Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

24/05/2023

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 Weinidog yr Economi
1. Questions to the Minister for Economy

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Good afternoon and welcome, all, to this Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy, and the first question is from Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Creu Swyddi yn Nwyrain De Cymru
Jobs Creation in South Wales East

1. Beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i greu swyddi yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ59573

1. What is the Government doing to create jobs in South Wales East? OQ59573

Thanks for the question. Our economic mission, published last year, sets out clearly the values and priorities that shape our decisions to support the economy. Just one positive example is the work we have undertaken to promote and secure investment in the compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales East. This includes, of course, the KLA multimillion pound investment, which will secure hundreds of new well-paid jobs.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Mae ein cenhadaeth economaidd, a gyhoeddwyd y llynedd, yn nodi’n glir y gwerthoedd a’r blaenoriaethau sy’n llywio ein penderfyniadau i gefnogi’r economi. Un enghraifft yw’r gwaith rydym wedi’i wneud i hyrwyddo a sicrhau buddsoddiad yn y clwstwr lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd yn Nwyrain De Cymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys, wrth gwrs, buddsoddiad gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gan KLA, a fydd yn sicrhau cannoedd o swyddi newydd sy'n talu'n dda.

Diolch am yr ateb yna.

Thank you for that answer.

In recent weeks, we've had the devastating news that two large factories in my region are closing—Tillery Valley Foods and, more recently, Avara—with a combined loss of more than 600 jobs. I hope there's swift and robust action from this Government in response to the heavy blow to the local economy, and I'd welcome an update from the Minister about what steps the Government is taking to help mitigate those job losses. I'm also keen to explore what jobs can be created in my region, specifically in the Tech Valleys project of Ebbw Vale. When this was unveiled some six years ago by your Government, it was hailed as £100 million investment that would create at least 1,500 jobs in new technologies and advanced manufacturing. A freedom of information response from the Welsh Government from March of this year showed that you can only account for 29 jobs that have been created, whilst admitting this may be an incomplete picture. Many people are asking where these jobs are that were promised. Recent weeks have shown how badly these jobs are needed. Can you confirm, Minister, that this project is still on the cards and won't be consigned to the file marked 'Yet another disappointment for Blaenau Gwent'? Diolch.

Yn yr wythnosau diwethaf, cawsom y newyddion trychinebus y bydd dwy ffatri fawr yn fy rhanbarth yn cau—Tillery Valley Foods, ac yn fwy diweddar, Avara—gyda chyfanswm o fwy na 600 o swyddi'n cael eu colli. Gobeithiaf y bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn cymryd camau cyflym a chadarn mewn ymateb i’r ergyd drom i’r economi leol, a byddwn yn croesawu diweddariad gan y Gweinidog ynghylch pa gamau y mae’r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i helpu i liniaru’r colli swyddi. Rwyf hefyd yn awyddus i archwilio pa swyddi y gellir eu creu yn fy rhanbarth, yn benodol ym mhrosiect y Cymoedd Technoleg yng Nglyn Ebwy. Pan gafodd hwn ei lansio tua chwe blynedd yn ôl gan eich Llywodraeth, cafodd ei groesawu fel buddsoddiad o £100 miliwn a fyddai’n creu o leiaf 1,500 o swyddi mewn technolegau newydd a gweithgynhyrchu uwch. Dangosodd ymateb gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gais rhyddid gwybodaeth ym mis Mawrth eleni mai dim ond 29 o swyddi a grëwyd, er y gallai'r darlun hwn fod yn un anghyflawn. Mae llawer o bobl yn gofyn ble mae'r swyddi a addawyd. Mae'r wythnosau diwethaf wedi dangos gymaint y mae angen y swyddi hyn. A allwch gadarnhau, Weinidog, fod y prosiect hwn yn dal i fod ar y gweill ac na fydd yn cael ei anfon i'r ffeil 'Siom arall eto fyth i Flaenau Gwent'? Diolch.

I'm positive about the future of the Tech Valleys programme. It's a subject that I've had a number of direct conversations with the constituency Member for Blaenau Gwent about since I took up this post, about what we are doing, and making sure that people think about the travel-to-work area as well, to make sure that the investment is focused on Blaenau Gwent. And the constituency Member has been very clear that he expects to be able to see the money spent within the constituency. What we are looking to do is to make sure that we're looking at strategic investments, and the way we've partnered with both the authority and the board around this are important parts of it. If you look at areas where that investment helped secure, for example, the work around Thales in Blaenau Gwent, a deliberates choice, added to by Tech Valleys, the work we're looking to do with both the TVR investment and the security of jobs on that site, and the investment in property, I think we'll actually have a good story to tell on Tech Valleys.

And more broadly, of course, on the issue you started with, about the significant loss of employment that is likely from both Tillery Valley Foods and the announcement yesterday about Avara, our concern remains the 440-odd families affected by yesterday's announcement, and the approximately 260 families affected by Tillery Valley Foods. And we're looking to have an approach that brings together both the trade unions—it's Community on TVF, and it's Unite at Avara—the local authority, the Welsh Government, and agencies from the UK Government too. The first meeting of a formal taskforce around TVF took place this morning, and I met with the deputy leader of Monmouthshire County Council this morning, who's the lead member on economic development in the county. In Avara, it's a fact that much of the workforce in Avara, which is in Monmouthshire, comes from Blaenau Gwent. So, I'm looking at how we join together the responses with both local authorities, both recognised unions, and opportunities, if there are any, to try and secure going concerns on those sites, and, if not, what we can do with the programmes we fund—Communities for Work Plus and ReAct+—to try to secure alternative employment for people directly affected by losses in this sector.

Rwy'n gadarnhaol am ddyfodol rhaglen y Cymoedd Technoleg. Mae'n bwnc rwyf wedi cael nifer o sgyrsiau uniongyrchol yn ei gylch ag Aelod etholaeth Blaenau Gwent ers imi ddechrau yn y swydd hon, am yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud, a sicrhau bod pobl yn meddwl am yr ardal teithio i'r gwaith hefyd, i wneud yn siŵr fod y buddsoddiad yn cael ei dargedu at Flaenau Gwent. Ac mae'r Aelod etholaeth wedi dweud yn glir iawn ei fod yn disgwyl gallu gweld yr arian yn cael ei wario o fewn yr etholaeth. Yr hyn rydym yn bwriadu ei wneud yw sicrhau ein bod yn edrych ar fuddsoddiadau strategol, ac mae'r ffordd rydym wedi partneru â'r awdurdod a'r bwrdd ar hyn yn rhannau pwysig o hynny. Os edrychwch ar ble y bu’r buddsoddiad hwnnw’n gymorth i sicrhau, er enghraifft, y gwaith o amgylch Thales ym Mlaenau Gwent, dewis bwriadol, yr ychwanegwyd ato gan y Cymoedd Technoleg, y gwaith rydym yn bwriadu ei wneud gyda’r buddsoddiad yn TVR a sicrwydd swyddi ar y safle hwnnw, a'r buddsoddiad mewn eiddo, rwy'n credu y bydd gennym stori dda i'w hadrodd ar y Cymoedd Technoleg.

Ac yn fwy cyffredinol, wrth gwrs, ar y mater y dechreuoch chi gydag ef, a'r nifer sylweddol o swyddi sy'n debygol o gael eu colli yn Tillery Valley Foods a'r cyhoeddiad ddoe am Avara, ein pryder o hyd yw'r oddeutu 440 o deuluoedd yr effeithir arnynt gan y cyhoeddiad ddoe, a'r oddeutu 260 o deuluoedd yr effeithir arnynt gan Tillery Valley Foods. Ac rydym yn gobeithio mabwysiadu ymagwedd a fydd yn dod ynghyd â'r ddau undeb llafur— Community yn TVF, ac Unite yn Avara—yr awdurdod lleol, Llywodraeth Cymru, ac asiantaethau o Lywodraeth y DU hefyd. Cynhaliwyd cyfarfod cyntaf y tasglu ffurfiol ar TVF y bore yma, a chyfarfûm â dirprwy arweinydd Cyngor Sir Fynwy y bore yma, sef yr aelod arweiniol ar ddatblygu economaidd yn y sir. Yn Avara, mae’n ffaith bod llawer o’r gweithlu yn Avara, sydd yn sir Fynwy, yn dod o Flaenau Gwent. Felly, rwy'n edrych ar sut rydym yn uno'r ymatebion gyda'r ddau awdurdod lleol, y ddau undeb cydnabyddedig, a chyfleoedd, os oes rhai, i geisio sicrhau busnesau gweithredol ar y safleoedd hynny, ac os nad oes rhai, beth y gallwn ei wneud â'r rhaglenni rydym yn eu hariannu—Cymunedau am Waith a Mwy a ReAct+—i geisio sicrhau cyflogaeth arall i bobl sy'n colli eu swyddi yn y sector hwn.

I join my fellow Member for South Wales East in his concern for what's happening in South Wales East at the moment, in terms of the job losses. Six hundred jobs are an awful lot of jobs. We saw, obviously, Tillery Valley Foods entering administration last week, and now we've got Avara Foods in Abergavenny. It would be interesting to see what actual positive action you have taken to date and timelines of anything you've done and what you plan to do in the future. It's great that you say that you will look to take care of families, in partnership with local authorities, that have been affected. But we need to know what you're going to do to improve job opportunities in our region, going forward, and how you are going to look to protect any more businesses from any more future job losses. We can't have a situation where, every week, we stand up in the Senedd and we've got more job losses. This seems to be a recurring theme at the moment. So, is there something that you can actually do, Minister, to intervene here, and to ensure that there are fewer job losses and more positive action from this Government in terms of what you're doing on the ground, perhaps even looking into extending degree apprenticeship opportunities, which are severely lacking in Wales compared to the rest of the UK? That also, in itself, will expand job opportunities and upskill many of the people in my area. Thank you. 

Adleisiaf bryderon fy nghyd-Aelod dros Ddwyrain De Cymru ynglŷn â'r hyn sy’n digwydd yn Nwyrain De Cymru ar hyn o bryd, o ran y swyddi a gollwyd. Mae chwe chant o swyddi yn llawer iawn o swyddi. Gwelsom Tillery Valley Foods yn mynd i ddwylo'r gweinyddwyr yr wythnos diwethaf, a bellach mae gennym Avara Foods yn y Fenni. Byddai'n ddiddorol gweld pa gamau cadarnhaol rydych wedi'u cymryd hyd yn hyn ac amserlenni unrhyw beth rydych wedi'i wneud a beth rydych yn bwriadu ei wneud yn y dyfodol. Mae’n wych eich bod yn dweud y byddwch yn ceisio gofalu am y teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol. Ond mae angen inni wybod beth rydych am ei wneud i wella cyfleoedd gwaith yn ein rhanbarth wrth symud ymlaen, a sut rydych yn mynd i geisio diogelu rhagor o fusnesau rhag colli mwy o swyddi yn y dyfodol. Ni allwn gael sefyllfa lle rydym yn codi yn y Senedd  bob wythnos ac rydym wedi colli mwy o swyddi; ymddengys bod hon yn thema sy'n codi dro ar ôl tro ar hyn o bryd. Felly, Weinidog, a oes rhywbeth y gallwch ei wneud i ymyrryd yma ac i sicrhau bod llai o swyddi'n cael eu colli a mwy o gamau gweithredu cadarnhaol yn cael eu cymryd gan y Llywodraeth hon ar lawr gwlad, ac efallai ystyried ymestyn cyfleoedd gradd-brentisiaethau hyd yn oed, sy’n brin iawn yng Nghymru o gymharu â gweddill y DU? Bydd hynny hefyd, ynddo’i hun, yn ehangu cyfleoedd gwaith, ac yn uwchsgilio llawer o’r bobl yn fy ardal i. Diolch.

13:35

With respect, I don't think degree apprenticeships has much relevance to the challenges faced by Tillery Valley Foods or, indeed, Avara. We're thinking about a sector that is directly affected by a range of factors. It's affected by trading conditions, and you'll have heard, in the previous issues on Anglesey, that Two Sisters were clear that the post-Brexit trading environment was part of the reason why they felt that they could not go on.

The other common factor, though, is the reality of price rises. So, it's a cost-of-living crisis and a cost-of-doing-business crisis. Energy costs are a significant factor in this sector, and Avara have cited that that is a significant concern for them. They're looking to consolidate their business, and they're saying that they're also looking at investment choices within plant and machinery. And actually, within this part of the food sector, there is capital investment support available from the Welsh Government—up to 40 per cent support with costs for capital investment. We've offered that previously. We've made clear that offer is still available for Avara in the past, or, rather, in the immediate past following their announcement, because our focus is can we maintain the jobs and can we secure an alternative business on that site. If that isn't possible, we will need to look at what else we can do, and I've set that out both in the earlier response, but also in answer to the topical question from the Member for Blaenau Gwent about Tillery Valley Foods. That's going to be the continued focus. And I think, actually, if I go into too much detail on what the Member set out—what are the challenges for businesses and what can we do?—it will end up being a very, I think, typecast discussion and disagreement about UK-wide choices. 

I'll continue to keep people updated on what we are doing with both of the businesses and the scale of the job losses, and the alternatives for employment within the south-east area, where, in some sectors, we do have significant opportunities for the future. Others, I think, will be under increasing stress and pressure, and today's inflation figures, I think, underscore the unevenness of the pressure and challenges facing key parts of our economy and a range of jobs that rely upon them. 

Gyda phob parch, ni chredaf fod gradd-brentisiaethau yn berthnasol iawn i'r heriau a wynebir gan Tillery Valley Foods, nac Avara yn wir. Rydym yn meddwl am sector sy'n cael ei effeithio'n uniongyrchol gan amrywiaeth o ffactorau. Mae amodau masnachu'n effeithio ar y ddau, a byddwch wedi clywed, yn ystod y problemau blaenorol ar Ynys Môn, fod Two Sisters o'r farn fod yr amgylchedd masnachu ar ôl Brexit yn rhan o’r rheswm pam eu bod yn teimlo na allent barhau.

Y ffactor cyffredin arall, fodd bynnag, yw realiti'r cynnydd mewn prisiau. Felly, mae'n argyfwng costau byw ac yn argyfwng costau gwneud busnes. Mae costau ynni'n ffactor sylweddol yn y sector hwn, ac mae Avara wedi nodi bod hynny’n bryder sylweddol iddynt. Maent yn awyddus i gydgrynhoi eu busnes, ac maent yn dweud eu bod hefyd yn edrych ar ddewisiadau buddsoddi mewn offer a pheiriannau. Ac mewn gwirionedd, yn y rhan hon o'r sector bwyd, mae cymorth buddsoddi cyfalaf ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru—hyd at 40 y cant o gymorth gyda chostau ar gyfer buddsoddiad cyfalaf. Rydym wedi cynnig hynny o'r blaen. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir fod cynnig yn dal i fod ar gael i Avara yn y gorffennol, neu yn hytrach, yn y gorffennol yn syth ar ôl eu cyhoeddiad, oherwydd ein ffocws ni yw a allwn gynnal y swyddi ac a allwn sicrhau busnes amgen ar y safle hwnnw. Os nad yw hynny'n bosibl, bydd angen inni edrych ar beth arall y gallwn ei wneud, ac rwyf wedi nodi hynny yn yr ymateb cynharach, ond hefyd mewn ymateb i'r cwestiwn amserol gan yr Aelod dros Flaenau Gwent ynglŷn â Tillery Valley Foods. Byddwn yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar hynny. Ac os af i ormod o fanylder ynglŷn â'r hyn a grybwyllwyd gan yr Aelod—beth yw'r heriau i fusnesau a beth y gallwn ei wneud?—credaf y bydd hynny'n arwain at drafodaeth ystrydebol ac anghytuno ynglŷn â dewisiadau a wnaed ar lefel y DU gyfan.

Byddaf yn parhau i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i bobl ynglŷn â'r hyn rydym yn ei wneud gyda’r ddau fusnes a faint o swyddi a gollwyd, a’r dewisiadau amgen ar gyfer cyflogaeth yn ardal y de-ddwyrain, lle mae gennym gyfleoedd sylweddol ar gyfer y dyfodol mewn rhai sectorau. Credaf y bydd eraill o dan straen a phwysau cynyddol, a chredaf fod y ffigurau chwyddiant a gyhoeddwyd heddiw'n tanlinellu pa mor anghyson yw'r pwysau a’r heriau sy’n wynebu rhannau allweddol o’n heconomi ac ystod o swyddi sy’n dibynnu arnynt.

I'm grateful to you, Minister, for the answers to those questions. I'm grateful to you also for the support you've given the people of Blaenau Gwent during recent years, and the work you've done leading on the Tech Valleys investments, which has led to the work that's been done in Thales, has certainly fulfilled the expectations that we had of that programme. The job losses we've heard in recent weeks, both in Tillery Valley Foods and, this week, in Avara Foods, are real serious blows to the local economy and to the families that are sustained by that employment. Most of the employees, of course, in Abergavenny are actually from Blaenau Gwent. And we are looking to Welsh Government to continue the work that you have undertaken in recent weeks. There's a jobs fair taking place this morning in Abertillery, and also, I attended the first meeting of the taskforce on Tillery Valley Foods, and the Welsh Government officials there provided great support to the local authority and to others, and we're grateful to you for that. 

Looking forward, Minister, we clearly need to invest in that A465 corridor, and we look to the Welsh Government for that northern Valleys programme that we've debated and discussed. You've already agreed to come to Blaenau Gwent to discuss these matters, and I look forward to your visit. But can we ensure that we do have the structure put in place to ensure that we have the Tech Valleys, that we have the response to job losses, but we also have the proactive business support, employment support and economic support programme that the Welsh Government can deliver, has delivered, and I'm confident will continue to deliver in the Heads of the Valleys?

Rwy’n ddiolchgar i chi am eich atebion i’r cwestiynau hynny, Weinidog. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi hefyd am y gefnogaeth rydych wedi'i rhoi i bobl Blaenau Gwent dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac mae'r gwaith rydych wedi'i wneud yn arwain ar fuddsoddiadau'r Cymoedd Technoleg, sydd wedi arwain at y gwaith a wnaed yn Thales, yn sicr wedi cyflawni'r disgwyliadau a oedd gennym ar gyfer y rhaglen honno. Mae’r swyddi y clywsom y byddant yn cael eu colli yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, yn Tillery Valley Foods, a'r wythnos hon, yn Avara Foods, yn ergydion difrifol iawn i’r economi leol, ac i’r teuluoedd sy'n dibynnu ar y swyddi hynny. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r gweithwyr yn y Fenni yn dod o Flaenau Gwent wrth gwrs. Ac rydym yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth Cymru barhau â'r gwaith rydych wedi'i wneud dros yr wythnosau diwethaf. Mae ffair swyddi'n cael ei chynnal y bore yma yn Abertyleri, a hefyd, bûm yng nghyfarfod cyntaf y tasglu ar Tillery Valley Foods, ac yno, rhoddodd swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru gefnogaeth wych i’r awdurdod lleol ac i eraill, ac rydym yn ddiolchgar i chi am hynny.

Gan edrych ymlaen, Weinidog, mae'n amlwg fod angen inni fuddsoddi yng nghoridor yr A465, ac rydym yn dibynnu ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu'r rhaglen honno ar gyfer y Cymoedd gogleddol a drafodwyd gennym. Rydych eisoes wedi cytuno i ddod i Flaenau Gwent i drafod y materion hyn, ac edrychaf ymlaen at eich ymweliad. Ond a gawn ni sicrhau bod y strwythur ar waith i sicrhau bod gennym y Cymoedd Technoleg, ein bod yn ymateb i'r swyddi a gollwyd, ond bod gennym hefyd y rhaglenni cymorth cyflogaeth, cymorth economaidd a chymorth busnes rhagweithiol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu darparu, y mae wedi'u darparu, ac rwy'n hyderus y bydd yn parhau i'w darparu ym Mlaenau'r Cymoedd?

Thank you for the comments and questions. I think it is good news that the taskforce has met, and that draws together Welsh Government, the local authority and, indeed, the local management of the Department for Work and Pensions, who have been constructive in this. I think it's important to recognise that part of the UK Government is actually trying to be part of the answer locally. There are issues around how we carry on our partnership work within the food sector, which, overall, has been a success story. But we do see challenges in some parts of the manufacturing chain, and that's exactly what we're seeing at the moment, and those challenges at the moment are leading to job losses. We need to look at those businesses, what the fragilities actually arise from, and what we can do and equally what other actors could do as well.

I'm very keen that we continue to make the most of the investment that we have undertaken in the transport infrastructure, and you're quite right about that. Actually, part of the reason why so many of the workers in Avara Foods come from your constituency is that it is a very short trip on a piece of network—on a piece of network that exists. But, also, it's a reason why it's an employment site that, I think, has good prospects for the future. Now, that won't be much comfort to those immediate workers who are there, but it's a site that is well served by infrastructure, well connected to workforce opportunities, and so I'm optimistic about what we'll be able to do in partnership with local authorities. And that comes back to your point around the structure and the opportunity to carry on investing, and not just the immediate reaction to where there are significant challenges, but what we'll proactively do to invest in communities, whether it's skills—. That's why we're looking to deliver more investment and why it was so important that we had a refresh of our manufacturing action plan. I'm very keen that the Welsh Government, local authority, including the Cardiff capital region, understand that we expect to see proactive investment and effort in the Heads of the Valleys, and not simply around the southern part of the capital region. It's an ongoing conversation. I'd be more than happy to take up the Member's invitation to come to an appropriate event in Blaenau Gwent.

Diolch am eich sylwadau a'ch cwestiynau. Credaf ei fod yn newyddion da fod y tasglu wedi cyfarfod, gan ddod ynghyd â Llywodraeth Cymru, yr awdurdod lleol, ac yn wir, rheolwyr lleol yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, sydd wedi bod yn adeiladol yn hyn. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod bod rhan o Lywodraeth y DU yn ceisio bod yn rhan o’r ateb yn lleol. Ceir problemau sy'n ymwneud â sut rydym yn parhau â’n gwaith partneriaeth o fewn y sector bwyd, sydd, ar y cyfan, wedi bod yn llwyddiant. Ond rydym yn gweld heriau mewn rhai rhannau o'r gadwyn weithgynhyrchu, a dyna'n union a welwn ar hyn o bryd, ac mae'r heriau hynny ar hyn o bryd yn arwain at golli swyddi. Mae angen inni edrych ar y busnesau hynny, o beth y deillia’r bregusrwydd, a’r hyn y gallwn ei wneud, ac yn yr un modd, yr hyn y gallai eraill ei wneud hefyd.

Rwy'n awyddus iawn inni barhau i wneud y gorau o'r buddsoddiad rydym wedi'i wneud yn y seilwaith trafnidiaeth, ac rydych yn llygad eich lle ynglŷn â hynny. A dweud y gwir, rhan o'r rheswm pam fod cymaint o'r gweithwyr yn Avara Foods yn teithio yno o'ch etholaeth chi yw am ei bod yn daith fer iawn ar ddarn o rwydwaith—ar ddarn o rwydwaith sy'n bodoli eisoes. Ond hefyd, mae hynny'n rheswm pam ei fod yn safle cyflogaeth a chanddo ragolygon da, yn fy marn i, ar gyfer y dyfodol. Nawr, ni fydd hynny'n fawr o gysur i'r gweithwyr uniongyrchol hynny yno, ond mae'n safle sydd wedi'i wasanaethu'n dda gan seilwaith, sydd wedi'i gysylltu'n dda â chyfleoedd i weithluoedd, ac felly rwy'n obeithiol ynghylch yr hyn y byddwn yn gallu ei wneud mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol. Ac mae hynny'n dod yn ôl at eich pwynt ynghylch y strwythur a'r cyfle i barhau i fuddsoddi, ac nid yn unig yr ymateb uniongyrchol i heriau sylweddol, ond yr hyn y byddwn yn ei wneud, yn rhagweithiol, i fuddsoddi mewn cymunedau, boed yn sgiliau—. Dyna pam ein bod yn bwriadu sicrhau mwy o fuddsoddiad a pham ei bod mor bwysig ein bod yn adnewyddu ein cynllun gweithredu ar weithgynhyrchu. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i Lywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol, gan gynnwys prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd, ddeall ein bod yn disgwyl gweld ymdrech a buddsoddi rhagweithiol ym Mlaenau'r Cymoedd, ac nid yn rhan ddeheuol y brifddinas-ranbarth yn unig. Mae'n sgwrs barhaus. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i dderbyn gwahoddiad yr Aelod i ddod i ddigwyddiad priodol ym Mlaenau Gwent.

13:40

Diolch Llywydd, and I'm grateful to you for allowing me to contribute as well, and many of the questions have been put. This isn't a time to play politics; this is an important time for us to come together to support the communities who are deeply affected by the threats of job losses. I am pleased, Minister, that you've already had that first meeting this morning with those key individuals to find a way forward for my own community and for neighbouring communities. That is fundamentally important. I am so worried for these people. They have homes, they have mortgages, they have families, and they must be in a terrible situation at the moment with the anxiety of what lies ahead of them. I suppose my question would be: how do we work together to help these people through this difficult time? But more so, how do we work together to lay the foundations for future job opportunities in the area? And, building on the fantastic expertise we have and the conditions that we have in the area, there is a great opportunity there and we need to grasp it. These shocks are difficult to comprehend, but we need to help these people through this difficult time, and I'm willing to play my part in what is needed next. 

Diolch, Lywydd, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi am ganiatáu imi gyfrannu hefyd, ac mae llawer o'r cwestiynau wedi'u gofyn. Nid nawr yw'r amser i chwarae gwleidyddiaeth; nawr yw'r adeg y mae'n bwysig inni ddod ynghyd i gefnogi'r cymunedau a effeithir gan y bygythiad o golli swyddi. Rwy’n falch, Weinidog, eich bod eisoes wedi cael y cyfarfod cyntaf y bore yma gyda’r unigolion allweddol i ddod o hyd i ffordd ymlaen i fy nghymuned i a chymunedau cyfagos. Mae hynny’n hollbwysig. Rwyf mor bryderus am y bobl hyn. Mae ganddynt gartrefi, mae ganddynt forgeisi, mae ganddynt deuluoedd, ac mae'n rhaid eu bod mewn sefyllfa ofnadwy ar hyn o bryd yn gofidio am yr hyn sy'n eu hwynebu. Mae'n debyg mai fy nghwestiwn fyddai: sut rydym yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i helpu'r bobl hyn drwy'r cyfnod anodd hwn? Ond yn fwy felly, sut rydym yn cydweithio i osod y sylfeini ar gyfer cyfleoedd swyddi yn yr ardal yn y dyfodol? A chan adeiladu ar yr arbenigedd gwych sydd gennym a'r amodau sydd gennym yn yr ardal, mae cyfle gwych yno ac mae angen inni ei fachu. Mae'r siociau hyn yn anodd eu dirnad, ond mae angen inni helpu'r bobl drwy'r cyfnod anodd hwn, ac rwy'n fodlon chwarae fy rhan yn yr hyn sydd ei angen nesaf.

That's a very helpful and constructive offer from Mr Fox. Look, I'd say the honest truth is, when the business sets out that energy and wider inflation have a cost, that shouldn't surprise us. But, of course, today's figures on food and inflation show a significant rise, and that's because those cost pressures are in every part of the chain, from the feed cost, and you'll be aware from your own enterprise as well that feed costs have risen—. That means that when poultry is then going into Avara Foods, it's at a higher price, that's being passed on and, actually, there's a challenge in people then deciding whether they want that product or not. That is a key factor in where we are. The Welsh Government and the UK Government need to be part of the answer. It's why I'm more than happy to work with the Member as a constituency Member, and, indeed, his colleague in the Westminster Parliament, who I may not always see eye to eye with as well, but this is an issue about the constituency and it's about people affected directly by that, and it's about how I think we can look to work with both local authorities, because there is a cross-over of interests and working populations. I'd be more than happy to get in touch with the office again. I know you weren't able to secure a meeting before today's debate—I understand you have a debate on a piece of legislation—but I am more than happy to make time to have a further discussion with him and other partners in order to see what we can do, as opposed to what things we can't do. 

Dyna gynnig defnyddiol ac adeiladol iawn gan Mr Fox. Edrychwch, byddwn yn dweud mai'r gwir amdani yw, pan fo busnes yn nodi bod cost i ynni a chwyddiant yn gyffredinol, ni ddylai hynny ein synnu. Ond wrth gwrs, mae'r ffigurau a gyhoeddwyd heddiw ar fwyd a chwyddiant yn dangos cynnydd sylweddol, ac mae hynny am fod pwysau ariannol ym mhob rhan o'r gadwyn, o gost bwyd anifeiliaid, ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'ch menter eich hun hefyd fod costau bwyd anifeiliaid wedi cynyddu—. Golyga hynny, pan fydd dofednod yn mynd i mewn i Avara Foods, fod hynny am bris uwch, a chaiff y gost honno ei throsglwyddo ymlaen, ac mae yna her wedyn wrth i bobl benderfynu a ydynt yn dymuno prynu'r cynnyrch hwnnw ai peidio. Mae hynny’n ffactor allweddol yn y sefyllfa rydym ynddi. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU fod yn rhan o’r ateb. Dyna pam fy mod yn fwy na pharod i weithio gyda’r Aelod fel Aelod etholaeth, ac yn wir, ei gydweithiwr yn Senedd San Steffan, nad wyf bob amser yn gweld llygad yn llygad â hwy efallai, ond mae hwn yn fater sy’n ymwneud â’r etholaeth ac mae'n ymwneud â phobl y mae hyn yn effeithio'n uniongyrchol arnynt, ac mae a wnelo â sut y credaf y gallwn geisio gweithio gyda'r ddau awdurdod lleol, gan fod gorgyffwrdd rhwng buddiannau a phoblogaethau gwaith. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i gysylltu â'r swyddfa eto. Gwn na fu modd ichi sicrhau cyfarfod cyn y ddadl heddiw—deallaf fod gennych ddadl ar ddeddfwriaeth—ond rwy’n fwy na pharod i neilltuo amser i gael trafodaeth bellach gydag ef a phartneriaid eraill, er mwyn gweld beth y gallwn ei wneud, yn hytrach na beth na allwn ei wneud.

Minister, I recently visited Shine Catering Systems, a family-run company that employs about 65 people in Newport East. They've been in existence for quite some time. They design, they manufacture and they install commercial catering equipment, and their clients include the Ministry of Defence and Google. They've got a long history of employing apprentices, Minister, and one of their issues at the moment is that they're finding it very difficult to recruit a manufacturing apprentice at level 3, and this has been a trend for some little time. So, they asked me, really, to raise these issues and what more Welsh Government might do, working with the city council, Coleg Gwent to make sure that manufacturing apprenticeships are attractive to our young people in Wales.

Weinidog, yn ddiweddar ymwelais â Shine Catering Systems, cwmni teuluol sy’n cyflogi oddeutu 65 o bobl yn Nwyrain Casnewydd. Maent wedi bod yn weithredol ers peth amser. Maent yn llunio, yn gweithgynhyrchu ac yn gosod offer arlwyo masnachol, ac mae eu cleientiaid yn cynnwys y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn a Google. Mae ganddynt hanes hir o gyflogi prentisiaid, Weinidog, ac un o’u problemau ar hyn o bryd yw eu bod yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn recriwtio prentis gweithgynhyrchu ar lefel 3, ac maent wedi bod yn y sefyllfa hon ers tro. Felly, fe wnaethant ofyn imi godi'r materion hyn a beth arall y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud, gan weithio gyda chyngor y ddinas a Choleg Gwent, i sicrhau bod prentisiaethau gweithgynhyrchu'n ddeniadol i'n pobl ifanc yng Nghymru.

13:45

I actually think that continuing to raise the issue here and further afield is an important part of it. There's a job for the Government to do, but Members, with your own local influences and networks, and businesses too, as well. Because part of the challenge is that when someone is, at 16, considering their career then, there are a number of options that have already been closed off, so, actually, we've got to do more to raise the profile of other opportunities earlier on in their life, in education. It's something I discussed yesterday again with the education Minister.

But manufacturing does have a positive future here in Wales. It’s the biggest sector of our economy than in the rest of the UK—over 150,000 jobs are in it and they’re normally good jobs, paying well above the living wage. It’s about how we then encourage people to keep their minds open to the opportunities that exist because there is funding support still available from the Government to support people through apprenticeships. And when things like National Apprenticeship Week come up, you again see the variety of opportunities. We’re very clear that we want more people to undertake science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects and STEM-based apprenticeships. And I hope that the Member and others, when it comes to manufacturing week in the autumn, will take up further opportunities to highlight the wide variety of careers. It’s not just Jack Sargeant who has an interest in this area—all of us, I think, have an interest in seeing a bright and positive future for manufacturing. And we will keep on making the case to young people, and others later in life, that an apprenticeship is a really good route for their future and will also help us secure a better, stronger and fairer economy.

Credaf fod parhau i godi’r mater yma a thu hwnt yn rhan bwysig o hyn. Mae gan y Llywodraeth waith i'w wneud, ond mae'r un peth yn wir am Aelodau, gyda'ch rhwydweithiau a'ch dylanwadau lleol eich hun, a'ch busnesau hefyd. Oherwydd rhan o'r her yw pan fydd rhywun yn ystyried eu gyrfa yn 16 oed, mae nifer o opsiynau eisoes wedi cau, felly mewn gwirionedd, mae'n rhaid inni wneud mwy i godi proffil cyfleoedd eraill yn gynharach yn eu bywyd, mewn addysg. Mae’n rhywbeth a drafodais eto ddoe gyda’r Gweinidog addysg.

Ond mae gan weithgynhyrchu ddyfodol cadarnhaol yma yng Nghymru. Dyma’r sector mwyaf o’n heconomi o gymharu â gweddill y DU—mae'n cynnwys dros 150,000 o swyddi, ac maent fel arfer yn swyddi da, sy'n talu ymhell uwchlaw’r cyflog byw. Mae'n ymwneud â sut rydym wedyn yn annog pobl i gadw eu meddyliau'n agored i’r cyfleoedd sy’n bodoli gan fod cymorth ariannol ar gael o hyd gan y Llywodraeth i gefnogi pobl drwy brentisiaethau. A chyda phethau fel Wythnos Genedlaethol Prentisiaethau, rydych unwaith eto'n gweld yr amrywiaeth o gyfleoedd. Rydym yn sicr ein bod am i fwy o bobl ymgymryd â phynciau gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg a phrentisiaethau STEM. A gobeithio y bydd yr Aelod ac eraill, pan fydd hi'n wythnos gweithgynhyrchu yn yr hydref, yn manteisio ar gyfleoedd pellach i dynnu sylw at yr amrywiaeth eang o yrfaoedd. Nid Jack Sargeant yw'r unig un a chanddo ddiddordeb yn y maes hwn—credaf fod gan bob un ohonom ddiddordeb mewn gweld dyfodol disglair a chadarnhaol i weithgynhyrchu. A byddwn yn parhau i geisio darbwyllo pobl ifanc, ac eraill yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd, fod prentisiaeth yn llwybr da iawn ar gyfer eu dyfodol ac y bydd hefyd yn ein helpu ni i sicrhau economi well, gryfach a thecach.

Lleihau Anweithgarwch Economaidd
Reducing Economic Inactivity

2. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o lwyddiant ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i leihau anweithgarwch economaidd? OQ59568

2. What assessment has the Minister made of the success of the Welsh Government's efforts to reduce economic inactivity? OQ59568

We assess all areas of labour market performance as part of the monitoring arrangements that underpin our plan for employability and skills. We continue to take a range of actions to try and ensure that the right support is provided in a timely manner to address the barriers facing economically inactive people here in Wales. 

Rydym yn asesu pob maes o berfformiad y farchnad lafur fel rhan o'r trefniadau monitro sy'n sail i'n cynllun ar gyfer cyflogadwyedd a sgiliau. Rydym yn parhau i gymryd amrywiaeth o gamau i geisio sicrhau bod y cymorth cywir yn cael ei ddarparu mewn modd amserol i fynd i’r afael â’r rhwystrau sy’n wynebu pobl economaidd anweithgar yma yng Nghymru.

Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog.

Thank you for the answer, Minister.

The recent Office for National Statistics figures made for worrying reading and it is right to say that what they represent as stand-alone figures is a snapshot and that we need to see how we fare in the next few months for a fuller picture. But what is undeniable is that, like it or not, these figures feed into an already bleak picture when it comes to productivity in Wales. Gross value added per capita in Wales has never been above 75 per cent of the UK average throughout the devolution era, while GVA per hour has basically remained stagnant at 83 to 84 per cent of the UK average over the same period. On both metrics, we have consistently ranked amongst the worst performing of the 12 UK nations and regions.

While the first Welsh Government had the explicit targets for closing the productivity gap, subsequent Welsh Government economic strategies abandoned any targets, and there has been no substantive improvement since 1998. So, what are your solutions for getting to grips with this, Minister? The Working Wales programme was launched in 2019 to help economically inactive people back into work, but how much is currently being invested in this scheme? Can we expect to see specific targets on productivity from this Welsh Government?

Roedd ffigurau diweddar y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn peri cryn bryder, ac mae’n iawn i ddweud mai dim ond cipolwg y maent yn ei ddarparu fel ffigurau ar eu pennau eu hunain, a bod angen inni weld sut rydym yn gwneud dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf er mwyn cael darlun mwy llawn. Ond ni ellir gwadu bod y ffigurau hyn yn gwaethygu darlun sydd eisoes yn llwm o ran cynhyrchiant yng Nghymru. Nid yw gwerth ychwanegol gros y pen yng Nghymru erioed wedi bod yn uwch na 75 y cant o gyfartaledd y DU ers datganoli, tra bo gwerth ychwanegol gros yr awr wedi aros yr un fath fwy neu lai, ar 83 y cant i 84 y cant o gyfartaledd y DU dros yr un cyfnod. Ar y ddau fetrig, rydym wedi bod ymhlith y rhai sy'n perfformio waethaf o blith 12 gwlad a rhanbarth y DU yn gyson.

Er bod gan Lywodraeth gyntaf Cymru dargedau penodol ar gyfer cau’r bwlch cynhyrchiant, cafodd strategaethau economaidd dilynol Llywodraeth Cymru wared ar unrhyw dargedau, ac ni chafwyd unrhyw welliant sylweddol ers 1998. Felly, beth yw eich atebion ar gyfer mynd i’r afael â hyn, Weinidog? Lansiwyd rhaglen Cymru'n Gweithio yn 2019 i helpu pobl economaidd anweithgar yn ôl i waith, ond faint sy’n cael ei fuddsoddi yn y cynllun hwn ar hyn o bryd? A allwn ddisgwyl gweld targedau penodol ar gynhyrchiant gan y Llywodraeth hon?

Actually, our story on productivity and economic activity over the period of devolution is one of improvement. The challenge is that we still have much more to do to make up the gap. It’s a challenge on which, if you look at what happened both before Ken Skate’s time, during it and now, we have seen progress. The challenge is that, during the pandemic, we have seen a real challenge that’s made it even more uneven, so, some sectors saw productivity improvements; most others, for understandable reasons, saw a real move backwards.

Now, when it comes to Working Wales, they are not the only lever and not the only agency that are there to help resolve our productivity challenges. It goes into some of the really contested areas, for example, on skills and investment in those. It matters that we have less money available to replace former European funds—a third of our apprenticeship programme was funded through that source, as you’re aware. Having the UK Government compete in those areas, with a smaller sum of money, is actually really unhelpful, and it doesn’t get us to concentrate on where we could make a wider difference on improving productivity in a wide range of areas.

And it also goes to the point that John Griffiths made in his earlier question as well: how do we support people to undertake interventions, to undertake the support that we provide to make sure that they are better able to secure better paid employment? And how do we make sure that businesses too invest in their own workforce? It isn’t simply a public sector employment challenge—it’s both the workforce, the leadership and the management, where investment in their skills and abilities always makes a difference in terms of overall productivity. So, we understand what we need to do; we understand the broad reasons behind why we haven’t made as much progress as we would want to, and our challenge is having the right resources available to us of the scale that we want to make the sort of difference we want.

A dweud y gwir, mae ein hanes o ran cynhyrchiant a gweithgarwch economaidd drwy gydol y cyfnod datganoli yn un o welliant. Yr her yw bod llawer ar ôl gennym i'w wneud i lenwi'r bwlch. Mae’n her, ac os edrychwch ar yr hyn a ddigwyddodd cyn amser Ken Skates, yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, a nawr, rydym wedi gweld cynnydd. Yr her yw ein bod, yn ystod y pandemig, wedi gweld her wirioneddol sydd wedi gwneud y sefyllfa hyd yn oed yn fwy anwastad, felly, cafodd rai sectorau welliannau o ran cynhyrchiant; a chymerodd y rhan fwyaf o'r lleill, am resymau dealladwy, gam mawr yn ôl.

Nawr, ar Cymru’n Gweithio, nid hwy yw'r unig ysgogiad na'r unig asiantaeth sydd yno i'n helpu i ddatrys ein heriau cynhyrchiant. Mae'n ymwneud â rhai o’r meysydd cystadleuol iawn, er enghraifft, mewn perthynas â sgiliau a buddsoddiad yn y rheini. Mae o bwys fod gennym lai o arian ar gael i'w ddarparu yn lle’r hen gronfeydd Ewropeaidd—ariannwyd traean o’n rhaglen brentisiaethau drwy’r ffynhonnell honno, fel y gwyddoch. Mae cael Llywodraeth y DU yn cystadlu yn y meysydd hynny, gyda swm llai o arian, yn niweidiol, ac nid yw’n ein helpu i ganolbwyntio ar ble y gallem wneud gwahaniaeth ehangach ar wella cynhyrchiant mewn ystod eang o feysydd.

Mae'n ymwneud hefyd â'r pwynt a wnaeth John Griffiths yn ei gwestiwn cynharach hefyd: sut rydym yn cefnogi pobl i wneud ymyriadau, i fanteisio ar y cymorth a ddarparwn i wneud yn siŵr eu bod mewn gwell sefyllfa i sicrhau swyddi â chyflogau uwch? A sut rydym yn sicrhau bod busnesau hefyd yn buddsoddi yn eu gweithlu eu hunain? Nid her i gyflogaeth yn y sector cyhoeddus yn unig mohoni—mae'n ymwneud â'r gweithlu, yr arweinyddiaeth a’r rheolwyr, lle mae buddsoddi yn eu sgiliau a’u galluoedd bob amser yn gwneud gwahaniaeth i gynhyrchiant cyffredinol. Felly, rydym yn deall beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud; rydym yn deall y rhesymau cyffredinol pam nad ydym wedi gwneud cymaint o gynnydd ag y byddem yn ei ddymuno, a’r her i ni yw sicrhau bod digon o'r adnoddau cywir ar gael i ni er mwyn gwneud y math o wahaniaeth rydym yn dymuno ei wneud.

Minister, Wales now has the highest economic inactivity in the UK. A quarter of the population are economically inactive, but, more worryingly, a third of the inactive population is because of long-term sickness. What discussions have you had with the Minister for health about the impact that excessive waits for NHS treatment is having on the economic activity of Wales?

Weinidog, Cymru bellach sydd â'r gyfradd uchaf o anweithgarwch economaidd yn y DU. Mae chwarter y boblogaeth yn economaidd anweithgar, ond yr hyn sy'n peri mwy o bryder yw bod traean o’r boblogaeth yn anweithgar oherwydd salwch hirdymor. Pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda’r Gweinidog iechyd ynglŷn â'r effaith y mae amseroedd aros gormodol am driniaeth GIG yn ei chael ar weithgarwch economaidd Cymru?

13:50

We are looking at whether the figures are the start of a new trend or whether they're an individual blip in economic inactivity. We've made progress over a period of time, as I've set out, and that's factually indisputable. The challenge is, in particular, post pandemic, where we're seeing more economic inactivity. Health-related reasons are the biggest factor that people state as to why they're economically inactive and, as the First Minister said yesterday, the biggest reason within those health reasons are, actually, mental health and well-being. So, you have a challenge that isn't always necessarily related to waiting times for treatment and support. What we are doing, in trying to secure people to return to work who are economically inactive, is a range of different interventions. It's both what we're doing on childcare and on access to training. And it's the reality that we are normally supporting people further away from the labour market, who need more support to return to being job ready. The DWP are much more likely to be active closer to the labour market, as well. Actually, I think greater join-up in what we're doing would actually be really helpful. The positivity in the DWP relationship around Tillery Valley Foods, for example, is something I would much rather see not just at a point of crisis, but in our more regular relationship. That comprised both policy and practical management choices, and it's why I'm optimistic about the ongoing conversation about our interaction with the benefits system for the future, because I think it would make a difference in helping to support people back into the world of work.

Rydym yn edrych i weld a yw’r ffigurau’n cynrychioli dechrau tuedd newydd neu eithriad unigol mewn anweithgarwch economaidd. Rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd dros gyfnod o amser, fel rwyf wedi’i nodi, ac mae hynny’n ffaith ddiamheuol. Yr her, yn enwedig ar ôl y pandemig, yw ble rydym yn gweld mwy o anweithgarwch economaidd. Rhesymau sy'n ymwneud ag iechyd yw'r ffactor mwyaf y mae pobl yn eu nodi fel rheswm pam eu bod yn economaidd anweithgar, ac fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog ddoe, y rheswm mwyaf o fewn y rhesymau iechyd hynny mewn gwirionedd yw iechyd meddwl a llesiant. Felly, mae gennych her nad yw bob amser yn gysylltiedig o reidrwydd ag amseroedd aros am driniaeth a chymorth. Rydym yn gwneud ystod o wahanol ymyriadau i geisio cynorthwyo pobl sy’n economaidd anweithgar i ddychwelyd i’r gwaith. Mae a wnelo â'r hyn rydym yn ei wneud ar ofal plant a mynediad at hyfforddiant. A’r realiti yw ein bod fel arfer yn cefnogi pobl sydd ymhellach i ffwrdd o’r farchnad lafur, sydd angen mwy o gymorth i ddod yn ôl i fod yn barod am swydd. Mae’r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn llawer mwy tebygol o fod yn weithgar yn agosach at y farchnad lafur hefyd. A dweud y gwir, credaf y byddai mwy o gydgysylltu yn yr hyn a wnawn yn ddefnyddiol iawn. Mae’r agwedd gadarnhaol yn y berthynas â'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau ynghylch Tillery Valley Foods, er enghraifft, yn rhywbeth y byddai’n llawer gwell gennyf ei weld nid yn unig pan fo'n argyfwng, ond yn ein perthynas fwy rheolaidd. Roedd hynny’n cynnwys dewisiadau polisi a dewisiadau rheoli ymarferol, a dyna pam fy mod yn obeithiol am y sgwrs barhaus ynghylch rhyngweithio â’r system fudd-daliadau ar gyfer y dyfodol, gan y credaf y byddai’n gwneud gwahaniaeth i helpu i gefnogi pobl yn ôl i fyd gwaith.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf—Tom Giffard.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson first of all—Tom Giffard.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Deputy Minister. This week, we saw Oil4Wales pull out of their relationship with the Welsh Rugby Union, citing concerns surrounding their governance. Of course, you recently spoke to our committee to address the issues of governance at the WRU, and one of the main topics of discussion was a letter that you received from Gower MP, Tonia Antoniazzi, on 9 May, citing her concern regarding allegations of a deep-seated culture of sexism at the WRU. In response to my colleague Heledd Fychan's question asking what did you know and when, you immediately referred to Tonia's letter on 9 May and then you referred to allegations that were already in the public domain, and followed it up by saying, and I quote,

'in general terms, that was the extent of my knowledge'.

However, we've seen a freedom of information disclosure from your ministerial office that shows that you actually attempted to meet with Tonia Antoniazzi weeks prior to the receipt of her letter. The e-mail was sent on 22 December from someone in your private office and asks, and I quote, 

'would you like us to hold off for now or try to offer him'—

Steve Phillips—

'a longer slot on Wednesday with the intention that you will hopefully meet with Tonia before that?'

Now, the intention to schedule a meeting with the WRU after a meeting with Tonia suggests that you had an awareness of her concerns before receipt of that letter, something that you failed to mention at your committee appearance. So, can you confirm whether that meeting did take place and what awareness you had of Tonia's concerns prior to her letter on 9 May, and how do you reconcile the evidence you gave to the committee with this new information?

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Prynhawn da, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Yr wythnos hon, gwelsom Olew dros Gymru yn tynnu allan o’u perthynas ag Undeb Rygbi Cymru, gan nodi pryderon ynghylch eu llywodraethiant. Wrth gwrs, fe siaradoch chi â’n pwyllgor yn ddiweddar i fynd i’r afael â materion llywodraethu yn URC, ac un o’r prif bynciau trafod oedd y llythyr a gawsoch gan AS Gŵyr, Tonia Antoniazzi, ar 9 Mai, yn nodi ei phryderon ynghylch honiadau o ddiwylliant dwfn o rywiaeth yn URC. Mewn ymateb i gwestiwn fy nghyd-Aelod Heledd Fychan yn gofyn beth roeddech chi'n ei wybod a phryd, fe gyfeirioch chi'n syth at lythyr Tonia ar 9 Mai, ac yna fe gyfeirioch chi at honiadau a oedd eisoes yn gyhoeddus, a dilyn hynny drwy ddweud,

'yn gyffredinol, dyna oedd hyd a lled fy ngwybodaeth'.

Fodd bynnag, rydym wedi gweld datgeliad rhyddid gwybodaeth gan eich swyddfa weinidogol sy'n dangos eich bod wedi ceisio cyfarfod â Tonia Antoniazzi wythnosau cyn derbyn ei llythyr. Anfonwyd yr e-bost ar 22 Rhagfyr gan rywun yn eich swyddfa breifat yn gofyn,

'a fyddech yn hoffi inni ddal yn ôl am y tro neu geisio cynnig slot hirach iddo'—

Steve Phillips—

'ddydd Mercher gyda'r bwriad y byddwch yn cyfarfod â Tonia cyn hynny, gobeithio?'

Nawr, mae’r bwriad i drefnu cyfarfod ag URC ar ôl cyfarfod â Tonia yn awgrymu eich bod yn ymwybodol o’i phryderon cyn ichi gael y llythyr hwnnw, rhywbeth na sonioch chi amdano yn eich ymddangosiad yn y pwyllgor. Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau bod y cyfarfod hwnnw wedi digwydd a pha ymwybyddiaeth a oedd gennych o bryderon Tonia cyn cael ei llythyr ar 9 Mai, a sut rydych yn cysoni’r dystiolaeth a roesoch i’r pwyllgor â’r wybodaeth newydd hon?

The meeting I had with Tonia Antoniazzi is on the record, and that would have been available from the freedom of information request, as you say. There's no secret in that. I think the notes of that meeting would have been identified in the letters, in the information I gave to committee, from the follow-up request for a timeline and details of that meeting. So, I had been contacted by Tonia Antoniazzi, who wanted to talk to me about these issues. I had the meeting. The reason I wanted to hold off the meeting with Steve Phillips was because I was hoping that the meeting with Tonia Antoniazzi, which subsequently I asked her to write to me about, would have given me the detail I was asking for, and it didn't. That was why I asked her to write to me, and when the letter came, the letter also didn't give me the information that I wanted in terms of the specifics.

Mae’r cyfarfod a gefais gyda Tonia Antoniazzi wedi'i gofnodi, a byddai hwnnw wedi bod ar gael o’r cais rhyddid gwybodaeth, fel y dywedwch. Nid oes unrhyw gyfrinach am hynny. Credaf y byddai cofnodion y cyfarfod hwnnw wedi’u crybwyll yn y llythyrau, yn yr wybodaeth a roddais i’r pwyllgor, o’r cais dilynol am amserlen a manylion y cyfarfod hwnnw. Felly, roedd Tonia Antoniazzi wedi cysylltu â mi yn awyddus i drafod y materion hyn. Cefais y cyfarfod. Y rheswm pam roeddwn am ohirio’r cyfarfod gyda Steve Phillips oedd am fy mod yn gobeithio y byddai’r cyfarfod gyda Tonia Antoniazzi, y gofynnais iddi ysgrifennu ataf yn ei gylch wedyn, wedi darparu'r manylion roeddwn yn gofyn amdanynt, ac ni wnaeth. Dyna pam y gofynnais iddi ysgrifennu ataf, a phan ddaeth y llythyr, nid oedd y llythyr ychwaith yn cynnwys yr wybodaeth y dymunwn ei chael ynghylch y manylion.

Thank you, Minister. That doesn't make clear why you didn't make that clear in your committee appearance. You said that you'd received that letter; you didn't make any reference to a prior meeting. But that letter and the committee appearance centred around an unpublished review into the women's game, and in that appearance, you said that you'd already called for the publication of the review into the women's game, which Tonia's letter had also mentioned. And at the committee meeting, you said, and I quote, 

'I had conversations with the WRU about why that report wasn't made public'.

So, I also asked for that, and I asked for all the transcripts of the meetings between the WRU and yourself, between when you became Deputy Minister and the airing of the BBC documentary. So, can you explain why those detailed meeting logs don't mention you calling once for the publication of the review prior to broadcast?

Diolch, Weinidog. Nid yw hynny'n egluro pam na wnaethoch chi nodi hynny'n glir yn eich ymddangosiad yn y pwyllgor. Fe ddywedoch chi eich bod wedi derbyn y llythyr hwnnw; ni wnaethoch unrhyw gyfeiriad at gyfarfod blaenorol. Ond roedd y llythyr hwnnw a'ch ymddangosiad yn y pwyllgor yn canolbwyntio ar adolygiad nas cyhoeddwyd o gêm y menywod, ac yn yr ymddangosiad hwnnw, fe ddywedoch chi eich bod eisoes wedi galw am gyhoeddi'r adolygiad o gêm y menywod, rhywbeth y soniodd llythyr Tonia amdano hefyd. Ac yng nghyfarfod y pwyllgor, fe ddywedoch chi,

'Cefais sgyrsiau gydag URC ynghylch pam na chyhoeddwyd yr adroddiad hwnnw'.

Felly, gofynnais am hynny hefyd, a gofynnais am yr holl drawsgrifiadau o’r cyfarfodydd rhwng URC a chi, rhwng yr adeg pan ddaethoch chi'n Ddirprwy Weinidog a phan ddarlledwyd rhaglen ddogfen y BBC. Felly, a wnewch chi egluro pam nad yw cofnodion manwl y cyfarfodydd hynny'n cynnwys unrhyw sôn amdanoch chi'n galw am gyhoeddi'r adolygiad cyn y darllediad?

13:55

Okay. So, I think what I said in the committee—and I'm happy to go back over the transcript, but what I know I did say in the committee was that there are conversations that I have with all of our stakeholders, whether it is WRU or others, some of which are formal and some of which are informal, and some of which are on the record and some of which are off the record, some of which involve just officials and some of which involve me. And there were a number of those meetings that took place off the record, if you like, informal meetings, at rugby matches, when I was at the world cup in New Zealand, when we had various discussions when I was in the same space at Steve Phillips, and there were also meetings that took place with officials that didn't involve me, but they speak on my behalf. Now, those are not recorded meetings. But, in all of those discussions, the issue of the women's game and the report into the women's game and other issues were discussed. So, not all of those are recorded in formal minutes.

Iawn. Felly, credaf mai'r hyn a ddywedais yn y pwyllgor—ac rwy’n fwy na pharod i fynd yn ôl dros y trawsgrifiad, ond yr hyn y gwn i mi ei ddweud yn y pwyllgor oedd fy mod yn cael sgyrsiau gyda’n holl randdeiliaid, boed gydag URC neu eraill, lle mae rhai ohonynt yn sgyrsiau ffurfiol a rhai ohonynt yn anffurfiol, rhai ohonynt yn cael eu cofnodi a rhai nad ydynt yn cael eu cofnodi, rhai ohonynt yn cynnwys swyddogion yn unig a rhai ohonynt yn fy nghynnwys innau. A chynhaliwyd nifer o'r cyfarfodydd hynny heb eu cofnodi, cyfarfodydd anffurfiol, os mynnwch, mewn gemau rygbi, pan oeddwn yng nghwpan y byd yn Seland Newydd, pan gawsom drafodaethau amrywiol pan oeddwn yn yr un man â Steve Phillips, a chynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd hefyd heb i mi fod yno, ond gyda swyddogion yn siarad ar fy rhan. Nawr, nid yw'r rheini'n gyfarfodydd a gofnodir. Ond ym mhob un o’r trafodaethau hynny, trafodwyd mater gêm y menywod a’r adroddiad ar gêm y menywod a materion eraill. Felly, nid yw pob un o’r rheini wedi'u cofnodi mewn cofnodion ffurfiol.

Thank you. It is obviously coincidental that there is no official record of you calling for that report to be published prior to the publication—or the broadcast, I should say—of that documentary. As I say, the meeting logs don't actually say that you ever asked for it. But, to avoid the confusion I think that we've come across here, you could have made those calls publicly, and, in the committee, you said, and I quote again,

'if I had been going public at that time, it would have been on the basis that the WRU were doing nothing to address these issues, but they were.'

But, Minister, I'm not sure that the people who were experiencing deep-seated cultures of sexism in the WRU would agree with you that they were addressing the issue sufficiently. In fact, I think you may have been too keen to protect the reputation of the WRU, even during their stormiest period. You could have been clearer sooner that you were aware of the issues raised by Tonia Antoniazzi, but you weren't. You could have publicly called for the review into the women's game to be published, but you didn't. And you could have made those calls privately, but the meeting logs also suggest you didn't. Could it be the case, Deputy Minister, that the Welsh Government was too keen to protect its cosy relationship with the WRU and that your inaction and lack of transparency came at the cost of women who had to suffer throughout?

Diolch. Mae'n amlwg yn gyd-ddigwyddiad nad oes cofnod swyddogol ohonoch yn galw am gyhoeddi'r adroddiad hwnnw cyn i'r rhaglen ddogfen gael ei chyhoeddi—neu ei darlledu, dylwn ddweud. Fel y dywedaf, nid yw cofnodion y cyfarfodydd yn dweud ichi alw am hynny erioed. Ond er mwyn osgoi’r dryswch y credaf ein bod wedi dod ar ei draws yma, gallech fod wedi gwneud y galwadau hynny’n gyhoeddus, ac yn y pwyllgor, fe ddywedoch chi, 

'pe bawn wedi dweud rhywbeth yn gyhoeddus bryd hynny, byddai wedi bod ar y sail nad oedd URC yn gwneud unrhyw beth i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn, ond roeddent yn gwneud rhywbeth.'

Ond Weinidog, nid wyf yn siŵr a fyddai’r bobl a oedd yn dioddef yn sgil y diwylliant dwfn o rywiaeth yn URC yn cytuno â chi eu bod yn mynd i’r afael â’r mater yn ddigonol. A dweud y gwir, credaf efallai eich bod wedi bod yn rhy awyddus i ddiogelu enw da URC, hyd yn oed yn ystod eu cyfnod mwyaf tymhestlog. Gallech fod wedi dweud yn gliriach ac yn gynt eich bod yn ymwybodol o’r materion a godwyd gan Tonia Antoniazzi, ond ni wnaethoch. Gallech fod wedi galw’n gyhoeddus am gyhoeddi’r adolygiad o gêm y menywod, ond ni wnaethoch. A gallech fod wedi gwneud y galwadau hynny'n breifat, ond mae cofnodion y cyfarfodydd hefyd yn awgrymu na wnaethoch hynny. A allai fod yn wir, Ddirprwy Weinidog, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhy awyddus i amddiffyn ei pherthynas glos ag URC, a bod menywod wedi gorfod dioddef drwy gydol eich diffyg gweithredu a’ch diffyg tryloywder?

I have to say, Tom, I think that's an absolutely outrageous accusation, to suggest that I would be doing anything actively to either protect an organisation that was acting in the way that we subsequently found out they were acting—. What you're talking about was the report into the women's game. That is not the report into the issues that came out in the BBC report. This was about the women's game, and action was being taken on the women's game. They appointed Nigel Walker. Women were given permanent contracts and international contracts, and so, for the first time, they became professional. All of those things were happening, and all of things were what was in the report into the women's game. The issues that came out in that BBC report were not covered in that report. So, even had that been published, and even if I had called for it, it still would not have given the information that we subsequently found in that BBC report. So, I really do think that if you are suggesting that in any way I was colluding with the WRU to hide this—I think you really should think about that and retract that.

What I would also say is what I said to you in committee was that I was aware of as much as anybody else in this Senedd Chamber and beyond until that BBC programme was aired. I did not have one single written question, oral question, letter or any contact from any Member of this Senedd, any MP other than Tonia Antoniazzi, any member of the public, any member of the WRU staff, playing staff or employed staff, raising with me directly any of the issues that you're now talking about. Now, what I have to say is that if all of those issues were in the public domain in the way that you suggest and that I should have done something about it, then that applies to every single one of you in this Chamber as well, because all of you knew as much as I did.

Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, Tom, credaf fod hwnnw'n gyhuddiad hollol warthus, i awgrymu y byddwn yn gwneud unrhyw beth yn weithredol naill ai i amddiffyn sefydliad a oedd yn gweithredu yn y ffordd y cawsom wybod wedyn eu bod yn gweithredu—. Yr hyn rydych yn sôn amdano oedd yr adroddiad ar gêm y menywod. Nid dyna’r adroddiad ar y materion a ddarlledwyd yn adroddiad y BBC. Roedd hyn yn ymwneud â gêm y menywod, ac roedd camau'n cael eu cymryd ar gêm y menywod. Fe wnaethant benodi Nigel Walker. Rhoddwyd contractau parhaol a chontractau rhyngwladol i fenywod, ac felly, am y tro cyntaf, roeddent yn broffesiynol. Roedd yr holl bethau hynny'n digwydd, a'r pethau hynny a oedd yn yr adroddiad ar gêm y menywod. Ni chafodd y materion a godwyd yn adroddiad y BBC eu crybwyll yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Felly, hyd yn oed pe bai'r adroddiad hwnnw wedi’i gyhoeddi, a hyd yn oed pe bawn i wedi galw amdano, ni fyddai wedi datgelu'r wybodaeth a gawsom wedyn yn adroddiad y BBC. Felly, rwy'n meddwl o ddifrif, os ydych yn awgrymu fy mod i mewn unrhyw ffordd yn cydgynllwynio gydag URC i guddio hyn—credaf y dylech feddwl yn ofalus am hynny, a'i dynnu'n ôl.

Yr hyn y byddwn hefyd yn ei ddweud yw’r hyn a ddywedais wrthych yn y pwyllgor, sef fy mod yn ymwybodol o gymaint ag unrhyw un arall yn Siambr y Senedd hon a thu hwnt tan i raglen y BBC gael ei darlledu. Ni chefais unrhyw gwestiwn ysgrifenedig, cwestiwn llafar, llythyr nac unrhyw gyswllt gan unrhyw Aelod o’r Senedd hon, unrhyw AS heblaw am Tonia Antoniazzi, unrhyw aelod o’r cyhoedd, unrhyw aelod o staff URC, staff chwarae neu staff cyflogedig, yn codi unrhyw un o'r materion y soniwch amdanynt nawr gyda mi'n uniongyrchol. Nawr, yr hyn sydd gennyf i'w ddweud yw, pe bai pob un o'r materion hynny'n gyhoeddus yn y ffordd rydych chi'n awgrymu ac y dylwn fod wedi gwneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch, mae hynny'n berthnasol i bob un ohonoch yn y Siambr hon hefyd, gan fod pob un ohonoch yn gwybod cymaint â minnau.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Heledd Fychan.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Heledd Fychan.

Diolch, Llywydd. Fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol, Dirprwy Weinidog—

Thank you, Llywydd. As you'll be aware, Deputy Minister—

Apologies—apologies, Heledd, sorry.

Ymddiheuriadau—ymddiheuriadau, Heledd, mae'n ddrwg gennyf.

Sorry, I'll start again.

Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, fe ddechreuaf eto.

Diolch. Fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol, ychydig dros fis yn ôl, cyhoeddodd Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau'r Brycheiniog y byddai dim ond yn defnyddio'r enw Cymraeg o hyn ymlaen, gan nodi ei fod yn ffordd o ddathlu diwylliant a threftadaeth yr ardal. Mae hyn yn dilyn, wrth gwrs, Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri yn dilyn yr un trywydd, a hefyd Amgueddfa Cymru, sydd yn arddel yr enw Cymraeg, fel rhan o’u brand diweddaraf, yn unig. Yn bersonol, dwi'n croesawu’r newidiadau hyn yn fawr, er dydy o ddim yn newid yn bersonol imi, na nifer o bobl eraill yng Nghymru, oherwydd yr enw Cymraeg dwi wedi ei ddefnyddio drwy gydol fy oes.

Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, dwi’n siŵr, fod grŵp ymgyrchu lleol wedi ei ddechrau gyda thua 50 o fusnesau yn galw am yr enw Saesneg i gael ei adfer, a hynny er gwaethaf y parc cenedlaethol yn ei gwneud yn glir bod hyn dim ond yn berthnasol i’r parc ei hun a bod rhwydd hynt i unigolion arddel yr enw y dymunant ei ddefnyddio. Fel y Gweinidog gyda chyfrifoldeb am dwristiaeth, sut ydych chi’n ymateb i’r ddadl sydd wedi ei rhoddi gan rai bod y defnydd o’r Gymraeg yn mynd i niweidio twristiaeth a busnesau lleol?

Thank you. As you'll be aware, just over a month ago, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority announced that it would only be using the Welsh name from now on, stating that it was a way of celebrating the culture and heritage of the area. This comes in the wake of Eryri National Park following a similar path, and also Amgueddfa Cymru, which has adopted the Welsh name as part of its latest brand. Personally, I welcome these changes greatly, although it doesn't change things for me personally, or for many other people in Wales, because it is the Welsh name that I have used throughout my life.

I'm sure that you will be aware that a local campaign group has been launched, with around 50 businesses calling for the English name to be used, despite the fact that the national park has made it clear that this only applies to the park itself, and that individuals are free to use whichever name they wish. As the Minister with responsibility for tourism, how do you respond to the argument that has been made by some, that the use of the Welsh language is going to harm tourism and local businesses?

14:00

Well, it's an absolute nonsense, of course it is. And those organisations have every right to use the names that they feel are appropriate. These are Welsh organisations representing Welsh landmarks and Welsh national parks, and they have Welsh names. That does not prevent anybody using their English equivalents if they want to. So, from my point of view, I really think that there are far more things that I'd be getting exercised around rather than whether a Welsh national park should use a Welsh name to describe itself.

Wel, mae'n nonsens llwyr, wrth gwrs. Ac mae gan y sefydliadau hynny bob hawl i ddefnyddio'r enwau y maent yn credu sy'n briodol. Mae'r rhain yn sefydliadau Cymreig sy'n cynrychioli tirnodau Cymreig a pharciau cenedlaethol Cymreig, ac mae ganddynt enwau Cymraeg. Nid yw hynny'n rhwystro unrhyw un rhag defnyddio eu cyfieithiadau Saesneg os ydynt yn dymuno gwneud hynny. Felly, o'm safbwynt i, rwy'n credu bod gennym bethau pwysicach i boeni amdanynt nag a ddylai parc cenedlaethol Cymreig ddefnyddio enw Cymraeg i ddisgrifio ei hun.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. A diolch am yr ateb diamwys hwnnw, oherwydd dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig gwahaniaethu. Mae nifer o fusnesau sydd wedi galw am hyn sydd ddim yn arddel enwau dwyieithog eu hunain, chwaith, a dwi'n meddwl bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw, cyn galw, feddwl hefyd beth mae hynny'n ei olygu o ran eu rôl nhw o ran hyrwyddo'r ddwy iaith genedlaethol Cymru.

Gaf i ofyn, felly—? O edrych yn ehangach o ran hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg wrth hyrwyddo Cymru, fe fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol, Dirprwy Weinidog, fel pawb, gobeithio, yn y Siambr hon, fod Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn cael ei chynnal yr wythnos nesaf yn sir Gaerfyrddin. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen yn fawr i'w mynychu, a gobeithio eich gweld chithau yna hefyd. Ac ym mis Awst, bydd yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Llyn ac Eifionydd. Fel rhan o strategaeth twristiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, pa bwyslais sydd yn cael ei roi ar y gwyliau cenedlaethol hyn o ran hybu Cymru yn rhyngwladol? Ac oes mwy y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud i sicrhau bod y Gymraeg yn fwy gweledol yn ymgyrchoedd Croeso Cymru er mwyn denu ymwelwyr i Gymru?

Thank you very much. And thank you for that unambiguous answer, because I think it's important to differentiate. There are a number of businesses that have called for this that don't use bilingual names, either, and I think that they must, before they make those calls, think about what that means in terms of their role in terms of promoting the two national languages in Wales.

Could I ask you, therefore—? In looking broadly at the issue of promoting the Welsh language when promoting Wales, you'll be aware, Minister, like everyone in this Chamber, hopefully, that the Urdd Eisteddfod will be held next week in Carmarthenshire. I'm really looking forward to attending it, and I hope to see you there too. And in August, the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod will be held. As part of the Welsh Government's tourism strategy, what emphasis is being placed on these national festivals in terms of promoting Wales internationally? And is there more that the Welsh Government could do to ensure that the Welsh language is more visible in Visit Wales campaigns in order to attract visitors to Wales?

Again, I think all of these are fair challenges, Heledd, and we do have a very clear strategy on promoting the Welsh language as part of everything we do in tourism, because we see the Welsh language as very much part of what we are. Now, I personally regret that I can't speak fluent Welsh; I can understand more than I can speak, so when you're speaking Welsh and you think I can't hear or understand you, I can. [Laughter.] I just can't speak it very well. But it's one of those things. I do it with Italian as well; I've learnt Italian and I can listen to Italian and I can hear it and understand it, but I can't speak it. I just need to know how it comes out of my mouth properly. But the point I'm making is that it is absolutely integral to our tourism offer. And it's one of the things that people love about coming to Wales—it differentiates us, doesn't it, absolutely, from the rest of the United Kingdom. People come here for a Welsh experience. We've got our national landscapes and our beaches and our lakes and our mountains and all the glorious places to visit, but we've also got a very unique language that people like to hear and like to be part of. So, that will remain absolutely central to our tourism promotion and marketing. And like you, I'll be at the Eisteddfod next week. I'm going to be sitting in on the FelMerch conference on Wednesday, so I'm really looking forward to that. Diolch yn fawr. 

Unwaith eto, rwy'n credu bod y rhain i gyd yn heriau teg, Heledd, ac mae gennym strategaeth glir iawn ar hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg fel rhan o bopeth a wnawn ym maes twristiaeth, oherwydd rydym yn ystyried bod y Gymraeg yn rhan fawr iawn o'r hyn ydym. Nawr, yn bersonol, rwy'n gresynu na allaf siarad Cymraeg yn rhugl; rwy'n gallu deall mwy nag y gallaf ei siarad, felly pan ydych yn siarad Cymraeg a'ch bod yn meddwl nad wyf yn gallu eich clywed na'ch deall chi, rwy'n gallu. [Chwerthin.] Ni allaf ei siarad yn dda iawn dyna'i gyd. Ond mae'n un o'r pethau hynny. Mae'n wir gydag Eidaleg hefyd; rwyf wedi dysgu Eidaleg ac rwy'n gallu gwrando ar Eidaleg ac rwy'n gallu ei chlywed a'i deall, ond nid wyf yn gallu ei siarad. Rwyf angen gwybod sut y daw allan o fy ngheg yn iawn. Ond y pwynt rwy'n ei wneud yw ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol i'n cynnig twristiaeth. Ac mae'n un o'r pethau y mae pobl yn dwli arnynt pan fyddant yn dod i Gymru—mae'n ein gwneud yn wahanol i weddill y Deyrnas Unedig, onid yw. Mae pobl yn dod yma i gael profiad Cymreig. Mae gennym ein tirweddau cenedlaethol a'n traethau a'n llynnoedd a'n mynyddoedd a'r holl leoedd gogoneddus hyn i ymweld â hwy, ond mae gennym hefyd iaith unigryw iawn y mae pobl yn hoffi ei chlywed ac yn hoffi bod yn rhan ohoni. Felly, bydd hynny'n parhau i fod yn gwbl ganolog i'n gwaith yn hyrwyddo twristiaeth a'n marchnata. Ac fel chi, mi fyddaf yn yr Eisteddfod yr wythnos nesaf. Byddaf yn mynychu cynhadledd FelMerch ddydd Mercher, felly rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at hynny. Diolch yn fawr. 

Cefnogi Twristiaeth
Supporting Tourism

3. Sut mae'r Gweinidog yn cefnogi busnesau twristiaeth yng nghanolbarth Cymru? OQ59551

3. How is the Minister supporting tourism businesses in mid Wales? OQ59551

If I could find my answer, I'd tell you. [Laughter.] Thank you, Russell, for that question.

Our strategy, 'Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the visitor economy 2020-2025', sets out our vision and ambition for the sector across Wales. Mid Wales features prominently in Visit Wales’s promotional activities and in our capital investment programme for tourism.

Fe ddywedwn wrthych chi, pe gallwn ddod o hyd i fy ateb. [Chwerthin.] Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Russell.

Mae ein strategaeth, 'Croeso i Gymru: Blaenoriaethau i'r economi ymwelwyr 2020 i 2025', yn nodi ein gweledigaeth a'n huchelgais ar gyfer y sector ledled Cymru. Mae gan ganolbarth Cymru le amlwg yng ngweithgareddau hyrwyddo Croeso Cymru ac yn ein rhaglen buddsoddi cyfalaf ar gyfer twristiaeth.

Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your answer. I was very pleased to take part in Wales Tourism Week last week, visiting two businesses in my constituency. The first was Plas Robin Rural Retreats in Llandysul, a new, recently established business, bringing forward some really quality accommodation, great workmanship and having unique selling points to their business. Also, the Smithy Park caravan park in Abermule, which I've visited previously. It's been there since the 1960s. When I raised with them the challenges and the opportunities that they see before them, both said to me and raised—without any prompting from me, I should add—their anxiety about the tourism tax. So, Minister, can you tell me how businesses such as those two businesses are going to benefit from a tourism tax, because their fear is that there will only be disbenefits?

Diolch yn fawr am eich ateb, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o gymryd rhan yn Wythnos Twristiaeth Cymru yr wythnos ddiwethaf, gan ymweld â dau fusnes yn fy etholaeth. Y cyntaf oedd Plas Robin Rural Retreats yn Llandysul, busnes newydd a sefydlwyd yn ddiweddar, sy'n cynnig llety o safon a chrefftwaith gwych, ac sydd â phwyntiau gwerthu unigryw i'w busnes. Hefyd, parc carafanau Smithy Park yn Aber-miwl, yr ymwelais ag ef o'r blaen. Mae wedi bod yno ers y 1960au. Pan godais yr heriau a'r cyfleoedd sydd o'u blaenau gyda hwy, dywedodd y ddau fusnes wrthyf—heb unrhyw anogaeth oddi wrthyf fi, dylwn ychwanegu—eu bod yn bryderus am y dreth dwristiaeth. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthyf sut y bydd busnesau fel y ddau fusnes hynny'n elwa o dreth dwristiaeth, oherwydd maent yn ofni mai dim ond anfanteision fydd yn deillio ohoni?

14:05

Well, they'll benefit from a tourism levy. This is a levy, Russell. And the reason they will benefit from a visitor levy is that it will be used to improve the environment in which those businesses operate. We've rehearsed this many times. I know that Members from your benches, they get up and they ask the same question in very different ways, every week—[Interruption.] Yes, indeed. But it's the same question that comes up every week: I've got one later from Sam and I'm sure it'll touch exactly the same areas, and I had one from Tom last time. So, you know, you can keep asking the questions in as many different ways and as many times as you like, but the answer is still going to be the same.

So, we will be having a visitor levy, because the visitor levy was part of our manifesto commitment, it is part of our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, and it is going to be carried through. But I think that we need to be very clear that no decisions yet have been made about the level at which the levy will be set, and no decisions have finally been made yet about the detail of how it will be spent. But I certainly expect that tourism levy to be ring-fenced by a local authority that chooses to have it—and it's not compulsory on any local authority—that chooses to have a visitor levy to support the visitor economy in that area. That's the purpose of it.

At the same event that you spoke about, last week, Russell, I also spoke to tourism operators there and I had various views. I didn't have the blanket kind of view that we hear from your benches about everybody in the tourism industry being opposed to this. In fact, one operator spoke to me in very glowing terms about what he thought we were trying to do and how ambitious it was, and that, in fact, his bookings were up by 30 per cent for this summer compared to pre pandemic. So, you know, let's get some balance into this debate because not everybody in the tourism sector actually shares the views that your benches do.

Wel, byddant yn elwa o ardoll dwristiaeth. Ardoll yw hon, Russell. A'r rheswm y byddant yn elwa o ardoll ymwelwyr yw y bydd yn cael ei defnyddio i wella'r amgylchedd y mae'r busnesau hynny'n gweithredu ynddo. Rydym wedi bod drwy hyn sawl gwaith. Gwn fod Aelodau o'ch meinciau chi yn codi ac yn gofyn yr un cwestiwn mewn gwahanol ffyrdd bob wythnos—[Torri ar draws.] Yn wir. Ond yr un cwestiwn sy'n codi bob wythnos: bydd Sam yn gofyn un yn nes ymlaen ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn cyffwrdd â'r un meysydd yn union, a chefais un gan Tom y tro diwethaf. Felly, wyddoch chi, gallwch barhau i ofyn y cwestiynau mewn cymaint o wahanol ffyrdd a chymaint o weithiau ag y dymunwch, ond mae'r ateb yn dal yn mynd i fod yr un peth.

Felly, byddwn yn cael ardoll ymwelwyr, oherwydd roedd yr ardoll ymwelwyr yn rhan o'n hymrwymiad maniffesto, mae'n rhan o'n cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru, a bydd yn cael ei gyflawni. Ond rwy'n credu bod angen i ni fod yn glir iawn nad oes unrhyw benderfyniadau wedi'u gwneud eto mewn perthynas â'r lefel y byddwn yn gosod yr ardoll, ac nid oes unrhyw benderfyniadau wedi'u gwneud eto ynglŷn â sut y caiff ei wario. Ond rwy'n sicr yn disgwyl i'r ardoll dwristiaeth honno gael ei neilltuo gan awdurdod lleol sy'n dewis ei chael—ac nid yw'n orfodol ar unrhyw awdurdod lleol—sy'n dewis cael ardoll ymwelwyr i gefnogi'r economi ymwelwyr yn yr ardal honno. Dyna yw ei diben.

Yn yr un digwyddiad y sonioch chi amdano, yr wythnos diwethaf, Russell, fe siaradais â gweithredwyr twristiaeth yno hefyd ac fe glywais safbwyntiau amrywiol. Ni chlywais y math o farn gyffredinol a glywn gan eich meinciau chi fod pawb yn y diwydiant twristiaeth yn gwrthwynebu hyn. Mewn gwirionedd, siaradodd un gweithredwr â mi mewn termau disglair iawn am yr hyn y credai ein bod yn ceisio ei wneud a pha mor uchelgeisiol ydoedd, a bod ei archebion wedi cynyddu 30 y cant mewn gwirionedd ar gyfer yr haf hwn o gymharu â chyn y pandemig. Felly, wyddoch chi, gadewch inni gael rhywfaint o gydbwysedd yn y ddadl hon oherwydd nid yw pawb yn y sector twristiaeth yn rhannu'r un farn â'r Aelodau ar eich meinciau chi.

Minister, you'll of course be aware of the considerable financial support that's been offered by the Welsh Government to tourist operators in mid Wales over many years. Like Russell George, last week I also visited some important attractions, attractions that draw people in to mid Wales and north Wales, including Chirk castle, where there's a new general manager with fantastic ideas for creating new installations at the site, and also Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse, which secured a hugely important grant from Welsh Government during the pandemic, unlike racecourses in England, which were only offered loans by the UK Government. Minister, would you agree with me that we can be confident about the tourism sector's prosperity in the future if the right support is available to enable operators of attractions to innovate, to renew and refresh, so that we draw more visitors into mid Wales and other parts of Wales in the future?

Weinidog, wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r cymorth ariannol sylweddol a gynigiwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i weithredwyr twristiaeth yng nghanolbarth Cymru dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Fel Russell George, ymwelais ag atyniadau pwysig yr wythnos diwethaf, atyniadau sy'n denu pobl i ganolbarth Cymru a gogledd Cymru, gan gynnwys castell y Waun, lle mae yna reolwr cyffredinol newydd gyda syniadau gwych ar gyfer creu gosodiadau newydd ar y safle, a hefyd Cae Ras Bangor-is-y-coed, a sicrhaodd grant pwysig iawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ystod y pandemig, yn wahanol i gaeau ras yn Lloegr, a gafodd gynnig benthyciadau'n unig gan Lywodraeth y DU. Weinidog, a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi y gallwn fod yn hyderus am ffyniant y sector twristiaeth yn y dyfodol os yw'r gefnogaeth gywir ar gael i alluogi gweithredwyr atyniadau i arloesi ac adnewyddu, fel ein bod yn denu mwy o ymwelwyr i'r canolbarth a rhannau eraill o Gymru yn y dyfodol?

Yes, I thank Ken Skates for that supplementary, and, yes, I am very confident and share his confidence. I think it's good when people like you, Ken, come forward and talk about what is happening in Wales and not the kind of narrow approach that we hear from the Conservative benches about how we are trying to deal with and promote and expand the tourism industry in Wales. Wales, as we all know, is a place of adventure, it has world heritage, it's got outstanding natural landscapes, it's got a thriving cultural scene, and accommodation is also part of that experience. We've got mouthwatering food and drink.

And, in fact, when I was in the Isle of Man just recently for the British-Irish Council for creative industries, we visited a gin distillery—didn't stay there long. [Laughter.] We visited a gin distillery that was absolutely fabulous. The Fynoderee Distillery—I should give them a shout-out. They actually asked, while I was there, if there was somebody from Wales in the room. I put my hand up and I said, and they were just gushing with praise for the food and drink offer that Wales has, and at every show that they go to, promoting their products, they couldn't believe how good the offer from Wales was on our food and drink offer. So, it's about time we started talking all this up and not talking it down, guys, because we do continue to invest in tourism attractions in north Wales, and Ken has named a number already. We've also just concluded the majestic King's gate at Caernarfon castle—a £4 million investment—and another £5.4 million investment in the new football museum in north Wales. We're also continuing to invest through our Brilliant Basics and tourism attractor destinations. And as you are a Member in north-east Wales, Ken, it would be remiss of me not to talk about our ambition for Wales as we continue the Year of Trails and internationally working to maximise the awareness brought through last year's world cup and the Welcome to Wrexham programme. 

Ie, diolch i Ken Skates am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, ac ydw, rwy'n hyderus iawn ac yn rhannu ei hyder. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn dda pan fo pobl fel chi, Ken, yn siarad am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yng Nghymru yn hytrach na'r math o agwedd gul a glywn oddi ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr ynglŷn â sut rydym yn ceisio ymdrin â'r diwydiant twristiaeth a'i hyrwyddo a'i ehangu yng Nghymru. Mae Cymru, fel y gwyddom i gyd, yn gyrchfan antur, mae ganddi safleoedd treftadaeth y byd, mae ganddi dirweddau naturiol eithriadol, mae ganddi sîn ddiwylliannol ffyniannus, ac mae llety hefyd yn rhan o'r profiad hwnnw. Mae gennym fwyd a diod blasus.

Ac mewn gwirionedd, pan oeddwn ar Ynys Manaw yn ddiweddar ar gyfer y Cyngor Prydeinig-Gwyddelig i ddiwydiannau creadigol, fe wnaethom ymweld â distyllfa jin—ni wnaethom aros yn hir. [Chwerthin.] Fe wnaethom ymweld â distyllfa jin a oedd yn hollol wych. Distyllfa Fynoderee—dylwn eu henwi. Tra oeddwn yno, fe wnaethant holi a oedd rhywun o Gymru yn yr ystafell. Fe godais fy llaw, ac roeddent yn llawn clod am y cynnig bwyd a diod sydd gan Gymru, ac ym mhob sioe y byddent yn mynd iddi i hyrwyddo eu cynnyrch, ni allent gredu pa mor dda oedd cynnig bwyd a diod Cymru. Felly, mae'n hen bryd inni ddechrau brolio am hyn yn hytrach na'i fychanu, oherwydd rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn atyniadau twristiaeth yng ngogledd Cymru, ac mae Ken wedi enwi nifer yn barod. Hefyd, rydym newydd orffen giât fawreddog y Brenin yng nghastell Caernarfon—buddsoddiad o £4 miliwn—a buddsoddiad arall o £5.4 miliwn yn yr amgueddfa bêl-droed newydd yng ngogledd Cymru. Rydym hefyd yn parhau i fuddsoddi drwy ein Pethau Pwysig a'n cyrchfannau denu ymwelwyr. A chan eich bod yn Aelod yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, Ken, byddwn ar fai yn peidio â siarad am ein huchelgais ar gyfer Cymru wrth inni barhau â Blwyddyn y Llwybrau a gweithio'n rhyngwladol i wneud y mwyaf o'r ymwybyddiaeth a godwyd drwy Gwpan y Byd y llynedd a'r rhaglen Welcome to Wrexham

14:10
Strategaeth Lled-ddargludyddion y DU
The UK's Semiconductor Strategy

4. Pa drafodaethau mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar strategaeth lled-ddargludyddion arfaethedig y DU? OQ59570

4. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government on the proposed UK semiconductor strategy? OQ59570

Thank you for the question. Official-level discussions have taken place with the UK Government, but not at the level of detail we would wish. I'm disappointed at the lack of ministerial engagement to date, including after the launch of the belated strategy. We will continue to press the UK Government to work with us to promote the Welsh semiconductor sector, especially our compound cluster, for the benefit of both the economy here in Wales and its wider impact across the UK. 

Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rydym wedi cynnal trafodaethau swyddogol â Llywodraeth y DU, ond nid ar y lefel o fanylder y byddem wedi'i ddymuno. Rwy'n siomedig ynghylch y diffyg ymgysylltiad gweinidogol hyd yma, gan gynnwys ar ôl lansio'r strategaeth yn hwyr. Byddwn yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i weithio gyda ni i hyrwyddo sector lled-ddargludyddion Cymru, yn enwedig ein clwstwr cyfansawdd, er budd yr economi yma yng Nghymru a'i heffaith ehangach ar draws y DU. 

Diolch, Minister. A week ago today you made public your letter to the UK Government expressing the view that investment in Wales was at risk due to the continued delay of the UK Government to publish its UK semiconductor strategy. Minister, your words clearly carry weight in the corridors of 10 Downing Street, as less than 48 hours later the Prime Minister was announcing in Japan his Government's semiconductor strategy. I have been contacted by constituents in Islwyn, though, who work in this industry and have been gravely concerned about their future employment with the ongoing uncertainty—[Interruption.]—I'm glad they find this funny—at Newport Wafer Fab. Minister, the Gwent Valleys communities of Islwyn are directly impacted. Gwent's city, Newport, offers high-quality employment opportunities in this vital sector, which produces parts for microchips in everything from smartphones to military technology. Since the Prime Minister's announcement and Chloe Smith MP's visit to Newport last Friday, what meaningful dialogue has the UK Government had with the Welsh Government on this vital issue, and what is the initial Welsh Government assessment of their strategy for the economy and the people of Wales?

Diolch, Weinidog. Wythnos yn ôl i heddiw fe gyhoeddoch chi eich llythyr at Lywodraeth y DU yn mynegi'r farn fod buddsoddiad yng Nghymru mewn perygl oherwydd oedi parhaus Llywodraeth y DU i gyhoeddi strategaeth lled-ddargludyddion y DU. Weinidog, mae'n amlwg fod gennych ddylanwad yng nghoridorau 10 Stryd Downing, oherwydd lai na 48 awr yn ddiweddarach roedd y Prif Weinidog yn cyhoeddi strategaeth ei Lywodraeth ar led-ddargludyddion yn Japan. Serch hynny, mae etholwyr yn Islwyn sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant hwn wedi cysylltu â mi i ddweud eu bod wedi bod yn poeni'n ddifrifol am eu cyflogaeth yn y dyfodol gyda'r ansicrwydd parhaus—[Torri ar draws.]—rwy'n falch eu bod yn gweld hyn yn ddoniol—yn Newport Wafer Fab. Weinidog, mae cymunedau Cymoedd Gwent yn Islwyn yn cael eu heffeithio'n uniongyrchol. Mae dinas Gwent, Casnewydd, yn cynnig cyfleoedd cyflogaeth o ansawdd uchel yn y sector hanfodol hwn, sy'n cynhyrchu rhannau ar gyfer microsglodion ym mhopeth o ffonau clyfar i dechnoleg filwrol. Ers cyhoeddiad y Prif Weinidog ac ymweliad Chloe Smith AS â Chasnewydd ddydd Gwener diwethaf, pa ddeialog ystyrlon y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i chael gyda Llywodraeth Cymru ar y mater allweddol hwn, a beth yw asesiad cychwynnol Llywodraeth Cymru o'u strategaeth ar gyfer economi a phobl Cymru?

I thank the Member for the question and the important points around the future of the semiconductor sector here in Wales, and its key importance as part of the future for the UK economy as well.

I'll deal first with the discrete issue around Nexperia. It's a business based in Jayne Bryant's constituency, but I recognise the travel-to-work area takes in a number of Members in this Chamber, including, of course, Islwyn. I've never sought the information that underpinned the national security assessment, because I knew it wouldn't be provided to me. So, I always focused on wanting a decision and certainty for the sector and wanting to have a plan for Nexperia and their workforce. And my disappointment has been that, having made a decision and taken a long time to make the choice, there hasn't been a plan. I think there was a naive assumption that, once the plant became available for sale, someone would come in automatically and buy it. And actually, without a plan and an understanding of what happens with the contracts on a wider basis that hasn't happened. The UK Government still need to be active in that area to make sure those jobs are not lost to Wales. 

On the broader point around the belated publication of the semiconductor strategy, it has been imminent on a number of occasions, and I've never understood why it was in the department that it was, in any good sense. But now that we have it, it provides at least some certainty. The problem is, though, the headline figure of £1 billion investment sounds good, but it's £1 billion over 10 years. That's too little and too slow. It won't keep pace with the significant investment choices being made in the US and across the European Union. The real risk is that we'll see investment choices drift into other parts of the EU and the US.

The positive side, though, is we do have significant assets here. It's why KLA that I mentioned earlier have made their significant investment in the cluster. That was directly because we were active and we helped to enable their investment in the sector. I still think there's more we can do, but we're putting to one side our competitive advantage by not investing properly in it and making sure that there is meaningful engagement with both the Welsh Government and indeed the capital region. I have not had any kind of ministerial discussion on this key part of the economy and what it could mean, and neither indeed have the capital region. I spoke directly with Jane Mudd, the leader of Newport, and Anthony Hunt, the leader of Torfaen, who's the chair of the capital region. We want to have a pragmatic and sensible conversation about what we can all do to promote the sector, but that should start with either of them actually being interested in talking to us and working with us.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn a'r pwyntiau pwysig ynghylch dyfodol y sector lled-ddargludyddion yma yng Nghymru, a'i bwysigrwydd allweddol fel rhan o'r dyfodol i economi'r DU hefyd.

Rwyf am ymdrin yn gyntaf â'r mater penodol mewn perthynas â Nexperia. Mae'n fusnes sydd wedi'i leoli yn etholaeth Jayne Bryant, ond rwy'n cydnabod bod yr ardal teithio i'r gwaith yn berthnasol i nifer o'r Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, gan gynnwys Islwyn wrth gwrs. Nid wyf erioed wedi gofyn am yr wybodaeth a oedd yn sail i'r asesiad diogelwch cenedlaethol, oherwydd fe wyddwn na fyddai'n cael ei ddarparu i mi. Felly, roeddwn bob amser yn canolbwyntio ar fod eisiau penderfyniad a sicrwydd i'r sector a chynllun ar gyfer Nexperia a'u gweithlu. Ac ar ôl gwneud penderfyniad a chymryd amser hir i wneud y dewis, rwy'n siomedig na fu cynllun. Rwy'n credu bod yna ragdybiaeth naïf, pan fyddai'r safle ar gael i'w gwerthu, y byddai rhywun yn dod i mewn yn awtomatig ac yn ei brynu. Ac mewn gwirionedd, heb gynllun a dealltwriaeth o'r hyn sy'n digwydd gyda'r contractau ar sail ehangach, nid yw hynny wedi digwydd. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU barhau i fod yn weithgar yn y maes hwnnw i sicrhau nad yw Cymru'n colli'r swyddi hynny. 

Ar y pwynt ehangach ynghylch cyhoeddi'r strategaeth lled-ddargludyddion yn hwyr, mae wedi bod ar fin digwydd sawl gwaith, ac nid wyf erioed wedi deall pam ei bod yn yr adran roedd ynddi, mewn unrhyw ystyr dda. Ond nawr bod gennym y strategaeth hon, mae'n rhoi rhywfaint o sicrwydd o leiaf. Serch hynny, y broblem yw, er bod £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad yn swnio'n dda, £1 biliwn dros 10 mlynedd ydyw. Mae hynny'n rhy ychydig ac yn rhy araf. Ni fydd yn dal i fyny â'r dewisiadau buddsoddi sylweddol sy'n cael eu gwneud yn yr Unol Daleithiau ac ar draws yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Y perygl go iawn yw y byddwn yn gweld dewisiadau buddsoddi yn symud i rannau eraill o'r UE a'r Unol Daleithiau.

Yr ochr gadarnhaol, fodd bynnag, yw bod gennym asedau sylweddol yma. Dyna pam fod KLA, y soniais amdanynt yn gynharach, wedi gwneud eu buddsoddiad sylweddol yn y clwstwr. Y rheswm uniongyrchol am hynny oedd oherwydd ein bod yn weithgar a'n bod wedi helpu i alluogi eu buddsoddiad yn y sector. Rwy'n dal i feddwl bod mwy y gallwn ei wneud, ond rydym yn rhoi ein mantais gystadleuol i un ochr drwy beidio â buddsoddi'n iawn ynddo a sicrhau bod ymgysylltiad ystyrlon â Llywodraeth Cymru, a'r brifddinas-ranbarth yn wir. Nid wyf wedi cael unrhyw fath o drafodaeth weinidogol ar y rhan allweddol hon o'r economi a'r hyn y gallai ei olygu, ac nid yw'r brifddinas-ranbarth wedi cael trafodaeth o'r fath ychwaith. Siaradais yn uniongyrchol â Jane Mudd, arweinydd Casnewydd, ac Anthony Hunt, arweinydd Torfaen, sy'n gadeirydd y brifddinas-ranbarth. Rydym eisiau cael sgwrs bragmatig a synhwyrol am yr hyn y gall pob un ohonom ei wneud i hyrwyddo'r sector, ond dylai'r sgwrs honno ddechrau gydag un ohonynt yn dangos diddordeb mewn siarad gyda ni a gweithio gyda ni.

14:15

I thank Rhianon Passmore for raising the question. Embracing the future global opportunities that the advanced semiconductor industry holds for Wales is absolutely crucial, and I'm pleased that the Welsh Government, together with the UK Government, is talking to the likes of Japan. It's going to be absolutely fundamental to our future semiconductor strategy. Through our advancement of compound semiconductor production, via IQE in Newport, linking with Wales's first CSC cluster, CSconnected, and the UK Government's prime investment in the first CSC Catapult, Wales is strategically placed to be one of the global leaders in this industry.

However, I was somewhat disappointed when I was reading, Minister, your new 'A Manufacturing Future for Wales', that little direct focus is on the area where I would have thought it should have been big and bold. And, throughout the report, there are repeated sections stating objectives and actions, but you can't find any actions. And so my question is: in this place, how do we monitor the delivery plans of actions, such as moving forward with the compound semiconductor strategies? How do we, and how do you, evaluate and measure progress against your objectives and actions? Because what I find, sadly, since I've been here is that the Government is excellent at writing plans and strategies, but is consistently weak on delivery and outcomes. Thank you.

Diolch i Rhianon Passmore am ofyn y cwestiwn. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn croesawu'r cyfleoedd byd-eang y mae'r diwydiant lled-ddargludyddion uwch yn eu cynnig i Gymru yn y dyfodol, ac rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru, ynghyd â Llywodraeth y DU, yn siarad â gwledydd fel Japan. Bydd yn gwbl allweddol i'n strategaeth lled-ddargludyddion yn y dyfodol. Drwy hyrwyddo cynhyrchiant lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd, drwy IQE yng Nghasnewydd, gan gysylltu â chlwstwr lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd cyntaf Cymru, CSconnected, a phrif fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth y DU yn y Catapwlt lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd cyntaf, mae Cymru mewn sefyllfa strategol i fod yn un o'r arweinwyr byd-eang yn y diwydiant hwn.

Fodd bynnag, Weinidog, roeddwn braidd yn siomedig wrth ddarllen eich 'Dyfodol Gweithgynhyrchu i Gymru', nad oes llawer o ffocws uniongyrchol ar y maes lle byddwn wedi meddwl y dylai fod wedi bod yn fawr ac yn feiddgar. A thrwy gydol yr adroddiad, mae yna adrannau dro ar ôl tro yn datgan amcanion a chamau gweithredu, ond ni allwch ddod o hyd i unrhyw gamau gweithredu. Ac felly fy nghwestiwn i yw: yn y lle hwn, sut rydym yn monitro cynlluniau cyflawni gweithredoedd, fel symud ymlaen gyda'r strategaethau lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd? Sut rydym ni, a sut rydych chi, yn gwerthuso ac yn mesur cynnydd yn erbyn eich amcanion a'ch gweithredoedd? Oherwydd yr hyn a welaf ers imi fod yma, yn anffodus, yw bod y Llywodraeth yn rhagorol am ysgrifennu cynlluniau a strategaethau, ond ei bod yn aml yn wan mewn perthynas â chyflawni a sicrhau canlyniadau. Diolch.

I don't think that makes any sense at all when it comes to our support for manufacturing. We have a sector that is bigger than the UK-wide sector per head. It stocks 150,000 jobs, it's 16 per cent of our economic activity; it's about 9 per cent in the rest of the UK. And, if you ask the sector themselves, they recognise the support that this Government has and the fact that we've got a forecast and a plan for the future.

The initial manufacturing action plan, of course, undertaken by Ken Skates as the then Minister for Economy, has been refreshed—direct engagement with the sector—and they are positive about the plan we have to address a number of key challenges and to secure opportunities. Compound semiconductors are part of that. But, of course, we couldn't talk about a specific strategy for the sector, because we were still waiting on the UK strategy itself. It had been imminent for many months before we launched the manufacturing action plan. It should have actually been delivered in at least the year previously.

Now, the churn in Ministers at UK Government has direct consequences, and it's undeniable that this is one of them. We've not had a plan from the UK Government to be able to work with. Even a plan we don't agree with is better than having no plan and no strategy at all. What we are now doing is, we're looking to make the best of what we have. Compound semiconductors and the wider semiconductor sector will be of key importance in a range of areas of manufacturing. We've always recognised that. That's recognised within the sector. More certainty about the level of investment in the setting up of sector will help all of us to lever in and gain advantage from the opportunities we do have, and to make sure we do that whilst we still are in a position where we're in a global leadership with the compound sector. There's no guarantee we'll still be there in three years' time, for the sake of argument, and, actually, that's why the UK plan of £1 billion over 10 years is genuinely concerning, about it being too little and too slow. We could surrender our advantages.

Now, there shouldn't be a need to have party politics in that discussion; it's just the reality of having a plan that doesn't match the investment needs of the sector, and there are other parts of the world for them to go. So, I hope that, when it comes to the budget, or whatever they call the autumn statement, that actually, we see a great deal more in terms of a realistic level of investment and support, to make sure there are good jobs here in Wales and, indeed, in other parts of the UK.

Nid wyf yn credu bod hynny'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr o gwbl o ran ein cefnogaeth i weithgynhyrchu. Mae gennym sector sy'n fwy fesul pen o'r boblogaeth na'r sector ar draws y DU. Mae'n cynnwys 150,000 o swyddi, mae'n 16 y cant o'n gweithgarwch economaidd; tua 9 y cant ydyw yng ngweddill y DU. Ac os gofynnwch i'r sector eu hunain, maent yn cydnabod y gefnogaeth sy'n cael ei darparu gan y Llywodraeth hon a'r ffaith bod gennym ragolygon a chynllun ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Mae'r cynllun gweithredu gweithgynhyrchu cychwynnol, a gyflawnwyd gan Ken Skates fel Gweinidog yr Economi ar y pryd, wedi cael ei adnewyddu—ymgysylltiad uniongyrchol â'r sector—ac maent yn gadarnhaol am y cynllun sydd gennym i fynd i'r afael â nifer o heriau allweddol ac i sicrhau cyfleoedd. Mae lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd yn rhan o hynny. Ond wrth gwrs, ni allem siarad am strategaeth benodol ar gyfer y sector, oherwydd roeddem yn dal i aros am strategaeth y DU ei hun. Roedd wedi bod ar y ffordd ers misoedd lawer cyn inni lansio'r cynllun gweithredu gweithgynhyrchu. Dylai fod wedi cael ei gyflwyno yn ystod y flwyddyn flaenorol o leiaf.

Nawr, mae yna ganlyniadau uniongyrchol i'r ffaith bod Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU yn newid yn gyson, ac mae'n ddiymwad fod hyn yn un ohonynt. Nid ydym wedi cael cynllun gan Lywodraeth y DU i allu gweithio gydag ef. Mae hyd yn oed cynllun nad ydym yn cytuno ag ef yn well na pheidio â chael unrhyw gynllun nac unrhyw strategaeth o gwbl. Yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud nawr yw ceisio gwneud y gorau o'r hyn sydd gennym. Bydd lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd a'r sector lled-ddargludyddion ehangach yn allweddol bwysig mewn ystod o feysydd gweithgynhyrchu. Rydym bob amser wedi cydnabod hynny. Mae hynny'n cael ei gydnabod yn y sector. Bydd mwy o sicrwydd ynghylch lefel y buddsoddiad wrth sefydlu'r sector yn helpu pob un ohonom i ysgogi a manteisio ar y cyfleoedd sydd gennym, ac i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud hynny tra byddwn yn dal i fod mewn sefyllfa lle rydym yn arwain yn fyd-eang gyda'r sector cyfansawdd. Gellid dadlau nad oes unrhyw sicrwydd y byddwn yn dal yno ymhen tair blynedd, ac mewn gwirionedd, dyna pam fod cynllun y DU o fuddsoddi £1 biliwn dros 10 mlynedd yn wirioneddol bryderus, am ei fod yn rhy ychydig ac yn rhy araf. Gallem ildio ein manteision.

Nawr, ni ddylai fod lle i wleidyddiaeth bleidiol yn y drafodaeth honno; realiti cael cynllun nad yw'n cyfateb i anghenion buddsoddi'r sector yw hynny, a cheir rhannau eraill o'r byd i fynd iddynt. Felly, o ran y gyllideb, neu beth bynnag y maent yn galw datganiad yr hydref, rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn lawer mwy o ran lefel realistig o fuddsoddiad a chymorth, i sicrhau bod yna swyddi da yma yng Nghymru, ac mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU yn wir.

Cysylltiadau Band Eang
Broadband Connections

5. Pa gefnogaeth sydd ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gwella cysylltiadau band eang i fusnesau yng Nghanol De Cymru? OQ59567

5. What support is available from the Welsh Government to improve broadband connections for businesses in South Wales Central? OQ59567

Diolch am y cwestiwn.

Thank you for the question.

Responsibility for broadband is not devolved to Wales, yet businesses across south Wales are already benefiting directly from our £56 million broadband roll-out. Our Access Broadband Cymru and local broadband fund schemes also provide grants to help improve broadband connections to businesses.

Nid yw cyfrifoldeb dros fand eang wedi'i ddatganoli i Gymru, ond mae busnesau ledled de Cymru eisoes yn elwa'n uniongyrchol o'n darpariaeth band eang gwerth £56 miliwn. Mae ein cynlluniau Allwedd Band Eang Cymru a chronfa band eang lleol hefyd yn darparu grantiau i helpu i wella cysylltiadau band eang i fusnesau.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Weinidog. Ond mae yna amryw o fusnesau yng nghanol tref Pontypridd wedi cysylltu â mi, fel un o'u Haelodau rhanbarthol, parthed diffyg band eang ar gael yng nghanol y dref, sydd wedi effeithio ar eu busnesau. Mae nifer o'r busnesau yma hefyd wedi cael eu heffeithio gan lifogydd yn 2020. Mae cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi ymchwilio i mewn i hyn ac yn cadarnhau bod problem o ran isadeiledd, sy'n golygu bod yna ddiffygion a dim opsiwn ar gael i wella hyn. Felly, rydych chi wedi amlinellu bod rhai pethau ar gael. Gaf i ofyn yn fwy penodol o ran Llywodraeth Cymru, sut ydyn ni'n mynd i allu gwella darpariaeth mewn ardaloedd yng Nghanol De Cymru, gan gynnwys tref Pontypridd, sydd yn cael eu heffeithio gan hyn? Ac a oes bosib ichi, Weinidog, roi pwysau ar gwmnïau i barhau i wella darpariaeth, a hynny ar fyrder, fel bod gan bob busnes fynediad i’r cysylltiadau band eang angenrheidiol ar gyfer eu busnesau?

Thank you very much, Minister. Several businesses in Pontypridd town centre have contacted me, as one of their regional Members, regarding the lack of broadband available in the town centre, which has had an impact on their businesses. A number of these businesses have also been affected by flooding in 2020. Rhondda Cynon Taf council has looked into this and has confirmed that there is a problem in terms of infrastructure that means that there are deficiencies and no options available to improve this. Now, you have outlined that there are some things available. Can I ask you more specifically in terms of Welsh Government, how can we improve provision in areas in South Wales Central, including the town of Pontypridd, which are affected in this way? And is it possible for you, Minister, to put pressure on companies to continue to improve provision as a matter of urgency, so that all businesses have access to the broadband connections that are necessary for their businesses?

14:20

Well, we're obviously concerned about the provision and the lack of it, and the investment in the broadband infrastructure. That's different, of course, to the price paid by the provider, but the infrastructure itself is the key problem. We're looking to enable at least 39,000 homes and businesses across Wales using the £56 million fund that I talked about, and we're working with Openreach to do so. We've also had direct conversations with the UK Government, with Minister Lopez, before she went on maternity leave, and I look forward to carrying those forward with her maternity cover replacement, to try to make sure that in the next stage of investing in broadband we're not left with quite the scale of sweep-up operations that we undertake not because it's devolved, because it isn't—we used devolved resources that are precious and limited because we recognise the key importance for homes and businesses.

And 'homes and businesses', I think, is important. We don't have specific figures on the actual number of businesses, because some people run some or all of their operations from their home address as well. We do know a number of non-residential addresses are being improved, so of the 39,000 figure I've given, I think at least 10 per cent of those will be non-residential premises. We'll carry on working with local authorities who can bid in to some of the funds that I have referred to, to try to address challenges where we know we don't have adequate broadband infrastructure. It will be an ongoing challenge. We can always do more if whoever it is in the UK Government is prepared to meet their responsibilities in full.

Wel, rydym yn amlwg yn poeni am y ddarpariaeth a'i ddiffyg, a'r buddsoddiad yn y seilwaith band eang. Mae hynny'n wahanol, wrth gwrs, i'r pris a delir gan y darparwr, ond y seilwaith ei hun yw'r broblem allweddol. Rydym yn gobeithio galluogi o leiaf 39,000 o gartrefi a busnesau ledled Cymru gan ddefnyddio'r gronfa £56 miliwn y soniais amdani, ac rydym yn gweithio gydag Openreach i wneud hynny. Rydym hefyd wedi cael sgyrsiau uniongyrchol gyda Llywodraeth y DU, gyda'r Gweinidog Lopez, cyn iddi fynd ar absenoldeb mamolaeth, ac edrychaf ymlaen at fwrw ymlaen â'r rheini gyda'r sawl a ddaw yn ei lle dros ei chyfnod mamolaeth, i geisio sicrhau nad ydym, yn y cam nesaf o fuddsoddi mewn band eang, yn cael ein gadael gyda llwyth o waith y mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud, nid oherwydd ei fod wedi'i ddatganoli, oherwydd nid yw wedi'i ddatganoli—fe wnaethom ddefnyddio adnoddau datganoledig sy'n werthfawr ac yn gyfyngedig oherwydd ein bod yn cydnabod y pwysigrwydd allweddol i gartrefi a busnesau.

Ac rwy'n credu bod 'cartrefi a busnesau' yn bwysig. Nid oes gennym ffigurau penodol ar y nifer gwirioneddol o fusnesau, oherwydd mae rhai pobl yn cyflawni gweithgarwch, neu rywfaint o'u gweithgarwch, o'u cyfeiriad cartref hefyd. Rydym yn gwybod bod nifer o gyfeiriadau amhreswyl yn cael eu gwella, felly o'r ffigur o 39,000 rwyf wedi'i roi, rwy'n credu y bydd o leiaf 10 y cant o'r rheini yn adeiladau amhreswyl. Byddwn yn parhau i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol sy'n gallu gwneud cais i rai o'r cronfeydd y cyfeiriais atynt, i geisio mynd i'r afael â heriau lle rydym yn gwybod nad oes gennym seilwaith band eang digonol. Bydd yn her barhaus. Gallwn bob amser wneud mwy os bydd pwy bynnag sydd yn Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau'n llawn.

Busnesau Bach a Micro
Small Businesses and Microbusinesses

6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau bach a micro yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ59546

6. How is the Welsh Government supporting small and micro businesses in North Wales? OQ59546

The ongoing cost-of-living, cost-of-business crisis is a real risk for the future of a number of businesses, including small and microbusinesses. The Welsh Government offers a range of support for small and microbusinesses across Wales, including support for skills, business development, research and development, and exports. Any Wales-based business in need of support should contact our Business Wales service to discuss their needs.

Mae'r argyfwng costau byw a'r argyfwng costau busnes parhaus yn creu perygl gwirioneddol i ddyfodol nifer o fusnesau, gan gynnwys busnesau bach a microfusnesau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnig amrywiaeth o gymorth i fusnesau bach a microfusnesau ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys cymorth ar gyfer sgiliau, datblygu busnes, ymchwil a datblygu, ac allforion. Dylai unrhyw fusnes yng Nghymru sydd angen cymorth gysylltu â'n gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru i drafod eu hanghenion.

Thank you. Well, again I'm going back on an earlier theme. Responding to my colleague Tom Giffard last week, the First Minister stated that

'No business is forced to close because they don't let for 182 days.'

How do you respond to the legitimate small self-catering business owners I met last Saturday, during my Wales Tourism Week visit with the Clwydian range tourism group, who told me that they were being forced to close because they can't let for 182 days? And to the Flintshire constituents with a self-catering business within the curtilage of their own home, who have e-mailed that,

'The premium council tax for furnished holiday lets who don't achieve the 182 days and the tourism tax coming in is another nail in the coffin of hospitality providers. Sadly, we've made the decision to sell up. I just hope the Welsh Government have not made our property undesirable to future buyers. The current Welsh Government have truly messed up our retirement plans and investments so much we'll probably move to England. It is a sad state of affairs when your Government makes it so hard for you to earn a living how you want to, and taxes you in such a way that it makes it financially unviable.' 

The numbers are growing—

Diolch. Unwaith eto, rwy'n troi'n ôl at thema gynharach. Wrth ymateb i fy nghyd-Aelod Tom Giffard yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog

'Ni fydd unrhyw fusnes yn gorfod cau oherwydd nad yw'n gosod am 182 diwrnod.'

Sut rydych chi'n ymateb i'r perchnogion busnes hunanddarpar bach dilys y cyfarfûm â nhw ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf, yn ystod fy ymweliad Wythnos Twristiaeth Cymru â grŵp twristiaeth bryniau Clwyd, a ddywedodd wrthyf eu bod yn cael eu gorfodi i gau oherwydd nad ydynt yn gallu gosod am 182 diwrnod? Ac i etholwyr sir y Fflint sydd â busnes hunanddarpar o fewn cwrtil eu cartref eu hunain a anfonodd e-bost ataf i ddweud

'Mae premiwm y dreth gyngor ar gyfer llety gwyliau wedi'u dodrefnu nad ydynt yn cyrraedd y 182 diwrnod, a'r dreth dwristiaeth sy'n cael ei chyflwyno, yn hoelen arall yn arch darparwyr lletygarwch. Yn anffodus, rydym wedi penderfynu gwerthu. Rwy'n gobeithio nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud ein heiddo yn annymunol i brynwyr yn y dyfodol. Mae Llywodraeth bresennol Cymru wedi gwneud llanast o'n cynlluniau ymddeol a'n buddsoddiadau i'r graddau ein bod yn debygol o symud i Loegr. Mae'n sefyllfa drist pan fo'ch Llywodraeth yn ei gwneud hi mor anodd i chi ennill bywoliaeth yn y ffordd rydych chi eisiau, ac yn eich trethu yn y fath fodd fel ei fod yn ei wneud yn anymarferol yn ariannol."  

Mae'r niferoedd yn tyfu—

Can we have the question, please?

A gawn ni glywed y cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda?

The question was—I already put it: how would the Minister respond to the constituents who have raised these matters with me?

Y cwestiwn oedd—rwyf wedi'i ofyn yn barod: sut y byddai'r Gweinidog yn ymateb i'r etholwyr sydd wedi codi'r materion hyn gyda mi?

I understand there are views and opinions on this subject. You'll understand that we put this into our manifesto, about what we would do moving forward. You'll also understand, of course, it's part of our co-operation agreement, and so we're doing—this may be unusual for Conservatives—what we said we'd do, and we're committed to doing that. 

The point the First Minister made—and everyone should really understand this—is, if you don't let for 182 days, it doesn't mean you have to close your business. It means that if you're operating a business for less than half the year you pay council tax, not business rates. And so that's the simple point. Now, people always need to make choices about whether they're prepared to pay for the costs to run their business, and if they think they can secure enough income to carry on doing so. But otherwise, people are opting between the two systems in a way that other tourism businesses don't say is entirely fair from their perspective too.

We are doing what we said we'd do, and of course we'll monitor the impact, but I do think that Members in Conservative seats need to recognise that their own view is not a universal truth accepted by everyone in the country, never mind in the sector. 

Rwy'n deall bod yna safbwyntiau gwahanol ar y pwnc hwn. Fe fyddwch yn deall ein bod wedi rhoi hyn yn ein maniffesto, ynghylch yr hyn y byddem yn ei wneud wrth symud ymlaen. Fe fyddwch chi hefyd yn deall, wrth gwrs, ei fod yn rhan o'n cytundeb cydweithio, ac felly rydym yn gwneud—efallai fod hyn yn anarferol i Geidwadwyr—yr hyn y gwnaethom ddweud y byddem yn ei wneud, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i wneud hynny. 

Y pwynt a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog—a dylai pawb ddeall hyn yn iawn—yw, os nad ydych yn gosod am 182 diwrnod, nid yw'n golygu bod yn rhaid i chi gau eich busnes. Os ydych yn gweithredu busnes am lai na hanner y flwyddyn, mae'n golygu y byddwch yn talu'r dreth gyngor yn hytrach nag ardrethi busnes. Ac felly, dyna yw'r pwynt syml. Nawr, mae angen i bobl wneud dewisiadau bob amser ynglŷn ag a ydynt yn barod i dalu'r costau i weithredu eu busnes, ac a ydynt yn credu y gallant sicrhau digon o incwm i barhau i wneud hynny. Ond fel arall, mae pobl yn dewis rhwng y ddwy system mewn ffordd nad yw'n gwbl deg o safbwynt busnesau twristiaeth eraill.

Rydym yn gwneud yr hyn roeddem yn dweud y byddem yn ei wneud, ac wrth gwrs byddwn yn monitro'r effaith, ond rwy'n credu bod angen i Aelodau mewn seddi Ceidwadol gydnabod nad yw eu barn eu nhw'n wirionedd cyffredinol a dderbynnir gan bawb yn y wlad, heb sôn am y sector. 

Cymorth ar gyfer Arloesi
Supporting Innovation

7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer arloesi? OQ59544

7. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government support for innovation? OQ59544

Our flexible innovation support programme is currently open to applicants. We will formally launch funding on 8 June. Funding will be targeted towards activity that will help deliver the missions laid out in our new innovation strategy, 'Wales innovates'. The Member, of course, will remember that it was launched in February of this year. 

Mae ein rhaglen cefnogi arloesi hyblyg ar agor i ymgeiswyr ar hyn o bryd. Byddwn yn lansio'r cyllid yn ffurfiol ar 8 Mehefin. Bydd cyllid yn cael ei dargedu tuag at weithgarwch a fydd yn helpu i gyflawni'r genhadaeth a nodir yn ein strategaeth arloesi newydd, 'Cymru'n Arloesi'. Bydd yr Aelod yn cofio iddi gael ei lansio ym mis Chwefror eleni. 

14:25

Can I thank the Minister for the response? All successful countries, nations and regions have tourism and agriculture; they do not base their economic strategy on them. The two key drivers of a successful economy are innovation and entrepreneurship. I welcome the new funding round, worth £10 million over the next two years, to support scientific research in Wales via the internationally recognised Sêr Cymru programme. How is the Welsh Government going to work with universities in Wales to develop innovation and higher paid employment?

A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb? Mae gan bob gwlad, cenedl a rhanbarth llwyddiannus dwristiaeth ac amaethyddiaeth; nid ydynt yn seilio eu strategaeth economaidd arnynt. Dau brif sbardun economi lwyddiannus yw arloesedd ac entrepreneuriaeth. Rwy'n croesawu'r rownd ariannu newydd, gwerth £10 miliwn dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf, i gefnogi ymchwil wyddonol yng Nghymru drwy'r rhaglen Sêr Cymru a gydnabyddir yn rhyngwladol. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu gweithio gyda phrifysgolion yng Nghymru i ddatblygu arloesedd a chyflogaeth ar gyflogau uwch?

Well, on those points, I think we have a good track record, and our missions, actually, I think, highlight what we are going to do to work alongside universities to develop innovation and higher paid employment. It's part of the reason we're looking for research that can be applied. That will, to be fair, also work in some sectors that do take in agriculture and tourism. What we're saying is that we need to have a balance in our approach and the missions set out the key priorities for us. 

We're deliberately approaching areas of strength and opportunities to grow. In doing so, it'll be even more important that we're successful, because as the Member knows, within his own constituency, within his own area of interest across the city of Swansea, Swansea University has been very clear that the changes—the deliberate changes—to European funding will cost research jobs—cost decent jobs—that are actually leading to growing the economy; exactly the high-paid employment that I know he wants to see not just in Swansea but across the economy. I look forward to developing more of the action plans that have underpinned the innovation strategy and how we'll carry on working with the university sector to make sure that their research is applied for economic benefit.

Wel, ar y pwyntiau hynny, rwy'n credu bod gennym hanes da, ac mae ein cenadaethau'n tynnu sylw at yr hyn rydym am ei wneud i weithio ochr yn ochr â phrifysgolion i ddatblygu arloesedd a chyflogaeth ar gyflogau uwch. Mae'n rhan o'r rheswm pam ein bod yn chwilio am ymchwil y gellir ei gymhwyso. Bydd hynny, i fod yn deg, yn gweithio hefyd mewn rhai sectorau sy'n ymwneud ag amaethyddiaeth a thwristiaeth. Yr hyn rydym yn ei ddweud yw bod angen inni gael cydbwysedd yn ein dull o weithredu ac mae'r cenadaethau'n nodi'r blaenoriaethau allweddol i ni. 

Rydym yn fwriadol yn edrych ar feysydd cryfder a chyfleoedd i dyfu. Wrth wneud hynny, bydd hi hyd yn oed yn bwysicach ein bod yn llwyddiannus, oherwydd fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, yn ei etholaeth ei hun, yn ei faes diddordeb ei hun ledled dinas Abertawe, mae Prifysgol Abertawe wedi bod yn glir iawn y bydd y newidiadau—y newidiadau bwriadol—i gyllid Ewropeaidd yn costio mewn swyddi ymchwil—yn costio mewn swyddi gweddus—sy'n arwain at dyfu'r economi mewn gwirionedd; yr union fath o gyflogaeth ar gyflogau uchel y gwn ei fod am ei gweld nid yn unig yn Abertawe ond ar draws yr economi. Edrychaf ymlaen at ddatblygu mwy o'r cynlluniau gweithredu sydd wedi bod yn sail i'r strategaeth arloesi a'r ffordd y byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'r sector prifysgolion i sicrhau bod eu gwaith ymchwil yn cael ei gymhwyso er budd economaidd.

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Sam Rowlands.

Finally, question 8, Sam Rowlands.

Diolch, Llywydd, and you should be well-rehearsed on this, Minister.

Diolch, Lywydd, a dylech fod wedi ymarfer hyn yn dda, Weinidog.

Busnesau Hunanddarpar
Self-catering Businesses

8. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o nifer y busnesau hunanddarpar sydd wedi cau, neu sydd mewn perygl o gau, oherwydd y trothwy 182 diwrnod ar gyfer llety gwyliau? OQ59554

8. What assessment has the Minister made of the number of self-catering businesses that have closed, or are at risk of closing, due to the 182-day threshold for holiday lets? OQ59554

I thank Sam Rowlands for that question. The Welsh Government's regulatory impact assessment was published alongside the legislation. Operators who do not meet the criteria can continue to provide self-catering accommodation and contribute to the local community through council tax. Those who meet the criteria will contribute through the higher levels of economic activity that they support.

Diolch i Sam Rowlands am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Cyhoeddwyd asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol Llywodraeth Cymru ochr yn ochr â'r ddeddfwriaeth. Gall gweithredwyr nad ydynt yn bodloni'r meini prawf barhau i ddarparu llety hunanddarpar a chyfrannu at y gymuned leol drwy'r dreth gyngor. Bydd y rhai sy'n bodloni'r meini prawf yn cyfrannu drwy'r lefelau uwch o weithgarwch economaidd y maent yn eu cefnogi.

Thank you for your response, Deputy Minister. As you will know, I was honoured to sponsor the Wales Tourism Week event last week, and I was certainly grateful for your attendance and your contribution at that, Deputy Minister; it was certainly welcomed by the industry as well. But, as you heard, there were clear concerns from attendees as to some of the worries that are facing the sector, and, indeed, the 182-day threshold for holiday lets is one of their significant concerns, which we've already heard this afternoon as well.

Indeed, the Wales Tourism Alliance have estimated that as a result of this policy from you, with Plaid Cymru's support, up to 84 per cent of holiday lets in Wales will be forced to close, which is a shocking statistic. I appreciate that the Minister, perhaps, doesn't appreciate that the actions being taken by this Government are forcing these companies to close. When you consider that the tourism industry in Wales is responsible for around one in seven jobs, this is a serious cause for concern.

What also seems to be overlooked in this is not just a financial impact, but we heard last week from the industry about the mental health impact on individuals who run these businesses as well. So, in light of these genuine concerns, Deputy Minister, and with such limited exemptions that have been included in this so far, is there anything that would make you reconsider these proposals? 

Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, cefais yr anrhydedd o noddi digwyddiad Wythnos Twristiaeth Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf, ac roeddwn yn sicr yn ddiolchgar am eich presenoldeb a'ch cyfraniad yn y digwyddiad hwnnw, Ddirprwy Weinidog; yn sicr, cafodd ei groesawu gan y diwydiant hefyd. Ond fel y clywsoch chi, roedd pryderon clir gan fynychwyr ynghylch rhai o'r pryderon sy'n wynebu'r sector, ac yn wir, mae'r trothwy 182 diwrnod ar gyfer llety gwyliau yn un o'u pryderon sylweddol, fel rydym eisoes wedi'i glywed y prynhawn yma hefyd.

Yn wir, mae Cynghrair Twristiaeth Cymru wedi amcangyfrif, o ganlyniad i'r polisi hwn gennych chi, gyda chefnogaeth Plaid Cymru, y bydd hyd at 84 y cant o lety gwyliau yng Nghymru yn cael eu gorfodi i gau, sy'n ystadegyn brawychus. Rwy'n sylweddoli nad yw'r Gweinidog, efallai, yn derbyn bod y camau sy'n cael eu cymryd gan y Llywodraeth hon yn gorfodi'r cwmnïau hyn i gau. Pan ystyriwch fod y diwydiant twristiaeth yng Nghymru yn gyfrifol am oddeutu un o bob saith swydd, mae hyn yn peri pryder difrifol.

Rhywbeth arall hefyd sydd i'w weld fel pe bai wedi'i anwybyddu yn hyn, ar wahân i effaith ariannol, yw'r ffaith inni glywed yr wythnos diwethaf gan y diwydiant am yr effaith ar iechyd meddwl unigolion sy'n rhedeg y busnesau hyn. Felly, yng ngoleuni'r pryderon gwirioneddol hyn, Ddirprwy Weinidog, a chyda'r eithriadau hynod gyfyngedig sydd wedi'u cynnwys hyd yn hyn, a oes unrhyw beth a fyddai'n gwneud i chi ailystyried y cynigion hyn? 

Thank you, Sam, for that question. I don't want to just keep repeating myself, but, you know, we are in a situation where we set out very clearly in our programme for government that this was what we were going to do; we have very clearly set that out in our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru; we have consulted with the sector and we are now implementing, and, in fact, the changes took place, as you know, on 1 April 2023.

The regulatory impact assessment considers all of the potential impacts of the legislation. It is true to say that the evidence base is very limited, so I would be more interested to know where this figure of 84 per cent came from, because that's certainly not a figure that I recognise in any of the work that we have done on this. But, I go back to what the First Minister has said and I go back to what the Minister for Economy has said: nobody is forcing these businesses to close. [Interruption.] Nobody is forcing a business to close. What is happening is that a business that is not operating for more than 182 days a year, they have to pay council tax, like the rest of us do. There are some businesses, some letting properties, that let for just 10 weeks of the year, and that results in that property owner paying no local taxes at all.

It is important to understand why we have introduced this. This is part of a three-pronged approach to dealing with the issue of second homes and the contribution that those second homes make to the local community and how those second homes potentially price local communities out of the property market. If the person who is running that business pays council tax on a business that they do not let for more than 182 days a year, then they're continuing to make a greater contribution to that community. That is the purpose behind it, and there is nothing that we have seen in the regulatory impact assessment that takes us away from that. And even if we did, historic occupancy is not necessarily an indicator of future occupancy. But what we do know is that, in Wales now, we are already seeing, in the majority of self-catering lets, occupancy over 50 per cent of the time—so that's more than 182 days. That's more than 50 per cent already meeting those criteria. Those that don't meet it have to address how they let their property for 182 days or more, or they pay council tax like the rest of us do.

Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Sam. Nid wyf am barhau i ailadrodd fy hun, ond wyddoch chi, rydym mewn sefyllfa lle nodwyd yn glir iawn yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu mai dyma beth roeddem yn mynd i'w wneud; rydym wedi nodi hynny'n glir iawn yn ein cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru; rydym wedi ymgynghori â'r sector ac rydym bellach yn gweithredu, ac mewn gwirionedd, digwyddodd y newidiadau, fel y gwyddoch, ar 1 Ebrill 2023.

Mae'r asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol yn ystyried holl effeithiau posibl y ddeddfwriaeth. Mae'n wir dweud bod y sylfaen dystiolaeth yn gyfyngedig iawn, felly byddai gennyf fwy o ddiddordeb mewn gwybod o ble y daeth y ffigur o 84 y cant, oherwydd yn sicr nid yw hwnnw'n ffigur rwyf wedi'i weld yn unrhyw ran o'r gwaith rydym wedi'i wneud ar hyn. Ond rwy'n troi'n ôl at yr hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog ac rwy'n troi'n ôl at yr hyn a ddywedodd Gweinidog yr Economi: nid oes neb yn gorfodi'r busnesau hyn i gau. [Torri ar draws.] Nid oes neb yn gorfodi busnes i gau. Yr hyn sy'n digwydd yw bod yn rhaid i fusnes nad yw'n gweithredu am fwy na 182 diwrnod y flwyddyn dalu'r dreth gyngor, fel y mae'r gweddill ohonom yn ei wneud. Mae rhai busnesau, peth eiddo gosod, nad yw ond yn cael ei osod am 10 wythnos o'r flwyddyn, ac mae hynny'n golygu nad yw perchennog yr eiddo hwnnw'n talu unrhyw drethi lleol o gwbl.

Mae'n bwysig deall pam ein bod wedi cyflwyno hyn. Mae'n rhan o ddull tair rhan o fynd i'r afael â'r broblem ail gartrefi a'r cyfraniad y mae'r ail gartrefi hynny'n ei wneud i'r gymuned leol a sut y gallai'r ail gartrefi hynny brisio cymunedau lleol allan o'r farchnad eiddo. Os yw'r unigolyn sy'n rhedeg y busnes hwnnw'n talu'r dreth gyngor ar fusnes nad ydynt yn ei osod am fwy na 182 diwrnod y flwyddyn, mae'n parhau i wneud mwy o gyfraniad i'r gymuned honno. Dyna'r pwrpas sy'n sail iddo, ac nid oes unrhyw beth rydym wedi'i weld yn yr asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol sy'n ein tynnu oddi wrth hynny. A hyd yn oed pe byddai, nid yw defnydd hanesyddol o reidrwydd yn ddangosydd o ddefnydd yn y dyfodol. Ond yr hyn rydym yn ei wybod yw ein bod eisoes yn gweld, yng Nghymru nawr, yn y mwyafrif o lety hunanddarpar, lefel defnydd o dros 50 y cant o'r amser—felly mae hynny'n fwy na 182 diwrnod. Mae hynny'n fwy na 50 y cant sydd eisoes yn bodloni'r meini prawf hynny. Mae'n rhaid i'r rhai nad ydynt yn bodloni'r meini prawf ystyried sut y gallant osod eu heiddo am 182 diwrnod neu fwy, neu bydd yn rhaid iddynt dalu'r dreth gyngor fel y mae'r gweddill ohonom yn ei wneud.

14:30

Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Gweinidog.

Thank you, Deputy Minister and Minister.

2. Cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Joel James.

The next item, therefore, is questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services. The first question is from Joel James.

Apwyntiadau Meddygfeydd
GP Appointments

1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod meddygfeydd yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg yn gweithredu i ganllawiau'r gwasanaeth meddygol cyffredinol drwy gynnig apwyntiad y tro cyntaf, bob tro?  OQ59549

1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that GP practices within the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area are operating to the general medical service guidelines by offering an appointment first time, every time?  OQ59549

The Welsh Government has set fair, equal and consistent expectations on the delivery of general medical services to people across Wales, using both contractual levers and by working with the profession to embed the GMS access commitment, to ensure everyone is directed to the right care to meet their needs, from the first time they call their GP practice.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gosod disgwyliadau teg, cyfartal a chyson ar gyfer y modd y darperir gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol i bobl ledled Cymru, gan ddefnyddio ysgogiadau cytundebol a thrwy weithio gyda'r proffesiwn i ymgorffori ymrwymiad i fynediad y gwasanaeth meddygol cyffredinol, i sicrhau bod pawb yn cael eu cyfeirio at y gofal cywir i ddiwallu eu hanghenion, o'r tro cyntaf y byddant yn ffonio eu meddygfa.

Thank you, Minister. Constituents complain to me that they have been unable to make routine appointments with the Forest View Medical Centre in Treorchy, struggling to even get hold of them on the phone, which is causing considerable distress for people who need access to GP services. Their online appointment system and phone consultation service are almost always booked up, which means that routine appointments have to be made more than four weeks in advance. Cases have been reported to me where, due to the failure to access routine GP appointments, patients have then ended up needing emergency appointments due to rapidly deteriorating health. I've written to the health board chief executive and to the practice itself, and their responses are fairly standard, in that they're doing all that they can and are trying to implement better systems of working. But the truth is, the practice is overwhelmed with the needs and the size of the community it serves, and this is reflected among many other surgeries throughout my region. I'm conscious of the efforts by yourself to promote community pharmacies and streamline triage services, and I do believe that the practice is making every effort it can to see patients. But with this in mind, Minister, what thoughts have you given to improving the experience of patients when accessing appointment services, and what consideration has been given to the effect on GP staff morale and retention when dealing with such high volumes? Thank you.

Diolch, Weinidog. Mae etholwyr yn cwyno wrthyf nad ydynt wedi gallu gwneud apwyntiadau cyffredinol gyda Chanolfan Feddygol Forest View yn Nhreorci, gan ei chael hi'n anodd cael gafael arnynt hyd yn oed ar y ffôn, sy'n achosi cryn ofid i bobl sydd angen mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu. Mae eu system apwyntiadau ar-lein a'u gwasanaeth ymgynghori dros y ffôn bron bob amser yn llawn, sy'n golygu bod yn rhaid gwneud apwyntiadau cyffredinol fwy na phedair wythnos ymlaen llaw. Clywais am achosion lle roedd cleifion angen apwyntiadau brys yn y pen draw oherwydd bod eu hiechyd wedi dirywio'n gyflym yn sgil methiant i gael apwyntiadau cyffredinol gyda meddyg teulu. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at brif weithredwr y bwrdd iechyd ac at y practis ei hun, ac mae eu hymatebion yn weddol gyffredinol, yn yr ystyr eu bod yn gwneud popeth yn eu gallu ac yn ceisio gweithredu systemau gweithio gwell. Ond y gwir amdani yw, mae'r practis wedi'i lethu gan anghenion a maint y gymuned y mae'n ei gwasanaethu, a chaiff hyn ei adlewyrchu ymysg llawer o feddygfeydd eraill ledled fy rhanbarth. Rwy'n ymwybodol o ymdrechion gennych chi i hyrwyddo fferyllfeydd cymunedol a symleiddio gwasanaethau brysbennu a chredaf fod y practis yn gwneud pob ymdrech bosibl i weld cleifion. Ond gyda hyn mewn golwg, Weinidog, pa ystyriaeth a roddwyd gennych i wella profiad cleifion o gael mynediad at wasanaethau apwyntiadau, a pha ystyriaeth a roddwyd i'r effaith ar forâl staff a chadw staff meddygfeydd sy'n ymdrin â niferoedd mor fawr? Diolch.

Thanks very much, Joel. You'll be aware that the demands on our GP practices have been significantly increasing in recent months and years. I am aware of the particular issue in relation to the Forest View medical practice, and the difficulty in people getting access to what they, frankly, should be able to get access to. There is this new contract now; there are expectations in terms of delivering that contract. Because there are some examples where that contract doesn't look like it's going to be met—and don't forget that the new contract only formally started in April—what's happened, in particular with this practice, is that there will be an expectation that they will submit regular updates around their action plan, on a fortnightly basis. I know that they are actively trying to recruit additional GPs and team members, and that they're trying to use social media channels to explain to their patients what they've done in response to their concerns. But I am concerned to hear of the level of inaccess to Forest View medical practice, and I can assure you that my officials will make sure that the health board keeps on top of this issue. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Joel. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod y galw ar ein meddygfeydd wedi bod yn cynyddu'n sylweddol yn ystod y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd diwethaf. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa benodol gyda meddygfa Forest View, a'r anhawster i bobl gael mynediad at yr hyn y dylent gael mynediad ato. Mae yna gontract newydd nawr; ceir disgwyliadau ar gyfer cyflawni'r contract hwnnw. Oherwydd bod yna rai enghreifftiau lle nad yw'r contract hwnnw'n edrych fel pe bai'n mynd i gael ei gyflawni—a pheidiwch ag anghofio bod y contract newydd ond wedi dechrau'n ffurfiol ym mis Ebrill—yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd, yn enwedig gyda'r practis hwn, yw y bydd disgwyliad y byddant yn cyflwyno diweddariadau rheolaidd ar eu cynllun gweithredu bob pythefnos. Rwy'n gwybod eu bod wrthi'n ceisio recriwtio meddygon teulu ac aelodau ychwanegol o'r tîm, a'u bod yn ceisio defnyddio sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasol i egluro i'w cleifion beth maent wedi'i wneud mewn ymateb i'w pryderon. Ond rwy'n bryderus o glywed am lefel y diffyg mynediad at feddygfa Forest View, a gallaf eich sicrhau y bydd fy swyddogion yn gwneud yn siŵr fod y bwrdd iechyd yn cadw llygad manwl ar hyn. 

14:35
Dementia
Dementia

2. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi pobl sydd wedi cael diagnosis o ddementia yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru? OQ59579

2. How is the Welsh Government supporting people diagnosed with dementia in south-east Wales? OQ59579

We continue to provide Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg regional partnership boards with nearly £3.9 million annually to support the implementation of the dementia action plan vision, and to develop a joint health and social care approach to dementia support.

Rydym yn parhau i ddarparu bron i £3.9 miliwn i fyrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol Gwent a Chwm Taf Morgannwg bob blwyddyn i gefnogi gweithrediad gweledigaeth y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia, ac i ddatblygu dull iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ar y cyd o weithredu cymorth dementia.

Thank you for that answer, Minister. Last week marked Dementia Action Week, which this year focused on the importance of an accurate and timely diagnosis. Dementia awareness is something that's close to my heart, and I know it's something close to the Minister's heart as well. There are estimated to be around 50,000 people living with dementia in Wales, and this figure could be close to 100,000 people by 2050. A diagnosis is instrumental in facilitating access to care and medication that supports people to live well with dementia. Nine in 10 people living with dementia surveyed by the Alzheimer's Society Cymru believe that a diagnosis has benefited them, with pathways and doors opening. Getting the message out about an awareness about the symptoms is crucial. What more can the Welsh Government and others do to ensure that emphasising diagnosis early plays a key part in the Welsh Government's dementia action plan, and also, in its plans for social care reform?

Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Yr wythnos diwethaf, roedd hi'n Wythnos Gweithredu ar Ddementia, a oedd yn canolbwyntio eleni ar bwysigrwydd diagnosis cywir ac amserol. Mae ymwybyddiaeth o ddementia yn rhywbeth sy'n agos at fy nghalon, ac rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn rhywbeth sy'n agos at galon y Gweinidog hefyd. Amcangyfrifir bod tua 50,000 o bobl yn byw gyda dementia yng Nghymru, a gallai'r ffigwr hwn fod yn agos at 100,000 o bobl erbyn 2050. Mae diagnosis yn allweddol i hwyluso mynediad at ofal a meddyginiaeth sy'n cefnogi pobl i fyw'n dda gyda dementia. Mae naw o bob 10 o bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia a arolygwyd gan Gymdeithas Alzheimer's Cymru yn credu bod diagnosis wedi bod o fudd iddynt, gyda llwybrau a drysau'n agor. Mae cyfleu'r neges am ymwybyddiaeth o'r symptomau'n hanfodol. Beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ac eraill ei wneud i sicrhau bod pwysleisio'r angen am ddiagnosis cynnar yn chwarae rhan allweddol yng nghynllun gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer dementia, a hefyd, yn ei chynlluniau ar gyfer diwygio gofal cymdeithasol?

Can I thank Jayne Bryant for that question, and acknowledge her long-standing commitment to campaigning for improved dementia care? You are absolutely right about the importance of early diagnosis, and awareness raising is really very important for that. Weeks like we had last week—the dementia awareness week—are really important initiatives in raising awareness. There are also, as you probably know, helpful resources available from a number of our third sector partners, and we're also committed to supporting the dementia-friendly communities initiative, which can not just raise awareness, but also help to tackle the stigma.

Some of the early signs and symptoms of dementia include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, planning or organising, problems with language and communication, misunderstanding of what is being seen, being confused about time or place, and mood changes or difficulty controlling emotions. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that if someone is worried about themselves or someone close to them having these symptoms, please contact your GP to discuss this further and to get an appropriate referral. 

A gaf fi ddiolch i Jayne Bryant am y cwestiwn hwnnw, a chydnabod ei hymrwymiad hirsefydlog i ymgyrchu dros well gofal dementia? Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle am bwysigrwydd diagnosis cynnar, ac mae codi ymwybyddiaeth yn bwysig iawn i hynny. Mae wythnosau fel yr wythnos diwethaf—yr wythnos ymwybyddiaeth o ddementia—yn fentrau pwysig iawn ar gyfer codi ymwybyddiaeth. Fel y gwyddoch mae'n debyg, mae yna adnoddau defnyddiol ar gael gan nifer o'n partneriaid yn y trydydd sector, ac rydym hefyd wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi'r fenter cymunedau sy'n deall dementia, a all godi ymwybyddiaeth, a helpu hefyd i fynd i'r afael â'r stigma.

Mae rhai o arwyddion cynnar a symptomau dementia yn cynnwys colli cof, anhawster i ganolbwyntio, cynllunio neu drefnu, problemau gydag iaith a chyfathrebu, camddeall yr hyn a welir, bod yn ddryslyd ynglŷn ag amser neu le, a hwyliau cyfnewidiol neu anhawster i reoli emosiynau. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ailadrodd, os oes rhywun yn poeni bod ganddynt hwy neu rywun agos y symptomau hyn, cysylltwch â'ch meddyg teulu i drafod hyn ymhellach ac i gael atgyfeiriad priodol. 

I'd like to begin by saying thank you to Jayne Bryant for tabling this important question this afternoon. I can speak on behalf of myself, as well as all the Welsh Conservatives, in saying that we are absolutely 100 per cent behind this particular cause that you've mentioned today. 

Minister, it's really important to note the importance of high-quality, accessible data in ensuring that everyone has access to a timely and accurate diagnosis, particularly when it comes to dementia. There are over 100 types of dementia out there, and, whilst Alzheimer's is the most common form, there are also other types such as vascular, Lewy body and frontotemporal. We're also hearing more about young onset dementia, which is when someone under the age of 65 develops dementia. A survey by the Alzheimer's Society last year found that 17 per cent of people with dementia did not have a subtype diagnosis detailing the specific type of dementia that they actually have.

NHS Wales does not currently collect or report the number of people with a formal diagnosis of dementia centrally, and does not publish diagnosis data by subtype. Minister, do you agree with me that improved access to subtype diagnosis data will not only provide us with clarity on the picture of dementia here in Wales, but will also help us with futureproofing the diagnostic system ahead of future disease, modifying treatments that require individuals to have an early and specific subtype diagnosis, in order to inform treatment options going forward?

Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddweud diolch wrth Jayne Bryant am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn pwysig hwn y prynhawn yma. Gallaf siarad ar fy rhan fy hun, yn ogystal â'r holl Geidwadwyr Cymreig, pan ddywedaf ein bod ni 100 y cant y tu ôl i'r achos rydych chi wedi'i grybwyll heddiw. 

Weinidog, mae'n bwysig iawn nodi pwysigrwydd data hygyrch o ansawdd uchel i sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu cael diagnosis amserol a chywir, yn enwedig ar gyfer dementia. Ceir dros 100 o fathau o ddementia, ac er mai clefyd Alzheimer yw'r ffurf fwyaf cyffredin, mae yna fathau eraill hefyd fel dementia fasgwlaidd, cyrff Lewy a blaen-arleisiol. Fe glywn fwy hefyd am ddementia ymhlith pobl iau, pan fydd rhywun o dan 65 oed yn datblygu dementia. Canfu arolwg gan Gymdeithas Alzheimer's y llynedd nad oedd 17 y cant o bobl â dementia wedi cael diagnosis is-deip yn manylu ar y math penodol o ddementia a oedd ganddynt.

Nid yw GIG Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn casglu nac yn adrodd ar nifer y bobl sydd wedi cael diagnosis ffurfiol o ddementia yn ganolog, ac nid yw'n cyhoeddi data diagnosis yn ôl is-deip. Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno â mi y bydd gwell mynediad at ddata diagnosis is-deip nid yn unig yn rhoi eglurder i ni ynghylch y darlun o ddementia yma yng Nghymru, ond bydd hefyd yn ein helpu i wneud y system ddiagnostig yn ddiogel ar gyfer y dyfodol, gan addasu triniaethau sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i unigolion gael diagnosis is-deip cynnar a phenodol, er mwyn llywio opsiynau triniaeth wrth symud ymlaen?

Thank you, Natasha. You are right to highlight that, of course, dementia is a term that covers a wide range of conditions. Sometimes we forget that. It is very important that we maintain accurate data on diagnosis, and guidance has been issued to the NHS in Wales on actually recording the different subtypes of dementia. And also, as part of the work that we're taking forward through the strategy, and through our dementia action plan, where we have five work streams, one of which is around memory assessment services, there is also a work stream as part of that that is designed to improve data collection. 

Diolch, Natasha. Rydych chi'n iawn i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod dementia'n derm sy'n cwmpasu ystod eang o gyflyrau. Rydym yn anghofio hynny weithiau. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cadw data cywir ar ddiagnosis, ac mae canllawiau wedi'u rhoi i'r GIG yng Nghymru ar gofnodi'r gwahanol is-deipiau o ddementia. A hefyd, fel rhan o'r gwaith a wnawn drwy'r strategaeth, a thrwy ein cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia, lle mae gennym bum ffrwd waith, gydag un ohonynt yn ymwneud â gwasanaethau asesu cof, mae yna ffrwd waith hefyd yn rhan o hynny sydd wedi'i chynllunio i wella casglu data. 

14:40

My grandmother suffered with dementia in her final few years, so I know how frightening the process can be for someone going through this and for people around them if they don't understand what's happening to them. That's why, as we've heard, having an accurate and timely diagnosis is so important, isn't it? But there are barriers, and you've set this out, Minister, preventing people from getting these diagnoses, like a lack of understanding of the symptoms. People living in rural communities, people whose first language isn't English, and people who are living in poorer areas are all less likely to receive a diagnosis early in the disease, which means that those people will feel more alone, more trapped in their heads, with feelings that they don't understand or don't recognise, and more scared and alone. So do you agree with me that there should be a fair access to dementia diagnosis for everyone? And would you consider introducing an annual public awareness messaging campaign, highlighting the symptoms and where people can go for help, so that fewer people in Wales will go through this feeling scared and alone, and will know exactly where to go for help? 

Dioddefodd fy mam-gu gyda dementia yn ei blynyddoedd olaf, felly rwy'n gwybod pa mor frawychus y mae'r broses yn gallu bod i rywun sy'n mynd drwy hyn ac i bobl o'u cwmpas os nad ydynt yn deall beth sy'n digwydd iddynt. Dyna pam fod cael diagnosis cywir ac amserol mor bwysig, fel y clywsom. Ond mae yna rwystrau, ac rydych chi wedi nodi hyn, Weinidog, yn atal pobl rhag cael y diagnosis, fel diffyg dealltwriaeth o'r symptomau. Mae pobl sy'n byw mewn cymunedau gwledig, pobl nad yw Saesneg yn iaith gyntaf iddynt, a phobl sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd tlotach i gyd yn llai tebygol o gael diagnosis yn gynnar, sy'n golygu y bydd y bobl hynny'n teimlo'n fwy unig, yn fwy caeth yn eu pennau, gyda theimladau nad ydynt yn eu deall neu'n eu hadnabod, ac yn fwy ofnus ac ar eu pen eu hunain. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno y dylai fod mynediad teg at ddiagnosis dementia i bawb? Ac a fyddech chi'n ystyried cyflwyno ymgyrch negeseuon ymwybyddiaeth gyhoeddus flynyddol, i dynnu sylw at y symptomau a lle gall pobl fynd am gymorth, fel y bydd llai o bobl yng Nghymru yn mynd drwy'r profiad yn teimlo'n ofnus ac yn unig, ac y byddant yn gwybod yn union ble i fynd am help? 

Thank you, Delyth. You raise a number of important points there. As I think you're probably aware, I myself have had a family member who's been through that, and I know not just how traumatising it is, but how isolating it can be for families. So it is really important to have that diagnosis, to have the support around people living with dementia. We do need to do more around diagnosis. That's why we've got the NHS delivery unit, who are currently undertaking a snapshot assurance review of memory assessment services across Wales, and we're going to receive the national report of that in either this month or next month. I should say as well that we've invested an extra £3 million to improve diagnosis and to support people as well while they are waiting for diagnosis, and that's recurring funding that we've made available. 

In terms of what you've said about an awareness campaign, I think most people have got a reasonable awareness of the symptoms of dementia. I think there's probably more an issue there about fear and stigma in coming forward to ask for help, which I completely understand, because we went through that as a family ourselves. But I'm very happy to take that away and look at what more we can do in terms of our public messaging to encourage people to come forward for diagnosis and then to access support. 

Diolch, Delyth. Rydych chi'n codi nifer o bwyntiau pwysig yno. Fel y gwyddoch mae'n debyg, roedd gennyf aelod o'r teulu sydd wedi bod drwy hynny, ac rwy'n gwybod pa mor drawmatig ydyw, a pha mor ynysig y gall fod i deuluoedd. Felly mae'n bwysig iawn cael diagnosis, cael y gefnogaeth o gwmpas pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia. Mae angen inni wneud mwy ynghylch diagnosis. Dyna pam mae gennym uned gyflawni'r GIG, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn cynnal adolygiad sicrwydd sy'n rhoi cipolwg ar wasanaethau asesu cof ledled Cymru, ac mae'r adroddiad cenedlaethol yn dod i law naill ai y mis hwn neu'r mis nesaf. Dylwn ddweud hefyd ein bod wedi buddsoddi £3 miliwn ychwanegol i wella diagnosis ac i gefnogi pobl tra'u bod yn aros am ddiagnosis hefyd, ac mae hwnnw'n arian cylchol a ddarparwyd gennym. 

Ar yr hyn a ddywedoch chi am ymgyrch ymwybyddiaeth, rwy'n credu bod gan y rhan fwyaf o bobl ymwybyddiaeth resymol o symptomau dementia. Rwy'n meddwl bod yna fwy o broblem yn ôl pob tebyg gydag ofn a stigma sy'n rhwystro pobl rhag gofyn am help, ac rwy'n deall hynny'n llwyr, gan i ninnau fynd drwy hynny fel teulu ein hunain. Ond rwy'n hapus iawn i edrych ar hynny a beth arall y gallwn ei wneud gyda'n negeseuon cyhoeddus i annog pobl i ofyn am ddiagnosis ac yna i gael cymorth. 

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf—Darren Millar. 

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson first—Darren Millar. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, people across north Wales are pretty angry at the moment about what is happening in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. I was given an anonymous copy of the Ernst & Young forensic report of accounting issues at the board, and I have to say it is absolutely damning. Its findings include false accounting and the manipulation of documents that amount to fraud. These were done in the knowledge of senior members of staff at the health board, including the chief executive and the finance director. The junior staff who pushed back against these appalling practices were overruled by their superiors and there, then, were deliberate efforts to hide those actions from Audit Wales and the forensic investigators from Ernst & Young. It absolutely stinks. The report still isn't in the public domain—it should be published—in spite of the significant public interest in these issues. I want to know what action the Welsh Government is now taking to ensure that all those responsible for the behaviour identified in that report are going to be held accountable for their actions.

Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, mae pobl ar draws gogledd Cymru yn flin ar hyn o bryd am yr hyn sy'n digwydd ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Cefais gopi dienw o adroddiad fforensig Ernst & Young o broblemau cyfrifyddu ar y bwrdd, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud ei fod yn hollol ddamniol. Mae ei ganfyddiadau'n cynnwys cyfrifyddu anwir a chamddefnydd o ddogfennau sy'n gyfystyr â thwyll. Roedd uwch-aelodau o staff y bwrdd iechyd, gan gynnwys y prif weithredwr a'r cyfarwyddwr cyllid, yn gwybod bod hyn yn digwydd. Cafodd y staff iau a wrthwynebodd yr arferion echrydus hyn eu diystyru gan eu huwch-swyddogion a chafwyd ymdrechion bwriadol wedyn i guddio'r gweithredoedd hynny oddi wrth Archwilio Cymru a'r ymchwilwyr fforensig o gwmni Ernst & Young. Mae'n drewi. Mae'r adroddiad yn dal i fod heb ei gyhoeddi—fe ddylid ei gyhoeddi—er gwaethaf y budd sylweddol i'r cyhoedd yn y materion hyn. Rwyf am wybod pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd nawr i sicrhau bod pawb a oedd yn gyfrifol am yr ymddygiad a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad yn mynd i gael eu dwyn i gyfrif am eu gweithredoedd.

Thanks very much. I was one of the few people who did have an early access to the report, and I've got to agree that it did make extremely sobering reading, which absolutely needs to be acted upon. As has been said in this Chamber on a number of occasions, this was not our report, and so I can't ask for it to be published. It was a report that was commissioned by the health board, and they have to determine what they're going to do. I have spoken to both the interim chief executive and the chair of the health board about the action that will be undertaken as a result of this report, and they have both reassured me that the health board is progressing the management of the issues that are raised in the EY report in line with their existing procedures and policies. My concern throughout has been that I don't want to do anything that will compromise or prejudice in any way the ability of the board to pursue the actions that they should and need to do.

Diolch yn fawr. Roeddwn i'n un o'r ychydig bobl a welodd yr adroddiad yn gynnar, ac mae'n rhaid imi gytuno bod ei gynnwys yn sobreiddiol, ac mae gwir angen gweithredu arno. Fel y dywedwyd yn y Siambr hon ar sawl achlysur, nid ein hadroddiad ni oedd hwn, ac felly ni allaf ofyn iddo gael ei gyhoeddi. Roedd yn adroddiad a gafodd ei gomisiynu gan y bwrdd iechyd, ac mae'n rhaid iddynt hwy benderfynu beth maent yn mynd i'w wneud. Rwyf wedi siarad â'r prif weithredwr dros dro a chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd ynglŷn â'r camau a gaiff eu cymryd o ganlyniad i'r adroddiad hwn, ac maent wedi fy sicrhau bod y bwrdd iechyd yn bwrw ymlaen â rheoli'r materion a godir yn yr adroddiad yn unol â'u gweithdrefnau a'u polisïau presennol. Fy mlaenoriaeth drwyddi draw yw nad wyf am wneud unrhyw beth a fydd yn peryglu neu'n rhagfarnu gallu'r bwrdd mewn unrhyw ffordd i ddilyn y camau gweithredu y dylent eu cymryd, ac y mae angen iddynt eu cymryd.

14:45

Minister, it's been four months since that report was published. I cannot fathom why, in that period of four months, those individuals who were responsible for these actions have not been dismissed from that health board. Not only are these unprofessional practices for those who are registered as chartered accountants and with other professional bodies, but it actually goes beyond the health board itself. We know, for example, that documentation to obtain goods and services was falsified in order to award a contract of nearly £1.8 million to a company, Lightfoot Solutions, and that company, Lightfoot Solutions, colluded in the altering of documentation in order to get that award. We know that a purchase order was drafted that shouldn't have been drafted, deliberately designed to fail in order to avoid proper scrutiny, by the head of procurement services at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership. Now, I don't know whether these individuals are still in post or under investigation, but this is not just about Betsi; this is about the culture in the wider NHS. I want to know what action is now being taken to make sure that Lightfoot Solutions, this company that has colluded, which has also had contracts awarded to it in other parts of Wales, not just the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—. What is being done to make sure that we never engage with that organisation again? What is being done in terms of the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership role in this sort of behaviour? It's wider than just Betsi, Minister. 

Weinidog, mae pedwar mis wedi mynd heibio ers cyhoeddi'r adroddiad. Yn y cyfnod hwnnw o bedwar mis, ni allaf ddyfalu pam nad yw'r unigolion a oedd yn gyfrifol am y gweithredoedd hyn wedi cael eu diswyddo o'r bwrdd iechyd. Mae'r rhain yn arferion amhroffesiynol ar ran rhai a gofrestrwyd fel cyfrifwyr siartredig a chyda chyrff proffesiynol eraill, ac mewn gwirionedd mae'n mynd y tu hwnt i'r bwrdd iechyd ei hun. Fe wyddom, er enghraifft, fod dogfennaeth i gael nwyddau a gwasanaethau wedi'i ffugio er mwyn dyfarnu contract o bron i £1.8 miliwn i gwmni Lightfoot Solutions, a bod y cwmni hwnnw wedi cydgynllunio i newid dogfennau er mwyn cael y dyfarniad hwnnw. Gwyddom fod gorchymyn prynu wedi'i ddrafftio na ddylai fod wedi'i ddrafftio, wedi'i lunio'n fwriadol i fethu er mwyn osgoi craffu priodol, gan bennaeth gwasanaethau caffael Partneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru. Nawr, nid wyf yn gwybod a yw'r unigolion hyn yn dal i fod yn eu swyddi neu'n destun ymchwiliad, ond mae'n ymwneud â mwy na Betsi Cadwaladr yn unig; mae'n ymwneud â'r diwylliant yn y GIG yn ehangach. Rwyf am wybod pa gamau sydd ar y gweill nawr i wneud yn siŵr fod Lightfoot Solutions, y cwmni a fu'n cydgynllwynio, sydd hefyd wedi cael contractau wedi'u dyfarnu iddo mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru, nid Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn unig—. Beth sy'n cael ei wneud i sicrhau nad ydym byth yn ymgysylltu â'r sefydliad hwnnw eto? Beth sy'n cael ei wneud ynghylch rôl Partneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru yn y math hwn o ymddygiad? Mae'n ehangach na Betsi Cadwaladr yn unig, Weinidog. 

Thanks very much. My understanding is that the key individuals named in this report have been suspended, and, clearly, they have legal employment rights. The key thing for me is that we've got to follow the right process so that any system that needs to be followed is not undermined. I can assure you that, from the report, the Welsh Government was exonerated, that there wasn't any suggestion that Welsh Government was in any way implicated in any of this. But I have asked my director general to make sure that we look at the report to see what, if any, action we need to take as a Government if there are any broader implications for us as a Government.

Diolch yn fawr. Fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod yr unigolion allweddol a enwir yn yr adroddiad hwn wedi'u hatal dros dro, ac yn amlwg, mae ganddynt hawliau cyflogaeth cyfreithiol. Y peth allweddol i mi yw bod yn rhaid inni ddilyn y broses gywir fel nad yw unrhyw system y mae angen ei dilyn yn cael ei thanseilio. Gallaf eich sicrhau, o'r adroddiad, nad oedd unrhyw fai ar Lywodraeth Cymru, nad oedd unrhyw awgrym fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gysylltiedig â hyn mewn unrhyw ffordd. Ond rwyf wedi gofyn i fy nghyfarwyddwr cyffredinol sicrhau ein bod yn edrych ar yr adroddiad i weld pa gamau y mae angen inni eu cymryd fel Llywodraeth, os o gwbl, os oes unrhyw oblygiadau ehangach i ni fel Llywodraeth.

There are clearly broader implications. You've had this report for four months, Minister—four months it's been lying around. I find it, frankly, very disturbing that you're only just starting to have these conversations about whether there are wider implications when, quite clearly, the report implies that there are wider implications because this goes beyond Betsi into an organisation that has multimillion-pound contracts across the Welsh NHS, and also into the heart of the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, with the head of procurement—not a junior member of staff, the head of procurement—in that organisation inappropriately drafting purchase invoices.

I think the public, quite rightly, will want to have some assurances that the Welsh Government is now going to look at every single health board in Wales to make sure that the sorts of practices—which didn't just occur in a single year in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board; the report refers to this being at least across a period of two financial years—that occurred there haven't occurred elsewhere, because, frankly, the involvement of the head of procurement services at the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership suggests that this might have been replicated in other places too. So, when will you publish an action plan as to the work that you're now going to commission to make sure that these matters are properly investigated and, where necessary, referred to the police for criminal investigation too?

Mae'n amlwg fod yna oblygiadau ehangach. Mae'r adroddiad hwn wedi bod gyda chi ers pedwar mis, Weinidog—mae wedi bod yn gorwedd yn segur ers pedwar mis. A dweud y gwir rwy'n bryderus iawn eich bod chi ond yn dechrau cael y sgyrsiau hyn ynglŷn â goblygiadau ehangach pan fo'n amlwg iawn fod yr adroddiad yn awgrymu bod goblygiadau ehangach oherwydd bod hyn yn mynd y tu hwnt i Betsi Cadwaladr i mewn i sefydliad sydd â chontractau gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd ar draws GIG Cymru, a hefyd i galon Partneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru, gyda'r pennaeth caffael—nid aelod iau o staff, pennaeth caffael—yn y sefydliad hwnnw yn drafftio anfonebau prynu yn amhriodol.

Rwy'n credu y bydd y cyhoedd, yn gwbl briodol, am gael sicrwydd fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i edrych ar bob bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru nawr i wneud yn siŵr nad yw'r mathau o arferion—nas cyfyngwyd i un flwyddyn yn unig ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr; mae'r adroddiad yn nodi bod hyn wedi digwydd dros gyfnod o ddwy flynedd ariannol fan lleiaf—a ddigwyddodd yno wedi digwydd mewn mannau eraill, oherwydd, a dweud y gwir, mae ymwneud pennaeth gwasanaethau caffael Partneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru yn awgrymu y gallai hyn fod wedi'i ailadrodd mewn mannau eraill hefyd. Felly, pryd fyddwch chi'n cyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu ar y gwaith rydych chi'n mynd i'w gomisiynu nawr i sicrhau bod y materion hyn yn cael eu harchwilio'n iawn, a lle bo angen, yn cael eu cyfeirio at yr heddlu ar gyfer ymchwiliad troseddol hefyd?

14:50

Thanks. Well, I can assure you that the report hasn’t just been lying around; there have been extensive investigations by the NHS counter-fraud office to see if there needed to be any police follow-up in terms of criminal action. They concluded that that didn’t need to be done, but, obviously, that has only recently come out, and that’s why it’s only now that we can follow up as a Welsh Government, and, as I say, I have already instructed my officials to look at whether there is anything we need to do in respect of lessons that we can learn.

I do think that it’s important that people in north Wales understand that, despite the very sobering reason, actually, no money was lost to the NHS—[Interruption.]—money hasn’t been lost to the NHS, and I think what the public in north Wales are concerned with at the moment is delivery of services. And I’m very pleased to say that, in respect of delivery of services, I’ve just been able to send out a written statement to ensure that the public understand, and the public in north Wales, that, today, we have been able to conclude with the NHS trade unions a pay offer that they have accepted—a two-year pay offer for 'Agenda for Change' staff. So, I’m very pleased that those negotiations, despite being very challenging, have now come to a conclusion and that we are in a situation where the public will understand that, actually, the threat of strikes that has been hanging over us for a long time—there is still an issue with a couple of unions that, obviously, we need to continue discussing—. The collective view of the trade union has been that they will accept the pay offer, and I’m very pleased about that.

Diolch. Wel, gallaf eich sicrhau nad yw'r adroddiad wedi bod yn gorwedd yn segur; cafwyd ymchwiliadau helaeth gan swyddfa gwrth-dwyll y GIG i weld a oedd angen unrhyw waith dilynol gan yr heddlu ar ffurf camau troseddol. Daethant i'r casgliad nad oedd angen gwneud hynny, ond yn amlwg, dim ond yn ddiweddar y daeth hynny i olau dydd, a dyna pam mai dim ond nawr y gallwn fynd ar drywydd hyn fel Llywodraeth Cymru, ac fel y dywedais, rwyf eisoes wedi cyfarwyddo fy swyddogion i edrych i weld a oes unrhyw beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud o ran dysgu gwersi.

Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig fod pobl yng ngogledd Cymru yn deall, er mor sobreiddiol oedd hyn, na chollwyd unrhyw arian i'r GIG—[Torri ar draws.]—ni chollodd y GIG unrhyw arian, ac rwy'n meddwl mai'r hyn y mae'r cyhoedd yng ngogledd Cymru yn poeni amdano ar hyn o bryd yw'r modd y darperir gwasanaethau. Ac rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud, mewn perthynas â darparu gwasanaethau, fy mod newydd allu anfon datganiad ysgrifenedig i sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn deall, a'r cyhoedd yng ngogledd Cymru, ein bod ni heddiw wedi gallu cytuno ar gynnig cyflog gydag undebau llafur y GIG, cynnig cyflog y maent wedi'i dderbyn—cynnig cyflog dwy flynedd ar gyfer staff 'Agenda ar gyfer Newid'. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn fod y trafodaethau hynny, er eu bod yn heriol iawn, bellach wedi'u cwblhau a'n bod mewn sefyllfa lle bydd y cyhoedd yn deall bod y bygythiad o streiciau sydd wedi bod yn hongian drosom ers amser maith—mae problem o hyd gydag un neu ddau o undebau y mae angen inni barhau i drafod gyda nhw wrth gwrs—. Barn gyfunol yr undeb llafur yw y byddant yn derbyn y cynnig cyflog, ac rwy'n falch iawn o hynny.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Diolch, Llywydd. Yet again today, we have to focus on Betsi Cadwaladr. Two weeks ago, Plaid Cymru raised concerns in this Chamber about the implications of the Ernst and Young report—raised the same concerns that we just heard about from the Conservative spokesperson. Given how sobering the Minister says that that report was when she read it four months ago, perhaps she could put on the record what advice she immediately sought from officials, having read it. But now a former independent member of the board explaining that he was intimately involved in that EY investigation has now called for a police investigation, saying he believes there is clear and incontrovertible evidence that a number of crimes were carried out. It’s a powerful and damning indictment of the situation regarding Betsi Cadwaladr. I welcome the statement from North Wales Police saying they’re assessing the situation. I, too, call on them to initiate a full investigation.

Now, the First Minister told the Senedd that, with the NHS counter-fraud department having decided no criminal threshold had been reached, this was now only an internal matter for Betsi, but given the seriousness of the allegations now published, and given the doubts about potential conflicts of interest, conflicts of interest that the independent member suggests make it impossible for Welsh Government or its various health agencies to be able to comment objectively, will the Minister now agree that it’s beyond question that the police must investigate too, and that that investigation must have the full support of the Welsh Government?

Diolch, Lywydd. Unwaith eto heddiw, mae'n rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar Betsi Cadwaladr. Bythefnos yn ôl, cododd Plaid Cymru bryderon yn y Siambr hon am oblygiadau adroddiad Ernst & Young—cododd yr un pryderon ag y clywsom amdanynt gan lefarydd y Ceidwadwyr nawr. O ystyried pa mor sobreiddiol y mae'r Gweinidog yn dweud oedd yr adroddiad hwnnw pan aeth ati i'w ddarllen bedwar mis yn ôl, efallai y gallai nodi pa gyngor y gofynnodd amdano ar unwaith gan swyddogion, ar ôl ei ddarllen. Ond nawr mae cyn-aelod annibynnol o'r bwrdd sy'n egluro ei fod wedi ymwneud yn agos â'r ymchwiliad gan Ernst & Young wedi galw am ymchwiliad gan yr heddlu, gan ddweud ei fod yn credu bod yna dystiolaeth glir a diamheuol fod nifer o droseddau wedi'u cyflawni. Mae'n gyhuddiad pwerus a damniol ynghylch sefyllfa Betsi Cadwaladr. Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad gan Heddlu Gogledd Cymru yn dweud eu bod yn asesu'r sefyllfa. Rwyf innau hefyd yn galw arnynt i agor ymchwiliad llawn.

Nawr, fe ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog wrth y Senedd mai mater mewnol i Betsi Cadwaladr yn unig oedd hwn bellach am fod adran gwrth-dwyll y GIG wedi penderfynu nad oedd unrhyw drothwy troseddol wedi'i gyrraedd, ond o ystyried difrifoldeb yr honiadau a gyhoeddwyd erbyn hyn, ac o ystyried yr amheuon ynghylch gwrthdaro buddiannau posibl, gwrthdaro buddiannau y mae'r aelod annibynnol yn awgrymu ei fod yn ei gwneud hi'n amhosibl i Lywodraeth Cymru neu ei gwahanol asiantaethau iechyd allu gwneud sylwadau gwrthrychol, a wnaiff y Gweinidog gytuno nawr ei bod y tu hwnt i amheuaeth fod yn rhaid i'r heddlu ymchwilio hefyd, a bod yn rhaid i'r ymchwiliad hwnnw gael cefnogaeth lawn Llywodraeth Cymru?

Thanks very much. The police will determine if a criminal investigation is required, and they’ve already said that they’re looking at this and it’s not up to me to tell the police whether a criminal investigation is required; that is something that they will need to determine themselves.

I think it is important that there is an understanding of how the different organisations in Wales work. So, the NHS counter-fraud service is operationally independent from NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, but it is hosted by the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership as part of the Velindre NHS trust. So, it’s basically somewhere where they’re parked—somebody has to do their HR, somebody has to do their accounting, somebody has to do all of the other bits and pieces, but they are operationally independent. The counter-fraud office is made up of a team of experienced investigators, and they have a lot of experience in looking at serious, complex, large-scale crime cases, and they do give a specialist independent investigation resource to health boards. They have come to a conclusion. If the police want to look at it and come to a different conclusion, then obviously that will be a matter for them.

Diolch yn fawr. Bydd yr heddlu'n penderfynu a oes angen ymchwiliad troseddol, ac maent eisoes wedi dweud eu bod yn edrych ar hyn ac nid fi sydd i ddweud wrth yr heddlu a oes angen ymchwiliad troseddol; mae hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd angen iddynt hwy benderfynu yn ei gylch eu hunain.

Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig fod yna ddealltwriaeth o sut mae'r gwahanol sefydliadau yng Nghymru yn gweithio. Felly, mae gwasanaeth gwrth-dwyll y GIG yn weithredol annibynnol oddi ar Bartneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru, ond caiff ei gynnal gan Bartneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru yn rhan o ymddiriedolaeth GIG Felindre. Felly, yn y bôn mae'n rhywle lle maent wedi parcio—mae'n rhaid i rywun wneud eu gwaith adnoddau dynol, mae'n rhaid i rywun wneud eu cyfrifyddu, mae'n rhaid i rywun wneud yr holl fanion eraill, ond maent yn weithredol annibynnol. Mae'r swyddfa gwrth-dwyll yn cynnwys tîm o ymchwilwyr profiadol, ac mae ganddynt lawer o brofiad o edrych ar achosion troseddau difrifol, cymhleth, ar raddfa fawr, ac maent yn rhoi adnoddau ymchwilio annibynnol arbenigol i fyrddau iechyd. Maent wedi dod i gasgliad. Os yw'r heddlu eisiau edrych arno a dod i gasgliad gwahanol, mater iddynt hwy fydd hynny, yn amlwg.

14:55

I've highlighted where I believe and others believe the conflicts of interest are here, and again I can't see why the Welsh Government wouldn't say, 'We would support a full police investigation as a means to bring back trust in the system.' The impact of all of this, of course, is to further undermine trust in Betsi. It affects staff morale. It affects patients. Our position is clear and has been for some time: I think we need a fresh start. Can the Minister answer this? And I know she'd rather avoid reorganisation—we all would. But isn't there a point where she is willing to say, 'Enough is enough'? We need a plan in place at least for new health structures in the north. If she does, great—let's at least start on that process to forming a plan B. If not, that worries me deeply. We can't go on like this. So, in order to help us out of the situation, we have to understand it. I've asked before and I'll ask again: isn't it time we had an independent investigation, an inquiry that can look transparently and forensically at what has happened in Betsi's past, so we can make plans for its future, but, more importantly, for the future of those staff working in it and the patients dependent on it?

Rwyf wedi tynnu sylw at ble rwy'n credu a lle mae eraill yn credu bod y gwrthdaro buddiannau yma, ac unwaith eto ni allaf weld pam na fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn dweud, 'Byddem yn cefnogi ymchwiliad llawn gan yr heddlu fel modd o adfer ymddiriedaeth yn y system.' Effaith hyn i gyd, wrth gwrs, yw tanseilio hyder fwyfwy yn Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae'n effeithio ar forâl staff. Mae'n effeithio ar gleifion. Mae ein safbwynt yn glir ac mae wedi bod yn glir ers peth amser: rwy'n credu bod angen dechrau newydd. A all y Gweinidog ateb hyn? Ac rwy'n gwybod y byddai'n well ganddi osgoi ad-drefnu—fe fyddai'n well gennym i gyd osgoi hynny. Ond onid oes pwynt lle mae'n fodlon dweud, 'Digon yw digon'? Mae angen cynllun ar waith o leiaf ar gyfer strwythurau iechyd newydd yn y gogledd. Os yw hi'n gwneud hynny, gwych—gadewch inni o leiaf ddechrau ar y broses honno i ffurfio cynllun B. Os na, mae hynny'n fy mhoeni'n fawr. Ni allwn barhau fel hyn. Felly, er mwyn ein helpu allan o'r sefyllfa, mae'n rhaid inni ei deall. Rwyf wedi gofyn o'r blaen ac fe ofynnaf eto: onid yw'n bryd inni gael ymchwiliad annibynnol, ymchwiliad a all edrych yn dryloyw ac yn fforensig ar yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yng ngorffennol Betsi Cadwaladr, fel y gallwn wneud cynlluniau ar gyfer ei ddyfodol, ond yn bwysicach, ar gyfer dyfodol y staff sy'n gweithio ynddo a'r cleifion sy'n ddibynnol arno?

Thanks very much. Well, part of the reason why I acted as I did is because I do believe that the board needed a fresh start, which is why we appointed new independent members to the board. There are 20,000 people who work for the health board, and I've got to tell you that this constant criticism is really sapping their morale. Now, I'm not going to reorganise, Rhun. That is not going to happen under my watch. You can keep harping on if you want, but it's not going to change my mind. I think you are undermining the people who you represent—the 2,000 people in Anglesey who are actually trying to get on with their day job.

Now, of course, I'm happy to be held to account. I'm held to account on a weekly basis here, very differently, let me point out, from the situation in England, where despite the fact that they have 21 hospitals in special measures equivalent—21—never, as far as I can tell, has there been a question on the floor of the house in the House of Commons on any one of those, and I am here week after week after week. So, I will respond—[Interruption.] But I am—[Interruption.] But I am—[Interruption.] I am accountable and I am here every single week.

Diolch yn fawr. Wel, rhan o'r rheswm pam y gweithredais fel y gwneuthum yw oherwydd fy mod yn credu bod angen dechrau newydd ar y bwrdd, a dyna pam y gwnaethom benodi aelodau annibynnol newydd i'r bwrdd. Mae 20,000 o bobl yn gweithio i'r bwrdd iechyd, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud wrthych fod y feirniadaeth gyson hon yn llethu eu morâl. Nid wyf yn mynd i ad-drefnu, Rhun. Nid yw hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd o dan fy ngoruchwyliaeth i. Gallwch barhau i ganu'r un hen dôn gron os dymunwch, ond nid yw'n mynd i newid fy meddwl. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n tanseilio'r bobl rydych chi'n eu cynrychioli—y 2,000 o bobl ar Ynys Môn sy'n ceisio bwrw ymlaen â'u gwaith bob dydd.

Nawr, rwy'n hapus i gael fy nwyn i gyfrif wrth gwrs. Rwy'n cael fy nwyn i gyfrif yn wythnosol yma, yn wahanol iawn, gadewch imi nodi, i'r sefyllfa yn Lloegr, lle, er bod ganddynt 21 o ysbytai yn yr hyn sy'n cyfateb i fesurau arbennig—21—hyd y gallaf ddweud, ni chafwyd cwestiwn ar lawr y tŷ yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin erioed ar unrhyw un o'r rheini, ac rwyf fi yma wythnos ar ôl wythnos. Felly, rwyf am ymateb—[Torri ar draws.] Ond rwy'n—[Torri ar draws.] Ond rwy'n—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n atebol ac rwyf fi yma bob wythnos.

Can we hear the Minister in her response? Thank you to the Minister.

A gawn ni glywed y Gweinidog yn ymateb? Diolch yn fawr i'r Gweinidog.

The important thing for me is that we have had a fresh start and that we do turn over a new leaf, but we can't actually do that until we get to a point where all of this dreadful situation that we've seen in the past in Betsi is unearthed, and that we can then get to a point where—. We're very pleased now that we've got a new interim chief executive, and, from what I hear, the morale around the table at the top of the health board is in a very, very different place.

Y peth pwysig i mi yw ein bod wedi cael dechrau newydd a'n bod yn troi dalen newydd, ond ni allwn wneud hynny mewn gwirionedd nes inni gyrraedd pwynt lle mae'r holl sefyllfa ofnadwy yma a welsom yn y gorffennol yn Betsi Cadwaladr yn dod i'r amlwg, ac y gallwn wedyn gyrraedd pwynt lle—. Rydym yn falch iawn nawr fod gennym brif weithredwr dros dro newydd, ac o'r hyn rwy'n ei glywed, mae'r morâl o amgylch y bwrdd ar frig y bwrdd iechyd mewn lle gwahanol iawn.

Atgyfeiriadau Preifat
Private Referrals

3. Pa effaith y mae hawl GIG Lloegr i atgyfeiriad preifat yn ei chael ar lywodraethu clinigol yng Nghymru? OQ59580

3. What impact is the English NHS's right to private referral having on clinical governance in Wales? OQ59580

I'm aware from recent reports that some people may be being prescribed powerful medication following online private assessments in England or elsewhere. It does not follow that the NHS in Wales would continue to prescribe such medications, and a person's GP would need to be satisfied that it was safe and correct to do so.

Rwy'n ymwybodol o adroddiadau diweddar y gallai rhai pobl fod yn cael presgripsiwn am feddyginiaeth bwerus yn dilyn asesiadau preifat ar-lein yn Lloegr neu rywle arall. Nid yw'n dilyn y byddai'r GIG yng Nghymru yn parhau i bresgripsiynu meddyginiaethau o'r fath, a byddai angen i feddyg teulu unigolyn fod yn fodlon ei bod yn ddiogel ac yn gywir i wneud hynny.

Thank you. I'm sure many of us will have seen the recent Panorama programme that exposed the perverse consequences of giving people the right to a referral to a private provider in the English NHS, which has led to a proliferation of private companies, in Harley Street and elsewhere, all offering to give you an immediate answer, and offering you expensive drugs to go with it. Coincidentally, the day before that programme was broadcast, I was contacted by a new constituent, recently moved from England, armed with a prescription for drugs following a diagnosis for ADHD, who was astonished to be told by the new GP she’d registered with that she couldn't get these drugs until and unless she was appropriately diagnosed by a professional as to whether she really did have ADHD. I'm not making any judgment about whether that was the correct, appropriate medication or indeed diagnosis for this individual, but it tells you that there is a huge—. People are using the English NHS like it was a sweet shop, and just going in there and saying, 'I'll have some of that'. This is really serious, because it raises huge concerns amongst individuals who think that they need whatever it is they've been prescribed and, in many cases, are being asked to pay eye-watering sums to get these drugs privately. There are all sorts of consequences of this, and I just wondered how the Welsh NHS is dealing with this, given that we have a very porous border.

Diolch. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd llawer ohonom wedi gweld y rhaglen Panorama yn ddiweddar a oedd yn datgelu'r canlyniadau niweidiol a ddaw yn sgil rhoi hawl i bobl atgyfeirio at ddarparwr preifat yn GIG Lloegr, sydd wedi arwain at gynyddu niferoedd cwmnïau preifat, yn Stryd Harley a mannau eraill, sy'n cynnig rhoi ateb ar unwaith i chi, ac yn cynnig cyffuriau drud i chi hefyd. Drwy gyd-ddigwyddiad, y diwrnod cyn i'r rhaglen honno gael ei darlledu, cysylltodd etholwr newydd â mi, etholwr a oedd wedi symud o Loegr yn ddiweddar, gyda phresgripsiwn ar gyfer cyffuriau yn dilyn diagnosis o ADHD, a dywedodd iddi gael syndod o gael gwybod gan y meddyg teulu newydd roedd hi wedi cofrestru gyda nhw na allai gael y cyffuriau hyn hyd nes ac oni bai ei bod yn cael diagnosis priodol gan weithiwr proffesiynol i ddangos bod ganddi ADHD mewn gwirionedd. Nid wyf am fynegi barn ynglŷn ag ai dyna'r feddyginiaeth gywir, neu'r diagnosis cywir yn wir, ar gyfer yr unigolyn, ond mae'n dweud wrthych fod yna—. Mae pobl yn defnyddio GIG Lloegr fel pe bai'n siop melysion, a mynd yno a dweud, 'Fe gymeraf i rywfaint o hynny'. Mae hyn yn ddifrifol iawn, gan ei fod yn codi pryderon enfawr ymhlith unigolion sy'n credu bod arnynt angen beth bynnag a bresgripsiynwyd iddynt ac mewn llawer o achosion, gofynnir iddynt dalu symiau enfawr i gael y cyffuriau hyn yn breifat. Mae yna bob math o ganlyniadau i hyn, a tybed sut mae GIG Cymru yn ymdrin â hyn, o gofio bod gennym ffin agored iawn.

15:00

Thanks very much. Well, Jenny, I'm sure you'll understand that I can't comment on an individual case, but we would expect there to be continuity of care for any patient who moves to Wales, of course. But, in general, it would be the patient's GP who would determine whether a prescribed medicine should be given. And, of course, it's very different from England, because our prescriptions are for free in Wales, so we don't like to hand them out like sweeties. I think it's really important and, obviously, there are huge implications for that, especially when it comes to antibiotic medicines, and the last thing we want to do is to oversubscribe them.

But I do have real concerns about the Panorama programme and what that demonstrated, showing that individuals were being—. It was being suggested that they had conditions that they didn't have, which had profound implications for those individuals, and put them, perhaps, on a medical course that they needn't be on. So, it is something that, of course, we will need to ensure that we keep an eye on, and the implications for the Welsh NHS.  

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Wel, Jenny, rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn deall na allaf wneud sylw ar achos unigol, ond byddem yn disgwyl parhad o ran gofal i unrhyw glaf sy’n symud i Gymru, wrth gwrs. Ond yn gyffredinol, meddyg teulu'r claf a fyddai'n penderfynu a ddylid rhoi meddyginiaeth ar bresgripsiwn. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r sefyllfa'n wahanol iawn i'r un yn Lloegr, gan fod ein presgripsiynau am ddim yng Nghymru, felly nid ydym yn hoffi eu rhoi allan fel losin. Credaf fod hynny'n bwysig iawn, ac yn amlwg, mae goblygiadau enfawr i hynny, yn enwedig o ran meddyginiaethau gwrthfiotig, a’r peth olaf rydym am ei wneud yw eu gorddefnyddio.

Ond mae gennyf bryderon gwirioneddol am y rhaglen Panorama a'r hyn a ddangosodd, fod unigolion yn cael eu—. Awgrymwyd bod ganddynt gyflyrau nad oedd ganddynt, a arweiniodd at oblygiadau difrifol i'r unigolion hynny, gan iddynt gael eu rhoi, efallai, ar feddyginiaeth nad oedd mo'i hangen arnynt. Felly, mae’n rhywbeth y bydd angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn cadw llygad arno, a’r goblygiadau i GIG Cymru.

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

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

When it comes to being referred to private treatment by a health board or the NHS in Wales, I wonder if the Minister can guarantee that there is no postcode lottery in this regard across Wales. And the context of my question is that a constituent of mine, after waiting a considerable length of time for treatment on the NHS, decided to pay privately, despite the fact that they couldn't really afford to do so, but they made life choices because their heath and quality of life was important to them. That they accepted, reluctantly, but what was galling to them was, when they went for treatment, to find out that there were other patients waiting the same length of time in other parts of Wales who are being referred for private treatment by their health boards, and this, they felt, was particularly unfair. So, I wonder if the Minister can assure the Senedd that all health boards have adopted the same approach when it comes to referring patients from the Welsh NHS or Welsh health boards to private health services to avoid what appears to be a postcode lottery.

O ran cael eich cyfeirio at driniaeth breifat gan fwrdd iechyd neu’r GIG yng Nghymru, tybed a all y Gweinidog warantu nad oes loteri cod post yn hyn o beth ledled Cymru. A chyd-destun fy nghwestiwn yw bod un o fy etholwyr, ar ôl aros am gyfnod hir o amser am driniaeth ar y GIG, wedi penderfynu talu'n breifat, er na allent fforddio gwneud hynny mewn gwirionedd, ond fe wnaethant ddewis gwneud am fod eu hiechyd a'u hansawdd bywyd yn bwysig iddynt. Roeddent yn derbyn hynny, yn gyndyn, ond yr hyn a oedd yn eu cythruddo oedd darganfod, pan aethant i gael eu triniaeth, fod cleifion eraill a oedd wedi aros am yr un cyfnod o amser mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru yn cael eu hatgyfeirio am driniaeth breifat gan eu byrddau iechyd, a theimlent fod hyn yn arbennig o annheg. Felly, tybed a all y Gweinidog roi sicrwydd i'r Senedd fod pob bwrdd iechyd wedi mabwysiadu’r un dull o atgyfeirio cleifion o GIG Cymru neu fyrddau iechyd Cymru at wasanaethau iechyd preifat er mwyn osgoi’r hyn sydd, yn ôl pob golwg, yn loteri cod post.

Thanks very much. Well, you'll be aware that health boards are independent. They make these judgments on the basis of the clinical needs of their population, and one of the things I hope you noticed last week, and we're pleased to see, is that the statistics office are now producing the waiting-list time on the basis of individual health boards, which I think is far more meaningful for the population in Wales. So, what Members will see from that is that some health boards are performing a lot better than others, which means that there will be some, perhaps, that need to wait longer than others. Obviously, we’re interested, as Welsh Government, to try and avoid a postcode lottery, so it's not fair that some people in some parts of Wales have to wait considerably longer than others. Part of the reason we've kept £50 million back is to make sure that we see a better consistency, but we've got to be careful not to reward the people who are not doing well either. So, this is quite a difficult balancing act, and something that we're trying to work through.

But in terms of private practice, we need to clear the backlog. At this point in time, I think that's a priority. If some health boards want to use private practices to help clear the backlog, then they're able to do that. What I can't determine is who goes where at what point in terms of referrals from a particular health board to a particular private practice.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Wel, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod y byrddau iechyd yn annibynnol. Maent yn gwneud y dyfarniadau hyn ar sail anghenion clinigol eu poblogaethau, ac un o’r pethau rwy'n gobeithio ichi sylwi arnynt yr wythnos diwethaf, ac rydym yn falch o’i weld, yw bod y swyddfa ystadegau bellach yn cynhyrchu amseroedd rhestrau aros ar sail byrddau iechyd unigol, sy’n llawer mwy ystyrlon i boblogaeth Cymru yn fy marn i. Felly, yr hyn y bydd yr Aelodau’n ei weld o hynny yw bod rhai byrddau iechyd yn perfformio’n llawer gwell nag eraill, sy’n golygu y bydd angen i rai, efallai, aros yn hirach nag eraill. Yn amlwg, mae gennym ddiddordeb, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, mewn ceisio osgoi loteri cod post, felly nid yw'n deg fod rhai pobl mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru yn gorfod aros yn llawer hirach nag eraill. Rhan o'r rheswm rydym wedi cadw £50 miliwn yn ôl yw sicrhau ein bod yn gweld gwell cysondeb, ond mae'n rhaid inni fod yn ofalus i beidio â gwobrwyo'r bobl nad ydynt yn gwneud yn dda ychwaith. Felly, mae'n eithaf anodd sicrhau cydbwysedd, ac mae'n rhywbeth rydym yn ceisio gweithio drwyddo.

Ond ar ymarfer preifat, mae angen inni glirio’r ôl-groniad. Ar hyn o bryd, credaf fod honno’n flaenoriaeth. Os yw rhai byrddau iechyd am ddefnyddio practisau preifat i helpu i glirio'r ôl-groniad, gallant wneud hynny. Yr hyn na allaf ei bennu yw pwy sy'n mynd i ble ar ba bwynt mewn perthynas ag atgyfeiriadau gan fwrdd iechyd penodol i bractis preifat penodol.

15:05
Lefelau Nyrsio Digonol
Adequate Nurse-staffing Levels

4. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i sicrhau lefelau staff nyrsio digonol ar draws Gorllewin De Cymru? OQ59577

4. What action is the Minister taking to ensure adequate nurse-staffing levels across South Wales West? OQ59577

We continue to work in partnership to retain existing nurses across south-west Wales, to recruit locally and attract new internationally trained healthcare professionals to the area. While recruitment and staffing challenges remain, the nursing workforce of the Swansea Bay University Health Board is at record high levels.

Rydym yn parhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth i gadw'r nyrsys sydd gennym ar draws de-orllewin Cymru, i recriwtio’n lleol ac i ddenu gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol newydd sydd wedi’u hyfforddi’n rhyngwladol i’r ardal. Er bod heriau recriwtio a staffio'n parhau, mae gweithlu nyrsio Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe ar y lefelau uchaf erioed.

Thank you, Minister, for that answer. You'll be aware of Swansea Bay University Health Board's recent plan to recruit 900 nurses from overseas for four years, particularly from Kerala in south-west India. Of course, we're not opposed to recruitment like this in principle, and I also understand that the Welsh and UK Governments have committed not to take NHS staff from the areas with the worst struggles, but, in principle, there's still a moral argument about the impact on vulnerable patients in those countries where we go to take potential NHS staff from. It's not a sustainable solution for nursing staff in Wales either who are currently leaving the profession, and training places are failing to be taken up as a consequence. On top of this, we know that it's a problem that might get worse with staff leaving the profession. A health board report said that we have an ageing workforce profile in nursing, with 1,322 nurses and midwives currently over the age of 51, and could retire very soon, or over the next few years. So, in light of the shortages in domestic nursing, what steps are Welsh Government taking to address these serious problems and challenges in recruitment and training and encourage more students in Wales to take up nursing as a profession?

Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o gynllun diweddar Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe i recriwtio 900 o nyrsys o dramor am bedair blynedd, yn enwedig o Kerala yn ne-orllewin India. Wrth gwrs, nid ydym yn gwrthwynebu recriwtio yn y ffordd hon mewn egwyddor, a deallaf hefyd fod Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU wedi ymrwymo i beidio â mynd â staff y GIG o’r ardaloedd sy'n ei chael hi anoddaf, ond mewn egwyddor, mae dadl foesol o hyd ynghylch yr effaith ar gleifion agored i niwed yn y gwledydd hynny y byddwn yn mynd â darpar staff y GIG ohonynt. Nid yw'n ateb cynaliadwy ychwaith i broblem staff nyrsio yng Nghymru sy'n gadael y proffesiwn ar hyn o bryd, gyda lleoedd hyfforddi'n aros yn wag o ganlyniad. Ar ben hyn, gwyddom ei bod yn broblem a allai waethygu gyda staff yn gadael y proffesiwn. Dywedodd adroddiad bwrdd iechyd fod gennym broffil gweithlu nyrsio sy’n heneiddio, gyda 1,322 o nyrsys a bydwragedd dros 51 oed ar hyn o bryd, a gallent ymddeol yn fuan iawn, neu dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf. Felly, yng ngoleuni'r prinder nyrsio domestig, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau a'r heriau difrifol hyn gyda recriwtio a hyfforddi ac annog mwy o fyfyrwyr yng Nghymru i ymgymryd â nyrsio fel proffesiwn?

Well, I'm pleased to say that nursing training places have increased by 54 per cent over the last few years. So, they were 1,750 in 2017 and 2,701 in 2023. So, we're seeing an increase, and that's a good thing. The problem is, as you say, there are people who are leaving the profession. Now I, like you, was concerned about this moral dilemma: should we be taking people from poorer communities in India and places? I was very fortunate to meet with the health Minister for Kerala last year in south India, and she was actually encouraging us, if we wanted to take more nurses, whether that would be something that we might be interested in. Actually, I put it to her very straight: 'Why are you over-training people? Why are you offering these people? Don't you have a situation in India that you should be addressing?', and she was very, very clear—she said, 'In Kerala, we deliberately over-train because it's actually part of an economic development approach'. So, 30 per cent of Kerala's gross domestic product comes from remittances from overseas. So, it did put me into a slightly different place, so I was more comfortable than I may have been otherwise in relation to that.

So, I am pleased that, last year, 400 international nurses were recruited through the first phase of the national programme, and further international recruitment will take place this year.

Wel, rwy’n falch o ddweud bod lleoedd hyfforddiant nyrsio wedi cynyddu 54 y cant dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf. Felly, roedd 1,750 ohonynt yn 2017 a 2,701 yn 2023. Felly, rydym yn gweld cynnydd, ac mae hynny'n beth da. Y broblem yw bod pobl yn gadael y proffesiwn, fel y dywedwch. Nawr, fel chithau, roeddwn yn pryderu am y cyfyng-gyngor moesol hwn: a ddylem fod yn mynd â phobl o gymunedau tlotach yn India a lleoedd tebyg? Roeddwn yn ddigon ffodus i gyfarfod â Gweinidog iechyd Kerala yn ne India y llynedd, ac roedd hi'n ein hannog mewn gwirionedd, os oeddem yn awyddus i fynd â mwy o nyrsys, a fyddai hynny'n rhywbeth y gallai fod gennym ddiddordeb ynddo. Mewn gwirionedd, gofynnais iddi'n blwmp ac yn blaen: 'Pam eich bod yn gorhyfforddi pobl? Pam eich bod yn cynnig y bobl hyn? Onid oes gennych sefyllfa yn India y dylech fod yn mynd i'r afael â hi?', a dywedodd wrthyf yn glir iawn—meddai, 'Yn Kerala, rydym yn gorhyfforddi'n fwriadol gan fod hyn yn rhan o ddull datblygu economaidd'. Felly, mae 30 y cant o gynnyrch domestig gros Kerala yn dod o daliadau o dramor. Felly, fe wnaeth hynny newid fy safbwynt i raddau, ac roeddwn yn fwy cyfforddus nag y byddwn fel arall mewn perthynas â hynny.

Felly, rwy’n falch, y llynedd, fod 400 o nyrsys rhyngwladol wedi’u recriwtio drwy gam cyntaf y rhaglen genedlaethol, a bydd rhagor o recriwtio rhyngwladol yn digwydd eleni.

Cau Wardiau Ysbyty
Hospital Ward Closures

5. Pa effaith ganlyniadol y mae cau wardiau ysbytai o fewn Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn ei chael ar ddarpariaeth iechyd mewn rhannau eraill o'r ardal honno?  OQ59553

5. What knock-on impact does the closure of hospital wards within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have on health provision in other parts of the area?  OQ59553

I expect the health board to work with partners to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the communities it serves. This includes ensuring the clinical model, configuration of services, and facilities are fit for purpose and provide equity of access to deliver the very best care to all patients.

Rwy'n disgwyl i’r bwrdd iechyd weithio gyda phartneriaid i sicrhau bod digon o gapasiti i ddiwallu anghenion y cymunedau y mae’n eu gwasanaethu. Mae hyn yn cynnwys sicrhau bod y model clinigol, cyfluniad gwasanaethau, a chyfleusterau'n addas i'r diben ac yn darparu mynediad cyfartal er mwyn darparu'r gofal gorau posibl i bob claf.

Thank you, Minister, for your response. We've already heard today about the way in which the health board has been run; it's simply not fit for purpose for people who I represent in north Wales. Not only is the treatment that people receive substandard, but we heard again about the leaked report showing that auditors were being knowingly misled and documents being falsified by senior health board officials. It's this behaviour that has a direct impact on the health provision for the people I represent across the region and the quality of the care that they receive, and it's financial mismanagement like this that eventually leads to hospital wards such as the one at Tywyn eventually closing. And it's this closure at Tywyn that risks putting serious pressures on other parts of the health service in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area, and certainly makes it more difficult for our doctors and nurses and, ultimately, the residents I represent in my area. And when my residents see this money being wasted and documents being falsified, and then the impact it has on them in terms of services they receive, that's what really puts their backs up. So, Minister, why should north Wales residents have to deal with the negative impact of these ward closures, and what is being done to resolve this as quickly as possible?

Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Rydym eisoes wedi clywed heddiw am y ffordd y mae’r bwrdd iechyd wedi cael ei redeg; yn syml, nid yw’n addas i'r diben ar gyfer pobl rwy'n eu cynrychioli yng ngogledd Cymru. Nid yn unig fod y driniaeth y mae pobl yn ei chael islaw'r safon, clywsom eto am yr adroddiad a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol ac a ddangosai fod archwilwyr yn cael eu camarwain yn fwriadol a dogfennau’n cael eu ffugio gan uwch-swyddogion y bwrdd iechyd. Yr ymddygiad hwn sy’n cael effaith uniongyrchol ar y ddarpariaeth iechyd i’r bobl rwy'n eu cynrychioli ar draws y rhanbarth ac ansawdd y gofal a gânt, a chamreolaeth ariannol fel hyn sydd yn y pen draw yn arwain at gau wardiau ysbyty fel yr un yn Nhywyn. A chau'r ward yn Nhywyn yw'r hyn sy'n creu perygl o bwysau difrifol ar rannau eraill o'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, ac yn sicr, mae'n gwneud pethau'n anoddach i'n meddygon a'n nyrsys, ac yn y pen draw, i'r trigolion rwy'n eu cynrychioli yn fy ardal. A phan fydd fy nhrigolion yn gweld yr arian hwn yn cael ei wastraffu a dogfennau'n cael eu ffugio, a'r effaith a gaiff hynny arnynt hwy o ran y gwasanaethau a gânt, dyna sy'n eu cythruddo. Felly, Weinidog, pam y dylai trigolion y gogledd orfod ymdopi ag effaith negyddol cau’r wardiau hyn, a beth sy’n cael ei wneud i ddatrys y sefyllfa hon cyn gynted â phosibl?

15:10

Well, I was really pleased to visit Tywyn health centre on 12 May, because I knew that there were really serious issues there in relation to the closure of that facility temporarily. And you'll be aware that the reason for that closure was because of staffing challenges; it wasn't because there was any intention by anybody. And we, as a primary responsibility—. The health board's primary responsibility is to keep people safe and to make sure that there are safe staffing levels. There was a point in Tywyn when they went below the safe staffing levels and, therefore, there had to be a consequence to that.

Now, trying to recruit is difficult, but what you can't do is to constantly say, 'There's a problem in Betsi, there's a problem in Betsi, there's a problem in Betsi' and then think people are going to pour in their application forms, because that's not going to happen. There is a direct consequence to this constant talking down of Betsi—

Wel, roeddwn yn falch iawn o ymweld â chanolfan iechyd Tywyn ar 12 Mai, gan fy mod yn gwybod bod problemau gwirioneddol ddifrifol yno mewn perthynas â chau’r cyfleuster hwnnw dros dro. Ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol mai'r rheswm dros ei gau oedd heriau staffio, ac nid oherwydd bod unrhyw fwriad gan unrhyw un. A phrif gyfrifoldeb y bwrdd iechyd yw cadw pobl yn ddiogel a sicrhau y cedwir lefelau staffio diogel. Roedd pwynt yn Nhywyn pan aethant yn is na'r lefelau staffio diogel, ac felly, roedd yn rhaid bod canlyniad i hynny.

Nawr, mae ceisio recriwtio'n anodd, ond yr hyn na allwch ei wneud yw dweud o hyd ac o hyd, 'Mae problem ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, mae problem ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, mae problem ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr' a meddwl bod llu o bobl yn mynd i anfon eu ffurflenni cais i mewn, gan nad yw hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd. Mae canlyniad uniongyrchol i ddifrïo bwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr o hyd ac o hyd—

It's not, it's called scrutiny.

Nid ydym yn difrïo, fe'i gelwir yn graffu.

I don't mind scrutiny, but there is a direct result to that, and that is that it's getting more difficult, potentially, to recruit. And that is something—[Interruption.]—and it's absolutely right, but there is a direct consequence, and I just think that it's important that people understand. And the people of Tywyn, when I spoke to the action committee there, they understood that message, even if you don't.

Nid oes gennyf wrthwynebiad i graffu, ond mae canlyniad uniongyrchol i hynny, sef ei bod yn mynd yn anoddach recriwtio o bosibl. Ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth—[Torri ar draws.]—ac mae'n gwbl gywir, ond mae canlyniad uniongyrchol, a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig fod pobl yn deall. A phan siaradais â’r pwyllgor gweithredu yno, roedd pobl Tywyn yn deall y neges honno, hyd yn oed os nad ydych chi.

Integreiddio Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol
The Integration of Health and Social Care

6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gynnydd tuag at integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol? OQ59562

6. Will the Minister make a statement on progress towards the integration of health and social care? OQ59562

The Welsh Government has taken significant steps towards the integration of health and social care, including enshrining the duty to co-operate in legislation, establishing seven regional partnership boards and investing both revenue and capital funds in the development of new integrated models of health and social care.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd camau sylweddol tuag at integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys ymgorffori’r ddyletswydd i gydweithredu mewn deddfwriaeth, sefydlu saith bwrdd partneriaeth rhanbarthol a buddsoddi cyllid refeniw a chyfalaf yn y gwaith o ddatblygu modelau newydd integredig o iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. I'm not sure if the Chamber's aware, but I understand that the health Minister did visit Llandudno hospital last week. Now, I was part—[Interruption.] Anyway, I'm only sorry you didn't invite me along too, but hey-ho.

So, Deputy Minister, I sat, as many of us did, here, during the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, if my memory serves me correctly, and in that Bill, there were great hopes that we would see better integration of health and social care. Ask anybody who has a relative or a constituent who now tries to get somebody out of hospital—we've still got a system whereby there are breaks, if you like, between people coming out, needing a care package, care package not available. I still do not believe that health and social care is any more integrated as of today than it was when that Bill received Royal Assent.

Now, the Minister will know, when visiting Llandudno hospital, that she herself, as a result of us requesting this, commissioned a six-month project in a specially configured Aberconwy ward. This was aimed mainly at easing pressure on beds in the main acute hospitals, and it worked really well in freeing up beds in the larger hospitals. Now, last winter—

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Nid wyf yn siŵr a yw’r Siambr yn gwybod, ond deallaf fod y Gweinidog iechyd wedi ymweld ag ysbyty Llandudno yr wythnos diwethaf. Nawr, roeddwn yn rhan—[Torri ar draws.] Beth bynnag, mae'n ddrwg gennyf na wnaethoch fy ngwahodd innau, ond dyna ni.

Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, roeddwn yn eistedd yma, fel sawl un ohonom, yn ystod Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, os cofiaf yn iawn, ac yn y Bil hwnnw, roedd gobeithion mawr y byddem yn gweld iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn cael eu hintegreiddio'n well. Gofynnwch i unrhyw un â pherthynas neu etholwr sy'n ceisio dod â rhywun allan o'r ysbyty ar hyn o bryd—mae gennym system o hyd lle mae bylchau, os mynnwch, rhwng pobl yn dod allan, ac angen pecyn gofal arnynt, ac nid oes pecyn gofal ar gael. Ni chredaf fod iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn fwy integredig heddiw na phan gafodd y Bil hwnnw Gydsyniad Brenhinol.

Nawr, fe fydd y Gweinidog yn gwybod, wrth ymweld ag ysbyty Llandudno, ei bod, o ganlyniad i'n galwadau am hyn, wedi comisiynu prosiect chwe mis mewn ward a gyfluniwyd yn arbennig yn Aberconwy. Y nod yn bennaf oedd lleddfu'r pwysau ar welyau yn y prif ysbytai acíwt, a gweithiodd yn dda iawn i ryddhau gwelyau yn yr ysbytai mwy o faint. Nawr, y gaeaf diwethaf—

Janet, can you ask your question, please?

Janet, a wnewch chi ofyn eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda?

Yes, okay. They wanted to do this again, but apparently, for them to be able to do it with the lack of staff, they needed to register with Care Inspectorate Wales. This just baffles me. So, Deputy Minister, what can you do to ensure that there is greater integration of health and social care? And, if there's a ward in what they used to call the cottage hospitals that will work well in taking off some burden and pressure off the bigger hospitals, can you perhaps work with the health Minister, so that, if they need to be registered at CIW, then fine? But let's get some common sense into practices that see people discharged from hospitals and then given the treatment and support they need at a time when there are very little social care packages left in many constituencies across Wales. Thank you.

Iawn. Roeddent yn awyddus i wneud hyn eto, ond er mwyn iddynt allu ei wneud gyda’r diffyg staff, mae’n debyg fod angen iddynt gofrestru gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru. Mae hyn yn fy nrysu'n llwyr. Felly, Ddirprwy Weinidog, beth y gallwch ei wneud i sicrhau mwy o integreiddio rhwng iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol? Ac os oes ward yn yr hyn yr arferent eu galw'n ysbytai bwthyn a fyddai'n gweithio'n dda er mwyn lleddfu rhywfaint o'r baich a phwysau ar yr ysbytai mwy o faint, a wnewch chi weithio gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd efallai fel nad oes problem os oes angen iddynt gofrestru gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru? Ond gadewch inni gael rhywfaint o synnwyr cyffredin mewn arferion lle caiff pobl eu rhyddhau o ysbytai a'u bod wedyn yn cael y driniaeth a’r cymorth sydd eu hangen arnynt ar adeg pan fo ond ychydig iawn o becynnau gofal cymdeithasol ar ôl mewn llawer o etholaethau ledled Cymru. Diolch.

15:15

Thank you, Janet, very much for that question. Certainly, the health Minister and I are working tirelessly on this issue. I would challenge what you say about there not being any further integration, because certainly as a result of the issues that you’ve referred to in terms of people waiting in hospitals in order to leave there, we created, working with the local authorities and the health boards, an additional nearly 700 beds that were either step-down beds or community packages, to directly address the issue that she raises. And of course, as a result of working to greater health and social care integration we have created the regional integration fund, the RIF fund, which has got an enormous number of projects that are working very closely between health and social care, and in fact north Wales is doing very well on these projects. The programme in north Wales comprised 40 projects across the six national models of care, and the total investment was £43 million. So, I certainly would contest what Janet says about there being no progress on integration. But we do know we’ve got further to go, I absolutely accept that. But we are on the way, and we are making progress. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich cwestiwn, Janet. Yn sicr, mae’r Gweinidog iechyd a minnau’n gweithio’n ddiflino ar y mater hwn. Byddwn yn herio’r hyn a ddywedwch ynglŷn â'r syniad nad oes unrhyw integreiddio pellach, oherwydd yn sicr, o ganlyniad i’r materion rydych wedi cyfeirio atynt gyda phobl yn aros i adael ysbytai, gan weithio gyda’r awdurdodau lleol a'r byrddau iechyd, fe wnaethom greu bron i 700 o welyau ychwanegol a oedd naill ai’n welyau gofal llai dwys neu’n becynnau cymunedol i fynd i’r afael yn uniongyrchol â’r mater y mae'n ei godi. Ac wrth gwrs, o ganlyniad i weithio tuag at fwy o integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, rydym wedi creu'r gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol, sy'n ariannu nifer enfawr o brosiectau yn cynnwys gwaith agos iawn rhwng iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae gogledd Cymru'n gwneud yn dda iawn ar y prosiectau hyn. Roedd y rhaglen yn y gogledd yn cynnwys 40 o brosiectau ar draws y chwe model gofal cenedlaethol, a chyfanswm y buddsoddiad oedd £43 miliwn. Felly, byddwn yn sicr yn herio'r hyn a ddywed Janet ynglŷn â'r syniad na wnaed unrhyw gynnydd ar integreiddio. Ond gwyddom fod mwy gennym i'w wneud, rwy'n derbyn hynny'n llwyr. Ond rydym ar y ffordd, ac rydym yn gwneud cynnydd.

Gwasanaethau Strôc y GIG
NHS Stroke Service

7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddyfodol gwasanaethau strôc y GIG yng nghanolbarth Cymru? OQ59548

7. Will the Minister make a statement on the future of NHS stroke services in mid Wales? OQ59548

Our vision for stroke services and improving outcomes has been set out in the stroke quality statement. The unique circumstances of mid Wales are reflected in plans being taken forward by the national stroke programme, led by the clinical lead for stroke and the stroke programme board. 

Mae ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer gwasanaethau strôc a gwella canlyniadau wedi’i nodi yn y datganiad ansawdd ar gyfer strôc. Adlewyrchir amgylchiadau unigryw canolbarth Cymru mewn cynlluniau sy'n cael eu datblygu gan y rhaglen strôc genedlaethol, dan arweiniad yr arweinydd clinigol ar gyfer strôc a bwrdd y rhaglen strôc.

Thank you, Minister, for your answer. You will of course know the sparse population of mid Wales, and the time it takes, of course, to get to hospital, especially for specialist services like stroke services, where, of course, time is of the essence in getting patients to hospital. We also know the population of mid Wales, of course, is an older population as well. Whilst those in the east of my constituency are close to the services in England, those in the west are not. So, given the strategic importance of Bronglais hospital’s services for the people of mid Wales, and also Brecon and Radnor, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, it is absolutely important, considering the time-critical nature of stroke treatment. I wonder if the Minister could outline some further plans on how those stroke services at Bronglais hospital are going to be sustained and developed? This is, of course, a crucial service that Government, I hope, would support in line with, indeed, as the Minister has mentioned, the stroke quality statement.

Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod y canolbarth yn ardal brin ei phoblogaeth, ac o’r amser y mae’n ei gymryd i gyrraedd yr ysbyty, yn enwedig ar gyfer gwasanaethau arbenigol fel gwasanaethau strôc, lle mae'n hanfodol fod cleifion yn mynd i’r ysbyty cyn gynted â phosibl. Gwyddom hefyd fod poblogaeth y canolbarth yn boblogaeth hŷn. Er bod y rheini yn nwyrain fy etholaeth yn agos at wasanaethau yn Lloegr, nid yw’r un peth yn wir am y rheini yn y gorllewin. Felly, o ystyried pwysigrwydd strategol gwasanaethau ysbyty Bronglais i bobl y canolbarth, a hefyd Brycheiniog a sir Faesyfed, sir Gaerfyrddin a sir Benfro, mae’n hanfodol, o ystyried pwysigrwydd darparu triniaeth strôc yn gyflym. Tybed a wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu cynlluniau pellach ar sut y bydd gwasanaethau strôc yn ysbyty Bronglais yn cael eu cynnal a’u datblygu? Mae hwn, wrth gwrs, yn wasanaeth hanfodol y byddai’r Llywodraeth, gobeithio, yn ei gefnogi yn unol â’r datganiad ansawdd ar gyfer strôc, fel y mae’r Gweinidog wedi’i grybwyll.

Thanks very much. I think it's important that it's clinicians that lead on some of these things. So, it's got to be them that decide, 'Right, this is the most appropriate response in this particular area when a particular circumstance comes up.' So, as a politician it wouldn't be right to second-guess the best way to do that. So, it means that local commissioning, operational delivery, remains in the hands of the health board, but obviously they need to think regionally and cross border, in particular, in the area that you represent. I think what's important here is to ensure that people of all ages have the lowest possible risk. So, we've got to get ahead of the game where we can to reduce the chances of people getting stroke in the first place. We've got to get into this prevention space. That's how we're going to—. We've got to recognise people will have strokes, but the investment going in up front, that's where I think the clinicians need to give us a lead on where best to put our investment. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig mai clinigwyr sy'n arwain ar rai o'r pethau hyn. Felly, mae'n rhaid mai nhw sy'n penderfynu, 'Iawn, dyma'r ymateb mwyaf priodol yn yr ardal hon mewn amgylchiadau penodol.' Felly, fel gwleidydd, ni fyddai'n iawn ceisio dyfalu beth yw'r ffordd orau o wneud hynny. Felly, golyga hynny fod comisiynu lleol, cyflawniad gweithredol, yn parhau i fod yn nwylo’r bwrdd iechyd, ond yn amlwg, mae angen iddynt feddwl yn rhanbarthol, ac yn drawsffiniol, yn enwedig, yn yr ardal rydych chi'n ei chynrychioli. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig yma yw sicrhau'r risg isaf bosibl i bobl o bob oed. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni achub y blaen ar hyn lle gallwn er mwyn lleihau'r perygl y bydd pobl yn cael strôc yn y lle cyntaf. Mae'n rhaid mynd ati i wneud gwaith atal. Dyna sut y byddwn yn—. Mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod y bydd pobl yn cael strôc, ond o ran rhoi buddsoddiad ymlaen llaw, dyna ble mae angen i'r clinigwyr roi arweiniad i ni ar y lle gorau i wneud ein buddsoddiad yn fy marn i.

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Vikki Howells. 

And finally, question 8, Vikki Howells. 

Cymorth Iechyd Meddwl
Mental Health Support

8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith Llywodraeth Cymru i wella mynediad at gymorth iechyd meddwl? OQ59558

8. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government work to improve access to mental health support? OQ59558

We continue to provide sustained funding to support the provision of mental health services. In addition to its ring-fenced mental health allocation, health boards have received an additional £26.5 million of recurrent mental health funding over the last two years to continue to improve mental health support.

Rydym yn parhau i ddarparu cyllid parhaus i gefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Yn ogystal â’r dyraniad a glustnodwyd ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, mae byrddau iechyd wedi cael £26.5 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid iechyd meddwl rheolaidd dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf i barhau i wella cymorth iechyd meddwl.

Thank you for your answer, Deputy Minister. I recently met with the '111 press 2' team in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, where I was told about the high numbers of people the service had already helped to access mental health support. It was wonderful to meet the team to find out about the different skills that they brought to their roles and to feel their enthusiasm and commitment to what is a really important job. I was impressed that this was all done via a single point of contact, reducing stress for people who need help, and also by the organic way access to the service has grown via word of mouth. What plans does the Welsh Government have, working with local health boards and other partners, to raise awareness of the immediate mental health support available via '111 press 2'?

Diolch am eich ateb, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Cyfarfûm yn ddiweddar â thîm '111 Dewis 2’ yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg, lle dywedwyd wrthyf am y niferoedd uchel o bobl y mae'r gwasanaeth eisoes wedi’u helpu i gael cymorth iechyd meddwl. Roedd yn wych cyfarfod â'r tîm i ddysgu am y gwahanol sgiliau a gyfrannant i'w rolau ac i deimlo eu brwdfrydedd a'u hymrwymiad i'r swydd wirioneddol bwysig hon. Roeddwn yn edmygu'r ffaith bod hyn oll yn digwydd drwy un pwynt cyswllt, gan leihau straen ar bobl sydd angen cymorth, a hefyd y ffordd organig y mae mynediad at y gwasanaeth wedi lledaenu ar lafar gwlad. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, gan weithio gyda byrddau iechyd lleol a phartneriaid eraill, i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r cymorth iechyd meddwl uniongyrchol sydd ar gael drwy '111 Dewis 2'?

15:20

Can I thank Vikki for her supplementary and say how pleased I am that she has had the opportunity to go and see '111 press 2' in action? I'm absolutely delighted that that service is now operational 24 hours a day in all parts of Wales. At a national level, we've received already over 12,000 calls, and in just Cwm Taf there have been over 650 people who have contacted the service already. It really is 'no wrong door' in action, and that has been made possible by this Government's commitment to prioritise funding for mental health.

The Member is absolutely right that we do need to do what we can to raise awareness of the new service, and there is a full communications campaign planned. I'm going to be making a statement on it here in the Senedd next month, and we'll be doing all that we can to promote it. It is a single point of access, but it's also, vitally, a single point of access for professionals as well, who can get in touch if they are concerned about someone's mental health. So, it really is the embodiment of 'no wrong door' in action, and I'm delighted that the Member has had an opportunity to go and see it for herself.

A gaf fi ddiolch i Vikki am ei chwestiwn atodol a dweud pa mor falch yr wyf ei bod wedi cael cyfle i fynd i weld '111 Dewis 2’ ar waith? Rwyf wrth fy modd fod y gwasanaeth hwnnw bellach yn weithredol 24 awr y dydd ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Ar lefel genedlaethol, rydym eisoes wedi derbyn dros 12,000 o alwadau, ac yng Nghwm Taf yn unig, mae dros 650 o bobl wedi cysylltu â’r gwasanaeth eisoes. Dyma ddull 'dim drws anghywir' ar waith, a gwnaed hynny'n bosibl gan ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon i flaenoriaethu cyllid ar gyfer iechyd meddwl.

Mae’r Aelod yn llygad ei lle fod angen inni wneud yr hyn a allwn i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r gwasanaeth newydd, ac mae ymgyrch gyfathrebu lawn wedi’i chynllunio. Byddaf yn gwneud datganiad arni yma yn y Senedd fis nesaf, a byddwn yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i’w hyrwyddo. Mae’n un pwynt cyswllt, ond mae hefyd, yn hanfodol, yn un pwynt cyswllt ar gyfer gweithwyr proffesiynol hefyd, a all gysylltu os ydynt yn pryderu am iechyd meddwl rhywun. Felly, mae'n ymgorfforiad go iawn o'r dull 'dim drws anghywir' ar waith, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod yr Aelod wedi cael cyfle i fynd i'w weld drosti'i hun.

Diolch i'r Gweinidog a'r Dirprwy Weinidogion.

Thank you to the Minister and Deputy Ministers. 

Cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 26.45 i ystyried rhagor o welliannau i'r Bil Amaethyddiaeth (Cymru) yn y Cyfnod Adrodd
Motion under Standing Order 26.45 to consider further amendments to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill at Report Stage

Rwyf wedi cael fy hysbysu bod y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru yn dymuno gwneud cynnig bod y Senedd yn ystyried rhagor o welliannau i'r Bil Amaethyddiaeth (Cymru) yn y Cyfnod Adrodd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.45. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol.

I've received notification that the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales wishes to move a motion that the Senedd considers further amendments to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill at Report Stage, in accordance with Standing Order 26.45. I call on the Minister to formally move the motion.

Cynnig

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â rheol Sefydlog 26.45:

Yn cytuno i ystyried rhagor o welliannau i'r Bil Amaethyddiaeth (Cymru) yn y Cyfnod Adrodd.

Motion

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.45:

Agrees to consider further amendments to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill at Report Stage.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Member
Lesley Griffiths 15:22:34
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. In accordance with Standing Order 26.45, the Senedd is asked to agree to consider further amendments to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill at Report Stage, and I formally move.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.45, gofynnir i’r Senedd gytuno i ystyried gwelliannau pellach i’r Bil Amaethyddiaeth (Cymru) yn y Cyfnod Adrodd, ac rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol.

I understand that the reason for the motion being laid is to withdraw amendment 55, submitted in my name when we went through Stage 3 of the agriculture Bill last week. While I'm disappointed that this is the case, I understand why, on its own, that amendment is causing some distress to the Government, in terms of delivering on the agriculture Bill. The purpose of the amendment was to ensure that large corporations purchasing Welsh agricultural land and getting public money to plant trees was prohibited in the new agricultural scheme, and I know that there could be concern that new entrants, with this amendment being passed, wouldn't be supported. However, had the whole suite of my amendments been passed when we went through Stage 2, I'm sure that that would have been averted, but I completely understand the reason for this motion here today. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.

Deallaf mai’r rheswm dros osod y cynnig yw tynnu gwelliant 55, a gyflwynwyd yn fy enw i pan aethom drwy Gyfnod 3 y Bil amaethyddiaeth yr wythnos diwethaf. Er fy mod yn siomedig am hyn, rwy’n deall pam, ar ei ben ei hun, fod y gwelliant hwnnw’n peri rhywfaint o ofid i’r Llywodraeth, o ran cyflwyno'r Bil amaethyddiaeth. Diben y gwelliant oedd sicrhau bod y cynllun amaethyddol newydd yn gwahardd corfforaethau mawr rhag prynu tir amaethyddol yng Nghymru a chael arian cyhoeddus i blannu coed, a gwn y gallai fod pryder na fyddai newydd-ddyfodiaid yn cael eu cefnogi yn sgil derbyn y gwelliant hwn. Fodd bynnag, pe bai’r gyfres gyfan o fy ngwelliannau wedi’u pasio pan aethom drwy Gyfnod 2, rwy’n siŵr y byddid wedi gallu osgoi hynny, ond rwy’n deall y rheswm dros y cynnig hwn yma heddiw yn llwyr. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.

Galwaf ar y Gweinidog i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on the Minister to reply.

Member
Lesley Griffiths 15:23:37
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Thank you. Well, yes, as Sam Kurtz is very well aware, following the Stage 3 debate, amendment 55 was inserted and a new provision in section 9, paragraph 3, 'Further provision about support under section 8', was, therefore, placed in the Bill. It does cause and create really strict restrictions for where financial support is provided, not just the scenario that Sam Kurtz has just presented the Senedd with. The provisions will have significant consequences for the ability of Welsh Ministers to provide support to the farming sector, and that does indeed include new entrants, commons, shared farmers, as well as the wider supply chain and other agricultural businesses.

The Agriculture (Wales) Bill has to work, especially in relation to those beneficiaries whose actions are undertaken in the very best interests of the agricultural sector. The Bill does need to ensure assistance can be provided to the right people, and that does include providing support to new farmers and to those who may choose to farm on common and, of course, tenanted land—that's very important, because so much of our land here in Wales is undertaken by tenant farmers—or, indeed, on land that is owned in whole or in part by them.

I've had some detailed discussions, I just want to assure Members, with stakeholders over the past few days, and they agree with the Government's position that there is a need for the agriculture Bill to work for all farmers, not create barriers to the support that can be provided. Diolch.

Diolch. Wel, do, fel y gŵyr Sam Kurtz yn iawn, yn dilyn y ddadl yng Nghyfnod 3, mewnosodwyd gwelliant 55, ac felly, gosodwyd darpariaeth newydd yn adran 9, paragraff 3, 'Darpariaeth bellach ynghylch cymorth o dan adran 8', yn y Bil. Mae’n achosi ac yn creu cyfyngiadau llym iawn ar gyfer ble y darperir cymorth ariannol, ac nid yn unig y senario y mae Sam Kurtz newydd ei disgrifio i’r Senedd. Bydd y darpariaethau'n arwain at ganlyniadau sylweddol i allu Gweinidogion Cymru i ddarparu cymorth i’r sector ffermio, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys newydd-ddyfodiaid, tiroedd comin, ffermwyr cyfran, yn ogystal â’r gadwyn gyflenwi ehangach a busnesau amaethyddol eraill.

Mae’n rhaid i Fil Amaethyddiaeth (Cymru) weithio, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â buddiolwyr sy'n gweithredu er budd gorau'r sector amaethyddol. Mae angen i’r Bil sicrhau y gellir darparu cymorth i’r bobl iawn, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys darparu cymorth i ffermwyr newydd ac i’r rhai a allai ddewis ffermio ar dir comin, ac wrth gwrs, ar denantir—mae hynny’n bwysig iawn, gan fod cymaint o'n tir yma yng Nghymru'n cael ei ffermio gan ffermwyr tenant—neu'n wir, ar dir y maent yn berchen arno'n gyfan gwbl neu'n rhannol.

Hoffwn roi sicrwydd i'r Aelodau fy mod wedi cael trafodaethau manwl gyda rhanddeiliaid dros y dyddiau diwethaf, ac maent yn cytuno â safbwynt y Llywodraeth fod angen i’r Bil amaethyddiaeth weithio i bob ffermwr, nid creu rhwystrau i'r cymorth y gellir ei ddarparu. Diolch.

15:25

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Felly, gohiriaf y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There is objection. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.

Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.

Voting deferred until voting time.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Nid oes unrhyw gwestiynau amserol heddiw.

No topical question has been accepted.

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Felly, symudwn ymlaen at y datganiad 90 eiliad. Ac yn gyntaf, Elin Jones.

We will therefore move on to the 90-second statements. First of all, Elin Jones.

Here in this Senedd, we regularly debate petitions where 10,000 people or more have signed to support a cause. Imagine a petition of 390,296 signatures, all women, all signed by hand, from every community in Wales, and all collected exactly 100 years ago. This petition was kickstarted at a public conference on the women of Wales and world peace, which took place in Aberystwyth on Tuesday 23 May 1923, 100 years ago yesterday. The gathering was presided over by Mrs Annie Hughes-Griffiths, Chair of the Welsh League of Nations Union. The petition called on the women of America to join the women of Wales to

'hand down to the generations which come after us, the proud heritage of a warless world.'

There were organising committees to collect signatures in every county, and, by early 1924, a delegation of four Welsh women had taken the petition to America on a two-month peace tour, and presented the petition to the US President, Calvin Coolidge. The petition was then kept in the Smithsonian museum, and its story disappeared from our national memory until very recently, and, with considerable effort by peace campaigners and national organisations, all seven miles of the peace petition papers have been returned for the centenary from the Smithsonian to the national library. The signatures will be digitised over the next few months and then we can check whether our mam-gus or aunties signed that glorious petition for peace 100 years ago. And in the spring of next year, when we celebrate the centenary of the petition’s arrival in America, why don’t we debate on the floor of this Senedd the women of Wales’s peace petition of 1923 to 1924? It’s as relevant today as it was then.

Yma yn y Senedd hon, rydym yn aml yn trafod deisebau y mae 10,000 neu fwy o bobl wedi'u llofnodi i gefnogi achos. Dychmygwch ddeiseb â 390,296 o lofnodion, pob un gan fenywod, pob un ohonynt wedi llofnodi â llaw, o bob cymuned yng Nghymru, a’r cyfan wedi’i gasglu 100 mlynedd union yn ôl. Dechreuwyd y ddeiseb hon mewn cynhadledd gyhoeddus ar fenywod Cymru a heddwch byd, a gynhaliwyd yn Aberystwyth ddydd Mawrth 23 Mai 1923, 100 mlynedd yn ôl i ddoe. Llywydd y digwyddiad oedd Mrs Annie Hughes-Griffiths, Cadeirydd Undeb Cynghrair y Cenhedloedd Cymru. Roedd y ddeiseb yn galw ar fenywod America i ymuno â menywod Cymru i

'drosglwyddo i’r cenedlaethau sy’n ein dilyn dreftadaeth glodwiw o fyd heb ryfel.'

Roedd pwyllgorau trefnu i gasglu llofnodion ym mhob sir, ac erbyn dechrau 1924, roedd dirprwyaeth o bedair Cymraes wedi mynd â’r ddeiseb i America ar daith heddwch ddeufis o hyd, gan gyflwyno’r ddeiseb i Arlywydd yr Unol Daleithiau, Calvin Coolidge. Cadwyd y ddeiseb wedyn yn amgueddfa’r Smithsonian, a diflannodd ei hanes o’n cof cenedlaethol tan yn ddiweddar iawn, a chydag ymdrech sylweddol gan ymgyrchwyr heddwch a sefydliadau cenedlaethol, mae'r saith milltir o bapurau'r ddeiseb heddwch wedi’u rhoi yn ôl gan y Smithsonian i'r Llyfrgell Genedlaethol i nodi canmlwyddiant y cyfarfod. Bydd y llofnodion yn cael eu digideiddio dros y misoedd nesaf, a gallwn wirio a arwyddodd ein mam-guod neu ein modrybedd y ddeiseb ogoneddus honno dros heddwch 100 mlynedd yn ôl. Ac yng ngwanwyn y flwyddyn nesaf, pan fyddwn yn dathlu canmlwyddiant mynd â'r ddeiseb i America, pam na chawn ddadl ar lawr y Senedd hon ar ddeiseb heddwch menywod Cymru yn 1923 a 1924? Mae mor berthnasol heddiw ag yr oedd bryd hynny.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. This year, the Severn Area Rescue Association, also known as SARA, are marking their fiftieth anniversary. They are a volunteer lifeboat and inland search and rescue charity, with seven lifeboat and rescue stations along the length of the River Severn. Each year, SARA are called out over 100 times. This includes covering callouts in Newport East, along the estuary and River Usk towards the city centre and indeed past my constituency office. Last Friday, I was pleased to join the SARA team to learn more about their operations, their plans for the fiftieth anniversary, and their aspirations going forward.

The Severn estuary and River Usk are hazardous places, with strong currents and fast-changing tides. That’s why the SARA volunteers are highly skilled and trained twice a week, so that, when they respond to a call, they know exactly what they need to do.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I want to put on record my thanks to everyone at SARA, and indeed their sister organisations right across the length and breadth of Wales, for everything they do to keep our communities safe and away from danger. I wish SARA a happy fiftieth anniversary and look forward to working with them further in the future.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Eleni, mae Cymdeithas Achub Ardal Hafren, a elwir hefyd yn SARA, yn nodi eu hanner canmlwyddiant. Elusen chwilio ac achub mewndirol a bad achub gwirfoddol ydynt, gyda saith bad achub a gorsaf achub ar lannau afon Hafren. Bob blwyddyn, caiff SARA eu galw allan dros 100 o weithiau. Mae hyn yn cynnwys galwadau yn Nwyrain Casnewydd, ar hyd yr aber ac afon Wysg tuag at ganol y ddinas, ac yn wir, heibio i fy swyddfa etholaethol. Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, roeddwn yn falch o ymuno â thîm SARA i ddysgu mwy am eu gweithrediadau, eu cynlluniau ar gyfer yr hanner canmlwyddiant, a'u dyheadau wrth symud ymlaen.

Mae aber afon Hafren ac afon Wysg yn lleoedd peryglus, gyda cherhyntau cryf a llanw sy'n newid yn gyflym. Dyna pam fod gwirfoddolwyr SARA yn fedrus iawn ac yn cael eu hyfforddi ddwywaith yr wythnos, fel eu bod, pan fyddant yn ymateb i alwad, yn gwybod yn union beth sydd angen iddynt ei wneud.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i bawb yn SARA, ac yn wir, i'w chwaer sefydliadau ledled Cymru, am bopeth a wnânt i gadw ein cymunedau'n ddiogel a'u hamddiffyn rhag perygl. Rwy'n dymuno hanner canmlwyddiant hapus i SARA, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio mwy gyda nhw yn y dyfodol.

Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae pentrefi a threfi sir Gâr bellach yn blastr o goch, gwyn a gwyrdd, wrth i dref Llanymddyfri baratoi i groesawu Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd i'r ardal wythnos nesaf. A gaf i gymryd y cyfle hwn, felly, i longyfarch y pwyllgorau apêl lleol ar draws sir Gaerfyrddin am eu hymdrechion diflino i godi arian i groesawu gŵyl ieuenctid fwyaf Ewrop i ddyffryn Tywi, gyda dros £300,000 eisoes wedi eu codi? A does dim dwywaith y bydd croeso heb ei ail i'w gael yn nhref Williams Pantycelyn, Twm Sion Cati a'r Ficer Pritchard, gyda'r tywydd yn edrych yn ffafriol iawn i groesawu Mr Urdd a degau o filoedd o gystadleuwyr ifanc o bob cwr o Gymru a thu hwnt. Does dim dwywaith y bydd yr ŵyl yn hwb enfawr i Gymreictod y dref a’r sir, a hynny yn wyneb nifer o heriau i'r iaith yn ein cymunedau gwledig.

Ac wrth sôn am Lanymddyfri, byddai’n amhosibl peidio â llongyfarch clwb rygbi’r dref ar eu llwyddiant y penwythnos diwethaf wrth iddyn nhw gipio cwpan uwch-gynghrair Cymru am y tro cyntaf yn eu hanes. Ac er i'r gêm gael ei chynnal yma yng Nghaerdydd, tîm y porthmyn enillodd, a dwi'n deall bod y dathlu yn parhau o hyd yn nhref Llanymddyfri. Felly, llongyfarchiadau gwresog i bawb, gan obeithio eich gweld chi i gyd yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd yr wythnos nesaf, lle bydd croeso cynnes yn eich aros chi yn sir Gâr.

Dirprwy Lywydd, the villages and towns of Carmarthenshire are now a swathe of red, white and green, as the town of Llandovery prepares to welcome the Urdd National Eisteddfod to the area next week. Could I, therefore, take this opportunity to congratulate the local appeal committees across Carmarthenshire for their tireless efforts over the past few years to raise funds to welcome Europe’s biggest youth festival to the Towy valley, with more than £300,000 having been raised already? And there is no doubt that there will be an unrivalled welcome in the town of Williams Pantycelyn, Twm Sion Cati and Ficer Pritchard, with the weather looking very favourable to welcome Mr Urdd and the tens of thousands of young competitors from all over Wales and beyond. There is no doubt that the festival will be a huge boost to the Welshness of the town and the county, and that in the face of a number of challenges faced by the language in our rural communities.

And in speaking of Llandovery, it would be impossible not to congratulate the town’s rugby club on their success last weekend as they won the Welsh premier league cup for the first time in their history. And although the game was played here in Cardiff, it was the drovers team that won, and I understand that the celebrations are still going on in the town of Llandovery. So, hearty congratulations to everyone, and I hope to see you all at the Urdd Eisteddfod next week, where a warm welcome awaits you in Carmarthenshire.

15:30
Cynnig i atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro
Motion to suspend Standing Orders

Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cynnig i atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro i alluogi dadl ar NNDM8276. A galwaf ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol. Darren Millar.

The next item is a motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow a debate on NNDM8276. And I call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion. Darren Millar.

Cynnig NNDM8277 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 33.6 a 33.8:

Yn atal dros dro Reol Sefydlog 12.10(ii) a'r rhan honno o Reol Sefydlog 11.16 sy’n ei gwneud yn ofynnol bod y cyhoeddiad wythnosol o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.11 yn darparu’r amserlen ar gyfer busnes yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yr wythnos ganlynol, er mwyn caniatáu i NNDM8276 gael ei ystyried yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ddydd Mercher 24 Mai 2023.

Motion NNDM8277 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

Suspends Standing Order 12.10(ii) and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NNDM8276 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday, 24 May 2023.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid atal y Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to suspend Standing Orders. 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.

Cynnig i ethol Cadeiryddion ac Aelodau Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru
Motion to elect Chairs and Members to the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee

Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cynnig i ethol Cadeiryddion ac Aelodau i'r Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar gyfer Cymru ar Ymchwiliad COVID-19. Galwaf ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol. Darren Millar.

The next item is a motion to elect Chairs and Members to the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee. I call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move. Darren Millar.

Cynnig NNDM8276 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.2T, yn penderfynu na fydd Rheolau Sefydlog 17.2A i 17.2S (ethol cadeiryddion pwyllgorau) yn gymwys mewn perthynas â Phwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru.

2. Yn penderfynu, at ddibenion Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru, y dylid dehongli cyfeiriadau yn y Rheolau Sefydlog at 'gadeirydd' pwyllgor i olygu 'cyd-gadeirydd' a bod yn rhaid i swyddogaethau cadeiryddion pwyllgorau a amlinellir yn y Rheolau Sefydlog gael eu harfer ar y cyd gan Gyd-gadeiryddion Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru.

3. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.3, yn ethol:

a) Vikki Howells (Llafur Cymru), Jack Sargeant (Llafur Cymru), Altaf Hussain (Ceidwadwyr Cymreig) ac Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) yn aelodau o Bwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru;

b) Joyce Watson (Llafur Cymru) a Tom Giffard (Ceidwadwyr Cymreig) yn Gyd-gadeiryddion Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru.

4. Yn penderfynu cyfarwyddo y dylai busnes cychwynnol Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru ystyried y gweithdrefnau y mae'n bwriadu eu mabwysiadu i gyflawni'r dibenion y mae wedi'u sefydlu ar eu cyfer (gan gynnwys gweithredu’r trefniadau cyd-gadeirio) ac argymell unrhyw ddiwygiadau i'r Rheolau Sefydlog y mae'n eu hystyried yn angenrheidiol neu'n fuddiol i hwyluso ei waith.

5. Yn nodi y bydd y Pwyllgor Busnes yn cynnig unrhyw ddiwygiadau i'r Rheolau Sefydlog y mae o’r farn sydd eu hangen i hwyluso gwaith Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru, gan ystyried unrhyw argymhellion ar gyfer diwygiadau a wneir gan Bwyllgor Diben Arbennig Ymchwiliad Covid-19 Cymru.

Motion NNDM8276 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd:

1. In accordance with Standing Order 17.2T, resolves that Standing Orders 17.2A to 17.2S (election of committee chairs) shall not apply in relation to the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.

2. Resolves, for the purposes of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee, that references in Standing Orders to a ‘chair’ of a committee be interpreted to mean ‘co-chair’ and that the functions of chairs of committees outlined in Standing Orders must be exercised jointly by the Co-Chairs of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.

3. In accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects:

a) Vikki Howells (Welsh Labour), Jack Sargeant (Welsh Labour), Altaf Hussain (Welsh Conservatives) and Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) as members of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee; 

b) Joyce Watson (Welsh Labour) and Tom Giffard (Welsh Conservatives) as Co-Chairs of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.

4. Resolves to direct that the initial business of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee should be to consider the procedures it proposes to adopt to fulfil the purposes for which it is established (including the functioning of the co-chairing arrangements) and to recommend any amendments to Standing Orders which it considers necessary or expedient to facilitate its work.

5. Notes that the Business Committee will propose any amendments to Standing Orders which it considers are required to facilitate the work of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee, taking into account any recommendations for amendments made by the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Dim ond ychydig eiriau gen i. Mi gefnogwn ni'r cynnig yma heddiw, achos ni, wedi'r cyfan, wnaeth gyd-gynnig y cynnig yn gofyn am sefydlu pwyllgor o'r fath. Mae hi'n bwysig nodi, serch hynny, ein syndod ni eto fod sefydlu pwyllgor aml-bleidiol, a fydd yn gweithredu'n aml-bleidiol, wedi digwydd o ganlyniad i gytundeb rhwng Llafur a'r Ceidwadwyr.

Just a few words from me. We will support this motion today, because, after all, we co-submitted the motion requesting the establishment of such a committee. It's important to note, however, our shock once again that the establishment of a cross-party committee, which will work across parties, has happened as a result of an agreement between Labour and the Conservatives.

I note that, whilst I questioned the circumstances in which this deal was made, both Conservatives and Labour chose to add the word 'grubby', and both responded with a denial that there had been a 'grubby' deal—their choice of words. And now we see, of course, that the deal even involves a very unusual joint chairmanship. Now, we know what people are asking: 'What are Labour, responsible for the COVID response in Wales, and the Conservatives, responsible for the UK COVID response, trying to achieve here by keeping such a very tight control on this special purpose committee?' But as I say, we supported having the committee; Adam Price, I know, will make a very valuable contribution to the work of the committee; and whilst this is not what we wanted—we still believe that we need a full independent Welsh COVID inquiry—our priority now is to seek answers for those COVID bereaved, who deserve answers, and to ensure that lessons are learnt.

Er fy mod wedi cwestiynu'r amgylchiadau y gwnaed y fargen hon ynddynt, rwy'n nodi bod y Ceidwadwyr a'r Blaid Lafur wedi dewis ychwanegu'r gair 'budr', ac ymatebodd y ddwy blaid gan wadu bod cytundeb 'budr' wedi'i wneud—eu dewis hwy o eiriau. A nawr, wrth gwrs, gwelwn fod y cytundeb hyd yn oed yn cynnwys cyd-gadeiryddiaeth anarferol iawn. Nawr, rydym yn gwybod beth mae pobl yn ei ofyn: 'Beth mae'r Blaid Lafur, sy'n gyfrifol am ymateb COVID yng Nghymru, a'r Ceidwadwyr, sy'n gyfrifol am ymateb COVID yn y DU, yn ceisio ei gyflawni yma drwy gadw rheolaeth mor dynn ar y pwyllgor diben arbennig hwn?' Ond fel rwy'n dweud, roeddem yn cefnogi cael y pwyllgor; rwy'n gwybod y bydd Adam Price yn gwneud cyfraniad gwerthfawr iawn i waith y pwyllgor; ac er nad dyma roeddem ei eisiau—rydym yn dal i gredu bod angen ymchwiliad COVID llawn annibynnol yng Nghymru—ein blaenoriaeth nawr yw chwilio am atebion i'r rhai sydd mewn profedigaeth o ganlyniad i COVID, sy'n haeddu atebion, a sicrhau bod gwersi'n cael eu dysgu.

Galwaf ar Darren Millar i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Darren Millar to reply to the debate.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would remind everybody that the reason that this motion has been tabled today is because of an agreement at the cross-party Business Committee, and that is why it is on the agenda. There have been no 'grubby deals', as Rhun ap Iorwerth would like to describe them; there was a transparent debate in this Chamber, which agreed to take forward a piece of work between the leader of the opposition—the only opposition, I would add—in this Chamber and the First Minister. That discussion took place, the outcome of those discussions was that this committee should be formed, and that there should be a co-chairing arrangement. I would draw a distinction between co-chairing arrangements and joint committee chairing arrangements, which is something that Plaid Cymru itself has asked for in the past. Indeed, there was a suggestion from Plaid Cymru that the Finance Committee should be co-chaired, for example, between the Conservatives and Plaid, in the past. So, these are novel arrangements. I trust that this committee will be able to get on with its work. There are quite rightly, understandably, many questions that the COVID-bereaved families and other people across Wales need to have answers to, and that committee, working with the UK-wide inquiry, will hope to deliver the answers that people need.

Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn atgoffa pawb mai'r rheswm dros gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn heddiw yw oherwydd cytundeb yn y Pwyllgor Busnes trawsbleidiol, a dyna pam ei fod ar yr agenda. Ni chafwyd 'cytundebau budr', fel yr hoffai Rhun ap Iorwerth eu disgrifio; cafwyd dadl dryloyw yn y Siambr hon, a chytunwyd i fwrw ymlaen â gwaith rhwng arweinydd yr wrthblaid—yr unig wrthblaid, ychwanegaf—yn y Siambr hon a'r Prif Weinidog. Cynhaliwyd y drafodaeth honno, a chanlyniad y trafodaethau hynny oedd y dylid ffurfio'r pwyllgor hwn, ac y dylid cael trefniant cyd-gadeirio. Byddwn yn gwahaniaethu rhwng trefniadau cyd-gadeirio a threfniadau cadeirio pwyllgorau ar y cyd, sy'n rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru ei hun wedi gofyn amdano yn y gorffennol. Yn wir, mae Plaid Cymru wedi awgrymu yn y gorffennol y dylai'r Pwyllgor Cyllid gael ei gyd-gadeirio, er enghraifft, gan y Ceidwadwyr a Phlaid Cymru. Felly, mae'r rhain yn drefniadau newydd. Hyderaf y bydd y pwyllgor hwn yn gallu bwrw ymlaen â'i waith. Mae yna lawer o gwestiynau, yn briodol ac yn ddealladwy, y mae teuluoedd sydd mewn profedigaeth o ganlyniad i COVID a phobl eraill ledled Cymru angen cael atebion iddynt, a bydd y pwyllgor hwnnw, gan weithio gyda'r ymchwiliad ledled y DU, yn gobeithio cyflwyno'r atebion y mae pobl eu hangen.

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. The motion is therefore 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.

5. Dadl ar Egwyddorion Cyffredinol y Bil Bwyd (Cymru)
5. Debate on the General Principles of the Food (Wales) Bill