Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

15/05/2024

Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.

In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.

Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair. 

The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.

1. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid, y Cyfansoddiad a Swyddfa’r Cabinet
1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office

Prynhawn da, bawb, a chroeso i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid, y Cyfansoddiad a Swyddfa’r Cabinet, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mark Isherwood.

Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office, and the first question is from Mark Isherwood.

Diwygio'r Dreth Gyngor
Council Tax Reform

1. Pa ystyriaeth y mae yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ei rhoi i ddiwygio'r dreth gyngor yng Nghymru? OQ61083

1. What consideration is the Cabinet Secretary giving to council tax reform in Wales? OQ61083

Member
Rebecca Evans 13:30:18
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office

Having listened carefully to people’s views from our consultation, there was a clear appetite for reform but delivered over a slower time frame. I'll deliver some improvements to make council tax fairer this term, and continue engaging on the right structural reforms for 2028. I have issued a statement today setting out the plans.

Ar ôl gwrando’n ofalus ar farn pobl drwy ein hymgynghoriad, roedd awydd clir am ddiwygiadau, ond wedi’u cyflwyno dros amserlen arafach. Byddaf yn cyflawni rhai gwelliannau i wneud y dreth gyngor yn decach y tymor hwn, ac yn parhau i ymgysylltu ar y diwygiadau strwythurol cywir ar gyfer 2028. Rwyf wedi cyhoeddi datganiad heddiw yn nodi'r cynlluniau.

Thank you. Well, the 182-day rule means that legitimate, well-established, local self-catering businesses have become liable to pay council tax, sometimes at a premium rate. When the secondary legislation introducing this threshold was proposed, the sector warned that this would harm legitimate Welsh businesses and damage the fragile ecosystem that is the visitor economy. Over 1,500 self-catering businesses have now responded to a new survey commissioned by Wales Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Cymru and the Professional Association of Self Caterers UK. Only 25 per cent said they would hit 182 days this year, 70 per cent are discounting to try to hit 182 days, and 42 per cent are either putting their property on the market, or considering it, with the likelihood that they'll be purchased as second homes. How do you therefore respond to the request made by the Wales Tourism Alliance in their letter to the First Minister for a commitment to a date for a review of the 182-day policy, and to discuss what further exemptions from council tax premiums are needed in order for a balanced Welsh visitor economy to survive and thrive?

Diolch. Wel, golyga'r rheol 182 diwrnod fod busnesau llety hunanddarpar lleol sefydledig, teilwng yn gorfod talu’r dreth gyngor, weithiau ar raddfa bremiwm. Pan gynigiwyd yr is-ddeddfwriaeth i gyflwyno’r trothwy hwn, rhybuddiodd y sector y byddai'n niweidio busnesau teilwng yng Nghymru ac yn niweidio ecosystem fregus yr economi ymwelwyr. Mae dros 1,500 o fusnesau hunanddarpar bellach wedi ymateb i arolwg newydd a gomisiynwyd gan Gynghrair Twristiaeth Cymru, UKHospitality Cymru a Chymdeithas Broffesiynol Hunanddarparwyr y DU. Dim ond 25 y cant a ddywedodd y byddent yn cyrraedd y trothwy o 182 diwrnod eleni, mae 70 y cant yn cynnig llety am bris is er mwyn ceisio cyrraedd y trothwy o 182 diwrnod, ac mae 42 y cant naill ai'n rhoi eu heiddo ar y farchnad neu'n ystyried gwneud hynny, gyda'r tebygolrwydd y cânt eu prynu fel ail gartrefi. Sut ydych chi'n ymateb, felly, i’r cais a wnaed gan Gynghrair Twristiaeth Cymru yn eu llythyr at y Prif Weinidog am ymrwymiad i ddyddiad ar gyfer adolygiad o’r polisi 182 diwrnod, ac i drafod pa eithriadau pellach rhag premiymau’r dreth gyngor sydd eu hangen er mwyn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i economi ymwelwyr gytbwys oroesi a ffynnu yng Nghymru?

Well, I'm grateful for the opportunity just to restate the purpose behind the 182 days that was introduced, and that is very much because the Welsh Government believes that owners of properties and residents of properties, be they domestic or business, should pay a fair contribution to the communities in which they are based. I have seen a previous survey, which was undertaken by the tourism sector, and, actually, that survey did suggests that our aims through the policy were actually starting to achieve what we have set out to do. So, I'm not sure if this is a new survey that provides different evidence. If it is, I'd be very, very keen to look at that. 

I just want to be really clear, though, in terms of a review: we have no plans to undertake a review. The rules have only recently come in. I think it's important that they do bed in. I don't want the sector to be falsely labouring under the assumption that there is going to be an immediate review when, actually, the efforts of the sector should be looking to either meeting those 182 days or considering the options that are available to them, and options are available to them. 

Wel, rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i ailddatgan y pwrpas y tu ôl i'r trothwy 182 diwrnod a gyflwynwyd, a hynny gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn credu y dylai trigolion a pherchnogion eiddo, boed yn eiddo domestig neu fusnesau, dalu cyfraniadau teg i’r cymunedau y maent wedi’u lleoli ynddynt. Rwyf wedi gweld arolwg blaenorol, a gynhaliwyd gan y sector twristiaeth, ac mewn gwirionedd, roedd yr arolwg hwnnw’n awgrymu bod ein nodau drwy’r polisi yn dechrau cyflawni’r hyn rydym wedi ceisio ei wneud. Felly, nid wyf yn siŵr a yw hwn yn arolwg newydd sy'n darparu tystiolaeth wahanol. Os ydyw, rwy'n awyddus iawn i edrych arno.

Hoffwn ddweud yn glir iawn, fodd bynnag, o ran adolygiad: nid oes gennym unrhyw gynlluniau i gynnal adolygiad. Yn ddiweddar y cafodd y rheolau eu cyflwyno. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig iddynt ymsefydlu. Nid wyf am i’r sector fod o dan gamargraff y bydd adolygiad yn cael ei gynnal ar unwaith pan ddylai'r sector fod yn ymdrechu naill ai i gyrraedd y trothwy 182 diwrnod neu ystyried yr opsiynau sydd ar gael iddynt, ac mae opsiynau ar gael iddynt.

Council tax was not meant to be fair. It was brought in to replace the hated poll tax. As it currently exists, it's regressive, but also very difficult to avoid, compared to income tax, which is progressive, but which is very easy to avoid, especially by the rich. The problem with council tax is that the bands are too wide and that very expensive houses are in the top band, no matter how valuable they are, above the minimum for band I. Will the Minister consider more bands above the current band I and increasing the number of lower bands by splitting the current bands in two?

Ni fwriadwyd i'r dreth gyngor fod yn deg. Fe'i cyflwynwyd i ddisodli treth y pen, yr oedd pobl yn ei chasáu. Fel y mae’n bodoli ar hyn o bryd, mae’n atchweliadol, ond hefyd yn anodd iawn ei hosgoi, o gymharu â threth incwm, sy’n flaengar, ond yn hawdd iawn ei hosgoi, yn enwedig gan y cyfoethogion. Y broblem gyda’r dreth gyngor yw bod y bandiau’n rhy eang a bod tai drud iawn yn y band uchaf, ni waeth pa mor werthfawr ydynt, yn uwch na’r isafswm ar gyfer band I. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ystyried cyflwyno mwy o fandiau uwchlaw'r band I presennol a chynyddu nifer y bandiau is drwy rannu'r bandiau presennol yn ddau?

I'm very grateful for that question and that clear recognition that property taxes are stable taxes but also taxes that are much more difficult to avoid in many ways. For that reason, we think that council tax absolutely plays an important part in our local tax structure and has been stable for a very long time. But, that said, we are undertaking huge efforts to make council tax fairer for the future. So, I've made a statement today that reflects on the phase 2 consultation. The phase 2 consultation looked at two things: it looked at the pace of reform and the scale of reform. In relation to the pace of reform, today I've made an announcement that we will be looking to introduce that revaluation from 2028, and the Valuation Office Agency will be undertaking the necessary work for that.

In terms, then, of the scale of change, and that includes things such as introducing new bands, those were included in our consultation, and there was definitely some support for doing that, both in terms of additional bands at the higher end, but then also, potentially, an additional band at the lower end to help those people in the least expensive properties. And absolutely, that will be part of our thinking as we move forward. I do want to be clear, though, that there would have to be a further consultation closer to the 2028 date, which would look again at those issues in relation to the scale of reform.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn a'r gydnabyddiaeth glir honno fod trethi eiddo yn drethi sefydlog ond hefyd yn drethi sy'n llawer anos eu hosgoi mewn sawl ffordd. Am y rheswm hwnnw, credwn fod y dreth gyngor yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn ein strwythur treth lleol a’i bod wedi bod yn sefydlog ers amser maith. Ond wedi dweud hynny, rydym yn gwneud ymdrechion enfawr i wneud y dreth gyngor yn decach ar gyfer y dyfodol. Felly, rwyf wedi gwneud datganiad heddiw sy'n ystyried yr ymgynghoriad cam 2. Edrychodd yr ymgynghoriad cam 2 ar ddau beth: edrychodd ar gyflymder y diwygio ac edrychodd ar faint y diwygio. Mewn perthynas â chyflymder y diwygio, gwneuthum gyhoeddiad heddiw ein bod yn bwriadu cyflwyno'r ailbrisiad o 2028 ymlaen, ac y bydd Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio yn gwneud y gwaith angenrheidiol ar gyfer hynny.

Yna, ar faint y newidiadau, ac mae hynny’n cynnwys pethau fel cyflwyno bandiau newydd, cafodd hynny ei gynnwys yn ein hymgynghoriad, ac yn bendant, roedd peth cefnogaeth i wneud hynny, o ran bandiau ychwanegol ar y pen uchaf, ond o ran bandiau ychwanegol posibl ar y pen isaf hefyd i helpu'r bobl yn yr eiddo lleiaf drud. Ac yn sicr, bydd hynny'n rhan o'n meddylfryd wrth inni symud ymlaen. Hoffwn ddweud yn glir, serch hynny, y byddai’n rhaid cynnal ymgynghoriad pellach yn nes at 2028, a fyddai’n edrych eto ar y materion hynny mewn perthynas â maint y diwygio.

13:35
Adolygu'r Fframwaith Cyllido
Reviewing the Fiscal Framework

2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynnydd o ran adolygu fframwaith cyllidol Cymru? OQ61092

2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on progress in reviewing the fiscal framework of Wales? OQ61092

Yes. The fiscal framework is subject to regular internal review. In the main, it is operating well. However, there are elements relating to fiscal flexibilities where I have been making the case for improvements with UK Government Ministers.

Gwnaf. Mae’r fframwaith cyllidol yn destun adolygiadau mewnol rheolaidd. Ar y cyfan, mae'n gweithredu'n dda. Fodd bynnag, mae elfennau'n ymwneud â hyblygrwydd cyllidol lle rwyf wedi bod yn dadlau'r achos dros welliannau gyda Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that, Llywydd. By the end of this Senedd term, it will be nearly 10 years since the fiscal framework was first negotiated, yet the figures in it, as we have heard, remain stuck at the level that they were agreed back then. In the meantime, budgets have risen, inflation has eroded the real value of those figures. In the meantime, as well, agreement has been reached in both Scotland and Northern Ireland to have greater flexibilities in managing what is, after all, money that belongs to this Senedd. Does the Cabinet Secretary see any prospect of putting this right for Wales in the dying months of the current UK Government, or must we wait for the election of a different administration in London to treat Wales fairly and sensibly, so that public money can be managed here in the most effective way and in ways already available to every other part of the United Kingdom?

Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am hynny, Lywydd. Erbyn diwedd tymor y Senedd hon, bydd bron i 10 mlynedd wedi bod ers i’r fframwaith cyllidol gael ei drafod gyntaf, ac eto, mae’r ffigurau ynddo, fel y clywsom, yn dal ar yr un lefel â'r hyn y cytunwyd arno bryd hynny. Yn y cyfamser, mae cyllidebau wedi codi, mae chwyddiant wedi erydu gwir werth y ffigurau hynny. Yn y cyfamser hefyd, daethpwyd i gytundeb yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon i gael mwy o hyblygrwydd wrth reoli’r hyn sydd, wedi’r cyfan, yn arian sy’n perthyn i’r Senedd hon. A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn gweld unrhyw obaith o unioni hyn i Gymru yn ystod misoedd olaf Llywodraeth bresennol y DU, neu a oes yn rhaid inni aros i weinyddiaeth wahanol gael ei hethol yn Llundain a fydd yn trin Cymru yn deg ac yn synhwyrol, fel y gellir rheoli arian cyhoeddus yma yn y modd mwyaf effeithiol ac mewn ffyrdd sydd eisoes ar gael i bob rhan arall o’r Deyrnas Unedig?

Yes, it's absolutely the case that the value of the flexibilities that we have has been eroded since the point at which they were set. So, in this financial year, our reserve capacity and also our borrowing powers will be worth 23 per cent less than at the time they were originally agreed. So, we absolutely think there is a very strong case for the powers and the flexibilities that have been given to Scotland recently to be given to us in terms of the indexation of the borrowing and the reserve. I will absolutely continue to make that case at the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee. I'm very pleased to tell colleagues that I do still have the support of my counterparts in Scotland, and also now in Northern Ireland, for these measures. Despite the fact that they have had improvements, they're still very keen to support us in making the case, because they know it makes sense for all parts of the United Kingdom in terms of the devolved Governments.

Ydy, mae'n gwbl wir fod gwerth yr hyblygrwydd sydd gennym wedi erydu er pan y'i pennwyd. Felly, yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, bydd ein capasiti wrth gefn a hefyd ein pwerau benthyca yn werth 23 y cant yn llai na phan gytunwyd arnynt yn wreiddiol. Felly, rydym yn sicr yn credu bod achos cryf iawn dros roi’r pwerau a’r hyblygrwydd a roddwyd i’r Alban yn ddiweddar i ni o ran mynegeio’r benthyca a’r cronfeydd wrth gefn. Byddaf yn sicr yn parhau i ddadlau'r achos hwnnw yn y Pwyllgor Sefydlog Rhyngweinidogol ar Gyllid. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud wrth fy nghyd-Aelodau fod gennyf gefnogaeth fy swyddogion cyfatebol yn yr Alban o hyd, a hefyd yng Ngogledd Iwerddon bellach, i'r mesurau hyn. Er eu bod wedi cael gwelliannau, maent yn dal i fod yn awyddus iawn i'n cefnogi i ddadlau'r achos, gan y gwyddant ei fod yn gwneud synnwyr i bob rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig o ran y Llywodraethau datganoledig.

I again find it rather amusing that, as the ex-First Minister, you are asking questions that are drawing attention to your own fiscal chaos, and yet it was never raised during your own tenure. These have not just sprung up now since you—[Interruption.] According to the Office for National Statistics, the figure in 2022 for the Welsh deficit between public spending and revenue was estimated to be an eye-watering £20.3 billion. Wales has the highest net fiscal balance per head in Great Britain, with a staggering £6,500 per person. For comparison, where do we think England comes in that chart? Roughly the same? Half? No. It was six times lower, at £1,100 per person—a country that has faced the same challenges as Wales, yet clearly is far better at balancing their public finances. I wonder what the difference is. Councils across Wales are facing more than £5 billion of debt. Why is it always Labour Governments that make a mockery of taxpayers' money and public finances? Will the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that the Welsh Government's own frivolous spending has wrecked the fiscal framework of Wales, and that, clearly, the socialist economic strategy of tax and spend is not only exacerbating the problem, but is drowning the Welsh dragon entirely? Diolch.

Unwaith eto, mae braidd yn ddoniol eich bod chi, fel y cyn Brif Weinidog, yn gofyn cwestiynau sy’n tynnu sylw at eich anhrefn cyllidol eich hun, ac eto, ni chafodd hyn mo'i godi pan oeddech chi yn y swydd. Nid yw'r materion hyn wedi codi ers i chi—[Torri ar draws.] Yn ôl y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol, amcangyfrifwyd fod y ffigur yn 2022 ar gyfer y diffyg rhwng gwariant cyhoeddus a refeniw yng Nghymru yn £20.3 biliwn, sy'n swm syfrdanol. Mae gan Gymru'r balans cyllidol net uchaf y pen ym Mhrydain, gyda ffigur syfrdanol o £6,500 y pen. O gymharu, ble y credwn y daw Lloegr yn y siart honno? Oddeutu'r un peth? Hanner? Na. Roeddent chwe gwaith yn is, ar £1,100 y pen—gwlad sydd wedi wynebu'r un heriau â Chymru, ond sy'n amlwg yn llawer gwell am reoli eu cyllid cyhoeddus. Tybed beth yw'r gwahaniaeth? Mae cynghorau ledled Cymru yn wynebu dyledion o fwy na £5 biliwn. Pam mai Llywodraethau Llafur sydd bob amser yn gwneud llanast o arian trethdalwyr a chyllid cyhoeddus? A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gytuno â mi fod gwario gwamal Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dinistrio fframwaith cyllidol Cymru, a'i bod yn amlwg fod y strategaeth economaidd sosialaidd o dreth a gwariant nid yn unig yn gwaethygu’r broblem, ond yn boddi’r ddraig Gymreig yn llwyr? Diolch.

I'm afraid I don't recognise any part of that contribution at all because it mixes up a whole load of different matters, including the way in which the UK Government is responsible for pensions here in Wales, the way in which the UK Government is responsible for benefits here in Wales. Colleagues will know, of course, that we have a generally much older population here in Wales than other parts of the United Kingdom, and that is reflected through then in terms of the amount of money that is spent on people here in Wales. I think the important point to recognise, though, about the fiscal framework is that, thanks to the agreement made by the former First Minister, and finance Minister, as he was at that point, as well as providing the additional policy tools—and we've had a debate about how those need to be improved—the devolved taxes negotiated by Mark Drakeford have so far made a positive net contribution to the Welsh Government budget. Over the years for which outturn is available, this amounts to over £400 million in total, which we've been able to invest in public services here in Wales. And the Barnett needs factor, which, again, was introduced by part of the fiscal framework agreement, led by Mark Drakeford, has also provided additional funding, and is contributing around an extra £300 million to the Welsh Government settlement in 2024-25. So, there are certainly areas of the fiscal framework that are working for us; it is, really, that matter of the fiscal flexibilities that we need to see updated.

Mae arnaf ofn nad wyf yn cydnabod unrhyw ran o'r cyfraniad hwnnw gan ei fod yn cymysgu llwyth o wahanol faterion, gan gynnwys y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gyfrifol am bensiynau yma yng Nghymru, y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gyfrifol am fudd-daliadau yma yng Nghymru. Bydd fy nghyd-Aelodau’n gwybod, wrth gwrs, fod gennym boblogaeth lawer hŷn ar y cyfan yma yng Nghymru na rhannau eraill o’r Deyrnas Unedig, ac y caiff hynny ei adlewyrchu wedyn o ran faint o arian sy’n cael ei wario ar bobl yma yng Nghymru. Credaf mai’r pwynt pwysig i’w gydnabod am y fframwaith cyllidol, serch hynny, yw, diolch i’r cytundeb a wnaed gan y cyn Brif Weinidog, a’r Gweinidog cyllid, fel yr oedd ar y pryd, yn ogystal â darparu’r arfau polisi ychwanegol—ac rydym wedi cael dadl ynglŷn â sut mae angen gwella'r rheini—mae'r trethi datganoledig a negodwyd gan Mark Drakeford wedi gwneud cyfraniad net cadarnhaol hyd yma i gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru. Dros y blynyddoedd y mae alldro ar gael ar eu cyfer, daw hyn i gyfanswm o dros £400 miliwn, y gallasom ei fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru. Ac mae'r ffactor anghenion Barnett, a gyflwynwyd, unwaith eto, gan ran o'r cytundeb fframwaith cyllidol, o dan arweiniad Mark Drakeford, hefyd wedi darparu cyllid ychwanegol, ac yn cyfrannu oddeutu £300 miliwn yn ychwanegol at setliad Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2024-25. Felly, yn sicr, mae rhannau o’r fframwaith cyllidol yn gweithio i ni; mater yr hyblygrwydd cyllidol sydd angen i ni ei ddiweddaru.

13:40

The former First Minister has made the case very eloquently in favour of a review. Now, the automatic mechanism for a review under the agreement—the periodic review—is some years off. But the agreement does have within it the ability, the power, for the Welsh Government to ask for a review now. So, have you asked for a review, or will you, given what we've heard?

Mae’r cyn Brif Weinidog wedi dadlau'r achos o blaid adolygiad yn huawdl iawn. Nawr, mae'r mecanwaith awtomatig ar gyfer adolygiad o dan y cytundeb—yr adolygiad cyfnodol—rai blynyddoedd i ffwrdd. Ond mae'r cytundeb yn cynnwys y gallu, y pŵer, i Lywodraeth Cymru ofyn am adolygiad nawr. Felly, a ydych chi wedi gofyn am adolygiad, neu a fyddwch yn gwneud hynny, o ystyried yr hyn a glywsom?

So, I've just set out the ways in which the fiscal framework is working very much to our advantage at the moment, and particularly in terms of the Barnett needs factor, whereby we have an additional £300 million in the settlement. So, I think that's important to recognise. There are things that absolutely aren't working for us, but let's remember that we're dealing, at the moment, with a UK Government that sees everything as a zero-sum game—everything as a negotiation where they have to take something from that table as well. This isn't a UK Government that is interested in working with the Welsh Government for the benefit of the people of Wales. So, when you look at the way in which the Scottish framework was reviewed, certainly, the Scots gained a number of things, but then they also had to put on the table a number of things to lose. Their framework is different to ours. Now, if the UK Government wants us to put anything on the table, all we really have to put on the table in those negotiations is the Barnett needs factor, and we've heard time and time again from the benches over there how the Conservatives think that we're overfunded in Wales. So, I don't think that this is the right Government to go into those negotiations with. However, there could be a case for a future review with a Government that is more disposed to devolution and one that respects this Government and this Senedd.

Rwyf newydd nodi'r ffyrdd y mae'r fframwaith cyllidol yn sicr yn gweithio er ein budd ar hyn o bryd, ac yn enwedig o ran y ffactor anghenion Barnett, lle mae gennym £300 miliwn ychwanegol yn y setliad. Felly, credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod hynny. Mae yna bethau nad ydynt yn gweithio i ni o gwbl, ond gadewch inni gofio ein bod yn ymdrin ar hyn o bryd â Llywodraeth y DU sy'n ystyried popeth yn gêm swm sero—popeth yn negodiad lle mae'n rhaid iddynt elwa mewn rhyw ffordd hefyd. Nid yw hon yn Llywodraeth y DU sydd â ddiddordeb mewn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru er budd pobl Cymru. Felly, pan edrychwch ar y ffordd yr adolygwyd fframwaith yr Alban, yn sicr, enillodd yr Albanwyr nifer o bethau, ond yna bu’n rhaid iddynt hefyd roi nifer o bethau ar y bwrdd i’w colli. Mae eu fframwaith nhw'n wahanol i'n hun ni. Nawr, os yw Llywodraeth y DU am inni roi unrhyw beth ar y bwrdd, y cyfan sy'n rhaid inni ei roi ar y bwrdd yn y negodiadau hynny mewn gwirionedd yw'r ffactor anghenion Barnett, ac rydym wedi clywed dro ar ôl tro gan feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr draw acw sut y credant ein bod yn cael ein gorariannu yng Nghymru. Felly, ni chredaf mai hon yw'r Llywodraeth iawn i gael y negodiadau hynny â hi. Fodd bynnag, gallai fod achos dros adolygiad yn y dyfodol gyda Llywodraeth sy’n fwy cefnogol i ddatganoli ac un sy’n parchu’r Llywodraeth a’r Senedd hon.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Peter Fox. 

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Peter Fox. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, this is the first formal opportunity to say congratulations on retaining your position in the Cabinet and in the Government, and I look forward to constructively working with you over the coming period. So, today, I had to change tack a little, because your statement came out this morning, and I was disappointed that it came out as a written statement and wasn't presented, perhaps, to the Senedd yesterday so that we could have debated it. And, of course, it came after topical questions time as well, so that didn't give an opportunity for us to debate. But I've got an opportunity now to put some questions to you, Cabinet Secretary. In your written statement, you highlighted the need for a transition fund to support people through changes to council tax—well, that's what I assume that's what it's meant for—and that comes to the crux of my question. Can you, Cabinet Secretary, explain what the transition fund looks like and who will be eligible for it?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, dyma’r cyfle ffurfiol cyntaf i'ch llongyfarch ar gadw eich swydd yn y Cabinet ac yn y Llywodraeth, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio’n adeiladol gyda chi dros y cyfnod sydd i ddod. Felly, heddiw, bu'n rhaid imi newid trywydd i raddau, gan ichi gyhoeddi eich datganiad y bore yma, ac roeddwn yn siomedig iddo gael ei gyhoeddi fel datganiad ysgrifenedig ac na chafodd ei gyflwyno, efallai, i'r Senedd ddoe fel y gallem fod wedi cael dadl arno. Ac wrth gwrs, daeth ar ôl amser y cwestiynau amserol hefyd, felly ni roddodd hynny gyfle inni gael dadl. Ond mae gennyf gyfle nawr i ofyn rhai cwestiynau i chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn eich datganiad ysgrifenedig, fe wnaethoch dynnu sylw at yr angen am gronfa bontio i gefnogi pobl drwy newidiadau i'r dreth gyngor—wel, dyna rwy'n cymryd yw ei diben—a dyna sydd wrth wraidd fy nghwestiwn. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi egluro sut olwg sydd ar y gronfa bontio a phwy fydd yn gymwys ar ei chyfer?

So, I'm not able to set out those details today because, whilst the announcement has said that the revaluation will take place in 2028, and we'll be amending the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill to reflect that, what we don't have now, at this point, is that decision in terms of the scale of reform. So, we don't have, at this point, the bands. We don't have, at this point, the rates. Those will be subject to further work and further consultation closer to the date. When those decisions are made, it's at that point, then, that you understand the impact on households and so on, and it's at that point, then, that you would consider what a transitional scheme might look like. But we've been very clear from the outset that that absolutely has to be part of the work before any scheme is introduced, so that households have certainty. When there was a previous revaluation, I think that the consensus now is that, perhaps, those transitional arrangements came too late, which is why we're very keen to at least reassure people that that will be part of our thinking when we get to that point. But we're not at the point yet where we can start putting a figure on it, because we are some years off.

Ni allaf nodi’r manylion hynny heddiw, oherwydd, er bod y cyhoeddiad wedi dweud y bydd yr ailbrisio’n digwydd yn 2028, a byddwn yn diwygio Bil Cyllid Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) i adlewyrchu hynny, yr hyn nad yw gennym ar hyn o bryd yw'r penderfyniad ynglŷn â maint y diwygio. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'r bandiau gennym ar hyn o bryd. Nid yw'r cyfraddau gennym ar hyn o bryd. Bydd y rhain yn destun gwaith pellach ac ymgynghori pellach yn nes at y dyddiad. Pan fydd y penderfyniadau hynny'n cael eu gwneud, fe fyddwch yn deall yr effaith ar aelwydydd ac yn y blaen, ac ar y pwynt hwnnw, felly, y byddech yn ystyried sut olwg a allai fod ar gynllun pontio. Ond rydym wedi dweud yn glir iawn o'r cychwyn cyntaf fod yn rhaid i hynny fod yn rhan o'r gwaith cyn cyflwyno unrhyw gynllun, fel bod sicrwydd i aelwydydd. Pan gafwyd ailbrisiad blaenorol, credaf mai’r consensws nawr efallai yw bod y trefniadau pontio hynny wedi dod yn rhy hwyr, a dyna pam ein bod yn awyddus iawn i roi sicrwydd i bobl o leiaf y bydd hynny’n rhan o’n ffordd o feddwl pan fyddwn yn cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw. Ond nid ydym wedi cyrraedd y pwynt eto lle gallwn ddechrau rhoi ffigur arno, gan ein bod rai blynyddoedd i ffwrdd.

Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. That transition fund will be absolutely fundamental to so many people when whatever happens, I'm sure, because there will always be winners and losers when you change something as profound as the council tax structure.

Some cynics might say, with the announcement today—and, yes, the announcement around the single farm payment moved off to 2026— that there must be some elections on the way that might be driving some of the Government's decisions here, but I'm not necessarily one of those cynics. Cabinet Secretary, in your written statement, you highlight the use of new technology used for valuation methods resulting in systems in place that provide comprehensive and robust information about up-to-date property values. Minister, I'm sure you will be aware of the report last week across lots of national press that the Welsh Government will be using satellites to access changes to house values. Cabinet Secretary, can you elaborate as to the technology used and whether this will include the use of satellites?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Bydd y gronfa bontio honno’n hollbwysig i gynifer o bobl pan fydd unrhyw beth yn digwydd, rwy’n siŵr, gan y bydd enillwyr a chollwyr bob amser pan fyddwch yn newid rhywbeth mor fawr â strwythur y dreth gyngor.

Efallai y byddai rhai sinigiaid yn dweud, gyda’r cyhoeddiad heddiw—ac ie, y cyhoeddiad ynghylch symud y taliad sengl i 2026—fod yn rhaid bod etholiadau ar y ffordd a allai fod yn llywio rhai o benderfyniadau’r Llywodraeth yma, ond nid wyf o reidrwydd yn un o'r sinigiaid hynny. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn eich datganiad ysgrifenedig, rydych yn tynnu sylw at y defnydd o dechnoleg newydd a ddefnyddir ar gyfer dulliau prisio a fydd yn arwain at systemau sy’n darparu gwybodaeth gynhwysfawr a chadarn am werthoedd eiddo cyfredol. Weinidog, rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn ymwybodol o’r adroddiad a gafodd lawer o sylw yn wasg genedlaethol yr wythnos diwethaf y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio lloerennau i gael mynediad at newidiadau i werthoedd tai. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi ymhelaethu ar y dechnoleg a ddefnyddir ac a fydd hyn yn cynnwys defnyddio lloerennau?

13:45

The first thing to say is there's been an awful lot of misreporting. I'm aware that the Conservatives have had their wrists slapped somewhat in relation to their use of the phrase 'a blanket ban' in terms of the 20 mph and so on. So, I would urge the Conservatives to reflect on that and try to stick to the facts in terms of council tax reform, and then we will all stay out of hot water. 

What I will say is that the article in The Daily Telegraph I think was poorly informed, to be generous. The fact is that property valuations for council tax purposes are undertaken independently of the Welsh Government. They're undertaken by the VOA. It uses the same technology for Wales as it would for England, and it's important to recognise it's entirely separate from Government, where we take those decisions about the overall design of the tax. It's important that there is that separation.

The VOA is an executive body of HMRC and the range of ways in which they use technology is a matter for them, but we are assured that the methods are internationally recognised as best practice and they are based on freely available information. It is important for council tax bills to be based on accurate and robust information. We do have a service level agreement with the VOA, which provides that level of accountability on the work.

I just don't understand this clutching of pearls that we're using publicly available information and the latest technology to accurately ensure that households are paying the right council tax. Technology has always been used, but technology is evolving.

Y peth cyntaf i'w ddweud yw y bu llawer iawn o gamadrodd. Rwy’n ymwybodol fod y Ceidwadwyr wedi cael eu ceryddu am ddefnyddio’r ymadrodd 'gwaharddiad cyffredinol’ mewn perthynas â therfynau 20 mya ac ati. Felly, hoffwn annog y Ceidwadwyr i ystyried hynny ac i geisio cadw at y ffeithiau ynglŷn â diwygio’r dreth gyngor, er mwyn i bob un ohonom osgoi helynt.

Yr hyn a ddywedaf yw bod yr erthygl yn The Daily Telegraph yn anwybodus, a bod yn hael. Y ffaith amdani yw bod prisiadau eiddo at ddibenion y dreth gyngor yn cael eu cynnal yn annibynnol ar Lywodraeth Cymru. Cânt eu cynnal gan Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio (VOA). Maent yn defnyddio'r un dechnoleg ar gyfer Cymru ag y byddent ar gyfer Lloegr, ac mae'n bwysig cydnabod ei bod yn broses gwbl ar wahân i'r Llywodraeth, lle rydym yn gwneud y penderfyniadau ynghylch cynllun cyffredinol y dreth. Mae'n bwysig cael y gwahaniad hwnnw.

Mae’r VOA yn gorff gweithredol i CThEF ac mae’r amrywiaeth o ffyrdd y maent yn defnyddio technoleg yn fater iddynt hwy, ond cawn sicrwydd fod y dulliau’n cael eu cydnabod yn rhyngwladol fel arferion gorau a’u bod yn seiliedig ar wybodaeth sydd ar gael yn rhwydd. Mae’n bwysig fod biliau’r dreth gyngor yn seiliedig ar wybodaeth gywir a chadarn. Mae gennym gytundeb lefel gwasanaeth gyda'r VOA, sy'n darparu'r lefel honno o atebolrwydd ar y gwaith.

Nid wyf yn deall y syndod ein bod yn defnyddio gwybodaeth sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd a'r dechnoleg ddiweddaraf i sicrhau'n fanwl gywir fod aelwydydd yn talu'r dreth gyngor gywir. Mae technoleg wedi cael ei defnyddio erioed, ond mae technoleg yn esblygu.

The question was driven from your statement within your statement where you were quite excited about the new technologies that were being used by the VOA to do this, so I think it's quite right that we challenge it, especially in light of the public discourse over recent weeks where some might argue that Wales is going down this Big Brother type of situation where George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four is playing out, perhaps. That's what some people are leading us to believe. I'm sure that isn't the case.

But this isn't the only concern many of us in Wales will have with the statement. Another concern is the fact that these revaluations will have a massive impact on families that are very much cash poor. They may live in larger, rural houses, perhaps, perhaps in quite poor disrepair, but still triggering a higher council tax band. Those are very vulnerable and worried people.

So, whilst I welcome—and I absolutely do welcome—the fact, hopefully, that the 25 per cent discount will remain place, I'm concerned that your explanatory memorandum for the upcoming Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill highlights the fact that Ministers have the powers to allow councils in certain circumstances to disapply or reduce discounts in their area. If you are committed, Cabinet Secretary, to the 25 per cent council tax reduction, why are you giving local councils the power to disapply these discounts?

Sbardunwyd y cwestiwn gan y rhan o'ch datganiad lle roeddech yn llawn cyffro ynghylch y technolegau newydd a oedd yn cael eu defnyddio gan y VOA i wneud hyn, felly credaf ei bod yn gwbl briodol ein bod yn ei herio, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni’r trafodaethau cyhoeddus dros yr wythnosau diweddaraf lle gallai rhai ddadlau efallai fod Cymru yn agosáu at sefyllfa 'Big Brother' lle mae digwyddiadau nofel George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, i'w gweld yn digwydd. Dyna mae rhai pobl yn ein harwain i'w gredu. Rwy’n siŵr nad yw hynny’n wir.

Ond nid dyma'r unig bryder a fydd gan lawer ohonom yng Nghymru ynghylch y datganiad. Pryder arall yw’r ffaith y bydd yr ailbrisiadau hyn yn cael effaith aruthrol ar deuluoedd sydd â mwy o asedau nag arian. Efallai eu bod yn byw mewn tai gwledig mwy o faint, sydd mewn cyflwr gwael iawn o bosibl, ond sy'n dal i fod mewn band uwch o'r dreth gyngor. Mae’r rheini’n bobl fregus a phryderus iawn.

Felly, er fy mod yn croesawu—ac rwy'n bendant yn croesawu—y ffaith, gobeithio, y bydd y gostyngiad o 25 y cant yn parhau, rwy'n pryderu bod eich memorandwm esboniadol ar gyfer Bil Cyllid Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) sydd ar y ffordd yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod gan Weinidogion bwerau i ganiatáu i gynghorau, mewn rhai amgylchiadau, ddatgymhwyso neu leihau gostyngiadau yn eu hardal. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, os ydych chi wedi ymrwymo i’r gostyngiad o 25 y cant yn y dreth gyngor, pam eich bod yn rhoi pŵer i gynghorau lleol ddatgymhwyso’r gostyngiadau hyn?

I recognise the concerns about the impact on households during the cost-of-living crisis, and that was very central to our considerations as we looked at the pace of reform. The slower pace was the favoured response in terms of the consultation, so we listened very carefully to that. Some of those arguments that were made to support that request for a slower pace were about the cost of living and the way in which council tax rises might affect families and so on. So, we have, I think, responded well to that. 

What we also recognise is that there are people living in properties that might be high value but they might have a lower income, and it's for that reason that we're undertaking our review of the discounts, disregards and exemptions. That's going on at the moment, and that won't have to wait until 2028; that's work that we're doing at the moment to look at that. It is the case that councils are able to disapply council tax bills for certain properties. So, if there is a reason why they're able to do that, they do have a good level, I think, of flexibility to be able to do that locally. But, as I say, we are currently undergoing that quite significant work, looking at the 53 different categories of discounts and exemptions and so on to make sure that they are fit for purpose. Our working group has suggested that many of them are, but some might need some further work, and then we also need to look at the other groups who should benefit from a discount or an exemption. 

Rwy’n cydnabod y pryderon ynghylch yr effaith ar aelwydydd yn ystod yr argyfwng costau byw, ac roedd hynny’n rhan ganolog o’n hystyriaethau wrth inni edrych ar gyflymder y diwygio. Y cyflymder arafach oedd yr ymateb a ffefrid o ran yr ymgynghoriad, felly fe wnaethom wrando'n ofalus iawn ar hynny. Roedd rhai o’r dadleuon hynny a wnaed i gefnogi’r cais am gyflymder arafach yn ymwneud â chostau byw a’r ffordd y gallai codiadau yn y dreth gyngor effeithio ar deuluoedd ac yn y blaen. Felly, credaf ein bod wedi ymateb yn dda i hynny.

Rydym hefyd yn cydnabod bod pobl yn byw mewn eiddo a allai fod o werth uchel ond y gallai fod ganddynt incwm is, ac am y rheswm hwnnw, rydym yn cynnal ein hadolygiad o'r gostyngiadau, y diystyriadau a'r eithriadau. Mae hynny’n digwydd ar hyn o bryd, ac ni fydd yn rhaid i hynny aros tan 2028; mae hwnnw'n waith a wnawn ar hyn o bryd i edrych ar hynny. Mae’n wir fod cynghorau’n gallu datgymhwyso biliau’r dreth gyngor ar gyfer eiddo penodol. Felly, os oes rheswm pam y gallant wneud hynny, credaf fod ganddynt lefel dda o hyblygrwydd i allu gwneud hynny'n lleol. Ond fel y dywedaf, rydym yn gwneud y gwaith eithaf sylweddol hwnnw ar hyn o bryd, gan edrych ar y 53 o wahanol gategorïau o ostyngiadau ac eithriadau ac ati i sicrhau eu bod yn addas i'r diben. Mae ein gweithgor wedi awgrymu bod llawer ohonynt yn addas i'r diben, ond efallai y bydd angen rhywfaint o waith pellach ar rai, ac mae angen inni edrych hefyd ar y grwpiau eraill a ddylai elwa ar ddisgownt neu eithriad.

13:50

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Peredur Owen Griffiths. 

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, since your reappointment to the Welsh Government, we've heard a number of commitments from your colleagues relating to their portfolios. These announcements have a bearing on budgets and on the bottom lines of each department. My first question today, therefore, relates to the recent Cabinet reshuffle and the transferring of responsibilities between ministerial portfolios. We have seen, for example, the responsibility for the national museums and galleries of Wales, which we know are facing a financial crisis, transferred from the economy portfolio to a new culture and social justice portfolio. Likewise, responsibility for the Welsh language is now part of the reconfigured economy, energy and Welsh language portfolio. These are just two examples of high-level changes. Can I ask what assessments you have undertaken as to the impact of the changes in ministerial responsibilities on the Welsh budget? How has that impacted on the make-up of the Welsh Government's main expenditure groups? Are there knock-on consequences for the quantum of funds made available through particular portfolios? And can I ask when any such assessment will be published? For example, will it be published alongside the supplementary budget to give this Senedd the opportunity to scrutinise those decisions? 

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ers ichi gael eich ailbenodi i Lywodraeth Cymru, rydym wedi clywed nifer o ymrwymiadau gan eich cyd-Aelodau mewn perthynas â'u portffolios. Mae'r cyhoeddiadau hyn yn effeithio ar gyllidebau ac ar linellau sylfaen pob adran. Mae fy nghwestiwn cyntaf heddiw, felly, yn ymwneud ag ad-drefniant diweddar y Cabinet a throsglwyddo cyfrifoldebau rhwng portffolios gweinidogol. Rydym wedi gweld, er enghraifft, y cyfrifoldeb dros amgueddfeydd ac orielau cenedlaethol Cymru, y gwyddom eu bod yn wynebu argyfwng ariannol, yn cael ei drosglwyddo o bortffolio’r economi i bortffolio diwylliant a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol newydd. Yn yr un modd, mae'r cyfrifoldeb am y Gymraeg bellach yn rhan o bortffolio newydd yr economi, ynni a’r Gymraeg. Dim ond dwy enghraifft yw’r rhain o newidiadau lefel uchel. A gaf i ofyn pa asesiadau a wnaethoch o effaith y newidiadau mewn cyfrifoldebau gweinidogol ar gyllideb Cymru? Sut mae hynny wedi effeithio ar gyfansoddiad prif grwpiau gwariant Llywodraeth Cymru? A oes effeithiau canlyniadol i'r swm o arian sydd ar gael drwy bortffolios penodol? Ac a gaf i ofyn pryd y bydd unrhyw asesiad o'r fath yn cael ei gyhoeddi? Er enghraifft, a fydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi ochr yn ochr â’r gyllideb atodol i roi cyfle i’r Senedd hon graffu ar y penderfyniadau hynny?

Yes, certainly. I think that what you've set out is very much our approach to the first supplementary budget, which we will be publishing in June, as normal. Officials have been working through the implications of the changes in responsibilities in terms of MEGs, but then also looking to see if there are any budget expenditure lines that need to be looked at again if, for example, there are things that might be undertaken now in different parts of Government. That's quite a complex piece of work in terms of resetting the MEGs against the new portfolio structures. But it is ongoing at the moment, and the intention is to publish that detail in full at the first supplementary budget. 

Wrth gwrs. Credaf fod yr hyn rydych newydd ei ddweud yn cyd-fynd i raddau helaeth â'n hymagwedd at y gyllideb atodol gyntaf, y byddwn yn ei chyhoeddi ym mis Mehefin, yn ôl yr arfer. Mae swyddogion wedi bod yn gweithio drwy oblygiadau’r newidiadau mewn cyfrifoldebau o ran y prif grwpiau gwariant, ond yn edrych hefyd i weld a oes unrhyw linellau gwariant yn y gyllideb y mae angen edrych eto arnynt os oes pethau, er enghraifft, y gellid eu gwneud nawr mewn gwahanol rannau o'r Llywodraeth. Mae hwnnw'n waith eithaf cymhleth o ran ailosod y prif grwpiau gwariant yn erbyn y strwythurau portffolio newydd. Ond mae’n waith sy'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd, a’r bwriad yw cyhoeddi’r manylion hynny’n llawn yn y gyllideb atodol gyntaf.

Thank you for that answer. It would be very useful to see that tracked through in terms of where it's moved to and from. I'm hoping that level of detail will be available in that. As you've said, as June approaches, we do anticipate the imminent publication of the first supplementary budget. This time last year, we were invited to scrutinise and approve the first supplementary budget, which alleged to have accounted appropriately for the impact of inflation, including through the increased draw-down on the Welsh reserve. However, only a couple of months after the supplementary budget was passed, we were told that the Welsh Government was facing £900 million shortfall in its budget, and that Ministers across all departments had been asked to make substantial cuts in funding to public services. I think it's reasonable to expect a supplementary budget to survive first contact with fiscal reality and that it accurately reflects Wales's real financial position. Can I ask you to confirm, Cabinet Secretary, that we will not be blindsided again this year by a similar financial bombshell over the summer recess, and that the work being undertaken to prepare this year's first supplementary budget is more robust and durable? And what changes have you made to the process to ensure that that's the case? 

Diolch am eich ateb. Byddai’n ddefnyddiol iawn gweld hynny’n cael ei olrhain o ran i ble ac o ble y caiff ei symud. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd lefel honno o fanylder ar gael yn hynny o beth. Fel y dywedoch chi, wrth i fis Mehefin agosáu, rydym yn rhagweld y bydd y gyllideb atodol gyntaf yn cael ei chyhoeddi. Yr adeg hon y llynedd, cawsom ein gwahodd i graffu ar a chymeradwyo'r gyllideb atodol gyntaf, yr honnwyd ei bod wedi rhoi cyfrif priodol am effaith chwyddiant, gan gynnwys drwy’r cynnydd yn y swm o arian a gafodd ei dynnu i lawr o gronfeydd wrth gefn Cymru. Fodd bynnag, ychydig fisoedd yn unig ar ôl i’r gyllideb atodol gael ei derbyn, dywedwyd wrthym fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn wynebu diffyg o £900 miliwn yn ei chyllideb, ac y gofynnwyd i Weinidogion ar draws pob adran wneud toriadau sylweddol mewn cyllid i wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Credaf ei bod yn rhesymol disgwyl i gyllideb atodol oroesi’r cyswllt cyntaf â realiti cyllidol a’i bod yn adlewyrchu gwir sefyllfa ariannol Cymru. A gaf i ofyn i chi gadarnhau, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, na fyddwn yn cael ein synnu eto eleni gan gyhoeddiad ariannol tebyg dros doriad yr haf, a bod y gwaith sy’n cael ei wneud i baratoi cyllideb atodol gyntaf eleni yn fwy cadarn a gwydn? A pha newidiadau a wnaethoch chi i'r broses er mwyn sicrhau hynny?

I wouldn't say that the Senedd or anybody else was blindsided by the work that we did to respond to the impacts of inflation on our budgets, because we were really clear. We did have some debates about it in Government and we decided at the end to make a statement in August of that year, whereas the work, actually, was only completed in October. So, we felt it was important to be transparent about the level of pressure that the Welsh Government was under at the time, and also, then, the work that we would undertake, which culminated in the changes that we made to the budget in October. You'll have seen then that the budget for this financial year baselined some of those changes. So, those things, if you like, have been dealt with and we've moved on from that. But pressures, of course, still remain on the budget, and colleagues are managing their budgets very carefully in order to deliver on their commitments.

What you can see, I think, from the first supplementary budget will be that kind of recasting of the MEGs and so on. We have to manage things as we go through the year. You'll know that our levels of reserves are very minimal as we start this financial year because of the choices that we've taken to allocate as much as we possibly could. There may be things that come forward in the financial year that we need to respond to, so we'll have to maintain a level of ability to respond in that agile way if necessary. But I think that we've dealt, in the main now, with the massive impact of inflation that we saw last year, bearing in mind that those budgets were originally set back in 2021, when we weren't aware of the challenges that were coming our way in terms of inflation and also the war on Ukraine, the high prices of energy and so on.

Ni fyddwn yn dweud bod y Senedd neu unrhyw un arall wedi’u synnu gan y gwaith a wnaethom i ymateb i effeithiau chwyddiant ar ein cyllidebau, gan inni fod yn glir iawn. Cawsom ddadleuon ynglŷn â'r mater yn y Llywodraeth, ac yn y pen draw, fe wnaethom benderfynu gwneud datganiad ym mis Awst y flwyddyn honno, er na chwblhawyd y gwaith tan fis Hydref. Felly, roeddem yn teimlo ei bod yn bwysig bod yn dryloyw ynghylch lefel y pwysau a oedd ar Lywodraeth Cymru ar y pryd, a hefyd, wedyn, y gwaith y byddem yn ei wneud, a arweiniodd at y newidiadau a wnaethom i’r gyllideb ym mis Hydref. Fe fyddwch wedi gweld bryd hynny fod y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon wedi cynnwys rhai o’r newidiadau hynny yn y gyllideb sylfaenol. Felly, fe ymdriniwyd â'r pethau hynny, os mynnwch, ac rydym wedi symud ymlaen o hynny. Ond mae pwysau ar y gyllideb o hyd, wrth gwrs, ac mae fy nghyd-Aelodau'n rheoli eu cyllidebau'n ofalus iawn er mwyn cyflawni eu hymrwymiadau.

Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y gallwch ei weld o’r gyllideb atodol gyntaf fydd y prif grwpiau gwriant yn cael eu had-drefnu ac ati. Mae'n rhaid inni reoli pethau wrth inni fynd drwy'r flwyddyn. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod lefelau ein cronfeydd wrth gefn yn fach iawn wrth inni ddechrau'r flwyddyn ariannol hon oherwydd y dewisiadau a wnaed gennym i ddyrannu cymaint ag y gallem. Efallai y bydd pethau’n codi yn y flwyddyn ariannol y bydd angen inni ymateb iddynt, felly bydd yn rhaid inni gynnal lefel o allu i ymateb yn y ffordd ystwyth honno os oes angen. Ond ar y cyfan, credaf ein bod wedi ymdrin ag effaith enfawr y chwyddiant a welsom y llynedd, gan gofio bod y cyllidebau hynny wedi’u gosod yn wreiddiol yn ôl yn 2021, pan nad oeddem yn ymwybodol o’r heriau a oedd ar y ffordd yn sgil chwyddiant a'r rhyfel yn Wcráin, prisiau uchel ynni ac yn y blaen.

13:55
Symiau Canlyniadol Barnett
Barnett Consequentials

3. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch symiau canlyniadol Barnett i Gymru o ganlyniad i ariannu gofal plant yn Lloegr? OQ61087

3. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the UK Government regarding the Barnett consequentials for Wales as a result of childcare funding in England? OQ61087

I was informed of the Barnett consequentials for Wales as a result of the childcare funding in England in a call with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the morning of the UK spring budget 2023.

Cefais wybod am y cyllid canlyniadol Barnett i Gymru yn sgil y cyllid gofal plant yn Lloegr mewn galwad gyda Phrif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys ar fore cyllideb gwanwyn y DU 2023.

Thank you very much. The cost of childcare in Wales for a child aged two is 63 per cent of a parent's average take-home pay, and as the parent of a daughter who is under two years old, I know from first-hand experience that it costs nearly £1,000 a month for her to be in full-time nursery, and many other parents in the Vale of Clwyd feel the same. With close links between the north-east of Wales and England, people are seeing, particularly in border areas, the positive news coming from the UK Government in terms of childcare funding being in place from nine months and the clear disparity of that being not the case in Wales, with that being two years. I've got many constituents who are desperate to get back to work, they enjoy working, they're young, they're ambitious, they want to do things in life and they want to get back to work, knowing that there's a robust nursery system in place to support their ambitions. So, what would your message be to my constituents who are desperate to get back to work and see the obvious and ever-growing disparity between the systems in England and Wales?

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae cost gofal plant yng Nghymru ar gyfer plentyn dwy oed yn 63 y cant o gyflog cyfartalog rhiant, ac fel rhiant merch o dan ddwy flwydd oed, gwn o brofiad uniongyrchol ei bod yn costio bron i £1,000 y mis iddi fod mewn meithrinfa yn llawnamser, ac mae llawer o rieni eraill yn Nyffryn Clwyd yn teimlo'r un fath. Gyda chysylltiadau agos rhwng gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru a Lloegr, mae pobl yn gweld, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd ar y ffin, y newyddion cadarnhaol gan Lywodraeth y DU am gyllid gofal plant ar gyfer plant o naw mis oed ymlaen a’r gwahaniaeth amlwg rhwng hynny a'r sefyllfa yng Nghymru, lle nad yw'n cael ei gynnig tan eu bod yn ddwyflwydd oed. Mae gennyf lawer o etholwyr sy'n ysu i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith, maent yn mwynhau gweithio, maent yn ifanc, maent yn uchelgeisiol, maent yn dymuno gwneud pethau mewn bywyd ac maent yn dymuno mynd yn ôl i'r gwaith, gan wybod bod system feithrinfeydd gadarn ar waith i gefnogi eu huchelgeisiau. Felly, beth fyddai eich neges i fy etholwyr sy’n ysu i fynd yn ôl i’r gwaith ac sy'n gweld y gwahaniaeth amlwg a chynyddol rhwng y systemau yng Nghymru a Lloegr?

We're focusing on a roll-out of our childcare measures in a way that is focused, structured and budgeted for, and a way in which the sector is there ready, if you like, to deliver on, which isn't the case in England, which I think we can all agree has been quite chaotic in terms of its attempts to roll out the policy. In Wales, we're investing more than £100 million in childcare provision across Wales. That's through our Flying Start offer, and also our childcare offer, but alongside that, £70 million capital in the sector, and also providing support for the workforce directly through training, skills and development and so on.

Also, I know the Conservatives are always very interested in non-domestic rates relief. We're providing 100 per cent business rates relief for registered childcare premises here in Wales, and that goes through until March of next year. That will save registered childcare providers around £10 million in their overhead costs. And also, we're working with Social Care Wales to respond to the challenges of recruitment in the sector, which I think is also really important.

But in terms of our roll-out of our programme here in Wales, we're very much focusing resources on our most disadvantaged communities in the first instance, ensuring that that support reaches the families who are in greatest need at the earliest opportunity. Ultimately, our ambition is for Flying Start childcare services to be available for all two-year-olds in Wales, and we're working with the sector to build capacity to deliver that.

Rydym yn canolbwyntio ar gyflwyno ein mesurau gofal plant mewn ffordd sydd â ffocws, sydd wedi'i strwythuro ac sydd â chyllideb briodol ar ei chyfer, ac mewn ffordd lle mae'r sector yno'n barod, os mynnwch, i'w chyflawni, ac nid yw hynny'n wir yn Lloegr, gan y credaf y gall pob un ohonom gytuno eu bod wedi bod yn eithaf anhrefnus yn eu hymdrechion i gyflwyno’r polisi. Yng Nghymru, rydym yn buddsoddi mwy na £100 miliwn mewn darpariaeth gofal plant ledled Cymru. Mae hynny drwy ein cynnig Dechrau’n Deg, a hefyd ein cynnig gofal plant, ond ochr yn ochr â hynny, £70 miliwn o gyfalaf yn y sector, a hefyd drwy ddarparu cymorth i’r gweithlu yn uniongyrchol ar ffurf hyfforddiant, sgiliau a datblygiad ac yn y blaen.

Hefyd, gwn fod gan y Ceidwadwyr gryn ddiddordeb bob amser mewn rhyddhad ardrethi annomestig. Rydym yn darparu rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 100 y cant ar gyfer safleoedd gofal plant cofrestredig yma yng Nghymru, ac mae hynny'n parhau tan fis Mawrth y flwyddyn nesaf. Bydd hynny'n arbed oddeutu £10 miliwn i ddarparwyr gofal plant cofrestredig o ran cost gorbenion. A hefyd, rydym yn gweithio gyda Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru i ymateb i heriau recriwtio yn y sector, sydd hefyd yn bwysig iawn yn fy marn i.

Ond o ran cyflwyno ein rhaglen yma yng Nghymru, rydym yn canolbwyntio ein hadnoddau ar ein cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig yn y lle cyntaf, gan sicrhau bod y cymorth hwnnw'n cyrraedd y teuluoedd sydd â'r angen mwyaf cyn gynted â phosibl. Yn y pen draw, ein huchelgais yw i wasanaethau gofal plant Dechrau'n Deg fod ar gael i bob plentyn dwy oed yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn gweithio gyda'r sector i adeiladu capasiti i gyflawni hynny.

Cyllid ar gyfer Masnachfreinio Bysiau
Funding for Bus Franchising

4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru a Thrafnidiaeth ynghylch cyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer masnachfreinio bysiau? OQ61110

4. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport regarding additional funding for bus franchising? OQ61110

Decisions about the funding available for bus franchising will be a matter for the budget-setting process in the appropriate years, noting the challenging fiscal outlook that we're facing.

Bydd penderfyniadau ynghylch y cyllid sydd ar gael ar gyfer masnachfreinio bysiau yn fater i’r broses o osod y gyllideb yn y blynyddoedd priodol, gan nodi’r rhagolygon cyllidol heriol sy’n ein hwynebu.

Many of us in north Wales look jealously at the investment going into the south Wales metro, the £1 billion plus upgrade of services, which, of course, is welcome, but, by contrast, we have a rather ambiguous candy floss concoction that's been branded a north Wales metro that merely links up existing rail and bus services. Bus services, as we know, have long been a poor relative of rail, with services in decline since before COVID, actually. I welcome Government proposals around bus franchising and ending the grip that private bus firms have on those services, but for it to work properly, it obviously has to be funded properly. So, can you assure us today that you will be investing more money in bus services to ensure that the proposed bus legislation is as effective as we all hope it to be? And can you also assure us that north Wales will get its fair slice of the cake?

Mae llawer ohonom yng ngogledd Cymru yn edrych yn genfigennus ar y buddsoddiad sy’n cael ei wneud ym metro de Cymru, y gwaith uwchraddio gwasanaethau gwerth £1 biliwn a mwy, sydd, wrth gwrs, i’w groesawu, ond ar y llaw arall, mae gennym gymysgedd candi-fflos braidd yn amwys sydd wedi'i frandio yn fetro gogledd Cymru nad yw ond yn cysylltu gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd a bysiau presennol. Mae gwasanaethau bysiau, fel y gwyddom, wedi bod yn berthynas wael i reilffyrdd ers tro, gyda gwasanaethau’n dirywio ers cyn COVID mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n croesawu gynigion y Llywodraeth ynghylch masnachfreinio bysiau a llacio'r gafael sydd gan gwmnïau bysiau preifat ar y gwasanaethau hynny, ond er mwyn iddo weithio’n iawn, yn amlwg, mae’n rhaid ei ariannu’n briodol. Felly, a allwch chi roi sicrwydd i ni heddiw y byddwch yn buddsoddi mwy o arian mewn gwasanaethau bysiau i sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth fysiau arfaethedig mor effeithiol ag y mae pob un ohonom yn gobeithio y bydd? Ac a allwch chi roi sicrwydd i ni hefyd y bydd y gogledd yn cael eu tafell deg o'r gacen?

14:00

I can't say anything about the budgets for the years that we don't have a settlement for at this point. I think something that needs to be recognised is that we provide significant funding already to support bus services across Wales. But what franchising will allow us to do is to make better use of the funding that we provide and give us more control over the risk and also the power to control the funding that we invest, making sure that it can be spent where it has the greatest impact, reducing inefficiency and improving the integration of the services to make that funding go as far as possible. You will, I'm sure, be very familiar with the bus reform road map that was published; that really does, I think, recognise that future funding will be challenging, so it matters how we spend the limited resources that we have.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to say more in terms of the future funding for the bus franchising, purely because we haven't yet had those discussions, we haven't yet had our settlement from the UK Government. We haven't entered into a spending review period of that sort yet. But we absolutely will be considering the importance of bus services, as we enter those discussions.

Ni allaf ddweud unrhyw beth am y cyllidebau ar gyfer y blynyddoedd nad oes gennym setliad ar eu cyfer ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n credu bod angen cydnabod ein bod yn darparu cyllid sylweddol eisoes i gefnogi gwasanaethau bysiau ledled Cymru. Ond bydd masnachfreinio yn caniatáu inni wneud gwell defnydd o'r cyllid a ddarparwn ac yn rhoi mwy o reolaeth inni dros y risg a hefyd y pŵer i reoli'r cyllid a fuddsoddwn, gan sicrhau y gellir ei wario lle mae'n cael yr effaith fwyaf, gan leihau aneffeithlonrwydd a gwella integreiddiad y gwasanaethau i wneud i'r cyllid hwnnw fynd mor bell ag y gall fynd. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn gyfarwydd iawn â'r cynllun diwygio bysiau a gyhoeddwyd; mae hwnnw'n cydnabod y bydd cyllid yn y dyfodol yn heriol, felly mae'r ffordd y gwariwn yr adnoddau cyfyngedig sydd gennym yn bwysig.

Yn anffodus, ni allaf ddweud rhagor ynghylch cyllid ar gyfer masnachfreinio bysiau yn y dyfodol, a hynny am nad ydym wedi cael y trafodaethau hynny eto, nid ydym wedi cael ein setliad gan Lywodraeth y DU eto. Nid ydym wedi dechrau ar gyfnod adolygu gwariant o'r math hwnnw eto. Ond byddwn yn sicr yn ystyried pwysigrwydd gwasanaethau bysiau wrth inni ddechrau'r trafodaethau hynny.

North Wales relies on buses, certainly in Aberconwy, they do—one in five households do not have access to a car, with four in every five bus users not having access. Clearly, maintaining our bus system is crucial. However, I am concerned about the financials for the franchising model, which, I know, are still under development, and, indeed, we took evidence last week in our climate change committee. Indeed, there are suggestions that London-style franchising will cost at least £300 million a year. You propose to adopt an incentive-based gross cost model, for which Transport for Wales will pay operators a fixed sum to run specific services, and this will keep the revenue in-house. However, it will also mean that TfW is obliged to run services that are at risk of decreasing passenger numbers and thus fund non-financially viable services. 

Now, TfW is known well to this Chamber for its performance in the rail system. As the chief executive of TfW, James Price, has outlined, future funding will be a challenge. Now, again, last week, as we were in the climate change committee with those actually working on the franchise model in England, several concerns were raised as to whether TfW even has the capacity, the resources or the ability to carry out the franchising model in Wales, but also within the timescales set. So, how will you, Minister, work with Transport for Wales to ensure that it does have the resources to make the franchise scheme a success? And what additional funding are you planning to transfer in order to ensure that this is not a failed exercise? Diolch.

Mae gogledd Cymru'n dibynnu ar fysiau, yn sicr yn Aberconwy—nid oes car at eu defnydd gan un aelwyd o bob pump, ac nid oes car at eu defnydd gan bedwar o bob pump defnyddiwr bysiau. Yn amlwg, mae cynnal ein system fysiau'n hanfodol. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n pryderu am y trefniadau ariannol ar gyfer y model masnachfreinio, y gwn eu bod yn dal i gael eu datblygu, ac yn wir, fe glywsom dystiolaeth yr wythnos diwethaf yn ein pwyllgor newid hinsawdd. Yn wir, ceir awgrymiadau y bydd masnachfreinio ar ffurf yr hyn a geir yn Llundain yn costio o leiaf £300 miliwn y flwyddyn. Rydych chi'n argymell mabwysiadu model cost gros sy'n seiliedig ar gymhelliant, y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn talu swm penodol i weithredwyr redeg gwasanaethau penodol, a bydd hyn yn cadw'r refeniw yn fewnol. Fodd bynnag, fe fydd hefyd yn golygu ei bod yn ofynnol i Trafnidiaeth Cymru redeg gwasanaethau sydd mewn perygl o weld lleihad yn nifer y teithwyr gan ariannu gwasanaethau nad ydynt yn hyfyw yn ariannol. 

Nawr, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gyfarwydd i'r Siambr hon am ei berfformiad gyda'r system reilffordd. Fel y mae prif weithredwr Trafnidiaeth Cymru, James Price, wedi amlinellu, bydd cyllid ar gyfer y dyfodol yn her. Nawr, unwaith eto yr wythnos diwethaf, pan oeddem yn y pwyllgor newid hinsawdd gyda'r rhai sy'n gweithio ar y model masnachfreinio yn Lloegr, mynegwyd sawl pryder ynglŷn ag a oes gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru gapasiti, adnoddau neu'r gallu hyd yn oed i gyflawni'r model masnachfreinio yng Nghymru, ond hefyd o fewn yr amserlenni a bennwyd. Felly, Weinidog, sut fyddwch chi'n gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru i sicrhau bod ganddo'r adnoddau i wneud y cynllun masnachfraint yn llwyddiant? A pha gyllid ychwanegol y bwriadwch ei drosglwyddo er mwyn sicrhau nad yw hwn yn ymarfer aflwyddiannus? Diolch.

The first thing to say is that we haven't yet developed the contracts that we will use for the franchising, but our existing contracts for TrawsCymru services will be used as a starting point because they have, already, some of the features that we would expect to see in franchising contracts. This work is being led by the Cabinet Secretary for transport, so he would be much better placed to provide you with detailed answers. But on the financing of it, as I said in my previous answer, we don't yet have budgets for these financial years, so I'm not able to provide any level of certainty to colleagues at this point. But I know, when it does come to the point of scrutinising the budget for those years, this will be a focus for colleagues.

Y peth cyntaf i'w ddweud yw nad ydym eto wedi datblygu'r contractau y byddwn yn eu defnyddio ar gyfer masnachfreinio, ond bydd ein contractau presennol ar gyfer gwasanaethau TrawsCymru yn cael eu defnyddio fel man cychwyn oherwydd bod ganddynt rai o'r nodweddion y byddem yn disgwyl eu gweld eisoes mewn contractau masnachfraint. Mae'r gwaith hwn yn cael ei arwain gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, felly byddai ef mewn sefyllfa well o lawer i roi atebion manwl i chi. Ond ar ei ariannu, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb blaenorol, nid oes gennym gyllidebau ar gyfer y blynyddoedd ariannol hyn eto, felly nid wyf yn gallu darparu unrhyw lefel o sicrwydd i gyd-Aelodau ar hyn o bryd. Ond pan ddaw'n adeg i graffu ar y gyllideb ar gyfer y blynyddoedd hynny, bydd hyn yn ffocws i gyd-Aelodau.

Polisïau Caffael
Procurement Policies

5. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gryfhau ei pholisïau caffael? OQ61082

5. What is the Welsh Government doing to strengthen its procurement policies? OQ61082

Procurement is one of the most important levers we have to support a more equal, more sustainable and more prosperous Wales. Implementing robust procurement policies can help us achieve our ambitious net-zero aspirations, support a green recovery and contribute to our shared ambition for a Wales of fair work.

Caffael yw un o'r ysgogiadau pwysicaf sydd gennym i gefnogi Cymru fwy cyfartal, fwy cynaliadwy a mwy ffyniannus. Gall gweithredu polisïau caffael cadarn ein helpu i gyflawni ein dyheadau sero net uchelgeisiol, cefnogi adferiad gwyrdd a chyfrannu at ein huchelgais cyffredin ar gyfer Cymru gwaith teg.

Cabinet Secretary, I believe that the Welsh public sector should be procuring Welsh goods and services as much as possible. And so when a constituent contacted me with concerns about Cadw's procurement of goods, I was really disappointed to learn recently that only around 60 per cent of suppliers who provide products sold at Cadw sites are actually based here in Wales.

Now, for many years, the Welsh Government has talked about the need to support Welsh businesses, and it's vital that we see organisations such as Cadw—which, after all, is a Welsh Government funded organsiation—doing everything it can to support Welsh suppliers. So, Cabinet Secretary, can you tell us what action the Welsh Government is taking to ensure that all Welsh Government funded organisations and sites are supporting Welsh businesses as much as they can?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n credu y dylai sector cyhoeddus Cymru fod yn caffael nwyddau a gwasanaethau Cymreig gymaint â phosibl. Ac felly pan gysylltodd etholwr â mi gyda phryderon am gaffael nwyddau Cadw, roeddwn yn siomedig iawn o glywed yn ddiweddar mai dim ond tua 60 y cant o'r cyflenwyr sy'n darparu'r cynhyrchion a werthir yn safleoedd Cadw sydd wedi'u lleoli yma yng Nghymru.

Nawr, ers blynyddoedd lawer, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sôn am yr angen i gefnogi busnesau Cymru, ac mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn gweld sefydliadau fel Cadw—sydd, wedi'r cyfan, yn sefydliad a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru—yn gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i gefnogi cyflenwyr Cymreig. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod pob sefydliad a safle a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau Cymreig gymaint ag y gallant?

14:05

I'm very grateful for the question, and it leads me to think of some work that we've been doing through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru in relation to better understanding Welsh spend in terms of procurement. So, we've been looking at how we can map out spend more accurately in Wales, and there are lots of questions, even fundamentally, that we have to answer. So, how do you go about defining a Welsh company? Is it a company that has a business here in Wales, or a postcode here in Wales? Some businesses that contribute an awful lot to the Welsh economy aren’t Welsh businesses, if you like. So, what credence do we give to the number of Welsh employees? That kind of thing. So, we've been looking very closely at how we go about defining that work, and we hope to say a bit more about that in due course.

But then we're also considering how we can establish a kind of ‘made in Wales’ mark that businesses can use themselves to identify themselves, looking at the ‘made in Ireland’ mark that has been given to businesses over there. That does help businesses, as we understand it, to be able to market themselves in Ireland as Irish products. We're looking to see what more we can be doing here.

We do have a great deal of public policy advice notices that are provided to the public sector to enable them to better support businesses that are here in Wales, and also to deliver on some of our other priorities, such as supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. So, there are a number of things going on in procurement at the moment, not least our new procurement legislation.

Following the exit from the European Union, we have had to look fundamentally at the way in which we procure, so we're able, through that legislation, to put a greater focus on procurement in that kind of local context. Equally, we have the work that we've been doing with the UK Government on this as well, and our own social services—. I always say social services, but it is our our social partnership Bill, which again seeks to drive those public goods, if you like, from our procurement.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn, ac mae'n fy arwain i feddwl am waith y buom yn ei wneud drwy'r cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru mewn perthynas â deall gwariant Cymru yn well o ran caffael. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn edrych ar sut y gallwn gynllunio gwariant yn fwy manwl gywir yng Nghymru, ac mae llawer o gwestiynau, cwestiynau sylfaenol hyd yn oed, y mae'n rhaid inni eu hateb. Felly, sut yr ewch chi ati i ddiffinio cwmni Cymreig? Ai cwmni sydd â busnes yma yng Nghymru, neu god post yma yng Nghymru? Nid yw rhai busnesau sy'n cyfrannu llawer iawn at economi Cymru yn fusnesau Cymreig fel y cyfryw. Pa hygrededd y gallwn ei roi i nifer y gweithwyr yng Nghymru, y math hwnnw o beth. Felly, rydym wedi bod yn edrych yn fanwl iawn ar sut yr awn ati i ddiffinio'r gwaith hwnnw, ac rydym yn gobeithio dweud ychydig mwy am hynny maes o law.

Ond wedyn rydym hefyd yn ystyried sut y gallwn sefydlu rhyw fath o farc 'a wnaed yng Nghymru' y gall busnesau eu defnyddio eu hunain i nodi pwy ydynt, gan edrych ar y marc 'a wnaed yn Iwerddon' a roddwyd i fusnesau draw yno. Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallwn, mae hynny'n helpu busnesau i allu marchnata eu hunain yn Iwerddon fel cynhyrchion Gwyddelig. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at weld beth arall y gallwn ei wneud yma.

Mae gennym lawer iawn o hysbysiadau cyngor polisi cyhoeddus sy'n cael eu darparu i'r sector cyhoeddus i'w galluogi i gefnogi busnesau sydd yma yng Nghymru yn well, a hefyd i gyflawni rhai o'n blaenoriaethau eraill, megis cefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig yn enwedig. Felly, mae nifer o bethau'n digwydd ym maes caffael ar hyn o bryd, yn enwedig ein deddfwriaeth caffael newydd.

Yn sgil gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, bu'n rhaid inni edrych yn sylfaenol ar y ffordd rydym yn caffael, felly drwy'r ddeddfwriaeth honno, gallwn roi mwy o ffocws ar gaffael yn y math hwnnw o gyd-destun lleol. Yn yr un modd, mae gennym y gwaith y buom yn ei wneud gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn hefyd, a'n Bil partneriaeth gymdeithasol, sydd unwaith eto'n ceisio ysgogi'r nwyddau cyhoeddus hynny, os mynnwch, drwy ein prosesau caffael.

Ar hyd yr un llinellau â Paul Davies, un o’r pethau mwyaf rhwystredig i fi, yn sicr, o ran cyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, yw’r ffaith bod nifer ohonyn nhw yn allanoli eu gwaith i gwmnïau eraill—cwmnïau sydd yn aml iawn heb bresenoldeb yng Nghymru, sydd heb hyd yn oed weithlu yn gweithio yma. Mae hyn hyd yn oed yn fwy rhwystredig pan rydych yn sylweddoli nad oes rhaid i’r gwaith hwnnw gael ei allanoli. Mae yna sgiliau o fewn y cyrff cyhoeddus hynny a fyddai’n medru ei wneud o, ond am ba bynnag reswm, mae’r corff cyhoeddus yn penderfynu mai’r penderfyniad gorau yw allanoli’r gwaith i gwmni allanol. Felly, pa gamau yr ydych chi’n eu cymryd er mwyn sicrhau nad oes gormod o’r projectau a'r cynlluniau yma yn cael eu hallanoli i gwmnïau allanol, ac os oes rhaid i bethau gael eu hallanoli, eu bod nhw’n cael eu hallanoli i gwmnïau sydd yn dod â budd economaidd i’r cymunedau hynny sydd yn cael y gwaith wedi’i wneud?

Along the same lines as Paul Davies, one of the things that is most frustrating for me, certainly, in terms of public bodies in Wales is the fact that many of them are outsourcing their work to other companies—companies that are very often not located here in Wales, and that don't even have a workforce working here. It's even more frustrating when you consider that that work doesn't have to be outsourced. There are skills within those public bodies that could do it, but for whatever reason, the public body decides that the best decision is to outsource to an external company. So, what steps are you taking in order to ensure that not too many of these projects and plans are outsourced to external companies, and if things do have to be outsourced, that they are outsourced to companies that bring economic benefit to those communities that are being worked upon? 

We know that this is a concern to a number of public bodies, which is why we've worked to develop an insourcing toolkit. We know that a number of local authorities are very interested—local authorities, but you could read across to other parts of the public sector—in what more they could insource. So, we worked hard with, I think it was—. The organisation's name escapes me now, but perhaps I will write to the Member with more information. But we did develop an insourcing toolkit that we felt met the needs that public bodies were telling us that they wanted, in terms of understanding the arguments for insourcing and then testing how they would compare one contract against another, and how you can demonstrate value for money in a different way and so on. So, I think that that toolkit has been well received, and I'd be happy to send you a copy.FootnoteLink

Gwyddom fod hyn yn bryder i nifer o gyrff cyhoeddus, a dyna pam ein bod wedi gweithio i ddatblygu pecyn cymorth mewnoli. Gwyddom fod gan nifer o awdurdodau lleol ddiddordeb mawr—awdurdodau lleol, ond fe allech chi gynnwys rhannau eraill o'r sector cyhoeddus—mewn gweld faint yn fwy y gallent ei fewnoli. Felly, fe wnaethom weithio'n galed gyda—. Nid wyf yn cofio enw'r sefydliad nawr, ond efallai y gwnaf ysgrifennu at yr Aelod gyda mwy o wybodaeth. Ond fe wnaethom ddatblygu pecyn cymorth mewnoli y teimlem ei fod yn diwallu'r anghenion yr oedd cyrff cyhoeddus yn dweud wrthym eu bod eu heisiau, o ran deall y dadleuon dros fewnoli ac yna profi sut y byddent yn cymharu un contract ag un arall, a sut y gallwch ddangos gwerth am arian mewn ffordd wahanol ac yn y blaen. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y pecyn cymorth hwnnw wedi cael derbyniad da, ac rwy'n hapus i anfon copi atoch chi.FootnoteLink

Ardrethi Annomestig
Non-domestic Rates

6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am waith i ddiwygio'r system ardrethi annomestig? OQ61095

6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on work to reform the non-domestic rates system? OQ61095

We remain on track to deliver the programme of reforms that I set out for this Senedd term. Several improvements have already been made, including delivering the 2023 revaluation. Through the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill, we will deliver on the range of specific proposals that we consulted on in 2022.

Rydym yn parhau i fod ar y trywydd iawn i gyflawni'r rhaglen ddiwygiadau a nodais ar gyfer tymor y Senedd hon. Mae nifer o welliannau eisoes wedi'u gwneud, gan gynnwys ailbrisio 2023. Drwy'r Bil Cyllid Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru), byddwn yn cyflawni'r ystod o gynigion penodol y gwnaethom ymgynghori arnynt yn 2022.

14:10

Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. With regard to business rates, amongst the issues most frequently raised with me by constituents is concern at what can feel like an unresponsive system, with there being too long a gap between revaluations. So, could you expand on how the Welsh Government will address this in the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill, and what mechanisms would you like to introduce to ensure a more flexible, responsive system that supports our small businesses on our high streets?

Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mewn perthynas ag ardrethi busnes, ymhlith y materion y bydd etholwyr yn eu codi amlaf gyda mi mae pryder ynghylch yr hyn a all deimlo fel system anymatebol, gyda bwlch rhy hir rhwng ailbrisiadau. Felly, a wnewch chi ehangu ar sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'r afael â hyn yn y Bil Cyllid Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru), a pha fecanweithiau yr hoffech eu cyflwyno i sicrhau system fwy hyblyg, ymatebol sy'n cefnogi ein busnesau bach ar ein strydoedd mawr?

I'm really grateful to Vikki Howells for raising that, and I know that she's been talking to businesses in her local area a great deal, and they have been expressing concerns about those gaps between revaluations. That's one of the reasons why we're introducing, through our local government finance Bill, three-yearly rolling revaluations now for businesses for non-domestic rates. We think that three years does give that balance between certainty for business, but then also reflecting more up-to-date and current market conditions. So, three years is the number that businesses and their representative bodies have been telling us that they would welcome. I think that that's a particularly positive part of our reforms that we're undertaking.

The 2023 revaluation was surprisingly smooth, so I think that we can take some comfort from how well that revaluation went. We were able to provide, of course, some transitional support for businesses that saw an increase in their bills, but when we do have this cycle of more frequent revaluations, we should see a little less churn.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Vikki Howells am godi hynny, a gwn ei bod wedi bod yn siarad llawer gyda busnesau yn ei hardal leol, ac maent wedi bod yn mynegi pryderon am y bylchau rhwng ailbrisiadau. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam ein bod, drwy ein Bil cyllid llywodraeth leol, yn cyflwyno ailbrisiadau treigl tair blynedd nawr i fusnesau ar gyfer ardrethi annomestig. Rydym yn credu bod tair blynedd yn rhoi cydbwysedd rhwng sicrwydd i fusnes, ond hefyd yn adlewyrchu amodau marchnad mwy cyfredol a chyfoes. Felly, tair blynedd yw'r cyfnod y mae busnesau a'u cyrff cynrychiadol wedi bod yn dweud wrthym y byddent yn ei groesawu. Credaf fod hynny'n rhan arbennig o gadarnhaol o'r diwygiadau a gyflawnir gennym.

Roedd ailbrisiad 2023 yn rhyfeddol o esmwyth, felly rwy'n credu y gallwn gael cysur o ba mor dda yr aeth yr ailbrisio hwnnw. Gallasom ddarparu peth cefnogaeth drosiannol i fusnesau a welodd gynnydd yn eu biliau, ond pan fydd gennym gylch o ailbrisiadau amlach, dylem weld ychydig llai o gorddi yn y system.

Cabinet Secretary, unfortunately, for many hospitality businesses, these reforms will be far too late. The sector is facing a perfect hurricane, in the words of UKHospitality Cymru. By the time the business rates system is reformed, we will have lost many businesses, and many town centres across the country will become ghost towns. Cabinet Secretary, the industry is on its knees. Will you, therefore, take urgent action to support the sector by eliminating non-domestic rates for hospitality businesses until a new fairer system is introduced? Thank you.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn anffodus, i lawer o fusnesau lletygarwch, bydd y diwygiadau hyn yn llawer rhy hwyr. Mae'r sector yn wynebu corwynt perffaith, yng ngeiriau UKHospitality Cymru. Erbyn i'r system ardrethi busnes gael ei diwygio, byddwn wedi colli llawer o fusnesau, a bydd llawer o ganol trefi ledled y wlad yn dod yn drefi ysbrydion. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'r diwydiant ar ei liniau. A wnewch chi, felly, roi camau brys ar waith i gefnogi'r sector trwy ddileu ardrethi annomestig i fusnesau lletygarwch nes bod system newydd decach yn cael ei chyflwyno? Diolch.

I'm afraid I can't eliminate non-domestic rates for a very large sector of our economy here in Wales, just because non-domestic rates—. Let's remember the purpose of those non-domestic rates—they are there to provide vital funding for our public services. So, unless colleagues want to tell me where I need to find the money from elsewhere, or what I need to cut as a response to that, I'm afraid that's not something that I can commit to today.

Mae arnaf ofn na allaf ddileu ardrethi annomestig ar gyfer sector mawr iawn o'n heconomi yma yng Nghymru, oherwydd bod ardrethi annomestig—. Gadewch inni gofio pwrpas y trethi annomestig hynny—maent yno i ddarparu cyllid hanfodol i'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Felly, oni bai bod cyd-Aelodau eisiau dweud wrthyf lle mae angen imi ddod o hyd i'r arian o rywle arall, neu beth sydd angen imi ei dorri mewn ymateb i hynny, mae arnaf ofn nad yw hynny'n rhywbeth y gallaf ymrwymo iddo heddiw.

Cyllid Canlyniadol HS2
HS2 Consequential Funding

7. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o'r cyllid y mae Cymru wedi'i golli o ganlyniad i Lywodraeth y DU yn gwrthod dosbarthu HS2 fel prosiect i Loegr yn unig? OQ61108

7. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the funding lost to Wales as a result of the UK Government's refusal to class HS2 as an England-only project? OQ61108

Up to the end of 2024-25, Wales will have missed out on around £350 million as a result of the incorrect classification of HS2 as an England-and-Wales project.

Hyd at ddiwedd 2024-25, bydd Cymru wedi colli oddeutu £350 miliwn o ganlyniad i ddosbarthu HS2 yn anghywir fel prosiect i Gymru a Lloegr.

Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, in a written answer to me yesterday, the First Minister stated that the Welsh Government budget is worth £700 million less than when it was agreed. So, if you add to this the clearly disgraceful decision by the UK Government to class HS2 as an England-and-Wales-only project, even though not an inch of track—or centimetre, even—will be built on Welsh soil, any fair and objective person can ascertain how Wales is being short-changed by the Tory UK Government, whilst the party opposite do nothing to stand up for Wales and Welsh interests. So, Cabinet Secretary, what practical differences, then, would it make to Welsh public life and the tough financial decisions being made every day by the Welsh Government, and our hard-working and hard-stretched local authorities, if the money Wales rightly should have and deserves was actually honourably given to us, or is this simply another great train robbery?

Diolch. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mewn ateb ysgrifenedig i mi ddoe, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog fod cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn werth £700 miliwn yn llai na phan gafodd ei chytuno. Felly, os ychwanegwch at hyn y penderfyniad amlwg warthus gan Lywodraeth y DU i ddosbarthu HS2 fel prosiect i Gymru a Lloegr, er na fydd modfedd o drac—neu gentimetr, hyd yn oed—yn cael ei adeiladu ar bridd Cymru, gall unrhyw berson teg a gwrthrychol weld sut mae Cymru'n cael cam gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU, tra bo'r blaid gyferbyn yn gwneud dim i sefyll dros Gymru a buddiannau Cymru. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa wahaniaethau ymarferol, felly, y byddai'n eu gwneud i fywyd cyhoeddus Cymru a'r penderfyniadau ariannol anodd sy'n cael eu gwneud bob dydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a'n hawdurdodau lleol gweithgar sydd dan gymaint o bwysau, pe bai'r arian y dylai Cymru ei gael ac y mae'n ei haeddu yn cael ei roi i ni mewn gwirionedd, neu ai lladrad trên mawr arall yw hwn?

Well, £350 million could have made a significant difference to us here in Wales in terms of the investment that we're able to make in public services. I think that the UK Government should return that money to Wales. There's absolutely no argument now that the HS2 project, which is basically a London-to-Birmingham railway, has any benefit to us here in Wales. Those kind of flimsy arguments that we would benefit in the past I think have been completely washed away now, so that money I think does need to be returned to us. We're being short-changed in so many ways. When you think about replacement EU funding, for example, that’s a classic example of the UK Government short-changing the Welsh Government, and when you look at the ways in which the UK Government has provided specific funding for Northern Ireland to help Northern Ireland to meet its challenges in terms of public services, but not providing the same for us here in Wales, I think again that’s an example of where we’ve been short-changed. As I’ve said to the Minister in Northern Ireland, we don’t begrudge a penny. We recognise the pressures on public services there, but what we want is fair treatment and fair play right across the United Kingdom.

So, what I would like to see as we start our discussions in terms of the next spending review period is absolutely for this project to be categorised now as an England-only project, as it should have been all along.

Wel, gallai £350 miliwn fod wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i ni yma yng Nghymru o ran y buddsoddiad y gallwn ei wneud mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rwy'n credu y dylai Llywodraeth y DU ddychwelyd yr arian hwnnw i Gymru. Nid oes dadl o gwbl nawr fod prosiect HS2, sef rheilffordd rhwng Llundain a Birmingham yn y bôn, o unrhyw fudd i ni yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu bod y mathau hynny o ddadleuon simsan y byddem yn elwa yn y gorffennol wedi diflannu'n llwyr bellach, felly mae gwir angen dychwelyd yr arian hwnnw i ni. Rydym yn cael cam mewn cymaint o ffyrdd. Pan fyddwch chi'n meddwl am gyllid yn lle cyllid yr UE, er enghraifft, dyna enghraifft glasurol o Lywodraeth y DU sy'n gwneud cam â Llywodraeth Cymru, a phan edrychwch ar y ffyrdd y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi darparu cyllid penodol i Ogledd Iwerddon i helpu Gogledd Iwerddon i oresgyn ei heriau o ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ond heb ddarparu'r un peth i ni yma yng Nghymru, rwy'n credu unwaith eto fod honno'n enghraifft ohonom ni'n cael cam. Fel y dywedais wrth y Gweinidog yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, nid ydym yn gwarafun ceiniog. Rydym yn cydnabod y pwysau ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus yno, ond rydym eisiau triniaeth deg a chwarae teg ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig.

Felly, wrth inni ddechrau ein trafodaethau ar gyfer y cyfnod adolygu gwariant nesaf hoffwn weld y prosiect hwn yn cael ei gategoreiddio fel prosiect i Loegr yn unig, fel y dylai fod o'r dechrau.

14:15

Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Adam Price.

Finally, question 8, Adam Price.

Prosesau'r Gyllideb
Budget Processes

8. Pa gamau mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn eu cymryd i wella gallu'r Senedd i ddylanwadu ar y broses o lunio cyllideb y Llywodraeth? OQ61102

8. What steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to improve the ability of the Senedd to influence the process of shaping the Government's budget? OQ61102

I'm continuing to work with the Finance Committee to agree improvements to our budget processes. Further discussions are planned over the summer with a view to agreeing an updated budget business protocol.

Rwy'n parhau i weithio gyda'r Pwyllgor Cyllid i gytuno ar welliannau i'n prosesau cyllidebol. Mae trafodaethau pellach wedi'u cynllunio dros yr haf gyda'r bwriad o gytuno ar ddiweddariad o brotocol busnes y gyllideb.

O dan systemau sydd yn seiliedig ar San Steffan, wrth gwrs, mae yna duedd i’r Weithrediaeth, i’r Llywodraeth, dal i afael yn dynn iawn ar y gallu i setio’r gyllideb. Rŷn ni yn y Senedd yma—a dweud y gwir, yn Senedd yr Alban hefyd—wedi etifeddu’r agwedd honno. Yn Senedd yr Alban mae gyda nhw Fil Cyllid, ond dim ond y Llywodraeth sy’n gallu dod â gwelliannau ymlaen.

Ond nid dyma’r unig ffordd o wneud pethau, wrth gwrs, ac, wrth i ni nawr diwygio’r Senedd, rŷn ni’n symud tuag at system Ewropeaidd o ran y system etholiadol, a phan ŷn ni’n edrych ar Seneddau yn y gwledydd hynny, gwledydd Sgandinafia, er enghraifft, oherwydd sail negodi rhwng y pleidiau, yn aml iawn lle mae’r Llywodraeth heb fwyafrif, maen nhw’n rhoi pŵer, llawer iawn mwy o bŵer, i, er enghraifft, pwyllgorau—pwyllgorau cyllid yn y Seneddau hynny—i roi gwelliannau penodol ymlaen i’r cyllidebau. Ac nid yn unig hynny yn Ewrop. Hefyd, mae yna ambell o Senedd sydd ar sail San Steffan—Canada, India, De Affrica—sydd hefyd yn rhoi’r gallu yna i bwyllgorau dod â gwelliannau penodol ymlaen. Pam nad ŷn ni’n efelychu hynny fan hyn?

Under systems based on processes in Westminister, there is a tendency for the Executive, the Government, to keep a very tight hold of the ability to set the budget. We in this Senedd, and, truth be told, in the Scottish Parliament as well, have inherited that stance. In the Scottish Parliament they have a Finance Bill, but it's only the Government that can bring forward amendments.

But this is not the only way of doing things, of course, and, as we now reform the Senedd, we are moving towards a European system in terms of the electoral system, and when we look at Parliaments in those nations—Scandinavian countries, for example—because of the negotiation between parties, very often where the Government doesn't have a majority, they provide for more powers in the hands of, for example, committees—the finance committees of those Parliaments—to table specific amendments to the budgets. And not just in Europe. Also, there are some Parliaments that do operate on a Westminster basis—Canada, India, South Africa—that also give that ability to committees to bring forward specific amendments. Why don't we emulate that here?

I'm always interested in finding out what’s happening in other countries. I think that the way in which we can operate in a collaborative and co-operative way here in Wales is demonstrated through the co-operation agreement that we have with Plaid Cymru. I think I’ve had, over the years, some really excellent discussions with Siân Gwenllian as the designated Member there in terms of our preparations for the budget. I hope that those discussions have gone on in a respectful way, where Plaid Cymru is able to see the influence that it has had on our wider budget. So, I think that the way in which we’ve approached things here has been on that kind of party political, if you like, approach to budget setting.

Of course, I’m interested in what’s happening elsewhere. Ultimately, we have to make things balance, if you like, so you could conceivably find yourself in a situation where you have amendments on different tax matters, for example, which mean that the outcome of those amendments leads you then to have to go back and look at your whole budget again to make it balance. But of course I’m happy to consider good examples of what’s happening elsewhere.

I think the budget protocol has been really important in terms of trying to find those additional points through the budget year where we can have that engagement. So, the debate that we have is really important. If we’re not able to publish an early budget because of choices made in Westminster, I go to the Finance Committee to have those discussions, and I know that the sessions with the chief economist have been well received as well. So, we’ve managed to agree quite a number, I think, of things in terms of the changes to the budget protocol, but there are some areas where we’ve yet to come to an agreement, and I know that we’ll have some more discussions over the summer on that.

Rwyf bob amser yn awyddus i ddarganfod beth sy'n digwydd mewn gwledydd eraill. Rwy'n credu bod y ffordd y gallwn weithredu mewn ffordd gydweithredol yma yng Nghymru yn cael ei ddangos drwy'r cytundeb cydweithio sydd gennym gyda Phlaid Cymru. Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi cael trafodaethau ardderchog iawn gyda Siân Gwenllian dros y blynyddoedd fel yr Aelod dynodedig ar ein paratoadau ar gyfer y gyllideb. Rwy'n gobeithio bod y trafodaethau hynny wedi eu cynnal mewn ffordd barchus, lle mae Plaid Cymru yn gallu gweld y dylanwad y mae wedi'i gael ar ein cyllideb ehangach. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y ffordd yr aethom ati i ymdrin â phethau yma wedi dilyn y math hwnnw o drywydd gwleidyddol, os mynnwch, tuag at osod cyllideb.

Wrth gwrs, mae gennyf ddiddordeb yn yr hyn sy'n digwydd mewn mannau eraill. Yn y pen draw, mae'n rhaid inni wneud i bethau gydbwyso, os mynnwch, fel y gallech fod mewn sefyllfa lle mae gennych newidiadau i wahanol faterion treth, er enghraifft, sy'n golygu bod canlyniad y newidiadau hynny'n eich arwain wedyn i orfod mynd yn ôl ac edrych ar eich cyllideb gyfan eto i sicrhau ei bod yn gytbwys. Ond wrth gwrs, rwy'n hapus i ystyried enghreifftiau da o'r hyn sy'n digwydd mewn mannau eraill.

Rwy'n credu bod protocol y gyllideb wedi bod yn bwysig iawn i geisio dod o hyd i'r pwyntiau ychwanegol drwy'r flwyddyn gyllidebol lle gallwn gael yr ymgysylltiad hwnnw. Felly, mae'r ddadl a gawn yn bwysig iawn. Os na allwn gyhoeddi cyllideb gynnar oherwydd dewisiadau a wnaed yn San Steffan, rwy'n mynd at y Pwyllgor Cyllid i gael y trafodaethau hynny, a gwn fod y sesiynau gyda'r prif economegydd wedi cael derbyniad da hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod wedi llwyddo i gytuno ar gryn dipyn o bethau o ran y newidiadau i'r protocol cyllidebol, ond mae rhai meysydd lle nad ydym eto wedi dod i gytundeb, ac rwy'n gwybod y byddwn yn cael mwy o drafodaethau dros yr haf ar hynny.

Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. 

I thank the Cabinet Secretary.

2. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig
2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Y cwestiynau nesaf fydd i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig. Y cwestiwn cyntaf gan Siân Gwenllian.

The next set of questions will be to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. The first question is from Siân Gwenllian.

Pwerdai Nwy Newydd yn Arfon
New Gas-fired Power Plants in Arfon

1. Pa drafodaethau mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi gael gyda Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a’r Gymraeg am effaith cynlluniau i adeiladu gorsafoedd nwy yn Arfon ar dargedau newid hinsawdd y Llywodraeth? OQ61091

1. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language on the impact of plans to build gas-fired power plants in Arfon on Government climate change targets? OQ61091

14:20

Diolch, Siân. Ni allaf wneud sylwadau ar unrhyw gais penodol. Fodd bynnag, fel y gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog yn glir ddoe, nid yw ein polisi cyffredinol yn cefnogi adeiladu gweithfeydd pŵer newydd sy'n tanio ffosil. Rhaid inni leihau allyriadau o bŵer tanwydd ffosil a chynyddu cynhyrchiant o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy i gyrraedd ein targedau hinsawdd uchelgeisiol. 

Thank you, Siân. I cannot make comments on specific cases. But, as the First Minister made clear yesterday, our general policy does not support the construction of new power plants that are fossil-fuel powered. We must reduce fossil fuel emissions and increase generation from renewable sources to meet our ambitious climate targets.

Diolch i chi am ailddatgan safbwynt y Llywodraeth, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn o glywed y Prif Weinidog hefyd yn dweud hyn yn ystod y drafodaeth yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ddoe.

Thank you very much for restating the Government's stance, and I was very pleased to hear the First Minister also saying this during questions to the First Minister yesterday. 

Mae cysylltiad Siân Gwenllian wedi rhewi. Fe wnawn ni symud ymlaen i gwestiwn atodol Mark Isherwood ar y pwynt yma gan obeithio bydd Siân Gwenllian wedi dychwelyd atom ni. Felly, Mark Isherwood. 

Siân Gwenllian's connection seems to have frozen. We will move on to Mark Isherwood's supplementary question at this point in the hope that Siân Gwenllian will have reconnected. So, Mark Isherwood. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Also questioning the First Minister about this yesterday, I noted that the International Energy Agency defines energy security as the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price, that current levels of energy technology and infrastructure necessitate back-up for intermittent renewable energy, which remains dependent upon fossil fuels, predominantly gas, for rapid response and to balance demand, particularly when wind and solar outputs are low, and that it's likely to remain the case for much of the transition period to a carbon-neutral future, and it would be a disservice to the public to pretend otherwise. I then asked him how the Welsh Government proposes to ensure energy security during the years of transition to a carbon-neutral future. In his response, and as you indicate, the First Minister said there is a presumption against new fossil-fuel-powered production in Wales. How do you therefore propose in your new role to address the technological and scientific reality that this is not an either/or choice, and that failure to accept and plan for the risks risks leaving people cold, hungry, thirsty and exposed to life-threatening instability?

Diolch, Lywydd. Hefyd wrth holi'r Prif Weinidog am hyn ddoe, nodais fod yr Asiantaeth Ynni Rhyngwladol yn diffinio diogeledd ynni fel argaeledd di-dor ffynonellau ynni am bris fforddiadwy, fod lefelau presennol o dechnoleg a seilwaith ynni yn galw am ynni wrth gefn, sy'n parhau i ddibynnu ar danwydd ffosil, nwy yn bennaf, i ategu ynni adnewyddadwy ysbeidiol ar gyfer ymateb cyflym ac i gydbwyso'r galw, yn enwedig pan fydd allbynnau gwynt a solar yn isel, a'i bod yn debygol o fod felly am ran helaeth o'r cyfnod pontio i ddyfodol carbon niwtral, a byddai esgus fel arall yn gwneud cam â'r cyhoedd. Yna gofynnais iddo sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu sicrhau diogeledd ynni yn ystod y blynyddoedd o bontio i ddyfodol carbon niwtral. Yn ei ymateb, ac fel y nodwch, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog fod yna ragdybiaeth yn erbyn cynhyrchiant tanwydd ffosil newydd yng Nghymru. Sut ydych chi'n argymell felly yn eich rôl newydd y dylid mynd i'r afael â'r realiti technolegol a gwyddonol nad yw hwn yn ddewis naill ai/neu, a bod methu derbyn a chynllunio ar gyfer y risgiau yn creu risg y bydd pobl yn oer, yn newynog, yn sychedig ac yn agored i ansefydlogrwydd sy'n peryglu bywyd?

Thank you, Mark, for that supplementary, and this isn't an either/or because climate justice and social justice are our twin economic missions and achieving both of them requires collaboration. For our part, the just transition to net zero is at the very heart of this Government; it's embedded throughout everything we do. We will ensure workers and consumers are front and centre in the net-zero transition and that the people of Wales benefit. But, to be absolutely clear, we do need a secure, affordable energy supply and a sustainable industry in Wales.

The climate crisis and our current dependance on expensive globally sourced fossil fuels underlines the importance of an affordable clean energy that is generated in Wales. We need sustainable industries that support the well-being of our economy and citizens and contribute towards decarbonisation. Our programme for government requires that we embed our response to the climate and nature emergency in everything we do, so we do uphold our policy of opposing the extraction of fossil fuels in Wales, both on land and in Welsh waters, using the powers available.

And just to remind the Senedd and colleagues—I'm sure nobody needs reminding—our statutory commitments are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63 per cent by 2030, 89 per cent by 2040, and at least 100 per cent by 2050, based on 1990 levels. This is not mutually exclusive. We need to deliver climate justice and social justice at the same time. 

Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Mark, ac nid yw'n fater o naill ai/neu am mai cyfiawnder hinsawdd a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol yw ein dwy genhadaeth economaidd ac mae angen cydweithredu er mwyn cyflawni'r ddwy ohonynt. O'n rhan ni, mae pontio teg i sero net yn gwbl greiddiol i'r Llywodraeth hon; mae wedi'i ymgorffori ym mhopeth a wnawn. Byddwn yn sicrhau bod gweithwyr a defnyddwyr yn cael lle canolog yn y pontio i sero net a bod pobl Cymru yn elwa. Ond i fod yn gwbl glir, rydym angen cyflenwad ynni diogel, fforddiadwy a diwydiant cynaliadwy yng Nghymru.

Mae'r argyfwng hinsawdd a'n dibyniaeth bresennol ar danwydd ffosil drud o ffynonellau byd-eang yn tanlinellu pwysigrwydd ynni glân fforddiadwy sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu yng Nghymru. Mae arnom angen diwydiannau cynaliadwy sy'n cefnogi lles ein heconomi a'n dinasyddion ac sy'n cyfrannu tuag at ddatgarboneiddio. Mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu yn mynnu ein bod yn ymgorffori ein hymateb i'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur ym mhopeth a wnawn, felly rydym yn cynnal ein polisi o wrthwynebu cloddio am danwydd ffosil yng Nghymru, ar y tir ac yn nyfroedd Cymru, gan ddefnyddio'r pwerau sydd ar gael.

Ac os caf atgoffa'r Senedd a chyd-Aelodau—rwy'n siŵr nad oes angen atgoffa neb—mai ein hymrwymiadau statudol yw lleihau allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr 63 y cant erbyn 2030, 89 y cant erbyn 2040, ac o leiaf 100 y cant erbyn 2050, yn seiliedig ar lefelau 1990. Nid yw'r pethau hyn yn annibynnol ar ei gilydd. Mae angen inni sicrhau cyfiawnder hinsawdd a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol ar yr un pryd. 

Cynllun Dychwelyd Ernes
Deposit-return Scheme

2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynnydd cynllun dychwelyd ernes Llywodraeth Cymru? OQ61100

2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the progress of the Welsh Government's deposit-return scheme? OQ61100

I will, Tom, and thank you. On 25 April, a joint statement on the deposit-return scheme was published, outlining the interoperability positions agreed by all four nations. Having worked closely with England and Northern Ireland on the development of their legislation, it forms the basis for our legislation, which is now being drafted.

Fe wnaf, Tom, a diolch yn fawr. Ar 25 Ebrill, cyhoeddwyd datganiad ar y cyd ar y cynllun dychwelyd ernes, yn amlinellu'r safbwyntiau rhyngweithredadwy y cytunwyd arnynt gan y pedair gwlad. Ar ôl gweithio'n agos gyda Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon ar ddatblygu eu deddfwriaeth, mae'n ffurfio sail i'n deddfwriaeth, sydd bellach yn cael ei drafftio.

Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the response? I know the Welsh Government in its new iteration is keen to create the impression that it is in listening mode. We've heard that from the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport as regards 20 mph, the Cabinet Secretary for Education as regards additional learning needs reforms and from yourself yesterday regarding the sustainable farming scheme. So, I wonder whether you'd be willing to listen to those breweries across Wales who are concerned about the impact that the inclusion of glass in the deposit-return scheme would have on their businesses. Last year, with the Secretary of State for Wales, I visited Bang-On Brewery in Bridgend—I know you're familiar with it; I meant more from a geographical perspective than a familiarity with the product, Cabinet Secretary, but I'm sure you're familiar with Bang-On Brewery, nonetheless. [Laughter.] And they informed me that they thought the impact of the deposit-return scheme meant a bottle of beer there could cost as much as £12.50 or more. So, I wonder whether you've taken time to reflect on the fact that England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not progressing with glass in the deposit-return scheme in the initial instance, and whether Wales now, under your tenure as Cabinet Secretary, might want to follow suit.

A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am yr ymateb? Rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru ar ei newydd wedd yn awyddus i greu'r argraff ei bod yn gwrando. Rydym wedi clywed hynny gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ogledd Cymru a Thrafnidiaeth mewn perthynas â 20 mya, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg ar ddiwygiadau i anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a gennych chi eich hun ddoe ynghylch y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy. Felly, tybed a fyddech chi'n barod i wrando ar y bragdai ledled Cymru sy'n poeni am yr effaith y byddai cynnwys gwydr yn y cynllun dychwelyd ernes yn ei chael ar eu busnesau. Y llynedd, gydag Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, ymwelais â Bang-On Brewery ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr—rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn gyfarwydd â'r lle; hynny yw, yn ddaearyddol yn hytrach na'ch bod yn gyfarwydd â'r cynnyrch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn gyfarwydd â Bang-On Brewery serch hynny. [Chwerthin.] Ac fe wnaethant fy hysbysu eu bod yn credu bod effaith y cynllun dychwelyd ernes yn golygu y gallai potel o gwrw yno gostio cymaint â £12.50 neu fwy. Felly, tybed a ydych chi wedi rhoi amser i ystyried y ffaith nad yw Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon yn symud ymlaen gyda gwydr yn y cynllun dychwelyd ernes ar y cychwyn, ac a fyddai Cymru nawr, o dan eich arweiniad chi fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am wneud yr un peth.

14:25

Well, a couple of points to make in response, Tom. First of all, not only are we keen to engage, but we have been engaging, and I've had two or three round-tables, including with the supply chain, including with brewers, the retail and hospitality sector, over the last few weeks that I've been in post. I'm keen to engage with them, keen to work through how we take this forward.

But just a reminder of why we see glass as being so critical: it is, for a variety of reasons, not least our trajectory to zero carbon, touched on in the previous question—. The fact that we have to, to recycle glass, heat it to 1,500 degrees before we turn it into a recyclate product is significant. Reuse of glass is a major breakthrough in our zero-carbon trajectory, and Wales is far ahead of many others on the recycling of plastics, what we're doing on single-use plastics, what we're doing on aluminium and so on already. We are already third in the world and possibly moving upwards in terms of our recycling, because of bold measures we've taken. But glass needs to be in there; it needs to be an all-in scheme. It's not a question of 'if' but 'when'—it is not a question of 'if' but 'when'. Because this is not only to do with zero carbon, it's to do with litter and the effects of litter on communities, and litter and the links with deprivation, and litter and the links with deprivation and then with criminality, if it's not tackled. It is to do with animal welfare as well. So, there are a number of reasons.

But we will continue to work with all businesses, Tom, very closely indeed, as we seek not only to take forward the four-nation statement on DRS, which we have signed on, but also our fundamental principled position on glass. There are reasons—very good reasons—why glass should be in, and reasons, by the way, why leaving glass out for too long or at an early stage will lead to additional costs for businesses as well. Look at the increase in some of the landfill costs in England at the moment—that's what we're trying to protect against.

Wel, ychydig o bwyntiau i'w gwneud wrth ymateb, Tom. Yn gyntaf oll, rydym yn awyddus i ymgysylltu, ond yn fwy na hynny rydym wedi bod yn ymgysylltu, ac rwyf wedi cael dau neu dri chyfarfod bord gron, yn cynnwys gyda'r gadwyn gyflenwi, gyda bragwyr, y sector manwerthu a lletygarwch, dros yr wythnosau diwethaf ers imi fod yn y swydd. Rwy'n awyddus i ymgysylltu â nhw, yn awyddus i weithio drwy'r ffordd y bwriadwn fwrw ymlaen â hyn.

Ond os caf eich atgoffa pam ein bod yn ystyried gwydr mor dyngedfennol: am amrywiaeth o resymau, yn enwedig ein llwybr tuag at fod yn ddi-garbon, y cyffyrddwyd arno yn y cwestiwn blaenorol—. Mae'r ffaith bod yn rhaid inni gynhesu gwydr i 1,500 gradd cyn gallu ei droi'n gynnyrch ailgylchu yn bwysig. Mae ailddefnyddio gwydr yn gam mawr ymlaen ar ein llwybr di-garbon, ac mae Cymru ymhell ar y blaen i lawer o fannau eraill eisoes gydag ailgylchu plastig, yr hyn a wnawn gyda chynnyrch plastig untro, yr hyn a wnawn gydag alwminiwm ac yn y blaen. Rydym eisoes yn drydydd yn y byd ac o bosibl yn codi gyda'n hailgylchu, oherwydd camau beiddgar a gymerwyd gennym. Ond mae angen i wydr fod yno; mae angen iddo fod yn gynllun sy'n cwmpasu popeth. Nid yw'n gwestiwn o 'os' ond 'pryd'—nid yw'n gwestiwn o 'os' ond 'pryd'. Oherwydd mae hyn yn ymwneud â mwy na di-garbon yn unig, mae'n ymwneud â sbwriel ac effeithiau sbwriel ar gymunedau, a sbwriel a'r cysylltiadau ag amddifadedd, a sbwriel a'r cysylltiadau ag amddifadedd ac yna gyda throseddoldeb, os na chaiff ei oresgyn. Mae hefyd yn ymwneud â lles anifeiliaid. Felly, mae yna nifer o resymau.

Ond byddwn yn parhau i weithio'n agos iawn gyda phob busnes, Tom, wrth inni geisio symud ymlaen â'r datganiad pedair gwlad ar y cynllun dychwelyd ernes, yr ymrwymasom iddo, a hefyd ein safbwynt egwyddorol sylfaenol ar wydr. Mae yna resymau—rhesymau da iawn—pam y dylai gwydr fod i mewn, a rhesymau, gyda llaw, pam y bydd gadael gwydr allan yn rhy hir neu'n gynnar yn arwain at gostau ychwanegol i fusnesau hefyd. Edrychwch ar y cynnydd yn rhai o'r costau tirlenwi yn Lloegr ar hyn o bryd—rydym yn ceisio gwarchod rhag hynny.

It's very typical that we have three Members from Bridgend contributing to this question and we all want to talk about Bang-On Brewery. But Bang-On Brewery is a good example, as are other small breweries across Wales, of some of that concern that is there around glass being included in the DRS, particularly the administrative burden that'll be placed on these smaller producers, who, more often than not, are more like passion projects, staffed by one, two or even three people. So, my question to you, Cabinet Secretary, is: how do we actually ensure, then, that those smaller producers, who, to be fair, aren't the ones that are contributing the most to the litter on the streets, how do we ensure that that administrative burden on them isn't so much to the point where they then start considering what actually their future trading in Wales is actually going to look like?

Mae'n nodweddiadol iawn fod gennym dri Aelod o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr yn cyfrannu at y cwestiwn hwn a'n bod i gyd eisiau siarad am Bang-On Brewery. Ond mae Bang-On Brewery yn enghraifft dda, fel y mae bragdai bach eraill ledled Cymru, o beth o'r pryder sydd gan bobl ynghylch gwydr yn cael ei gynnwys yn y cynllun dychwelyd ernes, yn enwedig y baich gweinyddol a roddir ar gynhyrchwyr llai, sydd, yn amlach na pheidio, yn debycach i 'brosiectau angerdd', wedi'u staffio gan un, dau neu efallai dri o bobl. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yw: sut mae sicrhau felly nad yw'r baich gweinyddol ar y cynhyrchwyr llai, nad ydynt, a bod yn deg, yn cyfrannu llawer at sbwriel ar strydoedd, mor fawr nes eu bod wedyn yn dechrau ystyried sut y byddant yn masnachu yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol?

Thank you, Luke, and I get a feeling I'm going to get some invitation from Bang-On Brewery at some time to go down and visit their premises. I'll clearly be hugely reluctant to take up that invitation—no, I'll definitely accept it, if it does come.

But just to say that working with businesses has already been extensively under way. Can I just remind all colleagues who are contributing to this, that there was a position, only a couple of years off, where there was a UK-wide sign-off on everything, including glass? It's not that Wales has changed its position or Scotland has changed its position; it's that England has changed its position. [Interruption.] Sorry, there are some comments behind saying Scotland has changed its position. Scotland were confronted by a UK administration that said that they would use UKIMA, the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, to thwart their ambitions to move ahead. But, actually, there was sign-off across all the nations on that consultation only as recently as two years ago.

Can I just say, in terms of small breweries, there are ways in which we can deal with this, and small producers as well? So, for example, recognising the potential impact on small producers, producers may choose to register product lines with less than 5,000 units placed on the market across the UK per annum as a low-volume product. Now, this exemption is designed to support those producers with low-volume sales products or specialist sales products who would find DRS requirements disproportionately burdensome. We actually want to work in Wales with our small producers, so that we can support them to make the most of the opportunities, from more resilient supply chains to decreased material costs, and particularly through our plans on reuse in Wales. So, we will continue to work with all of our small producers.

Diolch, Luke, ac rwy'n cael y teimlad fy mod i'n mynd i gael gwahoddiad gan Bang-On Brewery ar ryw adeg i fynd i lawr i ymweld â'u safle. Byddaf yn amlwg yn hynod o amharod i dderbyn y gwahoddiad hwnnw—na, byddaf yn bendant yn ei dderbyn, os daw.

Ond os caf ddweud bod gwaith gyda busnesau eisoes wedi bod yn helaeth. A gaf i atgoffa'r holl gyd-Aelodau sy'n cyfrannu at hyn, fod yna sefyllfa, flwyddyn neu ddwy yn ôl, lle cafwyd cytundeb ledled y DU ar bopeth, gan gynnwys gwydr? Nid yw Cymru wedi newid ei safbwynt ac nid yw'r Alban wedi newid ei safbwynt; mae Lloegr wedi newid ei safbwynt. [Torri ar draws.] Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, mae rhai sylwadau y tu ôl i mi'n dweud bod yr Alban wedi newid ei safbwynt. Roedd yr Alban yn wynebu gweinyddiaeth yn y DU a ddywedodd y byddent yn defnyddio Deddf Marchnad Fewnol y Deyrnas Unedig 2020 i rwystro eu huchelgais i symud ymlaen. Ond mewn gwirionedd, roedd yna gytundeb ar draws yr holl wledydd ar yr ymgynghoriad mor ddiweddar â dwy flynedd yn ôl.

A gaf i ddweud, ar y bragdai bach, fod yna ffyrdd y gallwn fynd i'r afael â hyn, a chynhyrchwyr bach hefyd? Felly, er enghraifft, i gydnabod yr effaith bosibl ar gynhyrchwyr bach, gall cynhyrchwyr ddewis cofrestru llinellau cynnyrch gyda llai na 5,000 o unedau'n cael eu rhoi ar y farchnad ledled y DU bob blwyddyn fel cynnyrch y gwerthir ond ychydig ohono. Nawr, mae'r eithriad hwn wedi'i gynllunio i gefnogi cynhyrchwyr sydd â chynnyrch y gwerthir ond ychydig ohono neu gynhyrchion gwerthiant arbenigol a fyddai'n gweld gofynion y cynllun dychwelyd ernes yn anghymesur o feichus. Rydym eisiau gweithio gyda'n cynhyrchwyr bach yng Nghymru, fel y gallwn eu cefnogi i wneud y mwyaf o'r cyfleoedd, o gadwyni cyflenwi mwy gwydn i gostau is am ddeunyddiau, ac yn enwedig drwy ein cynlluniau ar gyfer ailddefnyddio yng Nghymru. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda'n holl gynhyrchwyr bach.

14:30

Can I welcome this question being put forward and the Cabinet Secretary's answers already? I note the Cabinet Secretary's ambition around the importance of the four-nation approach. I also note his comments around glass being included in a scheme. Very similar to the comments we've heard from Tom Giffard and Luke Fletcher, in my role as chair of the Senedd cross-party group on beer and pubs, I've spoken to a number of small and microbreweries who do have those concerns that have been raised this afternoon, particularly around glass, and when that would be introduced.

Your commitment is really welcome to the industry. I think you're demonstrating that already by meeting a number of times, through round-tables and other avenues, with the industry and stakeholders of the industry. Can I ask you therefore: will you carry on engaging and speaking to the industry—perhaps through the cross-party group as a vehicle to engage with many small and microbreweries across Wales—to make sure that any scheme doesn't disadvantage small and microbreweries across Wales, which play an incredibly important role in our Welsh economy? Diolch.

A gaf i groesawu'r cwestiwn hwn ac atebion Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hyd yn hyn? Rwy'n nodi uchelgais Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynghylch pwysigrwydd y dull pedair gwlad. Rwyf hefyd yn nodi ei sylwadau ynghylch gwydr yn cael ei gynnwys mewn cynllun. Yn debyg iawn i'r sylwadau a glywsom gan Tom Giffard a Luke Fletcher, yn fy rôl fel cadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar gwrw a thafarndai, rwyf wedi siarad â nifer o fragdai bach a microfragdai sydd â'r pryderon a godwyd y prynhawn yma, yn enwedig ynghylch gwydr, a phryd y byddai hynny'n cael ei gyflwyno.

Mae croeso mawr i'ch ymrwymiad i'r diwydiant. Rwy'n credu eich bod yn dangos hynny eisoes trwy gyfarfod nifer o weithiau, trwy gyfarfodydd bord gron a llwybrau eraill, gyda'r diwydiant a rhanddeiliaid y diwydiant. A gaf i ofyn ichi felly: a wnewch chi barhau i ymgysylltu a siarad â'r diwydiant—efallai drwy'r grŵp trawsbleidiol fel cyfrwng i ymgysylltu â llawer o fragdai bach a microfragdai ledled Cymru—i wneud yn siŵr nad yw unrhyw gynllun yn anfanteisiol i fragdai bach a microfragdai ledled Cymru, sy'n chwarae rhan hynod bwysig yn ein heconomi yng Nghymru? Diolch.

Jack, we will, of course, continue that engagement. My thanks for your engagement in this role, with your chairmanship of that group as well, which is a very well-loved cross-party group, I have to say, here in the Senedd.

We'll continue that engagement, but just to reiterate: this is not Wales being the odd one out here. This is Wales trying to do the right thing for our planet, for recyclate as well, and also for a resilient industry. There are real costs, I have to say, to phasing glass in at a later stage, or blocking it from being phased in. It has considerable issues. So, for example, it excludes the material with the greatest carbon footprint and what has the greatest potential in sustainability, but it also means that we could be into the 2030s at the earliest before we introduce glass. Bear in mind that there are over 50 countries that currently have this and the majority actually with glass as well. If we have an initial roll-out without glass, imagine the costs of the redeployment of the equipment that would then take glass subsequently. So, there are a number of reasons why—. And also there wouldn't be a level playing field. So, between aluminiums and plastics and steel and glass, there wouldn't be a level playing field.

But we will, Jack, continue to work in partnership with you, the group, but also with those wider, small-and-medium-scale businesses, which are so important to food and drink within Wales, on whatever proposals we take forward.

Jack, wrth gwrs, byddwn yn parhau â'r ymgysylltiad hwnnw. Diolch am eich cyfranogiad yn y rôl hon, ac am gadeirio'r grŵp hwnnw hefyd, sy'n grŵp trawsbleidiol poblogaidd iawn yma yn y Senedd, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud.

Byddwn yn parhau â'r ymgysylltiad hwnnw, ond i ailadrodd: nid Cymru yw'r eithriad yma. Dyma Gymru'n ceisio gwneud y peth iawn i'n planed, i ddeunydd eildro hefyd, a hefyd ar gyfer diwydiant gwydn. Rhaid imi ddweud bod costau go iawn i gyflwyno gwydr yn raddol yn nes ymlaen, neu ei rwystro rhag cael ei gyflwyno'n raddol. Mae problemau sylweddol yn deillio o hynny. Felly, er enghraifft, mae'n eithrio'r deunydd sydd â'r ôl troed carbon mwyaf a'r hyn sydd â'r potensial mwyaf o ran cynaliadwyedd, ond mae hefyd yn golygu y gallem gyrraedd y 2030au cyn inni gyflwyno gwydr. Cofiwch fod dros 50 o wledydd yn gweithredu hyn nawr a'r mwyafrif yn cynnwys gwydr hefyd. Os ydym yn ei gyflwyno heb wydr ar y cychwyn, dychmygwch gostau ailgymhwyso'r offer a fyddai wedyn yn derbyn gwydr wedi hynny. Felly, mae nifer o resymau pam—. A hefyd ni fyddai cydbwysedd. Felly, rhwng alwminiwm a phlastig a dur a gwydr, ni fyddai cydbwysedd.

Ond Jack, byddwn yn parhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth â chi, y grŵp, ond hefyd gyda'r busnesau ar raddfa ehangach, busnesau bach a chanolig, sydd mor bwysig i fwyd a diod yng Nghymru, ar ba gynigion bynnag a ddatblygwn.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Diolch, Llywydd. Only last year, we in the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee branded the Welsh Government's efforts on environmental governance as inadequate. Over several months, we've actually, or I certainly said it was woefully inadequate. The crisis here in Wales is now worse. Wales still remains the sole region in the UK without a permanent body dedicated to scrutinising its Government's environmental performance. Welsh Water has breached regulations more than 200 times since 2018, but was only fined twice. The Wales environment network also agreed that current arrangements for the interim do not constitute a route to good environmental governance.

Enforcement by Natural Resources Wales has resulted in only 50 fines across 880 breaches in recent years. And even after NRW undertook a year-long investigation into the illegal dumping of waste in a site of special scientific interest on the Gwent levels, and David John Neal was given a three-month suspended sentence, the First Minister deemed it acceptable to accept a £200,000 donation. Called out in this Senedd by Paul Davies and Andrew Davies, our leader, Vaughan Gething MS, otherwise known as the First Minister, has sold any credibility on the nature crisis down at the Gwent levels just to ultimately become First Minister. Would you, Minister, have accepted this donation? Should it be returned? And how do you mitigate the embarrassment felt by, I'm sure, other Members of the Welsh Government, backbenchers and indeed, us, as Senedd Members?

Diolch, Lywydd. Y llynedd, fe wnaethom ni ar y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith ddisgrifio ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru ar lywodraethiant amgylcheddol fel rhai annigonol. Dros sawl mis, rydym wedi, neu yn sicr fe ddywedais i ei fod yn druenus o annigonol. Mae'r argyfwng yma yng Nghymru yn waeth erbyn hyn. Cymru yw'r unig ranbarth yn y DU o hyd heb gorff parhaol sy'n ymroddedig i graffu ar berfformiad amgylcheddol ei Lywodraeth. Mae Dŵr Cymru wedi torri rheoliadau fwy na 200 o weithiau ers 2018, ond ddwywaith yn unig y cafodd ddirwy. Cytunodd rhwydwaith amgylchedd Cymru hefyd nad yw'r trefniadau interim presennol yn llwybr at lywodraethiant amgylcheddol da.

Mae gwaith gorfodi gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (CNC) wedi arwain at 50 o ddirwyon yn unig ar draws 880 o achosion o dorri rheolau yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. A hyd yn oed ar ôl i CNC gynnal ymchwiliad blwyddyn o hyd i ollwng gwastraff yn anghyfreithlon mewn safle o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig ar wastadeddau Gwent, ac i David John Neal gael dedfryd o dri mis wedi'i gohirio, roedd y Prif Weinidog o'r farn ei bod yn dderbyniol derbyn rhodd o £200,000. Cafodd hyn sylw yn y Senedd hon gan Paul Davies ac Andrew Davies, ein harweinydd, ac mae Vaughan Gething AS, y'i gelwir fel arall yn Brif Weinidog, wedi gwerthu unrhyw hygrededd ynghylch yr argyfwng natur ar wastadeddau Gwent er mwyn dod yn Brif Weinidog. A fyddech chi, Weinidog, wedi derbyn y rhodd hon? A ddylid ei dychwelyd? A sut mae lliniaru'r embaras a deimlir, rwy'n siŵr, gan Aelodau eraill o Lywodraeth Cymru, y meinciau cefn ac yn wir, gennym ni, fel Aelodau o'r Senedd?

Well, Janet, can I deal with the substance of your question rather than the political points that you're making? The substance of your question is to do with the environmental governance within Wales, and it is a factor of our withdrawal from the EU that we lost that framework, and we now have to put in place—. And I give credit, I have to say, to the interim assessor, and a very small unit, for the work that they've done already. But I'm glad, I think, taking it from the comments that you've made, that we have your support for the work that we will bring forward on the environmental governance and biodiversity targets Bill, which will actually fill those gaps that we have now lost. That will put in place not only a permanent environmental governance body, which is important—we need that—but it will drop down those environmental principles. We always made clear in Wales that we will not take a step back, and I would ask for consistency from all Members of this Chamber, then, when we come to difficult decisions on environmental matters, that we stand steadfast with it, in line with the well-being of future generations approach as well. And we will also put in place, following the COP on biodiversity last year, which my predecessor Julie James attended, all those targets that drop down from the United Nations high targets into Welsh domestic targets as well. That it is the way to proceed. If you don't mind, I'll ignore the politics that you're trying to make of what is actually a very serious and substantive issue, but thank you for your support.

Wel, Janet, a gaf i ymdrin â sylwedd eich cwestiwn yn hytrach na'r pwyntiau gwleidyddol a wnewch? Mae sylwedd eich cwestiwn yn ymwneud â'r llywodraethiant amgylcheddol yng Nghymru, ac mae'n ffactor o'r ffaith inni adael yr UE ein bod wedi colli'r fframwaith hwnnw, ac mae'n rhaid inni nawr roi ar waith—. Ac rwy'n rhoi clod, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, i'r asesydd dros dro, ac uned fach iawn, am y gwaith y maent wedi ei wneud eisoes. Ond rwy'n falch, rwy'n credu, o'r sylwadau a wnaethoch, eich bod yn cefnogi'r gwaith y byddwn yn ei gyflwyno ar y Bil llywodraethiant amgylcheddol a thargedau bioamrywiaeth, a fydd yn llenwi'r bylchau yr ydym wedi'u colli bellach. Bydd hynny nid yn unig yn rhoi corff llywodraethiant amgylcheddol parhaol ar waith, sy'n bwysig—mae angen hynny arnom—ond bydd yn sefydlu'r egwyddorion amgylcheddol hynny. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir bob amser yng Nghymru na fyddwn yn cymryd cam yn ôl, a hoffwn ofyn am gysondeb gan holl Aelodau'r Siambr hon, pan ddown at benderfyniadau anodd ar faterion amgylcheddol, y byddwn yn sefyll yn gadarn ag ef, yn unol â dull llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol hefyd. Ac yn dilyn y COP ar fioamrywiaeth y llynedd, a fynychwyd gan fy rhagflaenydd Julie James, byddwn yn sefydlu'r holl dargedau sy'n deillio o dargedau uchel y Cenhedloedd Unedig yn nhargedau domestig Cymru. Dyna'r ffordd ymlaen. Os nad oes ots gennych, fe anwybyddaf y wleidyddiaeth y ceisiwch ei gwneud o rywbeth sy'n fater difrifol a sylweddol iawn, ond diolch i chi am eich cefnogaeth.

14:35

That was not an answer to the questions I raised with you. Referring to the case against Mr Neal, NRW said:

'The outcome of this case shows that companies and individuals who seek to exploit the regulatory framework...will not be tolerated by Natural Resources Wales.'

NRW has actually drawn a clear red line that they do not tolerate those who seek to exploit regulations that protect the public and our environment. However, as reported in March, the First Minister shockingly asked NRW, allegedly, to ease restrictions on one of Mr Neal's companies, Atlantic Recycling. If only it ended there. The First Minister then accepted £100,000 in December 2023, £100,000 in January 2024. Shockingly, this coincided with Mr Neal pleading guilty to another offence in January—not once, not twice, but three times a charm. This absolutely stinks. Jeremy Miles MS and Mick Antoniw MS have both said that they would not have accepted this money.

Do you, Cabinet Secretary, not believe that the First Minister has crossed his own red line and that he's undermined his Welsh Government by not only tolerating, but supporting an individual and companies that have fundamentally undermined our environment, and have caused misery to so many people?

Nid oedd hwnnw'n ateb i'r cwestiynau a ofynnais ichi. Wrth gyfeirio at yr achos yn erbyn Mr Neal, dywedodd CNC:

'Mae canlyniad yr achos hwn yn dangos na fydd cwmnïau ac unigolion sy'n ceisio manteisio ar y fframwaith rheoleiddio...yn cael eu goddef gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru.'

Mae CNC wedi tynnu llinell goch glir nad ydynt yn goddef y rhai sy'n ceisio manteisio ar reoliadau sy'n diogelu'r cyhoedd a'n hamgylchedd. Fodd bynnag, fel yr adroddwyd ym mis Mawrth, yn gywilyddus, fe ofynnodd y Prif Weinidog i CNC, yn ôl yr honiad, i leddfu cyfyngiadau ar un o gwmnïau Mr Neal, Atlantic Recycling. Pe bai ond wedi diwedd yn y fan honno. Wedyn, fe dderbyniodd y Prif Weinidog £100,000 ym mis Rhagfyr 2023, £100,000 ym mis Ionawr 2024. Yn gywilyddus, roedd hyn yn cyd-daro â Mr Neal yn pledio'n euog i drosedd arall ym mis Ionawr—nid unwaith, nid ddwywaith, ond deirgwaith. Mae hyn i gyd yn drewi. Mae Jeremy Miles AS a Mick Antoniw AS ill dau wedi dweud na fyddent wedi derbyn yr arian hwn.

Onid ydych chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn credu bod y Prif Weinidog wedi croesi ei linell goch ei hun a'i fod wedi tanseilio Llywodraeth Cymru nid yn unig drwy oddef, ond drwy gefnogi unigolyn a chwmnïau sydd wedi tanseilio ein hamgylchedd yn sylfaenol, ac wedi achosi trallod i gymaint o bobl?

Well, Llywydd, today on the Senedd floor, the privilege we have to be here, there are 101 important environmental matters that could have been brought to my attention by Janet as the frontbench spokesman. Rather than that, she's focused on issues that the First Minister has already addressed repeatedly. And let me just say in terms of the red lines on this as well: there is a Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs—that's me. My responsibilities are there. In the same way that NRW has those very firm lines on what they do, without influence, and so on, so do I. That is my role. So, unless, Janet, you are directly questioning my integrity, then I say to you, let's talk about matters of substantial interest to Wales and the people of Wales and the quality of our natural environment, and let's get back to doing the day job.

Wel, Lywydd, heddiw ar lawr y Senedd, y fraint sydd gennym i fod yma, mae yna 101 o faterion amgylcheddol pwysig y gallai Janet fod wedi tynnu fy sylw atynt fel llefarydd y fainc flaen. Yn hytrach na hynny, mae'n canolbwyntio ar faterion y mae'r Prif Weinidog eisoes wedi rhoi sylw iddynt dro ar ôl tro. A gadewch imi ddweud o ran y llinellau coch ar hyn hefyd: mae yna Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig—fi yw hwnnw. Dyna yw fy nghyfrifoldebau i. Yn yr un modd ag y mae gan CNC y llinellau cadarn hynny ar yr hyn a wnânt, heb ddylanwad, ac yn y blaen, felly y mae gennyf innau. Dyna fy rôl. Felly, oni bai, Janet, eich bod yn cwestiynu fy uniondeb yn uniongyrchol, rwy'n dweud wrthych, gadewch inni siarad am faterion sydd o ddiddordeb o bwys i Gymru a phobl Cymru ac ansawdd ein hamgylchedd naturiol, a gadewch inni ddychwelyd at wneud ein gwaith bob dydd.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I wouldn't dream of questioning your integrity because you didn't accept the money. But that the leader of Welsh Labour has publicly accepted money from an environmental law-breaker is unacceptable, and we should not be accepting this. I find it quite appalling that there appears to be no redress on ethical and moral standards by the First Minister.

Just look at the suffering in Pembrokeshire: Public Health Wales feeling the need to tell residents that they should keep their windows closed, and doors, during what is now—hopefully and thankfully—warm weather, because the emissions may be harmful to health, and to contact any health provider if there are any concerns. This week, the head of south-west operations for NRW said:

'We fully understand the strength of feeling and growing impatience amongst people living and working in the surrounding communities.'

Do you acknowledge that the First Minister's refusal to return the donation is causing him now, and your Government, to be perceived as backing a donor instead of the local community, which is now clearly suffering from this environmental disaster? What pressure will you now put on NRW to ensure that these breaches end now? And also, are you looking, with NRW, at the permit that this operator is actually using to carry on with this shocking situation that is affecting so many people's lives? Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ni fyddwn yn breuddwydio cwestiynu eich uniondeb chi oherwydd ni wnaethoch chi dderbyn yr arian. Ond mae'r ffaith bod arweinydd Llafur Cymru wedi derbyn arian yn gyhoeddus gan dorrwr cyfraith amgylcheddol yn annerbyniol, ac ni ddylem dderbyn hyn. Rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n warthus nad yw'n ymddangos bod unrhyw atebolrwydd am safonau moesegol a moesol y Prif Weinidog.

Edrychwch ar y dioddefaint yn sir Benfro: Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn teimlo'r angen i ddweud wrth drigolion y dylent gadw eu ffenestri ar gau, a drysau, yn ystod yr hyn sydd bellach—gobeithio a diolch byth—yn dywydd cynnes, oherwydd y gall yr allyriadau fod yn niweidiol i iechyd, ac i gysylltu ag unrhyw ddarparwr iechyd os oes unrhyw bryderon. Yr wythnos hon, dywedodd pennaeth gweithrediadau'r de-orllewin ar ran CNC:

'Rydym yn deall y teimladau cryfion a’r diffyg amynedd cynyddol ymhlith pobl sy’n byw ac yn gweithio yn y cymunedau cyfagos.'

A ydych chi'n cydnabod bod penderfyniad y Prif Weinidog i wrthod dychwelyd y rhodd yn achosi iddo ef, a'ch Llywodraeth, gael eu hystyried fel rhywun sy'n cefnogi rhoddwr yn hytrach na'r gymuned leol, sydd bellach yn amlwg yn dioddef o'r trychineb amgylcheddol hwn? Pa bwysau y byddwch chi'n ei roi ar CNC nawr i sicrhau bod yr achosion hyn o dorri rheolau yn dod i ben nawr? A hefyd, a ydych chi'n edrych, gyda CNC, ar y drwydded y mae'r gweithredwr hwn yn ei defnyddio i barhau'r sefyllfa frawychus hon sy'n effeithio ar fywydau cymaint o bobl? Diolch.

14:40

Thank you, Janet, for moving on to the particular matter that is causing high concern around the Withyhedge landfill site. If you'll excuse me, I'll choose not to conflate it with, again, the wider political points that you're making, because, on the ground, there is a situation where I have the most enormous amount of empathy with those individuals, and we heard earlier, actually, and at First Minister's questions yesterday as well, Llywydd, some of the concerns there. 

Public Health Wales, and of course NRW, are on the ground. I know we have a further question coming on this very soon as well. But I've made clear, when asked about this in previous questions—and so has the First Minister—that NRW, as the regulatory and enforcement body on the ground, are not only there, and also engaging with residents, but have put in place the measures that they require of the operator, and if those measures do not take place and are not made effective, and if the concerns of residents are not addressed, they have enforcement powers to use. And one of those deadlines passed yesterday. So, on that basis, rather than take—. I think we'll come back to this question with another Member, which I'll address in further detail. 

Diolch, Janet, am symud ymlaen at y mater penodol sy'n achosi pryder mawr ynghylch safle tirlenwi Withyhedge. Os gwnewch chi fy esgusodi, unwaith eto, rwy'n dewis peidio â'i gyfuno â'r pwyntiau gwleidyddol ehangach a wnewch, oherwydd, ar lawr gwlad, mae yna sefyllfa lle mae gennyf empathi enfawr â'r unigolion hynny, a chlywsom yn gynharach, ac yn ystod y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog ddoe hefyd am rai o'r pryderon yno.

Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, ac CNC wrth gwrs, yn gweithio ar lawr gwlad. Rwy'n gwybod bod gennym gwestiwn arall ar hyn yn fuan hefyd. Ond rwyf wedi nodi'n glir, pan ofynnwyd imi am hyn mewn cwestiynau blaenorol—ac mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi gwneud hynny hefyd—fod CNC, fel y corff rheoleiddio a gorfodi ar lawr gwlad, nid yn unig yno, a hefyd yn ymgysylltu â thrigolion, ond wedi gweithredu'r mesurau y maent yn gofyn amdanynt gan y gweithredwr, ac os nad yw'r mesurau hynny'n digwydd ac nad ydynt yn dod i rym, ac os na eir i'r afael â phryderon trigolion, mae ganddynt bwerau gorfodi i'w defnyddio. A ddoe oedd un o'r dyddiadau ar gyfer gweithredu mesurau. Felly, ar y sail honno, yn hytrach na chymryd—. Rwy'n credu y byddwn yn dychwelyd at y cwestiwn hwn gydag Aelod arall, a rhoddaf sylw manylach iddo bryd hynny. 

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru nawr, Delyth Jewell.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson now, Delyth Jewell.

Diolch, Llywydd. Dwi eisiau gofyn i chi am dueddiadau mapio bydol o ran newid hinsawdd, plis, a sut mae hynny'n effeithio ar ein gwaith ni yng Nghymru. Mae yna gonsensws nawr ymysg rhai o'r gwyddonwyr hinsawdd mwyaf blaenllaw bod y byd ar gwrs hynod niweidiol. Bydd ein tymheredd yn cynyddu o leiaf 2.5 gradd C, a gyda hynny, bydd mwy o lifogydd, tân, cynhesu a stormydd—senario reit hunllefus.

So, yn gyntaf, pa effaith fydd hyn yn ei gael ar Gymru? Ond, ar yr un pryd, mae creisis arall o ran cyfathrebu'r her yna. Mae gwleidyddiaeth San Steffan fwyfwy yn chwarae lawr pwysigrwydd cyrraedd net zero. Mae'r Ceidwadwyr, wrth gwrs, wedi arwain ar hyn yn San Steffan, ond mae Llafur ar lefel Brydeinig yn pellhau oddi wrth yr uchelgais rŷn ni ei angen. Felly, pa effaith mae'r pellter neu'r gwacter yna rhwng yr hyn sydd angen digwydd fel mater o frys, a'r ffordd mae gwleidyddion San Steffan yn siarad am y peth—? Pa effaith mae hynna'n ei gael ar hyder y cyhoedd, a hefyd yr ymdeimlad o ddyfalbarhad?

Thank you, Llywydd. I'd like to ask you about global mapping trends in terms of climate change, please, and how that impacts on our work here in Wales. There is now a consensus amongst some of the most prominent climate scientists that the world is on a very damaging course. Global temperatures will rise by at least 2.5 degrees C, and with that, there will be more floods, fires, heating and storms—a nightmarish scenario. 

So, first, what impact will this have on Wales? But also, at the same time, there is another crisis when it comes to communicating that challenge. Westminster politics increasingly downplays the importance of reaching net zero. The Conservatives, of course, have led on this in Westminster, but Labour on a UK level are retreating from the ambition that we need to see. So, what effect is that distance or that gap between what needs to happen as a matter of urgency, and the way that Westminster politicians discuss these issues—? What impact is that having on public confidence, and on that feeling of perseverance?

Delyth, thank you very much for that question. The global trends are incredibly worrying, and we're not immune from this. We can see this in the recent mapping that was done in Wales in terms of flood and coastal inundation, which was the latest set of mapping. It's no surprise to us now, and we need to put in place, then, the toolkit of how we respond to that. We saw it over, not just this winter, but in the trends that we've seen over the last decade and more in the farming community, and to do that, we need to put in place the toolkit. Part of that is, by the way, the sustainable farming scheme that we debated yesterday, about how we can deliver resilience into our farming as well, recognising they're going to have extreme wet weather for prolonged periods, and then drought as well within Wales. So, it's really impacting us directly. And, sometimes, we as policy makers, and as parliamentarians, need to do all we can to explain in very direct terms what this means.

So, if we do not deal with this, it will mean more expensive food on our plates. If we do not deal with this, it will be more people exposed within their homes to risk to property, but also to life and limb as well. It's that scale of it. That's why we need to do it. It's now, as well as our children and grandchildren. Because that way, we can then bring the public with us. But it isn't a question of scaring the public, or making them so pessimistic that they think we can do nothing. It's being realistic about the incredible challenges that we now face, because the projections on where we are with the climate heating, as many people refer to it, rather than global warming, are stark and clear. And that's why the sooner—as Lord Stern warned us all those years ago—the sooner we invest in the multiple ways to deal with this, across my Cabinet colleagues, in housing, in transport, in farming, et cetera, et cetera, then the sooner we start to turn the tide again. And we have to give people that optimism to bring people with us, but not run away from hard choices. 

Delyth, diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae'r tueddiadau byd-eang yn hynod bryderus, ac nid ydym yn ddiogel rhag hyn. Gallwn weld hyn yn y gwaith mapio diweddar a wnaed yng Nghymru ar lifogydd a llifogydd arfordirol, sef y set ddiweddaraf o fapiau. Nid yw'n syndod i ni mwyach, ac mae angen inni roi'r pecyn cymorth ar waith ar gyfer sut rydym yn ymateb i hynny. Fe'i gwelsom, nid yn unig dros y gaeaf, ond yn y tueddiadau a welsom dros y degawd a mwy diwethaf yn y gymuned ffermio, ac i wneud hynny, mae angen inni roi'r pecyn cymorth ar waith. Rhan o hynny, gyda llaw, yw'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy a drafodwyd gennym ddoe, ynghylch sut y gallwn sicrhau gwytnwch yn ein ffermio hefyd, gan gydnabod eu bod yn mynd i gael tywydd gwlyb eithafol am gyfnodau hir, ac yna sychder hefyd yng Nghymru. Felly, mae'n effeithio arnom yn uniongyrchol. Ac weithiau, mae angen i ni fel llunwyr polisi, ac fel seneddwyr, wneud popeth yn ein gallu i egluro mewn termau uniongyrchol iawn beth mae hyn yn ei olygu.

Felly, os na fyddwn yn ymdrin â hyn, bydd yn golygu bwyd drytach ar ein platiau. Os na fyddwn yn ymdrin â hyn, bydd mwy o bobl yn eu cartrefi yn profi perygl i'w heiddo, ond i fywyd hefyd. Dyna raddfa'r peth. Dyna pam mae angen inni ei wneud. Ar gyfer nawr, yn ogystal â'n plant a'n hwyrion. Oherwydd fel hynny, gallwn ddod â'r cyhoedd gyda ni. Ond nid yw'n fater o godi ofn ar y cyhoedd, na'u gwneud mor ddiobaith nes eu bod yn credu na allwn wneud dim byd. Mae'n ymwneud â bod yn realistig am yr heriau aruthrol sy'n ein hwynebu bellach, oherwydd mae'r amcanestyniadau ar ble rydym arni gyda'r hinsawdd yn cynhesu, fel mae llawer o bobl yn cyfeirio ato, yn hytrach na chynhesu byd-eang, yn amlwg ac yn glir. A dyna pam—fel y rhybuddiodd yr Arglwydd Stern yr holl flynyddoedd yn ôl—po gynharaf y gwnawn fuddsoddi yn y ffyrdd lluosog o ymdrin â hyn, ar draws fy nghyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet, ym maes tai, trafnidiaeth, ffermio, ac ati, y cynharaf y gwnawn ddechrau troi'r llanw eto. Ac mae'n rhaid inni roi'r optimistiaeth honno i bobl er mwyn dod â phobl gyda ni, ond gan beidio â throi ein cefnau ar ddewisiadau anodd. 

Thank you for that. Would you agree that, at the same time—and I agree with you, we must not scare people—playing it down is equally damaging, and damaging not just for the climate, but for politics, trust in politics, and all sorts?

Diolch am hynny. A fyddech yn cytuno, ar yr un pryd—ac rwy'n cytuno â chi, na ddylem godi ofn ar bobl—fod ei fychanu yr un mor niweidiol, ac yn niweidiol nid yn unig i'r hinsawdd, ond i wleidyddiaeth, ymddiriedaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth, a phob math o bethau?

Diolch am hynny. Rydyn ni wedi clywed eich bod chi'n cytuno â hynny.

Nawr, mae nifer ohonom ni, y mwyafrif yn y Senedd, am gael mwy o bwerau wedi'u datganoli, fel Ystad y Goron, pwerau dros y grid, pwerau ynni cynaliadwy ar raddfa lot yn fwy. Beth ydych chi’n mynd i'w wneud i sicrhau bod y pwerau hyn yn dod i Gymru? Ym mha ffyrdd fyddwch chi'n gweithio gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros ynni, y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a’r Prif Weinidog i gael y rhain? Mae lot o siarad ac mae lot o eiriau da wedi cael eu dweud ynglŷn â pham dylem ni gael y pwerau hyn, ond a fyddwch chi'n gosod mas strategaeth ynglŷn â sut fyddwch chi’n sicrhau bod y pwerau hyn yn dod—strategaeth i ddelio gyda'r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, ond hefyd y darpar Lywodraeth allai ddod o'r Blaid Lafur hefyd ar ôl yr etholiad nesaf?

Thank you for that. We've heard your agreement with those points.

A number of us, the majority in the Senedd, want to see more powers being devolved, such as powers over the Crown Estate, over the grid, and over sustainable energy generation on a larger scale. What are you doing to ensure that these powers do come to Wales? How will you be working with the Cabinet Secretary for energy, the General Counsel and the First Minister to secure these powers? There's a great deal of talk and there are very warm words spoken about why we should have these powers, but will you outline a strategy about how you will be ensuring that these powers do come to Wales—a strategy to respond to the Westminster Government, but also to a prospective future Labour UK Government after the next election?

14:45

A very good point to end on. I think the way that we do this is—I know it wasn't meant in the question—rather than write out a strategy, it's a plan we're already involved in. It does mean consistently arguing the case, whether it's in letter or in bilateral meetings with the current Government or with any future potential Government as well. It does also mean working this across Government, so doing it hand in hand with other Cabinet Members, including my colleague Jeremy Miles as well, so that we are saying exactly the same thing in whichever meeting we go into and repeating and repeating ad nauseam until it actually happens.

Meanwhile, on issues like the Crown Estate, we still need—and the Cabinet Secretary, my colleague, would agree with me as well—to continue to work with them very closely prior to any devolution of those powers to actually make sure that the benefits in Wales that we can get are retained here within Wales. But, the point is well made. We have a clear position stated not only in the programme of government, but also as part of the co-operation agreement, on devolution of the Crown Estate and we look forward to either this or a future Government of a different colour, perhaps, helping us make that happen.

Pwynt da iawn i orffen. Rwy'n credu mai'r ffordd y gwnawn hyn yw—rwy'n gwybod nad oedd yn rhan o'r cwestiwn—yn hytrach nag ysgrifennu strategaeth, mae'n gynllun yr ydym eisoes yn rhan ohono. Mae'n golygu dadlau'r achos yn gyson, boed hynny mewn llythyr neu mewn cyfarfodydd dwyochrog gyda'r Llywodraeth bresennol neu gydag unrhyw Lywodraeth bosibl yn y dyfodol hefyd. Mae hefyd yn golygu gweithio ar hyn ar draws y Llywodraeth, felly ei wneud law yn llaw ag Aelodau eraill y Cabinet, gan gynnwys fy nghyd-Aelod Jeremy Miles hefyd, fel ein bod yn dweud yr un peth yn union ym mha gyfarfod bynnag yr awn iddo ac yn ei ailadrodd hyd at syrffed nes ei fod yn digwydd.

Yn y cyfamser, ar faterion fel Ystad y Goron, mae'n dal i fod angen—a byddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fy nghyd-Aelod, yn cytuno â mi hefyd—parhau i weithio gyda nhw'n agos iawn cyn datganoli'r pwerau hynny mewn unrhyw fodd i wneud yn siŵr fod y manteision y gallwn eu cael yng Nghymru yn cael eu cadw yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae'r pwynt wedi'i wneud yn dda. Mae gennym safbwynt clir a nodir nid yn unig yn y rhaglen lywodraethu, ond hefyd fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio, ar ddatganoli Ystad y Goron ac edrychwn ymlaen at weld naill ai'r Llywodraeth hon neu Lywodraeth wahanol yn y dyfodol, efallai, yn ein helpu i gyflawni hynny.

Y Cynllun Cymorth Organig
The Organic Support Scheme

3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet egluro'r rhesymeg dros y gwahaniaethau mewn cyfraddau talu ar gyfer gwahanol fathau o dir o dan gynllun cymorth organig 2024? OQ61103

3. Will the Cabinet Secretary explain the rationale for the differences in payment rates for different land types under the organic support scheme 2024? OQ61103

Indeed. Thank you, Adam. The difference in payment rates reflects the costs incurred and the income forgone for undertaking organic farming practices in the four different land use categories. The scheme offers higher payment rates on land where the greatest environmental benefit can be achieved through organic management practices.

Yn wir. Diolch yn fawr, Adam. Mae'r gwahaniaeth mewn cyfraddau talu yn adlewyrchu'r costau a ysgwyddwyd a'r incwm a roddwyd ar gyfer ymgymryd ag arferion ffermio organig yn y pedwar categori gwahanol o ddefnydd tir. Mae'r cynllun yn cynnig cyfraddau talu uwch ar dir lle gellir sicrhau'r budd amgylcheddol mwyaf drwy arferion rheoli organig.

Rwy'n deall yr ateb hynny, ond y gefnlen i hyn yw bod y cyfraddau talu wedi disgyn i bawb. Os ydych chi'n digwydd bod yn un o'r categorïau llai—y sector defaid, er enghraifft—mae'r sefyllfa nawr yn fregus tu hwnt. O'r math o sgyrsiau dwi wedi cael gyda ffermwyr sydd yn y categorïau hynny, maen nhw wedi ffermio yn llwyddiannus yn organig am ddegawdau o dan y gwahanol gynlluniau sydd wedi bod, a nawr maen nhw'n wynebu sefyllfa lle maen nhw un ai yn gorfod gadael ffermio yn llwyr, neu maen nhw'n gorfod dwysáu eu ffermio am y tro cyntaf ers blynyddoedd maith, sydd yn mynd yn hollol i'r gwrthwyneb o ran cyfeiriad polisi'r Llywodraeth. 

Bydd cynllun Cynefin yn gorfod parhau nawr am flwyddyn arall. Roedd i fod yn stopgap, onid oedd e? Rwy'n croesawu, wrth gwrs, y cyfle i gael mwy o drafod ynglŷn â'r SFS, ond a gaf i ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet edrych ar fyrder ar effaith cynllun Cynefin ar ffermwyr yn y meysydd bregus yma a'r effaith mae hynny'n mynd i gael ar organig, lle mae stori dda wedi bod gyda Chymru dros flynyddoedd maith?

I understand that response, but the backdrop to all of this is that payment rates have fallen across the board. If you happen to be in one of the lower categories—in the sheep sector, for example—the situation is very fragile indeed. From the conversations that I've been having with farmers in those categories, they've farmed organically successfully for decades under the various schemes that have been in place, and now they're facing a situation where they are either having to leave farming entirely, or they are having to intensify their farming for the first time in decades, which is entirely contrary to the Government's policy direction.

The Cynefin programme will now have to continue for another year. It was supposed to be a stopgap, wasn't it? I, of course, welcome the opportunity to have more discussion on the SFS, but could I ask the Cabinet Secretary to look as a matter of urgency at the impact of the Cynefin scheme on farmers in these vulnerable areas and the impact that that will have on organic, where there's been a good news story for Wales over many years?

Indeed, Adam, we're very, very keen to continue our support for the organic sector and will keep on talking to those who want to continue farming organically as well. You rightly draw attention to the fact that, outside of the support that we provide to those four different land categories, there are other things that can threaten the sustainability of particular farms within that. That can be, as you say, prices for lamb on the hills, or it could be a drop in prices, for example, for dairy organic support as well, which many would argue doesn't reward with the premium price that organic farmers need for their investment within organic schemes. So, there are things outwith the support that we can put as a Government as well. But we will continue, not least as we take it forward over the next year in this preparatory phase with the SFS, before we transition forward, to make sure that organic is firmly in there as part of that consideration. And we will keep talking as well directly to those farmers, because we know that some have left the market, because they are not getting rewarded in the way that they feel is commanded by the added investment that they put in. Some of this, though, is outwith the actual fee structure payment; it's actually those wider market forces, but we need to be alive to that as well.

Yn wir, Adam, rydym yn awyddus iawn i barhau â'n cymorth i'r sector organig a byddwn yn parhau i siarad â'r rhai sydd am barhau i ffermio'n organig hefyd. Rydych yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod pethau eraill y tu hwnt i'r cymorth a ddarparwn i'r pedwar categori tir gwahanol yn gallu bygwth cynaliadwyedd ffermydd penodol o fewn hynny. Gall hynny fod, fel y dywedwch, yn brisiau am ŵyn ar y bryniau, neu gallai fod yn ostyngiad mewn prisiau, er enghraifft, am gymorth organig i gynnyrch llaeth hefyd, y byddai llawer yn dadlau nad yw'n gwobrwyo gyda'r pris premiwm sydd ei angen ar ffermwyr organig ar gyfer eu buddsoddiad mewn cynlluniau organig. Felly, mae pethau y tu hwnt i'r cymorth y gallwn ei roi fel Llywodraeth hefyd. Ond byddwn yn parhau, yn anad dim wrth inni fwrw ymlaen dros y flwyddyn nesaf yn y cyfnod paratoi gyda'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, cyn inni symud ymlaen, i sicrhau bod yr elfen organig yn gadarn yno fel rhan o'r ystyriaeth honno. A byddwn yn parhau i siarad yn uniongyrchol â'r ffermwyr hynny, oherwydd gwyddom fod rhai wedi gadael y farchnad am nad ydynt yn cael eu gwobrwyo yn y ffordd y teimlant fod ei hangen yn sgil y buddsoddiad ychwanegol a wnaed ganddynt. Mae rhywfaint o hyn, serch hynny, y tu hwnt i daliad y strwythur ffioedd; mae'n ymwneud â grymoedd ehangach y farchnad, ond mae angen inni fod yn effro i hynny hefyd.

14:50

During the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee's evidence session on the sustainable farming scheme last week, Soil Association Cymru, representing the Welsh organic forum, stated that 

'it's only recently that there's been this sort of recognition that organic systems need something specific within the SFS.' 

There were similar comments made by the Tenant Farmers Association too, who stated that there were just too many people on the round-tables in previous years for the needs of tenant farmers to be heard. Yesterday, you made your announcement on the delay to the sustainable farming scheme and the round-table work that's going to be undertaken to right the wrongs of the current policy. So, I hope that these round-tables will be far smaller than previous ones so that no specific points relating to tenant farmers and organic farmers, for example, are lost. But, sticking to the theme of payment rates, have you, as a Cabinet Secretary, made any calculations to determine what it will cost to deliver the sustainable farming scheme, and, if so, have you made any representations to HM Treasury of that cost? Diolch, Llywydd. 

Yn ystod sesiwn dystiolaeth Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig ynghylch y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd Cymdeithas Pridd Cymru, sy'n cynrychioli fforwm organig Cymru,

'dim ond yn ddiweddar y cafwyd y math hwn o gydnabyddiaeth fod angen rhywbeth penodol ar systemau organig o fewn y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy.'

Gwnaed sylwadau tebyg gan y Gymdeithas y Ffermwyr Tenant hefyd, a ddywedodd fod gormod o bobl yn y cyfarfodydd bord gron yn y blynyddoedd blaenorol i anghenion ffermwyr tenant gael eu clywed. Ddoe, fe wnaethoch eich cyhoeddiad am yr oedi i'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy a'r gwaith bord gron a fydd yn cael ei wneud i unioni camgymeriadau'r polisi presennol. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y cyfarfodydd bord gron hyn yn llawer llai na'r rhai blaenorol fel na chollir unrhyw bwyntiau penodol sy'n ymwneud â ffermwyr tenant a ffermwyr organig, er enghraifft. Ond gan gadw at thema cyfraddau talu, a ydych chi, fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, wedi gwneud unrhyw gyfrifiadau i benderfynu beth fydd yn ei gostio i gyflawni'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, ac os felly, a ydych chi wedi cyflwyno unrhyw sylwadau i Drysorlys EF am y gost honno? Diolch, Lywydd. 

Sam, in answer to your closing question there, 'No, we haven't', because we'll determine the cost of it when we've done the final design, as I mentioned yesterday. I'm very keen to keep engaging with you and all Members on this as we take this forward, but the final design will determine the cost. At this moment, I repeat the ask I made of you and colleagues—and all colleagues here—in any engagement they have with the UK Government at the moment. The envelope that we have for support of primary food production in Wales is less than we were promised. It's not a political point; it's a factual statement. Now, on that basis, many farmers in England as well are saying, 'Can we have the quantum of funding that we were promised when we left the EU?' I would welcome that, because, at the time, some people were saying to them, 'Don't you worry, when we've left the EU—this isn't refighting, by they way, the Brexit thing, but I remember being at farmers' platforms, hearing it said—'When we leave the EU, you will have more funding'. And people wiser than me, at the time, said, 'When you're confronted with the choice between social services, and health, and education and many other things, the idea then that farmers would—'. Sam, I know I'm in some ways preaching to you things that you are already aware of. But, if the UK Government were to say that they were to put a greater quantum of funding in, and this is where I do ask for your help, then we're all in a better place. For the moment, however, we will design the SFS, and then we will actually say, 'Here is how the payments within it will line up and it's within the cost envelope we currently have', unless there is suddenly a switch thrown and the UK Government say, 'We're going to make good that promise that we made all those years ago'. But, for now, we are where we are. And I think the farming unions and others are realistic about that as well. They know that's the envelope we're currently working within. 

Sam, i ateb eich cwestiwn olaf yno, 'Na, nid ydym wedi gwneud hynny', oherwydd byddwn yn penderfynu ar y gost pan fyddwn wedi cwblhau'r cynllun terfynol, fel y soniais ddoe. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i barhau i ymgysylltu â chi a'r holl Aelodau ar hyn wrth inni fwrw ymlaen ag ef, ond bydd y cynllun terfynol yn pennu'r gost. Ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n ailadrodd yr hyn a ofynnais i chi a chyd-Aelodau—a'r holl gyd-Aelodau yma—mewn unrhyw ymgysylltiad y byddant yn ei gael â Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r amlen sydd gennym i gefnogi cynhyrchiant bwyd sylfaenol yng Nghymru yn llai nag a addawyd i ni. Nid yw'n bwynt gwleidyddol; mae'n ddatganiad ffeithiol. Nawr, ar y sail honno, mae llawer o ffermwyr yn Lloegr hefyd yn dweud, 'A allwn ni gael y swm o gyllid a addawyd inni pan wnaethom adael yr UE?' Byddwn yn croesawu hynny, oherwydd, ar y pryd, roedd rhai pobl yn dweud wrthynt, 'Peidiwch â phoeni, pan fyddwn wedi gadael yr UE'—nid ail-ymladd y peth Brexit yw hyn gyda llaw, ond rwy'n cofio ei glywed ar blatfformau i ffermwyr—'Pan fyddwn yn gadael yr UE, bydd gennych fwy o gyllid'. Ac roedd pobl doethach na fi ar y pryd yn dweud, 'Pan fyddwch yn wynebu'r dewis rhwng gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, ac iechyd, ac addysg a llawer o bethau eraill, mae'r syniad wedyn y byddai ffermwyr—'. Sam, rwy'n gwybod fy mod mewn rhai ffyrdd yn pregethu pethau yr ydych eisoes yn ymwybodol ohonynt. Ond pe bai Llywodraeth y DU yn dweud eu bod am rhoi mwy o gyllid, a dyma lle rwy'n gofyn am eich help, yna byddwn i gyd mewn lle gwell. Am y tro, fodd bynnag, byddwn yn cynllunio'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, a byddwn yn dweud, 'Dyma sut y bydd y taliadau ynddo wedi'u gosod ac mae o fewn yr amlen gost sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd', oni bai bod newid sydyn a bod Llywodraeth y DU yn dweud, 'Rydym yn mynd i wireddu'r addewid a wnaethom yr holl flynyddoedd yn ôl'. Ond ar hyn o bryd, dyma lle'r ydym. Ac rwy'n credu bod yr undebau ffermio ac eraill yn realistig ynglŷn â hynny hefyd. Maent yn gwybod mai dyna'r amlen rydym yn gweithio o'i mewn ar hyn o bryd. 

Blaenoriaethau Amgylcheddol
Environmental Priorities

4. Beth yw blaenoriaethau amgylcheddol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Preseli Sir Benfro? OQ61079

4. What are the Welsh Government's environmental priorities for Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ61079

Thank you, Paul. Protecting and improving our environment in Pembrokeshire and across Wales is a priority for this Government. We have provided Natural Resources Wales with powers to take strong action to regulate and enforce environmental controls at polluting activities. Additionally, an interim environmental protection assessor for Wales has been appointed to oversee the functioning of environmental law.

Diolch, Paul. Mae diogelu a gwella ein hamgylchedd yn sir Benfro a ledled Cymru yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon. Rydym wedi rhoi pwerau i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru roi camau gweithredu cryf ar waith i reoleiddio a gorfodi mesurau rheoli amgylcheddol ar weithgareddau sy'n llygru. Yn ogystal, penodwyd asesydd diogelu'r amgylchedd dros dro i Gymru i oruchwylio gweithrediad cyfraith amgylcheddol.

Cabinet Secretary, as you've just said, one of the Welsh Government's environmental priorities for Preseli Pembrokeshire must surely be to keep people from harm, and yet, as we've just heard, residents living around the Withyhedge landfill site are still living in fear of the potentially toxic stench and stink coming from this site. Now, as was said, on Friday, Public Health Wales issued advice saying that the odours and emissions coming from the site could be harmful to people's health, and they urged people with symptoms to seek medical advice. Now, I'm surprised that we've not heard more from Public Health Wales. But, this morning, I've written to them, asking them what action they've been taking to resolve this unacceptable issue. But it's quite clear to me that this matter has been handled very badly, and I believe there now needs to be an independent public inquiry into the handling of all this, given it's been ongoing for around nine months, and how it's badly affected so many of my constituents. However, in the short term, given these huge environmental and public health concerns, can you tell us what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has had with you about this issue, and can you also tell us just how bad the side effects have to get before the Welsh Government will intervene to remove this operator from the site permanently?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel rydych chi newydd ei ddweud, rhaid mai un o flaenoriaethau amgylcheddol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Preseli Sir Benfro yw cadw pobl rhag niwed, ac eto, fel rydym newydd glywed, mae trigolion sy'n byw o amgylch safle tirlenwi Withyhedge yn dal i fyw mewn ofn oherwydd y drewdod a allai fod yn wenwynig o'r safle hwn. Nawr, fel y dywedwyd, ddydd Gwener, cyhoeddodd Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru gyngor yn dweud y gallai'r arogleuon a'r allyriadau sy'n dod o'r safle fod yn niweidiol i iechyd pobl, ac fe wnaethant annog pobl â symptomau i ofyn am gyngor meddygol. Nawr, rwy'n synnu nad ydym wedi clywed mwy gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru. Ond y bore yma, rwyf wedi ysgrifennu atynt, yn gofyn iddynt pa gamau y maent wedi bod yn eu cymryd i ddatrys y mater annerbyniol hwn. Ond mae'n amlwg i mi fod y mater hwn wedi cael ei drin yn wael iawn, ac rwy'n credu bod angen ymchwiliad cyhoeddus annibynnol nawr i'r ffordd yr ymdrinnir â hyn i gyd, o ystyried ei fod wedi bod yn mynd rhagddo ers tua naw mis, a'r ffordd y mae cymaint o fy etholwyr wedi'u heffeithio'n wael ganddo. Fodd bynnag, yn y tymor byr, o ystyried y pryderon amgylcheddol ac iechyd cyhoeddus enfawr hyn, a allwch ddweud wrthym pa drafodaethau y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol wedi'u cael gyda chi ynglŷn â'r mater hwn, ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym hefyd pa mor ddrwg y mae'n rhaid i'r sgîl-effeithiau fod cyn y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymyrryd i dynnu'r gweithredwr hwn oddi ar y safle'n barhaol?

14:55

Thank you, Paul. First of all, at the outset, can I just reiterate my empathy with those residents who have been having to suffer what they've had to suffer for the past weeks and months there? This needs a resolution, I absolutely, entirely agree with you. Just to reassure you, both the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I, and our officials, are in close liaison on this because the two organisations that are critical to resolving this include Public Health Wales, who, of course, have issued advice to local residents and people on the ground. They're also taking forward, I'm informed, work to obtain monitoring data to inform a full health risk assessment. They have given advice to the public at the moment. From my perspective as the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, NRW are very clear what our steer is and what our priority is: that the enforcement orders that have been put in place to do the work on the ground and to resolve the problem need to be done for the benefit of local residents. There are deadlines with this, as you're fully aware as well, and NRW are aware that they have a range of enforcement powers that they can take if those measures to benefit local people are not adhered to, and that's what I would say. I don't think this is a question of an inquiry; this is a question, I have to say, for you and also for residents, of seeing the enforcement bodies on the ground, NRW, but also Public Health Wales, doing the work that they should do in order to resolve these issues very promptly and speedily now, because it's been going on too long for those local residents.

Diolch yn fawr, Paul. Yn gyntaf oll, ar y dechrau, a gaf i ailadrodd fy nghydymdeimlad â'r trigolion sydd wedi gorfod dioddef yr hyn y bu'n rhaid iddynt ei ddioddef dros yr wythnosau a'r misoedd diwethaf yno? Mae angen datrys hyn, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi. I dawelu eich meddwl, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a minnau, a'n swyddogion, mewn cysylltiad agos ar hyn oherwydd mae'r ddau sefydliad sy'n allweddol i ddatrys hyn yn cynnwys Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, sydd, wrth gwrs, wedi rhoi cyngor i drigolion lleol a phobl ar lawr gwlad. Deallaf hefyd eu bod yn bwrw ymlaen â gwaith i gael data monitro i lywio asesiad risg i iechyd llawn. Maent wedi rhoi cyngor i'r cyhoedd ar hyn o bryd. O'm safbwynt i fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, mae CNC yn glir iawn beth yw ein cyfeiriad a beth yw ein blaenoriaeth: fod angen gwneud y gorchmynion gorfodi sydd wedi'u rhoi ar waith i wneud y gwaith ar lawr gwlad ac i ddatrys y broblem er budd trigolion lleol. Mae dyddiadau ar gyfer cyflawni hyn, fel y gwyddoch yn iawn, ac mae CNC yn ymwybodol fod ganddynt amrywiaeth o bwerau gorfodi y gallant eu defnyddio os na lynir at y mesurau hynny er budd pobl leol, a dyna fyddwn i'n ei ddweud. Nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn fater o ymchwiliad; rhaid imi ddweud, i chi ac i'r trigolion hefyd, mae'n fater o weld y cyrff gorfodi ar lawr gwlad, CNC, ond Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru hefyd, yn gwneud y gwaith y dylent ei wneud er mwyn datrys y materion hyn yn sydyn ac yn gyflym iawn nawr, oherwydd mae wedi bod yn mynd ymlaen yn rhy hir i'r trigolion lleol hynny.

I also want to support Paul Davies in saying that some action has to be taken on the Withyhedge site. I do feel that anybody shouldn't be subjected to the fumes that may or may not be toxic and the sheer stress that has been imposed on people. I'm not, at this stage, supporting any public inquiry, but what I will ask, Cabinet Secretary, is that we are seen to support, where that's appropriate, the actions that should be taken on the ground. I know that several actions have been taken and several of them have been met to date. There are a number of outstanding actions that are causing real concern to those residents that need to be fulfilled. So, my question to you will be what conversations you're having with NRW and the local authority to help support those people who so desperately do need that support that we can give them.

Rwyf innau hefyd am gefnogi Paul Davies a dweud bod yn rhaid gweithredu ar safle Withyhedge. Rwy'n teimlo na ddylai unrhyw un orfod dioddef y mygdarth, a allai fod yn wenwynig neu beidio, na'r straen fawr ar bobl. Ar hyn o bryd, nid wyf yn cefnogi unrhyw ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, ond rwy'n gofyn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am inni gael ein gweld yn cefnogi, lle bo hynny'n briodol, y camau y dylid eu cymryd ar lawr gwlad. Rwy'n gwybod bod nifer o gamau wedi'u cymryd a bod nifer ohonynt wedi'u cyflawni hyd yma. Mae nifer o gamau gweithredu eto i'w gweithredu sy'n peri pryder gwirioneddol i'r trigolion, ac mae angen eu cyflawni. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i chi yw pa sgyrsiau rydych chi'n eu cael gyda CNC a'r awdurdod lleol i helpu i gefnogi'r bobl sydd gymaint o angen y cymorth y gallwn ei roi iddynt.

Thank you very much, Joyce. I'm glad to see there's real support from all Members of the Senedd here to alleviate these problems for local residents. It is unacceptable and it has to be dealt with. Can I just be as absolutely clear here as I possibly can be? NRW are on the ground—they've increased their presence because of the matters ongoing. They will continue to update the community as well. I understand that there's been a lot of communications, including newsletters. They've served enforcement notices on the landfill operator as well, who is required to cover all the exposed waste, complete the landfill engineering works, and to contain and collect the landfill gas. That's pretty explicit, pretty clear. If the operator fails to comply with the final deadline of the notice, NRW will be looking to take enforcement action in line with their enforcement and prosecution policy. So, NRW are responding as a priority to resolve this issue. I would encourage, however, both you and Paul to tell all residents to continue to report, as they have been doing, any instances of odour to NRW, as this will help, actually, NRW in terms of informing the effectiveness of their enforcement.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Joyce. Rwy'n falch o weld bod cefnogaeth wirioneddol gan yr holl Aelodau o'r Senedd yma i leddfu'r problemau hyn i drigolion lleol. Mae'n annerbyniol ac mae'n rhaid ymdrin ag ef. A gaf i fod mor glir yma ag y gallaf? Mae CNC ar lawr gwlad—maent wedi cynyddu eu presenoldeb oherwydd y materion sy'n parhau. Byddant yn parhau i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r gymuned hefyd. Rwy'n deall bod llawer o gyfathrebu wedi bod, gan gynnwys cylchlythyrau. Maent wedi cyflwyno hysbysiadau gorfodi i'r gweithredwr tirlenwi hefyd, ac mae'n ofynnol iddo orchuddio'r holl wastraff agored, cwblhau'r gwaith peirianneg yn y safle tirlenwi, a dal a chasglu'r nwy o'r safle tirlenwi. Mae hynny'n eithaf amlwg, yn eithaf clir. Os yw'r gweithredwr yn methu cydymffurfio â dyddiad terfynol yr hysbysiad, bydd CNC yn ystyried cymryd camau gorfodi yn unol â'u polisi gorfodi ac erlyn. Felly, mae CNC yn ymateb fel blaenoriaeth i ddatrys y mater hwn. Fodd bynnag, hoffwn eich annog chi a Paul i ddweud wrth yr holl drigolion barhau i roi gwybod, fel y maent wedi bod yn ei wneud, am unrhyw achosion o ddrewdod i CNC, gan y bydd hyn yn helpu CNC i lywio effeithiolrwydd eu gwaith gorfodi.

Prosiectau Bioamrywiaeth
Biodiversity Projects

5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'i wneud o effeithiolrwydd prosiectau bioamrywiaeth yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ61086

5. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the efficacy of biodiversity projects in north Wales? OQ61086

15:00

Thank you, Gareth. The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires robust monitoring and reporting of our environment through the 'State of Natural Resources Report'. Our environment and rural affairs monitoring and modelling programme provides further evidence at an all-Wales level and on a scheme basis on the efficacy of our projects.

Diolch yn fawr, Gareth. Mae Deddf yr Amgylchedd (Cymru) 2016 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ni fonitro ac adrodd ar ein hamgylchedd yn gadarn drwy'r 'Adroddiad ar Sefyllfa Adnoddau Naturiol'. Mae ein rhaglen monitro a modelu materion gwledig a'r amgylchedd yn darparu tystiolaeth bellach ar lefel Cymru gyfan ac ar sail cynllun ar effeithiolrwydd ein prosiectau.

Thank you very much. Biodiversity is still declining in Wales. The number of bird species in Wales categorised as 'declining' has increased by 122 per cent in the last 20 years, for example. The 'State of Natural Resources Report' in 2020 also highlights that Wales has not met any of its four aims on the sustainable management of natural resources approach. The new 'State of Nature Wales' 2023 report reveals the devastating scale of the nature loss across the country and the risk of extinction for many species. Welsh wildlife has decreased on average by 20 per cent since 1994, and one in six species are threatened with extinction. In my constituency, the protection of little terns has been successful, and we see some projects yielding results. But, overall, despite the money being invested into biodiversity projects, we are not seeing the results. The EU has been placing more emphasis on nature-based solutions, and the London School of Economics and Political Science recently published a report on incorporating nature into finance, placing more financial incentives on biodiversity, and attracting more private investment towards ecological projects. So, has the Cabinet Secretary reviewed the efficacy of the Welsh Government's biodiversity projects in north Wales? And what efforts have been made to work with private enterprise in addition to local authorities and other stakeholders? Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae bioamrywiaeth yn parhau i ddirywio yng Nghymru. Mae nifer y rhywogaethau adar yng Nghymru sydd wedi'u categoreiddio fel rhai sy'n 'dirywio' wedi cynyddu 122 y cant yn ystod yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf, er enghraifft. Mae'r 'Adroddiad ar Sefyllfa Adnoddau Naturiol' hefyd yn amlygu'r ffaith nad yw Cymru wedi cyflawni unrhyw un o'i phedwar nod ar reoli adnoddau naturiol yn gynaliadwy. Mae adroddiad newydd 'Sefyllfa Byd Natur Cymru' 2023 yn datgelu graddfa ddinistriol y golled natur ledled y wlad a'r perygl y bydd llawer o rywogaethau'n diflannu. Mae bywyd gwyllt Cymru wedi gostwng 20 y cant ar gyfartaledd ers 1994, ac mae un o bob chwe rhywogaeth mewn perygl o ddiflannu. Yn fy etholaeth i, mae'r ymdrech i ddiogelu môr-wenoliaid bychain wedi bod yn llwyddiannus, a gwelwn rai prosiectau yn esgor ar ganlyniadau. Ond ar y cyfan, er gwaethaf yr arian sy'n cael ei fuddsoddi mewn prosiectau bioamrywiaeth, nid ydym yn gweld y canlyniadau. Mae'r UE wedi bod yn rhoi mwy o bwyslais ar atebion sy'n seiliedig ar natur, ac yn ddiweddar cyhoeddodd Ysgol Economeg a Gwyddoniaeth Wleidyddol Llundain adroddiad ar ymgorffori natur ym maes cyllid, gosod mwy o gymhellion ariannol ar fioamrywiaeth, a denu mwy o fuddsoddiad preifat tuag at brosiectau ecolegol. Felly, a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi adolygu effeithiolrwydd prosiectau bioamrywiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yng ngogledd Cymru? A pha ymdrechion sydd wedi'u gwneud i weithio gyda mentrau preifat yn ogystal ag awdurdodau lleol a rhanddeiliaid eraill? Diolch.

Thank you. Gareth. You raise some important points. I mentioned how we do the monitoring of the efficacy in my initial response, but that wider question about how we go beyond public resource to actually attract ethical green investment with real integrity behind it is an interesting one. What we don't want to do, and we discussed this briefly in the debate on the sustainable farming scheme yesterday, is open up a market to, if you like, commodity trading that just simply takes all the value out of Wales and perhaps has negative consequences. But there is something within that space that needs to be looked at with careful consideration, which is to do with how we lever in additional funding for the right reasons, into biodiversity gain, biodiversity restoration, but also wider land use management as well.

Some of this falls within the work we're doing, for example, with the nature networks programme, where we've just announced £17 million of additional funding throughout Wales for those schemes, and you'll see these in your local area as well. But some of it does go to that thing of, 'Well, is everything we're doing sufficient, or could there be an additional quantum that we could lever in somehow?' But if we were to do that, it has to be absolutely gold standard of ethical investment within Wales so that local places actually benefit, local people actually benefit, rather than sucking the value out of Wales entirely for international investors and so on. But it's an interesting thought, and I'd be interested to see, over time, where the views of those in the wider Chamber rest on this as well.

Diolch, Gareth. Rydych yn codi pwyntiau pwysig. Soniais sut rydym yn monitro'r effeithiolrwydd yn fy ymateb cychwynnol, ond mae'r cwestiwn ehangach ynglŷn â sut yr awn y tu hwnt i adnoddau cyhoeddus i ddenu buddsoddiad gwyrdd moesegol, sydd ag uniondeb gwirioneddol yn sail iddo, yn un diddorol. Yr hyn nad ydym eisiau ei wneud, a buom yn trafod hyn yn fyr yn y ddadl ar y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy ddoe, yw agor marchnad i fasnachu nwyddau, os mynnwch, sy'n mynd â'r holl werth o Gymru ac efallai'n esgor ar ganlyniadau negyddol. Ond mae yna rywbeth o fewn y gofod hwnnw y mae angen i ni ei ystyried yn ofalus, sy'n ymwneud â sut rydym yn denu cyllid ychwanegol am y rhesymau cywir, i wella bioamrywiaeth, adfer bioamrywiaeth, ond hefyd i sicrhau rheolaeth ehangach ar ddefnydd tir hefyd.

Mae rhywfaint o hyn yn rhan o'r gwaith a wnawn gyda'r rhaglen rhwydweithiau natur, er enghraifft, ac rydym newydd gyhoeddi £17 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol ledled Cymru ar gyfer y cynlluniau hynny, ac fe fyddwch yn gweld y rhain yn eich ardal leol hefyd. Ond mae rhywfaint ohono'n ymwneud â, 'Wel, a yw popeth a wnawn yn ddigonol, neu a allai fod rhywfaint ychwanegol y gallem ei ddenu i mewn rywsut?' Ond pe byddem yn gwneud hynny, byddai'n rhaid iddo fod yn safon aur o ran buddsoddiad moesegol yng Nghymru fel bod ardaloedd lleol yn elwa, fod pobl leol yn elwa, yn hytrach na mynd â'r gwerth i gyd o Gymru'n llwyr i fuddsoddwyr rhyngwladol ac yn y blaen. Ond mae'n syniad diddorol, a byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gweld, dros amser, beth yw barn y Siambr ehangach ar hyn hefyd.

Diogelwch Dŵr ac Atal Boddi
Water Safety and Drowning Prevention

6. Pa gamau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn eu cymryd i wella diogelwch dŵr ac atal boddi? OQ61111

6. What steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to improve water safety and drowning prevention? OQ61111

Thank you, John. I was honoured to announce last week a newfound partnership between Water Safety Wales and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. This partnership enhances our combined efforts in reducing water-related accidents, and the Welsh Government has allocated up to £150,000 for 2024-25 to support these endeavours.

Diolch yn fawr, John. Yr wythnos diwethaf, roedd yn fraint gennyf gyhoeddi'r bartneriaeth newydd rhwng Diogelwch Dŵr Cymru a'r Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Atal Damweiniau. Mae'r bartneriaeth hon yn gwella ein hymdrechion cyfunol i leihau damweiniau sy'n gysylltiedig â dŵr, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dyrannu hyd at £150,000 ar gyfer 2024-25 i gefnogi'r ymdrechion hyn.

I was very pleased to sponsor the water safety coalition event in the Pierhead building the other week, and it was very good to have you there to speak, Cabinet Secretary. You will know that the mother of Mark Allen, who tragically drowned in a reservoir in Wales, was there to speak about the importance of having throwlines at reservoirs, lakes and canals as part of improving our water safety. And we also heard that too few children are learning to swim now as part of the primary school swimming programmes.

As well as perhaps addressing those two sets of issues, Cabinet Secretary, might I also mention SARA, which is a volunteer-led lifeboat service operating in and around the Severn estuary and includes the River Usk? As part of improving water safety, they would like to have a new base on the River Usk near the city centre in Newport so they could get into that river more quickly if people were in difficulties in the water. I just wonder if you could tell us how the policies that you're taking forward and the investment that you've mentioned might help them establish that new base, which would be very important in improving safety on the River Usk in the centre of Newport.

Roeddwn yn falch iawn o noddi digwyddiad y gynghrair ddiogelwch dŵr yn adeilad y Pierhead yr wythnos o'r blaen, ac roedd yn dda iawn eich cael chi yno i siarad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe wyddoch fod mam Mark Allen, a foddodd mewn cronfa ddŵr yng Nghymru, yno i siarad am bwysigrwydd cael cortynnau taflu mewn cronfeydd dŵr, llynnoedd a chamlesi mewn ymdrech i wella ein diogelwch dŵr. A chlywsom hefyd mai ychydig iawn o blant sy'n dysgu nofio nawr fel rhan o raglenni nofio ysgolion cynradd.

Yn ogystal â mynd i'r afael â'r ddau beth hwnnw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a gaf i sôn hefyd am SARA, gwasanaeth bad achub dan arweiniad gwirfoddolwyr sy'n gweithredu yn aber afon Hafren a'r cyffiniau ac yn cynnwys afon Wysg? Fel rhan o'r gwaith o wella diogelwch dŵr, hoffent sefydlu canolfan newydd ar afon Wysg ger canol y ddinas yng Nghasnewydd fel y gallent fynd i mewn i'r afon honno'n gyflymach pe bai pobl mewn trafferthion yn y dŵr. Tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym sut y gallai'r polisïau yr ydych chi'n eu datblygu a'r buddsoddiad yr ydych chi wedi'i grybwyll eu helpu i sefydlu'r ganolfan newydd honno, a fyddai'n bwysig iawn i wella diogelwch ar afon Wysg yng nghanol Casnewydd.

15:05

Thank you, John, and thank you for hosting that event last week, because it was truly excellent. It was a real pleasure and a privilege to speak with Leeanne. She, of course, addressed from the main stage in the Pierhead those who were gathered there. I think her work and her campaigning that went to, indeed, the Petitions Committee, as well, has been instrumental in pushing us along and encouraging us to go further and faster. I think we both want to use the floor of this Senedd to thank her for all the work she has done, and she continues to do, because there is no better legacy to Mark Allen's memory than that. This will actually save lives, what has been already achieved.

Part of that is, within this partnership, really practical measures such as enhancing safety measures at high-risk locations with open water and on the coast, improved signage to get the message across, life-saving equipment installation, regular risk assessments at those big water bodies as well, and so on. These are simple but exceptionally important steps in reducing water-related incidents and fatalities. We have too many fatalities. And the other aspects, of course, are what we can do in schools, not just on swimming but on water safety awareness, and also engagement with the local communities themselves, who know these water bodies, to get the message through there about how to look after themselves properly as well.

In respect of SARA and what they can contribute, it's amazing to see how many organisations out there can be part of this. I'd be interested in learning more, John, if you were to drop me a line or have a further conversation with me, and let's talk about how they and others can get involved with this important piece of work. We're approaching that time of year now where many people of all different ages will want to go out. The approach, now, to open-water swimming is interesting, but do it safety and so on. Youngsters, particularly, will want to go out and enjoy themselves in our great outdoors. That's fantastic, but do it safely. Be aware. Know what your limits are and know what you should be doing in the right place and so on. So, I think, working with organisations such as the one you've highlighted today is the way forward, and working with local communities. There's a big job of work to do, but if we save lives over this summer—. We know there are too many fatalities out there, but let's do the very best we can, and this partnership approach is key to it.

Diolch yn fawr, John, a diolch i chi am gynnal y digwyddiad hwnnw yr wythnos diwethaf, oherwydd roedd yn wirioneddol wych. Roedd yn bleser ac yn fraint cael siarad â Leeanne. Fe wnaeth hi annerch y gynulleidfa o'r prif lwyfan yn y Pierhead. Rwy'n credu bod ei gwaith a'i hymgyrchu, a aeth i'r Pwyllgor Deisebau hefyd, wedi bod yn allweddol yn ein gwthio ymlaen a'n hannog i fynd ymhellach ac yn gyflymach. Rwy'n credu bod y ddau ohonom eisiau defnyddio llawr y Senedd hon i ddiolch iddi am yr holl waith y mae hi wedi'i wneud, ac y mae hi'n parhau i'w wneud, oherwydd nid oes gwaddol gwell i gof Mark Allen na hynny. Bydd yr hyn sydd eisoes wedi'i gyflawni yn achub bywydau.

Mae rhan o hynny, o fewn y bartneriaeth hon, yn ymwneud â mesurau ymarferol iawn megis gwella mesurau diogelwch mewn lleoliadau risg uchel gyda dŵr agored ac ar yr arfordir, gwell arwyddion i gyfleu'r neges, gosod offer achub bywyd, asesiadau risg rheolaidd o'r cyrff dŵr mawr hynny hefyd, ac yn y blaen. Mae'r rhain yn gamau syml ond eithriadol o bwysig i leihau damweiniau a marwolaethau sy'n gysylltiedig â dŵr. Rydym yn gweld gormod o farwolaethau. A'r agweddau eraill, wrth gwrs, yw'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud mewn ysgolion, nid yn unig mewn perthynas â nofio ond ar ymwybyddiaeth o ddiogelwch dŵr, ac ymgysylltu â'r cymunedau lleol eu hunain, sy'n adnabod y cyrff dŵr hyn, i gyfleu'r neges yno ynglŷn â sut y gall pobl ofalu amdanynt eu hunain yn briodol hefyd.

Ar SARA a'r hyn y gallant ei gyfrannu, mae'n anhygoel gweld faint o sefydliadau allan yno a allai fod yn rhan o hyn. Hoffwn ddysgu mwy, John, os gwnewch chi anfon neges ataf neu gael sgwrs bellach gyda mi, a gadewch inni siarad ynglŷn â sut y gallant hwy ac eraill gymryd rhan yn y gwaith pwysig hwn. Rydym yn agosáu at yr adeg honno o'r flwyddyn nawr pan fydd llawer o bobl o bob oed eisiau mynd allan. Mae'r agwedd at nofio dŵr agored yn ddiddorol, ond gwnewch hynny'n ddiogel ac yn y blaen. Bydd pobl ifanc, yn arbennig, eisiau mynd allan a mwynhau eu hunain yn yr awyr agored. Mae hynny'n wych, ond gwnewch hynny'n ddiogel. Byddwch yn ymwybodol. Byddwch yn ymwybodol o'ch terfynau a byddwch yn ymwybodol o'r hyn y dylech chi fod yn ei wneud yn y lle iawn ac yn y blaen. Felly, rwy'n credu mai gweithio gyda sefydliadau fel yr un rydych chi wedi tynnu sylw ato heddiw yw'r ffordd ymlaen, a gweithio gyda chymunedau lleol. Mae gwaith mawr i'w wneud, ond os gwnawn ni achub bywydau dros yr haf hwn—. Rydym yn gwybod bod yna ormod o farwolaethau, ond gadewch inni wneud ein gorau glas, ac mae'r dull partneriaeth hwn yn allweddol i hynny.

Cymunedau sydd mewn Perygl o Lifogydd yng Nghanol De Cymru
Communities at Risk of Flooding in South Wales Central

7. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi cymunedau sydd mewn perygl o lifogydd yng Nghanol De Cymru? OQ61097

7. How is the Welsh Government supporting communities at risk of flooding in South Wales Central? OQ61097

Diolch, Heledd. Byddwn ni'n rhoi dros £75 miliwn i awdurdodau rheoli risg llifogydd ledled Cymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £5,706 miliwn i awdurdodau rheoli risg yng Nghanol De Cymru a fydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio i wella seilwaith rheoli perygl llifogydd, gan helpu tua 5,706 eiddo.FootnoteLink

Thank you, Heledd. We will provide more than £75 million to flood risk management authorities across Wales this financial year. This includes £5,706 million to risk management authorities in South Wales Central, which will be used for improvement works to flood risk management infrastructure, benefiting approximately 5,706 properties.FootnoteLink

Diolch yn fawr iawn ichi. Yn amlwg, mae peth o'r gwaith hwnnw yn deillio o'r cytundeb cydweithio.

Thank you very much. Clearly, some of that work emerged from the co-operation agreement.

I'd like to ask you specifically, though, about the practical support for communities at risk of flooding. You'll be aware of the trauma felt by many for years after a serious flooding event, the trauma that they feel every time it rains heavily. The Welsh Government has funded some flood forum work, to develop flood action groups, but this is quite inconsistent across Wales. We don't have a national flood forum here in Wales. There is one in Scotland and one that operates in England, which sometimes is funded to work here in Wales. Do you think there is merit in exploring a Welsh flood forum specifically to support flood action groups? And how can we empower communities? Because I think some of the advice about raising your plug sockets and so on is all very well, but for people who have this continuous risk and may not be equipped to fill in forms or know how to form a committee, how can we provide that practical support so that they feel empowered when the worst may happen again?

Hoffwn ofyn yn benodol i chi er hynny am y cymorth ymarferol i gymunedau sydd mewn perygl o lifogydd. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r trawma y mae llawer yn ei deimlo am flynyddoedd ar ôl llifogydd difrifol, y trawma y maent yn ei deimlo bob tro y bydd hi'n bwrw glaw'n drwm. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ariannu rhywfaint o waith fforwm llifogydd, i ddatblygu grwpiau gweithredu llifogydd, ond mae hyn yn eithaf anghyson ledled Cymru. Nid oes gennym fforwm llifogydd cenedlaethol yma yng Nghymru. Mae un yn yr Alban ac un sy'n gweithredu yn Lloegr, sydd weithiau'n cael ei ariannu i weithio yma yng Nghymru. A ydych chi'n credu bod gwerth mewn archwilio fforwm llifogydd yng Nghymru yn benodol i gefnogi grwpiau gweithredu llifogydd? A sut y gallwn ni rymuso cymunedau? Oherwydd rwy'n credu bod rhywfaint o'r cyngor ynghylch gosod eich socedi yn uwch ac yn y blaen yn iawn, ond i bobl sy'n wynebu risg barhaus, ac nad ydynt efallai'n gwybod sut i lenwi ffurflenni neu'n gwybod sut i ffurfio pwyllgor, sut y gallwn ni ddarparu cymorth ymarferol fel eu bod yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u grymuso pan allai'r gwaethaf ddigwydd eto?

We often look outside the boundaries of Wales, and we should sometimes, to look at what other areas are doing to see if it works, but there are different approaches as well that we can do, bespoke to Wales. A national flood forum isn't an approach we take currently in Wales. It wasn't considered as an option, as NRW are being funded to undertake this work, but actually, in my own communities, I've faced exactly the same challenge. We haven't had the sheer scale of devastation as some others, but we have had now properties that haven't been flooded for decades that have now been having street-level flash flooding incidents on a more regular basis. So, we've tried to work with them to say, 'We have the expertise out there', and actually we have brought in, then, the various agencies that we have in Wales to sit down with them, including local partners, the local authority, as well as NRW, to say, 'This is how we can actually establish your localised response to it.'

But we are putting funding into this. We fund Natural Resources Wales and local authorities to engage in flood awareness and resilience activities through the year. NRW have provided guidance as well on what to do before, during and after a flood on their website. We fund community groups and individual members of the public to work with advice and guidance. And, of course, NRW, with our support, work in close partnership with other organisations to provide support and to signpost groups to others who can help them. That includes, for example, Public Health Wales, Flood Re, the National Flood Forum, the Met Office and the Association of British Insurers. Indeed, this is what we did in our local context as well. There's also, of course, a flood warning service that we operate now from rivers in Wales that NRW operates, and there's more.

We'll always keep an open mind to how we can improve this, because what we do want are resilient communities who know what to do, who know, when they can, how they can play a part, both for themselves as individual householders or property owners, but also for their wider community. And when this works well, it works very well indeed. We always keep an open mind, but at the moment, what we want to roll out is that signposting, advice and best practice so that any community that needs it can have it.  

Rydym yn aml yn edrych y tu hwnt i ffiniau Cymru, a weithiau dylem edrych ar yr hyn y mae ardaloedd eraill yn ei wneud i weld a yw'n gweithio, ond mae yna ddulliau gwahanol y gallwn eu mabwysiadu hefyd, sy'n unigryw i Gymru. Nid yw fforwm llifogydd cenedlaethol yn ddull rydym yn ei fabwysiadu yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Ni chafodd ei ystyried fel opsiwn, gan fod CNC yn cael eu hariannu i ymgymryd â'r gwaith hwn, ond mewn gwirionedd, yn fy nghymunedau fy hun, rwyf wedi wynebu'r un her yn union. Nid ydym wedi wynebu dinistr ar yr un raddfa enfawr ag eraill, ond rydym wedi gweld eiddo nad ydynt wedi dioddef llifogydd ers degawdau yn cael eu heffeithio nawr gan fflach-lifogydd ar lefel y stryd yn fwy rheolaidd. Felly, rydym wedi ceisio gweithio gyda nhw gan ddweud, 'Mae'r arbenigedd ar gael i ni', ac mewn gwirionedd rydym wedi trefnu bod y gwahanol asiantaethau sydd gennym yng Nghymru yn dod i siarad gyda nhw, gan gynnwys partneriaid lleol, yr awdurdod lleol, yn ogystal â CNC, a dweud, 'Dyma sut y gallwn ni sefydlu eich ymateb lleol iddo.'

Ond rydym yn rhoi arian i mewn i hyn. Rydym yn ariannu Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol i gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau ymwybyddiaeth llifogydd a chydnerthedd drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru hefyd wedi darparu canllawiau ar eu gwefan sy'n amlinellu beth i'w wneud cyn, yn ystod ac ar ôl llifogydd. Rydym yn ariannu grwpiau cymunedol ac aelodau unigol o'r cyhoedd i weithio gyda chyngor a chanllawiau. Ac wrth gwrs, mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, gyda'n cefnogaeth ni, yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth agos â sefydliadau eraill i ddarparu cefnogaeth ac i gyfeirio grwpiau at eraill a all eu helpu. Mae hynny'n cynnwys, er enghraifft, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, Flood Re, y Fforwm Llifogydd Cenedlaethol, y Swyddfa Dywydd a Chymdeithas Yswirwyr Prydain. Yn wir, dyma a wnaethom yn ein cyd-destun lleol hefyd. Mae yna wasanaeth rhybuddio am lifogydd hefyd wrth gwrs yr ydym yn ei weithredu nawr o afonydd yng Nghymru ac sy'n cael ei weithredu gan CNC, ac mae mwy.

Byddwn bob amser yn cadw meddwl agored ynglŷn â sut y gallwn wella hyn, oherwydd rydym eisiau cymunedau cydnerth sy'n gwybod beth i'w wneud, sy'n gwybod, pan allant, sut y gallant chwarae rhan, drostynt eu hunain fel deiliaid tai unigol neu berchnogion eiddo, ond hefyd dros eu cymuned ehangach. A phan fydd hyn yn gweithio'n dda, mae'n gweithio'n dda iawn. Rydym bob amser yn cadw meddwl agored, ond ar hyn o bryd, rydym eisiau cyflwyno'r broses gyfeirio, y cyngor a'r arferion gorau fel y bydd unrhyw gymuned sydd eu hangen yn gallu eu cael.  

15:10
Brechlyn TB Buchol i Wartheg
Bovine TB Cattle Vaccine

8. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau i ddefnyddio'r brechlyn TB buchol i wartheg? OQ61107

8. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the planned deployment of the bovine TB cattle vaccine? OQ61107

Field trials to collect data for the use of TB cattle are continuing. In tandem with this research and development work, we are considering strategies for incorporating cattle vaccination into our TB eradication programme. The future scale of use would be informed by the analysis of effects following the initial authorisation.

Mae treialon maes i gasglu data at ddefnydd TB gwartheg yn parhau. Ochr yn ochr â'r gwaith ymchwil a datblygu, rydym yn ystyried strategaethau ar gyfer ymgorffori brechlyn TB buchol yn ein rhaglen dileu TB. Byddai graddfa'r defnydd yn y dyfodol yn cael ei lywio gan ddadansoddiad o'r effeithiau yn dilyn yr awdurdodiad cychwynnol.

Thank you for the answer, Cabinet Secretary. As we all learned through COVID, breaking chains of infection is important, and vaccination, as well as hygiene, is a key part of this. Studies have shown a reduction in transmission in vaccinated cattle, with a total vaccine efficacy of 89 per cent. These suggest that vaccination could represent an important tool for bTB control. As of 2024, the UK has culled 330,000 cattle, with around £150 million paid to support farmers' losses each year, and this is added to the 210,000 badgers culled at a cost of £58.8 million. These figures don't sound very effective and are still heavily pursued in England. Cabinet Secretary, please could you outline a time frame for a cattle vaccine roll-out, how you anticipate this will help us tackle bovine TB going forwards, and how this should be the most effective strategy, along with hygiene? Thank you.

Diolch am yr ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fel y dysgodd pob un ohonom yn ystod COVID, mae torri cadwyni heintio yn bwysig, ac mae brechu, yn ogystal â hylendid, yn rhan allweddol o hyn. Mae astudiaethau wedi dangos gostyngiad yn y lefelau trosglwyddo mewn gwartheg sydd wedi'u brechu, gyda chyfanswm effeithiolrwydd brechlyn o 89 y cant. Mae'r rhain yn awgrymu y gallai brechu fod yn offeryn pwysig ar gyfer rheoli bTB. Ers 2024, mae'r DU wedi difa 330,000 o wartheg, gyda thua £150 miliwn yn cael ei dalu i gefnogi colledion ffermwyr bob blwyddyn, ac mae hyn yn cael ei ychwanegu at y 210,000 o foch daear sydd wedi'u difa ar gost o £58.8 miliwn. Nid yw'r ffigurau hyn yn swnio'n effeithiol iawn ac maent yn yn parhau i ddilyn y trywydd hwn yn Lloegr. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allech chi amlinellu amserlen ar gyfer cyflwyno brechlyn gwartheg, sut rydych chi'n rhagweld y bydd hyn yn ein helpu i fynd i'r afael â TB buchol yn y dyfodol, a pham mai hon yw'r strategaeth fwyaf effeithiol, ynghyd â hylendid? Diolch.

Carolyn, thank you very much. You are right that this could be something of a step change in the way that we deal with bTB, which is such a devastating illness for cattle but also for the farmers who see so many of their cattle then destroyed as a result of this. We have reason to be optimistic, but what we can't do is put a timeline on it, because we have to test and prove the efficacy of this. So, in order for cattle BCG to be used, we first of all have to have a diagnostic test that is capable of differentiating infected from vaccinated animals. That is needed. Once such a test is available and validated, then the use of cattle BCG, combined with a DIVA test, could indeed be approved. But we don't have a timeline on that. The work has got to be done and carried out. 

The field trials to collect the safety data for the use of TB cattle vaccine and the companion DIVA skin test and to gather additional data on the DIVA test specificity—I always have a problem with that word—and to explore options to optimise the performance of the new test are ongoing. We continue to work at pace, but to make it clear, we, and I suspect other nations within the UK as well, will only deploy the vaccine and the companion DIVA skin test when we've got all the right evidence and the right steps in place. So, our aim is to deliver an effective cattle TB vaccination strategy within the next few years to accelerate our continued progress towards eradicating bovine TB in Wales. Thank you.

Carolyn, diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydych yn iawn y gallai hwn fod yn newid sylweddol yn y ffordd yr awn i'r afael â bTB, sy'n salwch mor ddinistriol i wartheg ond hefyd i'r ffermwyr sy'n gweld cymaint o'u gwartheg yn cael eu difa o ganlyniad iddo. Mae gennym reswm i fod yn optimistaidd, ond yr hyn na allwn ei wneud yw gosod amserlen, oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni brofi effeithiolrwydd hyn. Felly, er mwyn inni allu defnyddio brechlyn gwartheg, yn gyntaf oll, mae'n rhaid inni gael prawf diagnostig sy'n gallu gwahaniaethu rhwng anifeiliaid sydd wedi'u heintio ac anifeiliaid sydd wedi'u brechu. Mae hynny'n angenrheidiol. Pan fydd prawf o'r fath ar gael ac wedi'i ddilysu, gellid cymeradwyo brechlyn gwartheg, ynghyd â phrawf gwahaniaethu rhwng anifeiliaid wedi'u brechu ac anifeiliaid wedi'u heintio (DIVA). Ond nid oes gennym amserlen ar gyfer hynny. Mae'n rhaid i'r gwaith gael ei wneud. 

Mae'r treialon maes i gasglu'r data diogelwch ar gyfer defnyddio brechlyn TB i wartheg a'r prawf croen DIVA ategol, ac i gasglu data ychwanegol ar benodolrwydd y prawf DIVA, ac i archwilio opsiynau i optimeiddio perfformiad y prawf newydd, yn parhau. Rydym yn parhau i weithio'n gyflym, ond er eglurder, ni fyddwn ni ond yn defnyddio'r brechlyn a'r prawf croen DIVA ategol pan fydd gennym yr holl dystiolaeth gywir a'r camau cywir ar waith, ac rwy'n credu y bydd gwledydd y DU yn gwneud yr un peth. Felly, ein nod yw cyflawni strategaeth effeithiol i frechu gwartheg o fewn y blynyddoedd nesaf i gyflymu ein cynnydd parhaus tuag at ddileu TB mewn gwartheg yng Nghymru. Diolch.

As you're still a keen new Minister, I'm going to take you back to question 1 [OQ61091] and the supplementary that Siân Gwenllian had attempted to ask. I’m going to allow her just to ask the supplementary again and for it to be answered. 

Gan eich bod yn dal i fod yn Weinidog newydd brwd, rwyf am droi'n ôl at gwestiwn 1 [OQ61091] a'r cwestiwn atodol y ceisiodd Siân Gwenllian ei ofyn. Rwyf am ganiatáu iddi ofyn y cwestiwn atodol eto er mwyn iddo gael ei ateb. 

15:15

Diolch yn fawr am eich amynedd, Llywydd. Roeddwn i'n falch o glywed y Prif Weinidog ddoe, a chithau, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, heddiw, yn ailddatgan safbwynt y Llywodraeth, sef rhagdybiaeth yn erbyn gorsafoedd nwy newydd yn Arfon a thu hwnt, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn hefyd o glywed eich pwyslais ar greu cyflenwad ynni fforddiadwy a glân. Ond, yn anffodus, nid dyna safbwynt y Torïaid, ac fe fydd etholwyr yn Arfon yn siomedig iawn ac yn bryderus iawn o glywed bod y Torïaid yn cefnogi codi gorsaf nwy mewn hen chwarel yng Nghaernarfon, gorsaf fyddai’n allyrru nwyon tocsig, ac yn peryglu iechyd pobl leol, o gofio bod tai, ysbyty ac ysgol gerllaw. Yn ogystal â'r problemau iechyd, ydych chi'n cytuno efo fi fod effaith datblygiadau tanwydd ffosil newydd yn niweidiol iawn i fioamrywiaeth ac yn mynd yn hollol groes i ddeddfwriaeth y Senedd hon, yn cynnwys Deddf cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, a'r Ddeddf amgylchedd a'r Ddeddf aer glân?

Thank you for your patience, Llywydd. I was pleased to hear the First Minister yesterday, and yourself, Cabinet Secretary, this afternoon, restating the Government’s stance, namely a presumption against new gas-fired power stations in Arfon and elsewhere, and I was also very pleased to hear your emphasis on creating an affordable clean energy supply. But, unfortunately, that isn’t the view of the Conservatives, and constituents in Arfon will be very disappointed and very concerned to hear that the Tories do support the building of a gas-powered fire station in an old quarry in Caernarfon, which would emit toxic fumes and endanger the health of local people, given that homes, a hospital and a school are all nearby. In addition to the health problems, do you agree with me that the impact of new fossil fuel developments is very damaging to biodiversity and is entirely contrary to this Senedd’s legislation, including the future generations Act, the environment Act and the clean air Act?

Diolch, Siân, a neis i weld ti eto.

Thank you, Siân, and it's nice to have you back.

Nice to have you back. Llywydd, it’s helpful if I can restate our approach here and in Net Zero Wales—it’s how we increase renewable energy in Wales whilst also committing to phasing out unabated gas-fired generation, and it’s for the reasons that you outline. Where the Welsh Government is called to decide on future proposals, and I cannot, as I said in my response to you earlier, Siân, comment on individual proposals that might come forward, but in general, where we’re called to decide on future proposals to build unabated power generation in Wales, it would be the intent of Welsh Ministers to maintain that strong presumption against new fossil-fuelled power plant, and also to avoid, I have to say, replacing our current fleet of plant with alternatives that may themselves have the impact of becoming a source of greenhouse gas emissions or even, I have to say, a costly stranded fleet of generators as well. So, this presumption may well have the effect of discouraging local decision makers from consenting to new small-scale fossil-fuelled plant. But, Siân, those comments are in the generality of our approach in Welsh Government, which I’m happy to restate, rather than in respect of one individual proposal, Llywydd.

Mae'n dda eich cael chi'n ôl. Lywydd, byddai'n ddefnyddiol os caf ailddatgan ein dull o weithredu yma ac yn Cymru Sero Net—mae'n ymwneud â sut rydym yn cynyddu ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru gan ymrwymo ar yr un pryd i ddod â chynhyrchiant nwy heb systemau rheoli carbon i ben, a hynny am y rhesymau rydych chi'n eu hamlinellu. Lle gelwir ar Lywodraeth Cymru i benderfynu ar gynigion yn y dyfodol, ac ni allaf, fel y dywedais yn fy ymateb i chi yn gynharach, Siân, wneud sylwadau ar gynigion unigol a allai gael eu cyflwyno, ond yn gyffredinol, lle gelwir arnom i benderfynu ar gynigion yn y dyfodol i adeiladu cynhyrchiant pŵer heb systemau rheoli carbon yng Nghymru, bwriad Gweinidogion Cymru fyddai cynnal y rhagdybiaeth gref honno yn erbyn gorsafoedd ynni tanwydd ffosil newydd, a hefyd i osgoi, rhaid imi ddweud, cael dewisiadau amgen yn lle ein fflyd bresennol o orsafoedd a allai ddod eu hunain yn ffynonellau allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr neu hyd yn oed yn fflyd gostus o generaduron segur yn ogystal. Felly, mae'n ddigon posibl y bydd y rhagdybiaeth hon yn annog penderfynwyr lleol rhag cydsynio i orsaf tanwydd ffosil newydd ar raddfa fach. Ond Siân, mae'r sylwadau hynny'n amlinellu ein hymagwedd gyffredinol yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rwy'n hapus i ailddatgan hynny, ond nid mewn perthynas ag un cynnig unigol, Lywydd.

Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Y cwestiwn amserol heddiw yw'r cwestiwn i'w ateb gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, a'r cwestiwn i'w ofyn gan Luke Fletcher.

The topical question today is to be answered by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, and is to be asked by Luke Fletcher.

Carchar Parc EF
HM Prison Parc

1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am y materion sydd wedi dod i'r amlwg yng Ngharchar Parc EF? TQ1083

1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the issues highlighted at HM Prison Parc? TQ1083

Thank you. I send my sincere condolences to all those affected by the recent deaths at HMP Parc prison. The operational running of prisons is reserved, however Welsh Government is liaising with the UK Government and other partners to ensure action is being taken following the deaths. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.

Diolch. Rwy'n cydymdeimlo'n ddiffuant â phawb sydd wedi'u heffeithio gan y marwolaethau diweddar yng ngharchar EF y Parc. Mae rhedeg carchardai yn fater a gedwir yn ôl, ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU a phartneriaid eraill i sicrhau bod camau'n cael eu cymryd yn dilyn y marwolaethau. Fel gyda phob marwolaeth yn y ddalfa, bydd yr Ombwdsmon Carchardai a Phrofiannaeth yn ymchwilio.

Diolch am yr ateb, Cabinet Secretary.

 Thank you for the response, Cabinet Secretary.

And, of course, it’s good to hear that liaison is happening, but what direct conversations is Welsh Government having with the G4S officials at Parc prison? The stories coming out of Parc prison are very concerning: two deaths within hours of each other, those being the eighth and ninth deaths in the space of two months, as well as alleged open drug use, neglect of inmates’ health—I could go on. Would she also support the calls of her colleague Beth Winter that Parc should ultimately be brought back under Government control, and would she also agree that the long-awaited devolution of justice would help us actually deal with the situation ourselves?

Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n dda clywed bod cysylltu'n digwydd, ond pa sgyrsiau uniongyrchol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael gyda swyddogion G4S yng ngharchar EF y Parc? Mae'r straeon sy'n dod o garchar EF y Parc yn peri pryder mawr: dwy farwolaeth o fewn oriau i'w gilydd, a'r rheini yw'r wythfed a'r nawfed farwolaeth mewn cyfnod o ddau fis, yn ogystal â honiadau o ddefnyddio cyffuriau'n agored, esgeuluso iechyd carcharorion—gallwn fynd ymlaen. A fyddai hi hefyd yn cefnogi galwadau ei chyd-Aelod Beth Winter y dylid dod â charchar EF y Parc yn ôl o dan reolaeth y Llywodraeth yn y pen draw, ac a fyddai hi hefyd yn cytuno y byddai'r cam hirddisgwyliedig i ddatganoli cyfiawnder yn ein helpu ni i fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa ein hunain?

Thank you. As I say, there is that partnership approach going forward. Whilst the running of prisons is a reserved matter, of course, the health of prisoners here in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government. I’ve already met with the Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, Edward Argar, last month. I’ve also written to him this week. As you mentioned, there have been two further deaths this month. I think it’s really important that we recognise we don’t know the cause of death of the individuals. That’s a matter obviously for the coroner, and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is looking into these and will publish reports in due course, but, of course, the police did confirm in March that they believed some of the deaths were linked to substance misuse.

I heard the call, I think it was yesterday, in Parliament by Beth Winter to have the Ministry of Justice replace G4S in running the prison. At the current time, what's really important is we all come together to work together to ensure the safety of both prisoners and staff at Parc, but that's certainly something that I will be speaking to the Minister in the UK Government about, and, as you know, the Government supports the devolution of justice.

Diolch. Fel y dywedais, mae gennym y dull partneriaeth wrth symud ymlaen. Er bod cynnal carchardai yn fater a gedwir yn ôl wrth gwrs, mae iechyd carcharorion yma yng Nghymru wedi'i ddatganoli i Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwyf eisoes wedi cyfarfod â Gweinidog Llywodraeth y DU dros Garchardai, Parôl a'r Gwasanaeth Prawf, Edward Argar, fis diwethaf. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu ato yr wythnos hon hefyd. Fel y sonioch chi, mae dwy farwolaeth arall wedi bod y mis hwn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn cydnabod nad ydym yn gwybod beth yw achos marwolaeth yr unigolion. Mae hwnnw'n fater i'r crwner yn amlwg, ac mae'r Ombwdsmon Carchardai a Phrofiannaeth yn edrych ar y rhain a bydd yn cyhoeddi adroddiadau maes o law, ond wrth gwrs, cadarnhaodd yr heddlu ym mis Mawrth eu bod yn credu bod rhai o'r marwolaethau'n gysylltiedig â chamddefnyddio sylweddau.

Clywais yr alwad gan Beth Winter yn Senedd y DU, ddoe rwy'n credu, y dylai'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder redeg y carchar yn lle G4S. Ar hyn o bryd, yr hyn sy'n bwysig iawn yw ein bod i gyd yn dod at ein gilydd i gydweithio i sicrhau diogelwch carcharorion a staff yng ngharchar EF y Parc, ond mae hynny'n sicr yn rhywbeth y byddaf yn siarad â'r Gweinidog yn Llywodraeth y DU yn ei gylch, ac fel y gwyddoch, mae'r Llywodraeth yn cefnogi datganoli cyfiawnder.

15:20

Thank you, Llywydd, for granting this topical question today. As the Member for Bridgend, I'm obviously getting a lot of constituents who are getting in touch with me, and I also want to refer to Chris Elmore, the MP for Ogmore, who put in an urgent question in Westminster as well this week. My thoughts are, of course, with the inmates who are no longer with us and with their families. Every death is a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances, and I would also like to thank Heather Whitehead, the governor of Parc, for engaging with me over the recent months as the deaths have, sadly, increased.

The UK Minister made reference in his speech to the spice in the prison and questions around naloxone, which is needed, obviously, in those very desperate circumstances to prevent tragedy. There are also concerns within the Bridgend community that the prison is a catalyst for spice, because it is being transferred in and out of the prison. So, Cabinet Secretary, can you expand on the work that is being done with the MoJ, Public Health Wales officials and Bridgend County Borough Council intervention teams to bring some sort of control of the drug abuse taking place inside and outside the prison?

I also want to pay tribute to the prison staff. They are working in what are extremely difficult circumstances. Issues around staff-to-prisoner ratios have still not been dealt with, and it is vital that we ensure that prison officers who are having to deal with the deaths over the past nine to 10 weeks are receiving the mental health support that they so desperately need. I would just like to say that there is a lot of speculation, accusations and abuse of those prison staff online. They are unable to comment or say anything back, but I believe that it is really making things very difficult for them.

Finally, can the Cabinet Secretary expand on any work that is being done with our health board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg? I have had some constructive meetings with the health providers over recent weeks, but there does appear to be a disconnect between the reality on the ground in the prison and what the Ministry of Justice seems to be saying. I would be grateful for any update that you can give, really, to bring some calm to the situation, as my colleague Chris Elmore MP also asked for in Westminster, to the prison estate and also to the wider Bridgend community. Diolch.

Diolch, Lywydd, am ganiatáu’r cwestiwn amserol hwn heddiw. Fel yr Aelod dros Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr, rwy'n amlwg yn cael llawer o etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi, ac rwyf hefyd eisiau cyfeirio at Chris Elmore, AS Ogwr, a ofynnodd gwestiwn brys yn San Steffan yr wythnos hon hefyd. Rwy'n cydymdeimlo, wrth gwrs, â'r carcharorion nad ydynt bellach gyda ni a chyda'u teuluoedd. Mae pob marwolaeth yn drasiedi, ni waeth beth fo'r amgylchiadau, a hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i Heather Whitehead, llywodraethwr carchar y Parc, am ymgysylltu â mi dros y misoedd diwethaf wrth i nifer y marwolaethau gynyddu.

Cyfeiriodd Gweinidog y DU yn ei araith at y sbeis yn y carchar a chwestiynau ynghylch naloxone, sydd ei angen, yn amlwg, yn yr amgylchiadau enbyd hynny i atal trasiedi. Mae pryderon hefyd o fewn cymuned Pen-y-bont fod y carchar yn gatalydd ar gyfer sbeis, oherwydd caiff ei drosglwyddo i mewn ac allan o'r carchar. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi ehangu ar y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud gyda'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder, swyddogion Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru a thimau ymyrraeth Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i sicrhau rhyw fath o reolaeth ar y camddefnyddio cyffuriau sy'n digwydd o fewn a'r tu allan i'r carchar?

Rwyf hefyd eisiau talu teyrnged i staff y carchar. Maent yn gweithio mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn. Nid yw problemau gyda chymarebau staff/carcharorion wedi cael eu datrys o hyd, ac mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn sicrhau bod swyddogion carchar sydd wedi gorfod ymdrin â'r marwolaethau dros y naw i 10 wythnos diwethaf yn cael y cymorth iechyd meddwl y maent ei angen yn daer. Hoffwn ddweud bod yr aelodau hynny o staff yn destun llawer o ddyfalu, cyhuddiadau a chamdriniaeth ar-lein. Nid ydynt yn gallu gwneud sylw na dweud unrhyw beth yn ôl, ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwneud pethau'n anodd iawn iddynt hwy.

Yn olaf, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ehangu ar unrhyw waith sy'n cael ei wneud gyda'n bwrdd iechyd, Cwm Taf Morgannwg? Rwyf wedi cael cyfarfodydd adeiladol gyda'r darparwyr iechyd dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, ond mae'n ymddangos bod diffyg cysylltiad rhwng y realiti o fewn y carchar a'r hyn y mae'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder i'w weld yn ei ddweud. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar am unrhyw ddiweddariad y gallech ei roi i geisio gostegu'r dyfroedd, fel y gofynnodd fy nghyd-Aelod Chris Elmore AS amdano yn San Steffan, i'r ystad garchardai a chymuned ehangach Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr hefyd. Diolch.

Thank you. I think you raise some very important points, and I too want to pay tribute to the staff at the prison who are having to deal with a very difficult situation, and I suppose that's what I was trying to say in my answer to Luke Fletcher—a lot of this is around speculation. It's really important people do not speculate and we wait for the reports to be published by the ombudsman, and also for the causes of death to come forward from the coroner.

As I say, there's a huge amount of work being done. I think it's really important that the UK Government focus on ensuring that they gather intelligence on the drug entry points. I think that's a really important piece of work that needs to be done. Movements within the prison—there have been extensive searches, I know, undertaken of prisoners and staff, and they've run drug amnesties, for instance, and they've expanded the use of naloxone at the prison. As a Government, obviously, we are looking at what we can do to support the health board in the delivery of that healthcare in our prisons. As you know, as a Government, we're doing work around mental health and substance misuse strategies, we've also got a new substance misuse treatment framework coming forward for our prisons here in Wales. So, I'll be very happy to update Members as we go through this process at the current time.

Diolch. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n codi pwyntiau pwysig iawn, ac rwyf hefyd eisiau rhoi teyrnged i'r staff yn y carchar sy'n gorfod ymdrin â sefyllfa anodd iawn, ac rwy'n credu mai dyna roeddwn i'n ceisio ei ddweud yn fy ateb i Luke Fletcher—mae llawer o hyn yn ymwneud â dyfalu. Mae'n bwysig iawn nad yw pobl yn dyfalu ac mae'n bwysig ein bod yn aros i'r adroddiadau gael eu cyhoeddi gan yr ombwdsmon, a hefyd i achosion y marwolaethau gael eu cyhoeddi gan y crwner.

Fel y dywedais, mae llawer iawn o waith yn cael ei wneud. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod Llywodraeth y DU yn canolbwyntio ar sicrhau eu bod yn casglu gwybodaeth ynglŷn â lle mae cyffuriau'n mynd i mewn. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n waith pwysig y mae angen ei wneud. Symudiadau o fewn y carchar—bu chwiliadau helaeth, rwy'n gwybod, o garcharorion a staff, ac maent wedi cynnal amnestau cyffuriau, er enghraifft, ac wedi ehangu'r defnydd o naloxone yn y carchar. Fel Llywodraeth, yn amlwg, rydym yn edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i gefnogi'r bwrdd iechyd i ddarparu gofal iechyd yn ein carchardai. Fel y gwyddoch, fel Llywodraeth, rydym yn gwneud gwaith ar strategaethau iechyd meddwl a chamddefnyddio sylweddau, mae gennym hefyd fframwaith triniaethau camddefnyddio sylweddau newydd ar gyfer ein carchardai yma yng Nghymru. Felly, byddaf yn hapus iawn i ddarparu'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau wrth i ni fynd drwy'r broses hon nawr.

Thank you for the update, Cabinet Secretary. I know colleagues at Westminster, as you said, have raised concerns with the MoJ and the prisons Minister. The number of deaths at Parc is deeply concerning, and I sought to raise a topical question on this subject last week. My thoughts are with the families of those who have passed. Although we don't know the whole picture at present, it does appear that many of these deaths are drug-related, and while the running of the prison estate is a matter for the UK Government, the Welsh Government has a role to play in ensuring the health and well-being of those on the estate. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what discussions have you had with the Cabinet Secretary for health about ensuring that sufficient drug rehabilitation services are available to Parc inmates and the number of inmates on substance misuse registers?

Diolch am y diweddariad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwy'n gwybod bod cymheiriaid yn San Steffan, fel y dywedoch chi, wedi mynegi pryderon wrth y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder a'r Gweinidog carchardai. Mae nifer y marwolaethau yng ngharchar y Parc yn peri pryder mawr, a cheisiais godi cwestiwn amserol ar y pwnc yr wythnos diwethaf. Rwy'n cydymdeimlo â theuluoedd y rhai a fu farw. Er nad ydym yn gwybod beth yw'r darlun llawn ar hyn o bryd, mae'n ymddangos bod llawer o'r marwolaethau hyn yn gysylltiedig â chyffuriau, ac er mai Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am redeg yr ystad garchardai, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru rôl i'w chwarae yn sicrhau iechyd a llesiant y rhai sydd ar yr ystad. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd ynglŷn â sicrhau bod digon o wasanaethau adsefydlu cyffuriau ar gael i garcharorion y Parc a nifer y carcharorion sydd ar gofrestri camddefnyddio sylweddau?

15:25

Thank you. I repeat that I really do not want to hear any speculation, but I absolutely accept Welsh Government's part in the delivery of healthcare at HMP Parc. I haven't had a specific meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, but, obviously, our officials are working very closely together, along with other partners—Public Health Wales, for instance—in ensuring that the staff at the prison are able to access the healthcare for the prisoners that is required. I think, once we have the reports published by the ombudsman, once we have the coroner's reports as well, we really will need to look at learning lessons, not just us, but the UK Government as well, and we really will need to draw on the expertise of the ombudsman.

Diolch. Rwy'n ailadrodd nad wyf eisiau clywed unrhyw ddyfalu, ond rwy'n derbyn rhan Llywodraeth Cymru yn llwyr yn y gwaith o ddarparu gofal iechyd yng ngharchar EF y Parc. Nid wyf wedi cael cyfarfod penodol gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ond yn amlwg, mae ein swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'i gilydd, gyda phartneriaid eraill—Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, er enghraifft—i sicrhau bod staff y carchar yn gallu cael mynediad at y gofal iechyd y mae'r carcharorion ei angen. Pan fydd yr ombwdsmon wedi cyhoeddi'r adroddiadau, pan fydd adroddiadau'r crwner gennym hefyd, rwy'n credu y bydd gwir angen inni edrych ar ddysgu gwersi, nid ni yn unig, ond Llywodraeth y DU hefyd, a bydd gwir angen inni fanteisio ar arbenigedd yr ombwdsmon.

Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am yr atebion yna.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for those responses.

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Eitem 4 yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Y datganiad cyntaf fydd gan Jack Sargeant.

Item 4 is the 90-second statements. The first statement is from Jack Sargeant.

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. It is a crucial time for us to focus on our own well-being. The theme this year, set by the Mental Health Foundation, is 'Movement: moving more for our mental health'. Llywydd, it's all about finding something that both moves your body and your mind, whether that's football, walking or any other activity you may enjoy. It can significantly boost your mood and overall well-being.

I am not a particular fan of running, nor am I an avid gym-goer, but as the Presiding Officer knows, I do have a love of football and recently started playing for the Senedd parliamentary team. Presiding Officer, our recent 5-4 victory over the BBC at Cardiff City Stadium, the home of the red wall, certainly raised my spirits over the bank holiday weekend. It was a great team effort from both sides, but, importantly, raising money for a great cause, in the mental health charity Mind Cymru. Can I thank everybody for supporting that important cause? And can I thank the Mental Health Foundation and everyone involved in organising this week's important awareness event, but also thank those involved in daily work to support people with mental health issues? 

Presiding Officer, a reminder to all who may be struggling or know someone who is struggling with their own mental health: please do reach out, there is support out there for you. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Mae'r wythnos hon yn Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Iechyd Meddwl. Mae'n amser allweddol i ni ganolbwyntio ar ein llesiant ein hunain. Y thema eleni, a osodwyd gan y Sefydliad Iechyd Meddwl, yw 'Symud: symud mwy ar gyfer ein hiechyd meddwl'. Lywydd, mae'n ymwneud â dod o hyd i weithgaredd sy'n symud eich corff a'ch meddwl, boed yn bêl-droed, cerdded neu unrhyw weithgaredd arall y gallech ei fwynhau. Gall wella eich hwyliau a'ch llesiant cyffredinol yn sylweddol.

Nid wyf yn hoff iawn o redeg, ac nid wyf yn mynd i'r gampfa'n rheolaidd, ond fel y gŵyr y Llywydd, rwyf wrth fy modd gyda phêl-droed ac yn ddiweddar dechreuais chwarae i dîm seneddol y Senedd. Lywydd, fe wnaeth ein buddugoliaeth ddiweddar o 5-4 dros y BBC yn Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd, cartref y wal goch, godi fy ysbryd dros benwythnos gŵyl y banc. Cafwyd ymdrech wych gan y ddau dîm, ond yn bwysig, fe wnaethom godi arian dros achos gwych, sef elusen iechyd meddwl Mind Cymru. A gaf i ddiolch i bawb am gefnogi'r achos pwysig hwn? Ac a gaf i ddiolch i'r Sefydliad Iechyd Meddwl a phawb sydd wedi ymwneud â threfnu'r digwyddiad pwysig i godi ymwybyddiaeth yr wythnos hon, ond hefyd diolch i'r rhai sy'n gweithio bob dydd i gefnogi pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl? 

Lywydd, hoffwn atgoffa pawb a allai fod yn ei chael hi'n anodd, neu sy'n adnabod rhywun sy'n cael trafferth gyda'u hiechyd meddwl: gofynnwch am help, mae cymorth ar gael i chi. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr. Delyth Jewell.

Thank you very much. Delyth Jewell.

Diolch, Llywydd. Congratulations are due to Ystrad Mynach's Lauren Price for becoming the world boxing champion. Lauren has created history by becoming the first Welsh woman to do this. After winning the world title, she dedicated it to her grandmother, Linda, and her late grandfather, Derek, who recognised and nurtured her sporting talent from a young age. They raised her from when she was three days old and she has paid tribute to the love and support they gave her. And the community in Ystrad Mynach have shown their support too, by welcoming her back last Sunday in style.

Diolch, Lywydd. Llongyfarchiadau i Lauren Price o Ystrad Mynach am ddod yn bencampwr bocsio'r byd. Mae Lauren wedi creu hanes drwy fod y Gymraes gyntaf i wneud hyn. Ar ôl ennill teitl y byd, cyflwynodd y wobr i'w mam-gu, Linda, ac er cof am ei diweddar dad-cu, Derek, a wnaeth nodi a meithrin ei thalent chwaraeon o oedran ifanc. Fe wnaethant ei magu o pan oedd hi'n dri diwrnod oed ac mae hi wedi talu teyrnged i'r cariad a'r gefnogaeth a roesant iddi. Ac mae'r gymuned yn Ystrad Mynach wedi dangos eu cefnogaeth hefyd, drwy ei chroesawu'n ôl ddydd Sul diwethaf mewn steil.

Mae Lauren wedi cywasgu cymaint i mewn i'w 29 mlynedd, o chwarae pêl-droed rhyngwladol i Gymru, cynrychioli ei chenedl yng Ngemau'r Gymanwlad ac, wrth gwrs, ennill medal aur yn y Gemau Olympaidd. Ac mae hi wastad yn dangos ei balchder o fod yn fenyw o Gymru. Mae wedi dweud wrth y Caerphilly Observer yn ddiweddar:

Lauren has managed to fit a lot into her 29 years, from playing international football for Wales, representing her nation at the Commonwealth Games and, of course, winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games. And she always shows her pride in being a woman from Wales. She told the Caerphilly Observer recently:

'Being Welsh, we’re a small country but when it comes to supporting our own we’re a very proud nation.'

'Mae Cymru'n wlad fach ond pan fyddwn ni'n cefnogi ein gilydd rydym ni'n genedl falch iawn.'

Am neges bwysig i bobl ifanc arall yr ardal ei chlywed. Felly, llongyfarchiadau i Lauren, wrthym ni yn y Senedd. 

What an important message for other young people in Wales to hear. So, congratulations, Lauren, from all of us at the Senedd.

I'm sure the best for you is still to come.

Rwy'n siŵr bod y gorau i ddod eto i chi.

Llongyfarchiadau i Ysgol Pentrecelyn ar ddathlu ei phen-blwydd yn 150 mlwydd oed yr wythnos yma. Fel cyn-riant a Llywodraethwr yno ar hyn o bryd, dwi ishe nodi’r garreg filltir nodedig yma i’r ysgol fechan wledig hon yng ngogoniant Dyffryn Clwyd.

Nawr, fe agorwyd yr ysgol ar 11 Mai 1874, gyda 34 o blant ar y gofrestr a Mr Owen Henry Owen, Gaerwen yn bennaeth. Sarah Ann Winter o Siop Pentrecelyn oedd yr enw cyntaf ar y gofrestr, ac mae yna gannoedd lawer o ddisgyblion wedi dilyn yn ôl ei thraed hi ar y gofrestr honno ers hynny, wrth gwrs. Pobl fel yr actorion Rhys Ifans a'i frawd Llyr Ifans, yr actores Victoria Pugh, y pianydd rhyngwladol Teleri Siân a’r cantorion nodedig Sera Baines ac Elis Jones, ac mae Elis, gyda llaw, hefyd yn bencampwr byd ar saethu colomennod clai, a dim ond rhai o’r cyn-ddisgyblion yw'r rheini.

Ac mae’r ysgol wrth gwrs yn dal i fynd o nerth i nerth, gydag arolwg disglair gan Estyn llynedd yn amlygu bod Ysgol Pentrecelyn yn ysgol ragorol sy’n darparu addysg a phrofiadau dysgu o ansawdd uchel i’w disgyblion.

Fe gafwyd cyngerdd dathlu gyda channoedd lawer yn dod iddi rai wythnosau nôl ac mi fydd yna ddiwrnod dathlu a pharti pen-blwydd mawr yn cael ei gynnal yn yr ysgol ddydd Sadwrn yma. Fel ysgrifennodd Gareth Neigwl yn ei englyn hyfryd diweddar i'r ysgol:

'A’i haddysg imi’n wreiddyn—hyd fy oes, / I’w hiard fach rwy’n perthyn; / Lle bo’r daith daw llwybrau dyn / Yn ôl i Bentrecelyn.'

Pen-blwydd hapus i Ysgol Pentrecelyn gan bawb yn Senedd Cymru.

Congratulations to Ysgol Pentrecelyn school, which is celebrating its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary this week. As a former parent and current governor of the school, I want to mark such a major milestone for this small rural school in the beautiful Vale of Clwyd.

Now, the school was opened on 11 May 1874, with 34 children on the register, and Mr Owen Henry Owen, Gaerwen, as head. Sarah Ann Winter from Siop Pentrecelyn was the first name on the register and many hundreds of pupils have followed in her footsteps on that register since then. People such as the actors Rhys Ifans and his brother, Llyr Ifans, the actor Victoria Pugh, the internationally renowned pianist Teleri Siân and the well-known singers Sera Baines and Elis Jones, and Elis, by the way, is also a world champion clay-pigeon shooter, and that's just to name a few of the former pupils.

And the school of course continues to go from strength to strength, with a glowing report from Estyn last year demonstrating that Ysgol Pentrecelyn is an outstanding school that provides high-quality education and learning experiences for its pupils. 

Several hundreds of people attended a celebratory concert a few weeks ago, and there will be a day of celebration and a big birthday party at the school this Saturday. Gareth Neigwl wrote in his wonderful englyn:

'Its teaching was my mooring—all my days, / I belong to its playground; / Wherever I may roam, / All roads lead home to Pentrecelyn.'

Happy birthday to Ysgol Pentrecelyn from all of us here at Senedd Cymru.

15:30

Diolch am y datganiadau yna.

Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau, ac, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 12.24 a 12.40, os nad oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad, rwy'n cynnig bod y cynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau yn cael eu grwpio ar gyfer eu trafod ac ar gyfer pleidleisio. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu hyn? Nac oes. Felly, does yna ddim gwrthwynebiad.

Thank you for those statements.

The next item is the motions to elect Members to committees, and, in accordance with Standing Orders 12.24 and 12.40, unless there are any objections, I propose that the motions to elect Members to committees are grouped for debate and for voting. Does any Member object? No. There is no objection.

Cynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau
Motions to elect Members to committees

Aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes felly i wneud y cynigion yn ffurfiol. Heledd Fychan.

I call on a Member of the Business Committee to move the motions formally. Heledd Fychan.

Cynnig NNDM8583 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Rhianon Passmore (Llafur Cymru) yn lle John Griffiths (Llafur Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Deisebau.

Motion NNDM8583 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Rhianon Passmore (Welsh Labour) in place of John Griffiths (Welsh Labour) as a member of the Petitions Committee.

Cynnig NNDM8584 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Sarah Murphy (Llafur Cymru) yn lle Jack Sargeant (Llafur Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai.

Motion NNDM8584 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Sarah Murphy (Welsh Labour) in place of Jack Sargeant (Welsh Labour) as a member of the Local Government and Housing Committee.

Cynnig NNDM8585 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol John Griffiths (Llafur Cymru) yn lle Sarah Murphy (Llafur Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol.

Motion NNDM8585 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects John Griffiths (Welsh Labour) in place of Sarah Murphy (Welsh Labour) as a member of the Health and Social Care Committee.

Cynigiwyd y cynigion.

Motions moved.

Y cynigion wedi eu gwneud. A oes yna unrhyw wrthwynebiadau? Nac oes. Felly, mae'r cynigion yna wedi eu derbyn.

They have been formally moved. Is there any objection? No. Those motions are therefore agreed.

Derbyniwyd y cynigion yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motions agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

5. Dadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv): Rheoli cynhyrchion tybaco a nicotin
5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Control of tobacco and nicotine products

Yr eitem nesaf fydd dadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21 ar reoli cynhyrchion tybaco a nicotin, a Mabon ap Gwynfor sy'n cyflwyno'r cynnig yma. 

The next item will be a Member debate under Standing Order 11.21 on the control of tobacco and nicotine products, and I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM8571 Mabon ap Gwynfor, John Griffiths, Altaf Hussain

Cefnogwyd gan Carolyn Thomas, Delyth Jewell, Heledd Fychan, Jack Sargeant, Julie Morgan, Llyr Gruffydd, Mark Isherwood, Peredur Owen Griffiths, Rhys ab Owen, Sioned Williams, Vikki Howells

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi:

a) bod ysmygu yn lladd 5,600 o bobl y flwyddyn yng Nghymru ac yn rhoi baich enfawr ar GIG Cymru o fwy na £300 miliwn bob blwyddyn;

b) mai ysmygu yw prif achos afiechydon y gellir eu hatal a marw cyn pryd yng Nghymru, gan achosi 3,100 o achosion o ganser bob blwyddyn;

c) bod cynnydd amlwg i'w weld yng Nghymru yn nifer y bobl ifanc sy’n fepio, ynghyd â chynnydd sydyn yn nifer y manwerthwyr sy'n gwerthu cynhyrchion nicotin;

d) y bydd mwy o ddibyniaeth ar nicotin ymhlith pobl iau yn cynyddu’r galw am wasanaethau cymorth i roi'r gorau i nicotin yng Nghymru; ac

e) bod Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru feddwl am effaith hirdymor eu penderfyniadau, gweithio'n well gyda phobl, cymunedau a'i gilydd, ac atal problemau parhaus fel tlodi, anghydraddoldebau iechyd a newid yn yr hinsawdd.

2. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:

a) ymrwymo i weithredu penodau 2, 3 a 4 o Ddeddf Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Cymru) 2017 yn llawn a fyddai'n ei gwneud yn bosibl:

i) sefydlu cofrestr genedlaethol o fanwerthwyr tybaco a chynhyrchion nicotin;

ii) ychwanegu troseddau a fyddai’n cyfrannu at orchymyn mangre o dan gyfyngiad yng Nghymru, gan alluogi swyddogion gorfodi i wahardd manwerthwr rhag gwerthu tybaco neu gynhyrchion nicotin am hyd at flwyddyn; a

iii) gwahardd rhoi tybaco a chynhyrchion nicotin i berson o dan 18 oed;

b) sicrhau bod y Bwrdd Strategol ar gyfer Rheoli Tybaco yn blaenoriaethu gweithredu cofrestr o fanwerthwyr tybaco a nicotin fel rhan o ail gam y cynllun gweithredu ar reoli tybaco ar gyfer Cymru 2024-2026;

c) ymrwymo i ymgyrch gyfathrebu wedi'i hariannu'n llawn i gefnogi'r broses weithredu a newidiadau dilynol i reoliadau a deddfwriaeth; a

d) sefydlu gweithgor i:

i) goruchwylio'r broses o weithredu'r gofrestr o fanwerthwyr yn brydlon;

ii) archwilio sut y gallai'r gofrestr o fanwerthwyr arwain y ffordd at gynllun trwyddedu a/neu adnoddau ar gyfer mesurau gorfodi ychwanegol; a

iii) cyflwyno'r data a gasglwyd o'r gofrestr i helpu i dargedu ymdrechion i roi'r gorau i ysmygu a diogelu'r cyhoedd.

Motion NDM8571 Mabon ap Gwynfor, John Griffiths, Altaf Hussain

Supported by Carolyn Thomas, Delyth Jewell, Heledd Fychan, Jack Sargeant, Julie Morgan, Llyr Gruffydd, Mark Isherwood, Peredur Owen Griffiths, Rhys ab Owen, Sioned Williams, Vikki Howells

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that:

a) smoking kills 5,600 people a year in Wales and places a huge burden on the Welsh NHS of more than £300 million each year;

b) smoking is the leading cause of preventable ill health and premature death in Wales, causing 3,100 cases of cancer each year;

c) Wales is experiencing a marked increase in the reports of young people vaping, coupled with a sharp increase in the number of retailers selling nicotine products;

d) an increase in nicotine dependency among younger people will demand additional nicotine cessation support in Wales; and

e) the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) commit to the full implementation of chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 which would enable the:

i) establishment of a national register of retailers of tobacco and nicotine products;

ii) adding of offences which contribute to a restricted premises order in Wales, enabling enforcement officers to prohibit a retailer from selling tobacco or nicotine products for up to a year; and

iii) prohibition of the handing over of tobacco and nicotine products to a person under the age of 18;

b) ensure that the Tobacco Control Strategic Board makes the implementation of a tobacco and nicotine retail register a priority action in the second phase of the tobacco control action plan for Wales 2024-2026;

c) commit to a fully-funded communications campaign to support the implementation and subsequent regulatory and legislative changes; and

d) establish a working group to;

i) oversee the timely implementation of the retail register;

ii) explore how the retail register could provide a pathway to a licensing scheme and/or tools for additional enforcement; and

iii) present the data gathered from the register to help target smoking cessation and public protection efforts.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Since 2017, more than 20,000 children in Wales have smoked their first cigarette. By now, 15,000 of those children will be well on their way to becoming long-term smokers. And in a future none of them can yet see, 10,000 of these children will eventually die from their deadly addiction. 

As shocking as they are, these numbers represent just a fraction of the young Welsh lives affected by the cruel consequences of smoking. I reference 2017, because, on the 16 May of that year, the Senedd passed legislation that could have, and would have, reduced some of this harm and saved some of these lives. Heralded by the Minister at the time as a landmark day for public health in Wales, almost seven years to the day on and the law to introduce a tobacco and nicotine register has never been implemented. We have wasted time at a huge cost to children’s health. We must now put that right.

Smoking is an addiction of childhood. The majority of people who smoke in Wales had their first cigarette when they were children or teenagers. When surveyed by ASH Cymru, 71 per cent of these smokers say they wish they’d never started in the first place, and, although more than half want to quit, many are trapped by their childhood addiction.

Smoking remains the No. 1 cause of preventable death—5,600 people die from smoking every single year. Cigarettes are the only consumer product, which, when used as directed by the manufacturer, will kill two in three long-term users. If tobacco was brought to the market today, it would never be approved for sale.

As well as cancer, heart disease and lung disease, smoking is also a major contributing factor in still birth, stroke and dementia. Smoking continues to drive devastating discrepancies in health outcomes. The tobacco industry tend to airbrush over the fact that they’ve made people addicted to their uniquely dangerous products, and, sadly, they have had the most success in the areas of Wales that are most disadvantaged.

New data published this week by ASH Cymru shows that, while 9 per cent of homeowners smoke, when we look at those who live in social housing, that figure rises to 30 per cent. But we have a huge opportunity within our grasp to do something about all of this—to close existing loopholes, reduce health harms, save lives and protect our future generations. We can use existing legislation to implement a tobacco and nicotine retail register here in Wales. A register would require all businesses and retailers who sell either tobacco products or nicotine products in Wales who sell either tobacco products or nicotine products in Wales to sign up, and it would be an offence to sell tobacco or nicotine products from premises, including mobile units and pop-up shops, if those businesses were not on the national register.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Ers 2017, mae mwy nag 20,000 o blant yng Nghymru wedi ysmygu eu sigarét gyntaf. Erbyn hyn, bydd 15,000 o’r plant hynny ar eu ffordd i fod yn ysmygwyr hirdymor. Ac mewn dyfodol na all yr un ohonynt ei weld eto, bydd 10,000 o'r plant hyn yn marw yn y pen draw o'u caethiwed angheuol.

Er mor syfrdanol ydynt, nid yw'r niferoedd hyn ond yn gyfran fach iawn o'r bywydau Cymreig ifanc y mae canlyniadau creulon ysmygu yn effeithio arnynt. Cyfeiriaf at 2017, oherwydd, ar 16 Mai y flwyddyn honno, pasiodd y Senedd ddeddfwriaeth a allai fod wedi, ac a fyddai wedi lleihau rhywfaint o’r niwed hwn ac achub rhai o’r bywydau hyn. Fe wnaeth y Gweinidog ar y pryd ei ddatgan yn ddiwrnod a oedd yn garreg filltir i iechyd y cyhoedd yng Nghymru, a bron i saith mlynedd i’r diwrnod yn ddiweddarach, nid yw’r gyfraith i gyflwyno cofrestr o fanwerthwyr tybaco a chynhyrchion nicotin wedi’i rhoi ar waith o hyd. Rydym wedi gwastraffu amser ar gost enfawr i iechyd plant. Mae'n rhaid inni unioni hynny nawr.

Mae ysmygu'n gaethiwed sy'n dechrau yn ystod plentyndod. Cafodd y rhan fwyaf o bobl sy'n ysmygu yng Nghymru eu sigarét gyntaf pan oeddent yn blant neu yn eu harddegau. Pan gawsant eu holi gan ASH Cymru, dywedodd 71 y cant o’r ysmygwyr hyn eu bod yn difaru dechrau yn y lle cyntaf, ac er bod mwy na'u hanner yn awyddus i roi’r gorau iddi, mae llawer yn gaeth i gaethiwed eu plentyndod.

Ysmygu yw prif achos marwolaethau y gellir eu hatal o hyd—mae 5,600 o bobl yn marw o ysmygu bob blwyddyn. Sigaréts yw'r unig gynnyrch defnyddwyr, a fydd, pan gaiff ei ddefnyddio yn unol â chyfarwyddiadau'r gwneuthurwr, yn lladd dau o bob tri defnyddiwr hirdymor. Pe bai tybaco yn cael ei gyflwyno i'r farchnad heddiw, ni fyddai byth yn cael ei gymeradwyo i gael ei werthu.

Yn ogystal â chanser, clefyd y galon a chlefyd yr ysgyfaint, mae ysmygu hefyd yn ffactor cyfrannol mawr mewn marw-enedigaethau, strôc a dementia. Mae ysmygu yn parhau i achosi gwahaniaethau dinistriol mewn canlyniadau iechyd. Mae'r diwydiant tybaco yn tueddu i gadw'n dawel ynghylch y ffaith eu bod wedi gwneud pobl yn gaeth i'w cynhyrchion unigryw o beryglus, ac yn anffodus, maent wedi cael y llwyddiant mwyaf yn ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig Cymru.

Mae data newydd a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos hon gan ASH Cymru yn dangos, er bod 9 y cant o berchnogion tai yn ysmygu, pan edrychwn ar y bobl sy’n byw mewn tai cymdeithasol, mae’r ffigur yn codi i 30 y cant. Ond mae gennym gyfle enfawr o fewn ein gafael i wneud rhywbeth am hyn—i gau’r bylchau presennol, lleihau niwed i iechyd, achub bywydau a diogelu cenedlaethau’r dyfodol. Gallwn ddefnyddio’r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol i gyflwyno cofrestr o fanwerthwyr tybaco a nicotin yma yng Nghymru. Byddai cofrestr yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i bob busnes a manwerthwr sy’n gwerthu naill ai cynhyrchion tybaco neu gynhyrchion nicotin yng Nghymru gofrestru, a byddai’n drosedd gwerthu cynhyrchion tybaco neu nicotin o fangreoedd, gan gynnwys unedau symudol a siopau dros dro, os nad oedd y busnesau hynny ar y gofrestr genedlaethol.

15:35

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

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

The legislative mechanism for a tobacco and nicotine retail register is already contained in the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017. If implemented, it would benefit everyone, from retailers to consumers and enforcement teams. Most importantly, it would reduce health harms and save lives. It could offer support, advice and training to the vast majority of retailers, who would only ever sell tax-paid products to adults. And rather than subcontracting this responsibility to future generations, the implementation of the retail register would show that this Senedd used its powers, did what it could, when it could, and acted on its commitment to a smoke-free Wales by 2030.

Over the years, regulation and laws on cigarette promotion and price have played a huge part in tobacco control. But, in today's market, with the explosion in unregistered retail outlets and a surge in youth vaping, a fresh approach is needed, and we must meet the scale of this growing challenge. Until now, tackling the availability of cigarettes and vapes in our communities has been very much a poor relation. A retail register for Wales will help address that gap. At the moment, we don't know for sure if the most disadvantaged areas of Wales have the highest density of tobacco retailers and vape shops. We can guess, because of what we see in our communities, but we lack true evidence.

Local availability of cigarettes matters enormously to health. Research by Dr Jamie Pearce of the University of Edinburgh shows that adolescents in areas with a high density of tobacco retailers are more likely to have ever smoked. Adults in high-density areas are more likely to be current smokers and less likely to quit, and pregnant women in high-density areas more likely to smoke in their first pregnancy and less likely to quit. As part of his research, Dr Pearce also used GPS to track 700 volunteers aged 10 and 11 for a week. It showed that children from income-deprived areas were seven times more likely to be exposed to tobacco retailing than those from affluent areas.

Knowing exactly where these products are being sold, and by whom, is also important for public health teams, to make sure that precious resources are being used in areas of greatest need. A retail register would give us new and previously unavailable data for where the most nicotine is being sold, allowing smoking cessation efforts to be targeted in those communities. And for every Member who has been approached by a constituent concerned about an explosion in vape shops in their area, imagine how a retail register, had it been implemented in 2017, would have helped us monitor, manage and mitigate what has happened on every high street in Wales.

I wanted to reassure you on one other important point too. When surveyed by ASH Cymru, 86 per cent of people questioned said they're already on board with a retail scheme for tobacco products, and supported it. This includes 65 per cent of current smokers in Wales and 74 per cent of current vapers. Not only that; support for tobacco control more widely is growing in Wales. If I can take you back to 2015, when ASH Cymru conducted its annual YouGov survey, almost four in 10 people thought that the Welsh Government wasn't doing enough. Fast forward to 2024, and, when they asked that exact same question again, the proportion of people in Wales saying that the Government isn't doing enough had increased to 52 per cent.

The retail register is also supported in the recently published recommendations of Public Health Wales's incident response group report on youth vaping, by leading health charities, including ASH Cymru, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation Cymru, and Asthma and Lung UK Cymru, and also by trading standards and medical professionals. It also has cross-party support here in the Senedd. So, we urge Welsh Government to implement the existing legislation for the tobacco and nicotine retail register without further delay, and use the enormous opportunity that we have within our grasp to protect our most vulnerable.

Mae’r mecanwaith deddfwriaethol ar gyfer cofrestr o fanwerthwyr tybaco a nicotin eisoes wedi’i gynnwys yn Neddf Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Cymru) 2017. Pe bai’n cael ei roi ar waith, byddai o fudd i bawb, o fanwerthwyr i ddefnyddwyr a thimau gorfodi. Yn bwysicaf oll, byddai'n lleihau niwed i iechyd ac yn achub bywydau. Gallai gynnig cymorth, cyngor a hyfforddiant i’r mwyafrif helaeth o fanwerthwyr, a fyddai ond yn gwerthu cynnyrch y mae treth wedi'i thalu arnynt i oedolion. Ac yn hytrach nag is-gontractio’r cyfrifoldeb hwn i genedlaethau’r dyfodol, byddai cyflwyno'r gofrestr o fanwerthwyr yn dangos bod y Senedd hon wedi defnyddio ei phwerau, wedi gwneud yr hyn a allai, pan allai, ac wedi gweithredu ar ei hymrwymiad i sicrhau Cymru ddi-fwg erbyn 2030.

Dros y blynyddoedd, mae rheoliadau a chyfreithiau ar hyrwyddo sigaréts a phrisiau wedi chwarae rhan enfawr yn y broses o reoli tybaco. Ond yn y farchnad heddiw, gyda’r cynnydd mewn siopau manwerthu heb eu cofrestru ac ymchwydd mewn fepio ymhlith pobl ifanc, mae angen dull newydd o weithredu, ac mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â'r her gynyddol hon. Hyd yn hyn, ni roddwyd y sylw y dylid bod wedi ei roi i fynd i'r afael ag argaeledd sigaréts a fêps yn ein cymunedau. Bydd cofrestr o fanwerthwyr ar gyfer Cymru yn helpu i fynd i’r afael â’r bwlch hwnnw. Ar hyn o bryd, nid ydym yn gwybod i sicrwydd ai ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig Cymru sydd â’r dwysedd uchaf o fanwerthwyr tybaco a siopau fêps. Gallwn ddyfalu, oherwydd yr hyn a welwn yn ein cymunedau, ond rydym yn brin o dystiolaeth go iawn.

Mae argaeledd sigaréts yn lleol yn hynod bwysig i iechyd. Mae ymchwil gan Dr Jamie Pearce o Brifysgol Caeredin yn dangos bod pobl ifanc mewn ardaloedd a chanddynt ddwysedd uchel o fanwerthwyr tybaco yn fwy tebygol o fod wedi ysmygu. Mae oedolion mewn ardaloedd dwysedd uchel yn fwy tebygol o fod yn ysmygwyr presennol ac yn llai tebygol o roi’r gorau iddi, ac mae menywod beichiog mewn ardaloedd dwysedd uchel yn fwy tebygol o ysmygu yn ystod eu beichiogrwydd cyntaf ac yn llai tebygol o roi’r gorau iddi. Fel rhan o'i ymchwil hefyd, defnyddiodd Dr Pearce system leoli fyd-eang i dracio 700 o wirfoddolwyr 10 ac 11 oed am wythnos. Dangosodd fod plant o ardaloedd difreintiedig o ran incwm saith gwaith yn fwy tebygol o fod yn agored i fanwerthu tybaco na phlant o ardaloedd cefnog.

Mae gwybod ble yn union y caiff y cynhyrchion hyn eu gwerthu, a chan bwy, hefyd yn bwysig i dimau iechyd y cyhoedd, er mwyn sicrhau bod adnoddau gwerthfawr yn cael eu defnyddio yn yr ardaloedd sydd â’r angen mwyaf. Byddai cofrestr o fanwerthwyr yn rhoi data newydd i ni nad oedd ar gael yn flaenorol ar gyfer lle mae’r cyfraddau uchaf o gynhyrchion nicotin yn cael eu gwerthu, gan ganiatáu i ymdrechion i gefnogi pobl i roi’r gorau i ysmygu gael eu targedu yn y cymunedau hynny. Ac i bob Aelod sydd wedi cael etholwr yn cysylltu â nhw i fynegi pryderon am y cynnydd yn niferoedd siopau fêps yn eu hardal, dychmygwch sut y byddai cofrestr o fanwerthwyr, pe bai wedi’i rhoi ar waith yn 2017, wedi ein helpu i fonitro, rheoli a lliniaru’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd ar bob stryd fawr yng Nghymru.

Hoffwn dawelu eich meddwl ar un pwynt pwysig arall hefyd. Mewn arolwg gan ASH Cymru, dywedodd 86 y cant o’r bobl a holwyd eu bod eisoes yn cytuno â'r syniad o gynllun manwerthwyr ar gyfer cynhyrchion tybaco, a’u bod yn ei gefnogi. Mae hyn yn cynnwys 65 y cant o ysmygwyr presennol yng Nghymru a 74 y cant o fepwyr presennol. Nid yn unig hynny; mae cefnogaeth ehangach i reoli tybaco yn tyfu yng Nghymru. Os caf fynd â chi'n ôl i 2015, pan gynhaliodd ASH Cymru eu harolwg YouGov blynyddol, roedd bron i bedwar o bob 10 o bobl yn credu nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud digon. Ymlaen i 2024, a phan ofynnwyd yr un cwestiwn yn union ganddynt eto, roedd cyfran y bobl yng Nghymru a ddywedodd nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn gwneud digon wedi cynyddu i 52 y cant.

Cefnogir y gofrestr o fanwerthwyr hefyd yn argymhellion yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar gan grŵp ymateb i ddigwyddiadau Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ar fepio ymhlith pobl ifanc, gan elusennau iechyd blaenllaw, gan gynnwys ASH Cymru, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation Cymru, ac Asthma and Lung UK Cymru, a hefyd gan safonau masnach a gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol. Mae iddi gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol yma yn y Senedd hefyd. Felly, rydym yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i roi’r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol ar gyfer y gofrestr o fanwerthwyr tybaco a nicotin ar waith heb oedi pellach, a defnyddio’r cyfle enfawr sydd gennym o fewn ein gafael i ddiogelu ein pobl fwyaf agored i niwed.

15:40

I very much support what we've heard from Mabon ap Gwynfor, which I think makes a very clear and strong case for that retail register. I know from my own constituency—I'm sure this applies to other Members—just how prevalent the problems caused by tobacco and vaping are at the current time. Vaping, for example, is increasingly a problem even in primary schools, where headteachers are very concerned about the health and well-being and keeping good order in the school aspects of vaping and the problems that vaping brings to those concerns. And parents, of course, are very concerned as well. And, as I say, that's at a primary school level, let alone what's happening in our secondary schools. 

As we've heard from Mabon, tobacco use is still such a huge problem to our health and well-being in Wales, isn't it? And, again, we're all very familiar with the statistics, and just what a cause of preventable death and injury smoking is, the fact that it affects our more deprived communities to a greater extent and it's a very strong driver of health inequalities and that gap in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between our most and least deprived communities. So, there's an awful lot to be done on tobacco still.

Illegal tobacco is a very big problem, and those illegal operators are very much concerned with selling illegal vapes, as well as illegal tobacco. And very often, it goes together as a package, as it were. So, there's a great deal for trading standards to do in terms of enforcement. And recently, in the cross-party group on smoking, we brought some of the key players together—the deputy future generations commissioner, academics, trading standards, ASH Cymru, of course, the health sector—and looked at some of these problems, and we reflected on some of the statistics that Mabon has already rehearsed in terms of the survey and the key statistics that ASH Cymru put before us.

It is a very, very clear case, and it does have very strong public support. And that does give a very fair wind, I think, in terms of what Welsh Government might do with key partners to establish that retail register and have that licensing scheme. And that cross-party group, I think, with all the key partners involved, was very clear in terms of the need for that register, that licensing scheme, and the benefits that it would bring.

As I said in beginning my remarks, Dirprwy Lywydd, I do think that, at the beginning of this important debate, Mabon has very clearly outlined a very strong case for this action—this retail register and this licensing scheme. Much of what I was going to say Mabon has already said. And I would just like very much to support this proposal, these proposals, and hope that Welsh Government—which I'm pretty confident it does—sees the sense of having this approach and will do all it can to bring about that register, that licensing scheme.

Rwy’n llwyr gefnogi’r hyn a glywsom gan Mabon ap Gwynfor, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn dadlau achos clir a chryf iawn dros gofrestr o fanwerthwyr. Gwn o fy etholaeth fy hun—rwy'n siŵr fod hyn yn wir am Aelodau eraill—pa mor gyffredin yw’r problemau a achosir gan dybaco a fepio ar hyn o bryd. Mae fepio, er enghraifft, yn broblem gynyddol hyd yn oed mewn ysgolion cynradd, lle mae penaethiaid yn bryderus iawn am effeithiau fepio ar iechyd a lles a chadw trefn yn yr ysgol a’r problemau a ddaw yn sgil fepio. Ac mae rhieni, wrth gwrs, yn bryderus iawn hefyd. Ac fel y dywedaf, mae hynny ar lefel ysgolion cynradd, heb sôn am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn ein hysgolion uwchradd.

Fel y clywsom gan Mabon, mae'r defnydd o dybaco yn dal i fod yn broblem mor enfawr i’n hiechyd a’n lles yng Nghymru, onid yw? Ac unwaith eto, mae pob un ohonom yn gyfarwydd iawn â'r ys