Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
27/09/2023Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da, a chroeso i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf fydd y cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd y prynhawn yma. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mark Isherwood.
Good afternoon, and welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item will be questions to the Minister for Climate Change this afternoon. The first question is from Mark Isherwood.
1. Pa waith dadansoddi polisi a wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru cyn cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder o 20 mya? OQ59961
1. What policy analysis did the Welsh Government undertake before implementing the 20 mph speed limits? OQ59961
Thanks for the question. The policy was four years in the making. We've examined international evidence, benefited from the work of an expert taskforce, and trialled the policy in eight areas ahead of a national roll-out. We estimate that the policy could result, every year, in six to 10 lives being saved.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Cymerodd bedair blynedd i lunio'r polisi. Rydym wedi archwilio tystiolaeth ryngwladol, wedi elwa o waith tasglu arbenigol, ac wedi treialu’r polisi mewn wyth ardal cyn ei gyflwyno ledled y wlad. Rydym yn amcangyfrif y gallai’r polisi arwain, bob blwyddyn, at achub chwech i 10 o fywydau.
Thank you. Well, the Welsh Government has stated previously both that local authorities have the discretion to change the 20 mph limit and that, in Spain, where they have 20 mph as their default position, urban deaths and road accidents have fallen by 20 per cent, and the number of cyclists killed in road traffic accidents has been reduced by 34 per cent. How do you therefore respond to the Flintshire county councillor representing part of your Buckley 20 mph pilot area, who wrote last week, stating,
'Unfortunately, Welsh Government don't appear to have learnt any lessons from the pilot. The powers given to authorities are not clear, and making a case why the road should be excluded is difficult for our council officers'?
And, noting that Spain had more road deaths per million inhabitants than the UK in 2022, how do you respond to the statement by the Spanish Interior Minister in January, comparing the figures for 2022 with 2019—the last pre-pandemic year without mobility restrictions there—that 2022 represented more deaths than in 2019, and, quote,
'When it comes to cyclists, the number of fatalities also increased'?
Diolch. Wel, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi datgan yn y gorffennol fod gan awdurdodau lleol ddisgresiwn i newid y terfyn 20 mya, a bod marwolaethau trefol a damweiniau ffyrdd wedi gostwng 20 y cant a nifer y beicwyr sy’n cael eu lladd mewn damweiniau traffig ffyrdd wedi gostwng 34 y cant yn Sbaen, lle mae ganddynt derfyn diofyn o 20 mya. Sut rydych chi'n ymateb, felly, i’r cynghorydd sir yn sir y Fflint sy’n cynrychioli rhan o’ch ardal beilot 20 mya ym Mwcle, a ysgrifennodd yr wythnos diwethaf,
'Yn anffodus, nid yw'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dysgu unrhyw wersi o'r cynllun peilot. Nid yw'r pwerau a roddwyd i awdurdodau yn glir, ac mae cyflwyno achos pam y dylid eithrio'r ffordd yn anodd i swyddogion ein cynghorau'?
A chan nodi bod Sbaen wedi cael mwy o farwolaethau ar y ffyrdd fesul miliwn o drigolion na'r DU yn 2022, sut rydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad gan Weinidog Mewnol Sbaen ym mis Ionawr, gan gymharu'r ffigurau ar gyfer 2022 â 2019—y flwyddyn olaf cyn y pandemig heb gyfyngiadau symud yno—fod 2022 wedi gweld mwy o farwolaethau nag yn 2019, a dyfynnaf,
'Mewn perthynas â beicwyr hefyd, fe gynyddodd nifer y marwolaethau'?
Well, in terms of the pilot we ran in Flintshire, the whole point of a pilot is to try things, and part of trying involves failing and learning from the failure, and I don't see any problem with that. In fact, that's the whole point of doing it. Now, we decided in different settlements to trial different approaches. So, in some areas, we trialled monitoring, in some, we trialled enforcement. In the case of Buckley, we decided to trial the exceptions procedure. Now, there was a debate about whether or not we should allow some exceptions within Buckley as part of that trial, or to take an area-wide approach, and it was decided, for the purposes of testing that approach, to take an area-wide approach. Now, I think that Buckley has shown that an area-wide approach does not work, and the exceptions procedure is best used, particularly for communities like Buckley, where part of the road goes through almost a semi-rural area, where there aren't any houses, and another through Liverpool Road, through far more dense population. So, it's a really tricky example—we probably couldn't have chosen a more difficult area to pilot the exceptions, frankly.
We also had some real difficulties with the local authority, who were very nervous about moving away from the strict letter of the guidance, because they have had a number of legal challenges from retired highway officers, and they wanted to make sure that there was no room for further challenge on their part. Now, I'm pleased to say that, as a result of the whole process of working with them closely, we have given them confidence to apply a number of exceptions through Buckley that the pilot project showed us were worth while. I'm disappointed they haven't felt able to apply their own process themselves through the rest of Flintshire, and they still require, I think, some confidence about the extent to which they might be liable to legal challenge in the event of a collision. And that's one of the issues we now need to work through in the next stage. But it's not the case that they're not able to apply exceptions, because, if they had, how could they have applied the ones they have applied in Buckley?
Wel, o ran y cynllun peilot a gynhaliwyd gennym yn sir y Fflint, holl bwynt cynllun peilot yw rhoi cynnig ar bethau, ac mae rhan o roi cynnig ar bethau yn golygu methu a dysgu o’r methiant, ac nid wyf yn gweld unrhyw broblem gyda hynny. A dweud y gwir, dyna holl bwynt cynnal cynllun peilot. Nawr, fe wnaethom benderfynu treialu gwahanol ddulliau mewn gwahanol fannau. Felly, mewn rhai ardaloedd, fe wnaethom dreialu monitro, mewn rhai, fe wnaethom dreialu gorfodi. Yn achos Bwcle, fe wnaethom benderfynu treialu'r weithdrefn eithriadau. Nawr, cafwyd dadl ynglŷn ag a ddylem ganiatáu rhai eithriadau ym Mwcle fel rhan o’r treial hwnnw, neu fabwysiadu dull ardal gyfan, ac at ddibenion profi’r dull hwnnw, penderfynwyd mabwysiadu dull ardal gyfan. Nawr, credaf fod Bwcle wedi dangos nad yw dull ardal gyfan yn gweithio, ac mai'r ffordd orau yw defnyddio'r weithdrefn eithriadau, yn enwedig ar gyfer cymunedau fel Bwcle lle mae rhan o'r ffordd yn mynd drwy ardal bron yn lled-wledig, lle nad oes unrhyw dai, ac un arall drwy Ffordd Lerpwl, drwy boblogaeth lawer mwy dwys. Felly, mae'n enghraifft anodd iawn—mae'n debyg na allem fod wedi dewis ardal fwy anodd i dreialu'r eithriadau, a dweud y gwir.
Hefyd, cawsom anawsterau gwirioneddol gyda’r awdurdod lleol, a oedd yn nerfus iawn ynglŷn â gweithredu y tu hwnt i union eiriad y canllawiau, gan eu bod wedi cael nifer o heriau cyfreithiol gan gyn-swyddogion priffyrdd, ac roeddent am sicrhau nad oedd lle i heriau pellach ar eu rhan. Nawr, o ganlyniad i'r broses o weithio'n agos gyda nhw, rwy'n falch o ddweud ein bod wedi rhoi hyder iddynt roi nifer o eithriadau y dangosodd y prosiect peilot eu bod yn werth chweil ar waith ym Mwcle. Rwy'n siomedig nad ydynt wedi teimlo y gallant roi eu proses eu hunain ar waith ar draws gweddill sir y Fflint, a chredaf eu bod yn dal i fod angen rhywfaint o hyder ynglŷn ag i ba raddau y gallent fod yn agored i her gyfreithiol pe bai gwrthdrawiad. A dyna un o'r materion y mae angen inni weithio drwyddynt nawr yn y cam nesaf. Ond nid yw'n wir na allant gyflwyno eithriadau, oherwydd, pe baent heb allu gwneud hynny, sut y gallent fod wedi cyflwyno'r rhai y maent wedi'u cyflwyno ym Mwcle?
2. Pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo plannu coed trefol? OQ59972
2. What work is the Welsh Government doing to promote urban tree planting? OQ59972
The Welsh Government continues to encourage and support urban tree planting. The My Tree, Our Forest campaign offered a tree for every household in Wales. Other schemes in urban areas include the Coetiroedd Bach scheme and Local Places for Nature, which continue to fund hundreds of community tree-planting projects.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i annog a chefnogi plannu coed trefol. Cynigodd ymgyrch Fy Nghoeden, Ein Coedwig goeden i bob cartref yng Nghymru. Mae cynlluniau eraill mewn ardaloedd trefol yn cynnwys cynllun Coetiroedd Bach a Lleoedd Lleol ar gyfer Natur, sy’n parhau i ariannu cannoedd o brosiectau plannu coed cymunedol.
Thank you for your response, Minister. Firstly, I'd just like to take a moment to plug Wales's only entry in the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year 2023 competition. It's a 484-year-old sweet chestnut tree in Wrexham's Acton Park. I'm delighted the team from Wrexham is looking to promote this tree, so I would encourage anybody to get on the Woodland Trust website and vote for that tree in Acton Park.
Minister, you of course know that trees being planted in the right places make such a difference to our communities. They've certainly been proven, in urban areas in particular, to improve physical and mental health and well-being, reduce noise, improve air quality—so many benefits of having trees planted in our urban areas. And I know, Minister, you would agree that local government has an important role to play in ensuring this takes place. I know, with my previous hat on, there was a project in Conwy that saw new trees planted across Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Kinmel Bay and Towyn, for all those good reasons and benefits that we're aware of. So, I'd be interested to know, Minister, if you have any plans in place at the moment, in working with local authorities in Wales, to ensure that they are looking to plant those trees in our urban towns and city centres across Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn roi eiliad i hyrwyddo unig gynnig Cymru yng nghystadleuaeth Coeden y Flwyddyn 2023 Coed Cadw. Castanwydden felys 484 oed yw hi, ym Mharc Gwaunyterfyn yn Wrecsam. Rwy'n falch iawn fod y tîm o Wrecsam yn mynd ati i hyrwyddo'r goeden hon, felly buaswn yn annog unrhyw un i fynd ar wefan Coed Cadw a phleidleisio dros y goeden honno ym Mharc Gwaunyterfyn.
Weinidog, fe wyddoch, wrth gwrs, fod coed sy’n cael eu plannu yn y mannau cywir yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth i’n cymunedau. Yn sicr, mae tystiolaeth eu bod, mewn ardaloedd trefol yn arbennig, yn gwella iechyd a lles corfforol a meddyliol, yn lleihau sŵn, yn gwella ansawdd aer—mae cymaint o fanteision i blannu coed yn ein hardaloedd trefol. A gwn, Weinidog, y byddech yn cytuno bod gan lywodraeth leol ran bwysig i'w chwarae i sicrhau bod hyn yn digwydd. Gan wisgo fy het flaenorol, gwn am brosiect yng Nghonwy a arweiniodd at blannu coed newydd ar draws Llandudno, Bae Colwyn, Abergele, Bae Cinmel a Thywyn, am yr holl resymau da a'r manteision rydym yn ymwybodol ohonynt. Felly, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod, Weinidog, a oes gennych unrhyw gynlluniau ar waith ar hyn o bryd, wrth weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru, i sicrhau eu bod yn bwriadu plannu’r coed hynny yn ein trefi ac yng nghanol ein dinasoedd ledled Cymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Yes, thank you, Sam, I'm very happy to—. I didn't realise we had a Welsh entry this year, and now that I do, I will be very happy to back it. I'm very keen on the Tree of the Year campaign, actually, because one of the points of it is to make people aware of what a tree can do for your neighbourhood. And even a single tree of that sort, especially a beautiful old specimen tree, as they're called, is a whole biodiverse ecosystem all by itself. So, it's really important to do that.
Now, we're really, really keen to include urban trees and urban planting schemes in our national forest for Wales plans, and we have woodland liaison officers working with urban projects, including local authorities, right across Wales, to bring the urban trees into the national forest. We want people to understand that the forest consists of single trees in urban environments, as well as planted, bigger schemes, and, of course, we have the Tiny Forests programme as well, where we're looking to bring a whole biodiverse forest that is the size of a couple of tennis courts, with six different species in it, into urban environments, so that people can understand what that brings to an ecosystem.
So, I couldn't agree more. I know you're very enthusiastic about it, and it was a pleasure to work with you before, and we are definitely working with our local authorities. And the only other thing I would say, Llywydd, in both urban and rural environments, is to just encourage people to let the trees in our hedgegrows grow, to turn them into trees—there is no real need to cut them off. Sometimes, along the highway, there's a need to stop overhanging branches so that we can avoid collisions, but, mostly, they can be allowed to grow. And those trees count very much towards our biodiverse goals as well.
Ie, diolch, Sam, rwy'n fwy na pharod i—. Nid oeddwn yn sylweddoli bod gennym gynnig o Gymru eleni, ac o wybod hynny, rwy'n fwy na pharod i'w gefnogi. Rwy'n hoff iawn o ymgyrch Coeden y Flwyddyn a dweud y gwir, gan mai un o ddibenion yr ymgyrch yw gwneud pobl yn ymwybodol o'r hyn y gall coeden ei wneud i'ch cymdogaeth. Ac mae hyd yn oed un goeden o'r fath, yn enwedig hen goeden sbesimen hardd, fel y'u gelwir, yn ecosystem fioamrywiol gyfan ar ei phen ei hun. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn gwneud hynny.
Nawr, rydym yn awyddus iawn i gynnwys coed trefol a chynlluniau plannu trefol yn ein cynlluniau ar gyfer coedwig genedlaethol Cymru, ac mae gennym swyddogion cyswllt coetiroedd yn gweithio gyda phrosiectau trefol, gan gynnwys awdurdodau lleol, ledled Cymru, i gynnwys coed trefol yn y goedwig genedlaethol. Rydym am i bobl ddeall bod y goedwig yn cynnwys coed unigol mewn amgylcheddau trefol, yn ogystal â chynlluniau mwy i blannu coed, ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym raglen Coetiroedd Bach hefyd, lle rydym yn bwriadu dod â choedwig fioamrywiol gyfan, yr un maint â dau gwrt tenis, gyda chwe rhywogaeth wahanol ynddi, i mewn i amgylcheddau trefol, fel y gall pobl ddeall beth mae hynny'n ei ychwanegu at ecosystem.
Felly, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Gwn eich bod yn frwdfrydig iawn ynglŷn â hyn, ac roedd yn bleser gweithio gyda chi o'r blaen, ac rydym yn sicr yn gweithio gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol. A'r unig beth arall y buaswn yn ei ddweud, Lywydd, mewn amgylcheddau trefol a gwledig, yw annog pobl i adael i'r coed yn ein gwrychoedd dyfu, i'w troi'n goed—nid oes gwir angen eu torri. Weithiau, ar hyd y briffordd, mae angen torri canghennau sy'n bargodi fel y gallwn osgoi gwrthdrawiadau, ond gan amlaf, gellir gadael iddynt dyfu. Ac mae'r coed hynny'n cyfrif tuag at ein nodau bioamrywiol hefyd.
I introduced the council's urban tree woodland strategy at Flintshire. It's a 15-year-old plan, and, I must say, in partnership with the Welsh Government's policies and funding, biodiversity officers have been retained there, and the planting of trees as well as wildflower meadows have continued. We called trees 'nature's health service', because the benefit is unbelievable for physical and mental health. They create canopy ecosystems, intercept rainfall, moderate air temperatures and reduce flooding, so the benefits are just unbelievable.
A Wrexham study estimated that the annual ecosystem benefits that the town's urban trees provide is £1.44 million, and, in financial terms, the benefits are immense. Minister, I hope that, when you're looking at the financial constraints, biodiversity and the planting of trees and wildflower meadows will remain a priority, and that, also, developers will be encouraged, when doing any engineering works in town centres, to make sure they plant trees as well. Thank you.
Cyflwynais strategaeth goed a choetir trefol y cyngor yn sir y Fflint. Mae’n gynllun 15 oed, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, mewn partneriaeth â pholisïau a chyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, fod swyddogion bioamrywiaeth wedi’u cadw yno, ac mae gwaith plannu coed, yn ogystal â dolydd blodau gwyllt, wedi parhau. Fe wnaethom alw coed yn 'wasanaeth iechyd natur', gan fod y budd i iechyd corfforol a meddyliol yn anhygoel. Maent yn creu ecosystemau canopi, yn darparu cysgod rhag glaw, yn cymedroli tymheredd yr aer ac yn lleihau llifogydd, felly mae'r buddion yn wirioneddol anhygoel.
Amcangyfrifodd astudiaeth yn Wrecsam fod coed trefol y dref yn darparu gwerth £1.44 miliwn mewn buddion blynyddol i'r ecosystem, ac mewn termau ariannol, fod y manteision yn aruthrol. Weinidog, pan fyddwch yn edrych ar y cyfyngiadau ariannol, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd bioamrywiaeth a phlannu coed a dolydd blodau gwyllt yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth, ac y bydd datblygwyr yn cael eu hannog hefyd, wrth wneud unrhyw waith peirianyddol yng nghanol trefi, i sicrhau eu bod yn plannu coed yn ogystal. Diolch.
Yes, I'm very happy to endorse all of those, and I'm very grateful for your work as well on the 'edges' scheme, so we can get as many edges to be mown as infrequently as we can manage, and with local wildflowers as well. It's actually very important that they're native wildflowers too, so that they self-seed, and that they feed our pollinator population, because, obviously, they're adapted to use local wildflowers. And that's the same with trees. So, trees produce enormous amounts of food for our insects, and, without our insects, we cannot have the birds that we're all so fond of. So, I won't be able to quote this accurately, Llywydd, but a single pair of swallows eats tens of thousands of insects. So, if you think about how many insects you need to have good environments to live in, if you want swallows and swifts in your urban environment, then you see how important it is to make sure that the trees that provide those habitats are protected and enhanced.
Rwy’n fwy na pharod i gefnogi pob un o’r rheini, ac rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am eich gwaith hefyd ar y cynllun 'ymylon', fel y gallwn sicrhau bod cyn lleied â phosibl o ymylon yn cael eu torri mor anaml â phosibl, a chyda blodau gwyllt lleol hefyd. Mae'n bwysig iawn eu bod yn flodau gwyllt brodorol hefyd, fel eu bod yn hunan-hadu, ac yn bwydo ein peillwyr, oherwydd yn amlwg, maent wedi addasu i ddefnyddio blodau gwyllt lleol. Ac mae'r un peth yn wir gyda choed. Felly, mae coed yn cynhyrchu llawer iawn o fwyd i'n pryfed, a heb ein pryfed, ni allwn gael yr adar y mae pawb ohonom mor hoff ohonynt. Felly, ni fyddaf yn gallu dyfynnu hyn yn gywir, Lywydd, ond mae un pâr o wenoliaid yn bwyta degau o filoedd o bryfed. Felly, os meddyliwch faint o bryfed sydd eu hangen arnoch i gael amgylcheddau da i fyw ynddynt, os ydych am gael gwenoliaid ac adar eraill yn eich amgylcheddau trefol, fe welwch pa mor bwysig yw sicrhau bod y coed sy'n darparu'r cynefinoedd hynny'n cael eu diogelu a'u gwella.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Llywydd. Prynhawn da, Minister. Wylfa and Trawsfynydd are two key sites for nuclear projects in Wales. Now, we know the UK needs four times as much clean power as we have now to hit net zero by 2050, and nuclear energy at both Trawsfynydd and Wylfa are ideally placed to be at the heart of a massive nuclear revival here in Wales. In the face of such Plaid Cymru negativity about nuclear, I am proud of the championing and leadership of Virginia Crosbie MP, in her efforts to bring jobs to Wylfa, and considerably more well-paid jobs. So, Minister, how is your Welsh Government working with the UK Government and Great British Nuclear to ensure that we see more investment in new nuclear power, especially at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd?
Diolch, Lywydd. Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Mae Wylfa a Thrawsfynydd yn ddau safle allweddol ar gyfer prosiectau niwclear yng Nghymru. Nawr, fe wyddom fod angen pedair gwaith cymaint o bŵer glân ar y DU ag sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd i sicrhau sero net erbyn 2050, ac mae ynni niwclear yn Nhrawsfynydd ac yn Wylfa mewn sefyllfa ddelfrydol i fod wrth wraidd adfywiad niwclear enfawr yma yng Nghymru. Yn wyneb agwedd mor negyddol Plaid Cymru tuag at ynni niwclear, rwy’n falch o gefnogaeth ac arweinyddiaeth Virginia Crosbie AS, yn ei hymdrechion i ddod â swyddi i Wylfa, a llawer mwy o swyddi sy’n talu’n dda. Felly, Weinidog, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU a Great British Nuclear i sicrhau ein bod yn gweld mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn ynni niwclear newydd, yn enwedig yn Wylfa a Thrawsfynydd?
Well, Llywydd, this is actually my colleague the Minister for Economy’s portfolio, but, nevertheless, we are working very hard indeed to make sure that in particular small and medium-sized nuclear reactors can be sited at various points. Trawsfynydd is one of them. I had the real pleasure of visiting that site to look at both the decommissioning works that are there and the potential for small nuclear—we’re very keen on promoting that.
In terms of Wylfa, the reason it's in the Minister for Economy’s portfolio and not mine is because it’s obviously an enormous inward investment project. Also, Janet, I don’t share your sanguinity about this. We could have had that project up and running by now if we’d had any kind of either industrial or decent investment strategy.
Wel, Lywydd, portffolio fy nghyd-Aelod, Gweinidog yr Economi, yw hwn mewn gwirionedd, ond serch hynny, rydym yn gweithio’n galed iawn i sicrhau y gellir lleoli adweithyddion niwclear bach a chanolig yn enwedig mewn gwahanol leoliadau. Mae Trawsfynydd yn un ohonynt. Cefais y pleser gwirioneddol o ymweld â’r safle hwnnw i edrych ar y gwaith datgomisiynu sy'n mynd rhagddo yno a’r potensial ar gyfer adweithydd niwclear bach—rydym yn awyddus iawn i hyrwyddo hynny.
O ran Wylfa, y rheswm pam ei fod ym mhortffolio Gweinidog yr Economi ac nid yn fy un i yw am ei fod yn amlwg yn brosiect mewnfuddsoddi enfawr. Hefyd, Janet, nid wyf yn rhannu eich calonogrwydd ynglŷn â hyn. Byddai'r prosiect hwnnw wedi gallu bod ar waith erbyn hyn pe byddem wedi cael unrhyw fath o strategaeth ddiwydiannol neu strategaeth fuddsoddi weddus.
So, correct me if I'm wrong, however, you are the Minister for Climate Change and the environment and we know that all projects for renewable energy of any type do fall under you. So, I would expect you to be briefed on Wylfa. So, it is essential that we have enough clean baseload power across Wales to ensure energy security and as a deterrent against fuel poverty. Nuclear energy provides the lowest carbon emissions, with 24-hour energy available. In fact, Wylfa, at the time, generated energy for 1.1 million homes over 44 years. Both you and I know that grid capacity is a barrier to many clean energy projects being delivered and we also know that Trawsfynydd had exceptional access to grid capacity and would be a great base for small modular reactors. So, what steps are you taking to highlight this to the UK Government to ensure that nuclear development is undertaken at this site as soon as possible?
Felly, cywirwch fi os wyf yn anghywir, ond chi yw'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd a'r amgylchedd, a gwyddom fod pob prosiect ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy o unrhyw fath yn rhan o'ch cyfrifoldeb chi. Felly, buaswn yn disgwyl ichi gael eich briffio ar Wylfa. Felly, mae’n hanfodol fod gennym gyflenwad sylfaen o ynni glân ledled Cymru i sicrhau diogeledd ynni ac i atal tlodi tanwydd. Ynni niwclear sy'n darparu'r allyriadau carbon isaf, gydag ynni 24 awr ar gael. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd Wylfa, ar y pryd, yn cynhyrchu ynni ar gyfer 1.1 miliwn o gartrefi dros 44 mlynedd. Fe wyddoch chi a minnau fod capasiti’r grid yn rhwystr i gyflawni llawer o brosiectau ynni glân, ac fe wyddom hefyd fod gan Drawsfynydd fynediad eithriadol at gapasiti’r grid ac y byddai’n sylfaen wych ar gyfer adweithyddion modiwlar bach. Felly, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i dynnu sylw Llywodraeth y DU at hyn er mwyn sicrhau bod gwaith datblygu niwclear yn mynd rhagddo ar y safle hwn cyn gynted â phosibl?
Right, well, I have to say, Janet, I don’t really think I should give you a lesson in how to discover which Minister is responsible for what, but they are published on the website and you can look it up.
However, of course I understand what’s happening at Wylfa. It’s an inward investment project. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we're not currently generating any electricity, which is why it’s not in my portfolio. And so, the answer to your question is of course we talk to the UK Government about the grid; we talk to the Minister until we’re blue in the face about the grid. However, we have yet to see a single penny of investment in encouraging the grid into mid Wales or indeed across north Wales or indeed the upgrading that we need in south Wales to get the Celtic sea. So, if you want to add your voice to mine on that, please feel free.
Iawn, wel, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, Janet, na chredaf y dylwn roi gwers i chi sut i ddarganfod pa Weinidog sy'n gyfrifol am beth, ond mae hynny wedi'i gyhoeddi ar y wefan, a gallwch ei wirio.
Fodd bynnag, wrth gwrs fy mod yn deall beth sy’n digwydd yn Wylfa. Mae’n brosiect mewnfuddsoddi. Nid wyf yn gwybod a ydych chi wedi sylwi, ond nid ydym yn cynhyrchu unrhyw drydan ar hyn o bryd, a dyna pam nad yw yn fy mhortffolio. Ac felly, yr ateb i'ch cwestiwn, wrth gwrs, yw ein bod yn siarad â Llywodraeth y DU am y grid; rydym yn siarad a siarad â’r Gweinidog am y grid. Fodd bynnag, nid ydym wedi gweld un geiniog o fuddsoddiad i annog ymestyn y grid i ganolbarth Cymru, nac ar draws gogledd Cymru, na'r uwchraddio sydd ei angen arnom yn ne Cymru i gael y môr Celtaidd. Felly, os ydych chi am ychwanegu eich llais at fy llais innau ar hynny, can croeso i chi wneud hynny.
With all due respect, Minister, this tells me that you’re not really interested in nuclear because you’re passing it off as being in someone else’s brief—
Gyda phob parch, Weinidog, mae hyn yn dweud wrthyf nad oes gennych fawr o ddiddordeb mewn ynni niwclear, gan eich bod yn ei ddiystyru fel rhan o friff rhywun arall—
Honestly, Llywydd. This is not my portfolio.
O ddifrif, Lywydd. Nid fy mhortffolio i yw hwn.
No, Llywydd, she's saying it's not her portfolio. At the end of the day, this is the Minister responsible for climate change, the environment. We are talking about the environment, we're talking about carbon zero, so I would expect a more courteous reply and for her to actually address the concerns that many raise with me.
Now, it can take 14 years to build new grid infrastructure. There are enough projects in the UK waiting to be connected to generate over half our future electricity needs. The UK Government is tackling the problem head on through the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, bringing forward comprehensive new reforms to energy infrastructure. So, what representation have you made already, because we had some slight information lapses during some of the last questions when you were on your feet, Minister, where one minute you were saying that UK Government doesn't engage with you, and then the next minute, in response to Huw Irranca, you apologised and said that that dialogue—
Na, Lywydd, mae'n dweud nad ei phortffolio hi yw hwn. Yn y pen draw, dyma’r Gweinidog sy’n gyfrifol am newid hinsawdd, yr amgylchedd. Rydym yn sôn am yr amgylchedd, rydym yn sôn am sefyllfa ddi-garbon, felly buaswn yn disgwyl ateb mwy cwrtais ac iddi fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon y mae llawer yn eu codi gyda mi.
Nawr, gall gymryd 14 mlynedd i adeiladu seilwaith grid newydd. Mae digon o brosiectau yn y DU yn aros i gael eu cysylltu er mwyn cynhyrchu dros hanner ein hanghenion trydan yn y dyfodol. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn mynd i’r afael â’r broblem yn uniongyrchol drwy’r Canghellor a’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Ddiogeledd Ynni a Sero Net, gan gyflwyno diwygiadau newydd cynhwysfawr i'r seilwaith ynni. Felly, pa sylwadau rydych wedi’u gwneud yn barod, gan y cafwyd peth anghysondeb yn yr wybodaeth a gawsom yn ystod rhai o’r cwestiynau diwethaf pan oeddech ar eich traed, Weinidog, lle roeddech yn dweud un funud nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn ymgysylltu â chi, a’r funud nesaf, mewn ymateb i Huw Irranca, fe wnaethoch chi ymddiheuro, a dweud bod y ddeialog honno—
Okay, Llywydd, I did no such thing. I have twice told her—
Iawn, Lywydd, ni wneuthum y fath beth. Rwyf wedi dweud wrthi ddwywaith—
You'll get your chance to respond now. And you need to come to your final question.
Fe gewch eich cyfle i ymateb nawr. Ac mae angen i chi ddod at eich cwestiwn olaf.
I am, Llywydd. What representations are you or will you be making to the UK Government to ensure the reforms that we need to deliver the new grid capacity—that we have them here in Wales?
Rwy'n dod ato, Lywydd. Pa sylwadau rydych chi'n eu gwneud, neu y byddwch chi'n eu gwneud i Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau'r diwygiadau sydd eu hangen arnom i gyflawni'r capasiti grid newydd—eu bod gennym yma yng Nghymru?
So, just to say, Janet, I apologised to Huw Irranca-Davies for not bringing forward a legislative consent motion in the time that he wanted me to. I made no apology for what I said about the UK Government. You can check the Record as I have. And if you really want me to report you for continuing to say something that's not true, you keep it up. I said no such thing.
The UK Government and I have had many meetings. I have seen several Ministers off. They don't stay in post long enough to actually understand what's happening with the grid. I've had many meetings with UK Government Ministers on this. I've had many meetings with the National Grid on this, including one only a couple of weeks ago where we discussed the paucity of grid rid right across Wales and what that project might look like. We are fully involved in the holistic network design and electricity network operator processes, and I've met with the distribution system operators. So, I have done plenty here. What has not happened is that the UK Government has put any investment strategy at all in to back its numerous empty promises.
Felly, dylwn ddweud, Janet, fy mod wedi ymddiheuro i Huw Irranca-Davies am beidio â chyflwyno cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol yn yr amser roedd ef eisiau imi wneud hynny. Ni wneuthum ymddiheuro am yr hyn a ddywedais am Lywodraeth y DU. Gallwch ddarllen y Cofnod, fel rwyf innau wedi'i wneud. Ac os ydych chi o ddifrif am i mi achwyn amdanoch am barhau i ddweud rhywbeth nad yw'n wir, daliwch ati. Ni ddywedais y fath beth.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU a minnau wedi cael llawer o gyfarfodydd. Rwyf wedi gweld nifer o Weinidogion yn mynd a dod. Nid ydynt yn aros yn eu swyddi yn ddigon hir i ddeall beth sy'n digwydd gyda'r grid. Rwyf wedi cael llawer o gyfarfodydd gyda Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â hyn. Rwyf wedi cael llawer o gyfarfodydd gyda'r Grid Cenedlaethol ynglŷn â hyn, gan gynnwys un ychydig wythnosau yn ôl yn unig, lle buom yn trafod prinder y grid ledled Cymru a sut olwg a allai fod ar y prosiect hwnnw. Rydym yn cymryd rhan lawn ym mhrosesau'r cynllun rhwydwaith cyfannol a gweithredwyr rhwydweithiau trydan, ac rwyf wedi cyfarfod â gweithredwyr systemau dosbarthu. Felly, rwyf wedi gwneud cryn dipyn yn y cyswllt hwn. Yr hyn nad yw wedi digwydd yw Llywodraeth y DU yn darparu unrhyw strategaeth fuddsoddi o gwbl i ategu ei llu o addewidion gwag.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Minister, remaining within the 1.5 degrees or even 2 degrees thresholds that are set out in the Paris agreement to avoid catastrophic climate change—that requires substantial emissions reduction now. But today we've heard that the UK's largest untapped oilfield has been approved by regulators, an oilfield that could produce 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. It is a decision that has been welcomed by the UK Government, but the consequences of inaction in the face of climate catastrophe are too dire for us to ignore. The urgency of curbing fossil fuel emissions and peaking by no later than 2025, if we hope to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees—that's never been more important. So, Minister, I'd ask you, given that the UK Government seems intent on throwing us off course on our journey to net zero by 2050, do you agree that Wales must now move more quickly to reach net zero before 2050?
Weinidog, mae aros o fewn y trothwyon 1.5 gradd neu hyd yn oed 2 radd a nodir yng nghytundeb Paris i osgoi newid hinsawdd trychinebus—mae hynny’n gofyn am leihau allyriadau’n sylweddol nawr. Ond rydym wedi clywed heddiw fod maes olew heb ei gyffwrdd mwyaf y DU wedi’i gymeradwyo gan reoleiddwyr, maes olew a allai gynhyrchu 200 miliwn tunnell o garbon deuocsid. Mae’n benderfyniad sydd wedi’i groesawu gan Lywodraeth y DU, ond mae canlyniadau peidio â gweithredu yn wyneb trychineb hinsawdd yn rhy enbyd i ni eu hanwybyddu. Mae'r brys i leihau allyriadau tanwydd ffosil ac iddynt gyrraedd eu huchafbwynt erbyn 2025 fan bellaf, os ydym yn gobeithio cyfyngu cynhesu byd-eang i 1.5 gradd—nid yw hynny erioed wedi bod yn bwysicach. Felly, Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn i chi, o ystyried bod Llywodraeth y DU yn benderfynol, yn ôl pob golwg, o’n taflu oddi ar y llwybr ar ein taith at sero net erbyn 2050, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod yn rhaid i Gymru weithredu'n gyflymach nawr i gyrraedd sero net cyn 2050?
Yes, the decision on that oilfield is very alarming indeed, and the idea that it's something to do with energy security is put the lie to when you realise that the company that's exploiting it is actually the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, and nothing to do with Britain. That oil will be sold into international markets. It does not increase our security in any way. It's an absolute fallacy that getting more oil out of the ground somehow increases energy security here. It just simply locks us into very expensive international prices for oil and gas. So, I had a very heavy heart when I heard that announcement. This is the same Government, of course, that says it wants to do net zero, but at the beginning of the Conference of the Parties biodiversity summit last year announced the opening of a new coal mine. So, they say one thing and do something quite different.
We have, as I think you know, Delyth, as part of the co-operation agreement, a taskforce looking into whether we can accelerate net zero, and I'm very much looking forward to their report. The designated Member and myself have a meeting next week. They've already announced several plans for action, and we really hope that they will produce us a viable and practical solution to accelerating our own course.
Ie, mae'r penderfyniad ar y maes olew hwnnw'n frawychus iawn yn wir, ac mae'r syniad ei fod yn ymwneud â diogeledd ynni yn cael ei ddinoethi fel celwydd pan sylweddolwch mai cronfa gyfoeth sofran Norwy yw'r cwmni sy'n elwa o'r penderfyniad, a dim i'w wneud â Phrydain. Bydd yr olew hwnnw'n cael ei werthu i farchnadoedd rhyngwladol. Nid yw'n cynyddu ein diogeledd mewn unrhyw ffordd. Mae'n gamsyniad llwyr fod tynnu mwy o olew o'r ddaear rywsut yn cynyddu diogeledd ynni yma. Yn syml iawn, mae'n ein cloi i mewn i brisiau rhyngwladol drud iawn am olew a nwy. Felly, roeddwn yn ddigalon iawn wrth glywed y cyhoeddiad hwnnw. Dyma’r un Llywodraeth, wrth gwrs, sy’n dweud ei bod am gyflawni sero net, ond a gyhoeddodd, ar ddechrau uwchgynhadledd bioamrywiaeth Cynhadledd y Partïon y llynedd, y byddai'n agor pwll glo newydd. Felly, maent yn dweud un peth ac yn gwneud rhywbeth cwbl wahanol.
Fel y gwyddoch, rwy'n credu, Delyth, fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio mae gennym dasglu sy'n edrych i weld a allwn gyflymu'r newid i sero net, ac edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at eu hadroddiad. Mae gan yr Aelod dynodedig a minnau gyfarfod yr wythnos nesaf. Maent eisoes wedi cyhoeddi sawl cynllun ar gyfer gweithredu, ac rydym yn mawr obeithio y byddant yn cynhyrchu ateb hyfyw ac ymarferol i ni ar gyfer cyflymu ein cwrs ein hunain.
Thank you for that, Minister. Of course, this comes as the Prime Minister and his Government continue to renege on absolutely vital policies to combat climate catastrophe, and again I use that word 'catastrophe’' because that is what's facing us. I've raised this before—I'm worried about how net zero seems increasingly to be becoming election fodder, a means of drawing clear water between the two UK parties. I'm not accusing your Government of that in any way, Minister, but on a UK level, in the run-up to the general election, looking to what Government will be in power after that election, UK Labour has stated it doesn't plan to bring back the 2026 deadline for beginning the phase-out of all gas boilers. And while they have said they won't grant new licences for oil and gas exploration, I understand today UK Labour have stated they wouldn't revoke the Rosebank licence if they win the next election—[Interruption.] I don't think it is good. Do you agree with that decision? I'm guessing that you probably won't. Is there anything that the Welsh Government can do to influence and to try and get them to change their minds?
Diolch am hynny, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, daw hyn wrth i Brif Weinidog y DU a’i Lywodraeth barhau i gefnu ar bolisïau cwbl hanfodol i wrthsefyll trychineb hinsawdd, ac unwaith eto, defnyddiaf y gair ‘trychineb’ am mai dyna sy’n ein hwynebu. Rwyf wedi codi hyn o'r blaen—rwy'n poeni ynglŷn â'r modd y mae sero net i'w weld yn dod yn fwy a mwy o asgwrn cynnen etholiadol, yn ffordd o greu gwahaniaeth clir rhwng dwy blaid y DU. Nid wyf yn cyhuddo eich Llywodraeth o hynny mewn unrhyw ffordd, Weinidog, ond ar lefel y DU, yn y cyfnod cyn yr etholiad cyffredinol, o edrych ar ba Lywodraeth a fydd mewn grym ar ôl yr etholiad hwnnw, mae Llafur y DU wedi datgan nad yw’n bwriadu ailbennu'r terfyn amser o 2026 ar gyfer dechrau rhoi'r gorau i osod boeleri nwy. Ac er eu bod wedi dweud na fyddant yn rhoi trwyddedau newydd ar gyfer fforio am olew a nwy, deallaf heddiw fod Llafur y DU wedi datgan na fyddent yn dirymu trwydded Rosebank pe byddent yn ennill yr etholiad nesaf—[Torri ar draws.] Ni chredaf fod hynny'n beth da. A ydych chi'n cytuno â’r penderfyniad hwnnw? Rwy'n tybio nad ydych. A oes unrhyw beth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i ddylanwadu arnynt ac i geisio gwneud iddynt newid eu meddyliau?
So, we do try very hard to influence the UK Government, of whatever stripe, in order to reach our mutual goals to reach net zero by 2050. Obviously, they are statutory goals, so we are currently exploring whether our own statutory goals are affected by what's happened at UK Government level. We would do that with any Government of any stripe because, actually, we're co-dependent. We need the UK Government to do the things it has set out in its net-zero pathway in order for us to be able to do the things that we can do. So, we're very concerned about that, and we are taking some advice about whether there's anything we can do with that.
I can't comment on whether or not you could or couldn't revoke the licences, because I, frankly, don't know enough about the legals or how that works or anything else. It may be that they're written in such a way that that's not possible. I just simply don't know. But I can tell you, absolutely honestly, that I was really, really depressed at hearing that announcement, because it just puts the UK, once again, back in the role of someone who’s the dirty man of Europe, not a world leader at all, and just absolutely determined to exploit the world's natural resources, and, frankly, mortgage the souls of our children and grandchildren.
Rydym yn ymdrechu'n galed iawn i ddylanwadu ar Lywodraeth y DU, o ba liw bynnag, er mwyn cyrraedd ein nodau cyffredin i gyrraedd sero net erbyn 2050. Yn amlwg, maent yn nodau statudol, felly rydym yn archwilio ar hyn o bryd i weld a yw'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd ar lefel Llywodraeth y DU yn effeithio ar ein nodau statudol ein hunain. Byddem yn gwneud hynny gydag unrhyw Lywodraeth o unrhyw blaid oherwydd rydym yn gyd-ddibynnol. Mae arnom angen i Lywodraeth y DU wneud y pethau y mae wedi’u nodi yn ei llwybr sero net er mwyn inni allu gwneud y pethau y gallwn ninnau eu gwneud. Felly, rydym yn bryderus iawn ynglŷn â hynny, ac rydym yn cael cyngor ynglŷn ag a oes unrhyw beth y gallwn ei wneud gyda hynny.
Ni allaf wneud sylwadau ynglŷn ag a allech chi ddirymu'r trwyddedau ai peidio, oherwydd a dweud y gwir, nid wyf yn gwybod digon am yr agweddau cyfreithiol na sut mae hynny'n gweithio nac unrhyw beth arall. Efallai eu bod wedi'u hysgrifennu yn y fath fodd fel nad yw hynny'n bosibl. Nid wyf yn gwybod. Ond gallaf ddweud wrthych yn gwbl onest fy mod wedi fy nigalonni'n fawr wrth glywed y cyhoeddiad hwnnw, gan ei fod yn gwneud y DU, unwaith eto, yn ysgymun yn Ewrop, nid yn arweinydd byd-eang o gwbl, ac yn gwbl benderfynol o ecsbloetio adnoddau naturiol y byd, ac o forgeisio eneidiau ein plant a'n hwyrion.
3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gynyddu gorchudd coed ar draws Cymru? OQ59956
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to increase tree cover across Wales? OQ59956
The Welsh Government is supporting the planting of 43,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030. We will do this via the woodland creation offer launched last year, increasing tree cover on farms through the sustainable farming scheme, and our national forest will create a network of woodlands throughout Wales.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi plannu 43,000 hectar o goetir newydd erbyn 2030. Byddwn yn gwneud hyn drwy’r grantiau creu coetir a lansiwyd y llynedd, cynyddu gorchudd coed ar ffermydd drwy’r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, a bydd ein coedwig genedlaethol yn creu rhwydwaith o goetiroedd ledled Cymru.
Well, thank you, Minister. Extensive work is being conducted by an expert group on the wood panel industry, which included representatives from the Scottish, UK and Welsh Parliaments, and recommendations on how to increase tree planting for industrial use have been outlined in that report. I'd be incredibly grateful for the Welsh Government's observations on those recommendations, and perhaps for a discussion on how the future work of the group can assist the Welsh Government's excellent ambitions for increasing tree cover across Wales.
Wel, diolch, Weinidog. Mae gwaith helaeth yn mynd rhagddo gan grŵp arbenigol ar y diwydiant paneli pren, a oedd yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o Seneddau’r Alban, y DU a Chymru, ac mae argymhellion ar sut i gynyddu plannu coed at ddefnydd diwydiannol wedi’u hamlinellu yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Buaswn yn hynod ddiolchgar am sylwadau Llywodraeth Cymru ar yr argymhellion hynny, ac efallai am drafodaeth ar sut y gall gwaith y grŵp yn y dyfodol gynorthwyo uchelgeisiau rhagorol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cynyddu gorchudd coed ledled Cymru.
Thank you very much, Ken, for sending me the report, which I was very interested to look at. The wood panel sector, as you say, positively contributes towards net zero, and locks up carbon in long-term use products. I know that you know this because I work with you very closely, and I bang on about it all the time, but I very much want to see Welsh wood used in the construction of housing and to encourage more trees to be planted as a crop so that they can meet the growing need for sustainable, low-carbon building products that don't come from extractive industry or depend on non-renewable sources. We will be bringing forward an industrial strategy for trees. Also, we are very clear that a productive woodland—well, woodland designed as a crop—is still part of the national forest; it still plays a role in the national forest, and people need to understand that some trees are there as crops, but they play their role in the carbon sink that we need to create for the world.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ken, am anfon yr adroddiad ataf, ac roedd yn ddiddorol iawn. Mae’r sector paneli pren, fel y dywedwch, yn cyfrannu’n gadarnhaol at sero net, ac yn cloi carbon mewn cynhyrchion defnydd hirdymor. Gwn eich bod yn gwybod hyn gan fy mod yn gweithio’n agos iawn gyda chi, ac rwy'n rhygnu ymlaen am y peth drwy’r amser, ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld pren Cymru’n cael ei ddefnyddio i adeiladu tai ac annog plannu mwy o goed fel cnwd fel y gallant ddiwallu'r angen cynyddol am gynhyrchion adeiladu cynaliadwy, carbon isel nad ydynt yn dod o ddiwydiant echdynnol neu'n dibynnu ar ffynonellau anadnewyddadwy. Byddwn yn cyflwyno strategaeth ddiwydiannol ar gyfer coed. Hefyd, rydym yn glir iawn fod coetir cynhyrchiol—wel, coetir a gynlluniwyd fel cnwd—yn dal i fod yn rhan o'r goedwig genedlaethol; mae’n dal i chwarae rhan yn y goedwig genedlaethol, ac mae angen i bobl ddeall bod rhai coed yno fel cnydau, ond maent yn chwarae eu rhan yn y ddalfa garbon y mae angen i ni ei chreu ar gyfer y byd.
Minister, farmers manage approximately 80 per cent of Wales's land, playing an irreplaceable role in safeguarding and protecting our national countryside. Therefore, the agricultural industry is uniquely placed, and I see you nodding along, as an emissions sink with unique potential and a key role in tackling climate change whilst also providing food security. And, absolutely, trees play a vital role in this, and it must be the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason. However, we have seen land prices artificially inflated by multinationals purchasing Welsh agricultural farmland above market value for greenwashing, offsetting their conscience, rather than their carbon, and being supported by taxpayers' money to do so. So, given that we know that the interim Habitat Wales scheme, which replaces Glastir and the Glastir woodland creation scheme from January, will be a smaller pot of money, what discussions have you had as a Minister with your Cabinet colleagues, including the rural affairs Minister, to ensure that what funding is available is targeted directly to farmers, and isn't accessible for multinational companies? Diolch, Llywydd.
Weinidog, mae ffermwyr yn rheoli oddeutu 80 y cant o dir Cymru, gan chwarae rhan unigryw yn y gwaith o ddiogelu a gwarchod cefn gwlad ein cenedl. Felly, mae’r diwydiant amaethyddol mewn sefyllfa unigryw, ac fe’ch gwelaf yn nodio eich pen, fel dalfa garbon â photensial unigryw a rôl allweddol wrth fynd i’r afael â newid hinsawdd gan ddarparu diogeledd bwyd ar yr un pryd. Ac yn sicr, mae coed yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn hyn, ac mae'n rhaid cael y goeden iawn, yn y lle iawn, am y rheswm iawn. Fodd bynnag, rydym wedi gweld prisiau tir yn cael eu chwyddo’n artiffisial wrth i gwmnïau rhyngwladol brynu tir fferm amaethyddol Cymru uwchlaw gwerth y farchnad ar gyfer gwyrddgalchu, gan wrthbwyso eu cydwybod yn hytrach na’u carbon, a chael eu cefnogi gan arian trethdalwyr i wneud hynny. Felly, o ystyried ein bod yn gwybod y bydd cynllun interim Cynefin Cymru, sy’n cymryd lle Glastir a chynllun creu coetir Glastir o fis Ionawr ymlaen, yn gronfa lai o arian, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch chi fel Gweinidog gyda’ch cyd-Weinidogion Cabinet, gan gynnwys y Gweinidog materion gwledig, i sicrhau bod unrhyw gyllid sydd ar gael yn cael ei dargedu’n uniongyrchol at ffermwyr, ac nad yw’n hygyrch i gwmnïau rhyngwladol? Diolch, Lywydd.
So, obviously, that's very much part of the discussion that we do have. If you have an example of that, I'd very much like to see it, because we're always told that these exist, and I've not yet found one. So, if you want to send me that, please, in a letter, I'd be very grateful for that.
What we do have often in Wales is agricultural land changing hands because a large part of our farmland is tenanted, so the holding companies look like multinationals, but, actually, they're using it as an asset base. Now, I don't personally approve of that either, but it's not the same thing as purchasing the land in order to increase tree cover. We do not fund schemes where agricultural land that should be used for food is used to blanket tree cover. We do have schemes to allow tree cover to be put into land in Wales, but they have very strict rules around the number of species and where they can be planted. Quite clearly, we also have a programme for restoring peatland, for example. We don't want trees planted on our peatland, especially the peatland we've worked hard to restore.
What we want is for people to do, as I was just discussing earlier with Carolyn and Sam—we want people to allow the trees that exist already in the hedgerows to grow, to actually turn into full trees, and to stop the kind of tidying of them that we see, and we're asking farmers to consider planting another row of trees alongside that in order to give a better corridor along. That covers, for most farms, 10 per cent of the land. So, obviously, we'll work with farmers. Some farms won't be suitable for that; other farms will be suitable for really productive crops of timber, which I've just been talking about with Ken Skates, which is a vital part of what we want to do in Wales. So, it is, you're absolutely right, the right tree, in the right place, for the right purpose as well. So, some of those trees will be there for generations to come as biodiverse reservoirs, but others will be crops, and the farmers can make an income from that as well as from food production. So, this is about making sure that we shepherd the land in the right way, for the right sort of production, in the right place. And I couldn't agree with you more, that we can't do that without our farmers.
Yn amlwg, mae hynny'n rhan fawr iawn o'r drafodaeth rydym yn ei chael. Os oes gennych enghraifft o hynny, carwn ei gweld, gan y dywedir wrthym bob amser fod y rhain yn bodoli, ac nid wyf wedi dod o hyd i un eto. Felly, pe gallech anfon hynny ataf, os gwelwch yn dda, mewn llythyr, buaswn yn ddiolchgar iawn am hynny.
Yr hyn sydd gennym yn aml yng Nghymru yw tir amaethyddol yn newid dwylo gan fod rhan helaeth o’n ffermdir yn denantir, felly mae’r cwmnïau daliannol yn edrych fel cwmnïau rhyngwladol, ond mewn gwirionedd, maent yn ei ddefnyddio fel sylfaen asedau. Nawr, yn bersonol, nid wyf yn cymeradwyo hynny ychwaith, ond nid yw yr un peth â phrynu'r tir er mwyn cynyddu gorchudd coed. Nid ydym yn ariannu cynlluniau lle mae tir amaethyddol y dylid ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer bwyd yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer gorchudd coed yn unig. Mae gennym gynlluniau i ganiatáu rhoi gorchudd coed ar dir yng Nghymru, ond mae ganddynt reolau llym iawn ynghylch nifer y rhywogaethau a ble y gellir eu plannu. Yn amlwg hefyd, mae gennym raglen ar gyfer adfer mawndiroedd, er enghraifft. Nid ydym am i goed gael eu plannu ar ein mawndiroedd, yn enwedig y mawndiroedd rydym wedi gweithio'n galed i'w hadfer.
Yr hyn rydym am i bobl ei wneud, fel y bûm yn ei drafod yn gynharach gyda Carolyn a Sam—rydym am i bobl ganiatáu i’r coed sy’n bodoli eisoes yn y gwrychoedd dyfu, i droi’n goed llawn, ac i atal y math o dacluso a welwn, ac rydym yn gofyn i ffermwyr ystyried plannu rhes arall o goed ochr yn ochr â nhw er mwyn creu gwell coridor. I'r rhan fwyaf o ffermydd, mae hynny'n gorchuddio 10 y cant o’r tir. Felly, yn amlwg, byddwn yn gweithio gyda ffermwyr. Bydd rhai ffermydd yn anaddas ar gyfer hynny; bydd ffermydd eraill yn addas ar gyfer cnydau cynhyrchiol iawn o bren, rhywbeth rwyf newydd fod yn ei drafod gyda Ken Skates, sy’n rhan hanfodol o’r hyn rydym am ei wneud yng Nghymru. Felly, rydych yn llygad eich lle, mae'n ymwneud â chael y goeden iawn yn y lle iawn at y diben iawn hefyd. Felly, bydd rhai o’r coed hynny yno am genedlaethau i ddod fel cronfeydd bioamrywiol, ond bydd eraill yn gnydau, a gall y ffermwyr wneud incwm o hynny yn ogystal ag o gynhyrchu bwyd. Felly, mae hyn ym ymwneud â sicrhau ein bod yn bugeilio’r tir yn y ffordd iawn, ar gyfer y math iawn o gynhyrchu, yn y lle iawn. Ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi na allwn wneud hynny heb ein ffermwyr.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddiogelwch ffyrdd ar gefnffordd yr A494 ym Mhwllglas? OQ59965
4. Will the Minister make a statement on road safety on the A494 trunk road in Pwllglas? OQ59965
Yes. Thank you. We take road safety very seriously and regularly review police collision data to inform the need for additional measures. We are currently updating the 'Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales' guidance and will review the speed limits across the trunk road network, following publication of the updated guidance.
Iawn. Diolch. Rydym o ddifrif ynglŷn â diogelwch ffyrdd ac yn adolygu data'r heddlu ar wrthdrawiadau yn rheolaidd er mwyn deall yr angen am fesurau ychwanegol. Rydym wrthi’n diweddaru canllawiau 'Pennu Terfynau Cyflymder Lleol yng Nghymru' a byddwn yn adolygu’r terfynau cyflymder ar draws y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd ar ôl cyhoeddi diweddariad i'r canllawiau.
Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. You'll know that I've had some correspondence with you on this matter over quite a long period of time now, and that the village of Pwllglas is going to benefit from a new fun and fitness park on one side of the trunk road, where all of the residents effectively live on the other side of the trunk road, alongside the local community centre, the village shop and a local nursery. Now, clearly, access to the new facilities is important for villagers, and they have asked if a crossing, ideally, could be installed on the trunk road, and failing that, if a reduction in the speed limit could be achieved from the current 40 mph to 30 mph. I appreciate that work is ongoing to review the national guidance, but, clearly, it's going to take quite some time before all of the roads across the trunk road network are actually reviewed. Can I request that you intervene in order to require your officials to undertake an assessment of the road safety in this village as soon as possible, so that people can enjoy the benefits of this new facility without being concerned about road safety?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi bod yn gohebu gyda chi ar y mater hwn dros gyfnod eithaf hir o amser bellach, a bod pentref Pwllglas yn mynd i elwa o barc hwyl a ffitrwydd newydd ar un ochr i’r gefnffordd, lle mae'r holl drigolion i bob pwrpas yn byw ar yr ochr arall i'r gefnffordd, ger y ganolfan gymunedol leol, siop y pentref a meithrinfa leol. Nawr, yn amlwg, mae mynediad at y cyfleusterau newydd yn bwysig i bentrefwyr, ac maent wedi gofyn a ellid gosod croesfan, yn ddelfrydol, ar y gefnffordd, ac os nad oes modd gwneud hynny, a ellid sicrhau gostyngiad yn y terfyn cyflymder o’r 40 mya presennol i 30 mya. Rwy’n sylweddoli bod gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i adolygu’r canllawiau cenedlaethol, ond yn amlwg, mae’n mynd i gymryd peth amser cyn i’r holl ffyrdd ar draws y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd gael eu hadolygu. A gaf fi ofyn ichi ymyrryd er mwyn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’ch swyddogion gynnal asesiad o ddiogelwch ffyrdd yn y pentref hwn cyn gynted â phosibl, fel y gall pobl fwynhau manteision y cyfleuster newydd hwn heb boeni am ddiogelwch ffyrdd?
Thanks. Well, I'm very sympathetic to what the Member says, and as he mentions, we've had correspondence, and I've already agreed to carry out a pedestrian assessment at Pwllglas. I'm afraid, because of austerity pressures, we don't have funding in this financial year to be able to do it, but we will do it as soon as we are able to find the resource.
This is obviously a very familiar argument about what the best speed limit should be where people and traffic mix. Outside play areas and where people live, obviously in urban areas, where the speed limit is currently 30 mph, those will default to 20 mph, precisely for the reasons that the Member sets out, which is why I'm slightly puzzled by the dogmatic attitude his party is taking on the issue of speed limits. In this case, of course, it's a trunk road, where the speed limit is currently 40 mph, and that, therefore, wasn't covered by the process to look at speed limits. Now, we are looking, therefore, at the guidance, because currently the guidance suggests, unless there are levels of casualties, we aren't able to change the speed limit. And I've had letters from a number of Members in this Chamber, including a number of his colleagues, asking me to look at cases in rural areas where roads pass through villages, and it should be lower. So, that's what we are doing. We want to bring it in line with our broader road safety and transport strategy, and I would expect to see, in cases like this, the speed limit to be able to come down.
Can I just point out to him that when I've said that we are doing this and we are reviewing speed limits for this purpose, the Conservative transport spokesperson has said,
'Labour will continue to wage this socialist, anti-worker, anti-road and anti-motorist agenda, causing damage to the Welsh economy and removing people's freedom to drive their cars',
because we want lower speed limits where children play? Now, I think there's a complete hypocrisy on the benches opposite of when they decide they want to support speed limits and when they don't. So, we are going to update the guidance, as he's asked me, but when I mentioned that on an interview recently, the Conservatives decided this was the latest culture war they could ride and started their screaming campaign of how this was a next agenda I had at anti-motorists. All I'm doing is what he's asking me to do, so perhaps they would rethink their position to avoid hypocrisy.
Diolch. Wel, rwy’n cydymdeimlo’n fawr â’r hyn y mae’r Aelod yn ei ddweud, ac fel y dywed, rydym wedi bod yn gohebu, ac rwyf eisoes wedi cytuno i gynnal asesiad cerddwyr ym Mhwllglas. Oherwydd pwysau cyni, mae arnaf ofn nad oes gennym gyllid yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon i allu ei wneud, ond fe'i gwnawn cyn gynted ag y gallwn ddod o hyd i'r arian.
Mae hon yn amlwg yn ddadl gyfarwydd iawn ynghylch beth ddylai’r terfyn cyflymder gorau fod lle mae pobl a thraffig yn cymysgu. Y tu allan i ardaloedd chwarae a lle mae pobl yn byw, yn amlwg mewn ardaloedd trefol, lle mae’r terfyn cyflymder yn 30 mya ar hyn o bryd, bydd y rheini’n dod yn 20 mya yn ddiofyn, am yr union resymau y mae’r Aelod yn eu nodi, a dyna pam fy mod wedi fy synnu braidd gan agwedd ddogmataidd ei blaid ar fater terfynau cyflymder. Yn yr achos hwn, wrth gwrs, mae'n gefnffordd, lle mae'r terfyn cyflymder yn 40 mya ar hyn o bryd, ac felly, nid oedd wedi'i chynnwys yn y broses i edrych ar derfynau cyflymder. Nawr, rydym yn edrych, felly, ar y canllawiau, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, mae'r canllawiau'n awgrymu, oni bai bod lefelau penodol o anafusion, nad ydym yn gallu newid y terfyn cyflymder. Ac rwyf wedi cael llythyrau gan nifer o Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, gan gynnwys nifer o'i gyd-Aelodau, yn gofyn imi edrych ar achosion mewn ardaloedd gwledig lle mae ffyrdd yn mynd drwy bentrefi, a dylai'r terfyn fod yn is. Felly, dyna rydym yn ei wneud. Rydym am ddod â hynny yn unol â’n strategaeth diogelwch ffyrdd a thrafnidiaeth ehangach, ac mewn achosion fel hyn, buaswn yn disgwyl gweld y terfyn cyflymder yn gallu cael ei ostwng.
Pan wyf wedi dweud ein bod yn gwneud hyn ac yn adolygu terfynau cyflymder at y diben hwn, a gaf fi dynnu ei sylw at y ffaith bod llefarydd trafnidiaeth y Ceidwadwyr wedi dweud,
'Bydd Llafur yn parhau i gynnal yr agenda sosialaidd, gwrth-weithwyr, gwrth-ffyrdd a gwrth-fodurwyr hon, gan wneud niwed i economi Cymru a chael gwared ar ryddid pobl i yrru eu ceir',
am ein bod eisiau cael terfynau cyflymder is lle mae plant yn chwarae? Nawr, credaf fod rhagrith llwyr ar y meinciau gyferbyn o ran pryd y byddant yn penderfynu eu bod am gefnogi terfynau cyflymder a phryd nad ydynt am wneud hynny. Felly, rydym yn mynd i ddiweddaru'r canllawiau, fel y mae wedi gofyn i mi ei wneud, ond pan grybwyllais hynny mewn cyfweliad yn ddiweddar, penderfynodd y Ceidwadwyr mai dyma'r rhyfel diwylliant diweddaraf y gallent fanteisio arno a chychwyn eu hymgyrch sgrechlyd i nodi mai hon oedd fy agenda wrth-fodurwyr nesaf. Y cyfan rwy'n ei wneud yw'r hyn y mae'n gofyn i mi ei wneud, felly efallai yr hoffent ailfeddwl eu safbwynt er mwyn osgoi rhagrith.
Dwi innau yn cefnogi galwadau i wella diogelwch cerddwyr a beicwyr ym mhentref Pwllglas, yn enwedig y rhai sydd yn awyddus i ddefnyddio y man chwarae newydd—[Torri ar draws.]
I too support calls to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety in the Pwllglas area, particularly those who are eager to use the new playing area—[Interruption.]
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. A Member is contributing virtually and cannot be heard when there is too much noise in the Chamber, so if we can listen to Llyr Gruffydd.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Mae Aelod yn cyfrannu’n rhithiol ac ni ellir ei glywed pan fo gormod o sŵn yn y Siambr, felly os gallwn wrando ar Llyr Gruffydd.
Caria ymlaen, Llyr.
Carry on, Llyr.
Diolch, Llywydd. Dwi hefyd yn cefnogi gwella diogelwch pedestrians ym Mhwllgas. Yn amlwg, mae'r man chwarae newydd yn mynd i ddenu pobl, ond nid yn unig o'r pentref. Dwi'n gwybod o brofiad fod yna blant, a phobl ifanc yn enwedig, yn teithio o gymunedau cyfagos nawr i ddefnyddio'r adnodd hwnnw—llefydd fel Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd ac fel Rhuthun ei hun. Ac mae'r ffordd sy'n dod i mewn i Bwllglas o'r gogledd, yr A494, yn gul eithriadol, mae'n droellog eithriadol, does yna ddim palmant, mae'n beryg bywyd i seiclo ar honno. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth edrych ar ddiogelwch ychydig y tu hwnt i bentref Pwllglas ei hun ac edrych ar wella mesurau diogelwch, boed yn arwyddion ffyrdd neu hyd yn oed archwilio posibiliadau o ran llwybrau cerdded a beicio, o bosib ar hyd yr hen reilffordd, er mwyn amddiffyn rhag gael damwain? Achos, fel mae'n edrych ar hyn o bryd, mater o amser yw hi cyn bod rhywun yn cael damwain ddifrifol.
Thank you, Llywydd. I too support the improvement of pedestrian safety in Pwllglas. Clearly, the new playing area is going to attract people, but not just those from the village. I know from experience that children, and young people in particular, are travelling from nearby communities to use this new resource—places such as Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Ruthin itself. And the road into Pwllglas from the north, the A494, is very narrow, it has several turns in it, there's no pavement, it's very dangerous to cycle on it. So, can I ask the Government to look at safety beyond Pwllglas itself and look at improving the safety measures, be that road signage or even investigating the possibilities in terms of cycling and walking routes across the old railway, for example, to safeguard against accidents? Because, as it appears at the moment, it's only a matter of time until somebody has a serious accident on that route.
Thank you for the question and I'm sure Llyr Gruffydd, like many Members here, have a great number of concerns raised by constituents about the speed of cars and the danger traffic poses to pedestrians. It certainly has historically been one of the biggest issues constituents have raised with me, and that is the reason why we are, with the support of many parties in this Chamber, reducing the speed limit in built-up areas. And on those roads outside of the current 30 mph, we are looking, as I said, at the guidance that we can issue to go alongside it. We're also later this year going to be consulting on a new road safety strategy for Wales, because the current version has lapsed, and we'll be bringing speed limits in line with our other policies and our Wales transport strategy. As the Member knows, we are investing heavily in safe routes for walking and cycling away from roads as part of our active travel investment. So, I think we are doing a great deal on this agenda, and I'm grateful for his support and his party's support for the action that we are taking.
Diolch am y cwestiwn ac rwy'n siŵr fod etholwyr wedi mynegi nifer fawr o bryderon wrth Llyr Gruffydd, fel wrth lawer o'r Aelodau yma, mewn perthynas â chyflymder ceir a'r perygl y mae traffig yn ei achosi i gerddwyr. Mae'n sicr wedi bod yn un o'r materion mwyaf y mae etholwyr wedi'u codi gyda mi yn hanesyddol, a dyna'r rheswm pam ein bod ni, gyda chefnogaeth llawer o bleidiau yn y Siambr hon, yn gostwng y terfyn cyflymder mewn ardaloedd adeiledig. Ac ar y ffyrdd y tu hwnt i'r terfyn cyflymder 30 mya presennol, fel y dywedais, rydym yn edrych ar y canllawiau y gallwn eu cyflwyno ochr yn ochr â hynny. Yn ddiweddarach eleni, byddwn yn ymgynghori ar strategaeth diogelwch ffyrdd newydd i Gymru, oherwydd mae'r fersiwn bresennol wedi dod i ben, a byddwn yn cysoni terfynau cyflymder â'n polisïau eraill a strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, rydym yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn creu llwybrau diogel ar gyfer cerdded a beicio i ffwrdd oddi wrth ffyrdd fel rhan o'n buddsoddiad teithio llesol. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwneud llawer iawn ar yr agenda hon, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar am ei gefnogaeth ef a chefnogaeth ei blaid i'r camau rydym yn eu cymryd.
5. Pa fesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu a gwella rhwydwaith camlesi Cymru? OQ59985
5. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to protect and enhance Wales’s canal network? OQ59985
Canals contribute to the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. Whilst canals are non-devolved, the Welsh Government has funded projects to enhance the network. These include supporting biodiversity and other environmental enhancements along the Montgomery canal, as well as active travel routes along the Swansea canal.
Mae camlesi yn cyfrannu at les economaidd, cymdeithasol, amgylcheddol a diwylliannol Cymru. Er nad yw camlesi wedi'u datganoli, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ariannu prosiectau i wella'r rhwydwaith. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys cefnogi bioamrywiaeth a gwelliannau amgylcheddol eraill ar hyd camlas Trefaldwyn, yn ogystal â llwybrau teithio llesol ar hyd camlas Abertawe.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Our canal network is a critical part of our national infrastructure. Canals bring the benefits of green spaces and nature corridors into urban areas, reaching thousands of people for whom access to nature is at a premium. They create wildlife corridors, contribute to flood defences and drainage and transfer water to support public water supply. In my constituency in Newport West, the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal has served residents since being built in 1799. Initially for industry, it now is a sanctuary for walkers and nature lovers, with the wonderful Fourteen Locks Canal Centre in Rogerstone providing an excellent base for visitors.
Our canals are an asset to be cherished, but the recent long-term funding settlement by the UK Government for the Canal & River Trust, which includes Glandŵr Cymru, represents almost a halving of real-terms public funding for canals compared with recent years. According to the trust, it will lead to a decline in the condition of the canal network and the alarming prospect of canal closures. Minister, what conversations are you having with Westminster on the impact of this decision, and what can the Welsh Government do to protect our canals and ensure that our canals remain the asset that they are?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae ein rhwydwaith camlesi yn rhan hanfodol o'n seilwaith cenedlaethol. Mae camlesi yn dod â manteision mannau gwyrdd a choridorau natur i ardaloedd trefol, gan gyrraedd miloedd o bobl nad oes ganddynt lawer o fynediad at natur. Maent yn creu coridorau bywyd gwyllt, yn cyfrannu at amddiffynfeydd rhag llifogydd a draenio ac yn trosglwyddo dŵr i gefnogi cyflenwad dŵr cyhoeddus. Yn fy etholaeth yng Ngorllewin Casnewydd, mae camlas Sir Fynwy a Brycheiniog wedi gwasanaethu trigolion ers iddi gael ei hadeiladu ym 1799. Cafodd ei hadeiladu ar gyfer diwydiant i ddechrau, ond mae bellach yn noddfa i gerddwyr a phobl sy'n hoff o fyd natur, gyda Chanolfan Camlas y Pedwar Loc ar Ddeg yn Nhŷ-du yn ganolbwynt ardderchog i ymwelwyr.
Mae ein camlesi yn ased i'w drysori, ond mae'r setliad cyllido hirdymor diweddar gan Lywodraeth y DU i'r Ymddiriedolaeth Camlesi ac Afonydd, sy'n cynnwys Glandŵr Cymru, bron yn haneru'r cyllid cyhoeddus i gamlesi mewn termau real o'i gymharu â'r blynyddoedd diwethaf. Yn ôl yr ymddiriedolaeth, bydd yn arwain at ddirywiad yng nghyflwr y rhwydwaith camlesi a'r posibilrwydd brawychus o gau camlesi. Weinidog, pa sgyrsiau rydych yn eu cael gyda San Steffan am effaith y penderfyniad hwn, a beth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i ddiogelu ein camlesi a sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i fod yn ased i'w drysori?
Yes, diolch, Jayne Bryant, for that question. As you've just said, the UK Government has taken a decision to change the funding model for the Canal & River Trust, and moves from a 15-year period to a 10-year period, with annual downwards tapers. I'm sure you know all of this, but it was set up in 2012 and the UK Government agreed to provide around £740 million through a 15-year grant as the charity established itself. It was always the case that they were expected to gradually reduce the reliance on public funding, but it was over 15 years, and that's been reduced. During 2022-23, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs carried out a review of its grants to inform the position. We contributed to the early stages of that review and highlighted the important role the canal network has in all areas—all the ones you've just mentioned; outdoor recreation, active travel, tourism and biodiversity being high up there.
So, they've announced that it will reduce each year. They think that the reduction can be matched by increases in other funding, such as water transfer charges, boating and mooring charges and other income, but I'm afraid we've highlighted a number of risks as a result of the reduction in funding, and we fear closure of some parts of the network, including some active travel routes, a negative impact on biodiversity if the canal can't be kept free running, because it's the free running of the water that contributes very much to that, and obligations for historic grants for assets to be maintained and to provide public benefit coming into play if the trust can't produce enough money in order to meet its obligations, and then, as a result of that, the reduced maintenance of listed assets.
So, it's very concerning indeed that this has happened, and we are very keen to preserve our canal network, and indeed to extend it, as we still hope we will be able to do. We have some lines in 'Planning Policy Wales' that set out policy considerations for canals and inland waterways, and, basically, in summary, it says that planning authorities should seek to promote the use of inland waterways by the protection of or provision of access to them. That's with a view to making sure that communities can access the waterways, and indeed make use of them. And also it's very obvious that, in the last 10 years, people have had a very different view of canals and rivers. So, it wasn't uncommon at all 15 years ago for housing estates to be built with their back to a river, and a wall built in between. Now it's very obvious that it enhances the value of the land if you turn it around and make it look at the river. I don't know, Jayne Bryant, if you've had a chance to do this, but, if you get a chance to look at the Lee valley on the Olympic park in London, and what happened when the Canal & River Trust was able to influence how they pursued the inland waterways of that site, and what it has done for the community locally, then it's well worth looking at. So, it's a real false economy once more from the Conservatives to do this for an asset that is both a heritage asset and a huge investment in biodiversity.
Ie, diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Jayne Bryant. Fel rydych newydd ei ddweud, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi penderfynu newid y model ariannu ar gyfer yr Ymddiriedolaeth Camlesi ac Afonydd, ac mae'n symud o gyfnod o 15 mlynedd i gyfnod o 10 mlynedd, gyda gostyngiadau blynyddol fesul cam. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn gwybod hyn i gyd, ond fe'i sefydlwyd yn 2012 a chytunodd Llywodraeth y DU i ddarparu tua £740 miliwn drwy grant 15 mlynedd wrth i'r elusen ymsefydlu. Roedd bob amser yn wir fod disgwyl iddynt leihau'r ddibyniaeth ar gyllid cyhoeddus yn raddol, ond roedd hynny dros gyfnod o 15 mlynedd, ac mae'r cyfnod hwnnw bellach wedi cael ei leihau. Yn ystod 2022-23, cynhaliodd Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig adolygiad o'i grantiau i lywio'r safbwynt. Fe wnaethom ni gyfrannu at gamau cynnar yr adolygiad hwnnw gan dynnu sylw at y rôl bwysig sydd gan y rhwydwaith camlesi ym mhob ardal—yr holl rai rydych chi newydd eu crybwyll; hamdden awyr agored, teithio llesol, twristiaeth a bioamrywiaeth yn uchel ar y rhestr.
Felly, maent wedi cyhoeddi y bydd yn lleihau bob blwyddyn. Maent yn credu y gellir gwneud iawn am y gostyngiad drwy gynnydd mewn cyllid arall, fel taliadau trosglwyddo dŵr, taliadau cychod ac angorfeydd ac incwm arall, ond mae arnaf ofn ein bod wedi amlygu nifer o risgiau o ganlyniad i'r gostyngiad mewn cyllid, ac rydym yn ofni y bydd rhai rhannau o'r rhwydwaith yn cael eu cau, gan gynnwys rhai llwybrau teithio llesol, effaith negyddol ar fioamrywiaeth os na ellir sicrhau bod y gamlas yn llifo'n rhydd, oherwydd mae sicrhau bod y dŵr yn llifo'n rhydd yn cyfrannu'n helaeth at hynny, a rhwymedigaethau grantiau hanesyddol er mwyn cynnal asedau a darparu budd cyhoeddus sy'n dod i rym os na all yr ymddiriedolaeth gynhyrchu digon o arian er mwyn cyflawni ei rhwymedigaethau, ac o ganlyniad i hynny, llai o waith cynnal a chadw ar asedau rhestredig.
Felly, mae'n destun pryder mawr fod hyn wedi digwydd, ac rydym yn awyddus iawn i gadw ein rhwydwaith camlesi, ac yn wir i'w ymestyn, ac rydym yn dal i obeithio y byddwn yn gallu gwneud hynny. Mae gennym rai llinellau yn 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' sy'n nodi ystyriaethau polisi ar gyfer camlesi a dyfrffyrdd mewndirol, ac yn y bôn, i grynhoi, mae'n dweud y dylai awdurdodau cynllunio geisio hyrwyddo'r defnydd o ddyfrffyrdd mewndirol drwy ddiogelu neu ddarparu mynediad atynt. Mae hynny gyda'r bwriad o sicrhau bod cymunedau'n gallu cael mynediad at y dyfrffyrdd, a'u defnyddio. A hefyd mae'n amlwg iawn, yn ystod y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, fod safbwynt pobl ar gamlesi ac afonydd wedi bod yn wahanol iawn. Felly, nid oedd yn anghyffredin o gwbl, 15 mlynedd yn ôl, i ystadau tai gael eu hadeiladu gyda chefnau'r tai at afon, a wal rhyngddynt. Nawr mae'n amlwg iawn ei fod yn gwella gwerth y tir os ydych chi'n ei wneud fel arall a gwneud i'r tai wynebu'r afon. Nid wyf yn gwybod a ydych chi wedi cael cyfle i wneud hyn, Jane Bryant, ond os cewch chi gyfle, edrychwch ar Lee Valley ym mharc Olympaidd Llundain, a'r hyn a ddigwyddodd pan lwyddodd yr Ymddiriedolaeth Camlesi ac Afonydd i ddylanwadu ar sut y gwnaethant fynd ar drywydd dyfrffyrdd mewndirol y safle hwnnw, a'r hyn y mae wedi'i wneud i'r gymuned yn lleol, oherwydd mae'n werth edrych arno. Felly, mae'n economi ffug unwaith eto gan y Ceidwadwyr i wneud hyn ar gyfer ased sy'n ased treftadaeth ac yn fuddsoddiad enfawr mewn bioamrywiaeth.
Minister, of course one way the Welsh Government can help to enhance Wales's canal network is by continuing to support work in terms of the restoration of the Montgomery canal, which you referred to in your earlier answer. Now, you'll be aware of the significant UK Government levelling-up funding that has been awarded to secure this project, and I certainly believe that the canal restoration in Montgomeryshire will be of huge benefit to improving the tourism offer, as well as helping in levering in that private sector funding as well. Now, I very much hope, Minister, that, through the mid Wales growth deal, additional funding can be levered in as well, because this is a key project within the mid Wales growth deal, which I know is a partnership, of course, between the Welsh and the UK Governments. So, Minister, I would like your support in principle for additional support through the mid Wales growth deal to support the final elements of the restoration of the Montgomeryshire canal, as I'm sure you'll very much agree with me that this is a very important strategic regeneration project for mid Wales.
Weinidog, wrth gwrs, un ffordd y gall Llywodraeth Cymru helpu i wella rhwydwaith camlesi Cymru yw drwy barhau i gefnogi gwaith adfer camlas Maldwyn, y cyfeirioch chi ati yn eich ateb yn gynharach. Nawr, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r cyllid ffyniant bro sylweddol a ddyfarnwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU i ddiogelu'r prosiect hwn, ac rwy'n sicr yn credu y bydd adfer y gamlas yn sir Drefaldwyn o fudd enfawr i wella'r cynnig twristiaeth, yn ogystal â helpu i ddenu'r cyllid sector preifat hwnnw hefyd. Nawr, rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr, Weinidog, drwy fargen twf canolbarth Cymru, y gellir manteisio ar gyllid ychwanegol hefyd, oherwydd mae hwn yn brosiect allweddol o fewn bargen twf canolbarth Cymru, a gwn ei bod yn bartneriaeth, wrth gwrs, rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU. Felly, Weinidog, hoffwn eich cefnogaeth mewn egwyddor i gymorth ychwanegol drwy fargen twf canolbarth Cymru i gefnogi elfennau terfynol y gwaith o adfer camlas sir Drefaldwyn, gan fy mod yn siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi fod hwn yn brosiect adfywio strategol pwysig iawn i'r canolbarth.
Yes, I do very much agree that it's an important regeneration and strategic project. As I was just saying in response to Jayne Bryant, it's very obvious it has a dramatic effect on land values, for example, and it's very definitely an increased tourism offer, both, actually, for use of the towpaths as well as the actual boating, and we're very much in favour of that. I can't comment on the finances of the mid Wales growth deal—that's in my colleague's portfolio—but we are as a Government supportive of the mid Wales growth deal, and very keen to ensure that historic assets of this sort are enhanced.
Ydw, rwy'n cytuno'n fawr ei fod yn brosiect adfywio strategol pwysig. Fel roeddwn yn dweud mewn ymateb i Jayne Bryant, mae'n amlwg iawn ei fod yn cael effaith ddramatig ar werthoedd tir, er enghraifft, ac mae'n bendant yn gwella'r cynnig twristiaeth, ar gyfer defnyddio'r llwybrau tynnu yn ogystal â'r cychod eu hunain, ac rydym yn gryf o blaid hynny. Ni allaf wneud sylw ar gyllid bargen twf canolbarth Cymru—mae hynny ym mhortffolio fy nghyd-Aelod—ond fel Llywodraeth rydym yn gefnogol i fargen twf canolbarth Cymru, ac yn awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod asedau hanesyddol o'r math hwn yn cael eu gwella.
6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydbwyso'r angen am waith datblygu yn erbyn ei hymrwymiad i ddiogelu a gwella bioamrywiaeth? OQ59977
6. How does the Welsh Government balance the need for development against its commitment to protect and enhance biodiversity? OQ59977
The Welsh Government balances the need for development with our commitment to protect and enhance biodiversity through the implementation of our terrestrial and marine planning policies. These provide a framework to ensure our natural resources are used in a way and at a rate that maintains and enhances ecosystem resilience.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydbwyso'r angen am waith datblygu gyda'n hymrwymiad i ddiogelu a gwella bioamrywiaeth drwy weithredu ein polisïau cynllunio daearol a morol. Mae'r rhain yn darparu fframwaith i sicrhau bod ein hadnoddau naturiol yn cael eu defnyddio mewn ffordd ac ar gyfradd sy'n cynnal ac yn gwella gwytnwch ecosystemau.
Thank you, Minister. I have been dealing with concerned residents at two potential developments, one a solar farm and the other a housing development. Both sites have one thing in common, however—they are both havens for wildlife. Both sites sustain a range of rare flora and fauna and both are threatened by development. Glais, which is home to rare birds and butterflies, could be destroyed to meet our energy needs, and Clyne Common, which is home to many rare plants and insect species, is to be paved over to accommodate the need for affordable housing. Minister, we have a nature emergency, so why are we allowing the destruction of natural habitats to meet short-term energy or housing targets? Surely there are plenty of brownfield sites around to allow developments to go ahead while at the same time protecting our biodiversity. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Rwyf wedi bod yn ymdrin â thrigolion pryderus mewn dau ddatblygiad posibl, un yn fferm solar a'r llall yn ddatblygiad tai. Mae gan y ddau safle un peth yn gyffredin, fodd bynnag—mae'r ddau ohonynt yn hafan i fywyd gwyllt. Mae'r ddau safle'n cynnal amrywiaeth o fflora a ffawna prin ac mae'r ddau'n cael eu bygwth gan waith datblygu. Gallai Glais, sy'n gartref i adar prin a gloÿnnod byw, gael ei ddinistrio i ddiwallu ein hanghenion ynni, ac mae Comin Clun, sy'n gartref i lawer o rywogaethau o blanhigion a phryfed prin, i gael ei balmantu i ddarparu'r angen am dai fforddiadwy. Weinidog, mae gennym argyfwng natur, felly pam ein bod yn caniatáu i gynefinoedd naturiol gael eu dinistrio i ddiwallu targedau ynni neu dai tymor byr? Does bosib nad oes digon o safleoedd tir llwyd o gwmpas i ganiatáu i ddatblygiadau fynd yn eu blaenau gan warchod ein bioamrywiaeth ar yr un pryd. Diolch.
Well, I'm very pleased to see the Member championing biodiversity over development. That's certainly not something the Government of the same colour as him is doing the other side of the border. Here in Wales we have a plan-led system. I obviously can't comment on individual sites or planning applications for obvious reasons, but any development that comes forward must comply with 'Planning Policy Wales', it must comply with the provisions set out in the LDP, and all of those have sustainable development absolutely at their core. So, as long as the planning authorities are correctly implementing the plans and correctly implementing 'Planning Policy Wales', then we have an enormous amount of protection and enhancement, so that we do get the right balance. But I obviously can't comment on individual sites because I may well have a role in the planning system for them.
Wel, rwy'n falch iawn o weld yr Aelod yn hyrwyddo bioamrywiaeth dros waith datblygu. Yn sicr, nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth y mae'r Llywodraeth o'r un lliw ag ef yn ei wneud yr ochr arall i'r ffin. Yma yng Nghymru, mae gennym system sy'n dilyn cynllun. Yn amlwg, ni allaf wneud sylwadau ar safleoedd na cheisiadau cynllunio unigol am resymau amlwg, ond rhaid i unrhyw ddatblygiad a gyflwynir gydymffurfio â 'Pholisi Cynllunio Cymru', rhaid iddo gydymffurfio â'r darpariaethau a nodir yn y cynllun datblygu lleol, ac mae datblygiad cynaliadwy yn gwbl greiddiol iddynt oll. Felly, cyn belled â bod yr awdurdodau cynllunio yn gweithredu'r cynlluniau'n gywir ac yn gweithredu 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn gywir, mae gennym lawer iawn o amddiffyniad a ffyrdd o wella, fel ein bod yn sicrhau'r cydbwysedd cywir. Ond yn amlwg, ni allaf wneud sylw ar safleoedd unigol oherwydd mae'n ddigon posibl y bydd gennyf rôl yn y system gynllunio ar eu cyfer.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y camau diweddaraf mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n eu cymryd i wella gwytnwch croesiadau'r Fenai? OQ59966
7. Will the Minister make a statement on the latest steps the Welsh Government is taking to improve the resilience of the Menai crossings? OQ59966
Diolch. The North Wales Transport Commission is drafting its report on improving resilience of the Menai crossings, and we hope to receive this as soon as it is ready. I understand that the commission will recommend a range of actions to be taken to achieve this, and that report will, of course, will be publicly made available.
Diolch. Mae Comisiwn Trafnidiaeth Gogledd Cymru yn drafftio ei adroddiad ar wella gwytnwch croesfannau'r Fenai, ac rydym yn gobeithio y daw i law cyn gynted ag y bydd yn barod. Rwy'n deall y bydd y comisiwn yn argymell ystod o gamau i'w cymryd i gyflawni hyn, a bydd yr adroddiad hwnnw ar gael i'r cyhoedd wrth gwrs.
The closure last year, and now the long-term lights on the Menai bridge, have, of course, highlighted the lack of resilience of the Britannia crossing. The reason I ask the question today is because it honestly feels as if Welsh Government has given up on doing anything for the long term to help with the resilience of the crossing. I thought that I had come close, a decade ago, to getting support for a three-lane peak flow system. That couldn't be done. We continued campaigning and, wow, we were promised a new bridge. Then, that was scrapped. 'Use the bus', we were told. Then, buses are cut. 'Use active travel'—the bridge would have been the new route for active travel. Now, I've put forward practical solutions. I wrote in July. I suggested using a three-lane peak flow system as a rapid deployment interim measure. The Minister has written back to me, saying now that that can't be done, that it would take years. Where is the intention to try to get to grips with the problems that we are facing now? The Burns commission, I fear, doesn't have a wide enough remit. The Deputy Minister, Llywydd, I fear is giving us nothing here that shows us that the Government is serious about making real changes for the long term. With storm Agnes on the way, I have very, very nervous constituents again, worried about the island being cut off.
Mae'r ffaith y bu'n rhaid cau'r bont y llynedd, a nawr y goleuadau hirdymor ar bont Menai, wedi amlygu diffyg gwytnwch croesfan Britannia wrth gwrs. Y rheswm rwy'n gofyn y cwestiwn heddiw yw oherwydd ei fod yn teimlo o ddifrif fel pe bai Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi'r gorau yn hirdymor i wneud unrhyw beth i helpu gyda gwytnwch y groesfan. Roeddwn i'n meddwl fy mod i wedi dod yn agos, ddegawd yn ôl, i gael cefnogaeth ar gyfer system tair lôn yn ystod oriau brig. Ni ellid gwneud hynny. Fe wnaethom barhau i ymgyrchu, a waw, fe gawsom addewid o bont newydd. Yna, cafodd hynny ei dynnu'n ôl. 'Defnyddiwch y bws', meddent wrthym. Yna, cafodd bysiau eu torri. 'Defnyddiwch deithio llesol'—y bont fyddai'r llwybr newydd ar gyfer teithio llesol. Nawr, rwyf wedi cyflwyno atebion ymarferol. Ysgrifennais ym mis Gorffennaf. Awgrymais ddefnyddio system tair lôn yn ystod oriau brig fel mesur cyflym dros dro. Mae'r Gweinidog wedi ysgrifennu yn ôl ataf, gan ddweud nawr na ellir gwneud hynny, ac y byddai'n cymryd blynyddoedd. Lle mae'r bwriad i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r problemau sy'n ein hwynebu nawr? Rwy'n ofni nad oes gan gomisiwn Burns gylch gwaith digon eang. Lywydd, mae arnaf ofn nad yw'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn rhoi unrhyw beth i ni yma sy'n dangos i ni fod y Llywodraeth o ddifrif ynglŷn â gwneud newidiadau go iawn ar gyfer y tymor hir. Gyda storm Agnes ar y ffordd, mae gennyf etholwyr nerfus iawn eto sy'n poeni y bydd yr ynys yn cael ei thorri i ffwrdd.
Well, I completely understand the frustration, and I'm disappointed by the slightly churlish comments that the Member has made there. I would have hoped that he would have thought that, in terms of my commitment and relationship with him—[Interruption.] The suggestion that we are not taking it seriously to provide a long-term solution is, believe, churlish. I think I've tried very hard to work with him and given a lot of time to trying to find solutions to do this. These things aren't straightforward. It is my job, as it's his job. I continue my disappointment with the tone that he is taking.
Now, my concern is, having engaged closely with the engineers on this—and he's met with them himself on a number of occasions—it is not as simple as he is making out, unfortunately. I wish it was, because I support what he's trying to do. I was very sympathetic to trying to put in the zipplng system that he suggested, and the engineers are very cautious about that. I understand that the report that we have had back—working with the Burns commission and making engineers available to them—shows that it is going to be very difficult to put that in as a permanent solution, which is very disappointing. We're not giving up on it, and I am certainly asking them to make every effort to try and make that a pragmatic solution. I would be very happy for him, again, to meet with them to go through the detail of that.
As I say, the Burns commission will be producing an overall plan for north Wales. Unfortunately, Lord Burns has had a cycling accident and has taken a knock, and so there might be a delay to the report being published, but we hope to keep that to a minimum. I maintain my commitment to work with the Member to try and find a solution for his constituents.
Wel, rwy'n deall y rhwystredigaeth yn llwyr, ac rwy'n siomedig gyda'r sylwadau sarrug braidd a wnaeth yr Aelod. Byddwn wedi gobeithio y byddai wedi meddwl, o ran fy ymrwymiad a fy mherthynas gydag ef—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu bod yr awgrym nad ydym yn rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i ddarparu ateb hirdymor yn sarrug. Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi ymdrechu'n galed iawn i weithio gydag ef ac wedi rhoi llawer o amser i geisio dod o hyd i ffyrdd o wneud hyn. Nid yw'r pethau hyn yn syml. Dyma fy swydd, a dyna ei swydd iddo yntau. Rwy'n parhau i fod yn siomedig â'r cywair y mae'n ei ddefnyddio.
Nawr, fy mhryder i, ar ôl ymgysylltu'n agos â'r peirianwyr ar hyn—ac mae wedi cyfarfod â nhw ei hun ar sawl achlysur—yw nad yw mor syml ag y mae'n awgrymu, yn anffodus. Byddwn wrth fy modd pe bai mor syml â hynny, oherwydd rwy'n cefnogi'r hyn y mae'n ceisio ei wneud. Roeddwn yn gefnogol i geisio sefydlu'r system 'zipper' a awgrymwyd ganddo, ac mae'r peirianwyr yn ofalus iawn ynglŷn â hynny. Rwy'n deall bod yr adroddiad a gawsom yn ôl—gan weithio gyda chomisiwn Burns a sicrhau bod peirianwyr ar gael iddynt—yn dangos y bydd yn anodd iawn sefydlu hynny fel ateb parhaol, sy'n siomedig iawn. Nid ydym am roi'r gorau i'r syniad, ac rwy'n sicr yn gofyn iddynt wneud pob ymdrech i geisio sicrhau bod hwnnw'n ateb pragmatig. Unwaith eto, byddwn yn hapus iawn iddo gyfarfod â nhw i drafod manylion hynny.
Fel y dywedais, bydd comisiwn Burns yn cynhyrchu cynllun cyffredinol ar gyfer gogledd Cymru. Yn anffodus, mae'r Arglwydd Burns wedi cael anaf mewn damwain seiclo, ac felly efallai y bydd oedi cyn cyhoeddi'r adroddiad, ond rydym yn gobeithio y gellir ei gyhoeddi cyn gynted â phosibl. Rwy'n ategu fy ymrwymiad i weithio gyda'r Aelod i geisio dod o hyd i ateb ar gyfer ei etholwyr.
Mark Isherwood. I think that's a 'no'.
Mark Isherwood. Rwy'n credu mai 'na' oedd hynny.
Cwestiwn 8—Luke Fletcher.
Question 8—Luke Fletcher.
8. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda chydweithwyr mewn llywodraeth leol i sicrhau bod gan bobl mewn llety dros dro amodau byw addas? OQ59980
8. How is the Welsh Government working with local government colleagues to ensure that people in temporary accommodation have suitable living conditions? OQ59980
We remain committed to our long-term ambition to end homelessness, and are investing over £210 million in homelessness and housing support services this year alone. The code of guidance on the allocation of accommodation and homelessness sets out guidance for local authorities on the use and the suitability of temporary accommodation.
Rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i'n huchelgais hirdymor i ddod â digartrefedd i ben, ac rydym yn buddsoddi dros £210 miliwn mewn gwasanaethau digartrefedd a chymorth tai eleni yn unig. Mae'r cod canllawiau ar ddyrannu llety a digartrefedd yn nodi canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol ar ddefnydd ac addasrwydd llety dros dro.
Diolch am yr ateb, Gweinidog.
Thank you for that response, Minister.
As of June 2023, there were 10,869 people living in temporary accommodation, of which 3,346 were under the age of 16. Now, my office has seen an increase in the number of constituents coming to us from this setting expressing to us how unsuitable the accommodation is, especially for families. When we raise this with local authorities, very clearly, the pressure is on them. Response times, on average, have taken up to two months, no doubt because of the increased numbers needing temporary accommodation. So, my question is twofold. Firstly, what support is Welsh Government providing to local authorities to deal with the numbers that are needing temporary accommodation? And secondly, what advice would she give to us as Members in terms of the best way to support our constituents?
Ym mis Mehefin 2023, roedd 10,869 o bobl yn byw mewn llety dros dro, gyda 3,346 ohonynt o dan 16 oed. Nawr, mae fy swyddfa wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer yr etholwyr sy'n dod atom o'r sefyllfa hon yn mynegi pa mor anaddas yw'r llety, yn enwedig i deuluoedd. Pan fyddwn yn codi hyn gydag awdurdodau lleol, yn amlwg iawn, maent o dan bwysau. Mae amseroedd ymateb, ar gyfartaledd, wedi cymryd hyd at ddau fis, yn ddiau oherwydd y niferoedd cynyddol sydd angen llety dros dro. Felly, mae gennyf ddau gwestiwn. Yn gyntaf, pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol i ymdrin â'r niferoedd sydd angen llety dros dro? Ac yn ail, pa gyngor y byddai'n ei roi i ni fel Aelodau ynglŷn â'r ffordd orau o gefnogi ein hetholwyr?
Yes. Thank you very much for the question. We're obviously working in collaboration with Plaid Cymru on this matter, because homelessness is part of the co-operation agreement. We continue to take a 'no-one left out' approach, with over 38,600 people experiencing homelessness supported with temporary accommodation since March 2020. We just updated our ending homelessness action plan, which reflects our ambition to reduce dependency on temporary accommodation, as authorities transition towards rapid rehousing.
But Luke Fletcher is quite right: prevention has to be the main focus, and our priority is to reduce the flow of people needing temporary accommodation, so we've provided an additional £6 million to local authorities for a discretionary homelessness prevention fund. We've also tried to increase move-on from temporary accommodation, so we've put something in place called the transitional accommodation capital programme. We established that back at the beginning of last year. It's open to new applications now to deliver more homes for people in temporary accommodation. This is very high-quality temporary accommodation and if the Member would like to visit some, I can certainly arrange that. So, this is accommodation that isn't quite at the spatial standards that we expect for permanent accommodation, and some of it is on what we call 'meanwhile' sites. I recently visited one at the gasworks here in Cardiff, for example, that will become a permanent housing estate, but it will take three to five years for that to happen, and in the meantime, we have very-good-quality temporary accommodation there for a number of families who would otherwise be in much poorer bed-and-breakfast accommodation. But there is absolutely no doubt that we are facing unprecedented numbers of people presenting as homeless. We still have over 1,000 a month right across Wales presenting as homeless, driven, I'm afraid, by the cost-of-living crisis and the effect that that has on family break-up.
So, we've been investing significantly in prevention services and if the Member is having people who present in that circumstance, the two things that we've been asking people to do are, first of all, to make sure that both housing and other public services in your area—so, mental health, substance abuse, social services support—are available if they're still in their homes, and that the council or the people running the housing options in your area are cognisant of the fact that they can do things to keep people in their homes. There are a large range of options available to keep people in their homes, including help with rent arrears, for example, and other issues. And where it's not possible to do that, that they present at the earliest possible opportunity to housing options, so that the maximum amount of time can be taken to find suitable alternative accommodation. And we have enabled councils to provide a range of suitable accommodation; it won't be permanent social housing for rent, in many cases, but it will, nevertheless, be perfectly acceptable accommodation.
We continue to work very hard. In the last figures that I have available, we had just over 1,000 people a month present, back in September, to homelessness services, and about 562 of those households were moved on into permanent accommodation. So, Llywydd, I always say this, I want to pay tribute to the people who work in homelessness services across Wales, who are really working absolutely flat out to try and help people in these circumstances. But I do emphasise that we are very much in the business of trying to keep people in their homes in the first place and to prevent the descent into homelessness, because of the trauma and, indeed, the sheer financial aspects of that.
Ie. Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. Rydym yn amlwg yn gweithio ar y cyd â Phlaid Cymru ar y mater hwn, oherwydd mae digartrefedd yn rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio. Rydym yn parhau i fabwysiadu dull o sicrhau nad oes neb yn cael eu gadael allan, gyda dros 38,600 o bobl sy'n profi digartrefedd wedi cael cymorth llety dros dro ers mis Mawrth 2020. Rydym newydd ddiweddaru ein cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer rhoi diwedd ar ddigartrefedd, sy'n adlewyrchu ein huchelgais i leihau dibyniaeth ar lety dros dro, wrth i awdurdodau symud tuag at ailgartrefu'n gyflym.
Ond mae Luke Fletcher yn llygad ei le: rhaid i atal fod yn brif ffocws, a'n blaenoriaeth yw lleihau llif y bobl sydd angen llety dros dro, felly rydym wedi darparu £6 miliwn ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer cronfa atal digartrefedd ddewisol. Rydym hefyd wedi ceisio cynyddu'r niferoedd sy'n symud ymlaen o lety dros dro, felly rydym wedi sefydlu'r rhaglen gyfalaf ar gyfer llety dros dro. Fe wnaethom sefydlu honno ar ddechrau y llynedd. Mae'n agored i geisiadau newydd nawr i ddarparu mwy o gartrefi i bobl mewn llety dros dro. Mae hwn yn llety dros dro o ansawdd uchel iawn ac os hoffai'r Aelod ymweld â rhai, gallaf yn sicr drefnu hynny. Felly, mae hwn yn llety nad yw'n cyrraedd y safonau gofodol rydym yn eu disgwyl ar gyfer llety parhaol, ac mae rhywfaint ohonynt wedi'u lleoli ar yr hyn rydym yn eu galw'n safleoedd 'yn y cyfamser'. Yn ddiweddar, ymwelais ag un yn y gweithfeydd nwy yma yng Nghaerdydd, er enghraifft, a fydd yn dod yn ystad dai barhaol, ond bydd yn cymryd tair i bum mlynedd i hynny ddigwydd, ac yn y cyfamser, mae gennym lety dros dro o ansawdd da iawn yno i nifer o deuluoedd a fyddai fel arall mewn llety gwely a brecwast llawer gwaeth. Ond nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl ein bod yn wynebu niferoedd digynsail o bobl sy'n mynd yn ddigartref. Mae gennym dros 1,000 y mis o bobl ledled Cymru sy'n mynd yn ddigartref, wedi'i lywio, mae arnaf ofn, gan yr argyfwng costau byw a'r effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael o ran chwalu teuluoedd.
Felly, rydym wedi bod yn buddsoddi'n sylweddol mewn gwasanaethau atal ac os oes gan yr Aelod bobl sy'n mynd yn ddigartref yn yr amgylchiadau hynny, y ddau beth rydym wedi bod yn gofyn i bobl eu gwneud yw, yn gyntaf oll, gwneud yn siŵr fod tai a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill yn eich ardal chi—felly, cymorth iechyd meddwl, camddefnyddio sylweddau, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol—ar gael os ydynt yn dal i fod yn eu cartrefi, a bod y cyngor neu'r bobl sy'n rheoli'r opsiynau tai yn eich ardal yn ymwybodol o'r ffaith eu bod yn gallu gwneud pethau i gadw pobl yn eu cartrefi. Mae ystod eang o opsiynau ar gael i gadw pobl yn eu cartrefi, gan gynnwys cymorth gydag ôl-ddyledion rhent, er enghraifft, a materion eraill. A lle nad yw'n bosibl gwneud hynny, sicrhau eu bod yn cael opsiynau tai ar y cyfle cyntaf posibl, fel y gellir sicrhau mwy o amser i geisio dod o hyd i lety amgen addas. Ac rydym wedi galluogi cynghorau i ddarparu ystod o lety addas; mewn llawer o achosion, ni fydd yn dŷ cymdeithasol parhaol i'w rentu, ond serch hynny, fe fydd yn llety cwbl dderbyniol.
Rydym yn parhau i weithio'n galed iawn. Yn y ffigurau diwethaf sydd ar gael i mi, roedd ychydig dros 1,000 o bobl y mis yn troi at wasanaethau digartrefedd, yn ôl ym mis Medi, a symudwyd tua 562 o'r aelwydydd hynny ymlaen i lety parhaol. Felly, Lywydd, rwyf bob amser yn dweud hyn, rwyf am dalu teyrnged i'r bobl sy'n gweithio mewn gwasanaethau digartrefedd ledled Cymru, sy'n gwneud eu gorau glas i geisio helpu pobl yn yr amgylchiadau hyn. Ond rwy'n pwysleisio ein bod ni'n ymrwymedig i geisio cadw pobl yn eu cartrefi yn y lle cyntaf ac atal pobl rhag mynd yn ddigartref, oherwydd y trawma, ac yn wir, yr agweddau ariannol sydd ynghlwm wrth hynny.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, a'r cwestiwn cyntaf heddiw gan Paul Davies.
The next item will be the questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and question 1 today is from Paul Davies.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ynghylch darparu cyrsiau galwedigaethol? OQ59959
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the delivery of vocational courses? OQ59959
Cyhoeddais i'r adroddiad ar yr adolygiad o gymwysterau galwedigaethol ar 11 Medi. Rwyf wrthi'n ystyried yr argymhellion, ac yn gwneud hynny ar y cyd gydag eraill, i sicrhau dull cydgysylltiedig ar draws ystod o ddatblygiadau strategol. Byddaf i'n rhoi diweddariad pellach maes o law.
I published the report from the vocational qualifications review on 11 September. I am considering its recommendations, alongside others, to ensure a joined-up approach across a range of strategic developments. I will provide a further update in due course.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb yna. Nawr, yn gynharach eleni, lansiodd Cymwysterau Cymru ymgynghoriad ar dri chynnig ar gyfer cymwysterau 14 i 16, ochr yn ochr â TGAU. Fe gwrddais i â Choleg Sir Benfro yn gynharach eleni i drafod yr ymgynghoriad a'r angen am ragor o gydweithio rhwng ysgolion a cholegau i ddarparu sgiliau galwedigaethol yn fy ardal i. Nawr, dwi'n gwybod bod yna bryderon ynghylch y gallu a fydd gan rai ysgolion i ddarparu cyrsiau galwedigaethol ychwanegol, ac mae yna bryderon ynghylch a fydd gan rai ysgolion y cyfleusterau priodol i ddarparu rhai o'r cyrsiau yma. Nawr, dwi'n sylweddoli bydd canlyniadau'r ymgynghoriad yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn y flwyddyn newydd, ond, Gweinidog, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyn ni pa drafodaethau ŷch chi wedi eu cael gyda Cymwysterau Cymru am y gwaith hwn, pa gamau bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau y bydd y cyrsiau galwedigaethol yn gallu cael eu darparu'n briodol mewn ysgolion, a beth ŷch chi'n ei wneud i helpu hwyluso mwy o gydweithio rhwng ysgolion a cholegau i ddarparu sgiliau galwedigaethol yma yng Nghymru?
I thank the Minister for that response. Now, earlier this year, Qualifications Wales launched a consultation on three proposals for 14 to 16 qualifications, alongside GCSEs. I met with Pembrokeshire College earlier this year to discuss the consultation and the need for more collaboration between schools and colleges to provide vocational skills in my area. Now, I know that there are concerns about the capacity of some schools to provide additional vocational courses, and there are concerns as to whether some schools will have the appropriate facilities to provide some of these courses. Now, I understand that the results of the consultation are to be published in the new year, but, Minister, can you tell us what discussions you've had with Qualifications Wales on this work, what steps will the Welsh Government take to ensure that these vocational courses can be provided appropriately in schools, and what are you doing to help to facilitate more collaboration between schools and colleges to provide vocational skills here in Wales?
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau pwysig iawn. Mae'r gwaith yma gan Cymwysterau Cymru yn dangos cymaint o flaenoriaeth yw sicrhau addysg alwedigaethol, a'r berthynas sydd mor bwysig, fel mae'r Aelod yn dweud, rhwng ysgolion a cholegau er mwyn sicrhau bod llwybr dysgwr yn un hyblyg ac yn rhwydd. Mae'r gwaith wnaeth Hefin David yn ddiweddar ar addysg o ran gwaith yn yr ysgolion hefyd yn gwthio i'r perwyl hwnnw: gwell cydweithio rhwng ysgolion a cholegau. Mae'r gwaith wedi bod yn digwydd mewn cysylltiad â Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, rydym ni wedi cael trafodaethau gyda Cymwysterau Cymru am hyn, ac rwyf i hefyd wedi trafod hyn gyda cholegau addysg bellach i weld beth yw'r goblygiadau ymarferol o'r math mae'r Aelod yn sôn amdanyn nhw. Mae gennym ni gyfle nawr, dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf, i baratoi ar gyfer y swît newydd yma o gymwysterau, felly byddaf i eisiau gweld dros y flwyddyn nesaf, pan fydd canlyniadau'r ymgynghoriad yn gyhoeddus, beth yw'r galw ar lawr gwlad i sicrhau bod y llwybr hwnnw yn un esmwyth, ond rwy'n rhoi sicrwydd i'r Aelod bod hwn yn flaenoriaeth i ni fel Llywodraeth hefyd.
I thank the Member for those very important questions. This work by Qualifications Wales shows how much of a priority ensuring vocational education is, and the relationship that is so important, as the Member said, between schools and colleges to ensure that there is a pathway for learners that is flexible and an easy one. The work that Hefin David did recently on education in terms of employment and work in schools is also pushing in that direction: better collaboration between schools and colleges. The work has been taking place in connection with the Welsh Government, of course, we have had conversations with Qualifications Wales about this, and I've also discussed this with further education colleges too to see what the practical implications are of the kind that the Member mentions. We have an opportunity now, over the coming years, to prepare for this new suite of qualifications, so I will want to see over the coming year, when the results of the consultation are made public, what the demand is on the ground to ensure that that pathway is a smooth one, but I can provide an assurance that this is a priority for us as a Government.
Minister, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlights the vital importance of vocational education and training. They say this ensures skills development in a wide range of occupational fields, through schools-based and work-based learning. It plays a key role in ensuring lower school drop-out rates and facilitates the school-to-work transition. In a changing world of work, well-designed vocational education and training systems can play a crucial role in developing the right skills for the labour market, not only for youth, but also for adults in need of upskilling or reskilling. Minister, we know the world of work is rapidly changing with the development of technology such as artificial intelligence, and I welcome the review of vocational qualifications chaired by Sharron Lusher, and the subsequent report just published in July. Given the importance of that report, Minister, and the number of recommendations to make vocational training more effective here in Wales, could I ask for an update on progress with those recommendations and their implementation?
Weinidog, mae'r Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd hanfodol addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol. Maent yn dweud bod hyn yn datblygu sgiliau mewn ystod eang o feysydd galwedigaethol, drwy ddysgu yn yr ysgol ac yn y gwaith. Mae'n chwarae rhan allweddol yn sicrhau cyfraddau is o blant yn gadael yr ysgol ac yn hwyluso'r broses bontio o'r ysgol i'r gwaith. Mewn byd gwaith sy'n newid, gall systemau addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol sydd wedi'u cynllunio'n dda chwarae rhan hanfodol yn datblygu'r sgiliau cywir ar gyfer y farchnad lafur, nid yn unig i bobl ifanc, ond hefyd i oedolion sydd angen uwchsgilio neu ailsgilio. Weinidog, fe wyddom fod byd gwaith yn newid yn gyflym gyda datblygiad technoleg fel deallusrwydd artiffisial, ac rwy'n croesawu'r adolygiad o gymwysterau galwedigaethol o dan gadeiryddiaeth Sharron Lusher, a'r adroddiad dilynol sydd newydd gael ei gyhoeddi ym mis Gorffennaf. O ystyried pwysigrwydd yr adroddiad hwnnw, Weinidog, a nifer yr argymhellion i wneud hyfforddiant galwedigaethol yn fwy effeithiol yma yng Nghymru, a gaf fi ofyn am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynnydd gyda'r argymhellion hynny a'u gweithrediad?
I thank John Griffiths for that question. I share with him the welcome for the report that Sharron Lusher and the other members of her steering group were able to provide to us as a Government. It's a really thoughtful and a very considered report, and has some very clear recommendations for the Welsh Government, but also for other key organisations like Qualifications Wales and the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, of course. Obviously, I can't speak for those organisations, but my aim is to try and work strategically as we develop our response to the report.
I was keen to lay the report in front of the Senedd at the earliest opportunity, because I know how much interest there is amongst Members in this important area of policy. There is a recommendation, as he will be aware, in the review around a national strategy for vocational education and training, and I think we can take the guidance from that to look at how we better synergise, if you like, education, skills, economic policies and strategies across the Welsh Government.
I think there were some interesting points in there as well about how we approach the question of made-for-Wales qualifications in the future, to do exactly what the Member was encouraging us to do, I think, which is make sure that we have a suite of qualifications that are easily navigable for the learner, but also reflect the needs of what, in some sectors, is a very rapidly changing economy. I think the point he makes about this being an opportunity not only for younger people, but for people throughout their working life, is one that I absolutely endorse.
Diolch i John Griffiths am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Rwyf innau hefyd yn croesawu'r adroddiad y gallodd Sharron Lusher ac aelodau eraill o'i grŵp llywio ei ddarparu i ni fel Llywodraeth. Mae'n adroddiad meddylgar ac ystyriol iawn, ac mae ganddo argymhellion clir iawn ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hefyd i sefydliadau allweddol eraill fel Cymwysterau Cymru a'r Comisiwn Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil, wrth gwrs. Yn amlwg, ni allaf siarad ar ran y sefydliadau hynny, ond fy nod yw ceisio gweithio'n strategol wrth i ni ddatblygu ein hymateb i'r adroddiad.
Roeddwn yn awyddus i osod yr adroddiad ger bron y Senedd cyn gynted â phosibl, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod cymaint o ddiddordeb sydd gan Aelodau yn y maes polisi pwysig hwn. Fel y bydd yn gwybod, mae yna argymhelliad yn yr adolygiad ynghylch strategaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol, ac rwy'n credu y gallwn edrych ar y canllawiau hynny i weld sut y gallwn sicrhau gwell synergedd, os mynnwch, rhwng addysg, sgiliau, polisïau a strategaethau economaidd ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru.
Rwy'n credu bod rhai pwyntiau diddorol yno hefyd ynghylch sut yr awn i'r afael â'r cwestiwn am gymwysterau wedi'u gwneud ar gyfer Cymru yn y dyfodol, i wneud yn union yr hyn roedd yr Aelod yn ein hannog i'w wneud, rwy'n credu, sef sicrhau bod gennym gyfres o gymwysterau sy'n hawdd i'r dysgwr eu llywio, ond sydd hefyd yn adlewyrchu anghenion economi sy'n newid yn gyflym iawn mewn rhai sectorau. Rwy'n credu bod y pwynt y mae'n ei wneud fod hwn yn gyfle nid yn unig i bobl iau, ond i bobl drwy gydol eu bywyd gwaith, yn un rwy'n ei gefnogi'n llwyr.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi diweddariad ar wella trafnidiaeth ysgolion i fyfyrwyr? OQ59982
2. Will the Minister provide an update on improving school transport for students? OQ59982
Mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd a minnau wedi cael adroddiad o'r adolygiad annibynol o'r Mesur Teithio gan Ddysgwyr (Cymru) 2008 a chanllawiau cysylltiedig. Rŷn ni wrthi'n ystyried yr adroddiad hwnnw, a phan fydd y gwaith hwnnw wedi dod i ben, byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi ein hymateb iddo.
The Deputy Minister for Climate Change and I have received the report of the independent review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 and associated guidance. We are currently considering that report, and when that work is concluded, we will publish our response to it.
Diolch ichi am hynny, achos fel ŷch chi’n gwybod, mewn sawl rhan o Gymru, os ŷch eisiau cael mynediad at addysg Gymraeg yn hytrach na chyfrwng Saesneg, yna mae’n rhaid ichi deithio ymhellach, gan mai efallai dim ond un neu ddwy ysgol Gymraeg sydd yna mewn rhai siroedd, ac mae gwrthod darparu trafnidiaeth i ysgolion Cymraeg yn achosi annhegwch ac anghyfartaledd ac yn arwain at fyfyrwyr yn gadael addysg Gymraeg. Felly, beth ŷch chi fel Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i roi sicrwydd y bydd myfyrwyr chweched dosbarth, yn benodol, sydd ddim yn derbyn trafnidiaeth ysgol statudol, yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw fel eu bod nhw’n gallu parhau gyda’u haddysg drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg? Oherwydd mae yna nifer o achosion dwi’n ymwybodol ohonyn nhw erbyn hyn lle mae myfyrwyr wedi gorfod symud o addysg Gymraeg oherwydd y diffyg darpariaeth trafnidiaeth, ac mae hynny wrth gwrs yn y diwedd yn tanseilio nod y Llywodraeth o gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr.
Thank you very much for that, because as you know, in several parts of Wales, if you want to access Welsh-medium education rather than English-medium education, you have to travel further, because there may be only one or two Welsh-medium schools in some counties, and the lack of provision of transport to Welsh-medium schools causes unfairness and inequality and leads to students leaving Welsh-medium education. So, what are you as a Government doing to provide certainty that sixth-form students in particular, who don’t receive statutory school transport, will receive the support that they need so that they can continue with their education through the medium of Welsh? Because there are a number of cases I’m aware of by now where students have had to move from Welsh-medium education because of the lack of provision of transport, and that of course undermines the Government's aim of reaching a million Welsh speakers.
Rwy’n cydweld â’r Aelod o ran blaenoriaeth i hyn, ac rwyf i wedi cael trafodaethau fy hunan â phenaethiaid mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg dros y misoedd diwethaf sydd yn rhannu’r pryder y mae ef a minnau yn ei rannu. Mae’r gwaith rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei wneud yn fewnol dros y misoedd diwethaf, fel rydw i’n dweud, wedi nawr dwyn ffrwyth o ran adroddiad i minnau a’r Dirprwy Weinidog. Oherwydd y diwygiadau sylfaenol sydd ar y gweill o ran gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth a gwasanaethau bws yn benodol, a’r sefyllfa ariannol ar y llaw arall, dŷn ni ddim yn gweld yn y cyfnod byr, o leiaf, fod cyfle i ddiwygio’r ddeddfwriaeth ei hun, ond bydd cyfle i edrych ar y canllawiau statudol i fynd i’r afael â rhai o’r heriau mae’r Aelod yn sôn amdanynt yn ei gwestiynau. Byddwn ni hefyd yn sicrhau bod lleisiau disgyblion a staff ysgolion yn cael eu clywed wrth inni fynd ati i wneud y gwaith hwnnw, ond bydd cyfle inni osod allan mwy o fanylion maes o law pan fydd y gwaith o edrych ar yr adolygiad hwnnw wedi gorffen.
I agree with the Member in terms of prioritising this, and I’ve had discussions myself with head teachers in Welsh-medium schools over the last few months who share the concern that both he and I share. The work that we’ve been doing internally over the past few months, as I’ve said, has resulted in a report provided to myself and the Deputy Minister. But because of the fundamental reforms in terms of transport services and bus services particularly, and the financial situation on the other hand, we don’t see in the short term, at least, that there is an opportunity to amend the legislation itself, but there will be an opportunity to look at the statutory guidance to tackle some of the challenges outlined by the Member in his questions. We will also ensure that the pupil voice and the voice of staff in our schools is also heard as we undertake that work, but there will be an opportunity for us to set out more detail in due time when the work of reviewing that piece of work is concluded.
Minister, I’ll ask a question around the learner travel review also. In Powys, there are proposals to move Ysgol Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion from a bilingual school to a Welsh-medium school. There are a number of feeder schools where children are taught through the medium of English that would be affected in this regard. As it currently stands, the local authority will not fund school transport for some children who learn in the medium of English to their nearest English-medium high school. So, this has of course given further concern now, given the proposals that I’ve just outlined. So, will the learner travel Measure review address this issue, and would you agree with me that from an equality perspective and parent-choice issue, this is an issue that needs to be addressed?
Weinidog, rwyf innau hefyd am ofyn cwestiwn ynghylch yr adolygiad teithio gan ddysgwyr. Ym Mhowys, mae yna gynigion i newid Ysgol Bro Caereinion yn Llanfair Caereinion o fod yn ysgol ddwyieithog i fod yn ysgol cyfrwng Cymraeg. Byddai hyn yn effeithio ar nifer o ysgolion bwydo lle caiff plant eu haddysgu drwy gyfrwng y Saesneg. Fel y mae ar hyn o bryd, ni fydd yr awdurdod lleol yn ariannu cludiant i'r ysgol i rai plant sy'n dysgu drwy gyfrwng y Saesneg i'w hysgol uwchradd cyfrwng Saesneg agosaf. Felly, wrth gwrs, mae hyn wedi arwain at fwy o bryder nawr, o ystyried y cynigion rwyf newydd eu hamlinellu. Felly, a fydd adolygiad y Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr yn mynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn, ac a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi fod angen mynd i'r afael â'r mater o safbwynt cydraddoldeb a dewis rhieni?
The learner travel Measure is there, designed in many ways to try and address those questions of equalities that the Member highlights. As I say, I don’t foresee an opportunity to amend the learner travel Measure itself, but there is likely to be an opportunity to address some of the issues, much like some of the points the Member has just made, which have arisen in that internal review, an opportunity to address those in a review of statutory guidance, and that’s what we’ll be looking at over the coming months.
Mae'r Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr wedi cael ei lunio mewn ffordd sy'n ceisio mynd i'r afael â'r cwestiynau ynghylch cydraddoldeb y mae'r Aelod yn tynnu sylw atynt. Fel y dywedais, nid wyf yn rhagweld cyfle i ddiwygio'r Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr ei hun, ond mae'n debygol y bydd cyfle i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion, yn debyg iawn i rai o'r pwyntiau y mae'r Aelod newydd eu gwneud, sydd wedi codi yn yr adolygiad mewnol hwnnw, ynghyd â chyfle i fynd i'r afael â'r rheini mewn adolygiad o ganllawiau statudol, a dyna beth y byddwn yn edrych arno dros y misoedd nesaf.
I represent an urban constituency, so I wonder if you could tell us what proportion of the education budget is being spent on school transport, because I have heard as high as 25 per cent. As we’re about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, what work are you doing with local education authorities in urban areas like Cardiff to get more pupils to walk, scoot, or cycle to school? Because that would be good for their health and it would be good for reinvesting the savings into teaching and learning.
Rwy'n cynrychioli etholaeth drefol, felly tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym pa gyfran o'r gyllideb addysg sy'n cael ei gwario ar gludiant i'r ysgol, oherwydd rwyf wedi clywed ffigur mor uchel â 25 y cant. Gan ein bod ar fin dathlu degfed pen-blwydd Deddf Teithio Llesol (Cymru) 2013, pa waith rydych chi'n ei wneud gydag awdurdodau addysg lleol mewn ardaloedd trefol fel Caerdydd i annog mwy o ddisgyblion i gerdded, neu fynd ar sgwter neu feic i'r ysgol? Oherwydd byddai hynny'n dda i'w hiechyd a byddai'n dda ar gyfer ailfuddsoddi'r arbedion mewn addysgu a dysgu.
I thank Jenny Rathbone for that timely question, given the anniversary that she rightly points to. Obviously, the level of funding that is devoted to school transport will vary from local authority to local authority for obvious reasons, but it can be very significant indeed, in the way that she was suggesting, but I think the focus that we want to bring recognises the importance of active travel, as I know that she is herself very committed to. So, for example, the work that we do around requiring schools to develop active travel school plans: we know that helps, obviously, with safety, but also with healthfulness. We know that it helps in terms of classroom focus. And we're moving to a situation where having a plan in place will become a condition for accessing a range of other funds as well. The work that we do to promote school streets and the active journeys programme, but also in relation to the new build programme that we have, which, as she knows, is very significant, we've strengthened the active travel planning requirements for any new school development. The chair of the active travel advisory board has been working closely with us on making sure that those requirements on authorities, as they bring forward plans for funding, are robust and really meet the objectives that we have for them.
Diolch i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiwn amserol hwnnw, o ystyried y pen-blwydd y mae hi'n cyfeirio ato yn briodol. Bydd lefel y cyllid sy'n cael ei neilltuo i gludiant i'r ysgol yn amrywio o un awdurdod lleol i'r llall am resymau amlwg, ond gall fod yn arwyddocaol iawn yn wir, yn y ffordd roedd hi'n ei awgrymu, ond rwy'n credu bod y ffocws rydym ei eisiau yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd teithio llesol, ac rwy'n gwybod ei bod hi ei hun wedi ymrwymo'n fawr i hynny. Felly, er enghraifft, y gwaith a wnawn i'w gwneud yn ofynnol i ysgolion ddatblygu cynlluniau teithio llesol ar gyfer ysgolion: gwyddom fod hynny'n helpu gyda diogelwch wrth gwrs, ond hefyd gydag iechyd. Rydym yn gwybod ei fod yn helpu o ran ffocws ystafell ddosbarth. Ac rydym yn symud tuag at sefyllfa lle bydd cael cynllun ar waith yn dod yn amod ar gyfer cael mynediad at ystod o gronfeydd eraill hefyd. Drwy'r gwaith a wnawn ar hyrwyddo strydoedd ysgolion a'r rhaglen teithio llesol, ond hefyd mewn perthynas â'r rhaglen adeiladau newydd sydd gennym, sydd, fel y bydd yn gwybod, yn un sylweddol iawn, rydym wedi cryfhau'r gofynion cynllunio teithio llesol ar gyfer unrhyw ddatblygiad ysgol newydd. Mae cadeirydd y bwrdd cynghori ar deithio llesol wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos gyda ni i sicrhau bod y gofynion hynny ar awdurdodau, wrth iddynt gyflwyno cynlluniau ar gyfer cyllid, yn gadarn ac yn bodloni'r amcanion sydd gennym ar eu cyfer.
I'd like to alert the Minister that school transport in north Wales is at risk again as it's tied in with public transport. The proposed network being put forward by the joint working groups has said the transition fund is not enough to cover proposals, costs are increasing, and passenger numbers are not returning. They're really concerned when it comes to an end in March. Bus Users UK are running a Catch the Bus campaign for this month. So, please will you continue having dialogue with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change and the Welsh Local Government Association, to keep a watching eye, and encourage everyone to support the bus, and also the soon-to-be-launched Transport for Wales Back the Bus campaign, which should hopefully be launched next month? Thank you.
Hoffwn roi gwybod i'r Gweinidog fod trafnidiaeth ysgol yng ngogledd Cymru mewn perygl eto gan ei fod ynghlwm wrth drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae'r rhwydwaith arfaethedig sy'n cael ei gyflwyno gan y gweithgorau ar y cyd wedi dweud nad yw'r gronfa bontio yn ddigon i dalu am gynigion, fod costau'n cynyddu, ac nad yw niferoedd teithwyr wedi dychwelyd i'r hyn yr arferent fod. Maent yn bryderus iawn pan ddaw i ben ym mis Mawrth. Mae Bus Users UK yn cynnal ymgyrch Dal y Bws y mis hwn. Felly, a wnewch chi barhau i drafod gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, a chadw llygad, ac annog pawb i gefnogi'r bws, ac ymgyrch Trafnidiaeth Cymru i gefnogi'r bws sydd i'w lansio'n fuan, y mis nesaf, gobeithio? Diolch.
That's a really important point that Carolyn Thomas has just made. Obviously, many of the challenges that we're discussing now are reflective of that broader drop-off in bus usage across the commercial network, which is why we have had to respond in the way that we have, with the substantial funding that we've made available. We're absolutely aware of the cost pressures being faced right across the public sector. Carrying learners on local bus services is often the most cost-effective way of carrying learners. As the Member knows, a number of local authorities have already integrated their learner travel with local bus services, and we are keen to see that happening, obviously, on a much wider basis, for reasons that I know she will support.
The regional planning meetings that local authorities, Transport for Wales and bus companies have been holding have sought to prioritise routes that support school journeys as well, which is obviously the right thing. But I do agree very strongly with the Member's comments on the need to support the Back the Bus campaign. I understand that Transport for Wales will be making available to Members of the Senedd marketing material, so that we can all take forward that campaign in our constituencies and through our own networks.
Mae Carolyn Thomas newydd wneud pwynt pwysig iawn. Yn amlwg, mae llawer o'r heriau rydym yn eu trafod nawr yn adlewyrchu'r gostyngiad ehangach yn y defnydd o fysiau ar draws y rhwydwaith masnachol, a dyna pam ein bod wedi gorfod ymateb yn y ffordd a wnaethom, gyda'r cyllid sylweddol rydym wedi'i ddarparu. Rydym yn gwbl ymwybodol o'r pwysau costau a wynebir ar draws y sector cyhoeddus. Yn aml, cludo dysgwyr ar wasanaethau bws lleol yw'r ffordd fwyaf costeffeithiol o gludo dysgwyr. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae nifer o awdurdodau lleol eisoes wedi integreiddio eu teithio gan ddysgwyr a gwasanaethau bysiau lleol, ac rydym yn awyddus i weld hynny'n digwydd ar sail lawer ehangach am resymau y gwn y bydd hi'n eu cefnogi.
Mae'r cyfarfodydd cynllunio rhanbarthol y mae awdurdodau lleol, Trafnidiaeth Cymru a chwmnïau bysiau wedi bod yn eu cynnal wedi ceisio blaenoriaethu llwybrau sy'n cefnogi teithiau ysgol hefyd, sy'n amlwg yn gywir. Ond rwy'n cytuno'n gryf iawn â sylwadau'r Aelod ar yr angen i gefnogi'r ymgyrch Dal y Bws. Rwy'n deall y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod deunydd marchnata ar gael i Aelodau fel y gallwn i gyd fwrw ymlaen â'r ymgyrch honno yn ein hetholaethau a thrwy ein rhwydweithiau ein hunain.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Laura Anne Jones.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Welsh Conservatives spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, earlier this year, I questioned you on violence in Welsh schools, after my office and I uncovered 5,000 incidents of violence occurring in Welsh classrooms, from just some of the local authorities across Wales. At the time, you said you were aware of the issues and had begun speaking to the unions regarding these issues. However, we're months down the line now and we're still yet to see a statement on this issue. I gave you the blueprint of how to perhaps begin to fix the issue when I first exposed the issue months back, and yet again you have failed to listen to the urgency needed, and failed to act as yet. We still have no reporting standard, we still have no requirement to report abuse or violence in the classroom. The thousands of incidents that we already know about are just the tip of iceberg, and the actual picture is probably far, far worse. So, Minister, for the second time of asking, will you now, today, commit to taking actual action on this, hosting a national summit on violence; issuing new guidance for teachers and staff; continuing your work on reforming exclusions that you said you'd begun; ensuring extra funding for meaningful interventions; and creating perhaps a national helpline? These are just some of the things that you could do. What action are you going to take, Minister?
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Weinidog, yn gynharach eleni, fe wneuthum eich holi ynglŷn â thrais yn ysgolion Cymru, ar ôl i fy swyddfa a minnau ddatgelu 5,000 o ddigwyddiadau o drais yn ystafelloedd dosbarth Cymru, gan rai yn unig o'r awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru. Ar y pryd, fe ddywedoch chi eich bod yn ymwybodol o'r problemau a'ch bod wedi dechrau siarad â'r undebau ynglŷn â'r materion hyn. Fodd bynnag, mae misoedd wedi mynd heibio bellach ac rydym yn dal i fod heb weld datganiad ar y mater. Rhoddais lasbrint posibl i chi o sut i ddechrau datrys y mater pan ddatgelais y broblem am y tro cyntaf fisoedd yn ôl, ac unwaith eto rydych chi wedi methu ymateb i'r brys sydd ei angen, ac wedi methu gweithredu hyd yma. Nid oes gennym unrhyw safon adrodd o hyd, na gofyniad i adrodd am gamdriniaeth neu drais yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Nid yw'r miloedd o ddigwyddiadau y gwyddom amdanynt eisoes prin yn crafu'r wyneb, ac mae'r darlun go iawn yn debyg o fod yn llawer iawn gwaeth. Felly, Weinidog, am yr eildro, a wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw i weithredu go iawn ar hyn, a chynnal uwchgynhadledd genedlaethol ar drais; cyhoeddi canllawiau newydd i athrawon a staff; parhau â'ch gwaith ar ddiwygio gwaharddiadau y dywedoch chi eich bod wedi ei ddechrau; sicrhau cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer ymyriadau ystyrlon; a chreu llinell gymorth genedlaethol efallai? Dyma rai o'r pethau y gallech eu gwneud. Pa gamau rydych chi'n mynd i'w cymryd, Weinidog?
Can I thank the Children, Young People and Education Committee for the work they did in bringing this issue to the attention of the Senedd, in the work they were doing earlier this year and the end of last year? I think it's been a really important contribution to our understanding of this issue in schools. Teachers are absolutely entitled to work in a safe environment. We cannot tolerate poor behaviour—violent behaviour and abusive behaviour—where it arises. Equally, exclusions are not the answer; young people should be in the class, being able to learn. The reasons for this are complex, but we must start from those principles. What we have been doing over the last number of months, together with teaching unions, wider education workforce unions, and local authorities, is developing that guidance, as I mentioned when the Member last raised this in the Chamber. It is really important that the way we do this is in collaboration with unions and LEAs. That's the work that is happening, and I hope very much we'll be able to bring forward that guidance very soon.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg am y gwaith a wnaethant i ddod â'r mater hwn i sylw'r Senedd, yn y gwaith roeddent yn ei wneud yn gynharach eleni a ddiwedd y llynedd? Rwy'n credu ei fod wedi bod yn gyfraniad pwysig iawn i'n dealltwriaeth o'r broblem hon mewn ysgolion. Yn sicr, mae gan athrawon hawl i weithio mewn amgylchedd diogel. Ni allwn oddef ymddygiad gwael—ymddygiad treisgar ac ymddygiad ymosodol—lle mae'n digwydd. Yn yr un modd, nid gwaharddiadau yw'r ateb; dylai pobl ifanc fod yn y dosbarth, yn gallu dysgu. Mae'r rhesymau dros hyn yn gymhleth, ond mae'n rhaid inni ddechrau o'r egwyddorion hynny. Dros y misoedd diwethaf, rydym wedi bod yn datblygu canllawiau gydag undebau athrawon, undebau'r gweithlu addysg ehangach, ac awdurdodau lleol, fel y soniais y tro diwethaf i'r Aelod godi hyn yn y Siambr. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn ei wneud mewn cydweithrediad ag undebau ac AALlau. Dyna'r gwaith sy'n digwydd, ac rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y gallwn gyflwyno'r canllawiau hynny'n fuan iawn.
Well, Minister, let's hope it's sooner rather than later, because teachers need to feel safe, as you said, in school. Until real changes are put in place, this issue is only going to get worse. It was only two weeks ago, Minister, that members of the NASUWT teachers union voted to strike over their concerns about failures to address increased levels of violence in one of the schools in, actually, my own region. Instead of you taking urgent action on an escalating problem, it has now escalated to such an extreme point that teachers feel they need to strike because of concerns over their safety and the violent and abusive behaviour that they face. Minister, your inaction has led to teachers feeling unsafe to teach. You're failing teachers. Minister, what will you do? What will have to happen before you actually recognise the urgency behind this? You said you're developing guidance. Can you not see the urgency behind this, if teachers feel the need to strike, as we saw two weeks ago? Perhaps implement my five-point plan, take more ideas from it; I'm willing to share them with you. Or will it take more strikes for you to actually take urgent action?
Wel, Weinidog, gadewch inni obeithio ei fod yn digwydd yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach, oherwydd mae angen i athrawon deimlo'n ddiogel yn yr ysgol, fel y dywedoch chi. Hyd nes y caiff newidiadau go iawn eu rhoi ar waith, dim ond gwaethygu a wnaiff y mater hwn. Gwta bythefnos yn ôl, Weinidog, pleidleisiodd aelodau undeb athrawon NASUWT i streicio dros eu pryderon ynghylch methiannau i fynd i'r afael â lefelau uwch o drais, yn un o'r ysgolion yn fy rhanbarth i mewn gwirionedd. Yn hytrach na'ch bod wedi rhoi camau brys ar waith ar broblem sy'n gwaethygu, mae bellach wedi cynyddu i bwynt mor eithafol fel bod athrawon yn teimlo bod angen iddynt streicio oherwydd pryderon ynglŷn â'u diogelwch a'r ymddygiad treisgar a chamdriniol y maent yn ei wynebu. Weinidog, mae eich diffyg gweithredu wedi arwain at athrawon yn teimlo nad yw'n ddiogel iddynt addysgu. Rydych chi'n gwneud cam ag athrawon. Weinidog, beth rydych chi'n mynd i'w wneud? Beth fydd yn gorfod digwydd cyn i chi sylweddoli'r pa mor ddifrifol yw hyn? Fe ddywedoch chi eich bod yn datblygu canllawiau. Oni allwch chi weld y brys y tu ôl i hyn, os yw athrawon yn teimlo'r angen i streicio, fel y gwelsom bythefnos yn ôl? Efallai y dylech weithredu fy nghynllun pum pwynt, mabwysiadu rhai o'r syniadau hynny; rwy'n barod i'w rhannu gyda chi. Neu a fydd angen mwy o streiciau cyn i chi roi camau brys ar waith?
I'm not sure most people recognise the language with which the Member is choosing to present this issue. It's obviously a complex issue, and I don't think it helps anybody to paint it in the lurid light that she is doing. It's a serious issue, which requires serious consideration. The school that she refers to—. I'm not going to comment on any specific school—[Interruption.] I'm not going to comment on any specific school for obvious reasons, but what I do know is that teachers are entitled to work in a safe environment. Local authorities have a duty to provide that. And I know that, right across Wales, local authorities will be engaged with their teaching workforce to make sure that that is in place. I very much hope that's capable of being resolved in the school that she mentioned as well.
Nid wyf yn siŵr fod y rhan fwyaf o bobl yn adnabod yr iaith y mae'r Aelod yn dewis ei defnyddio i gyflwyno'r mater hwn. Mae'n amlwg yn fater cymhleth, ac nid wyf yn credu bod ei ddarlunio yn yr iaith lachar y mae hi'n ei defnyddio o gymorth i neb. Mae'n fater difrifol, sy'n galw am ystyriaeth ddifrifol. Yr ysgol y mae hi'n cyfeirio ati—. Nid wyf yn mynd i wneud sylw ar unrhyw ysgol benodol—[Torri ar draws.] Nid wyf yn mynd i wneud sylw ar unrhyw ysgol benodol am resymau amlwg, ond rwy'n gwybod bod gan athrawon hawl i weithio mewn amgylchedd diogel. Mae gan awdurdodau lleol ddyletswydd i ddarparu hynny. Ac rwy'n gwybod, ledled Cymru, y bydd awdurdodau lleol yn ymgysylltu â'u gweithlu addysgu i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd. Rwy'n mawr obeithio y gellir datrys hyn yn yr ysgol y soniodd amdani hefyd.
I look forward to a statement in Plenary soon.
Minister, it seems quite timely today to talk about school transport, as others Members have just talked about it, and it's on the same theme, actually. School transport has caused a great deal of anxiousness for both learners and parents over the last couple of weeks, and the lack of school transport that there is. I spoke to a local authority only on Monday that said that they are stuck between a rock and a hard place because they want to give those children that absolutely need it that dedicated school transport, but they can't because you have once again lowered the money that's coming from the Welsh Government to local authorities for school transport. We talked about parental preference just now; it seems very 'What a lovely thing to do, this is a pretty school, I'll send my child there', but there are real reasons for that parental preference that have been put there, be it that those children want to learn Welsh, as was discussed earlier, or because their siblings go to that school, or if there's an additional learning needs matter that another school—not the one right next to them—is better at delivering. There are real reasons that they choose that parental preference, but as soon as they do, they are not entitled to school transport, and there absolutely needs to be more flexibility around it; it's far too rigid.
Also, discussing with the local authority, we're talking about a real move—a policy move, it seems—from the Welsh Government away from dedicated school transport to using public buses. You said earlier that that is an intention that you have and you want to celebrate and promote it. But, Minister—. I nearly called you First Minister then; that was wishful thinking, perhaps. [Interruption.] Minister, after talking to people, there are real, real concerns in my inbox, and I'm sure in many others in this Chamber, about using public buses, for a myriad of reasons, be it safeguarding or whatever. But one of the practical things we could do to make it better for our learners is—. Some students are waiting 45 minutes before and after school, in the cold, the dark, and the rain, because the bus route they've been put on, or it's been suggested they use, does not wrap around school times. These bus routes that learners have to—
Edrychaf ymlaen at ddatganiad yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn fuan.
Weinidog, mae'n ymddangos yn eithaf amserol heddiw i siarad am gludiant ysgol, fel y mae Aelodau eraill newydd siarad amdano, ac mae ar yr un thema, mewn gwirionedd. Mae cludiant ysgol wedi achosi llawer iawn o bryder i ddysgwyr a rhieni dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, a'r diffyg cludiant ysgol sydd yna. Siaradais ag awdurdod lleol ddydd Llun a ddywedodd eu bod mewn sefyllfa amhosibl oherwydd eu bod am roi cludiant ysgol pwrpasol i'r plant sydd ei angen, ond ni allant wneud hynny oherwydd eich bod chi unwaith eto wedi cyfyngu ar yr arian a ddaw gan Lywodraeth Cymru i awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer cludiant ysgol. Buom yn siarad am ddewis rhieni nawr; mae'n ymddangos fel 'Peth hyfryd iawn i'w wneud, mae hon yn ysgol hardd, fe anfonaf fy mhlentyn yno', ond mae rhesymau go iawn dros ddewis rhieni, naill ai fod y plant eisiau dysgu Cymraeg, fel y trafodwyd yn gynharach, neu oherwydd bod eu brodyr a'u chwiorydd yn mynd i'r ysgol honno, neu os oes yna fater anghenion dysgu ychwanegol y mae ysgol arall—nid yr un nesaf atynt—yn well am ddarparu ar ei gyfer. Mae yna resymau gwirioneddol pam eu bod yn gwneud y dewis hwnnw fel rhieni, ond cyn gynted ag y gwnânt, nid oes ganddynt hawl i gludiant ysgol, ac mae gwir angen mwy o hyblygrwydd yn ei gylch; mae'n llawer rhy anhyblyg.
Hefyd, wrth drafod gyda'r awdurdod lleol, rydym yn sôn am newid go iawn—newid polisi, mae'n ymddangos—ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru i ffwrdd oddi wrth drafnidiaeth ysgol bwrpasol i ddefnyddio bysiau cyhoeddus. Fe ddywedoch chi yn gynharach fod hynny'n fwriad sydd gennych a'ch bod chi eisiau ei ddathlu a'i hyrwyddo. Ond, Weinidog—. Bu bron i mi eich galw yn Brif Weinidog; breuddwyd gwrach, efallai. [Torri ar draws.] Weinidog, ar ôl siarad â phobl, mae pryderon gwirioneddol yn fy mewnflwch, ac mewn llawer o rai eraill yn y Siambr hon rwy'n siŵr, ynglŷn â defnyddio bysiau cyhoeddus, am lu o resymau, boed yn ddiogelu neu'n beth bynnag. Ond un o'r pethau ymarferol y gallem ei wneud i'w gwneud yn well i'n dysgwyr yw—. Mae rhai myfyrwyr yn aros 45 munud cyn ac ar ôl ysgol, yn yr oerfel, y tywyllwch, a'r glaw am nad yw'r llwybr bws y maent wedi'i roi arno, neu yr awgrymwyd eu bod yn ei ddefnyddio, yn cyd-fynd ag oriau ysgol. Mae'r llwybrau bws hyn y mae'n rhaid i ddysgwyr—
You're going to have to ask a question, otherwise we'll be waiting 45 minutes for that.
Bydd yn rhaid i chi ofyn cwestiwn, fel arall byddwn yn aros 45 munud am hwnnw.
Well, I could easily talk about it for 45 minutes.
Wel, gallwn yn hawdd siarad amdano am 45 munud.
That wasn't permission.
Nid caniatâd oedd hynny.
But I won't. But that's just an easy solution, Minister—to ensure that you work with bus companies to ensure that those routes are school-centric and that those children's well-being isn't being affected. How are you working across Government, obviously, because it falls into other portfolios as well, to ensure that these children are getting to school, which falls in your portfolio, and that their well-being isn't affected, which is your portfolio?
Ond ni wnaf. Ond mae hwnnw'n ateb hawdd, Weinidog—sicrhau eich bod yn gweithio gyda chwmnïau bysiau i wneud yn siŵr fod y llwybrau hynny'n canolbwyntio ar yr ysgol ac nad effeithir ar les plant. Sut rydych chi'n gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth, yn amlwg, oherwydd mae'n dod o fewn portffolios eraill hefyd, i sicrhau bod y plant hyn yn cyrraedd yr ysgol, sydd yn eich portffolio chi, ac nad effeithir ar eu lles, sydd yn eich portffolio chi?
With respect, for a question that's been answered twice, that took rather a long time to put. I've been very clear about the work that is happening across Government. The Member may have paid earlier attention to the answers I was giving; there's a lot of work happening across the Government. There's a lot of work happening in relation to the review of the Measure, and I've outlined today, I think, very crisply on two occasions, the next steps in relation to that.
She makes the point about funding in her customary Kafkaesque way as though these things were not the product of the political choice that her Government in Westminster is making, which is causing difficulties in all sorts of public services. This is a Government in Wales that has invested £190 million to sustain a commercial bus service over the last year. We have a commercial bus service because a Conservative Government deregulated bus services and created a profit-making market. It is entirely the product of political choices made elsewhere. What we are doing through the bus transition fund and the bus emergency scheme is to make sure that the majority of routes have been protected. It is not a universal solution; it is a very significant investment in trying to address the challenge. And for those interested in a practical solution rather than a political slogan, they will know that working through the regional planning teams, prioritising, wherever possible, routes that serve school journeys as well, is the way of doing that, and we stand ready as a Government to continue to support that work.
Gyda phob parch, am gwestiwn sydd wedi'i ateb ddwywaith, cymerodd hynny gryn dipyn o amser i'w ofyn. Rwyf wedi bod yn glir iawn am y gwaith sy'n digwydd ar draws y Llywodraeth. Gallai'r Aelod fod wedi rhoi sylw cynharach i'r atebion roeddwn i'n eu rhoi; mae llawer o waith yn digwydd ar draws y Llywodraeth. Mae llawer o waith yn digwydd mewn perthynas â'r adolygiad o'r Mesur, ac rwy'n credu fy mod wedi amlinellu heddiw'n groyw iawn ar ddau achlysur beth fydd y camau nesaf mewn perthynas â hynny.
Mae hi'n gwneud y pwynt am gyllid yn ei ffordd Kafkaesgaidd arferol fel pe na bai'r pethau hyn yn gynnyrch y dewis gwleidyddol y mae ei Llywodraeth hi yn San Steffan yn ei wneud, sy'n achosi anawsterau ym mhob math o wasanaeth cyhoeddus. Llywodraeth Cymru yw hon sydd wedi buddsoddi £190 miliwn i gynnal gwasanaeth bws masnachol dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae gennym wasanaeth bws masnachol oherwydd bod Llywodraeth Geidwadol wedi dadreoleiddio gwasanaethau bysiau a chreu marchnad gwneud elw. Mae'r cyfan yn gynnyrch dewisiadau gwleidyddol a wneir mewn mannau eraill. Yr hyn a wnawn drwy'r gronfa bontio ar gyfer bysiau a'r cynllun brys ar gyfer y sector bysiau yw sicrhau bod y rhan fwyaf o'r llwybrau wedi'u diogelu. Nid yw'n ateb cyffredinol; mae'n fuddsoddiad sylweddol iawn i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r her. Ac i'r rhai sydd â diddordeb mewn ateb ymarferol yn hytrach na slogan wleidyddol, byddant yn gwybod mai gweithio drwy'r timau cynllunio rhanbarthol, gan flaenoriaethu llwybrau sy'n gwasanaethu teithiau ysgol hefyd lle bynnag y bo modd, yw'r ffordd o wneud hynny, ac rydym yn barod fel Llywodraeth i barhau i gefnogi'r gwaith hwnnw.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Heledd Fychan.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Heledd Fychan.
Diolch, Llywydd. Weinidog, ddoe cyhoeddwyd adroddiad grŵp arbenigol Cymru ar yr argyfwng costau byw. Mae’n ailddatgan yr hyn sy’n wybyddus inni i gyd, sef bod yr argyfwng costau byw wedi cynyddu nifer y plant a phobl ifanc sy’n byw mewn tlodi. Mae nifer o’r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad yn gorgyffwrdd â neu'n rhan o'ch portffolio chi, megis ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim i fwy o blant a phobl ifanc oed uwchradd a sicrhau bod llywodraethwyr ysgol yn cyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau statudol o ran gwisg ysgol. Sut ydych chi'n mynd i weithredu ar hyn?
Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, yesterday, the Wales expert group's report on the cost-of-living crisis was published. It restates what’s clear to us all, namely that the cost-of-living crisis has increased the number of children and young people living in poverty. Many of the recommendations in the report overlap with or are part of your portfolio, such as extending free school meals to more children and young people in the secondary sector and to ensure that school governors do deliver against their statutory responsibilities in terms of school uniform. How will you act on this?
Mae’n rhan o’r cynllun eang sydd gyda ni fel Llywodraeth sydd wedi bod werth dros £3 biliwn yn y ddwy flynedd diwethaf i geisio gwneud ein gorau i sicrhau bod arian ym mhocedi teuluoedd sydd yn stryglan. Felly, yn yr ysgol, mae'r prydau bwyd am ddim rŷn ni wedi'u cyflwyno gyda Phlaid Cymru mewn ysgolion cynradd yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol at hynny. Mae’r gwaith rwyf i wedi’i wneud fel Gweinidog i sicrhau ein bod ni'n newid canllawiau ysgol ar wisg ysgol ac i gynyddu argaeledd y gronfa hanfodion ysgol yn enghraifftiau o’r gwaith sydd yn digwydd yn ein hysgolion ni i gefnogi pobl ifanc.
It's part of the wide-ranging plan that we have as a Government that’s been worth around £3 billion over the past two years to do our best to ensure that there is money in the pockets of those families who are struggling. So, in schools, there are free school meals that we’ve introduced, alongside Plaid Cymru, in primary schools, and that’s making a significant contribution to that. The work that I’ve done as Minister to ensure that we changed school guidance on school uniform and increased the availability of the school essentials fund is an example of the work that is taking place in our schools to support young people.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n deall hynny, ond y gwir amdani ydy dydy'r ysgolion i gyd ddim yn cyd-fynd efo'r canllawiau. Yn anffodus, rydyn ni'n gwybod fod costau’n dal i fod yn broblem efo gwisgoedd ysgol. Un o’r pethau yn yr adroddiad ddoe ydy gofyn i Weinidogion gadeirio cyfarfodydd i sicrhau bod yr hyn yr hoffech ei weld yn cael ei wireddu ar lawr gwlad.
Mae argymhelliad 9 y grŵp arbenigol yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymestyn darpariaeth prydau ysgol am ddim i flynyddoedd 7 i 11 ar gyfer yr aelwydydd hynny sy'n derbyn credyd cynhwysol heb gap ar enillion o'r mis yma. Daeth hwn allan ym mis Awst—mae eisiau ei weithredu. Felly, sut ydych chi’n edrych ar yr argymhellion hyn efo Gweinidogion eraill? Pa rai fyddwch chi'n ystyried eu rhoi ar waith? Oherwydd mi fyddem ni, yn ôl yr adroddiad hwn, yn gallu sicrhau bod 8,335 o ddisgyblion yn dod yn gymwys am brydau ysgol rŵan.
Thank you very much. I understand that, but the reality of the situation is that not all schools are complying with the guidance. Unfortunately, we know that costs are still a problem with school uniforms. One of the things in yesterday's report was a request for Ministers to chair meetings to ensure that what you want to see is being delivered on the ground.
Recommendation 9 of the expert group suggested that the Welsh Government extends provision of free school meals to years 7 to 11 for those households in receipt of universal credit without a cap on earnings from this month. This was published in August—it requires immediate action. So, how are you considering these recommendations with other Ministers? Which ones will you consider implementing? Because according to this report, we could ensure that 8,335 pupils become eligible for school meals now.
Diolch i’r Aelod am y cwestiwn pellach hwnnw. O ran prydau bwyd am ddim yn yr ysgol, mae’r dewis rŷn ni wedi’i wneud ar y cyd yn golygu bod yr arian rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei fuddsoddi yn ehangu’r ddarpariaeth i ysgolion cynradd. Ein polisi ni fel Llywodraeth yw ein bod yn edrych ar ymestyn hwnnw pan fod adnoddau’n caniatáu hynny. Ond mae’r sefyllfa o ran adnoddau yn un heriol tu hwnt, ac mae’r hyn rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei fuddsoddi, sy’n werth rhyw £3 biliwn, rwy’n credu yn gyfraniad sylweddol iawn. Dyw e ddim yn gallu ateb pob un galw, yn naturiol. Mae'r heriau i amryw o deuluoedd yn rhai real iawn, ond fy swyddogaeth i fel Gweinidog yw ffeindio bob cyfle y gallaf i sicrhau nad yw costau'r diwrnod ysgol yn rhwystredigaeth, a dwi'n credu, dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf a mwy, bod amryw o ffyrdd rŷn ni wedi gallu gwneud hynny.
O ran y pwynt yr oedd hi'n ei wneud o ran gwisg ysgol, mae gofynion ar gyrff llywodraethu i fynd ati nawr i adolygu eu polisïau, felly bydd hyn yn digwydd dros y misoedd nesaf. Mae rhai, wrth gwrs, eisoes yn cyrraedd y nod yn y canllawiau, ond rydyn ni'n gweld hyn yn digwydd nawr yn gynyddol. Mae wir yn bwysig ein bod ni'n sicrhau hyn ar gyfer pob teulu. Mae teuluoedd sy'n gymwys ar gyfer prydau bwyd am ddim o dan bwysau penodol, ond mae amryw o deuluoedd eraill sydd ddim yn gymwys am hynny ond hefyd yn gweld costau’n uchel, ac felly mae'r polisïau ehangach hynny o bwys iddyn nhw hefyd.
Thank you to the Member for that additional question. In terms of free school meals, the choice that we've made jointly means that the funding that we have invested has expanded the provision to primary schools. Our policy as a Government is that we look at extending that when resources allow. But the situation in terms of resources is a very challenging one, and what we've invested, which is worth around £3 billion, I think is a significant contribution. It can't meet every demand, clearly. There are challenges for many families and they're very real challenges, but my role as a Minister is to find every opportunity that I can to ensure that the school day costs aren't a barrier, and I think that over the past year or so, there are several ways that we've been able to do just that.
In terms of the point that you made about school uniforms, there is a requirement on governing bodies to review their policies, and so that will happen over the coming months. Some are already reaching the aims set out in the guidance, but we are seeing this happening increasingly at the moment. It is very important that we ensure that this is in place for every family. Families that are eligible for free school meals are facing particular pressures, but there are many other families that aren't eligible but also see costs being very high, and so those wider policies are important to them, too.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am bolisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar ddefnyddio ffonau symudol mewn ysgolion? OQ59984
3. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's policy on the use of mobile phones in schools? OQ59984
Yes. Policies on mobile phones in school is a matter for schools and governing bodies themselves. Technology can be a useful tool to aid teaching and learning, and schools will consider this when setting their policies in line with the particular school's needs and learning requirements.
Gwnaf. Mae polisïau ar ffonau symudol yn yr ysgol yn fater i ysgolion a chyrff llywodraethu eu hunain. Gall technoleg fod yn offeryn defnyddiol i gynorthwyo addysgu a dysgu, a bydd ysgolion yn ystyried hyn wrth osod eu polisïau yn unol ag anghenion a gofynion dysgu yr ysgol benodol.
I'm grateful to the Minister for that response. I recognise the point that he's making. My question is about the impact of mobile technology and social media on children and young people and their ability to learn in school. The Minister is absolutely correct, of course, that mobile technology is a great boon to learning and it's a fantastic opportunity, but it also leads to a great deal of bullying.
All of us, as we visit schools and as we meet people and we spend time talking with people, will have memories of those conversations. One of the memories I have is of speaking with a group of teenagers who spoke to me incredibly passionately and movingly about mobile technology and social media and the way it can be used to bully them and the impact that was having on their mental health and their feelings of well-being and their ability to learn. And I think, whilst we support the use of mobile technology—I do so myself in the Chamber and there are great advantages to that, like being able to follow the rugby, for example, at the moment [Laughter.]—the other side of that is, of course, is, as one girl said to me, 'I'm bullied when I'm in bed at night, because there are people saying things about me on social media and I can't escape this.' Now, she has to go to school in the morning and not only face those people but understand what's in her mind about what had happened to her. And my concern is—and we all recognise the fantastic work that teaching staff and school communities do—how we can work together collectively to share experience, to share knowledge about how we can address some of these issues that I think have a fantastically negative impact on young people and their ability to learn and grow in safety through their school life.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb hwnnw. Rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'n ei wneud. Mae fy nghwestiwn yn ymwneud ag effaith technoleg symudol a'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol ar blant a phobl ifanc a'u gallu i ddysgu yn yr ysgol. Mae'r Gweinidog yn gwbl gywir, wrth gwrs, fod technoleg symudol yn hwb mawr i ddysgu ac mae'n gyfle gwych, ond mae hefyd yn arwain at lawer iawn o fwlio.
Wrth inni ymweld ag ysgolion ac wrth inni gyfarfod â phobl a threulio amser yn siarad â phobl, bydd gan bob un ohonom atgofion o'r sgyrsiau hynny. Un o'r atgofion sydd gennyf fi yw siarad â grŵp o bobl ifanc yn eu harddegau a siaradodd â mi yn hynod angerddol a theimladwy am dechnoleg symudol a chyfryngau cymdeithasol a'r ffordd y gellir eu defnyddio i'w bwlio a'r effaith a gafodd hynny ar eu hiechyd meddwl a'u teimladau o lesiant a'u gallu i ddysgu. Ac er ein bod ni'n cefnogi'r defnydd o dechnoleg symudol—rwy'n gwneud hynny fy hun yn y Siambr ac mae manteision mawr i wneud hynny, fel gallu dilyn y rygbi, er enghraifft [Chwerthin.]—yr ochr arall i hynny, wrth gwrs, fel y dywedodd un ferch wrthyf, yw 'Rwy'n cael fy mwlio pan fyddaf yn y gwely yn y nos, am fod pobl yn dweud pethau amdanaf ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ac ni allaf ddianc rhag hynny.' Nawr, mae'n rhaid iddi fynd i'r ysgol yn y bore ac nid yn unig wynebu'r bobl hynny ond deall beth sydd yn ei meddwl am yr hyn oedd wedi digwydd iddi. A fy mhryder i yw—ac rydym i gyd yn cydnabod y gwaith gwych y mae staff addysgu a chymunedau ysgolion yn ei wneud—sut y gallwn gydweithio i rannu profiad, i rannu gwybodaeth ynglŷn â sut y gallwn fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion hyn sydd, yn fy marn i, yn cael effaith hynod negyddol ar bobl ifanc a'u gallu i ddysgu a thyfu'n ddiogel drwy eu bywyd ysgol.
Well, I think Alun Davies makes very, very powerful points in what he's just said, and we know—and there's been a recent report, as I'm sure he will know by UNESCO as well in relation to the use of smartphones in the classroom, and they've been calling for a global ban on them, if you like—there is obviously evidence that excessive mobile phone use, even in its most benign form, can be linked to reduced educational performance and, certainly, in the way that he was describing, the bullying, and there are even more pernicious uses that people make of mobile technology. That can have a very negative effect on emotional stability.
I do think it's a matter where a balance needs to be struck, because it's also important that we help our young people understand how to respond to some of those challenges. The digital competency framework offers some opportunities for mobile phone use to illustrate some of those broader challenges in the work that we've been doing to create resources to support learners to address the kind of challenge that Alun Davies is describing, which we now have on Hwb, through the 'keeping safe online' portal. I think what he's saying, though, is an illustration of a broader social challenge, and I often speak to heads who are wrestling with how best to strike this particular balance. I think, ultimately, it's for schools to decide that, but I think it's really essential that they listen to the voice of their learners, just in the way that Alun Davies was hearing directly from the young person who he has been quoting.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod Alun Davies yn gwneud pwyntiau pwerus iawn yn yr hyn y mae newydd ei ddweud, ac rydym yn gwybod—ac mae adroddiad diweddar wedi bod, fel rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn gwybod gan UNESCO hefyd mewn perthynas â'r defnydd o ffonau clyfar yn yr ystafell ddosbarth, ac maent wedi bod yn galw am waharddiad cyffredinol, os mynnwch—ceir tystiolaeth fod modd cysylltu defnydd gormodol o ffonau symudol, hyd yn oed ar ei ffurf fwyaf diniwed, â pherfformiad addysgol is, a bwlio yn sicr, yn y ffordd a ddisgrifiodd, a cheir mathau o ddefnydd hyd yn oed yn fwy niweidiol o dechnoleg symudol. Gall hynny gael effaith negyddol iawn ar sefydlogrwydd emosiynol.
Rwy'n credu ei fod yn fater lle mae angen taro cydbwysedd, oherwydd mae hefyd yn bwysig ein bod yn helpu ein pobl ifanc i ddeall sut i ymateb i rai o'r heriau hyn. Mae'r fframwaith cymhwysedd digidol yn cynnig cyfleoedd ar gyfer defnyddio ffonau symudol i ddangos rhai o'r heriau ehangach hynny yn y gwaith rydym wedi bod yn ei wneud i greu adnoddau i gefnogi dysgwyr i fynd i'r afael â'r math o her y mae Alun Davies yn ei disgrifio, ac mae'r rheini gennym ar Hwb bellach, drwy'r porth 'cadw'n ddiogel ar-lein'. Rwy'n credu bod yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud, serch hynny, yn ddarlun o her gymdeithasol ehangach, ac rwy'n aml yn siarad â phenaethiaid sy'n ymgodymu â'r ffordd orau o daro'r cydbwysedd hwn. Rwy'n credu, yn y pen draw, mai mater i ysgolion yw penderfynu hynny, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol eu bod yn gwrando ar lais eu dysgwyr, yn union fel roedd Alun Davies yn ei glywed yn uniongyrchol gan yr unigolyn ifanc y cyfeiriodd ati.
Alun Davies is absolutely right to raise this issue here today. At a personal level, it's something affecting me in my family now, because I always said to my children, 'No mobile phones until high school'. Annoyingly, one of them started high school this year, so we're having to understand that process of them having hold of a mobile phone.
Minister, you referenced the UNESCO report, and you're absolutely right to reference that. As you said, they are seeking a global ban on mobile phones in the classroom. And, as you'll know, they point to the distractions of mobile phones in classrooms, alongside cyber bullying and the impact on children's emotional stability. You'll also know, Minister, that within that report they also highlight concerns around data protection and privacy concerns, especially in terms of the data that is being harvested on children in applications that they're using, either in the classroom or with educational apps that they're encouraged or actually made to use within schools. I wonder, Minister, what efforts you're making to reassure parents that data on their children is not being unnecessarily taken or inappropriately used.
Mae Alun Davies yn llygad ei le yn codi'r mater hwn yma heddiw. Ar lefel bersonol, mae'n rhywbeth sy'n effeithio arnaf yn fy nheulu nawr, oherwydd roeddwn bob amser yn dweud wrth fy mhlant, 'Dim ffonau symudol tan yr ysgol uwchradd'. Fe ddechreuodd un ohonynt yn yr ysgol uwchradd eleni, felly yn anffodus, rydym yn gorfod deall y broses o gael ffôn symudol yn eu meddiant.
Weinidog, fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at adroddiad UNESCO, ac rydych chi'n llygad eich lle yn cyfeirio at hynny. Fel y dywedoch chi, maent yn galw am waharddiad cyffredinol ar ffonau symudol yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Ac fel y gwyddoch, maent yn tynnu sylw at y problemau sydd ynghlwm wrth ffonau symudol mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth, ochr yn ochr â seiberfwlio a'r effaith ar sefydlogrwydd emosiynol plant. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod hefyd, Weinidog, eu bod yn yr adroddiad hwnnw hefyd yn tynnu sylw at bryderon ynghylch diogelu data a phreifatrwydd, yn enwedig y data sy'n cael ei gasglu am blant gan yr apiau a ddefnyddiant, naill ai yn yr ystafell ddosbarth neu gydag apiau addysgol y cânt eu hannog neu eu cyfarwyddo i'w defnyddio mewn ysgolion. Weinidog, tybed pa ymdrechion rydych chi'n eu gwneud i sicrhau rhieni nad yw data ar eu plant yn cael ei gymryd yn ddiangen nac yn cael ei ddefnyddio'n amhriodol.
The Member will know of the work that Sarah Murphy has been doing in relation to the data of children in schools, which is, I think, really elevating the level of debate in this Chamber in relation to that issue in a very compelling way, in my opinion. I think the Member makes very valid points. We have, in fact, as a consequence of Sarah's campaigning, changed the guidance to schools in relation to the very, very important points that the Members has raised today.
Headteachers already have the ability to ban the use of mobile phones, either generally or in particular ways, and I know and he will know that heads are using that power. I've also spoken to heads who, whilst they might want to do that, have recognised the challenges that go with that and are making pragmatic judgments. I think some of the points that he is making, though, are exactly the sort of issue that our new curriculum, for example, is designed to support young people to recognise and to address themselves. I think it is a slightly more complex picture than simply saying an outright ban is the right way forward.
Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod am y gwaith y mae Sarah Murphy wedi bod yn ei wneud mewn perthynas â data plant mewn ysgolion, sy'n codi lefel y ddadl yn y Siambr hon mewn perthynas â'r mater hwnnw mewn ffordd gref iawn yn fy marn i. Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gwneud pwyntiau dilys iawn. Yn wir, o ganlyniad i ymgyrchu Sarah, rydym wedi newid y canllawiau i ysgolion mewn perthynas â'r pwyntiau pwysig iawn y mae'r Aelodau wedi'u codi heddiw.
Eisoes, mae gan benaethiaid allu i wahardd defnyddio ffonau symudol, naill ai'n gyffredinol neu mewn ffyrdd penodol, ac rwy'n gwybod, a bydd yntau'n gwybod, fod penaethiaid yn defnyddio'r pŵer hwnnw. Rwyf hefyd wedi siarad â phenaethiaid sydd, er y gallent fod eisiau gwneud hynny, wedi cydnabod yr heriau sy'n mynd gyda hynny ac sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau pragmatig. Rwy'n credu bod rhai o'r pwyntiau y mae'n eu gwneud, serch hynny, yn enghreifftiau o'r union bethau y lluniwyd ein cwricwlwm newydd i gefnogi pobl ifanc i'w hadnabod a mynd i'r afael â nhw eu hunain. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn ddarlun ychydig yn fwy cymhleth na dweud mai gwaharddiad llwyr yw'r ffordd gywir ymlaen.
4. Pa effaith y mae'r grant datblygu disgyblion wedi'i chael ar gyrhaeddiad disgyblion ers ei gyflwyno yn 2012? OQ59960
4. What impact has the pupil development grant had on pupil attainment since its introduction in 2012? OQ59960
The pupil development grant has a key part to play in our national mission to tackle the impact of poverty on attainment. Year on year, we have extended the grant to reflect changes in the numbers of learners eligible for free school meals.
Mae gan y grant datblygu disgyblion ran allweddol i'w chwarae yn ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol i fynd i'r afael ag effaith tlodi ar gyrhaeddiad. O flwyddyn i flwyddyn, rydym wedi ymestyn y grant i adlewyrchu newidiadau yn nifer y dysgwyr sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog. While I welcome the Welsh Government's continued support for this policy, which, as you know, was first spearheaded by a Liberal Democrat in 2012, over a quarter of Welsh children live in poverty, and a wealth of research demonstrates the detrimental impact that this has upon their learning, leading to poorer physical health and mental health and chronic underachievement. A report last year from the Child Poverty Action Group highlighted that 55,000 children are currently unable to benefit from access funds, which are now renamed the 'school essentials grant', due to parents and carers actually being in work but very low paid work. The cost of school supplies and uniforms places enormous pressure on struggling families, and the children's commissioner this week criticised the Government's proposed child poverty strategy for its lack of ambition and detail, so we really do need to really step up to ensure that no child is left behind this school year. So, could you outline specifically the actions that the Welsh Government is going to be taking to ensure the school essentials grant accurately reflects current costs, and whether it will be expanding eligibility to support more low-income families who are struggling with school expenses? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Weinidog. Er fy mod yn croesawu cefnogaeth barhaus Llywodraeth Cymru i'r polisi hwn, yr arweiniodd Democrat Rhyddfrydol arno yn gyntaf yn 2012, mae dros chwarter plant Cymru yn byw mewn tlodi, a cheir gwaith ymchwil helaeth sy'n dangos yr effaith andwyol y mae hyn yn ei chael ar eu dysgu, gan arwain at iechyd corfforol ac iechyd meddwl gwaeth a thangyflawni cronig. Amlygodd adroddiad y llynedd gan y Grŵp Gweithredu ar Dlodi Plant nad yw 55,000 o blant yn gallu elwa o gronfeydd mynediad ar hyn o bryd, cronfeydd a ailenwyd bellach yn 'grant hanfodion ysgol', oherwydd bod rhieni a gofalwyr mewn gwaith ond bod hwnnw'n waith ar gyflogau isel iawn. Mae cost cyflenwadau ysgol a gwisgoedd ysgol yn rhoi pwysau enfawr ar deuluoedd sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd, a'r wythnos hon, beirniadodd y comisiynydd plant strategaeth tlodi plant arfaethedig y Llywodraeth am ei diffyg uchelgais a manylion, felly mae gwir angen inni gamu i'r adwy i sicrhau nad oes unrhyw blentyn yn cael ei adael ar ôl y flwyddyn ysgol hon. Felly, a allech chi amlinellu'n benodol y camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w cymryd i sicrhau bod y grant hanfodion ysgol yn adlewyrchu'r costau presennol yn gywir, ac a fydd yn ehangu cymhwysedd i gefnogi mwy o deuluoedd incwm isel sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd gyda threuliau ysgol? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, the school essentials grant is a very important contributor to our efforts on a cross-Government basis to make sure that young people have access to school and that the cost of the school day doesn't discourage attendance, for example, and, when young people are in school, it's enabling them and supporting them to flourish. So, alongside the £130 million that we're investing this year for the pupil development grant, there has been a significant expansion of the availability of the school essentials grant. She will remember that, until last year, that was only available to pupils in every other year. I made the decision last year to extend that by making it available to pupils in every single year. So, that's been a very, very significant expansion of that important fund, and it is by some margin the largest fund of its kind in any part of the UK, and I'm proud of that because I think it demonstrates our commitment as a Government. But I do recognise the point that the Member makes, which is that it isn't available to all pupils. That's why measures such as the new affordability requirements for school uniform are also important, and the work that we're doing more broadly to drive down the cost of the school day, because families who don't qualify for free school meals, who may be just above the threshold, are still finding it very difficult. That's why those broader policies are really important.
Wel, mae'r grant hanfodion ysgol yn gyfrannwr pwysig iawn i'n hymdrechion ar sail drawslywodraethol i sicrhau bod gan bobl ifanc fynediad at fywyd yr ysgol ac nad yw cost y diwrnod ysgol yn eu hannog i fod yn absennol, er enghraifft, a phan fydd pobl ifanc yn yr ysgol, ei fod yn eu galluogi a'u cynorthwyo i ffynnu. Felly, ochr yn ochr â'r £130 miliwn rydym yn ei fuddsoddi eleni ar gyfer y grant datblygu disgyblion, bu cynnydd sylweddol yn argaeledd y grant hanfodion ysgol. Fe fydd hi'n cofio, tan y llynedd, ei fod ond ar gael i ddisgyblion bob yn ail flwyddyn. Gwneuthum benderfyniad y llynedd i ymestyn hynny drwy sicrhau ei fod ar gael i ddisgyblion ym mhob blwyddyn. Felly, mae hynny wedi golygu bod y gronfa bwysig honno wedi ymestyn yn sylweddol iawn, a dyma'r gronfa fwyaf o'i bath yn unrhyw ran o'r DU, ac rwy'n falch o hynny oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod yn dangos ein hymrwymiad fel Llywodraeth. Ond rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud, sef nad yw ar gael i bob disgybl. Dyna pam mae mesurau fel y gofynion fforddiadwyedd newydd ar gyfer gwisg ysgol hefyd yn bwysig, a'r gwaith a wnawn yn ehangach i leihau cost y diwrnod ysgol, oherwydd mae teuluoedd nad ydynt yn gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim, a allai fod ychydig bach yn uwch na'r trothwy, yn dal i'w chael hi'n anodd iawn. Dyna pam mae'r polisïau ehangach hynny'n bwysig iawn.
I'm pleased this subject has been raised this afternoon as the pupil development grant aims to raise the attainment of children and young people from low-income backgrounds, as you mentioned. But the grant, which is supposed to help the least-well-off families in Wales, has been cut, leaving pupils and teaching professionals in my constituency, such as west Rhyl and upper Denbigh, struggling to access resources and funding. So, why, during a cost-of-living crisis, have the Welsh Government cut a grant that helps the most vulnerable people in my constituency? You say you're passionate about the policy and the grant. So, why did you cut it?
Rwy'n falch fod y pwnc hwn wedi'i godi y prynhawn yma gan mai nod y grant datblygu disgyblion yw codi cyrhaeddiad plant a phobl ifanc o gefndiroedd incwm isel, fel y sonioch chi. Ond mae'r grant, sydd i fod i helpu'r teuluoedd lleiaf cefnog yng Nghymru, wedi cael ei dorri, gan olygu bod disgyblion a gweithwyr addysgu proffesiynol yn fy etholaeth i, fel gorllewin y Rhyl a Dinbych uchaf, yn ei chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i adnoddau a chyllid. Felly, mewn argyfwng costau byw, pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi torri grant sy'n helpu'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn fy etholaeth? Rydych chi'n dweud eich bod chi'n angerddol am y polisi a'r grant. Felly pam y gwnaethoch chi ei dorri?
Well, just to be crystal clear with the Member, the grant has not been cut—it has been increased.
Wel, i fod yn hollol glir gyda'r Aelod, nid yw'r grant wedi'i dorri—mae wedi cael ei gynyddu.
Minister, following on from what you said, and speaking to parents, carers, families, young people and schools in my constituency, I know that the school essentials grant and its predecessor schemes are both really welcome as a lifeline for people who can access it. As the grant can be accessed until May, can I ask what work is being done to ensure take-up later within the school year if families don't apply for it at the start of term to ensure that changes of circumstance are captured and that eligible children and young people don't lose out?
Weinidog, yn dilyn ymlaen o'r hyn a ddywedoch chi, ac wrth siarad â rhieni, gofalwyr, teuluoedd, pobl ifanc ac ysgolion yn fy etholaeth i, gwn fod croeso mawr i'r grant hanfodion ysgol a'i gynlluniau rhagflaenol fel achubiaeth i'r bobl sy'n gallu cael mynediad ato. Gan y gellir cael mynediad at y grant tan fis Mai, a gaf fi ofyn pa waith sy'n cael ei wneud i sicrhau bod modd manteisio arno yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn ysgol os nad yw teuluoedd yn gwneud cais amdano ar ddechrau'r tymor, i sicrhau bod modd darparu ar gyfer newid yn amgylchiadau pobl ac nad yw plant a phobl ifanc cymwys ar eu colled?
Well, we're making sure that my officials are working with local authorities to make sure the grant is publicised locally throughout the academic year. I think the Member makes a very important point about that. The grant can be accessed until May. We've been very clear that it's an important priority of how we introduce the new primary free school meals policy, for example—that we are not, if you like, inadvertently discouraging people from applying for the school essentials grant. Actually, that's part of the reason why we rebranded it to the 'school essentials grant' so that it was, I think, more intelligible to most people than a 'PDG access grant', which doesn't mean that much to most of us, really. And that's why we've also been making sure that we have a prominent comms and marketing campaign, which has been under way now for just over a year, to promote the grant itself. So, we do not have evidence at this point that that shift has caused a drop in the number of people applying, but it's something that, obviously, we need to keep a continuous eye on.
Wel, rydym yn sicrhau bod fy swyddogion yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod y grant yn cael sylw'n lleol drwy gydol y flwyddyn academaidd. Credaf fod yr Aelod yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn ynglŷn â hynny. Gellir gwneud cais am y grant tan fis Mai. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir iawn ei bod hi'n flaenoriaeth bwysig o ran y modd y cyflwynwn y polisi prydau ysgol am ddim newydd, er enghraifft—nad ydym, os mynnwch, yn anfwriadol yn annog pobl rhag gwneud cais am grant hanfodion ysgol. A dweud y gwir, dyna ran o'r rheswm pam y gwnaethom ei ailenwi'n 'grant hanfodion ysgol' fel ei fod yn fwy dealladwy, rwy'n credu, i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl na 'grant mynediad PDG', nad yw'n golygu cymaint â hynny i'r rhan fwyaf ohonom mewn gwirionedd. A dyna pam ein bod ni hefyd wedi bod yn sicrhau bod gennym ymgyrch gyfathrebu a marchnata amlwg, sydd wedi bod ar y gweill nawr ers ychydig dros flwyddyn, i hyrwyddo'r grant ei hun. Felly, nid oes gennym dystiolaeth ar hyn o bryd fod y newid wedi achosi gostyngiad yn nifer y bobl sy'n gwneud cais, ond mae'n rhywbeth y mae angen inni gadw llygad parhaus arno wrth gwrs.
5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i atal gwahaniaethu yn erbyn disgyblion awtistig mewn lleoliadau addysg? OQ59955
5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to prevent discrimination against autistic pupils in education settings? OQ59955
Discrimination of any kind has no place in Wales. Under the Equality Act 2010, schools and other education providers must not treat disabled pupils less favourably. The Welsh Government is committed to creating an inclusive education system that enables all learners to thrive and to achieve their full potential.
Nid oes lle i wahaniaethu o unrhyw fath yng Nghymru. O dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010, ni ddylai ysgolion na darparwyr addysg eraill drin disgyblion anabl yn llai ffafriol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i greu system addysg gynhwysol sy'n galluogi pob dysgwr i ffynnu a chyflawni eu potensial llawn.
Despite the High Court ruling in 2018 that the exclusion of an autistic pupil for behaviour arising from their autism was unlawful, I continue to receive north Wales casework where this is happening. On related issues, a Flintshire parent wrote this month:
'We now have a highly skilled psychiatrist and psychologist in the autism field, who have reported my son’s behaviour is a result of bad experiences in his previous school, and his difficulties in communicating these are not related to any parental concern.'
A Wrexham parent wrote:
'We decided to go to education tribunal. The decision of the tribunal was that my daughter was unlawfully discriminated against on three separate occasions: indirect discrimination, discrimination due to disability, and harassment.'
And a mother wrote to me as chair of the cross-party autism group:
'I'd like to make you aware that the education tribunal upheld against Neath college with discrimination against my autistic son, with damning outcomes.'
These and many other cases evidence that this is not a safe, autistic-friendly Wales. How do you therefore respond to the calls that I've received for an urgent public inquiry to stop the abuse that is still going on?
Er i'r Uchel Lys ddyfarnu yn 2018 fod gwahardd disgybl awtistig am ymddygiad sy'n deillio o'i awtistiaeth yn anghyfreithlon, rwy'n parhau i gael gwaith achos yng ngogledd Cymru lle mae hyn yn digwydd. Ar faterion cysylltiedig, ysgrifennodd rhiant o sir y Fflint y mis hwn:
'Erbyn hyn mae gennym seiciatrydd a seicolegydd medrus iawn yn y maes awtistiaeth sydd wedi nodi bod ymddygiad fy mab yn ganlyniad i brofiadau gwael yn ei ysgol flaenorol, ac nad yw ei anawsterau i gyfathrebu'r rhain yn gysylltiedig ag unrhyw bryder yn ymwneud â rhieni.'
Dywedodd rhiant o Wrecsam:
'Fe wnaethom benderfynu mynd i dribiwnlys addysg. Penderfyniad y tribiwnlys oedd bod fy merch wedi bod yn destun gwahaniaethu anghyfreithlon ar dri achlysur gwahanol: gwahaniaethu anuniongyrchol, gwahaniaethu oherwydd anabledd, ac aflonyddu.'
Ac ysgrifennodd mam ataf fel cadeirydd y grŵp awtistiaeth trawsbleidiol:
'Hoffwn eich hysbysu bod y tribiwnlys addysg wedi cadarnhau penderfyniad yn erbyn coleg Castell-nedd ynghylch gwahaniaethu yn erbyn fy mab awtistig, gyda chanlyniadau damniol.'
Mae'r rhain a llawer o achosion eraill yn dystiolaeth nad yw hon yn Gymru ddiogel sy'n ystyriol o bobl awtistig. Gan hynny, sut rydych chi'n ymateb i'r galwadau a gefais am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus brys i atal y cam-drin sy'n dal i ddigwydd?
The Member makes reference to a number of examples that I'm not personally aware of, but the way he describes them are distressing and unacceptable, obviously. I'm actually meeting the president of the education tribunal in the coming weeks and will take that opportunity of discussing with her the point that the Member has made today. As I said in opening response to the Member, it is imperative that we make sure that we have an education system that is inclusive of all young people, and that is certainly the aim of this Government.
Mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio at nifer o enghreifftiau nad wyf yn ymwybodol ohonynt yn bersonol, ond mae'r ffordd y mae'n eu disgrifio yn peri gofid ac yn amlwg yn annerbyniol. Rwy'n cyfarfod â llywydd y tribiwnlys addysg yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf a byddaf yn manteisio ar y cyfle i drafod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod wedi'i wneud heddiw gyda hi. Fel y dywedais wrth agor yr ymateb i'r Aelod, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn sicrhau bod gennym system addysg sy'n gynhwysol i bob person ifanc, ac yn sicr dyna yw nod y Llywodraeth hon.
6. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi dysgu oedolion yn y gymuned yn Islwyn? OQ59964
6. What is the Welsh Government doing to support adult community learning in Islwyn? OQ59964
We're delivering on our programme for government commitment to review and increase the number of adult learners across Islwyn and all of Wales. Through investment, innovation and working in partnership with providers, we are building capacity to both promote and deliver adult learning to the widest possible audience.
Rydym yn cyflawni ein hymrwymiad yn y rhaglen lywodraethu i adolygu a chynyddu nifer y dysgwyr sy'n oedolion ar draws Islwyn a Chymru gyfan. Drwy fuddsoddi, arloesi a gweithio mewn partneriaeth gyda darparwyr, rydym yn cynyddu'r capasiti i hyrwyddo a darparu addysg oedolion i'r gynulleidfa ehangaf sy'n bosibl.
Diolch, Minister. Last week was Adult Learners' Week 2023, and Adult Learners' Week is an annual campaign co-ordinated in partnership with the Welsh Government that aims to connect people to a wide range of learning opportunities and demonstrate the benefits of adult learning and celebrate the very real achievements of people, projects and organisations across Wales, and organisations that are every day championing a wide range of lifelong opportunities and skills growth. I'm sure the Minister will join with me in thanking them all for what they do.
Diolch, Weinidog. Roedd hi'n Wythnos Addysg Oedolion 2023 yr wythnos diwethaf, ac mae Wythnos Addysg Oedolion yn ymgyrch flynyddol a gydlynir mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n ceisio cysylltu pobl ag ystod eang o gyfleoedd dysgu a dangos manteision dysgu oedolion a dathlu cyflawniadau go iawn pobl, prosiectau a sefydliadau ledled Cymru, a sefydliadau sy'n mynd ati bob dydd i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth eang o gyfleoedd gydol oes a thwf sgiliau. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn ymuno â mi i ddiolch iddynt i gyd am yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud.
So, diolch yn fawr i chi i gyd.
So, thank you all very much.
Minister, we know that people's employment journey will be varied and will require adaptability and flexibility to reskill increasingly throughout working lives. More so than ever, as we see major companies now disinvesting or folding across Great Britain due to what seems to be the UK policy impacts of record-high inflation, chronic lack of growth and the inability to trade effectively with our largest market. So, considering all this, Minister, what further work can and will the Welsh Government undertake, and also in partnership with local organisations across Islwyn, to both champion and cascade this wonderful campaign, now running for over a quarter of a century, which every day is transforming life opportunities, transforming lives and transforming futures? Diolch.
Weinidog, fe wyddom y bydd taith gyflogaeth pobl yn amrywiol a bydd angen hyblygrwydd a gallu i addasu i ailsgilio'n gynyddol drwy gydol bywydau gwaith. Yn fwy felly nag erioed, wrth inni weld cwmnïau mawr bellach yn dadfuddsoddi neu'n mynd i'r wal ledled Prydain oherwydd yr hyn sy'n ymddangos fel effeithiau polisi'r DU, sef y chwyddiant uchaf erioed, diffyg twf cronig a'r anallu i fasnachu'n effeithiol gyda'n marchnad fwyaf. Felly, o ystyried hyn oll, Weinidog, pa waith pellach y gall ac y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud, mewn partneriaeth â sefydliadau lleol ar draws Islwyn hefyd, i hyrwyddo a rhaeadru'r ymgyrch wych hon, sydd bellach yn rhedeg ers dros chwarter canrif, ac sydd bob dydd yn trawsnewid cyfleoedd bywyd, yn trawsnewid bywydau ac yn trawsnewid y dyfodol i bobl? Diolch.
Well, I thank the Member for making specific reference to Adult Learners' Week. It's such a good shop window, isn't it, to the opportunities that exist for people to return to education at any point in their life, and goes to the heart of my personal hope for Wales to become a nation of second chances, where it's never too late to learn? Many of us will have been at the Inspire! awards the week before, which, as always, more than lived up to their name, and you hear really incredibly compelling and often very moving stories about how people have been able to take advantage of learning in later life.
The key, I think, is that that week that showcases the benefit of learning, that people who take their first steps in that week have a clear pathway, then, through to a range of options. We've got to increase the number of adult learners both in Islwyn and beyond, and that's about working with providers through the adult learning partnerships, and I think to try and mainstream some of the successful engagement that we have seen. We funded some of that through a £2 million funding package to raise awareness of adult learning again after the pandemic, where we've seen numbers drop. So, it's about that partnership working, and also we are taking forward a programme of national co-ordination. One of the challenges in this space is it's quite a complex space; it's quite a large offer, and it's quite difficult to navigate for some people. So, finding a way of co-ordinating that, which the partnerships are helping us to do, is, I think, a really important part, but I thank the Member for taking the opportunity to highlight Adult Learners' Week.
Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am gyfeirio'n benodol at yr Wythnos Addysg Oedolion. Mae'n hysbyseb mor dda, onid ydyw, i'r cyfleoedd sy'n bodoli i bobl ddychwelyd at addysg ar unrhyw adeg yn eu bywydau, ac yn mynd at galon fy ngobaith personol i Gymru ddod yn genedl o ail gyfleoedd, lle nad yw hi byth yn rhy hwyr i ddysgu? Bydd llawer ohonom wedi bod yng ngwobrau Ysbrydoli! yr wythnos cynt, a wnaeth fwy na chyfiawnhau eu henw da, fel bob amser, ac rydych yn clywed straeon hynod o gyffrous ac emosiynol yn aml ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae pobl wedi gallu manteisio ar ddysgu yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd.
Yr allwedd, rwy'n credu, yw bod yr wythnos honno'n arddangos budd dysgu, ac felly, fod gan bobl sy'n cymryd eu camau cyntaf yn ystod yr wythnos honno lwybr clir at amrywiaeth o opsiynau. Mae'n rhaid inni gynyddu nifer y dysgwyr sy'n oedolion yn Islwyn a thu hwnt, ac mae hynny'n golygu gweithio gyda darparwyr drwy'r partneriaethau dysgu oedolion, a cheisio prif ffrydio rhywfaint o'r ymgysylltu llwyddiannus a welsom. Fe wnaethom ariannu rhywfaint o hynny drwy becyn ariannu gwerth £2 filiwn i godi ymwybyddiaeth o ddysgu oedolion eto ar ôl y pandemig, lle rydym wedi gweld niferoedd yn gostwng. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â'r gwaith partneriaeth hwnnw, a hefyd, rydym yn bwrw ymlaen â rhaglen gydgysylltu genedlaethol. Un o'r heriau yn y gofod hwn yw ei fod yn ofod eithaf cymhleth; mae'n gynnig eithaf mawr, ac mae'n eithaf anodd i rai pobl ei lywio. Felly, mae dod o hyd i ffordd o gydgysylltu hynny, fel y mae'r partneriaethau yn ein helpu i'w wneud, yn rhan bwysig iawn yn fy marn i, ond diolch i'r Aelod am achub ar y cyfle i dynnu sylw at yr Wythnos Addysg Oedolion.
Minister, there's absolutely no denying whatsoever that adult community learning can really help unlock someone's potential. It can help someone acquire new skills, achieve qualifications, set them on the path to further education, or, in fact, take them directly into employment. However, it has been warned recently that the cost is deterring people from some of my region's most deprived areas from taking advantage of these types of courses. So, Minister, what discussions have you had with your Cabinet colleagues, in particular the Minister for Finance and Local Government, about making adult community learning more accessible for people from deprived communities? Thanks.
Weinidog, nid oes modd gwadu y gall dysgu oedolion yn y gymuned helpu i ddatgloi potensial rhywun. Mae'n gallu helpu rhywun i feithrin sgiliau newydd, i ennill cymwysterau, a'u gosod ar y llwybr i addysg bellach neu eu tywys i gyflogaeth yn uniongyrchol. Fodd bynnag, rhybuddiwyd yn ddiweddar fod y gost yn atal pobl o rai o ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig fy rhanbarth rhag manteisio ar y mathau hyn o gyrsiau. Felly, Weinidog, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch chi gyda'ch cyd-Weinidogion yn y Cabinet, yn enwedig y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, ynglŷn â gwneud dysgu oedolion yn y gymuned yn fwy hygyrch i bobl o gymunedau difreintiedig? Diolch.
Well, I can assure the Member that it goes beyond discussions, important though they are, and so, this year, we're investing a total of £1.28 million in local authorities in Gwent alone, and around £6.21 million nationally to strengthen adult community learning, and this is in addition to over £13 million that we've provided to further education colleges across the south-east to provide adult learning in their settings. I agree with her entirely: accessibility to these opportunities is at the heart. That's been one of the challenges that for some years we've been trying to grapple with, and I'm really pleased that we are making progress in that space, with the renewed focus that we've given to this area.
Wel, gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod fod hyn yn mynd y tu hwnt i drafodaethau, er eu bod yn bwysig, ac felly, eleni, rydym yn buddsoddi cyfanswm o £1.28 miliwn mewn awdurdodau lleol yng Ngwent yn unig, a thua £6.21 miliwn yn genedlaethol i gryfhau dysgu oedolion yn y gymuned. Mae hyn yn ychwanegol i'r dros £13 miliwn a ddarparwyd gennym i golegau addysg bellach ar draws y de-ddwyrain i ddarparu addysg i oedolion yn eu lleoliadau. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â hi: mae hygyrchedd y cyfleoedd hyn yn allweddol. Mae hynny wedi bod yn un o'r heriau y buom yn ceisio mynd i'r afael â nhw ers rhai blynyddoedd, ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod yn gwneud cynnydd yn hynny o beth, gyda'r ffocws o'r newydd a roddwyd gennym i'r maes hwn.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ganfyddiadau'r cynllun treialu diwrnod ysgol hirach? OQ59976
7. Will the Minister provide an update on findings from the longer school day trial? OQ59976
An evaluation of the additional enrichment sessions trials was published back in January. It found that children and young people, parents and settings were positive about the opportunities provided, and we are considering the findings in the context of our wider educational policies and reforms.
Cyhoeddwyd gwerthusiad o'r treialon sesiynau cyfoethogi ychwanegol yn ôl ym mis Ionawr. Canfu fod plant a phobl ifanc, rhieni a lleoliadau yn gadarnhaol am y cyfleoedd a ddarparwyd, ac rydym yn ystyried y canfyddiadau yng nghyd-destun ein polisïau a'n diwygiadau addysgol ehangach.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Thank you, Minister. As you will be aware, many children sadly do not get the opportunity to play sports, to do creative activities such as learning to play a musical instrument or a language, or to have additional maths or English tuition that will help them in their studies. And evidence has shown that those children that do benefit from these extracurricular activities have more opportunities open to them. When they graduate from high school, they are found to be healthier, both mentally and physically, have a better sense of well-being, and they're also, on the whole, more confident individuals. At the moment we have a system where some children get lots of extra-curricular activity because their parents can afford it or are motivated to take them to them, and some children who get no extra-curricular activities whatsoever. What this ultimately means is that some children may not reach their full potential or have the opportunities open to them that they could have otherwise. Extending the school day does not necessarily mean more lessons and it's an opportunity for schools and children to do lots of fun activities, and support learning and child development. So, with this in mind, Minister, what resources have you identified and ring-fenced, so that all schools can provide extra-curricular activity every school day? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, yn anffodus, nid yw llawer o blant yn cael y cyfle i wneud chwaraeon, i wneud gweithgareddau creadigol fel dysgu sut i chwarae offeryn cerdd neu ddysgu iaith, neu gael hyfforddiant ychwanegol mewn mathemateg neu Saesneg a fydd yn eu helpu yn eu hastudiaethau. Ac mae tystiolaeth wedi dangos bod gan y plant sy'n elwa o'r gweithgareddau allgyrsiol hyn fwy o gyfleoedd ar gael iddynt. Pan fyddant yn graddio o'r ysgol uwchradd, gwelir eu bod yn iachach, yn feddyliol ac yn gorfforol, yn meddu ar well ymdeimlad o lesiant, ac maent hefyd, ar y cyfan, yn unigolion mwy hyderus. Ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym system lle mae rhai plant yn cael llawer o weithgareddau allgyrsiol am fod eu rhieni'n gallu eu fforddio neu eu bod yn cael eu hysgogi i fynd â nhw iddynt, a rhai plant nad ydynt yn cael unrhyw weithgareddau allgyrsiol o gwbl. Mae hyn yn golygu yn y pen draw na fydd rhai plant yn cyrraedd eu potensial llawn nac yn cael y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael iddynt y gallent eu cael fel arall. Nid yw ymestyn y diwrnod ysgol o reidrwydd yn golygu mwy o wersi ac mae'n gyfle i ysgolion a phlant wneud llawer o weithgareddau llawn hwyl, a chefnogi dysgu a datblygiad plant. Felly, gyda hyn mewn golwg, Weinidog, pa adnoddau a nodwyd ac a glustnodwyd gennych, fel y gall pob ysgol ddarparu gweithgareddau allgyrsiol yn ystod pob diwrnod ysgol? Diolch.
Well, I'm afraid the context in which we now look at policies of this sort is obviously very different, given the impact of inflation and choices made elsewhere about the overall level of investment in public services across the UK. However, in Wales, through things like the national music service, through the investment we've made into schools post COVID, which is significantly ahead of any other part of the UK, through the introduction of a new curriculum—all of these are providing those broader opportunities. I agree entirely with Joel James: it's really important that alongside the opportunities to get an excellent education, we want all our young people to have that breadth of experience, that cultural experience, that sporting experience and others, and not all young people are able to benefit from that. But that is what lies behind those system-wide investments that we've made in order to try and level that playing field and give everybody the access to the rich set of experiences that he described in this question.
Wel, mae arnaf ofn fod y cyd-destun ar gyfer edrych ar bolisïau o'r math hwn yn wahanol iawn nawr wrth gwrs o ystyried effaith chwyddiant a dewisiadau a wneir mewn mannau eraill am lefel gyffredinol y buddsoddiad mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled y DU. Fodd bynnag, yng Nghymru, drwy bethau fel y gwasanaeth cerdd cenedlaethol, drwy'r buddsoddiad a wnaethom mewn ysgolion ar ôl COVID, sy'n sylweddol uwch nag unrhyw ran arall o'r DU, drwy gyflwyno cwricwlwm newydd—mae'r rhain i gyd yn darparu'r cyfleoedd ehangach hynny. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â Joel James: ochr yn ochr â'r cyfleoedd i gael addysg ragorol, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod am i'n holl bobl ifanc gael y profiadau eang hynny, y profiad diwylliannol hwnnw, y profiad hwnnw mewn chwaraeon ac ati, ac nid yw pob person ifanc yn gallu elwa o hynny. Ond dyna yw cefndir y buddsoddiadau rydym wedi'u gwneud ar draws y system er mwyn ceisio sicrhau cyfle teg a rhoi mynediad i bawb at y set gyfoethog o brofiadau a ddisgrifiodd yn ei gwestiwn.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Janet Finch-Saunders.
And finally, question 8, Janet Finch-Saunders.
8. Pa gyllid y mae'r Gweinidog yn ei ddarparu i ysgolion i gefnogi myfyrwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol? OQ59954
8. What finance is the Minister providing to schools to support students with additional learning needs? OQ59954
Funding for schools is provided to local authorities, mainly through the revenue support grant. In addition to that, we continue to make significant investment in the additional learning needs implementation process by investing over £62 million revenue and £20 million capital between 2020 and 2023.
Mae cyllid ar gyfer ysgolion yn cael ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol, yn bennaf drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw. Yn ogystal â hynny, rydym yn parhau i wneud buddsoddiad sylweddol yn y broses o weithredu anghenion dysgu ychwanegol drwy fuddsoddi dros £62 miliwn o refeniw ac £20 miliwn o gyfalaf rhwng 2020 a 2023.
Thank you. Minister, you'll be aware that letters have come to you on this issue. The education committee's scrutiny of the implementation of the Welsh Government's reforms has highlighted concerns about capacity limitations within schools and local authorities that could mean the threshold for learners to be identified as having ALN could rise under the new system. Now, you assured the committee that you would make sure the new ALN system is driven by the particular profile of needs of the individual learners rather than the levels of resource available. However, numerous schools I have visited in Aberconwy, to include Ysgol San Siôr that my colleague Laura Anne Jones MS came to with me, have identified requiring this financial support as soon as possible after a pupil is identified as needing that support. Now, they describe it as months that they have to fund this extra support before they're then reimbursed, and some schools are finding that really unachievable. So, what can you do to speed up the process that, when children are identified as requiring extra support, the schools themselves get that financial funding as soon as possible? Diolch.
Diolch. Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod llythyrau wedi dod atoch ar y mater hwn. Mae gwaith craffu'r pwyllgor addysg ar weithredu diwygiadau Llywodraeth Cymru wedi tynnu sylw at bryderon ynghylch cyfyngiadau capasiti mewn ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol a allai olygu y gallai'r trothwy i ddysgwyr gael eu nodi fel rhai ag ADY godi o dan y system newydd. Nawr, fe wnaethoch chi sicrhau'r pwyllgor y byddech yn gwneud yn siŵr fod y system ADY newydd yn cael ei gyrru gan broffil anghenion penodol y dysgwyr unigol yn hytrach na'r lefelau o adnoddau sydd ar gael. Fodd bynnag, mae nifer o ysgolion yr ymwelais â nhw yn Aberconwy, gan gynnwys Ysgol San Siôr y daeth fy nghyd-Aelod Laura Anne Jones AS gyda mi i ymweld â hi, wedi nodi bod angen y cymorth ariannol hwn cyn gynted â phosibl ar ôl i ddisgybl gael ei nodi fel un sydd angen y cymorth hwnnw. Nawr, maent yn dweud eu bod yn ariannu'r cymorth ychwanegol hwn am fisoedd cyn iddynt gael eu had-dalu, ac mae rhai ysgolion yn gweld hynny'n wirioneddol amhosibl. Felly, beth y gallwch ei wneud i gyflymu'r broses, pan fydd plant yn cael eu nodi fel rhai sydd angen cymorth ychwanegol, fel bod yr ysgolion eu hunain yn cael y cyllid ariannol hwnnw cyn gynted â phosibl? Diolch.
Well, the Member will appreciate that the relationship between the school and the funding stream is one that lies in the hands of the local authority, not of the Welsh Government. I have outlined the funding that we are putting into the system. But she makes an important point about how funding reaches the front line, and I think, with the significant levels of funding going into the system, we'll want to make sure that that is actually reaching the right end points, if you like. We have obviously, over the last two years, increased the funding available to local councils quite significantly, but the pressures are very real on their budgets, as they are both on ours and on school budgets as well. But to give the Member reassurance, the point that she raises, about how the money gets to the front line, is one that I very much have in mind and I will be working with local authorities in relation to that.
Wel, bydd yr Aelod yn deall bod y berthynas rhwng yr ysgol a'r ffrwd gyllido yn un sydd yn nwylo'r awdurdod lleol, nid Llywodraeth Cymru. Rwyf wedi amlinellu'r cyllid a roddir gennym ni tuag at y system. Ond mae hi'n gwneud pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â sut mae cyllid yn cyrraedd y rheng flaen, a gyda'r lefelau sylweddol o gyllid sy'n mynd i mewn i'r system, rwy'n credu y byddwn am sicrhau bod hwnnw'n cyrraedd y mannau terfynol cywir, os mynnwch. Yn amlwg, dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, rydym wedi cynyddu'r cyllid sydd ar gael i gynghorau lleol yn eithaf sylweddol, ond mae'r pwysau yn real iawn ar eu cyllidebau, fel y maent ar ein cyllidebau ni ac ar gyllidebau ysgolion hefyd. Ond i roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod, mae'r pwynt y mae'n ei godi, ynglŷn â sut mae'r arian yn cyrraedd y rheng flaen, yn un rwy'n ei gadw mewn cof a byddaf yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol mewn perthynas â hynny.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Eitem 3 yw'r cwestiynau amserol, ac mae'r cwestiwn amserol cyntaf gan Cefin Campbell.
Item 3 is the topical questions, and the first topical question is from Cefin Campbell.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y cyhoeddiad bydd y gwasanaeth Fflecsi Bwcabus yn dod i ben, ac effaith hyn ar gymunedau Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? TQ851
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement that the Fflecsi Bwcabus service will be coming to an end, and the impact of this on the communities of Mid and West Wales? TQ851
Yes, thank you. I was very sorry to hear that the Bwcabus service will be coming to an end. Despite promises that Wales would be not worse off after Brexit, the UK Government has failed to replace funding for rural transport schemes previously supported by the EU. We're therefore unable to continue supporting Bwcabus, but we are working with Transport for Wales and the local authorities to explore alternative options.
Gwnaf, diolch. Roedd yn ddrwg iawn gennyf glywed y bydd gwasanaeth Bwcabus yn dod i ben. Er gwaethaf addewidion na fyddai Cymru'n waeth ei byd ar ôl Brexit, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi methu rhoi cyllid newydd ar gyfer cynlluniau trafnidiaeth gwledig a gâi eu cefnogi'n flaenorol gan yr UE. Felly, ni allwn barhau i gefnogi Bwcabus, ond rydym yn gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru a'r awdurdodau lleol ar archwilio opsiynau amgen.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n falch i glywed bod ystyriaethau yn cael eu rhoi i barhad y gwasanaeth, achos mae nifer fawr o gymunedau ledled Ceredigion, sir Gâr a sir Benfro wedi'u syfrdanu gan y cyhoeddiad bod cyllid y Llywodraeth ar gyfer y Bwcabus yn dod i ben, a bod y gwasanaeth yn gorffen ym mis Hydref. Ers blynyddoedd, mae’r gwasanaeth unigryw hwn wedi bod yn adnodd amhrisiadwy i gymaint o drigolion ar draws y gorllewin. A dweud y gwir, mae’r gwasanaeth yn fwy na bws yn unig; mewn sawl achos, dyma'r unig ffordd mae pobl yn gallu cyrraedd apwyntiadau meddygol, mynd i siopa a chymdeithasu. Fe glywes i un wraig ar Radio Cymru neithiwr yn sôn am effaith y golled yma arni hi, achos mae'n dibynnu'n llwyr ar y bws yma i fynd â hi i weld y meddyg bob wythnos. Felly, mae'r effaith yn syfrdanol ar rai unigolion.
Rwy’n gwybod hefyd fod y penderfyniad wedi dod fel tipyn o sioc i awdurdodau lleol, er i Lywodraeth Cymru fuddsoddi mewn llu o fysiau newydd ar gyfer y gwasanaeth hwn mor ddiweddar â mis Gorffennaf eleni. Ond eironi pethau yw ein bod ni'n clywed y Llywodraeth yn sôn dro ar ôl tro am bwysigrwydd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i gysylltu cymunedau â’i gilydd ac effaith bositif hynny ar yr amgylchedd. Ond beth sydd yn digwydd yw bod y gwasanaethau hanfodol hyn yn cael eu torri, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Felly, a gaf i erfyn arnoch chi i weithio'n galed iawn i sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth yma yn cael ei ailsefydlu, a rhoi sicrwydd hirdymor i'r cynllun pwysig hwn?
Thank you very much. I'm pleased to hear that consideration is being given to the continuation of the service, because a number of communities across Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire have been shocked by the announcement that Government funding for the Bwcabus service is coming to an end, and that the service itself will be terminated at the end of October. For years, this unique service has been a priceless resource for so many residents across west Wales. Truth be told, the service is more than a bus; in several cases, this is the only way that people can reach medical appointments, go to the shops and socialise. I heard one woman speaking on Radio Cymru last night about the impact of this loss on her, because she is entirely dependent on this bus to take her to see the doctor every week. So, the impact is massive on some individuals.
I know too that the decision has come as a bit of a shock to local authorities, despite the fact that the Welsh Government invested in a fleet of new buses for this service as recently as July of this year. But the irony is that we hear the Government speaking time and time again about the importance of public transport to connect communities and the positive impact that that then has on the environment. But what happens is that these vital services are being cut, especially in rural areas. So, may I urge you to work hard to ensure that this service is re-established, and to provide long-term assurance for this very important scheme?
Thank you for that, and the Member is right to note the irony, because this is going in the opposite direction of where our policy wants us to go. We do not want this to happen, just to be very clear. Bwcabus has been a really important project and it has, in fact, inspired the Fflecsi service that we are rolling out across Wales. So, Bwcabus was the original concept that Professor Stuart Cole and others had developed, and I've been a supporter of it. It was primarily European funded—the Welsh Government was only a minority funder—and like so many other schemes that we in Wales have come to rely upon, the money just simply isn't there to keep all those other schemes going that were funded by the EU.
Now, we were told at the time of Brexit that Wales would not be a penny worse off by withdrawing, and we know, in fact, that we've lost over £1 billion of funding and that simply is not there to be replaced. Now, I hear groans from the Conservative benches and I know they don't want, as a matter of faith, to hear anything negative about Brexit, but here is a practical example of a much valued, cherished local service that was reliant on European funding that is not able to be sustained because that funding has been taken away. Because the other double-whammy we're facing also from their Government is the impact of austerity where our budgets are being squeezed, and we simply aren't able to provide everything we've been providing.
We've worked very hard with the bus industry and with local authorities over the summer to try and safeguard as many services as possible, and I'm pleased to say that, for example, funding for the Cardi Bach in Ceredigion will continue as part of the Transport for Wales T5 procurement. And we will work closely with community transport and with local authorities to see if there are elements of this scheme that can be salvaged. It did have light usage but it was, as he said, a lifeline for those who did use it, and I regret very much that it's come to an end.
Diolch am hynny, ac mae'r Aelod yn iawn i nodi'r eironi, oherwydd mae hyn yn mynd i gyfeiriad gwahanol i ble mae ein polisi am inni fynd. I fod yn glir iawn, nid ydym eisiau i hyn ddigwydd. Mae Bwcabus wedi bod yn brosiect pwysig iawn ac mewn gwirionedd, mae wedi ysbrydoli'r gwasanaeth Fflecsi rydym yn ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru. Felly, Bwcabus oedd y cysyniad gwreiddiol a ddatblygwyd gan yr Athro Stuart Cole ac eraill, ac rwyf wedi ei gefnogi. Fe'i hariannwyd gan Ewrop yn bennaf—ychydig bach o gyllid yn unig a gâi ei gyfrannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru—ac fel cymaint o gynlluniau eraill rydym ni yng Nghymru wedi dod i ddibynnu arnynt, nid yw'r arian yno i barhau â'r holl gynlluniau eraill a arferai gael eu hariannu gan yr UE.
Nawr, dywedwyd wrthym ar adeg Brexit na fyddai Cymru geiniog yn waeth ei byd drwy adael, ac rydym yn gwybod, mewn gwirionedd, ein bod wedi colli dros £1 biliwn o gyllid ac nad oes arian yno yn ei le. Nawr, rwy'n clywed griddfan oddi ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr ac rwy'n gwybod nad ydynt, fel mater o ffydd, eisiau clywed unrhyw beth negyddol am Brexit, ond dyma enghraifft ymarferol o wasanaeth lleol gwerthfawr ac annwyl iawn a oedd yn dibynnu ar gyllid Ewropeaidd na ellir ei gynnal oherwydd bod y cyllid hwnnw wedi'i golli. Oherwydd yr ergyd arall rydym yn ei hwynebu hefyd gan eu Llywodraeth yw effaith cyni lle mae ein cyllidebau'n cael eu gwasgu, ac ni allwn ddarparu popeth y buom yn ei ddarparu.
Rydym wedi gweithio'n galed iawn gyda'r diwydiant bysiau a gydag awdurdodau lleol dros yr haf i geisio diogelu cymaint o wasanaethau â phosibl, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud, er enghraifft, y bydd cyllid ar gyfer y Cardi Bach yng Ngheredigion yn parhau fel rhan o waith caffael T5 Trafnidiaeth Cymru. A byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda thrafnidiaeth gymunedol a gydag awdurdodau lleol i weld a oes elfennau o'r cynllun hwn y gellir eu hachub. Ychydig o ddefnydd a wnaed ohono, ond fel y dywedodd, roedd yn achubiaeth i'r rhai a oedd yn ei ddefnyddio, ac rwy'n gresynu'n fawr ei fod wedi dod i ben.
I agree and concur with Cefin Campbell, and only last night I was contacted by a constituent, Mr Davies, regarding the end of the Fflecsi Bwcabus service. Now, Mr Davies regularly offers lifts to the shops for his neighbours who may be in need of help, and I'm sure we can all agree that this is an incredibly kind gesture towards his community. However, as Mr Davies rightfully pointed out, this is something that isn’t available to many of my residents across South Pembrokeshire and West Carmarthenshire. Now, the termination of the Fflecsi Bwcabus service with roughly just a month’s notice for residents will further damage the accessibility to already infrequent transport links and access to necessary shops and amenities whilst further harming those already suffering rural isolation, and, as Mr Davies says, the service is for the most vulnerable members of our Pembrokeshire community, both young and elderly. So, given that the Welsh Government has known for some time that rural development programme funding was due to end, why is the Fflecsi Bwcabus service being terminated with only a month’s notice? And to paraphrase the greater Manchester Labour mayor, why is it always that the rural communities miss out and Cardiff gets everything it wants?
Rwy'n cytuno â Cefin Campbell, neithiwr ddiwethaf cysylltodd etholwr, Mr Davies, â mi ynglŷn â diwedd gwasanaeth Fflecsi Bwcabus. Nawr, mae Mr Davies yn cynnig lifft i'r siopau yn rheolaidd i'w gymdogion a allai fod angen help, ac rwy'n siŵr y gallwn i gyd gytuno bod hon yn weithred hynod garedig i'w gymuned. Fodd bynnag, fel y nododd Mr Davies yn gywir, mae hyn yn rhywbeth nad yw ar gael i lawer o fy nhrigolion ar draws De Sir Benfro a Gorllewin Sir Gaerfyrddin. Nawr, bydd dod â gwasanaeth Fflecsi Bwcabus i ben gyda thua mis o rybudd i drigolion yn gwaethygu'r niwed i hygyrchedd cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth sydd eisoes yn anfynych a mynediad at siopau ac amwynderau angenrheidiol, gan wneud niwed pellach i bobl sydd eisoes yn dioddef ynysu cefn gwlad, ac fel y dywed Mr Davies, mae'r gwasanaeth ar gyfer aelodau mwyaf bregus ein cymuned yn sir Benfro, yn hen ac ifanc. Felly, o ystyried bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwybod ers peth amser fod cyllid rhaglenni datblygu gwledig yn dod i ben, pam fod gwasanaeth Fflecsi Bwcabus yn dod i ben gyda dim ond mis o rybudd? Ac i aralleirio maer Llafur Manceinion Fwyaf, pam fod y cymunedau gwledig ar eu colled bob amser a Chaerdydd yn cael popeth y mae ei eisiau?
Well, the service was run by the local authorities, not by the Welsh Government, and they have been clear for some time that they had no resources to keep it going. The resources from the European Union have come to an end as a result of Brexit, and that is a direct consequence of that. Those who advocated for Brexit and made promises to Wales that the money would not be lost to Wales need to explain why that money hasn't been replaced, because there's a £1 billion shortfall. I'm afraid Samuel Kurtz is giving a running commentary—I can't quite hear what he's saying. I know he's not content, but I can't hear what he's saying, I'm sorry.
But the fact remains that this is not what we want to see happening. This is going in the opposite direction of the policy we want to see pursued, but without the money we simply cannot run services that we cannot fund. I think that is a crying shame. We are doing a lot of work on rural transport and how the rural areas can contribute to the modal shift targets we have, but we can't run services without funding, and that, I'm afraid, is the tension that we face.
So, I share everything that has been said about the regret that this service will no longer continue. I need no persuading of its merits. All I need is cash to keep it going, and in the presence of broken Brexit promises I'm afraid I don't have any.
Wel, roedd y gwasanaeth yn cael ei redeg gan yr awdurdodau lleol, nid gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac maent wedi bod yn glir ers peth amser nad oedd ganddynt unrhyw adnoddau i'w barhau. Mae'r adnoddau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd wedi dod i ben o ganlyniad i Brexit, a dyma ganlyniad uniongyrchol i hynny. Mae angen i'r rhai a ddadleuodd dros Brexit ac a wnaeth addewidion i Gymru na fyddai'r arian yn cael ei golli yng Nghymru egluro pam na chafwyd arian yn lle'r arian hwnnw, oherwydd mae yna ddiffyg o £1 biliwn. Rwy'n ofni bod Samuel Kurtz yn rhoi sylwebaeth ar y pryd—nid wyf yn clywed yn iawn yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud. Rwy'n gwybod nad yw'n fodlon, ond ni allaf glywed yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud, mae'n ddrwg gennyf.
Ond mae'r ffaith yn aros nad ydym yn awyddus i weld hyn yn digwydd. Mae hyn yn mynd i gyfeiriad cwbl groes i'r polisi rydym am ei weld ar waith, ond heb yr arian ni allwn weithredu gwasanaethau na allwn eu hariannu. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n siom enfawr. Rydym yn gwneud llawer o waith ar drafnidiaeth wledig ac ar sut y gall yr ardaloedd gwledig gyfrannu at y targedau sydd gennym o ran newid dulliau teithio, ond ni allwn weithredu gwasanaethau heb gyllid, a hynny, rwy'n ofni, yw'r tensiwn sy'n ein hwynebu.
Felly, rwy'n rhannu popeth a ddywedwyd am y gofid na fydd y gwasanaeth hwn yn parhau mwyach. Nid oes angen fy mherswadio ynglŷn â pha mor werthfawr ydyw. Y cyfan sydd ei angen arnaf yw arian i'w barhau, ac yn sgil torri addewidion Brexit, rwy'n ofni nad yw'r arian hwnnw gennyf.
Minister, I have an idea for cash to keep it going, which I’ve raised with you before, which is that I understand you’re going to be saving money on not building new roads, which I totally support, and I think, in response to a question in the Siambr, you did say to me that there would be a lag, there would be a run-in, in order for the money to come in from the savings from road building. But I just wonder if there’s any idea from you whether we can start looking at any urgent funding from not building those new roads to go over to Bwcabus so that they can keep going, so that they don’t lose that custom. Because you do know that, as soon as something is lost, like a bus service, it’s really hard to get it back. So, I really would urge you to see if there’s anything that we can find in order to keep Bwcabus going. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Weinidog, mae gennyf syniad am arian i'w barhau, syniad a grybwyllais wrthych o'r blaen. Rwy'n deall eich bod yn mynd i fod yn arbed arian yn sgil peidio ag adeiladu ffyrdd newydd, ac rwy'n cefnogi hynny'n llwyr, ac mewn ymateb i gwestiwn yn y Siambr, rwy'n credu eich bod wedi dweud wrthyf y byddai oedi, y byddai cyfnod o aros i'r arian ymddangos wedi'r arbedion ar adeiladu ffyrdd. Ond tybed a oes unrhyw syniad gennych a allwn ddechrau edrych ar unrhyw gyllid brys yn sgil peidio ag adeiladu'r ffyrdd newydd hynny i'w roi i Bwcabus er mwyn iddynt allu dal ati, fel nad ydynt yn colli cwsmeriaid. Oherwydd fe wyddoch, cyn gynted ag y bydd rhywbeth yn cael ei golli, fel gwasanaeth bws, mae'n anodd iawn ei gael yn ôl. Felly, hoffwn eich annog i weld a oes unrhyw beth y gallwn ddod o hyd iddo er mwyn cadw Bwcabus i fynd. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, obviously I understand the sentiment and support it, because that's the intent behind the policy in the medium term, as you know. But this is a funding decision for this financial year, and in this financial year we are still building roads, despite the Conservatives trying to tell everyone we've banned road building. If that was the case I'd have a lot more money in my budget. We haven't banned road building, we are building roads, and we'll continue building roads. So, there isn't money in this financial year, nor, in fact, would it be much help, because that would be capital funding, and buses require revenue funding. It sounds like a nerdy accounting point, but it really does shape the choices that we have to make.
What we need to do, clearly, to meet our climate targets is to shift more people onto public transport. That is more difficult to do in rural areas, but it's absolutely doable. We are working on a paper that we're going to publish shortly looking at examples from rural Sweden and rural Switzerland and rural Germany where they do have a bus every hour for every village. So, it's perfectly possible to do if the funding is made available. In their case, many of them use local taxes on businesses to pay for those services.
So, I do think we need a mature debate across the Chamber to look at how we can sustain these vital public services, but, as I say again, if there was a way for me to keep this going, I would have fought very hard to find it. We are facing extreme financial pressures this financial year. The First Minister has already announced we have to find £900 million of savings. It's particularly difficult for revenue funding, which is what the Bwcabus scheme relied upon. But the really big issue here—and this is something the Conservatives are now all staring at their screens at—is that this is a failure by the UK Government to follow through on their promises to replace any EU funding lost to Wales as a result of Brexit. They said we wouldn't be £1 worse off; we are in fact £1 billion worse off, and this is what it looks like. This is what it looks like—bus services in rural Pembrokeshire, in rural Carmarthenshire, in rural Ceredigion, cut because of broken promises.
Wel, yn amlwg, rwy'n deall y teimlad ac yn ei gefnogi, oherwydd dyna'r bwriad y tu ôl i'r polisi yn y tymor canolig, fel y gwyddoch. Ond penderfyniad cyllid ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon yw hwn, ac yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, rydym yn dal i adeiladu ffyrdd, er bod y Ceidwadwyr yn ceisio dweud wrth bawb ein bod wedi gwahardd adeiladu ffyrdd. Pe bai hynny'n wir, byddai gennyf lawer mwy o arian yn fy nghyllideb. Nid ydym wedi gwahardd adeiladu ffyrdd, rydym yn adeiladu ffyrdd, a byddwn yn parhau i adeiladu ffyrdd. Felly, nid oes arian yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, ac ni fyddai'n llawer o help mewn gwirionedd, gan mai cyllid cyfalaf fyddai hwnnw, ac mae angen cyllid refeniw ar fysiau. Mae'n swnio fel pwynt cyfrifyddu technegol, ond mae'n siapio'r dewisiadau sydd gennym i'w gwneud.
Yr hyn sydd angen i ni ei wneud, yn amlwg, i gyrraedd ein targedau hinsawdd yw symud mwy o bobl i drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae hynny'n anoddach i'w wneud mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ond mae'n gwbl bosibl. Rydym yn gweithio ar bapur a gyhoeddir gennym cyn bo hir yn edrych ar enghreifftiau o gefn gwlad Sweden, y Swistir a'r Almaen lle mae ganddynt fws bob awr ar gyfer pob pentref. Felly, mae'n berffaith bosibl gwneud hyn os yw'r cyllid ar gael. Yn eu hachos nhw, mae llawer ohonynt yn defnyddio trethi lleol i fusnesau i dalu am y gwasanaethau hynny.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod angen dadl aeddfed ar draws y Siambr i edrych ar sut y gallwn gynnal y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol hyn, ond fel y dywedaf eto, pe bai modd imi barhau hyn, byddwn wedi brwydro'n galed iawn i ddod o hyd iddo. Rydym yn wynebu pwysau ariannol sylweddol yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae'r Prif Weinidog eisoes wedi cyhoeddi bod yn rhaid inni ddod o hyd i £900 miliwn o arbedion. Mae'n arbennig o anodd ar gyfer cyllid refeniw, sef yr hyn roedd cynllun Bwcabus yn dibynnu arno. Ond y broblem wirioneddol fawr yma—ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'r Ceidwadwyr i gyd yn syllu arno ar eu sgriniau nawr—yw mai methiant yw hyn ar ran Llywodraeth y DU i wireddu eu haddewidion i roi arian yn lle cyllid yr UE a gollwyd yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i Brexit. Fe wnaethant ddweud na fyddem £1 yn waeth ein byd; rydym £1 biliwn yn waeth ein byd mewn gwirionedd a dyma sut mae hynny'n edrych. Dyma sut mae hynny'n edrych—gwasanaethau bysiau yng nghefn gwlad sir Benfro, yng nghefn gwlad sir Gaerfyrddin, yng nghefn gwlad Ceredigion, yn cael eu torri oherwydd addewidion sydd wedi'u torri.
Deputy Minister, it is extremely disappointing to hear the announcement that the Bwcabus service will come to an end, as it has been a lifeline to so many residents in the more rural parts of my constituency. Now, I appreciate that you have said that the Welsh Government is working on a rural pathway to explore potential solutions with local authorities and communities. Perhaps you could tell us a little bit more about that work, and what discussions have taken place with Pembrokeshire County Council and local stakeholders about building a public transport network in west Wales that works for those communities.
I know that the Welsh Government has announced a bus Bill to consider how bus services are provided in the future. Now, the First Minister himself said that this Bill will put people before profit. So, perhaps you could tell us about how the closure of the Bwcabus service will affect that Bill. You mentioned Professor Stuart Cole, and he has made it clear that the Bwcabus service was the cheapest way of running a rural bus service. So, in light of his comments, perhaps you could indicate how the Welsh Government intends to deliver services more efficiently in west Wales in the future.
Finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, I understand that there are financial challenges that all Governments have to face. That's why the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee has published a comprehensive report on post-EU funding. Now, the committee report does quote Professor Steve Fothergill from Sheffield Hallam University, and he says in evidence to the committee that both Governments are right when it comes to funding, because both Governments are measuring different things. That's what Professor Fothergill told this Senedd committee, and I would urge the Deputy Minister to read our report. One of the recommendations in the committee report was to ensure that there is more of a regional approach to delivering funding, so that it can better address issues like this in the future. I hope that, in the future, we see a much more co-ordinated regional approach to post-EU funding, and I hope, Deputy Minister, that you'll support this committee recommendation, and all of the recommendations in our report.
Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae'n hynod siomedig clywed y cyhoeddiad y bydd gwasanaeth Bwcabus yn dod i ben, gan ei fod wedi bod yn achubiaeth i nifer o drigolion yn rhannau mwy gwledig fy etholaeth. Nawr, rwy'n deall eich bod wedi dweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio ar lwybr gwledig i archwilio atebion posibl gydag awdurdodau lleol a chymunedau. Efallai y gallech ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym am y gwaith hwnnw, a pha drafodaethau sydd wedi digwydd gyda Chyngor Sir Penfro a rhanddeiliaid lleol ynghylch adeiladu rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng ngorllewin Cymru sy'n gweithio i'r cymunedau hynny.
Gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi Bil bysiau i ystyried sut y darperir gwasanaethau bysiau yn y dyfodol. Nawr, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog ei hun y bydd y Bil hwn yn rhoi pobl o flaen elw. Felly, efallai y gallech ddweud wrthym sut y bydd cau gwasanaeth Bwcabus yn effeithio ar y Bil hwnnw. Fe sonioch chi am yr Athro Stuart Cole, ac mae ef wedi dweud yn glir mai gwasanaeth Bwcabus oedd y ffordd rataf o weithredu gwasanaeth bws gwledig. Felly, yn sgil ei sylwadau, efallai y gallech nodi sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu darparu gwasanaethau'n fwy effeithlon yng ngorllewin Cymru yn y dyfodol.
Yn olaf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n deall bod heriau ariannol y mae'n rhaid i bob Llywodraeth eu hwynebu. Dyna pam fod Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig wedi cyhoeddi adroddiad cynhwysfawr ar gyllid ôl-UE. Nawr, mae adroddiad y pwyllgor yn dyfynnu'r Athro Steve Fothergill o Brifysgol Sheffield Hallam, ac mae'n dweud mewn tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor fod y ddwy Lywodraeth yn gywir o safbwynt cyllid, oherwydd mae'r ddwy Lywodraeth yn mesur gwahanol bethau. Dyna a ddywedodd yr Athro Fothergill wrth bwyllgor y Senedd hon, a hoffwn annog y Dirprwy Weinidog i ddarllen ein hadroddiad. Un o'r argymhellion yn adroddiad y pwyllgor oedd sicrhau bod yna ddull mwy rhanbarthol o ddarparu cyllid, fel y gall fynd i'r afael â materion fel hyn yn well yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n gobeithio, yn y dyfodol, y gwelwn ddull rhanbarthol llawer mwy cydgysylltiedig ar gyfer cyllid ôl-UE, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch yn cefnogi'r argymhelliad hwn gan y pwyllgor, Ddirprwy Weinidog, a'r holl argymhellion yn ein hadroddiad.
While I have a great deal of respect for Professor Fothergill and his work, the fact remains that this is a revenue-funded scheme by the EU that hasn't been replaced, and the funding has come to an end. Now, my understanding is that the services were lightly used; in some cases, one passenger a day was using the services, and, obviously, in a rural area, it is going to be more difficult to have that critical mass of passengers. That's why we are doing the work, with a range of experts, to look at options for rural transport. Because I don't accept that modal shift is an urban agenda; it has to work in rural areas too, but will require a different suite of policies. But they will require funding.
Now, clearly, we're in a very short-term—. Well, we hope it's short term, but we're certainly in a funding crisis at the moment, and, as a result of the mismanagement of the economy, we're unlikely to see that change in the next few years. So, 'How do we bridge these services?', as Jane Dodds posed to the Senedd, is a really difficult question, and we're are working with Pembrokeshire County Council and the other local authorities to look at practical options. As I say, we are discussing with community transport as well, to see whether or not there are things that can be done.
On your questions in terms of the regional transport planning approach and the bus Bill, well, the reason that we're doing the work, the visioning document that Paul Davies referred to—which I did report on to the Senedd in a written statement earlier in the summer—is to inform the regional transport plans that will come out of the corporate joint committees with examples of things that can work in rural settings. That is absolutely what we want to see, but the funding situation remains a very, very challenging one, and I'm deeply sorry that the people who have come to rely on Bwcabus will not have that bus service in the future.
Once we have franchising, the whole point of that is that we take a strategic view. So, we map out where we need bus services to run, and the frequency of them, and build that into the franchising. So, across the whole franchise area, services can be cross-subsidised. So, a profitable service in a town can be used to prop up a loss-making service in a rural area. That's not currently allowed under the privatisation of the bus industry that we're still living with. That's why our reform is so important. It'll change the wiring of the system. It'll improve it. But it's only as good as the funding.
Er bod gennyf barch mawr tuag at yr Athro Fothergill a'i waith, y gwir amdani yw bod hwn yn gynllun a ariennir gan refeniw'r UE na chafwyd arian yn ei le, ac mae'r cyllid wedi dod i ben. Nawr, fy nealltwriaeth i yw mai ychydig o ddefnydd a wneid o'r gwasanaethau; mewn rhai achosion, roedd un teithiwr y dydd yn defnyddio'r gwasanaethau, ac yn amlwg, mewn ardal wledig, mae'n mynd i fod yn anos cael màs critigol o deithwyr. Dyna pam ein bod yn gwneud y gwaith, gydag ystod o arbenigwyr, i edrych ar opsiynau ar gyfer trafnidiaeth wledig. Oherwydd nid wyf yn derbyn bod newid dulliau teithio yn agenda drefol; mae'n rhaid iddo weithio mewn ardaloedd gwledig hefyd, ond bydd angen cyfres wahanol o bolisïau. A bydd angen arian i'w gwneud.
Nawr, yn amlwg, mae'n argyfwng ariannol tymor byr iawn—. Wel, rydym yn gobeithio y bydd yn dymor byr, ond rydym yn sicr mewn argyfwng cyllid ar hyn o bryd, ac o ganlyniad i gamreoli'r economi, rydym yn annhebygol o weld y newid hwnnw yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf. Felly, mae 'Sut rydym yn pontio'r gwasanaethau hyn?', fel y gofynnodd Jane Dodds i'r Senedd, yn gwestiwn anodd iawn, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda Chyngor Sir Penfro a'r awdurdodau lleol eraill i edrych ar opsiynau ymarferol. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn trafod gyda thrafnidiaeth gymunedol hefyd, i weld a oes pethau y gellir eu gwneud ai peidio.
Ar eich cwestiynau ynghylch dull cynllunio trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol a'r Bil bysiau, wel, y rheswm pam ein bod yn gwneud y gwaith, y ddogfen weledigaeth y cyfeiriodd Paul Davies ati—yr adroddais innau arni i'r Senedd mewn datganiad ysgrifenedig yn gynharach yn yr haf—yw er mwyn llywio'r cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol a fydd yn deillio o'r cyd-bwyllgorau corfforaethol gydag enghreifftiau o bethau a all weithio mewn lleoliadau gwledig. Dyna'n union rydym am ei weld, ond mae'r sefyllfa ariannu yn parhau i fod yn un heriol tu hwnt, ac mae'n ddrwg calon gennyf na fydd Bwcabus ar gael i'r bobl sydd wedi dod i ddibynnu ar y gwasanaeth bws hwnnw yn y dyfodol.
Pan gawn fasnachfreinio, holl bwynt hynny yw ein bod yn mabwysiadu safbwynt strategol. Felly, rydym yn mapio lle rydym angen i wasanaethau bws weithredu, a'u hamlder, ac ymgorffori hynny yn y gwaith ar fasnachfreinio. Felly, ar draws holl faes masnachfreinio, gellir rhoi croes-gymhorthdal i wasanaethau. Felly, gellir defnyddio gwasanaeth proffidiol mewn tref i gynnal gwasanaeth sy'n gwneud colled mewn ardal wledig. Ni chaniateir hynny ar hyn o bryd yn sgil preifateiddio'r diwydiant bysiau, rhywbeth yr ydym yn dal i fyw gyda'i effaith. Dyna pam mae ein diwygiad mor bwysig. Bydd yn newid y ffordd y mae'r system yn gweithredu. Fe fydd yn ei gwella. Ond ni fydd hynny ond cystal â'r cyllid sydd ar gael i'w wneud.
I have three more speakers. Until now, all Members have been from Mid and West Wales. I note that the three others are not from Mid and West Wales, so please ensure that your questions are focused on Bwcabus and the impact upon residents in Mid and West Wales. Delyth Jewell.
Mae gennyf dri siaradwr arall. Hyd yn hyn, mae'r holl Aelodau wedi bod o Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru. Nodaf nad yw'r tri arall yn dod o Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, felly, gwnewch yn siŵr fod eich cwestiynau'n canolbwyntio ar Bwcabus a'r effaith ar drigolion Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru. Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Dwi hefyd yn rhannu'r pryder y mae Cefin Campbell wedi sôn amdano o ran y sefyllfa yn y gorllewin. Mae'n dorcalonnus clywed am yr effaith y bydd hyn yn ei chael ar unigolion o ran mynd i apwyntiadau meddygol, fel dŷn ni wedi'i glywed, siopa ac ati. Nawr, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi sôn yn barod am fel mae'r cynllun bws Fflecsi Bwcabus yn cael ei hyrwyddo fel rhan o ddarpariaeth bws Fflecsi gan Drafnidiaeth Cymru, a dwi'n cymryd i mewn i ystyriaeth beth mae'r Dirprwy Lywydd newydd ei ddweud, ond mae'r cynllun yna hefyd yn gwasanaethu ardaloedd ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys Dyffryn Conwy, Rhondda ac ardaloedd o Flaenau Gwent yn fy rhanbarth i. Buaswn i'n gofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog, yn sgil y cyhoeddiad yma, a oes modd cael eglurder a fydd y cyhoeddiad penodol hwn am y gorllewin yn cael unrhyw effaith ar y ddarpariaeth bysiau eraill hyn, sydd yn rhan o'r cynllun Fflecsi. Ac os ddim, pam taw cymunedau'r gorllewin sy'n cael eu heffeithio'n unig?
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I also share the concern set out by Cefin Campbell around the situation in west Wales. It's heartbreaking to hear about the impact that this will have on individuals going to medical appointments and going shopping and so on and so forth. The Deputy Minister has already mentioned how the Fflecsi Bwcabus service is provided as part of the Fflecsi bus service by Transport for Wales, and I take into account what the Dirprwy Lywydd has just said, but that Fflecsi service also serves areas across Wales, including Conwy, Rhondda and areas of Blaenau Gwent in my region. I would ask the Deputy Minister, in light of this announcement, whether we could have clarity as to whether this specific announcement about the west of Wales will have any impact on the provision of these other bus services, which are part of the Fflecsi scheme. And if not, why is it communities in the west of Wales only that are impacted?
Well, as I've explained, this particular service was funded by EU funding from the beginning, and there was a small contribution from the Welsh Government. Now that funding has fallen away, because we're also facing a real challenge with overall bus funding, it simply hasn't been possible to find such a large amount of money for a service that carried very few passengers. So, there was no money to extend it, but, even had there been money, the case was not a straightforward one.
So, the Fflecsi service more broadly we are still piloting and testing in different settings. That also is very challenging to fund, and we know that we face revenue shortfalls this financial year and next financial year, so I can't give any firm guarantees about its future for the rest of Wales. We will fight as hard as we can to safeguard as much of the funding as we can, because it's a scheme that we've created and we strongly believe in it and it has good outcomes. But I'm afraid the reality of austerity and the impact of Brexit are really coming together now and having a real impact on rural communities.
Wel, fel yr eglurais, ariannwyd y gwasanaeth penodol hwn gan gyllid yr UE o'r dechrau, ac roedd cyfraniad bach gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Nawr fod y cyllid hwnnw wedi diflannu, oherwydd ein bod hefyd yn wynebu her wirioneddol gyda chyllid bysiau yn gyffredinol, ni fu'n bosibl dod o hyd i swm mor fawr o arian ar gyfer gwasanaeth a oedd yn cludo ychydig iawn o deithwyr. Felly, nid oedd arian i'w ymestyn, ond hyd yn oed pe bai arian wedi bod yno, nid oedd yr achos yn un syml.
Felly, rydym yn parhau i dreialu a phrofi'r gwasanaeth Fflecsi yn fwy eang mewn gwahanol leoliadau. Mae hynny hefyd yn heriol iawn i'w ariannu, a gwyddom ein bod yn wynebu llai o refeniw yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon a'r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, felly ni allaf roi unrhyw sicrwydd pendant am ei ddyfodol ar gyfer gweddill Cymru. Byddwn yn brwydro mor galed ag y gallwn i ddiogelu cymaint o'r cyllid ag y gallwn, oherwydd mae'n gynllun rydym ni wedi'i greu ac rydym yn credu'n gryf ynddo, ac mae ganddo ganlyniadau da. Ond mae arnaf ofn fod realiti cyni ac effaith Brexit yn dod at ei gilydd nawr ac yn cael effaith wirioneddol ar gymunedau gwledig.
Mi fydd pobl ar draws y rhanbarth ac ar draws Cymru eisiau gwybod beth mae hyn yn ei olygu ar gyfer gwasanaethau eraill. I bobl mewn rhannau eraill o’r rhanbarth a thu hwnt sydd yn gobeithio cyflwyno gwasanaethau Fflecsi newydd er mwyn gwneud i fyny am wasanaethau sydd wrthi’n cael eu colli ar hyn o bryd, beth ydy’r neges yn fan hyn? Oes yna gefnogaeth yn mynd i ddod gan Lywodraeth ar gyfer gwasanaethau wedi’u cyllido’n gyhoeddus, neu i fentrau cymdeithasol ac ati, er mwyn darparu’r mathau o gysylltiadau yna i mewn i brif routes bws, er enghraifft?
People across the region and across Wales will want to know what this means for other services. For people in other parts of the region and beyond who hope to introduce new Fflecsi services to make up for services that are currently being lost, what is the message here? Is there going to be support from Government for publicly funded services, or for social initiatives and enterprises and so on, to provide those sorts of links into the main bus routes, for example?
Well, Rhun ap Iorwerth, as a party leader party to the co-operation agreement has seen the books, so to speak; he knows the state of the public finances and the state of Welsh Government budgets. So, he knows that our choices are severely constrained. This is not something we want to be doing, to be very clear about that. I would like to see Bwcabus continue and I'd like to see an expansion of the Fflecsi service. And I hope, in the medium to longer term, if we get a change of Government and we get a changing economic picture, we are able to build on that. I think the key now is to keep as many of the services going as possible, to build into those regional transport plans for the medium term a structure and a system that allows these services to be flexed and for them to be grown and scaled, as the resources become available. But I'm afraid, in the very immediate short term, our options are extremely limited.
Wel, mae Rhun ap Iorwerth, fel arweinydd plaid sy'n rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio wedi gweld y llyfrau, fel petai; mae'n ymwybodol o gyflwr arian cyhoeddus a chyflwr cyllidebau Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, mae'n gwybod bod ein dewisiadau wedi'u cyfyngu'n ddifrifol. I fod yn glir iawn am hynny, nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth rydym yn awyddus i'w wneud. Hoffwn weld Bwcabus yn parhau a hoffwn weld y gwasanaeth Fflecsi yn ehangu. Ac yn y tymor canolig i'r tymor hwy, os cawn newid yn y Llywodraeth a'n bod yn cael darlun economaidd sy'n newid, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn adeiladu ar hynny. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n allweddol nawr yw cadw cymaint â phosibl o'r gwasanaethau i fynd, i ymgorffori strwythur a system yn y cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol tymor canolig sy'n caniatáu i'r gwasanaethau hyn i fod yn hyblyg a chael eu hymestyn a'u gwneud yn fwy wrth i'r adnoddau ddod ar gael. Ond mae arnaf ofn fod ein dewisiadau yn gyfyngedig iawn yn y tymor byr iawn.
Ac yn olaf, Jenny Rathbone.
And finally, Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you. As somebody who used to chair the European programme monitoring committee, I'm fully aware of the importance of this issue. Following the UK Government's raid on the regeneration fund and putting it into this shared prosperity fund, which forces local authorities to compete against each other rather than being able to have a holistic approach, and given that the fragility of bus services is something we've discussed, obviously, regularly in the last few months, I just wondered what insight you've got into whether these local authorities in Mid and West Wales have made any application in the latest round of bids for the shared prosperity fund for maintaining transport services that they must have been aware were fragile, given everything we've discussed up until now.
Diolch. Fel rhywun a arferai gadeirio pwyllgor monitro'r rhaglen Ewropeaidd, rwy'n gwbl ymwybodol o bwysigrwydd y mater hwn. Ar ôl i Lywodraeth y DU ysbeilio'r gronfa adfywio a rhoi'r arian yn y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, sy'n gorfodi awdurdodau lleol i gystadlu yn erbyn ei gilydd yn hytrach na gallu cael dull cyfannol, ac o gofio bod breuder gwasanaethau bysiau yn rhywbeth rydym wedi'i drafod yn rheolaidd yn ystod yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf, a ydych chi'n gwybod a yw'r awdurdodau lleol hyn yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru wedi gwneud unrhyw gais yn y rownd ddiweddaraf o geisiadau i'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin ar gyfer cynnal gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth y mae'n rhaid eu bod yn ymwybodol eu bod yn fregus, o ystyried popeth rydym wedi'i drafod hyd yn hyn.