Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
28/02/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn y prynhawn yma. Y cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol sydd gyntaf, ac mae'r cwestiwn gyntaf gan Altaf Hussein.
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government, and the first question is from Altaf Hussein.
1. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gydag awdurdodau lleol ynghylch rôl caffael wrth gefnogi cynhyrchu bwyd yn gynaliadwy yng Nghymru? OQ60726
1. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with local authorities about the role of procurement in supporting sustainable food production in Wales? OQ60726
We work closely with our local authority procurement and catering colleagues, along with suppliers and producers, to embed foundational economy approaches in food procurement activity to increase the supply of sustainable, local food and to maximise opportunities for Welsh businesses to grow their share of the £85 million annual food spend.
Rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda’n cydweithwyr ym maes caffael ac arlwyo mewn awdurdodau lleol, ynghyd â chyflenwyr a chynhyrchwyr, i ymgorffori dulliau gweithredu'r economi sylfaenol mewn gweithgarwch caffael bwyd i gynyddu’r cyflenwad o fwyd cynaliadwy, lleol ac i wneud y mwyaf o gyfleoedd i fusnesau Cymru gynyddu eu cyfran o’r £85 miliwn o wariant blynyddol ar fwyd.
Thank you, Minister. Wales's farmers already produce the most sustainable food, and more must be done to support them. Without Welsh farmers, we have no food. Ill-conceived sustainable farming policies do little to protect nature or tackle climate change—they're simply cutting farmers' livelihoods and, as a result, cutting sustainable food production. Welsh produce can sometimes be more costly from a strictly financial standpoint, but when you factor in the additional climate-related costs of food imports, there is no contest. Minister, do you agree that we must do everything we can to ensure that all public procurement in Wales favours Welsh produce and that, in order to do so, we have to ensure the future of Welsh farming by abandoning the sustainable farming scheme as currently drafted? Thank you.
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae ffermwyr Cymru eisoes yn cynhyrchu’r bwyd mwyaf cynaliadwy, ac mae'n rhaid gwneud mwy i’w cefnogi. Heb ffermwyr Cymru, nid oes gennym fwyd. Nid yw polisïau ffermio cynaliadwy annoeth yn gwneud fawr ddim i ddiogelu byd natur na mynd i’r afael â newid hinsawdd—yn syml iawn, maent yn llesteirio bywoliaeth ffermwyr, ac o ganlyniad, maent yn llesteirio cynhyrchiant bwyd cynaliadwy. Gall cynnyrch o Gymru fod yn ddrytach weithiau o safbwynt ariannol pur, ond pan fyddwch yn ystyried costau ychwanegol mewnforio bwyd o ran yr hinsawdd, nid oes unrhyw gystadleuaeth. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod yn rhaid inni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i sicrhau bod yr holl gaffael cyhoeddus yng Nghymru yn ffafrio cynnyrch Cymreig, ac er mwyn gwneud hynny, fod yn rhaid inni sicrhau dyfodol ffermio yng Nghymru drwy roi’r gorau i’r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy fel y mae wedi'i ddrafftio ar hyn o bryd? Diolch.
Well, Llywydd, I'm not going to get into a policy discussion, which the Member is inviting me to do, but what I would say on that point—and I know that he will—is that he should be making his representations through the formal consultation process, which is ongoing at the moment.
But I really do want to address that important point about how we increase the procurement of Welsh food as part of our approach through the public sector. And there are some really exciting things going on at the moment, I think. So, one example would be the work under way with local authorities to trial a local multiplier tool, and that's really aiming to measure the returns to the economy of building social value into food procurement. And it applies a new lens model of local, economic, nutrition and social to food procurement and developing a Welsh food index to establish where the value is added to Welsh food. So, that's being led by, and developed in partnership with, local government.
But alongside that, our foundational economy officials have co-produced new food procurement guidance with local authorities, and that's called, 'Harnessing the Purchasing Power of the Public Plate: a Legal Guide to Embedding Sustainability into Food Procurement for a Healthier, Wealthier Wales'. And you can find that on the food procurement online resource, which is called, 'Buying Food Fit for the Future'. And use of that now is being stipulated by Welsh Government as part of our grant conditions for universal primary free school meals. So, I think there are some new and exciting innovations that we're introducing in this area.
Wel, Lywydd, nid wyf yn mynd i ddechrau trafod polisi, fel y mae’r Aelod yn fy ngwahodd i’w wneud, ond yr hyn y byddwn yn ei ddweud ar y pwynt hwnnw yw y dylai wneud ei sylwadau—a gwn y bydd yn gwneud hynny—drwy'r broses ymgynghori ffurfiol, sy’n mynd rhagddi ar hyn o bryd.
Ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i drafod y pwynt pwysig ynglŷn â sut i gynyddu faint o fwyd o Gymru sy'n cael ei gaffael fel rhan o'n dull gweithredu drwy'r sector cyhoeddus. Ac mae pethau hynod gyffrous yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd. Felly, un enghraifft fyddai'r gwaith sydd ar y gweill gydag awdurdodau lleol i dreialu offeryn lluosydd lleol, a'i nod yw mesur yr enillion i'r economi o ymgorffori gwerth cymdeithasol mewn prosesau caffael bwyd. Ac mae'n defnyddio model lens newydd sy'n canolbwyntio ar agweddau lleol, economaidd, maethol a chymdeithasol mewn gweithgarwch caffael bwyd a datblygu mynegai bwyd Cymreig i sefydlu lle mae'r gwerth yn cael ei ychwanegu at fwyd Cymreig. Felly, mae hynny'n cael ei arwain gan, a'i ddatblygu mewn partneriaeth â llywodraeth leol.
Ond ochr yn ochr â hynny, mae ein swyddogion economi sylfaenol, gydag awdurdodau lleol, wedi cydgynhyrchu canllawiau caffael bwyd newydd, sef 'Pŵer Prynu'r Plât Cyhoeddus: Canllaw Cyfreithiol i fewnosod cynaliadwyedd wrth Gaffael Bwyd i greu Cymru Iachach, Fwy Cyfoethog'. A gallwch weld y canllawiau hynny ar yr adnodd caffael bwyd ar-lein, 'Prynu Bwyd Addas i'r Dyfodol'. Ac mae defnydd o'r adnodd hwnnw bellach yn ofyniad gan Lywodraeth Cymru fel rhan o'n hamodau grant ar gyfer prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb mewn ysgolion cynradd. Felly, credaf ein bod yn gwneud newidiadau newydd arloesol a chyffrous yn y maes hwn.
2. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cymryd i ddiogelu cyllideb 2024-25 Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y dyfodol yn erbyn ansicrwydd cyllidol ac economaidd? OQ60749
2. What action has the Minister taken to futureproof the Welsh Government's 2024-25 budget against fiscal and economic uncertainty? OQ60749
Having reached the end of a three-year spending review period, we no longer have any allocated budgets beyond 2024-25, so this inevitably increases uncertainty. Yesterday, we held a debate about the need for increased flexibilities to futureproof the Welsh budget, and I was pleased to see the strong support for such measures across the Chamber.
Ar ôl cyrraedd diwedd cyfnod adolygu gwariant tair blynedd, nid oes gennym bellach unrhyw gyllidebau wedi’u dyrannu y tu hwnt i 2024-25, felly mae'n anochel fod hyn yn cynyddu ansicrwydd. Ddoe, cynhaliwyd dadl gennym am yr angen am fwy o hyblygrwydd i ddiogelu cyllideb Cymru at y dyfodol, ac roeddwn yn falch o weld y gefnogaeth gref i fesurau o’r fath ar draws y Siambr.
Thank you, Minister. Last year, the Welsh Government's budget failed to account for inflationary pressures that we had all along known about. This led to health boards facing deficits of hundreds of millions of pounds and a knee-jerk in-year budget. While I know that there is nothing the Welsh Government can do about inflationary pressures and global events, it can futureproof budgets to mitigate the damage, particularly against factors that we know about. Can you, therefore, reassure me, Minister, that we will not be in a similar position this year, where the Welsh Government is having to bring forward another surprise in-year budget to amend its previous budget's shortcomings?
Diolch, Weinidog. Y llynedd, ni roddwyd cyfrif yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru am bwysau chwyddiant yr oeddem wedi gwybod amdano ers tro. Arweiniodd hyn at fyrddau iechyd yn wynebu diffygion o gannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd a chyllideb yn ystod y flwyddyn a oedd yn gwbl adweithiol. Er y gwn nad oes unrhyw beth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud am bwysau chwyddiant a digwyddiadau byd-eang, gall ddiogelu cyllidebau at y dyfodol i liniaru’r niwed, yn enwedig yn erbyn ffactorau y gwyddom amdanynt. A allwch roi sicrwydd i mi felly, Weinidog, na fyddwn mewn sefyllfa debyg eleni, lle mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gorfod cyflwyno cyllideb annisgwyl arall yn ystod y flwyddyn i ddiwygio diffygion ei chyllideb flaenorol?
So, there are a few things, I think, that I need to reflect on that, the first being that there was nothing knee-jerk about it, in the sense that we had started undertaking that work in the summer of last year. So, actually, we were addressing the pressures on the budget as a result of inflation relatively early on in the financial year. You'll remember, at that point, we had a £900 million pressure on the budget, and we took really tough decisions right across Government in order to be able to protect the NHS and to deal with that £900 million pressure. But, right at the end of the financial year—13 February—the UK Government provided us with our figures through the supplementary estimates, and that added £231 million of revenue to our budget for this financial year. So, clearly, that was problematic, in the sense that some of those tough decisions, in the end, we didn't need to undertake. And, of course, UK Government departments would have known their budgets for months now, whereas this comes right at the end of the financial year. And had it not been the case that I'd already planned to maximise the draw-down from the reserve, in line with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's agreement that we could withdraw everything from the reserve this year, it would have been impossible for us to manage that year-end position. So, I think that part of this does speak to that debate we had on fiscal flexibilities yesterday.
But, in terms of looking ahead to the next year, we've recalibrated now our assessment following the supplementary estimates, and we understand our budget is now worth £1.2 billion less next year. But, of course, we've factored that into our budget for next year, and undertaken that exercise, so that we could protect local government, but also provide the NHS with £450 million additional. It does mean, again, that some tough decisions were taken, but it certainly enabled us, at the very start of the financial year, to factor in the impact of inflation, as we understand it to be.
Credaf fod rhai pethau y mae angen imi eu hateb yno, a’r cyntaf yw nad oedd unrhyw beth yn adweithiol amdano, yn yr ystyr ein bod wedi dechrau gwneud y gwaith hwnnw yn ystod yr haf y llynedd. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, roeddem yn mynd i'r afael â'r pwysau ar y gyllideb o ganlyniad i chwyddiant yn gymharol gynnar yn y flwyddyn ariannol. Fe gofiwch, bryd hynny, fod gennym bwysau o £900 miliwn ar y gyllideb, a gwnaethom benderfyniadau anodd iawn ar draws y Llywodraeth er mwyn gallu diogelu'r GIG ac ymdopi â’r pwysau hwnnw o £900 miliwn. Ond ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn ariannol—13 Chwefror—rhoddodd Llywodraeth y DU ein ffigurau i ni drwy'r amcangyfrifon atodol, ac ychwanegodd hynny £231 miliwn o refeniw at ein cyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Felly, yn amlwg, roedd hynny'n broblemus, yn yr ystyr na fu'n rhaid i ni wneud rhai o'r penderfyniadau anodd hynny yn y pen draw. Ac wrth gwrs, byddai adrannau Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwybod beth oedd eu cyllidebau ers misoedd bellach, tra bo hyn yn dod ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn ariannol. Ac oni bai fy mod eisoes wedi cynllunio i ddefnyddio'r swm mwyaf posibl o arian o’r gronfa wrth gefn, yn unol â chytundeb Prif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys y gallem ddefnyddio’r holl arian o'r gronfa wrth gefn eleni, byddai wedi bod yn amhosibl inni reoli’r sefyllfa honno ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn. Felly, credaf fod rhan o hyn yn berthnasol i'r ddadl a gawsom ar hyblygrwydd ariannol ddoe.
Ond o ran edrych ymlaen at y flwyddyn nesaf, rydym wedi ailraddnodi ein hasesiad bellach yn dilyn yr amcangyfrifon atodol, ac rydym yn deall bod ein cyllideb bellach yn werth £1.2 biliwn yn llai y flwyddyn nesaf. Ond wrth gwrs, rydym wedi cynnwys hynny yn ffactor yn ein cyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, ac wedi cynnal yr ymarfer hwnnw, fel y gallem ddiogelu llywodraeth leol, a rhoi £450 miliwn yn ychwanegol i'r GIG hefyd. Mae’n golygu, unwaith eto, fod rhai penderfyniadau anodd wedi’u gwneud, ond yn sicr, fe’n galluogodd, ar ddechrau’r flwyddyn ariannol, i ystyried effaith chwyddiant, fel y'i deallwn.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, Sam Rowlands.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson first of all, Sam Rowlands.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, the most recent available Welsh Government data, for 2020-21, shows that local authorities in Wales have around 1,000 smallholdings that they own and lease out to tenant farmers. That accounts for around 1 per cent of land here in Wales. There are around 886 tenants on council smallholdings, with a number of tenants having multiple farms. The total revenue that councils take in from those smallholdings is over £4 million across Wales—really significant not just for those rural areas, but for those councils as well.
You'll know the sustainable farming scheme is causing huge worry amongst farmers and our rural communities, as the protests outside the Senedd show here today. So, given this, Minister, what assessment have you made of the sustainable farming scheme as to those council-owned farms and the tenants that run those?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, mae’r data diweddaraf sydd ar gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ar gyfer 2020-21, yn dangos bod awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru yn berchen ar oddeutu 1,000 o fân-ddaliadau ac yn eu gosod ar brydles i ffermwyr tenant. Mae hynny’n cwmpasu oddeutu 1 y cant o dir yma yng Nghymru. Mae oddeutu 886 o denantiaid ar fân-ddaliadau cynghorau, ac mae gan nifer o denantiaid fwy nag un fferm. Mae cyfanswm y refeniw y mae cynghorau’n ei wneud o’r mân-ddaliadau hynny dros £4 miliwn ledled Cymru—sy'n sylweddol iawn nid yn unig i’r ardaloedd gwledig hynny, ond i’r cynghorau hynny hefyd.
Fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn achosi cryn bryder ymhlith ffermwyr a’n cymunedau gwledig, fel y mae’r protestiadau y tu allan i’r Senedd yma heddiw yn ei ddangos. Felly, o ystyried hyn, Weinidog, pa asesiad a wnaethoch o’r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy mewn perthynas â ffermydd sy’n eiddo i gynghorau a’r tenantiaid sy’n eu rhedeg?
I do admire the Member's efforts to bring a question relating to the sustainable farming scheme to the finance and local government questions this afternoon, but I do want to just remind colleagues that my responsibilities in relation to local government do relate to the constitutional, structural, financial and democratic responsibilities of local government, and I think that question would be best posed to the Minister for rural affairs, who I know has questions next this afternoon. But I do know that she has been particularly involved in discussions to explore what the right way forward for tenant farmers, in particular, is, bearing in mind their particular relationship with landlords, and any challenges that they might have in terms of a future scheme.
Rwy’n edmygu ymdrechion yr Aelod i gyflwyno cwestiwn sy'n ymwneud â’r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy i’r cwestiynau cyllid a llywodraeth leol y prynhawn yma, ond hoffwn atgoffa fy nghyd-Aelodau fod fy nghyfrifoldebau mewn perthynas â llywodraeth leol yn ymwneud â chyfrifoldebau democrataidd, ariannol, cyfansoddiadol a strwythurol llywodraeth leol, a chredaf y byddai'n well iddo ofyn y cwestiwn hwnnw i’r Gweinidog materion gwledig, y gwn y bydd yn ateb cwestiynau nesaf y prynhawn yma. Ond gwn ei bod wedi cymryd rhan yn y trafodaethau i archwilio’r ffordd gywir ymlaen i ffermwyr tenant yn arbennig, o gofio eu perthynas benodol â landlordiaid, ac unrhyw heriau y gallent eu hwynebu gyda chynllun yn y dyfodol.
Well, thank you for the response, Minister. I'm a little disappointed, perhaps, at you not being willing to, perhaps, fully respond to the question. I appreciate your portfolio remit, but I suspect there may be areas in your portfolio that could address the question further.
So, with that in mind, those regulations that we talked about with the sustainable farming scheme will make the entry for young farmers in the industry even harder, and, in particular, council-owned farms. And, as the Minister for local government and finance, you will know that council-owned farms are one of the ways in which young farmers can get on the ladder to gain much-needed experience. During the last year for which data was available, around 21 entrants came in on that basis, and it's these young farmers who certainly will need that experience to feed our nation in the future. So, thinking with your hat as local government Minister, how do you expect councils to address this negative impact of the sustainable farming scheme and, in particular, the impact on young farmers on those council-owned farms?
Wel, diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Rwy'n siomedig braidd, efallai, nad ydych yn fodlon ymateb yn llawn i'r cwestiwn. Rwy’n derbyn cylch gwaith eich portffolio, ond rwy’n tybio bod meysydd yn eich portffolio a allai roi rhagor o sylw i’r cwestiwn.
Felly, gyda hynny mewn golwg, bydd y rheoliadau y buom yn sôn amdanynt gyda’r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn gwneud mynediad i ffermwyr ifanc yn y diwydiant hyd yn oed yn fwy anodd, ac yn enwedig ffermydd sy’n eiddo i gynghorau. Ac fel y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol a chyllid, fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod ffermydd sy’n eiddo i gynghorau yn un o’r ffyrdd y gall ffermwyr ifanc ddechrau ennill profiad mawr ei angen. Yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yr oedd data ar gael ar ei chyfer, dechreuodd oddeutu 21 o newydd-ddyfodiaid ar y sail honno, ac yn sicr, y ffermwyr ifanc hyn fydd angen y profiad hwnnw i fwydo ein cenedl yn y dyfodol. Felly, yn rhinwedd eich swydd fel Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, sut ydych chi'n disgwyl i gynghorau fynd i’r afael ag effaith negyddol y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, ac yn enwedig yr effaith ar ffermwyr ifanc ar ffermydd sy’n eiddo i gynghorau?
I genuinely do want to be as helpful as I can to colleagues in my answers, but, as I set out, my responsibilities in relation to local government are constitutional, structural, democratic and financial. But I absolutely want to recognise the importance of council-run farms in terms of supporting people into farming in the first instance, and recognise the important role that they can play. But, nonetheless, this does sit in the portfolio of a different Minister, who would be better placed, I think, to give you the level of detail that you require.
Rwy'n dymuno bod o gymaint â phosibl o gymorth i gyd-Aelodau yn fy atebion, ond fel y nodais, mae fy nghyfrifoldebau mewn perthynas â llywodraeth leol yn rhai cyfansoddiadol, strwythurol, democrataidd ac ariannol. Ond rwy’n awyddus iawn i gydnabod pwysigrwydd ffermydd sy’n cael eu rhedeg gan gynghorau i gefnogi pobl i mewn i fyd amaeth yn y lle cyntaf, ac yn cydnabod y rôl bwysig y gallant ei chwarae. Ond serch hynny, mae hyn yn rhan o bortffolio Gweinidog gwahanol, a fyddai mewn gwell sefyllfa, rwy’n credu, i roi’r lefel o fanylder sydd ei hangen arnoch.
Thank you, Minister. I'll look forward to, perhaps, a further response in the future, although, as you say, there is a financial responsibility in particular, and there may even be structural opportunities within the way some of this is set up as well, which I'm sure you'd be interested in looking at.
So, perhaps a more straightforward question, which certainly sits within your portfolio and I'm sure there's no argument about, is about the final local government settlement that you announced yesterday. I'd like to hear from you, Minister, what you think is the single biggest regret you might have as a result of the budget you produced yesterday.
Diolch, Weinidog. Edrychaf ymlaen, efallai, at ymateb pellach yn y dyfodol, er, fel y dywedwch, mae cyfrifoldeb ariannol, yn enwedig, ac efallai fod cyfleoedd strwythurol hyd yn oed o fewn y ffordd y mae rhywfaint o hyn wedi'i sefydlu hefyd, sy'n rhywbeth rwy'n siŵr y byddai gennych ddiddordeb mewn edrych arno.
Felly, cwestiwn symlach efallai, sy'n sicr yn rhan o'ch portffolio chi ac rwy'n siŵr nad oes dadl yn ei gylch, yw'r setliad terfynol i lywodraeth leol a gyhoeddwyd gennych ddoe. Hoffwn glywed gennych chi, Weinidog, beth yw'r gofid mwyaf a allai fod gennych o ganlyniad i'r gyllideb a gynhyrchwyd gennych ddoe.
I think the single biggest regret that I have, as a result of the budget that I published yesterday, was just the sheer quantum of funding that we have available to allocate. We know that there are still pressures right across public services in Wales—in the NHS, in local government—despite the best possible settlement that we've been able to offer them. We would prefer to see a UK Government that invests in public services, which will then provide us with some additional funding to allocate. Of course, they still have time. We've got the UK Government's spring statement on 6 March. It's the day after we vote on our final budget, but it does give the opportunity for the UK Government to provide additional funding for public services, and then the Welsh Government can reflect that in a supplementary budget in June. I wouldn't expect decisions to be waiting until June. I think that the Welsh Government could take some early decisions on support for public services, should that additional funding be forthcoming on 6 March.
Credaf mai’r hyn sy'n peri'r gofid mwyaf am y gyllideb a gyhoeddais ddoe oedd y swm o gyllid sydd ar gael i ni ei ddyrannu. Gwyddom fod pwysau ar yr holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru o hyd—yn y GIG, mewn llywodraeth leol—er gwaethaf y setliad gorau posibl y gallasom ei gynnig iddynt. Byddai’n well gennym weld Llywodraeth y DU sy’n buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a fydd wedyn yn rhoi arian ychwanegol i ni ei ddyrannu. Wrth gwrs, mae ganddynt amser o hyd. Mae gennym ddatganiad y gwanwyn gan Lywodraeth y DU ar 6 Mawrth. Mae hynny ddiwrnod ar ôl i ni bleidleisio ar ein cyllideb derfynol, ond mae’n rhoi cyfle i Lywodraeth y DU ddarparu cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ac yna gall Llywodraeth Cymru adlewyrchu hynny mewn cyllideb atodol ym mis Mehefin. Ni fyddwn yn disgwyl i benderfyniadau aros tan fis Mehefin. Rwy'n credu y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud rhai penderfyniadau cynnar ar gymorth i wasanaethau cyhoeddus, os caiff y cyllid ychwanegol hwnnw ei ddarparu ar 6 Mawrth.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. The up-and-coming UK Government budget promises to see yet more hardship for ordinary working people in Wales. After the catastrophic fallout from Trussonomics, which left an enormous black hole in the UK public finances, a fresh wave of Tory-driven austerity is now threatening a further painful squeeze on living standards. We cannot forget that living standards have already deteriorated to an unprecedented degree over the past decade and a half of Tory rule. One of the main anticipated measures is a cut to the basic rate of income tax. But, as the Resolution Foundation has rightly stated, since the personal allowance threshold is due to remain frozen until 2028 at the earliest, people earning below £38,000 per annum will experience a net loss in their gross earnings. In other words, the Tories, true to form, are planning giveaways to the rich, with the lowest earners expected to shoulder the costs. Meanwhile, public services continue to be starved of funding.
Of course, in Wales, we do have limited power at our disposal to mitigate the worst excesses, and I know the Government has been assessing their options with regard to Welsh rates of income tax in the current budget. But we do not have the ability to change the personal allowance threshold, unlike in Scotland. We are also beholden to the income tax thresholds, which are set by the UK Government without any input from Welsh Ministers. We have long argued that the Senedd's inability to set its own tax bands is a fundamental barrier to the progressive use of financial levers at its disposal, and the impact of fiscal drag on the freezing of the personal allowance threshold will only serve to limit their effectiveness even further. Do you agree that the UK Government's failure to uprate the personal allowance threshold in line with inflation is exacerbating income inequalities here in Wales, and that it underlines the case for the Senedd to acquire greater fiscal powers?
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae'r gyllideb sydd ar y ffordd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn addo mwy fyth o galedi i weithwyr cyffredin yng Nghymru. Ar ôl canlyniadau trychinebus Trussonomics, a adawodd dwll du enfawr yng nghyllid cyhoeddus y DU, mae ton newydd o gyni Torïaidd bellach yn bygwth gwasgfa boenus arall ar safonau byw. Ni allwn anghofio bod safonau byw eisoes wedi dirywio i raddau digynsail dros y degawd a hanner diwethaf o reolaeth Dorïaidd. Un o’r prif fesurau a ragwelir yw toriad i gyfradd sylfaenol treth incwm. Ond fel y mae Sefydliad Resolution wedi’i nodi, yn gywir ddigon, gan fod trothwy'r lwfans personol i fod i aros wedi ei rewi tan 2028 ar y cynharaf, bydd pobl sy’n ennill llai na £38,000 y flwyddyn yn wynebu colled net yn eu henillion gros. Mewn geiriau eraill, mae’r Torïaid, yn ôl yr arfer, yn cynllunio rhoddion i’r cyfoethog, a disgwylir i’r bobl ar y cyflogau isaf ysgwyddo’r gost. Yn y cyfamser, mae gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn parhau i gael eu hamddifadu o gyllid.
Wrth gwrs, yng Nghymru, mae gennym bŵer cyfyngedig at ein defnydd i liniaru'r effeithiau gwaethaf, a gwn fod y Llywodraeth wedi bod yn asesu eu hopsiynau mewn perthynas â chyfraddau treth incwm Cymreig yn y gyllideb bresennol. Ond nid oes gennym allu i newid trothwy'r lwfans personol, yn wahanol i’r Alban. Rydym hefyd yn edrych yn fanwl ar y trothwyon treth incwm, a osodir gan Lywodraeth y DU heb unrhyw fewnbwn gan Weinidogion Cymru. Rydym wedi dadlau ers tro fod anallu’r Senedd i osod ei bandiau treth ei hun yn rhwystr sylfaenol i ddefnydd blaengar o'r ysgogiadau ariannol sydd ar gael iddi, a bydd effaith llusgiad cyllidol ar rewi trothwy’r lwfans personol yn cyfyngu ar eu heffeithiolrwydd hyd yn oed ymhellach. A ydych yn cytuno bod methiant Llywodraeth y DU i uwchraddio trothwy'r lwfans personol yn unol â chwyddiant yn gwaethygu anghydraddoldebau incwm yma yng Nghymru ac yn tanlinellu’r achos o blaid mwy o bwerau cyllidol i'r Senedd?
I'm very grateful for that question. I think there's a lot of speculation at the moment in terms of what the UK Government might do on 6 March. As colleagues will know, we have—I was going to say 'little to no', but it is genuinely 'no'—no advance knowledge from the UK Government in terms of what their plans are. And, actually, they don't engage us even in those areas where it has a direct and material impact on our budget. So, if you think about changes to stamp duty land tax in England, for example, that has a direct knock-on effect to our budget, and yet we don't even have those conversations with them. So, that is something that I hope would be improved in the future. It's something that we've tried to be open with. So, when we decide to make changes to our land transaction tax, we have conversations with the Treasury and share information with others, just to establish that relationship of trust, but it has to go both ways, I think.
In terms of setting the rates and the bands and taking a different approach, we are looking carefully at the situation in Scotland to see what the changes might look like for us here in Wales. I don't think that we should commit to doing something different just for the sake of it. I think having a system similar to Scotland would bring additional risk to us in Wales, which I think we'd have to factor in as well, but it would also give us different choices too. So, Welsh rates of income tax are still new to us, relatively, they're still bedding in, and we're still seeing the benefits of them in terms of the reconciliations, which have been positive since we've had Welsh rates of income tax, but certainly it's something we need to explore for the future. I don't think that we're at the point yet of being able to make a judgment as to whether or not having those different powers would be best for us here in Wales.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn. Credaf fod llawer o ddyfalu ar hyn o bryd ynghylch yr hyn y gallai Llywodraeth y DU ei wneud ar 6 Mawrth. Fel y gŵyr fy nghyd-Aelodau, nid ydym wedi cael—roeddwn yn mynd i ddweud 'fawr ddim', ond 'dim' ydyw mewn gwirionedd—unrhyw wybodaeth ymlaen llaw gan Lywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'u cynlluniau. Ac mewn gwirionedd, nid ydynt yn ymgysylltu â ni hyd yn oed yn y meysydd lle ceir effaith uniongyrchol a materol ar ein cyllideb. Felly, os meddyliwch am newidiadau i dreth dir y dreth stamp yn Lloegr er enghraifft, mae hynny’n cael effaith ganlyniadol uniongyrchol ar ein cyllideb, ac eto, nid ydym hyd yn oed yn cael y sgyrsiau hynny gyda nhw. Felly, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gobeithiaf y byddai'n cael ei wella yn y dyfodol. Mae'n rhywbeth rydym wedi ceisio bod yn agored yn ei gylch. Felly, pan fyddwn yn penderfynu gwneud newidiadau i’n treth trafodiadau tir, rydym yn cael sgyrsiau â’r Trysorlys ac yn rhannu gwybodaeth ag eraill, er mwyn sefydlu’r berthynas honno o ymddiriedaeth, ond mae’n rhaid iddo ddigwydd y ddwy ffordd, yn fy marn i.
O ran pennu’r cyfraddau a’r bandiau a defnyddio dull gweithredu gwahanol, rydym yn edrych yn ofalus ar y sefyllfa yn yr Alban i weld sut olwg a allai fod ar y newidiadau i ni yma yng Nghymru. Ni chredaf y dylem ymrwymo i wneud rhywbeth gwahanol er mwyn gwneud hynny'n unig. Credaf y byddai cael system debyg i'r Alban yn creu risg ychwanegol i ni yng Nghymru, y credaf y byddai'n rhaid inni ei hystyried hefyd, ond byddai hefyd yn rhoi dewisiadau gwahanol i ni. Felly, mae cyfraddau treth incwm Cymreig yn dal yn gymharol newydd i ni, maent yn dal i ymwreiddio, ac rydym yn dal i weld eu manteision o ran y cysoniadau, sydd wedi bod yn gadarnhaol ers inni gael cyfraddau treth incwm Cymreig, ond yn sicr, mae’n rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei archwilio ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ni chredaf ein bod wedi cyrraedd pwynt lle gallwn wneud penderfyniad ynglŷn ag a fyddai cael y pwerau gwahanol hynny'n well i ni yma yng Nghymru ai peidio.
Diolch yn fawr am yr ateb yna. Ar ôl y drafodaeth gawsom ni ddoe, mae'n galonogol i weld bod y Senedd yn cefnogi edrych ar bethau gwahanol.
Thank you very much for that response. Following the discussion that we had yesterday, it's very encouraging to hear that the Senedd is supportive of looking at different options.
Another alarming issue that has been raised by the Resolution Foundation's analysis is the extent to which the UK Government's planned tax cuts will need to be accommodated in part by reductions to the budgets of non-ring-fenced policy portfolios. Once again, given the inconsistencies of the devolution settlements across the UK nations, Wales will be disproportionately affected in this respect. For example, the foundation has estimated that the UK Government's justice budget may be facing a near 20 per cent cut, which should be seen within the wider context of the consistent under-funding of legal services and policing since 2010. As we discussed last week during the police settlement debate, Tory-driven austerity measures in the England and Wales justice system have also shifted an ever-increasing burden onto the budgets of Welsh Government and local authorities. This is in spite of the fact that the policy responsibility for delivering justice and policing does not currently sit in Wales.
Do you therefore agree that the non-devolved state of justice in Wales has meant that we've been fully exposed to the damage caused by Tory-driven austerity in this area? And do you agree with Plaid Cymru that, unless a future Labour Government commits to a substantial reversal of these cuts that have taken place over the past decade and a half, a failure to devolve justice will continue to leave the people of Wales short-changed?
Mater brawychus arall sydd wedi’i godi gan ddadansoddiad Sefydliad Resolution yw maint y gostyngiadau y bydd angen eu gwneud i gyllidebau portffolios polisi nad ydynt wedi’u clustnodi o ganlyniad i doriadau treth arfaethedig Llywodraeth y DU. Unwaith eto, o ystyried anghysondebau’r setliadau datganoli ar draws gwledydd y DU, bydd Cymru’n cael ei heffeithio’n anghymesur yn hyn o beth. Er enghraifft, mae’r sefydliad wedi amcangyfrif y gallai cyllideb cyfiawnder Llywodraeth y DU wynebu toriad o bron i 20 y cant, y dylid ei ystyried yng nghyd-destun ehangach y tanariannu cyson mewn gwasanaethau cyfreithiol a phlismona ers 2010. Fel y buom yn ei drafod yr wythnos diwethaf yn y ddadl ar setliad yr heddlu, mae mesurau cyni'r Torïaid yn system gyfiawnder Cymru a Lloegr hefyd wedi rhoi baich cynyddol ar gyllidebau Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol. Mae hyn er gwaethaf y ffaith nad oes gennym gyfrifoldeb polisi dros gyfiawnder a phlismona yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.
A ydych chi'n cytuno, felly, fod sefyllfa annatganoledig cyfiawnder yng Nghymru wedi golygu ein bod wedi bod yn gwbl agored i'r niwed a achoswyd gan gyni Torïaidd yn y maes hwn? Ac a ydych chi'n cytuno â Phlaid Cymru, oni bai fod Llywodraeth Lafur yn y dyfodol yn ymrwymo i wrthdroi’r toriadau hyn sydd wedi digwydd dros y degawd a hanner diwethaf yn sylweddol, y bydd methiant i ddatganoli cyfiawnder yn parhau i wneud cam â phobl Cymru?
I certainly think there are some interesting points that you make in that contribution relating to the impacts of those areas where we don't get consequential funding and so on. But I think the broader concern that I have in relation to the upcoming budget is that, from what we're hearing, and it is in the media and so on, it seems that what the UK Government will be planning over future years just doesn't have any credibility at all. The Institute for Fiscal Studies itself has said that if the Chancellor does decide to have tax cuts, unless he can set out exactly how he will pay for those tax cuts, then he will lack credibility and lack being able to say that there is any transparency. So, those are our concerns.
At the moment, I think that surveys tell us that people actually want to see investment in public services right now over tax cuts. That seems to be the priority, and that's a priority I think that we would share, bearing in mind the pressures on public services. I think the reductions that would be required to public services, if the UK Government follows the plans that we understand that they might follow, well, those cuts will be eye-watering, and that will have impacts for us here in Wales. It would really be a return to deep austerity. It didn't work the first time around, and it certainly won't work again after the resilience of so many organisations has been tested so strongly as a result of austerity. So, yes, I share lots of the concerns that you've raised.
Rwy’n sicr yn credu ichi wneud rhai pwyntiau diddorol yn eich cyfraniad mewn perthynas ag effeithiau’r meysydd hynny lle nad ydym yn cael cyllid canlyniadol ac yn y blaen. Ond credaf mai’r pryder ehangach sydd gennyf mewn perthynas â’r gyllideb sydd ar y ffordd, o’r hyn a glywn, ac yn y cyfryngau ac ati, yw ei bod yn ymddangos nad oes unrhyw hygrededd o gwbl i'r hyn y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn ei gynllunio dros y blynyddoedd i ddod. Mae’r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid ei hun wedi dweud, os bydd y Canghellor yn penderfynu torri trethi, oni all nodi sut yn union y bydd yn talu am y toriadau treth hynny, fe fydd yn brin o hygrededd, ac ni fydd yn gallu dweud bod unrhyw dryloywder. Felly, dyna ein pryderon.
Ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n credu bod arolygon yn dweud wrthym y byddai'n well gan bobl weld buddsoddiad mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus nawr yn hytrach na thoriadau treth. Ymddengys mai dyna’r flaenoriaeth, ac mae honno’n flaenoriaeth y credaf y byddem yn ei rhannu, o gofio’r pwysau ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rwy'n credu y bydd y gostyngiadau y byddai angen eu gwneud i wasanaethau cyhoeddus, pe bai Llywodraeth y DU yn dilyn y cynlluniau y deallwn y gallent eu dilyn, wel, bydd y toriadau hynny’n aruthrol, a bydd hynny’n cael effaith arnom ni yma yng Nghymru. Yn wir, byddai'n ddychweliad at gyni dwfn. Ni weithiodd y tro cyntaf, ac yn sicr, ni fydd yn gweithio eto ar ôl i wytnwch cymaint o sefydliadau gael ei brofi i'r fath raddau o ganlyniad i gyni. Felly, ydw, rwy’n rhannu llawer o’r pryderon a nodwyd gennych.
3. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda llywodraeth leol i ddatblygu eu hymgysylltiad â chymunedau lleol a'u grymuso? OQ60755
3. How does the Welsh Government work with local government to develop their engagement with, and empowerment of, local communities? OQ60755
I published guidance on effective public engagement for local authorities in June last year. This was produced following close working with local authorities.
Cyhoeddais ganllawiau ar ymgysylltu’n effeithiol â’r cyhoedd ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol ym mis Mehefin y llynedd. Fe'i cynhyrchwyd yn dilyn cydweithio agos ag awdurdodau lleol.
Minister, we know that devolution to Wales doesn't stop at the Senedd and with Members of the Senedd, and our local authorities have a vital role to play in exercising their own local democratic mandate. Again, that pulling down of power doesn't stop with local authorities, it must very much reach our communities. I think it's absolutely vital that local authorities work in that bottom-up way, Minister, and I'm sure you would agree.
We know there's quite a lot of different practice in our local authorities, some of it reflecting local circumstances, but also there's much in common in terms of community need and the voice of our communities. So, I just wonder, Minister, what more you might do, perhaps through your chairing of the partnership council, to ensure that we do clearly identify good practice in our local authorities in Wales and make sure that that informs the work on the ground in all of our local councils.
Weinidog, gwyddom nad yw datganoli i Gymru yn stopio yn y Senedd a chydag Aelodau’r Senedd, ac mae gan ein hawdurdodau lleol ran hanfodol i’w chwarae wrth arfer eu mandad democrataidd lleol eu hunain. Unwaith eto, nid yw treiddiad y grym hwnnw'n stopio gydag awdurdodau lleol, mae'n rhaid iddo gyrraedd ein cymunedau. Credaf ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol fod awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio o’r gwaelod i fyny yn y ffordd honno, Weinidog, ac rwy’n siŵr y byddech yn cytuno.
Gwyddom fod cryn dipyn o ymarfer gwahanol yn ein hawdurdodau lleol, gyda rhywfaint ohono'n adlewyrchu amgylchiadau lleol, ond hefyd, mae llawer yn gyffredin o ran angen cymunedol a llais ein cymunedau. Felly, Weinidog, tybed beth arall y gallech ei wneud, efallai yn eich rôl fel cadeirydd y cyngor partneriaeth, i sicrhau ein bod yn nodi arferion da yn ein hawdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru yn glir, ac yn sicrhau bod hynny’n llywio’r gwaith ar lawr gwlad ym mhob un o’n cynghorau lleol.
I'm grateful for that question. The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 made public participation—well, it brought public participation front and centre, if you like, in terms of making it a requirement on local authorities to have those strategies to encourage and enable public participation, and also those requirements for councils to have a petitions scheme as well. I think that both of those things are important in terms of ensuring better public participation in local democracy, and better opportunities then for local government to be able to listen to the views of their communities.
I think it's really important that we do share best practice. So, just last week, I hosted, alongside the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, a day-long event for public services boards, which included lots of representatives from local government, and that was very much about sharing good practice, learning from one another, and I think that lots of people will be able to take a lot away from that day that they can use in their own practice that they've learnt from their peers across Wales. So, I think that creating those opportunities to share is also really important.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar am eich cwestiwn. Gwnaeth Ddeddf Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru) 2021 gyfranogiad y cyhoedd—wel, fe wnaeth gyfranogiad y cyhoedd yn rhan hollbwysig, os mynnwch, o ran ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol gael y strategaethau hynny i annog a galluogi cyfranogiad y cyhoedd, a hefyd y gofynion i gynghorau gael cynllun deisebau hefyd. Credaf fod y ddau beth hynny’n bwysig i sicrhau gwell cyfranogiad y cyhoedd mewn democratiaeth leol, a gwell cyfleoedd felly i lywodraeth leol allu gwrando ar farn eu cymunedau.
Credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn rhannu arferion gorau. Felly, yr wythnos diwethaf, gyda Chomisiynydd Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol Cymru, cynhaliais ddigwyddiad diwrnod o hyd ar gyfer byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a oedd yn cynnwys llawer o gynrychiolwyr llywodraeth leol, ac roedd hynny’n ymwneud â rhannu arferion da, dysgu oddi wrth ein gilydd, a chredaf y bydd llawer o bobl wedi dysgu llawer gan gymheiriaid ledled Cymru y diwrnod hwnnw y gallant ei ddefnyddio yn eu hymarfer eu hunain. Felly, credaf fod creu’r cyfleoedd hynny i rannu yn wirioneddol bwysig hefyd.
Minister, residents in Forge Mews in Newport have been left cut off from the rest of the city with no vehicular access since the old Bassaleg bridge closed more than two years ago. Following safety inspections, the bridge has been deemed unsafe and beyond repair, with officials deeming a new bridge would have to be built.
This is an awful situation and it has been going on for far too long, as residents have serious concerns about emergency services being able to access the site. Not only that, but residents are being forced to wheel their shopping from their cars, which are parked at a considerable distance away from their homes, in trolleys. It doesn't sound like empowering local communities to me, Minister.
I have lobbied Newport City Council to end this sorry saga urgently, and I've been told that the council have submitted a bid for funding to the Welsh Government for work. Ultimately, the power to end this nightmare for residents lies in the hands of this Government. For so many residents, it's imperative that the Welsh Government gives the funding request the green light, so that work can indeed begin. Time is certainly of the essence, Minister, so will this Government commit to providing the funding needed and work in tandem with Newport City Council to empower this community once again? Thank you.
Weinidog, mae trigolion Forge Mews yng Nghasnewydd wedi’u hynysu oddi wrth weddill y ddinas heb unrhyw fynediad i gerbydau ers i hen bont Basaleg gau fwy na dwy flynedd yn ôl. Yn dilyn archwiliadau diogelwch, ystyriwyd bod y bont yn anniogel ac nad oedd modd ei hatgyweirio, gyda swyddogion yn credu y byddai'n rhaid adeiladu pont newydd.
Mae hon yn sefyllfa ofnadwy, ac mae wedi bod yn mynd rhagddi ers llawer gormod o amser, gan fod gan drigolion bryderon difrifol ynglŷn â gallu gwasanaethau brys i gael mynediad i’r safle. Nid yn unig hynny, mae'r trigolion yn gorfod cludo eu siopa mewn trolïau o’u ceir sydd wedi’u parcio gryn bellter o’u cartrefi. Nid yw hynny'n swnio fel grymuso cymunedau lleol i mi, Weinidog.
Rwyf wedi lobïo Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd i ddod â’r saga druenus hon i ben ar unwaith, a dywedwyd wrthyf fod y cyngor wedi cyflwyno cais am gyllid i Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gwaith. Yn y pen draw, mae’r pŵer i roi diwedd ar yr hunllef i drigolion yn nwylo’r Llywodraeth hon. I gynifer o drigolion, mae'n hollbwysig fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi'r golau gwyrdd i'r cais am gyllid, fel y gall y gwaith ddechrau. Mae angen gweithredu ar frys, Weinidog, felly a wnaiff y Llywodraeth hon ymrwymo i ddarparu’r cyllid sydd ei angen a gweithio ar y cyd â Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd i rymuso’r gymuned hon unwaith eto? Diolch.
I'm very grateful for the question. I presume that the funding scheme to which the Member refers is the one that sits in the responsibilities of the Minister for Climate Change and the Deputy Minister. So, I'd be certainly happy, after today's Plenary, to make sure that they're aware of your particular concerns and the correspondence that you've had with them and also with the council.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn. Rwy’n cymryd mai’r cynllun ariannu y cyfeiria'r Aelod ato yw’r un sy’n rhan o gyfrifoldebau’r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd a’r Dirprwy Weinidog. Felly, rwy'n sicr yn fwy na pharod, ar ôl y Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw, i sicrhau eu bod yn cael gwybod am eich pryderon penodol a'r ohebiaeth a gawsoch gyda nhw a hefyd gyda'r cyngor.
Mae cwestiwn 4 [OQ60738] wedi'i dynnu'n ôl. Cwestiwn 5 sydd nesaf—Heledd Fychan.
Question 4 [OQ60738] is withdrawn. Question 5 is next—Heledd Fychan.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a'r Prif Chwip ynghylch sicrhau digon o gyllid i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn datblygu llwybrau lleol dim hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus? OQ60751
5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip about ensuring sufficient funding for local authorities to develop local no recourse to public funds pathways? OQ60751
The Minister for Social Justice works with local authorities to support people facing destitution, including those with no recourse to public funds. In 2024-25, local authorities will receive £5.7 billion of funding through the local government settlement and this will help them to discharge their statutory responsibilities to provide information to those in need.
Mae’r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi pobl sy’n wynebu diymgeledd, gan gynnwys pobl heb hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus. Yn 2024-25, bydd awdurdodau lleol yn cael £5.7 biliwn o gyllid drwy’r setliad llywodraeth leol, a bydd hwn yn eu helpu i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau statudol i ddarparu gwybodaeth i rai mewn angen.
Diolch, Weinidog. Mi gyhoeddwyd adroddiad diweddar gan Sefydliad Bevan yn amlinellu rhai o'r heriau difrifol sydd yn effeithio ar bobl sy'n byw yng Nghymru, ond sydd â dim mynediad at arian cyhoeddus. Mae nifer o fyfyrwyr a theuluoedd yn fy ardal i yn y sefyllfa hon, a dwi wedi clywed storïau torcalonnus drwy'r banciau bwyd lleol, megis teuluoedd yn talu £1,200 yr wythnos mewn rhent, plant gyda swigod ar eu traed am fod eu hesgidiau yn llawn tyllau, a phrifathrawon yn adrodd gofidion am lefelau maeth a bwyd rhai o'n disgyblion.
Fel dywed yr adroddiad, mae'n hen bryd i awdurdodau lleol sefydlu'r llwybrau dim mynediad at arian cyhoeddus ar frys, a dydy hyn ddim yn digwydd yn unman yng Nghymru eto, er gwaethaf canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cyfarwyddo i wneud hyn yn 2022. Felly, fy nghwestiwn oedd: ydych chi wedi cael trafodaethau gyda'r Gweinidog perthnasol i sicrhau nad y cyllid ydy'r rhwystr i hwn, er mwyn i ni ddeall pam bod hyn ddim yn cael ei weithredu? Felly, eisiau gwybod ydw i a ydych chi wedi cael trafodaethau, neu, os ddim, a wnewch chi gael y trafodaethau yna i ddeall yr heriau a sut rydym ni'n gallu sicrhau bod y cyllid yn cyrraedd y bobl hyn.
Thank you, Minister. A report was published recently by the Bevan Foundation that set out some of the grave challenges facing people living in Wales who don't have recourse to public funds. Many students and families in my own area are in this position, and I've heard some heartbreaking stories through local foodbanks, such as families paying £1,200 a week in rent, children with blisters on their feet because their shoes are full of holes, and headteachers reporting concerns about the nutrition of some of their pupils.
As the report said, it's about time that local authorities establish these local no recourse to public funds pathways, and this isn't happening anywhere in Wales at the moment, despite Welsh Government guidance directing them to do this in 2022. So, my question is: have you had any discussions with the relevant Minister to ensure that funding isn't the barrier to this, so that we can understand why this isn't being implemented? So, I want to know whether you've had such discussions, and if you haven't, whether you will have those discussions to understand the challenges and how we can ensure that the funding does reach these people.
So, it hasn't been suggested to me that funding is the issue in this case. I'm aware of the Bevan Foundation report, and I know that the Minister's officials will be looking at what actions can be undertaken to help those who have no recourse to public funds in Wales, and you've set out, I think, some awful circumstances that people are finding themselves in. I do know that we are taking action already against many of the recommendations in the report, but we will also, of course, understand whether or not we need to take further action to respond to the points that have been raised in the report.
A review of the no recourse to public funds guidance will also be undertaken this year, and that will reflect upon changes in immigration policies and case law, to help bolster our understanding and that of local authorities on their obligations under the 2014 Act. But I'm very happy to have some further conversations with the Minister, just to ensure that funding is not the key problem in this circumstance.
Nid oes unrhyw un wedi awgrymu i mi mai cyllid yw'r broblem yn yr achos hwn. Rwy’n ymwybodol o adroddiad Sefydliad Bevan, a gwn y bydd swyddogion y Gweinidog yn edrych ar ba gamau y gellir eu cymryd i helpu rhai heb hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, a chredaf eich bod wedi nodi rhai o'r amgylchiadau ofnadwy y mae pobl ynddynt. Gwn ein bod eisoes yn cymryd camau yn erbyn llawer o’r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad, ond byddwn hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn deall a oes angen inni gymryd camau pellach i ymateb i’r pwyntiau sydd wedi’u codi yn yr adroddiad ai peidio.
Bydd adolygiad o’r canllawiau dim hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus yn cael ei gynnal eleni hefyd, a bydd hwnnw’n ystyried newidiadau mewn polisïau mewnfudo a chyfraith achosion, er mwyn helpu i gryfhau ein dealltwriaeth ni a dealltwriaeth awdurdodau lleol o’u rhwymedigaethau o dan Ddeddf 2014. Ond rwy’n fwy na pharod i gael sgyrsiau pellach gyda’r Gweinidog, er mwyn sicrhau nad cyllid yw’r broblem allweddol yn yr amgylchiadau hyn.
Minister, local authorities play a key role in helping to support people onto pathways out of destitution and, as you will be aware, this is particularly important for those with no recourse to public funds, as my colleague Heledd outlined. I've been contacted by constituents who volunteer with foodbanks, who are concerned that there is an increasing number of foreign students and their families needing help feeding themselves, because they have found that the resources that they had available no longer stretch as far as they once did, and they now face substantial financial challenges. They are also concerned that local authorities in Wales do not have a coherent or effective response to NRPF, meaning that those who desperately need help face a postcode lottery as to whether they will receive assistance. Minister, what steps are you taking to improve the consistency of approach among local authorities in Wales when dealing with people who have no recourse to public funds? Thank you.
Weinidog, mae awdurdodau lleol yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn helpu i gefnogi pobl ar lwybrau allan o ddiymgeledd, ac fel y gwyddoch, mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig i bobl heb hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus, fel yr amlinellodd fy nghyd-Aelod, Heledd. Mae etholwyr sy’n gwirfoddoli gyda banciau bwyd wedi cysylltu â mi i nodi eu pryderon fod nifer cynyddol o fyfyrwyr tramor a’u teuluoedd angen cymorth i fwydo eu hunain, am eu bod wedi gweld nad yw’r adnoddau a oedd ar gael iddynt bellach yn ymestyn mor bell, ac maent yn wynebu heriau ariannol sylweddol erbyn hyn. Maent hefyd yn pryderu nad oes gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru ymateb cydlynol nac effeithiol ar gyfer pobl heb hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus, sy’n golygu bod pobl y mae taer angen cymorth arnynt yn wynebu loteri cod post i bennu a fyddant yn cael cymorth. Weinidog, pa gamau a gymerir gennych i wella cysondeb y dull o weithredu ymhlith awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru wrth ymdrin â phobl heb hawl i gyllid cyhoeddus? Diolch.
I'm very grateful for those questions, and I know that the education Minister is also particularly aware of the issue in terms of international students who might be reluctant to access university financial support, such as hardship funds, because of restrictions that they have around their visas and the condition that they must be able to support themselves. We would encourage students in those circumstances to have those discussions with their university, to explore whether there is support available to them. We provide universities in Wales with funding for financial hardship and to support students with their mental health, so I would encourage students in those difficult circumstances to be raising that. But I know it is something that the education Minister is particularly alive to, as is the Minister for Social Justice.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiynau, a gwn fod y Gweinidog addysg hefyd yn arbennig o ymwybodol o’r mater mewn perthynas â myfyrwyr rhyngwladol a allai fod yn amharod i geisio cymorth ariannol gan brifysgolion, megis cronfeydd caledi, oherwydd y cyfyngiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â'u fisâu a'r amod fod yn rhaid iddynt allu cynnal eu hunain. Byddem yn annog myfyrwyr yn yr amgylchiadau hynny i drafod gyda’u prifysgolion i weld a oes cymorth ar gael iddynt. Rydym yn darparu cyllid i brifysgolion yng Nghymru ar gyfer caledi ariannol ac i gefnogi myfyrwyr gyda’u hiechyd meddwl, felly byddwn yn annog myfyrwyr yn yr amgylchiadau anodd hyn i godi hynny. Ond gwn fod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae’r Gweinidog addysg yn arbennig o ymwybodol ohono, yn ogystal â'r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Llywydd. What—? Oh, it says Jenny Rathbone.
Diolch, Lywydd. Beth—? O, mae'n dweud Jenny Rathbone.
You are absolutely correct, Janet Finch-Saunders, and I am totally wrong, and I apologise to you. It is Jenny Rathbone's question, No. 6, and I'll call you for a supplementary, Janet. I'm sorry.
Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, Janet Finch-Saunders, ac rwy'n gwbl anghywir, ac rwy'n ymddiheuro. Cwestiwn Jenny Rathbone yw Rhif 6, ac fe alwaf arnoch am gwestiwn atodol, Janet. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.
Thank you.
Diolch.
6. Pa gynnydd mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud ar weithio gyda llywodraeth leol i ddileu biwrocratiaeth feichus neu ddiangen? OQ60746
6. What progress has the Welsh Government made on working with local government on eliminating burdensome or unnecessary bureaucracy? OQ60746
The Welsh Government has made significant progress on working with local government to identify the areas of unnecessary bureaucracy and to develop ways to reduce them. The budget I published yesterday reflects progress made on the dehypothecation and consolidation of grants.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol ar weithio gyda llywodraeth leol i nodi meysydd lle ceir biwrocratiaeth ddiangen ac i ddatblygu ffyrdd o'i lleihau. Mae’r gyllideb a gyhoeddais ddoe yn adlewyrchu’r cynnydd a wnaed ar ddadneilltuo a chydgrynhoi grantiau.
That's welcome news, Minister. It's 10 years since the Williams commission warned that radical change is needed for public services to survive in a viable and sustainable form. And in next year's budget strategy document, you make prominent reference to improving inefficiencies and eliminating waste. Audit Wales advises that local authorities need to focus on how they're going to respond to future pressures and meet projected funding gaps. Given that austerity is likely to survive well into the next Government, after 10 years of an economically illiterate set of Governments, what is the Welsh Government strategy for engaging local authorities in the really urgent business of investing to save and reducing unnecessary spend?
Mae hynny’n newyddion i’w groesawu, Weinidog. Mae 10 mlynedd wedi bod ers i gomisiwn Williams rybuddio bod angen newid radical er mwyn i wasanaethau cyhoeddus oroesi ar ffurf hyfyw a chynaliadwy. Ac yn nogfen strategaeth y gyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf, rydych yn cyfeirio’n amlwg at wella aneffeithlonrwydd a dileu gwastraff. Mae Archwilio Cymru yn cynghori bod angen i awdurdodau lleol ganolbwyntio ar sut maent yn mynd i ymateb i bwysau yn y dyfodol a llenwi bylchau ariannu a ragwelir. O ystyried bod cyni yn debygol o barhau ymhell i mewn i dymor y Llywodraeth nesaf, ar ôl 10 mlynedd o Lywodraethau olynol sy'n economaidd anllythrennog, beth yw strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cynnwys awdurdodau lleol yn y gwaith gwirioneddol bwysig o fuddsoddi i arbed a lleihau gwariant diangen?
Well, I think the work of Audit Wales and also the work of Wales Fiscal Analysis has been really important in terms of helping local authorities understand the current pressures, but then also get as good a picture as they can as to the level of pressure that they're likely to face in the year ahead. Investing to save is absolutely critical to that, and we have a range of ways in which we're supporting local authorities to do that.
One particularly important area, of course, is preventing young people from coming into care. We've got a wide range of work going on in that space, but as part of our work through the invest-to-save fund we've pivoted that fund almost entirely towards supporting organisations—particularly local authorities, but through the third sector as well—to prevent young people from coming into care, but then also to support those young people who are in care to make sure that they have the best possible opportunities moving forward. I think that is absolutely an invest-to-save kind of approach, as is the universal basic income, because there are some of the most vulnerable people in Wales, and the more we can invest in them at this early point in their lives, I think the better the outcomes will be for them, but then also thinking about that invest-to-save angle as well, if you like.
We also have good work going on through the regional partnership boards and the regional integration fund. Investment of £146 million in that fund is working to build community capacity, helping people access information, advice and support locally in their own community, and helping people and families with more complex needs to get that support that they need closer to home.
And then, on the capital side of things, we've got our climate strategy panel's work, and following recommendations from that we've introduced a low-carbon heat grant for local authorities. Every year from 2023-24 to 2025-26, £20 million will be made available for capital works, and that's about retrofitting low-carbon heat solutions in non-domestic local authority-owned buildings—again, an invest-to-save kind of proposition—to reduce cost and carbon emissions for the long term.
Wel, credaf fod gwaith Archwilio Cymru a hefyd gwaith Dadansoddi Cyllid Cymru wedi bod yn wirioneddol bwysig i helpu awdurdodau lleol i ddeall y pwysau presennol, ond wedyn hefyd i gael y darlun gorau posibl o lefel y pwysau y maent yn debygol o'i wynebu yn y flwyddyn i ddod. Mae buddsoddi i arbed yn gwbl allweddol i hynny, ac mae gennym amrywiaeth o ffyrdd lle rydym yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i wneud hynny.
Un maes arbennig o bwysig, wrth gwrs, yw atal pobl ifanc rhag dod yn rhan o'r system ofal. Mae gennym ystod eang o waith yn mynd rhagddo yn y maes hwnnw, ond fel rhan o'n gwaith drwy'r gronfa buddsoddi i arbed, rydym wedi gogwyddo'r gronfa honno bron yn gyfan gwbl tuag at gefnogi sefydliadau—yn enwedig awdurdodau lleol, ond drwy'r trydydd sector hefyd—i atal pobl ifanc rhag dod yn rhan o'r system ofal, ond wedyn hefyd i gefnogi'r bobl ifanc sydd mewn gofal i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y cyfleoedd gorau posibl wrth symud ymlaen. Credaf fod hynny'n sicr yn ddull buddsoddi i arbed, yn yr un modd ag incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol, gan fod y rhain yn rhai o’r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru, a pho fwyaf y gallwn fuddsoddi ynddynt ar yr adeg gynnar hon yn eu bywydau, y gorau fydd y canlyniadau iddynt, rwy'n credu, ond wedyn, gan feddwl am yr agwedd fuddsoddi i arbed honno hefyd, os mynnwch.
Mae gennym hefyd waith da yn mynd rhagddo drwy’r byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol a’r gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol. Mae buddsoddiad o £146 miliwn yn y gronfa honno’n gweithio i adeiladu capasiti cymunedol, gan helpu pobl i gael mynediad at wybodaeth, cyngor a chymorth yn lleol yn eu cymuned eu hunain, a helpu pobl a theuluoedd ag anghenion mwy cymhleth i gael y cymorth hwnnw sydd ei angen arnynt yn nes at adref.
Ac yna, ar gyfalaf, mae gennym waith ein panel strategaeth hinsawdd, ac yn dilyn ei argymhellion, rydym wedi cyflwyno grant gwres carbon isel i awdurdodau lleol. Bob blwyddyn rhwng 2023-24 a 2025-26, bydd £20 miliwn ar gael ar gyfer gwaith cyfalaf, ac mae hynny’n ymwneud ag ôl-osod datrysiadau gwres carbon isel mewn adeiladau annomestig sy’n eiddo i awdurdodau lleol—argymhelliad buddsoddi i arbed unwaith eto—i leihau costau a gostwng allyriadau carbon yn y tymor hir.
We know that local government spending since 2013-14 has gone down by around 7 per cent. Over the past 10 years, we've seen three costly local authority reorganisation plans that were unsustainable and not taken forward. And of course, now we've got the corporate joint committees. Years ago, it was suggested that, rather than wholescale local government reorganisation, a lot of savings could be made in terms of having a north Wales payroll department, and taking things on a bigger scale but still keeping local authorities close to the communities they serve. Has any action been taken on local authorities working more in partnership with neighbouring authorities, and maybe on a regional basis, or has that just not gone forward at all? Thanks.
Gwyddom fod gwariant llywodraeth leol wedi gostwng oddeutu 7 y cant ers 2013-14. Dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, rydym wedi gweld tri chynllun ad-drefnu awdurdod lleol costus a oedd yn anghynaliadwy ac ni fwriwyd ymlaen â'r un ohonynt. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym y cyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig bellach. Flynyddoedd yn ôl, yn hytrach nag ad-drefnu llywodraeth leol ar raddfa fawr, awgrymwyd y gellid gwneud llawer o arbedion drwy gael adran gyflogres ar gyfer gogledd Cymru, a gwneud pethau ar raddfa fwy gan gadw awdurdodau lleol yn agos at y cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. A oes unrhyw gamau wedi'u cymryd i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio mwy mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau cyfagos, ac efallai ar sail ranbarthol, neu onid yw hynny wedi datblygu o gwbl? Diolch.
I think there are some really good examples of local authorities undertaking joint procurement and joint commissioning of services. Those happen right across Wales, from things such as social services to waste collection, and so on. So, there are really good examples of that. I think one of the positive things is that that's happening quite organically—so, local government recognising the pressures they're facing and looking for opportunities to collaborate with their neighbouring authorities and other authorities as well. So, there's definitely good work going on, but obviously lots more opportunity to make improvements in that space as well.
The CJCs are really important vehicles in terms of strategic transport, planning and also developing the regional economies. They are relatively new, but they are now starting to coalesce around those important agendas and work together. Of course, the legislation as we have it means that authorities, if they choose, can look to merge with neighbouring authorities if that's something that they think would be beneficial to them, and of course, officials would be happy to provide any information and advice about that, if it's something authorities think would be beneficial.
Rwy'n credu bod yna rai enghreifftiau da iawn o awdurdodau lleol yn caffael ac yn comisiynu gwasanaethau ar y cyd. Mae hynny'n digwydd ledled Cymru, o bethau fel gwasanaethau cymdeithasol i gasglu gwastraff ac yn y blaen. Felly, mae yna enghreifftiau da iawn o hynny. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau cadarnhaol yw bod hynny'n digwydd yn eithaf organig—felly, mae llywodraeth leol yn cydnabod y pwysau sy'n eu hwynebu ac yn chwilio am gyfleoedd i gydweithio gyda'u hawdurdodau cyfagos ac awdurdodau eraill hefyd. Felly, mae gwaith da yn mynd rhagddo yn bendant, ond yn amlwg mae llawer mwy o gyfle i wneud gwelliannau yn hynny o beth hefyd.
Mae'r cyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig yn bwysig iawn o ran trafnidiaeth strategol, cynllunio a datblygu'r economïau rhanbarthol. Maent yn gymharol newydd, ond maent bellach yn dechrau ymgyfuno o gwmpas yr agendâu pwysig hynny a gweithio gyda'i gilydd. Wrth gwrs, mae'r ddeddfwriaeth sydd gennym yn golygu y gall awdurdodau, os ydynt yn dewis, geisio uno ag awdurdodau cyfagos os ydynt yn credu y byddai hynny'n fuddiol iddynt, ac wrth gwrs, byddai swyddogion yn hapus i ddarparu unrhyw wybodaeth a chyngor ynglŷn â hynny, os yw'n rhywbeth y mae awdurdodau'n credu y byddai'n fuddiol.
Mae cwestiwn 7 [OQ60735] wedi ei dynnu'n ôl.
Question 7 [OQ60735] is withdrawn.
8. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod llywodraethau lleol yn blaenoriaethu gwasanaethau statudol yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OQ60731
8. How does the Welsh Government ensure that local governments prioritise statutory services in South Wales West? OQ60731
For 2024-25, the Government is providing unhypothecated revenue funding of over £5.72 billion and over £1 billion in specific grant funding to support local authorities in delivering statutory and non-statutory services. It is for local authorities to determine their budget and their service priorities.
Ar gyfer 2024-25, mae'r Llywodraeth yn darparu cyllid refeniw heb ei neilltuo o dros £5.72 biliwn a thros £1 biliwn mewn cyllid grant penodol i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu gwasanaethau statudol ac anstatudol. Mater i awdurdodau lleol yw penderfynu ar eu cyllideb a'u blaenoriaethau gwasanaeth.
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Labour-run Bridgend council have announced plans to cut their education budget. According to their medium-term financial strategy, the budget will be reduced by 3 per cent next year as part of a 7 per cent provisional total. When looking at the risks of this policy they've identified 19 potential impacts as a result of the decision. They range from potential redundancies and staffing loss to an increase in pupil exclusions. None of the potential impacts are positive in any way, and only allude to a darker future for education in Bridgend. At a time when Wales's young people are suffering the worst education results in the entire United Kingdom, this decision will only make things worse for learners in Bridgend. It's vital that those in our education system receive the best possible opportunities and the best possible outcomes. But that's made impossible if Bridgend Labour council's cut to education spending goes ahead. Can I ask, therefore, what discussions you're having with the Minister for education about ensuring that local authorities protect spending on education in their budgets so that we can turn around this disastrous trajectory of Wales's PISA outcomes under this Welsh Labour Government?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae cyngor Llafur Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi cyhoeddi cynlluniau i dorri eu cyllideb addysg. Yn ôl eu strategaeth ariannol tymor canolig, bydd y gyllideb yn cael ei lleihau 3 y cant y flwyddyn nesaf fel rhan o gyfanswm dros dro o 7 y cant. Wrth edrych ar risgiau'r polisi hwn, maent wedi nodi 19 o effeithiau posibl o ganlyniad i'r penderfyniad. Maent yn amrywio o ddiswyddiadau posibl a cholli staff i gynnydd mewn gwaharddiadau disgyblion. Nid yw'r un o'r effeithiau posibl yn gadarnhaol mewn unrhyw ffordd, ac maent yn golygu dyfodol tywyllach i addysg ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Ar adeg pan fo pobl ifanc Cymru yn dioddef y canlyniadau addysg gwaethaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan, bydd y penderfyniad hwn yn gwaethygu pethau i ddysgwyr ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Mae'n hanfodol fod y rhai yn ein system addysg yn cael y cyfleoedd gorau posibl a'r canlyniadau gorau posibl. Ond bydd hynny'n amhosibl os bydd toriad cyngor Llafur Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i wariant addysg yn mynd rhagddo. A gaf i ofyn, felly, pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael gyda'r Gweinidog addysg ynghylch sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn diogelu gwariant ar addysg yn eu cyllidebau fel y gallwn wrthdroi trywydd trychinebus canlyniadau PISA Cymru o dan y Llywodraeth Lafur hon yng Nghymru?
I just want to be clear that the tough choices aren't unique to Bridgend council. Every single local authority is facing tough choices as a result of the situation we're facing in Wales in terms of not having enough money to do all of the things that we want to do. I think that the example you provide is a good one in the sense that no councillor comes into politics to want to be making these kinds of tough decisions about areas where they’ll have to apply cuts to services. I think the best thing that we can do is continue to lobby for a good outcome on 6 March from the UK Government in terms of investing in public services, and any support that the Member can give to us on that would be very welcome.
Rwyf am ei gwneud yn glir nad yw'r dewisiadau anodd hyn yn unigryw i gyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Mae pob awdurdod lleol yn wynebu dewisiadau anodd o ganlyniad i'r sefyllfa rydym yn ei hwynebu yng Nghymru o fethu cael digon o arian i wneud yr holl bethau yr hoffem eu gwneud. Rwy'n credu bod yr enghraifft a roddwch yn un dda yn yr ystyr nad oes unrhyw gynghorydd yn mynd i fyd gwleidyddiaeth oherwydd eu bod eisiau gwneud y mathau hyn o benderfyniadau anodd mewn meysydd lle mae'n rhaid iddynt wneud toriadau i wasanaethau. Rwy'n credu mai'r peth gorau y gallwn ei wneud yw parhau i lobïo am ganlyniad da gan Lywodraeth y DU ar 6 Mawrth o ran buddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a byddem yn croesawu unrhyw gymorth y gall yr Aelod ei roi i ni yn hynny o beth.
9. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynglŷn â sicrhau digon o gyllid i lywodraeth leol er mwyn cefnogi'r broses o bontio i sero net? OQ60754
9. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change about ensuring adequate funding for local government to support the transition to net zero? OQ60754
I have regular discussions with the Minister for Climate Change about supporting local government in the transition to net zero. This is a collective challenge across the Welsh Government and local authorities.
Rwy'n cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynghylch cefnogi llywodraeth leol i bontio i sero net. Mae hon yn her ar y cyd ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol.
Diolch am eich ymateb.
Thank you for your response.
The Welsh Local Government Association receives Welsh Government funding to deliver a decarbonisation support programme helping local authorities in developing climate action plans. Yet many climate action plans currently fall short. Climate Emergency UK's 2021 scorecard exercise showed that, in Welsh local authorities, climate action plans received an average score of only 31 per cent, well below the UK national average of 50 per cent. A key issue is co-ordinating approach amongst local authorities. The Race to Zero campaign could provide this missing framework. With internationally recognised standards and a collaborative approach, it aims to strengthen partnerships, clarify responsibilities and build public support for rapid and fair emission cuts. With the climate change Minister's backing and half of Wales's 22 authorities currently signed up, widespread participation could align climate efforts. So I wonder if you would commit to working with the Minister for Climate Change, the WLGA and Race to Zero Cymru to implement such a framework and strengthen climate action plans for all our local authorities. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Mae Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn derbyn cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu rhaglen gefnogaeth datgarboneiddio sy'n helpu awdurdodau lleol i ddatblygu cynlluniau gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd. Eto i gyd, mae llawer o gynlluniau gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd heb fod yn ddigonol ar hyn o bryd. Dangosodd ymarfer cerdyn sgorio 2021 Climate Emergency UK fod cynlluniau gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd yn awdurdodau lleol Cymru wedi cael sgôr gyfartalog o 31 y cant yn unig, ymhell islaw cyfartaledd cenedlaethol y DU o 50 y cant. Un mater allweddol yw cydlynu dull gweithredu ymhlith awdurdodau lleol. Gallai'r ymgyrch Race to Zero ddarparu'r fframwaith coll hwn. Gyda dull cydweithredol a safonau a gydnabyddir yn rhyngwladol, mae'n anelu at gryfhau partneriaethau, egluro cyfrifoldebau ac adeiladu cefnogaeth y cyhoedd i dorri allyriadau yn gyflym ac yn deg. Gyda chefnogaeth y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd a chefnogaeth hanner y 22 awdurdod yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, gallai cyfranogiad eang gydgysylltu ymdrechion hinsawdd. Felly, tybed a fyddech chi'n ymrwymo i weithio gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru a Race to Zero Cymru i weithredu fframwaith o'r fath a chryfhau cynlluniau gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd ein holl awdurdodau lleol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you very much for the question. I know that the Minister for Climate Change has had an opportunity at the partnership council for Wales, which I chair, to talk about the Race to Zero model and to encourage local authorities to explore that if they haven’t already. We do know that there are some authorities using different models, and they are making progress with those models. I think one of the things that made us reluctant to specify and stipulate a model was that it might potentially move authorities off the track of good work that they’re undertaking, and take their focus off the progress that is being made. But I know that the Minister for Climate Change has been promoting the Race to Zero model particularly strongly amongst local authorities. As you say, many are using it, but there are other models that we do think can also be effective.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. Gwn fod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd wedi cael cyfle yng nghyngor partneriaeth Cymru, a gadeirir gennyf i, i siarad am fodel Race to Zero ac annog awdurdodau lleol i archwilio hynny os nad ydynt eisoes wedi gwneud hynny. Rydym yn gwybod bod rhai awdurdodau yn defnyddio modelau gwahanol, ac maent yn gwneud cynnydd gyda'r modelau hynny. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau sydd wedi ein gwneud yn amharod i nodi model yw'r ffaith y gallai hynny o bosibl wthio awdurdodau oddi ar drywydd y gwaith da y maent yn ei wneud, a symud eu ffocws oddi ar y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud. Ond gwn fod y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd wedi bod yn hyrwyddo'r model Race to Zero yn arbennig o gryf ymhlith awdurdodau lleol. Fel y dywedwch, mae llawer yn ei ddefnyddio, ond ceir modelau eraill y credwn y gallent fod yn effeithiol hefyd.
10. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynghylch goblygiadau ariannol y polisi terfyn cyflymder 20 mya? OQ60733
10. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the financial implications of the 20 mph speed limit policy? OQ60733
The benefits of investing in the 20 mph speed limit are clear. For an estimated one-off cost of around £32 million, we anticipate casualty prevention savings of up to £92 million every year, plus additional health benefits of people walking and cycling more.
Mae'r manteision o fuddsoddi yn y terfyn cyflymder 20 mya yn glir. Am gost untro amcangyfrifedig o tua £32 miliwn, rydym yn rhagweld arbedion atal anafiadau o hyd at £92 miliwn bob blwyddyn, ynghyd â manteision iechyd ychwanegol i bobl sy'n cerdded a beicio mwy.
Thank you very much, Minister. As I'm sure you're aware, and I'm sure everyone else around here is, the roll-out of the 20 mph speed limit has cost the Welsh taxpayer £32.5 million. This is happening at a time when—as we all continue to see, and are reminded—budgets were and still are extremely tight. So, I just thought that we could take a look at where else this money could have gone in relation to the Welsh public, had it been invested elsewhere.
The average general practitioner salary, Minister, in Wales for this financial year 2023-24 according to the British Medical Association is £89,993.50. Therefore, £32.5 million could have paid for an extra 361 full-time GPs for a year—a significant statistic, especially when considering that the 'Save our Surgeries' report for 2023 noted that there were just 2,324 GPs in Wales, with only 1,445 working full time. It's also crucial to consider that the recommended number of patients per GP per day is 25. Therefore, these extra 361 GPs across Wales would have been able to see an extra 1.9 million patients in just one year. I'm sure this hugely significant increase would have drastically decreased the 9,000 patients currently on waiting lists to see a GP in Wales as of November 2023. This is exactly what we, as Welsh Conservatives on these benches, mean when we say that we would invest in our Welsh NHS instead of your Government's blanket 20 mph policy.
So, Minister, with all of this in mind, do you stand by your budgetary allocation of £32.5 million on this policy, which has so far decreased speeds by an average of just 4 mph?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Fel y byddwch chi a phawb arall yma yn ymwybodol, rwy'n siŵr, mae cyflwyno'r terfyn cyflymder o 20 mya wedi costio £32.5 miliwn i drethdalwyr Cymru. Mae hyn yn digwydd ar adeg—fel rydym yn parhau i weld, ac fel y cawn ein hatgoffa—pan oedd, a phan fo cyllidebau'n dal i fod yn hynod o dynn. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl y gallem edrych ar ble arall y gallai'r arian hwn fod wedi mynd mewn perthynas â'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru, pe bai wedi'i fuddsoddi mewn mannau eraill.
Weinidog, cyfartaledd cyflog meddyg teulu yng Nghymru ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 2023-24 yw £89,993.50 yn ôl Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain. Felly, gallai £32.5 miliwn fod wedi talu am 361 o feddygon teulu amser llawn ychwanegol am flwyddyn—ystadegyn sylweddol, yn enwedig wrth ystyried bod adroddiad 'Achubwch ein Meddygfeydd' ar gyfer 2023 wedi nodi mai dim ond 2,324 o feddygon teulu oedd yng Nghymru, gyda dim ond 1,445 yn gweithio amser llawn. Mae hefyd yn bwysig ystyried mai 25 yw'r nifer a argymhellir o gleifion i bob meddyg teulu bob dydd. Felly, byddai'r 361 meddyg teulu ychwanegol ledled Cymru wedi gallu gweld 1.9 miliwn o gleifion ychwanegol mewn blwyddyn yn unig. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r cynnydd sylweddol hwn wedi lleihau'r 9,000 o gleifion sydd ar restrau aros i weld meddyg teulu yng Nghymru ym mis Tachwedd 2023. Dyma'n union rydym ni, fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar y meinciau hyn, yn ei olygu pan ddywedwn y byddem yn buddsoddi yn ein GIG yng Nghymru yn hytrach na pholisi 20 mya cyffredinol eich Llywodraeth.
Felly, Weinidog, gyda hyn oll mewn golwg, a ydych chi'n sefyll wrth eich dyraniad cyllidebol o £32.5 miliwn ar y polisi hwn, sydd hyd yma wedi gostwng cyflymderau 4 mya ar gyfartaledd?
As a result of the policy, doctors will be seeing between 1,200 and 2,000 fewer people every year, because that will be the amount of people who are avoiding injury due to collisions. We do know that the benefit to the NHS will be £92 million a year. We can all play the game of working out what £32 million could have bought the NHS, for example, but I'd be interested to know how much we could have got if we looked at, for example, the useless personal protective equipment that the UK Government bought during the pandemic. What could that have done for the NHS here in Wales and elsewhere? Overall, the 20 mph policy will be beneficial to the NHS to the tune of £92 million every year.
O ganlyniad i'r polisi, bydd meddygon yn gweld rhwng 1,200 a 2,000 yn llai o bobl bob blwyddyn, oherwydd dyna faint o bobl sy'n osgoi anafiadau o ganlyniad i wrthdrawiadau. Rydym yn gwybod y bydd y budd i'r GIG yn £92 miliwn y flwyddyn. Gall pob un ohonom chwarae'r gêm o ystyried beth y gallai £32 miliwn ei brynu i'r GIG, er enghraifft, ond byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod faint y gallem fod wedi'i gael pe byddem yn edrych, er enghraifft, ar y cyfarpar diogelu personol diwerth a brynodd Llywodraeth y DU yn ystod y pandemig. Beth allai hynny fod wedi'i wneud i'r GIG yma yng Nghymru ac mewn mannau eraill? Yn gyffredinol, bydd y polisi 20 mya yn golygu budd o hyd at £92 miliwn i'r GIG bob blwyddyn.
11. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar lefelau treth gyngor yng Nghymru? OQ60719
11. Will the Minister make a statement on council tax levels in Wales? OQ60719
Each local authority has the freedom to set its own council tax and is accountable to the local electorate for the decision it makes.
Mae gan bob awdurdod lleol ryddid i osod ei dreth gyngor ei hun ac mae'n atebol i'r etholwyr lleol am y penderfyniad y maent yn ei wneud.
Minister, you'll be aware of Pembrokeshire County Council's plans to increase council tax by anywhere between 16 per cent and 21 per cent, a move that has been made possible by this Welsh Government. This will have an enormous impact on local residents, who are already receiving fewer and fewer services from the local authority. Minister, what action is the Welsh Government taking to stand up for council tax payers in Pembrokeshire and ensure that there is some fairness in the system? What message are you sending to Labour councillors, who are one of the parties proposing these tax increases—the highest ever percentage rise seen in council tax here in Wales?
Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o gynlluniau Cyngor Sir Penfro i gynyddu'r dreth gyngor rywle rhwng 16 y cant a 21 y cant, cam sydd wedi'i wneud yn bosibl gan y Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru. Bydd hyn yn cael effaith enfawr ar drigolion lleol, sydd eisoes yn cael llai a llai o wasanaethau gan yr awdurdod lleol. Weinidog, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sefyll dros dalwyr y dreth gyngor yn sir Benfro a sicrhau bod rhywfaint o degwch yn y system? Pa neges ydych chi'n ei hanfon at gynghorwyr Llafur, sy'n un o'r pleidiau sy'n argymell y codiadau treth hyn—y cynnydd canrannol uchaf a welwyd erioed i'r dreth gyngor yma yng Nghymru?
I think one of the challenges that local authorities face is when you have had extended periods of very low council tax increases. Eventually something does have to give. I think that we potentially are seeing that in some areas. But, of course, this is a matter for local government. I've written to local government setting out the final settlement details and I have said to them that the Welsh Government doesn't intend to use its powers to cap council tax, because it is very much a matter for local government. We would love to be in a position to provide local government across Wales with greater levels of funding and we do call on the UK Government to use the spring statement on 6 March to provide additional funding for public services, which we can then consider how best to prioritise here in Wales.
Rwy'n credu mai un o'r heriau sy'n wynebu awdurdodau lleol yw pan fyddwch wedi cael cyfnodau estynedig o gynnydd isel iawn yn y dreth gyngor. Mae'n rhaid i rywbeth roi yn y pen draw. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n gweld hynny mewn rhai ardaloedd. Ond wrth gwrs, mater i lywodraeth leol yw hwn. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at lywodraeth leol yn nodi manylion y setliad terfynol ac rwyf wedi dweud wrthynt nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu defnyddio ei phwerau i gapio'r dreth gyngor, oherwydd mater i lywodraeth leol yw hwnnw'n llwyr. Hoffem fod mewn sefyllfa i ddarparu mwy o gyllid i lywodraeth leol ledled Cymru ac rydym yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ddefnyddio datganiad y gwanwyn ar 6 Mawrth i ddarparu cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ac yna gallwn ystyried y ffordd orau o flaenoriaethu yma yng Nghymru.
Yn olaf, cwestiwn 12, Alun Davies.
Finally, question 12, Alun Davies.
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer, and Minister, for keeping me on my toes this afternoon.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Lywydd, a'r Gweinidog, am fy nghadw ar flaenau fy nhraed y prynhawn yma.
12. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch dyfodol Fformiwla Barnett? OQ60747
12. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the future of the Barnett Formula? OQ60747
I recently wrote to the Chancellor, reiterating the need for a principles-based approach to the UK fiscal framework, as set out in 'Reforming our Union', which includes replacing the Barnett formula. I continue to raise the immediate challenges of the existing fiscal arrangements in regular meetings with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Yn ddiweddar, ysgrifennais at y Canghellor, gan ailadrodd yr angen am ddull sy'n seiliedig ar egwyddorion mewn perthynas â fframwaith ariannol y DU, fel y nodir yn 'Diwygio ein Hundeb', sy'n cynnwys newid fformiwla Barnett. Rwy'n parhau i godi heriau uniongyrchol y trefniadau cyllidol presennol mewn cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda Phrif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys.
I'm grateful to the Minister for that reply, and grateful also for the way in which she brought all sides of the Chamber together yesterday for a debate on the financial framework. At its heart, of course, Barnett remains a population-based formula, and that does not meet Wales's needs. It never has done. It wasn't meant to, in fact, and it never will do so.
Now, we've seen changes, of course. Since the signing of the agreement in Northern Ireland, which I'm sure we all welcome, we've seen the United Kingdom Government accept that it is possible to find different ways of funding the different parts of the United Kingdom, and doing so fairly. Would the Minister agree with me that, as we look towards a change of Government in the United Kingdom in the coming months, what we need to do is to look towards unity across the different parts of the UK to ensure that we have a new funding formula that is needs based and that, at its heart, has the objective of eliminating inequality, not simply in Wales, but in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland as well?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb hwnnw, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar hefyd am y ffordd y daeth â phob ochr i'r Siambr ynghyd ddoe mewn dadl ar y fframwaith ariannol. Yn y bôn, wrth gwrs, mae Barnett yn parhau i fod yn fformiwla sy'n seiliedig ar boblogaeth, ac nid yw hynny'n diwallu anghenion Cymru. Nid yw erioed wedi gwneud hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, nid oedd i fod i wneud hynny, ac ni fydd byth yn gwneud hynny.
Rydym wedi gweld newidiadau, wrth gwrs. Ers llofnodi'r cytundeb yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod i gyd yn croesawu hynny, rydym wedi gweld Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn derbyn ei bod yn bosibl dod o hyd i ffyrdd gwahanol o ariannu gwahanol rannau'r Deyrnas Unedig, a gwneud hynny'n deg. Wrth i ni edrych tuag at newid Llywodraeth yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn y misoedd nesaf, a fyddai'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi mai'r hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud yw ceisio sicrhau undod ar draws gwahanol rannau'r DU i sicrhau bod gennym fformiwla ariannu newydd sy'n seiliedig ar anghenion ac sydd â'r amcan o ddileu anghydraddoldeb wrth ei wraidd, nid yn unig yng Nghymru, ond yn yr Alban, Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon hefyd?
Yes, I would certainly support that call, and also, to echo an important point that Mike Hedges made yesterday, that there should be independent arbitration of that, and a clearly set out appeals process, to ensure that fairness that we want to see embedded in future. It is interesting that the UK Government has taken the approach to North Ireland. It does use some of the work that informed our approach here in Wales, in terms of the work that Holtham did. So, it is a step, in the sense that they actually recognise that that kind of approach is valid.
One of the dangers, I think, in terms of the agreement with Northern Ireland, apart from the fact they this is the third agreement that they have made outside of the funding framework that we have in the UK to Northern Ireland, is that part of the requirement that the UK Government is making is that Northern Ireland has to raise a certain amount locally. So, essentially, the UK Government is telling Northern Ireland how it must use its tax-raising powers. I think that that is really concerning to us, because how Governments go about raising money is entirely for the Government, in consultation, and to be ratified by the Parliament. So, that, I think, is a disturbing new element of this conversation.
Byddwn yn sicr yn cefnogi'r alwad honno, a hefyd, i adleisio pwynt pwysig a wnaeth Mike Hedges ddoe, dylid sicrhau cymrodeddu annibynnol ar gyfer hynny, a phroses apelio wedi'i nodi'n glir, er mwyn sicrhau'r tegwch yr ydym am ei weld wedi'i wreiddio yn y dyfodol. Mae'n ddiddorol fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi gweithredu felly ar gyfer Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae'n defnyddio rhywfaint o'r gwaith a lywiodd ein dull yma yng Nghymru, o ran y gwaith a wnaeth Holtham. Felly, mae'n gam, yn yr ystyr eu bod yn cydnabod bod dull o'r fath yn ddilys mewn gwirionedd.
Un o'r peryglon, rwy'n credu, o ran y cytundeb gyda Gogledd Iwerddon, ar wahân i'r ffaith mai dyma'r trydydd cytundeb y maent wedi'i wneud y tu hwnt i'r fframwaith ariannu sydd gennym yn y DU mewn perthynas â Gogledd Iwerddon, yw mai rhan o'r gofyniad y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud yw bod yn rhaid i Ogledd Iwerddon godi swm penodol yn lleol. Felly, yn y bôn, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn dweud wrth Ogledd Iwerddon sut y dylai ddefnyddio ei phwerau codi trethi. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n peri pryder gwirioneddol i ni, oherwydd mae sut y mae Llywodraethau'n mynd ati i godi arian yn fater i'r Llywodraeth, mewn ymgynghoriad, ac yn rhywbeth i'w gadarnhau gan y Senedd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod honno'n elfen newydd o'r sgwrs hon sy'n peri pryder.
Diolch yn fawr i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Y cwestiynau nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jenny Rathbone.
The next set of questions, therefore, will be questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and the first question is from Jenny Rathbone.
1. Pa ganran o'r ffrwythau a llysiau sy'n cael eu bwyta yng Nghymru sy'n cael eu tyfu yng Nghymru? OQ60745
1. What percentage of fruit and vegetables consumed in Wales is grown in Wales? OQ60745
Fruit and vegetables are traded across the UK in a common food system. Comparison of local consumption and production is not meaningful because it does not account for how products are produced, traded or consumed. However, a best estimate is that about 6 per cent to 7 per cent of Welsh consumption is met by production here.
Mae ffrwythau a llysiau'n cael eu masnachu ledled y DU mewn system fwyd gyffredin. Nid yw cymharu faint sy'n cael ei fwyta a'i gynhyrchu'n lleol yn ystyrlon am nad yw'n rhoi cyfrif am y modd y caiff cynhyrchion eu cynhyrchu, eu masnachu na'u bwyta. Fodd bynnag, yr amcangyfrif gorau yw bod tua 6 y cant i 7 y cant o'r ffrwythau a'r llysiau sy'n cael eu bwyta yng Nghymru wedi eu cynhyrchu yma.
Six per cent to 7 per cent? Okay. Thank you. Well, I read recently that the Food Foundation's latest food insecurity tracker reveals that 15 per cent of households are experiencing food insecurity. That's one in six or seven households. Over half of them said that they were cutting back on buying fruit, and nearly half bought fewer vegetables. So, there is a serious misalignment between a healthy, balanced diet that they need, and what is available locally, at a price they can afford. So, how many grants or loans for horticulture have been provided in the last 12 months, and what was the outcome to date in increasing what you guess, at the moment, is between 6 per cent and 7 per cent of locally produced fruit and veg?
Felly, 6 y cant i 7 y cant? Iawn. Diolch. Wel, darllenais yn ddiweddar fod traciwr ansicrwydd bwyd diweddaraf y Food Foundation yn datgelu bod 15 y cant o aelwydydd yn profi ansicrwydd bwyd. Dyna un o bob chwech neu saith o gartrefi. Dywedodd dros eu hanner eu bod yn torri'n ôl ar brynu ffrwythau, ac roedd bron i hanner yn prynu llai o lysiau. Felly, mae camosodiad difrifol rhwng y deiet iach a chytbwys sydd ei angen arnynt, a'r hyn sydd ar gael yn lleol am bris y gallant ei fforddio. Felly, faint o grantiau neu fenthyciadau garddwriaeth sydd wedi'u darparu yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf, a beth yw canlyniadau'r gwaith o gynyddu'r hyn rydych chi'n tybio ar hyn o bryd ei fod rhwng 6 y cant a 7 y cant o ffrwythau a llysiau a gynhyrchir yn lleol?
Thank you. Well, we have two major schemes to support horticulture over the past year, and we've had contracts worth over £50,000 already awarded. We opened and closed a window; I think the window closed on 12 January. So, those expressions of interest are being appraised by officials at the moment, and I think they're worth around a further £129,000. I mentioned the two rounds. So, we have had one window open back in December 2022, and closed on 17 March 2023. That was £37,000-worth of contracts. I just referred to the latest window as well.
I think you'll be very aware, Jenny Rathbone, because you've questioned me many times around this, that I want to do all I can to support the sector here in Wales, to ensure that we do produce more vegetables and fruit going forward. I really think we've supported the agri-food industry strongly, as you know, but we have provided specific support to fruit and vegetable growers, particularly through Farming Connect, with a specific horticultural programme there, as well as through other horticultural capital grant schemes.
Diolch. Wel, mae gennym ddau gynllun mawr i gefnogi garddwriaeth dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ac mae contractau gwerth dros £50,000 eisoes wedi'u dyfarnu. Mae'r dyddiad cau wedi bod ac wedi mynd; rwy'n credu bod y dyddiad cau ar 12 Ionawr. Felly, mae'r datganiadau o ddiddordeb hynny'n cael eu harfarnu gan swyddogion ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n credu eu bod yn werth tua £129,000 arall. Soniais am y ddwy rownd. Felly, fe wnaethom agor un rownd yn ôl ym mis Rhagfyr 2022, ac roedd y dyddiad cau ar 17 Mawrth 2023. Roedd y rownd honno'n werth £37,000 o gontractau. Rwyf newydd gyfeirio at y rownd ddiweddaraf hefyd.
Rwy'n credu y byddwch chi'n ymwybodol iawn, Jenny Rathbone, oherwydd rydych chi wedi fy holi lawer gwaith ar hyn, fy mod i eisiau gwneud popeth yn fy ngallu i gefnogi'r sector yma yng Nghymru, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn cynhyrchu mwy o lysiau a ffrwythau wrth symud ymlaen. Rwy'n credu'n gryf ein bod wedi cefnogi'r diwydiant bwyd-amaeth yn gadarn, fel y gwyddoch, ond rydym wedi darparu cymorth penodol i dyfwyr ffrwythau a llysiau, yn enwedig drwy Cyswllt Ffermio, gyda rhaglen arddwriaethol benodol yno, yn ogystal â thrwy gynlluniau grant cyfalaf garddwriaethol eraill.
Year-round access to out-of-season fresh fruit and vegetables has increased in the last 20 to 30 years, leading to longer and more complex supply chains. Ninety-three per cent of domestic consumption of fresh vegetables is fulfilled by domestic and European production, while fruit supply is more widely spread across the EU, Africa, the Americas and the UK. The UK, though, produces over 50 per cent of vegetables consumed domestically, but only 16 per cent of fruit. Welsh farmers could make an invaluable contribution to the horticultural sector, but the impact the sustainable farming scheme will have is unknown. According to the report entitled 'Potential economic effects of the Sustainable Farming Scheme: Phase 4 Universal Actions Modelling Results', the modelling
'excludes certain specialist farm types (e.g. pig, poultry, horticulture) as well as a large number of very small farms.'
Will you clarify why the impact of the SFS on the horticultural sector in Wales has not been modelled? Diolch.
Dros yr 20 i 30 mlynedd ddiwethaf, mae cynnydd wedi bod yn y mynediad drwy gydol y flwyddyn at ffrwythau a llysiau ffres heb fod yn eu tymor, gan arwain at gadwyni cyflenwi hwy a mwy cymhleth. Caiff 93 y cant o'r o'r llysiau ffres a gaiff eu bwyta yn y wlad hon eu cyflenwi drwy gynhyrchiant domestig ac Ewropeaidd, tra bod y cyflenwad ffrwythau wedi'i wasgaru'n ehangach ledled yr UE, Affrica, America a'r DU. Fodd bynnag, y DU sy'n cynhyrchu dros 50 y cant o'r llysiau sy'n cael eu bwyta yn y wlad hon, ond dim ond 16 y cant o ffrwythau. Gallai ffermwyr Cymru wneud cyfraniad amhrisiadwy i'r sector garddwriaethol, ond nid ydym yn gwybod pa effaith y bydd y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn ei chael. Yn ôl adroddiad 'Effeithiau economaidd posibl y Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy: Canlyniadau Modelu Gweithredoedd Sylfaenol y Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy Cam 4', nid yw'r modelu
'yn cynnwys mathau arbenigol o ffermydd (e.e. moch, dofednod, garddwriaeth) nac ychwaith nifer fawr o ffermydd bach iawn.'
A wnewch chi egluro pam nad yw effaith y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy ar y sector garddwriaethol yng Nghymru wedi cael ei modelu? Diolch.
The economic assessment to which Janet Finch-Saunders refers to—that piece of work was published alongside the current sustainable farming consultation. It was a very important piece of work, which helped inform the consultation, but I want to reiterate that it is not an assessment of the current consultation. A further piece of work, obviously, will be done, to be published alongside the final scheme, when we will then ask, obviously, farmers if they wish to be part of the scheme. I think the decision taken to publish the information alongside the consultation was very important to identify any potential risks of the scheme. So, a further piece of work will be done and that will be included.
Yr asesiad economaidd y mae Janet Finch-Saunders yn cyfeirio ato—cyhoeddwyd y gwaith hwnnw ochr yn ochr â'r ymgynghoriad ffermio cynaliadwy presennol. Roedd yn waith pwysig iawn, a helpodd i lywio'r ymgynghoriad, ond hoffwn ailadrodd nad yw'n asesiad o'r ymgynghoriad presennol. Yn amlwg, bydd gwaith arall yn cael ei wneud, i'w gyhoeddi ochr yn ochr â'r cynllun terfynol, pan fyddwn yn gofyn i ffermwyr a ydynt eisiau bod yn rhan o'r cynllun. Rwy'n credu bod y penderfyniad a wnaed i gyhoeddi'r wybodaeth ochr yn ochr â'r ymgynghoriad yn bwysig iawn i nodi unrhyw risgiau posibl yn y cynllun. Felly, bydd gwaith arall yn cael ei wneud a bydd hwnnw'n cael ei gynnwys.
2. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy arfaethedig Llywodraeth Cymru ar gymunedau ffermio a gwledig Sir Ddinbych? OQ60720
2. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the Welsh Government's proposed sustainable farming scheme on the farming and rural communities of Denbighshire? OQ60720
We have published an economic assessment that is an important piece of work that helped inform our consultation so any issues could be addressed. It is not an assessment of the current consultation. The published economic assessment included estimated results for full-time farms in north-east Wales, including Denbighshire.
Rydym wedi cyhoeddi asesiad economaidd sy'n waith pwysig a helpodd i lywio ein hymgynghoriad fel y gellid mynd i'r afael ag unrhyw broblemau. Nid yw'n asesiad o'r ymgynghoriad presennol. Roedd yr asesiad economaidd a gyhoeddwyd yn cynnwys canlyniadau amcangyfrifedig ar gyfer ffermydd amser llawn yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, gan gynnwys sir Ddinbych.
Thank you very much for that response, Minister. I'm aware that you've tried to allay farmers' concerns over the weekend by saying that changes will be made, but I'm afraid that farmers will need something far more substantive than this to be reassured. NFU Cymru have said exactly this point, and I'm sure that you can tell the strength of feeling by the protests outside this Senedd today.
Modelling on the potential impacts of the scheme predicts a 10.8 per cent reduction in Welsh livestock numbers, a loss of 5,500 jobs and more than £125 million swiped from the economic output of the agricultural sector. The models therefore forecast a hammer blow to the agricultural industry. Farmers do not believe that this proposed scheme will achieve its intended environmental goals either, which will come at a huge cost to the agricultural sector. Rural communities are built on delicate, interconnected familial relationships that rely upon a foundation of wisdom and tradition. Once these communities have been destroyed, they cannot be rebuilt. Farmers in my constituency are terrified that, aside from the hit to the food production on the economy, the proud Welsh farming tradition and identity is in peril.
The Minister quoted Dylan Thomas last week, and I recommend that the Minister reads and reflects on Dylan Thomas's Fern Hill poem, which beautifully encapsulates that very precious farming tradition and how much it means to Wales. I'd appreciate it if the Minister could take account of the dire modelling for this policy, and outline what further changes she intends to make to the sustainable farming policy to address the concerns of the rural communities in Denbighshire. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Rwy'n ymwybodol eich bod wedi ceisio tawelu pryderon ffermwyr dros y penwythnos drwy ddweud y bydd newidiadau'n cael eu gwneud, ond rwy'n ofni y bydd angen rhywbeth llawer mwy sylweddol na hyn i dawelu meddyliau ffermwyr. Mae Undeb Cenedlaethol Amaethwyr Cymru wedi gwneud yr union bwynt hwn, ac rwy'n siŵr y gallwch chi weld cryfder y teimladau o'r protestiadau y tu allan i'r Senedd hon heddiw.
Mae modelu ar effeithiau posibl y cynllun yn rhagweld gostyngiad o 10.8 y cant yn nifer y da byw yng Nghymru, colli 5,500 o swyddi a cholli mwy na £125 miliwn o allbwn economaidd y sector amaethyddol. Mae'r modelau felly'n rhagweld ergyd fawr i'r diwydiant amaethyddol. Nid yw ffermwyr yn credu y bydd y cynllun arfaethedig hwn yn cyflawni ei nodau amgylcheddol arfaethedig ychwaith, a chânt eu gwneud ar gost enfawr i'r sector amaethyddol. Mae cymunedau gwledig wedi'u hadeiladu ar gysylltiadau teuluol bregus a rhyng-gysylltiedig sy'n dibynnu ar sylfaen o ddoethineb a thraddodiad. Pan fydd y cymunedau hyn wedi'u dinistrio, ni ellir eu hailadeiladu. Mae ffermwyr yn fy etholaeth yn ofni'n fawr, ar wahân i effaith yr ergyd i gynhyrchiant bwyd ar yr economi, fod hunaniaeth a thraddodiad balch ffermio yng Nghymru mewn perygl.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, dyfynnodd y Gweinidog Dylan Thomas, ac rwy'n argymell y dylai'r Gweinidog ddarllen a myfyrio ar y gerdd Fern Hill gan Dylan Thomas, sy'n crynhoi'r traddodiad ffermio gwerthfawr hwnnw'n hyfryd, a faint y mae'n ei olygu i Gymru. Hoffwn pe gallai'r Gweinidog ystyried y modelu ofnadwy ar gyfer y polisi hwn, ac amlinellu pa newidiadau pellach y mae'n bwriadu eu gwneud i'r polisi ffermio cynaliadwy i fynd i'r afael â phryderon cymunedau gwledig sir Ddinbych. Diolch.
Thank you. Well, I didn't just, over the weekend, say that there would be changes, I've said all along—this is a very meaningful consultation. And I cannot answer the last part of your question, because I cannot pre-empt the consultation. I don't know what responses there will be to the consultation. If I tried to pre-empt the consultation now, I would be taken to court, because you cannot do that, as a Minister, you cannot pre-empt any consultation—[Interruption.] Sorry?
Diolch. Wel, nid dros y penwythnos yn unig y dywedais y byddai newidiadau, rwyf wedi dweud ers y dechrau—mae hwn yn ymgynghoriad ystyrlon iawn. Ac ni allaf ateb rhan olaf eich cwestiwn am na allaf achub y blaen ar yr ymgynghoriad. Nid wyf yn gwybod pa ymatebion a geir i'r ymgynghoriad. Pe bawn i'n ceisio achub y blaen ar yr ymgynghoriad nawr, byddwn yn wynebu llys barn, oherwydd ni allwch wneud hynny, fel Gweinidog, ni allwch achub y blaen ar unrhyw ymgynghoriad—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n ddrwg gennyf?
Why—[Inaudible.]
Pam—[Anghlywadwy.]
Hold on. You've asked your question, Gareth Davies. Allow the Minister to respond, please.
Gan bwyll. Rydych chi wedi gofyn eich cwestiwn, Gareth Davies. Gadewch i'r Gweinidog ymateb, os gwelwch yn dda.
What we will need to do is make sure that every consultation response is read, and I have committed to that. Every piece of information—. So, currently, I'm getting lots of e-mails just with the views of farmers and they're asking, 'Can this be part of the consultation?', and I've said 'yes'. If people don't want to put in formally—I would prefer them to put in formally—but every piece of evidence or suggestion that we're having, we're feeding in. You'll be very well aware of the roadshows that we've had and all that information will go in.
I think one of the things you referred to was the economic analysis, and as I said in an earlier answer to Janet Finch-Saunders, that was done at the beginning of the consultation being published. There will be a further economic analysis. One of the things that I think we did pick up from that economic analysis is that we need to look at the social value of our agricultural sector. Now, that is a very complex piece of work to do, but I think it's a very important piece of work to do.
Yr hyn y bydd angen i ni ei wneud yw sicrhau bod pob ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad yn cael ei ddarllen, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i hynny. Pob darn o wybodaeth—. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n cael llawer o negeseuon e-bost yn cynnwys barn ffermwyr ac maent yn gofyn, 'A all hyn fod yn rhan o'r ymgynghoriad?', ac rwyf wedi dweud y gall. Os nad yw pobl eisiau ei roi'n ffurfiol—byddai'n well gennyf pe byddent yn ei roi'n ffurfiol—ond byddwn yn bwydo pob darn o dystiolaeth neu awgrym a gawn i mewn. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol iawn o'r cyfarfodydd teithiol a gawsom a bydd yr holl wybodaeth honno'n mynd i mewn.
Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau y gwnaethoch gyfeirio ato oedd y dadansoddiad economaidd, ac fel y dywedais mewn ateb cynharach i Janet Finch-Saunders, cafodd hwnnw ei wneud ar y dechrau wrth i'r ymgynghoriad gael ei gyhoeddi. Bydd yna ddadansoddiad economaidd pellach. Un o'r pethau y credaf i ni ei gasglu o'r dadansoddiad economaidd hwnnw yw bod angen i ni edrych ar werth cymdeithasol ein sector amaethyddol. Nawr, mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n gymhleth iawn, ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn waith pwysig iawn i'w wneud.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Samuel Kurtz.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Welsh Conservatives spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.
Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Minister. I'm sure it's going to be, for you, like me, quite a busy day today. Just taking note of the statement that you and the First Minister released yesterday, I've read through it and it breaks it down following the meeting that you had with organisers of the protest or the meeting in Carmarthen mart, and I thank you for taking the time to meet with them. The three points that they talk about are bovine tuberculosis, nitrate vulnerable zones and the sustainable farming scheme. Just on the bovine TB part of the statement that you released, you note that
'We are committed to exploring other approaches to on-farm slaughter.'
Thank you. Thank you very much, because we've been asking for this for a long time. I've asked around the slaughter of in-calf cows and heifers, and, more generally, this is a really positive point forward. But, moving on, you mentioned
'We are today appointing a Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group'.
Can I ask who you've appointed to that group so far?
Diolch, Lywydd. Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn ddiwrnod go brysur i chi heddiw, fel y bydd i mi. Gan nodi'r datganiad y gwnaethoch chi a'r Prif Weinidog ei ryddhau ddoe, rwyf wedi darllen drwyddo ac mae'n ei egluro yn dilyn y cyfarfod a gawsoch gyda threfnwyr y brotest neu'r cyfarfod ym mart Caerfyrddin, a diolch i chi am roi amser i gyfarfod â nhw. Y tri phwynt y maent yn sôn amdanynt yw twbercwlosis buchol, parthau perygl nitradau a'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy. Ar y rhan ar TB buchol yn y datganiad a ryddhawyd gennych, rydych chi'n dweud:
'Rydym yn ymrwymo i ymchwilio i drywyddau eraill yn lle difa gwartheg ar y fferm.'
Diolch. Diolch yn fawr iawn, oherwydd rydym wedi bod yn gofyn am hyn ers amser maith. Rwyf wedi gofyn ynglŷn â lladd heffrod a gwartheg cyflo, ac yn fwy cyffredinol, mae hwn yn gam cadarnhaol iawn ymlaen. Ond gan symud ymlaen, fe wnaethoch chi ddweud:
'Rydym yn penodi heddiw Grŵp Cynghori Technegol TB Gwartheg'.
A gaf i ofyn pwy a benodwyd gennych i'r grŵp hwnnw hyd yma?
Just to say, the statement came out yesterday from both myself and the First Minister on the back of the meeting that you've referred to with the organisers, but also on the feedback from the two presidents of NFU Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales last week, alongside all the other feedback that I'd received from my own officials on the Welsh Government roadshows.
Around on-farm slaughter in relation to TB, you'll be very well aware I announced that I would be setting up a technical advisory group, I said who would be chairing it, that Glyn Hewinson was going to be chairing it, and we needed to look for members to sit on that group. Yesterday I wrote to the people to ask them if they would be prepared. I'm not in a position, at the moment, to say who the members are, because I'm waiting for them to respond to the letter. We were trying to do it as quickly as possible. I didn't think I would be able to do it before next week, but in light of trying to take some heat out of the situation, I think it's fair to say, and to be positive and to show that we were listening, we did it yesterday, but, unfortunately, I'm not able to give you the names. But as soon as I can, I'll be very happy to do so.
Os caf ddweud, cyhoeddwyd y datganiad gennyf i a'r Prif Weinidog ddoe yn dilyn y cyfarfod y cyfeirioch chi ato gyda'r trefnwyr, ond hefyd yn dilyn adborth gan ddau lywydd NFU Cymru ac Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf, ochr yn ochr â'r holl adborth arall a gefais gan fy swyddogion fy hun o gyfarfodydd teithiol Llywodraeth Cymru.
Mewn perthynas â difa ar y fferm o ganlyniad i TB, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol iawn fy mod wedi cyhoeddi y byddwn yn sefydlu grŵp cynghori technegol, fe ddywedais pwy fyddai'n ei gadeirio, mai Glyn Hewinson fyddai'n ei gadeirio, a bod angen i ni chwilio am aelodau i fod yn rhan o'r grŵp hwnnw. Ddoe, ysgrifennais at y bobl i ofyn iddynt a fyddent yn barod. Nid wyf mewn sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd i ddweud pwy yw'r aelodau, oherwydd rwy'n aros iddynt ymateb i'r llythyr. Rydym yn ceisio gwneud hyn cyn gynted â phosibl. Nid oeddwn yn meddwl y byddwn yn gallu ei wneud cyn yr wythnos nesaf, ond er mwyn ceisio gostegu'r sefyllfa rywfaint, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n deg dweud, ac i fod yn gadarnhaol a dangos ein bod ni'n gwrando, fe wnaethom hynny ddoe, ond yn anffodus, ni allaf roi'r enwau i chi. Ond byddaf yn hapus iawn i wneud hynny cyn gynted ag y gallaf.
Thank you, Minister, I appreciate that. The TB advisory group that you mentioned was a statement back in July 2022—we're now in February 2024. Some would find it slightly cynical that, on the day before a protest, you send out these invitations for people to join—no interview. One of the e-mails, I've had sight of them, was sent to them saying that they've been accepted at nearly 8 p.m. yesterday evening. The night before a protest. I think that can be seen as slightly cynical.
Moving on to the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021—you know I and everybody else like to call them NVZs; you don't like that we call them NVZs—I'm just wanting to draw your attention to the paragraph that starts:
'We are making £20m of additional funding available to help farmers comply with the requirements'.
Can I ask in what grant budget is that money going to sit?
Diolch, Weinidog, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny. Roedd y grŵp cynghori technegol TB y sonioch chi amdano yn ddatganiad a wnaed yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf 2022—rydym bellach ym mis Chwefror 2024. Byddai rhai yn ei chael ychydig yn sinigaidd eich bod, ddiwrnod cyn i brotest gael ei chynnal, wedi anfon y gwahoddiadau hyn i bobl ymuno—dim cyfweliad. Anfonwyd un neges e-bost atynt, ac rwyf wedi'i gweld, yn dweud eu bod wedi cael eu derbyn ychydig cyn 8 p.m. neithiwr. Y noson cyn i brotest gael ei chynnal. Rwy'n credu y gellir ystyried hynny ychydig yn sinigaidd.
Gan symud ymlaen at Reoliadau Adnoddau Dŵr (Rheoli Llygredd Amaethyddol) (Cymru) 2021—fe wyddoch fy mod i a phawb arall yn hoff o'u galw'n barthau perygl nitradau; nid ydych yn hoffi'r ffaith ein bod yn eu galw'n barthau perygl nitradau—rwyf eisiau tynnu eich sylw at y paragraff sy'n dechrau:
'Rydym yn neilltuo £20m yn ychwanegol o arian i helpu ffermwyr i gydymffurfio â’r gofynion'.
A gaf i ofyn yng nghyllideb pa grant y mae'r arian hwnnw?
Some of that funding has already been spent. I think it's around £3.4 million, if I can remember off the top of my head. It will sit in the rural investment scheme.
Mae rhywfaint o'r arian hwnnw eisoes wedi cael ei wario. Rwy'n credu ei fod tua £3.4 miliwn, os cofiaf yn iawn. Fe fydd yn y cynllun buddsoddi gwledig.
Thank you. I asked that, because that money was first announced back in October 2022, so there's a theme running here, isn't there, that something is announced by this Government with regard to agriculture, yet it takes a big protest and the strength of feeling in the rural communities and farming for things to actually get done. So, these aren't new things. This is an announcement re-announcing things that have been previously announced. I think, again, it's slightly cynical to think that that would defuse and lower the temperature, which I want to do in this situation.
Now, the final point of the statement was around the sustainable farming scheme. You mentioned, and I'll read the paragraph:
'We welcome the responses to the consultation.'
Tick. Yes, I want every farmer to be able to respond to this consultation fully and their responses to be taken into consideration.
'Every consultation response received',
I quote,
'including the issues raised and discussed at the 10 roadshow events during the consultation period, will be analysed and properly considered.'
Now, that directly contradicts what you wrote to me in a written question when I asked:
'Will the Minister set out how the feedback from the Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme Roadshows is being captured'?
'The Roadshows',
you say,
'are not a formal information gathering exercise'.
A contradiction there in saying they're not a formal information-gathering exercise to the statement saying
'the 10 roadshow events during the consultation period'
will be discussed.
Now, this is the contradiction that I see here: that it has to take something so drastic as farmers coming down to Cardiff, for farmers to take to the road. And I mentioned this yesterday in my FMQ: I don't condone any of the intimidatory action that's been seen by some individuals in this debate; I think it's become too heated in some circles. But do you understand the strength of feeling here, when the DPJ Foundation has seen a 72 per cent increase in referrals in February 2024, a 62 per cent increase in referrals in the last three months, and a 28 per cent increase in the last six months? Do you fully appreciate and understand how the policies from this Welsh Government being directly implemented have constituted increases in referrals to a mental health charity that this Welsh Government then goes and supports? I would say—
Diolch. Gofynnais y cwestiwn hwnnw, oherwydd cyhoeddwyd yr arian hwnnw gyntaf yn ôl ym mis Hydref 2022, felly mae yna thema'n dod i'r amlwg yma, onid oes, fod rhywbeth yn cael ei gyhoeddi gan y Llywodraeth hon mewn perthynas ag amaethyddiaeth, ond eto mae'n cymryd protest fawr a theimladau cryfion ymhlith y cymunedau gwledig a ffermio i bethau gael eu gwneud mewn gwirionedd. Felly, nid yw'r rhain yn bethau newydd. Mae'r cyhoeddiad hwn yn ailgyhoeddi pethau sydd wedi cael eu cyhoeddi o'r blaen. Unwaith eto, rwy'n credu ei bod braidd yn sinigaidd i feddwl y byddai hynny'n dad-ddwysáu'r sefyllfa ac yn gostwng y tymheredd, sef yr hyn rwyf eisiau ei wneud.
Nawr, roedd pwynt olaf y datganiad yn ymwneud â'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn, ac fe ddarllenaf y paragraff:
'Byddwn yn croesawu’r ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad.'
Tic. Ydw, rwyf eisiau i bob ffermwr allu ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad hwn yn llawn ac rwyf eisiau i'w hymatebion gael eu hystyried.
'Bydd pob ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad a ddaw i law,'
rwy'n dyfynnu,
'gan gynnwys yr holl faterion gafodd eu codi a'u trafod yn y 10 cyfarfod teithiol yn ystod y cyfnod ymgynghori, yn cael eu dadansoddi a'u hystyried yn briodol.'
Nawr, mae hynny'n gwrth-ddweud yn uniongyrchol yr hyn a ysgrifennoch chi ataf mewn cwestiwn ysgrifenedig pan ofynnais:
'A wnaiff y Gweinidog nodi sut mae'r adborth o sioeau teithiol Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael ei gasglu?'
'Nid yw'r cyfarfodydd teithiol,'
dywedwch,
'yn ymarfer casglu gwybodaeth ffurfiol'.
Rydych yn gwrth-ddweud yno wrth ddweud nad ydynt yn ymarfer casglu gwybodaeth ffurfiol, pan fo'r datganiad yn dweud y bydd
'y 10 cyfarfod teithiol yn ystod y cyfnod ymgynghori'
yn cael eu trafod.
Nawr, dyma'r gwrth-ddweud a welaf yma: fod yn rhaid cael rhywbeth mor eithafol â ffermwyr yn dod i lawr i Gaerdydd, i ffermwyr ddod allan ar y ffyrdd. A soniais am hyn ddoe yn fy nghwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog: nid wyf yn cymeradwyo dim o'r camau bygythiol a welwyd gan rai unigolion yn y ddadl hon; rwy'n credu bod y ddadl wedi poethi gormod mewn rhai cylchoedd. Ond a ydych chi'n deall cryfder y teimladau, pan fo Sefydliad DPJ wedi gweld cynnydd o 72 y cant mewn atgyfeiriadau ym mis Chwefror 2024, cynnydd o 62 y cant mewn atgyfeiriadau yn ystod y tri mis diwethaf, a chynnydd o 28 y cant yn y chwe mis diwethaf? A ydych chi'n llwyr sylweddoli a deall sut mae gweithredu'r polisïau gan y Llywodraeth hon wedi arwain yn uniongyrchol at gynnydd yn yr atgyfeiriadau at elusen iechyd meddwl y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati wedyn i'w chefnogi? Byddwn yn dweud—
I think you need to come to a question now. I've been very generous.
Rwy'n credu bod angen ichi ddod at gwestiwn nawr. Rwyf wedi bod yn hael iawn.
Thank you very much. I would say that that is cynical and hypocritical, that a Government is willing to inflict this pain on farmers—
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Byddwn i'n dweud bod hynny'n sinigaidd ac yn rhagrithiol, fod Llywodraeth yn barod i beri'r boen hon i ffermwyr—
You are going to have to come to your question, Samuel Kurtz, you know that.
Bydd yn rhaid ichi ddod at eich cwestiwn, Samuel Kurtz, rydych chi'n gwybod hynny.
—while still pursuing policies such as this. Thank you for your patience, Llywydd.
—gan ddal i ddilyn polisïau fel hyn. Diolch am eich amynedd, Lywydd.
Nowhere in that statement did anything say it was new money. It didn't say that. I never said it was new money. In the statement, that £20 million—[Interruption.] It was just referred to; it didn't say it was additional money, it didn't say it was new money. I was very transparent about that. I didn't say either of those things, so to imply that is unfair, I think.
I mentioned that, the TB technical advisory group, we hadn’t planned to do that until next week. I asked the chief veterinary officer, the public appointments section of Welsh Government, to bring it forward as quickly as possible. If it could have been last week, you probably wouldn’t have said anything about it, but the fact that it was yesterday—. I could have left it, but I didn’t want to leave it; I wanted to do it as quickly as possible, because, as we know, that is a point that is causing a lot of distress.
And you also know that we did have a pilot on trying to look at what we could do to help in this area, and there wasn’t a great uptake. So, what we've been doing is preparing—. The CVO calls it a dossier: we’ve got a pile of information that we will give to the group. They will look at it. As soon as it's set up, the group will have a look at that information to bring forward advice to the Minister as quickly as possible.
I just mentioned, in my earlier answer to you, that—. You’re using the word ‘formal’ in a way that I perhaps am not. I’ve had all that feedback. I’ve had all the feedback from NFU Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales; there’ll be more. I’ve even had individual farmers just sending me a paragraph, mainly to my MS e-mail address, because that’s the one that’s available. I’m not going back and saying, ‘This isn’t to my ministerial e-mail’—I’m taking that and passing it on to officials, because I really think it’s important that we look at every piece of information.
Nid oedd unrhyw beth yn y datganiad yn dweud ei fod yn arian newydd. Nid oedd yn dweud hynny. Ni ddywedais erioed ei fod yn arian newydd. Yn y datganiad, roedd yr £20 miliwn—[Torri ar draws.] Cyfeiriwyd ato, dyna i gyd; nid oedd yn dweud ei fod yn arian ychwanegol, nid oedd yn dweud ei fod yn arian newydd. Roeddwn yn dryloyw iawn ynglŷn â hynny. Ni ddywedais yr un o'r pethau hynny, felly rwy'n credu bod awgrymu hynny'n annheg.
Soniais nad oeddem wedi bwriadu gwneud y grŵp cynghori technegol TB tan yr wythnos nesaf. Gofynnais i'r prif swyddog milfeddygol, adran benodiadau cyhoeddus Llywodraeth Cymru, ei gyflwyno cyn gynted â phosibl. Os gallai fod wedi bod yr wythnos diwethaf, mae'n debyg na fyddech wedi dweud unrhyw beth yn ei gylch, ond y ffaith mai ddoe—. Gallwn fod wedi ei adael, ond nid oeddwn eisiau ei adael; roeddwn eisiau ei wneud cyn gynted â phosibl, oherwydd, fel y gwyddom, mae hwnnw'n bwynt sy'n achosi llawer o ofid.
Ac fe wyddoch hefyd fod gennym gynllun peilot ar geisio edrych ar yr hyn y gallem ei wneud i helpu yn y maes hwn, ac ni wnaeth llawer fanteisio arno. Felly, yr hyn y buom yn ei wneud yw paratoi—. Mae'r prif swyddog milfeddygol yn ei galw'n ffeil: mae gennym bentwr o wybodaeth y byddwn yn ei rhoi i'r grŵp. Byddant yn edrych arno. Cyn gynted ag y caiff ei sefydlu, bydd y grŵp yn edrych ar yr wybodaeth honno i gyflwyno cyngor i'r Gweinidog cyn gynted â phosibl.
Rwyf newydd grybwyll, yn fy ateb cynharach i chi, fod—. Rydych chi'n defnyddio'r gair 'ffurfiol' mewn ffordd nad wyf i'n ei wneud efallai. Rwyf wedi cael yr holl adborth hwnnw. Rwyf wedi cael yr holl adborth gan NFU Cymru ac Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru; fe fydd yna fwy. Rwyf hyd yn oed wedi cael ffermwyr unigol yn anfon paragraff ataf, at fy nghyfeiriad e-bost fel Aelod o'r Senedd gan fwyaf, oherwydd dyna'r un sydd ar gael. Nid wyf yn mynd yn ôl a dweud, 'Nid dyma fy e-bost fel Gweinidog'—rwy'n ei gymryd ac yn ei drosglwyddo i swyddogion, oherwydd rwy'n credu'n gryf ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod yn edrych ar bob darn o wybodaeth.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Llyr Gruffydd.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Llyr Gruffydd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Minister, you've been reminding many people in some of the interviews that you've been doing this week that you've been deliberating the common agricultural policy replacement scheme for seven years now. Yet here we are, 12 months away from when it's supposed to be implemented, and it feels further away than ever from a scheme that is going to work for farmers and is going to work for the environment as well. And the throngs of people on the steps of the Senedd today, I think, is testimony to that.
Now, we, as a party, have been telling you for a long time that the 10 per cent tree cover proposal just doesn't work. The farming unions have been telling you this for two years. You've had previous consultations that I think have sent you a clear message on that particular front, and there was a resounding message conveyed to you by farming unions at the Royal Welsh last year, but still, here we are, with the latest iteration of this consultation, and the proposal for a 10 per cent tree cover is still there. So, do you really blame people for thinking that you're just not listening?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Weinidog, rydych chi wedi bod yn atgoffa llawer o bobl yn rhai o'r cyfweliadau a wnaethoch yr wythnos hon eich bod wedi bod yn trafod y cynllun sy'n cymryd lle'r polisi amaethyddol cyffredin ers saith mlynedd erbyn hyn. Ond dyma ni, 12 mis i ffwrdd o'r adeg pan fydd i fod i gael ei weithredu, ac mae'n teimlo'n bellach i ffwrdd nag erioed o fod yn gynllun sy'n mynd i weithio i ffermwyr ac sy'n mynd i weithio i'r amgylchedd hefyd. Ac rwy'n credu bod y llu o bobl ar risiau'r Senedd heddiw yn dyst i hynny.
Nawr, rydym ni fel plaid wedi bod yn dweud wrthych ers amser maith nad yw'r cynnig ar gyfer 10 y cant o orchudd coed yn gweithio. Mae'r undebau ffermio wedi bod yn dweud hyn wrthych ers dwy flynedd. Rydych chi wedi cael ymgynghoriadau blaenorol sydd wedi anfon neges glir atoch ar y mater hwnnw, rwy'n credu, a chafwyd neges glir gan undebau ffermio yn y Sioe Frenhinol y llynedd, ond eto, dyma ni, gyda'r iteriad diweddaraf o'r ymgynghoriad hwn, ac mae'r cynnig ar gyfer 10 y cant o orchudd coed yn dal yno. Felly, a ydych chi o ddifrif yn beio pobl am feddwl nad ydych chi'n gwrando?
Well, I hope we have shown that we are listening, if you look back at the two previous consultations, the two periods of intense co-design we've had with 1,600 individual farmers and now the final consultation. You're just picking on one point, and obviously this is one proposal within the scheme. And you know from discussions that we've had that I will not pre-empt and everything is being looked at. And I want to say that there are no proposals in the scheme that will be not looked at, nothing is set in stone, and the 10 per cent of trees is one of them.
Clearly, we have to listen to lots of people, don't we? We have to listen to our farmers, we have to listen to our environmental non-governmental organisations, we have to listen to many voices around the scheme to make sure that it does do what we need the agricultural sector and other parts of the sector to do. I just really would encourage people to put their views forward. I know the 10 per cent of trees is very difficult, but it is a consultation, and that's what consultations do: they get people's views on it. And I don't expect to see a huge amount of change in people's views on the 10 per cent of trees, but what I do hope to see is solutions and answers to the questions about how we make sure we fulfil our climate change obligations, and, obviously, trees as part of that. You yourself, I'm sure, would agree with that; your ambition for net zero is more ambitious than ours. So, where do you plant those hectares of trees that are needed? And I'm sure you will agree with me that our farmers can help us.
Wel, rwy'n gobeithio ein bod wedi dangos ein bod yn gwrando, os edrychwch yn ôl ar y ddau ymgynghoriad blaenorol, y ddau gyfnod o gydgynllunio dwys a gawsom gyda 1,600 o ffermwyr unigol a'r ymgynghoriad terfynol nawr. Rydych chi'n dewis un pwynt yn unig, ac yn amlwg un cynnig o fewn y cynllun yw hwn. Ac rydych chi'n gwybod o drafodaethau a gawsom nad wyf am achub y blaen a bod popeth yn cael ei ystyried. Ac rwyf am ddweud nad oes unrhyw gynigion yn y cynllun na fydd yn cael eu hystyried, nid oes unrhyw beth yn gwbl derfynol, ac mae'r 10 y cant o goed yn un ohonynt.
Yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid inni wrando ar lawer o bobl, onid oes? Mae'n rhaid inni wrando ar ein ffermwyr, mae'n rhaid inni wrando ar ein sefydliadau amgylcheddol anllywodraethol, mae'n rhaid inni wrando ar lawer o leisiau ynglŷn â'r cynllun i wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn gwneud yr hyn rydym angen i'r sector amaethyddol a rhannau eraill o'r sector ei wneud. Rwy'n annog pobl i fynegi eu barn. Rwy'n gwybod bod y 10 y cant o goed yn anodd iawn, ond ymgynghoriad ydyw, a dyna mae ymgynghoriadau yn ei wneud: maent yn cael safbwyntiau pobl arno. Ac nid wyf yn disgwyl gweld llawer iawn o newid ym marn pobl ar y 10 y cant o goed, ond yr hyn rwy'n gobeithio ei weld yw datrysiadau ac atebion i'r cwestiynau ynglŷn â sut y gwnawn sicrhau ein bod yn cyflawni ein rhwymedigaethau newid hinsawdd, a choed yn rhan o hynny, yn amlwg. Fe fyddech chi'n cytuno â hynny, rwy'n siŵr; mae eich uchelgais ar gyfer sero net yn fwy uchelgeisiol na'n un ni. Felly, lle rydych chi'n plannu'r hectarau o goed sydd eu hangen? Ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno â mi y gall ein ffermwyr ein helpu.
Well, there's no question that farmers can help, but forcing people to do something that undermines their own business and their own participation in the scheme isn't going to work. You've got to take these farmers with you on this journey; it's as simple as that.
Now, you could show that you are listening—graphically demonstrate that you are listening—without prejudicing the consultation process. You can carry on with the consultation process, but you could tell us, here today, now, you could make a statement, that, when the consultation closes, you will pause the process in order to review the proposals. You could give yourself and any potential successors, and, certainly, potential next First Minister, that time, that space, to reflect and to take stock. You've always said that it's going to be a huge challenge to get this implemented by 2025. Frankly, I think now, where we are, in terms of taking people with you, I can't see that happening. This is an opportunity for you to say, 'Okay, this is about getting it right.' And if you're serious about getting it right, then telling people now, 'We will implement in 2026, we will pause, we will take stock, and we'll look at the options going from there'—. Because it has to be right: it has to be right for farmers, it has to be right for the environment, it has to be right for the climate. Because, without farmers participating in this scheme, then you'll have nobody to deliver the outcomes that many of us do share. And, of course, under those circumstances, everybody loses.
Wel, gall ffermwyr helpu heb amheuaeth, ond nid yw gorfodi pobl i wneud rhywbeth sy'n tanseilio eu busnes eu hunain a'u cyfranogiad eu hunain yn y cynllun yn mynd i weithio. Mae'n rhaid ichi ddod â'r ffermwyr hyn gyda chi ar y daith hon; mae mor syml â hynny.
Nawr, fe allech chi ddangos eich bod chi'n gwrando—dangos yn glir eich bod chi'n gwrando—heb beryglu'r broses ymgynghori. Gallwch barhau â'r broses ymgynghori, ond gallech ddweud wrthym, yma heddiw, nawr, gallech wneud datganiad, pan fydd yr ymgynghoriad yn cau, y byddwch yn oedi'r broses er mwyn adolygu'r cynigion. Gallech roi lle ac amser i chi'ch hun ac unrhyw olynwyr posibl, a darpar Brif Weinidog nesaf yn sicr, ar gyfer myfyrio a phwyso a mesur. Rydych chi bob amser wedi dweud y bydd yn her enfawr i gael hyn ar waith erbyn 2025. A dweud y gwir, rwy'n credu nawr, o ran lle'r ydym arni, o ran dod â phobl gyda chi, ni allaf weld hynny'n digwydd. Mae hwn yn gyfle i chi ddweud, 'Iawn, mae hyn yn ymwneud â'i gael yn iawn.' Ac os ydych chi o ddifrif ynglŷn â'i gael yn iawn, dylech ddweud wrth bobl nawr, 'Fe wnawn ei weithredu yn 2026, fe wnawn oedi, fe wnawn bwyso a mesur, ac fe edrychwn ar yr opsiynau o'r fan honno'—. Oherwydd mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn iawn: mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn iawn i ffermwyr, mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn iawn i'r amgylchedd, mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn iawn ar gyfer yr hinsawdd. Oherwydd, heb ffermwyr i gymryd rhan yn y cynllun, ni fydd gennych neb i gyflawni'r canlyniadau y mae llawer ohonom yn eu rhannu. Ac wrth gwrs, yn yr amgylchiadau hynny, mae pawb ar eu colled.
So, I want to clarify: we're not forcing anybody to do anything. I think that's a really important point. And you're quite right, the scheme, absolutely, has to be right. I've made that abundantly clear. It needs to be right for every farmer in every part of Wales. And I think officials are working very hard, they've worked very hard through all the consultations, to make sure that is absolutely the case.
The consultation has eight days to go. So, on 7 March, the consultation will finish. There will be a huge amount of information for officials to look at. As you've pointed out, there will be a new First Minister, a new Government, coming in around 20, 21 March. There will, obviously, have to be—. When you say—. I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'pause', but, obviously, there will be a stop to the information coming in, and then that information will have to be looked at very carefully.
I absolutely agree with what you say, that if we don't have a really good take-up of the scheme—. Now, let's remember, not every farmer is part of the basic payment scheme. I'm often asked, 'How many people do you want to be in this scheme?', and what I've said to officials is, 'We've got 16,000 in BPS; I would want to see at least that, but hopefully more.' I want every farmer, if they feel, if they look at the scheme and they think, 'This is good for my farm business', I would want them to be part of that scheme. But, as you say, we have lots of voices we have to listen to. There are lots of people that this scheme needs to work to. Not everybody can have everything they want. When you're making policy, you have to make sure that everything is encompassed in that.
Hoffwn egluro: nid ydym yn gorfodi unrhyw un i wneud unrhyw beth. Credaf fod hwnnw'n bwynt pwysig iawn. Ac rydych chi'n hollol iawn, mae'n rhaid i'r cynllun fod yn iawn. Rwyf wedi gwneud hynny'n hollol glir. Mae angen iddo fod yn iawn i bob ffermwr ymhob rhan o Gymru. Ac rwy'n credu bod swyddogion yn gweithio'n galed iawn, maent wedi gweithio'n galed iawn drwy'r holl ymgynghoriadau, i sicrhau hynny.
Mae gan yr ymgynghoriad wyth diwrnod i fynd. Felly, ar 7 Mawrth, fe ddaw'r ymgynghoriad i ben. Bydd llawer iawn o wybodaeth i swyddogion edrych arni. Fel y nodoch, bydd gennym Brif Weinidog newydd, Llywodraeth newydd, yn dod i mewn tua 20, 21 Mawrth. Yn amlwg, bydd yn rhaid—. Pan fyddwch chi'n dweud—. Nid wyf yn hollol siŵr beth a olygwch wrth 'oedi', ond yn amlwg, bydd yna stop ar yr wybodaeth sy'n dod i mewn, ac yna bydd yn rhaid edrych ar y wybodaeth honno'n ofalus iawn.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ddweud, os nad oes gennym nifer dda yn ymuno â'r cynllun—. Nawr, gadewch inni gofio, nid yw pob ffermwr yn rhan o gynllun y taliad sylfaenol. Gofynnir i mi yn aml, 'Faint o bobl ydych chi am iddynt fod yn y cynllun hwn?', a'r hyn a ddywedais wrth swyddogion yw, 'Mae gennym 16,000 yng nghynllun y taliad sylfaenol; hoffwn weld o leiaf hynny, ond mwy gobeithio.' Rwyf eisiau i bob ffermwr, os ydynt yn teimlo felly, os ydynt yn edrych ar y cynllun ac yn meddwl, 'Mae hyn yn dda i fy musnes fferm', byddwn eisiau iddynt fod yn rhan o'r cynllun hwnnw. Ond fel y dywedwch, mae gennym lawer o leisiau y mae'n rhaid inni wrando arnynt. Mae yna lawer o bobl y mae'n rhaid i'r cynllun hwn weithio gyda nhw. Nid yw pawb yn gallu cael popeth y maent ei eisiau. Pan fyddwch chi'n gwneud polisi, mae'n rhaid ichi sicrhau bod popeth yn cael ei gynnwys yn hynny.
3. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ei chynlluniau i adolygu rheoliadau microsglodynnu anifeiliaid anwes yng Nghymru? OQ60728
3. Will the Welsh Government provide an update on its plans to review pet-microchipping regulations in Wales? OQ60728
Officials are working in partnership with colleagues in other Governments to consider future changes in relation to microchipping databases for both cats and dogs, including accessibility and a single point of entry. Our animal welfare plan makes a commitment to consider extending compulsory microchipping to include cats by 2026.
Mae swyddogion yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â chymheiriaid mewn Llywodraethau eraill i ystyried newidiadau yn y dyfodol ynghylch cronfeydd data microsglodynnu ar gyfer cathod a chŵn, gan gynnwys hygyrchedd ac un pwynt mynediad. Mae ein cynllun lles anifeiliaid yn ymrwymo i ystyried ymestyn microsglodynnu gorfodol i gynnwys cathod erbyn 2026.
Thank you for the answer, Minister. The RSPCA, Cats Protection and others are keen to see the compulsory microchipping of cats in Wales, as it would significantly increase the chance of pets being returned to their owners if lost or stolen. I understand the Welsh Government was reluctant to pursue this, as there are 21 authorised databases in the UK, which makes it really difficult to trace some microchips, and which means that current regulations relevant to dogs are not fit for purpose. So, I'm pleased to see that you are looking into it in the future. And I'm hoping that legislation would put in place a universal microchipping database, managed by a central not-for-profit, to make compulsory chipping possible and easy to find. Would it also be possible for the Welsh Government to consider whether animal welfare volunteers could gain a qualification allowing them to access the database, to support the return of lost animals as well? Would that be a consideration, please, for the future?
Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog. Mae'r RSPCA, Cats Protection ac eraill yn awyddus i weld microsglodynnu gorfodol ar gyfer cathod yng Nghymru, gan y byddai'n cynyddu'n sylweddol y gobaith y bydd anifeiliaid anwes yn cael eu dychwelyd at eu perchnogion pe byddent yn cael eu colli neu eu dwyn. Rwy'n deall bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn amharod i fynd ar drywydd hyn, gan fod 21 o gronfeydd data awdurdodedig yn y DU, sy'n ei gwneud hi'n anodd iawn olrhain rhai microsglodion, ac sy'n golygu nad yw'r rheoliadau cyfredol sy'n berthnasol i gŵn yn addas i'r diben. Felly, rwy'n falch o weld eich bod yn edrych arno yn y dyfodol. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddai deddfwriaeth yn rhoi cronfa ddata microsglodion gyffredinol yn ei lle, wedi'i rheoli gan sefydliad nid-er-elw canolog, i wneud microsglodynnu gorfodol yn bosibl ac yn hawdd ei wneud. A fyddai'n bosibl i Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried hefyd a allai gwirfoddolwyr lles anifeiliaid ennill cymhwyster sy'n caniatáu iddynt gael mynediad at y gronfa ddata, i gefnogi dychwelyd anifeiliaid coll hefyd? A fyddai hynny'n ystyriaeth ar gyfer y dyfodol?
Thank you. So, any future changes that we have to the legislation would obviously have to be subject to a full public consultation. So, I suppose that's the sort of question that we could ask for. I mentioned in my original answer to you, Carolyn, that my officials are working particularly very closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, because this is something that obviously they're looking at. I should say microchipping is available for all dogs and cats. It's not compulsory for cats, but I think it is really good practice for all responsible owners to get their pets microchipped. So, in England, as I say, this is something that they're bringing forward. Any cat over 20 weeks in England will have to be microchipped by 10 June of this year.
Diolch. Byddai'n rhaid i unrhyw newidiadau a gawn yn y dyfodol i'r ddeddfwriaeth fod yn destun ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus llawn wrth gwrs. Felly, mae'n debyg mai dyna'r math o gwestiwn y gallem ofyn amdano. Soniais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol i chi, Carolyn, fod fy swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos iawn gydag Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig yn enwedig, oherwydd mae hyn yn rhywbeth y maent hwy'n edrych arno wrth gwrs. Dylwn ddweud bod microsglodynnu ar gael ar gyfer pob ci a chath. Nid yw'n orfodol i gathod, ond rwy'n credu bod i bob perchennog cyfrifol gael eu hanifeiliaid anwes wedi'u microsglodynnu yn arfer da iawn. Yn Lloegr, fel y dywedaf, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y maent yn ei gyflwyno. Bydd yn rhaid i unrhyw gath dros 20 wythnos yn Lloegr gael ei microsglodynnu erbyn 10 Mehefin eleni.
Well, in fact, in Wales, 156,800 or 28 per cent of owned cats are still not microchipped, a figure that, according to Cats Protection research, has stagnated for the past several years. Microchipping cats in Wales is not currently compulsory, as you indicate, unlike in England, where, from 10 June 2024, cats will need to be microchipped and registered on a database by the time they're 20 weeks old. The Welsh Government's animal welfare plan for 2021-26 says that:
'In partnership with the UK and Scottish Governments, we have commissioned research on the effectiveness of existing dog microchipping regulations. The research will also report on the potential benefits of the compulsory microchipping of kittens and cats.'
One of the action points in this plan states that Welsh Government would
'consider extending compulsory microchipping to include kittens and cats'
and also:
'To consider, dependant upon the outcome of the research and consultation, new microchipping regulations for dogs and cats in Wales.'
So, given that this is now 2024, what did the research and consultation conclude? How is that shaping the Welsh Government's policy? And what plans and timescales, if any, do you have for introducing and monitoring compulsory microchipping?
Wel, mewn gwirionedd, yng Nghymru, mae 156,800 neu 28 y cant o gathod sy'n eiddo i rywun yn dal heb gael eu microsglodynnu, ffigur sydd, yn ôl ymchwil Cats Protection, wedi aros yn ei unfan dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Nid yw microsglodynnu cathod yn orfodol yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, fel y nodwch, yn wahanol i Loegr, lle bydd angen i gathod, o 10 Mehefin 2024, gael eu microsglodynnu a'u cofrestru ar gronfa ddata erbyn iddynt gyrraedd 20 wythnos oed. Mae cynllun lles anifeiliaid Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2021-26 yn dweud:
'Mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraethau’r DU a’r Alban, rydym wedi comisiynu ymchwil ar effeithiolrwydd y rheoliadau presennol ar ficrosglodynnu cŵn. Bydd yr ymchwil yn ystyried hefyd y manteision posibl o’i gwneud yn orfodol microsglodynnu cathod a chathod bach.'
Mae un o'r pwyntiau gweithredu yn y cynllun hwn yn nodi y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn
'ystyried hefyd y manteision posibl o’i gwneud yn orfodol microsglodynnu cathod a chathod bach'
a hefyd:
'Ystyried, gan ddibynnu ar ganlyniad y gwaith ymchwil a’r ymgynghoriad, reoliadau newydd ar ficrosglodynnu cathod a chŵn yng Nghymru.'
Felly, o gofio ei bod hi'n 2024 bellach, beth oedd casgliadau'r ymchwil a'r ymgynghoriad? Sut mae hynny'n siapio polisi Llywodraeth Cymru? A pha gynlluniau ac amserlenni, os o gwbl, sydd gennych chi ar gyfer cyflwyno a monitro microsglodynnu gorfodol?
On the timescale point, it will be within the animal welfare plan timescale, so that's obviously before 2026. I think it's unlikely that it will be this year. I don't think it will be 2024 and this year of the animal welfare plan. But you referred to England, and DEFRA did consult, and it was on a basis of England-only. But DEFRA did commit to working with both Welsh Government and the Scottish Government, particularly around the issues on database, because, clearly, any issues around database that they brought forward would have an impact on Scotland and Wales. So, I mentioned that our officials were working very closely on that, and we are currently awaiting the results of the consultation that DEFRA led on. But I think that's probably the best timescale I can give you. It will be before 2026, but I don't think it will be this year.
Ar y pwynt ynglŷn ag amserlen, fe fydd o fewn amserlen y cynllun lles anifeiliaid, felly cyn 2026 wrth gwrs. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn annhebygol y bydd yn digwydd eleni. Nid wyf yn credu y bydd yn digwydd yn 2024 a'r flwyddyn hon yn y cynllun lles anifeiliaid. Ond roeddech chi'n cyfeirio at Loegr, ac fe wnaeth DEFRA ymgynghori, a digwyddodd hynny ar sail Lloegr yn unig. Ond ymrwymodd DEFRA i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth yr Alban, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â materion y gronfa ddata, oherwydd, yn amlwg, byddai unrhyw faterion yn ymwneud â chronfa ddata a gyflwynir ganddynt yn cael effaith ar Gymru a'r Alban. Felly, soniais fod ein swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos iawn ar hynny, ac rydym ar hyn o bryd yn aros am ganlyniadau'r ymgynghoriad a arweiniwyd gan DEFRA. Ond rwy'n credu mai dyna'r amserlen orau y gallaf ei rhoi i chi yn ôl pob tebyg. Fe fydd yn digwydd cyn 2026, ond nid wyf yn credu y bydd yn digwydd eleni.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr effaith y disgwylir y bydd cyflwyno'r Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy yn ei chael ar ffermwyr yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ60724
4. Will the Minister provide an update on the expected impact of the rollout of the sustainable farming scheme on farmers in North Wales? OQ60724
The proposed sustainable farming scheme is designed to support all farmers in Wales through a universal baseline payment, based on the completion of a set of universal actions, currently at consultation. These actions will be familiar to farmers in north Wales, whether beef, dairy, arable, upland, lowland, extensive or intensive.
Mae'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy arfaethedig wedi'i gynllunio i gefnogi pob ffermwr yng Nghymru trwy daliad sylfaenol cyffredinol, yn seiliedig ar gwblhau cyfres o weithredoedd cyffredinol, sy'n destun ymgynghoriad ar hyn o bryd. Bydd y gweithredoedd hyn yn gyfarwydd i ffermwyr yng ngogledd Cymru, boed yn ffermwyr cig eidion, cynnyrch llaeth, cnydau âr, ucheldir, iseldir, dwys neu lai dwys.
Thank you for your response, Minister. And as we've already heard today, and seen today, just outside this place there have been thousands of farmers standing up for their communities, their farms and their very way of life. They see the current proposals in the SFS as an attack on rural Wales and the people who cultivate and nurture our land, and it's obvious why. As we've already heard in this place today, your own impact assessment estimates that 5,500 jobs in rural Wales will be lost as a result, a £200 million hit to the economy, with around 11 per cent fewer livestock in Wales. And these numbers are shocking and should really give serious pause for thought, which I know is something you're looking to do. But it's not just farmers themselves who are likely to suffer, but those in the supply chain too, and by damaging those farm incomes there will be damage to the agri-food supply chain and all those livelihoods that depend on it. So, Minister, I wonder what consideration you're giving and what you're looking to do to not just protect the supply chain, but to help it thrive?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Ac fel y clywsom eisoes heddiw, ac fel y gwelsom heddiw, y tu allan i'r lle hwn, mae miloedd o ffermwyr wedi bod yn sefyll dros eu cymunedau, eu ffermydd a'u ffordd o fyw. Maent yn gweld y cynigion presennol yn y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy fel ymosodiad ar gefn gwlad Cymru a'r bobl sy'n trin ac yn amaethu ein tir, ac mae'n amlwg pam. Fel y clywsom eisoes yn y lle hwn heddiw, mae eich asesiad effaith eich hun yn amcangyfrif y bydd 5,500 o swyddi yng nghefn gwlad Cymru yn cael eu colli o ganlyniad, ergyd o £200 miliwn i'r economi, gyda thua 11 y cant yn llai o dda byw yng Nghymru. Ac mae'r niferoedd hyn yn frawychus a dylent roi llawer i gnoi cil arno, a gwn fod hynny'n rhywbeth rydych chi'n ystyried ei wneud. Ond nid ffermwyr eu hunain yn unig sy'n debygol o ddioddef, ond y rhai yn y gadwyn gyflenwi hefyd, a thrwy niweidio incwm ffermydd bydd niwed i'r gadwyn gyflenwi bwyd-amaeth a bywoliaeth yr holl bobl sy'n dibynnu arni. Felly, Weinidog, tybed pa ystyriaeth rydych chi'n ei rhoi a'r hyn rydych chi'n bwriadu ei wneud nid yn unig i ddiogelu'r gadwyn gyflenwi, ond i'w helpu i ffynnu?
Thank you. Well, the current proposals absolutely do not attack in the way that you referred to. It is a consultation, and I will repeat: we will look at every piece of information that comes in. You refer to the economic impact in a way that—. I tried to explain what it was, and it was completely the opposite of what you, unfortunately, said. And what it really helped us do was look at the issues that could be apparent in the SFS that we needed to avoid. For instance, one of the things that I think the economic impact did was show us the impact it could have on agricultural outputs, so we need to look at that to make sure that the final scheme absolutely reflects the information that came forward in that way.
I think you make a very important point about the supply chain, and it was good to meet one of the five farmers that Sam Kurtz referred to, who the First Minister and I met on Monday. He represented himself, but he worked in the supply chain, and it was really good to hear his concerns about the impact it could have. But, as I say, nothing has been decided, nothing will be pre-empted, and we will, obviously, work to a sustainable farming scheme that every farmer in Wales will want to be part of.
Diolch. Wel, nid yw'r cynigion presennol yn ymosodiad o unrhyw fath yn y ffordd y gwnaethoch chi ei nodi. Mae'n ymgynghoriad, ac rwy'n ailadrodd: byddwn yn edrych ar bob darn o wybodaeth a ddaw i mewn. Rydych chi'n cyfeirio at yr effaith economaidd mewn ffordd sy'n—. Ceisiais egluro beth ydoedd, ac roedd yn hollol groes i'r hyn a ddywedoch chi, yn anffodus. A'r hyn y gwnaeth ein helpu i wneud oedd edrych ar y materion y gallai fod yn amlwg yn y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy fod angen i ni eu hosgoi. Er enghraifft, un o'r pethau a wnaeth yr asesiad effaith economaidd yn fy marn i oedd dangos i ni'r effaith y gallai ei chael ar allbynnau amaethyddol, felly mae angen inni edrych ar hynny i sicrhau bod y cynllun terfynol yn adlewyrchu'r wybodaeth a gyflwynwyd yn y ffordd honno.
Rwy'n credu eich bod yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn am y gadwyn gyflenwi, ac roedd yn dda cyfarfod ag un o'r pum ffermwr y cyfeiriodd Sam Kurtz atynt, y cyfarfu'r Prif Weinidog a minnau ag ef ddydd Llun. Roedd yn cynrychioli ei hun, ond fe weithiai yn y gadwyn gyflenwi, ac roedd yn dda iawn clywed ei bryderon am yr effaith y gallai ei chael. Ond fel y dywedais, nid oes dim wedi cael ei benderfynu, nid ydym yn achub y blaen ar unrhyw beth, ac yn amlwg, byddwn yn gweithio i sicrhau cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy y bydd pob ffermwr yng Nghymru am fod yn rhan ohono.
Mae'r ffaith bod yna gymaint o ffermwyr ac eraill o gefn gwlad y gogledd wedi dod yma i Fae Caerdydd heddiw yn arwydd o gryfder y teimladau sydd yna a'r pryderon ynglŷn â'r cynllun fel ag y mae o. Mae sôn am golli miloedd y swyddi, wrth gwrs, yn codi braw ar draws nid yn unig y sector, ond cefn gwlad yn ei gyfanrwydd. Mae'r Gweinidog yn Weinidog dros faterion gwledig, nid dim ond amaeth. Ydy hi'n cytuno efo fi, pan fyddwn ni'n meddwl am impact colli cymaint â hyn o swyddi ar draws y gogledd, fod hynny'n gorfod cymryd i ystyriaeth yr impact ar yr economi, ar yr iaith, ar faint o blant sydd mewn ysgolion, ar y gallu i ddarparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus fel bysys hyfyw ar draws cefn gwlad, a bod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried hynny wrth feddwl am y camau nesaf i wneud hwn yn gynllun sydd yn gallu cael ei weithredu yn ymarferol?
The fact that so many farmers and others from rural north Wales have come here to Cardiff Bay today is a sign of the strength of feeling that there is and the concerns regarding the scheme as it currently stands. The talk of losing thousands of jobs, of course, gives rise to deep concern not just across the sector, but across rural Wales in its entirety. The Minister is the Minister for rural affairs, not just agriculture. Does she agree with me that, when we think about the impact of losing so many jobs across north Wales, that consideration must be given to the impact on the economy, on the language, on how many children there are in schools, on the ability to provide public services such as viable buses in rural areas, and that the Welsh Government has to consider that in thinking about the next steps to make this a scheme that can be implemented practically?
Absolutely, I do. I think that was the point I was trying to make. It's not just listening to one voice; you have to listen to many voices, and you have to think about the impact across a wide range. As you said, I'm the Minister for rural affairs; I'm not just Minister for agriculture, so it is really important that you look holistically at that, because we want the best scheme possible, and we want the best scheme possible not just for our farmers, but for all parts of our rural communities. I've always said I know that when the basic payment scheme goes to a farmer, they don't keep that money for themselves. That money goes into the rural community—they employ contractors to help them at different, busy times of the year, for instance, and it goes into their local shops, it goes into their local venues where they go. It goes right across the rural community. One of the things around the agriculture Act, which you know was passed unanimously in this Chamber, if you look at the four sustainable land management objectives, the fourth one—and this was in partnership particularly with Cefin Campbell, who helped us so much in relation to that fourth one, through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru—was about the language and the culture of our country.
Ydw, yn bendant. Rwy'n credu mai dyna'r pwynt roeddwn i'n ceisio ei wneud. Nid gwrando ar un llais yn unig; rhaid ichi wrando ar lawer o leisiau, a rhaid ichi feddwl am yr effaith ar draws ystod eang o bethau. Fel y dywedoch chi, fi yw'r Gweinidog materion gwledig; nid Gweinidog amaeth yn unig wyf i, felly mae'n bwysig iawn eich bod chi'n edrych yn gyfannol ar hynny, oherwydd rydym eisiau'r cynllun gorau posibl, ac rydym eisiau'r cynllun gorau posibl nid yn unig i'n ffermwyr, ond i bob rhan o'n cymunedau gwledig. Rwyf bob amser wedi dweud fy mod yn gwybod pan fydd cynllun y taliad sylfaenol yn mynd i ffermwr, nad ydynt yn cadw'r arian hwnnw iddynt eu hunain. Mae'r arian hwnnw'n mynd i mewn i'r gymuned wledig—maent yn cyflogi contractwyr i'w helpu ar adegau gwahanol a phrysur o'r flwyddyn, er enghraifft, ac mae'n mynd i'w siopau lleol, mae'n mynd i'r lleoliadau lleol y maent yn eu mynychu. Mae'n mynd ar draws y gymuned wledig. Un o'r pethau gyda'r Ddeddf amaethyddiaeth, y gwyddoch iddi gael ei phasio'n unfrydol yn y Siambr hon, os edrychwch chi ar y pedwar amcan rheoli tir cynaliadwy, roedd y pedwerydd amcan—ac roedd hyn mewn partneriaeth gyda Cefin Campbell yn enwedig, a roddodd gymaint o gymorth i ni mewn perthynas â'r pedwerydd amcan hwnnw, trwy'r cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru—yn ymwneud ag iaith a diwylliant ein gwlad.
5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o bwysigrwydd ffermio llaeth adfywiol i ddyfodol ffermio cynaliadwy yng Nghymru? OQ60752
5. What assessment has the Minister made of the importance of regenerative dairy farming to the future of sustainable farming in Wales? OQ60752
Thank you. The Welsh Government remains committed to improving the financial and environmental performance within the Welsh dairy industry to build sustainable, resilient businesses. Regenerative farming principles align with sustainable land management objectives that underpin future farming and land management support.
Diolch. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i wella perfformiad ariannol ac amgylcheddol o fewn y diwydiant llaeth yng Nghymru i adeiladu busnesau cynaliadwy a gwydn. Mae egwyddorion ffermio adfywiol yn cyd-fynd ag amcanion rheoli tir cynaliadwy sy'n sail i gymorth ffermio a rheoli tir yn y dyfodol.
I thank you for that answer, Minister. Sometimes, people look at dairy farming and suspect there's only one direction of travel: it's the consolidation of units, bigger herds in barns rather than out on the pasture, it's the creation of more slurry, and so on. But, actually, there are more and more people now who are taking up approaches to regenerative dairy farming, including here in Wales within spitting distance, and north Wales as well has some fantastic examples, I have to say. They are economically sustainable as well as better for the environment, for river quality, for the quality of the soil, and everything else. Some of this work is being driven, I have to say, far-sightedly, by some of the milk distributors as well. So, I wonder, Minister, can we do more with the retailers and the milk wholesalers and distributors to actually try and incentivise regenerative dairy farming and show that there doesn't have to be one direction of travel—losing jobs, losing farm units—but that we can actually look at a modern version of a much more traditional way of thinking about mixed farming?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Weithiau, mae pobl yn edrych ar ffermio llaeth ac yn tybio mai dim ond un cyfeiriad sydd iddo: mae'n ymwneud â chyfuno unedau, buchesi mwy mewn beudai yn hytrach nag allan ar y borfa, creu mwy o slyri, ac yn y blaen. Ond mewn gwirionedd, mae mwy a mwy o bobl bellach yn troi at ddulliau ffermio llaeth adfywiol, gan gynnwys yma yng Nghymru o fewn tafliad carreg ac mae gan ogledd Cymru enghreifftiau gwych hefyd, rhaid imi ddweud. Maent yn economaidd gynaliadwy ac yn well i'r amgylchedd, i ansawdd afonydd, i ansawdd y pridd, a phopeth arall. Mae peth o'r gwaith hwn yn cael ei yrru, yn bellweledol mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, gan rai o'r dosbarthwyr llaeth hefyd. Felly, tybed, Weinidog, a allwn ni wneud mwy gyda'r manwerthwyr a'r cyfanwerthwyr llaeth a'r dosbarthwyr i geisio cymell ffermio llaeth adfywiol a dangos nad oes rhaid iddo fod yn un cyfeiriad teithio—colli swyddi, colli unedau fferm—ond y gallwn edrych ar fersiwn modern o ffordd lawer mwy traddodiadol o feddwl am ffermio cymysg?
I think the Member makes a very good point, and, certainly, I did speak with a farmer who does farm regeneratively. He used to farm organically and he's now changed to regenerative farming. I think there has been a bit of a shift to regenerative farming from organic because they can see the benefit for the farm business. I certainly think we can do more to work with the retailers and look at this. I haven't had any of the milk producers contact me, but I will ask my officials to perhaps have that discussion. Thank you.
Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gwneud pwynt da iawn, ac yn sicr, siaradais â ffermwr sy'n ffermio'n adfywiol. Roedd yn arfer ffermio'n organig ac mae bellach wedi newid i ffermio adfywiol. Rwy'n credu bod tipyn o newid wedi bod tuag at ffermio adfywiol o ffermio organig oherwydd eu bod yn gallu gweld y budd i fusnes y fferm. Rwy'n sicr yn credu y gallwn wneud mwy i weithio gyda'r manwerthwyr ac edrych ar hyn. Nid wyf wedi cael unrhyw un o'r cynhyrchwyr llaeth yn cysylltu â mi, ond fe ofynnaf i fy swyddogion gael y drafodaeth honno efallai. Diolch.
There is, of course, a growing global market for dairy products due to the increased population, so I think there is a real opportunity here in Wales for climate-friendly nutritious milk, but, under the current proposals for the SFS, the Welsh Government's modelling that's attached to that shows us that we could see 45,000 fewer dairy cows in Wales. So, I'm trying to align this: there's an opportunity here for us to increase nutritious, healthy milk here in Wales, and supply not only Wales, but the world, but, under the current SFS proposals, that's not going to do that; that's going to have the opposite effect. So, how is that going to be squared?
Wrth gwrs, ceir marchnad fyd-eang gynyddol ar gyfer cynnyrch llaeth oherwydd y boblogaeth gynyddol, felly rwy'n credu bod cyfle gwirioneddol yma yng Nghymru ar gyfer llaeth maethlon sy'n gyfeillgar i'r hinsawdd, ond o dan y cynigion presennol ar gyfer y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, mae modelu Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny'n dangos i ni y gallem weld 45,000 yn llai o wartheg llaeth yng Nghymru. Felly, rwy'n ceisio cysoni hyn: mae cyfle yma inni gael mwy o laeth maethlon ac iach yma yng Nghymru, a chyflenwi nid yn unig Cymru, ond y byd, ond o dan gynigion presennol y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, nid yw hwnnw'n mynd i wneud hynny; bydd hwnnw'n cael yr effaith groes i hynny. Felly, sut mae cysoni hynny?
Well, as I've said quite a few times this afternoon, that economic analysis is not part of the current consultation that's out. There will be a new economic analysis.
Wel, fel y dywedais sawl gwaith y prynhawn yma, nid yw'r dadansoddiad economaidd hwnnw'n rhan o'r ymgynghoriad cyfredol sydd ar y gweill. Fe fydd yna ddadansoddiad economaidd newydd.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch rasio milgwn yng Nghymru? OQ60721
6. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's position regarding greyhound racing in Wales? OQ60721
Thank you. I am committed to ensuring the welfare of racing greyhounds in Wales is not compromised. On 8 December, I launched our consultation on the regulation of animal welfare, which includes a section on greyhound racing, requesting evidence to inform our position on legislation.
Diolch. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau nad yw lles milgwn rasio yng Nghymru yn cael ei beryglu. Ar 8 Rhagfyr, lansiais ein hymgynghoriad ar reoleiddio lles anifeiliaid, sy'n cynnwys adran ar rasio milgwn yn gofyn am dystiolaeth i lywio ein safbwynt ar ddeddfwriaeth.
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Minister, as Chair of the Senedd Petitions Committee, I was proud of the report we produced on greyhound racing in Wales, and I'd like to thank the lead petitioner, Hope Rescue, who initiated the petition and the subsequent inquiry for the committee. A majority of committee members supported a phased ban on greyhound racing, and the committee was pleased to see the consultation include the question around greyhound racing, and so we were pleased to see your commitment to the committee there, Minister. With the consultation coming to an end on Friday, could you just outline what the next steps are and how the Welsh Government will respond to the consultation?
Diolch am eich ateb. Weinidog, fel Cadeirydd Pwyllgor Deisebau'r Senedd, roeddwn yn falch o'r adroddiad a gynhyrchwyd gennym ar rasio milgwn yng Nghymru, a hoffwn ddiolch i'r deisebydd arweiniol, Hope Rescue, a gychwynnodd y ddeiseb a'r ymchwiliad dilynol ar ran y pwyllgor. Roedd mwyafrif o aelodau'r pwyllgor yn cefnogi gwaharddiad graddol ar rasio milgwn, ac roedd y pwyllgor yn falch o weld yr ymgynghoriad yn cynnwys y cwestiwn ynghylch rasio milgwn, ac felly roeddem yn falch o weld eich ymrwymiad i'r pwyllgor yno, Weinidog. Gyda'r ymgynghoriad yn dod i ben ddydd Gwener, a allwch chi amlinellu beth yw'r camau nesaf a sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad?
Thank you. Well, as Jack Sargeant points out, the consultation does end on Friday and, as you can imagine, we are getting a significant number of responses in this last week, which often happens during consultations. I'm sure we'll see the same for the sustainable farming scheme coming to a close next week. Obviously, the petition you refer to garnered over 35,000 signatures. I think it is a particular area of interest, and, following the report that you brought forward from your committee, that did call for a ban on greyhound racing, and the report's been considered. We have the Government response, which has, obviously, been published now and is publicly available, and I did commit to including that question on a phased ban. So, once we've received all the responses, again, there will be a period where every response is read and we can see what the responses are.
Diolch. Wel, fel y noda Jack Sargeant, mae'r ymgynghoriad yn dod i ben ddydd Gwener ac fel y gallwch ddychmygu, rydym yn cael nifer sylweddol o ymatebion yn ystod yr wythnos olaf hon, sy'n aml yn digwydd mewn ymgynghoriadau. Rwy'n siŵr y gwelwn yr un peth gyda'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy sy'n dod i ben yr wythnos nesaf. Yn amlwg, fe wnaeth y ddeiseb y cyfeiriwch ati ddenu dros 35,000 o lofnodion. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn faes diddordeb penodol, ac yn dilyn yr adroddiad a gyflwynwyd gan eich pwyllgor, roedd hwnnw'n galw am waharddiad ar rasio milgwn, ac mae'r adroddiad wedi cael ei ystyried. Mae gennym ymateb y Llywodraeth, sydd wedi'i gyhoeddi nawr wrth gwrs ac sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gynnwys y cwestiwn ar waharddiad graddol. Felly, pan fydd yr holl ymatebion wedi dod i law, unwaith eto, fe fydd yna gyfnod pan gaiff pob ymateb ei ddarllen a gallwn weld beth yw'r ymatebion.
Minister, at the weekend, Wales's only dog-racing track pressed ahead with a race on a severely waterlogged course. During the 14:42 race on Sunday, a dog crashed into the wall of the course, becoming severely injured. While the race was eventually abandoned, the Valley, which is seen as the pinnacle of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain's welfare standards, simply listed that there was no race. There was no mention of the injured animal—Ranches Bandit had cuts and bruising to his face. The dog also has a heavily bandaged right hind leg, which it is not able to put weight on properly. There is no x-ray machine at the Valley track. The vet there will only have been able to give very basic first aid, and, with limited emergency veterinary availability in the region, it is likely the dog would have to return to its trainers for any surgery. Minister, do you agree that this is totally unacceptable, and will you now consider a total, immediate ban on greyhound racing in Wales? Thank you very much.
Weinidog, dros y penwythnos, fe wnaeth yr unig drac rasio cŵn yng Nghymru fwrw ymlaen â ras ar gwrs dwrlawn iawn. Yn ystod y ras 14:42 ddydd Sul, tarodd ci yn erbyn wal y cwrs, a chael ei anafu'n ddifrifol. Er i'r ras gael ei chanslo yn y pen draw, cofnododd trac y Cwm, yr ystyrir eu bod ar y brig o ran safonau lles Bwrdd Milgwn Prydain, na chafodd ras mo'i chynnal. Ni chafwyd unrhyw sôn am yr anifail a anafwyd—cafodd Ranches Bandit friwiau a chleisiau i'w wyneb. Mae rhwymiadau ar goes ôl dde y ci, ac nid yw'n gallu rhoi ei bwysau arni'n iawn. Nid oes peiriant pelydr-x ar drac y Cwm. Dim ond cymorth cyntaf sylfaenol iawn y bydd y milfeddyg yno wedi gallu ei roi, a chan mai ychydig iawn o ddarpariaeth filfeddygol frys a geir yn y rhanbarth, mae'n debygol y byddai'n rhaid i'r ci ddychwelyd at ei hyfforddwyr ar gyfer unrhyw lawdriniaeth. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol, ac a wnewch chi ystyried gwaharddiad llwyr ar unwaith nawr ar rasio milgwn yng Nghymru? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you. So, I think that what you have just told the Chamber is incredibly distressing. As the Member knows, I've previously met with the owners of the Valley stadium. I've met with representatives of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, I've met with welfare organisations to discuss the welfare issues and plans for the Valley site. I know that animal health officers have carried out a series of inspections at race events. I'm not aware of one that's been carried out this year. Officers are always accompanied by a veterinary expert, and I will ask officials to speak with the local authority to see if any other inspections are planned. And, as I said in my answer to Jack Sargeant, the consultation closes next week, and, obviously, when the responses have all been considered, we will be able to bring forward proposals.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu bod yr hyn rydych chi newydd ei ddweud wrth y Siambr yn peri gofid mawr. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â pherchnogion stadiwm y Cwm o'r blaen. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr Bwrdd Milgwn Prydain, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â sefydliadau lles i drafod y materion lles a'r cynlluniau ar gyfer safle'r Cwm. Rwy'n gwybod bod swyddogion iechyd anifeiliaid wedi cynnal cyfres o arolygiadau mewn rasys. Nid wyf yn ymwybodol fod unrhyw un wedi cael ei gynnal eleni. Mae arbenigwr milfeddygol yn gweithio gyda swyddogion bob amser, a byddaf yn gofyn i swyddogion siarad â'r awdurdod lleol i weld a oes unrhyw arolygiadau eraill wedi'u cynllunio. Ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i Jack Sargeant, mae'r ymgynghoriad yn dod i ben yr wythnos nesaf, ac yn amlwg, pan fydd yr ymatebion i gyd wedi'u hystyried, byddwn yn gallu cyflwyno cynigion.
Good afternoon, Minister. I'm incredibly grateful for the cross-party support for a ban on greyhound racing. I just really wanted to ask you a question about the consultation process. I understand that you, or your officials, have been requested to visit Valley racetrack as part of the consultation process by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. I understand that's happened. I'm not sure if you're able to confirm that today. But I just really wanted to seek your assurance that, if that was the case, you would also consider, or your officials would consider, also visiting Hillcrest, which is the home that rescues what, in essence, are dumped greyhounds from the racetracks. We were lucky enough to get our second greyhound, Wanda, from Hillcrest, which is a wonderful institution, but it is struggling. The day we took Wanda home, there was a waiting list of other greyhounds ready to take her place in the kennels. So, I wonder if you could just tell us whether you've had a request to visit Valley racetrack, and, if you have, whether you would consider, for balance, visiting Hillcrest as well in order to get another perspective on the greyhound racing world? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Rwy'n hynod ddiolchgar am y gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol i waharddiad ar rasio milgwn. Roeddwn eisiau gofyn cwestiwn i chi am y broses ymgynghori. Deallaf eich bod chi, neu eich swyddogion, wedi cael cais i ymweld â thrac rasio'r Cwm gan Fwrdd Milgwn Prydain yn rhan o'r broses ymgynghori. Rwy'n deall bod hynny wedi digwydd. Nid wyf yn siŵr a allwch chi gadarnhau hynny heddiw. Ond roeddwn i eisiau gofyn am eich sicrwydd, os oedd hynny'n wir, y byddech chi hefyd yn ystyried, neu y byddai eich swyddogion yn ystyried, ymweld â Hillcrest hefyd, sef y cartref sy'n achub milgwn sydd i bob pwrpas wedi'u gadael yno o'r traciau rasio. Roeddem yn ddigon ffodus i gael ein hail filgi llwyd, Wanda, o Hillcrest, sy'n sefydliad gwych, ond mae'n ei chael hi'n anodd. Y diwrnod yr aethom â Wanda adref, roedd rhestr aros o filgwn eraill yn barod i gymryd ei lle yn y cynelau. Felly, tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym a ydych chi wedi cael cais i ymweld â thrac rasio'r Cwm, ac os ydych, a fyddech chi'n ystyried ymweld â Hillcrest hefyd er mwyn sicrhau cydbwysedd a chael persbectif arall ar y byd rasio milgwn? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you. And I'm aware, obviously, that Wanda has found a wonderful home with you, and is, I know, keeping you very busy. I have had a request to attend Valley stadium. I haven't had the opportunity to do that; my officials have, as you say. And I and my officials would be very happy, if you would like to invite us to Hillcrest, for us to consider that.
Diolch. Ac rwy'n ymwybodol wrth gwrs fod Wanda wedi cael cartref gwych gyda chi, ac rwy'n gwybod ei bod yn eich cadw'n brysur iawn. Rwyf wedi cael cais i fynd i stadiwm y Cwm. Nid wyf wedi cael cyfle i wneud hynny; mae fy swyddogion wedi gwneud hynny, fel y dywedwch. Ac os hoffech ein gwahodd i Hillcrest, fe fyddwn i a fy swyddogion yn hapus iawn i ystyried hynny.
7. Pa drafodaethau diweddar y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi'u cael gyda'r sector amaethyddol ynghylch y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy arfaethedig? OQ60741
7. What recent discussions has the Government had with the agricultural sector regarding the proposed sustainable farming scheme? OQ60741
My officials and I are in regular contact with farmers, the farming unions and wider agricultural stakeholders on all aspects of the development of the sustainable farming scheme.
Mae fy swyddogion a minnau mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â ffermwyr, yr undebau ffermio a rhanddeiliaid amaethyddol ehangach ynglŷn â phob agwedd ar ddatblygu'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy.
Minister, you say you've spoken at length with the sector; the protest, of course, outside says otherwise. So, this means one of two things: you have either failed to listen when meeting farmers and unions when drawing up these current proposals, or you have listened and are now wilfully ignoring the pleas of farmers and, instead, are intent on punishing their livelihoods. Either way, it's clear the current proposals are not fit for purpose and only lead to more anger, upset and worry for our farmers, who we so heavily rely on and are so vitally important, as well as our future generations, many of whom, actually, were outside just now in the protest, as it's their future, their livelihoods in the future that you will negatively affect with these proposals.
As a dairy farmer's daughter, I know that milk produced in Wales has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. The modelling published by this Welsh Government suggests that these proposals would see more than 45,000 fewer dairy cows in Wales. Not only would this put thousands of livelihoods across the supply chain at risk, but, by destocking our farms, we become less productive. To put this in context, these proposals would result in and mean the equivalent of taking over 648 million pints of milk off the shelves around the world. If you go ahead as planned and you take away food production land, this will mean that we have to import in the future. So, Minister, my question to you is: are you saying that any future imports as a result of these proposals will come from carbon-neutral farms around the world and will be transported by carbon-neutral transport? If not, surely you're just moving the problem elsewhere and doing nothing to help the planet, whilst punishing Welsh farmers as you do it. You say you want a sustainable Wales, but this flies in the face of sustainability. It's time to pause this consultation, isn't it, Minister, and go back to the drawing board?
Weinidog, rydych chi'n dweud eich bod chi wedi siarad yn hir gyda'r sector; mae'r brotest y tu allan yn dweud fel arall wrth gwrs. Felly, mae hyn yn golygu un o ddau beth: rydych chi naill ai wedi methu gwrando wrth gyfarfod â ffermwyr ac undebau i lunio'r cynigion presennol hyn, neu rydych chi wedi gwrando ac yn fwriadol yn anwybyddu ple ffermwyr ac yn benderfynol o gosbi eu bywoliaeth yn lle hynny. Y naill ffordd neu'r llall, mae'n amlwg nad yw'r cynigion presennol yn addas i'r diben a'u bod ond yn arwain at fwy o ddicter, gofid a phryder i'n ffermwyr, y dibynnwn gymaint arnynt ac sydd mor hanfodol bwysig, yn ogystal â chenedlaethau'r dyfodol, y mae llawer ohonynt yn y brotest nawr, gan mai eu dyfodol nhw, eu bywoliaeth nhw yn y dyfodol fydd yn cael eu heffeithio'n negyddol gyda'r cynigion hyn.
Fel merch i ffermwr llaeth, gwn fod gan laeth a gynhyrchir yng Nghymru un o'r olion traed carbon lleiaf yn y byd. Mae'r modelu a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn awgrymu y byddai'r cynigion hyn yn gweld mwy na 45,000 yn llai o wartheg llaeth yng Nghymru. Byddai hyn yn peryglu bywoliaeth miloedd o bobl ar draws y gadwyn gyflenwi, a hefyd, drwy ddadstocio ein ffermydd, byddwn yn llai cynhyrchiol. I roi hyn yn ei gyd-destun, byddai'r cynigion hyn yn arwain at, ac yn golygu'r hyn sy'n cyfateb i fynd â dros 648 miliwn o beintiau o laeth oddi ar y silffoedd ledled y byd. Os byddwch yn bwrw ymlaen fel y cynlluniwyd a'ch bod yn cael gwared ar dir cynhyrchu bwyd, bydd hynny'n golygu bod yn rhaid inni fewnforio yn y dyfodol. Felly, Weinidog, fy nghwestiwn i chi yw: a ydych chi'n dweud y bydd unrhyw fewnforion yn y dyfodol o ganlyniad i'r cynigion hyn yn dod o ffermydd carbon niwtral ledled y byd ac yn cael eu cludo gan drafnidiaeth garbon niwtral? Os na, fe fyddwch yn symud y broblem i fannau eraill ac yn gwneud dim i helpu'r blaned, gan gosbi ffermwyr Cymru wrth i chi wneud hynny. Rydych chi'n dweud eich bod chi eisiau Cymru gynaliadwy, ond mae hyn yn mynd yn groes i gynaliadwyedd. Onid yw'n bryd oedi'r ymgynghoriad, Weinidog, a dechrau o'r dechrau?
Well, we're not pausing the consultation, there are eight days to go—so, we are not pausing the consultation. And I don't want to punish anybody, and certainly not our farmers.
You mentioned future generations, and you're absolutely right to mention future generations. It's imperative that the sustainable farming scheme supports that sustainable food production. And what is the biggest threat to sustainable food production? It's the climate emergency. And we know our future generations are going to be farming in a much more wide-ranging pattern of weather. We've seen it, haven't we? We've seen snow in May, we've seen flooding when, you know, we wouldn't expect to see it. So, we have to make sure that the sustainable farming scheme works for every farmer in every part of Wales. There'll be no pause of the scheme. You will have heard me say in earlier answers to Llyr Huws Gruffydd about the process that will now be gone through. It will be an extensive piece of work that will need to be done, because I'm sure we will have many, many responses, but it is a plea to make sure everybody puts their views forward. I can absolutely assure you that to talk about words like 'punish' is completely incorrect.
You asked me about the extensive consultation. Well, there are over 24,000 farmers in Wales, and obviously I can't speak to every one. I visit farms regularly. I meet with the National Farmers Union, I meet with the Farmers Union of Wales, I meet with the Country Land and Business Association, I meet with individual farmers. And it's really important to hear all those views. I mentioned in an earlier answer—I think it was to Sam Kurtz—that it was really good to hear five individual farmers' views, just this week, on a very wide range of farming, and it's really important that conversation continues, and it will continue.
Wel, nid ydym yn oedi'r ymgynghoriad, mae wyth diwrnod i fynd—felly, nid ydym yn oedi'r ymgynghoriad. Ac nid wyf eisiau cosbi neb, ac yn sicr nid ein ffermwyr.
Fe sonioch chi am genedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac rydych chi'n hollol iawn i sôn am genedlaethau'r dyfodol. Mae'n hanfodol fod y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn cefnogi cynhyrchiant bwyd cynaliadwy. A beth yw'r bygythiad mwyaf i gynhyrchiant bwyd cynaliadwy? Yr argyfwng hinsawdd. Ac rydym yn gwybod y bydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn ffermio mewn patrwm tywydd llawer mwy amrywiol. Rydym wedi ei weld, onid ydym? Rydym wedi gweld eira ym mis Mai, rydym wedi gweld llifogydd pan na fyddem yn disgwyl hynny. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn gweithio i bob ffermwr ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Ni fydd unrhyw oedi i'r cynllun. Fe fyddwch wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud mewn atebion cynharach i Llyr Huws Gruffydd am y broses a fydd yn digwydd nawr. Bydd angen gwneud gwaith helaeth, oherwydd rwy'n siŵr y cawn lawer iawn o ymatebion, ond rwy'n apelio ar bawb i gyflwyno eu safbwyntiau. Gallaf eich sicrhau bod defnyddio geiriau fel 'cosbi' yn hollol anghywir.
Roeddech chi'n gofyn i mi am yr ymgynghoriad helaeth. Wel, mae yna dros 24,000 o ffermwyr yng Nghymru, ac yn amlwg ni allaf siarad â phob un. Rwy'n ymweld â ffermydd yn rheolaidd. Rwy'n cyfarfod ag Undeb Cenedlaethol y Ffermwyr, rwy'n cyfarfod ag Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru, rwy'n cyfarfod â'r Gymdeithas Tir a Busnesau Cefn Gwlad, rwy'n cyfarfod â ffermwyr unigol. Ac mae'n bwysig iawn clywed yr holl safbwyntiau hynny. Soniais mewn ateb cynharach—i Sam Kurtz, rwy'n credu—ei bod yn dda iawn clywed barn pum ffermwr unigol, yr wythnos hon, ar ystod eang iawn o agweddau ar ffermio, ac mae'n bwysig iawn fod y sgwrs honno'n parhau, ac fe fydd yn parhau.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau amserol. Mae cwestiwn amserol heddiw, i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog addysg, gan Adam Price.
The next item will be the topical question. The topical question today is to be answered by the Minister for education, and it's to be asked by Adam Price.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddarpariaeth addysg bellach yng Nghampws Rhydaman Coleg Sir Gâr yn y dyfodol? TQ1000
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the future provision of further education at Coleg Sir Gâr's Ammanford Campus TQ1000
Mae Coleg Sir Gâr wedi ymgymryd ag adolygiad o'i ystad addysgol i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n ateb galw'r dysgwyr. Fel rhan o hwnnw, maen nhw wedi penderfynu gwneud buddsoddiad sylweddol yng nghampws Pibwrlwyd, gyda gwasanaethau yn symud fanna o Rydaman.
Coleg Sir Gâr has undertaken a review of its estate in order to ensure that they meet the needs of learners. As part of that, they have decided to make a significant investment in the Pibwrlwyd campus, with services moving there from Ammanford.
Bydd e'n ergyd ofnadwy i Rydaman a'r ardal gyfan i weld cau'r coleg yn Rhydaman. Does dim rhaid i fi ddweud wrthych chi hynny, wrth gwrs, Weinidog, oherwydd ein bod ni'n cyd-gynrychioli dyffryn Aman. Mae'r coleg wedi bod yno ers 1927. Doedd y Torïaid—. Pan wnaethon nhw gau'r pwll glo lleol, fydden nhw ddim wedi meiddio cau'r coleg addysg bellach hefyd, a dwi'n gresynu bod Llywodraeth Lafur yn cefnogi'r bwriad yma. Mae gennych chi'r opsiwn. Mae yna gais gennych chi i wneud penderfyniad terfynol ynglŷn â'r cynlluniau rŷch chi wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw. A wnewch chi'n glir i'r coleg na fyddwch chi'n cefnogi'r cynllun yn ei ffurf bresennol oni bai bod yna commitment clir i barhau i ddarparu addysg bellach yn uniongyrchol yn Rhydaman, ac ychwanegu at y cynlluniau drwy fuddsoddi yn yr adeiladu sydd yno yn y campws?
It will be a major blow for Ammanford and the entire area to see the closure of the college in Ammanford. I don't have to tell you that, of course, Minister, because we jointly represent the Amman valley. The college has been there since 1927. The Conservatives—. When they closed the local coal mine, they wouldn't have dared to close the further education college too, and I regret that a Labour Government supports this intention. You have the option. There is an application to make a final decision with regard to the plans that you refer too. Will you make it clear to the college that you won't support the scheme in its current form unless there is a clear commitment to continue to provide further education directly in Ammanford, and to add to the scheme by investing in the buildings currently there on the campus?
Wel, fel bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, mae'n debyg, mae'r rhaglen amlinellol strategol wedi bod ar y gweill ers 2017, a'r achos amlinellol strategol ers 2023. Does dim unrhyw benderfyniad wedi'i wneud yn derfynol ar ariannu. Bydd hynny'n ddibynnol ar achos busnes terfynol. Ond penderfyniad yw e i'r coleg i benderfynu ar eu trefniadau nhw o ran campws. Mae'r cynlluniau sydd ganddyn nhw yn golygu buddsoddiad sylweddol yng nghampws Pibwrlwyd, sydd hefyd yn cynnwys adnoddau hamdden a llesiant ychwanegol sylweddol, i ddarparu'n well ar gyfer anghenion dysgwyr ar draws eu coleg yn gyffredinol. Mae ymrwymiadau wedi cael eu rhoi gan y coleg ynglŷn â thrafnidiaeth a threfniadau eraill yn addas ar gyfer y dysgwyr yn Rhydaman.
Well, as the Member will know, I'm sure, the outline strategic programme has been in train since 2017, and the strategic outline case since 2023. No final decision has been made on funding. That will be reliant on a final business case. But it is a decision for the college to decide on their own arrangements in terms of the campus. The plans that they have will mean a significant investment in the Pibwrlwyd campus, which also includes significant leisure and well-being facilities, to better provide for the needs of students across their college more generally. Commitments have been given by the college on transport and other arrangements that will be appropriate for those learners in Ammanford.
Thank you for your statement on this, Minister, but I do, however, have to agree with Adam Price on this. I feel like, once again, we are seeing the effects of an education budget that has been cut to the bone with nothing left to cut, and the end result is probable closure for some campuses. Local politicians and councillors in this area have already expressed concern about what it will mean for the learners in Ammanford and the surrounding areas. As Adam said, the campus dates back nearly 100 years now to 1927, and is focused on key things that we want to achieve and which would be beneficial for the areas: health, social care, childcare and construction industry crafts. Minister, the decision would clearly not be right for the area and has provoked a strong reaction from the community. So, as Adam says, will you reconsider it?
Diolch am eich datganiad, Weinidog, ond mae’n rhaid imi gytuno ag Adam Price ar hyn. Rwy’n teimlo, unwaith eto, ein bod yn gweld effeithiau cyllideb addysg sydd wedi’i thorri i’r asgwrn heb ddim ar ôl i’w dorri, a’r canlyniad tebygol, yn y pen draw, fydd gorfod cau rhai campysau. Mae gwleidyddion lleol a chynghorwyr yn yr ardal hon eisoes wedi mynegi pryder am yr hyn y bydd yn ei olygu i ddysgwyr yn Rhydaman a’r cyffiniau. Fel y dywedodd Adam, mae’r campws yn dyddio’n ôl bron i 100 mlynedd i 1927, ac mae’n canolbwyntio ar bethau allweddol yr ydym am eu cyflawni ac a fyddai’n fuddiol i’r ardaloedd: iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol, gofal plant a chrefftau’r diwydiant adeiladu. Weinidog, mae’n amlwg na fyddai’r penderfyniad yn iawn i’r ardal, ac mae wedi ennyn ymateb cryf gan y gymuned. Felly, fel y dywed Adam, a wnewch chi ei ailystyried?
Well, it is not a decision for the Welsh Government. It's a decision taken by Coleg Sir Gâr's leadership team and governors, who have agreed that rationalising the existing estate, relocating provision to Pibwrlwyd campus, is the best way of meeting the needs of their learners. This is not a matter of budget choices; this is a matter of investment in the college's estate.
The facilities at the Ammanford campus are, as I understand them, generally in poor condition and are costly to maintain, and the site is also liable to flooding and so it limits the potential for future development on that particular site. At the end of the day, these are strategic questions for the college themselves. They are seeking financial support from the Government, and we will follow the procedure and process that we take in relation to any application for support under the sustainable communities for learning programme.
Wel, nid yw’n benderfyniad i Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae’n benderfyniad a wnaed gan dîm arwain a llywodraethwyr Coleg Sir Gâr, sydd wedi cytuno mai ad-drefnu'r ystad bresennol ac adleoli’r ddarpariaeth i gampws Pibwrlwyd yw’r ffordd orau o ddiwallu anghenion eu dysgwyr. Nid yw hyn yn fater o ddewisiadau cyllidebol; mae'n fater o fuddsoddi yn ystad y coleg.
Mae’r cyfleusterau ar gampws Rhydaman, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mewn cyflwr gwael ar y cyfan ac yn gostus i’w cynnal a’u cadw, ac mae’r safle hefyd yn agored i lifogydd ac felly mae’n cyfyngu ar y potensial ar gyfer datblygu ar y safle penodol hwnnw yn y dyfodol. Yn y pen draw mae'r rhain yn gwestiynau strategol i'r coleg ei hun. Maent yn ceisio cymorth ariannol gan y Llywodraeth, a byddwn yn dilyn y weithdrefn a’r broses a ddilynwn mewn perthynas ag unrhyw gais am gymorth o dan raglen cymunedau dysgu cynaliadwy.
Gaf i rannu yr un pryder ag Adam Price ynglŷn â dyfodol campws Rhydaman? Fel rhywun sydd yn dod o'r ardal, mae'r campws yma, 'yr hen tech' fel roedd e’n cael ei alw, wedi cyfrannu yn helaeth iawn ers bron i ganrif, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed, i ddatblygiad sgiliau ac addysg gydol oes nifer fawr o fyfyrwyr a dysgwyr hŷn yn yr ardal ers blynyddoedd lawer. Ac felly mae'n ergyd i ardal sydd yn dal i ddioddef yn economaidd ac yn gymdeithasol ers cau’r pyllau glo yn ôl yn yr 1980au. Mae tref Rhydaman yn stryglo i adfywio, er cymaint y mae'r cyngor sir yn ceisio ei wneud i adfywio'r dref. Mae gweld hyn yn digwydd yn ergyd arall eto i ddyfodol dyffryn Aman.
Beth rŷn ni'n ei weld fan hyn, er ein bod ni'n croesawu'r datblygiad newydd yng nghampws Pibwrlwyd, rŷn ni'n gweld myfyrwyr yn gorfod teithio ymhellach o'u cartrefi, ac mewn ardal lle nad yw’r drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn ddigonol. Felly, rŷn ni'n gofyn iddyn nhw fynd i Gaerfyrddin neu Lanelli neu Gorseinon neu i Gastell-nedd—dyw'r trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yna ddim ar gael iddyn nhw. Felly, mae hynny'n gwestiwn mae'n rhaid mynd i'r afael ag ef.
Mae'r effaith economaidd ar y dref yn mynd i fod yn enfawr pan ŷch chi’n tynnu’r campus oddi yna, yr holl fyfyrwyr sydd yn mynd yna, y staff ac yn y blaen, yn mynd amser cinio i gael eu bwyd ac ati.
Dwi'n derbyn bod hyn yn gynnig gan y coleg, a chithau yn ei gefnogi fe, ond oes modd ymrwymo ein bod ni'n yn cydweithio, eich bod chi yn cydweithio, ein bod ni fel Aelodau etholedig lleol yn cydweithio gyda'r coleg, i weld a oes yna ddyfodol gwahanol i'w gael, mewn ffordd greadigol, i sicrhau bod addysg gydol oes a sgiliau addysg barhaus yn parhau yn ardal Rhydaman? Achos ar ddiwedd y dydd, chi fel Llywodraeth sydd â’r penderfyniad terfynol fan hyn drwy’r bartneriaeth addysg Gymreig. Felly, byddwn i'n gofyn i chi ystyried effaith hyn ar gymaint o wahanol agweddau, a gweithio gyda ni i gyd i sicrhau bod yna bresenoldeb addysg bellach yn parhau yn Rhydaman.
May I share the same concerns as expressed by Adam Price about the future of the Ammanford campus? As someone who comes from the area, the campus, 'the old tech' as it was called, has contributed a great deal for almost a century, as we've already heard, to the development of skills and lifelong learning of a number of students and older learners in the area for many years now. And so it's a blow to an area that is still suffering economically and socially since the closure of the coal mines back in the 1980s. The town of Ammanford is struggling to regenerate, despite the efforts of the county council to regenerate the town. Seeing this is a further blow to the future of the Amman valley.
What we are seeing here, although we welcome the new development on the Pibwrlwyd campus, is we're seeing students having to travel further from their homes, and in an area where public transport isn't adequate. So, we're asking them to go to Carmarthen or Llanelli or Gorseinon or Neath—public transport isn't available to them to do that. So, that's a question that must be answered.
The economic impact on the town is going to be huge when you take the campus away, with all of the students who attend there, the staff and so on, who go to have their lunch in the town and so on.
I accept that this is a proposal by the college itself, and that you support it, but is it possible for us to commit to collaborate, that you collaborate, that we as local elected Members collaborate with the college, to see whether there is a different alternative future to be found, in a creative way, to ensure that lifelong education and continuing education skills continue to be provided in the Ammanford area? Because at the end of the day, you as a Government have the final decision to make on this through the Welsh education partnership. So, I would ask you to consider the impact of this on so many aspects, and to work with us all to ensure that there continues to be a further education presence in Ammanford.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Jest er mwyn eglurdeb, pwrpas y cynllun buddsoddi yw sicrhau’r adnoddau gorau er mwyn sicrhau’r addysg gorau i ddysgwyr, ac felly dyna sydd wrth wraidd yr holl gynllun ariannu rŷn ni'n ei wneud fel Llywodraeth. Mae cynnig wedi dod i law ers amser, fel bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, i fuddsoddi mewn datblygiad i wella adnoddau’r coleg yn gyfan gwbl, gyda ffocws ar Bibwr-lwyd, ond bwriad y cynllun yw sicrhau’r addysg a'r cyfleusterau gorau. Ond, wrth gwrs, dwi wastad yn hapus i gydweithio gyda'r coleg, fel rŷn ni'n wneud yn rheolaidd, a gydag unrhyw un arall er mwyn sicrhau bod y cynlluniau’n gymwys.
Just for clarity, the purpose of the investment plan is to secure the best possible resources to secure the best education for learners, and that's what's at the heart of the whole funding plan that we provide as a Government. The proposal has been submitted for some time, as the Member will know, to invest in a development to improve the college facilities as a whole, with a focus on Pibwrlwyd, but the intention is to secure the best education and facilities possible. But, of course, I'm always happy to work with the college, as we do regularly, and with anyone else in order to ensure that the plans are appropriate.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Eitem 4 yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad, ac mae'r datganiad cyntaf gan Samuel Kurtz.
Item 4 is the 90-second statements, and the first statement is from Samuel Kurtz.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ahead of St David's Day on Friday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Second Pembroke Scouts group to award one of their Cubs, eight-year-old Levi Byrne, with a framed copy of her design of the St David's Day badge. The badge was the winning entry in a competition to design a fun St David's Day blanket badge, which Cubs and Scouts from across the UK can gain, and it attracted over 200 entries. I was delighted to meet Levi and other members of the Scout pack to discuss my role in the Senedd and the importance of democracy and Government.
The Scouting movement is an amazing international youth organisation, started by Robert Baden-Powell in 1908, providing over 14,000 four to 25-year-olds in Wales the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, and other essential skills they need for life. I imagine that I'm not alone in this Chamber in having happy memories of being a Cub, myself only for a short period of time, and being able to partake in the fun range of activities that were organised and the life lessons that were learnt.
I would like to thank Alex Pett and the members of Second Pembroke Scouts for making me so welcome, and I express my gratitude to all pack group leaders and volunteers across Wales for the excellent and inspirational work that they do in preparing young people for adult life. The Scouting movement is something that is part of our nation's fabric and, from my experience, it feels that it's in very safe hands. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Cyn Dydd Gŵyl Dewi ddydd Gwener, cefais y pleser o ymweld â grŵp Ail Sgowtiaid Penfro i wobrwyo un o’u Cybiaid, Levi Byrne, sy’n wyth oed, â chopi wedi’i fframio o’i dyluniad o fathodyn Dydd Gŵyl Dewi. Y bathodyn oedd y cais buddugol mewn cystadleuaeth i ddylunio bathodyn blanced Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, y gall Cybiaid a Sgowtiaid o bob rhan o'r DU ei ennill, a chafwyd dros 200 o geisiadau. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o gyfarfod â Levi ac aelodau eraill o'r Sgowtiaid i drafod fy rôl yn y Senedd a phwysigrwydd democratiaeth a Llywodraeth.
Mae mudiad y Sgowtiaid yn sefydliad ieuenctid rhyngwladol anhygoel, a ddechreuwyd gan Robert Baden-Powell ym 1908, sy'n darparu’r sgiliau sydd eu hangen i dros 14,000 o bobl ifanc pedair i 25 oed yng Nghymru ar gyfer yr ysgol, coleg, prifysgol, cyfweliadau swydd a sgiliau hanfodol gydol oes eraill. Dychmygaf nad fi yw'r unig un yn y Siambr hon sydd ag atgofion hapus o fod yn un o'r Cybiaid, am gyfnod byr yn unig yn fy achos i, a gallu cymryd rhan yn yr ystod hwyliog o weithgareddau a drefnwyd a'r gwersi bywyd a ddysgwyd.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Alex Pett ac aelodau Ail Sgowtiaid Penfro am roi croeso mor gynnes i mi, a hoffwn ddiolch i holl arweinwyr y grwpiau a gwirfoddolwyr ledled Cymru am y gwaith rhagorol ac ysbrydoledig a wnânt yn paratoi pobl ifanc ar gyfer bywyd fel oedolion. Mae mudiad y Sgowtiaid yn rhywbeth sy’n rhan o wead ein cenedl, ac o’m profiad i, mae’n teimlo fel pe bai mewn dwylo diogel iawn. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Last Saturday, Dan Simms of Caldicot began the mammoth feat of walking from Caldicot castle all the way to Amsterdam in memory of his two close friends who sadly took their own lives, and to raise awareness of men's mental health and the importance of speaking up when you are feeling down.
Three quarters of the people who took their own life in 2022 were men, and tragically, suicide rates amongst men continue to be high. Dan will be walking a marathon every single day for 15 days, covering 600 km and sleeping under the stars until he reaches his destination. After suffering the loss of his two friends, Dan is raising money and awareness for how important it is that men's mental health is made a priority.
Unfortunately, there is still stigma surrounding men's mental health, and many feel they must suffer in silence. The money raised from Dan's walk will go towards charities that support men with their mental health, and to let those around them know that they do not have to go through these challenges alone. Talking openly and honestly about our mental health, whether it is good or bad, is the first step we can all take to normalising these conversations, and Dan is a great example of this in action. I'm sure Members of the Senedd will join me in wishing Dan well as he takes on this challenge in such a good cause.
Ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf, dechreuodd Dan Simms o Gil-y-coed ar y gamp enfawr o gerdded o gastell Cil-y-coed yr holl ffordd i Amsterdam er cof am ei ddau ffrind agos a laddodd eu hunain, ac i godi ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd meddwl dynion a phwysigrwydd codi eich llais pan fyddwch yn teimlo'n isel.
Roedd tri chwarter y bobl a laddodd eu hunain yn 2022 yn ddynion, ac yn drasig, mae cyfraddau hunanladdiad ymhlith dynion yn parhau i fod yn uchel. Bydd Dan yn cerdded marathon bob dydd am 15 diwrnod, gan deithio 600 km a chysgu o dan y sêr hyd nes iddo gyrraedd pen ei daith. Ar ôl colli dau ffrind, mae Dan yn codi arian ac ymwybyddiaeth o ba mor bwysig yw hi fod iechyd meddwl dynion yn cael ei flaenoriaethu.
Yn anffodus, mae stigma ynghlwm wrth iechyd meddwl dynion o hyd, ac mae llawer yn teimlo bod yn rhaid iddynt ddioddef yn dawel. Bydd yr arian a godir o daith gerdded Dan yn mynd tuag at elusennau sy’n cefnogi dynion gyda’u hiechyd meddwl, ac i roi gwybod i’r rhai o’u cwmpas nad oes yn rhaid iddynt wynebu’r heriau hyn ar eu pen eu hunain. Siarad yn agored ac yn onest am ein hiechyd meddwl, boed yn dda neu’n ddrwg, yw’r cam cyntaf y gall pob un ohonom ei gymryd i normaleiddio’r sgyrsiau hyn, ac mae Dan yn enghraifft wych o hyn ar waith. Rwy’n siŵr y bydd Aelodau’r Senedd yn ymuno â mi i ddymuno’n dda i Dan wrth iddo ymgymryd â’r her hon dros achos mor dda.
I'd like to speak to you today about a happy little boy called Ivor who has Angelman syndrome. This is a genetic disorder causing severe learning difficulties and issues with movement and balance. Most people with Angelman syndrome will never talk, and some will never walk. They will need continuous care for the rest of their lives. There are approximately 0.5 million people worldwide living with Angelman syndrome, including about 300 people here in Wales. Fortunately, there is significant progress in medical research around the world with a mission to cure Angelman syndrome.
This wonderful little young man of four years of age, Ivor, walked 1 km every day for a month around his home village in Monmouthshire to raise awareness of Angelman syndrome. He inspired hundreds of people to walk with him and raised thousands of pounds for FAST UK, a charity dedicated to medical research for Angelman syndrome. He has captured the hearts of so many people in his local community and beyond.
Speaking to Ivor's mother about her experience, she wanted to stress how early diagnosis and post-diagnosis support for both the individual and their families is crucial, but desperately lacking. Ivor's family waited 12 months for a blood test result that should have taken six weeks, leading to many months of unnecessary pain and uncertainty. There was very little practical support following diagnosis. Ivor's mother was literally signposted to a charity's website, and then left to her own devices. There does need to be a basic level of additional learning needs training and teacher training courses, and the money needs to follow the child with specific needs like Angelman syndrome.
I thank everyone who came to the drop-in event this week. They loved meeting you. Let's hope, with the greater awareness now, we can really see real change for these people who are suffering with Angelman syndrome. Thank you.
Hoffwn siarad â chi heddiw am fachgen bach hapus o'r enw Ivor sydd â syndrom Angelman. Anhwylder genetig yw hwn sy'n achosi anawsterau dysgu difrifol a phroblemau symud a chydbwysedd. Ni fydd y rhan fwyaf o bobl â syndrom Angelman byth yn siarad, ac ni fydd rhai byth yn cerdded. Mae angen gofal parhaus arnynt am weddill eu hoes. Mae oddeutu 0.5 miliwn o bobl ledled y byd yn byw gyda syndrom Angelman, gan gynnwys oddeutu 300 o bobl yma yng Nghymru. Yn ffodus, cafwyd cynnydd sylweddol mewn ymchwil feddygol ledled y byd gyda chenhadaeth i wella syndrom Angelman.
Fe wnaeth y dyn ifanc bach hyfryd hwn, sy’n bedair oed, Ivor, gerdded 1 km bob dydd am fis o gwmpas ei bentref yn sir Fynwy i godi ymwybyddiaeth o syndrom Angelman. Ysbrydolodd gannoedd o bobl i gerdded gydag ef a chododd filoedd o bunnoedd i FAST UK, elusen sy'n ymroddedig i ymchwil feddygol ar gyfer syndrom Angelman. Mae wedi cipio calonnau cymaint o bobl yn ei gymuned leol a thu hwnt.
Wrth siarad â mam Ivor am ei phrofiad, roedd am bwysleisio sut mae diagnosis cynnar a chymorth ar ôl diagnosis i'r unigolyn a'u teuluoedd yn hollbwysig, ond yn wirioneddol brin. Arhosodd teulu Ivor 12 mis am ganlyniad prawf gwaed a ddylai fod wedi cymryd chwe wythnos, gan arwain at fisoedd lawer o boen ac ansicrwydd diangen. Ychydig iawn o gymorth ymarferol a gafwyd yn dilyn y diagnosis. Cafodd mam Ivor ei chyfeirio'n llythrennol at wefan elusen a'i gadael i wneud popeth arall ei hun. Mae angen lefel sylfaenol o hyfforddiant anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a chyrsiau hyfforddi athrawon, ac mae angen i'r arian ddilyn y plentyn gydag anghenion penodol fel syndrom Angelman.
Diolch i bawb a ddaeth i’r digwyddiad galw heibio yr wythnos hon. Roeddent wrth eu boddau'n cyfarfod â chi. Gyda mwy o ymwybyddiaeth nawr, gobeithio y gallwn weld newid gwirioneddol i'r bobl hyn sy'n dioddef o syndrom Angelman. Diolch.
Diolch i'r tri Aelod.
Thank you to the three Members.
Eitem 5 yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, 'Cysylltiadau Rhyngwladol: Adroddiad Blynyddol 2022-23'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Delyth Jewell.
Item 5 is a debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee Report, 'International Relations: Annual Report 2022-23'. I call on the committee Chair to move the motion. Delyth Jewell.
Cynnig NDM8495 Delyth Jewell
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol ‘Cysylltiadau rhyngwladol: Adroddiad Blynyddol 2022-23’, a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 24 Tachwedd 2023.
Motion NDM8495 Delyth Jewell
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee ‘International Relations: Annual Report 2022-23’, which was laid in the Table Office on 24 November 2023.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae’n bleser cael agor y ddadl y prynhawn yma ar ran y pwyllgor. O beth sy'n wybodus i mi, dyma’r adroddiad cyntaf o’i fath o ran cysylltiadau rhyngwladol yn hanes y Senedd.
Wel, mae gwaith ein pwyllgor ni yn y maes yma'n cynnwys derbyn adroddiadau rheolaidd, craffu ar y gyllideb ddrafft, cynnal ymchwiliadau, a hefyd sesiwn graffu blynyddol gyda'r Prif Weinidog. Mae yna nifer o feysydd yr hoffwn i siarad amdanyn nhw y prynhawn yma.
Nawr, mae e'n drueni nad yw’r Prif Weinidog yma heddiw. Mi fyddai wedi bod yn gyfle iddo roi ei eiriau ei hun ar y record. Rwy'n eithaf siŵr y byddai hefyd wedi mwynhau gwrando ar y gwahanol gyfraniadau. Fodd bynnag, dŷn ni'n ddiolchgar iawn i’r Dirprwy Weinidog a fydd yn ymateb ar ran y Llywodraeth.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's a pleasure to be able to open this afternoon's debate on the committee's behalf. As far as I'm aware, this is the first report of its kind in terms of international relations in the Senedd's history.
The committee's work in this area includes receiving regular reports, scrutinising the draft budget, and an annual scrutiny session with the First Minister. There are a number of different issues that I would like to raise this afternoon.
Now, it's a shame that the First Minister is not present today. It would have been an opportunity for him to put his own words on the record. I'm quite sure that he too would have enjoyed listening to the different contributions. However, we are very grateful to the Deputy Minister, who will be responding on the Government's behalf.
Last week, the First Minister was asked about his international relations portfolio and its importance to him, and he spoke about Dewi Sant, who emphasised the need and the importance of doing the little things well. That is a pertinent and timely analogy, and, perhaps, a lodestar to guide the Government. In that context, I think it would be fair to characterise our committee's wishes as wanting to ensure that the footprint of that international relations work is greater than the sum of its parts, greater than all those vital little things combined, and that there should be a guiding strategy, an ethos and a programme not only underpinning all of those individual actions, but linking and shaping their purpose, drawing out a pattern that can be mapped onto an outline of the world. After all, Wales's relevance to the world, and our relationships with it, will only grow larger and more significant.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, holwyd y Prif Weinidog ynglŷn â'i bortffolio cysylltiadau rhyngwladol a’i bwysigrwydd iddo, a siaradodd am Ddewi Sant, a bwysleisiodd bwysigrwydd gwneud y pethau bychain yn dda. Mae honno’n gymhariaeth berthnasol ac amserol, ac efallai, yn egwyddor arweiniol i'r Llywodraeth. Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, credaf y byddai’n deg disgrifio dymuniadau ein pwyllgor fel rhai sydd am sicrhau bod ôl troed y gwaith cysylltiadau rhyngwladol hwnnw yn fwy na chyfanswm ei rannau, yn fwy na’r holl bethau bach hanfodol hynny gyda’i gilydd, ac y dylid cael ethos, rhaglen a strategaeth arweiniol sydd nid yn unig yn sail i'r holl weithredoedd unigol hynny, ond yn cysylltu ac yn llywio eu pwrpas, gan ffurfio patrwm y gellir ei fapio ar amlinelliad o'r byd. Wedi’r cyfan, bydd perthnasedd Cymru i’r byd, a’n perthynas ag ef, yn tyfu’n fwy ac yn fwy arwyddocaol.
There have been areas where we have expected more from the Government. Most notably, we were disappointed that the First Minister decided not to attend draft budget scrutiny in person. That has caused us some difficulties. The written evidence we received contained errors, and we've been unable to consider the figures with confidence. Our committee's frustration on this is testament, I think, to how vitally important we believe these matters to be, how crucial international relations are to Wales, and that is a view I know the First Minister shares. We've recommended that, in future, the Minister with this portfolio should attend budget scrutiny and draft budget scrutiny in person.
To turn to the international strategy, the Welsh Government doesn't report specifically on that strategy, but we as a committee monitor the progress of the international relations activity. We are assisted by our wonderful team in doing this, by using a combination of Welsh Government overseas office reports, ministerial statements, evidence sessions, Senedd business and social media. A lot of diplomatic engagements are announced on social media—that's the world that we live in. In that regard, we welcome steps that have been taken by the Government to increase and improve the information in the public domain.
As the strategy nears its end in 2025, we've also welcomed the First Minister’s offer to discuss the refresh of the strategy with us, and we'd also like to see that invitation extended to a broader group of stakeholders. We’ve also recommended there should be a progress update on both the short and medium-term actions listed in the strategy. In response to that recommendation, the First Minister accepted that, and we look forward to receiving these updates in due course.
The international strategy also sets out the Government's priority country relationships, the majority of which are in the EU. It is clear to us that UK-EU relations remain a priority both for Government and for stakeholders. We've observed that the absence of a dedicated strategy presents challenges in navigating and providing effective scrutiny of the post-Brexit relationship. Only this morning our committee continued our inquiry into the effects of Brexit on the cultural industries. It is a web with many strands; it's important we have as much clarity as possible, so that we don't become entangled in that web.
To echo contributions made during the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee debate last week, we need to ensure that the four constituent nations of the UK are represented in discussions on UK-EU relations and supported by regular engagement between our countries and the EU. We are concerned that the difficulties faced by stakeholders in attempting to participate in post-Brexit UK-EU structures have led to a reduction in the Welsh voice being heard. Dirprwy Lywydd, we are a nation that is proud of the strength of our voices, both individually and as a chorus. We are concerned that this voice could be further silenced as time goes on. That is why we have recommended that the Welsh Government should produce a dedicated EU strategy. In doing so, we would regain that lodestar I mentioned earlier—a strategy to guide and navigate the post-Brexit relationship, as choppy as those waters can be.
It is a matter of some frustration that the Government has neither chosen to accept nor reject our recommendations that relate to Wales’s relationship with the EU. There seems to be a creeping approach not to commit to a view on such matters by the Government, which is not always helpful. As I've already outlined, the commitment to a refresh of the international strategy, though, is to be welcomed. It is essential that this refresh includes the EU as a priority relationship. In doing this, as Huw Irranca-Davies said last week, we could use the next year to develop our priorities and engage stakeholders and ensure that Wales is in the very best possible position to set out its views when business returns to normal.
As I have already mentioned, the Welsh Government has a number of priority relationships, including Germany, France, Ireland, the US and Canada, as well as many other parts of Europe. A number of these places have active international bilateral agreements in place with Wales. As a result of our committee's work to date, these are now listed on a dedicated Welsh Government webpage, and we do welcome that greatly. We will continue to monitor these relationships during the remainder of our term.
Dirprwy Lywydd, international relations may not be a devolved matter, but it matters. There is so much good work going on in this sector both within and outside Government, so many of the little things Dewi Sant would have praised. The challenge always, and what we strive to see, is that that work should be greater than the sum of those individual actions. And where good work exists, it should be celebrated. As a committee, we are often surprised by how much of this exciting and valuable work is not captured in regular reporting, and that was one of our key findings from our Wales-Ireland inquiry. Our focus as a committee will continue with this work, and we will, I know, be indebted as ever to stakeholders who engage with our work and enrich our understanding.
Mae meysydd wedi bod lle rydym wedi disgwyl mwy gan y Llywodraeth. Yn fwyaf nodedig, roeddem yn siomedig fod y Prif Weinidog wedi penderfynu peidio â mynychu'r sesiwn graffu ar y gyllideb ddrafft. Mae hynny wedi achosi rhai anawsterau i ni. Roedd y dystiolaeth ysgrifenedig a gawsom yn cynnwys gwallau, ac nid ydym wedi gallu ystyried y ffigurau gydag unrhyw hyder. Credaf fod rhwystredigaeth ein pwyllgor ynglŷn â hyn yn dyst i ba mor hanfodol bwysig yw’r materion hyn yn ein barn ni, pa mor allweddol yw cysylltiadau rhyngwladol i Gymru, a gwn fod y Prif Weinidog yn rhannu’r farn honno. Rydym wedi argymell, yn y dyfodol, y dylai’r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am y portffolio hwn fynychu sesiynau craffu ar y gyllideb a chraffu ar y gyllideb ddrafft.
Gan droi at y strategaeth ryngwladol, nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn adrodd yn benodol ar y strategaeth honno, ond fel pwyllgor, rydym yn monitro cynnydd y gweithgarwch cysylltiadau rhyngwladol. Cawn ein cynorthwyo gan ein tîm gwych i wneud hyn, drwy ddefnyddio cyfuniad o adroddiadau gan swyddfeydd tramor Llywodraeth Cymru, datganiadau gweinidogol, sesiynau tystiolaeth, busnes y Senedd a'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Cyhoeddir llawer o ymrwymiadau diplomyddol ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol—dyna'r byd yr ydym yn byw ynddo. Yn hynny o beth, rydym yn croesawu'r camau a gymerwyd gan y Llywodraeth i gynyddu a gwella'r wybodaeth sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd.
Wrth i’r strategaeth agosáu at ei therfyn yn 2025, rydym hefyd wedi croesawu cynnig y Prif Weinidog i drafod adnewyddu’r strategaeth gyda ni, a hoffem hefyd weld y gwahoddiad hwnnw’n cael ei estyn i grŵp ehangach o randdeiliaid. Rydym hefyd wedi argymell y dylid cael diweddariad ar gynnydd y camau gweithredu tymor byr a thymor canolig a restrir yn y strategaeth. Mewn ymateb i’r argymhelliad hwnnw, derbyniodd y Prif Weinidog hynny, ac edrychwn ymlaen at gael y diweddariadau hyn maes o law.
Mae’r strategaeth ryngwladol hefyd yn nodi perthynas â gwledydd sy'n cael blaenoriaeth gan y Llywodraeth, gyda'r rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn yr UE. Mae’n amlwg i ni fod cysylltiadau rhwng y DU a’r UE yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth i’r Llywodraeth ac i randdeiliaid. Rydym wedi sylwi bod diffyg strategaeth benodol yn peri heriau i lywio a darparu craffu effeithiol ar y berthynas ôl-Brexit. Y bore yma, parhaodd ein pwyllgor â’n hymchwiliad i effeithiau Brexit ar y diwydiannau diwylliannol. Mae'n we ag iddi lawer o edefynnau; mae'n bwysig ein bod yn cael cymaint o eglurder â phosibl, fel nad ydym yn mynd yn sownd yn y we honno.
I adleisio’r cyfraniadau a wnaed yn ystod dadl y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a’r Cyfansoddiad yr wythnos diwethaf, mae angen inni sicrhau bod pedair gwlad gyfansoddol y DU yn cael eu cynrychioli mewn trafodaethau ar y berthynas rhwng y DU a’r UE ac yn cael eu cefnogi gan ymgysylltiad rheolaidd rhwng ein gwledydd a’r UE. Rydym yn pryderu bod yr anawsterau a wynebir gan randdeiliaid wrth geisio cymryd rhan mewn strwythurau DU-UE ar ôl Brexit wedi arwain at leihad yn y llais Cymreig sy’n cael ei glywed. Ddirprwy Lywydd, rydym yn genedl sy'n falch o gryfder ein lleisiau, yn unigol ac fel côr. Rydym yn pryderu y gallai’r llais hwn gael ei dawelu ymhellach wrth i amser fynd heibio. Dyna pam ein bod wedi argymell y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru lunio strategaeth benodol ar gyfer yr UE. Wrth wneud hynny, byddem yn adennill yr egwyddor a grybwyllais yn gynharach—strategaeth i arwain a llywio’r berthynas ôl-Brexit, er mor arw y gall y dyfroedd hynny fod.
Mae’n destun cryn rwystredigaeth nad yw’r Llywodraeth wedi dewis derbyn na gwrthod ein hargymhellion sy'n ymwneud â pherthynas Cymru â’r UE. Ymddengys bod patrwm yn datblygu gan y Llywodraeth o beidio ag ymrwymo i safbwynt ar faterion o’r fath, ac nid yw hynny bob amser yn ddefnyddiol. Fel rwyf eisoes wedi'i amlinellu, mae'r ymrwymiad i adnewyddu'r strategaeth ryngwladol, serch hynny, i'w groesawu. Mae’n hanfodol fod y diweddariad yn cynnwys yr UE fel perthynas sy'n cael blaenoriaeth. Wrth wneud hyn, fel y dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies yr wythnos diwethaf, gallem ddefnyddio’r flwyddyn nesaf i ddatblygu ein blaenoriaethau, i ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid ac i sicrhau bod Cymru yn y sefyllfa orau bosibl i nodi ei barn pan fydd busnes yn ôl i normal.
Fel rwyf eisoes wedi'i grybwyll, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru nifer o gysylltiadau sy'n cael blaenoriaeth, gan gynnwys yr Almaen, Ffrainc, Iwerddon, yr Unol Daleithiau a Chanada, yn ogystal â sawl rhan arall o Ewrop. Mae gan nifer o'r lleoedd hyn gytundebau dwyochrog rhyngwladol gweithredol gyda Chymru. O ganlyniad i waith ein pwyllgor hyd yn hyn, mae'r rhain bellach wedi'u rhestru ar wefan bwrpasol gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym yn croesawu hynny'n fawr. Byddwn yn parhau i fonitro'r cysylltiadau hyn drwy weddill ein tymor.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, efallai nad yw cysylltiadau rhyngwladol yn fater datganoledig, ond mae'n bwysig. Mae cymaint o waith da yn mynd rhagddo yn y sector hwn o fewn a thu allan i’r Llywodraeth, cymaint o’r pethau bychain y byddai Dewi Sant wedi’u canmol. Yr her bob amser, a’r hyn yr ymdrechwn i’w sicrhau, yw y dylai’r gwaith hwnnw fod yn fwy na chyfanswm y camau unigol hynny. A lle mae gwaith da yn digwydd, dylid ei ddathlu. Fel pwyllgor, cawn ein synnu'n aml gan faint o’r gwaith cyffrous a gwerthfawr hwn nad yw’n cael ei nodi mewn adroddiadau rheolaidd, a dyna oedd un o’n canfyddiadau allweddol o’n hymchwiliad Cymru-Iwerddon. Bydd ein ffocws fel pwyllgor yn parhau gyda’r gwaith hwn, a gwn y byddwn yn ddyledus, fel bob amser, i randdeiliaid sy’n ymgysylltu â’n gwaith ac yn cyfoethogi ein dealltwriaeth.
Mae ein diolch iddyn nhw yn fawr.
We owe them a debt of gratitude.
At the beginning of this Senedd, we heard from a number of those stakeholders who were worried that the loss of a dedicated Minister for international relations would mean the topic would lessen in prominence. I think it's fair to say that the prominence of these matters has remained true, though there are still concerns, inevitably perhaps, about how focused this work can be without a Minister whose sole priority is this work. The issue of prominence versus focus will, I'm sure, continue, but as this will be the final international relations debate that will happen in this Senedd where our current First Minister has this responsibility, I would like to pay tribute to his evident delight in these issues and his passion for Wales internationally. Whoever next has control of this vital area of work must, we would urge them, champion our nation and her interests. At a time when the world is getting smaller, the part our nation has to play on its stage will only grow.
Ar ddechrau tymor y Senedd hon, clywsom gan nifer o’r rhanddeiliaid hynny a oedd yn poeni y byddai colli Gweinidog penodol dros gysylltiadau rhyngwladol yn golygu y byddai’r pwnc yn colli amlygrwydd. Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud bod amlygrwydd y materion hyn wedi parhau, er bod pryderon o hyd, yn anochel efallai, ynghylch pa mor fanwl y gall y gwaith hwn fod heb Weinidog sy'n gwneud y gwaith hwn fel eu hunig flaenoriaeth. Rwy’n siŵr y bydd mater amlygrwydd yn erbyn ffocws yn parhau, ond gan mai hon fydd y ddadl olaf ar gysylltiadau rhyngwladol a gaiff ei chynnal yn y Senedd tra bydd ein Prif Weinidog presennol yn gyfrifol am y mater, hoffwn dalu teyrnged i’w bleser amlwg yn y materion hyn a’i angerdd dros Gymru’n rhyngwladol. Bydd yn rhaid annog pwy bynnag sydd â rheolaeth dros y maes gwaith hanfodol hwn nesaf i hyrwyddo ein cenedl a'i buddiannau. Ar adeg pan fo’r byd yn mynd yn llai, dim ond tyfu a wnaiff y rhan sydd gan ein cenedl ni i’w chwarae ar ei lwyfan.
Rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at glywed barn eraill yn ein dadl y prynhawn yma.
I look forward very much to hearing the views of others in our debate this afternoon.
I'm grateful to the Chair of the committee for introducing this report, and also grateful to the secretariat who have supported the committee in its work. Currently, international relations are the responsibility of the First Minister, and it's always very difficult, knowing that the First Minister has indicated his intention to resign, that this debate doesn't become something of a valedictory debate. But we should, I think, thank the First Minister for the work he's done and how he has represented Wales on the international stage. We know that he's in Brussels today at a St David's Day event, and I also know that his commitment to ensuring that Wales is represented in Brussels and elsewhere has been greatly appreciated by many.
Much of the committee's recommendations do refer to issues around scrutiny and strategy. I think in terms of how we address the debate this afternoon, it's very much taking stock, if you like, learning lessons, perhaps, and then looking forward. Because what we do know is that in a month's time, we will have a new Minister taking responsibility for these matters, and we'll have a new First Minister who'll be taking forward Wales's place on the international stage. So, I think it's right and proper that this is an opportunity, therefore, for the committee to look back on the past couple of years and to make some, perhaps, thematic recommendations rather than simply each individual recommendation in isolation.
For me, there are three key areas. First of all, there's the area of scrutiny. In any parliamentary democracy, Ministers are accountable to the Parliament, and it is the Parliament that determines the mode and form of scrutiny, not the Government. The Government will appear in front of committees, and Ministers will appear in order to give evidence when the committees request that they do so. In any democracy, it depends on that relationship, and it is a matter of some great disappointment that we have not had access to the First Minister in the way that the committee would have anticipated and, frankly, expected. It is important in any democracy that we are able to scrutinise the Executive. We can only scrutinise the Executive if the Executive is prepared to appear in front of committees, and I think that is a really key point from this report.
The second point is that of strategy. There are a number of recommendations referring to strategy in this report. We’ve looked at different areas of work the Welsh Government has undertaken in this field. There is a common thread running through all of those, and that is that the Government is more prepared to report on what it has done rather than to tell us what it wants to do, why it wants to do it, and what it seeks to achieve by doing so. But it is only by setting very clear objectives and measurable targets that we can actually scrutinise the Executive and determine whether it has achieved its objectives or not. Without the strategy at the beginning, there’s no purpose to a report at the end. The Welsh Government has repeatedly shied away—and not just in this area, either—from setting out its objectives, setting out what it seeks to achieve, setting out how it expects to achieve its objectives. I think, if there is a learning point for me, we do need the next Minister, the next Government, to ensure that it does set out very, very clear objectives for its work.
Those priorities for me must include the European Union. There’s no question of the Welsh Government’s commitment to EU relations, and no question of the First Minister’s personal commitment to that, and the work that Derek Vaughan is continuing to undertake in European Union institutions is first class. But we heard this morning in committee, as the Chair outlined, some of the appalling situations that are facing the arts and culture sector. We heard about the impact of Brexit on us. Six witnesses spoke repeatedly, one after the other, about the negative effects right across the board of Brexit and the loss of opportunities. People are saying that they can’t find work, they can’t get people here, the costs have increased, the administration has increased, there's the loss of freedom of movement, too much red tape, too many issues with permits, too many issues with carnets, it's too time consuming, and there's no increase in activity outside the EU. Everybody said the same, and even poor Tom Giffard, who I felt very sorry for, I have to say, in trying to find any silver lining, found none at all. So, we do need to focus in on the European Union.
I hope, in replying to this debate, the Deputy Minister will also look at the other areas the Welsh Government has prioritised. The health Minister, I think, is in India at the moment. It would be useful for us to understand what are the objectives of that work, and what she seeks to achieve in this visit.
I’ll finish on this point, Deputy Presiding Officer. I come to this Chamber very often to speak about Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent, but there’s also, of course, another Tredegar, in Richmond, Virginia. I think it’s important that, when we look towards building links across different countries, we look—and the work Rhun ap Iorwerth has led on the international all-party group has sought to do this—towards bringing people with Welsh links together. I hope that, in replying to the debate—
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Gadeirydd y pwyllgor am gyflwyno’r adroddiad hwn, a hefyd yn ddiolchgar i’r ysgrifenyddiaeth sydd wedi cefnogi’r pwyllgor gyda'i waith. Ar hyn o bryd, cyfrifoldeb y Prif Weinidog yw cysylltiadau rhyngwladol, ac mae bob amser yn anodd iawn, gan wybod bod y Prif Weinidog wedi nodi ei fwriad i ymddiswyddo, nad yw’r ddadl hon yn troi'n dipyn o ddadl ffarwél. Ond credaf y dylem ddiolch i’r Prif Weinidog am y gwaith y mae wedi’i wneud a'r modd y mae wedi cynrychioli Cymru ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol. Gwyddom ei fod ym Mrwsel heddiw mewn digwyddiad Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, a gwn hefyd fod ei ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod Cymru’n cael ei chynrychioli ym Mrwsel ac mewn mannau eraill wedi’i werthfawrogi’n fawr gan lawer.
Mae llawer o argymhellion y pwyllgor yn cyfeirio at faterion yn ymwneud â chraffu a strategaeth. O ran y modd yr awn i'r afael â'r ddadl y prynhawn yma, rwy'n credu ei fod yn fater o bwyso a mesur, os mynnwch, dysgu gwersi, efallai, ac yna edrych ymlaen. Oherwydd yr hyn a wyddom yw y bydd gennym Weinidog newydd yn gyfrifol am y materion hyn ymhen mis, a bydd gennym Brif Weinidog newydd a fydd yn gyfrifol am le Cymru ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol. Felly, credaf ei bod yn iawn ac yn briodol fod hwn yn gyfle, felly, i’r pwyllgor edrych yn ôl ar yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf a gwneud rhai argymhellion thematig, efallai, yn hytrach na'r argymhellion unigol ar wahân.
I mi, mae tri maes allweddol. Yn gyntaf oll, ceir maes craffu. Mewn unrhyw ddemocratiaeth seneddol, mae Gweinidogion yn atebol i’r Senedd, a’r Senedd sy’n pennu’r dull o graffu, nid y Llywodraeth. Bydd y Llywodraeth yn ymddangos ger bron pwyllgorau, a bydd Gweinidogion yn ymddangos er mwyn rhoi tystiolaeth pan fydd y pwyllgorau yn gofyn iddynt wneud hynny. Mewn unrhyw ddemocratiaeth, mae’n dibynnu ar y berthynas honno, ac mae’n siomedig nad ydym wedi cael mynediad at y Prif Weinidog yn y ffordd y byddai’r pwyllgor wedi’i rhagweld, ac wedi'i disgwyl a dweud y gwir. Mae’n bwysig mewn unrhyw ddemocratiaeth ein bod yn gallu craffu ar y Weithrediaeth. Dim ond os yw’r Weithrediaeth yn barod i ymddangos ger bron pwyllgorau y gallwn graffu arni, a chredaf fod hwnnw’n bwynt gwirioneddol allweddol o’r adroddiad hwn.
Yr ail bwynt yw strategaeth. Ceir nifer o argymhellion sy'n cyfeirio at strategaeth yn yr adroddiad hwn. Rydym wedi edrych ar wahanol feysydd gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u cyflawni yn y maes hwn. Mae edefyn cyffredin yn rhedeg drwy bob un o’r rheini, sef bod y Llywodraeth yn fwy parod i adrodd ar yr hyn y mae wedi’i wneud yn hytrach na dweud wrthym beth mae'n dymuno ei wneud, pam ei bod yn dymuno gwneud hynny, a’r hyn y mae’n ceisio’i gyflawni drwy wneud hynny. Ond dim ond drwy osod amcanion clir iawn a thargedau mesuradwy y gallwn graffu ar y Weithrediaeth a phenderfynu a yw wedi cyflawni ei hamcanion ai peidio. Heb strategaeth ar y dechrau, nid oes pwrpas i adroddiad ar y diwedd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnu dro ar ôl tro—ac nid yn y maes hwn yn unig, ychwaith—rhag nodi ei hamcanion, nodi’r hyn y mae’n ceisio’i gyflawni, nodi sut mae’n disgwyl cyflawni ei hamcanion. Os oes rhywbeth yma rwyf wedi'i ddysgu, rwy'n credu bod angen inni sicrhau bod y Gweinidog nesaf, y Llywodraeth nesaf, yn nodi amcanion clir iawn ar gyfer eu gwaith.
I mi, mae'n rhaid i’r blaenoriaethau hynny gynnwys yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Nid oes amheuaeth ynghylch ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i gysylltiadau â’r UE, ac nid oes unrhyw gwestiwn ynghylch ymrwymiad personol y Prif Weinidog i hynny, ac mae’r gwaith y mae Derek Vaughan yn parhau i’w wneud yn sefydliadau’r Undeb Ewropeaidd o’r radd flaenaf. Ond clywsom y bore yma yn y pwyllgor, fel yr amlinellodd y Cadeirydd, am rai o’r sefyllfaoedd echrydus sy’n wynebu sector y celfyddydau a diwylliant. Clywsom am effaith Brexit arnom ni. Siaradodd chwe thyst fwy nag unwaith, un ar ôl y llall, am yr effeithiau negyddol eang yn sgil Brexit a cholli cyfleoedd. Mae pobl yn dweud na allant ddod o hyd i waith, na allant ddod â phobl yma, fod y costau wedi cynyddu, fod y gwaith gweinyddol wedi cynyddu, fod rhyddid i symud wedi'i golli, fod gormod o fiwrocratiaeth, gormod o broblemau gyda thrwyddedau, gormod o broblemau gyda thrwyddedau ATA, ei bod hi'n cymryd gormod o amser, ac nad oes unrhyw gynnydd mewn gweithgarwch y tu allan i'r UE. Dywedai pawb yr un peth, ac ni allodd Tom Giffard druan, yr oeddwn yn teimlo trueni mawr drosto, rhaid dweud, wrth iddo geisio dod o hyd i unrhyw ymyl arian, ganfod unrhyw un o gwbl. Felly, mae angen inni ganolbwyntio ar yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Wrth ymateb i’r ddadl hon, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog hefyd yn edrych ar y meysydd eraill y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u blaenoriaethu. Credaf fod y Gweinidog iechyd yn India ar hyn o bryd. Byddai’n ddefnyddiol inni ddeall beth yw amcanion y gwaith hwnnw, a’r hyn y mae’n ceisio’i gyflawni gyda'r ymweliad hwn.
Fe wnaf orffen gyda'r pwynt hwn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy’n dod i’r Siambr hon yn aml iawn i sôn am Dredegar ym Mlaenau Gwent, ond mae yna Dredegar arall, wrth gwrs, yn Richmond, Virginia. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig, pan fyddwn yn edrych tuag at adeiladu cysylltiadau ar draws gwahanol wledydd, ein bod yn edrych—ac mae’r gwaith y mae Rhun ap Iorwerth wedi’i arwain ar y grŵp hollbleidiol rhyngwladol wedi ceisio gwneud hyn—tuag at ddod â phobl â chysylltiadau Cymreig at ei gilydd. Wrth ymateb i’r ddadl, rwy'n gobeithio—
You need to conclude.
Mae angen ichi ddirwyn i ben.
—the Deputy Minister will also encourage me in my efforts to create links between Tredegar and Tredegar. Thank you.
—y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog hefyd yn fy annog yn fy ymdrechion i greu cysylltiadau rhwng Tredegar a Thredegar. Diolch.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r pwyllgor am ei holl waith ar y mater yma. Dwi'n ddiolchgar am y siawns i gael siarad am gysylltiadau rhyngwladol heddiw. Dwi'n falch ein bod ni, drwy waith y pwyllgor yma, wedi gwneud ymdrech i leoli ein hunain yn y byd. Mae ein Senedd ni wedi'i chynllunio, onid ydy, i fod yn weledol dryloyw, fel bod pobl yn gallu edrych i mewn arnom ni, a gweld beth rydyn ni yn ei wneud yn fan hyn. Ond mae'r holl wydr yna hefyd yn fodd i ni edrych allan, ac nid dim ond edrych allan ar Gymru rydyn ni angen ei wneud, ond edrych allan ar y byd. I mi, mae hynny'n gwbl, gwbl allweddol.
Wythnos diwethaf, mi oeddwn i yn Iwerddon. Mae'r trafodaethau y cefais i yno efo rhanddeiliaid mewn masnach, y maes ynni a gwleidyddiaeth hefyd wedi dangos i fi eto yn glir y gallem ni ac y dylem ni fod yn gwneud llawer mwy i adeiladu ar ein perthynas ryngwladol agosaf a phwysicaf yn unol â chasgliadau ac argymhellion yr adroddiad yma, a gwaith blaenorol y pwyllgor ar gysylltiadau Iwerddon-Cymru. Un peth oedd yn sefyll allan i fi, gyda llaw, oedd lefel y diddordeb ym model trawsbleidiol y Comisiwn Annibynnol ar Ddyfodol Cyfansoddiadol Cymru fel ffordd o drafod cwestiynau gwleidyddol, economaidd a chyfansoddiadol cymhleth mewn modd gwybodus ac adeiladol a chynhwysol—rhywbeth arbennig o berthnasol, wrth gwrs, ar ynys Iwerddon. Ac mi allem ni ac mi ddylem ni, bob amser o fewn y gymuned ryngwladol, fod yn chwilio am ffyrdd o rannu arfer da, ac mae hynny, wrth reswm, yn gweithio y ddwy ffordd.
Thank you very much to the committee for all of its work on this issue. I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak about international relations this afternoon. I am proud that we, through the work of this committee, have made an effort to position ourselves in the world. Our Senedd has been designed to be transparent and visible so that people can look in upon us and see what we are doing here, but all of that glass, too, is a means for us to look out, and not just look at Wales. We need to look out at the world, and for me, that is crucially important.
Last week I was in Ireland, and the discussions I had there with stakeholders on trade, energy and politics have demonstrated clearly to me once again that we could and should be doing far more to build on our international relations, and that closest and most important one, in accordance with the conclusions and recommendations of this report and the committee's previous work on links between Wales and Ireland. One thing that stood out to me, by the way, was the level of interest in the cross-party model of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales as a means of discussing political, economic and constitutional issues in an informed and constructive manner—something that is particularly pertinent on the island of Ireland. And we could and should, always within the international community, be seeking ways of sharing good practice, and that naturally works both ways.
Of course, Wales's relationship with Ireland forms a key part of our wider relationship with Europe, and to which this report we’re debating today draws particular attention. Indeed, the report calls for clearer, more deliberate, thinking about Wales’s relationship with the EU. Welsh Government currently lacks, I think, a strategic approach on post-Brexit EU-UK relations, with the renegotiation of the terms of this relationship by 2025. I think this gap needs to be addressed urgently.
Now, the findings of this report echo and build on those of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee’s recent work on UK-EU governance, which highlighted a clear lack of influence for Wales on the frameworks governing post-Brexit EU-UK relations. And I am unequivocal about this: whenever decisions are being taken that affect the people of Wales, those that represent them should be in the room. And at the moment, on key decisions, by the Welsh Government’s own admission, this is not the case when it comes to EU-UK governance.
Now, Wales has been locked out of critical governance forums. We’ve played no part, for example, in the renegotiation that led to the Windsor framework, despite its implications for Ireland-Wales trade—something that’s particularly relevant in my own constituency of Ynys Môn. And this, to put it plainly, is entirely unacceptable. And I’d ask what steps the Welsh Government, and in particular the two candidates to be the next First Minister, propose to take to address this glaring democratic deficit.
Now, we in Plaid Cymru are clear and have been for a long, long time, on what we believe is the optimal position for Wales in our relationship with Europe. Wales’s future, from our point of view, is as an independent nation within the EU, but we’re also determined, of course, to strive for the very best for Wales in the here and now, in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. And everything possible should be done to overcome the challenges that Brexit has created for our economy and for our relationships with our closest neighbours. To me, this means the UK as a whole looking to rejoin the single market and customs union. I think we should be making that case strongly—a view, we know, that is shared by at least one of the contenders to be the next First Minister. But I would ask, as a final point today, for the Welsh Government to join me as a whole in calling for this and to outline how we might work together to achieve that.
Wrth gwrs, mae perthynas Cymru ag Iwerddon yn rhan allweddol o'n perthynas ehangach ag Ewrop y mae'r adroddiad a drafodir gennym heddiw yn tynnu sylw arbennig ati. Yn wir, mae'r adroddiad yn galw am feddwl cliriach, mwy bwriadus, am berthynas Cymru â'r UE. Ar hyn o bryd nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddull strategol o weithredu ar y berthynas rhwng yr UE a'r DU ar ôl Brexit, gydag ailnegodi telerau'r berthynas hon erbyn 2025. Rwy'n credu bod angen mynd i'r afael â'r bwlch hwn ar frys.
Nawr, mae canfyddiadau'r adroddiad hwn yn adleisio ac yn adeiladu ar waith diweddar y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad ar lywodraethiant y DU a'r UE, a amlygodd ddiffyg dylanwad amlwg Cymru ar y fframweithiau sy'n llywodraethu'r berthynas rhwng yr UE a'r DU ar ôl Brexit. Ac rwy'n ddiamwys ynglŷn â hyn: pryd bynnag y gwneir penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio ar bobl Cymru, dylai'r rhai sy'n eu cynrychioli fod yn yr ystafell. Ac ar hyn o bryd, ar benderfyniadau allweddol, yn ôl cyfaddefiad Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun, nid yw hyn yn wir o safbwynt llywodraethiant yr UE a'r DU.
Nawr, mae Cymru wedi cael ei chloi allan o fforymau llywodraethiant allweddol. Nid ydym wedi chwarae unrhyw ran, er enghraifft, yn yr ailnegodi a arweiniodd at fframwaith Windsor, er gwaethaf ei oblygiadau i fasnach rhwng Iwerddon a Chymru—rhywbeth sy'n arbennig o berthnasol yn fy etholaeth i ar Ynys Môn. Ac yn blwmp ac yn blaen, mae hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol. A hoffwn ofyn pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru, ac yn arbennig y ddau ymgeisydd i fod yn Brif Weinidog nesaf, yn bwriadu eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r diffyg democrataidd amlwg hwn.
Nawr, rydym ni ym Mhlaid Cymru yn glir ac wedi bod ers amser maith, ynglŷn â'r hyn y credwn yw'r sefyllfa orau bosibl i Gymru yn ein perthynas ag Ewrop. Y dyfodol gorau i Gymru yn ein barn ni yw fel cenedl annibynnol o fewn yr UE, ond rydym hefyd yn benderfynol, wrth gwrs, i ymdrechu am y gorau i Gymru yma nawr, o dan yr amgylchiadau presennol. A dylid gwneud popeth sy'n bosibl i oresgyn yr heriau y mae Brexit wedi'u creu i'n heconomi ac i'n perthynas â'n cymdogion agosaf. I mi, golyga hyn fod y DU gyfan yn edrych ar ailymuno â'r farchnad sengl a'r undeb tollau. Rwy'n credu y dylem wneud yr achos hwnnw'n gryf—barn y gwyddom ei bod yn cael ei rhannu gan o leiaf un o'r ddau sydd yn y ras i fod yn Brif Weinidog nesaf. Ond fel pwynt olaf heddiw, hoffwn ofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru yn ei chyfanrwydd ymuno â mi i alw am hyn ac i amlinellu sut y gallem weithio gyda'n gilydd i gyflawni hynny.
Wales has much to offer the world: our language, culture, sport, engineering and so much more. The Welsh Government and the Senedd have an important role to play in promoting our values, solidifying economic relations and sharing best policy practice. Many countries are very interested in our Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Welsh language.
The devolved responsibility we have for areas such as research and sustainability give a strong basis on which to work with partners across Europe to learn from one another’s experiences, whilst focusing on tackling our biggest threat, the climate emergency.
I welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment in its programme for government to increase Wales’s presence in Europe and to retain an office in Brussels. The presence is to ensure the European Union remains our strongest partner and will allow us to work together on our shared values and policy ambitions. It will also enable the Welsh Government to support businesses to trade as efficiently as possible in the future, which is really important post Brexit.
I’ve been disappointed to discover how Wales is often left out of conversations by the UK Government, and when I visited Ghana for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference, I discovered that there were two tiers.
We heard evidence this morning from the creative sector that there have been no gains since leaving the EU, only costs and bureaucracy that have put us at a disadvantage to other countries. More guidance and consistency is needed, not just for those who are travelling, but also for those who are actually working in border control.
The loss of access to funds has also been significant. Creative Europe has just had a massive injection of funds that we can no longer access, but the creative industries do not have UK Government recognition of their importance and value, unlike in Europe. I agree with the First Minister that the current UK Government's handling of Brexit has been wholly unsatisfactory, to say the least, and we need a new Labour Government in Westminster to rebuild co-operation and trust with our European partners on a UK-wide level, particularly when it comes to economic and cultural relations. Wales needs to continue networking to provide opportunities for dialogue and information sharing. They offer a platform to raise Wales's profile and set out our distinct approach and values to an international audience, whilst strengthening relationships with our priority regions and contacts, with whom Wales not only shares membership, but has also co-founded many networks. And as well as promoting Wales on the global stage, we also have a duty to the international community to do what we can to support them, including those facing persecution.
We have now passed the two-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, and I'm proud that Wales is a nation of sanctuary, offering refuge to those who need it. I'd also like to commend the Welsh Government for creating Academi Heddwch Cymru, the first peace institute that aims to extend Wales's long-standing tradition of peace making and peace promotion, by bringing together the best academic minds and expertise to build a better world through peace-rooted approaches to global challenges.
I'd like to thank the committee clerks for putting together the report, and to the Chair for introducing it. I look forward to continuing to monitor the Welsh Government’s progress towards the recommendations put forward, as well as focusing on the Government's international strategy implementation. Diolch.
Mae gan Gymru lawer i'w gynnig i'r byd: ein hiaith, diwylliant, chwaraeon, peirianneg a chymaint mwy. Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'r Senedd rôl bwysig i'w chwarae yn hyrwyddo ein gwerthoedd, yn cryfhau cysylltiadau economaidd ac yn rhannu arfer polisi gorau. Mae gan lawer o wledydd ddiddordeb mawr yn ein Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 a'r Gymraeg.
Mae'r cyfrifoldeb datganoledig sydd gennym dros feysydd fel ymchwil a chynaliadwyedd yn rhoi sail gref i weithio arni gyda phartneriaid ledled Ewrop i ddysgu o brofiadau ein gilydd, gan ganolbwyntio ar fynd i'r afael â'n bygythiad mwyaf, yr argyfwng hinsawdd.
Rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei rhaglen lywodraethu i gynyddu presenoldeb Cymru yn Ewrop a chadw swyddfa ym Mrwsel. Mae'r presenoldeb hwnnw'n sicrhau bod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn parhau i fod yn bartner cryfaf i ni a bydd yn caniatáu inni weithio gyda'n gilydd ar y gwerthoedd a'r uchelgeisiau polisi a rannwn. Bydd hefyd yn galluogi Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi busnesau i fasnachu mor effeithlon â phosibl yn y dyfodol, sy'n bwysig iawn ar ôl Brexit.
Cefais fy siomi o ddarganfod sut mae Cymru'n aml yn cael ei gadael allan o sgyrsiau gan Lywodraeth y DU, a phan ymwelais â Ghana ar gyfer cynhadledd Cymdeithas Seneddol y Gymanwlad, darganfûm fod yna ddwy haen yn bodoli.
Clywsom dystiolaeth y bore yma gan y sector creadigol na fu unrhyw enillion ers gadael yr UE, dim ond costau a biwrocratiaeth sydd wedi ein rhoi dan anfantais o gymharu â gwledydd eraill. Mae angen mwy o arweiniad a chysondeb, nid yn unig i'r rhai sy'n teithio, ond hefyd i'r rhai sy'n gweithio ym maes rheoli ffiniau.
Mae colli mynediad at gronfeydd hefyd wedi bod yn sylweddol. Mae Ewrop Greadigol newydd gael chwistrelliad enfawr o arian na allwn ei gyrchu mwyach, ond yn wahanol i Ewrop, nid yw Llywodraeth y DU yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd a gwerth y diwydiannau creadigol. Rwy'n cytuno â'r Prif Weinidog fod y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth bresennol y DU wedi ymdrin â Brexit wedi bod yn gwbl anfoddhaol a dweud y lleiaf, ac mae angen Llywodraeth Lafur newydd arnom yn San Steffan i ailadeiladu cydweithrediad ac ymddiriedaeth gyda'n partneriaid Ewropeaidd ar lefel y DU gyfan, yn enwedig o ran cysylltiadau economaidd a diwylliannol. Mae angen i Gymru barhau i rwydweithio i ddarparu cyfleoedd ar gyfer deialog a rhannu gwybodaeth. Maent yn cynnig llwyfan i godi proffil Cymru ac arddangos ein hymagweddau a'n gwerthoedd unigryw i gynulleidfa ryngwladol, gan gryfhau'r berthynas â'n rhanbarthau sy'n cael blaenoriaeth a'n cysylltiadau, y mae Cymru nid yn unig yn rhannu aelodaeth â nhw, ond hefyd wedi cyd-sefydlu nifer o rwydweithiau. Ac yn ogystal â hyrwyddo Cymru ar y llwyfan byd-eang, mae gennym ddyletswydd hefyd i wneud yr hyn a allwn i gefnogi'r gymuned ryngwladol, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n wynebu erledigaeth.
Mae dwy flynedd wedi mynd heibio bellach ers goresgyniad Wcráin, ac rwy'n falch fod Cymru yn genedl noddfa sy'n cynnig lloches i'r rhai sydd ei hangen. Hoffwn ganmol Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd am greu Academi Heddwch Cymru, y sefydliad heddwch cyntaf sydd â'r nod o ymestyn traddodiad hirsefydlog Cymru o greu heddwch a hyrwyddo heddwch, drwy ddod â'r meddyliau academaidd a'r arbenigedd gorau ynghyd i adeiladu byd gwell trwy ddulliau heddychlon o ymdrin â heriau byd-eang.
Hoffwn ddiolch i glercod y pwyllgor am lunio'r adroddiad, ac i'r Cadeirydd am ei gyflwyno. Edrychaf ymlaen at barhau i fonitro cynnydd Llywodraeth Cymru tuag at yr argymhellion a gyflwynwyd, yn ogystal â chanolbwyntio ar weithrediad strategaeth ryngwladol y Llywodraeth. Diolch.
A gaf ategu'r diolch i'r pwyllgor am ei adroddiad? Ac roeddwn i heb sylweddoli, tan sylwadau agoriadol y Cadeirydd, mai dyma'r tro cyntaf i ni gael dadl ar y mater pwysig yma ar lawr ein Senedd. Byddwn i'n dweud bod yr ymwybyddiaeth ryngwladol am Gymru yn uwch nawr nag erioed o'r blaen. Dwi'n cofio teithio yn fy ugeiniau yn Ewrop a gorfod esbonio i bobl ble oedd Cymru. Doedd yr ymwybyddiaeth o Gymru ddim yn uchel iawn yn rhyngwladol. Ond mae hyn wedi newid yn llwyr. Gallwn deithio i bedwar ban byd, bellach, ac mae pobl yn gwybod am Gymru, hynny yn bennaf oherwydd llwyddiant ein timau chwaraeon, siŵr o fod.
Gan fod Alun Davies wedi rhoi plỳg i Tredegar, Virginia, a gaf i hefyd roi plỳg? Braf i fi oedd bod yn Cardiff, Maryland, ar ddiwedd mis Ionawr, a sgwrsio a chanu yn Gymraeg gyda phobl sydd erioed wedi byw yng Nghymru, ac roedd brwdfrydedd y bobl yna am Gymru, ac am ein hiaith a'n diwylliant, yn heintus iawn.
A gaf godi dau fater yn y ddadl hon, Dirprwy Lywydd? I ddechrau, un o'r dadleuon mwyaf grymus, yn fy marn i, o blaid diwygio'r Senedd yw y bydd yn gwella'r craffu ar y Llywodraeth. Dwi'n cytuno gydag argymhelliad y pwyllgor diwylliant, a sylwadau Alun Davies, am yr angen am dystiolaeth lafar o'u blaen. Rŷn ni'n aml yn clywed yn y lle hwn feirniadaeth deg, yn fy marn i, am Weinidogion San Steffan yn gwrthod cyfarfodydd gyda Gweinidogion Cymreig a chyda phwyllgorau'r Senedd. Dwi'n siŵr y gallwn ni gyd gytuno nad rhoi tystiolaeth drwy ddatganiadau ysgrifenedig yn unig yw'r ffordd orau i graffu. Yn aml, nid y cwestiynau a drefnwyd o flaen llaw sy'n sicrhau'r atebion gorau, ond y cwestiynau ychwanegol sy'n dilyn yn naturiol o sesiwn gwestiwn ac ateb. Gall peidio â gwneud hyn osod cynsail gwael i'n Senedd ni, a bod yn niweidiol i rôl craffu y lle hwn.
May I echo the thanks to the committee for its report? I hadn't realised, until the Chair's opening remarks, that this is the first time that we've had a debate on this important matter on the Senedd floor. And I would say that the international awareness of Wales is greater now than ever before. I remember travelling in my twenties in Europe and having to explain to people where Wales was. The awareness of Wales wasn't very high internationally. But this has changed entirely. You can travel all over the world now and people will be aware of Wales, primarily due to the success of our sporting teams.
As Alun Davies has given a plug to Tredegar in Virginia, may I also give a plug? It was wonderful for me to be in Cardiff, Maryland, at the end of January, and talking in Welsh to people who've never been here, and people's enthusiasm for Wales, and for our language and culture, was infectious.
I'd like to raise two issues in this debate, Dirprwy Lywydd. First, one of the most powerful arguments, in my view, in favour of Senedd reform is that it will improve scrutiny of the Government. I agree with the culture committee's recommendations, and Alun Davies's comments, on the need for in-person oral evidence sessions. We often hear in this place fair criticism, in my view, of Westminster Ministers for refusing meetings with Welsh Ministers and Senedd committees. I'm sure that we can all agree that giving evidence solely via written statements is not the best means of scrutiny. Often, it isn't the pre-arranged questions that draw the most informative responses, but those supplementary questions that follow naturally in a question and answer session. So, failure to engage in such sessions could set a poor precedent for our Senedd, and could harm its scrutiny function.
Finally, I'm concerned by the Welsh Government's re