Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
28/11/2023Cynnwys
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 Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn o'r Senedd. Yr eitem gyntaf ar yr agenda fydd y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Heledd Fychan.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Senedd Plenary meeting. The first item on the agenda will be questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Heledd Fychan.
1. Pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud i weithredu'r 29 argymhelliad a wnaed gan grŵp arbenigol Llywodraeth Cymru ar yr argyfwng costau byw? OQ60330
1. What progress has been made to implement the 29 recommendations made by the Welsh Government's expert group on the cost-of-living crisis? OQ60330
Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, diolch i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiwn. Dyma rai o’r meysydd lle mae cynnydd wedi cael ei wneud: tai a digartrefedd, sicrhau’r incwm gorau i bobl, a lleihau cost y diwrnod ysgol. Ond, gadewch i ni fod yn glir: does dim cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflawni pob un o’r 29 o argymhellion. Mae dewisiadau anodd yn cael eu gwneud, gyda chymorth adroddiad y grŵp arbenigol.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I thank Heledd Fychan for the question. Areas of recommendation where progress has been made include housing and homelessness, income maximisation, and reducing the cost of the school day. But let me be clear: the Welsh Government does not have the funds to fulfil all 29 recommendations. Hard choices are being made, informed by the expert group report.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Fis diwethaf, mi wnes i gynnal y diweddaraf o gyfarfodydd y rhwydwaith costau byw yn fy rhanbarth i, a rhannu'r 29 o argymhellion. Ac mi oedd y grwpiau sydd yn cefnogi pobl yn fy rhanbarth i yn gefnogol iawn i'r 29, ac eisiau gwybod pa rai oedd yn cael eu blaenoriaethu. Iawn, mi wnaethoch chi nodi'r sefyllfa ariannol heriol yn eich ymateb i ni, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn wybyddus i ni gyd. Ond fe fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol hefyd, o ran rhai o'r argymhellion wnaethoch chi ddim cyfeirio atyn nhw, nad oes yna gost yn gysylltiedig â nhw, megis argymhellion 4, 24 a 25 ynglŷn â chasglu a chyhoeddi data, argymhelliad 10 o ran blaenoriaethu teuluoedd incwm isel ar gyfer y rhaglen Bwyd a Hwyl, a rhan gyntaf argymhelliad 23, o ran cymryd rhan mewn marchnata mwy gweithredol ar gyfer MyTravelPass i bobl ifanc 16 i 24 mlwydd oed. Felly, a gaf ofyn a oes modd i'r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi ymateb i bob un o’r 29 pwynt, yn nodi a ydych chi'n eu derbyn nhw yn y lle cyntaf, a hefyd a ydych chi'n gweithredu arnyn nhw neu beidio, ac os nad ydych chi, pam, o ystyried y sefyllfa argyfyngus y mae cynifer o'n hetholwyr a'n teuluoedd yn parhau i wynebu'r gaeaf hwn?
Thank you, First Minister. Last month, I held the latest meeting of the cost-of-living network in my region, and I shared the 29 recommendations with them. And the groups supporting people in the region were very supportive, and wanted to know which of the recommendations were to be prioritised. You quite rightly noted the challenging financial situation in your response to me, which is known to us all. But you'll be aware that, for some of the recommendations you didn't refer to, there is no cost attached to them, such as recommendations 4, 24 and 25 regarding the collection and publication of data, recommendation 10 about prioritising low-income families for the Food and Fun programme, and the first part of recommendation 23 on participating in more active marketing for the MyTravelPass for young people aged between 16 and 24. So, can I ask you whether it would be possible for the Government to publish a response to each of the 29 points, setting out whether you accept them in the first instance, and also whether you are taking action on them or not, and if you're not, why, given the critical situation that so many of our constituents and families continue to face this winter?
Wel, diolch yn fawr i Heledd Fychan, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dwi wedi gweld dogfen gydag ymateb i bob un o'r argymhellion sydd wedi cael eu paratoi gan y Llywodraeth. Nawr, dwi ddim yn siŵr, a dweud y gwir, os yw hwnna wedi mynd yn syth at y grŵp arbenigol a ddim wedi cael ei gyhoeddi i bobl eraill, ond mae dogfen ar gael sy'n gwneud popeth roedd Heledd Fychan eisiau gweld. So, caf weld os yw hwnna'n barod i'w gyhoeddi i bob un arall.
A diolch am y gwaith rydych chi'n ei wneud gyda phobl leol. Mae hwnna yn bwysig i gael llais pobl sy'n gweithio wyneb yn wyneb gyda'r bobl sy'n dioddef o dlodi. Ac fel roedd yr Aelod yn dweud, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae nifer o'r argymhellion ddim yn dibynnu ar fwy o arian. Dyna pam rŷn ni'n gallu dweud, gyda'r pump argymhelliad cyntaf, ein bod ni wedi gwneud pedwar yn barod ac rŷn ni'n paratoi i ffeindio ffordd i wneud y pumed. So, mae nifer o bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud ac rŷn ni wedi symud ymlaen i'w gwneud nhw. Mae rhai argymhellion sy'n fwy heriol, fel mae adroddiad y grŵp arbenigol yn dweud.
Well, I thank Heledd Fychan, Dirprwy Lywydd. I have seen a document with a response to all of the recommendations that have been prepared by the Government. Now, I'm not sure, to tell you the truth, whether that's gone straight to the expert group and hasn't been published to others, but there is a document available that does everything that Heledd Fychan wants to see. So, I will see whether that's ready to be published for everyone.
And I thank you for the work that you do with local people. That is very important in terms of ensuring that people who work face-to-face with people who are suffering from poverty are heard. And, as the Member said, Dirprwy Lywydd, a number of the recommendations don't rely on more funding. That's why we can say that, with the five first recommendations, we have undertaken four of them already and we're preparing to find a way to do the fifth. So, there are a number of things that we can do and we've moved on to do those, and there are some recommendations that are more challenging, as the report by the expert group says.
At least you can trust the Tories to do what they always do. They use a financial statement to give more money to the rich and less to the poor. For every £100 the Chancellor spent on tax cuts last week, the top 2 per cent gained £46, and the bottom—the worst off—gained only £3. But what they also did, of course, was to funnel more money back into London and the south-east. London gained £316, the south-east of England £290, but Wales only £211. So much for levelling up, so much for the United Kingdom as a state able to redistribute funding from the richest to the poorest, from the—[Interruption.] Do you agree with me, First Minister, that what we need is a UK Government committed to the redistribution of wealth, where we tax in order to redistribute money to the poorest people, and to ensure that Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom that require the funding receive the funding?
Fe allwch chi ymddiried yn y Torïaid i wneud yr hyn y maen nhw bob amser yn ei wneud o leiaf. Maen nhw'n defnyddio datganiad ariannol i roi mwy o arian i'r cyfoethog a llai i'r tlawd. Am bob £100 a wariodd y Canghellor ar doriadau treth yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnaeth y 2 y cant uchaf ennill £46, ac enillodd y gwaelod—y rhai gwaethaf eu byd—£3 yn unig. Ond yr hyn a wnaethon nhw hefyd, wrth gwrs, oedd tywallt mwy o arian yn ôl i Lundain a de-ddwyrain Lloegr. Enillodd Llundain £316, de-ddwyrain Lloegr £290, ond Cymru dim ond £211. Wfft i ffyniant bro, wfft i'r Deyrnas Unedig fel gwladwriaeth sy'n gallu ailddosbarthu cyllid o'r cyfoethocaf i'r tlotaf, o'r—[Torri ar draws.] A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi, Prif Weinidog, mai'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom ni yw Llywodraeth y DU sydd wedi ymrwymo i ailddosbarthu cyfoeth, pryd yr ydym ni'n trethu er mwyn ailddosbarthu arian i'r bobl dlotaf, ac i sicrhau bod Cymru a rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig sydd angen y cyllid yn cael y cyllid?
Well, Llywydd, of course I agree with Alun Davies. Nothing that we heard in the autumn statement last week will help us with any of those recommendations in the report focused on looking at how we can best help those people at the sharpest end of the cost-of-living crisis. Instead, we're plunged back into the austerity policies that we were promised had been left behind. Here is Theresa May telling the Conservative Party conference in October 2018 that 'austerity is over'. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told The Mail on Sunday in July 2020, a pledge that the Tories would not go back to the austerity of 10 years ago. And yet, that is exactly what we heard on Wednesday of last week—a return to those austerity policies, where those who need the most get the least. As Alun Davies said, £3 out of every £100 in tax cuts going to the least well off, and £46 in every £100 going to the people at the top end of the income distribution. It tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of the UK Government, and why it is so challenging here in Wales to be able to do the things that we would want to do, with the advice of that fantastic expert group, to make a difference in the lives of those who need it the most.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno ag Alun Davies, wrth gwrs. Ni fydd unrhyw beth a glywsom ni yn natganiad yr hydref yr wythnos diwethaf yn ein helpu ni gydag unrhyw un o'r argymhellion hynny yn yr adroddiad sy'n canolbwyntio ar edrych ar y ffordd orau y gallwn ni helpu'r bobl hynny ar ben caletaf yr argyfwng costau byw. Yn hytrach, rydym ni'n cael ein plymio yn ôl i'r polisïau cyni cyllidol y cawsom addewid eu bod nhw wedi cael eu gadael ar ôl. Dyma Theresa May yn dweud wrth gynhadledd y Blaid Geidwadol ym mis Hydref 2018 bod 'cyni cyllidol ar ben'. Dywedodd Prif Weinidog y DU, Boris Johnson, wrth The Mail on Sunday ym mis Gorffennaf 2020, addewid na fyddai'r Torïaid yn dychwelyd i'r cyni cyllidol o 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Ac eto, dyna'n union a glywsom ni ddydd Mercher yr wythnos diwethaf—dychweliad i'r polisïau cyni cyllidol hynny, pryd y mae'r rhai sydd angen y mwyaf yn cael y lleiaf. Fel y dywedodd Alun Davies, £3 o bob £100 mewn toriadau treth yn mynd i'r lleiaf cefnog, a £46 o bob £100 yn mynd i'r bobl ar ben uchaf y dosbarthiad incwm. Mae'n dweud popeth yr ydych chi angen ei wybod am flaenoriaethau Llywodraeth y DU, a pham ei bod hi mor anodd yma yng Nghymru i allu gwneud y pethau y byddem ni eisiau eu gwneud, gyda chyngor y grŵp arbenigol gwych hwnnw, i wneud gwahaniaeth ym mywydau'r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf.
Well, to get back to the Welsh Government, in September, whilst responding to the statement by the Minister for Social Justice on the cost of living, I referred to several of the recommendations put forward in the report of the Wales expert group on the cost-of-living crisis, which included implementing the new Warm Homes programme with urgency. The Minister replied that the invitation to tender for the new Warm Homes programme demand-led scheme had recently been issued, and insisted that we're
'on track to move to contract award and begin mobilisation this year.'
Given that December is now around the corner and the coldest months are fast approaching, there's growing concern that the new programme will not be implemented until next year. When does the First Minister therefore now expect the new Warm Homes programme to be implemented, and will he provide an update accordingly?
Wel, i ddychwelyd at Lywodraeth Cymru, ym mis Medi, wrth ymateb i'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ar gostau byw, cyfeiriais at nifer o'r argymhellion a gyflwynwyd yn adroddiad grŵp arbenigol Cymru ar yr argyfwng costau byw, a oedd yn cynnwys gweithredu'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd ar frys. Atebodd y Gweinidog bod y gwahoddiad i dendro ar gyfer cynllun newydd wedi'i arwain gan alw rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd wedi cael ei gyhoeddi yn ddiweddar, a mynnodd ein bod ni
'ar y trywydd cywir i ddyfarnu contract a dechrau ar y gwaith eleni.'
O gofio bod mis Rhagfyr bellach ar fin ein cyrraedd a bod y misoedd oeraf yn prysur agosáu, ceir pryder cynyddol na fydd y rhaglen newydd yn cael ei gweithredu tan y flwyddyn nesaf. Pryd mae'r Prif Weinidog yn disgwyl nawr felly i'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd newydd gael ei gweithredu, ac a wnaiff ef roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn unol â hynny?
Dirprwy Lywydd, I do expect the Warm Homes programme to be implemented by the end of this financial year. The tender documents are ready. In the meantime, we have extended existing arrangements to tide us over until the new programme can be implemented.
Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n disgwyl i'r rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd gael ei gweithredu erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae'r dogfennau tendro yn barod. Yn y cyfamser, rydym ni wedi ymestyn trefniadau presennol i'n cario ni tan y gellir gweithredu'r rhaglen newydd.
Good afternoon, First Minister. I just wanted to focus in on another part of the expert group report, which was concerning childcare. They drew our attention to the concern over the lack of early years provision—that is, good-quality childcare, available in a language of choice, that was affordable and accessible. And Oxfam Cymru also produced a report last week, highlighting the deficits in childcare across Wales. The Welsh Liberal Democrats sent you our report, 'Closing the Gap', on childcare, and I just wondered if you'd had a chance for some bedtime reading in order to focus your mind, and what thoughts you had on that, particularly our proposal for a childcare allowance. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Roeddwn i eisiau canolbwyntio ar ran arall o adroddiad y grŵp arbenigol, a oedd yn ymwneud â gofal plant. Fe wnaethon nhw dynnu ein sylw at y pryder ynghylch y diffyg darpariaeth blynyddoedd cynnar—hynny yw, gofal plant o ansawdd da, ar gael mewn iaith o ddewis, a oedd yn fforddiadwy ac yn hygyrch. Ac fe wnaeth Oxfam Cymru hefyd lunio adroddiad yr wythnos diwethaf yn tynnu sylw at y diffygion mewn gofal plant ledled Cymru. Anfonodd Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru ein hadroddiad, 'Cau'r Bwlch', atoch ar ofal plant, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a oeddech wedi cael cyfle i wneud ychydig o ddarllen amser gwely er mwyn canolbwyntio eich meddwl, a pha safbwyntiau oedd gennych chi ar hynny, yn enwedig ein cynnig ar gyfer lwfans gofal plant. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr i Jane Dodds.
Thank you to Jane Dodds.
And thank you, of course, for sending me a copy of the report. I have been able to read at least the summary of it, with the main recommendations. Dirprwy Lywydd, as I said in my original answer to Heledd Fychan—and it is equally true in the childcare field—it is not that we lack policies here in Wales, it's not that we lack ambition; what we lack is money to put those things into practice. Nevertheless, as part of the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, real progress is being made in expanding childcare provision here in Wales. Our decision to bring within the scope of the existing plan people who are on the cusp of employment has extended the childcare offer to 3,000 children here in Wales. Phase 1 of the expansion of Flying Start has over-delivered—127 per cent of the original target number of children are now enjoying the Flying Start offer, including 3,200 children. And phase 2 of the programme will bring 9,500 extra two-year-olds within the Flying Start childcare regime. So, there is real progress here in Wales.
The document that Jane Dodds referred to, Dirprwy Lywydd, sets out a series of other ways in which we could do more to help families with children, so that they can manage with the cost of childcare and take up their place in employment. Of course, we wish we could do more. But it is not the ideas that we lack and it's not the ambition that we lack; what we're short of, as I say, is the financial capacity to do all the things that we would like to do.
A diolch, wrth gwrs, am anfon copi o'r adroddiad ataf i. Rwyf i wedi llwyddo i ddarllen y crynodeb ohono o leiaf, â'r prif argymhellion. Dirprwy Lywydd, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol i Heledd Fychan—ac mae yr un mor wir yn y maes gofal plant—nid oes gennym ni ddiffyg polisïau yma yng Nghymru, nid oes gennym ni ddiffyg uchelgais; diffyg arian sydd gennym ni i roi'r pethau hynny ar waith. Serch hynny, yn rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio gyda Phlaid Cymru, mae cynnydd gwirioneddol yn cael ei wneud o ran ehangu'r ddarpariaeth gofal plant yma yng Nghymru. Mae ein penderfyniad i ddod â phobl sydd ar drothwy cyflogaeth o fewn cwmpas y cynllun presennol wedi ymestyn y cynnig gofal plant i 3,000 o blant yma yng Nghymru. Mae cam 1 ehangu Dechrau'n Deg wedi gor-gyflawni—mae 127 y cant o'r nifer targed gwreiddiol o blant bellach yn mwynhau cynnig Dechrau'n Deg, gan gynnwys 3,200 o blant. Bydd cam 2 y rhaglen yn dod â 9,500 o blant dwy oed ychwanegol o fewn trefn gofal plant Dechrau'n Deg. Felly, ceir cynnydd gwirioneddol yma yng Nghymru.
Mae'r ddogfen y cyfeiriodd Jane Dodds ati, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn nodi cyfres o ffyrdd eraill y gallem ni wneud mwy i helpu teuluoedd â phlant, fel y gallan nhw ymdopi â chost gofal plant a chymryd eu lle mewn cyflogaeth. Wrth gwrs, fe hoffem ni pe gallem ni wneud mwy. Ond nid diffyg syniadau sydd gennym ni ac nid diffyg uchelgais sydd gennym ni; yr hyn yr ydym ni'n brin ohono, fel y dywedais, yw'r gallu ariannol i wneud yr holl bethau yr hoffem ni eu gwneud.
2. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi gwasanaethau IVF y GIG yng Nghymru? OQ60327
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to support NHS IVF services in Wales? OQ60327
Well, Llywydd, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee commissions IVF services on behalf of all health boards in Wales. All fertility clinics in the UK are governed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Access criteria are standard across Wales.
Wel, Llywydd, mae Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru yn comisiynu gwasanaethau IVF ar ran pob bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru. Mae'r holl glinigau ffrwythlondeb yn y DU yn cael eu llywodraethu gan yr Awdurdod Ffrwythlondeb ac Embryoleg Dynol. Mae meini prawf mynediad yn safonol ledled Cymru.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. I should declare an interest, as I've personal experience of how the Wales Fertility Institute transforms lives. It really does provide people with hope and joy after years of disappointment and grief. As you know, Prif Weinidog, there is only one NHS IVF provider in the whole of Wales, and I've spoken to patients, both current and ones that desperately hope to be patients, and also to staff who are very concerned about its future. They are worried that people will be left without access to this life-changing service, and that others will have to travel further afield and have to compete with fee-paying patients with private providers. Can the Prif Weinidog today make a guarantee that this important institute will continue to be available for the people of Wales on the NHS? Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Dylwn ddatgan buddiant, gan fod gennyf i brofiad personol o sut y mae Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru yn trawsnewid bywydau. Mae wir yn rhoi gobaith a llawenydd i bobl ar ôl blynyddoedd o siom a galar. Fel y gwyddoch, Prif Weinidog, dim ond un darparwr IVF GIG sydd yng Nghymru gyfan, ac rwyf i wedi siarad â chleifion, rhai presennol a rhai sy'n gobeithio'n daer i fod yn gleifion, a hefyd â staff sy'n bryderus iawn am ei ddyfodol. Maen nhw'n poeni y bydd pobl yn cael eu gadael heb fynediad at y gwasanaeth hwn sy'n newid bywydau, ac y bydd yn rhaid i eraill deithio ymhellach i ffwrdd a gorfod cystadlu â chleifion sy'n talu ffioedd gyda darparwyr preifat. A all y Prif Weinidog sicrhau heddiw y bydd y sefydliad pwysig hwn yn parhau i fod ar gael i bobl Cymru ar y GIG? Diolch yn fawr.
Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, it's not for me to offer such a guarantee, because any provider of IVF services has to be licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The Wales Fertility Institute was visited by the authority in January of this year, and it set out a series of requirements for the institute in order that it can go on being licensed. The institute has to be able to appoint a responsible person. It has to be able to respond to the quality issues that were raised by the HFEA during that visit. So, it's not for me to guarantee things; it is for the institute to make sure that it is providing a service that will allow it to continue to be licensed, and, of course, that is exactly what we want to see. That is why WHSSC and the local health board are working with the institute to address the issues that were identified in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority report. My understanding is there's progress on some of those issues, but not on all. What we now need to see is a focus on the remaining issues and efforts being made to ensure that that service, for all the reasons that Rhys ab Owen set out, can continue.
Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, nid mater i mi yw rhoi sicrwydd o'r fath, oherwydd mae'n rhaid i unrhyw ddarparwr gwasanaethau IVF gael ei drwyddedu gan yr Awdurdod Ffrwythlondeb ac Embryoleg Dynol. Ymwelodd yr awdurdod â Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru ym mis Ionawr eleni, a chyflwynodd gyfres o ofynion ar gyfer y sefydliad er mwyn iddo allu parhau i gael ei drwyddedu. Mae'n rhaid i'r sefydliad allu penodi unigolyn cyfrifol. Mae'n rhaid iddo allu ymateb i'r materion ansawdd a godwyd gan yr HFEA yn ystod yr ymweliad hwnnw. Felly, nid yw'n fater i mi sicrhau pethau; mater i'r Sefydliad yw gwneud yn siŵr ei fod yn darparu gwasanaeth a fydd yn caniatáu iddo barhau i gael ei drwyddedu, ac, wrth gwrs, dyna'n union yr ydym ni eisiau ei weld. Dyna pam mae Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru a'r bwrdd iechyd lleol yn gweithio gyda'r sefydliad i fynd i'r afael â'r materion a nodwyd yn adroddiad yr Awdurdod Ffrwythlondeb ac Embryoleg Dynol. Fy nealltwriaeth i yw y cafwyd cynnydd ar rai o'r materion hynny, ond nid y cwbl. Yr hyn sydd angen i ni ei weld nawr yw canolbwyntio ar y materion a'r ymdrechion sy'n weddill sy'n cael eu gwneud i sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth hwnnw, am yr holl resymau a nodwyd gan Rhys ab Owen, yn gallu parhau.
I'd like to second what my colleague has already pointed out, First Minister, and ask you what steps the Welsh Government are taking to proactively ensure that anyone that wants IVF on the NHS gets the same opportunities across the health boards in Wales—because, of course, we see a situation in Wales where artificial insemination treatment is not funded by the WHSSC, but decided by individual health boards—and, particularly in the wake of cuts to fertility treatment that have been proposed, without having to, of course, travel the great distances, as my colleague outlined?
Hoffwn eilio'r hyn y mae fy nghyd-Aelod eisoes wedi ei nodi, Prif Weinidog, a gofyn i chi pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau'n rhagweithiol bod unrhyw un sydd eisiau IVF ar y GIG yn cael yr un cyfleoedd ar draws y byrddau iechyd yng Nghymru—oherwydd, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n gweld sefyllfa yng Nghymru lle nad yw triniaeth ffrwythloni artiffisial yn cael ei hariannu gan Bwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru, ond yn cael ei phenderfynu gan fyrddau iechyd unigol—ac, yn enwedig yn sgil toriadau i driniaeth ffrwythlondeb sydd wedi cael eu cynnig, heb orfod, wrth gwrs, deithio'r pellteroedd mawr, fel yr amlinellodd fy nghyd-Aelod?
Well, Llywydd, there are three centres that provide these service to people in Wales: the Wales Fertility Institute, as Rhys ab Owen asked me, which operates from Neath Port Talbot Hospital and from the University Hospital of Wales, here in Cardiff; in north Wales, people are referred to the Hewitt centre at the Liverpool Women's Hospital; and, along the border, people are able to use the Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre. So, there is access to such services in every part of Wales. Of course, Laura Anne Jones is right to say that, while there are standard criteria for access to IVF service in Wales, those couples who have to take part in artificial insemination services prior to being able to access IVF services sometimes have to make a contribution to the costs of that, and health boards do approach that on the basis of their local ability to provide that service. Where there are new possibilities and new service developments, of course we will want to make sure that we are aligned with those in order to make sure that those people who rely on these services have the best chance of making use of them.
Wel, Llywydd, ceir tair canolfan sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwn i bobl yng Nghymru: Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru, fel y gofynnodd Rhys ab Owen i mi, sy'n gweithredu o Ysbyty Castell-nedd Port Talbot ac o Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru, yma yng Nghaerdydd; yn y gogledd, mae pobl yn cael eu cyfeirio at ganolfan Hewitt yn Ysbyty Menywod Lerpwl; ac, ar hyd y ffin, gall pobl ddefnyddio Canolfan Ffrwythlondeb Swydd Amwythig a Chanolbarth Cymru. Felly, mae mynediad at wasanaethau o'r fath ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Wrth gwrs, mae Laura Anne Jones yn iawn i ddweud, er bod meini prawf safonol ar gyfer mynediad at wasanaeth IVF yng Nghymru, bod yn rhaid i'r parau hynny sy'n gorfod cymryd rhan mewn gwasanaethau ffrwythloni artiffisial cyn gallu cael mynediad at wasanaethau IVF wneud cyfraniad at gostau hynny weithiau, ac mae byrddau iechyd yn mynd i'r afael â hynny ar sail eu gallu lleol i ddarparu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw. Lle ceir posibiliadau newydd a datblygiadau gwasanaeth newydd, wrth gwrs, byddwn eisiau gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cyd-fynd â'r rheini er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr bod y bobl hynny sy'n dibynnu ar y gwasanaethau hyn yn cael y cyfle gorau i wneud defnydd ohonyn nhw.
Only this week, we've been reminded about the impact of insecticides from crops that are routinely spread and cause a reduction in the sperm count of men, and this obviously increases the demand from families who need the intervention of fertility services. Clearly, there's work to be done on preventing this happening in the first place, but sticking with the Wales fertility centre, it's clearly crucial that we have a quality service for all of the people of south Wales, because it is a very difficult service and can be a very anxious time for all families. So, I just want to understand what the Welsh Government can do to ensure that the centre in Neath continues to have a licence so that people in south Wales can get a service relatively locally, rather than having to travel across the border to Bristol.
Dim ond yr wythnos hon, rydym ni wedi cael ein hatgoffa am effaith pryfleiddiaid o gnydau sy'n cael eu lledaenu fel mater o drefn ac sy'n achosi gostyngiad i gyfrif sberm dynion, ac mae hyn yn amlwg yn cynyddu'r galw gan deuluoedd sydd angen ymyrraeth gwasanaethau ffrwythlondeb. Yn amlwg, mae gwaith i'w wneud ar atal hyn rhag digwydd yn y lle cyntaf, ond gan gadw at ganolfan ffrwythlondeb Cymru, mae'n amlwg yn hanfodol bod gennym ni wasanaeth o ansawdd i holl bobl de Cymru, gan ei fod yn wasanaeth anodd iawn a gall fod yn gyfnod pryderus iawn i bob teulu. Felly, hoffwn ddeall yr hyn y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau bod y ganolfan yng Nghastell-nedd yn parhau i fod â thrwydded fel y gall pobl yn ne Cymru gael gwasanaeth yn gymharol leol, yn hytrach na gorfod teithio dros y ffin i Fryste.
I thank Jenny Rathbone for that. There are three players involved in efforts to make sure that that service can continue. There is the Wales Fertility Institute itself; they are the primary players, and it's primarily their responsibility to make sure that the service they provide meets the standards that allow it to continue to have a licence. But the service is managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board, and they have a responsibility to assist the institute to reach the standards that were set out by the HFEA in their visit in January. And then for the whole of Wales, to ensure that there is a level playing field and people in every part of the country are able to access these services, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee is the commissioner. It is the actions of the commissioner that have put a spotlight on the service in recent weeks. I understand that that will be a cause of concern and anxiety to people who work in the service and to those people either who are using the service currently or who may be waiting to do so. What I want to see is all three players—WHSSC, the health board and the institute—working together so that the issues that have been raised and need to be addressed, otherwise there will be no licence, are being addressed with every party playing their part to do so.
Diolch i Jenny Rathbone am hynna. Mae tri pharti yn rhan o'r ymdrechion i wneud yn siŵr y gall y gwasanaeth hwnnw barhau. Ceir Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru ei hun; nhw yw'r prif chwaraewyr, a'u cyfrifoldeb nhw yn bennaf yw gwneud yn siŵr bod y gwasanaeth y maen nhw'n ei ddarparu yn cyrraedd y safonau sy'n caniatáu iddyn nhw barhau i gael trwydded. Ond Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe sy'n rheoli'r gwasanaeth, ac mae ganddyn nhw gyfrifoldeb i gynorthwyo'r sefydliad i gyrraedd y safonau a nodwyd gan yr HFEA yn eu hymweliad ym mis Ionawr. Ac yna ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, i sicrhau bod chwarae teg a bod pobl ym mhob rhan o'r wlad yn gallu cael mynediad at y gwasanaethau hyn, Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru yw'r comisiynydd. Gweithredoedd y comisiynydd sydd wedi tynnu sylw at y gwasanaeth yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Rwy'n deall y bydd hynny'n destun pryder a gofid i bobl sy'n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth ac i'r bobl hynny sydd naill ai'n defnyddio'r gwasanaeth ar hyn o bryd neu a allai fod yn aros i wneud hynny. Yr hyn yr wyf i eisiau ei weld yw'r tri pharti—Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru, y bwrdd iechyd a'r sefydliad—yn cydweithio fel bod y materion sydd wedi cael eu codi ac y mae angen mynd i'r afael â nhw, fel arall ni fydd trwydded, yn cael sylw gyda phob parti yn chwarae ei ran i wneud hynny.
Fel un o'r Aelodau lleol sy'n cynrychioli ardal Ysbyty Castell-nedd Port Talbot, mae etholwyr a staff wedi bod yn codi pryderon gyda fi yn yr un modd, ac rydyn ni wedi clywed am effaith y penderfyniad i edrych ar ddadgomisiynu y gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu cynnig gan Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru. A fydd yna unrhyw ymgynghoriad agored gyda defnyddwyr gwasanaethau a'r cyhoedd i lywio unrhyw drafodaethau sy'n digwydd nawr neu yn y dyfodol am y gwasanaeth, gan sicrhau bod y Llywodraeth yn gweithredu ei hegwyddorion datganedig o ran cydgynhyrchu? A wnewch chi ymrwymo i sicrhau y bydd aelodau etholedig a staff yn cael gweld unrhyw dystiolaeth sy'n dod i'r adwy o ran unrhyw benderfyniad ar ddyfodol y gwasanaeth? Wrth sefydlu'r gwasanaeth yn 2012, dywedodd y Llywodraeth:
As one of the local Members representing the Neath Port Talbot Hospital area, constituents and staff have been raising concerns with me, just as we've heard, about the impact of the decision to look at decommissioning the services that are provided by the Wales Fertility Institute. Will there be any open consultation with users and the public to inform any discussions happening now or in the future about this service, ensuring that the Government is implementing its declared principles of co-production? Will you confirm that members of staff and elected members will see any evidence that emerges in terms of any decision on the future of the service? In establishing the service in 2012, the Government said:
This will put in place a strong NHS-based IVF service covering south and west Wales, which will provide excellent facilities for patients from the south west. We are committed to reducing the use of the private sector within the health service in Wales, increasing capacity in the NHS.
Bydd hyn yn rhoi gwasanaeth IVF cryf wedi'i leoli yn y GIG ar waith, sy'n cwmpasu de a gorllewin Cymru, a fydd yn darparu cyfleusterau rhagorol i gleifion o'r de-orllewin. Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i leihau'r defnydd o'r sector preifat yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru, gan gynyddu capasiti yn y GIG.
Ydych chi'n dal i gredu hynny?
Do you still believe that?
Dyna'r uchelgais sydd gyda ni, wrth gwrs—i gael gwasanaeth yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot ac yma yn yr ysbyty yng Nghaerdydd sy'n gallu rhoi gwasanaeth o'r safon lle mae'r cyrff sy'n gyfrifol am roi y leisens i'r institiwt lleol yn gallu gwneud hynny. Mae'r cwestiynau eraill roedd yr Aelod wedi eu codi yn gwestiynau i'r bwrdd a phobl sy'n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth. Dwi eisiau gweld llais y bobl sy'n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth a llais pobl sy'n defnyddio'r gwasanaeth yn rhan o'r broses o wella'r gwasanaeth a rhoi gwasanaeth mewn lle ble rŷn ni i gyd yn gallu bod yn hyderus y bydd hwnna'n gallu parhau am y dyfodol.
That is the ambition that we have, of course—to have a service in Neath Port Talbot and here in the hospital in Cardiff that can provide a service at a standard where the bodies responsible for providing licences to the local institute can do so. The other questions raised by the Member are questions for the board and for those working in the service. I want to see the voice of people working in the service and those who use the service being part of the process of improving that service and to put the service in a place where we can all be confident that that can continue for the future.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. First Minister, last week my colleague Russell George raised with the health Minister concerns about the Swansea health board area’s maternity services. Sadly, we didn't get the answers that we thought we were going to get to those questions, which were pretty straightforward, about an inquiry that the Welsh Government said had been taking place last year. It informed the Channon family and ITV Cymru Wales that this inquiry had taken place and that there were no concerns raised. When the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used to access the information, it turned out that no inquiry had been undertaken by the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership. So, why would Welsh Government officials tell the Channon family and ITV Wales that an inquiry into maternity services in the Swansea health board area had taken place when in fact no such inquiry had taken place at all?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Prif Weinidog, yr wythnos diwethaf fe wnaeth fy nghyd-Aelod, Russell George, godi pryderon gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd am wasanaethau mamolaeth ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe. Yn anffodus, ni chawsom yr atebion yr oeddem ni'n meddwl ein bod ni'n mynd i'w cael i'r cwestiynau hynny, a oedd yn eithaf syml, am ymchwiliad y dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei fod wedi cael ei gynnal y llynedd. Dywedodd wrth deulu Channon ac ITV Cymru Wales bod yr ymchwiliad hwn wedi cael ei gynnal ac na chodwyd unrhyw bryderon. Pan ddefnyddiwyd Deddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 i gael gafael ar yr wybodaeth, daeth yn amlwg nad oedd unrhyw ymchwiliad wedi cael ei gynnal gan Bartneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru. Felly, pam fyddai swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn dweud wrth deulu Channon ac ITV Cymru bod ymchwiliad i wasanaethau mamolaeth yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe wedi cael ei gynnal pan nad oedd ymchwiliad o'r fath wedi cael ei gynnal o gwbl mewn gwirionedd?
My understanding—and I'm not as close to the detail, so I’ll make sure that if there's further detail that can be provided to the Member, we will do so—is that there has been some confusion over terminology here, that there has been work done that has inquired into it, it was carried out under an assurance process rather than an inquiry process, and that some confusion has therefore been created by people referring to the same object in two different ways. If we can make sure that we can clarify that, particularly for the family, then I know the Minister will want to do that.
Fy nealltwriaeth i—ac nid wyf i mor agos at y manylion, felly fe wnaf yn siŵr, os oes rhagor o fanylion y gellir eu darparu i'r Aelod, y byddwn ni'n gwneud hynny—yw y bu rhywfaint o ddryswch ynghylch terminoleg yma, bod gwaith wedi cael ei wneud sydd wedi ymchwilio i'r mater, fe'i gwnaed o dan broses sicrwydd yn hytrach na phroses ymchwilio, a bod rhywfaint o ddryswch felly wedi cael ei greu gan bobl yn cyfeirio at yr un gwrthrych mewn dwy wahanol ffordd. Os gallwn ni wneud yn siŵr y gallwn ni egluro hynny, yn enwedig ar gyfer y teulu, yna gwn y bydd y Gweinidog eisiau gwneud hynny.
I'm assuming, First Minister, the people you're referring to are Welsh Government officials who obviously provided this family, the Channon family, with the information in the first place and that's what's led to this confusion. But it is a fact that maternity services have been inspected in the Swansea health board area by Audit Wales, and their risk assessment raised real, serious concerns back in February. Then Healthcare Inspectorate Wales did a staff survey in September of this year and the responses were some of the worst that they'd seen—their own words, not mine. There are over 300 instances in maternity services that are currently being considered in the Swansea health board area. So, I put the question that my colleague Russell George put to the Health Minister last week and didn't receive a reply: is the health board up to NHS minimum staffing levels in maternity services, and if they're not, are maternity services in Swansea safe?
Rwy'n tybio, Prif Weinidog, mai'r bobl rydych chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw yw swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a wnaeth, yn amlwg, ddarparu'r wybodaeth i'r teulu hwn, teulu Channon, yn y lle cyntaf a dyna sydd wedi arwain at y dryswch hwn. Ond mae'n ffaith bod gwasanaethau mamolaeth wedi cael eu harchwilio yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe gan Archwilio Cymru, a bod eu hasesiad risg wedi codi pryderon gwirioneddol, difrifol yn ôl ym mis Chwefror. Yna, cynhaliodd Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru arolwg staff ym mis Medi eleni a'r ymatebion oedd rhai o'r gwaethaf yr oedden nhw wedi eu gweld—eu geiriau eu hunain, nid fy rhai i. Mae dros 300 o achosion mewn gwasanaethau mamolaeth sy'n cael eu hystyried ar hyn o bryd yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe. Felly, gofynnais y cwestiwn a ofynnodd fy nghyd-Aelod Russell George i'r Gweinidog Iechyd yr wythnos diwethaf ac na chafwyd ateb iddo: a yw'r bwrdd iechyd yn bodloni lefelau staffio gofynnol y GIG mewn gwasanaethau mamolaeth, ac os nad ydyn nhw, a yw gwasanaethau mamolaeth yn Abertawe yn ddiogel?
I believe that services in maternity in Swansea Bay are very regularly overseen by those who have that responsibility. There is no doubt—I'm not suggesting otherwise—that there have been some difficult incidents in the services provided by the board. But the arrangements put in place as a result of the work that was done in Cwm Taf over the last few years, those lessons have been transferred to the service in Swansea Bay. The national oversight that we have in place, the new arrangements that cover the whole of Wales to make sure that services are provided in the best way, apply in Swansea Bay as well. And while we will continue to make sure that we keep a very close watch on those services, learning from the reports of HIW and others, it is more important that that work is allowed to get on, on the ground, and that patients in the Swansea Bay area have the benefit of that.
Rwy'n credu bod gwasanaethau mamolaeth ym Mae Abertawe yn cael eu goruchwylio'n rheolaidd iawn gan y rhai sydd â'r cyfrifoldeb hwnnw. Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth—nid wyf i'n awgrymu fel arall—y bu rhai digwyddiadau anodd yn y gwasanaethau a ddarparwyd gan y bwrdd. Ond mae'r trefniadau a roddwyd ar waith o ganlyniad i'r gwaith a wnaed yng Nghwm Taf dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae'r gwersi hynny wedi cael eu trosglwyddo i'r gwasanaeth ym Mae Abertawe. Mae'r oruchwyliaeth genedlaethol sydd gennym ni ar waith, y trefniadau newydd sy'n cwmpasu Cymru gyfan i wneud yn siŵr bod gwasanaethau yn cael eu darparu yn y ffordd orau, yn berthnasol ym Mae Abertawe hefyd. Ac er y byddwn ni'n parhau i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cadw llygad barcud ar y gwasanaethau hynny, gan ddysgu o adroddiadau AGIC ac eraill, mae'n bwysicach y caniateir i'r gwaith hwnnw fynd rhagddo, ar lawr gwlad, a bod cleifion yn ardal Bae Abertawe yn elwa ar hynny.
First Minister, a report was undertaken into maternity services in the Swansea health board area back in 2019 by the health inspectorate. Many of those recommendations are still to be implemented, and now we're coming to the end of 2023. I asked a very clear question for my second question today. I didn't really get the answer back from you, although I understand you were explaining the wider dynamics, and as a regional member for South Wales Central I fully understand the context of the Cwm Taf health board maternity issues and the remedial measures that were put in place. But as we stand here today, are the minimum staffing levels in the maternity service in the Swansea health board area, as the legislation dictates, being met, and are maternity services safe in the Swansea health board area, given what I've described to you today?
Prif Weinidog, cynhaliwyd adroddiad ar wasanaethau mamolaeth yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe yn ôl yn 2019 gan yr arolygiaeth iechyd. Nid yw llawer o'r argymhellion hynny wedi'u gweithredu fyth, ac rydym ni'n dod i ddiwedd 2023 bellach. Gofynnais gwestiwn eglur iawn ar gyfer fy ail gwestiwn heddiw. Ni chefais yr ateb yn ôl gennych chi mewn gwirionedd, er fy mod yn deall eich bod chi'n esbonio'r ddynameg ehangach, ac fel aelod rhanbarthol dros Ganol De Cymru rwy'n deall yn llawn gyd-destun problemau mamolaeth Bwrdd Iechyd Cwm Taf a'r mesurau adferol a roddwyd ar waith. Ond fel yr ydym ni'n sefyll yma heddiw, a yw'r lefelau staffio gofynnol yn y gwasanaeth mamolaeth yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe, fel y mae'r ddeddfwriaeth yn mynnu, yn cael eu bodloni, ac a yw gwasanaethau mamolaeth yn ddiogel yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Abertawe, o ystyried yr hyn yr wyf i wedi ei ddisgrifio i chi heddiw?
On the first question, I don't have figures in front of me and I don't want to make a guess, because that is a precise calculation using the formula that we have to make sure that staffing levels are where they need to be, but we can make sure that that information is available.
On the second question, I believe that there are in place the mechanisms that we have learnt, coming out of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg experience—that those are available in the Swansea Bay area. They are supplemented by the other things that are there to make sure that an outside eye is kept on the development of those services, and through those mechanisms we have the assurance that we need that services in Swansea Bay are being provided, albeit sometimes under pressure and with staffing challenges, in a way that can give people confidence in them.
Ar y cwestiwn cyntaf, nid oes gen i ffigurau o'm blaen ac nid wyf i eisiau dyfalu, gan fod hwnnw'n gyfrifiad manwl gywir gan ddefnyddio'r fformiwla sydd gennym ni i wneud yn siŵr bod lefelau staffio lle mae angen iddyn nhw fod, ond gallwn wneud yn siŵr bod yr wybodaeth honno ar gael.
Ar yr ail gwestiwn, rwy'n credu bod y dulliau ar waith yr ydym ni wedi eu dysgu, yn dod allan o brofiad Cwm Taf Morgannwg—bod y rheini ar gael yn ardal Bae Abertawe. Maen nhw'n cael eu hategu gan y pethau eraill sydd yno i wneud yn siŵr bod llygad allanol yn cael ei gadw ar ddatblygiad y gwasanaethau hynny, a thrwy'r dulliau hynny mae gennym ni'r sicrwydd sydd ei angen arnom ni fod gwasanaethau ym Mae Abertawe yn cael eu darparu, er eu bod weithiau o dan bwysau a chyda heriau staffio, mewn ffordd a all sicrhau bod gan bobl hyder ynddyn nhw.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mi oedd hi'n fraint cael bod yn y ffair aeaf yn Llanelwedd ddoe; mi oedd hi'n braf gallu dathlu dyfodol y diwydiant amaeth, fel y gwnes i wrth i fy nith i, Mared, ddod yn bencampwraig y trinwyr gwartheg ifanc. Ond mae yna, wrth gwrs, gwestiynau difrifol am ba fath o ddyfodol sydd yna i'r sector. Os buodd yna angen partneriaeth erioed rhwng y Llywodraeth a'r diwydiant, rŵan ydy'r amser. Ond beth mae'r sector yn ei glywed gan Weinidogion, yn ôl yr undebau, ydy'r angen iddyn nhw brofi gwerth amaeth i'r Llywodraeth ac i'r trethdalwr.
Rydw i'n edrych ar bethau o gyfeiriad gwahanol. Fel hyn rydw i'n ei gweld hi: allwn ni ddim gwneud heb ein sector amaeth ni, o ran bwyd, yr amgylchedd, ein cymunedau gwledig, ein hiaith ac yn y blaen. Mae Cymru wledig ac amaeth angen Llywodraeth ar eu hochr nhw. Mae'r cyhoedd yn cytuno â mi: 82 y cant o bobl yn dweud wrth arolwg YouGov eu bod nhw'n cefnogi rhoi cymorth ariannol i ffermwyr gynhyrchu bwyd; 72 y cant yn dweud bod cefnogi ffermwyr Cymru yn ddefnydd da o arian cyhoeddus. O ystyried y gefnogaeth yna, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi sicrwydd heddiw na fydd y gyllideb ddrafft yn effeithio'n andwyol ar amaethyddiaeth?
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. It was a pleasure to be in the winter fair in Llanelwedd yesterday; it was good to celebrate the future of the agricultural industry, as I did as my niece, Mared, became the young cattle-handler champion. But there are serious questions about what kind of future there is for the sector. If there was ever a need for a partnership between Government and the industry, now is the time for that. But what the sector is hearing from Ministers, according to the unions, is the need for them to prove the value of agriculture to the Government and the taxpayer.
I look at things from a different slant. This is how I see it: we can't do without our agricultural sector, in terms of food, the environment, rural communities, our language and so on and so forth. Rural Wales and agriculture need a Government on their side. The public agrees with me: 82 per cent of people said in a YouGov survey that they support providing financial support for farmers to produce food; 72 per cent said that supporting Welsh farmers was a good use of public funds. Given that support, will the First Minister provide an assurance today that the draft budget will not have a detrimental impact on agriculture?
Na, Ddirprwy Lywydd, allaf i ddim dweud hynny; allaf i ddim dweud hynny am unrhyw agwedd ar y gwaith y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud.
No, Dirprwy Lywydd, I can't say that; I can't say that for any aspect of the work that the Government is doing.
We are £1.3 billion short of what we need next year; that is the impact of inflation and the failure of the UK Government to sustain the real worth of the budget they said we needed when the comprehensive spending review set our budgets for three years. If you have to find £1.3 billion-worth of activity to live within our means, then no single part of the Welsh Government can regard itself as immune from that effort, and that includes agriculture, as it includes everything else we do.
Rydym ni £1.3 biliwn yn brin o'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom ni y flwyddyn nesaf; dyna effaith chwyddiant a methiant Llywodraeth y DU i gynnal gwir werth y gyllideb y gwnaethon nhw ddweud sydd ei hangen arnom ni pan wnaeth yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant bennu ein cyllidebau am dair blynedd. Os oes yn rhaid i chi ddod o hyd i werth £1.3 biliwn o weithgarwch i fyw o fewn ein modd, yna ni all unrhyw ran unigol o Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried ei hun yn ddiogel rhag yr ymdrech honno, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys amaethyddiaeth, fel y mae'n cynnwys popeth arall rydym ni'n ei wneud.
Thank you for the honest response, but I do feel we need to see agriculture as an investment. If Government fails to support agriculture now, we will pay the price for many years to come. Challenges facing the sector are mounting. Ninety per cent of farmers told a National Farmers Union poll that they felt that the Welsh Government's actions on bovine TB were poor or very poor. There are real concerns over inflexible targets over tree planting, and don't get me wrong: I support extensive tree growing, but it has to be the right tree in the right place. And, of course, the Habitat Wales scheme has been roundly criticised, undermining, as it does, decades of business planning based on environmental sustainability, far from what we should be aiming for, which is a just transition from existing support payments. Does the First Minister accept that the way the new scheme has been introduced, on top of the other issues with inadequate consultation and so on, is pushing more Welsh farms to the brink?
Diolch am yr ymateb gonest, ond rwy'n teimlo bod angen i ni weld amaethyddiaeth fel buddsoddiad. Os na fydd y Llywodraeth yn cefnogi amaethyddiaeth nawr, byddwn yn talu'r pris am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod. Mae'r heriau sy'n wynebu'r sector yn cynyddu. Dywedodd naw deg y cant o ffermwyr wrth arolwg barn Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr eu bod nhw'n teimlo bod gweithredoedd Llywodraeth Cymru ar TB buchol yn wael neu'n wael iawn. Ceir pryderon gwirioneddol ynghylch targedau anhyblyg o ran plannu coed, a pheidiwch â'm camddeall: rwy'n cefnogi tyfu coed helaeth, ond mae'n rhaid iddi fod y goeden iawn yn y lle iawn. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae cynllun Cynefin Cymru wedi cael ei feirniadu'n hallt, gan danseilio, fel y mae, degawdau o gynllunio busnes yn seiliedig ar gynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol, ymhell o'r hyn y dylem ni fod yn anelu ato, sef pontio teg o daliadau cymorth presennol. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn derbyn bod y ffordd y cyflwynwyd y cynllun newydd, ar ben y problemau eraill gydag ymgynghori annigonol ac ati, yn gwthio mwy o ffermydd Cymru at yr ymyl?
I don't agree with that, Dirprwy Lywydd. I agree with the general proposition that the money we invest in agriculture is an investment, but so is the money we invest in education, in housing, in transport, in health—in everything else that we do. There is no special case to be made for farming apart from everything else that people in Wales are prepared to support. And yet, the Welsh Government goes on investing in farming all of the time, despite the fact that we lost £0.25 billion-worth of funding as a result of Brexit. There was an absolute guarantee that we would not be any worse off, when £0.25 billion was taken away from us.
Nevertheless, we go on investing. The Habitat Wales scheme, which we were told by the farming unions wouldn't be a success, has had over 3,200 applications. And we will go on working alongside farming unions as we design the future of farming support. No cuts this year at all in Wales to the basic payment scheme—55 per cent cuts in England for farmers relying on it there. It is simply a distortion to suggest that the Welsh Government does not invest in that industry, because of its importance. But it's also a fact that it cannot be regarded as immune from the necessary decisions that we will have to make across the Government to live within the means available to us.
Nid wyf i'n cytuno â hynny, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n cytuno â'r cynnig cyffredinol bod yr arian yr ydym ni'n ei fuddsoddi mewn amaethyddiaeth yn fuddsoddiad, ond felly hefyd yr arian yr ydym ni'n ei fuddsoddi mewn addysg, mewn tai, mewn trafnidiaeth, mewn iechyd—ym mhopeth arall yr ydym ni'n ei wneud. Does dim dadl arbennig i'w gwneud dros ffermio ar wahân i bopeth arall y mae pobl yng Nghymru yn barod i'w gefnogi. Ac eto, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn ffermio drwy'r amser, er gwaethaf y ffaith ein bod ni wedi colli gwerth £0.25 biliwn o gyllid o ganlyniad i Brexit. Roedd sicrwydd pendant na fyddem ni'n waeth ein byd, pan gymerwyd £0.25 biliwn oddi wrthym ni.
Serch hynny, rydym ni'n parhau i fuddsoddi. Mae cynllun Cynefin Cymru, y dywedodd yr undebau ffermio wrthym ni na fyddai'n llwyddiant, wedi cael dros 3,200 o geisiadau. A byddwn yn parhau i weithio ochr yn ochr ag undebau ffermio wrth i ni ddylunio dyfodol cymorth ffermio. Dim toriadau eleni o gwbl yng Nghymru i'r cynllun taliadau sylfaenol—toriadau o 55 y cant yn Lloegr i ffermwyr sy'n dibynnu arno yno. Mae'n afluniad llwyr awgrymu nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi yn y diwydiant hwnnw, oherwydd ei bwysigrwydd. Ond mae hefyd yn ffaith na ellir ei ystyried yn ddiogel rhag y penderfyniadau angenrheidiol y bydd yn rhaid i ni eu gwneud ar draws y Llywodraeth i fyw o fewn y moddion sydd ar gael i ni.
And of course there are tough decisions to be made, but this winter fair week, of all weeks, is the time when Government needs to show, unequivocally, its support for agriculture. I know how much the First Minister loves my five-point plans, but let me limit things today to just three actions that Government could take to show its support. Just examples. How about showing, firstly, that it's learnt the lessons from the Habitat Wales scheme? Secondly, it could commit to acting on concerns that tree planting could potentially lead to the loss of productive land. Thirdly—and I invite the First Minister himself to add points 4, 5 and 6, if he so wishes—it would give a long-standing commitment that agriculture is not only a viable industry today, but that its foundations can and must be firm and solid for tomorrow. Winter can be a pretty tough time for farming at the best of times, but the right messages now, especially around financial certainty, could make a difference. And remember, for every £1 that goes into agriculture, £9 is generated for the economy. So, will the First Minister agree with me that farming is not a loss leader, but rather an industry that generates a dividend from investment, and will he take that into account when balancing competing priorities in his budget?
Ac wrth gwrs mae penderfyniadau anodd y mae'n rhaid eu gwneud, ond wythnos y ffair aeaf hon, o bob wythnos, yw'r adeg pan fo angen i'r Llywodraeth ddangos, yn ddiamwys, ei chefnogaeth i amaethyddiaeth. Rwy'n gwybod cymaint y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn caru fy nghynlluniau pum pwynt, ond gadewch i mi gyfyngu pethau heddiw i ddim ond tri cham gweithredu y gallai'r Llywodraeth eu cymryd i ddangos ei chefnogaeth. Dim ond enghreifftiau. Beth am ddangos, yn gyntaf, ei bod wedi dysgu'r gwersi o gynllun Cynefin Cymru? Yn ail, gallai ymrwymo i weithredu ar bryderon y gallai plannu coed o bosibl arwain at golli tir cynhyrchiol. Yn drydydd—ac rwy'n gwahodd y Prif Weinidog ei hun i ychwanegu pwyntiau 4, 5 a 6, os yw'n dymuno—byddai'n rhoi ymrwymiad hirsefydlog bod amaethyddiaeth nid yn unig yn ddiwydiant hyfyw heddiw, ond y gall ei sylfeini fod yn gadarn ac yn gydnerth ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw fod. Gall y gaeaf fod yn gyfnod eithaf anodd i ffermio ar yr ochr orau, ond gallai'r negeseuon cywir nawr, yn enwedig o ran sicrwydd ariannol, wneud gwahaniaeth. A chofiwch, am bob £1 sy'n mynd i mewn i amaethyddiaeth, mae £9 yn cael eu cynhyrchu i'r economi. Felly, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog gytuno â mi nad yw ffermio yn nwydd ar golled, ond yn hytrach yn ddiwydiant sy'n cynhyrchu difidend o fuddsoddiad, ac a wnaiff ef gymryd hynny i ystyriaeth wrth gydbwyso blaenoriaethau cystadleuol yn ei gyllideb?
Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, that's more a five-point press release than a five-point plan. This is the impact of inflation, of course. He could get five points only a few weeks ago; now he can only manage three.
Look, Dirprwy Lywydd, let me put on record this: I think that the farming sector, the agricultural sector, in Wales is vitally important. I think the work that it does is of advantage to Wales. I think the fact that it supports the culture, the language, the way of life—all that matters to us on this side of the Chamber—but none of that can simply wipe away the challenges that we face in setting our budget. And what I want to do this afternoon is just to be clear with people. People around this Chamber, week after week, stand up and ask me to spend more on this, more on that, more on something else, and I'll say this, Dirprwy Lywydd: there's always a strong case when people do. These are not frivolous things that people say; they're making serious cases in important areas. In the end, what the Welsh Government has to do is to weigh up all those competing priorities. And all I'm saying to the Member this afternoon is that, despite the value that we attach to everything that goes on in the Welsh countryside and those who work in it, there are no special cases to be made at a time when you have to find the level of reductions in our capacity to be able to invest in everything that matters to people in every part of our country.
Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae hwnna'n fwy o gyhoeddiad pum pwynt i'r wasg na chynllun pum pwynt. Dyma effaith chwyddiant, wrth gwrs. Roedd yn gallu cael pum pwynt dim ond ychydig wythnosau yn ôl; dim ond tri y mae'n gallu dod o hyd iddyn nhw bellach.
Edrychwch, Dirprwy Lywydd, gadewch i mi roi hyn ar y cofnod: rwy'n meddwl bod y sector ffermio, y sector amaethyddol, yng Nghymru yn hanfodol bwysig. Rwy'n meddwl bod y gwaith y mae'n ei wneud o fantais i Gymru. Rwy'n meddwl bod y ffaith ei fod yn cefnogi'r diwylliant, yr iaith, y ffordd o fyw—mae hynny i gyd yn bwysig i ni ar yr ochr yma i'r Siambr—ond ni all dim o hynny ddileu'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu wrth bennu ein cyllideb. A'r hyn yr wyf i eisiau ei wneud y prynhawn yma yw bod yn eglur gyda phobl. Mae pobl o bob rhan o'r Siambr hon, wythnos ar ôl wythnos, yn sefyll ar eu traed ac yn gofyn i mi wario mwy ar hyn, mwy ar hynna, mwy ar rywbeth arall, a dywedaf hyn, Dirprwy Lywydd: ceir dadl gref bob amser pan fydd pobl yn gwneud hynny. Nid pethau gwamal yw'r rhain y mae pobl yn eu dweud; maen nhw'n gwneud dadleuon difrifol mewn meysydd pwysig. Yn y pen draw, yr hyn y mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ei wneud yw pwyso a mesur yr holl flaenoriaethau hynny sy'n cystadlu â'i gilydd. A'r cyfan yr wyf i'n ei ddweud wrth yr Aelod y prynhawn yma yw, er gwaethaf y gwerth yr ydym ni'n ei neilltuo i bopeth sy'n digwydd yng nghefn gwlad Cymru a'r rhai sy'n gweithio ynddo, nid oes unrhyw ddadleuon arbennig i'w gwneud ar adeg pan fo'n rhaid i chi ddod o hyd i'r lefel o ostyngiadau yn ein capasiti i allu buddsoddi ym mhopeth sy'n bwysig i bobl ym mhob rhan o'n gwlad.
3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi elusennau sy'n helpu cleifion dementia a'u teuluoedd? OQ60345
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to support charities that help dementia patients and their families? OQ60345
Dirprwy Lywydd, recurrent funding of £12 million is allocated to regional partnership boards for the implementation of the Welsh dementia action plan. Third sector organisations are eligible for this funding, with RPBs encouraged to support third sector provision.
Dirprwy Lywydd, caiff cyllid rheolaidd o £12 miliwn ei ddyrannu i fyrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol ar gyfer gweithredu cynllun gweithredu ar ddementia Cymru. Mae mudiadau'r trydydd sector yn gymwys i gael y cyllid hwn, ac anogir byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol i gefnogi darpariaeth trydydd sector.
I'd like to thank you for your answer, First Minister. As you're probably aware, there's a charity in my constituency called Dementia Matters in Powys and they undertake vital work, helping patients and their families. As you're aware, my constituency is home to a growing elderly population, with the average number of dementia patients going up year on year. But despite the great work that Dementia Matters do, they are currently facing the threat of closure due to a lack of funding.
I've reached out to Powys Teaching Health Board and the rural partnership board on this matter, because I was aware that there was a surplus budget in their funding this year. However, for some reason I can't get to the bottom of, Dementia Matters in Powys cannot access that funding. So, First Minister, I'd like to ask if you and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being would like to come and visit Dementia Matters in my constituency. And also, on the second point, I'm not asking for more money, but what pressure can the Welsh Government put on the regional partnership board to make sure that any surplus budget goes on supporting people with dementia in my constituency?
Hoffwn ddiolch i chi am eich ateb, Prif Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch mae'n debyg, mae elusen yn fy etholaeth i o'r enw Dementia Matters ym Mhowys ac maen nhw'n gwneud gwaith hanfodol, gan helpu cleifion a'u teuluoedd. Fel y gwyddoch, mae fy etholaeth yn gartref i boblogaeth oedrannus sy'n tyfu, ac mae nifer cyfartalog y cleifion dementia yn cynyddu o un flwyddyn i'r llall. Ond er gwaethaf y gwaith gwych y mae Dementia Matters yn ei wneud, maen nhw'n wynebu'r bygythiad o gau ar hyn o bryd oherwydd diffyg cyllid.
Rwyf i wedi cysylltu â Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys a'r bwrdd partneriaeth gwledig ar y mater hwn, gan fy mod i'n ymwybodol fod cyllideb dros ben yn eu cyllid eleni. Fodd bynnag, am ryw reswm na allaf ei ddeall, ni all Dementia Matters ym Mhowys gael mynediad at y cyllid hwnnw. Felly, Prif Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn a hoffech chi a'r Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant ddod i ymweld â Dementia Matters yn fy etholaeth. A hefyd, ar yr ail bwynt, nid wyf i'n gofyn am fwy o arian, ond pa bwysau all Llywodraeth Cymru eu rhoi ar y bwrdd partneriaeth rhanbarthol i wneud yn siŵr bod unrhyw gyllideb dros ben yn mynd tuag at gynorthwyo pobl â dementia yn fy etholaeth?
I thank James Evans for drawing attention to the issue of Dementia Matters, which I know does fantastic work in his constituency and more broadly. I've made some enquiries into the issues that the Member has raised this afternoon, I can't promise that the local decisions will be ones that the organisation would be content with, but what I can do is to make sure that Dementia Matters make their case directly to those who make those decisions and have their chance to have their case heard. I've talked with the Minister earlier today. Welsh Government officials will intervene to make sure that if Dementia Matters feel they've not been able to have those conversations, they've not been able to put that case to those who have the funding, then we will make sure that they have that opportunity.
While I've no idea if there is any surplus money—it would be very unusual in my experience—it is the case that as well as the £12 million that goes to support the dementia action plan directly, in the first year of the regional investment fund, £26.5 million went to the third sector and analogous organisations, and there's a commitment to spend 20 per cent of the fund in that way. I want to make sure that Dementia Matters has its opportunity to make its case for part of that funding. After that, the decisions are made quite properly elsewhere. We'll make sure that that opportunity is delivered to them.
Diolch i James Evans am dynnu sylw at fater Dementia Matters, y gwn ei fod yn gwneud gwaith gwych yn ei etholaeth ac yn ehangach. Rwyf i wedi gwneud ymholiadau i'r materion y mae'r Aelod wedi'u codi y prynhawn yma, ni allaf addo y bydd y penderfyniadau lleol yn rhai y byddai'r sefydliad yn fodlon â nhw, ond yr hyn y gallaf ei wneud yw gwneud yn siŵr bod Dementia Matters yn gwneud eu dadl yn uniongyrchol i'r rhai sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau hynny ac yn cael eu cyfle i'w dadl gael ei chlywed. Rwyf i wedi siarad â'r Gweinidog yn gynharach heddiw. Bydd swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymyrryd i wneud yn siŵr, os yw Dementia Matters yn teimlo nad ydyn nhw wedi gallu cael y sgyrsiau hynny, nad ydyn nhw wedi gallu gwneud y ddadl honno i'r rhai sydd â'r cyllid, yna byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n cael y cyfle hwnnw.
Er nad oes gennyf i syniad a oes unrhyw arian dros ben—byddai'n anarferol iawn yn fy mhrofiad i—yn ogystal â'r £12 miliwn sy'n mynd i gefnogi'r cynllun gweithredu ar ddementia yn uniongyrchol, mae'n wir ym mlwyddyn gyntaf y gronfa fuddsoddi ranbarthol, bod £26.5 miliwn wedi mynd i'r trydydd sector a sefydliadau cyffelyb, ac mae ymrwymiad i wario 20 y cant o'r cyllid yn y ffordd honno. Rwyf i eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod Dementia Matters yn cael ei gyfle i wneud ei ddadl i gael rhan o'r cyllid hwnnw. Ar ôl hynny, mae'r penderfyniadau'n cael eu gwneud yn gwbl briodol mewn mannau eraill. Byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr bod y cyfle hwnnw'n cael ei ddarparu iddyn nhw.
My grandma suffered with dementia in the years before she died, and one of the most difficult things for my family was feeling that we were losing her piece by piece, and she was often frightened because she didn't understand what was happening to her. I know that charities like Alzheimer's Society Cymru are concerned about delays in publishing dementia diagnosis rates, and getting a diagnosis is so important in ensuring that the person who's going through this and the people who love them get support, support like what's provided by the Gwent integrated dementia support service with the Aneurin Bevan health board. I know they work closely with memory assessment clinics to support people at the point of diagnosis, but getting to that point takes far too long for too many families. So, could you confirm, please, whether improving diagnosis rates is a priority for the Welsh Government and let us know when you'll be publishing reliable data? Dementia is a condition that can isolate so many people, but getting that support and getting that diagnosis can help mean that people aren't going through it alone.
Roedd fy mam-gu yn dioddef gyda dementia yn y blynyddoedd cyn iddi farw, ac un o'r pethau anoddaf i fy nheulu i oedd teimlo ein bod ni'n ei cholli hi fesul darn, ac roedd hi'n aml yn ofnus gan nad oedd hi'n deall beth oedd yn digwydd iddi hi. Rwy'n gwybod bod elusennau fel Cymdeithas Alzheimer's Cymru yn poeni am oedi cyn cyhoeddi cyfraddau diagnosis dementia, ac mae cael diagnosis mor bwysig i sicrhau bod y sawl sy'n mynd trwy hyn a'r bobl sy'n ei garu yn cael cefnogaeth, cefnogaeth fel yr hyn sy'n cael ei ddarparu gan wasanaeth cymorth dementia integredig Gwent gyda bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan. Rwy'n gwybod eu bod nhw'n gweithio'n agos gyda chlinigau asesu cof i gynorthwyo pobl ar adeg diagnosis, ond mae cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw yn cymryd llawer gormod o amser i ormod o deuluoedd. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau, os gwelwch yn dda, a yw gwella cyfraddau diagnosis yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru a rhoi gwybod i ni pryd y byddwch chi'n cyhoeddi data dibynadwy? Mae dementia yn gyflwr sy'n gallu ynysu cymaint o bobl, ond gall cael y cymorth hwnnw a chael y diagnosis hwnnw helpu i olygu nad yw pobl yn mynd drwyddo ar eu pen eu hunain.
Dirprwy Lywydd, dementia is a cruel disease. It can be very cruel for the person who suffers from it, particularly those people for whom dementia is itself a bewildering and frightening experience, and it is certainly a cruel disease for families, who feel that the person they've known over all those years is somehow slipping away from them. I can certainly say to Delyth Jewell that the Welsh dementia action plan has a strong focus on diagnosis, because, in that way, people can have access, and in dementia it is quite certainly the case that the earlier you get help, the more effective that help can be. So, there is a proper focus on diagnosis, and I'm sure that, with the help of organisations in the third sector in the way that Delyth Jewell referred, we will go on trying to reach as many people as possible as early as possible. If I could say as well, Dirprwy Lywydd, to encourage people to come forward, because we know that there is still, in some families and in some parts of Wales, a reluctance to come forward. You don't want the bad news, so you stand back and wait a bit longer. The sooner people come forward, the more effective the help can be.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae dementia yn glefyd creulon. Gall fod yn greulon iawn i'r sawl sy'n dioddef ohono, yn enwedig y bobl hynny y mae dementia ei hun yn brofiad dryslyd a brawychus, ac mae'n sicr yn glefyd creulon i deuluoedd, sy'n teimlo bod yr unigolyn y maen nhw wedi ei adnabod dros yr holl flynyddoedd hynny rywsut yn llithro oddi wrthyn nhw. Gallaf yn sicr ddweud wrth Delyth Jewell bod gan gynllun gweithredu ar ddementia Cymru bwyslais cryf ar ddiagnosis, oherwydd, yn y ffordd honno, gall pobl gael mynediad, ac o ran dementia mae'n gwbl sicr yn wir mai'r cynharaf y cewch chi gymorth, y mwyaf effeithiol y gall y cymorth hwnnw fod. Felly, mae pwyslais gwirioneddol ar ddiagnosis, ac rwy'n siŵr, gyda chymorth sefydliadau yn y trydydd sector yn y ffordd y cyfeiriodd Delyth Jewell, y byddwn ni'n parhau i geisio cyrraedd cymaint o bobl â phosibl cyn gynted â phosibl. Os gallwn i ddweud hefyd, Dirprwy Lywydd, i annog pobl i ddod ymlaen, oherwydd rydym ni'n gwybod bod amharodrwydd i ddod ymlaen yn dal i fodoli mewn rhai teuluoedd ac mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru. Dydych chi ddim eisiau'r newyddion drwg, felly rydych chi'n sefyll yn ôl ac yn aros ychydig yn hwy. Y cynharaf y daw pobl ymlaen, y mwyaf effeithiol y gall y cymorth fod.
4. Beth yw strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer tyfu'r economi yng Ngorllewin De Cymru dros weddill tymor y Senedd hon? OQ60347
4. What is the Welsh Government's strategy for growing the economy in South Wales West over the remainder of this Senedd term? OQ60347
The Chancellor’s autumn statement cut the outlook for growth in the UK economy to only 0.6 per cent in this year and 0.7 per cent next year. That failure will be felt in the economy of South Wales West, even as this Government takes countervailing action.
Fe wnaeth datganiad yr hydref y Canghellor dorri'r rhagolygon ar gyfer twf yn economi'r DU i ddim ond 0.6 y cant eleni a 0.7 y cant y flwyddyn nesaf. Bydd y methiant hwnnw'n cael ei deimlo yn economi Gorllewin De Cymru, hyd yn oed wrth i'r Llywodraeth hon gymryd camau gwrthbwyso.
One in seven jobs in Wales relies on the tourism and hospitality industry, and the Welsh Government's own international passenger survey showed a significant drop in the number of tourists coming to Wales last year. We already know that the tourism spend in Wales is lower per head than the UK average, and that’s on top of the Welsh Government’s brutal 182-day rule for self-catering holiday lets, which now, according to the Professional Association of Self-Caterers, fewer than 25 per cent of businesses in Wales think they will reach, forcing them out of the sector altogether, and that’s before we even get to the future introduction of the Welsh Government’s toxic tourism tax. And even this week we’ve seen the Welsh Government’s crazy 20 mph policy cited in the media as a contributing factor for people outside of Wales not wanting to come here and visit.
First Minister—[Interruption.] Absolutely. Across South Wales West and across Wales, the tourism and hospitality industry desperately needs a champion to enhance rather than to tax the industry, but this Welsh Labour Government seems all too happy to look like we’re closed for business. So, First Minister, will you finally stand up to the tourism sector in Wales and reverse your slew of damaging anti-tourism policies?
Mae un o bob saith swydd yng Nghymru yn dibynnu ar y diwydiant twristiaeth a lletygarwch, a dangosodd arolwg teithwyr rhyngwladol Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun ostyngiad sylweddol yn nifer y twristiaid a ddaeth i Gymru y llynedd. Rydym ni eisoes yn gwybod bod y gwariant gan dwristiaid yng Nghymru yn is fesul pen na chyfartaledd y DU, ac mae hynny ar ben rheol 182 diwrnod filain Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer llety gwyliau hunanarlwyo, sydd bellach, yn ôl Cymdeithas Broffesiynol y Darparwyr Hunanarlwyo, yn llai na 25 y cant o fusnesau yng Nghymru sy'n credu y byddan nhw'n ei chyrraedd, gan eu gorfodi allan o'r sector yn gyfan gwbl, a hynny cyn i ni hyd yn oed sôn am gyflwyno treth dwristiaeth wenwynig Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol. A hyd yn oed yr wythnos hon, rydym ni wedi gweld polisi 20 mya gwallgof Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael ei nodi yn y cyfryngau fel ffactor sy'n cyfrannu at y ffaith nad yw pobl y tu allan i Gymru eisiau dod yma ac ymweld bellach.
Prif Weinidog—[Torri ar draws.] Yn sicr. Ar draws Gorllewin De Cymru a ledled Cymru, mae'r diwydiant twristiaeth a lletygarwch angen hyrwyddwr yn daer i wella yn hytrach na threthu'r diwydiant, ond mae'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn ddigon hapus i edrych fel ein bod ni ar gau ar gyfer busnes. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi sefyll i fyny o'r diwedd dros y sector twristiaeth yng Nghymru a gwrthdroi eich pentwr o bolisïau gwrth-dwristiaeth niweidiol?
Dirprwy Lywydd, anybody who read Mr Giffard’s contribution would never think of coming to Wales. He asked me to stand up for the tourism industry while he spends five minutes telling me everything that would stop people from coming here. Now, last time he asked me a question, he asked me about the town of Mumbles, so let me tell him of the Welsh tourism investment fund in that town: the £2 million that has been provided to create a high-quality serviced accommodation and restaurant in Mumbles itself, creating some 29 jobs; a further investment of £70,000 in the former micro and small business fund for the development of a five-star hotel nearby; £2.7 million for the creation of a Welsh whisky distilling and visitor centre at Hafod-Morfa in Swansea. These are practical things, these are real investments. This is how you demonstrate your support for the tourism industry in Wales, not by standing up and talking it down.
Dirprwy Lywydd, ni fyddai unrhyw un a ddarllenodd gyfraniad Mr Giffard byth yn meddwl am ddod i Gymru. Gofynnodd i mi sefyll i fyny dros y diwydiant twristiaeth tra bo ef yn treulio pum munud yn dweud wrthyf i bopeth a fyddai'n atal pobl rhag dod yma. Nawr, y tro diwethaf iddo ofyn cwestiwn i mi, gofynnodd i mi am dref y Mwmbwls, felly gadewch i mi ddweud wrtho am gronfa fuddsoddi twristiaeth Cymru yn y dref honno: y £2 filiwn a ddarparwyd i greu llety a bwyty o ansawdd uchel yn y Mwmbwls ei hun, gan greu tua 29 o swyddi; buddsoddiad pellach o £70,000 yn yr hen gronfa micro-fusnesau a busnesau bach ar gyfer datblygu gwesty pum seren gerllaw; £2.7 miliwn ar gyfer creu distyllfa wisgi Cymreig a chanolfan ymwelwyr yn Hafod-Morfa yn Abertawe. Mae'r rhain yn bethau ymarferol, mae'r rhain yn fuddsoddiadau gwirioneddol. Dyma sut rydych chi'n dangos eich cefnogaeth i'r diwydiant twristiaeth yng Nghymru, nid trwy sefyll i fyny a'i ddilorni.
Can I put the what I think is the moral and the economic case for growing the economy in South Wales West, and indeed the Valleys of South Wales West as well, which would create more jobs and get more just distribution of investment? Those two examples are to do with the request that has been made by our finance Minister Rebecca Evans to—I think it’s the fourth, fifth—[Interruption.] Sixth? How many Chancellors? [Interruption.] No. [Laughter.] The request to the current Chancellor, the latest one, on the issues of fair funding to Wales for rail investment, so we make up for the £270 million current underfunding. And also investment as well in coal-tip remediation itself, which would create jobs in inspection and monitoring and making good those tips. Is there any progress in that at all? Have the Conservatives stood up for Wales?
A gaf i wneud yr hyn yr wyf i'n ei gredu yw'r ddadl foesol ac economaidd dros dyfu'r economi yng Ngorllewin De Cymru, ac yn wir Cymoedd Gorllewin De Cymru hefyd, a fyddai'n creu mwy o swyddi ac yn sicrhau dosbarthiad mwy cyfiawn o fuddsoddiad? Mae'r ddwy enghraifft hynny yn ymwneud â'r cais a wnaed gan ein Gweinidog cyllid, Rebecca Evans i—rwy'n credu mai dyma'r pedwerydd, y pumed—[Torri ar draws.] Y chweched? Sawl Canghellor? [Torri ar draws.] Na. [Chwerthin.] Y cais i'r Canghellor presennol, yr un diweddaraf, ar faterion cyllid teg i Gymru ar gyfer buddsoddi mewn rheilffyrdd, fel ein bod ni'n gwneud yn iawn am y tanariannu presennol o £270 miliwn. A hefyd buddsoddiad mewn gwaith adweirio tomenni glo ei hun, a fyddai'n creu swyddi ym meysydd arolygu a monitro a gwneud y tomenni hynny'n ddiogel. A oes unrhyw gynnydd yn hynny o gwbl? A yw'r Ceidwadwyr wedi sefyll i fyny dros Gymru?
Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, it won’t come as a surprise to Huw Irranca-Davies to know that neither of those things were delivered in the autumn statement last week. In fact, one of the most shocking parts of the whole statement is that next year, for everything we need to do in terms of investment—investment in the tourism industry, investment in our schools, in our hospitals—the Welsh Government next year will get £6 million. Six million pounds was what the autumn statement delivered for every single investment need in Wales. Had those two things been delivered, by themselves they would have come to nearly £300 million. One of the Conservative Members says to me that it is £6 million extra, on top of the £1 million that we were offered in the spring budget in March of last year. [Laughter.] There is a real-terms cut—[Interruption.] He knows this. You say it's £6 million on top of our budget and you know that the real value of the capital budget goes down. [Interruption.]
Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, ni fydd yn syndod i Huw Irranca-Davies wybod na chafodd y naill na'r llall o'r pethau hynny eu darparu yn natganiad yr hydref yr wythnos diwethaf. A dweud y gwir, un o rannau mwyaf brawychus y datganiad cyfan yw y flwyddyn nesaf, ar gyfer popeth y mae angen i ni ei wneud o ran buddsoddi—buddsoddi yn y diwydiant twristiaeth, buddsoddi yn ein hysgolion, yn ein hysbytai—bydd Llywodraeth Cymru y flwyddyn nesaf yn cael £6 miliwn. Chwe miliwn o bunnau oedd yr hyn a ddarparodd datganiad yr hydref ar gyfer pob un buddsoddiad sydd ei angen yng Nghymru. Pe bai'r ddau beth hynny wedi cael eu darparu, ar eu pen eu hunain bydden nhw wedi dod i bron i £300 miliwn. Mae un o'r Aelodau Ceidwadol yn dweud wrthyf i ei fod yn £6 miliwn yn ychwanegol, ar ben yr £1 filiwn a gynigiwyd i ni yng nghyllideb y gwanwyn ym mis Mawrth y llynedd. [Chwerthin.] Mae hynny'n doriad termau real—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n gwybod hyn. Rydych chi'n dweud ei fod yn £6 miliwn ar ben ein cyllideb ac rydych chi'n gwybod bod gwir werth y gyllideb gyfalaf yn gostwng. [Torri ar draws.]
Darren Millar, let the First Minister answer the question.
Darren Millar, gadewch i'r Prif Weinidog ateb y cwestiwn.
It goes down this year, it goes down next year. There is less money in purchasing terms available to the Welsh Government for everything we do, and the idea—the idea—that £6 million makes up for inflation in the construction industry, that makes up for all the additional costs that you have to bear now if you are to invest—it’s laughable, it’s derisory and it tells you what that Government thinks about Wales.
Mae'n gostwng eleni, mae'n gostwng y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae llai o arian mewn termau prynu ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer popeth rydym ni'n ei wneud, ac mae'r syniad—y syniad—bod £6 miliwn yn gwneud iawn am chwyddiant yn y diwydiant adeiladu, bod hynny'n gwneud iawn am yr holl gostau ychwanegol y mae'n rhaid i chi eu hysgwyddo nawr os ydych chi'n mynd i fuddsoddi—mae'n chwerthinllyd, mae'n ddirmygus ac mae'n dweud wrthych chi beth mae'r Llywodraeth honno yn ei feddwl o Gymru.
Cwestiwn 5, Luke Fletcher.
Question 5, Luke Fletcher.
We should have had our share of HS2 money, the £270 million, and we certainly should have had the £20 million, the very modest request we made for help with remediation of dangerous coal tips. Where was the Secretary of State for Wales, Dirprwy Lywydd? Where was the Secretary of State for Wales supporting that? Had he been prepared to add his voice, instead of refusing to sign letters alongside me, as he agreed in the last meeting of the coal tip safety committee, maybe we would have had that money, but we don't have a voice for us speaking up for Wales.
Dylem ni fod wedi cael ein cyfran o arian HS2, y £270 miliwn, ac yn sicr dylem ni fod wedi cael yr £20 miliwn, y cais cymedrol iawn a wnaed gennym am gymorth i adfer tomenni glo peryglus. Ble oedd Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, Dirprwy Lywydd? Ble oedd Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru yn cefnogi hynny? Pe bai wedi bod yn barod i ychwanegu ei lais, yn hytrach na gwrthod llofnodi llythyrau ochr yn ochr â mi, fel y cytunodd yng nghyfarfod diwethaf y pwyllgor diogelwch tomenni glo, efallai y byddem ni wedi cael yr arian hwnnw, ond nid oes gennym ni lais ar ein rhan yn siarad dros Gymru.
I would like to ask all Members on all benches to ensure that I'm able to hear the First Minister in his answers, but also hear the Members in their questions.
Hoffwn i ofyn i bob Aelod ar bob mainc wneud yn siŵr fy mod i'n gallu clywed atebion y Prif Weinidog, ond hefyd yn clywed cwestiynau'r Aelodau.
Cwestiwn 5, Luke Fletcher.
Question 5, Luke Fletcher.
5. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi practisau meddygon teulu yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OQ60350
5. What is the Welsh Government doing to support GP practices in South Wales West? OQ60350
I thank Luke Fletcher for that, Llywydd. Diversification of the workforce, contract reform and investment in new facilities are amongst the actions taken by the Welsh Government to support primary care practices in South Wales West.
Diolch i Luke Fletcher am hynna, Llywydd. Mae arallgyfeirio'r gweithlu, diwygio'r contract a buddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau newydd ymhlith y camau sy'n cael eu cymryd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi practisau gofal sylfaenol yng Ngorllewin De Cymru.
Diolch am yr ateb, Prif Weinidog.
Thank you for that response.
Last week, I had the opportunity to discuss with the practice manager in Nantymoel surgery some of the very evident and acute pressures in primary care. I noted your response to Altaf Hussain last week mentioning that there has been growth in the head count of GPs in Wales. However, compared to other NHS staff groups and other branches of medical practice, the relative head count of fully qualified GPs has stagnated since 2009. There's only been a 1.8 per cent increase in GP head count since 2009, compared to a 44 per cent increase in the total consultant head count, and people are feeling this on the ground. So, while the spike in figures is welcomed, it tells us nothing about the quality, overall strength and distribution of services provided to people. I was also told in Nantymoel that there is a low number of young doctors coming through into the partnership model, which has resulted in practices being unable to replace retiring doctors, and, as a result, they're often forced to hand back their contracts to local health boards, so I would ask what the First Minister thinks about the long-term prospects for GP practices in Wales.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cefais i gyfle i drafod rhai o'r pwysau amlwg a difrifol iawn ym maes gofal sylfaenol â rheolwr practis ym meddygfa Nant-y-moel. Sylwais i ar eich ymateb i Altaf Hussain yr wythnos diwethaf yn sôn bod twf wedi bod yn nifer y meddygon teulu yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, o'i gymharu â grwpiau staff eraill y GIG a changhennau eraill o ymarfer meddygol, mae nifer cymharol y meddygon teulu cymwys wedi gostwng ers 2009. Dim ond cynnydd o 1.8 y cant sydd wedi bod yn nifer y meddygon teulu ers 2009, o'i gymharu â chynnydd o 44 y cant yng nghyfanswm y nifer o feddygon ymgynghorol, ac mae pobl yn teimlo hyn ar lawr gwlad. Felly, er bod y cynnydd sydyn mewn ffigurau i'w groesawu, nid yw'n dweud dim wrthyn ni am ansawdd, cryfder cyffredinol a dosbarthiad y gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu darparu i bobl. Cefais wybod hefyd yn Nant-y-moel fod nifer isel o feddygon ifanc yn dod drwodd i'r model partneriaeth, sydd wedi arwain at feddygfeydd yn methu â llenwi llefydd meddygon sy'n ymddeol, ac, o ganlyniad, maen nhw'n aml yn cael eu gorfodi i drosglwyddo eu contractau i fyrddau iechyd lleol, felly rwy'n gofyn beth yw barn y Prif Weinidog am y rhagolygon hirdymor ar gyfer practisau meddygon teulu yng Nghymru.
Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, first of all, let's just report on the current state of general medical services practices in the Swansea Bay and the Bridgend area. Every month, every practice has to report to the Welsh Government its own self-assessment against an escalation framework. Ninety per cent of practices in the area report themselves as being at the bottom end of that escalation framework. So, this is not the Welsh Government's assessment of pressures in GP practices; it's what GP practices themselves report on that monthly basis. Now, that is not to say that there are not pressures—of course there are pressures, we know there are—how are we going to deal with those in the future is what the Member asked. Now, the partnership model, we know, is under strain because many of the young people who come through GP training no longer regard that as the way in which they want to see their future careers. It's why we have different models emerging here in Wales. And those different models do not depend simply upon GPs; they have to depend upon the wider primary care workforce. That is why, while there has been a modest increase in the full-time equivalent number of GPs in Wales, there has been a stronger growth in wider members of the team. The physiotherapists, the pharmacists, the advanced practitioners as paramedics, the practice nurses, all of those—that is the future for primary care; it is not by an unilinear focus on growth in GPs, it is about GPs as heads of that wider clinical team offering a wider range of services to their local communities. In that way, I think there is a very strong and very successful future for primary care in Wales—and, in Wales, we have led that development, which is now being replicated in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn gyntaf oll, gadewch i ni adrodd ar gyflwr presennol practisau gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol ym Mae Abertawe ac ardal Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Bob mis, mae'n rhaid i bob practis adrodd ei hunanasesiad ei hun i Lywodraeth Cymru yn erbyn fframwaith uwchgyfeirio. Mae 90 y cant o bractisau yn yr ardal yn nodi eu bod ar waelod y fframwaith uwchgyfeirio hwnnw. Felly, nid asesiad Llywodraeth Cymru o bwysau mewn practisau yw hwn; dyma'r hyn y mae meddygfeydd eu hunain yn ei adrodd bob mis. Nawr, nid yw hynny'n golygu nad oes pwysau—wrth gwrs mae yna bwysau, rydyn ni'n gwybod hynny —sut ydyn ni'n mynd i ymdrin â'r rheiny yn y dyfodol yw'r hyn a ofynnodd yr Aelod. Nawr, mae'r model partneriaeth, rydyn ni'n gwybod, o dan straen oherwydd nad yw llawer o'r bobl ifanc sy'n dod trwy hyfforddiant meddygon teulu erbyn hyn yn ystyried hynny fel y ffordd y maen nhw eisiau gweld eu gyrfaoedd yn y dyfodol. Dyna pam mae gennym ni wahanol fodelau datblygol yma yng Nghymru. Ac nid yw'r modelau gwahanol hynny yn dibynnu ar feddygon teulu yn unig; mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddibynnu ar y gweithlu gofal sylfaenol ehangach. Dyna pam, er bod cynnydd cymedrol wedi bod yn nifer y meddygon teulu cyfwerth ag amser llawn yng Nghymru, mae twf cryfach wedi bod ymhlith aelodau ehangach y tîm. Y ffisiotherapyddion, y fferyllwyr, yr ymarferwyr uwch fel parafeddygon, y nyrsys practis, pob un ohonyn nhw—dyna'r dyfodol ar gyfer gofal sylfaenol; nid trwy ganolbwyntio unionsyth ar dwf niferoedd meddygon teulu, mae'n ymwneud â meddygon teulu fel penaethiaid y tîm clinigol ehangach hwnnw sy'n cynnig amrywiaeth ehangach o wasanaethau i'w cymunedau lleol. Yn y ffordd honno, rwy'n credu bod dyfodol cryf a llwyddiannus iawn i ofal sylfaenol yng Nghymru—ac, yng Nghymru, rydyn ni wedi arwain y datblygiad hwnnw, sydd erbyn hyn yn cael ei ailadrodd mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig.
Cwestiwn 6, Sarah Murphy.
Question 6, Sarah Murphy.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. First Minister, I've been meeting with lots of businesses across Bridgend and Porthcawl town centres recently—.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Prif Weinidog, rwyf i wedi bod yn cyfarfod â llawer o fusnesau ar draws canol trefi Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl yn ddiweddar—.
Ask the question on the paper first, please.
Gofynnwch y cwestiwn ar y papur yn gyntaf, os gwelwch yn dda.
Sorry.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf i.
6. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith datganiad yr hydref ar bobl Cymru? OQ60337
6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the autumn statement on the people of Wales? OQ60337
Dirprwy Lywydd, the people of Wales are negatively affected by the Chancellor’s statement. We face the largest fall in living standards since records began, with inflation expected to stay higher for longer and no additional investment in public services upon which we all depend. Every indication confirms that austerity is back.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae datganiad y Canghellor yn effeithio'n negyddol ar bobl Cymru. Rydyn ni'n wynebu'r gostyngiad mwyaf mewn safonau byw a gafodd ei gofnodi erioed, gyda disgwyl i chwyddiant aros yn uwch am gyfnod hirach a dim buddsoddiad ychwanegol mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yr ydyn ni i gyd yn dibynnu arnyn nhw. Mae pob arwydd yn cadarnhau bod cyni yn ôl.
Diolch. I'm going to try this again now, First Minister. Recently, I've met with lots of businesses across Bridgend and Porthcawl town centres to discuss the issues that they're facing. Small and medium businesses are the backbone of any community—I think we can all agree—and I really would like to thank them all for their dedication and perseverance during what have been very difficult times recently. During my visits, First Minister, one thing did stick out, and that was the autumn statement that has just passed. There remains a very real crisis in the town centres across this country. Growth has hit a dead end under the UK Tory Government. The tax burden currently rests at its highest level since the second world war, and there are £20 billion of overdue invoices owed to small businesses across the UK. But, currently, the UK Government's only solution to protect SMEs has been to introduce not one, not two, but eight separate reviews into this issue. First Minister, considering the tired autumn budget, do you agree with the British Retail Consortium CEO when she said:
'Retailers and their customers have been sold out by the Chancellor's statement'?
Diolch.
Diolch. Rydw i'n mynd i roi cynnig ar hyn eto nawr, Prif Weinidog, yn ddiweddar, rwyf i wedi cyfarfod â llawer o fusnesau ledled canol trefi Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl i drafod y materion y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu. Busnesau bach a chanolig yw asgwrn cefn unrhyw gymuned—rwy'n credu y gallwn ni i gyd gytuno—a hoffwn i ddiolch iddyn nhw i gyd am eu hymroddiad a'u dyfalbarhad yn ystod cyfnod sydd wedi bod yn anodd iawn yn ddiweddar. Yn ystod fy ymweliadau, Prif Weinidog, roedd un peth i'w weld yn amlwg, a datganiad yr hydref sydd newydd fynd heibio oedd hwnnw. Mae dal argyfwng gwirioneddol iawn yng nghanol trefi ledled y wlad hon. Mae twf wedi dod i ben o dan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU. Ar hyn o bryd mae'r baich trethi ar ei lefel uchaf ers yr ail ryfel byd, ac mae £20 biliwn o anfonebau hwyr yn ddyledus i fusnesau bach ledled y DU. Ond, ar hyn o bryd, unig ateb Llywodraeth y DU i warchod busnesau bach a chanolig oedd cyflwyno nid un, nid dau, ond wyth adolygiad ar wahân i'r mater hwn. Prif Weinidog, o ystyried cyllideb dreuliedig yr hydref, a ydych chi'n cytuno â Phrif Swyddog Gweithredol Consortiwm Manwerthu Prydain pan ddywedodd:
'Mae manwerthwyr a'u cwsmeriaid wedi cael eu bradychu gan ddatganiad y Canghellor'?
Diolch.
Well, there's no doubt at all, Dirprwy Lywydd, is there, that the autumn statement offers nothing for those people who use the high street every day. Twenty billion pounds, which could have been used for many, many other purposes, are to be rushed forward in tax cuts on 1 January, but even that does not mitigate the fact that, at the end of that, the tax take in the United Kingdom will be at the highest level since the second world war. While the Government is taking more tax from everybody than ever before, it will not invest in public services. It was forced to downgrade its forecasts for economic growth, while at the same time recognising that inflation is going to be higher than it thought only six months ago. This means that there is less money in people's pockets, less money for people to go out on the high street, less money to use that stimulus that comes when ordinary citizens, not just the best-off in the land, have money in their pockets to do the things that turn that economy around. There is a different economic model available. Instead of heading towards it, this is a Government that has headed straight back to the mistakes they first made back in 2010.
Wel, does dim amheuaeth o gwbl, Dirprwy Lywydd, oes 'na, nad yw datganiad yr hydref yn cynnig unrhyw beth i'r bobl hynny sy'n defnyddio'r stryd fawr bob dydd. Mae 20 biliwn o bunnau, y byddai modd eu defnyddio ar gyfer llawer mwy o ddibenion eraill, wedi'u rhuthro ymlaen mewn toriadau treth ar 1 Ionawr, ond nid yw hyd yn oed hynny'n lliniaru'r ffaith, ar ddiwedd hynny, y bydd y dreth sy'n cael ei chymryd yn y Deyrnas Unedig ar y lefel uchaf ers yr ail ryfel byd. Er bod y Llywodraeth yn cymryd mwy o dreth gan bawb nag erioed o'r blaen, ni fydd yn buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Cafodd ei gorfodi i israddio ei rhagolygon ar gyfer twf economaidd, ac ar yr un pryd cydnabod bod chwyddiant yn mynd i fod yn uwch na'r hyn yr oedd yn ei ystyried chwe mis yn ôl. Mae hyn yn golygu bod llai o arian ym mhocedi pobl, llai o arian i bobl fynd allan ar y stryd fawr, llai o arian i ddefnyddio'r ysgogiad hwnnw sy'n dod pan fydd dinasyddion cyffredin, nid dim ond y rhai mwyaf cefnog yn y wlad, yn cael arian yn eu pocedi i wneud y pethau sy'n troi'r economi honno o gwmpas. Mae model economaidd gwahanol ar gael. Yn hytrach na mynd tuag ato, Llywodraeth yw hon sydd wedi mynd yn syth nôl i'r camgymeriadau a wnaethon nhw gyntaf nôl yn 2010.
I'm disappointed in you, First Minister. I thought you might have been more positive in welcoming the fantastic benefits for Wales arising from the autumn statement: 1.2 million workers in Wales to benefit from £324 in the pocket; 130,000 to benefit from the national living wage rise in Wales—that's £1,800 back in those pockets—the triple lock maintained for pensioners; benefits to rise in line with inflation; a local housing allowance increase to continue to supporting families with the cost of living; two new £160 million investment zones in north and south-east Wales; £5 million for transport links in Monmouthshire; £305 million in Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Government, on top of its record block grant. Taken together, this autumn statement—
Rydych wedi fy siomi, Prif Weinidog. Roeddwn i'n credu efallai y byddech chi wedi bod yn fwy cadarnhaol wrth groesawu'r manteision gwych i Gymru sy'n deillio o ddatganiad yr hydref: 1.2 miliwn o weithwyr yng Nghymru i elwa ar £324 yn y boced; 130,000 i elwa ar godiad yn y cyflog byw cenedlaethol yng Nghymru—dyna £1,800 nôl yn y pocedi hynny—y clo triphlyg wedi'i gadw ar gyfer pensiynwyr; budd-daliadau i gynyddu yn unol â chwyddiant; cynyddu'r lwfans tai lleol i barhau i gefnogi teuluoedd gyda chostau byw; dau barth buddsoddi newydd gwerth £160 miliwn yn y gogledd ac yn y de-ddwyrain; £5 miliwn ar gyfer cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth yn sir Fynwy; £305 miliwn mewn symiau canlyniadol Barnett ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru, ar ben ei grant bloc mwyaf erioed. At ei gilydd, datganiad yr hydref hwn—
Janet, you need to ask your question now, please.
Janet, mae angen i chi ofyn eich cwestiwn nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.
—is the largest ever cut to employee and self-employed national insurance. But let's look at the Welsh Government. Introducing—
— yw'r toriad mwyaf erioed i yswiriant cenedlaethol gweithwyr a phobl hunangyflogedig. Ond gadewch i ni edrych ar Lywodraeth Cymru. Gan gyflwyno—
No, Janet. Janet. Janet, question please.
Na, Janet. Janet. Janet, cwestiwn os gwelwch yn dda.
—a tourism tax. At what stage, First Minister, will you get behind the people of Wales by backing the UK Government on its autumn spending plans, and also doing a lot more for our businesses here in Wales? Diolch.
—treth twristiaeth. Ar ba adeg, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi gefnogi pobl Cymru drwy gefnogi Llywodraeth y DU ar ei chynlluniau gwario'r hydref, gan hefyd wneud llawer mwy i'n busnesau yma yng Nghymru? Diolch.
Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, there are some aspects of the autumn statement that I think I do welcome. I do welcome the fact that the triple lock was, in the end, observed, despite all the trailing by the UK Government that they were not going to do that, and I'm glad that benefits were uprated properly in line with inflation. So, there are some things in there that are to be welcomed. But the overall verdict on the budget is that set out by the Institute for Government. So, this is not the Welsh Government's view; this is the highly respected and independent Institute for Government. Here's what they said:
'The chancellor has abdicated his responsibility for public service performance, leaving it for the next government to pick up the pieces.'
And my message to the Member is: that next Government can't come soon enough.
Wel, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae rhai agweddau ar ddatganiad yr hydref yr wyf i'n credu fy mod i'n eu croesawu. Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod y clo triphlyg, yn y diwedd, yn cael ei gadw, er gwaethaf yr holl sôn gan Lywodraeth y DU nad oedden nhw'n mynd i wneud hynny, ac rwy'n falch bod budd-daliadau wedi'u gwella'n briodol yn unol â chwyddiant. Felly, mae rhai pethau i'w croesawu. Ond y dyfarniad cyffredinol ar y gyllideb yw'r un a gafodd ei nodi gan y Sefydliad Llywodraethu. Felly, nid barn Llywodraeth Cymru yw hon; dyma'r Sefydliad Llywodraethu annibynnol ac uchel ei barch. Dyma'r hyn a ddywedon nhw:
'Mae'r canghellor wedi ildio'i gyfrifoldeb am berfformiad gwasanaeth cyhoeddus, gan ei adael i'r llywodraeth nesaf ymdrin â'r llanastr.'
A fy neges i'r Aelod yw: na all y Llywodraeth nesaf ddod yn ddigon buan.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddarparu gwasanaethau iechyd yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda? OQ60318
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery of health services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area? OQ60318
I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. The health board continues to invest in the community to move activity closer to home. At the same time, it has strengthened regional arrangements for services better delivered on that wider west Wales footprint.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn parhau i fuddsoddi yn y gymuned i symud gweithgaredd yn agosach at adref. Ar yr un pryd, mae wedi cryfhau trefniadau rhanbarthol ar gyfer gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu darparu'n well ar yr ôl troed ehangach hwnnw yn y gorllewin.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Now, recent figures show that over half of patients waiting for eye care treatment in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area have not actually been seen within the target date. Now, each of these patients is at risk of irreversible harm or potential sight loss if their target date is missed, and so I'm sure you'll agree with me that more needs to be done to ensure that the most urgent cases are seen as quickly as possible. So, can you tell us what action the Welsh Government is taking to address these worrying statistics so that patients living in my constituency and, indeed, in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, can be confident that they will be seen before any irreversible harm is done to their eyesight?
Diolch am yr ateb yna Prif Weinidog. Nawr, mae ffigurau diweddar yn dangos nad yw dros hanner y cleifion sy'n aros am driniaeth gofal llygaid yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda wedi cael eu gweld o fewn y dyddiad targed. Nawr, mae pob un o'r cleifion hyn yn wynebu niwed nad oes modd ei wrthdroi neu o golli golwg, o bosibl, os ydy eu dyddiad targed yn cael ei fethu, ac felly rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n cytuno â mi bod angen gwneud mwy i sicrhau bod yr achosion mwyaf brys yn cael eu gweld cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyn ni pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ymdrin â'r ystadegau pryderus hyn fel y gall cleifion sy'n byw yn fy etholaeth i ac, yn wir, yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, fod yn hyderus y byddan nhw'n cael eu gweld cyn i unrhyw niwed nad oes modd ei wrthdroi gael ei wneud i'w golwg?
Well, Llywydd, I share the Member's concerns. I attended an annual event—a minority ethnic health fair held here in city hall last month—and I had a chance there to speak to the Macular Society, and they had representatives from the Hywel Dda health board area. They raised with me a number of the points that Paul Davies has made this afternoon. As a result, I have asked officials of the Welsh Government to meet with the Macular Society. They've done that. They've developed a plan with them to make sure we have the best possible information. There will be a further meeting with the society once that information is gathered. And then it is for the health board to make sure that they do as Paul Davies has said—that they prioritise those whose needs are the greatest. One of the ways in which that is being done is by recruitment of new staff. Secondly, we are strengthening the high street optometry service, because many people can be successfully seen there, using the skills of that part of the workforce. And then we need, in Hywel Dda, as we have seen in many other health boards in Wales, a review of those waiting lists to make sure that there's nobody on that waiting list who could be more suitably seen elsewhere, and that those people are not, therefore, slowing up the service for others who need that attention more urgently. There are things that the health board can do. We will work with those on the ground, those patients whose lives are directly impacted, and then we will look to see that the necessary improvements are made.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n rhannu pryderon yr Aelod. Roeddwn yn bresennol mewn digwyddiad blynyddol—ffair iechyd pobl o leiafrifoedd ethnig a gafodd ei chynnal yma yn neuadd y ddinas fis diwethaf—a chefais i gyfle yno i siarad â'r Gymdeithas Facwlaidd, ac roedd ganddyn nhw gynrychiolwyr o ardal bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda. Fe wnaethon nhw godi nifer o'r pwyntiau mae Paul Davies wedi'u gwneud y prynhawn yma. O ganlyniad, rwyf i wedi gofyn i swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru gyfarfod â'r Gymdeithas Facwlaidd. Maen nhw wedi gwneud hynny. Maen nhw wedi datblygu cynllun gyda nhw i sicrhau bod gennym ni'r wybodaeth orau bosibl. Bydd cyfarfod arall gyda'r gymdeithas unwaith y bydd yr wybodaeth honno yn cael ei chasglu. Ac yna mater i'r bwrdd iechyd yw gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gwneud fel y dywedodd Paul Davies—eu bod yn blaenoriaethu'r rhai sydd â'r anghenion mwyaf. Un o'r ffyrdd y mae hynny'n cael ei wneud yw recriwtio staff newydd. Yn ail, rydyn ni'n cryfhau gwasanaeth optometreg y stryd fawr, oherwydd mae modd gweld llawer o bobl yno'n llwyddiannus, gan ddefnyddio sgiliau'r rhan honno o'r gweithlu. Ac yna mae angen i ni, yn Hywel Dda, fel yr ydyn ni wedi'i weld mewn llawer o fyrddau iechyd eraill yng Nghymru, adolygu'r rhestrau aros hynny i wneud yn siŵr nad oes neb ar y rhestr aros honno y byddai modd eu gweld yn fwy addas mewn mannau eraill, ac nad yw'r bobl hynny, felly, yn arafu'r gwasanaeth i eraill sydd angen y sylw hwnnw ar fwy o frys. Mae yna bethau y gall y bwrdd iechyd eu gwneud. Byddwn ni'n gweithio gyda'r rhai ar lawr gwlad, y cleifion hynny yr effeithir ar eu bywydau uniongyrchol, ac yna byddwn ni'n edrych i weld a yw'r gwelliannau angenrheidiol yn cael eu gwneud.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Mike Hedges.
Finally, question 8, Mike Hedges.
8. Beth yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyrff cyhoeddus yn defnyddio meddalwedd ffynhonnell agored? OQ60316
8. What is the Welsh Government’s policy on the use of open-source software by public bodies? OQ60316
Llywydd, public bodies are responsible for managing and running their own information technology systems. The Welsh Government endorses the best practice advice published by the UK Government and National Cyber Security Centre, alongside the specific digital services standards for Wales.
Llywydd, mae cyrff cyhoeddus yn gyfrifol am reoli a chynnal eu systemau technoleg gwybodaeth eu hunain. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymeradwyo'r cyngor arfer gorau y mae Lywodraeth y DU a'r Ganolfan Seiberddiogelwch Genedlaethol yn ei gyhoeddi, ochr yn ochr â safonau gwasanaethau digidol penodol Cymru.
I thank the First Minister for that response. In times when savings need to be made in the public sector, fixed costs are often overlooked. Buying Microsoft applications and Microsoft Windows is the option of choice, an expensive option of choice. I'm sure the advice that the First Minister has received is that open-source software is unreliable and prone to viruses. The fact that's untrue is immaterial. A commercial licence doesn't guarantee security—with paid software, you simply have to trust the vendor. Firefox and GIMP are examples of open-source software that I use, and I'm sure other people use. Will the First Minister use ICT academics to look at the possible use of open-source software in the Welsh public sector, thus saving large sums of money?
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb yna. Ar adegau pan fo angen gwneud arbedion yn y sector cyhoeddus, mae costau sefydlog yn aml yn cael eu hanwybyddu. Prynu cymwysiadau Microsoft a Microsoft Windows yw'r hoff ddewis, hoff ddewis drud. Rwy'n siŵr mai'r cyngor y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i dderbyn yw bod meddalwedd ffynhonnell agored yn annibynadwy ac yn agored i feirysau. Mae'r ffaith bod hynny'n anghywir yn ddibwys. Nid yw trwydded fasnachol yn gwarantu diogelwch—o ran meddalwedd y mae'n rhaid talu amdano, mae'n rhaid i chi ymddiried yn y gwerthwr. Mae Firefox a GIMP yn enghreifftiau o feddalwedd ffynhonnell agored rwy'n eu defnyddio, ac rwy'n siŵr bod pobl eraill yn eu defnyddio. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddefnyddio academyddion TGCh i ystyried defnydd meddalwedd ffynhonnell agored yn sector cyhoeddus Cymru, o bosibl, gan arbed symiau mawr o arian?
Well, Llywydd, the advice that the Welsh Government has endorsed, the advice that comes through the National Cyber Security Centre, is that open source ought to be the first place that public bodies go to. So, there is no advice to public bodies not to use open-source material. Indeed, they're told that that should be their first port of call. But there will be circumstances where there are issues to do with reliability, to do with standards, to do with security, where it will make better sense to go to a commercial supplier of a licence. A licence doesn't guarantee security, as Mike Hedges says, Dirprwy Lywydd, but it does mean that if something goes wrong, you have recourse to the person who has provided that service to you. And there are some parts of the public sector where that level of reliability is essential.
So, I think it is absolutely a matter of matching the need with the nature of the supply. There will be many, many examples where open-source software is the right answer, and we encourage public authorities to use that open-source software in those circumstances. It isn't the right answer every time; you've got to make an assessment of risk in each specific instance, and there will be other examples where a commercial provider is the right answer.
But I want to give Mike Hedges an assurance that open-source software is available to Welsh public authorities, and the expert advice that we rely on coming through the National Cyber Security Centre is available to us here in Wales.
Wel, Llywydd, y cyngor y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i gymeradwyo, y cyngor sy'n dod drwy'r Ganolfan Seiberddiogelwch Genedlaethol, yw mai meddalwedd ffynhonnell agored ddylai fod y lle cyntaf y mae cyrff cyhoeddus yn mynd iddo. Felly, nid oes cyngor i gyrff cyhoeddus beidio â defnyddio deunydd ffynhonnell agored. Yn wir, maen nhw'n cael gwybod mai dyna ddylai fod eu dewis cyntaf. Ond bydd amgylchiadau lle mae materion yn ymwneud â dibynadwyedd, yn ymwneud â safonau, yn ymwneud â diogelwch, lle bydd yn gwneud gwell synnwyr i fynd at gyflenwr masnachol trwydded. Nid yw trwydded yn gwarantu diogelwch, fel y mae Mike Hedges yn ei ddweud, Dirprwy Lywydd, ond mae'n golygu, os aiff rhywbeth o'i le, bod gennych chi hawl i droi at y person sydd wedi darparu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw i chi. Ac mae rhai rhannau o'r sector cyhoeddus lle mae'r lefel honno o ddibynadwyedd yn hanfodol.
Felly, rwy'n credu ei fod yn fater o baru'r angen â natur y cyflenwad. Bydd yna lawer, llawer o enghreifftiau lle mae meddalwedd ffynhonnell agored yn cynnig yr ateb cywir, ac rydyn ni'n annog awdurdodau cyhoeddus i ddefnyddio'r feddalwedd ffynhonnell agored honno o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny. Nid dyna'r ateb cywir bob tro; Mae'n rhaid i chi wneud asesiad risg ym mhob achos penodol, a bydd enghreifftiau eraill pan fo darparwr masnachol yn cynnig yr ateb cywir.
Ond rwyf i eisiau rhoi sicrwydd i Mike Hedges bod meddalwedd ffynhonnell agored ar gael i awdurdodau cyhoeddus Cymru, ac mae'r cyngor arbenigol yr ydyn ni'n dibynnu arno sy'n dod drwy'r Ganolfan Seiberddiogelwch Genedlaethol ar gael i ni yma yng Nghymru.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
I thank the First Minister.
Eitem 2 yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a galwaf ar y Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths.
Item 2 is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. There's one change to this week's Government business, which is set out in the revised papers. I have withdrawn the Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023, and I will re-lay revised regulations in time for a debate on 12 December.
Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae un newid i fusnes y Llywodraeth yr wythnos hon, sydd wedi'i nodi yn y papurau diwygiedig. Rwyf i wedi tynnu Rheoliadau Iechyd Planhigion ac ati (Ffioedd Amrywiol) (Diwygio) (Cymru) 2023 yn ôl, a byddaf i'n ail-osod rheoliadau diwygiedig mewn pryd ar gyfer dadl ar 12 Rhagfyr.
Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Trefnydd, can I call for two statements this week? Can I have a statement from the Minister with responsibility for apprenticeships in Wales and work-based learning? I had a meeting with Coleg—not Coleg Cambria, what's the other one—Coleg Llandrillo in my constituency, just yesterday, and we were talking about the challenges in the further education sector in relation to the work-based learning contracts cuts, which the Welsh Government is proposing to make. Now, over the border in England, the UK Government has been investing heavily in apprenticeships and work-based learning contracts, and, in fact, has announced even further funding in the autumn statement. Yet, in Wales, we seem to be rowing back, and I think it would be helpful to understand why the Welsh Government has made that particular decision, especially given the success that many apprenticeships have seen in Wales over the years.
Secondly, we had Road Safety Week just last week, and it reminded me of the problems that many of my constituents are facing in Glasfryn on the A5 trunk road. This is one I haven't raised in the Chamber before, but there is a problem with the speed limit on that road at the moment. It's currently a national speed limit that goes straight through the village, and, of course, if you see street lighting less than 200 yards apart, then the national speed limit is 20 mph. But, unfortunately, many people assume it, in those situations, to still be 60 mph, because it's a single carriageway. Now, there is a national speed limit sign directly opposite a children's playing area and field as you go into the village, and, clearly, this is an inappropriate speed limit for people in the village to have to face. People are putting their lives at risk, basically, when they cross the road at the moment, which is clearly not good enough.
So, can I ask for the signage to be looked at in Glasfryn? As I say, the national speed limit sign can mean 70, 60, or indeed 20 mph, but not all motorists are aware of that, or familiar with those rules. So, clearly, a 20 mph sign would be fabulous. If not, then a 30 mph sign, which is probably the more appropriate speed limit for that particular stretch of road.
Trefnydd, a gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad yr wythnos hon? A gaf i ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am brentisiaethau yng Nghymru a dysgu yn seiliedig ar waith? Cefais i gyfarfod gyda'r Coleg—nid Coleg Cambria, beth yw'r llall—Coleg Llandrillo yn fy etholaeth i, dim ond ddoe, ac roedden ni'n sôn am yr heriau yn y sector addysg nawr o ran y toriadau mewn contractau dysgu yn seiliedig ar waith, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu eu gwneud. Nawr, dros y ffin yn Lloegr, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn prentisiaethau a chontractau dysgu yn seiliedig ar waith, ac, mewn gwirionedd, mae wedi cyhoeddi mwy o gyllid byth yn natganiad yr hydref. Eto, yng Nghymru, mae'n ymddangos ein bod ni'n mynd tuag at yn ôl, ac rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol deall pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud y penderfyniad penodol hwnnw, yn enwedig o ystyried y llwyddiant y mae llawer o brentisiaethau wedi'i weld yng Nghymru dros y blynyddoedd.
Yn ail, cawson ni Wythnos Diogelwch ar y Ffyrdd yr wythnos diwethaf, ac fe wnaeth fy atgoffa o'r problemau y mae llawer o fy etholwyr yn eu hwynebu yng Nglasfryn ar gefnffordd yr A5. Mae hon yn un nad wyf wedi'i chodi yn y Siambr o'r blaen, ond mae problem gyda'r terfyn cyflymder ar y ffordd honno ar hyn o bryd. Ar hyn o bryd, terfyn cyflymder cenedlaethol sy'n mynd yn syth drwy'r pentref, ac, wrth gwrs, os ydych chi'n gweld goleuadau stryd llai na 200 llath ar wahân, yna 20 mya yw'r terfyn cyflymder cenedlaethol. Ond, yn anffodus, mae llawer o bobl yn tybio ei fod, yn y sefyllfaoedd hynny, yn dal i fod yn 60 mya, oherwydd ei fod yn gerbytffordd sengl. Nawr, mae arwydd terfyn cyflymder cenedlaethol yn union gyferbyn ag ardal chwarae plant a chae wrth i chi fynd i mewn i'r pentref, ac, yn amlwg, mae hwn yn derfyn cyflymder amhriodol i bobl yn y pentref orfod ei wynebu. Mae pobl yn peryglu eu bywydau, yn y bôn, wrth iddyn nhw groesi'r ffordd ar hyn o bryd, nad yw'n ddigon da, yn amlwg.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn bod yr arwyddion yng Nglasfryn yn cael eu hystyried? Fel y dywedais i, gall yr arwydd terfyn cyflymder cenedlaethol olygu 70, 60, neu yn wir 20 mya, ond nid yw pob gyrrwr yn ymwybodol o hynny, nac yn gyfarwydd â'r rheolau hynny. Felly, yn amlwg, byddai arwydd 20 mya yn wych. Os nad hwnnw, yna arwydd 30 mya., sef y terfyn cyflymder mwy priodol ar gyfer y rhan benodol honno o'r ffordd mae'n debyg.
Thank you. With regard to your second question, I'm not familiar with the road that you refer to, but one of the reasons for bringing forward the default 20 mph speed limit was to ensure further safety on the roads. With what you describe, you're obviously concerned that this is not the case on that particular road. So, I think it is really important that the correct signage is put up. I'm not quite sure if it's the local authority, or if it's a trunk road; I'm not quite sure what you were saying. But I think it is really important that that is rectified as quickly as possible.
In relation to apprenticeships, the Minister for Economy is at his seat now, and, as you say, we absolutely value our apprentices here in Wales. I think we were the first country to have the all-age apprenticeships. But you'll be aware of the very difficult financial position we are in, and we're having to look at everything, right across the board.
Diolch. O ran eich ail gwestiwn, nid wyf yn gyfarwydd â'r ffordd y ydych chi'n cyfeirio ati, ond un o'r rhesymau dros gyflwyno'r terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20 mya oedd sicrhau mwy o ddiogelwch ar y ffyrdd. Gyda'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddisgrifio, rydych chi'n amlwg yn poeni nad yw hyn yn wir ar y ffordd benodol honno. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod yr arwyddion cywir yn cael eu gosod. Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr ai mater i'r awdurdod lleol ydyw, neu os yw'n gefnffordd; nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr beth yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud. Ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod hynny'n cael ei gywiro cyn gynted â phosibl.
O ran prentisiaethau, mae Gweinidog yr Economi yn ei sedd nawr, ac, fel y dywedwch chi, rydyn ni'n gwerthfawrogi ein prentisiaid yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu mai ni oedd y wlad gyntaf i gael y prentisiaethau pob oed. Ond byddwch chi'n ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa ariannol anodd iawn yr ydyn ni ynddi, ac rydyn ni'n gorfod ystyried popeth, yn gyffredinol.
Gaf fi yn y lle cyntaf ategu'r pwynt sydd newydd gael ei wneud ynglŷn â'r angen i fynd i'r afael â chyflymdra y ffordd yn Glasfryn? Hyd y gwn i, dyma'r unig bentref ar hyd yr A5 yn gyfan sydd heb gyfyngiad cyflymder, felly mae hwnna efallai'n dweud rhywbeth ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa. Felly, fe fydden i jest eisiau ategu a chefnogi'r pwynt sydd newydd gael ei wneud.
Gaf fi ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, neu'r Dirprwy Weinidog trafnidiaeth, ynglŷn â disgwyliadau Llywodraeth Cymru o Drafnidiaeth Cymru pan fo'n dod i ddarparu gwasanaethau trên ar gyfer digwyddiadau chwaraeon mawr yng Nghaerdydd? Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n ymwybodol o'r dystiolaeth a dderbynion ni ym mhwyllgor yr amgylchedd yr wythnos diwethaf gan Drafnidiaeth Cymru, a oedd yn cyfaddef eu bod nhw ddim wedi ffocysu'n ddigonol yn y gorffennol ar gemau pêl-droed rhyngwladol. Nawr, mae hynny'n siomedig eithriadol, oherwydd rŷn ni wedi cael sicrwydd gan y Prif Weinidog a Gweinidogion yn y Siambr yma y byddai yna wasanaethau digonol yn y dyfodol, pan ydw i ac eraill wedi codi gofid ynglŷn â hyn. Mae gan Drafnidiaeth Cymru bedwar mis nawr i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael eu hact at ei gilydd ar gyfer y gemau ail gyfle ym mis Mawrth. A fyddech chi'n cytuno bod hwnna'n rhyw fath o litmus test, i weld pa mor o ddifrif y maen nhw'n cymryd yr angen i wella gwasanaethau yn y cyd-destun yna? A pha sicrwydd y gallwch chi ei roi fel Llywodraeth bod y Llywodraeth ei hunan yn cymryd y mater yma yn ddigon o ddifrif hefyd?
May I in the first instance endorse the point that's been made on the need to tackle the speed limit at Glasfryn? As far as I know, it's the only village along the whole A5 that doesn't have a speed limit, so that might tell you something about the situation. So, I would just like to echo and support the point that's just been made.
May I ask for a statement from the Minister for Climate Change, or the Deputy Minister for transport, regarding the Welsh Government's expectations of Transport for Wales when it comes to providing train services for major sporting events in Cardiff? I'm sure you will be aware of the evidence that we received in the environment committee last week from Transport for Wales, who admitted that they hadn't been adequately focused in the past on international football matches. Now, that's very disappointing, because we've been given an assurance by the First Minister and other Ministers in this Chamber that there would be adequate services in the future, when I and others have raised concerns about this issue. Transport for Wales has four months now to ensure that they get their act together for the play-off games in March. Would you agree that that is some kind of litmus test as to how serious they take the need to improve services in that context? And what assurance can you as a Government give that the Government itself is taking this issue seriously enough too?
Thank you. I was aware of the evidence that Transport for Wales gave your committee last week. I think they said they haven't had the focus on football in the same way as they'd had on rugby. I have to say, with my Member of the Senedd hat on, I've been working with Transport for Wales around trains back to south Wales after home Wrexham matches, and I've found them very happy to have that flexibility, and I think they really need to apply that to the international football matches as well. My understanding was that there was a train available after the international match last week, but it was a very tight squeeze, obviously, for people to get from the stadium and catch the train. So, from my understanding, they're very willing to look at that.
Diolch. Roeddwn i'n ymwybodol o'r dystiolaeth a roddodd Trafnidiaeth Cymru i'ch pwyllgor yr wythnos diwethaf. Rwy'n credu eu bod nhw wedi dweud nad ydyn nhw wedi canolbwyntio ar bêl-droed yn yr un ffordd ag oedden nhw ar rygbi. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, gan wisgo fy het Aelod o'r Senedd, rwyf i wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru o ran trenau yn ôl i dde Cymru ar ôl gemau cartref yn Wrecsam, ac rwyf i wedi'u gweld yn hapus iawn i gael yr hyblygrwydd hwnnw, ac rwy'n credu bod gwir angen iddyn nhw gymhwyso hynny i'r gemau pêl-droed rhyngwladol hefyd. Fy nealltwriaeth i oedd bod trên ar gael wedi'r gêm ryngwladol yr wythnos diwethaf, ond roedd hi'n dynn iawn, yn amlwg, i bobl fynd o'r stadiwm a dal y trên. Felly, o fy nealltwriaeth, maen nhw'n barod iawn i edrych ar hynny.
Minister, can I please request a Government statement on ongoing issues surrounding our bus network? I understand the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, who is responsible for these matters, is off for the foreseeable, and I sincerely do wish him all the best, but I am afraid that serious questions need answering particularly in the meantime. There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the bus transition fund, with talk that vital cash will run out by the end of the year, instead of the end of March 2024 as originally planned. As a result, there's genuinely a great deal of panic within the industry, as, yet again, they are facing another cliff-edge moment. Minister, many small and medium-sized enterprises are packing up and leaving the industry, as they simply cannot afford to stay afloat. Another 10 per cent cut in services across the network is expected as a result, I have been told, and one operator who spoke to me said, and I quote, 'It's a real mess'. Minister, this is a serious situation. The Government really does need to provide clarity on exactly when this money will run out and what further support is going to be provided to the bus industry, which it so desperately needs. Thank you.
Gweinidog, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar faterion parhaus yn ymwneud â'n rhwydwaith bysiau? Rwy'n deall bod y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, sy'n gyfrifol am y materion hyn, i ffwrdd am gyfnod amhenodol, ac rwy'n dymuno'r gorau iddo'n ddiffuant, ond mae arnaf i ofn bod angen ateb cwestiynau difrifol yn enwedig yn y cyfamser. Mae llawer iawn o ansicrwydd ynghylch y gronfa bontio ar gyfer bysiau, gyda sôn y bydd arian hanfodol yn dod i ben erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn, yn hytrach na diwedd mis Mawrth 2024 fel y cafodd ei gynllunio'n wreiddiol. O ganlyniad, mae llawer iawn o banig yn y diwydiant, gan eu bod, unwaith eto, yn wynebu ennyd arall ar y dibyn. Gweinidog, mae llawer o fentrau bach a chanolig yn gadael y diwydiant, gan na allan nhw fforddio parhau. Y disgwyl yw cael toriad arall o 10 y cant mewn gwasanaethau ar draws y rhwydwaith o ganlyniad, yr wyf i wedi cael gwybod, a dywedodd un gweithredwr a siaradodd â mi, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, 'Mae'n llanast go iawn.' Gweinidog, mae hon yn sefyllfa ddifrifol. Mae gwir angen i'r Llywodraeth roi eglurder ynghylch pryd yn union y bydd yr arian hwn yn dod i ben a pha gymorth arall fydd yn cael ei ddarparu i'r diwydiant bysiau, y mae ei angen yn ddirfawr. Diolch.
Well, the Minister for Climate Change, in the absence of the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, will be having these discussions with bus services. You will have heard both Ministers say many times in this Chamber that we haven't seen the patronage return to our bus services that we had pre COVID, but you'll be aware of the significant funding that Welsh Government did bring forward to support the bus service.
Wel, bydd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, yn absenoldeb y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, yn cael y trafodaethau hyn gyda gwasanaethau bysiau. Byddwch chi wedi clywed y ddau Weinidog yn dweud droeon yn y Siambr hon nad ydyn ni wedi gweld y gefnogaeth yn dychwelyd i'n gwasanaethau bysiau a gawson ni cyn COVID, ond byddwch chi'n ymwybodol o'r cyllid sylweddol y gwnaeth Lywodraeth Cymru ei gyflwyno i gefnogi'r gwasanaeth bysiau.
Good afternoon, Minister. I'd like to request two statements, if I may, one from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, regarding Welsh Government engagement with the tourism sector. At a recent conference in Llandrindod Wells, the chair of Welsh tourism actually expressed alarm over the interaction with the Welsh Government, and said that there is a dire need to restore relations. So, I'm just after a reaffirmation, if I may, that there are meaningful and transparent interactions and co-operation, given the importance of the tourism industry here in Wales.
And the second statement is from you, with regards to mental health issues in our farming and agricultural community. As you'll know from being at the winter show, the DPJ Foundation, which is a fabulous organisation, won the best non-agricultural stand, for promoting important issues around mental health within the farming community. So, I wondered if you also could reaffirm your continued commitment to the mental health of farmers and those in our agricultural community. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Gweinidog. Hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, os caf i, un gan Ddirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth, ynghylch ymgysylltu Llywodraeth Cymru â'r sector twristiaeth. Mewn cynhadledd ddiweddar yn Llandrindod, mynegodd cadeirydd twristiaeth Cymru ofn ynglŷn â'r rhyngweithio â Llywodraeth Cymru, a dywedodd fod angen dybryd i adfer cysylltiadau. Felly, rwyf i ond yn ceisio ailgadarnhad, os caf i, fod yna ryngweithio a chydweithredu ystyrlon a thryloyw, o ystyried pwysigrwydd y diwydiant twristiaeth yma yng Nghymru.
Ac mae'r ail ddatganiad gennych chi, o ran materion iechyd meddwl yn ein cymuned ffermio ac amaethyddol. Fel y gwyddoch chi o fod yn y sioe aeaf, enillodd Sefydliad DPJ, sy'n sefydliad gwych, y stondin orau nad yw'n amaethyddol, am hyrwyddo materion pwysig yn ymwneud ag iechyd meddwl yn y gymuned ffermio. Felly, tybed a allech chi hefyd ailgadarnhau eich ymrwymiad parhaus i iechyd meddwl ffermwyr a'r rhai yn ein cymuned amaethyddol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Yes, I'm absolutely very happy to continue my support of the amazing charities that we have within the agricultural sector. I met with the Wales Farm Support Group yesterday at the winter fair. I always try to meet with them regularly, and obviously being at the winter fair yesterday, all the charities under the umbrella of the Wales Farm Support Group—. You may be aware, we established that back in May 2019, so that we can bring all those charities together, because between them they have a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience. It was very sobering to meet with the charities yesterday, to hear about the significant increase in referrals, even more than when we met at the summer show back in July, and people are still really struggling, obviously, with the cost-of-living crisis.
I have invested £45,000 to develop FarmWell Wales, which is an information hub, to build resilience for our farmers and their families, and their businesses going forward. You mentioned the DPJ Foundation, which I've been very happy to support, and it was good to meet with the chief executive yesterday to hear of the training they're bringing forward in every corner of Wales, and I'm very pleased they won the best non-agricultural stand. And, if I can be indulged, the Welsh Government won the best agricultural stand. So, if I could just say to my officials, 'Very well done there'.
In relation to your question around tourism, we strongly refute there's been a breakdown in communication. The Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism meets regularly with hospitality and tourism industry representatives through the visitor economy forum to discuss a range of issues, and, of course, it's a vitally important sector for us.
Ydw, rwy'n gwbl hapus i barhau â fy nghefnogaeth i'r elusennau anhygoel sydd gennym ni yn y sector amaethyddol. Gwnes i gyfarfod â Grŵp Cymorth Ffermydd Cymru ddoe yn y ffair aeaf. Rydw i bob tro'n ceisio cyfarfod â nhw'n rheolaidd, ac yn amlwg yn y ffair aeaf ddoe, yr elusennau i gyd dan ymbarél Grŵp Cymorth Ffermydd Cymru—. Efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol, fe wnaethon ni sefydlu hynny yn ôl ym mis Mai 2019, fel y gallwn ni ddod â'r holl elusennau hynny at ei gilydd, oherwydd rhyngddyn nhw mae ganddyn nhw gyfoeth o arbenigedd, gwybodaeth a phrofiad. Roedd hi'n sobreiddiol iawn cwrdd â'r elusennau ddoe, i glywed am y cynnydd sylweddol mewn atgyfeiriadau, mwy hyd yn oed na phan wnaethon ni gyfarfod yn y sioe haf nôl ym mis Gorffennaf, ac mae pobl yn dal i gael trafferth, yn amlwg, gyda'r argyfwng costau byw.
Rwyf i wedi buddsoddi £45,000 i ddatblygu FarmWell Wales, sy'n ganolfan wybodaeth, i ddatblygu cydnerthedd i'n ffermwyr a'u teuluoedd, a'u busnesau wrth symud ymlaen. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am Sefydliad DPJ, yr wyf i wedi bod yn hapus iawn i'w gefnogi, ac roedd yn dda cyfarfod â'r prif weithredwr ddoe i glywed am yr hyfforddiant y maen nhw'n ei gyflwyno ym mhob cwr o Gymru, ac rwy'n falch iawn eu bod nhw wedi ennill y stondin orau nad yw'n amaethyddol. Ac, os wnewch chi faddau i mi, Llywodraeth Cymru enillodd y stondin amaethyddol orau. Felly, os caf i ond dweud wrth fy swyddogion, 'Da iawn chi'.
O ran eich cwestiwn ynghylch twristiaeth, rydyn ni'n gwadu'n gryf bod cyfathrebu wedi chwalu. Mae Dirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â chynrychiolwyr y diwydiant lletygarwch a thwristiaeth drwy'r fforwm economi ymwelwyr i drafod amrywiaeth o faterion, ac wrth gwrs, mae'n sector sy'n hanfodol bwysig i ni.
Always pleased to indulge the Minister when she reports on the excellent work of her officials.
Rwy'n falch bob amser o oddef i'r Gweinidog adrodd ar waith rhagorol ei swyddogion hi.
Ac, yn olaf, Gareth Davies.
And, finally, Gareth Davies.
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Can I have a statement from yourself, in your role as leader of the house and Minister for north Wales this afternoon, on the disappointing announcement of the permanent closure of the SeaQuarium on Rhyl promenade, which sadly will result in the loss of 20 jobs for local people? The closure is the result of flood defence work carried out by Denbighshire County Council, and although that is welcome—I must make that clear, it is welcome—it has not been undertaken with consideration of how these works may affect local businesses. This is a real blow for both tourism and jobs in the Rhyl area, and I'm disappointed that Denbighshire County Council were not able to work with the SeaQuarium to address their concerns and come to a compromise that caused minimum disruption to their business. The loud construction noise was damaging to hearing and was repelling customers. The construction noise was also causing distress to the seals and other animals, which raises further concerns regarding animal welfare, with all of the aquatic life of the SeaQuarium now needing rehoming to other aquariums.
There were 33 per cent fewer inbound visitors to Wales in 2022 than 2019, following the Welsh Government's strict COVID-19 lockdowns. This enormous drop in tourism to Wales has been very difficult for my constituency. To lose SeaQuarium is a further blow, and one less attraction for tourists to travel to in the area. Could you, Trefnydd, then, in that case, please, express the sentiment of the Welsh Government on the closure of the SeaQuarium in Rhyl, and what you are doing to protect jobs in north Wales within the tourism sector? Thank you.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddatganiad oddi wrthych chi, yn rhinwedd eich swydd yn Arweinydd y Tŷ a Gweinidog gogledd Cymru'r prynhawn yma, ynglŷn â'r cyhoeddiad siomedig am gau'r SeaQuarium ar bromenâd y Rhyl am byth, a fydd, yn anffodus, yn arwain at golli 20 o swyddi i bobl leol? Mae hynny'n digwydd o ganlyniad i'r gwaith amddiffyn rhag llifogydd a wnaeth Cyngor Sir Ddinbych, ac er bod hynny i'w groesawu—mae'n rhaid i mi wneud hynny'n eglur, mae croeso i hynny—ni wnaethpwyd y gwaith gydag ystyriaeth o'r modd y gallai hwnnw effeithio ar fusnesau lleol. Mae hon yn ergyd wirioneddol i dwristiaeth a swyddi yn ardal y Rhyl, ac rwy'n siomedig nad oedd Cyngor Sir Ddinbych yn gallu gweithio gyda'r SeaQuarium i fynd i'r afael â'u pryderon nhw a chyfaddawdu ar gyfer achosi'r amhariad lleiaf posibl ar y busnes. Roedd y sŵn mawr wrth adeiladu yn niweidiol i'r clyw ac yn gyrru'r cwsmeriaid i ffwrdd. Roedd y sŵn adeiladu yn achosi poendod i'r morloi a'r anifeiliaid eraill hefyd, sy'n codi pryderon pellach ynghylch lles anifeiliaid, gydag angen i'r holl greaduriaid y môr yn y SeaQuarium gael eu hailgartrefu nawr mewn acwaria eraill.
Roedd 33 y cant yn llai o ymwelwyr i Gymru yn 2022 nag yn 2019, yn dilyn cyfnodau cyfyngiadau symud COVID-19 llym Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r gostyngiad enfawr hwn o ran twristiaeth i Gymru wedi bod yn anodd iawn yn fy etholaeth i. Mae colli SeaQuarium yn ergyd arall, ac mae un atyniad yn llai nawr i dwristiaid deithio iddo yn yr ardal. A fyddech chi felly, Trefnydd, yn mynegi teimlad Llywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â chau'r SeaQuarium yn y Rhyl, a'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei wneud i ddiogelu swyddi yn y gogledd o fewn y sector twristiaeth? Diolch i chi.
Thank you. The decision to close the SeaQuarium was a joint decision between Denbighshire County Council and the owners of SeaQuarium. The Welsh Government were not part of the decision process. The provision has been made within the coastal defence scheme budget for businesses affected by the project, and, with my animal welfare hat on, I'm very pleased to learn that the seals will be relocated on a permanent basis within the UK, and SeaQuarium does aim to rehome the rest of the aquatic animals within other aquariums in the UK.
Diolch i chi. Penderfyniad ar y cyd rhwng Cyngor Sir Ddinbych a pherchnogion y SeaQuarium oedd y penderfyniad i'w gau. Nid oedd rhan i Lywodraeth Cymru yn y broses benderfynu. Fe wnaethpwyd darpariaeth yng nghyllideb cynllun amddiffyn yr arfordir ar gyfer y busnesau y mae'r prosiect yn effeithio arnyn nhw, a chan wisgo fy het lles anifeiliaid, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed y bydd y morloi yn cael eu hadleoli yn barhaol yn y DU, ac mae SeaQuarium yn bwriadu ailgartrefu gweddill yr anifeiliaid dyfrol mewn acwaria eraill yn y DU.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Eitem 3 yw'r datganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi ar genhadaeth economaidd: blaenoriaethau ar gyfer economi gryfach. A galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Vaughan Gething.
Item 3 is a statement by the Minister for Economy on the economic mission: priorities for a stronger economy. And I call on the Minister, Vaughan Gething.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to announce the publication, today, of the economic mission: priorities for a stronger economy. This sets out my priorities for the economy to help build on our economic mission. Since launching the economic mission in 2021, global and domestic events have significantly impacted the delivery and progress that we have been able to make. At a time of such uncertainty, I have engaged with businesses and trade unions about how we can take forward the economic mission to maximise the certainty we can offer to boost growth, lower inequality and retain more value in the Welsh economy.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o gyhoeddi heddiw y cyhoeddir y Genhadaeth Economaidd: Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer Economi Gryfach. Mae hon yn nodi fy mlaenoriaethau ar gyfer yr economi i helpu i adeiladu ar ein cenhadaeth economaidd ni. Ers lansio'r genhadaeth economaidd yn 2021, mae digwyddiadau byd-eang a domestig wedi effeithio yn sylweddol ar y gwaith o gyflawni a'r cynnydd yr ydym wedi gallu ei wneud. Ar adeg o ansicrwydd o'r fath, rwyf i wedi ymgysylltu â busnesau ac undebau llafur ynglŷn â sut y gallwn ni ddatblygu'r genhadaeth economaidd i allu cynnig y sicrwydd mwyaf posibl i hybu twf, lleihau anghydraddoldeb a dal gafael ar fwy o werth yn economi Cymru.
Daeth y Llywydd (Elin Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd (Elin Jones) took the Chair.
The economic mission set Wales on an economic path that linked our pandemic response with long-term, active industrial policies. This has included investing in key economic priorities such as extending the childcare offer, building 20,000 homes for social rent in this Senedd term, supporting over 27,000 young people through our youth guarantee to access skills and employment opportunities, from semiconductors to gaming. And we have helped to strike deals bringing hundreds of new, quality jobs to Wales and we will continue to invest and back our regions across Wales to support growth.
We know that, in areas of the economy, there is no credible evidence or recent experience that supports the case for a switch to reckless deregulation, lower expectations on working conditions and environmental standards or unfunded tax cuts. Let me be clear: unrestrained or uncontrolled simple trickle-down policies have failed. The current Chancellor, in his autumn statement, claimed that action taken by the UK Government has helped the economy to turn a corner. But the reality is that forecasts show the UK is on course to be one of the worst-performing advanced economies this year and next, both in terms of high inflation and weak growth. The UK Government have continued to give us short-term policies, pilot schemes and pet projects rather than longer term plans. They're storing up problems for a future UK Government to solve.
The announcements in the autumn statement for businesses in Wales were mostly tokenistic and a distraction from the wider and much larger issues that the UK Government has presided over for 13 long years. It has failed to provide the conditions for economic growth and has created a poor environment for investment, harming living standards and public services. The constant chopping and changing of UK Ministers and economic approaches has provided uncertainty across the economy. It does matter that Welsh Ministers remain in post for longer periods than the chaotic current Westminster cycle. Consistency allows closer and more trusted relationships to form with businesses, trade unions and other partners. Consistency allows us to have a better understanding of the opportunities that Wales can win.
Our 'Economic Mission: Priorities for a Stronger Economy' aims to drive forward delivery, building upon our economic mission in 2021, recognising that global and domestic events have brought shock to businesses and the workforce that have damaged growth, created uncertainty and, at times, required emergency responses. At a time of high inflation and interest rates together with low growth across the UK and challenging Welsh Government budgets, I have taken stock and reflected on where we can reflect our priorities. The four priority areas are: a just transition and green prosperity, to realise the enormous net-zero opportunities across Wales in our natural environment, to support business growth and engage with businesses and people to move towards a just transition. The second is to provide a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success. We'll back young people to achieve ambitious futures here in Wales, to prioritise their skills and creativity, and we'll target resources where they're most needed, with help for those furthest from the labour market. The third priority is stronger partnerships for stronger regions and our everyday economy. We'll work with each region to agree a smaller set of priorities. This will include joint working to boost the case for UK decisions that crowd in investment and support fair, unionised jobs in areas including nuclear, offshore wind and tech. We'll work together in difficult financial circumstances to prepare for the potential return of EU replacement funds and back the everyday economy to retain more value and help tackle poverty. The fourth priority is to invest for growth. We'll work in partnership to focus on our comparative strengths to boost investment and growth that promotes fair work and a long-term approach. Our new mission-based innovation strategy will target new investment in a post-EU landscape, supporting commercialisation, research and development and entrepreneurship. These priorities will be delivered across Government, with businesses and partners. I have tasked my officials to undertake a series of deep-dives early in the new year. This will help to ensure that we're able to explore where we can exploit further opportunities. I want us to rise to the challenges that we face by bringing together the everyday economy and the technological frontier to turn risks into opportunities. We should then be able to steal a march on the industries of the future with investments that place communities held back by chronic UK centralism, to help put us in the driving seat of a shared economic story.
We will, of course, work together to prepare for the potential return of post- or other EU replacement funds while maximising the benefits of Welsh free ports and investment zones. I have, therefore, continued to highlight the difficult investment landscape created by a proliferation of different and disjointed funding initiatives from the UK Government. However, we will continue to work in pragmatic partnership where possible. I'm stating our priorities ahead of the UK Government elections next year to make it absolutely clear where our economic priorities lie. I want Wales to continue to be outward looking and ambitious. The EU remains our most important trading partner, and we're working with the UK to ensure that any new trade deals do not undermine our ability to trade with the EU. In addition, other global countries, like the US, remain important priority markets, and we will continue to support Welsh businesses to maximise opportunities for international trade as well as the promotion of our core capabilities to secure future investment. We will also continue to work with the UK Government to remove unnecessary barriers to trade and to ensure that any UK trade deals benefit all UK nations.
I'll be hosting an economic summit on 30 November, in just two days, which will bring together over 150 partners, businesses, trade unions, local government, and stakeholders across Wales. We will focus on what we need to do together to deliver these priorities. This will be part of our continued engagement, where we continue to build on the workforce interventions for now and the future. We are setting forward a clear and ambitious pathway for a more prosperous, a greener and a fairer economy that ensures our commitment to our people, communities and planet are central to how we do business. Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd.
Roedd y genhadaeth economaidd yn rhoi Cymru ar lwybr economaidd a oedd yn cysylltu ein hymateb ni i'r pandemig â pholisïau diwydiannol hirdymor, gweithredol. Mae hynny wedi cynnwys buddsoddi mewn blaenoriaethau economaidd allweddol megis ymestyn y cynnig gofal plant, adeiladu 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol i'w rhoi ar rent yn nhymor y Senedd hon, gan gefnogi dros 27,000 o bobl ifanc drwy ein gwarant i bobl ifanc i gael gafael ar gyfleoedd o ran sgiliau a chyflogaeth, mewn meysydd mor amrywiol â lled-ddargludyddion a datblygu gemau fideo. Ac rydym ni wedi helpu i daro bargeinion i ddenu cannoedd o swyddi newydd da i Gymru ac fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i fuddsoddi a chefnogi ein rhanbarthau ledled Cymru i gefnogi twf.
Fe wyddom ni, mewn meysydd yn yr economi, nad oes unrhyw dystiolaeth gredadwy na phrofiad diweddar sy'n cefnogi'r achos dros newid i ddadreoleiddio yn ddi-hid, disgwyliadau is o ran amodau gwaith a safonau amgylcheddol nac unrhyw doriadau i drethiant heb ariannu hynny. Gadewch i mi fod yn eglur: mae polisïau diferu dilyffethair a direolaeth wedi methu. Roedd y Canghellor presennol, yn natganiad yr hydref, yn honni bod y camau a gymerwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU wedi helpu'r economi i droi'r gornel. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod y rhagolygon yn dangos bod y DU ar y trywydd iawn i fod yn un o'r economïau uwch sy'n perfformio waethaf eleni a'r flwyddyn nesaf, gyda chwyddiant uchel a thwf gwan. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi parhau i gynnig polisïau, cynlluniau treialu a hoff brosiectau byrdymor i ni yn hytrach na chynlluniau i'r tymor hwy. Cadw problemau i'w datrys gan Lywodraeth arall yn y DU yn y dyfodol yw hynny.
Symbolaidd gan fwyaf oedd y cyhoeddiadau yn natganiad yr hydref ar gyfer busnesau yng Nghymru ac roeddent yn tynnu sylw oddi wrth y problemau ehangach a llawer mwy y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn gyfrifol amdanyn nhw ers 13 o flynyddoedd maith. Mae hi wedi methu â chreu'r amodau ar gyfer twf economaidd ac mae hi wedi llunio amgylchedd anial ar gyfer buddsoddi, gan daro safonau byw a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae'r newid swyddi parhaus ymhlith Gweinidogion y DU a'r dulliau economaidd wedi creu ansicrwydd ledled yr economi. Mae hi'n bwysig fod Gweinidogion Cymru yn parhau yn eu swyddi am gyfnodau hwy na'r cylch dryslyd yn San Steffan ar hyn o bryd. Mae cysondeb yn caniatáu i berthynas well a fwy dibynadwy fagu rhwng busnesau, undebau llafur a phartneriaid eraill. Mae cysondeb yn ein galluogi ni i fod â gwell dealltwriaeth o'r cyfleoedd y gall Cymru elwa arnyn nhw.
Nod ein 'Cenhadaeth Economaidd: Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer Economi Gryfach' yw ysgogi cyflawniad, gan adeiladu ar ein cenhadaeth economaidd yn 2021, a chydnabod bod digwyddiadau byd-eang a domestig wedi ergydio busnesau a'r gweithlu ac mae hynny wedi niweidio twf, a chreu ansicrwydd ac, ar adegau, wedi gofyn am ymatebion brys. Mewn adeg o chwyddiant a chyfraddau llog uchel ynghyd â thwf isel ledled y DU a herio cyllidebau Llywodraeth Cymru, rwyf i wedi pwyso a mesur a myfyrio ar y mannau y gallwn ni adlewyrchu ein blaenoriaethau ni. Y pedwar maes blaenoriaeth yw: pontio teg a ffyniant gwyrdd, gwireddu'r cyfleoedd enfawr o ran sero net ledled Cymru yn ein hamgylchedd naturiol ni, cefnogi twf busnes ac ymgysylltu â busnesau a phobl i symud tuag at bontio teg. Yr ail yw cynnig llwyfan ar gyfer pobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant. Fe fyddwn ni'n cefnogi pobl ifanc i gyflawni dyfodol uchelgeisiol yma yng Nghymru, i flaenoriaethu eu sgiliau a'u creadigrwydd nhw, ac fe fyddwn ni'n anelu'r adnoddau at y lleoedd y mae eu hangen nhw fwyaf, gyda chymorth i'r rhai sydd bellaf oddi wrth y farchnad lafur. Y drydedd flaenoriaeth yw partneriaethau cryfach ar gyfer rhanbarthau cryfach a'n heconomi bob dydd. Fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda phob rhanbarth i gytuno ar set lai o flaenoriaethau. Fe fydd hyn yn cynnwys cydweithio i hybu'r achos dros benderfyniadau'r DU sy'n tynnu buddsoddiad ac yn cefnogi swyddi teg gydag aelodaeth o undeb llafur mewn meysydd yn cynnwys niwclear, gwynt ar y môr a thechnoleg. Fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd mewn amgylchiadau ariannol anodd i baratoi ar gyfer cronfeydd newydd yn lle rhai'r UE a chefnogi'r economi bob dydd i ddal gafael ar fwy o werth a helpu i fynd i'r afael â thlodi. Y bedwaredd flaenoriaeth yw buddsoddi ar gyfer twf. Fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio mewn partneriaeth i ganolbwyntio ar ein cryfderau cymharol i hybu buddsoddiad a thwf sy'n hyrwyddo gwaith teg ac ymagwedd hirdymor. Fe fydd ein strategaeth arloesi newydd ar sail y genhadaeth yn anelu buddsoddiad newydd ar dirwedd ôl-UE, gan gefnogi masnacheiddio, ymchwil a datblygu ac entrepreneuriaeth. Fe fydd y blaenoriaethau hyn yn cael eu cyflawni ar draws y Llywodraeth, gyda busnesau a phartneriaid. Fe roddais i'r gorchwyl i'm swyddogion fynd i'r afael ag archwiliadau dwfn yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn newydd. Fe fydd hyn yn helpu i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu archwilio'r mannau y gallwn ni fanteisio ar gyfleoedd pellach. Rwy'n awyddus i ni ymateb i'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu ni drwy ddod â'r economi bob dydd a'r ffin dechnolegol at ei gilydd er mwyn troi risgiau yn gyfleoedd. Yna, fe ddylem ni achub y blaen o ran diwydiannau'r dyfodol gyda buddsoddiadau sy'n gosod cymunedau sy'n cael eu dal yn ôl gan ganoliaeth gronig y DU, er mwyn ein helpu ni i afael yn awenau stori economaidd a rennir.
Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd i baratoi ar gyfer cronfeydd ôl-UE neu gronfeydd eraill yn lle rhai'r UE unwaith eto o bosibl wrth wneud y mwyaf o fanteision porthladdoedd rhydd a pharthau buddsoddi Cymru. Felly, rwyf i wedi parhau i dynnu sylw at y dirwedd fuddsoddi anodd a grëwyd trwy amlhau mentrau ariannu amrywiol a datgymalog gan Lywodraeth y DU. Serch hynny, fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth ymarferol lle bo hynny'n bosibl. Rwy'n datgan ein blaenoriaethau ni cyn etholiadau San Steffan y flwyddyn nesaf ar gyfer nodi ein blaenoriaethau economaidd ni'n gwbl eglur. Rwy'n awyddus i Gymru barhau i fod yn edrych tuag allan ac mewn ffordd uchelgeisiol. Yr UE yw ein partner masnachu pwysicaf ni o hyd, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r DU i sicrhau na fydd unrhyw gytundebau masnach newydd yn tanseilio ein gallu ni i fasnachu â'r UE. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae gwledydd eraill trwy'r byd, fel yr Unol Daleithiau, yn parhau i fod yn farchnadoedd blaenoriaeth o bwys, ac fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i gefnogi busnesau Cymru i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar gyfleoedd ar gyfer masnach ryngwladol yn ogystal â hyrwyddo ein galluoedd craidd i sicrhau buddsoddiad yn y dyfodol. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd er mwyn cael gwared ar rwystrau diangen o ran masnach a sicrhau y bydd unrhyw gytundebau masnach gyda'r DU yn fanteisiol i bob un o wledydd y DU.
Fe fyddaf i'n cynnal uwchgynhadledd economaidd ar 30 o fis Tachwedd, drennydd, a fydd yn dod â dros 150 o bartneriaid, busnesau, undebau llafur, llywodraeth leol a rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru at ei gilydd. Fe fyddwn ni'n canolbwyntio ar yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud gyda'n gilydd i gyflawni'r blaenoriaethau hyn. Rhan yw hynny o'n hymgysylltiad parhaus ni, ac fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i adeiladu ar ymyriadau'r gweithlu nawr ac i'r dyfodol. Rydym ni'n nodi llwybr eglur ac uchelgeisiol ar gyfer economi fwy ffyniannus, sy'n wyrddach a thecach ac sy'n sicrhau bod ein hymrwymiad ni i'n pobl, ein cymunedau a'n planed ni'n ganolog i'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n ymwneud â busnes. Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd.
It's no surprise that the Minister has spent the majority of his statement taking pot shots at another Government; we can certainly tell from this statement that there's a Labour leadership election on the horizon, and I would advise him to get on with his job, given that he and his colleagues have been responsible for economic development for over 20 years. So, let me focus on what's relevant here, and that's the Welsh economy. The Minister set out four broad priorities, and whilst those priorities set the direction of travel for the Welsh Government's economic mission, I believe that a jobs target needs to be set in order to set an ambition for industry and a benchmark to measure success. So, perhaps the Minister will tell us why he hasn't set a jobs target alongside the four priorities.
Now, turning to the statement itself, his first priority is a just transition and green prosperity, and, of course, it's important that the economic mission reflects the importance of decarbonising and moving towards net zero. There are huge opportunities in the renewable energy industry, which will hopefully enable us to take advantage of those opportunities in the future. The creation of two free ports in Wales will be vital in driving forward this agenda. Now, the Minister has previously said that, by 2025, he expects to see a decrease in energy usage in industry of 4 per cent as a result of energy efficiencies, and so perhaps he could provide an update on where we are in reaching that target. More also needs to be done to incentivise businesses to develop greener practices, and so perhaps he could also tell us what more the Welsh Government is doing to promote the need to decarbonise businesses in Wales and how it's incentivising businesses, particularly small businesses, to develop greener practices.
The second priority is a platform for young people, fair work, skills, and success and the Minister has identified the skills agenda as an area that needs prioritising. It's absolutely essential that we see investment in our skills providers in order to widen access to training opportunities across Wales. I know from my discussions with providers that many of them are facing huge funding pressures at the moment. Therefore, in response to the concerns of skills providers, can the Minister tell us how the Welsh Government is prioritising investment in skills in the upcoming Welsh budget, and can he also tell us what new measures he intends to bring forward to better support skills providers across Wales?
Now, the third priority is stronger partnerships for stronger regions and our everyday economy, and creating job opportunities closer to home and in local communities is, of course, crucial. Today's statement refers to working with regions to agree a smaller set of priorities for growth, local jobs and major investment, and we know that the creation of regional economic frameworks plays a key role in developing local economic agendas. I also believe the Welsh Government needs to accelerate its work on town-centre regeneration in order to attract businesses and help create opportunities for people to work in their local community, and, for that, there needs to be huge infrastructure investment. Therefore, I'd be grateful if the Minister can tell us how the economic mission recognises the importance of building resilient town centres across Wales, and also tell us how the Government is modernising and upgrading infrastructure to help attract businesses and help create job opportunities.
Of course, today's statement refers to the Chancellor's autumn budget last week, and I disagree with the Minister—this budget, I believe, took welcome action to support businesses across the country. The changes to national insurance contributions, the continuation of business rates discounts and the cutting of business taxes will have a positive impact on businesses, and I know many businesses are now looking to the Welsh Government for similar action on business rates, as we heard from the Federation of Small Businesses Wales at their excellent briefing event I sponsored here last week. So, perhaps the Minister can update us on the discussions he's had with the finance Minister about business rates in terms of what long-term changes are planned to reform the business rates system so that Welsh businesses can operate on a level playing field compared to businesses in other parts of the UK.
Now, the final priority is investing for growth, and the Minister has referred to the Welsh Government's innovation strategy. The Minister knows my view, that more needs to be done to engage with academia to fully explore opportunities for the future, and more resources need to be channelled in this area, particularly in light of Professor Reid's report. Therefore, can the Minister tell us more about how the Welsh Government is supporting Welsh research in new or evolving technologies? And can he also tell us how the Welsh Government is embedding innovation skills in our schools' curriculum, so that we can sow the seeds for future generation of entrepreneurs?
Of course, growing the Welsh private sector must be an objective for the Welsh Government, and it needs to be ambitious in attracting inward investment and work with the Development Bank for Wales, and other sources of capital, to support incoming companies to grow. We can learn lessons from other parts of the UK. Scotland in particular has identified areas where it sees opportunities to become an inward investment destination of choice, and we need to do the same here in Wales. Therefore, can the Minister tell us what plans the Welsh Government has to develop a specific inward investment plan for Wales for the future, and can he also tell us what lessons the Welsh Government is learning from other countries and the way that they have attracted inward investment? Diolch, Llywydd.
Nid yw'n syndod i glywed y Gweinidog yn defnyddio'r rhan fwyaf o'i ddatganiad i ladd ar Lywodraeth arall; ac yn sicr rydym ni'n deall trwy gyfrwng y datganiad hwn fod yna etholiad i arweinyddiaeth y Blaid Lafur ar y gorwel yng Nghymru, ac fe fyddwn i'n ei gynghori ef i fwrw ymlaen â'i waith, o gofio mai ef a'i gydweithwyr sydd wedi bod yn gyfrifol am ddatblygiad economaidd am dros 20 mlynedd. Felly, gadewch i mi ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn sy'n berthnasol yn y fan hon, ac economi Cymru yw hynny. Roedd y Gweinidog yn nodi pedair blaenoriaeth eang, ac er bod y blaenoriaethau hynny'n pennu cyfeiriad arbennig i genhadaeth economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru, rwyf i o'r farn fod angen gosod nod o ran swyddi ar gyfer nodi uchelgais i ddiwydiant a meincnod i fesur llwyddiant. Felly, efallai gwnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym ni pam nad yw wedi pennu nod o ran swyddi ochr yn ochr â'r pedair blaenoriaeth.
Nawr, gan droi at y datganiad ei hun, ei flaenoriaeth gyntaf ef yw pontio teg a ffyniant gwyrdd, ac, wrth gwrs, mae hi'n bwysig fod y genhadaeth economaidd yn adlewyrchu pwysigrwydd datgarboneiddio a symud tuag at sero net. Fe geir cyfleoedd enfawr yn y diwydiant ynni adnewyddadwy, a fydd, gobeithio, yn ein galluogi ni i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny yn y dyfodol. Fe fydd creu dau borthladd rhydd yng Nghymru yn hanfodol wrth yrru'r agenda hon yn ei blaen. Nawr, fe ddywedodd y Gweinidog eisoes, erbyn 2025, ei fod ef yn disgwyl gweld gostyngiad o 4 y cant yn nefnydd ynni mewn diwydiant o ganlyniad i effeithlonrwydd ynni, ac felly efallai y gwnaiff roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynglŷn â'n sefyllfa o ran cyrraedd y nod hwnnw. Mae angen gwneud rhagor i gymell busnesau i ddatblygu arferion gwyrddach hefyd, ac felly efallai y gwnaiff ef ddweud wrthym ni hefyd beth arall y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo'r angen i ddatgarboneiddio busnesau yng Nghymru a sut mae ef am gymell busnesau, yn enwedig busnesau bach, i ddatblygu arferion gwyrddach.
Yr ail flaenoriaeth yw rhoi llwyfan i bobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant ac mae'r Gweinidog wedi nodi agenda sgiliau yn faes sydd ag angen ei flaenoriaethu. Mae hi'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn gweld buddsoddiad yn ein darparwyr sgiliau ni i sicrhau mwy o fynediad at gyfleoedd hyfforddiant ledled Cymru. Rwy'n gwybod o'r trafodaethau a gefais gyda darparwyr fod llawer ohonyn nhw'n wynebu pwysau ariannol enfawr ar hyn o bryd. Felly, mewn ymateb i bryderon darparwyr sgiliau, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym ni sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am flaenoriaethu buddsoddiad mewn sgiliau yng nghyllideb nesaf Cymru, ac a wnaiff ddweud wrthym ni hefyd pa fesurau newydd a fydd yn eu cyflwyno i roi gwell cefnogaeth i ddarparwyr sgiliau ledled Cymru?
Nawr, y drydedd flaenoriaeth yw partneriaethau cryfach ar gyfer rhanbarthau cryfach a'n heconomi bob dydd, ac mae creu cyfleoedd gwaith yn nes at adref ac mewn cymunedau lleol yn hanfodol, wrth gwrs. Mae datganiad heddiw yn cyfeirio at weithio gyda rhanbarthau i gytuno ar gyfres lai o flaenoriaethau ar gyfer twf, swyddi lleol a buddsoddiad mawr, ac fe wyddom ni fod creu fframweithiau economaidd rhanbarthol â rhan allweddol wrth ddatblygu agendâu economaidd lleol. Rwy'n credu bod angen hefyd i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflymu ei gwaith o ran adfywio canol trefi i ddenu busnesau a helpu i greu cyfleoedd i bobl weithio yn eu cymunedau lleol, ac, ar gyfer hynny, mae angen buddsoddiad enfawr mewn seilwaith. Felly, fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe byddai'r Gweinidog yn dweud wrthym ni ym mha ffordd y mae'r genhadaeth economaidd yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd meithrin canol trefi cydnerth ledled Cymru, a dweud wrthym ni hefyd sut mae'r Llywodraeth am foderneiddio ac uwchraddio seilwaith i helpu i ddenu busnesau a helpu i greu cyfleoedd gwaith.
Wrth gwrs, mae datganiad heddiw yn cyfeirio at gyllideb hydref y Canghellor yr wythnos diwethaf, ac rwyf i'n anghytuno â'r Gweinidog—rwyf i o'r farn i'r gyllideb honno gymryd camau sydd i'w croesawu ar gyfer cefnogi busnesau ledled y wlad. Fe fydd y newidiadau i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, parhad disgowntiau ardrethi busnes a thorri trethi busnes ag effaith gadarnhaol ar fusnesau, ac fe wn i fod llawer o fusnesau yn disgwyl am gamau tebyg oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru ar ardrethi busnes, fel clywsom ni gan Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru yn eu digwyddiad briffio campus nhw a noddais i yn y fan hon yr wythnos diwethaf. Felly, efallai y gwnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynglŷn â'r trafodaethau a gafodd gyda'r Gweinidog cyllid ynghylch ardrethi busnes o ran pa newidiadau hirdymor sydd yn yr arfaeth i ddiwygio'r system ardrethi busnes er mwyn i fusnesau Cymru gael eu rhedeg mewn amgylchiadau sy'n cynnig tegwch o gymharu â sefyllfa busnesau mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU.
Nawr, y flaenoriaeth olaf yw buddsoddi ar gyfer twf, ac mae'r Gweinidog wedi cyfeirio at strategaeth arloesi Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r Gweinidog yn gwybod beth yw fy marn i, sef fod angen gwneud mwy i ymgysylltu â'r byd academaidd i archwilio'r cyfleoedd i'r dyfodol yn llawn, ac mae angen sianelu mwy o adnoddau i'r maes hwn, yn arbennig felly yng ngoleuni adroddiad yr Athro Reid. Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud mwy wrthym ni ynglŷn â'r modd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru am gefnogi ymchwil Cymru mewn technolegau newydd neu dechnolegau sy'n esblygu? Ac a wnaiff ef ddweud wrthym ni hefyd sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am wreiddio sgiliau arloesi yng nghwricwlwm ein hysgolion ni, er mwyn i ni hau'r hadau ar gyfer cenhedlaeth entrepreneuriaid y dyfodol?
Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i ehangu'r sector preifat Cymru fod yn amcan i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae angen iddo fod yn uchelgeisiol o ran denu mewnfuddsoddiad a gweithio gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru, a ffynonellau cyfalaf eraill, i gefnogi cwmnïau sy'n dod i mewn wrth ehangu. Fe allwn ni ddysgu gwersi oddi wrth rannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae'r Alban yn benodol wedi nodi meysydd lle gwelir cyfleoedd i fod yn gyrchfan o ddewis o ran mewnfuddsoddi, ac mae angen i ni wneud yr un peth yma yng Nghymru. Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym ni pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu cynllun mewnfuddsoddi penodol ar gyfer Cymru i'r dyfodol, ac a wnaiff ddweud wrthym ni hefyd pa wersi y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu dysgu oddi wrth wledydd eraill a'r ffordd y maen nhw wedi denu buddsoddiad mewnol? Diolch, Llywydd.
Thank you for the series of comments and questions. I'll try to deal with as many, within a reasonable time frame, as possible.
I think, when it comes to the autumn statement, the Member needs to reflect the reality of what was said as opposed to the press release that he has, loyally, largely read out during his contribution. It is an undeniable fact—and you don't have to take my word for it; there are plenty of independent commentators—that the real-terms value of this Welsh Government's budget has fallen. It's now £1.3 billion less than the spending review just a couple of years ago. To then claim that there's been significant investment is simply not true. You've heard already the £6 million in capital budget increase in no way even begins to match inflation. Our capital budget is worth significantly less in real terms, as the Member knows. It's pretty unusual for him then to call for huge infrastructure investment when our capital budgets are falling in real terms. Despite that, this Welsh Government is continuing to invest, for example, in the metro investment. What we're doing there will have a transformative effect on not just transport but the economy and, indeed, the work we are completing on the dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road. That is a significant economic investment that this Government is undertaking.
And when you then think about what the autumn statement has really done, despite all of the attempts to claim that this is a massive boon for working people, in reality, the tax cuts that have been introduced have now been targeted on the most wealthy fifth of people. It's undeniably the case. And, indeed, the Institute for Fiscal Studies have pointed out that the Chancellor, with rising tax revenues, chose not to invest in public services that are being squeezed in real terms again by the Chancellor, but chose to invest them in tax cuts that are disproportionately weighted towards wealthier groups of people. Despite that, it is undeniably the case that this Parliament will be the largest tax-raising Parliament in modern history. The tax burden will be at its highest extent since records began post war. I am afraid his view that somehow the autumn statement should be celebrated is not one that any independent forecaster of any real value has been able to substantiate; in fact, the IFS say that the approach to future public spending is unrealistic. The Resolution Foundation branded the autumn statement 'anti-growth'. Who knew Jeremy Hunt was part of Liz Truss's anti-growth coalition?
But it's also the case, of course, that we're dealing with the renewed statements today against the backdrop of having lost more than £1.1 billion in EU replacement funds—a manifesto pledge broken by the Conservatives—as well as the £1.3 billion cut in real terms that this Welsh Government now has to manage with. Despite that, there are opportunities for us to do more, and what we're trying to do with these priorities is to set out the honest challenge of the different means that we have available to us, about the areas where we can still make a difference and be ambitious as well. And actually, free ports are part of that. The free ports themselves are a way to gather together areas of strength, especially when you think that that deals with a just transition and the future of the green economy in both north-west Wales and, indeed, south-west Wales. There are opportunities there that we are behind and we have taken a pragmatic approach in wanting to highlight.
If you think about the work we're already doing with small and medium-sized businesses, the green business loan scheme has actually been oversubscribed. It's a good news story in helping to decarbonise the way that businesses operate and at the same time helping them to manage their bottom line and reduce their bills. We're also providing significant additional advice for those businesses on how to decarbonise successfully for the future, and again, manage their cost.
On innovation and entrepreneurship in schools and more broadly, there is a programme of work. You can go into almost any secondary school and find programmes that are looking at how we promote the work of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, entrepreneurs, and, indeed, the work we're sponsoring at the top end of primary school as well. I'm sure the education Minister could give you a large statement on the work that has been done in all of our schools consistently. So, the work you've called for is already being done. Our challenge is that if we had greater means, we could do even more to actually deliver against that.
In terms of inward investment, that's the reason I was in Germany last week. We have good, positive, outward-looking relationships from Wales. We maintain good relationships with partners across Europe and the wider world. It's the reason why I've also been in the United States, again making the case for investment into Wales. Part of that work also goes into why we do have a number of businesses that still want to invest here. It's why Rocket Science have invested further in and around Cardiff, with the extra jobs they're creating. It's why PwC are looking to invest in Wales at the moment, because they have a stable partner here. That is the key message from inward investors. They want a stable and reliable partner in the Government to work with them. That is what they have here, and they understand they have not been able to have that same relationship within the UK Government. I'm positive about what we'll be able to do, and, indeed, what we'll carry on doing with both our city and growth deals. I believe we'll have more to be able to celebrate in the future, but the headwinds are made much more difficult by choices made at the current UK Government level. The sooner there is a change, the sooner there is a general election, the better for us all.
Diolch am y gyfres o sylwadau a chwestiynau. Fe wnaf i geisio ymdrin â chynifer â phosibl o fewn amser rhesymol.
Rwy'n credu, o ran datganiad yr hydref, fod angen i'r Aelod adlewyrchu'r hyn a ddywedwyd mewn gwirionedd yn hytrach na darllen y datganiad i'r wasg fel gwnaeth ef, yn was ffyddlon, i raddau helaeth yn ystod ei gyfraniad i ni. Mae hi'n ffaith ddiamheuol—ac nid oes raid i chi gymryd fy ngair i yn hyn o beth; fe geir digonedd o sylwebyddion annibynnol—fod gwerth y gyllideb sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru wedi gostwng. Mae honno £1.3 biliwn yn llai erbyn hyn na'r adolygiad gwariant a gafwyd ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl. Nid yw'r honiad wedyn i fuddsoddiad sylweddol fod yn wir. Rydych chi eisoes wedi clywed nad yw'r cynnydd o £6 miliwn yn y gyllideb gyfalaf wedi dechrau cyfateb i chwyddiant mewn unrhyw ffordd, hyd yn oed. Mae ein cyllideb gyfalaf yn werth llawer iawn llai mewn termau real, fel gŵyr yr Aelod. Peth eithaf anarferol yw iddo ef fod yn galw wedyn am fuddsoddiad enfawr mewn seilwaith pan fo ein cyllidebau cyfalaf yn gostwng mewn termau real. Er gwaethaf hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fuddsoddi, er enghraifft, yn y buddsoddiad metro. Fe fydd yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yno ag effaith drawsnewidiol nid yn unig ar drafnidiaeth ond ar yr economi ac, yn wir, y gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei gwblhau ar ddeuoli ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd. Mae hwnnw'n fuddsoddiad economaidd sylweddol y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei wneud.
A phan ystyriwch chi wedyn yr hyn a wnaeth datganiad yr hydref mewn gwirionedd, er gwaethaf yr holl ymdrechion i honni bod hwb enfawr yn hwn i bobl sy'n gweithio, mewn gwirionedd, fe anelir y toriadau a gyflwynwyd i drethiant nawr at y bumed ran o'r boblogaeth sydd fwyaf cefnog. Dyna'r achos yn ddiamheuol. Ac, yn wir, mae'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid wedi nodi bod y Canghellor, gyda refeniw treth cynyddol, wedi dewis peidio â buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sy'n cael eu gwasgu mewn termau real unwaith eto gan y Canghellor, ond fe ddewisodd fuddsoddi mewn toriadau i'r dreth sydd yn gogwyddo yn anghymesur tuag at fod o ddefnydd i grwpiau mwy cefnog yn y boblogaeth. Er gwaethaf hynny, mae hi'n amlwg mai'r Senedd hon yn San Steffan fydd y Senedd a gododd trethi fwyaf yn y cyfnod modern. Fe fydd y baich o ran treth ar ei drymaf ers y cofnodion cyntaf fod ar gael wedi'r rhyfel. Mae arnaf i ofn nad yw ei farn ef fod datganiad yr hydref yn achos i ddathlu rywsut yn un y mae unrhyw ddaroganwr annibynnol o unrhyw wir werth wedi gallu ei phrofi; mewn gwirionedd, mae'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid yn dweud bod y dull o wario cyhoeddus yn y dyfodol yn afrealistig. Mae'r Resolution Foundation wedi galw datganiad yr hydref yn un 'gwrth-dwf'. Pwy wyddai fod Jeremy Hunt yn rhan o gynghrair gwrth-dwf Liz Truss?
Ond mae hi'n wir hefyd, wrth gwrs, ein bod ni'n ymdrin â'r datganiadau diwygiedig heddiw yng nghyd-destun colled o fwy na £1.1 biliwn gyda'r cronfeydd yn lle rhai'r UE—addewid gan y Ceidwadwyr yn eu maniffesto nhw ac un a dorrwyd—yn ogystal â'r toriad o £1.3 biliwn mewn termau real y mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth hon nawr ymdopi ag ef. Er gwaethaf hynny, mae cyfleoedd i ni wneud mwy, a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud gyda'r blaenoriaethau hyn yw nodi her y gwahanol ddulliau sydd gennym ni ar gael mewn ffordd sy'n ddiffuant, o ran y meysydd lle gallwn ni barhau i wneud gwahaniaeth a bod yn uchelgeisiol hefyd. A dweud y gwir, mae'r porthladdoedd rhydd yn rhan o hynny. Mae'r porthladdoedd rhydd eu hunain yn ffordd o gasglu meysydd o gydnerthedd at ei gilydd, yn enwedig pan feddyliwch chi fod hynny'n ymwneud â phontio teg a dyfodol yr economi werdd yn y gogledd-orllewin ac, yn wir, y de-orllewin. Mae yna gyfleoedd yr ydym ni'n eu cefnogi nhw ac mae gennym ni ymagwedd bragmataidd o ran dymuno tynnu sylw atyn nhw.
Os ydych chi'n meddwl am y gwaith a wnawn ni eisoes gyda busnesau bach a chanolig, mae mwy o ddiddordeb wedi bod yn y cynllun benthyciadau busnes gwyrdd nag a baratowyd ar ei gyfer, mewn gwirionedd. Newyddion da iawn yw hynny o ran helpu i ddatgarboneiddio'r ffordd y mae busnesau yn cael eu rhedeg gan helpu i reoli eu llinell isaf nhw a gostwng eu biliau nhw, mewn gwirionedd. Rydym ni'n cynnig cyngor ychwanegol sylweddol hefyd i'r busnesau hynny ynglŷn â sut i ddatgarboneiddio yn llwyddiannus i'r dyfodol, ac unwaith eto, gyda rheoli eu costau.
O ran arloesi ac entrepreneuriaeth mewn ysgolion ac yn fwy eang, mae yna raglen waith. Fe allwch chi fynd i mewn i unrhyw ysgol uwchradd bron iawn a dod o hyd i raglenni sy'n ystyried y modd yr ydym ni'n hyrwyddo gwaith yng nghyd-destunau pynciau gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg, entrepreneuriaid, ac, yn wir, y gwaith a noddwn ym mlynyddoedd hynaf yr ysgol gynradd hefyd. Rwy'n siŵr y gallai'r Gweinidog addysg roi datganiad mawr i chi ar y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud ym mhob un o'n hysgolion ni trwy'r amser. Felly, mae'r gwaith y gwnaethoch chi alw amdano yn cael ei wneud eisoes. Yr her i ni yw, pe byddai rhagor o fodd gennym ni, fe allem ni wneud mwy eto hyd yn oed i gyflawni yn hynny o beth mewn gwirionedd.
O ran mewnfuddsoddi, dyna'r rheswm pam roeddwn i yn yr Almaen yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae gennym ni berthynas dda, gadarnhaol ag eraill ac mae ei golygon yn mynd y tu draw i'n ffiniau. Mae gennym ni berthynas dda â phartneriaid ledled Ewrop a'r byd yn fwy eang. Dyma'r rheswm pam y bûm i yn yr Unol Daleithiau, yn dadlau'r achos dros fuddsoddi yng Nghymru unwaith eto. Y gwaith hwnnw'n rhannol sy'n egluro pam mae gennym ni nifer o fusnesau sy'n dal i fod yn awyddus i fuddsoddi yma. Dyna pam mae Rocket Science wedi buddsoddi ymhellach yng Nghaerdydd a'r cyffiniau, gyda'r swyddi ychwanegol y bydden nhw'n eu creu. Dyna pam mae PwC yn ystyried buddsoddi yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd mae ganddyn nhw bartner yn y fan hon sy'n sefydlog. Dyna'r neges allweddol oddi wrth fuddsoddwyr o'r tu allan. Maen nhw'n dymuno bod â phartner sy'n sefydlog ac yn ddibynadwy yn y Llywodraeth ar gyfer gweithio gyda nhw. Dyna'r hyn sydd i'w gael iddyn nhw yn y fan hon, ac maen nhw'n deall nad ydyn nhw wedi gallu meithrin perthynas fel honno gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n gadarnhaol ynglŷn â'r hyn y byddwn ni'n gallu ei wneud, ac, yn wir, yr hyn y byddwn ni'n parhau i'w wneud gyda'n bargeinion dinesig a thwf. Rwy'n credu y bydd mwy o achos gennym ni i ddathlu yn y dyfodol, ond fe wneir y sefyllfa yn llawer gwaeth gan y dewisiadau a wneir ar hyn o bryd gan Lywodraeth y DU gyfan. Po gynharaf y bydd newid, po gynharaf y bydd yna etholiad cyffredinol, y gorau fydd hynny i bob un ohonom ni.
I thank the Minister for his statement. We have seen a pattern recently of statements that are wafer thin on policy detail and targets, and here is yet another. It is all the more disappointing in this case given the way this has been trailed as the Government's master plan for the economy. When it comes, we are told it needs further discussion at a summit and a deep-dive by officials. Why wasn't this done before coming to the Chamber?
The terms 'mission economy' and 'economic missions' are, in the first instance, good to see. This must, I assume, be drawn from the work of Professor Mariana Mazzucato. Mazzucato sets out a mission-led approach as not merely a set of vague claims about economic nice-to-haves but a holistic and far-reaching approach to political and economic transformation. I would ask the Minister, therefore, to clarify how today's statement meets the definition of 'mission led', and what he actually means by 'economic missions', because it seems to me just an appropriation of language at this stage, using the terminology without grasping what is needed. It does Wales a disservice.
Let's look at the priorities. Priority 1 on a just transition is very welcome, but the Minister named in an earlier press conference the green business loan scheme and free ports as projects to help meet the priority—neither are new. On priority 2, again at that press conference there was mention of the young person's guarantee, the visitor offer, the cyber innovation fund and PwC coming to Cardiff—nothing new. Priority 3 and 4—nothing new. Old announcements repackaged and reheated. So it begs the question what exactly is the Government doing that is new.
As we contextualise this statement, perhaps we should look at the Minister’s record on the economy. Almost every month this year it seems that he has had to come before the Senedd to give statement after statement on further job losses—Tata, 2 Sisters, Avara Foods, Tillery Valley Foods, Biomet, UK Windows & Doors—this, of course, against the backdrop of stagnating wages and ever-rising costs. I’m afraid to say that under his watch the state of the Welsh economy is more precarious now than it has ever been.
What’s been especially frustrating in each case is the inherently reactive approach. The Government seems incapable of springing into action until the damage is already done. Let’s take your response to the closure of UK Windows & Doors and a question I asked around co-operatisation, and I quote:
'the administrators are in control of the situation and how they seek to gain value, bearing in mind the assets and the potential debts the business has, is not something we’re in control of.'
I’m sure if the Tories said the same, the Minister would be the first to accuse them of absolving themselves of responsibility and lacking ambition or vision for the economy. I level that charge at him.
But in the Minister’s defence, this record of underperformance isn’t anything new that we haven’t seen before. Successive Labour administrations in Wales have consistently failed to improve our economy. The productivity gap with the UK average has widened since 1997. Of all the UK countries and regions, Wales is ranked twelfth—last—in terms of economic output. We’re also ranked eleventh out of 12 UK countries and regions in terms of GVA per capita, at 74.1 per cent of the UK average. A failure to get to grips with this issue has kept Wales mired in a low-wage, low-skill spiral. This is underlined by the fact that primary income per head in Wales currently stands at 76 per cent of the UK average compared to 82.2 per cent in 1997.
Let’s turn to our SME sector. I’ve spoken many times in the Senedd about the importance of stimulating growth in our domestic SME sector as a precursor to a more dynamic and prosperous economy, but as the FSB's recent report on the skills gap in Wales demonstrates, this ambition is being inherently compromised by a lack of institutional support and strategic coherence on the part of the Welsh Government. Almost 80 per cent of small firms in Wales struggled to recruit in the past 12 months as a direct consequence of the skills gap in the workforce.
According to a recent small business survey released by the Department for Business and Trade, a mere 14 per cent of Welsh SMEs sold their goods or services outside the UK in 2022. The same survey has shown that the proportion of Welsh firms currently engaging in innovation is amongst the lowest in the UK, which has profoundly damaging implications for the competitiveness of our domestic goods and services on international markets. This reflects a broader pattern of underinvestment in innovation. Welsh spending on research and development was around 1 per cent of GDP in 2021, compared to the OECD average of around 2.5 per cent.
I’ll finish with a final question to the Minister. You and your Labour predecessors have had over a quarter of a century to deliver a stronger economy, but on practically every single metric you’ve got nothing to show for your efforts. Things have gotten worse, not better. So how much longer will the Welsh people need to wait before you get it right? [Interruption.]
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad. Rydym ni wedi gweld patrwm yn ddiweddar o ddatganiadau sy'n brin iawn o fanylion polisi a nodau, a dyma un arall eto. Mae hynny'n fwy siomedig yn yr achos hwn o ystyried y ffordd y cafodd hwn ei hysbysebu yn brif gynllun i'r Llywodraeth o ran yr economi. Pan ddaeth, fe ddywedwyd wrthym ni fod angen trafodaeth bellach mewn uwchgynhadledd ac archwiliad dwfn gan swyddogion. Pam na chafwyd hynny cyn dod i'r Siambr?
Mae hi'n dda i ni weld termau 'economi genhadaeth' a 'chenadaethau economaidd' yn y lle cyntaf. Mae'n rhaid bod hyn, rwy'n tybio, yn deillio o waith yr Athro Mariana Mazzucato. Mae Mazzucato yn ystyried dull a arweinir gan genhadaeth nid yn unig fel set o honiadau annelwig ynglyn â phethau dymunol i'w cael yn yr economi ond fel dull cyfannol a phellgyrhaeddol o drawsnewid gwleidyddol ac economaidd. Felly, rwy'n gofyn i'r Gweinidog egluro sut mae datganiad heddiw yn bodloni'r diffiniad o 'arwain gan genhadaeth', a'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu mewn gwirionedd pan ddywed 'cenadaethau economaidd', oherwydd mae hi'n ymddangos i mi mai dim ond defnyddio'r eirfa a wneir ar hyn o bryd, gan ddefnyddio'r derminoleg heb ddeall ystyr yr anghenion. Mae hynny'n gwneud cam â Chymru.
Gadewch i ni edrych ar y blaenoriaethau. Mae croeso i flaenoriaeth 1 ynglŷn â phontio teg, ond crybwyllodd y Gweinidog mewn cynhadledd gynharach i'r wasg fod y cynllun benthyciadau busnes gwyrdd a phorthladdoedd rhydd yn brosiectau i helpu i gwrdd â'r flaenoriaeth—nid yw'r naill na'r llall yn rhai newydd. O ran blaenoriaeth 2, eto yn y gynhadledd i'r wasg honno roedd ef yn sôn am y warant i bobl ifanc, y cynnig i ymwelwyr, y gronfa arloesi seibr a PwC yn dod i Gaerdydd—dim byd newydd. Blaenoriaeth 3 a 4—dim byd newydd ychwaith. Rhoddwyd gwedd newydd ar hen gyhoeddiadau a'u haildwymo. Felly mae hynny'n gwneud i ni holi beth yn union mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud sy'n newydd.
Wrth i ni roi cyd-destun i'r datganiad hwn, efallai y dylem ni edrych ar hanes y Gweinidog gyda'r economi. Bron bob mis eleni mae hi'n ymddangos y bu'n rhaid iddo ef ddod gerbron y Senedd i roi datganiad ar ôl datganiad ar golli swyddi eto—Tata, 2 Sisters, Avara Foods, Tillery Valley Foods, Biomet, UK Windows & Doors—hyn, wrth gwrs, mewn cyfnod o gyflogau yn sefyll yn llonydd a chostau yn cynyddu. Mae arnaf i ofn dweud bod cyflwr economi Cymru yn fwy ansicr nawr nag y bu erioed, dan ei wyliadwriaeth ef.
Yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn arbennig o rwystredig ym mhob achos yw'r ymagwedd gynhenid adweithiol. Mae hi'n ymddangos nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn gallu gwneud unrhyw beth nes bydd y difrod wedi ei wneud eisoes. Gadewch i ni gymryd eich ymateb chi i gau UK Windows & Doors a chwestiwn a ofynnais i ynghylch cydweithredu, ac rwy'n dyfynnu: mae'r
'gweinyddwyr yn rheoli'r sefyllfa ac nid yw sut maen nhw'n ceisio ennill gwerth, gan gofio am yr asedau a'r dyledion posibl sydd gan y busnes, yn rhywbeth sydd gennym ni reolaeth drosto.'
Rwy'n siŵr pe byddai'r Torïaid yn dweud yr un peth, y Gweinidog fyddai'r un cyntaf i'w cyhuddo nhw o olchi eu dwylo o'u cyfrifoldeb a'u diffyg uchelgais neu weledigaeth ar gyfer yr economi. Rwy'n dwyn y cyhuddiad hwnnw yn ei erbyn.
Ond i amddiffyn y Gweinidog, nid yw'r hanes hwn o danberfformio yn unrhyw beth newydd na welsom ni o'r blaen. Mae llywodraethau olynol Llafur yng Nghymru wedi methu â gwella ein heconomi ni drwy'r blynyddoedd. Mae'r bwlch cynhyrchiant gyda chyfartaledd y DU wedi ehangu ers 1997. O holl wledydd a rhanbarthau'r DU, Cymru sydd yn y deuddegfed safle—yr olaf—o ran allbwn economaidd. Rydym ni hefyd yn safle 11 o blith 12 o wledydd a rhanbarthau yn y DU o ran gwerth ychwanegol gros y pen, sef 74.1 y cant o gyfartaledd y DU. Mae methiant i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn wedi golygu bod Cymru wedi cael ei dal mewn troell o gyflogau isel a sgiliau isel. Tanlinellir hyn gan y ffaith fod incwm sylfaenol y pen yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd ar 76 y cant o gyfartaledd y DU o gymharu ag 82.2 y cant yn 1997.
Gadewch i ni droi at ein sector busnesau bach a chanolig. Rwyf i wedi siarad lawer gwaith yn y Senedd am bwysigrwydd ysgogi twf yn ein sector busnesau bach a chanolig domestig fel rhagflaenydd i economi fwy byrlymus a ffyniannus, ond fel mae adroddiad diweddar y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach ar y bwlch sgiliau yng Nghymru yn ei ddangos, fe geir cyfaddawdu hanfodol ynglŷn â'r uchelgais hwn oherwydd ddiffyg cefnogaeth sefydliadol a chydlyniad strategol oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru. Roedd bron i 80 y cant o gwmnïau bach yng Nghymru yn cael trafferth gyda recriwtio yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r bwlch sgiliau sydd yn y gweithlu.
Yn ôl arolwg diweddar gan fusnesau bach a gyhoeddwyd gan yr Adran Busnes a Masnach, dim ond 14 y cant o fusnesau bach a chanolig Cymru a werthodd unrhyw nwyddau neu wasanaethau y tu allan i'r DU yn 2022. Mae'r un arolwg wedi dangos bod cyfran y cwmnïau yng Nghymru sy'n ymgysylltu ag arloesi ar hyn o bryd ymhlith y lleiaf yn y DU, ac mae goblygiadau niweidiol iawn i hynny o ran cystadleurwydd ein nwyddau a'n gwasanaethau domestig mewn marchnadoedd rhyngwladol. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu patrwm ehangach o danfuddsoddi mewn arloesi. Roedd gwariant Cymru ar ymchwil a datblygu oddeutu 1 y cant o gynnyrch domestig gros yn 2021, o gymharu â chyfartaledd y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd o tua 2.5 y cant.
Rwyf i am orffen gyda chwestiwn terfynol i'r Gweinidog. Rydych chi a'ch rhagflaenwyr yn y Blaid Lafur wedi cael dros chwarter canrif i sicrhau economi gryfach, ond ar bron bob un metrig nid oes gennych chi unrhyw beth i'w ddangos am eich ymdrechion. Gwaethygu mae pethau, nid gwella. Felly faint mwy o amser y mae angen i bobl Cymru aros cyn i chi gael hyn yn iawn? [Torri ar draws.]
It's not for a member of the backbench to comment and give a mark on individuals' performance. He may well be subject to being marked himself by others later on in this statement.
Ni ddylai aelod o'r meinciau cefn wneud sylwadau na rhoi marc ar waith unigolion. Fe allai ef ei hun gael ei farcio gan eraill yn ddiweddarach yn y datganiad hwn.
I must say I didn't hear the comment from a sedentary position. I hope there hasn't been a repeat of the Cleverly antics.
In terms of where we are, what we've done is we've reset our four priorities, as I said, for a world that has changed significantly. It has changed significantly since 2021. The economic shocks we thought we'd been through with the pandemic have actually been exacerbated since then, and it responds to calls from both businesses and indeed trade unions to refocus the four priorities for them to gather and make decisions around. And actually, in responding to that we have of course set out areas where we have already acted to talk about what we want to do in the future—for example, the conversations around PwC that the Member raised in a critical manner. Actually, to get that over the line it required us to work not just with the company, but also with local government as well. It shows what it is possible to do with a Government that is prepared to work alongside other partners.
It's one of these points, I think, that the Member made—what is new? Actually, what lots of our partners call for, what they ask for, is an environment of stability, where they understand what the Government will do, how we will use the levers that we've got to actually make a difference, how will that build on the investment we've already made. I've mentioned earlier the fact that we're investing in the future of the rail network in the south Wales Valleys with the metro. I've mentioned earlier what we're doing in investing in the Heads of the Valleys road. I've mentioned earlier the point about the longer term investment in skills. All of those things are important for businesses that want to stay here and want to invest here.
If you think about the tech sector, we've invested in the cyber sector and in fintech specifically. The Government has been proactive in gathering together opportunities in that sector and working alongside them. It's why we're seen as an area of UK significance, it's why we're seen as an area where international investors are interested in what we're doing here in Wales. If you look at advanced manufacturing, we have a world-class advanced manufacturing sector in north-east Wales, but more than that—significant international-class manufacturing right across Wales. It's an area of strength for us we need to build upon and do more with, as those sectors seek to decarbonise, as they look for the transition that is coming.
It's the same with aerospace, the same with compound semiconductors, where again this Government has been a key part of seeing continued investment in that sector. We would like to have a more supportive relationship with the UK Government in that sector. We need to set out what our priorities are to make sure we can have investment come in, and the same with the renewable energy sector.
And I must say this to the Member: he's heard again comments from a sedentary position reminding him that there haven't always been Labour economy Ministers in this place, but, in that sweep of time in the last 25 years, there have been real improvements from the start of devolution to now. It used to be the case that the unemployment rate in Wales was always higher than across the rest of the UK. We've made real progress—that is now not the case. It used to be the case that productivity was lagging significantly behind—we are closing that gap. When you look at what we're now doing, you can see real progress made in the economy in the period of devolution. It's simply incorrect, as a matter of fact, to say nothing has got better and everything has got worse. That is simply not true.
Our challenge is that there is always more for us to do. These priorities help guide the choices we make individually in the Government, with partners in regions, partners in business, partners in the world of work. I'll be proud to see that through and deliver real-time improvements for people right across the country.
Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud na chlywais i mo'r sylw gan rywun ar ei eistedd. Rwy'n gobeithio na fu unrhyw ailadroddiad o gastiau Cleverly.
O ran ein sefyllfa bresennol, yr hyn a wnaethom ni yw ailosod ein pedair blaenoriaeth, fel dywedais i, ar gyfer byd sydd wedi newid yn sylweddol. Ac fe newidiodd yn sylweddol ers 2021. Mae'r sioc economaidd yr oeddem ni'n credu ein bod ni wedi dod drwyddi gyda'r pandemig wedi gwaethygu oddi ar hynny, ac mae hyn yn ymateb i alwadau gan fusnesau ac undebau llafur hefyd mewn gwirionedd i ganolbwyntio'r pedair blaenoriaeth o'r newydd er mwyn ymgasglu a gwneud penderfyniadau ynglŷn â nhw. A dweud y gwir, wrth ymateb i hynny rydym ni wedi nodi meysydd, wrth gwrs, yr ydym ni eisoes wedi gweithredu ynddyn nhw ar gyfer trafod yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ei wneud yn y dyfodol—er enghraifft, y sgyrsiau ynghylch PwC a gododd yr Aelod mewn ffordd feirniadol. A dweud y gwir, ar gyfer dod â hynny i'w gyflawniad roedd gofyn i ni weithio nid yn unig gyda'r cwmni, ond gyda llywodraeth leol hefyd. Mae hynny'n dangos yr hyn sy'n bosibl ei wneud gyda Llywodraeth sy'n barod i weithio ochr yn ochr â phartneriaid eraill.
Dyna un o'r pwyntiau, rwy'n credu, a wnaeth yr Aelod—holi beth sy'n newydd. Mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn y mae llawer o'n partneriaid ni'n ei alw amdano, yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei ofyn amdano, yw ymdeimlad o sefydlogrwydd, o allu gwybod beth mae'r Llywodraeth am ei wneud, sut y byddwn ni'n defnyddio'r dulliau angenrheidiol ar gyfer gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol, sut y bydd hynny'n adeiladu ar y buddsoddiad a wnaethom ni eisoes. Fe soniais i'n gynharach am y ffaith ein bod ni'n buddsoddi yn nyfodol y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymoedd y De gyda'r metro. Fe soniais i'n gynharach am yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i fuddsoddi yn ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd. Fe soniais i'n gynharach am y pwynt ynglŷn â buddsoddiad tymor hwy mewn sgiliau. Mae'r pethau hynny i gyd yn bwysig yng ngolwg busnesau sy'n dymuno aros yma a buddsoddi yma.
Os ydych chi'n meddwl am y sector technoleg, rydym ni wedi buddsoddi yn y sector seiber ac yn Fintech yn benodol. Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi bod yn rhagweithiol gyda chrynhoi'r cyfleoedd yn y sector hwnnw a gweithio ochr yn ochr â nhw. Dyna pam y cawn ni ein hystyried yn ardal o arwyddocâd yn y DU, a dyna pam y cawn ni ein hystyried yn ardal lle mae buddsoddwyr rhyngwladol â diddordeb yn yr hyn rydym ni'n ei wneud yma yng Nghymru. Pe byddech chi'n edrych ar weithgynhyrchu uwch, mae gennym ni sector gweithgynhyrchu uwch o'r radd flaenaf yn y gogledd-ddwyrain, ond yn fwy na hynny—gweithgynhyrchu o safon ryngwladol sylweddol ledled Cymru. Mae hwn yn faes o gryfder i ni y mae angen i ni adeiladu arno a gwneud mwy ag ef, wrth i'r sectorau hynny geisio datgarboneiddio, wrth iddyn nhw chwilio am y trawsnewid sydd i ddod.
Mae'r un peth yn wir am awyrofod, yr un peth gyda lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd, lle mae'r Llywodraeth hon unwaith eto wedi bod â rhan allweddol wrth weld buddsoddiad parhaus yn y sector hwnnw. Fe hoffem ni fod â pherthynas fwy cefnogol gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn y sector hwnnw. Mae angen i ni nodi'r hyn sydd yn flaenoriaethau i ni ar gyfer sicrhau y gallwn ennyn buddsoddiad yma, ac mae'r un peth yn wir gyda'r sector ynni adnewyddadwy.
Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud hyn wrth yr Aelod: fe glywodd sylwadau unwaith eto gan rywun ar ei eistedd yn ei atgoffa nad Gweinidogion economi Llafur sydd wedi bod yn y lle hwn trwy'r amser, ond, yn y cyfnod cyfan hwnnw o'r 25 mlynedd diwethaf, fe fu yna welliannau gwirioneddol o ddechrau datganoli hyd yn awr. Roedd y gyfradd ddiweithdra yng Nghymru yn arfer bod yn uwch bob amser nag ar draws gweddill y DU. Rydym ni wedi gweld gwelliant gwirioneddol—nid yw hynny'n wir nawr. Roedd cynhyrchiant yn arfer bod ar ei hôl hi yn sylweddol yma—rydym ni'n cau'r bwlch hwnnw. O ystyried yr hyn a wnawn ni erbyn hyn, fe welwch chi gynnydd gwirioneddol yn yr economi yn oes datganoli. Mae hi'n anghywir, fel mater o ffaith, i ddweud nad oes unrhyw welliant wedi digwydd a bod popeth wedi gwaethygu. Nid yw hynny'n wir o gwbl.
Yr her i ni yw bod rhagor i'w wneud bob amser. Mae'r blaenoriaethau hyn yn helpu i arwain y dewisiadau a wnawn ni'n unigol yn y Llywodraeth, gyda phartneriaid mewn rhanbarthau, partneriaid mewn busnes, partneriaid ym myd gwaith. Fe fyddaf i'n falch o gyflawni hynny a chyflawni gwelliannau amser real i bobl ledled y wlad.
I agree with the Minister: there is no credible evidence or recent experience that supports the case for a switch to reckless deregulation, low expectations on working conditions, including fire and rehire, poor environmental standards or unfunded tax cuts. The weakness of the Welsh economy is that we do not have enough higher paid jobs in the highly paid economic sectors. I will again highlight that successful economies are based on higher paid employment and a disproportionate number in employment in some or all of the following: information and communications technology, life sciences, professional services and financial services. Admiral have increased the number in employment in financial services in Wales. We need another Admiral in Wales so that we increase the number of people involved in financial services. Does the Minister expect a growth in employment in ICT, life sciences and professional services? And does he agree that working with universities will help achieve this growth?
Rwy'n cytuno â'r Gweinidog: nid oes tystiolaeth gredadwy na phrofiad diweddar sy'n cefnogi'r achos dros newid i ddadreoleiddio di-hid, na bod â disgwyliadau isel o ran amodau gwaith, sy'n cynnwys diswyddo ac ailgyflogi, na safonau amgylcheddol gwael na thoriadau treth heb eu hariannu. Gwendid economi Cymru yw nad oes gennym ni ddigon o swyddi â chyflogau gwell yn y sectorau economaidd sy'n talu cyflogau mawr. Rwyf i am dynnu sylw unwaith eto at y ffaith fod economïau llwyddiannus yn seiliedig ar gyflogaeth â chyflog gwell a nifer anghymesur mewn cyflogaeth mewn rhai neu'r cwbl o'r canlynol: technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu, gwyddorau bywyd, gwasanaethau proffesiynol a gwasanaethau ariannol. Mae Admiral wedi cynyddu'r nifer sydd mewn cyflogaeth mewn gwasanaethau ariannol yng Nghymru. Mae angen Admiral arall arnom ni yng Nghymru fel ein bod ni'n cynyddu nifer y bobl sy'n gweithio mewn gwasanaethau ariannol. A yw'r Gweinidog yn disgwyl twf o ran cyflogaeth mewn TGCh, gwyddorau bywyd a gwasanaethau proffesiynol? Ac a yw ef yn cytuno y bydd gweithio gyda phrifysgolion yn helpu i ysgogi'r twf hwn?
I think the Member is correct to highlight the alternative model that has been tried. It wasn't that long, just over a year now, when Prime Minister Truss was in office. And the most depressing thing is that in the recent Conservative conference she was the biggest draw off the platform. It's extraordinary that the governing party in the UK thinks that the failed experiment that we've all been taken through is still the way forward, despite all the evidence.
I agree with the Member that higher paid jobs are the key challenge for us in the Welsh economy—how to attract and grow more of them. But in all the areas that he has identified, we have a story to tell. In life sciences, we're actually punching above our weight here in Wales. There are opportunities for more to come as well—that is part of what I describe and talk about when going internationally. And indeed in professional services we do have a story where we're seeing growth, and I expect us to see more. So, when you look at what we're doing, as well as newer parts of the economy, I am optimistic that, when we look at the next five years and the next 10 years, you'll see more of those jobs. Because you're right, to change the performance of the Welsh economy, we don't just need to see a growth in jobs, but in the quality of those jobs, especially the higher paid jobs, in every part of the country.
Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gywir i dynnu sylw at y model arall a geisiwyd. Nid oedd hi cyn belled yn ôl â hynny, ychydig dros flwyddyn erbyn hyn, pan oedd gennych chi Truss yn ei swydd yn Brif Weinidog. A'r peth mwyaf digalon yw mai hi a wnaeth ennyn y diddordeb mwyaf oddi ar lwyfan cynhadledd ddiweddar y Ceidwadwyr. Mae hi'n rhyfeddol bod y blaid lywodraethol yn y DU yn dal i gredu mai'r arbrawf aflwyddiannus yr ydym ni i gyd wedi bod drwyddo yw'r ffordd briodol ymlaen, er gwaethaf y dystiolaeth i gyd.
Rwy'n cytuno â'r Aelod mai swyddi â chyflogau uwch yw'r her allweddol i ni yn economi Cymru—sut i ddenu a meithrin mwy ohonyn nhw. Ond yn yr holl feysydd a nododd ef, mae gennym ni stori i'w hadrodd. Yn y gwyddorau bywyd, rydym ni'n cyflawni llawer mwy na'r disgwyl yma yng Nghymru. Mae cyfleoedd i ragor ddod yma hefyd—mae hynny'n rhan o'r hyn yr wyf i'n ei ddisgrifio ac yn siarad amdano wrth fynd yn rhyngwladol. Ac yn wir mewn gwasanaethau proffesiynol mae gennym ni stori lle gwelwn ni dwf, ac rwy'n disgwyl i ni weld mwy. Felly, pan edrychwch chi ar yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud, yn ogystal â rhannau mwy newydd o'r economi, rwy'n optimistaidd, wrth i ni ystyried y pum mlynedd nesaf a'r 10 mlynedd nesaf, y byddwch chi'n gweld mwy o'r swyddi hyn. Oherwydd rydych chi'n gywir, i newid perfformiad economi Cymru, nid yn unig y mae angen i ni weld twf o ran swyddi, ond yn ansawdd y swyddi hynny hefyd, yn enwedig y swyddi sydd â chyflogau gwell, ym mhob cwr o'r wlad.
I'm grateful to the Minister for his statement. I think the statement does root itself in the reality of an economy that has been battered both by a financial crisis, by austerity, and by policies such as the autumn statement last week, which saw money move from the poorest to the richest, from Wales to London and the south-east of England. In the face of that, the work that the Welsh Government has done has delivered real improvements in local economies across Wales; my own constituency has benefited from the investment in the A465 dualling. The Tories don't like that, but the reality is that by investing in the poorest communities in Wales, the Welsh Government is having a real impact on the economies of those communities.
What I would like to say to you in this statement is this, Minister: how will the people of Blaenau Gwent recognise and see when you have delivered your vision, when you've delivered on your ambitions? Where in this statement and where in this policy approach do we see the investments in the basics of a business infrastructure, and in the skills and training—in units, for example, so that small businesses can expand, grow and take advantage of the investment in infrastructure that we're seeing in and around the Heads of the Valleys?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad. Rwyf i o'r farn fod y datganiad yn ymwreiddio yn sefyllfa wirioneddol economi a chwalwyd gan argyfwng ariannol, gan gyni, a chan bolisïau fel datganiad yr hydref yr wythnos diwethaf, a welodd arian yn llifo oddi wrth y tlotaf i'r cyfoethocaf, ac o Gymru i Lundain a de-ddwyrain Lloegr. Yn wyneb hynny, mae'r gwaith a wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sicrhau gwelliannau gwirioneddol mewn economïau lleol ledled Cymru; mae fy etholaeth i fy hun wedi elwa ar y buddsoddiad yng ngwaith deuoli'r A465. Nid yw'r Torïaid yn hoffi hynny, ond y gwir amdani yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru, drwy fuddsoddi yn y cymunedau tlotaf yng Nghymru, yn cael effaith wirioneddol ar economïau'r cymunedau hynny.
Yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ddweud wrthych chi yn y datganiad hwn yw hyn, Gweinidog: sut fydd pobl Blaenau Gwent yn cydnabod ac yn gweld pan fyddwch chi wedi gwireddu eich gweledigaeth chi, pan fyddwch chi wedi cyflawni eich uchelgeisiau chi? Ym mha le yn y datganiad hwn ac ym mha le yn null gweithredu'r polisi hwn y gwelwn ni'r buddsoddiadau yn hanfodion seilwaith busnes, ac yn y sgiliau a'r hyfforddiant—mewn unedau, er enghraifft, fel gall busnesau bach ehangu, tyfu a manteisio ar y buddsoddiad mewn seilwaith a welwn ni ym Mlaenau'r Cymoedd a'r cyffiniau?
Thank you. I think there are some good, practical questions that aren't often addressed in statements. For example, we have worked individually and we have worked together with, for example, the capital region to look at investments in property. Sites and premises are actually really important for people to be able to expand in. It was part of the concern around the food businesses that are no longer in operation in Blaenau Gwent that, actually, you want to maintain the site for alternative work. It's also why we've invested in the site in the Member's constituency where TVR were considering whether to go there. It's a significant additional site, and, actually, without that intervention in the market, those premises wouldn't have happened; if we'd left it to the market, there would not have been that investment, and yet we know there are people who want to go there, both firms that want to expand locally as well as those that want to invest and move their premises and facilities there.
It also goes into our record on skills, and you do see that in the fuller document—what we've already done in a previous term in having more than 100,000 apprenticeship starts and the reason why we're looking at really difficult choices in wanting to maintain a story on investing in skills and people. It's so important to see us continue on the journey where productivity rises, for people new into the world of work but also for people already in the world of work—how their skills can continue to develop. That's why we have those conversations with employers about their responsibility to invest in the skills of their workforce, and then what the Government can do alongside them. I think you'll see that when more people from Blaenau Gwent realise they don't need to leave to have a successful and a prosperous future; we'll see that in the demographics of a number of our counties. We'll see that when people can travel into Blaenau Gwent for work, as well as those people who, for example, may be taking the opportunity already to travel from Blaenau Gwent to Newport to work in the semiconductor cluster. There are more opportunities that, I think, will come in the future.
I should also point out that one of the things we've been highlighting today is the way in which we support the everyday economy. Now, Elite Clothing Solutions are a very good example of this. I've already been pointing out that they've now won the contract for the Transport for Wales clothing contract. Those uniforms will be designed and delivered in Wales, with partnerships across north Wales and mid Wales. It's a really good example of how you can make a practical intervention to make sure people really do have decent quality work that is closer to home.
Diolch i chi. Rwy'n credu bod rhai cwestiynau da ac ymarferol yma nad ydyn nhw'n cael sylw mewn datganiadau yn aml. Er enghraifft, rydym ni wedi gweithio yn unigol ac rydym ni wedi gweithio gyda'n gilydd, er enghraifft, â'r brifddinas-ranbarth i ystyried buddsoddiadau mewn eiddo. Mae safleoedd ac adeiladau yn bwysig iawn mewn gwirionedd i bobl allu ehangu ynddynt. Roedd hynny'n rhan o'r pryder ynghylch y busnesau bwyd nad ydyn nhw'n masnachu ym Mlaenau Gwent erbyn hyn, a'ch bod chi'n awyddus i gadw'r safle ar gyfer gwaith arall. Dyma pam rydym ni wedi buddsoddi yn y safle yn etholaeth yr Aelod hefyd lle'r oedd TVR yn ystyried a fydden nhw'n mynd yno. Mae hwnnw'n safle ychwanegol sylweddol, ac, mewn gwirionedd, heb yr ymyrraeth honno yn y farchnad, ni fyddai'r safleoedd hyn wedi cael eu sefydlu; pe byddem ni wedi gadael hynny i'r farchnad, ni fyddai'r buddsoddiad hwnnw wedi digwydd, ac eto fe wyddom ni fod yna bobl yn awyddus i fynd yno, cwmnïau sy'n dymuno ehangu yn lleol yn ogystal â rhai sy'n awyddus i fuddsoddi a symud eu hadeiladau a'u cyfleusterau yno.
Mae hyn yn cyffwrdd hefyd â'n hanes ni o ran sgiliau, ac fe welwch chi hynny yn y ddogfen lawnach—yr hyn a wnaethom ni eisoes mewn tymor blaenorol wrth ddechrau mwy na 100,000 o brentisiaethau a'r rheswm pam rydym ni'n edrych ar ddewisiadau anodd iawn gan ddymuno cynnal y stori am fuddsoddi mewn sgiliau a phobl. Mae hi mor bwysig i ni barhau ar y daith lle mae cynhyrchiant yn codi, i bobl sy'n newydd i fyd gwaith ond i bobl sydd eisoes yn y byd gwaith hefyd—sut y gall eu sgiliau nhw ddal ati i ddatblygu. Dyna pam y gwnaethom ni gynnal y sgyrsiau hynny gyda chyflogwyr am eu cyfrifoldeb nhw i fuddsoddi yn sgiliau eu gweithlu, ac yna'r hyn y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud ochr yn ochr â nhw. Rwy'n credu y gwelwch chi, pan fydd mwy o bobl o Flaenau Gwent yn sylweddoli nad oes angen iddyn nhw adael i fod â dyfodol ffyniannus a llewyrchus; fe fyddwn ni'n gweld hynny yn nemograffeg nifer o'n siroedd ni. Fe welwn ni hynny pan fo pobl yn gallu teithio i Flaenau Gwent i weithio, yn ogystal â'r bobl hynny sydd, er enghraifft, yn manteisio ar y cyfle eisoes i deithio o Flaenau Gwent i Gasnewydd i weithio yn y clwstwr lled-ddargludyddion. Fe fydd yna ragor o gyfleoedd, rwy'n credu, yn dod yn y dyfodol.
Fe ddylwn i nodi hefyd mai un o'r pethau y gwnaethom ni dynnu sylw atyn nhw heddiw yw'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n cefnogi'r economi bob dydd. Nawr, mae Elite Clothing Solutions yn enghraifft dda iawn o hyn. Rwyf i wedi bod yn tynnu sylw eisoes at y ffaith eu bod nhw wedi ennill y cytundeb erbyn hyn ar gyfer dillad i Drafnidiaeth Cymru. Fe fydd y gwisgoedd hynny'n cael eu dylunio a'u gwneud yng Nghymru, gyda phartneriaethau ledled y gogledd a'r canolbarth. Dyna enghraifft dda iawn o sut y gallwch chi wneud ymyrraeth ymarferol i sicrhau bod gan bobl waith o ansawdd da sy'n nes at adref.
I very much welcome the Minister's statement today; it shows how he's determined to take Wales forward and improve the economy right across all regions of Wales. Now, first of all, when I speak to businesses in Clwyd South, they want to know that the Minister they're dealing with today is going to be in place next week; that's not something that they can guarantee with Westminster. But, Minister, how important do you believe consistency and also stability at a political level are for an economy? Secondly, Minister, how important do you think that investment in facilities such as the National Digital Exploitation Centre in Ebbw Vale and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Alyn and Deeside is in driving higher quality jobs and gross value added?
Finally, Minister, you've talked about the importance of partnerships and regionalisation—the Welsh Government working with the regions of Wales. This contrasts with increasing UK Government centralisation. Would you agree, though, that with regional partnerships, the outcomes are greater than the sum of the parts from national Government, Welsh Government and local authorities?
Rwy'n croesawu datganiad y Gweinidog heddiw yn fawr iawn; mae'n dangos y modd y mae ef yn benderfynol o ddatblygu Cymru a gwella'r economi ar draws pob rhanbarth yng Nghymru. Nawr, yn gyntaf i gyd, pan fyddaf i'n trafod â busnesau yn Ne Clwyd, maen nhw'n awyddus i wybod a fydd y Gweinidog y maen nhw'n ymdrin ag ef heddiw yn ei le'r wythnos nesaf; ac nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth y gallan nhw ei warantu o ran San Steffan. Ond, Gweinidog, pa mor bwysig yw cysondeb a sefydlogrwydd ar lefel wleidyddol i unrhyw economi yn eich barn chi? Yn ail, Gweinidog, pa mor bwysig yw buddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau fel y Ganolfan Ecsbloetio Ddigidol Genedlaethol yng Nglyn Ebwy a'r Ganolfan Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy yn eich barn chi o ran sbarduno swyddi o ansawdd uwch a gwerth ychwanegol gros?
Yn olaf, Gweinidog, rydych chi wedi sôn am bwysigrwydd partneriaethau a rhanbartholi—Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda rhanbarthau Cymru. Mae hyn yn gwrthgyferbynnu â chanoli cynyddol Llywodraeth y DU. Eto i gyd, a fyddech chi'n cytuno, o ran partneriaethau rhanbarthol, bod y canlyniadau yn fwy na dim ond cyfanswm y rhannau a ddaw oddi wrth Lywodraeth genedlaethol, Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol?
Thank you for the three questions. I think, taking your last point first, with the partnerships that exist, there is a real contrast in working together. It allows us to unlock more investment and it goes back to your first point around stability. Those investors are looking for a stable environment to work in. It has been very dispiriting, not just working with a Government that I disagree with at a UK level, but having so many different Ministers to work with in such a short period of time. Paul Scully has left his role, his former role now, as Minister for technology. There have been several different people in that role. I genuinely regret the fact that George Freeman has left his role as the science Minister in the UK Government. He was a more consistent voice who I think understood the needs and the pragmatism required to see investment opportunities unlocked in every part of the UK. But we see that inconsistency and that churn and it has a real-world impact on the ability to make choices. Part of the reason, I think, why we've not made more progress on the compound semiconductor cluster is that there have been so many different Ministers who've not been able to make a choice. It took far too long to design and deliver a strategy and we now need some consistency in that and other areas to make sure that we can really make progress.
On the partnerships point, you see the UK Government approach where they talk about partnerships in a press release, and actually, that is exactly what doesn't happen in far too many areas. The design and delivery of post-EU funds is a good example of the wrong approach to take, where we had a two-week conversation at the end of it and then the shared prosperity fund was simply introduced in any event. The model of free ports, where we've managed to agree a programme that we can both agree with, is a much more preferable way to work, and actually I look forward to a more consistent approach with a different UK Government that I believe would allow us to unlock even more. And your point around Thales in Ebbw Vale, but also the AMRC in north-east Wales—and I'd also say that's why we're interested in an advanced technology centre in north-east Wales—. Again, it's why we've spent so much time and effort taking forward the global centre for rail excellence—significant projects that will bring additional investment and jobs that would not be there were it not for the investment and the foresight of a Government that has been proactive in looking for opportunities for good work in every single part of the country.
Diolch i chi am y tri chwestiwn. Rwy'n credu, o gymryd eich pwynt olaf yn gyntaf, gyda'r partneriaethau sy'n bodoli, fe welir cyferbyniad gwirioneddol wrth i ni weithio gyda'n gilydd. Mae hynny'n caniatáu i ni ddatgloi mwy o fuddsoddiad ac mae hynny'n dychwelyd at eich pwynt cyntaf chi o ran sefydlogrwydd. Mae'r buddsoddwyr hynny'n chwilio am amgylchedd sefydlog i weithio ynddo. Mae hi wedi bod yn ddigalon iawn, nid yn unig gyda gweithio gyda Llywodraeth yr wyf i'n anghytuno â hi ar lefel y DU, ond wrth fod â chymaint o wahanol Weinidogion i weithio gyda nhw mewn cyfnod mor fyr o amser. Mae Paul Scully wedi gadael ei swydd, ei gyn swydd erbyn hyn, yn Weinidog technoleg. Fe fu nifer o wahanol bobl yn y swydd honno. Mae hi'n drueni mawr gennyf i fod George Freeman wedi gadael ei swydd yn Weinidog Gwyddoniaeth Llywodraeth y DU. Roedd ganddo ef lais mwy cyson a oedd, yn fy marn i, yn deall yr anghenion a'r ymarferoldeb y mae eu hangen ar gyfer gweld y cyfleoedd o ran buddsoddi yn cael eu datgloi ym mhob rhan o'r DU. Ond fe welwn ni anghysondeb fel hyn a chorddi fel hyn ac mae hynny ag effaith yn y byd real o ran y gallu i wneud dewisiadau. Rhan o'r rheswm, rwy'n credu, pam na welsom ni ragor o gynnydd ynglŷn â'r clwstwr lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd yw bod cymaint o Weinidogion amrywiol wedi methu â gwneud eu dewis. Fe gymerodd hi lawer gormod o amser i ddylunio a chyflawni strategaeth ac mae angen rhywfaint o gysondeb arnom ni nawr yn hynny o beth ac mewn meysydd eraill i sicrhau y gallwn ni weld cynnydd gwirioneddol.
O ran y pwynt ynglŷn â phartneriaethau, rydych chi'n gweld ymagwedd Llywodraeth y DU pryd maen nhw'n sôn am bartneriaethau mewn datganiad i'r wasg, ond yna, mewn gwirionedd, dyna'r union beth nad yw'n digwydd mewn llawer gormod o achosion. Mae dylunio a darparu cronfeydd ôl-UE yn enghraifft dda o ddull gweithredu anghydnaws, pryd cawsom ni sgwrs am bythefnos ar y diwedd ac yna'n syml iawn fe gyflwynwyd y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin beth bynnag. Mae model porthladdoedd rhydd, fel gwnaethom ni lwyddo i gytuno ar raglen y gall y ddau bartner gytuno arni, yn ffordd fwy manteisiol o lawer o weithio, ac mewn gwirionedd rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ddull gweithredu a fydd yn arddangos mwy o gysondeb gyda Llywodraeth wahanol yn y DU ac rwyf i o'r farn y bydd hynny'n ein galluogi ni i ddatgloi mwy eto fyth. A'ch pwynt chi ynglŷn â Thales yng Nglyn Ebwy, ond hefyd y Ganolfan Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch yn y gogledd-ddwyrain—ac fe ddywedwn i hefyd mai dyna pam mae gennym ni ddiddordeb mewn canolfan technoleg uwch yn y gogledd-ddwyrain—. Unwaith eto, dyna pam rydym ni wedi treulio cymaint o amser ac ymdrech yn datblygu'r ganolfan fyd-eang ar gyfer rhagoriaeth rheilffyrdd—prosiectau sylweddol a fydd yn dod â buddsoddiad a swyddi ychwanegol na fyddai wedi digwydd oni bai am y buddsoddiad a rhagwelediad gan Lywodraeth sydd wedi bod yn rhagweithiol o ran chwilio am gyfleoedd ar gyfer gwaith da ym mhob cwr o'r wlad.
Minister, we thought you were going to make some sort of new, shiny announcement today. We've heard absolutely nothing new at all in anything that you've said. I made a note of all of the industries that you mentioned, by the way, in your document that was published today. There's absolutely no mention of tourism and no mention of agriculture, and these are key economic sectors here in Wales, particularly in large parts of north Wales. I appreciate that there are others too that we need to pay attention to, but given that tourism is an industry that sustains 120,000 jobs in Wales, 6 per cent of the gross value added to the Welsh economy and £6 billion to the Welsh economy, why on earth are you missing tourism out? And why haven't you mentioned farming or agriculture? I mean, I take on board the point that Mike Hedges quite rightly raised: you didn't mention the financial services industry either. These are huge opportunities for us going forward—you've got to make sure that they are pillars in whatever programme you have going forward, to make sure that Wales can continue to get out of the doldrums that your Labour Government has put it in.
Likewise, very little reference to north Wales. You've got all these projects; you mentioned the dualling of the A465, the investment in the metro. What about north Wales, what about west Wales, what about mid Wales? Why is there no mention of any infrastructure or improvements in those places? We want to see our fair share of cash across the whole of the country, not all of it being spent in Labour constituencies, frankly, in the south. It's about time that we got some fair share of resources in other parts of the country. So, we expected a big bang, we got a flat bottle of warm pop.
Gweinidog, roeddem ni'n credu y byddech chi'n gwneud rhyw fath o gyhoeddiad newydd, disglair heddiw. Ni chlywsom ni unrhyw beth newydd o gwbl o ran unrhyw beth y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud. Fe nodais i bob un o'r diwydiannau y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdanyn nhw, gyda llaw, yn eich dogfen chi a gyhoeddwyd heddiw. Nid oes unrhyw sôn o gwbl am dwristiaeth nac unrhyw sôn am amaethyddiaeth, ac mae'r rhain yn sectorau economaidd allweddol yma yng Nghymru, yn enwedig mewn rhannau helaeth o'r gogledd. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod eraill hefyd y mae angen i ni dalu sylw iddyn nhw, ond o ystyried bod twristiaeth yn ddiwydiant sy'n cynnal 120,000 o swyddi yng Nghymru, 6 y cant o'r gwerth gros sy'n cael ei ychwanegu at economi Cymru a £6 biliwn i economi Cymru, pam ar y ddaear y gwnaethoch chi hepgor twristiaeth? A pham nad ydych chi wedi sôn am ffermio nac amaethyddiaeth? Hynny yw, rwy'n ystyried bod y pwynt a gododd Mike Hedges yn un cwbl briodol: ni wnaethoch sôn am y diwydiant gwasanaethau ariannol chwaith. Mae'r rhain yn gyfleoedd enfawr i ni wrth symud ymlaen—mae'n rhaid i chi wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gonglfeini ym mha bynnag raglen a fydd gennych chi wrth symud ymlaen, i sicrhau y gall Cymru ddal ati i wella o'r cyflwr marwaidd y mae eich Llywodraeth Lafur chi wedi gadael iddi gwympo iddo.
Yn yr un modd, ychydig iawn o gyfeirio at y gogledd. Mae prosiectau hyn i gyd gennych chi; roeddech chi'n sôn am waith deuoli'r A465, y buddsoddiad yn y metro. Beth am y gogledd, beth am y gorllewin, beth am y canolbarth? Pam nad oes unrhyw sôn am unrhyw seilwaith neu welliannau yn y mannau hynny? Rydym ni'n awyddus i fod â chyfran deg o arian yn mynd ledled y wlad, nid y cwbl yn cael ei wario yn yr etholaethau Llafur, a dweud y gwir, yn y de. Mae'n hen bryd i ni gael cyfran deg o adnoddau mewn rhannau eraill o'r wlad. Felly, roeddem ni'n disgwyl y byddai hyn yn taro deuddeg heddiw, ond syrthio yn glewt ar ein hwynebau a wnaethom ni.
Well, I look forward to the Member contesting the next Senedd election. I won't wish him well on his plans to escape before then.
Wel, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld yr Aelod yn ymgeisio yn yr etholiad nesaf y Senedd. Nid wyf i am ddymuno yn dda iddo gyda'i gynlluniau i ffoi cyn hynny.
Noted.
Nodwyd.
I think, when we come to what the Member has actually said, there's been a deliberate choice not to go for individual sectoral bingo by mentioning as many different sectors as possible in the document. And that's why—[Interruption.] And that's—. And that's why we've had an approach that is more strategic than the Member wants to force on us. We do, of course, have a Cabinet Minister in the Government with responsibility for rural affairs, so the idea that it is no longer a priority for us simply doesn't match reality. When it comes to a range of the choices that we've made in investment, as the Member knows I have mentioned areas in mid Wales, west Wales, north-west and south-west Wales through the course of this statement. To try to suggest otherwise, even for young Darren Millar, is somewhat mischievous.
Let's take an example of where we're practically investing as well, through the development bank and what we have asked them to do. It's headquartered in north Wales, it's invested over £124 million in the last financial year, and north Wales saw 107 investments. There were 262 investments in south-east Wales and 171 investments overall in mid and west Wales. We're seeing the way in which we set up our architecture to support small and medium businesses and, indeed, larger businesses to stay in Wales, investing in every single part of the country. It is simply not true to say that we are only interested in one part of the country. There is a direct contrast, of course, with the nakedly pork belly approach that was taken in the way the Chancellor went through the autumn statement—the areas he was prepared to invest in, those he was not—and the fact that this is a genuine Government for the whole country. I believe this approach will see us well in the next few years and the much longer term for investing in the economic future of Wales.
Rwy'n credu, wrth ystyried yr hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod mewn gwirionedd, fe gafodd y dewis ei wneud yn fwriadol i beidio ag ymhél â rhyw fath o bingo sectoraidd unigol drwy grybwyll cymaint o wahanol sectorau â phosibl yn y ddogfen. A dyna pam—[Torri ar draws.] A dyna—. A dyna pam mae ein dull ni wedi bod yn fwy strategol na'r hyn y mae'r Aelod yn awyddus i'w orfodi arnom ni. Wrth gwrs, mae Gweinidog Cabinet gennym ni yn y Llywodraeth sy'n gyfrifol am faterion gwledig, felly nid yw'r syniad nad yw honno'n flaenoriaeth i ni erbyn hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r sefyllfa real. O ran yr amrywiaeth yn y dewisiadau a wnaethom ni o ran buddsoddi, fel gŵyr yr Aelod, fe soniais i am ardaloedd yn y canolbarth, y gorllewin, y gogledd-orllewin a'r de-orllewin yn ystod y datganiad hwn. Rhywbeth braidd yn ddireidus, i'r llanc Darren Millar hyd yn oed, yw ceisio awgrymu fel arall.
Gadewch i ni gymryd enghraifft o'r hyn a wnawn ni'n ymarferol gyda buddsoddiad hefyd, trwy'r banc datblygu a'r hyn y gwnaethom ni ofyn iddyn nhw ei wneud. Mae ei bencadlys yn y gogledd, mae hwnnw wedi buddsoddi dros £124 miliwn yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, ac fe welodd y gogledd 107 o fuddsoddiadau. Roedd 262 o fuddsoddiadau yn y de-ddwyrain a 171 o fuddsoddiadau yn gyffredinol yn y canolbarth a'r gorllewin. Fe welwn ni'r ffordd y gwnaethom ni sefydlu ein pensaernïaeth ynddi ar gyfer cefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig ac, yn wir, busnesau mwy i aros yng Nghymru, gan fuddsoddi ym mhob cwr o'r wlad. Yn syml, nid yw hi'n wir dweud mai dim ond mewn un rhan o'r wlad y mae ein diddordeb ni. Fe geir cyferbyniad uniongyrchol, wrth gwrs, gyda'r dull cwbl ddibynnol ar bwrs y wlad a gymerodd y Canghellor yn natganiad yr hydref—y meysydd yr oedd ef yn barod i fuddsoddi ynddyn nhw, y rhai nad oedd yn eu lle—a'r ffaith fod hon yn Llywodraeth sy'n wirioneddol i'r genedl gyfan. Rwy'n credu y bydd y dull hwn yn gwneud lles mawr i ni yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf a'r tymor hwy o lawer o ran buddsoddi yn nyfodol economaidd Cymru.
And finally, John Griffiths.
Ac yn olaf, John Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, in the vital areas of education and skills, the commission for tertiary education and research will be responsible for post-16 provision, but will also address the false divide, I hope, with pre-16 education. Both the commission and Welsh Government, I believe, should prioritise the development of a new 14 to 19 learning and transition pathway that would include greater opportunities for learners in years 10 and 11 to be able to access vocational education in college. It could be underpinned by a new right for all school-age learners to hear directly from colleges about the option of studying in further education and work-based learning. As part of this pathway, we could address the postcode lottery and ensure that the vocational offer that is available to our young people is very good right across Wales at entry level 1 and level 2 in key stage 4, and that commission could urgently review the experience of learners with the lowest or fewest qualifications, because we know that too many do not thrive or fulfil their potential in school, and they really need that post-16 offer to be informed so that we can build their confidence and find a pathway that works best for them. That could include how best to enable them to be assessed on their literacy and numeracy skills as we help them to take their next step on the education journey. So, Minister, will you, in addressing education and skills, prioritise, along with the commission, these vital areas of concern?
Diolch, Llywydd. Gweinidog, ym meysydd hanfodol addysg a sgiliau, bydd y comisiwn addysg drydyddol ac ymchwil yn gyfrifol am ddarpariaeth ôl-16, ond bydd hefyd yn ymdrin â'r rhaniad ffug, rwy'n gobeithio, gydag addysg cyn-16. Rwy'n credu y dylai'r comisiwn a Llywodraeth Cymru flaenoriaethu datblygu llwybr dysgu a phontio 14 i 19 newydd a fyddai'n cynnwys mwy o gyfleoedd i ddysgwyr ym mlynyddoedd 10 ac 11 allu manteisio ar addysg alwedigaethol yn y coleg. Gallai gael ei ategu gan hawl newydd i bob dysgwr oedran ysgol glywed yn uniongyrchol gan golegau am y dewisiadau o ran astudio ar lefel addysg bellach a dysgu seiliedig ar waith. Fel rhan o'r llwybr hwn, gallen ni ymdrin â'r loteri cod post a sicrhau bod y cynnig galwedigaethol sydd ar gael i'n pobl ifanc yn dda iawn ledled Cymru ar lefel mynediad 1 a lefel 2 yng nghyfnod allweddol 4, a gallai'r comisiwn hwnnw adolygu profiad dysgwyr â'r cymwysterau isaf neu leiaf, ar frys, oherwydd gwyddom fod gormod nad ydyn nhw'n ffynnu nac yn cyflawni eu potensial yn yr ysgol, ac mae gwir angen y cynnig ôl-16 hwnnw arnyn nhw i gael gwybodaeth fel y gallwn ni ddatblygu eu hyder a dod o hyd i lwybr sy'n gweithio orau iddyn nhw. Gallai hynny gynnwys y ffordd orau i'w galluogi nhw i gael eu hasesu ar eu sgiliau llythrennedd a rhifedd wrth i ni eu helpu nhw i gymryd eu cam nesaf ar y daith addysg. Felly, Gweinidog, a wnewch chi, wrth ymdrin ag addysg a sgiliau, flaenoriaethu, ynghyd â'r comisiwn, y meysydd hanfodol hyn sy'n peri pryder?
I think there's much in what the Member says that I would agree with. There's work that is already in discussion between the skills responsibilities I have, and, of course, the education Minister, who is in the Chamber and has listened to what you've had to say as well. I have to think about the work that Hefin David did, his report, and, again, it looks at pathways to success and transitions between different parts of what our educational system has to offer, to think about what is the right course of action for the learner, where their skills are strongest, how they can be helped to develop. Indeed, we do see that in some parts of Wales already, where there is in some parts a more active partnership between the school system and further education colleges. The challenge will be to understand what works really well and how to make that more available. That's the work that is already in train, but I think the Member makes a series of really important points about how this is good for the economy, good for the acquisition of skills, but, above all, good for the individual in maximising their talent and their ability to see that realised and recognised.
Rwy'n credu bod llawer yn yr hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei ddweud y byddwn i'n cytuno ag ef. Mae gwaith eisoes yn cael ei drafod rhwng y cyfrifoldebau sgiliau sydd gen i, ac, wrth gwrs, y Gweinidog addysg, sydd yn y Siambr ac sydd wedi gwrando ar yr hyn sydd gennych chi i'w ddweud hefyd. Mae'n rhaid i mi feddwl am y gwaith a wnaeth Hefin David, ei adroddiad, ac unwaith eto, mae'n ystyried llwybrau at lwyddiant a phontio rhwng gwahanol rannau o'r hyn sydd gan ein system addysg i'w gynnig, i ystyried beth yw'r camau cywir i'r dysgwr, lle mae ei sgiliau ar eu cryfaf, sut mae modd ei helpu i ddatblygu. Yn wir, rydyn ni'n gweld hynny mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru eisoes, lle mae partneriaeth fwy gweithredol mewn rhai rhannau rhwng y system ysgolion a cholegau addysg bellach. Yr her fydd deall yr hyn sy'n gweithio'n dda iawn a sut i sicrhau bod hynny ar gael yn ehangach. Dyna'r gwaith sydd eisoes ar y gweill, ond rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gwneud cyfres o bwyntiau pwysig iawn ynghylch sut mae hyn yn dda i'r economi, yn dda ar gyfer caffael sgiliau, ond, yn anad dim, yn dda i'r unigolyn wrth wneud y mwyaf o'i dalent a'i allu i weld hynny'n cael ei wireddu a'i gydnabod.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y datganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg ar ddiweddariad ar roi diwygiadau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ar waith. Y Gweinidog, felly, Jeremy Miles, i wneud ei ddatganiad.
The next item will be a statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: an update on the implementation of additional learning needs reforms. The Minister, Jeremy Miles, to make the statement.
Diolch, Llywydd, ac rwy'n falch o gael y cyfle i roi y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau heddiw ar weithredu'r diwygiadau i'r system anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Ym mis Medi, roedden ni'n dechrau ar y drydedd flwyddyn o'r cyfnod gweithredu. Mae hwn yn newid systemig sy'n gofyn am amser ac ymrwymiad yn y byd addysg sy'n dal i deimlo effaith y pandemig. Rwyf i am ddiolch i bartneriaid am eu hymroddiad, eu hegni a'u proffesiynoldeb.
Dros y chwe mis diwethaf rŷn ni wedi comisiynu a dadansoddi ystod o dystiolaeth, adborth a data gwerthfawr o bob rhan o'r system. Mae'r diwygiadau i'r cwricwlwm a'r system anghenion dysgu ychwanegol wedi'u cynllunio i ddiwallu anghenion pob dysgwr, ac mae'r sector cyfan yn amlwg yn awyddus i sicrhau ymarfer sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn, a chynllunio o amgylch anghenion y dysgwyr. Mae gweithredu'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn creu hyblygrwydd i addysgu yn y ffordd orau i ddiwallu anghenion unigol pob plentyn.
Yn ddiweddar, cynhaliodd Estyn adolygiad thematig o gynnydd ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol wrth gefnogi disgyblion gydag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Tynnwyd sylw at enghreifftiau pwysig o arfer effeithiol, ac, er na ddaethon nhw o hyd i unrhyw dystiolaeth nad yw anghenion plant yn cael eu diwallu yn y lleoliadau a'r awdurdodau lleol a oedd yn rhan o'r adolygiad, fe wnaethon nhw nodi meysydd pwysig ar gyfer gweithredu gan awdurdodau lleol ac ysgolion yn gyffredinol.
Mae'r meysydd i'w gwella yn cynnwys mwy o gysondeb yn ansawdd yr ymarfer a'r ddarpariaeth i gefnogi cynllunio sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn a chynlluniau datblygu unigol; disgwyliadau clir mewn perthynas â chyfrifoldebau ysgolion a'r awdurdodau lleol, a sicrhau bod ysgolion yn gwbl ymwybodol o'u dyletswyddau o dan y Ddeddf Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a'r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) 2018; ac, yn bwysig iawn, mwy o eglurder ynghylch yr hyn sy'n cyfrif fel darpariaeth ddysgu ychwanegol, hynny yw, rhywbeth ychwanegol neu wahanol i'r ddarpariaeth sydd ar gael yn gyffredinol mewn ysgolion a gynhelir, addysg bellach ac addysg feithrin.
Mae canfyddiadau cynnar Tribiwnlys Addysg Cymru yn cadarnhau'r angen am benderfyniadau tryloyw a chyfathrebu clir gan awdurdodau lleol, gan leihau amrywioldeb rhwng ardaloedd a rhoi sylw i unrhyw anghysondeb wrth ddefnyddio'r Ddeddf a'r cod. Mae'n amlwg bod angen gwella rhai meysydd, ac rŷn ni'n cydweithio gyda'r sector addysg i weithredu a dod o hyd i atebion gyda'n gilydd.
Thank you, Llywydd. I'm grateful for the opportunity to update Members today on implementation of additional learning needs reforms. September marked the start of the third year of implementation. This is systemic change, requiring time and commitment within an education environment that is still feeling the impact of the pandemic. I wish to thank partners for their dedication, energy and professionalism.
Over the past six months, we have commissioned and analysed a range of valuable evidence, feedback and data from all parts of the system. Both ALN and curriculum reforms are designed to meet the needs of all learners, and the sector are clearly united in their enthusiasm for person-centred practice and planning around the needs of learners. Implementing the Curriculum for Wales is creating flexibility to teach in a way that best meets the individual needs of each child.
Estyn recently undertook a thematic review of the progress of schools and local authorities in supporting pupils with additional learning needs. It highlighted important examples of effective practice, and, while it found no evidence of children’s needs not being met in the settings and local authorities that were part of the review, it identified important areas for action by local authorities and schools generally.
Areas of improvement include greater consistency in the quality of practice and provision to support person-centred planning and the development of individual development plans; clear expectations in relation to the balance of responsibility between schools and local authorities and ensuring that schools are fully aware of duties under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018; and, very importantly, more clarity over what constitutes additional learning provision, that is, something additional to, or different from, the provision made generally across maintained schools, further education and nursery education.
Early insights from the Education Tribunal for Wales reinforce the need for transparent decision making and communication by local authorities, reducing variability between areas and addressing inconsistencies in the application of the Act and code. There are clearly areas in the system that need to be improved upon, and we are working collaboratively with the education sector to take action and co-produce solutions.
Llywydd, in order to share and address the themes that have emerged in the reviews we've commissioned, in early October we convened a meeting of all local authorities to discuss those national insights, trends in school-level data and to identify actions to take forward Estyn’s recommendations for the Welsh Government, schools and local authorities. Here are our key priorities for action.
Firstly, we will improve consistency of application across Wales by increasing national implementation leadership in the system and delivering practical training on the Act and the code, which will be available to all. We are recruiting implementation leads to provide more support and challenge to local authorities on a national footprint. They will create collaborative opportunities to share learning practice, and I'm pleased that Carmarthenshire council have agreed to be the host employer.
We've heard from partners that there is a lack of visibility in how funding is allocated to meet the requirements of the Act. Since 2020, we have invested over £62 million in revenue, and £20 million in capital, to support the implementation of the new system. This includes £10 million for schools to boost resources, to backfill and maintain a team around the additional learning needs co-ordinator. My officials are now undertaking a review of the school funding landscape in Wales, and this will help us to understand where there may be opportunities to improve consistency in how we fund schools. And this includes the distribution of support for learners with additional learning needs.
Delivering a system change of this scale successfully depends on the skills and knowledge of teachers, so that mainstream classrooms can support as many pupils as possible to progress. In order to ensure this, we are reviewing the ALN professional learning offer, including providing additional resources, strengthening the statutory appraisal guidance so that it better identifies where there are gaps in skills and knowledge, and increasing the requirements for ALN training in the accreditation criteria for all initial teacher education providers. And we will continue to work with school improvement partners to support schools to develop an inclusive curriculum, and support practitioners to undertake professional enquiry to improve teaching and learning for learners with ALN.
Llywydd, one of the things that has struck me since becoming education Minister is that, for each question that we are looking to solve, there is a school somewhere that has found a solution, or at least a good part of the solution. Tomorrow, in Swansea, we will see the second of a new series of practitioner events being hosted throughout the winter. At these events, practitioners from early years, primary, secondary, special education and pupil referral units will be sharing their experiences of planning, designing and implementing curricula that support equity and inclusion, so that all learners progress and fulfil their potential, including those with additional learning needs.
It's clear that there is a need for better collaboration between parts of the system. So, we have established a new health and education multi-agency working group to tackle obstacles to collaboration and to address other common challenges emerging from our experience of implementation. The designated education clinical lead officers, the DECLOs, in local health boards are working now on developing key performance indicators to support and report on health board engagement with local authorities in relation to both planning and delivery of health-led additional learning provision.
Welsh in education strategic plans are prioritising how local authorities can improve additional learning provision through the medium of Welsh. A cross-sector national stakeholder group, bringing together experience and expertise from education, local authorities, health boards and the third sector has been established to inform the development of Welsh-medium provision, resources and professional learning at a national level. They will work with Adnodd, the new education resource company, who oversee educational resources to support the teaching and learning of the Curriculum for Wales.
I recognise the concerns of families during a period of huge transition. I am committed to building parental confidence in all parts of Wales, drawing on the strengths of person-centred planning. Improving transparent decision making and communication by local authorities and their schools in relation to what constitutes additional learning provision and determination of ALN is a priority.
Of course, the flow through of post-16 learners has only just begun. I have provided £2.1 million over three years to further education colleges to enhance the education experience for young people and, crucially, to strengthen collaboration with local authorities and with schools to support positive transitions. Meanwhile, local authorities themselves are starting to make decisions on post-16 specialist placements, prior to transfer of funding and responsibility to local authorities by the end of the 2024-25 school year.
Finally, Llywydd, continued monitoring is incredibly important. The next Estyn thematic review will consider implementation in early years settings, pupil referral units and maintained special schools. The new ALN ambassador programme will shortly begin to listen to children’s experience of the ALN system in schools and settings across Wales. Our four-year evaluation programme will include area-based studies and seek feedback from practitioners, stakeholders, learners and their families in relation to their experiences of the ALN system and its implementation. The scoping report is due to be published next month and will identify priorities and key lines of enquiry for the evaluation.
Since introducing the ALNET legislation in 2018, the education landscape has undergone significant reform, against a backdrop of a pandemic that has impacted all parts of society and touched on almost all aspects of school life. However, Llywydd, when I visit schools and colleges, and when I speak to heads and principals one to one, despite the pressures of managing change, there is real creativity and enthusiasm for ALN reform, and a continuing commitment to create a positive change for all our learners.
Llywydd, er mwyn rhannu ac ymdrin â'r themâu sydd wedi dod i'r amlwg yn yr adolygiadau rydyn ni wedi'u comisiynu, yn gynnar ym mis Hydref, gwnaethon ni alw cyfarfod o'r holl awdurdodau lleol i drafod y mewnwelediadau cenedlaethol hynny, tueddiadau mewn data ar lefel ysgol ac i nodi camau gweithredu i fwrw ymlaen ag argymhellion Estyn ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru, ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol. Dyma ein prif flaenoriaethau ar gyfer gweithredu.
Yn gyntaf, byddwn ni'n sicrhau bod y broses gymhwyso yn fwy cyson ledled Cymru drwy gynyddu arweinyddiaeth weithredu genedlaethol yn y system a darparu hyfforddiant ymarferol ar y Ddeddf a'r cod, a fydd ar gael i bawb. Rydyn ni'n recriwtio arweinwyr gweithredu i roi mwy o gefnogaeth a her i awdurdodau lleol ar ôl troed cenedlaethol. Byddan nhw'n creu cyfleoedd cydweithredol i rannu arfer dysgu, ac rwy'n falch bod Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin wedi cytuno i fod yn gyflogwr lletyol.
Rydyn ni wedi clywed gan bartneriaid bod diffyg gwelededd yn y ffordd y caiff cyllid ei ddyrannu i fodloni gofynion y Ddeddf. Ers 2020, rydyn ni wedi buddsoddi dros £62 miliwn mewn refeniw, ac £20 miliwn mewn cyfalaf, i gefnogi gweithredu'r system newydd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £10 miliwn i ysgolion i hybu adnoddau, i ôl-lenwi ac i gynnal tîm o amgylch y cydlynydd anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Mae fy swyddogion yn cynnal adolygiad nawr o'r sefyllfa ariannu ysgolion yng Nghymru, a bydd hyn yn ein helpu ni i ddeall ble y gallai fod cyfleoedd i wella cysondeb o ran sut rydyn ni'n ariannu ysgolion. Ac mae hyn yn cynnwys dosbarthu cymorth i ddysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol.
Mae cyflwyno newid o'r raddfa hon yn y system yn llwyddiannus yn dibynnu ar sgiliau a gwybodaeth athrawon, fel bod ystafelloedd dosbarth prif ffrwd yn gallu cefnogi cynifer o ddisgyblion â phosibl i wneud cynnydd. Er mwyn sicrhau hyn, rydyn ni'n adolygu'r cynnig dysgu proffesiynol ADY, gan gynnwys darparu adnoddau ychwanegol, cryfhau'r canllawiau arfarnu statudol fel eu bod yn nodi'n well lle mae bylchau mewn sgiliau a gwybodaeth, a chynyddu'r gofynion ar gyfer hyfforddiant ADY yn y meini prawf achredu ar gyfer pob darparwr addysg gychwynnol athrawon. A byddwn ni'n parhau i weithio gyda phartneriaid gwella ysgolion i gefnogi ysgolion i ddatblygu cwricwlwm cynhwysol, a chefnogi ymarferwyr i ymgymryd ag ymchwiliad proffesiynol i wella addysgu a dysgu ar gyfer dysgwyr ag ADY.
Llywydd, un o'r pethau sydd wedi fy nharo ers dod yn Weinidog addysg yw, ar gyfer pob cwestiwn rydyn ni'n ceisio ei ddatrys, mae ysgol yn rhywle sydd wedi dod o hyd i ateb, neu o leiaf ran dda o'r ateb. Yfory, yn Abertawe, byddwn ni'n gweld yr ail o gyfres newydd o ddigwyddiadau ymarferwyr sy'n cael eu cynnal drwy gydol y gaeaf. Yn y digwyddiadau hyn, bydd ymarferwyr o'r blynyddoedd cynnar, cynradd, uwchradd, addysg arbennig ac unedau cyfeirio disgyblion yn rhannu eu profiadau o gynllunio, dylunio a gweithredu cwricwla sy'n cefnogi tegwch a chynhwysiant, fel bod pob dysgwr yn gwneud cynnydd ac yn cyflawni ei botensial, gan gynnwys y rhai ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol.
Mae'n amlwg bod angen gwell cydweithredu rhwng rhannau o'r system. Felly, rydyn ni wedi sefydlu gweithgor amlasiantaeth iechyd ac addysg newydd i fynd i'r afael â rhwystrau i gydweithredu ac i ymdrin â heriau cyffredin eraill sy'n dod i'r amlwg o'n profiad o weithredu. Mae'r swyddog arweiniol clinigol dynodedig addysg, y swyddogion SACDA, mewn byrddau iechyd lleol yn gweithio nawr ar ddatblygu dangosyddion perfformiad allweddol i gefnogi ac adrodd ar ymgysylltiad byrddau iechyd ag awdurdodau lleol o ran cynllunio a darparu darpariaeth ddysgu ychwanegol dan arweiniad iechyd.
Mae cynlluniau strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg yn blaenoriaethu sut y gall awdurdodau lleol wella darpariaeth ddysgu ychwanegol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae grŵp rhanddeiliaid cenedlaethol traws-sector, sy'n dwyn ynghyd brofiad ac arbenigedd o addysg, awdurdodau lleol, byrddau iechyd a'r trydydd sector wedi'i sefydlu i lywio'r gwaith o ddatblygu darpariaeth, adnoddau a dysgu proffesiynol cyfrwng Cymraeg ar lefel genedlaethol. Byddan nhw'n gweithio gydag Adnodd, y cwmni adnoddau addysg newydd, sy'n goruchwylio adnoddau addysgol i gefnogi addysgu a dysgu'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru.
Rwy'n cydnabod pryderon teuluoedd yn ystod cyfnod o newid mawr. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i fagu hyder rhieni ym mhob rhan o Gymru, gan fanteisio ar gryfderau cynllunio sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn. Mae gwella penderfyniadau a chyfathrebu tryloyw gan awdurdodau lleol a'u hysgolion o ran yr hyn sy'n gyfystyr â darpariaeth ddysgu ychwanegol a phennu ADY yn flaenoriaeth.
Wrth gwrs, dim ond newydd ddechrau y mae llif dysgwyr ôl-16. Rwyf wedi darparu £2.1 miliwn dros dair blynedd i golegau addysg bellach i wella'r profiad addysg i bobl ifanc ac, yn hollbwysig, i gryfhau cydweithio ag awdurdodau lleol a gydag ysgolion i gefnogi pontio cadarnhaol. Yn y cyfamser, mae awdurdodau lleol eu hunain yn dechrau gwneud penderfyniadau ar leoliadau arbenigol ôl-16, cyn trosglwyddo cyllid a chyfrifoldeb i awdurdodau lleol erbyn diwedd blwyddyn ysgol 2024-25.
Yn olaf, Llywydd, mae monitro parhaus yn hynod o bwysig. Bydd adolygiad thematig nesaf Estyn yn ystyried gweithredu mewn lleoliadau blynyddoedd cynnar, unedau cyfeirio disgyblion ac ysgolion arbennig a gynhelir. Cyn bo hir, bydd y rhaglen llysgenhadon ADY newydd yn dechrau gwrando ar brofiad plant o'r system ADY mewn ysgolion a lleoliadau ledled Cymru. Bydd ein rhaglen werthuso pedair blynedd ni'n cynnwys astudiaethau yn seiliedig ar ardal ac yn gofyn am adborth gan ymarferwyr, rhanddeiliaid, dysgwyr a'u teuluoedd o ran eu profiadau o'r system ADY a'i gweithredu. Disgwylir i'r adroddiad cwmpasu gael ei gyhoeddi fis nesaf a bydd yn nodi blaenoriaethau ac ymholiadau allweddol ar gyfer y gwerthusiad.
Ers cyflwyno deddfwriaeth ALNET yn 2018, mae'r dirwedd addysg wedi cael ei diwygio'n sylweddol, yn erbyn cefndir o bandemig sydd wedi effeithio ar bob rhan o gymdeithas ac wedi cyffwrdd â bron pob agwedd ar fywyd yr ysgol. Fodd bynnag, Llywydd, pan fyddaf i'n ymweld ag ysgolion a cholegau, a phan fyddaf i'n siarad â phenaethiaid wyneb yn wyneb, er gwaethaf pwysau rheoli newid, mae creadigrwydd a brwdfrydedd gwirioneddol dros ddiwygio ADY, ac ymrwymiad parhaus i greu newid cadarnhaol i'n holl ddysgwyr.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. Your statement, I have to say, paints an extremely different picture of the state of ALN in our schools to the one I hear week in, week out, in our schools, Minister, and the evidence we've collected in our children and young people's committee; I see the Chair will be speaking later in the debate and I'm sure will elaborate on this.
The system, the ALN reform, of course, was needed—no-one disputes that, and change was largely welcomed. But those trying to interpret it and use it on a daily basis still say it is far too complex, as well as being interpreted 22 different ways by 22 different local authorities. Minister, the first thing that struck me, though, from your statement, is the fact that you seem to agree with the Estyn thematic review when they state that there was no evidence of children's ALN needs not being met in the settings and local authorities that formed part of that review. That just beggars belief. I'm quite perplexed by it. I can't actually believe what I heard you say.
Minister, funding, full stop, for pupils with ALN is wholly inadequate. Most schools simply do not receive the funding they need to provide ALN students with appropriate conditions or the staff needed to meet their complex needs. There are unbearable amounts of pressures on teachers and headteachers due to stretched school budgets at the moment, yet they are having to cope with rising numbers of ALN and rising numbers in the mainstream education of acute and varying ALN needs. There are many, many children also waiting up to 18 months just to be diagnosed, which in itself is appalling, and in that waiting time they're not getting the support they need and schools don't have the funds they need to support them. This leaves schools in a situation with disadvantaged children and teachers struggling to teach them. Minister, what are you specifically doing to bring down those waiting times for children to get a diagnosis in Wales? As you know, that is one of the biggest problems ALN families are facing right now—the impact on learners, of course, being great, as well as it causing anxiousness across the whole family, and the ALN learner being disadvantaged.
School budgets are so stretched that they don't have the funding for specialist teachers or training to get staff up to date to deal with the more complex needs that are presenting, or to get the amount of staff needed. That may be 1:1 or 2:1 support. The new curriculum is helpful when trying to deliver to a mix of ALN students—I agree with that—and other mainstream learners. But what is needed to deliver any sort of education in the classroom is the staff per ALN pupil, that support within the classroom. It is clear that direct funding from Welsh Government is needed to ensure that every pupil's needs are met. I have seen the faces of these teachers who are heartbroken that pupils are just not getting what they need in terms of support in our classrooms at the moment. Only yesterday morning, I visited a primary school in my region that did not have enough money in their budget to provide children with the ALN, particularly acute ALN, support that they needed, making it not only difficult for that child, as I said, but for all children within that class, as well as the teachers.
ALN is the No.1 issue in every school that I visit across Wales, and it is appalling that this Labour Government has failed to to anything urgently about it. The current system is not fit for purpose without a major financial intervention by the Welsh Government right now, and not in four years' time. Minister, what is clear is that schools cannot wait for another funding review that may or may not alter the funding for ALN. Schools need direct funding, and they need it now to cope with the rise in numbers of ALN, and there is no time to lose on this, Minister. What about those losing out on education now? How do you propose they cope whilst you dither and delay on whether to increase funding and whilst you try to find out what we all already know in terms of ALN in our schools?
With the shift towards universal provision, students risk falling between the cracks and not getting the level of support they would previously have received, or, worse, not being identified properly at all. Will you trust that schools know how to best look after these children, perhaps flexible moneys so that schools can adapt to these differing needs? And a rise in the numbers should be funded nationally of local authority leads in ALN, because at the moment they're dealing with about 300 cases per officer at the moment, and that's just not sustainable. Thank you.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Mae eich datganiad, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, yn rhoi darlun gwahanol iawn o gyflwr ADY yn ein hysgolion i'r un yr wyf i'n ei glywed wythnos ar ôl wythnos, yn ein hysgolion, Gweinidog, a'r dystiolaeth rydyn ni wedi'i chasglu yn ein pwyllgor plant a phobl ifanc; rwy'n gweld y bydd y Cadeirydd yn siarad yn ddiweddarach yn y ddadl ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn ymhelaethu ar hyn.
Roedd angen y system, y diwygiad ADY, wrth gwrs—does neb yn anghytuno â hynny, ac roedd newid yn cael ei groesawu i raddau helaeth. Ond mae'r rhai sy'n ceisio ei ddehongli a'i ddefnyddio o ddydd i ddydd yn dal i ddweud ei fod yn llawer rhy gymhleth, yn ogystal â'i fod yn cael ei ddehongli 22 o wahanol ffyrdd gan 22 o awdurdodau lleol gwahanol. Gweinidog, y peth cyntaf y gwnaeth fy nharo i, fodd bynnag, o'ch datganiad, yw'r ffaith ei bod yn ymddangos eich bod chi'n cytuno ag adolygiad thematig Estyn pan eu bod yn datgan nad oedd unrhyw dystiolaeth nad oedd anghenion ADY plant yn cael eu diwallu yn y lleoliadau a'r awdurdodau lleol a oedd yn rhan o'r adolygiad hwnnw. Mae hyn yn anghredadwy. Mae hynny'n peri dryswch i mi. Ni allaf gredu'r hyn a glywais i gennych chi.
Gweinidog, mae cyllid ar gyfer disgyblion ag ADY yn gwbl annigonol a dyna ben arni. Yn syml, nid yw'r rhan fwyaf o ysgolion yn cael yr arian sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i ddarparu amodau priodol ar gyfer myfyrwyr ADY na'r staff sydd eu hangen i ddiwallu eu hanghenion cymhleth. Mae pwysau annioddefol ar athrawon a phenaethiaid oherwydd cyllidebau ysgolion sydd dan straen ar hyn o bryd, ac eto maen nhw'n gorfod ymdopi â niferoedd cynyddol o ADY a niferoedd cynyddol o anghenion ADY acíwt ac amrywiol mewn addysg prif ffrwd. Mae yna lawer iawn o blant hefyd yn aros hyd at 18 mis dim ond i gael diagnosis, sydd ynddo'i hun yn warthus, ac yn ystod yr amser aros hwnnw nid ydyn nhw'n cael y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen arnyn nhw ac nid oes gan ysgolion yr arian sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i'w cefnogi. Mae hyn yn gadael ysgolion mewn sefyllfa gyda phlant difreintiedig ac athrawon yn cael trafferth eu dysgu. Gweinidog, beth ydych chi'n ei wneud yn benodol i leihau'r amseroedd aros hynny i blant gael diagnosis yng Nghymru? Fel y gwyddoch chi, dyna un o'r problemau mwyaf y mae teuluoedd ADY yn eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd—mae'r effaith ar ddysgwyr, wrth gwrs, yn fawr, ac mae hefyd yn achosi pryder ar draws y teulu cyfan, a mae'r dysgwr ADY dan anfantais.
Mae cyllidebau ysgolion dan gymaint o bwysau fel nad oes ganddyn nhw'r arian ar gyfer athrawon neu hyfforddiant arbenigol i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i staff ymdrin â'r anghenion mwy cymhleth sy'n cael eu gweld, neu i gael nifer y staff sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw. Gall hyn fod yn gefnogaeth 1:1 neu 2:1. Mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn ddefnyddiol wrth geisio darparu i gymysgedd o fyfyrwyr ADY—rwy'n cytuno â hynny—a dysgwyr prif ffrwd eraill. Ond yr hyn sydd ei angen i ddarparu unrhyw fath o addysg yn yr ystafell ddosbarth yw'r staff fesul disgybl ADY, y gefnogaeth honno yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Mae'n amlwg bod angen cyllid uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod anghenion pob disgybl yn cael eu diwallu. Rwyf wedi gweld wynebau'r athrawon hyn sy'n torri eu calonnau nad yw disgyblion yn cael yr hyn sydd ei angen arnyn nhw o ran cefnogaeth yn ein hystafelloedd dosbarth ar hyn o bryd. Dim ond bore ddoe, ymwelais i ag ysgol gynradd yn fy rhanbarth i nad oedd ganddyn nhw ddigon o arian yn eu cyllideb i ddarparu'r cymorth i blant ag ADY, yn enwedig ADY acíwt, yr oedd ei angen arnyn nhw, gan ei gwneud nid yn unig yn anodd i'r plentyn hwnnw, fel y dywedais i, ond i bob plentyn yn y dosbarth hwnnw, yn ogystal â'r athrawon.
ADY yw'r prif fater ym mhob ysgol yr wyf i'n ymweld â hi ledled Cymru, ac mae'n warthus bod y Llywodraeth Lafur hon wedi methu â gwneud unrhyw beth yn ei gylch ar frys. Nid yw'r system bresennol yn addas at y diben heb ymyrraeth ariannol fawr gan Lywodraeth Cymru nawr, ac nid ymhen pedair blynedd. Gweinidog, yr hyn sy'n amlwg yw na all ysgolion aros am adolygiad ariannu arall a allai neu na allai newid y cyllid ar gyfer ADY. Mae ysgolion angen cyllid uniongyrchol, ac mae ei angen arnyn nhw nawr i ymdopi â'r cynnydd yn nifer y plant ag ADY, a does dim amser i'w golli ar hyn, Gweinidog. Beth am y rhai sy'n colli allan ar addysg nawr? Sut ydych chi'n cynnig eu bod nhw'n ymdopi wrth i chi betruso ac oedi ynghylch a ddylai'r cyllid gael ei gynyddu ac wrth i chi geisio darganfod yr hyn rydyn ni i gyd eisoes yn ei wybod o ran ADY yn ein hysgolion?
Gyda'r newid tuag at ddarpariaeth gyffredinol, mae myfyrwyr yn wynebu risg o syrthio rhwng y craciau a pheidio â chael y lefel o gefnogaeth y bydden nhw wedi'i chael yn flaenorol, neu, yn waeth byth, peidio â chael eu hadnabod yn iawn o gwbl. A wnewch chi gael ffydd mai ysgolion sy'n gwybod orau sut i ofalu am y plant hyn, efallai arian hyblyg fel bod ysgolion yn gallu addasu i'r anghenion gwahanol hyn? A dylai cynnydd yn nifer yr arweinwyr ADY awdurdodau lleol gael ei ariannu'n genedlaethol, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd maen nhw'n ymdrin â thua 300 o achosion fesul swyddog, ac nid yw hynny'n gynaliadwy. Diolch.
I thank Laura Anne Jones for those comments and questions. I think I heard her say that, in relation to what Estyn had said, she couldn't quite believe what she had heard me say. Let me just suggest to her that's because I didn't actually say that. I think what, I hope, the Member heard in the statement was a candid recognition of a range of challenges in the system, based on hearing directly from learners, parents, teachers and others in the system, and a practical set of proposals for getting to grips with some of those challenges, and reflecting what we have heard through the lived experience of those in the system.
She made two, I think, substantive points. The first was in relation to funding. The point about the review is this—and, I think, from her comments that she would accept this—that what we are being told by practitioners, and by heads in particular, is that they don't have sufficient understanding of how the funding that we announce as a Government ends up reaching schools. I think there is a recognition that we've increased substantially the funding into the system to deal with the effects of the reforms, which are very wide reaching and are being introduced at a time of rising demand, if you like, because of the pressures on our system and the increase in the numbers of young learners coming into the system with increasingly complex needs. So, over the last two or three years, the funding has been at around £62 million-worth of revenue. She will have seen the announcement I made this year in relation to implementation, £10.4 million of which has gone in the way that she was asking in her statement for it—it has gone directly to schools themselves to increase the resources that they need. That's in addition to over £9 million to deal with additional pressures around the social and emotional needs of learners with additional learning needs who are finding it challenging to get to school, and in addition again to the capital grant, which she will have seen me announce last week, to support changes to the fabric of schools, the facilities in schools, to enable more learners with additional learning needs to be taught in a mainstream environment.
But the point about the review is this: it will not hold up the investment that I've just announced. So, there's no question about that. It's about understanding what more consistency we can bring to the system, so that similar circumstances attract similar levels of funding. That is the consistent message that we hear from practitioners and parents, and that's what the review is intended to address.
On the point that she made in relation to diagnosis, I just think it's very important that we are clear that schools ought not to be awaiting a diagnosis before providing a learner with an IDP. And the reason for that is that the point is to address the needs of the learner, not the diagnosis. Separately from that, she will know that there are initiatives that other parts of the Government are undertaking to improve waiting times for diagnoses in particular areas.
So, the Deputy Minister for Social Services announced last year a £12 million investment to improve waiting times for the diagnosis of neurodivergent conditions. And what we are seeing in how that is working out is the creative piloting of new approaches between local health boards and local authorities to smooth the collaboration and the joint working between the health service and the school system, which is really what the legislation is premised upon. And we are seeing some of that funding actually leading to those outcomes. And, as I said earlier, part of the challenge here is to identify where that practice is happening and then to spread that, so that other parts of the system can similarly operate in that way.
Diolch i Laura Anne Jones am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau hynny. Rwy'n credu i mi ei chlywed hi'n dweud, o ran yr hyn yr oedd Estyn wedi'i ddweud, na allai wir gredu'r hyn yr oedd hi wedi fy nghlywed i'n ei ddweud. Gadewch i mi awgrymu iddi hi bod hynny oherwydd nad oeddwn i wedi dweud hynny mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n credu, rwy'n gobeithio, mai'r hyn y clywodd yr Aelod yn y datganiad oedd cydnabyddiaeth onest o amrywiaeth o heriau yn y system, yn seiliedig ar glywed yn uniongyrchol gan ddysgwyr, rhieni, athrawon ac eraill yn y system, a chyfres ymarferol o gynigion ar gyfer ymdrin â rhai o'r heriau hynny, ac adlewyrchu'r hyn rydyn ni wedi'i glywed drwy brofiad bywyd y rhai yn y system.
Fe wnaeth hi ddau bwynt sylweddol, rwy'n credu. Roedd y cyntaf yn ymwneud ag ariannu. Y pwynt am yr adolygiad yw hyn—ac, rwy'n credu, o'i sylwadau y byddai hi'n derbyn hyn—mai'r hyn rydyn ni'n cael gwybod gan ymarferwyr, a gan benaethiaid yn benodol, yw nad oes ganddyn nhw ddealltwriaeth ddigonol o sut mae'r cyllid rydyn ni'n ei gyhoeddi fel Llywodraeth yn cyrraedd ysgolion yn y pen draw. Rwy'n credu bod cydnabyddiaeth ein bod ni wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol y cyllid i mewn i'r system i ymdrin ag effeithiau'r diwygiadau, sy'n bellgyrhaeddol iawn ac sy'n cael eu cyflwyno ar adeg o alw cynyddol, os mynnwch chi, oherwydd y pwysau ar ein system a'r cynnydd yn nifer y dysgwyr ifanc sy'n dod i mewn i'r system sydd ag anghenion mwyfwy cymhleth. Felly, yn ystod y ddwy neu dair blynedd diwethaf, mae'r cyllid wedi bod gwerth tua £62 miliwn o refeniw. Bydd hi wedi gweld y cyhoeddiad y gwnes i eleni o ran gweithredu, ac mae £10.4 miliwn ohono wedi mynd yn y ffordd yr oedd hi'n gofyn amdano yn ei datganiad—mae wedi mynd yn uniongyrchol i'r ysgolion eu hunain i gynyddu'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw. Mae hynny'n ychwanegol at dros £9 miliwn i ymdrin â phwysau ychwanegol ynghylch anghenion cymdeithasol ac emosiynol dysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cyrraedd yr ysgol, ac yn ychwanegol eto at y grant cyfalaf, y bydd hi wedi fy ngweld i'n ei gyhoeddi yr wythnos diwethaf, i gefnogi newidiadau i adeiledd ysgolion, y cyfleusterau mewn ysgolion, er mwyn galluogi mwy o ddysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol i gael eu haddysgu mewn amgylchedd prif ffrwd.
Ond y pwynt am yr adolygiad yw hyn: ni fydd yn oedi'r buddsoddiad yr wyf i newydd ei gyhoeddi. Felly, nid oes cwestiwn am hynny. Mae'n ymwneud â deall beth gallwn ni ei gyflwyno i'r system i sicrhau mwy o gysondeb, fel bod amgylchiadau tebyg yn denu lefelau tebyg o gyllid. Dyna'r neges gyson rydyn ni'n ei chlywed gan ymarferwyr a rhieni, a dyna beth mae'r adolygiad yn bwriadu ymdrin ag ef.
Ar y pwynt y gwnaeth hi o ran diagnosis, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n glir na ddylai ysgolion fod yn aros am ddiagnosis cyn rhoi CDU i ddysgwr. A'r rheswm am hynny yw mai'r pwynt yw ymdrin ag anghenion y dysgwr, nid y diagnosis. Ar wahân i hynny, bydd hi'n gwybod bod mentrau y mae rhannau eraill o'r Llywodraeth yn eu cyflawni i wella amseroedd aros ar gyfer diagnosis mewn meysydd penodol.
Felly, cyhoeddodd y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol y llynedd fuddsoddiad o £12 miliwn i wella amseroedd aros ar gyfer diagnosis o gyflyrau niwroamrywiol. A'r hyn yr ydyn ni'n ei weld yn y modd y mae hynny'n mynd rhagddo yw gwaith creadigol i dreialu dulliau gweithredu newydd rhwng byrddau iechyd lleol ac awdurdodau lleol i hwyluso'r cydweithredu a'r cydweithio rhwng y gwasanaeth iechyd a'r system ysgolion, sef yr hyn sy'n sail i'r ddeddfwriaeth, mewn gwirionedd. Ac rydyn ni'n gweld rhywfaint o'r cyllid hwnnw'n arwain at y canlyniadau hynny mewn gwirionedd. Ac, fel y dywedais i'n gynharach, rhan o'r her yma yw nodi lle mae'r ymarfer hwnnw'n digwydd ac yna'i ledaenu, fel bod rhannau eraill o'r system yn gallu gweithredu yn yr un modd yn y ffordd honno.
Minister, I'd like to welcome your statement today. I think—well, I hope—that we're all united that what we want is an ALN system that works, and we welcome the approach of not waiting for a diagnosis and that schools should be supporting and taking that pupil-centred approach. And, like you, I've seen some excellent examples across Wales where this is working well, but equally there are heartbreaking stories. What I found reassuring from your statement today was an acknowledgement of where we need to improve. And that's really, really important, that we reflect and learn and that we're able to adapt. And I very much welcome that.
From my own region, but also as education spokesperson, I've literally had hundreds of people contact me around additional learning needs, and the one thing that, perhaps, is not reflected in the Estyn report is those who don't have children in school because of challenges at present and, for whatever reason, do not feel that schools are able to meet the needs of their child or young person. I've mentioned before, and it's really stuck with me, meeting parents who are at the point of feeling suicidal because they feel they can't support their children, and they're really lost in some of the reports at present. Also, in terms of the trauma for those children who perhaps have had that one bad experience in school that means that they are completely put off education then, how are we going to make sure that they are not just abandoned whilst we try and put things right? So, I'd welcome any suggestions you have or any further information about how we're reaching out to those parents who are currently perhaps struggling with home education because they feel that their child's needs have not been met or, for whatever reason, whose child is not in education.
One of the things I do welcome is the emphasis in terms of ALN training and increasing that in terms of all initial teacher education providers. Is that going to be essential for everyone, or is it optional, because at present it can vary? So, I'd welcome some information there.
Gweinidog, hoffwn i groesawu eich datganiad heddiw. Rwy'n meddwl—wel, rwy'n gobeithio—ein bod ni i gyd yn unedig mai'r hyn rydyn ni ei eisiau yw system ADY sy'n gweithio, ac rydyn ni'n croesawu'r dull o beidio ag aros am ddiagnosis ac y dylai ysgolion fod yn cefnogi ac yn cymryd y dull hwnnw sy'n canolbwyntio ar y disgybl. A, fel chi, rwyf wedi gweld rhai enghreifftiau gwych ledled Cymru lle mae hyn yn gweithio'n dda, ond yn yr un modd mae straeon torcalonnus. Yr hyn oedd yn galonogol i mi o'ch datganiad heddiw oedd cydnabyddiaeth o ran lle mae angen i ni wella. Ac mae hynny'n bwysig iawn, iawn, ein bod ni'n myfyrio ac yn dysgu a'n bod ni'n gallu addasu. Ac rwy'n croesawu hynny'n fawr.
O'm rhanbarth fy hun, ond hefyd fel llefarydd addysg, rwyf wedi cael cannoedd o bobl yn cysylltu â mi ynghylch anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, a'r un peth nad yw, efallai, yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn adroddiad Estyn yw'r rhai nad oes ganddyn nhw blant yn yr ysgol oherwydd heriau ar hyn o bryd ac, am ba reswm bynnag, nad ydyn nhw'n teimlo bod ysgolion yn gallu diwallu anghenion eu plentyn neu berson ifanc. Rwyf wedi sôn o'r blaen, ac mae wedi aros gyda mi, cwrdd â rhieni sydd wedi cyrraedd y pwynt lle maen nhw'n teimlo fel lladd eu hunain oherwydd eu bod yn teimlo na allan nhw gefnogi eu plant, ac maen nhw ar goll mewn rhai o'r adroddiadau ar hyn o bryd. Hefyd, o ran y trawma i'r plant hynny sydd efallai wedi cael yr un profiad gwael hwnnw yn yr ysgol sy'n golygu wedyn eu bod yn cael eu troi yn erbyn addysg yn llwyr, sut ydyn ni'n mynd i sicrhau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu gadael wrth i ni geisio unioni pethau? Felly, byddwn i'n croesawu unrhyw awgrymiadau sydd gennych chi neu unrhyw wybodaeth arall am sut rydyn ni'n estyn allan i'r rhieni hynny sydd efallai'n ei chael hi'n anodd gydag addysg gartref ar hyn o bryd oherwydd eu bod yn teimlo nad yw anghenion eu plentyn wedi cael eu diwallu neu, am ba bynnag reswm, nad yw eu plentyn mewn addysg.
Un o'r pethau rwy'n ei groesawu yw'r pwyslais o ran hyfforddiant ADY a chynyddu hynny o ran yr holl ddarparwyr addysg gychwynnol athrawon. A fydd hynny'n hanfodol i bawb, neu a yw'n ddewisol, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd mae'n gallu amrywio? Felly, byddwn i'n croesawu rhywfaint o wybodaeth am hynny.
Os caf i droi i'r Gymraeg: yn amlwg un o'r pethau sydd wedi bod yn amlwg—ac mae hyn yn glir yn adroddiad Estyn hefyd—ydy'r anghysondeb o ran y ddarpariaeth yn y Gymraeg ledled Cymru. Mi oedd adroddiad Comisiynydd y Gymraeg a'r comisiynydd plant yn glir iawn ar hynny. Rydych chi'n sôn yn eich datganiad ynglŷn â'r grŵp sydd wedi dod ynghyd i edrych ar hyn. A gaf fi ofyn: ydy Comisiynydd y Gymraeg a’r comisiynydd plant neu eu timau yn rhan o hynny? Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n allweddol bwysig ein bod yn sicrhau gweithredu ar hyn. A sut ydych chi'n monitro’r cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud drwy’r cynlluniau—y WESPs, felly—o ran hyn, oherwydd yn amlwg, mae ar bapur yn gallu bod yn wahanol iawn i realiti? Rydym yn dal i glywed yn anffodus am deuluoedd yn gorfod newid iaith yr aelwyd oherwydd y diffyg darpariaeth ac ati, felly dim ond eisiau ychydig bach mwy o wybodaeth o ran hynny.
Y peth arall hoffwn i ei ofyn ydy: rydym yn clywed lot fawr yn amlwg yn y Siambr yma ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa ariannol bresennol hynod o heriol. Un o’r pethau sy'n amlwg ydy mai buddsoddiad sydd ei angen o ran diwallu anghenion, ac rydych chi eich hun wedi sôn o ran yr heriau lu yn sgil COVID, ac ati. Mae’n amlwg yn adroddiad Estyn, hefyd, rhai o'r heriau sydd y tu hwnt i’ch cyllideb chi efo iechyd ac ati, rhai o'r heriau o ran y backlog sydd er mwyn cael pethau fel therapi lleferydd ac ati. A gaf fi ofyn, felly: faint o bryder ydy'r sefyllfa ariannol bresennol i chi fel Gweinidog o ran gallu diwallu'r uchelgais sydd gennych chi, a dwi'n ei rhannu o ran anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ac yn benodol felly o ran y staff ychwanegol mewn ysgolion sydd yn creu'r ddarpariaeth a'r gefnogaeth honno? Ydy o'n rhywbeth sy’n eich pryderu chi, ac ydych chi'n meddwl y byddai fo'n gallu cael effaith o ran sut ydyn ni'n mynd rhagddo i sicrhau ein bod ni ddim efo'r loteri cod post yma sydd yn bodoli ar y funud, a bod yna gysondeb lle bynnag eich bod chi'n byw yng Nghymru, eich bod chi'n cael y gefnogaeth a'r dechrau a'r gefnogaeth orau i bob plentyn a pherson ifanc? Diolch.
If I could turn to the Welsh language: clearly one of the things that's been apparent—and this is clear in Estyn's report too—is the inconsistency of provision through the medium of Welsh across Wales. The Welsh Language Commissioner and the children's commissioner's report was very clear on that. You mention in your statement the group that's been assembled to look at this. Can I ask you whether the Welsh Language Commissioner and the children's commissioner or their teams are part of that? Because I think it's crucially important that we do ensure action in this area. And how are you monitoring progress made through the WESPs in this area, because clearly, what's on paper can be very different to the reality of the situation? We still unfortunately hear about families having to change the language of the household because of a lack of provision and so on, so I wanted some more information on that.
The other thing I’d like to ask is: we hear a great deal in this Chamber about the current financial situation, which is extremely challenging. One of the things that’s become clear is that it’s investment that’s needed in terms of meeting these needs, and you yourself have mentioned the huge challenges resulting from COVID, and so on. It’s clear in the Estyn report, too, that there are some challenges that are beyond your budget in health and so on, and there is that backlog in getting speech and language therapy and so on. So, can I ask you how much of a concern is the current financial climate for you as a Minister in terms of meeting the ambitions that you have, and that I share in terms of ALN, and specifically in terms of the additional staff in schools that do make that provision and provide that support? Is it something that worries you, and do you think that it could have an impact in terms of how we ensure that we don’t have this postcode lottery that does exist at the moment, and that there is consistency wherever you live in Wales, that you do receive the support and the best possible start and support for every child and young person? Thanks.
Diolch am y cwestiynau pwysig rheini a pherthnasol iawn. Mi wnaf i gychwyn lle gorffennodd yr Aelod ar y syniad yma o gynnig cyson ar draws Cymru lle bynnag ŷch chi'n byw. Mae hynny’n elfen bwysig, ond gobeithio bod hynny'n dod allan yn y datganiad, ein bod ni'n yn derbyn bod hynny yn issue. Dwi wedi cwrdd fy hun â llywydd y tribiwnlys i drafod y patrwm sy’n datblygu o ran achosion sy’n dod o flaen y tribiwnlys, ac mae’n glir ddigon fod angen sicrhau bod dealltwriaeth fwy cyson ar draws Cymru rhwng cynghorau lleol o sut mae gweithredu'r Ddeddf a’r cod. Roedd hon yn un o’r themâu cadarnhaol dwi'n credu ddaeth allan o’r cyfarfod ym mis Hydref rhwng cynghorau, lle roedd pobl yn gallu trafod gyda'i gilydd yr approaches gwahanol ac yn sylweddoli cymaint o amrywiaeth oedd yn datblygu. Felly, mae hynny wedi bod yn galonogol. Dwi'n credu bod pobl yn cydnabod yr angen i wneud hynny.
Gwnaeth yr Aelod gyfres o bwyntiau pwysig ynglŷn â clywed llais y dysgwr a chlywed llais rhieni sydd â phrofiad o’r system yn hyn o beth. Mae gwaith ar waith eisoes trwy Snap Cymru a thrwy Children in Wales i sicrhau bod mwy o hyn yn digwydd, ein bod ni'n gallu clywed yn fwy uniongyrchol gan rieni a dysgwyr beth yw eu profiadau nhw o’r system, fel ein bod ni'n gallu ymateb i hynny’n gyflymach. Mae rhan o'r gwaith hwnnw’n mynd i gefnogi a gwella sgiliau dysgwyr eu hunain i allu cymryd rhan yn y math yna o gyfathrebu, fel ein bod ni'n gwrando’n uniongyrchol arnyn nhw. Felly, rwy’n obeithiol iawn y bydd hynny’n ein helpu ni.
Rydym ni'n dal yn cefnogi’r gymuned sydd yn addysgu gartref drwy’r gyllideb sydd gyda ni yma yng Nghymru, rhyw £1.7 miliwn, ac ar ben hynny, mi wnes i sôn yn fras gynnau am y dros £9 miliwn rŷn ni newydd ddyrannu i gefnogi disgyblion gydag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol sydd efallai am resymau emosiynol, cymdeithasol, sydd yn aros i ffwrdd o'r ysgol, beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i'w cefnogi nhw i'w denu nhw yn ôl. Felly, mae amryw o'r pethau yna yn gwthio yn y cyfeiriad hwnnw.
O ran y Gymraeg, ces i gyfarfod y bore yma gyda’r comisiynydd, ac mi wnaethon ni drafod yn union fater—[Torri ar draws.]—Comisiynydd y Gymraeg; ymddiheuriadau—ac mi wnaethon ni drafod yr union fater hwn, ac rŷn ni wedi cytuno y byddwn ni'n cadw’r cwestiwn yma o anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a'r ddarpariaeth ar ein hagenda ni yn gyson fel ein bod ni'n cael cyfle rheolaidd sawl gwaith y flwyddyn i fynd i’r afael â’r datblygiadau.
Rwy'n credu bydd y grŵp yn helpu gyda'r cydweithio ag Adnodd. Rydym ni newydd apwyntio prif weithredwr i Adnodd felly bydd cyfle nawr i allu mynd i'r afael yn ymarferol â chynyddu'r ddarpariaeth. Rwy'n gobeithio byddwn ni yn y sefyllfa yn y flwyddyn newydd ein bod ni wedi apwyntio'r arweinydd cenedlaethol yn y Gymraeg, fydd hefyd yn gyfle wedyn i gydlynu beth sydd yn digwydd ac i sicrhau ein bod ni'n deall yn union beth yw'r angen. Mae'n sicr bod angen symud yn gyflym ar hyd y llwybr hwnnw, felly bydd yr apwyntiad hwnnw yn y flwyddyn newydd hefyd yn sicr yn helpu.
Thank you for those important and very relevant questions. I’ll start with where the Member finished on the idea of a consistent offer across Wales wherever you live. That’s a very important element, but I hope that that did come out in the statement, that we do accept that that is an issue. I’ve met myself with the president of the tribunal to discuss the pattern that’s emerging in terms of cases coming before the tribunal, and it’s very clear that we need to ensure that there is more consistent understanding across Wales between local authorities of how to implement the Act and the code. This was one of the positive themes that I think emerged from the meeting in October between councils, where people could discuss the different approaches and realise how much variation was developing. So, that has been very encouraging. I think that people do recognise the need to do that.
The Member made a series of important points about hearing the voice of the learner and the voice of parents with experience of the system. Work is already being undertaken through Snap Cymru and through Children in Wales to ensure that more of this is happening, so that we can hear more directly from parents and learners regarding their experiences of the system, so that we can respond to that more quickly. Part of that work is going to support and improve the skills of learners themselves to be able to take part in that kind of communication, so that we listen directly to them. So, I’m very hopeful that that will help us.
We’re still supporting the community that is learning at home through the budget that we have here in Wales, about £1.7 million, and on top of that, I did mention briefly earlier the £9 million that we’ve allocated to support pupils with additional learning needs who possibly for emotional or social reasons stay away from school, and how we can support them to go back to school. So, there are a few things there pushing in that direction.
In terms of the Welsh language, I had a meeting this morning with the commissioner—[Interruption.]—yes, the Welsh Language Commissioner, apologies—and we discussed this exact issue, and we’ve agreed that we will keep this question of additional learning needs and provision on our agenda consistently, so that we have an opportunity regularly, several times a year, to tackle these developments.
I think the group will help with the collaboration with Adnodd. We’ve just appointed a chief executive to Adnodd, so there will be an opportunity now to tackle practically an increase in the provision. I hope that we'll be in the position in the new year that we'll have appointed a national lead for the Welsh language, which will be an opportunity to co-ordinate everything that's happening and to ensure that we do understand exactly what the needs are. Certainly, we need to move quickly along that pathway, so that appointment in the new year will help.
Thank you, Minister, for the statement. The Children, Young People and Education Committee is scrutinising the implementation of the ALN reforms in a Senedd-long inquiry and we're trying to do something new—we're carrying out regular check-ins, as you know, short, focused and deep dives into the roll-out of both the ALN reforms and the new curriculum, to see how the implementation is going at specific points in the journey. So, I'd like to thank the Minister for his and his officials' constructive ongoing engagement with us as we carry out this important piece of work. We're currently gathering evidence as part of a large inquiry looking into whether disabled children have equal access to childcare and education. Unsurprisingly, the ALN reforms have been coming up time and time again; and that's as we talk to learners, parents and professionals.
It is important to acknowledge some positives, and we've heard anecdotal evidence that when it's being implemented well, the new ALN framework has meant that additional learning needs co-ordinators are looking again at their old SEN registers, thinking once again about the needs of each individual child, talking to the child's parents and drawing up these individual development plans that truly meet the needs of the learner. We know some of those conversations are going really well and some parents have reported to us they feel more listened to and more involved in their child's education than ever before.
We've also heard about the implementation of the ALN reforms coinciding with the roll-out of the new curriculum, which has led to more inclusive teaching of children with additional learning needs. Some schools are doing a wonderful job of bringing children who might previously have been removed from the rest of the class into whole-class learning, using differentiation and the support of teaching support staff to meet their learning needs alongside, rather than in isolation from, their peers.
But, unfortunately, Minister, we've also heard some worrying concerns. We are hearing the same word time and time again, and that's 'inconsistency': inconsistency in how schools are approaching these crucial conversations with learners and their parents, and in whether children previously on the SEN register are recognised as having ALN and given IDPs; inconsistency in how local authorities are supporting schools and the thresholds at which they take responsibility for a child's learning needs; and inconsistency in how local health boards work alongside schools to help school staff understand learner needs and cater for them accordingly, and the level of health services' input into discussions on the decisions about ALN. Minister, you mentioned inconsistencies in your statement today, perhaps you could say a little bit more about what the Welsh Government's doing to iron out those inconsistencies and how you will monitor those in terms of the application of the ALN code.
Of course, we understand that it's not realistic to expect that all parents and carers will always agree with the decisions made by schools and local authorities about their children's learning needs and how those needs should be met. Sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, it won't be possible to resolve those disagreements informally, and that's why those appeal mechanisms that are built into the Act are crucially important. We've heard that many parents don't understand their rights under the Act and what steps they can take to escalate their concerns. So, Minister, how confident are you that schools and local authorities are making sure that parents know their rights of appeal under the Act and that these rights are routinely communicated with local authorities given notice of decisio