It does feel rather like one of those large egg timers and the sand is really slipping down.

The Warm Homes programme appears to have been judged as failing to deliver at scale and pace too. Honestly, it does sound a bit negative what I'm saying, but I'm not trying to be negative; I'm trying to be constructive. It's a mammoth task and, really, what I'm looking for, certainly as a member of this committee, is to go forward knowing how we can put some meat on the bone, some timescales in place. Nest was supposed to end in March, but as of yesterday, applications for support could still be submitted. What steps are you taking to incentivise those who can afford to pay to invest in decarbonising their homes? It's fair to say there are people who are already now awake and alive to the fact that they cannot continue using so much energy within their own homes, because there's the cost of it now after the Ukraine situation and war, but also people are becoming more aware of individual responsibility when it comes to tackling the climate change agenda. Government can't do everything.

The response to recommendation 14 does lack some clear commitment to removing the planning requirements for air-source heat pumps. For instance, they cannot be installed within 3m of a boundary without permission. Air-source heat pumps are set to be with us for the future, and I've always maintained, when I've been in committee inquiries like this, that it's only one solution. Jenny's not here, but I think Joyce has made a comment that not only is this about new—

Rwy'n cyfeirio'r Aelodau at fy natganiad buddiant ar berchnogaeth eiddo.

O ran lleihau effaith hinsawdd Cymru, mae 1.1 miliwn o gartrefi sy'n eiddo preifat yn her enfawr, oherwydd rydym i gyd yn gwybod bod dros 80 y cant o gyfanswm y stoc dai yn eiddo preifat. Er fy mod yn croesawu'r adroddiad, mae gennyf bryderon oherwydd y ffigurau hynny: 80 y cant o gyfanswm stoc dai Cymru. Dyna'r rhan fwy o'r hafaliad sydd angen ei datrys, os mynnwch, ac mae ffocws Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod ar y tai cymdeithasol. Roedd y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio wedi'i hanelu at dai cymdeithasol. Weinidog, rydych chi wedi honni mai'r rheswm am hyn yw oherwydd mai dyna'r sector lle mae gennych fwyaf o allu i osod cyfeiriad a dylanwadu, ond ar gyfer targedau newid hinsawdd, rhaid i ni gynnwys eiddo o bob math, boed yn y sector rhentu preifat, boed yn eiddo preifat, a'r sector rhentu. Mae angen strategaeth ddatgarboneiddio tai hirdymor a pholisïau a rhaglenni cadarn.

Mewn ymateb i argymhelliad 1, rydych yn nodi bod swyddogion

'yn gweithio gyda'r Grŵp Gweithredu ar gyfer Datgarboneiddio i lunio a gweithredu trywydd er mwyn datgarboneiddio tai preswyl yng Nghymru.'

Sut olwg fydd ar y trywydd hwn pan gaiff ei gyhoeddi?

Ar argymhelliad 2, rydych yn dweud bod y grŵp 

'ar y cam cyntaf o nodi'r themâu a'r camau gweithredu perthnasol ar lefel strategol.'

Rwy'n tybio unwaith eto fod y cyfan yn ymwneud ag amserlenni, onid yw? Fe wyddom fod y cloc yn tician. Mae'n teimlo'n eithaf tebyg i un o'r pethau amseru berwi wy mawr hynny ac mae'r tywod yn llifo i lawr yn gyflym.

Mae'n ymddangos mai'r farn yw bod y rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd yn un sy'n methu cyflawni ar raddfa fawr ac yn gyflym. Yn onest, mae'r hyn rwy'n ei ddweud yn swnio braidd yn negyddol, ond nid wyf yn ceisio bod yn negyddol; rwy'n ceisio bod yn adeiladol. Mae'n dasg anferth ac mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn rwy'n chwilio amdano, yn sicr fel aelod o'r pwyllgor hwn, yw symud ymlaen gan wybod sut y gallwn roi rhywfaint o gig ar yr asgwrn, rhoi amserlenni yn eu lle. Roedd Nyth i fod i ddod i ben ym mis Mawrth, ond roedd hi'n dal yn bosibl cyflwyno ceisiadau am gymorth ddoe. Pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i gymell y rhai sy'n gallu fforddio talu i fuddsoddi mewn mesurau i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartrefi? Mae'n deg dweud bod yna bobl sydd eisoes yn effro ac yn fyw i'r ffaith na allant barhau i ddefnyddio cymaint o ynni yn eu cartrefi eu hunain, oherwydd mae yna gost iddo nawr ar ôl sefyllfa a rhyfel Wcráin, ond hefyd mae pobl yn dod yn fwy ymwybodol o'u cyfrifoldeb fel unigolion i fynd i'r afael â'r agenda newid hinsawdd. Ni all Llywodraeth wneud popeth.

Mae'r ymateb i argymhelliad 14 yn brin o ymrwymiad clir i gael gwared ar y gofynion cynllunio ar gyfer pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer. Er enghraifft, ni ellir eu gosod o fewn 3m i ffin heb ganiatâd. Mae pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer yn mynd i fod gyda ni yn y dyfodol, ac rwyf bob amser wedi credu, mewn ymchwiliadau pwyllgor fel hwn, mai dim ond un ateb ydyw. Nid yw Jenny yma, ond rwy'n meddwl bod Joyce wedi gwneud sylw fod hyn nid yn unig yn ymwneud â—

16:20

Just for the record, Jenny Rathbone is in the Senedd.

Ar gyfer y cofnod, mae Jenny Rathbone yn y Senedd.

Oh, I can see you there. I do beg your pardon. Hi, Jenny. I was saying that you've been quite a strong advocate. It's not about how we can replace the types of energy going in to homes; it's about how we can also insulate and prevent good heat from, as you call it, warming the birds.

I acknowledge that Rent Smart Wales is not responsible either for the MEES enforcement. You did mention some time ago you were going to review the remit of Rent Smart Wales, but I actually—and this came up in evidence taken—believe there's a good remit there for maybe Rent Smart Wales to get involved. They can collect data on individual properties or at a grander scale in different sections. So, what plans have you got to review Rent Smart Wales and maybe broaden their remit in terms of helping you and your Government to be able to deliver a really good comprehensive and effective retrofitting programme?

The committee has been clear that they have an important role to play in changing consumer behaviour, combined with appropriate financial support. During the fifth Senedd, the Welsh Government ruled out the use of tax-based incentives, but indicated it would be willing to re-examine its position, depending on any evidence that comes forward from the advisory group. I know people have looked at the use of council tax, but what progress has been made on that? The reply to recommendation 27 refers to the council tax reform process, but that’s not even at phase 2, so more urgent action is needed, Minister. Will you outline all the fiscal incentives the Welsh Government will take this financial year to incentivise the able-to-pay sector to decarbonise?

Another issue I’ve raised in the committee about the rented social market is where you’ve got really good incentives, and pilots wanting to take place, but residents almost appear not to want these schemes implemented in their own homes, which would certainly save them money, and would help them to contribute towards this agenda. So again, how are you using your powers within the Welsh Government to ensure that these kind of barriers can be overcome? Thank you. Diolch. 

O, rwy'n gallu eich gweld chi. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Helo, Jenny. Roeddwn yn dweud eich bod wedi dadlau'n eithaf cryf. Nid yw'n ymwneud â sut y gallwn gael mathau newydd o ynni i fynd i mewn i gartrefi; mae'n ymwneud â sut y gallwn ni hefyd inswleiddio ac atal gwres da, fel rydych chi'n ei alw, rhag cynhesu'r adar.

Rwy'n cydnabod nad yw Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn gyfrifol am orfodi safonau gofynnol effeithlonrwydd ynni ychwaith. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn beth amser yn ôl eich bod yn mynd i adolygu cylch gwaith Rhentu Doeth Cymru, ond mewn gwirionedd—ac fe gododd hyn mewn tystiolaeth a gasglwyd—rwy'n credu y gallai fod cylch gwaith da yno i Rentu Doeth Cymru ymgymryd ag ef. Gallant gasglu data ar eiddo unigol neu ar raddfa fwy mewn gwahanol adrannau. Felly, pa gynlluniau sydd gennych i adolygu Rhentu Doeth Cymru ac ehangu eu cylch gwaith efallai i'ch helpu chi a'ch Llywodraeth i allu darparu rhaglen ôl-osod wirioneddol gynhwysfawr ac effeithiol?

Mae'r pwyllgor wedi bod yn glir fod ganddynt rôl bwysig i'w chwarae yn newid ymddygiad defnyddwyr, ynghyd â darparu cymorth ariannol priodol. Yn ystod y bumed Senedd, gwrthododd Llywodraeth Cymru y defnydd o gymhellion yn seiliedig ar drethi, ond nododd y byddai'n fodlon ailedrych ar ei safbwynt, yn dibynnu ar unrhyw dystiolaeth a ddaw gan y grŵp cynghori. Rwy'n gwybod bod pobl wedi edrych ar y defnydd o'r dreth gyngor, ond pa gynnydd a wnaed ar hynny? Mae'r ateb i argymhelliad 27 yn cyfeirio at y broses o ddiwygio'r dreth gyngor, ond nid yw hynny ar gyfnod 2 hyd yn oed, felly mae angen gweithredu ar fwy o frys, Weinidog. A wnewch chi amlinellu'r holl gymhellion cyllidol y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu mabwysiadu yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon i gymell y sector sy'n gallu talu i ddatgarboneiddio?

Mater arall a godais yn y pwyllgor am y farchnad rhent cymdeithasol yw lle mae gennych chi gymhellion da iawn, a chynlluniau peilot yn awyddus i ddigwydd, ond mae'n ymddangos bron nad yw trigolion eisiau i'r cynlluniau hyn gael eu rhoi ar waith yn eu cartrefi eu hunain er y byddent yn sicr yn arbed arian iddynt, ac yn eu helpu i gyfrannu tuag at yr agenda hon. Felly unwaith eto, sut rydych chi'n defnyddio eich pwerau yn Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod modd goresgyn y mathau hyn o rwystrau? Diolch. 

16:25

I fully acknowledge the good work that has been done in social housing in Wales, and I appreciate that the Welsh Government is pretty hard up for cash, with £1 billion missing from its budget this year. I look forward to ‘Living Well in Low-Carbon Homes’, which is going to be part of this suite of reports that’s going to go into the net-zero performance hub, so that we can all learn from the optimised retrofit programme of our social housing. But it must be a really bittersweet read for anybody who’s private renting, because seven out of 10 private renters are living in excessively cold, damp or mouldy dwellings. This really is a scandal, and we need to use the powers that we have to raise the game of private landlords. Two thirds of all private rented homes in Wales have an EPC rating of D or below, and if you live in one of these houses, you’re both paying more rent than if you lived in social housing, and you’re facing energy bills that are between £350 and £950 more expensive because of poor insulation. Clearly, with the cost of energy being what it is, this is a really substantive problem, and so many people are simply turning off their heating and living in an excessively cold home.

It's really disappointing to read from the Citizens Advice recent report called ‘Left in the cold’ that one in five of those involved said they wouldn’t complain to their landlord because they thought they would be evicted. Over a third of all the people who were interviewed by Citizens Advice said their landlord did not provide them with an EPC rating, so they didn’t even have a clue as to whether there were particular problems with their heating, the performance of their boiler, or whether it’s because they live in an excessively cold home. The average cost of upgrading a home to EPC C, which ought to be the new standard, is, according to Citizens Advice, £3,800, but previous research has shown that half of landlords in Wales would not spend more than £1,000 out of pocket to improve the energy efficiency of the properties they’re renting. I can understand that some homes need more expensive improvements, such as solid wall insulation or double glazing, and therefore we need to have a loan scheme available to them to ensure that they get on with it.

One of the most irritating things about the Citizens Advice report is that landlords do not believe that enforcement action will be taken against them if they are breaking the rules. That is quite shocking, and really is a wake-up call for the Welsh Government. We cannot go on delaying this action for private renters. I welcome Leasing Scheme Wales, which does give an exit for those amateur landlords who are not in a position to improve the warmth of a house that they are wanting to rent to people, which, after all, is far in excess of what the housing allowance provides for those who are eligible. So, we have to send a clear signal to landlords that no change is not an option. It’s a privilege to have a property to rent and there have to be strong obligations to go with it. This is within the power of the Welsh Government.

Equally, we can’t oblige owner-occupiers to decarbonise their homes. If somebody can’t be bothered, or can’t face the disruption of having builders in their home, and they want to go on spending excessive amounts of money on keeping warm, we can’t prevent people from doing that. But, we need to create a much more efficient housing market that is going to price a house according to how much it’s going to cost you to heat it. There has to be a building passport that shows you what needs to be done to make the property—. It is going to be an obligation in the future because of the climate emergency. Then, buyers are going to be much more aware of what is the cost of buying a poorly insulated home.

I have seen countless people put new tiles on their south-facing roofs without any attempt to think about how they could be saving money by putting in solar panels. This is something that they could be doing. These are people who have got the money to put new roofs on, so why not the money for solar panels as well? There really is not enough awareness of what needs doing, and not nearly enough stimulation of the building skills that are needed to ensure that all homes are retrofitted or are built to the standard that’s required.

Retrofit co-ordinators are one of the greatest skills that are short already and are going to be in even shorter supply in the future, unless we really use the net zero skills plan to actually make things happen in the market. So, I am disappointed in the Government’s response to our report, and I want to see much more ambitious progress in the future. I look forward to the acceptance of our request for regular updates on the progress that we need to make now in Wales.

Rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr y gwaith da sydd wedi'i wneud ym maes tai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n derbyn bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn eithaf prin o arian, gydag £1 biliwn ar goll o'i chyllideb eleni. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at 'Byw'n Dda mewn Cartrefi Carbon Isel', a fydd yn rhan o'r gyfres hon o adroddiadau sy'n mynd i fynd i mewn i'r hyb perfformiad sero net, fel y gallwn i gyd ddysgu o raglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio ein tai cymdeithasol. Ond mae'n rhaid ei fod yn ddeunydd darllen chwerwfelys iawn i unrhyw un sy'n rhentu'n breifat, oherwydd mae saith o bob 10 unigolyn sy'n rhentu'n breifat yn byw mewn anheddau rhy oer, gyda lleithder a llwydni. Mae'n sgandal go iawn, ac mae angen inni ddefnyddio'r pwerau sydd gennym i wella perfformiad landlordiaid preifat. Mae gan ddwy ran o dair o'r holl gartrefi rhent preifat yng Nghymru sgôr tystysgrif perfformiad ynni (EPC) o D neu is, ac os ydych chi'n byw yn un o'r tai hyn, rydych chi'n talu mwy o rent na phe baech chi'n byw mewn tai cymdeithasol, ac rydych chi'n talu biliau ynni sydd rhwng £350 a £950 yn ddrytach oherwydd inswleiddio gwael. Yn amlwg, gyda chost ynni yr hyn ydyw, mae hon yn broblem sylweddol iawn, ac mae cymaint o bobl yn diffodd eu gwres ac yn byw mewn cartref sy'n rhy oer.

Mae'n siomedig iawn darllen mewn adroddiad diweddar gan Cyngor ar Bopeth o'r enw 'Diodde'r oerfel' fod un o bob pump o'r rhai a gymerodd ran wedi dweud na fyddent yn cwyno wrth eu landlord am eu bod yn credu y byddent yn cael eu troi allan. Dywedodd dros draean o'r holl bobl a gafodd eu cyfweld gan Cyngor ar Bopeth nad oedd eu landlord wedi rhoi sgôr EPC iddynt, felly nid oedd ganddynt syniad a oedd problemau penodol gyda'u gwres, perfformiad eu boeler, neu ei fod oherwydd eu bod yn byw mewn cartref rhy oer. Ar gyfartaledd, cost uwchraddio cartref i EPC C, sef yr hyn a ddylai fod yn safon newydd, yw £3,800 yn ôl Cyngor ar Bopeth, ond mae ymchwil flaenorol wedi dangos na fyddai hanner y landlordiaid yng Nghymru yn gwario mwy na £1,000 o'u harian ar wella effeithlonrwydd ynni'r eiddo y maent yn ei osod. Gallaf ddeall bod angen gwelliannau drytach fel inswleiddio waliau solet neu wydr dwbl ar rai cartrefi, ac felly mae angen inni gael cynllun benthyg ar eu cyfer er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn bwrw iddi.

Un o'r pethau mwyaf rhwystredig ynghylch adroddiad Cyngor ar Bopeth yw nad yw landlordiaid yn credu y bydd camau gorfodi'n cael eu cymryd yn eu herbyn os ydynt yn torri'r rheolau. Mae hynny'n eithaf syfrdanol, a dylai ganu larymau i Lywodraeth Cymru. Ni allwn ddal ati i oedi'r gwaith ar gyfer rhentwyr preifat. Rwy'n croesawu Cynllun Prydlesu Cymru, sy'n rhoi ffordd allan i landlordiaid amatur nad ydynt mewn sefyllfa i wella cynhesrwydd tŷ y maent eisiau ei osod i bobl, sydd, wedi'r cyfan, ymhell y tu hwnt i'r hyn y mae'r lwfans tai yn ei ddarparu ar gyfer y rheini sy'n gymwys. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni anfon arwydd clir i landlordiaid nad yw dim newid yn opsiwn. Mae'n fraint cael eiddo i'w rentu ac mae'n rhaid cael rhwymedigaethau cryf i fynd gyda hynny. Mae hyn o fewn pŵer Llywodraeth Cymru.

Yn yr un modd, ni allwn orfodi perchen-feddianwyr i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartrefi. Os nad yw rhywun am drafferthu, neu os na allant wynebu'r aflonyddwch o gael adeiladwyr yn eu cartref, a'u bod eisiau parhau i wario gormod o arian ar gadw'n gynnes, ni allwn atal pobl rhag gwneud hynny. Ond mae angen creu marchnad dai lawer mwy effeithlon sy'n mynd i brisio tŷ yn ôl faint mae'n mynd i'w gostio i chi ei gynhesu. Mae'n rhaid cael pasbort adeiladu sy'n dangos i chi beth sydd angen ei wneud i wneud yr eiddo—. Mae'n mynd i fod yn rhwymedigaeth yn y dyfodol oherwydd yr argyfwng hinsawdd. Bryd hynny, bydd prynwyr yn llawer mwy ymwybodol o beth yw cost prynu cartref heb ei inswleiddio'n dda.

Rwyf wedi gweld nifer fawr o bobl yn gosod teils newydd ar eu toeau sy'n wynebu'r de heb wneud unrhyw ymgais i feddwl sut y gallent arbed arian drwy osod paneli solar. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y gallent ei wneud. Mae'r rhain yn bobl sydd ag arian i osod toeau newydd, felly pam ddim arian ar gyfer paneli solar hefyd? Nid oes digon o ymwybyddiaeth o'r hyn sydd angen ei wneud, a dim hanner digon o ysgogi sgiliau adeiladu angenrheidiol i sicrhau bod pob cartref yn cael ei ôl-osod neu ei adeiladu i'r safonau gofynnol.

Cydlynwyr ôl-osod yw un o'r sgiliau gorau sydd eisoes yn brin ac sy'n mynd i fod yn brinnach fyth yn y dyfodol oni bai ein bod yn defnyddio'r cynllun sgiliau sero net i wneud i bethau ddigwydd yn y farchnad. Felly, mae ymateb y Llywodraeth i'n hadroddiad yn fy siomi, ac rwyf am weld cynnydd llawer mwy uchelgeisiol yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld ein cais am ddiweddariadau rheolaidd ar y cynnydd sydd angen inni ei wneud nawr yng Nghymru yn cael ei dderbyn.

16:30

Gaf i agor drwy ddiolch i’r pwyllgor, Cadeirydd y pwyllgor am ei waith, y tîm clercio ac ymchwil, ac wrth gwrs, i’r rhanddeiliaid a fu’n rhoi tystiolaeth inni? Pan fyddom ni’n siarad yn aml yn y Siambr yma am y creisis newid hinsawdd, rŷm ni'n pwysleisio'r anghyfartaledd cymdeithasol sy’n cael ei weld fel rhan o sgil-effeithiau’r creisis hwnnw.

Mae angen datgarboneiddio’r sector tai preifat yng Nghymru, nid dim ond i achub ein planed, ond i fynd i’r afael ag annhegwch sylfaenol yn ein cymdeithas. Fel rŷm ni wedi clywed yn barod, mae Cyngor Ar Bopeth wedi lansio ymchwil sy’n dangos faint mae tenantiaid preifat yn dioddef dan y system bresennol—faint maen nhw’n gorfod byw mewn cartrefi sy’n oer a llaith. Mae creisis arall yma—creisis anghyfartaledd, creisis tlodi modern. Ac mae’n rhaid ymateb ar frys achos mae’r tenantiaid hyn yn wynebu premiwm fel canlyniad i’w dioddefaint. Eto, mae Cyngor Ar Bopeth wedi canfod bod y tenant cyffredin yn wynebu biliau ynni blynyddol sydd £350 yn ddrytach oherwydd inswleiddio gwael. Annhegwch ar ben annhegwch. Eto, cwestiwn o anghydraddoldeb cymdeithasol ydy hwn.

Nawr, clywsom yn barod am y ffigurau am gartrefi yng Nghymru—am y 1.4 miliwn o dai sydd gennym sy'n cynrychioli 11 y cant o’n hallyriadau carbon.  Ac amcangyfrifir y bydd mwy na 90 y cant o’r tai sy’n bodoli yn awr yn parhau i fod yn gartrefi erbyn y flwyddyn 2050. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni weld ôl-ffitio yn digwydd ar raddfa eang. Dwi'n cytuno gyda'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn barod gan Jenny—mae'n rhaid inni weld mwy o frys ynglŷn â sut rŷm ni'n mynd i'r afael â'r her yma. 

Mae costau uchel yn rhwystr. Yn aml fan hyn, rŷm ni’n sôn am breswylwyr a fydd yn ei chael hi'n anoddach na’r rhan fwyaf o bobl i fuddsoddi mewn rhywbeth fel hyn—i fuddsoddi ar gyfer rhywbeth am y dyfodol—achos mae’r presennol mor anodd. Mae biliau mor uchel. Mae ansicrwydd yn treiddio drwy bopeth. Felly, mae nifer o’n hargymhellion yn ffocysu ar yr angen i wneud pethau yn symlach ac yn fwy fforddiadwy ar gyfer y rhai sydd yn stryglo. A thu hwnt i’r pwyntiau technegol, sy'n eithriadol o bwysig, sydd mor ganolog i'r adroddiad yma, y tu hwnt i'r pwyntiau technegol yna, rŷn ni hefyd yn sôn am yr angen am fwy o eglurdera. Rŷn ni’n galw ar y Llywodraeth i wella ac i gryfhau dealltwriaeth pobl sy’n byw yn y sector yma o ran defnydd ynni, o ran allyriadau carbon, fel bod preswylwyr yn rhan o’r datrysiad.

Buaswn i’n hoffi clywed mwy gan y Gweinidog pan fydd yn ymateb, os gwelwch yn dda, am sut fydd y Llywodraeth yn gallu cario ymlaen i siarad gyda’r cyhoedd yn fwy am newid hinsawdd, am yr heriau, wrth gwrs, ond hefyd am beth rŷn ni i gyd yn gallu gwneud i ymateb i’r heriau hyn. A fydd ymgyrchoedd cyhoeddus yn gallu cael eu cryfhau ar hyn, arlein, yn y gymuned, i helpu pobl ond hefyd i'w hybu nhw, i ymbweru nhw, achos mae hynny mor bwysig?

Bydd costau uchel yn parhau i fod yn rhwystr, sef pam rŷn ni angen datblygu modelau cyllido fydd yn gwneud pethau’n haws i bobl gael hyd i gyllid i wneud adnewyddiadau i’w tai. Ac mae nifer o fylchau sydd dal angen eu llenwi—bylchau data, bylchau o ran sgiliau. Mae potensial yma i greu swyddi gwyrdd, trwy osod systemau gwresogi carbon isel, inswleiddio, a datblygu technoleg newydd. Ac mae yna her arall—dwi bron yn cloi fan hyn, Llywydd—dydy’r amgylchedd adeiledig yng Nghymru ddim yn unffurf, o ran daearyddiaeth, aethestig, a make-up y tai, felly bydd angen strategaeth eang ar gyfer ôl-ffitio, ar gyfer tai mewn trefi, yn ardaloedd gwledig, ardaloedd ar lan y môr, tai yn yr ucheldir—mae angen teilwra datrysiadau ar gyfer pob un. Felly mae yna sialensau. 

Ond, buaswn i’n gorffen trwy ailadrodd y pwynt bod angen ymbweru pobl, eu hysbysu nhw, a gwneud yn siŵr bod pawb eisiau bod yn rhan o’n hymateb ni i’r heriau, achos, gan amlaf, y bobl sydd yn dioddef cymaint yn ein cymdeithas sydd yn dioddef gyda hyn; mae’n rhaid i ni ymbweru nhw, yn lle gweld bod nhw’n wynebu annhegwch ar ben yr annhegwch maen nhw’n barod yn ei wynebu. Diolch.

May I begin by thanking fellow committee members, the Chair of the committee, the clerking team and researchers, and, of course, the stakeholders who gave evidence to us? We often talk in this Siambr about the climate change crisis, and we emphasise, in so doing, the social inequalities seen in terms of the impacts of that crisis.

We must decarbonise the private housing sector in Wales, not only to save our planet, but to tackle the fundamental unfairness in our society. As we have already heard, Citizens Advice has this week launched a piece of research that demonstrates the extent to which private tenants are suffering under the current system—that they have to live in homes that are cold and damp. There is another crisis here—an inequality crisis, a modern poverty crisis. And we must respond at pace, because these tenants are facing a premium as a result of their suffering. Again, Citizens Advice has found that the average tenant faces annual energy bills that are £350 more expensive due to poor insulation. This is unfairness on top of unfairness, and again, this is a question of social inequality.

Now, we heard about the figures about homes in Wales—1.4 million homes that we have, representing 11 per cent of our carbon emissions. And it's estimated that over 90 per cent of existing homes will continue to be in use as homes and dwellings in the year 2050. So, we must see widespread retrofitting being undertaken. I agree with what's already been said by Jenny—we have to see greater urgency in how we tackle this challenge.

High costs are a barrier. Often, here, we talk about residents who will find it harder than most to invest in something like this—to invest in something for the future—because the present is so difficult, so challenging. Bills are so high. Uncertainty permeates through everything. So, a number of our recommendations focus on the need to make things simpler and more affordable for those who are struggling. And beyond the technical points, which are indeed exceptionally important, and at the heart of this report, beyond those technical points, we're also talking about the need for additional clarity. We call on the Government to improve and to strengthen people's understanding, those people who live in this sector of energy use, and in terms of carbon emissions, so that residents are part of the solution.

And I'd like to hear more from the Minister, in responding, about how the Government will be able to continue to speak to the public more about climate change, about the challenges, of course, but also about what we can all do to respond to these challenges. Will there be publicity campaigns on this, will they be strengthened online, into the community, to help people, but also to encourage them, to empower them, because that's so important?

High costs will continue to be a barrier, which is why we need to develop funding models that will make things easier for people, and will help them to access funding to make improvements and adaptations to their homes. Now, there are a number of gaps that still need to be filled—gaps in data and gaps in terms of skills. There's potential here to create green jobs by installing low-carbon heating systems, insulation, and developing new technology. But there's another challenge—and I'm almost at an end, Llywydd—the built environment in Wales is not uniform in terms of geography, aesthetic, and the make-up of the housing, therefore we'll need a wide-ranging strategy for retrofitting, for homes in urban areas, in rural areas and coastal areas, and the uplands. We need to tailor solutions for each of these particular areas. So, there are challenges.

But I'd conclude by reiterating the point that people need to be empowered and informed, and we must ensure that everyone wants to be part of our response to these challenges, because the people who suffer most in our society are suffering most from these issues, too; we need to empower them rather than them facing unfairness on top of the unfairness that they're already facing. Thank you.

16:35

I thank the Minister for her response, and yes, we can always go further, and I agree with Jenny's frustration that we all share in the fact that we're not going further and we're not going faster. And I want to speak particularly on the performance, or the future performance, of the housing net-zero carbon performance hub. We see and we know that it will aid acceleration of the delivery of the low and zero-carbon homes in Wales. That's great. It will be dependable, it will be a trusted source of best practice and it will provide direction and consistency, and we need all of those things, and that is hugely important.

But what we also know is that, if we're going to drive change, we have to do it in partnership, and a big part of that partnership are the training providers, and they are absolutely essential. The training providers require clear targets, they need clear pathways so that they can sort their businesses out according to that drive and that change. And I've read many, many skills reports, and there's one that's been posted to me this afternoon, and it tells, time and time again, of the need for the additional skills going forward in the construction industry. It will inform everybody who reads it that the existing age profile is 55 years plus, and it will also tell people that only 2 per cent of women and 5 per cent of ethnic diversity exists within that construction industry.

It will also tell people that, when we're looking at gas boiler engineers, those stats will be the same. And yet, the majority of homes that need retrofitting will need that retrofitting done as a consequence of having gas boilers, and the skills that will be required to retrain plumbers—you can see immediately that we're going to be in a huge shortfall situation. Because when we're looking at heat pump installers, currently there are 2,000 trained heat pump installers at the moment. To actually meet the needs—and this is UK-wide, so you can scale it down—we'd be talking about between 50,000 and 100,000 installers. So, there is a huge need and drive here for us, first of all, to encourage young people, the people who are in schools now, to train, and I'm sure the new curriculum has an advantage in that. The new GCSE in construction is a good starting point, and I really do welcome that. But we also, at the same time, need a much wider education, which is already happening—and Janet mentioned it—within the wider population that they must play their part. That will also drive the need, more rapidly, perhaps, than the provision that people will require within the skills.

So what I'm interested in, Minister, is how you're working with the skills partnerships—and I know you are—to drive that change at pace, because pace is going to be what is critical here. And, of course, when we go forward to the new type of housing that I've heard you, many times, talk about, the skills that will be needed there are very different and perhaps more attractive to that missing sector of the population from the current construction industry, as it exists, because a lot of it will be done off site in much—how shall I put it? People won't be outside in the wind and the rain and the cold and the heat if they're working in a different construction industry. But, at the same time, we will need a lot of the existing skills, particularly in the groundworks that will accommodate those buildings. So I thank you, Minister, for all the things that you have done, but I would certainly like an update on the urgency that's required and how you're addressing that.  

Diolch i’r Gweinidog am ei hymateb, a gallwn, fe allwn fynd ymhellach bob amser, ac rwy'n cytuno â'r rhwystredigaeth y mae pob un ohonom yn ei rhannu gyda Jenny nad ydym yn mynd ymhellach nac yn gyflymach. A hoffwn sôn yn benodol am berfformiad, neu berfformiad yn y dyfodol, yr hyb perfformiad tai carbon sero net. Rydym yn gweld ac yn gwybod y bydd yn helpu i gyflymu’r broses o ddarparu cartrefi carbon isel a di-garbon yng Nghymru. Mae hynny'n wych. Fe fydd yn ddibynadwy, fe fydd yn ffynhonnell o arferion gorau y gellir ymddiried ynddi ac fe fydd yn darparu cyfeiriad a chysondeb, ac mae angen yr holl bethau hynny arnom, ac mae hynny’n hynod bwysig.

Ond os ydym yn mynd i ysgogi newid, fe wyddom hefyd fod rhaid inni wneud hynny mewn partneriaeth, ac mae'r darparwyr hyfforddiant yn rhan fawr o'r bartneriaeth honno, ac maent yn gwbl hanfodol. Mae angen targedau clir ar y darparwyr hyfforddiant, mae angen llwybrau clir arnynt fel y gallant roi trefn ar eu busnesau yn unol â’r ysgogiad hwnnw a’r newid hwnnw. Ac rwyf wedi darllen llawer iawn o adroddiadau sgiliau, ac mae un a gafodd ei anfon ataf y prynhawn yma, ac mae'n sôn, dro ar ôl tro, am yr angen am y sgiliau ychwanegol yn y diwydiant adeiladu yn y dyfodol. Bydd yn rhoi gwybod i bawb sy'n ei ddarllen fod y proffil oedran presennol yn 55 oed a hŷn, a bydd hefyd yn rhoi gwybod i bobl mai dim ond 2 y cant o fenywod a 5 y cant o amrywiaeth ethnig sy'n bodoli yn y diwydiant adeiladu hwnnw.

Bydd hefyd yn dweud wrth bobl, pan fyddwn yn edrych ar beirianwyr boeleri nwy, y bydd yr ystadegau hynny yr un peth. Ac eto, boeleri nwy yw'r rheswm pam fod angen ôl-osod y rhan fwyaf o gartrefi sydd angen eu hôl-osod, a'r sgiliau y bydd eu hangen i ailhyfforddi plymwyr—gallwch weld ar unwaith ein bod yn mynd i fod yn brin ofnadwy. Oherwydd pan edrychwn ar osodwyr pympiau gwres, ceir 2,000 o osodwyr pympiau gwres hyfforddedig ar hyn o bryd. I ddiwallu'r anghenion—ac mae hyn ledled y DU, felly gallwch ei leihau'n gyfatebol—byddem yn sôn am 50,000 i 100,000 o osodwyr. Felly, mae angen aruthrol ac ysgogiad aruthrol yma i ni, yn gyntaf oll, annog pobl ifanc, y bobl sydd mewn ysgolion ar hyn o bryd, i hyfforddi, ac rwy'n siŵr fod gan y cwricwlwm newydd fantais yn hynny o beth. Mae'r TGAU newydd mewn adeiladu yn fan cychwyn da, ac rwy'n croesawu honno'n fawr. Ond ar yr un pryd, mae arnom angen addysg lawer ehangach, sydd eisoes yn digwydd—a soniodd Janet am hynny—yn y boblogaeth ehangach fod yn rhaid iddynt chwarae eu rhan. Bydd hynny hefyd yn ysgogi'r angen, yn gyflymach efallai, na’r ddarpariaeth y bydd ei hangen ar bobl o fewn y sgiliau.

Felly, Weinidog, mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod sut rydych yn gweithio gyda'r partneriaethau sgiliau—fel y gwn eich bod yn ei wneud—i ysgogi'r newid hwnnw'n gyflym, gan y bydd cyflymder yn hollbwysig yma. Ac wrth gwrs, pan awn ymlaen at y math newydd o dai rwyf wedi eich clywed yn sôn amdano droeon, mae'r sgiliau y bydd eu hangen yno'n wahanol iawn ac efallai'n fwy deniadol i'r sector coll hwnnw o'r boblogaeth o'r diwydiant adeiladu presennol, fel y mae, gan y bydd llawer ohono’n digwydd oddi ar y safle mewn—sut mae ei ddisgrifio? Ni fydd pobl allan yn y gwynt a'r glaw a'r oerfel a'r gwres os ydynt yn gweithio mewn diwydiant adeiladu gwahanol. Ond ar yr un pryd, bydd angen llawer o'r sgiliau presennol arnom, yn enwedig yn y gwaith paratoi'r tir ar gyfer yr adeiladau hynny. Felly diolch, Weinidog, am yr holl bethau rydych wedi’u gwneud, ond yn sicr, hoffwn gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y brys sydd ei angen a sut rydych yn mynd i’r afael â hynny.

16:40

In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died. The cause of his death was found to be mould in his flat—excessive mould—and it was a social housing property. But, nevertheless, sadly, the same could happen in private rented properties. We've heard, and it is also my experience as well, that private rented tenants are extremely anxious about raising issues concerning cold and poor insulation and the cost of their heating with their landlords, because they are anxious about losing that property. So, I do welcome this committee's report and the recommendations, which I agree with. I fully agree with the comments made by the committee Chair in the introduction to the report that there is a pressing need for a plan to retrofit the million homes in the private rented sector in Wales. There is a vast amount to do, not much time to do it in, and we need much more clarity, if I may say, from the Government about how they are going to lead this process.

Having a poor private rented housing sector affects people's health, our environment and the costs of the bills that people pay. Therefore, it's a win, win, win situation if we're really able to, with pace, really act on the report from this committee. I agree with the committee that the Government must set out its strategic plan, complete with the targets and milestones, for how the private housing sector will decarbonise. It needs to set out clearly what home owners can expect from Government and what they themselves need to do, and I look forward to hearing what the Government's response is on this particular point.

I just want to raise two very small issues. We need to do more to decarbonise rural homes. Rural areas like the one I represent produce a relatively small proportion of Wales's carbon emissions, but they do face particular issues. Our homes are less energy efficient, with many homes being off grid and dependent on oil for heating, and they face particular problems of price volatility. And I'm totally convinced that rural homes are in colder areas. I look forward to the evidence on that and to people telling me that that's not the case, but I'm sure, if we look at the temperatures every morning of those of us who live in rural areas versus those of you who live in urban areas, I'm sure you'll see a significant difference. So, I would be grateful to the Minister for addressing this issue in her remarks.

Secondly, I want to emphasise again the need for greater investment in warm homes—and I did talk about this earlier this afternoon in the Warm Homes programme issue that I raised again with the Minister—and the enormous economic benefits that it could bring. I'd like to hear, like the Chair of the committee, again, the timetable of the new scheme, so that we pin this down and make sure that we are moving at pace.

In my party's manifesto at the last Senedd elections, we called for homes to be power stations, not just because poor housing imposes a cost on our health, but because it has the potential, actually, to boost our economy, as we've heard from Joyce Watson, create jobs, and to cut energy bills over the coming years. We want to create a virtuous circle in which progress on decarbonisation, growth and sustainability go hand in hand.

Finally, I want to again make a call for a green homes Act, unlocking some of the barriers identified in this report, and barriers that we've all heard time and time again, about creating a better standard for housing in Wales that ensures both warmer homes and more energy efficient homes that reduce their impact on the grid and stimulate our local economies.

Can I again thank the committee for their hard work? I look forward to seeing the recommendations implemented. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Yn 2020, bu farw Awaab Ishak yn ddwy oed. Canfuwyd mai llwydni yn ei fflat oedd achos ei farwolaeth—llwydni gormodol—ac roedd yn eiddo tai cymdeithasol. Ond serch hynny, yn anffodus, gallai’r un peth ddigwydd mewn eiddo rhent preifat. Rydym wedi clywed, a'm profiad innau hefyd, yw bod tenantiaid yn y sector rhentu preifat yn hynod bryderus ynghylch codi materion yn ymwneud ag oerfel ac inswleiddio gwael a chost gwresogi gyda'u landlordiaid, am eu bod yn bryderus ynghylch colli'r eiddo hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n croesawu adroddiad y pwyllgor hwn a’r argymhellion, ac rwy'n cytuno â hwy. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â’r sylwadau a wnaed gan Gadeirydd y pwyllgor yn y cyflwyniad i’r adroddiad fod angen dybryd am gynllun i ôl-osod y filiwn o gartrefi yn y sector rhentu preifat yng Nghymru. Mae llawer iawn o waith i’w wneud mewn ychydig iawn o amser, ac mae angen llawer mwy o eglurder, os caf ddweud, gan y Llywodraeth ynglŷn â sut maent yn mynd i arwain y broses hon.

Mae cael sector tai rhent preifat gwael yn effeithio ar iechyd pobl, ein hamgylchedd a chostau’r biliau y mae pobl yn eu talu. Felly, byddai'n sefyllfa lle bydd pawb ar eu hennill pe gallem weithredu'n gyflym ar adroddiad y pwyllgor hwn. Cytunaf â’r pwyllgor fod yn rhaid i’r Llywodraeth nodi ei chynllun strategol, ynghyd â’r targedau a’r cerrig milltir, ar gyfer sut y bydd y sector tai preifat yn datgarboneiddio. Mae angen nodi’n glir yr hyn y gall perchnogion cartrefi ei ddisgwyl gan y Llywodraeth a’r hyn y mae angen iddynt hwy eu hunain ei wneud, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed beth yw ymateb y Llywodraeth ar y pwynt penodol hwn.

Hoffwn godi dau fater bach iawn. Mae angen inni wneud mwy i ddatgarboneiddio cartrefi gwledig. Mae ardaloedd gwledig fel yr un rwy'n ei chynrychioli yn cynhyrchu cyfran gymharol fach o allyriadau carbon Cymru, ond maent yn wynebu problemau arbennig. Mae ein cartrefi'n llai effeithlon o ran eu defnydd o ynni, gyda llawer o gartrefi heb fod ar y grid ac yn dibynnu ar olew ar gyfer gwresogi, ac maent yn wynebu problemau penodol gydag anwadalrwydd prisiau. Ac rwy'n gwbl argyhoeddedig fod cartrefi gwledig mewn ardaloedd oerach. Edrychaf ymlaen at y dystiolaeth ar hynny ac at bobl yn dweud wrthyf nad yw hynny’n wir, ond rwy’n siŵr, pe baem yn edrych bob bore ar dymheredd y rhai ohonom sy’n byw mewn ardaloedd gwledig o gymharu â'r rhai ohonoch sy’n byw mewn ardaloedd trefol, rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn gweld gwahaniaeth sylweddol. Felly, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Gweinidog fynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn yn ei sylwadau.

Yn ail, hoffwn bwysleisio unwaith eto yr angen am fwy o fuddsoddiad mewn cartrefi cynnes—a soniais am hyn yn gynharach y prynhawn yma yn y mater a godais eto gyda’r Gweinidog ynghylch rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd—a’r manteision economaidd enfawr a allai ddod yn ei sgil. Fel Cadeirydd y pwyllgor, hoffwn glywed amserlen y cynllun newydd, fel ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â hyn go iawn ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn symud yn gyflym.

Ym maniffesto fy mhlaid yn etholiadau diwethaf y Senedd, fe wnaethom alw am wneud cartrefi'n orsafoedd ynni, nid yn unig am fod tai gwael yn arwain at gost i'n hiechyd, ond am fod potensial gan hyn i roi hwb i’n heconomi, fel y clywsom gan Joyce Watson, i greu swyddi, ac i dorri biliau ynni dros y blynyddoedd i ddod. Rydym am greu cylch rhinweddol lle mae cynnydd ar ddatgarboneiddio, twf a chynaliadwyedd yn mynd law yn llaw.

Yn olaf, hoffwn alw unwaith eto am Ddeddf cartrefi gwyrdd, i ryddhau rhai o’r rhwystrau a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad hwn, a rhwystrau y mae pob un ohonom wedi clywed amdanynt dro ar ôl tro, ynghylch creu safon well ar gyfer tai yng Nghymru sy’n sicrhau cartrefi cynhesach a mwy effeithlon o ran eu defnydd o ynni gan leihau eu heffaith ar y grid a rhoi hwb i'n heconomïau lleol.

A gaf fi ddiolch unwaith eto i’r pwyllgor am eu gwaith caled? Edrychaf ymlaen at weld yr argymhellion yn cael eu rhoi ar waith. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

16:45

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.

Can I also offer my thanks to colleagues on the committee and clerks and those who gave evidence to the committee, the Minister for her response, and also the Chair? This was, genuinely, I think, a committee operating at its best, trying to constructively push and prod and probe Government to say, 'How can we go further and faster?', not to be unduly critical for the sake of it, but actually to try and work with the grain of what I know the Government is trying to do, but to try and explore—. As the report says, there's nothing revolutionary or radical within what we're saying, but what we're trying to do is to push on a lot of buttons, which the Minister is also trying to push at, to try and get progress on this and to do it in a faster way. I think that's been a theme of many people who've spoken already: can we get things to go further and faster?

As you read this report, you can read it as 'glass half full' or 'glass half empty'. What you can pick up from this is an acknowledgement that there are many good work streams currently going on. There are a lot of initiatives in progress that the Minister will rightly point to, and did, in fact, when she came in front of us in committee as well. I think, probably, the frustration of colleagues on the committee is that we just want those to be grasped now and speeded up. We need to see that curve of rolling out decarbonisation in the private sector go rapidly upwards. I know the Minister shares this ambition as well, without a doubt, and it's worth pointing out as well that, certainly, other Governments in different parts of the UK have crashed on these rocks unsuccessfully as well. In some ways, I would give the Minister credit for trying to test things out properly and see that they work, in which case the demand of the committee is: 'Once tested, please can we really, really, really get on with them at some pace?'

One of the questions I have, rather than delve into the detail of the extensive number of recommendations, which I acknowledge the Minister has accepted many in full and others in principle, with explanations of why she couldn't accept them in full. But my question is more straightforward. It's: what will this look like now in 12 months? What will it look like in 24 months? What will it look like at the end of this Senedd term? Will we have seen that rapid acceleration towards an uptake of decarbonisation within the private sector, and the wider benefits that Jane Dodds and others referred to, actually tackling some of our issues in a synchronised way over fuel poverty and warm homes and so on? I know the focus of this report is very much on decarbonisation, but a well-designed scheme can do several of these hand in hand. So, what will it look like in those phased periods? Will we, by the end of this Senedd term, be able to say definitely that we've got clarity and certainty on the mechanisms that we're using and that those mechanisms have been now fully deployed and are bearing results as well? Will we have started to make real, significant inroads?

The Chair's foreword in this sums it up, I think, really well, referring to the cost-of-living crisis, referring to the energy bills, referring to fuel poverty at record levels and how families are struggling to keep their heads above water. But it also acknowledges that public funds on their own are not sufficient to stretch to do retrofitting across all of Wales's homes. Those who can afford to pay should indeed pay or contribute towards that. We need some financial solutions that will make it worth those landlords and private sector owners doing it. And it is a mixture of regulation and of financial incentives of various types, and there is a role as well for UK Government as well, which has certainly tried and failed repeatedly to do this right. So, I'd like to see some evidence that Welsh Government will work with the UK Government as well to try and align that mixture of sticks and carrots to see that progress as well. But that paragraph, the penultimate paragraph, concludes, and I think this is the theme of the debate—'Welsh Government', we say,

'must act faster to address this if it's going to make progress.'

Now, there's plenty of work going on. Our question is: will it speed up? The Minister has agreed to report back to the committee on several fronts, and I would certainly welcome that—that's really, really helpful. But my question remains, Minister: how confident are you that all the things that are being run through various work streams at the moment will pay those dividends, so that, when the committee asks you back in 12 months, we can see that progress being made, and that upward curve of progress will be different in 24 months and at the end of this Senedd? Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd.

A gaf fi hefyd ddiolch i fy nghyd-Aelodau ar y pwyllgor a'r clercod a’r rhai a roddodd dystiolaeth i’r pwyllgor, i'r Gweinidog am ei hymateb, a hefyd i'r Cadeirydd? Yn fy marn i, roedd hwn o ddifrif yn bwyllgor a oedd yn gweithredu ar ei orau, yn ceisio gwthio a phrocio'r Llywodraeth yn adeiladol i ddweud, 'Sut y gallwn fynd ymhellach ac yn gyflymach?', nid i fod yn or-feirniadol er mwyn bod yn feirniadol, ond i geisio gweithio gyda graen yr hyn y gwn fod y Llywodraeth yn ceisio'i wneud, ond i geisio archwilio—. Fel y dywed yr adroddiad, nid oes unrhyw beth chwyldroadol na radical yn yr hyn a ddywedwn, ond yr hyn y ceisiwn ei wneud yw gwasgu llawer o fotymau, y mae'r Gweinidog hefyd yn ceisio'u gwasgu, i geisio sicrhau cynnydd ar hyn a'i wneud yn gyflymach. Credaf fod honno wedi bod yn thema gan lawer o bobl sydd wedi siarad eisoes: a allwn wneud i bethau fynd ymhellach ac yn gyflymach?

Wrth ichi ddarllen yr adroddiad hwn, gallwch ei ddarllen fel 'gwydr hanner llawn' neu 'wydr hanner gwag'. Yr hyn y gallwch ei nodi o hyn yw cydnabyddiaeth fod llawer o ffrydiau gwaith da ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd. Ceir llawer o gynlluniau ar waith y bydd y Gweinidog yn cyfeirio atynt, yn gywir ddigon, ac y gwnaeth gyfeirio atynt mewn gwirionedd pan oedd ger ein bron yn y pwyllgor hefyd. Yn ôl pob tebyg, rwy'n credu mai rhwystredigaeth fy nghyd-aelodau o'r pwyllgor yw ein bod am i'r cynlluniau hynny gael eu gweithredu a’u cyflymu ar unwaith. Mae angen inni weld y gromlin honno o gyflwyno datgarboneiddio yn y sector preifat yn codi'n gyflym. Gwn fod y Gweinidog yn rhannu’r uchelgais hwn hefyd, heb unrhyw amheuaeth, ac mae’n werth nodi hefyd, yn sicr, fod Llywodraethau eraill mewn gwahanol rannau o’r DU wedi bod yn aflwyddiannus yn hyn o beth hefyd. Mewn rhai ffyrdd, byddwn yn canmol y Gweinidog am geisio rhoi prawf ar bethau’n iawn a sicrhau eu bod yn gweithio, ac os felly, galwad y pwyllgor yw: ‘Pan gânt eu profi, a gawn ni fwrw ymlaen â hwy'n llawn ac ar fyrder?'

Un o’r cwestiynau sydd gennyf, yn hytrach na thrafod manylion y nifer helaeth o argymhellion, ac rwy'n cydnabod bod y Gweinidog wedi derbyn llawer ohonynt yn llawn ac eraill mewn egwyddor, gydag esboniadau ynghylch pam na allai eu derbyn yn llawn. Ond mae fy nghwestiwn yn fwy syml, sef sut olwg fydd ar hyn ymhen 12 mis? Sut olwg fydd ar hyn ymhen 24 mis? Sut olwg fydd ar hyn ar ddiwedd tymor y Senedd hon? A fyddwn wedi gweld cynnydd cyflym yn y nifer sy’n bwrw iddi i ddatgarboneiddio yn y sector preifat, a’r manteision ehangach y cyfeiriodd Jane Dodds ac eraill atynt, a mynd i’r afael â rhai o’n problemau mewn ffordd gydamserol mewn perthynas â thlodi tanwydd a chartrefi cynnes ac yn y blaen? Gwn fod yr adroddiad hwn yn canolbwyntio i raddau helaeth ar ddatgarboneiddio, ond gall cynllun sydd wedi’i lunio’n dda wneud nifer o’r pethau hyn law yn llaw â'i gilydd. Felly, sut olwg fydd ar bethau wedi'r cyfnodau hynny o amser? A fyddwn ni, erbyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon, yn gallu dweud yn bendant fod gennym eglurder a sicrwydd ynghylch y mecanweithiau rydym yn eu defnyddio a bod y mecanweithiau hynny bellach wedi'u defnyddio'n llawn ac yn sicrhau canlyniadau hefyd? A fyddwn wedi dechrau gwneud cynnydd real ac ystyrlon?

Credaf fod rhagair y Cadeirydd yn crynhoi'r sefyllfa'n dda iawn, drwy gyfeirio at yr argyfwng costau byw, drwy gyfeirio at y biliau ynni, drwy gyfeirio at y lefelau uchaf erioed o dlodi tanwydd a sut mae teuluoedd yn ei chael hi'n anodd cael deupen llinyn ynghyd. Ond mae hefyd yn cydnabod nad yw arian cyhoeddus ar ei ben ei hun yn ddigonol i wneud y gwaith ôl-osod ar draws holl gartrefi Cymru. Dylai'r rheini sy'n gallu fforddio gwneud hynny dalu neu gyfrannu at y gwaith. Mae angen atebion ariannol arnom a fydd yn ei gwneud yn werth chweil i landlordiaid a pherchnogion yn y sector preifat wneud hyn. Ac mae hynny'n golygu cymysgedd o reoleiddio a chymelliadau ariannol o wahanol fathau, ac mae rôl i Lywodraeth y DU hefyd, sy'n sicr wedi ceisio ac wedi methu gwneud hyn yn iawn dro ar ôl tro. Felly, hoffwn weld tystiolaeth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd i geisio alinio'r cymysgedd hwnnw o foron a ffyn i sicrhau'r cynnydd hwnnw hefyd. Ond mae'r paragraff hwnnw, y paragraff olaf ond un, yn cloi drwy ddweud, a chredaf mai dyma thema'r ddadl—rydym yn dweud

'Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu’n gyflymach i fynd i’r afael â hyn os yw am wneud cynnydd.'

Nawr, mae digon o waith yn mynd rhagddo. Ein cwestiwn yw: a fydd yn cyflymu? Mae’r Gweinidog wedi cytuno i adrodd yn ôl i’r pwyllgor ar sawl agwedd, a byddwn yn sicr yn croesawu hynny—mae hynny’n ddefnyddiol iawn. Ond erys fy nghwestiwn, Weinidog: pa mor hyderus ydych chi y bydd yr holl bethau sy’n cael eu rhedeg drwy wahanol ffrydiau gwaith ar hyn o bryd yn dwyn ffrwyth, fel y gallwn weld, pan fydd y pwyllgor yn eich holi eto ymhen 12 mis, y cynnydd hwnnw’n cael ei wneud, ac y bydd y gromlin honno o gynnydd yn wahanol ymhen 24 mis ac ar ddiwedd tymor y Senedd hon? Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd.

16:50

Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, Julie James.

I call on the Minister for Climate Change, Julie James.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I just want to start by thanking the committee Chair, members of the committee and the committee team for all of their very hard work, and their report was very much appreciated, and it's a subject that we share a huge concern for, so I'm very pleased to be able to respond to the debate today. But I do, Dirprwy Lywydd, have an apology to make, which is that there is simply not the time available to answer all of the questions that everyone has asked today, even if I was here for 45 minutes. I wouldn't be—I doubt you'll give me that leeway. So, I'll cover as many areas as I can, but, again, I'm happy to have a dialogue with the committee on an ongoing basis to cover some of the areas.

So, global events and the cost-of-living crisis have brought to the fore the urgent need to decarbonise our homes, not only for the sake of our planet, but also to ensure people can be warm, comfortable and healthy in their homes. So much is agreed by absolutely everyone. It's all the more important for us in Wales, where we have some of our housing stock that is some of the oldest and the least energy efficient in the UK—that's also acknowledged. Can I just say we also have some of the best, though? We do tend to say always that we have some of the oldest in Wales. We also have some of the best. I do think it's important to understand that, and that's partly because we've had a really good innovative housing programme, and the ORP is really helping with that as well.

The Government's focus has been on social housing, and I make no excuse for that. The reason for that is that we are using a 'testing and learning' approach, and the learning and development of our policies and practice are informing the work that needs to take place in the private housing sector too. And again, I am very happy that that's the right way to do it. We know that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work. Earlier today, in oral questions, several Members asked me about previous Warm Homes programmes and issues they'd had with their constituents. Well, that was from not having had a 'test and learn' approach, so it's really important that we get it right. When we make these investments, the investments must count and they must actually work. So, it's really important to do that.

And then, as Joyce highlighted, as she has done for many years, one of the key challenges facing the housing sector is the availability of skills to realise our shared ambitions. So, I am absolutely delighted that, at end of February, Vaughan and I were able to launch the Net Zero Wales skills action plan, detailing how we will prioritise the seven key areas of action. The plan does set out how we will work to develop a clear understanding of the impacts of change, to learn lessons from the past and build a future for Wales that supports a well-being economy. So, we will just make sure that those actions are driven forward and, absolutely, Joyce, that is working with the training providers and, actually, also the young people to identify the skills of the future, and to make it clear to them that there is a good future to be had if they follow that pathway. Both of those things are just as important. We absolutely have to make sure as well that the existing workforce is able to both earn and adapt to new approaches based on that evidence and research. The vast majority of the skills we need are already in the workforce, so we have to have that adaptation as well.

I understand that the committee Chair is looking for a different plan, but Net Zero Wales does set out an expectation that the homes and buildings of Wales need—need—to be net-zero carbon by 2050, and that future intervention to support those in fuel poverty must take further account of the need to tackle climate change by decarbonising the housing sector. I mean, that's already in the plan—just to be really clear, it's already there. But it's a challenge, and it's a costly challenge, as many people have set out. Since 2010 to the end of March 2022, we've invested more than £420 million in improving home energy efficiency through the Warm Homes programmes and benefited more than 73,000 lower income households. There's much more to do, but I just want to be sure that you understand that there is a lot already happening as well. The intention is now, with the new programme, to take a fabric-first, worst-first, low-carbon approach and deliver measures to improve the energy efficiency of the least thermally efficient low-income households in Wales. 

In terms of acceleration, as part of our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru we have a challenge group looking to accelerate this journey. Siân and I very recently met with them, and one of the things that they'll be looking at is: can we accelerate that 2050 goal to 2035, and, if so, how? So, just to reassure that there is a scheme in place that's looking at exactly that acceleration. If we can go faster, then absolutely we will.

But we're also evaluating options for refinancing retrofit in the owner-occupied and private rented sectors as well. They incorporate a wide range of finance approaches, including property-assessed clean energy, where the loan is linked to the property rather than the individual—low-interest loans, equity-release loans and green mortgages—trying to find a way that allows people to invest in their home in a sustainable way that means that more people are likely to take advantage of the finance. Frankly, if you're the same age as me, then something that takes a 20-year payback period doesn't look worth it, so you have to be able to make it look worth it to the home owner as well.

We're also working with the Development Bank of Wales to look at funding options for the owner-occupied sector specifically, and we've brought together a panel of experts from across the finance sector who will work with us to evaluate options and shape the solutions.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i Gadeirydd y pwyllgor, aelodau'r pwyllgor a thîm y pwyllgor am eu holl waith caled iawn, ac mae eu hadroddiad wedi'i werthfawrogi'n fawr iawn, ac mae'n bwnc rydym yn rhannu pryder mawr yn ei gylch, felly rwy'n falch iawn o allu ymateb i’r ddadl heddiw. Ond mae gennyf ymddiheuriad i'w wneud, Ddirprwy Lywydd, sef yn syml nad oes amser ar gael i ateb pob un o'r cwestiynau y mae pawb wedi'u gofyn heddiw, hyd yn oed pe bawn yma am 45 munud. Ni fyddwn—rwy'n amheus y caniatewch i mi gael cymaint â hynny. Felly, fe roddaf sylw i gynifer o feysydd ag y gallaf, ond unwaith eto, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael deialog barhaus gyda'r pwyllgor i drafod rhai o'r meysydd.

Felly, mae digwyddiadau byd-eang a’r argyfwng costau byw wedi dod â’r angen dybryd i ddatgarboneiddio ein cartrefi i’r amlwg, nid yn unig er lles ein planed, ond hefyd er mwyn sicrhau y gall pobl fod yn gynnes, yn gyfforddus ac yn iach yn eu cartrefi. Mae pawb yn cytuno ar gymaint o bethau. Mae'n bwysicach fyth i ni yng Nghymru, lle mae rhywfaint o'n stoc dai ymhlith yr hynaf a'r lleiaf effeithlon o ran y defnydd o ynni yn y DU—mae hynny wedi'i gydnabod hefyd. A gaf fi ddweud er hynny fod gennym rai o'r goreuon hefyd? Rydym yn tueddu i ddweud bob amser fod gennym rai o'r tai hynaf yma yng Nghymru. Mae gennym hefyd rai o'r goreuon. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig deall hynny, ac mae hynny'n rhannol am fod gennym raglen dai arloesol dda iawn, ac mae'r rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio'n helpu gyda hynny hefyd.

Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi canolbwyntio ar dai cymdeithasol, ac nid wyf yn gwneud unrhyw esgusodion am hynny. Y rheswm am hynny yw ein bod yn defnyddio dull 'profi a dysgu', ac mae dysgu a datblygu ein polisïau a’n harferion yn llywio’r gwaith sydd angen ei wneud yn y sector tai preifat hefyd. Ac unwaith eto, rwy'n argyhoeddedig mai dyma'r ffordd gywir o wneud hyn. Gwyddom nad yw un dull addas i bawb yn gweithio. Yn gynharach heddiw, mewn cwestiynau llafar, gofynnodd sawl Aelod i mi am raglenni Cartrefi Clyd blaenorol a phroblemau roeddent wedi’u cael gyda’u hetholwyr. Wel, y rheswm am hynny oedd nad oedd gennym ddull 'profi a dysgu', felly mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn gwneud hyn yn iawn. Pan fyddwn yn gwneud y buddsoddiadau hyn, mae'n rhaid i'r buddsoddiadau gyfrif ac mae'n rhaid iddynt weithio. Felly, mae'n wirioneddol bwysig gwneud hynny.

Ac yna, fel y nododd Joyce, fel y mae wedi’i wneud ers blynyddoedd lawer, un o’r heriau allweddol sy’n wynebu’r sector tai yw’r sgiliau sydd ar gael i wireddu'r uchelgeisiau a rennir gennym. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn fod Vaughan a minnau, ddiwedd mis Chwefror, wedi gallu lansio cynllun gweithredu sgiliau Cymru Sero Net, gan nodi sut y byddwn yn blaenoriaethu’r saith maes gweithredu allweddol. Mae’r cynllun yn nodi sut y byddwn yn gweithio i ddatblygu dealltwriaeth glir o effeithiau newid, i ddysgu gwersi o’r gorffennol ac adeiladu dyfodol i Gymru sy’n cefnogi economi llesiant. Felly, byddwn yn sicrhau bod y camau gweithredu hynny'n cael eu rhoi ar waith, ac yn sicr, Joyce, mae hynny'n golygu gweithio gyda'r darparwyr hyfforddiant a'r bobl ifanc hefyd i nodi sgiliau'r dyfodol, ac i'w gwneud yn glir iddynt fod dyfodol da i'w gael os ydynt yn dilyn y llwybr hwnnw. Mae'r ddau beth yr un mor bwysig. Mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau hefyd fod y gweithlu presennol yn gallu ennill cyflog ac addasu i ddulliau newydd yn seiliedig ar y dystiolaeth a'r ymchwil honno. Mae'r mwyafrif helaeth o sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnom eisoes yn y gweithlu, felly mae’n rhaid inni allu addasu fel hynny hefyd.

Deallaf fod Cadeirydd y pwyllgor yn chwilio am gynllun gwahanol, ond mae Cymru Sero Net yn nodi disgwyliad fod yna angen—angen—i gartrefi ac adeiladau Cymru fod yn garbon sero net erbyn 2050, a bod yn rhaid i ymyrraeth yn y dyfodol i gefnogi pobl mewn tlodi tanwydd roi ystyriaeth bellach i'r angen i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd drwy ddatgarboneiddio'r sector tai. Hynny yw, mae hynny yn y cynllun eisoes—er eglurder, mae hynny yno eisoes. Ond mae'n her, ac mae'n her gostus, fel y mae llawer o bobl wedi nodi. Ers 2010 hyd at ddiwedd mis Mawrth 2022, rydym wedi buddsoddi mwy na £420 miliwn mewn gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni cartrefi drwy raglenni Cartrefi Clyd ac wedi darparu gwelliannau i fwy na 73,000 o aelwydydd incwm is. Mae llawer mwy i'w wneud, ond rwyf am fod yn siŵr eich bod yn deall bod llawer eisoes yn digwydd hefyd. Y bwriad nawr, gyda'r rhaglen newydd, yw mabwysiadu dull carbon isel ffabrig yn gyntaf, gwaethaf yn gyntaf, a chyflwyno mesurau i wella effeithlonrwydd ynni y cartrefi incwm isel lleiaf effeithlon yn thermol yng Nghymru.

O ran cyflymu, fel rhan o’n cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru, mae gennym grŵp her sy’n edrych ar gyflymu’r daith hon. Cyfarfu Siân a minnau â nhw yn ddiweddar iawn, ac un o’r pethau y byddant yn edrych arnynt yw: a allwn gyflymu’r nod 2050 i 2035, ac os felly, sut? Felly, os caf roi sicrwydd fod yna gynllun ar waith sy'n edrych ar gyflymu. Os gallwn fynd yn gyflymach, byddwn yn sicr yn gwneud hynny.

Ond rydym hefyd yn gwerthuso opsiynau ar gyfer ailariannu gwaith ôl-osod yn y sector perchen-feddianwyr a'r sector rhentu preifat hefyd. Maent yn ymgorffori ystod eang o ddulliau cyllido, gan gynnwys ynni glân a asesir fesul eiddo, lle mae’r benthyciad yn gysylltiedig â’r eiddo yn hytrach na’r unigolyn—benthyciadau llog isel, benthyciadau rhyddhau ecwiti a morgeisi gwyrdd—a cheisio dod o hyd i ffordd sy’n caniatáu i bobl fuddsoddi yn eu cartref mewn ffordd gynaliadwy sy’n golygu bod mwy o bobl yn debygol o fanteisio ar y cyllid. A dweud y gwir, os ydych yr un oed â mi, nid yw rhywbeth sy'n cymryd 20 mlynedd i'w ad-dalu i'w weld yn werth ei gael, felly mae'n rhaid ichi allu gwneud iddo edrych yn werth ei gael i berchennog y cartref hefyd.

Rydym hefyd yn gweithio gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru i edrych ar opsiynau ariannu ar gyfer y sector perchen-feddianwyr yn benodol, ac rydym wedi dod â phanel o arbenigwyr o bob rhan o’r sector cyllid at ei gilydd i weithio gyda ni ar werthuso opsiynau a llunio’r atebion.

16:55

Minister, will you take an intervention request from Jenny Rathbone?

Weinidog, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad gan Jenny Rathbone?

Yes, sure—sorry, I didn't see that.

Gwnaf, yn sicr—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, nid oeddwn wedi gweld.

Thank you very much. One of the things that would enable us to go faster would be if we changed the regulations around air-source heat pumps to enable those of us living in terraced properties, particularly in urban areas, to have the advantages of air-source heat pumps, given that ground-source heat pumps are very difficult to install in properties that are right on top of each other. So, I just wondered whether you'd considered reducing the 3m limit on air-source heat pumps, as I'm assured that modern air-source heat pumps don't emit any noise at all.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Un o’r pethau a fyddai’n ein galluogi i fynd yn gyflymach fyddai pe baem yn newid y rheoliadau ynghylch pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer i alluogi’r rhai ohonom sy’n byw mewn tai teras, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd trefol, i gael manteision pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer, o ystyried ei bod yn anodd iawn gosod pympiau gwres o'r ddaear mewn eiddo sy'n agos iawn at ei gilydd. Felly, tybed a ydych wedi ystyried lleihau'r terfyn 3m ar bympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer, gan fy mod wedi cael sicrwydd nad yw pympiau gwres ffynhonnell aer modern yn allyrru unrhyw sŵn o gwbl.

So, just very briefly on that, Jenny, we're absolutely looking at the permitted development rights, but they won't be for any air-source heat pump; we will have to say that there's a decibel level that's permissible, and that's actually slightly more complicated than what you're asking. I don't want to just reduce it and then, actually, our soundscape Bill will make it impossible for you to do anyway. So, we have to get that proportionate, but we are definitely looking at that.

And then, in terms of Jenny Rathbone's and Jane Dodds's contributions, we have, of course, now implemented the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and many of the issues raised in the evidence, Jenny, that you set out, and that Jane set out, are covered by the renting homes Act, and in particular retaliatory evictions are covered, and we have now implemented that. It's in its very early stages, but, as it rolls out across Wales, we're taking great steps to ensure that tenants are made aware that they have rights and that the landlord is constrained from retaliatory eviction by that Act. So, I am absolutely confident that, as that Act embeds in property in Wales, those kinds of issues will definitely improve, and we'll be doing a lot of work, which I don't have time to go into, to publicise that and make sure tenants can do it.

I've also recently announced the allocation of £50 million on the empty homes grant to bring 2,000 long-term empty properties back in; that's in addition to property and transforming towns loan funding, which has improved or brought back into use another 3,000 homes. These are all in a low-carbon state, once they're back in use. The scheme gives £25,000—up to £25,000—for home owners or prospective home owners to remove significant hazards from their property, make them safe to live in and improve energy efficiency. Social landlords, local authorities and community housing groups can also access funding for empty properties that they're acquiring to bring back into use as affordable housing on the same scheme.

We also have the ORP, which has £120 million invested in it. It remains a test-and-learn programme. We've changed the funding approach to recognise the need to increase the pace and scale of decarbonisation in this sector and ensure every social landlord is able to plan and progress their decarbonisation programme, as well as bringing forward innovative approaches. But the important thing here is that ORP works across the whole supply chain, and it includes the development and evaluation of new products along with the workforce required for the manufacture, installation and maintenance. So, the Welsh Government net-zero skills review forms a key part of that work, and it's important to see it in that holistic way.

We're also working with local authorities to attract investment available through the energy company obligation scheme alongside TrustMark, who are in discussion with the UK financial services sector, and I'm really pleased to report that, following consultation, we are about to finalise our new Welsh housing quality standard Wales 2023, to be published this year. A key element of that will be a bold ambition to bring all our social housing stock up to the highest possible levels of energy efficiency.

As Delyth Jewell and others highlighted, many of those in the private housing sector are keen to begin their homes' decarbonisation journey. To support them and provide confidence that they are taking the right steps for their homes, as well as provide wider advice, support and guidance to all those involved, we are making the net-zero carbon housing hub. It's been recently launched. It will provide an impactful, purposeful action-based hub, accelerating the transition to net zero across all tenures. It will have a public domain element that will showcase case studies, peer reviews on Wales's academic research, and an A to Z of Wales's supply chain, along with details on other funding available for the decarbonisation of homes, exactly to do as both Huw and others have said, to give people the right advice to invest their own money in their own home, to get the right tech at the right time and at the right price. So, we are doing a whole series of things across there.

As predicted, Dirprwy Lywydd, I've now run out of time. Just very briefly, though, to say that I am confident that we're doing the right thing on the private sector. It is taking a long time to get the skills and supply chain in place, but we are doing it. I'm more than happy to report back to the committee as we go along, because I too want to do this as fast as possible. Diolch.

Yn gryno iawn ar hynny, Jenny, rydym yn sicr yn edrych ar yr hawliau datblygu a ganiateir, ond ni fyddant ar gyfer unrhyw bwmp gwres ffynhonnell aer; bydd yn rhaid inni ddweud bod yna lefel desibelau a ganiateir, ac mae hynny ychydig yn fwy cymhleth na'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ofyn. Nid wyf am ei ostwng a bod ein Bil seinweddau'n ei gwneud yn amhosibl ichi ei wneud beth bynnag. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod hynny'n gymesur, ond rydym yn bendant yn edrych ar hynny.

Ac yna, ar gyfraniadau Jenny Rathbone a Jane Dodds, rydym bellach, wrth gwrs, wedi rhoi Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 ar waith, ac mae llawer o'r materion a godwyd yn y dystiolaeth, Jenny, a nodwyd gennych chi, ac a nodwyd gan Jane, wedi’u cwmpasu gan y Ddeddf rhentu cartrefi, ac yn benodol, mae troi allan dialgar wedi’i gynnwys, ac rydym bellach wedi rhoi hynny ar waith. Mae ar gam cynnar iawn, ond wrth iddo gael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru, rydym yn rhoi camau mawr ar waith i sicrhau bod tenantiaid yn cael gwybod bod ganddynt hawliau a bod y Ddeddf honno'n rhwystro landlord rhag eu troi allan yn ddialgar. Felly, rwy’n gwbl hyderus, wrth i’r Ddeddf honno ymwreiddio ar gyfer eiddo yng Nghymru, y bydd y mathau hynny o faterion yn bendant yn gwella, a byddwn yn gwneud llawer o waith, nad oes gennyf amser i fanylu arno, i roi cyhoeddusrwydd i hynny ac i sicrhau bod tenantiaid yn gallu ei wneud.

Yn ddiweddar, rwyf hefyd wedi cyhoeddi'r dyraniad o £50 miliwn i'r grant cartrefi gwag i ddod â 2,000 o eiddo gwag hirdymor yn ôl i ddefnydd; mae hynny'n ychwanegol at gyllid benthyciadau trawsnewid trefi ac eiddo, sydd wedi gwella neu wedi dod â 3,000 o gartrefi eraill yn ôl i ddefnydd. Mae pob un o'r rhain mewn cyflwr carbon isel, pan fyddant yn ôl mewn defnydd. Mae'r cynllun yn rhoi £25,000—hyd at £25,000—i berchnogion tai neu ddarpar berchnogion tai gael gwared ar beryglon sylweddol o'u heiddo, eu gwneud yn ddiogel i fyw ynddynt a gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni. Gall landlordiaid cymdeithasol, awdurdodau lleol a grwpiau tai cymunedol hefyd gael mynediad at gyllid ar gyfer eiddo gwag y maent yn eu caffael i ddod â nhw yn ôl i ddefnydd fel tai fforddiadwy yn yr un cynllun.

Mae gennym hefyd y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio y buddsoddwyd £120 miliwn ynddi. Mae'n parhau i fod yn rhaglen brofi a dysgu. Rydym wedi newid y dull ariannu i gydnabod yr angen i gynyddu cyflymder a graddfa datgarboneiddio yn y sector hwn ac i sicrhau bod pob landlord cymdeithasol yn gallu cynllunio a datblygu eu rhaglen ddatgarboneiddio, yn ogystal â chyflwyno dulliau arloesol. Ond y peth pwysig yma yw bod y rhaglen ôl-osod er mwyn optimeiddio'n gweithio ar draws y gadwyn gyflenwi gyfan, ac mae'n cynnwys datblygu a gwerthuso cynhyrchion newydd ynghyd â'r gweithlu sydd ei angen ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu, gosod a chynnal a chadw. Felly, mae adolygiad sgiliau sero net Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhan allweddol o'r gwaith hwnnw, ac mae'n bwysig ei ystyried yn y ffordd gyfannol honno.

Rydym hefyd yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i ddenu buddsoddiad sydd ar gael drwy’r cynllun rhwymedigaeth cwmnïau ynni ochr yn ochr â TrustMark, sydd wrthi’n trafod gyda sector gwasanaethau ariannol y DU, ac rwy’n falch iawn o adrodd ein bod, ar ôl ymgynghori, ar fin cwblhau manylion ein safon ansawdd tai newydd Gymreig ar gyfer 2023, i’w chyhoeddi eleni. Elfen allweddol ohoni fydd uchelgais beiddgar i sicrhau bod ein stoc dai cymdeithasol gyfan yn bodloni’r lefelau effeithlonrwydd ynni uchaf posibl.

Fel yr amlygodd Delyth Jewell ac eraill, mae llawer o bobl yn y sector tai preifat yn awyddus i ddechrau ar y daith i ddatgarboneiddio eu cartrefi. I'w cefnogi nhw ac i roi hyder eu bod yn rhoi'r camau cywir ar waith ar gyfer eu cartrefi, yn ogystal â darparu cyngor, cymorth ac arweiniad ehangach i bawb, rydym yn creu'r hyb tai carbon sero net. Cafodd ei lansio'n ddiweddar. Bydd yn darparu hyb effeithiol, pwrpasol sy’n seiliedig ar gamau gweithredu, ac yn cyflymu’r newid i sero net ar draws pob math o ddeiliadaeth. Bydd ganddo elfen parth cyhoeddus a fydd yn arddangos astudiaethau achos, adolygiadau gan gymheiriaid ar ymchwil academaidd Cymru, ac A i Y y gadwyn gyflenwi yng Nghymru, ynghyd â manylion am gyllid arall sydd ar gael ar gyfer datgarboneiddio cartrefi, i wneud yn union fel y mae Huw ac eraill wedi'i ddweud, a rhoi'r cyngor cywir i bobl fuddsoddi eu harian eu hunain yn eu cartrefi eu hunain, i gael y dechnoleg iawn ar yr amser iawn ac am y pris iawn. Felly, rydym yn gwneud cyfres gyfan o bethau yn y cyswllt hwnnw.

Fel y rhagwelwyd, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae fy amser ar ben bellach. Ond yn gryno iawn, hoffwn ddweud fy mod yn hyderus ein bod yn gwneud y peth iawn ar gyfer y sector preifat. Mae’n cymryd amser hir i gael y sgiliau a’r gadwyn gyflenwi yn eu lle, ond rydym yn gwneud hynny. Rwy’n fwy na pharod i adrodd yn ôl i’r pwyllgor wrth inni symud ymlaen, gan fy mod innau hefyd yn dymuno gwneud hyn mor gyflym â phosibl. Diolch.

17:00

Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on the Chair of the committee to reply to the debate.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu i'r drafodaeth. Gwnaf i jest amlygu ambell i bwynt, efallai, a datblygu ymhellach arnyn nhw wrth gloi.

Diolch i Janet am ei chyfraniad, yn ein hatgoffa ni bod y cloc yn ticio. Mae hynny yn sicr yn wir, ac mi wnaeth hi gydnabod bod gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig rôl bwysig i'w chwarae yn hyn o beth. Mi gyfeiriodd hi yn benodol at y MEES—y minimum energy efficiency standards—ac mae ECO ac mae'r boiler upgrade scheme hefyd i gyd yn bethau mae'n bwysig i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig ddod â i'r bwrdd, a dwi'n falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn argymhelliad 17 i barhau i ymgysylltu ac i geisio dylanwadu ar Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn hynny o beth.

Jenny hefyd—Jenny Rathbone yn sôn am y twll du yma o £1 biliwn pan fo'n dod i gyllideb ac ariannu, wrth gwrs, a phan rŷch chi yn wynebu sefyllfa lle mae saith allan o bob 10 o eiddo rhent preifat yn oer ac yn damp, mae hynna'n ein hatgoffa ni o sgêl y broblem. Dwy ran o dair gydag EPC rating o D neu yn is, ac rŷn ni'n gwybod, wrth gwrs, onid ydyn ni, fod tai rhent yng Nghymru, y mwyafrif ohonon nhw, yn dyddio yn ôl cyn 1929 pan eu hadeiladwyd nhw. Ond mae'n ddigon teg i'r Gweinidog ein hatgoffa ni fod gennym ni beth o'r tai gorau hefyd, nid dim ond y rhai gwaethaf. Ond, mewn perthynas â'i gilydd, wrth gwrs, mae rhai gwaeth lawer lawer yn fwy pan fo'n dod i niferoedd, ac mae hynny'n tanlinellu'r angen i symud yn gyflymach ac i gwrdd â sgêl yr her mewn ffordd fwy grymus.

Roedd Delyth yn sôn am yr annhegwch cymdeithasol. Mae yna greisis anghyfartaledd, heb os nac oni bai. Mae yna greisis tlodi modern, a phan rŷch chi yn gweld y biliau ynni £300 yn uwch oherwydd ansawdd tai i'r bobl hynny sy'n stryglo fwyaf, yna, fel dywedodd Delyth, mae yna annhegwch ar annhegwch fan hyn, ac mi ddylai hynna fod yn gymhelliad mor gryf, neu gyn gryfed ag unrhyw gymhelliad amgylcheddol neu unrhyw gymhelliad arall, i fynd i'r afael â'r mater yma.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to everyone who's contributed to the debate. I will just highlight and focus on a few points and develop them further as I conclude.

Thank you to Janet for her contribution. She reminded us that the clock is ticking. That is certainly the case, and she recognised that the UK Government has an important role to play here. She referred specifically to the MEES—the minimum energy efficiency standards—and there is ECO and the boiler upgrade scheme, which are all important issues that the UK Government must bring to the table, and I'm pleased that the Welsh Government has accepted recommendation 17 to continue to engage and to influence the UK Government in that regard.

Jenny Rathbone also mentioned the black hole of £1 billion when it comes to the budget and funding, and when you are facing a situation where seven in 10 private rented properties are cold and damp, then that just reminds us of the scale of the problem. Two thirds have an EPC rating of D or lower, and we know, of course, that rental accommodation in Wales, the majority, dates back to pre 1929. But it's fair for the Minister also to remind us that we do have some of the best housing as well, not just some of the worst. But, of course, the worst housing does very much outnumber the best, and that highlights the need to move more swiftly to meet the scale of the challenge in a more robust way.

Delyth talked about the social injustice. There is an inequality crisis without a doubt. There is a modern poverty crisis, and when you do see energy bills being £300 higher because of the quality of housing for those struggling most, then, as Delyth said, there is injustice upon injustice here, and that should be as strong an incentive as any environmental incentive or any other incentive to tackle this issue.

Joyce, as always, reminds us of the danger of a skills deficit in this context. You know, who's going to do this work that we're asking people to undertake? And having those clear pathways and targets to ensure that pipeline in terms of a workforce coming through is important, as is the reskilling agenda. And I think you mentioned there's a need for a fiftyfold increase in installers of heat pumps compared to what we have today. So, any entrepreneurs out there, I think I know what they should be looking to do.

Jane as well reminded us, Jane Dodds, of the consequences for health of poorly insulated and energy-inefficient homes. And she’s right to remind us that the scale and the nature of the challenge in rural areas is very different, and I know that the Government recognises this, particularly for those properties that are off-grid, facing a very different kind of price volatility challenge when it comes to energy.

Huw: pushing, probing and prodding. That’s alliteration at its best, I have to say, so thank you for that. But you are right. We need to be clear: where are we going to be in 12 months, in 24 months, by the end of this Senedd? And that’s the clarity and that’s the certainty that the committee is looking for, really, as is the wider sector. People out there who we expect to step up to the plate to deliver this need to know, so that they can have confidence in moving definitively in this direction, and it will be a mix of regulation and incentives, the carrot and the stick, as I’m sure is always the case.

I thank you, Minister, for your willingness and your keenness to have this ongoing dialogue, and the testing and learning approach is absolutely right. You’re right: we shouldn’t embark on any route unless we’re pretty sure that we’re going in the right direction. But of course, the feeling is that much of this now needs to come to the surface, doesn’t it? A lot of work is happening, maybe, in the background, but we really need to be seeing signs of greater action on the ground.

Mae Joyce, fel arfer, yn ein hatgoffa o'r perygl o brinder sgiliau yn y cyd-destun hwn. Wyddoch chi, pwy sy'n mynd i wneud y gwaith y gofynnwn i bobl ei wneud? Ac mae cael llwybrau a thargedau clir i sicrhau bod llif gweithlu'n dod drwodd yn bwysig, fel y mae'r agenda ailsgilio. Ac rwy'n credu eich bod wedi sôn bod angen cynnydd hanner can gwaith drosodd yn nifer y rhai sy'n gosod pympiau gwres o'i gymharu â'r hyn sydd gennym heddiw. Felly, rwy'n meddwl fy mod yn gwybod beth y dylai unrhyw entrepreneuriaid allan yno fod yn ceisio ei wneud.

Roedd Jane hefyd yn ein hatgoffa, Jane Dodds, o ganlyniadau cartrefi sydd wedi'u hinswleiddio'n wael ac sy'n aneffeithlon yn eu defnydd o ynni i iechyd. Ac mae hi'n iawn i'n hatgoffa bod maint a natur yr her mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn wahanol iawn, ac rwy'n gwybod bod y Llywodraeth yn cydnabod hyn, yn enwedig ar gyfer eiddo sydd oddi ar y grid, ac yn wynebu math gwahanol iawn o her gydag anwadalrwydd pris ynni.

Huw: gwthio a phrocio. Rydych chi'n iawn. Mae angen inni fod yn glir: ble fyddwn ni arni ymhen 12 mis, ymhen 24 mis, erbyn diwedd y Senedd hon? A dyna'r eglurder a'r sicrwydd y mae'r pwyllgor yn chwilio amdano mewn gwirionedd, fel y mae'r sector ehangach. Mae yna bobl allan yno yr ydym yn disgwyl iddynt ysgwyddo eu cyfrifoldeb a diwallu'r angen i wybod, fel y gallant fod â hyder wrth symud yn bendant i'r cyfeiriad hwn, a bydd yn gymysgedd o reoleiddio a chymhellion, y foronen a'r ffon, fel sy'n wir bob amser, rwy'n siŵr.

Diolch i chi, Weinidog, am eich parodrwydd a'ch brwdfrydedd i gael y ddeialog barhaus hon, ac mae'r dull profi a dysgu yn gwbl gywir. Rydych chi'n iawn: ni ddylem ddechrau dilyn unrhyw drywydd oni bai ein bod yn eithaf sicr ein bod yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad cywir. Ond wrth gwrs, y teimlad yw bod angen i lawer o hyn ddod i'r wyneb bellach, onid oes? Efallai fod yna lawer o waith yn digwydd yn y cefndir, ond mae gwir angen inni weld arwyddion o fwy o weithredu ar lawr gwlad.

Felly, gaf i ddiolch i bawb am gyfrannu at y ddadl? Gaf i ddiolch hefyd i’r holl randdeiliaid sydd wedi cyfrannu eu tystiolaeth i waith y pwyllgor, ac i’r tîm clercio, wrth gwrs, am eu holl gefnogaeth?

Mae’r manteision o gyflawni’r agenda ôl-osod yma, fel rŷn ni’n gwybod, yn dod â buddiannau amgylcheddol o safbwynt effeithlonrwydd ynni a datgarboneiddio, ond mae hefyd yn dod â buddion cymdeithasol pan fo’n dod i daclo tlodi tanwydd a gwella canlyniadau iechyd o fewn y boblogaeth. Ond mae hefyd yn dod â buddiannau economaidd, onid yw e, o safbwynt creu swyddi a’r cyfleoedd gyrfa sydd yna i ddarparu rhai o’r gwasanaethau rŷn ni’n chwilio amdanyn nhw.

Felly, fel pwyllgor, rŷn ni’n falch iawn o’r cyfle i fod yn cyfrannu at y drafodaeth yma; yn arwain, pan y gallwn ni, y drafodaeth yma; ac yn sicr yn annog y Llywodraeth i fynd yn gynt ac ymhellach ar yr agenda yma, oherwydd mae’r buddiannau yn ddirifedi yn y pen draw. Diolch.

So, may I thank everyone who’s contributed to the debate? May I also thank all of the stakeholders who provided the committee with evidence, and thank the clerking team for all their support?

The benefits of delivering this retrofit agenda, as we know, do bring environmental benefits in terms of energy efficiency and decarbonisation, but it also brings social benefits when it comes to tackling fuel poverty and improving health outcomes for the population. But it also brings economic benefits, too, in terms of job creation and the career opportunities that do exist in providing some of the services that we are looking for.

So, as a committee, we are very pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to this debate; leading this debate, where we can; and certainly encouraging the Government to move more quickly and further on this agenda, because the benefits are unlimited, ultimately. Thank you.

17:05

Y cwestiwn yw y dylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, felly derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to note the committee’s report. Does any Member object? No, therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: Y Coroni
7. Welsh Conservatives' Debate: The Coronation

Eitem 7, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar y coroni. Galwaf ar Natasha Asghar i wneud y cynnig.

Item 7 is the Welsh Conservatives' debate on the coronation, and I call on Natasha Asghar to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM8250 Darren Millar

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn estyn ei dymuniadau gorau i'w Fawrhydi'r Brenin ac Ei Mawrhydi'r Frenhines Gydweddog ar ddigwyddiad eu coroni.

Motion NDM8250 Darren Millar

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Extends its good wishes to Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort on the event of their coronation.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Thank you so much, Deputy Presiding Officer. It is an absolute privilege to be opening this important debate, tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. In just a few days’ time, millions of people in Wales, the UK and across the globe will come together for the coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen Consort. Without a doubt, this weekend promises to be an extremely joyous occasion, showcasing the best of Britain to the world. From the coronation itself and the star-studded concert at Windsor castle to the Big Coronation Lunch and The Big Help Out, there really is something for everyone to get involved in.

This weekend I will be marking this truly historic moment surrounded by my family and friends, as I am sure many of you here will be doing as well. And can I please say a huge thank you to my colleagues Tom Giffard and also Sam Rowlands for writing to all of the local authorities in Wales to encourage them to hold public screenings of the coronation?

There are a whole host of events taking place across my region of South Wales East this weekend. There’s a Big Coronation Lunch event in Beechwood park in Newport on Sunday, featuring a market, sports activities, arts, crafts and live music. Chepstow is hosting a Big Fun Day on bank holiday Monday with music, a barbecue, fairground rides, activities and fireworks. There’s a big street party in Usk on Sunday with children’s entertainment and music, and the coronation celebrations continue in Caerphilly on Saturday with inflatables, farm animals, music and much more. I’d encourage everyone to find out what events are going on in their communities and to go along and have some fun and mark the momentous occasion in style.

There is no denying that King Charles III has incredibly big shoes to fill. His mother, our late beloved Queen, was an inspiration to many, having reigned over us for more than 70 years. Despite the mammoth task that lies ahead, I have no doubt that the King and Queen Consort will do our late Majesty and the United Kingdom proud.

Wales has always had a special place in King Charles III’s heart, having served as our Prince for 64 years. Throughout the course of his time as the Prince of Wales, his love for our country and the Welsh people has only got deeper. In fact, King Charles III is a patron and trustee of many Welsh charities and organisations, including Age Cymru and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. It was also a great honour to be able to have a brief conversation with King Charles when he visited the Welsh Parliament, albeit under extremely sad circumstances. We spoke about his love of the environment, and I even took the opportunity to invite His Majesty to south-east Wales. One thing is for sure: His Majesty will endeavour to serve this great country with a strong sense of strength, courage and duty.

As a person born in Wales whose father was born in pre-partition India, and a mother who was born in Pakistan—two Commonwealth countries—and coming from a house where we speak four languages simultaneously, I would like to say to Their Majesties: in Urdu, 'Aap ko humari taraf se dher sari shub kamniya', which means 'wishing you tremendous success'; in Punjabi, 'Tusa nu lakh lakh vadhiya', which translates as 'huge congratulations'. Also, I'd like to say, 'Pob lwc' to both Their Majesties ahead of this weekend’s coronation, in Welsh; and last but not least, in English, 'Here's to a very successful, healthy and long reign ahead.' God save the King.

Diolch o galon, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae'n fraint fawr cael agor y ddadl bwysig hon, a gyflwynwyd yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod Darren Millar. Ymhen ychydig ddyddiau'n unig, bydd miliynau o bobl yng Nghymru, y DU ac ar draws y byd yn dod at ei gilydd ar gyfer coroni eu Mawrhydi y Brenin a'r Frenhines Gydweddog. Heb os, mae'r penwythnos hwn yn addo bod yn achlysur hynod o lawen, gan arddangos y gorau o Brydain i'r byd. O'r coroni ei hun a'r cyngerdd llawn o sêr yng nghastell Windsor i Ginio Mawr y Coroni a'r Help Llaw Mawr, mae yna rywbeth i bawb gymryd rhan ynddo mewn gwirionedd.

Y penwythnos hwn byddaf yn nodi'r foment wirioneddol hanesyddol hon wedi fy amgylchynu gan fy nheulu a fy ffrindiau, fel nifer ohonoch chi, rwy'n siŵr. Ac a gaf fi ddweud diolch yn fawr iawn i fy nghyd-Aelodau Tom Giffard a Sam Rowlands am ysgrifennu at bob un o awdurdodau lleol Cymru i'w hannog i ddangos y coroni ar sgriniau cyhoeddus?

Mae llu o ddigwyddiadau'n cael eu cynnal ar draws fy rhanbarth i yn Nwyrain De Cymru y penwythnos hwn. Mae digwyddiad Cinio Mawr y Coroni ym mharc Beechwood yng Nghasnewydd ddydd Sul yn cynnwys marchnad, gweithgareddau chwaraeon, celf a chrefft a cherddoriaeth fyw. Mae Cas-gwent yn cynnal Diwrnod Hwyl Mawr ddydd Llun Gŵyl y Banc gyda cherddoriaeth, barbeciw, reidiau ffair, gweithgareddau a thân gwyllt. Mae parti stryd mawr ym Mrynbuga ddydd Sul gydag adloniant i blant a cherddoriaeth, ac mae dathliadau'r coroni'n parhau yng Nghaerffili ddydd Sadwrn gyda chestyll bownsio, anifeiliaid fferm, cerddoriaeth a llawer mwy. Hoffwn annog pawb i ddarganfod pa ddigwyddiadau a gynhelir yn eu cymunedau nhw ac i fynd yno i gael ychydig o hwyl a nodi'r achlysur pwysig mewn steil.

Nid oes amheuaeth fod gan y Brenin Charles III esgidiau anhygoel o fawr i'w llenwi. Roedd ei fam, ein diweddar annwyl Frenhines, yn ysbrydoliaeth i lawer, ar ôl teyrnasu drosom am dros 70 mlynedd. Er gwaethaf y dasg anferth sydd o'i flaen, nid oes gennyf unrhyw amheuaeth y bydd y Brenin a'r Frenhines Gydweddog yn cynnal anrhydedd ein diweddar Frenhines a'r Deyrnas Unedig. 

Mae Cymru bob amser wedi bod â lle arbennig yng nghalon y Brenin Charles III, ar ôl iddo wasanaethu fel ein Tywysog am 64 o flynyddoedd. Drwy gydol ei gyfnod fel Tywysog Cymru, mae ei gariad tuag at ein gwlad a'r Cymry wedi dyfnhau. Yn wir, mae'r Brenin Charles III yn noddwr ac yn ymddiriedolwr i lawer o elusennau a mudiadau Cymreig, gan gynnwys Age Cymru a Cherddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC. Roedd hefyd yn anrhydedd fawr i gael sgwrs fer gyda'r Brenin Charles pan ymwelodd â Senedd Cymru, er yr amgylchiadau hynod o drist. Fe siaradom am ei gariad tuag at yr amgylchedd, a manteisiais ar y cyfle hyd yn oed i wahodd Ei Fawrhydi i dde-ddwyrain Cymru. Un peth sy'n sicr: bydd Ei Fawrhydi yn ymdrechu i wasanaethu'r wlad wych hon gydag ymdeimlad cryf o gadernid, dewrder a dyletswydd.

Fel un a aned yng Nghymru gyda thad a aned yn India cyn y rhaniad, a mam a gafodd ei geni ym Mhacistan—dwy wlad yn y Gymanwlad—ac yn dod o dŷ lle rydym yn siarad pedair iaith ar yr un pryd, hoffwn ddweud wrth eu Mawrhydi: yn Wrdw, 'Aap ko humari taraf se dher sari shub kamniya', sy'n golygu 'pob dymuniad da am lwyddiant aruthrol i chi'; yn y Bwnjabeg, 'Tusa nu lakh lakh vadhiya', sy'n golygu 'llongyfarchiadau enfawr'. Hefyd, hoffwn ddweud 'Pob lwc' yn Gymraeg wrth y ddau Fawrhydi cyn y coroni y penwythnos hwn; ac yn olaf, ond nid yn lleiaf, yn Saesneg, 'Here's to a very successful, healthy and long reign ahead.' Duw gadwo'r Brenin.

17:10

Isn't it marvellous that we can have this debate here today in the Welsh Parliament? And of course, Wales has a remarkable history with King Charles III, with Wales being right at the heart of much of his life. The now monarch, of course, was made Prince of Wales in 1958, and has been the longest serving Prince of Wales in British history; really quite a remarkable feat, and demonstrates certainly a connection with Wales, longer than many of us in the Chamber have been alive.

The Prince of Wales title has been recognised and celebrated all over the globe and has been a fantastic way for our country to gain recognition on the world stage. Indeed, I was pleased to be able to recently have a conversation with CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, on this very question of the role of the now King and the coronation ahead of us.

The King studied at Aberystwyth University in 1969, and included a crash course in the Welsh language, and we know he enjoyed fishing at the Glanusk estate in Powys, taking solace, I believe, in the beautiful hills and rivers of mid Wales. His Majesty has long had a home in Carmarthenshire, and was often seen walking in the area, and I believe he even helped them to design a new village hall. I'm sure everyone was appreciative of that. And his last official visit into Wales as Prince was to Treorchy in the summer of 2022, and people thronged the streets in order to see our now King, which really showed the warmth and affection that people in the Rhondda have for our royal family.

I do know there are a few people in Wales, though, who perhaps don't share my excitement for this weekend, and may have some reservations about celebrating the King and the coronation ahead of us, and I'd like to take a moment, Deputy Presiding Officer, to put their minds at ease, and to allow them to enjoy themselves this week as the King is coronated.

So, apart from the joy and unity that the coronation will bring to communities across Wales and the United Kingdom, it will also bring an economic boost, especially in the tourism and hospitality areas. The Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates that extra tourism and spending in pubs—and that's not just in Alyn and Deeside—will provide an extra £337 million boost to the economy. Indeed, figures from UK Hospitality suggest that the coronation weekend will add £350 million to spending. I know not everybody's always a big fan of tourism in this Chamber, or perhaps hospitality, but I think most people will certainly welcome this royal-inspired economic boost to Wales.

It is a momentous time in the history of the United Kingdom. Our late Queen Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953, so this will be the first coronation that the vast majority of people in our country will know of or remember. It is a moment also where the whole world will be watching, and I'm proud to say that it's a former Prince of Wales who will be our King. Our monarchy is the envy of the world; it acts as a focus for our national identity, uniting us and giving us a sense of pride. It gives us continuity and stability; no matter what the political wranglings are, it's the monarchy that remains constant and above the fray. So, let us join together in uniting to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, and from Wales we say, 'God save the King'.

Onid yw'n wych ein bod ni'n gallu cael y ddadl hon yma heddiw yn Senedd Cymru? Ac wrth gwrs, mae gan Gymru hanes rhyfeddol gyda'r Brenin Charles III, gyda Chymru'n rhan ganolog o lawer o'i fywyd. Cafodd y Brenin, bellach wrth gwrs, ei wneud yn Dywysog Cymru ym 1958, ac ef yw'r un sydd wedi gwasanaethu hiraf fel Tywysog Cymru yn hanes Prydain; camp go ryfeddol mewn gwirionedd, ac mae'n sicr yn dangos cysylltiad â Chymru, cysylltiad hirach na'r blynyddoedd y bu llawer ohonom sydd yn y Siambr yn fyw.

Mae'r teitl Tywysog Cymru wedi cael ei gydnabod a'i ddathlu ledled y byd ac wedi bod yn ffordd wych i'n gwlad gael cydnabyddiaeth ar lwyfan y byd. Yn wir, roeddwn yn falch o allu cael sgwrs â CBS, Corfforaeth Ddarlledu Canada, yn ddiweddar ar yr union gwestiwn hwn o rôl y Brenin a'r coroni o'n blaenau.

Astudiodd y Brenin ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth ym 1969, gan gynnwys cwrs cyflym yn yr iaith Gymraeg, ac rydym yn gwybod iddo fwynhau pysgota ar ystad Glanusk ym Mhowys, gan gael cysur, rwy'n credu, ym mryniau ac afonydd hardd canolbarth Cymru. Mae Ei Fawrhydi wedi bod â chartref yn sir Gaerfyrddin ers amser maith, ac roedd i'w weld yn aml yn cerdded yn yr ardal, a chredaf ei fod hyd yn oed wedi eu helpu i gynllunio neuadd bentref newydd. Rwy'n siŵr fod pawb yn gwerthfawrogi hynny. A'i ymweliad swyddogol olaf â Chymru fel Tywysog oedd i Dreorci yn haf 2022, a heidiodd pobl i'r strydoedd er mwyn gweld ein Brenin, erbyn hyn, achlysur a ddangosodd hoffter pobl yn y Rhondda o'n teulu brenhinol.

Er hynny, rwy'n gwybod bod yna rai pobl yng Nghymru nad ydynt yn rhannu fy nghyffro ynglŷn â'r penwythnos hwn, ac efallai fod ganddynt amheuon ynghylch dathlu'r Brenin a'r coroni, a hoffwn gymryd eiliad, Ddirprwy Lywydd, i dawelu eu meddyliau, ac i ganiatáu iddynt fwynhau eu hunain yr wythnos hon wrth i'r Brenin gael ei goroni.

Felly, ar wahân i'r llawenydd a'r teimlad o undod a ddaw yn sgil y coroni i gymunedau ledled Cymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig, bydd hefyd yn dod â hwb economaidd yn ei sgil, yn enwedig yn y maes twristiaeth a lletygarwch. Mae'r Ganolfan Economeg ac Ymchwil Busnes yn amcangyfrif y bydd twristiaeth a gwariant ychwanegol mewn tafarndai—ac nid yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy yn unig—yn rhoi hwb ychwanegol o £337 miliwn i'r economi. Yn wir, mae ffigurau gan UK Hospitality yn awgrymu y bydd penwythnos y coroni yn ychwanegu £350 miliwn at wariant. Rwy'n gwybod nad yw pawb bob amser yn cefnogi twristiaeth yn y Siambr hon, neu letygarwch efallai, ond rwy'n credu y bydd y rhan fwyaf o bobl yn sicr yn croesawu'r hwb economaidd hwn i Gymru sydd wedi'i gymell gan y digwyddiad brenhinol.

Mae'n gyfnod pwysig yn hanes y Deyrnas Unedig. Coronwyd ein diweddar Frenhines Elizabeth II ym 1953, felly dyma fydd y coroni cyntaf y bydd y mwyafrif llethol o bobl yn ein gwlad yn gwybod amdano neu'n ei gofio. Mae'n foment hefyd lle bydd y byd i gyd yn gwylio, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud mai cyn-Dywysog Cymru fydd yn Frenin arnom. Mae ein brenhiniaeth yn destun cenfigen y byd; mae'n gweithredu fel ffocws i'n hunaniaeth genedlaethol, yn ein huno ac yn rhoi ymdeimlad o falchder i ni. Mae'n cynnig parhad a sefydlogrwydd i ni; ni waeth beth yw'r ymrafael gwleidyddol, mae'r frenhiniaeth yn aros yn gyson ac uwchlaw'r ffrae. Felly, gadewch inni ymuno i ddathlu coroni Ei Fawrhydi Brenin Charles III, ac o Gymru dywedwn, 'Duw gadwo'r Brenin'.

I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to speak in today's debate, and proud to support the motion in front of us, marking a historic occasion, the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. Saturday's occasion, Deputy Presiding Officer, will bring together people from not only the United Kingdom, but from across the globe. It'll bring communities together.

I would like to, in my short contribution today, highlight the role of one local Connah's Quay resident—and a relation of Deputy Minister Hannah Blythyn—Paul Mealor. Perhaps I should give him his full title, Deputy Presiding Officer, which is the royal composer Professor Paul Mealor. Paul is composing the first performance yn Gymraeg at a coronation—a piece of history; a historic day for Paul, a historic day for Deeside, a historic day for the United Kingdom. Pob lwc, Paul, the Quay is proud of you.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cyfle i siarad yn y ddadl heddiw, ac yn falch o gefnogi'r cynnig sydd ger ein bron i nodi achlysur hanesyddol, sef coroni Ei Fawrhydi y Brenin Charles III. Ddirprwy Lywydd, bydd yr achlysur ddydd Sadwrn yn uno pobl nid yn unig yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ond ym mhob rhan o'r byd. Bydd yn dod â chymunedau at ei gilydd.

Yn fy nghyfraniad byr heddiw, hoffwn dynnu sylw at rôl un o drigolion lleol Cei Connah—a pherthynas i'r Dirprwy Weinidog Hannah Blythyn—Paul Mealor. Efallai y dylwn roi iddo'i deitl llawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, sef yr Athro Paul Mealor, cyfansoddwr brenhinol. Paul sy'n cyfansoddi'r perfformiad cyntaf yn Gymraeg mewn seremoni goroni—darn o hanes; diwrnod hanesyddol i Paul, diwrnod hanesyddol i Lannau Dyfrdwy, diwrnod hanesyddol i'r Deyrnas Unedig. Pob lwc, Paul, mae'r Cei'n falch ohonoch chi.

17:15

I feel honoured to speak in this debate today in our Welsh Parliament. Many colleagues in the Chamber have already spoken about the King and his time in Wales, his legacy and what he has done for Wales and its people, and also his late mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

But I'd like to speak about His Majesty not as a King, but as an activist, a campaigner and a force for change. Most people know he was the longest-serving Prince of Wales—64 years and 44 days, almost double my age and almost a whole lifetime. But during the 64 years he was the Prince of Wales, he was a champion for its people, culture, heritage and our countryside. His passion for nature-friendly farming, love of Welsh song and the communities that make up the fabric of our nation was something His Majesty was proud to promote right around the globe. He proudly calls Wales his home, both from his time in Aberystwyth and his present-day home in Carmarthenshire.

When I think of the King, I think of someone ahead of their time—a deep thinker and someone who understands that the world we live in is precious. We must do all we can to reverse the effects of climate change to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren. The King made a speech on global warming seven years before the term was even used—massively ahead of his time on that issue. The King was also a champion of wildlife, campaigning to save a number of rare and endangered animals, taking the lead when many others turned the other away. It's a passion he has also passed on to his children and the current Prince of Wales. He raises the issue of deforestation, pollution of our rivers. He was a campaigner long before anyone else, and he was heavily criticised at the time for doing it. Some people said he was mad. He had passions to clean up our oceans and he was doing that long before the Blue Planet programme was ever produced.

More recently, he's promoted peace around the world and welcomed people from Ukraine to our country who are fleeing violence at home. But I think his biggest achievement, not just in relation to Wales, but to the whole of the United Kingdom, was setting up the Prince's Trust—the outstanding organisation that helps people from deprived backgrounds to reach their potential and give them opportunities and a chance in life to succeed. The charity has helped thousands of young people from right across Wales to change their lives for the better, and all thanks to a man who had the vision and the drive to change young people's lives and give those people, who many people forget, a chance.

This Saturday, we'll witness the crowning of our King and Queen, continuing a tradition of monarchy that goes back centuries. But beyond that, what we will see is a modern monarchy, incorporating all faiths into the coronation service, Welsh hymns and songs being sung for the first time in a coronation, and the first time, I think, we've had the crowning of a King and Queen who care deeply about our country, our environment and our world and everybody who lives in our fantastic country. So, it gives me great pleasure to say, 'God save the King.'

Mae'n anrhydedd cael siarad yn y ddadl hon heddiw yn ein Senedd Gymreig. Mae llawer o gyd-Aelodau yn y Siambr eisoes wedi siarad am y Brenin a'i amser yng Nghymru, ei waddol a'r hyn y mae wedi'i wneud dros Gymru a'i phobl, a hefyd ei ddiweddar fam, Ei Mawrhydi y Frenhines Elizabeth II. 

Ond hoffwn siarad am Ei Fawrhydi, nid fel Brenin, ond fel gweithredwr, ymgyrchydd a grym dros newid. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn gwybod mai ef oedd y Tywysog Cymru sydd wedi gwasanaethu hiraf—64 mlynedd a 44 diwrnod, bron ddwywaith fy oedran i a bron oes gyfan. Ond yn ystod y 64 mlynedd y bu'n Dywysog Cymru, roedd yn hyrwyddwr ar ran ei phobl, ei diwylliant, ei threftadaeth a'n cefn gwlad. Roedd ei angerdd dros ffermio sy'n ystyriol o natur, cariad at ganu Cymraeg a'r cymunedau sy'n ffurfio gwead ein cenedl yn rhywbeth yr oedd Ei Fawrhydi'n falch o'i hyrwyddo ym mhob rhan o'r byd. Mae'n galw Cymru'n gartref iddo gyda balchder, o'i gyfnod yn Aberystwyth a'i gartref presennol yn sir Gaerfyrddin.

Pan fyddaf yn meddwl am y Brenin, rwy'n meddwl am rywun o flaen eu hamser—meddyliwr dwfn a rhywun sy'n deall bod y byd yr ydym yn byw ynddo yn werthfawr. Rhaid inni wneud popeth a allwn i wyrdroi effeithiau newid hinsawdd i adael byd gwell i'n plant a'n hwyrion. Gwnaeth y Brenin araith ar gynhesu byd-eang saith mlynedd cyn i'r term gael ei ddefnyddio hyd yn oed—ymhell bell o flaen ei amser ar y mater hwnnw. Roedd y Brenin hefyd yn hyrwyddwr bywyd gwyllt, ac ymgyrchodd i achub nifer o anifeiliaid prin a rhai mewn perygl o ddiflannu, gan gymryd yr awenau pan oedd llawer o bobl eraill yn edrych y ffordd arall. Mae'n ddiddordeb y mae hefyd wedi'i drosglwyddo i'w blant a'r Tywysog Cymru presennol. Mae'n codi mater datgoedwigo, llygredd ein hafonydd. Roedd yn ymgyrchydd ymhell cyn unrhyw un arall, a beirniadwyd ef yn hallt am hynny ar y pryd. Roedd rhai pobl yn dweud ei fod yn wallgof. Roedd ganddo ddiddordeb angerddol mewn glanhau ein cefnforoedd ac roedd yn gwneud hynny ymhell cyn i'r rhaglen Blue Planet gael ei chynhyrchu.

Yn fwy diweddar, mae wedi hyrwyddo heddwch ledled y byd ac wedi croesawu pobl o Wcráin i'n gwlad, pobl sy'n ffoi rhag trais yn eu gwlad eu hunain. Ond rwy'n credu mai ei gyflawniad mwyaf, nid yn unig mewn perthynas â Chymru, ond yng nghyd-destun y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan, yw sefydlu Ymddiriedolaeth y Tywysog—y sefydliad rhagorol sy'n helpu pobl o gefndiroedd difreintiedig i gyrraedd eu potensial a rhoi cyfleoedd iddynt a chyfle mewn bywyd i lwyddo. Mae'r elusen wedi helpu miloedd o bobl ifanc o bob rhan o Gymru i newid eu bywydau er gwell, diolch i ddyn a oedd â'r weledigaeth a'r ysgogiad i newid bywydau pobl ifanc a rhoi cyfle i'r bobl hynny, pobl y mae llawer o bobl yn eu hanghofio.

Y Sadwrn yma, byddwn yn dyst i goroni ein Brenin a'n Brenhines, gan barhau traddodiad brenhiniaeth sy'n mynd yn ôl ganrifoedd. Ond y tu hwnt i hynny, yr hyn a welwn yw brenhiniaeth fodern, sy'n cynnwys pob ffydd yng ngwasanaeth y coroni, gydag emynau a chaneuon Cymraeg yn cael eu canu am y tro cyntaf mewn seremoni goroni, a'r tro cyntaf, rwy'n meddwl, inni gael coroni Brenin a Brenhines sy'n poeni'n ddwys am ein gwlad, ein hamgylchedd a'n byd a phawb sy'n byw yn ein gwlad wych. Felly, mae'n rhoi pleser mawr i mi ddweud, 'Duw gadwo'r Brenin.'

It's an absolute delight to take part in this debate this afternoon. On behalf of the people of the Vale of Clwyd, I'd like to put on record my warmest congratulations to King Charles, the Queen Consort and all the royal family for their extended weekend of celebrations that we're about to embark on as a nation. I'd also like to praise the police as well, who acted quickly last night during the incident that we've probably seen in the news, at Buckingham Palace.

King Charles was Wales's longest-service Prince of Wales, and dedicated his entire adult life to raising our nation's prestige across the world as a historical nation. Due to 64 years of service, I am sure that His Majesty will continue this service. We are fortunate that the King's firm beliefs in conservation and the environment will be at the forefront of his agenda and will strongly benefit Wales, due to his love of our landscape and preserving our great countryside.

In my constituency of the Vale of Clwyd, we have shown that monarchy and the royalist tradition is part of the history of Wales, and republicanism is not part of who we are. The statute of Rhuddlan established the modern concept of Wales and began the process of our union, and my constituents are celebrating their deep, historical connection to the monarchy by hosting several parties and events. In Prestatyn, a music festival, Coronation Rocks, will bring people together in music, and in Denbigh a tea party will show the best of Britishness. I'm pretty sure that there will be more examples of more parties across the constituency. I've just shared two examples there.

This shows that the coronation is more than just about the monarchy, but an opportunity to bring us together and recognise our unique culture. This debate shows that the Conservatives are representative of the people of my constituency, north Wales, and the country as a whole, in celebrating the coronation and showing that republicans are a minority. Even Plaid Cymru are not republicans deep down, as they consistently praise the names of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Owain Glyndŵr—both royalty, both unelected, and both wealthy men. It's typical of Welsh nationalists to stand up in this Chamber and protest online and say that King Charles was not our legitimate Prince of Wales, simply because he was English. You cannot be a royalist when the prince is Welsh and then an ardent republican when he is English.

They call us the 'flag wavers', while their Yes Cymru marches are filled with Glyndŵr's banner, the banner of royalty. Therefore, Plaid Cymru should join the majority of Wales by continuing their love of the monarchy by joining us in celebration of the coronation of King Charles, the King of Wales. The legacy of King Charles as Prince of Wales will be one of the love of Wales, the love of our environment, and the love of our people. It makes me proud to celebrate the coronation and say, 'God save the King.'

Mae'n bleser pur cael cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma. Ar ran pobl Dyffryn Clwyd, hoffwn gofnodi fy llongyfarchiadau gwresocaf i'r Brenin Charles, y Frenhines Gydweddog a'r holl deulu brenhinol ar gyfer y penwythnos estynedig o ddathliadau yr ydym ar fin cychwyn arnynt fel cenedl. Hoffwn hefyd ganmol yr heddlu, a weithredodd yn gyflym neithiwr yn y digwyddiad a welsom ar y newyddion, ym Mhalas Buckingham.

Y Brenin Charles oedd y Tywysog Cymru sydd wedi gwasanaethu hiraf, ac mae wedi rhoi ei holl fywyd fel oedolyn i godi bri ein cenedl ar draws y byd fel cenedl hanesyddol. Wedi 64 mlynedd o wasanaeth, rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ei Fawrhydi'n parhau â'r gwasanaeth hwn. Rydym yn ffodus y bydd cred gadarn y Brenin mewn cadwraeth a'r amgylchedd ar flaen ei agenda ac y bydd o fudd mawr i Gymru oherwydd ei gariad at ein tirwedd a gwarchod gwychder ein cefn gwlad.

Yn fy etholaeth i yn Nyffryn Clwyd, rydym wedi dangos bod brenhiniaeth a'r traddodiad brenhinol yn rhan o hanes Cymru, ac nid yw gweriniaetholdeb yn rhan o bwy ydym ni. Statud Rhuddlan a sefydlodd y cysyniad modern o Gymru a dechrau proses ein hundeb, ac mae fy etholwyr yn dathlu eu cysylltiad hanesyddol dwfn â'r frenhiniaeth drwy gynnal sawl parti a digwyddiad. Ym Mhrestatyn, bydd gŵyl gerddorol, Coronation Rocks, yn dod â phobl at ei gilydd drwy gerddoriaeth, ac yn Ninbych bydd te parti'n dangos y gorau o Brydeindod. Rwy'n eithaf siŵr y bydd yna fwy o enghreifftiau o fwy o bartïon ar draws yr etholaeth. Dim ond dwy enghraifft a rennais yno.

Mae hyn yn dangos bod y coroni yn ymwneud â mwy na'r frenhiniaeth yn unig, mae'n gyfle i ddod â ni at ein gilydd ac i adnabod ein diwylliant unigryw. Mae'r ddadl hon yn dangos bod y Ceidwadwyr yn gynrychioliadol o bobl fy etholaeth, gogledd Cymru, a'r wlad gyfan, wrth inni ddathlu'r coroni a dangos mai lleiafrif yw gweriniaethwyr. Nid yw hyd yn oed Plaid Cymru yn weriniaethwyr yn y bôn, gan eu bod yn clodfori enwau Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ac Owain Glyndŵr yn gyson—y ddau yn perthyn i linach brenhinol, yn bobl heb eu hethol, a'r ddau'n ddynion cyfoethog. Mae'n nodweddiadol o genedlaetholwyr Cymreig i godi yn y Siambr hon a phrotestio ar-lein a dweud nad y Brenin Charles oedd ein Tywysog Cymru cyfreithlon, am ei fod yn Sais. Ni allwch fod yn frenhinwr pan fo'r tywysog yn Gymro ac yna'n weriniaethwr pybyr pan fo'n Sais.

Maent yn ein galw ni'n 'chwifwyr baneri', tra bod eu gorymdeithiau Yes Cymru yn llawn o faneri Glyndŵr, baner llinach brenhinol. Felly, dylai Plaid Cymru ymuno â'r mwyafrif o bobl Cymru drwy barhau â'u cariad at y frenhiniaeth ac ymuno â ni i ddathlu coroni'r Brenin Charles, Brenin Cymru. Bydd gwaddol y Brenin Charles fel Tywysog Cymru yn un o gariad at Gymru, cariad at ein hamgylchedd, a chariad at ein pobl. Mae'n fy ngwneud yn falch o ddathlu'r coroni a dweud, 'Duw gadwo'r Brenin.'

17:20

Galwaf ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a Gweinidog y Cyfansoddiad, Mick Antoniw.

I call on the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, Mick Antoniw.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Members will be aware of my statement to the Senedd yesterday when I extended my sincerest warm wishes and congratulations on the event of the coronation. As I said yesterday, we've been working closely with the UK Government and with the other devolved Governments to ensure the coronation is marked appropriately in Wales. I welcome the prominence of Wales and the Welsh language in the ceremony, including the use of the new cross of Wales to lead the King's coronation procession at Westminster abbey, and the inclusion of music by Welsh composers and Welsh musicians. This reflects the King's commitment to Wales, our people, our nation and our culture.

I will not repeat my entire statement today, other than to say there is an opportunity to use this moment to get involved and support the work of our local community groups and charities at a time when such work and support is so urgently needed, and to say again that I hope all those celebrating this coming weekend will enjoy the parties and the additional holiday. Maybe, in the not too distant future, this extra holiday day can become regularised as a formal holiday to celebrate St David's Day. Diolch.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol o fy natganiad i'r Senedd ddoe pan estynnais fy nymuniadau cynnes diffuant a fy nghyfarchion ar achlysur y coroni. Fel y dywedais ddoe, rydym wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU a chyda'r Llywodraethau datganoledig eraill i sicrhau bod y coroni'n cael ei nodi'n briodol yng Nghymru. Rwy'n croesawu amlygrwydd Cymru a'r Gymraeg yn y seremoni, gan gynnwys defnyddio croes newydd Cymru i arwain gorymdaith goroni'r Brenin yn abaty Westminster, a chynnwys cerddoriaeth gan gyfansoddwyr Cymreig a cherddorion Cymreig. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu ymrwymiad y Brenin i Gymru, ein pobl, ein cenedl a'n diwylliant.

Nid wyf am ailadrodd fy natganiad cyfan heddiw, heblaw dweud bod cyfle i ddefnyddio'r foment hon i gymryd rhan a chefnogi gwaith ein grwpiau ac elusennau cymunedol lleol ar adeg pan fo angen dirfawr am waith a chymorth o'r fath, a dweud eto fy mod yn gobeithio y bydd pawb sy'n dathlu y penwythnos hwn yn mwynhau'r partïon a'r gwyliau ychwanegol. Efallai, yn y dyfodol heb fod yn rhy bell, y gall y diwrnod gŵyl ychwanegol hwn ddod yn ddiwrnod gŵyl ffurfiol, rheolaidd i ddathlu Dydd Gŵyl Dewi. Diolch.

Galwaf ar Altaf Hussain i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Altaf Hussain to reply to the debate.

Tough job. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to everyone who has participated in this afternoon's debate.

I am delighted to be winding up this debate today and to congratulate Their Majesties, the King and the Queen Consort, on the event of the coronation. Some might think that is a strange position for someone originally from Kashmir, given our history. For those not aware, Kashmir was sold by the British state to Gulab Singh and its peoples sold into slavery, despite slavery being banned by the British a few years earlier. However, I am a firm believer that the sins of the fathers will no longer be visited by their children. The sale of the Kashmiri people took place in 1846. While some in Wales will still blame His Majesty for the actions of the Norman kings, I am of the opinion that this is as nonsensical as me holding a grudge for things that happened a century before I was born. It is a testament to our democracy that I have been elected to this place, and I can speak to our shared history, however dark.

But it was not the House of Windsor that enslaved my former countrymen nor banned the Welsh language. In fact, His Majesty, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II before him, have done a great deal to heal the wounds created by the former British empire. The Commonwealth of Nations was transformed under the stewardship of King Charles's mother, but His Majesty played a pivotal role. The Commonwealth was founded under the reign of the King's grandfather, and when Queen Elizabeth became its head in 1952, it represented just a handful of nations. Today, the Commonwealth represents a quarter of the planet's population. His Majesty has been a proud supporter of the Commonwealth for more than four decades, and has spoken passionately about the organisation's unique diversity many, many times. He has also spoken of his concern over the plight of Kashmir, which has enamoured him in the hearts of my former countrymen.

The head of the Commonwealth is not hereditary. Fifty-three commonwealth leaders and foreign ministers met in 2018, and unanimously voted to elect His Majesty as the next head of the Commonwealth. From the West Indies to the East Indies and beyond, nations that have forsaken British rule still regard the head of our great nation with affection, respect and love, which is why the coronation will be celebrated not just here at home, but by hundreds of millions of people around the globe. 

In opening the debate, Natasha highlighted the fact that His Majesty has many, many ties to Wales, and our nation will feature highly in the coronation ceremony and festivals. And it will be throughout Wales. Gareth Davies talked about the hypocrisy of many republicans who were happy to be photographed next to the Prince of Wales, yet are holding up 'Not my King' banners. Wales is part of the United Kingdom, and His Majesty is very much a made-in-Wales King. 

As Sam Rowlands and many others have stated, His Majesty was the longest serving Prince of Wales, with over 64 years in the role. His ties to our nation are innumerable. Thank you very much for talking about Aberystwyth University—his stay there—and many other things. James talked about his love for nature and love for Wales, and I am a strong believer that, in Wales, you are very near nature. Our coastline is beautiful, and our countryside is safe.

To end, once again, thank you to all who took part in this debate, and I hope you'll all join me in congratulating Their Majesties and offering our warmest regards for the coronation on Saturday. And in Kashmiri, I will say, Hathi Hathi Pherie Mubarak—hundreds and hundreds of times congratulations. Diolch yn fawr. 

Gwaith anodd. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i bawb a gymerodd ran yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma.

Mae'n bleser gennyf gloi'r ddadl hon heddiw a llongyfarch Eu Mawrhydi, y Brenin a'r Frenhines Gydweddog, ar achlysur y coroni. Efallai y byddai rhai'n meddwl bod hwnnw'n safbwynt rhyfedd i rywun sy'n hanu'n wreiddiol o Kashmir, o ystyried ein hanes. I'r rhai nad ydynt yn gwybod, gwerthwyd Kashmir gan y wladwriaeth Brydeinig i Gulab Singh a chafodd ei phobl eu gwerthu'n gaethweision, er i gaethwasiaeth gael ei gwahardd gan y Prydeinwyr ychydig flynyddoedd ynghynt. Er hynny, rwy'n credu'n gryf na fydd pechodau'r tadau'n gadael eu hôl ar eu plant mwyach. Ym 1846 y gwerthwyd pobl Kashmir. Er y bydd rhai yng Nghymru yn dal i feio Ei Fawrhydi am weithredoedd brenhinoedd y Normaniaid, rwyf fi o'r farn fod hynny mor ddisynnwyr â fy mod innau'n dal dig am bethau a ddigwyddodd ganrif cyn imi gael fy ngeni. Mae'n dyst i'n democratiaeth fy mod wedi cael fy ethol i'r lle hwn, a gallaf siarad am ein hanes cyffredin, ni waeth pa mor dywyll.

Ond nid Tŷ Windsor a werthodd fy nghyn-gydwladwyr yn gaethweision na gwahardd yr iaith Gymraeg. Yn wir, mae Ei Fawrhydi, a'i Mawrhydi y Frenhines Elizabeth II o'i flaen, wedi gwneud llawer iawn i wella'r clwyfau a grëwyd gan yr hen ymerodraeth Brydeinig. Trawsnewidiwyd Cymanwlad y Cenhedloedd o dan stiwardiaeth mam y Brenin Charles, ond chwaraeodd Ei Fawrhydi ran ganolog. Sefydlwyd y Gymanwlad dan deyrnasiad taid y Brenin, a phan ddaeth y Frenhines Elizabeth yn bennaeth arni ym 1952, cynrychiolai lond dwrn o wledydd yn unig. Heddiw, mae'r Gymanwlad yn cynrychioli chwarter poblogaeth y blaned. Mae Ei Fawrhydi wedi bod yn frwd ei gefnogaeth i'r Gymanwlad ers dros bedwar degawd, ac mae wedi siarad yn angerddol am amrywiaeth unigryw y sefydliad lawer gwaith. Mae hefyd wedi sôn am ei bryder ynghylch trafferthion Kashmir, sydd wedi rhoi lle iddo yng nghalonnau fy nghyn-gydwladwyr.

Nid yw pennaeth y Gymanwlad yn swyddogaeth etifeddol. Cyfarfu 53 o arweinwyr y Gymanwlad a gweinidogion tramor yn 2018, a phleidleisiwyd yn unfrydol i ethol Ei Fawrhydi yn bennaeth nesaf y Gymanwlad. O India'r Gorllewin i India'r Dwyrain a thu hwnt, mae cenhedloedd sydd wedi cefnu ar reolaeth Brydeinig yn dal i ystyried pennaeth ein cenedl wych gydag anwyldeb, parch a chariad, a dyna pam y bydd y coroni'n cael ei ddathlu nid yn unig yma gartref, ond gan gannoedd o filiynau o bobl ledled y byd. 

Wrth agor y ddadl, nododd Natasha fod gan Ei Fawrhydi gysylltiadau lu â Chymru, a bydd ein cenedl yn rhan amlwg o seremoni'r coroni a'r gwyliau. A bydd hynny'n wir drwy Gymru gyfan. Soniodd Gareth Davies am ragrith nifer o weriniaethwyr a oedd yn hapus i gael tynnu eu lluniau wrth ymyl Tywysog Cymru, ac eto maent yn dal baneri 'Nid fy Frenin i'. Mae Cymru'n rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig, ac mae Ei Fawrhydi'n Frenin a wnaed yng Nghymru i raddau helaeth iawn. 

Fel y dywedodd Sam Rowlands a nifer o rai eraill, Ei Fawrhydi oedd y Tywysog Cymru sydd wedi gwasanaethu hiraf, gyda dros 64 o flynyddoedd yn y rôl. Mae ei gysylltiadau â'n cenedl yn ddirifedi. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am siarad am Brifysgol Aberystwyth—ei arhosiad yno—a llawer o bethau eraill. Soniodd James am ei gariad tuag at natur a'i gariad tuag at Gymru, ac rwy'n gredwr cryf eich bod yn agos iawn at fyd natur yng Nghymru. Mae ein harfordir yn brydferth, ac mae ein cefn gwlad yn ddiogel.

I orffen, unwaith eto, diolch i bawb a gymerodd ran yn y ddadl hon, a gobeithio y gwnewch chi i gyd ymuno â mi i longyfarch Eu Mawrhydi a chynnig ein dymuniadau gorau ar gyfer y coroni ddydd Sadwrn. Ac yn iaith Kashmir, fe ddywedaf, Hathi HathiPherieMubarak—gannoedd a channoedd o weithiau, llongyfarchiadau. Diolch yn fawr. 

17:25

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

8. Cyfnod Pleidleisio
8. Voting Time

Daw hynny â ni at y cyfnod pleidleisio, ond nid oes pleidleisiau heddiw.

That brings us to voting time, but there are no votes today.

9. Dadl Fer: Buddsoddi mewn cynnal a chadw priffyrdd: Y llwybr at rwydwaith ffyrdd gwydn
9. Short Debate: Investment in highway maintenance: The route to a resilient road network

Symudwn ymlaen at y ddadl fer, a galwaf ar Carolyn Thomas i siarad. 

We'll move on to the short debate, and I call on Carolyn Thomas to speak. 

17:30

Diolch. Could I give a minute of my time to Mike Hedges, please? Thank you.

So, investment in highway maintenance: the route to a resilient road network. Our highways vary from public rights of way through woodland and fields to our county council-maintained roads, pavements and bridges, to our strategic road network of trunk roads and motorways maintained by other Government bodies. It’s important that these are maintained for leisure, access to work and services, and movement of goods.

Following a decade of austerity and now the black hole of inflationary costs swallowing up any extra funding, the highways across Wales and the UK have been rapidly deteriorating year after year. In Wales, there is a backlog of £1 billion for the strategic road network, plus, according to the 2020 County Surveyors' Society Wales survey, an estimated backlog of highway assets maintained by—

Diolch. A gaf fi roi munud o fy amser i Mike Hedges, os gwelwch yn dda? Diolch.

Felly, buddsoddi mewn cynnal a chadw priffyrdd: y llwybr at rwydwaith ffyrdd gwydn. Mae ein priffyrdd yn amrywio o hawliau tramwy cyhoeddus drwy goetiroedd a chaeau i ffyrdd, palmentydd a phontydd a gynhelir gan gynghorau sir, i'n rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol o gefnffyrdd a thraffyrdd a gynhelir gan gyrff eraill y Llywodraeth. Mae'n bwysig fod y rhain yn cael eu cynnal at ddibenion hamdden, mynediad at waith a gwasanaethau, a symud nwyddau.

Yn dilyn degawd o gyni, a bellach, y twll du o gostau chwyddiant yn llyncu unrhyw gyllid ychwanegol, mae’r priffyrdd ledled Cymru a’r DU wedi bod yn dirywio’n gyflym flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn. Yng Nghymru, ceir ôl-groniad o £1 biliwn ar gyfer y rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol, a hefyd, yn ôl arolwg Cymdeithas Syrfewyr Sirol Cymru 2020, ôl-groniad amcangyfrifedig o asedau priffyrdd a gynhelir gan—

Can I hold you for a minute, Carolyn, because the Deputy Minister, who should be responding, isn't in the Chamber?

A gaf fi eich stopio am funud, Carolyn, gan nad yw’r Dirprwy Weinidog, a ddylai fod yn ymateb, yn y Siambr?

I was wondering whether it was Rebecca in the end responding as local government Minister.

Roeddwn wedi meddwl efallai mai Rebecca a fyddai'n ymateb ar y diwedd fel Gweinidog llywodraeth leol.

Can we just hold on a second and see where the Deputy Minister is? 

A gawn ni aros am eiliad i weld ble mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog?

[Inaudible.]—on the screen. 

[Anghlywadwy.]—ar y sgrin.

The Deputy Minister is not on the screen. Shall we suspend for five minutes to ensure that he gets down here? And Carolyn will start again from the beginning. That was a practice run.

Nid yw’r Dirprwy Weinidog ar y sgrin. A gawn ni atal y cyfarfod am bum munud er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn dod i lawr yma? A bydd Carolyn yn dechrau o'r dechrau eto. Ymarfer oedd hwnnw.

Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 17:31.

Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 17:38, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair.

Plenary was suspended at 17:31.

The Senedd reconvened at 17:38, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.

17:35

Byddwn yn dechrau y ddadl fer eto, a galwaf ar Carolyn Thomas i siarad.

We will now commence the short debate once again, and I call on Carolyn Thomas.

Diolch. I'm going to give a minute of my time to Mike Hedges. So, the short debate is investment in highway maintenance: the route to a resilient road network.

Our highways vary from public rights of way through woodland and fields to our county council-maintained roads, pavements and bridges, to our strategic road network of trunk roads and motorways maintained by other Government bodies. It's important that these are maintained for leisure, access to work and services and movement of goods.

Following a decade of austerity and now the black hole of inflationary costs swallowing up any extra funding, the highways across Wales and the UK have been rapidly deteriorating year after year. In Wales, there is a backlog of £1 billion for the strategic road network, plus, according to the 2020 County Surveyors' Society Wales survey, there's an estimated backlog of highway assets—that's roads, pavements and bridges—maintained by local authorities of more than £1.6 billion. In addition to constant use and ageing, our assets are under growing pressure from the effects of climate change. The monsoon-like rain washes away road surfaces, freezing temperatures lift and blow surfaces causing potholes, we get sunken gullies, and if the old drains are not big enough, they soon fill with debris and they have to be constantly emptied to be effective. Floods cause landslides and subsidence to major infrastructure and collapsed bridges. Cuts in council revenue funding under austerity mean that ditches and gullies are not as regularly maintained as they used to be, so water creates its own way, going along roads, creating trenches and flooding.

Diolch. Rwy'n mynd i roi munud o fy amser i Mike Hedges. Felly, y ddadl fer yw buddsoddi mewn cynnal a chadw priffyrdd: y llwybr at rwydwaith ffyrdd gwydn.

Mae ein priffyrdd yn amrywio o hawliau tramwy cyhoeddus drwy goetiroedd a chaeau i ffyrdd, palmentydd a phontydd a gynhelir gan gynghorau sir, i'n rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol o gefnffyrdd a thraffyrdd a gynhelir gan gyrff eraill y Llywodraeth. Mae'n bwysig fod y rhain yn cael eu cynnal at ddibenion hamdden, mynediad at waith a gwasanaethau, a symud nwyddau.

Yn dilyn degawd o gyni, a bellach, y twll du o gostau chwyddiant yn llyncu unrhyw gyllid ychwanegol, mae’r priffyrdd ledled Cymru a’r DU wedi bod yn dirywio’n gyflym flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn. Yng Nghymru, ceir ôl-groniad o £1 biliwn ar gyfer y rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol, a hefyd, yn ôl arolwg Cymdeithas Syrfewyr Sirol Cymru 2020, ôl-groniad amcangyfrifedig o asedau priffyrdd a gynhelir—sef ffyrdd, palmentydd a phontydd—a gynhelir gan awdurdodau lleol o fwy nag £1.6 biliwn. Yn ogystal â defnydd cyson a heneiddio, mae ein hasedau o dan bwysau cynyddol oherwydd effeithiau newid hinsawdd. Mae glaw monsŵnaidd yn golchi arwyneb ffyrdd ymaith, mae tymheredd rhewllyd yn codi ac yn chwythu arwynebau gan achosi tyllau yn y ffyrdd, mae cwteri'n cwympo, ac os nad yw'r hen ddraeniau'n ddigon mawr, buan y llenwant â gweddillion ac mae'n rhaid eu gwagio'n gyson er mwyn iddynt fod yn effeithiol. Mae llifogydd yn achosi tirlithriadau ac ymsuddiant seilwaith mawr ac yn dymchwel pontydd. Mae toriadau i gyllid refeniw cynghorau mewn cyfnod o gyni ariannol yn golygu nad yw ffosydd a chwteri'n cael eu glanhau mor rheolaidd, felly mae dŵr yn creu ei ffordd ei hun, gan fynd ar hyd ffyrdd, a chreu ffosydd a llifogydd.

I read that the Welsh Government have re-engaged Matthew Lugg OBE and his team to assist with the major asset renewal programme. But the engagement of commissioners has to be accompanied by funding to deliver for our communities. If we are to be more selective in building new roads, then that money needs to be reinvested into our transport networks. This is, of course, about public transport, but that includes roads being well maintained for public transport. An example of a major asset renewal is the Britannia bridge, and now the A494 Dee bridge, which is desperate—it was in such a deteriorated state 10 years ago that we thought it would have to be closed to one lane. Some remedial work took place to prolong its life, but it needs desperately doing now. I am advised that the scheme is progressing well and should proceed to construction in 2024-25, should funding be secured. I would urge the Deputy Minister to ensure that funding is in place to complete this work, if not from this Welsh Government, then the UK Government, as they now have control of the major EU replacement funds, which were previously used for infrastructure, such as the latest work on the A55, where £20 million of EU funding was used for that. And the UK Government can borrow, unlike the Welsh Government, which is restricted. I am also aware that capital funds have been cut in real terms from the UK Treasury.

I read with interest the Welsh Government’s response to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee budget paper, and welcome that the Government accepted recommendations to work with local authorities to assess the backlog of local highway maintenance and develop a plan to address it. However, I do maintain my position that, to build and maintain a decent transport network, there will need to be specific hypothecated highway resilience funding to improve the existing network, otherwise, it will get swallowed up with match funding for other Welsh Government schemes, as funding is so stretched. I'm also aware that leaders have asked for less ring-fenced money, but highway resilience is core.

Now, significant Welsh Government funding of £500 million over three years has been given to the strategic road network, not just for highway maintenance and resilience, but also to deal with ash dieback—which is an issue for local government as well, and they've been struggling with it and don't have any funding to deal with that—community safety programmes, broadband fibre along the network and street-lighting renewal. The response to recommendation 15 of the report says that funding has been aligned with the sustainable transport hierarchy, as set out in the Wales transport strategy, which prioritises investment such as walking and cycling, and public transport such as bus and rail above investment in steps that increase private car usage. This approach is fundamental to achieve our challenging modal shift targets and climate change commitments.

But we need a long-term vision under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to ensure that all local authority-maintained public rights of way, roads, pavements and bridges receive fair funding and investment, as they maintain the biggest and most widespread asset for walking, cycling and public transport. Active travel funding has been trebled for designated cycle routes over recent years, which tend to be around urban areas, but what about the majority of cyclists and walkers that use our public highways? Cyclists are at a greater risk from potholes than drivers, and roads must be made as safe as possible for all users. Pavements and rural lanes have not had any funding for years as they are low down the hierarchy when funding has been restrained for so long.

Regarding not having ring-fenced funding, from my experience as cabinet member for Streetscene, I know how competitive it is within local authorities, lobbying for a limited capital budget to be spent in much-needed areas, especially if it is to be adding value to match funding of Welsh Government grants for social housing, sustainable community schools, care provision, early years and childcare provision. I had to fight hard to get any funding for highways. And because funding is tight, with councillors and residents fighting for their roads to be done, each road is assessed and scored via a formula, calculating priority, making sure that a fair and transparent process is followed, based on criteria and not favour. Often, a list of the chosen few roads has to go through the political process and there is a check that utility companies are not intending to do any work soon that will damage the new surface. These contracts then go out to tender and contractors bid for the work, which is then to be overseen. So, now funding is so tight, I am sure that political leaders would like to see the return of the ring-fenced £20 million grant that recently ended. It’s not a lot to ask for, comparatively, when looking at the size of the network and the £1.6 billion-plus backlog; it would be a start.

And I believe it would be a positive step if a portion of the active travel funding were to be made flexible and could be made available for highway programmes beyond designated—I'm saying designated—cycle routes. These would be roads that are also well used by cyclists and pedestrians alike. Currently, active travel funding is underspent because delivering designated cycle routes is very time consuming and difficult. The applications can be 30 pages. It takes officers away from delivering the schemes, which in themselves are time consuming and often controversial. Schemes have to be part of the integrated network map—lots of public consultation, plans have to be drawn up, traffic regulation orders, advertisements, objections have to be responded to, and it is extremely competitive. Transport for Wales delivering them won’t help, as they will have the same barriers and little local knowledge. Applications should be made more simple for active travel applications. 

The Welsh Government said, in order to address the £1 billion backlog of capital maintenance across all asset types on the strategic road network, officials will seek to develop a major asset renewal programme, which can then be delivered over a five to 10-year period, with timescales adjusted to match to availability of funding. Surely, it would be better to include local authority maintained highways at the same time. They have written and asked that Welsh Government work with them on a programme, like they have previously done. So, perhaps they could all work together.

I care about nature and climate change; I don’t particularly want to see new roads. But, as a cyclist, walker and community representative, I care about people’s health and safety that comes with the maintenance of existing highways, be it roads, pavements or public rights of way. The North Wales region I represent is very different to Cardiff and the metro areas.

And finally, regarding the nature emergency, may I ask that all highway engineering programmes have due regard for biodiversity? Highway officers need to carefully consider the ecological impact before putting new cycle routes in meadow-rich verges, or laying nutrient-rich earth and reseeding grass and monocultures. So, if that could be written in as well. 

Wildflowers like poor earth, so leave it bare, plant trees, seed diverse-rich verges, talk to the ecologists and experts, and remember the Welsh Government and local partnerships programme to enhance amenity grass and verges for biodiversity, titled #ItsForThemNature. Thank you.

Darllenais fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ailgysylltu â Matthew Lugg OBE a’i dîm i gynorthwyo gyda’r rhaglen adnewyddu asedau mawr. Ond er mwyn cyflawni ar gyfer ein cymunedau, mae'n rhaid darparu cyllid i gyd-fynd ag ymgysylltiad comisiynwyr. Os ydym am fod yn fwy detholgar wrth adeiladu ffyrdd newydd, mae angen ailfuddsoddi’r arian hwnnw yn ein rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth. Mae hyn yn ymwneud, wrth gwrs, â thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ond mae hynny’n cynnwys cynnal a chadw ffyrdd yn dda ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Enghraifft o adnewyddu ased mawr yw pont Britannia, a'r A494 ar bont afon Dyfrdwy bellach, sydd mewn cyflwr enbyd—roedd mewn cyflwr mor wael 10 mlynedd yn ôl, roeddem yn credu y byddai’n rhaid ei chau i un lôn. Gwnaed rhywfaint o waith adfer i ymestyn ei hoes, ond mae gwir angen ei hatgyweirio bellach. Dywedir wrthyf fod y cynllun yn mynd rhagddo’n dda ac y dylai symud ymlaen at y gwaith adeiladu yn 2024-25, os caiff y cyllid ei sicrhau. Hoffwn annog y Dirprwy Weinidog i sicrhau bod y cyllid ar gael i gwblhau’r gwaith hwn, os nad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yna gan Lywodraeth y DU, gan mai nhw sydd bellach yn rheoli'r arian a ddarparir yn lle cronfeydd mawr yr UE, a gâi ei ddefnyddio yn y gorffennol ar gyfer seilwaith, fel y gwaith diweddaraf ar yr A55, lle defnyddiwyd £20 miliwn o gyllid yr UE ar gyfer hynny. A gall Llywodraeth y DU fenthyca, yn wahanol i Lywodraeth Cymru, sydd wedi ei chyfyngu. Rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd fod arian cyfalaf wedi’i dorri mewn termau real gan Drysorlys y DU.

Darllenais ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i bapur cyllideb y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith gyda chryn ddiddordeb, ac rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn argymhellion i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i asesu’r ôl-groniad o waith cynnal a chadw priffyrdd lleol a datblygu cynllun i fynd i’r afael ag ef. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn adeiladu a chynnal rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth o safon, rwy'n dal i feddwl y bydd angen cyllid penodol wedi’i neilltuo ar gyfer cadernid priffyrdd i wella’r rhwydwaith presennol, oherwydd fel arall, bydd yn cael ei lyncu gydag arian cyfatebol ar gyfer cynlluniau eraill Llywodraeth Cymru, gan fod cymaint o bwysau ar gyllid. Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol fod arweinwyr wedi gofyn am lai o arian wedi'i neilltuo, ond mae cadernid priffyrdd yn hollbwysig.

Nawr, mae cyllid sylweddol o £500 miliwn wedi'i ddarparu gan Lywodraeth Cymru dros dair blynedd i'r rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol, nid yn unig ar gyfer cadernid a chynnal a chadw priffyrdd, ond hefyd i fynd i'r afael â chlefyd coed ynn—sy'n broblem i lywodraeth leol yn ogystal, ac maent wedi bod yn cael trafferth gyda hynny ac nid oes ganddynt unrhyw gyllid i ymdrin â'r broblem—rhaglenni diogelwch cymunedol, band eang ffeibr ar hyd y rhwydwaith ac adnewyddu goleuadau stryd. Mae’r ymateb i argymhelliad 15 yn yr adroddiad yn dweud bod cyllid yn cyd-fynd â’r hierarchaeth trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy, fel y nodir yn strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru, sy’n blaenoriaethu buddsoddiad fel cerdded a beicio, a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fel bysiau a rheilffyrdd dros fuddsoddiad mewn camau sy'n cynyddu'r defnydd o geir preifat. Mae'r dull hwn o weithredu'n hanfodol i gyflawni ein targedau heriol i newid dulliau teithio ac ymrwymiadau newid hinsawdd.

Ond mae angen gweledigaeth hirdymor arnom o dan Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 i sicrhau bod yr holl hawliau tramwy cyhoeddus, ffyrdd, palmentydd a phontydd a gynhelir gan awdurdodau lleol yn cael cyllid a buddsoddiad teg, gan eu bod yn cynnal yr ased mwyaf a mwyaf eang ar gyfer cerdded, beicio a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae cyllid teithio llesol wedi’i dreblu ar gyfer llwybrau beicio dynodedig dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, sy’n tueddu i fod o amgylch ardaloedd trefol, ond beth am y rhan fwyaf o feicwyr a cherddwyr sy’n defnyddio ein priffyrdd cyhoeddus? Mae tyllau yn y ffyrdd yn fwy peryglus i feicwyr nag i yrwyr, ac mae'n rhaid sicrhau bod y ffyrdd mor ddiogel â phosibl i bob defnyddiwr. Nid yw palmentydd a lonydd gwledig wedi cael unrhyw gyllid ers blynyddoedd am eu bod yn isel yn yr hierarchaeth pan fo cyllid wedi bod yn gyfyngedig ers cymaint o amser.

O ran peidio â neilltuo cyllid, o’m profiad i fel aelod cabinet dros wasanaethau stryd, gwn pa mor gystadleuol yw pethau mewn awdurdodau lleol, a lobïo am wario cyllideb gyfalaf gyfyngedig mewn meysydd lle mae taer angen gwneud hynny, yn enwedig os yw am ychwanegu gwerth at gyllid cyfatebol i grantiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol, ysgolion cymunedol cynaliadwy, darpariaeth gofal, darpariaeth y blynyddoedd cynnar a gofal plant. Bu'n rhaid imi frwydro'n galed i gael unrhyw arian ar gyfer priffyrdd. Ac oherwydd bod cyllid yn brin, gyda chynghorwyr a thrigolion yn brwydro am waith ar eu ffyrdd, mae pob ffordd yn cael ei hasesu a’i sgorio drwy fformiwla sy'n cyfrifo'r flaenoriaeth, gan sicrhau bod proses deg a thryloyw yn cael ei dilyn, yn seiliedig ar feini prawf ac nid ar ffafriaeth. Yn aml, mae'n rhaid i restr o'r ychydig ffyrdd a ddewisir fynd drwy'r broses wleidyddol, a cheir gwiriad nad yw cwmnïau cyfleustodau yn bwriadu gwneud unrhyw waith yn fuan a fydd yn niweidio'r wyneb newydd. Yna, mae'r contractau hyn yn mynd allan i dendr a bydd contractwyr yn gwneud cais am y gwaith, sydd wedyn yn cael ei oruchwylio. Felly, gan fod cyllid mor brin, rwy’n siŵr yr hoffai arweinwyr gwleidyddol weld y grant o £20 miliwn wedi'i neilltuo a ddaeth i ben yn ddiweddar yn dychwelyd. Nid yw'n llawer i ofyn amdano, yn gymharol, wrth edrych ar faint y rhwydwaith a'r ôl-groniad o £1.6 biliwn a mwy; byddai'n ddechrau.

A chredaf y byddai'n gam cadarnhaol pe bai cyfran o'r cyllid teithio llesol yn hyblyg ac y gallai fod ar gael ar gyfer rhaglenni priffyrdd y tu hwnt i lwybrau beicio dynodedig. Byddai'r rhain yn ffyrdd sydd hefyd yn cael cryn dipyn o ddefnydd gan feicwyr a cherddwyr fel ei gilydd. Ar hyn o bryd, mae cyllid teithio llesol wedi’i danwario gan fod darparu llwybrau beicio dynodedig yn cymryd llawer o amser ac yn anodd. Gall y ceisiadau fod yn 30 tudalen o hyd. Mae’n mynd ag amser swyddogion rhag gwneud gwaith ar gyflawni’r cynlluniau, sydd ynddynt eu hunain yn cymryd llawer o amser ac yn aml yn ddadleuol. Mae’n rhaid i gynlluniau fod yn rhan o'r map rhwydwaith integredig—llawer o ymgynghori cyhoeddus, rhaid llunio cynlluniau, gorchmynion rheoleiddio traffig, hysbysebion, rhaid ymateb i wrthwynebiadau, ac mae’n hynod gystadleuol. Ni fyddai'n helpu pe bai Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn eu cyflawni, gan y byddent yn wynebu'r un rhwystrau heb fawr o wybodaeth leol. Dylid gwneud ceisiadau'n fwy syml ar gyfer ceisiadau teithio llesol.

Er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r ôl-groniad o £1 biliwn o waith cyfalaf cynnal a chadw ar draws yr holl fathau o asedau ar y rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru y bydd swyddogion yn datblygu rhaglen adnewyddu asedau mawr, y gellir ei chyflawni wedyn dros gyfnod o bump i 10 mlynedd, gydag amserlenni'n cael eu haddasu i gyfateb i'r cyllid sydd ar gael. Mae'n siŵr y byddai’n well cynnwys priffyrdd a gynhelir gan awdurdodau lleol ar yr un pryd. Maent wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth Cymru i ofyn iddynt weithio gyda nhw ar raglen, fel y maent wedi'i wneud yn y gorffennol. Felly, efallai y gallent i gyd weithio gyda'i gilydd.

Rwy'n poeni am natur a newid hinsawdd; nid wyf yn arbennig o awyddus i weld ffyrdd newydd. Ond fel beiciwr, cerddwr a chynrychiolydd cymunedol, rwy’n poeni am iechyd a diogelwch pobl mewn perthynas â chynnal a chadw priffyrdd presennol, boed yn ffyrdd, palmentydd neu hawliau tramwy cyhoeddus. Mae'r rhanbarth rwy'n ei gynrychioli, Gogledd Cymru, yn wahanol iawn i Gaerdydd ac ardaloedd y metro.

Ac yn olaf, ar yr argyfwng natur, a gaf fi ofyn am sicrwydd y bydd pob rhaglen beirianneg priffyrdd yn rhoi sylw dyladwy i fioamrywiaeth? Rhaid i swyddogion priffyrdd ystyried yr effaith ecolegol yn ofalus cyn gosod llwybrau beicio newydd ar ymylon ffyrdd glaswelltog, neu osod pridd llawn maetholion ac ailhadu glaswellt ac ungnwd. Felly, byddai'n dda pe gellid cynnwys hynny hefyd.

Mae blodau gwyllt yn hoffi pridd gwael, felly gadewch y tir yn foel, plannwch goed, hadwch ymylon ffyrdd sy'n llawn amrywiaeth, siaradwch â’r ecolegwyr a’r arbenigwyr, a chofiwch am raglen Llywodraeth Cymru a phartneriaethau lleol i wella ymylon ffyrdd a glaswellt ar safleoedd amwynderau er mwyn hybu bioamrywiaeth, sef #IddynNhwNatur. Diolch.

17:45

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you, Carolyn, for giving me a minute in this debate and also for highlighting the importance of highway maintenance. I want to discuss potholes. Potholes are areas of a road's surface where the surface layer has developed cracks then broken away under the repeated load of traffic passing over it, forming a hole with rough, vertical sides. A pothole may begin with just a few cracks, but can expand if it isn't fixed right away. Potholes can occur on all types of road, but are a problem particularly associated with asphalt surfaces. Potholes are formed by three elements: surface cracks, water and traffic. Small surface cracks form and expand over time with the action of traffic. Water then seeps through the surface of the cracked pavement, causing further deterioration. This is made worse by the freeze-thaw action. Whilst much attention is focused on the need to repair potholes—a never-ending cycle—highway engineers recognise the importance of constructing new roads in such a way as to prevent potholes from forming in the first place. The key to this is to build roads that are not going to develop fatigue cracking, and use of weight limits on unclassified roads will reduce damage. 

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Diolch, Carolyn, am roi munud i mi yn y ddadl hon, a hefyd am dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd cynnal a chadw priffyrdd. Rwyf am drafod tyllau yn y ffordd. Mae tyllau yn y ffordd yn golygu mannau ar wyneb ffordd lle mae'r haen uchaf wedi datblygu craciau ac yna wedi torri o dan lwyth cyson y traffig sy'n pasio drosti, gan ffurfio twll ag ochrau garw, fertigol. Gall twll yn y ffordd ddechrau gydag ychydig o graciau'n unig, ond gall ehangu os na chaiff ei atgyweirio ar unwaith. Gall tyllau ddatblygu ar bob math o ffyrdd, ond maent yn broblem sy'n effeithio ar arwynebau asffalt yn arbennig. Caiff tyllau eu ffurfio gan dair elfen: craciau ar yr wyneb, dŵr a thraffig. Mae craciau bach yn ffurfio ar yr wyneb ac yn ehangu dros amser gyda symudiad traffig. Yna, mae dŵr yn llifo drwy'r craciau ar yr wyneb, gan achosi dirywiad pellach. Gwaethygir hyn wrth i'r dŵr rewi a thoddi. Er bod llawer o sylw’n cael ei roi i'r angen i atgyweirio tyllau yn y ffordd—cylch di-ddiwedd—mae peirianwyr priffyrdd yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd adeiladu ffyrdd newydd mewn ffordd sy’n atal tyllau rhag ffurfio yn y ffordd yn y lle cyntaf. Yr hyn sy'n allweddol yw adeiladu ffyrdd na fyddant yn datblygu craciau dros amser, a bydd defnyddio terfynau pwysau ar ffyrdd diddosbarth yn lleihau difrod.

Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd i ymateb i'r ddadl—Lee Waters.

I call on the Deputy Minister for Climate Change to reply to the debate—Lee Waters. 

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you very much to Carolyn Thomas and Mike Hedges. And they are both formidable contributors to this debate, because they have so much knowledge. Carolyn has first-hand experience of the challenges of running a transport department in a local authority as a former lead member in Flintshire council for a number of years, and brings to the discussion a deep understanding, which really enriches the quality of the debate in this Chamber. And I think Mike Hedges has now established himself as Wales's leading expert on potholes. So, we have—. And obviously, having led a local authority himself, he deeply understands the challenges too. So, I think it's a real strength of the Chamber that we have this level of insight.

I agree with much of what Carolyn had to say—not everything, and you wouldn't expect us all to agree on everything, but, certainly, the thrust of the argument, that we should be spending more on maintaining our roads, I completely agree with. That was one of the drivers behind the roads review. In building more and more new roads, we can't afford to maintain the roads that we have; clearly, that's nonsensical. The intention behind the roads review was to change the nature of the type of roads we build and to promote modal shift and to maintain what we've got. Of course, the pressure on our road system is going to get more and more acute as climate change intensifies. We're already seeing it, where roads are washed away and where there is significant damage through storms and flooding. That's going to get more intense and more acute, and that's one of the reasons why we set up the Lugg review that Carolyn Thomas mentioned, which is a small expert panel, to look at the way we've been maintaining our roads, particularly the way that we've been maintaining the strategic road network, and to challenge some of the assumptions and the practices that we've been reproducing. It's a strong piece of work, and we'll be publishing that shortly. Obviously, the work we published as part of the roads review is key to this as well.

We are investing a lot of money in 2023-24 and the financial year 2024-25. We'll be investing approximately £0.25 billion to address the condition of Welsh Government road assets, and that's set out in the national transport delivery plan, a five-year plan. Committing to five years of spending in a period of austerity is not easy, especially when our capital budget will be 8 per cent lower next year in real terms because of the UK Government's failure to invest in infrastructure, and, obviously, as much rehearsed in this Chamber, the impact of the way consequentials are used on England-only schemes such as High Speed 2 and, potentially, the Northern Powerhouse Rail project. We are also being denied resources that we need to address many of the things Carolyn Thomas set out.

Now, the question of local roads and local authorities is a tricky one, because, as Carolyn Thomas fairly pointed out, local authorities want us to reduce our ring-fencing. We've had a generous settlement with them year on year, in stark contrast to the local authorities in England. It is not consistent to say, on the one hand, 'Please let us decide our own priorities,' and, on the other hand, saying, 'We need to spend it on specific things, and we can only maintain our roads if you give us more money.' So, I think there is a tension there. Welsh Government is the trunk roads agency for Wales; local authorities are the local roads' in law. And I think we are reluctant to blur that line too much, given that we are increasing by 7.9 per cent in this new financial year the settlement, a settlement of something close to £6 billion. That said, we recognise the pressures they're under and want to work with them to find practical solutions, and I think the recommendation, which I was pleased to hear Carolyn saying, about the nature of the climate emergency, of how we all need to think and do differently.

Just to finish on Mike Hedges's point on potholes, I think, in terms of the impact government has, local and national, people's own square mile around their house is the thing that impacts most directly on them. Seeing roads that are falling apart through potholes is a clear sign to lots of people their government is not working and is not paying attention to the things that have an immediate impact on their lives. So, repairing potholes, maintaining the trunk road network, as well as shifting investment into roads that encourage modal shift and reduce carbon emissions, are at the heart of our approach. I'm grateful to Carolyn Thomas for the recognition of that and for her challenge on where we can go further.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr iawn i Carolyn Thomas a Mike Hedges. Ac mae'r ddau ohonynt yn gyfranwyr gwych i'r ddadl hon, gan fod ganddynt gymaint o wybodaeth. Mae gan Carolyn brofiad uniongyrchol o’r heriau o redeg adran drafnidiaeth mewn awdurdod lleol fel cyn-aelod arweiniol yng nghyngor sir y Fflint am nifer o flynyddoedd, ac mae’n dod â dealltwriaeth ddofn i’r drafodaeth, sy'n cyfoethogi ansawdd y ddadl yn y Siambr hon yn fawr. A chredaf fod Mike Hedges bellach wedi ymsefydlu'n arbenigwr mwyaf blaenllaw Cymru ar dyllau yn y ffyrdd. Felly, mae gennym—. Ac yn amlwg, mae yntau wedi arwain awdurdod lleol ei hun, felly mae’n deall yr heriau’n dda hefyd. Felly, credaf ei bod yn gryfder gwirioneddol yn y Siambr fod gennym y lefel hon o wybodaeth.

Cytunaf â llawer o’r hyn a oedd gan Carolyn i’w ddweud—nid popeth, ac ni fyddech yn disgwyl i bob un ohonom gytuno ar bopeth, ond yn sicr, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â phrif fyrdwn y ddadl, y dylem fod yn gwario mwy ar gynnal a chadw ein ffyrdd. Dyna oedd un o’r ysgogiadau a oedd yn sail i’r adolygiad ffyrdd. Wrth adeiladu mwy a mwy o ffyrdd newydd, ni allwn fforddio cynnal y ffyrdd sydd gennym; yn amlwg, mae hynny'n hurt. Y bwriad a oedd yn sail i'r adolygiad ffyrdd oedd newid natur y math o ffyrdd rydym yn eu hadeiladu a hyrwyddo newid mewn dulliau teithio a chynnal yr hyn sydd gennym yn barod. Wrth gwrs, bydd y pwysau ar ein system ffyrdd yn fwyfwy difrifol wrth i newid hinsawdd ddwysáu. Rydym eisoes yn ei weld, lle mae ffyrdd yn cael eu golchi ymaith a lle ceir difrod sylweddol oherwydd stormydd a llifogydd. Bydd hynny'n dwysáu ac yn gwaethygu, a dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y sefydlwyd adolygiad Lugg, y soniodd Carolyn Thomas amdano, sef panel bach o arbenigwyr, i edrych ar y ffordd rydym wedi bod yn cynnal a chadw ein ffyrdd, yn enwedig y ffordd rydym wedi bod yn cynnal y rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol, ac i herio rhai o'r rhagdybiaethau a'r arferion rydym wedi bod yn eu hatgynhyrchu. Mae'n waith pwysig, a byddwn yn ei gyhoeddi cyn bo hir. Yn amlwg, mae’r gwaith a gyhoeddwyd gennym fel rhan o’r adolygiad ffyrdd yn allweddol i hyn hefyd.

Rydym yn buddsoddi llawer o arian yn 2023-24 ac ym mlwyddyn ariannol 2024-25. Byddwn yn buddsoddi oddeutu £0.25 biliwn i fynd i’r afael â chyflwr asedau ffyrdd Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae hynny wedi’i nodi yn y cynllun cyflawni cenedlaethol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth, sy'n gynllun pum mlynedd. Nid yw ymrwymo i bum mlynedd o wariant mewn cyfnod o gyni yn hawdd, yn enwedig pan fydd ein cyllideb gyfalaf 8 y cant yn is y flwyddyn nesaf mewn termau real oherwydd methiant Llywodraeth y DU i fuddsoddi mewn seilwaith, ac yn amlwg, fel y nodwyd dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr hon, effaith y ffordd y defnyddir cyllid canlyniadol ar gynlluniau ar gyfer Lloegr yn unig megis HS2, a phrosiect Northern Powerhouse Rail o bosibl. Cawn ein hamddifadu hefyd o'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnom i fynd i’r afael â llawer o’r pethau a nododd Carolyn Thomas.

Nawr, mae'r cwestiwn ynglŷn â ffyrdd lleol ac awdurdodau lleol yn un cymhleth, oherwydd, fel y nododd Carolyn Thomas yn gwbl deg, mae awdurdodau lleol am inni wneud llai o neilltuo cyllid. Rydym wedi bod â setliad hael gyda nhw flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, mewn cyferbyniad llwyr â'r awdurdodau lleol yn Lloegr. Nid yw'n gyson dweud, ar y naill law, 'Gadewch inni benderfynu ar ein blaenoriaethau ein hunain,' ac ar y llaw arall, 'Mae angen i ni ei wario ar bethau penodol, ac ni allwn gynnal ein ffyrdd oni bai eich bod yn rhoi mwy o arian i ni.' Felly, credaf fod tensiwn yn hynny o beth. Llywodraeth Cymru yw asiantaeth cefnffyrdd Cymru; awdurdodau lleol yw un y ffyrdd lleol, yn ôl y gyfraith. A chredaf ein bod yn gyndyn o gymylu’r llinell honno’n ormodol, o ystyried ein bod yn cynyddu'r setliad 7.9 y cant yn y flwyddyn ariannol newydd hon, setliad o bron i £6 biliwn. Wedi dweud hynny, rydym yn cydnabod y pwysau sydd arnynt ac rydym yn awyddus i weithio gyda nhw i ddod o hyd i atebion ymarferol, a'r argymhelliad, yr oeddwn yn falch o glywed Carolyn yn dweud, ynglŷn â natur yr argyfwng hinsawdd, a sut mae angen i bob un ohonom feddwl ac ymddwyn yn wahanol.

I gloi ar bwynt Mike Hedges ar dyllau yn y ffordd, o ran effaith llywodraeth, yn lleol ac yn genedlaethol, rwy'n credu mai milltir sgwâr pobl o amgylch eu tŷ eu hunain yw’r peth sy’n effeithio'n fwyaf uniongyrchol arnynt. Mae gweld ffyrdd sy'n cwympo'n ddarnau oherwydd tyllau yn y ffyrdd yn arwydd clir i lawer o bobl nad yw eu llywodraeth yn gweithio ac nad yw'n rhoi sylw i'r pethau sy'n cael effaith uniongyrchol ar eu bywydau. Felly, mae atgyweirio tyllau yn y ffyrdd, cynnal a chadw’r rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd, yn ogystal â symud buddsoddiad tuag at ffyrdd sy’n annog pobl i newid dulliau teithio a lleihau allyriadau carbon yn ganolog i'n dull o weithredu. Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Carolyn Thomas am gydnabod hynny ac am ei her o ran ble y gallwn fynd ymhellach.

17:50

Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog. Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.

I thank the Deputy Minister. That brings today's proceedings to a close.

Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 17:54.

The meeting ended at 17:54.