Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

25/09/2024

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 yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio
1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i’r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Joyce Watson.

Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. The first item this afternoon will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, and the first question is from Joyce Watson.

Economi Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru
The Economy of Mid and West Wales

1. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi'r economi leol yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ61563

1. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the local economy in Mid and West Wales? OQ61563

Our plan for supporting the economy across Wales is set out in our economic mission, namely ensuring a just transition to a green and productive economy, a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success, stronger partnerships for stronger regions, and the everyday economy and investing for growth.

Mae ein cynllun ar gyfer cefnogi’r economi ledled Cymru wedi’i nodi yn ein cenhadaeth economaidd, yn benodol i sicrhau pontio teg i economi werdd a chynhyrchiol, platfform i bobl ifanc, gwaith teg, sgiliau a llwyddiant, partneriaethau cryfach ar gyfer rhanbarthau cryfach a’r economi bob dydd a buddsoddi ar gyfer twf.

Diolch, Cabinet Secretary. I've received recently correspondence from concerned constituents regarding the announcement of the closure of the Lloyd's Bank branch in Brecon early next year. And just like many other towns, other banks have closed, including HSBC and Barclays, in that area, leaving many constituents with a decreasing number of options to have the face-to-face interaction they would like from their bank. And that's particularly an issue for customers in rural areas who are unable to travel to a remaining branch. I do appreciate that banking is not a devolved issue and that this is a commercial decision taken by this bank and others. However, I do believe that you and your colleagues are committed to improving financial inclusion for our constituents. Cabinet Secretary, do you agree that the closure of branches can have an impact on that local economy in towns like Brecon, which rely on attracting people to their high streets?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Cefais ohebiaeth yn ddiweddar gan etholwyr pryderus ynghylch y cyhoeddiad y bydd cangen banc Lloyd's yn Aberhonddu yn cau yn gynnar y flwyddyn nesaf. Ac yn union fel llawer o drefi eraill, mae banciau eraill wedi cau, gan gynnwys HSBC a Barclays yn yr ardal honno, gan adael llawer o etholwyr â llai o opsiynau i ryngweithio wyneb yn wyneb â'r banc fel yr hoffent. Ac mae hynny'n broblem arbennig i gwsmeriaid mewn ardaloedd gwledig nad ydynt yn gallu teithio i gangen arall. Rwy'n sylweddoli nad yw bancio'n fater datganoledig a bod hwn yn benderfyniad masnachol a wnaed gan y banc hwn ac eraill. Fodd bynnag, credaf eich bod chi a'ch cyd-Aelodau wedi ymrwymo i wella cynhwysiant ariannol ar gyfer ein hetholwyr. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno y gall cau canghennau gael effaith ar yr economi leol mewn trefi fel Aberhonddu, sy’n dibynnu ar ddenu pobl i’w stryd fawr?

I'm very grateful to Joyce Watson for raising this important issue this afternoon. As she rightly recognises, it's not a devolved issue, but that doesn't mean it's not an issue that the Welsh Government isn't concerned about. And, indeed, we recently made our response to the Financial Conduct Authority's consultation on access to cash and, in that, we highlighted significant concerns about branch closures and the pace, at the moment, of the banking hub roll-outs, which we want to see increase significantly.

I do want to draw colleagues' attention to Link, which has been tasked with assessing the need for new banking services, and they do that following every bank closure that is announced, and they look at where the nearest bank is and so on, and then they do go on to make recommendations as to where those hubs should be. So, so far, they've identified a need for 11 banking hubs in Wales, including in the region that Joyce Watson represents, for example, in Welshpool. But I would encourage all colleagues to engage with Link if they have particular communities, such as Brecon, which they're particularly concerned about as being not well-served by the banking industry.

Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Joyce Watson am godi’r mater pwysig hwn y prynhawn yma. Fel y mae'n cydnabod yn gywir ddigon, nid yw'n fater datganoledig, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu ei fod yn fater nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn poeni amdano. Ac yn wir, yn ddiweddar, rhoesom ein hymateb i ymgynghoriad yr Awdurdod Ymddygiad Ariannol ar fynediad at arian parod, ac yn yr ymateb hwnnw, fe wnaethom nodi pryderon sylweddol ynghylch cau canghennau a chyflymder y broses o gyflwyno hybiau bancio ar hyn o bryd, gan fod arnom eisiau gweld hynny'n cyflymu'n sylweddol.

Hoffwn dynnu sylw fy nghyd-Aelodau at Link, sydd wedi cael y dasg o asesu’r angen am wasanaethau bancio newydd, ac maent yn gwneud hynny ar ôl pob cyhoeddiad y bydd banc yn cau, ac maent yn edrych ar ble mae’r banc agosaf ac ati, ac yna maent yn gwneud argymhellion ynghylch ble y dylai'r hybiau hynny fod. Felly, hyd yma, maent wedi nodi'r angen am 11 o hybiau bancio yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys yn y rhanbarth y mae Joyce Watson yn ei gynrychioli, er enghraifft, yn y Trallwng. Ond hoffwn annog pob un o'm cyd-Aelodau i ymgysylltu â Link os oes ganddynt gymunedau penodol fel Aberhonddu, y maent yn arbennig o bryderus yn eu cylch fel rhai nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu'n dda gan y diwydiant bancio.

Cabinet Secretary, one of the issues that I believe prevents growth in parts of mid Wales is the lack of commercial properties that are available for businesses to expand and move into. Some of these businesses have existed for many years and want to upscale and move to larger premises, and others are relatively new businesses that are struggling to find premises, particularly in the Newtown and Welshpool areas. So, this, I'd suggest, is a good problem, but one that I really do think needs to be resolved and supported by the Government. It's an issue that I've raised with some of your predecessors as well. One such company I visited over the summer, called Purus Energy. They specialise in manufacturing and supplying their own solar panel systems for properties that are unable to be connected to the grid. They really want to expand and they're working out of a largeish shed, if you like, at the moment. They need a purpose-built unit in order to expand and increase their business. So, Cabinet Secretary, I would be very grateful if you could perhaps set out what the Welsh Government is doing to support businesses in this particular area—businesses that want to grow and expand, but can't find premises? And what support can you provide them with?

Also, the offer, as well, is there, Minister, for you to come to mid Wales. I'm very happy to get a group of 10 or half a dozen people who are looking to move into new premises to speak with you so that they can outline their situation and perhaps help you and your officials to develop a more strategic plan, going forward.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, un o’r materion sy’n atal twf mewn rhannau o’r canolbarth yw’r diffyg eiddo masnachol sydd ar gael i fusnesau ehangu a symud i mewn iddynt. Mae rhai o’r busnesau hyn wedi bodoli ers blynyddoedd lawer ac yn awyddus i ehangu a symud i safleoedd mwy, ac mae eraill yn fusnesau cymharol newydd sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i eiddo, yn enwedig yn ardaloedd y Drenewydd a’r Trallwng. Felly, rwy'n awgrymu bod hon yn broblem dda, ond yn un rwy'n credu'n wirioneddol fod angen ei datrys a'i chefnogi gan y Llywodraeth. Mae'n fater a godais gyda rhai o'ch rhagflaenwyr hefyd. Ymwelais ag un cwmni o'r fath dros yr haf, sef Purus Energy. Maent yn arbenigo mewn gweithgynhyrchu a chyflenwi eu systemau paneli solar eu hunain ar gyfer eiddo na ellir eu cysylltu â'r grid. Maent yn awyddus iawn i ehangu ac maent yn gweithio mewn sied eithaf mawr, os mynnwch, ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen uned bwrpasol arnynt er mwyn ehangu a chynyddu eu busnes. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn yn fawr pe gallech chi nodi'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi busnesau yn y maes penodol hwn—busnesau sydd am dyfu ac ehangu, ond na allant ddod o hyd i eiddo? A pha gymorth y gallwch chi ei ddarparu iddynt?

Hefyd, mae’r cynnig yno, Weinidog, i chi ddod i ganolbarth Cymru. Rwy’n fwy na pharod i gael grŵp o 10 neu hanner dwsin o bobl, sy’n awyddus i symud i mewn i eiddo newydd, i siarad gyda chi fel y gallant ddisgrifio eu sefyllfa a'ch helpu chi a’ch swyddogion efallai i ddatblygu cynllun mwy strategol wrth symud ymlaen.

I'm really grateful for that question, and, as Russell George says, it is a good problem to have, but definitely one that we need to be working to resolve. So, the property that we are able to provide and identify does form part of our Wales economic offer, because the right site can be absolutely fundamental, as I think you've recognised, in terms of enabling businesses to locate here, but then also to expand their operations here in Wales. We do have a property infrastructure team in the Welsh Government, and that's responsible for the delivery of investment-ready employment sites and premises. So, those would include, for example, workshops, factories, offices, and so on, to support economic development. So, perhaps I'd ask the property infrastrucutre team to make contact with that particular business that you've made representations on behalf of this afternoon, to see if there's a way in which we can support them.

Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn, ac fel y dywed Russell George, mae’n broblem dda i’w chael, ond yn sicr, mae'n un y mae angen inni fod yn gweithio i’w datrys. Felly, mae'r eiddo y gallwn ei ddarparu a'i nodi yn rhan o'n cynnig economaidd i Gymru, gan y gall y safle cywir fod yn hollbwysig, fel y credaf eich bod wedi cydnabod, o ran galluogi busnesau i leoli eu hunain yma, ond wedyn hefyd i ehangu eu gweithrediadau yma yng Nghymru. Mae gennym dîm seilwaith eiddo yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac maent yn gyfrifol am ddarparu safleoedd cyflogaeth sy'n barod ar gyfer buddsoddiad. Felly, byddai’r rheini’n cynnwys, er enghraifft, gweithdai, ffatrïoedd, swyddfeydd, ac yn y blaen, i gefnogi datblygiad economaidd. Felly, efallai y gallwn ofyn i'r tîm seilwaith eiddo gysylltu â'r busnes penodol yr ydych wedi gwneud sylwadau ar eu rhan y prynhawn yma, i weld a oes ffordd y gallwn eu cefnogi.

13:35
Prosiect Porth Wrecsam
Wrexham Gateway Project

2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am brosiect Porth Wrecsam? OQ61569

2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the Wrexham Gateway project? OQ61569

The Welsh Government is aligned with key partners in Wrexham to deliver this exciting project along Mold Road. Our shared ambitions of delivering an integrated public transport and active travel system and facilitating competitive international football in the north remain at the core of our involvement in the project.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid allweddol yn Wrecsam i gyflawni’r prosiect cyffrous hwn ar Ffordd yr Wyddgrug. Mae ein huchelgeisiau cyffredin i ddarparu system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig a theithio llesol a hwyluso pêl-droed rhyngwladol cystadleuol yn y gogledd yn parhau i fod yn ganolog i'n rhan yn y prosiect.

Thank you very much. That's really good to hear. The Wrexham Gateway project is something I've long supported because I do believe it could be truly transformational for our city. Working with local partners back in 2021, the Welsh Government invested £25 million, and the aim of the scheme was to regenerate the Mold Road area, as you referred to. It's absolutely a key corridor into Wrexham. Despite the significant setback in January 2023, when the Conservative UK Government, for a second time, rejected Wrexham's bid for levelling-up funding, the partnership adapted its plans to focus more on the western side of the scheme, as there was more of an opportunity in the immediate time to deliver tangible evidence of progress along the Mold Road. Frustratingly, there have been bumps in the road—for example, Wrexham AFC have had to delay the construction of a new Kop stand. And then we had a consultation, which was initiated by Transport for Wales, that finished at the end of the last year. But since that time, we've had very few updates. So, I'm grateful for the support of the Welsh Government, but I would like you to confirm your commitment to deliver this game-changing regeneration project in full, and I wonder if you could provide a timescale.

Diolch yn fawr. Mae'n dda iawn clywed hynny. Mae prosiect Porth Wrecsam yn rhywbeth yr wyf wedi'i gefnogi ers amser maith, gan y credaf y gallai fod yn wirioneddol drawsnewidiol i'n dinas. Gan weithio gyda phartneriaid lleol yn ôl yn 2021, buddsoddodd Llywodraeth Cymru £25 miliwn, a nod y cynllun oedd adfywio ardal Ffordd yr Wyddgrug, fel y nodwyd gennych. Mae'n goridor allweddol i Wrecsam. Er gwaethaf y rhwystr sylweddol ym mis Ionawr 2023, pan wrthododd Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU gais Wrecsam am gyllid ffyniant bro am yr eildro, addasodd y bartneriaeth ei chynlluniau i ganolbwyntio mwy ar ochr orllewinol y cynllun, gan fod mwy o gyfle ar y pryd i gyflwyno tystiolaeth bendant o gynnydd ar Ffordd yr Wyddgrug. Yn anffodus, cafwyd rhwystrau—er enghraifft, mae Clwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam wedi gorfod gohirio'r gwaith o adeiladu stand Kop newydd. Ac yna cawsom ymgynghoriad, a gychwynnwyd gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru, a ddaeth i ben ddiwedd y llynedd. Ond ers hynny, ychydig iawn o ddiweddariadau a gawsom. Felly, rwy'n ddiolchgar am gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hoffwn pe gallech gadarnhau eich ymrwymiad llawn i gyflawni'r prosiect adfywio trawsnewidiol hwn, a tybed a allwch ddarparu amserlen.

I'd be absolutely more than happy to reaffirm the Welsh Government's commitment to the project, and of course to recognise Lesley Griffiths's long-standing championing of this as well. Our enthusiasm for this is unquestionable. We do know that Wrexham AFC has explained that its intention is to have the stadium, including the new pitch and Kop stand, ready for the UEFA under-19 championships in the summer of 2026, with north Wales hosting this competition in the Football Association of Wales's one hundred and fiftieth anniversary year. So, it should be quite an event. The timeline is entirely feasible, we think, and we're more than happy to continue working alongisde partners to that important goal. I do know that the delay was on the basis of wanting to create a facility that is there for the commuinty all year round, which I think is also really, really positive.

More widely, the Wrexham Gateway project does continue at pace, with the functionality of the public transport interchange at Wrexham General station defined, and negotiations for delivery on the city centre side of the rail line are ongoing. It is difficult to be specific about the timing at this point, but the partnership in Wrexham does still remain very focused on delivering the project in its entirety.

Rwy'n fwy na pharod i ailddatgan ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i'r prosiect, ac wrth gwrs, i gydnabod y ffaith bod Lesley Griffiths wedi hyrwyddo hyn ers amser maith hefyd. Mae ein brwdfrydedd dros hyn yn ddiamau. Gwyddom fod Clwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam wedi egluro mai eu bwriad yw i'r stadiwm, gan gynnwys y cae newydd a'r stand Kop, fod yn barod ar gyfer pencampwriaethau dan-19 UEFA yn haf 2026, gyda gogledd Cymru yn cynnal y gystadleuaeth hon yn ystod blwyddyn canmlwyddiant a hanner Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru. Felly, dylai fod yn dipyn o ddigwyddiad. Mae'r amserlen yn gwbl gyraeddadwy, yn ein barn ni, ac rydym yn fwy na pharod i barhau i weithio ochr yn ochr â phartneriaid i gyflawni'r nod pwysig hwnnw. Gwn fod yr oedi wedi'i achosi gan y dyhead i greu cyfleuster sydd yno ar gyfer y gymuned drwy gydol y flwyddyn, sydd hefyd yn gadarnhaol iawn, yn fy marn i.

Yn ehangach, mae prosiect Porth Wrecsam yn parhau i ddatblygu'n gyflym, gyda gweithrediad y gyfnewidfa drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng ngorsaf Wrecsam Cyffredinol wedi’i diffinio, ac mae trafodaethau ar gyfer darpariaeth ar ochr canol y ddinas i’r rheilffordd yn parhau. Mae’n anodd bod yn benodol ynglŷn â’r amseru ar hyn o bryd, ond mae’r bartneriaeth yn Wrecsam yn dal i ganolbwyntio’n agos ar gyflawni’r prosiect yn ei gyfanrwydd.

It's my understanding from Wrexham council of good news that the Wrexham Gateway project should be secure, partly because of Welsh Government funding, partly because of the shared prosperity funding, which Wrexham did receive—almost £23 million out of over £126 million received in north Wales—and because this is a priority project for the north Wales growth deal and the ambition board. Hopefully, you can confirm that your understanding is also that this project is secure. But there is concern that the £20 million town fund allocation to Wrexham could be scrapped by the new UK Government, alongside that for Merthyr Tydfil, Cwmbran and Barry, and the £20 million announced by the previous UK Government for Rhyl, under it's long-term plan for towns, and the £160 million announced for the north-east Wales investment zone. So, I wonder if you can confirm what represenations you're making to colleagues in the UK Government to secure those projects, which mean so much to the organisations, businesses, councils and others involved with them in the region of north Wales.

Fy nealltwriaeth i gan gyngor Wrecsam yw mai'r newyddion da yw y dylai prosiect Porth Wrecsam fod yn ddiogel, yn rhannol oherwydd cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, yn rhannol oherwydd cyllid y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin a gafodd Wrecsam—bron i £23 miliwn o'r dros £126 miliwn a dderbyniwyd yn y gogledd—a chan fod hwn yn brosiect blaenoriaeth ar gyfer bargen twf gogledd Cymru a'r bwrdd uchelgais. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch gadarnhau mai eich dealltwriaeth chi hefyd yw bod y prosiect hwn yn ddiogel. Ond mae pryder y gallai’r dyraniad o £20 miliwn i Wrecsam o'r gronfa drefi gael ei ddileu gan Lywodraeth newydd y DU, ynghyd â'r dyraniadau ar gyfer Merthyr Tudful, Cwmbrân a’r Barri, a’r £20 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth flaenorol y DU ar gyfer y Rhyl, o dan eu cynllun hirdymor ar gyfer trefi, a’r £160 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer parth buddsoddi gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru. Felly, tybed a allwch gadarnhau pa sylwadau a wneir gennych i swyddogion Llywodraeth y DU i ddiogelu'r prosiectau hynny, sy'n golygu cymaint i'r sefydliadau, busnesau, cynghorau ac eraill sy'n gysylltiedig â hwy yn rhanbarth gogledd Cymru.

13:40

Well, I just begin by reiterating that we are very focused on delivering the project in its entirety, and critical to that is the £25 million that the Welsh Government was able to provide back in March 2021, which enables the project to move forward.

In terms of the town fund, I think that we all recognise that the funding that was announced by the UK Government is part of the black hole which is there at the moment, because there was never any real money attached to that. That said, it is important to recognise that this is an issue which I’ve brought up with Wales Office Ministers already, and my colleagues are also raising it with counterparts in the UK Government ahead of the UK Government’s autumn budget, which will be at the end of October, and I would expect it would be at that point when we will get the clarity that I know all colleagues are after.

Wel, hoffwn ddechrau drwy ailadrodd ein bod yn canolbwyntio’n agos ar gyflawni’r prosiect yn ei gyfanrwydd, ac mae’r £25 miliwn y llwyddodd Llywodraeth Cymru i’w ddarparu yn ôl ym mis Mawrth 2021 yn hollbwysig i hynny gan ei fod yn galluogi’r prosiect i symud yn ei flaen.

O ran y gronfa drefi, credaf fod pob un ohonom yn cydnabod bod y cyllid a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn rhan o’r twll du sydd yno ar hyn o bryd, gan nad oedd unrhyw arian gwirioneddol ynghlwm wrth hynny erioed. Wedi dweud hynny, mae'n bwysig cydnabod bod hwn yn fater a godais eisoes gyda Gweinidogion Swyddfa Cymru, ac mae fy nghyd-Aelodau hefyd yn ei godi gyda swyddogion cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU cyn cyllideb hydref Llywodraeth y DU, a fydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi ar ddiwedd mis Hydref, a bryd hynny, rwy'n disgwyl y cawn yr eglurder y gwn fod pob cyd-Aelod yn dymuno'i gael.

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

Llefarwyr y pleidiau nawr i holi cwestiynau i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Samuel Kurtz.

Party spokespeople now to ask questions of the Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, firstly, welcome to your new role. I look forward to working with you over the coming months, and I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you yesterday, so thank you for that. And while you are the third economy Secretary I’m shadowing this year, that is still no excuse for the latest employment statistics when Labour have been in charge for 25 years. These stats show little sign of change, painting a picture of lagging productivity, rising unemployment, and a level of economic inactivity at 27.2 per cent—over 5 percentage points higher than the UK average. Change—that was the one word that acted as the bedrock of the Labour Party’s victory earlier this year. So, what change do you bring to this portfolio? How are you going to change Wales’s economy for the better, getting more people into work and economically active?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn gyntaf, croeso i’ch rôl newydd. Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda chi dros y misoedd nesaf, a gwerthfawrogais y cyfle i gyfarfod â chi ddoe, felly diolch am hynny. Ac er mai chi yw’r trydydd Ysgrifennydd dros yr economi i mi ei gysgodi eleni, nid yw hynny’n esgus dros yr ystadegau cyflogaeth diweddaraf pan fo Llafur wedi bod wrth y llyw ers 25 mlynedd. Nid yw’r ystadegau hyn yn dangos fawr o arwydd o newid, gan baentio darlun o gynhyrchiant isel, diweithdra cynyddol, a lefel o anweithgarwch economaidd ar 27.2 y cant—dros 5 pwynt canran yn uwch na chyfartaledd y DU. Newid—dyna’r un gair a fu’n sylfaen i fuddugoliaeth y Blaid Lafur yn gynharach eleni. Felly, pa newid a wnewch chi yn y portffolio hwn? Sut y bwriadwch newid economi Cymru er gwell, a sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn cael gwaith ac yn economaidd weithgar?

Well, first of all, I will start off by thanking Sam Kurtz very much for the warm welcome to the role, and I do very much look forward to working with you, and, also, to meet with Luke Fletcher as well. I know that there will be plenty of times when we have differences in terms of, perhaps, pace and emphasis and so on, but also plenty of times where we have common ground that we can work on.

I will say, though, in relation to the Office for National Statistics labour force survey statistics, I think even the ONS has itself recognised that there are problems with that data. That’s why that data is no longer considered national statistics; they’re just a set of non-official statistics now, which I think is important to recognise. We do need to look more widely at a range of statistics, I think, which I think paint a much more positive picture of Wales’s performance.

It is my intention to seek a meeting with the chief statistician—the UK’s chief statistician—in order to discuss the moves to improve these statistics. I know there is a work stream in place at the moment, which our own Welsh chief statistician is involved with, to try and improve those statistics. But, as I say, at the moment, they’re not considered official statistics.

That said, the Welsh Government, under the new First Minister, has been really, really clear about the focus of direction. It’s about green growth, it’s about delivering change in a rapid way that makes a difference to people across Wales. And that’s why I think it’s so important that we have Jack Sargeant in his role, which will be looking particularly at apprenticeships, recognising the very important role of skills in terms of meeting the challenges of the future.

Wel, yn gyntaf oll, rwyf am ddechrau drwy ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Sam Kurtz am y croeso cynnes i’r rôl, ac edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda chi, ac at gyfarfod â Luke Fletcher hefyd. Gwn y bydd digon o adegau pan fydd gennym farn wahanol, o ran cyflymder a phwyslais ac yn y blaen efallai, ond digonedd o adegau hefyd pan fydd gennym dir cyffredin y gallwn weithio arno.

Hoffwn ddweud, serch hynny, mewn perthynas ag ystadegau'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol ar gyfer arolwg y gweithlu llafur, fy mod yn credu bod hyd yn oed y SYG ei hun wedi cydnabod bod problemau gyda’r data hwnnw. Dyna pam nad yw’r data hwnnw bellach yn cael ei ystyried yn ystadegau cenedlaethol; dim ond set o ystadegau answyddogol ydynt bellach, a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod hynny. Credaf fod angen inni edrych yn ehangach ar ystod o ystadegau, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn rhoi darlun llawer mwy cadarnhaol o berfformiad Cymru.

Fy mwriad yw ceisio cyfarfod â’r prif ystadegydd—prif ystadegydd y DU—er mwyn trafod y camau i wella’r ystadegau hyn. Gwn fod ffrwd waith ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd, y mae prif ystadegydd Cymru yn gweithio arni, i geisio gwella’r ystadegau hynny. Ond fel y dywedaf, ar hyn o bryd, nid ydynt yn cael eu hystyried yn ystadegau swyddogol.

Wedi dweud hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, o dan y Prif Weinidog newydd, wedi nodi ffocws y cyfeiriad yn glir iawn. Mae'n ymwneud â thwf gwyrdd, mae'n ymwneud â chyflawni newid cyflym sy’n gwneud gwahaniaeth i bobl ledled Cymru. A dyna pam y credaf ei bod mor bwysig fod gennym Jack Sargeant yn ei rôl, i edrych yn benodol ar brentisiaethau, gan gydnabod rôl bwysig iawn sgiliau i fynd i'r afael â heriau’r dyfodol.

Well, once you do have that meeting with the chief statistician, Cabinet Secretary, I’d welcome an oral or written statement from you on that. And it’s interesting that the Office for National Statistics is producing non-official statistics, and that’s an anomaly that I think needs to be ironed out, because it is clear that Wales needs an urgent plan to turn its economy around. While these statistics, official or not, give us a broad view, it’s important to remember that, behind every statistic, behind every number, is  a person—someone striving to contribute to our society, provide for their family and secure their future.

Now, I’ll have the privilege of attending the opening of Pembrokeshire College’s energy transition skills hub on Friday—a pioneering project, funded by Shell, that aims to equip our workforce with the skills, as you mentioned, needed for the jobs of tomorrow. Now, I urge you to visit west Wales and see not only the hub for yourself, but also all the potential projects in the pipeline, and how, if delivered, properly utilising a skilled local workforce and supply chains could be transformative for communities across Wales, because industry is chomping at the bit. It knows what it needs in terms of skills. It knows what it needs in terms of consenting and timelines to be able to deliver these projects and transform our communities. But does the Welsh Government get it? Do you and your department get how necessary it is to deliver these projects, and, if so, how are you helping to turn these opportunities into realities?

Wel, ar ôl ic hi gael y cyfarfod hwnnw gyda'r prif ystadegydd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, byddwn yn croesawu datganiad llafar neu ysgrifenedig gennych chi ar hynny. Ac mae’n ddiddorol fod y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn cynhyrchu ystadegau answyddogol, a dyna anomaledd y credaf fod angen ei ddatrys, gan ei bod yn amlwg fod angen cynllun brys ar Gymru i weddnewid ei heconomi. Tra bo'r ystadegau hyn, boed yn swyddogol ai peidio, yn rhoi golwg eang i ni, mae’n bwysig cofio, y tu ôl i bob ystadegyn, y tu ôl i bob rhif, fod yna unigolyn—rhywun sy’n ymdrechu i gyfrannu at ein cymdeithas, darparu ar gyfer eu teulu a diogelu eu dyfodol.

Nawr, fe gaf y fraint o fynychu agoriad hyb sgiliau trawsnewid ynni Coleg Sir Benfro ddydd Gwener—prosiect arloesol, a ariennir gan Shell, sydd â'r nod o arfogi ein gweithlu â'r sgiliau, fel y sonioch chi, sydd eu hangen ar gyfer swyddi yfory. Nawr, rwy'n eich annog i ymweld â gorllewin Cymru a gweld yr hyb drosoch chi eich hun, ond hefyd, yr holl brosiectau posibl sydd ar y gweill, a sut, o’u cyflawni, y gallai defnyddio gweithlu lleol medrus a chadwyni cyflenwi yn briodol fod yn drawsnewidiol i gymunedau ledled Cymru, gan fod y diwydiant ar bigau'r drain. Mae’n gwybod beth sydd ei angen arno o ran sgiliau. Mae’n gwybod beth sydd ei angen o ran cydsyniad ac amserlenni i allu cyflawni’r prosiectau hyn a thrawsnewid ein cymunedau. Ond a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall? A ydych chi a'ch adran yn deall pa mor angenrheidiol yw hi i gyflawni'r prosiectau hyn, ac os felly, sut ydych chi'n helpu i wireddu'r cyfleoedd hyn?

13:45

First of all, I’d say thank you very much for the invitation to join you on Friday. I’m sorry that I’m not able to, due to a previous engagement, but I was very grateful for the invitation and I will absolutely make a point of visiting at another point. Yesterday, we did have an opportunity to discuss, actually, the huge range of opportunities that there are in the area that you represent locally and that we’re able to support as a Welsh Government. I think that skills and apprenticeships are absolutely critical in terms of meeting the needs of businesses of the future, which is why it’s really important that we do the mapping work to understand where the skills are at the moment, but then also what the needs are of the future. Some of that will be around the new technologies that will be there for us to exploit in terms of net zero. You’ll probably be familiar with ‘Stronger, Fairer, Greener Wales', the net zero skills action plan. I think that is an absolutely critical document and an absolutely critical road map in terms of ensuring that we’re able to give businesses the skilled workers that they need for the future. I’ll just pay tribute to Vaughan Gething for the work that he did on that, because I think that that is really, really important. Also the policy statement, of course, on apprenticeships, which does set out a bit more detail about the strategic framework for the future of the apprenticeship programme as well. I think all of that’s important. All of our really important partnerships that we have with the further education sector and higher education sector more generally will be very important as well. This is about linking up, it’s about partnership, it’s about industry, academia, the Welsh Government, unions and, of course, UK Government working together. You see great examples of that happening already, but, absolutely, I’m keen to do more of that.

Yn gyntaf, hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr am y gwahoddiad i ymuno â chi ddydd Gwener. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf nad wyf yn gallu gwneud hynny oherwydd ymrwymiad blaenorol, ond roeddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn am y gwahoddiad a byddaf yn sicr yn dod i ymweld ar ryw adeg arall. Ddoe, cawsom gyfle i drafod yr ystod enfawr o gyfleoedd sydd i'w cael yn yr ardal a gynrychiolir gennych yn lleol ac y gallwn ei chefnogi fel Llywodraeth Cymru. Credaf fod sgiliau a phrentisiaethau yn gwbl hanfodol i ddiwallu anghenion busnesau’r dyfodol, a dyna pam ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig ein bod yn gwneud y gwaith mapio i ddeall ble mae’r sgiliau ar hyn o bryd, ond wedyn hefyd beth yw anghenion y dyfodol. Bydd rhywfaint o hynny’n ymwneud â’r technolegau newydd a fydd yno inni fanteisio arnynt o ran sero net. Mae’n debyg y byddwch yn gyfarwydd â ‘Cymru Gryfach, Decach a Gwyrddach’, y cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net. Credaf fod honno’n ddogfen gwbl hanfodol ac yn gynllun cwbl hanfodol o ran sicrhau ein bod yn gallu darparu'r gweithwyr medrus sydd eu hangen ar fusnesau ar gyfer y dyfodol. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i Vaughan Gething am y gwaith a wnaeth ar hynny, gan y credaf fod hynny’n wirioneddol bwysig. Hefyd, y datganiad polisi ar brentisiaethau, wrth gwrs, sy'n nodi rhagor o fanylion am y fframwaith strategol ar gyfer dyfodol y rhaglen brentisiaethau hefyd. Credaf fod hynny oll yn bwysig. Bydd pob un o’n partneriaethau hynod bwysig sydd gennym gyda’r sector addysg bellach a’r sector addysg uwch yn fwy cyffredinol yn bwysig iawn hefyd. Mae hyn yn ymwneud â chysylltu, mae'n ymwneud â phartneriaeth, mae'n ymwneud â diwydiant, y byd academaidd, Llywodraeth Cymru, undebau, ac wrth gwrs, Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd. Rydych chi'n gweld enghreifftiau gwych o hynny'n digwydd eisoes, ond yn sicr, rwy'n awyddus i wneud mwy o hynny.

Thank you, because it’s really important that we tie all these things together, as you rightly say. Because the cogs of the public sector turn so much slower than the cogs of the private sector, and if they’re looking to invest here in Wales and the Welsh Government isn’t open to business, then that investment will go elsewhere and we’ll miss those opportunities. Improving skills, job opportunities and long-term employment is one way of benefiting a community; another is actual community benefit funds, and I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Greenlink and MaresConnect interconnectors recently, two major projects linking the power grids of Wales and the Republic of Ireland, enabling the two-way flow of electricity between our nations. These companies are employing a cap-and-floor model, which strikes a balance between commercial incentives, appropriate risk mitigation for project developers, and targets excess revenue to reducing costs for consumers. That’s one mechanism, but, if we’re truly going to deliver the generational change needed to transform our communities where these projects will be located and improve the lives of the people of Wales, then there must be a proper strategic and comprehensive way to target community benefit funds. This must go beyond sponsored kits for local sports teams. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that these projects deliver meaningful, long-term community benefits, improving the lives and opportunities for people across Wales?

Diolch, oherwydd mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn clymu'r holl bethau hyn gyda'i gilydd, fel y dywedwch yn gywir ddigon. Gan fod cogiau'r sector cyhoeddus yn troi gymaint yn arafach na chogiau'r sector preifat, ac os ydynt yn bwriadu buddsoddi yma yng Nghymru ac nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn agored i fusnes, yna bydd y buddsoddiad hwnnw'n mynd i rywle arall, a byddwn yn colli'r cyfleoedd hynny. Mae gwella sgiliau, cyfleoedd gwaith a chyflogaeth hirdymor yn un ffordd o sicrhau budd i gymuned; un arall yw cronfeydd budd cymunedol, a chefais gyfle yn ddiweddar i gyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr o ryng-gysylltwyr Greenlink a MaresConnect, dau brosiect mawr sy'n cysylltu gridiau pŵer Cymru a Gweriniaeth Iwerddon, gan alluogi llif trydan dwy ffordd rhwng ein gwledydd. Mae'r cwmnïau hyn yn defnyddio model cap a therfyn isaf, sy'n sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng cymhellion masnachol, mesurau lliniaru risg priodol ar gyfer datblygwyr prosiectau, ac yn targedu refeniw dros ben er mwyn lleihau costau i ddefnyddwyr. Mae hwnnw'n un mecanwaith, ond os ydym o ddifrif am gyflawni'r newid dros genedlaethau sydd ei angen i drawsnewid ein cymunedau lle caiff y prosiectau hyn eu lleoli a gwella bywydau pobl Cymru, mae'n rhaid cael ffordd addas, strategol a chynhwysfawr o dargedu cronfeydd budd cymunedol. Mae'n rhaid i hyn fynd y tu hwnt i noddi citiau timau chwaraeon lleol. Felly, beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y prosiectau hyn yn sicrhau manteision cymunedol ystyrlon, hirdymor, gan wella bywydau a chyfleoedd i bobl ledled Cymru?

I’m grateful for the question and absolutely, along with you, recognise the importance of community benefits, and also I think recognise the importance of making sure that those are sustained into the future. So, it’s not, as you say, necessarily one-off small things but things that, actually, will have longevity as well. I am looking at our economic contract at the moment to explore whether we need to update that or perhaps make it more focused, so I will certainly consider the role of community benefits as I take forward that work.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich cwestiwn, ac fel chi, yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd buddion cymunedol, a hefyd yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd sicrhau bod y rheini'n cael eu cynnal yn y dyfodol. Felly, nid yw hyn o reidrwydd, fel y dywedwch, yn ymwneud â phethau bach unigol ond â phethau a chanddynt hirhoedledd hefyd. Rwy'n edrych ar ein contract economaidd ar hyn o bryd i archwilio a oes angen i ni ei ddiweddaru, neu efallai ei wneud yn fwy penodol, felly byddaf yn sicr yn ystyried rôl buddion cymunedol wrth imi fwrw ymlaen â’r gwaith hwnnw.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.

Diolch, Llywydd. Hefyd, fe wnaf i fachu ar y cyfle i groesawu’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i’r rôl newydd, ac am amser i gymryd ymlaen portffolio’r economi, gyda’r holl heriau sydd yn bodoli.

Thank you, Llywydd. I’ll also take the opportunity to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to this new role, and what a time to take on the economy portfolio, with all of the challenges that exist.

Now, that ONS release does continue a story, doesn’t it, no matter how you cut it? Low employment and high economic inactivity. I do accept that there are problems with that data. It’s one of the reasons why we need a Welsh-specific ONS, one that collects data specifically from a Welsh perspective across a number of different sectors. I’ve listened to the answers that you gave to Sam Kurtz, and skills and apprenticeships come across very clearly as a priority for yourself. It'd be good to understand what the other priorities are here now. So, it would be great for you to set out some of those priorities, as your predecessors have done previously, in exactly what we need to do to resolve the issues around the Welsh economy. It continues to be a bleak outlook.

Nawr, mae'r datganiad hwnnw gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn parhau â stori, onid yw, ni waeth sut y gwnewch ei ddehongli? Cyflogaeth isel ac anweithgarwch economaidd uchel. Rwy'n derbyn bod problemau gyda’r data hwnnw. Mae'n un o'r rhesymau pam fod angen SYG penodol i Gymru, un sy'n casglu data penodol o safbwynt Cymreig ar draws nifer o sectorau gwahanol. Rwyf wedi gwrando ar yr atebion a roesoch i Sam Kurtz, ac mae'n amlwg fod sgiliau a phrentisiaethau yn flaenoriaeth gennych. Byddai’n dda deall beth yw’r blaenoriaethau eraill sydd yma nawr. Felly, byddai’n wych pe gallech nodi rhai o’r blaenoriaethau hynny, fel y mae eich rhagflaenwyr wedi’i wneud yn flaenorol, o ran beth yn union y mae angen i ni ei wneud i ddatrys y problemau sy'n ymwneud ag economi Cymru. Tywyll yw'r rhagolygon o hyd.

I’m grateful for the question, and again for the welcome into post. It was really good to speak to you yesterday about your particular priorities and areas of expertise, recognising that we do have lots of areas that I’m sure we will work together on as well.

Just to say another word on the ONS statistics, in my previous role I had responsibility for statistics and I did issue a written statement to the Senedd, setting out the challenges around the labour force survey data. Nothing's really changed since then, but we can certainly provide a further update on the work that our team is doing with the ONS in order to refine that data. I think it basically comes down to a lack of respondents when invited to provide views, and I think that speaks to lots of things, such as the pressures that are already on people who are in employment or running businesses. And when you get a telephone call outside of work hours, you probably don't want to necessarily talk about that and that sort of thing. There are issues there in terms of trying to increase the number of people who respond. 

It is my intention to make a statement in the Senedd—I think it's either down for next week or the week after—where I will set out a whole range of priorities. But within that you can absolutely expect to hear more about apprenticeships, but also the importance of inward investment, the foundational economy, but then also our really important journey towards net zero and how we're supporting businesses on that journey too. 

Rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich cwestiwn, ac eto am y croeso i'r swydd. Roedd yn dda iawn siarad gyda chi ddoe am eich blaenoriaethau penodol a’ch meysydd arbenigedd, gan gydnabod bod gennym lawer o feysydd y byddwn yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd arnynt hefyd rwy'n siŵr.

Os caf ddweud un peth arall am ystadegau’r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol, yn fy rôl flaenorol, roeddwn yn gyfrifol am ystadegau, a chyhoeddais ddatganiad ysgrifenedig i’r Senedd, yn nodi’r heriau mewn perthynas â data arolwg y gweithlu. Nid oes unrhyw beth wedi newid ers hynny mewn gwirionedd, ond yn sicr, gallwn roi diweddariad pellach ar y gwaith y mae ein tîm yn ei wneud gyda'r SYG er mwyn mireinio'r data hwnnw. Credaf ei fod yn ymwneud yn y bôn â diffyg ymatebwyr pan gânt eu gwahodd i roi barn, a chredaf fod hynny oherwydd llawer o bethau, megis y pwysau sydd eisoes ar bobl sydd mewn cyflogaeth neu'n rhedeg busnesau. A phan gewch alwad ffôn y tu allan i oriau gwaith, mae'n debyg nad oes arnoch eisiau siarad am hynny a'r math hwnnw o beth o reidrwydd. Mae problemau yno o ran ceisio cynyddu nifer y bobl sy’n ymateb.

Fy mwriad yw gwneud datganiad yn y Senedd—credaf ei fod wedi'i drefnu ar gyfer yr wythnos nesaf neu'r wythnos wedyn—lle byddaf yn nodi ystod gyfan o flaenoriaethau. Ond yn y datganiad hwnnw gallwch ddisgwyl clywed mwy am brentisiaethau, a hefyd am bwysigrwydd mewnfuddsoddi, yr economi sylfaenol, ond wedyn hefyd ein taith wirioneddol bwysig tuag at sero net a sut rydym yn cefnogi busnesau ar y daith honno hefyd.

13:50

Of course, the problems with data collection only emphasise the need for a Welsh-specific body, because if we don't have the data to understand the problems within Wales, then how on earth do we expect to resolve those problems? I hope in the statement that you give to the Senedd that we'll see a promise for an industrial strategy. The situation calls for an industrial strategy doesn't it? That is evidently clear. And the lack of one over the last decade is precisely why we find ourselves in the situation we find ourselves in. Now, Tata crystallises this. I feel I'm living in a parallel universe, where what has happened in Port Talbot is acceptable. You know, we've just lost a critically important industrial capability without any visible resistance from UK Government, Labour or Tory. The UK is an outlier in how we've dealt with this. So, unless we get an industrial strategy that sets out the future direction of the Welsh economy, we'll keep coming back to this Chamber to deliver and hear the same old news. Being proactive and not reactive is key.

So, speaking to an industrial strategy for the moment, an important chapter would be skills. Now, a number of colleagues in the further education sector have raised concerns over the way in which current portfolios have been set up. Now, it appears to place less of an emphasis on the importance of apprenticeships, less of a focus on apprenticeships, with part of it in your department and another part of it, through Medr, being with the Minister for Further and Higher Education. So, is there a risk here of policy becoming disjointed? 

Wrth gwrs, nid yw’r problemau gyda chasglu data ond yn pwysleisio’r angen am gorff penodol i Gymru, oherwydd os nad oes gennym y data i ddeall y problemau yng Nghymru, sut ar y ddaear y gallwn ddisgwyl datrys y problemau hynny? Yn y datganiad a roddwch i’r Senedd, rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn addewid o strategaeth ddiwydiannol. Onid yw'r sefyllfa'n galw am strategaeth ddiwydiannol? Mae hynny’n amlwg. A diffyg un dros y degawd diwethaf yw'r union reswm pam ein bod yn y sefyllfa yr ydym ynddi. Nawr, mae Tata yn crisialu hyn. Rwy’n teimlo fel pe bawn yn byw mewn bydysawd cyfochrog, lle mae’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd ym Mhort Talbot yn dderbyniol. Hynny yw, rydym newydd golli gallu diwydiannol hollbwysig heb unrhyw wrthwynebiad amlwg gan Lywodraeth y DU, Llafur neu Dorïaidd. Mae'r DU yn eithriad o ran y ffordd y gwnaethom ymdrin â hyn. Felly, oni bai ein bod yn cael strategaeth ddiwydiannol sy'n nodi cyfeiriad economi Cymru ar gyfer y dyfodol, byddwn yn parhau i ddod yn ôl i'r Siambr hon i gyflwyno a chlywed yr un hen newyddion. Mae bod yn rhagweithiol ac nid yn adweithiol yn hollbwysig.

Felly, os caf sôn am strategaeth ddiwydiannol am funud, byddai sgiliau'n bennod bwysig. Nawr, mae nifer o gydweithwyr yn y sector addysg bellach wedi codi pryderon ynghylch y ffordd y mae'r portffolios presennol wedi'u trefnu. Nawr, ymddengys bod llai o bwyslais ar bwysigrwydd prentisiaethau, llai o ffocws ar brentisiaethau, gyda rhan o'r cyfrifoldeb yn eich adran chi a rhan arall, drwy Medr, gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch. Felly, a oes perygl yma i bolisi fod yn anghydlynol?

So, lots in that question. But I think I absolutely have to recognise the reference that you made to Tata, because, of course, the closure of blast furnace 4 and the remaining heavy-end assets at Port Talbot very shortly will bring to an end traditional steel making in Wales. And I just want to really recognise the enormity of that and what that means for both Port Talbot, but also the wider community and workforce as well, because there will be people who have worked there their entire working lives. So, it will be a very sombre time, I think. I'll make a further statement in due course, building on what the First Minister said about the support that Welsh Government will be putting in place and the work that we're doing in partnership both with the company, but also UK Government, and the unions and local authorities and others. So, I didn't want to let the moment pass without just recognising that. 

In terms of apprenticeships, of course, they will be important in our response to Tata as well. We need to ensure that people who are currently undertaking apprenticeships are able to complete those, but then also need to look ahead to the arc, what skills do we need. We need to start planning now, basically, to make sure that those people are ready to start in that employment. I don't think that the fact that apprenticeships is spread across Government in that kind of way is actually a negative thing. I think it just recognises how important apprenticeships are. So, Jack Sargeant will absolutely be taking the lead on all of this, but, of course, working closely in partnership with Vikki Howells in the FE space and HE, and then myself in my role as well. So, you know, we're a small team. We can work effectively together, and I don't think that the fact that more than one Minister has an interest in this is a bad thing. 

Felly, mae llawer yn eich cwestiwn. Ond credaf fod yn rhaid imi gydnabod y cyfeiriad a wnaethoch at Tata, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, bydd cau ffwrnais chwyth 4 a'r asedau trwm sy'n weddill ym Mhort Talbot cyn bo hir yn dod â chynhyrchiant dur traddodiadol i ben yng Nghymru. A hoffwn gydnabod pa mor anferthol yw hynny mewn gwirionedd, a beth y mae'n ei olygu i Bort Talbot, ond hefyd i'r gymuned ehangach a'r gweithlu hefyd, gan y bydd rhai pobl wedi gweithio yno ar hyd eu bywydau gwaith. Felly, credaf y bydd yn amser tywyll iawn. Byddaf yn gwneud datganiad pellach maes o law, gan adeiladu ar yr hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog ynglŷn â'r cymorth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu a'r gwaith a wnawn mewn partneriaeth â'r cwmni, ond gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd, a'r undebau ac awdurdodau lleol ac eraill. Felly, nid oeddwn am adael i’r foment fynd heibio heb gydnabod hynny.

O ran prentisiaethau, wrth gwrs, byddant yn bwysig yn ein hymateb i Tata hefyd. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod pobl sy’n ymgymryd â phrentisiaethau ar hyn o bryd yn gallu eu cwblhau, ond wedyn mae angen inni edrych ymlaen at yr arc hefyd, pa sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnom. Mae angen inni ddechrau cynllunio ar unwaith, yn y bôn, i sicrhau bod y bobl hynny’n barod i ddechrau yn y gwaith hwnnw. Ni chredaf fod y ffaith bod prentisiaethau wedi'u gwasgaru ar draws y Llywodraeth yn y ffordd honno'n beth negyddol, mewn gwirionedd. Credaf ei fod yn cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw prentisiaethau. Felly, bydd Jack Sargeant yn arwain ar hyn, ond wrth gwrs, fe fydd yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth agos â Vikki Howells ym maes addysg bellach ac addysg uwch, ac yna gyda mi yn fy rôl innau hefyd. Felly, rydym yn dîm bach. Gallwn weithio’n effeithiol gyda’n gilydd, ac ni chredaf fod y ffaith bod gan fwy nag un Gweinidog ddiddordeb yn hyn yn beth drwg.

Of course, it's important that we don't fall into that silo-working element when looking at apprenticeships, because the effect of good policy on apprenticeships will have a positive effect on productivity. If I could turn to productivity, the figures we receive on a regular basis often show Wales struggling with productivity, often being at the bottom of those tables. Your predecessor highlighted improvements to productivity as a key priority, and he was right to do so. Is it safe to assume that improving productivity remains a key priority for you? And through what lens will you look at improvements to productivity, because, at the end of the day, what is the economy? At its base level, it's people, isn't it? What we should be aiming for is an economy that provides meaningful and fulfilling roles for those people and their lives. Any policies aimed at improving productivity should bear that in mind.

Wrth gwrs, mae'n bwysig nad ydym yn syrthio i'r elfen gwaith seilo wrth edrych ar brentisiaethau, gan y bydd effaith polisi da ar brentisiaethau yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar gynhyrchiant. Os caf droi at gynhyrchiant, mae’r ffigurau rheolaidd a gawn yn aml yn dangos bod Cymru’n cael trafferth gyda chynhyrchiant, gan ein bod yn aml ar waelod y tablau hynny. Amlygodd eich rhagflaenydd welliannau i gynhyrchiant fel blaenoriaeth allweddol, ac roedd yn iawn i wneud hynny. A yw'n ddiogel tybio bod gwella cynhyrchiant yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i chi? A thrwy ba lens y byddwch yn edrych ar welliannau i gynhyrchiant, oherwydd, yn y pen draw, beth yw'r economi? Ar ei lefel sylfaenol, pobl yw'r economi, onid e? Yr hyn y dylem fod yn anelu ato yw economi sy’n darparu rolau ystyrlon a boddhaus i’r bobl hynny a’u bywydau. Dylai unrhyw bolisïau sydd â’r nod o wella cynhyrchiant gadw hynny mewn cof.

13:55

I absolutely come from the same place as you on this. Improving productivity is not about making people work harder. It's about making sure that people work in the environments that they need in order to be productive, and also that the businesses that they work in are investing in the business itself, that we're investing in people's skills. In my previous role, I remember talking to the UK Government of the time on a number of occasions about the work that was being done by the London School of Economics growth commission, and also the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, both of which recognised that, if you are to grow the economy and if you are to become more productive, then you need to be investing in people—so, investing in skills—but then also investing in infrastructure, which is why capital investment is so important as well. So, I still maintain that those two things are absolutely really important, and I will be advocating for those, but I think also the work that we're doing on fair work is really important in the context that you've described as well, to make sure that people are valued in the workforce, have opportunities to progress, and have dignity in the workforce as well, which is also important.

Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ynglŷn â hyn. Nid yw gwella cynhyrchiant yn ymwneud â gwneud i bobl weithio’n galetach. Mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau bod pobl yn gweithio yn yr amgylcheddau sydd eu hangen arnynt er mwyn bod yn gynhyrchiol, a bod y busnesau y maent yn gweithio ynddynt yn buddsoddi yn y busnes ei hun, ein bod yn buddsoddi yn sgiliau pobl. Yn fy rôl flaenorol, rwy’n cofio siarad â Llywodraeth y DU ar y pryd ar sawl achlysur am waith gan gomisiwn twf Ysgol Economeg Llundain, a hefyd y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, ac roedd y ddau sefydliad yn cydnabod, os ydych chi am dyfu’r economi ac os ydych chi am ddod yn fwy cynhyrchiol, fod angen i chi fuddsoddi mewn pobl—felly, buddsoddi mewn sgiliau—ond buddsoddi mewn seilwaith hefyd, a dyna pam fod buddsoddiad cyfalaf mor bwysig hefyd. Felly, rwy'n dal i ddweud bod y ddau beth hynny'n wirioneddol bwysig, a byddaf yn dadlau drostynt, ond credaf hefyd fod y gwaith a wnawn ar waith teg yn wirioneddol bwysig yn y cyd-destun a ddisgrifiwyd gennych, i sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi yn y gweithlu, yn cael cyfleoedd i wneud cynnydd, a bod ganddynt urddas yn y gweithlu hefyd, sydd hefyd yn bwysig.

Hybiau Bancio yn Nwyrain De Cymru
Banking Hubs in South Wales East

3. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r sector bancio i sicrhau hybiau bancio yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ61561

3. How is the Welsh Government working with the banking sector to secure banking hubs in South Wales East? OQ61561

We continue to press Cash Access UK, which leads on the development of shared banking hubs, to increase the pace of these in Wales. A total of 81 have been opened across the UK so far. Fifteen more are soon to be announced, with Monmouth included within the list.

Rydym yn parhau i bwyso ar Cash Access UK, sy’n arwain ar ddatblygiad hybiau bancio a rennir, i gyflymu hyn yng Nghymru. Mae cyfanswm o 81 wedi eu hagor yn y DU hyd yma. Mae 15 arall i’w cyhoeddi cyn bo hir, gyda Threfynwy wedi’i chynnwys ar y rhestr.

Diolch am hynna.

Thank you for that.

Ystrad Mynach's branch of Barclays is the fifth branch in the county borough to have its closure announced in the last year, and this is a quiet crisis being seen across my region. If you go north to Bargoed, there is an absence of any bank branches or hubs, and the cash points in town are sometimes left completely empty of cash at the weekend, leaving residents with no way easily of getting hold of money, and that's been raised with me by community councillor Joshua McCarthy. When banks close their doors, it can isolate communities and individuals, so I'd ask what discussions you as a Welsh Government can have with banking and financial businesses about setting up more of these banking hubs after branches have left, and would you explore the opportunity of delivering additional services from banking hubs, like debt advice and digital inclusion training? Because, for all that we are encouraged to see that when banking moves online, yes, it's going to make it easier for most people to gain access to their money, because you can get it quickly from your phone, but, for those people who are digitally excluded, the gap gets wider and wider, so what can be done to make sure that they're not left further behind, please?

Cangen Barclays yn Ystrad Mynach yw’r bumed gangen yn y fwrdeistref sirol i gau yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ac mae hwn yn argyfwng tawel a welir ar draws fy rhanbarth. Os ewch i'r gogledd i Fargoed, nid oes unrhyw ganghennau banc neu hybiau, ac mae'r peiriannau arian yn y dref weithiau'n cael eu gadael yn hollol wag o arian dros y penwythnos, gan adael trigolion heb unrhyw ffordd hawdd o gael mynediad at arian parod, ac mae hynny wedi'i godi gyda mi gan y cynghorydd cymuned, Joshua McCarthy. Pan fydd banciau’n cau eu drysau, gall hynny ynysu cymunedau ac unigolion, felly hoffwn ofyn pa drafodaethau y gallwch chi fel Llywodraeth Cymru eu cael gyda busnesau ariannol a banciau ynghylch sefydlu mwy o’r hybiau bancio hyn ar ôl i ganghennau adael, ac a wnewch chi archwilio’r cyfle i ddarparu gwasanaethau ychwanegol mewn hybiau bancio, fel cyngor ar ddyledion a hyfforddiant cynhwysiant digidol? Oherwydd, er yr holl bethau da am weld bancio'n symud ar-lein, ydy, mae'n mynd i'w gwneud yn haws i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl gael mynediad at eu harian, gan y gallwch wneud hynny'n gyflym ar eich ffôn, ond i'r bobl sydd wedi'u hallgáu'n ddigidol, mae'r bwlch yn tyfu ac yn tyfu, felly beth y gellir ei wneud i sicrhau nad ydynt yn cael eu gadael ymhellach ar ôl, os gwelwch yn dda?

I'm very grateful for the question. I think the circumstances that you've described in Ystrad Mynach really are a microcosm of what's been happening across Wales in the sense that 376 bank branches have closed in Wales since January 2015. That's an absolutely critical loss, really, when you think about the way in which communities value those services. So, with only 183 bank and building society branches slated to be open by the end of 2025, the impacts, I think, on financial inclusion will be quite significant, and we all recognise, I think, that most vulnerable people, including older people and disabled people, will rely more heavily on physical banking provision. So, we absolutely will be pressing for more of those hubs to be coming here and to do so more quickly, but I would really encourage colleagues, as I said in my answer to Joyce Watson earlier, to get involved with making representations to LINK, so LINK will be able to hear your concerns about communities that are banking deserts in some places now, to be able to identify those places where those hubs are needed. It is of course a UK Government commitment as well to increase the banking hubs, so we'll be pressing them further on that as well.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich cwestiwn. Credaf fod yr amgylchiadau a ddisgrifiwyd gennych yn Ystrad Mynach yn ficrocosm o'r hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd ledled Cymru yn yr ystyr fod 376 o ganghennau banc wedi cau yng Nghymru ers mis Ionawr 2015. Mae honno'n golled gwbl ddifrifol, mewn gwirionedd, pan feddyliwch am werth y gwasanaethau hynny i gymunedau. Felly, gan y rhagwelir mai dim ond 183 o ganghennau banc a chymdeithasau adeiladu a fydd ar agor erbyn diwedd 2025, credaf y bydd yr effeithiau ar gynhwysiant ariannol yn eithaf sylweddol, a chredaf fod pob un ohonom yn cydnabod bod y rhan fwyaf o bobl agored i niwed, gan gynnwys pobl hŷn a phobl anabl, yn dibynnu mwy ar ddarpariaeth bancio wyneb yn wyneb. Felly, byddwn yn sicr yn pwyso am i fwy o'r hybiau hynny ddod yma ac i hynny ddigwydd yn gyflymach, ond hoffwn annog fy nghyd-Aelodau yn gryf, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i Joyce Watson yn gynharach, i wneud sylwadau i LINK, fel bod LINK yn gallu clywed eich pryderon ynglŷn â chymunedau sy'n amddifad o gyfleusterau bancio mewn rhai mannau ar hyn o bryd, er mwyn gallu nodi’r mannau lle mae angen yr hybiau. Wrth gwrs, mae'n ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth y DU hefyd i gynyddu'r nifer o hybiau bancio, felly byddwn yn pwyso ymhellach arnynt hwy yn ogystal mewn perthynas â hynny.

As my colleague, Delyth Jewell, rightly pointed out, bank closures are indeed of great concern to so many people across south-east Wales. The recent closure of the TSB bank in Cwmbran is just one in a long line of banks that are, indeed, closing in Wales between 2024 and 2025, including seven Lloyds and eight Halifaxes. Having worked for a bank myself, I completely understand that banks are, indeed, businesses, and with the majority of services now available online, high-street banks are often no longer cost-effective for many banks, and I accept that. However, there are still many transactions that constituents would rather discuss in person, particularly the older generation, as my colleague mentioned, who may not have access to online services, with so many scams taking place, as well as digital inclusion, which my colleague mentioned. 

Banking hubs are indeed a great way of combating issues surrounding the closures, as residents can pop into their local community spots, such as their post office, on the day that their bank is in the hub, and speak to a community banker in a private room about anything that they wish to discuss. So, in light of this positive alternative, given the different choices high-street banks are now facing with closures, can the Welsh Government commit to looking at further financial aid in this year's budget to boost banking hub support for the long-term benefit of constituents who may otherwise have to travel miles and miles for help? Thank you very much. 

Fel y nododd fy nghyd-Aelod, Delyth Jewell, yn gywir ddigon, mae cau banciau yn peri pryder mawr i gymaint o bobl ledled de-ddwyrain Cymru. Mae cau banc TSB yng Nghwmbrân yn ddiweddar yn un o gyfres hir o fanciau sy'n cau yng Nghymru rhwng 2024 a 2025, gan gynnwys saith banc Lloyds ac wyth banc Halifax. A minnau wedi gweithio i fanc fy hun, rwy'n deall yn llwyr fod banciau'n fusnesau, a chyda’r mwyafrif o wasanaethau ar gael ar-lein bellach, yn aml, nid yw cynnal banciau ar y stryd fawr yn gosteffeithiol i lawer o fanciau erbyn hyn, ac rwy’n derbyn hynny. Fodd bynnag, mae llawer o drafodiadau y byddai’n well gan etholwyr eu trafod wyneb yn wyneb, yn enwedig y genhedlaeth hŷn, fel y soniodd fy nghyd-Aelod, pobl heb fynediad at wasanaethau ar-lein, o bosibl, gyda chymaint o sgamiau’n digwydd, yn ogystal â chynhwysiant digidol, fel y crybwyllodd fy nghyd-Aelod.

Mae hybiau bancio yn ffordd wych o fynd i’r afael â’r problemau sy'n gysylltiedig â chau banciau, gan y gall trigolion alw i mewn i’w mannau cymunedol lleol, megis eu swyddfa bost, ar y diwrnod y mae eu banc yn yr hyb, a siarad â banciwr cymunedol mewn ystafell breifat am unrhyw beth yr hoffent ei drafod. Felly, yng ngoleuni’r dewis amgen cadarnhaol hwn, o ystyried y gwahanol ddewisiadau y mae banciau’r stryd fawr yn eu hwynebu bellach gyda chau canghennau, a all Llywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i edrych ar gymorth ariannol pellach yn y gyllideb eleni i hybu cymorth ar gyfer hybiau bancio er budd hirdymor etholwyr a allai orfod teithio milltiroedd lawer am gymorth fel arall? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

14:00

I'm grateful for the question and I recognise, as you do, the importance of those hubs and that they can provide a positive alternative. So, these are not things that the Welsh Government is either responsible for or funds directly, but we will absolutely be pressing for more of them to be coming to Wales. What we do do, though, is provide support to our credit unions here in Wales. So, £0.5 million a year is provided to support 13 community-based projects, and those do include the development of new credit union hubs, which will be held in community venue areas. There's a new one in the Cana centre in Aberdare, for example, run by Smart Money Cymru Community Bank. So, that's just one example, really, of ways in which we're supporting the credit unions to expand their offer here in Wales.

And I think a diverse way of accessing cash and information and advice is important. And the point earlier about ensuring that financial inclusion and advice is available to people is also important. So, signposting from these hubs to places where people can access more information about financial inclusion is really important. 

Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cwestiwn ac fel chi, rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd hybiau ac y gallant ddarparu dewis arall cadarnhaol. Felly, nid yw'r rhain yn bethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfrifol amdanynt neu'n eu hariannu'n uniongyrchol, ond byddwn yn sicr yn pwyso am i fwy ohonynt ddod i Gymru. Yr hyn a wnawn, serch hynny, yw rhoi cymorth i'n hundebau credyd yma yng Nghymru. Felly, darperir £0.5 miliwn y flwyddyn i gefnogi 13 o brosiectau cymunedol, ac mae'r rheini'n cynnwys datblygu hybiau undeb credyd newydd, a gaiff eu cynnal mewn lleoliadau cymunedol. Mae un newydd yng nghanolfan Cana yn Aberdâr, er enghraifft, sy'n cael ei rhedeg gan Fanc Cymunedol Smart Money Cymru. Felly, dim ond un enghraifft yw honno o'r ffyrdd y cefnogwn undebau credyd i ehangu eu cynnig yma yng Nghymru.

Ac rwy'n credu bod ffordd wahanol o gael gafael ar arian parod a gwybodaeth a chyngor yn bwysig. Ac mae'r pwynt cynharach ynglŷn â sicrhau bod cynhwysiant ariannol a chyngor ar gael i bobl hefyd yn bwysig. Felly, mae cyfeirio o'r canolfannau hyn i fannau lle gall pobl gael mwy o wybodaeth am gynhwysiant ariannol yn bwysig iawn. 

As you say, Cabinet Secretary, this is a problem right across Wales. For example, in Monmouthshire, eight high-street banks have closed over the past two years, including in Caldicot in my Newport East constituency. Our newly elected Labour MP for Monmouth, Catherine Fookes, campaigned long and hard before getting elected, and since, on these issues, and as you say, it is a shared responsibility with the Westminster Government. In that area of Severnside, Cabinet Secretary, we see rapidly growing populations where what were previously small villages are now small towns. So, I think that has to be recognised in terms of providing those high-street banking services where people live and where people need them. Is that an aspect of the overall picture that you recognise and that you will factor into your decision making?

Fel y dywedwch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae hon yn broblem ledled Cymru. Er enghraifft, yn sir Fynwy, mae wyth banc stryd fawr wedi cau dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, gan gynnwys yng Nghil-y-coed yn fy etholaeth i, Dwyrain Casnewydd. Bu ein AS Llafur newydd dros Fynwy, Catherine Fookes, yn ymgyrchu yn hir ac yn galed ar y materion hyn cyn cael ei hethol, ac ers hynny, ac fel y dywedwch, mae'n gyfrifoldeb a rennir gyda Llywodraeth San Steffan. Yn yr ardal honno yng Nglannau Hafren, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gwelwn boblogaethau sy'n tyfu'n gyflym lle mae'r hyn a arferai fod yn bentrefi bach yn drefi bach erbyn hyn. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid cydnabod hynny wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau bancio stryd fawr lle mae pobl yn byw a lle mae pobl eu hangen. A yw honno'n agwedd ar y darlun cyffredinol yr ydych chi'n ei gydnabod ac y byddwch chi'n ei hystyried wrth wneud penderfyniadau?

Yes, thank you very much for raising that. I think that that's really recognised by the movement behind the banking hubs, in the sense of the importance of them in communities right across Wales. I know that Catherine Fookes will be really pleased with the latest announcement around the Monmouth banking hub, which is one of the 15 that have been announced more recently. There are a number right across Wales, but we absolutely need to see more of them. And, in the context of the reduction in the number of banks, which I mentioned in my previous answer, where only 183 banks and buildings societies will be left open by the end of 2025, then we really do need to see these motoring ahead. So, we will do anything that we can to support and facilitate them, and obviously we're very pleased to see the UK Government's commitment to increase the number and pace as well.

Ie, diolch yn fawr iawn am godi hynny. Credaf fod hynny'n cael ei gydnabod yn fawr gan y mudiad y tu ôl i'r hybiau bancio, o ran eu pwysigrwydd mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd Catherine Fookes yn falch iawn o'r cyhoeddiad diweddaraf ynghylch hyb bancio Trefynwy, sy'n un o'r 15 a gyhoeddwyd yn fwy diweddar. Mae nifer ar draws Cymru, ond yn sicr, mae angen inni weld mwy ohonynt. Ac yng nghyd-destun y gostyngiad yn nifer y banciau, y soniais amdano yn fy ateb blaenorol, gyda dim ond 183 o fanciau a chymdeithasau adeiladau ar agor erbyn diwedd 2025, mae gwir angen inni weld y rhain yn datblygu'n gyflym. Felly, byddwn yn gwneud unrhyw beth a allwn i'w cefnogi a'u hwyluso, ac yn amlwg, rydym yn falch iawn o weld ymrwymiad Llywodraeth y DU i gynyddu'r nifer a hynny'n gyflym.

Sefydliadau Hyfforddiant Meddygol Newydd
New Medical Training Establishments

4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi eu cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ynghylch mesur gwerth economaidd creu sefydliadau hyfforddiant meddygol newydd mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru? OQ61559

4. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about assessing the economic value of creating new medical training establishments in different parts of Wales? OQ61559

I thank the Member for the question. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I are pleased that we have invested significantly in the development of the new north Wales medical school, which takes on its first students this month. The north Wales medical school provides the opportunity for those aspiring to be doctors in north Wales to study close to home. It is now important that we assess the success of the north Wales medical school.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a minnau'n falch ein bod wedi buddsoddi'n sylweddol yn natblygiad ysgol feddygol newydd gogledd Cymru, sy'n derbyn ei myfyrwyr cyntaf y mis hwn. Mae ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru yn rhoi cyfle i'r rhai sy'n dymuno bod yn feddygon yng ngogledd Cymru astudio'n agos at eu cartref. Mae'n bwysig nawr ein bod yn asesu llwyddiant ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru.

Diolch yn fawr. Symud ymlaen o'r ysgol feddygol i'r angen am ysgol ddeintyddol, ac mae adroddiad annibynnol a gafodd ei lansio yr wythnos diwethaf yn gwneud yr achos dros leoli ysgol ddeintyddol newydd i Gymru ym Mangor. Mae’r adroddiad yn amlinellu’r achos economaidd yn ogystal â’r holl resymau eraill clir sydd yna dros sefydlu ysgol ddeintyddol ym Mangor. Mae’r adroddiad yn dod i’r casgliad ar dudalen 26:

'Mae achos economaidd cryf dros leoli ysgol ddeintyddol ym Mangor.'

Mae o’n mynd ymlaen i ddweud:

‘Byddai ysgol ddeintyddol ym Mangor yn adeiladu ymhellach ar fuddsoddiadau pellgyrhaeddol diweddar gan ehangu’r ddarpariaeth hyfforddiant ym maes iechyd a gofal. Gall clwstwr o’r fath greu cyfleoedd newydd i gyfoethogi profiadau hyfforddiant ac academaidd, a hefyd i arloesi a datblygu cyfleoedd busnes newydd yn y maes.’

Felly, a wnewch chi drafod canfyddiadau’r adroddiad yma efo Gweinidogion eraill ac Aelodau eraill o’r Cabinet er mwyn ystyried yr effaith y byddai ysgol ddeintyddol yn ei gael ar economi’r ardal? Diolch.

Thank you very much. Moving on from the medical school to the need for a new dentistry school, and an independent report that was launched last week makes the case for locating a new school of dentistry for Wales in Bangor. The report outlines the economic case as well as all of the other clear reasons that there are in favour of establishing a school of dentistry in Bangor. The report comes to the conclusion on page 26 that

'There is a strong economic case for locating a dental school in Bangor.'

It goes on to say that:

'A dental school in Bangor would build further on recent far-reaching investments in expanding the provision of teaching in the health and care sector. Such a cluster can create new opportunities to enrich training and academic experiences, and to innovate and develop new business opportunities in the sector.'

So, will you discuss the findings of this report with other Ministers and other Members of the Cabinet to consider the impact that a school of dentistry would have on the economy of the area? Thank you.

14:05

Diolch yn fawr, Siân Gwenllian, for the question, and thank you for the work that you've done on the ‘Filling the Gaps’ report. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I met just this week to discuss the importance of the health sector for the economy and we are aware of the report, and I read with interest over the last few days, on page 26, the economic case, as you’ve set out, in the report.

With reference to and regard to the need for and proposal of a second dental school, particularly in north Wales, any such proposal must be led by the health board. It’s important that universities like Bangor University and Aberystwyth University help to develop those proposals and I’m actively encouraging those universities to do so. Any such proposal that comes forward in that manner will then be considered by Ministers and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, subject to funding being available, but I think your report, ‘Filling the Gaps’, does go some way towards helping to shape such a proposal.

Llywydd, more broadly, I’m very proud of the investment and the record of the Welsh Labour Government in terms of investing in education and training to support and sustain the health workforce across Cymru. The NHS has more people working in it now than ever before, and providing state-of-the-art training facilities like the north Wales medical school. The £3.5 million investment from this Government is an important first step in encouraging medical professionals to train, work and live in Wales, and this is not only beneficial to the students who get to explore everything our beautiful country has to offer; it’s vital for NHS recruitment. But also—as the Member rightly points out—it does help boost our local economy as well.

Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn, Siân Gwenllian, a diolch am y gwaith a wnaethoch ar adroddiad 'Filling the Gaps'. Cyfarfu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a minnau yr wythnos hon i drafod pwysigrwydd y sector iechyd i'r economi ac rydym yn ymwybodol o'r adroddiad, a dros y dyddiau diwethaf, darllenais yr achos economaidd, fel y nodwyd gennych, ar dudalen 26 o'r adroddiad gyda diddordeb.

Gan gyfeirio at yr angen a'r argymhelliad am ail ysgol ddeintyddol, yn enwedig yng ngogledd Cymru, rhaid i'r bwrdd iechyd arwain unrhyw gynnig o'r fath. Mae'n bwysig fod prifysgolion fel Prifysgol Bangor a Phrifysgol Aberystwyth yn helpu i ddatblygu'r argymhellion hyn ac rwy'n annog y prifysgolion i wneud hynny. Yna bydd unrhyw argymhelliad o'r fath a gyflwynir yn y modd hwnnw yn cael ei ystyried gan Weinidogion ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, yn amodol ar fod cyllid ar gael, ond credaf fod eich adroddiad, 'Filling the Gaps', yn mynd beth o'r ffordd tuag at helpu i lunio argymhelliad o'r fath.

Lywydd, yn fwy cyffredinol, rwy'n falch iawn o'r buddsoddiad a hanes Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru o fuddsoddi mewn addysg a hyfforddiant i gefnogi a chynnal y gweithlu iechyd ledled Cymru. Mae gan y GIG fwy o bobl yn gweithio ynddo nawr nag erioed o'r blaen, ac mae'n darparu cyfleusterau hyfforddi o'r radd flaenaf fel ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru. Mae'r buddsoddiad o £3.5 miliwn gan y Llywodraeth hon yn gam cyntaf pwysig i annog gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol i hyfforddi, gweithio a byw yng Nghymru, ac mae hyn nid yn unig yn fuddiol i'r myfyrwyr sy'n cael archwilio popeth sydd gan ein gwlad hardd i'w gynnig; mae'n hanfodol ar gyfer recriwtio i'r GIG. Ond hefyd—fel y mae'r Aelod yn gywir i'w nodi—mae'n helpu i roi hwb i'n heconomi leol hefyd.

Can I first of all congratulate Jack Sargeant on his new post? I’m certainly looking forward to seeing him thrive in his role in future months and years, I’m sure.

Minister, what struck me on hearing the question from Siân Gwenllian is some of the opportunities around the public and private partnership opportunities when it comes to investment in medical training establishments. I was actually in your constituency this week, meeting with Specsavers opticians, because it’s National Eye Health Week, and they shared with me some of the investment they’re making in training facilities in England, for optometrists and within ophthalmology as well, so I think there’s a real opportunity for those public-private partnerships to enhance training facilities here in Wales as well. So, I’d be keen to understand what collaboration can be undertaken with the private sector, do you think, here in Wales, so that as Welsh Government, you can work hand-in-hand with those companies and businesses to ensure we have top-quality training provided both, yes, by public sector training providers, but also by private sector training providers, to certainly help our economic supply chain as well? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

A gaf i longyfarch Jack Sargeant yn gyntaf ar ei swydd newydd? Rwy'n sicr yn edrych ymlaen at ei weld yn ffynnu yn ei rôl yn y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf, rwy'n siŵr.

Weinidog, yr hyn a'm trawodd wrth glywed y cwestiwn gan Siân Gwenllian yw rhai o'r cyfleoedd sydd ynghlwm wrth bartneriaeth gyhoeddus a phreifat i fuddsoddi mewn sefydliadau hyfforddiant meddygol. Roeddwn yn eich etholaeth yr wythnos hon, yn cyfarfod â'r optegwyr Specsavers, oherwydd mae'n Wythnos Genedlaethol Iechyd Llygaid, ac fe wnaethant rannu rhywfaint o'r buddsoddiad y maent yn ei wneud mewn cyfleusterau hyfforddi yn Lloegr, ar gyfer optometryddion ac mewn offthalmoleg hefyd, felly rwy'n credu bod cyfle gwirioneddol i'r partneriaethau cyhoeddus-preifat hynny wella cyfleusterau hyfforddi yma yng Nghymru hefyd. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i ddeall pa gydweithio y gellir ei wneud gyda'r sector preifat yma yng Nghymru yn eich barn chi, fel y gallwch chi, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, weithio law yn llaw â'r cwmnïau a'r busnesau hynny i sicrhau bod gennym hyfforddiant o'r radd flaenaf wedi'i ddarparu gan ddarparwyr hyfforddiant y sector cyhoeddus, ie, ond hefyd gan ddarparwyr hyfforddiant y sector preifat, yn sicr, i helpu ein cadwyn gyflenwi economaidd hefyd? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

I’m grateful to Sam Rowlands for the warm welcome and the question, and indeed I look forward to working with him in the future as well. And it’s always good to welcome Sam to Alyn and Deeside. I think I was last in Specsavers having my eye test locally, but I’m grateful for his support for the business in Alyn and Deeside.

When it comes to training, in general, and the training facilities in the private sector, I’m very keen for us to do everything we possibly can to work with both the public sector and the wonderful training providers we have in the higher education and further education sectors, but also with industry, which plays a key role in some of that, so whether that’s directly with businesses or indeed private training providers as well. And not just in the health sector, but across all sectors, we must do everything we can to make sure we have a skills programme that is ambitious, particularly around the green jobs and growth priorities. 

I know the Member was in the University of Manchester recently, looking at some of the programmes around healthcare and the opportunities around artificial intelligence and digitisation. I think this is a really exciting field, not just in healthcare, but across all Government portfolios, and I'm sure we'll be keen to see what more we can do in those spaces, and it'll be a conversation I'll pick up with both the Cabinet Secretary for the economy and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Sam Rowlands am y croeso cynnes a'r cwestiwn, ac yn wir edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gydag ef yn y dyfodol hefyd. Ac mae bob amser yn dda croesawu Sam i Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy. Rwy'n credu mai'r tro diwethaf imi fod yn Specsavers oedd pan gefais fy mhrawf llygaid yn lleol, ond rwy'n ddiolchgar am ei gefnogaeth i'r busnes yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy.

O ran hyfforddiant yn gyffredinol, a'r cyfleusterau hyfforddi yn y sector preifat, rwy'n awyddus iawn i ni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i weithio gyda'r sector cyhoeddus a'r darparwyr hyfforddiant gwych sydd gennym yn y sectorau addysg uwch ac addysg bellach, ond hefyd gyda diwydiant, sy'n chwarae rhan allweddol yn hynny, felly yn uniongyrchol gyda busnesau neu'n wir gyda darparwyr hyfforddiant preifat hefyd. Ac nid yn unig yn y sector iechyd, ond ar draws pob sector, mae'n rhaid inni wneud popeth yn ein gallu i sicrhau bod gennym raglen sgiliau sy'n uchelgeisiol, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â swyddi gwyrdd a'r blaenoriaethau twf. 

Rwy'n gwybod bod yr Aelod ym Mhrifysgol Manceinion yn ddiweddar yn edrych ar rai o'r rhaglenni sy'n ymwneud â gofal iechyd a'r cyfleoedd sy'n gysylltiedig â deallusrwydd artiffisial a digideiddio. Credaf fod hwn yn faes cyffrous iawn, nid yn unig mewn gofal iechyd, ond ar draws holl bortffolios y Llywodraeth, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwn yn awyddus i weld beth arall y gallwn ei wneud yn y pethau hynny, a bydd yn sgwrs y byddaf yn ei mynd ar ei thrywydd gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol.

14:10
Ardaloedd Menter
Enterprise Zones

5. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am effeithiolrwydd ardaloedd menter? OQ61548

5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the effectiveness of enterprise zones? OQ61548

Over several years, the Welsh Government-designated enterprise zones have continued to deliver against a challenging economic backdrop. Numerous jobs have been supported across the zones, while public sector investment has enabled a wide range of transformative projects across all eight zones.

Dros nifer o flynyddoedd, mae'r ardaloedd menter a ddynodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru wedi parhau i gyflawni yn erbyn cefndir economaidd heriol. Mae nifer o swyddi wedi cael eu cefnogi ar draws yr ardaloedd, ac mae buddsoddiad y sector cyhoeddus wedi galluogi ystod eang o brosiectau trawsnewidiol ar draws pob un o'r wyth ardal.

I thank the Minister for that response. In the 1980s, Wales had three zones: Milford, Delyn and, the largest in Britain, Swansea. Enterprise zones were criticised for most of the jobs created being displaced, often from other places in the area, and each job created cost £23,000. In 2012-13, several enterprise zones were designated, and in 2017-18, Port Talbot enterprise zone was set up. Choosing central Cardiff as a business area and Deeside as a manufacturing area, which were certain to succeed, meant the policy could be deemed a success. When is the Welsh Government going to review all the enterprise zones and publish a report outlining how they have performed?

Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb hwnnw. Yn yr 1980au, roedd gan Gymru dair ardal: Aberdaugleddau, Delyn a'r mwyaf ym Mhrydain, Abertawe. Beirniadwyd ardaloedd menter am ddadleoli'r rhan fwyaf o'r swyddi a gâi eu creu, o leoedd eraill yn yr ardal yn aml, ac fe gostiodd pob swydd a gafodd eu creu £23,000. Yn 2012-13, cafodd sawl ardal fenter eu dynodi, ac yn 2017-18, sefydlwyd ardal fenter Port Talbot. Roedd dewis canol Caerdydd fel ardal fusnes a Glannau Dyfrdwy fel ardal weithgynhyrchu, a oedd yn sicr o lwyddo, yn golygu y gellid ystyried bod y polisi yn llwyddiant. Pryd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i adolygu'r holl ardaloedd menter a chyhoeddi adroddiad yn amlinellu sut y maent wedi perfformio?

I'm very grateful for the question, and I think I would recognise the way in which Mike Hedges has categorised and described the enterprise zones of the 1980s. I know that he has big concerns about how they drew investment out from city centres and the impact that that had, and I think that that is entirely something that I would recognise. The current investment zone approach, though, is very different, in the sense that we've designated our enterprise zones to support key growth sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, ICT, energy and environment, and financial and professional services. So, they're not based around the retail sector, so displacement effects aren't going to be as they were in response to the 1980s designations.

But it is important to recognise that outside of Cardiff, and outside of Deeside—those key areas—there are significant improvements taking place, for example, the development of M-SParc in Anglesey, which is part of Bangor University, which is a really important success, and the work in Snowdonia, which has helped to elevate the site as one of choice for new low-carbon developments. Again, I think that's really important. And then when we look to the Haven waterway zone, work's ongoing there to deliver the Pembrokeshire food park, which will add value to local produce, provide new jobs and also help with UK food security. And turning to Ebbw Vale, for example, the enterprise zone there is now aligned to the Tech Valleys programme, and that's seen the development of the Thales technology campus, providing research solutions for cyber resilience. As I think I've said before, if anyone wants to have their mind blown, arrange a visit there, because the things that they're doing are absolutely incredible. And then further examples around Port Talbot, Bro Tathan and so on, as well. So, I think that you can prove and point to improvements, significant investment and exciting investment beyond Cardiff and Deeside.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn, ac rwy'n credu y byddwn yn cydnabod y ffordd y mae Mike Hedges wedi categoreiddio a disgrifio ardaloedd menter yr 1980au. Rwy'n gwybod bod ganddo bryderon mawr ynglŷn â sut y gwnaethant dynnu buddsoddiad allan o ganol dinasoedd a'r effaith a gafodd hynny, a chredaf fod hynny'n rhywbeth y byddwn yn ei gydnabod yn llwyr. Fodd bynnag, mae'r dull presennol o ddynodi parthau buddsoddi yn wahanol iawn, yn yr ystyr ein bod wedi dynodi ein hardaloedd menter i gefnogi sectorau twf allweddol, megis gweithgynhyrchu uwch, TGCh, ynni a'r amgylchedd, a gwasanaethau ariannol a phroffesiynol. Felly, nid ydynt yn seiliedig ar y sector manwerthu, felly ni fydd effeithiau dadleoli'n digwydd fel y gwelwyd mewn ymateb i ddynodiadau'r 1980au.

Ond mae'n bwysig cydnabod bod gwelliannau sylweddol yn digwydd y tu allan i Gaerdydd, a thu allan i Lannau Dyfrdwy—yr ardaloedd allweddol hynny—er enghraifft, datblygiad M-SParc ar Ynys Môn, sy'n rhan o Brifysgol Bangor, sy'n llwyddiant pwysig iawn, a'r gwaith yn Eryri, sydd wedi helpu i ddyrchafu'r safle fel un a ffafrir ar gyfer datblygiadau carbon isel newydd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig iawn. Ac yna pan edrychwn ar ardal dyfrffordd y ddau Gleddau, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo yno i ddarparu parc bwyd sir Benfro, a fydd yn ychwanegu gwerth at gynnyrch lleol, yn darparu swyddi newydd a hefyd yn helpu gyda diogeledd bwyd y DU. A chan droi at Lyn Ebwy, er enghraifft, mae'r ardal fenter yno bellach yn alinio â rhaglen y Cymoedd Technoleg, ac mae hynny wedi arwain at ddatblygiad campws technoleg Thales, gan ddarparu atebion ymchwil ar gyfer seiber-wytnwch. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, rwy'n credu, os oes unrhyw un eisiau cael agoriad llygad go iawn, trefnwch ymweliad â'r fan honno, oherwydd mae'r pethau a wnânt yn hollol anhygoel. Ac mae enghreifftiau pellach o gwmpas Port Talbot, Bro Tathan ac ati hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu y gallwch brofi a phwyntio at welliannau, buddsoddiad sylweddol a buddsoddiad cyffrous y tu hwnt i Gaerdydd a Glannau Dyfrdwy.

Cabinet Secretary, let me take you back to the Port Talbot waterfront enterprise zone. Your predecessor, many times, referred to established enterprise zones as a way to address the economic misfortunes of west Wales and the Valleys, but alas, we have yet to reap the benefits. Gross value added in my region remains one of the lowest in the UK, and while enterprise zones across Wales have had some success in safeguarding jobs, they have not had the dramatic impact we were promised over a decade ago. However, I'm deeply concerned about the future of Port Talbot enterprise zone. The massive job losses at Tata, one of the key anchors of the zone, are bound to have an impact. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what assessment have you made of the health of the enterprise zone and how will you work with the UK Government's Tata transition board to secure a lasting positive impact on the region's economic misfortunes?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gadewch imi fynd â chi yn ôl at ardal fenter glannau Port Talbot. Cyfeiriodd eich rhagflaenydd lawer gwaith at ardaloedd menter sefydledig fel ffordd o fynd i'r afael ag anawsterau economaidd gorllewin Cymru a'r Cymoedd, ond gwaetha'r modd, nid ydym wedi medi'r budd hyd yma. Mae gwerth ychwanegol gros yn fy rhanbarth yn parhau i fod ymysg yr isaf yn y DU, ac er bod ardaloedd menter ledled Cymru wedi cael peth llwyddiant yn diogelu swyddi, nid ydynt wedi cael yr effaith ddramatig a addawyd i ni dros ddegawd yn ôl. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n pryderu'n fawr am ddyfodol ardal fenter Port Talbot. Mae'r nifer enfawr o swyddi a gollir yn Tata, un o brif gwmnïau angori'r ardal, yn sicr o gael effaith. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa asesiad a wnaethoch chi o iechyd yr ardal fenter a sut y gwnewch chi weithio gyda bwrdd pontio Tata Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau effaith gadarnhaol barhaol ar anawsterau economaidd y rhanbarth?

The future of Port Talbot is absolutely critical, and despite the sad news at the moment and what that means for the workforce at Tata, I think that there is a really exciting and bright future for Port Talbot. You can see our long-term commitment in our acquisition of the former BP Chemicals site at Baglan Bay. That does present us with the opportunity to bring forward a major strategic development site, which then has the opportunity and the potential to help transform the region's economic base from heavy industry and the industries of the past to the industries of the future, such as high-value manufacturing and green energy production. It will also support net-zero opportunities in south-west Wales more widely and beyond. The Baglan high-value demonstrator centre aligns with the Welsh Government's work with Innovate UK, and I think that's just one example of the important work that we're doing in that space at the moment.

Mae dyfodol Port Talbot yn gwbl dyngedfennol, ac er y newyddion trist ar hyn o bryd a'r hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu i'r gweithlu yn Tata, rwy'n credu bod dyfodol cyffrous a disglair iawn i Bort Talbot. Gallwch weld ein hymrwymiad hirdymor yn y modd y gwnaethom gaffael hen safle BP Chemicals ym Mae Baglan. Mae hynny'n rhoi cyfle i ni gyflwyno safle datblygu strategol mawr, sydd wedyn yn creu cyfle a photensial i helpu i drawsnewid sylfaen economaidd y rhanbarth o ddiwydiant trwm a diwydiannau'r gorffennol i ddiwydiannau'r dyfodol, megis gweithgynhyrchu gwerth uchel a chynhyrchiant ynni gwyrdd. Bydd hefyd yn cefnogi cyfleoedd sero net yn ne-orllewin Cymru yn ehangach a thu hwnt. Mae canolfan arddangos gwerth uchel Baglan yn cyd-fynd â gwaith Llywodraeth Cymru gydag Innovate UK, ac un enghraifft yn unig yw honno o'r gwaith pwysig a wnawn yn y gofod hwnnw ar hyn o bryd.

14:15

I'd like to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to her new role, also. I'm glad she mentioned M-SParc and the brilliant work going on there in terms of incubating and encouraging the development of businesses in digital, low carbon and other sectors. I've been long convinced that we need something similar in the food production sector, and there's actually land identified as enterprise zone land that could be used for developing such a food production park. We have all the ingredients, if you like, on Ynys Môn to take such a food park forward—the food technology centre is brilliant in Llangefni; we have the tradition of food production, and we have smaller food production companies that are looking to grow and looking for a helping hand. Other Ministers have supported, in principle, looking at this. Will the Cabinet Secretary agree to help me, to work with investors to try to make this a reality? And will she meet with me to look at how we can finally, hopefully, take this forward, given that we do have, now, more partners coming on board?

Hoffwn groesawu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i'w rôl newydd hefyd. Rwy'n falch iddi sôn am M-SParc a'r gwaith gwych sy'n digwydd yno ar ddeori ac annog datblygiad busnesau yn y sectorau digidol, carbon isel ac eraill. Rwyf wedi bod yn argyhoeddedig ers tro fod angen rhywbeth tebyg arnom yn y sector cynhyrchu bwyd, ac mae yna dir wedi'i nodi fel tir ardal fenter y gellid ei ddefnyddio i ddatblygu parc cynhyrchu bwyd o'r fath. Mae gennym yr holl gynhwysion, os mynnwch, ar Ynys Môn i ddatblygu parc bwyd o'r fath—mae'r ganolfan technoleg bwyd yn wych yn Llangefni; mae gennym draddodiad o gynhyrchu bwyd, ac mae gennym gwmnïau cynhyrchu bwyd llai o faint sy'n awyddus i dyfu ac yn chwilio am help. Mae Gweinidogion eraill yn gefnogol i edrych ar hyn mewn egwyddor. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gytuno i fy helpu, i weithio gyda buddsoddwyr i geisio gwireddu hyn? Ac a wnaiff hi gyfarfod â mi i edrych ar sut y gallwn symud hyn ymlaen o'r diwedd, gobeithio, gan gofio bod gennym fwy o bartneriaid yn ein cefnogi bellach?

I'd be more than happy to meet with Rhun ap Iorwerth to talk in a bit more detail about this. I do remember, I think, a short debate that the Member championed in the Senedd quite some time ago, and even at that point, I think there was significant potential. But things have moved on since then and I think that's really encouraging. So, absolutely, I'm more than happy to have that meeting.

Rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â Rhun ap Iorwerth i siarad ychydig yn fanylach am hyn. Rwy'n credu fy mod yn cofio dadl fer a hyrwyddwyd gan yr Aelod yn y Senedd gryn dipyn o amser yn ôl, a hyd yn oed bryd hynny, roedd yna botensial sylweddol. Ond mae pethau wedi symud ymlaen ers hynny ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n galonogol iawn. Felly, yn sicr, rwy'n hapus iawn i gael y cyfarfod hwnnw.

Swyddi Gwyrdd mewn Trefi a Chymoedd ôl-ddiwydiannol
Green Jobs in Post-industrial Towns and Valleys

6. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i greu swyddi gwyrdd mewn trefi, a chymoedd ôl-ddiwydiannol fel y Rhondda? OQ61554

6. What plans does the Welsh Government have to create green jobs in post-industrial towns, and valleys like the Rhondda? OQ61554

There are enormous net-zero opportunities across Wales to support business growth and to develop new technologies. We recognise the importance of creating a pipeline of skilled and talented individuals, which was one of the seven key priorities within the net-zero skills action plan.

Mae cyfleoedd sero net enfawr ledled Cymru i gefnogi twf busnes ac i ddatblygu technolegau newydd. Rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd creu llif o unigolion medrus a thalentog, rhywbeth a oedd yn un o'r saith blaenoriaeth allweddol yn y cynllun gweithredu sgiliau sero net.

My constituency was vital during the industrial revolution, and it's no secret that, since that time, other than jobs in trades, we've really struggled with limited local employment, especially within the energy sector. Green jobs have the potential to turn this around. With an abundance of natural resources, such as the hydro project at Cambrian and wind turbines throughout the valley, along with the growing market for sustainable homes, we have significant untapped potential. How important is it to form partnerships between colleges, energy companies and housing associations to create the green jobs of the future? Additionally, what steps is the Welsh Government taking to encourage and facilitate these partnerships to ensure that Rhondda benefits from the green energy transition and job creation?

Roedd fy etholaeth yn allweddol yn ystod y chwyldro diwydiannol, ac nid yw'n gyfrinach ein bod ers hynny, ar wahân i swyddi mewn crefftau, wedi cael anhawster gwirioneddol gyda chyflogaeth leol gyfyngedig, yn enwedig yn y sector ynni. Mae gan swyddi gwyrdd botensial i wrthdroi hyn. Gyda digonedd o adnoddau naturiol, megis prosiect hydro Cambrian a thyrbinau gwynt ledled y cwm, ynghyd â'r farchnad gynyddol ar gyfer cartrefi cynaliadwy, mae gennym botensial sylweddol heb ei gyffwrdd. Pa mor bwysig yw ffurfio partneriaethau rhwng colegau, cwmnïau ynni a chymdeithasau tai i greu swyddi gwyrdd y dyfodol? Yn ogystal, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i annog a hwyluso'r partneriaethau hyn i sicrhau bod y Rhondda'n elwa o'r pontio i ynni gwyrdd a chreu swyddi?

I'm really grateful for the question and the opportunity to highlight the importance of green jobs and green growth for all parts of Wales, particularly those that have that very industrial heritage, because they can absolutely be at the forefront of the next wave of industry and that green and net-zero space. I think the work that we're doing through Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru will be really important in developing large-scale renewable energy projects, and crucially, retaining the benefits of those within our communities here in Wales and within the supply chains that we have here in Wales. And also, of course, the income from the projects, as they develop, will be retained here in Wales. I think that that is absolutely something to be really excited about in terms of the future and how we can continue reinvesting in our communities. And, of course, we've got Ynni Cymru supporting community energy projects, with £10 million of capital investment to support smart local energy projects. Of course, Ynni Cymru was part of our commitment with the co-operation agreement. So, we're continuing with both of those things. I think they're both really exciting. And when you put that into the context of the net-zero action plan, which I referred to earlier, which is all about skills from school right the way up to people who are looking to reskill following a previous career, I think that we are in very exciting territory.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn a'r cyfle i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd swyddi gwyrdd a thwf gwyrdd i bob rhan o Gymru, yn enwedig y rhai sydd â'r dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol iawn honno, oherwydd gallant fod ar y blaen yn y don nesaf o ddiwydiant a'r gofod gwyrdd a sero net hwnnw. Rwy'n credu y bydd y gwaith a wnawn trwy Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru yn bwysig iawn wrth ddatblygu prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy ar raddfa fawr, ac yn hollbwysig, wrth gadw buddion y rheini yn ein cymunedau yma yng Nghymru ac o fewn y cadwyni cyflenwi sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru. A hefyd, wrth gwrs, bydd yr incwm o'r prosiectau, wrth iddynt ddatblygu, yn cael ei gadw yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth i fod yn gyffrous iawn yn ei gylch ar gyfer y dyfodol a sut y gallwn barhau i ailfuddsoddi yn ein cymunedau. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym Ynni Cymru yn cefnogi prosiectau ynni cymunedol, gyda £10 miliwn o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf i gefnogi prosiectau ynni lleol clyfar. Wrth gwrs, roedd Ynni Cymru yn rhan o'n hymrwymiad gyda'r cytundeb cydweithio. Felly, rydym yn parhau â'r ddau beth hyn. Rwy'n credu eu bod yn gyffrous iawn. A phan fyddwch chi'n rhoi hynny yng nghyd-destun y cynllun gweithredu sero net, y cyfeiriais ato'n gynharach, sy'n ymwneud â sgiliau o'r ysgol yr holl ffordd at bobl sy'n awyddus i ailsgilio yn dilyn gyrfa flaenorol, rwy'n credu ein bod mewn man cyffrous iawn.

Annog Rhieni Plant Ifanc yn ôl i'r Gweithlu
Encouraging Parents of Young Children back into the Workforce

7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i annog rhieni plant ifanc yn ôl i'r gweithlu? OQ61572

7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage parents of young children back into the workforce? OQ61572

14:20

Thank you. Together with the Department for Work and Pensions, we have in place a comprehensive set of measures through our employability programmes and childcare offer to support parents back into work.

Diolch. Ynghyd â'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, mae gennym set gynhwysfawr o fesurau ar waith trwy ein rhaglenni cyflogadwyedd a'n cynnig gofal plant i gynorthwyo rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith.

Thank you, Minister, for that response. Getting parents back into the workforce is fundamental to a thriving economy. I know that you would agree with that. Last year, Oxfam found that over a quarter of Welsh respondents to its survey were spending over £900 a month on childcare costs, with 43 per cent saying that they hadn’t been able to pay other essential costs after paying for childcare.

Concerningly, over half of the respondents said that, after paying for childcare costs, it doesn’t make financial sense for them to go to work. This clearly has implications for the Welsh economy. Yes, the Welsh Government has support for children over the age of three. However, that is three years’ worth of childcare costs that Welsh parents are paying but English parents aren’t. With this in mind, Minister, what steps will the Government be taking to expand childcare support in Wales as a way to boost the Welsh economy?

Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae cael rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gweithlu yn allweddol i economi ffyniannus. Rwy'n gwybod y byddech chi'n cytuno â hynny. Y llynedd, canfu Oxfam fod dros chwarter y rhai a ymatebodd i'w harolwg o Gymru yn gwario dros £900 y mis ar gostau gofal plant, gyda 43 y cant yn dweud nad oeddent wedi gallu talu costau hanfodol eraill ar ôl talu am ofal plant.

Mae'n destun pryder fod dros hanner yr ymatebwyr wedi dweud nad yw'n gwneud synnwyr ariannol iddynt weithio, ar ôl talu am gostau gofal plant. Mae'n amlwg fod gan hyn oblygiadau i economi Cymru. Oes, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru gymorth i blant dros dair oed. Ond dyna werth tair blynedd o gostau gofal plant y mae rhieni Cymru yn eu talu ond nad yw rhieni o Loegr yn eu talu. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Weinidog, pa gamau y bydd y Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i ehangu cymorth gofal plant yng Nghymru fel ffordd o roi hwb i economi Cymru?

I thank Peter Fox for the supplementary question. I do agree with him that getting parents back into work is important to the Welsh economy. On the childcare offer, the childcare offer is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Social Care, who has heard what you have said today. But the Member will be aware of the childcare offer and the conversations that we have had, having engaged in the petitions process, airing some of these issues with the Welsh offer and the offer of the previous UK Government, and the concerns around the offer in England due to a lack of qualified staff.

So, Llywydd, I would refrain from entering into the field of my colleague's responsibilities, but I would just say that we are making sure that we train enough qualified staff in the field of childcare. I'm very proud of the commitment that we place, and the support that we place, to provide training and upskilling in this sector, particularly through our apprenticeship programme, with funding for work-based learning in childcare and play and development.

Presiding Officer, the importance of getting back into work—. Well, as a new Dad—and I think that Noa and his mum are in the Chamber this afternoon—I very much understand the pressures of balancing the responsibilities of being parents to a young child, but also the responsibilities in work as well.

I do think that it's really important that parents who are seeking to come back into work understand their rights and roles within the workplace. I know that our trade union partners do some great work in this field, making sure that their members understand their rights when returning, through this transition period, to work, and I would like to place on record my thanks to them for all that they do.

Diolch i Peter Fox am y cwestiwn atodol. Rwy'n cytuno ag ef fod cael rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith yn bwysig i economi Cymru. Ar y cynnig gofal plant, cyfrifoldeb y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol yw'r cynnig gofal plant, ac mae wedi clywed yr hyn a ddywedoch chi heddiw. Ond bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol o'r cynnig gofal plant a'r sgyrsiau a gawsom gan iddo gymryd rhan yn y broses ddeisebau, a gwyntyllu rhai o'r problemau hyn gyda chynnig Cymru a chynnig Llywodraeth flaenorol y DU, a'r pryderon ynghylch y cynnig yn Lloegr oherwydd diffyg staff cymwys.

Felly, Lywydd, rwy'n ymatal rhag camu i faes cyfrifoldebau fy nghyd-Aelod, ond rwyf am ddweud ein bod yn sicrhau ein bod yn hyfforddi digon o staff cymwys ym maes gofal plant. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ymrwymiad a roddwn, a'r gefnogaeth a roddwn, i ddarparu hyfforddiant ac uwchsgilio yn y sector hwn, yn enwedig drwy ein rhaglen brentisiaethau, gyda chyllid ar gyfer dysgu seiliedig ar waith mewn gofal plant a chwarae a datblygu.

Lywydd, mae pwysigrwydd dychwelyd i'r gwaith—. Wel, fel tad newydd—ac rwy'n credu bod Noa a'i fam yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma—rwy'n gwybod yn iawn am y pwysau o gydbwyso'r cyfrifoldeb o fod yn rhieni i blentyn ifanc â chyfrifoldebau gwaith.

Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod rhieni sy'n ceisio dychwelyd i'r gwaith yn deall eu hawliau a'u rolau yn y gweithle. Gwn fod ein partneriaid yn yr undebau llafur yn gwneud gwaith gwych yn y maes hwn, gan sicrhau bod eu haelodau'n deall eu hawliau wrth iddynt ddychwelyd i'r gwaith, drwy'r cyfnod pontio, a hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch iddynt am bopeth a wnânt.

Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8—Luke Fletcher.

Finally, question 8—Luke Fletcher.

Darpariaeth Prentisiaethau
Delivery of Appreticeships

8. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am ddarparu prentisiaethau yng Nghymru? OQ61577

8. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the delivery of apprenticeships in Wales? OQ61577

I thank Luke Fletcher for the question. One hundred and forty-three million pounds has been allocated to the apprenticeship programme this year, to deliver long-term economic benefits and strong career opportunities. Responsibility for the delivery of the apprenticeship programme transferred to Medr from 1 August. Medr data shows that 55,095 apprentices have started on the apprenticeship programme so far this Senedd term.

Diolch i Luke Fletcher am y cwestiwn. Mae £143 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu i'r rhaglen brentisiaethau eleni, er mwyn sicrhau manteision economaidd hirdymor a chyfleoedd gyrfa cryf. Trosglwyddwyd y cyfrifoldeb o gyflwyno'r rhaglen brentisiaethau i Medr o 1 Awst. Mae data Medr yn dangos bod 55,095 o brentisiaid wedi dechrau ar y rhaglen brentisiaethau y tymor seneddol hwn hyd yma.

Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog.

Thank you for that answer, Minister.

Anecdotally, colleges are reporting an increase in individuals saying that they want to start college, as well as learners who are actually doing so. They are also reporting an increase in starts across all vocational areas. By contrast, UCAS reported back in July a significant participation challenge for Welsh universities, with the number of applicants from Wales dropping to a 15-year low.

So, does the Minister think that we are beginning to see a swing to more localised vocational training at college, and how does this influence the Welsh Government’s thinking around Medr? Does it, for example, envisage Medr funding following the learners?

Yn anecdotaidd, mae colegau'n nodi cynnydd yn nifer yr unigolion sy'n dweud eu bod am ddechrau yn y coleg, yn ogystal â dysgwyr sy'n gwneud hynny mewn gwirionedd. Maent hefyd yn nodi cynnydd yn y nifer sy'n dechrau ar draws pob maes galwedigaethol. Ar y llaw arall, adroddodd UCAS yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf am her sylweddol i brifysgolion Cymru o ran niferoedd ymgeiswyr, gyda nifer yr ymgeiswyr o Gymru yn gostwng i'r lefel isaf ers 15 mlynedd.

Felly, a yw'r Gweinidog yn credu ein bod yn dechrau gweld tuedd tuag at hyfforddiant galwedigaethol mwy lleol yn y colegau, a sut y mae hyn yn dylanwadu ar syniadau Llywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â Medr? A yw, er enghraifft, yn rhagweld y bydd cyllid Medr yn dilyn y dysgwyr?

I thank Luke Fletcher for the supplementary question. Can I thank him also for the work done by him and his co-chair, Hefin David, on the cross-party group for apprenticeships? I think that it's a valued cross-party group here in the Senedd. The responsibilities for Medr have now been transferred. So, they are in charge of all operational matters when it comes to apprentices, and we fully expect them and partners to deliver against our policy statement, which was set out in February of last year.

I am, perhaps, not surprised to see more learners go towards the vocational route. I'm very proud of the fact that that is the case. The Minister for Further and Higher Education oversees the responsibility of Medr, and will, I'm sure, consider what you've said today. They have, of course, outlined their strategic plan for consultation this week, and I'm sure they would have heard the Member's thoughts on whether the funding should follow that particular route.

But in terms of apprentices, Presiding Officer, you'll have no bigger supporter of apprenticeships in Wales than me. I'm very proud of this Welsh Government's record on apprenticeships—I should know, as a former apprentice myself. I think I'm the first responsible Minister for apprenticeships to follow that route. I'm incredibly proud of that, and I'm proud of the record we stand on. Apprenticeships will play a key role in meeting our green growth and jobs potential in Wales, and that's a priority set out by the First Minister, and a priority for this Government.

And I should say, Presiding Officer, I was pleased to see the announcement from the UK Government of a new growth and skills levy, to replace the existing levy, in the UK. I see this as a real opportunity for two Labour Governments working together on a reformed levy—one that works with Welsh businesses, one that works with Welsh training providers, and, importantly, one that works for Welsh apprentices. I look forward to engaging with UK Ministers on that matter, but also the Member on these matters going forward.

Diolch i Luke Fletcher am y cwestiwn atodol. A gaf i ddiolch iddo hefyd am y gwaith a wnaed ganddo ef a'i gyd-gadeirydd, Hefin David, yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar brentisiaethau? Credaf ei fod yn grŵp trawsbleidiol gwerthfawr yma yn y Senedd. Mae'r cyfrifoldebau am Medr bellach wedi cael eu trosglwyddo. Felly, maent yn gyfrifol am yr holl faterion gweithredol sy'n ymwneud â phrentisiaid, ac rydym yn disgwyl iddynt hwy a phartneriaid gyflawni yn erbyn ein datganiad polisi, a nodwyd ym mis Chwefror y llynedd.

Efallai nad wyf yn synnu gweld mwy o ddysgwyr yn dewis y llwybr galwedigaethol. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r ffaith mai felly mae hi. Y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch sy'n goruchwylio cyfrifoldebau Medr, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn ystyried yr hyn a ddywedoch chi heddiw. Maent wedi amlinellu eu cynllun strategol ar gyfer ymgynghori yr wythnos hon, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddant wedi clywed syniadau’r Aelod ynglŷn ag a ddylai'r cyllid ddilyn y llwybr penodol hwnnw.

Ond ar brentisiaid, Lywydd, rwy'n llwyr gefnogi prentisiaethau yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch iawn o hanes y Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru gyda phrentisiaethau—dylwn wybod, fel cyn brentis fy hun. Credaf mai fi yw'r Gweinidog cyntaf â chyfrifoldeb dros brentisiaethau i fod wedi dilyn y llwybr hwnnw. Rwy'n hynod falch o hynny, ac rwy'n falch o'n cyflawniad. Bydd prentisiaethau'n chwarae rhan allweddol yn cyflawni ein potensial twf gwyrdd a swyddi yng Nghymru, ac mae honno'n flaenoriaeth a nodwyd gan y Prif Weinidog, ac yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon.

A dylwn ddweud, Lywydd, roeddwn yn falch o weld cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth y DU am ardoll twf a sgiliau newydd yn y DU, yn lle'r ardoll bresennol. Rwy'n gweld hwn fel cyfle go iawn i ddwy Lywodraeth Lafur gydweithio ar ardoll ddiwygiedig—un sy'n gweithio gyda busnesau Cymru, un sy'n gweithio gyda darparwyr hyfforddiant Cymru, ac yn bwysig, un sy'n gweithio i brentisiaid Cymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at ymgysylltu â Gweinidogion y DU ar y mater hwnnw, a chyda'r Aelod hefyd ar y materion hyn wrth symud ymlaen.

14:25

Diolch i'r Gweinidog, a diolch, hefyd, i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am y sesiwn yna.

I thank the Minister, and thanks also to the Cabinet Secretary for that question session.

2. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol
2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Carolyn Thomas.

The next item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. The first question is from Carolyn Thomas.

Gweithlu'r GIG
The NHS Workforce

1. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn annog pobl i ymuno â gweithlu'r GIG yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ61574

1. How is the Welsh Government encouraging people to join the NHS workforce in North Wales? OQ61574

In light of the global shortage of healthcare workers, all nations across the UK face workforce challenges. This impacts the length and breadth of Wales. In recognising the need for action, in January 2023, we published our national workforce implementation plan, which set out actions to improve recruitment and retention, including improving staff well-being.

Yng ngoleuni'r prinder byd-eang o weithwyr gofal iechyd, mae pob gwlad ledled y DU yn wynebu heriau gweithlu. Mae effeithiau hyn i'w gweld ar hyd a lled Cymru. Wrth gydnabod yr angen i weithredu, ym mis Ionawr 2023, fe wnaethom gyhoeddi ein cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol ar gyfer y gweithlu, sy'n nodi camau i wella recriwtio a chadw staff, gan gynnwys gwella lles staff.

Thank you for the answer, Minister. This month, thanks to Welsh Government investment support, the new North Wales Medical School at Bangor University has welcomed its first intake of students, which includes a mix of school leavers and graduate entrants. North Wales Medical School will grow over time to graduate up to 140 newly qualified doctors to join the NHS workforce each year, creating new pathways for students to achieve their dream of joining the medical profession, and, hopefully, making their homes in north Wales—beautiful north Wales—as we all want to see. Minister, do you agree that this is a fantastic example of the Welsh Government's commitment to encouraging those interested in a career in a healthcare to train, work and live here in Wales, in north Wales? And how do you intend to work with our new UK Labour colleagues in Westminster to help close the gaps in our health and social care sectors as well?

Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog. Y mis hwn, diolch i gymorth buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'r ysgol feddygaeth newydd, Ysgol Feddygaeth Gogledd Cymru, ym Mhrifysgol Bangor wedi croesawu ei myfyrwyr cyntaf, sy'n cynnwys cymysgedd o rai sy'n gadael ysgol a myfyrwyr graddedig. Bydd Ysgol Feddygaeth Gogledd Cymru yn tyfu dros amser i ddarparu gradd i hyd at 140 o feddygon newydd gymhwyso ymuno â gweithlu'r GIG bob blwyddyn, gan greu llwybrau newydd i fyfyrwyr wireddu eu breuddwyd o ymuno â'r proffesiwn meddygol, a gwneud eu cartref yng ngogledd Cymru—gogledd Cymru hardd—fel y mae pawb ohonom eisiau ei weld. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod hon yn enghraifft wych o ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i annog y rhai sydd â diddordeb mewn gyrfa mewn gofal iechyd i hyfforddi, gweithio a byw yma yng Nghymru, yng ngogledd Cymru? A sut y bwriadwch chi weithio gyda'n cymheiriaid Llafur newydd yn San Steffan i helpu i gau'r bylchau yn ein sectorau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol?

I thank the Member for that important question. The establishment of the new medical school in north Wales will, obviously, enable us to train more medical students here in Wales, but also will ensure that we can distribute training opportunities and, hopefully, the provision of well-qualified doctors right across Wales as well.

The experience that we offer students in Wales routinely tops league tables in terms of excellent student experience, and I think that's something that we can be proud of. And students also play a really important role in service delivery, through their placements across Wales as well. I think it's really important, as we've discussed already in the Chamber today, to maximise the benefit of the investment that we are making through employing and retaining newly qualified professionals. I think that the new medical school is good news for students, it's good news for the people of north Wales, and for Betsi Cadwaladr health board as well.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwn. Yn amlwg, bydd sefydlu'r ysgol feddygol newydd yng ngogledd Cymru yn ein galluogi i hyfforddi mwy o fyfyrwyr meddygol yma yng Nghymru, ond bydd hefyd yn sicrhau y gallwn ddosbarthu cyfleoedd hyfforddi a darparu meddygon â chanddynt gymwysterau da ledled Cymru hefyd, gobeithio.

Mae'r profiad a gynigiwn i fyfyrwyr yng Nghymru ar frig y tablau cynghrair yn rheolaidd o ran profiad rhagorol i fyfyrwyr, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn fod yn falch ohono. Ac mae myfyrwyr hefyd yn chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn darparu gwasanaethau, trwy eu lleoliadau ledled Cymru. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn, fel rydym eisoes wedi trafod yn y Siambr heddiw, i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y buddsoddiad a wnawn trwy gyflogi a chadw gweithwyr proffesiynol newydd gymhwyso. Rwy'n meddwl bod yr ysgol feddygol newydd yn newydd da i fyfyrwyr, mae'n newydd da i bobl gogledd Cymru, ac i fwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr hefyd.

The issue surrounding recruitment and retention is very much a non-political matter, and as a former employee of Betsi Cadwaladr, the line of 'Train. Work. Live.' in north Wales is nothing new in that regard, because it was always something that was spoken about. I'm pleased that the medical school will hopefully create inroads to achieving that, and that you can live and work in an environment where you earn as you learn, if you like. Because that's something that, essentially, was a big barrier in my early career in the NHS. It was actually the glass ceiling breaking in, and actually having training opportunities within the workforce.

But I’d just like to ask a question around the training and development of current staff within the NHS and what support and guidance you would give to health boards in that regard, because it is important to remember that seeking an educational alternative to some of these professions is not always financially equitable to do and it takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication. So, I’m keen to look at avenues that the Welsh Government can explore—an earn-as-you-learn development scheme internally within the NHS that can create more fluidity within the workforce, but then also have protected time for professionals so that they don’t become disillusioned within their careers and then, essentially, they’re not leaving the health service, so that 'Train. Work. Live.' can actually run deeper than just warm words. Thank you.

Mae'r broblem sy'n gysylltiedig â recriwtio a chadw staff yn fater anwleidyddol i raddau helaeth iawn, ac fel cyn-weithiwr ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, nid yw'r ymadrodd 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw' yng ngogledd Cymru yn newydd o gwbl yn hynny o beth, oherwydd roedd bob amser yn rhywbeth a gâi sylw. Rwy'n falch y bydd yr ysgol feddygol, gobeithio, yn creu ffyrdd o gyflawni hynny, ac y gallwch fyw a gweithio mewn amgylchedd lle rydych chi'n ennill wrth i chi ddysgu, os mynnwch. Oherwydd mae hynny'n rhywbeth a oedd, yn ei hanfod, yn rhwystr mawr yn fy ngyrfa gynnar yn y GIG. Mewn gwirionedd, y nenfwd gwydr yn torri i mewn ydoedd, a chael cyfleoedd hyfforddi o fewn y gweithlu.

Ond hoffwn ofyn cwestiwn ynglŷn â hyfforddi a datblygu staff presennol yn y GIG a pha gymorth ac arweiniad y byddech chi'n ei roi i fyrddau iechyd yn hynny o beth, oherwydd mae'n bwysig cofio nad yw ceisio dewis arall addysgol i rai o'r proffesiynau hyn bob amser yn deg yn ariannol ac mae'n galw am lawer o aberth ac ymroddiad. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i edrych ar lwybrau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu harchwilio—cynllun datblygu ennill-wrth-ddysgu yn fewnol o fewn y GIG a all greu mwy o hylifedd o fewn y gweithlu, a rhoi amser gwarchodedig i weithwyr proffesiynol hefyd fel nad ydynt yn cael eu dadrithio yn eu gyrfaoedd ac yn y bôn, fel nad ydynt yn gadael y gwasanaeth iechyd, fel bod 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw', yn gallu golygu mwy na geiriau cynnes yn unig. Diolch.

14:30

The 'Train. Work. Live.' campaign has been a very successful campaign, actually. I think that, last year, a total of 199 new GP trainees were recruited to schemes across Wales, which is a good number. I think the Member is right to say that it is important that we provide, as well as good training and education opportunities for healthcare professionals of all sorts to qualify, the addition of initially 80 new student training spaces in north Wales, increasing to 140. That will make a significant contribution to those overall numbers, and that’s in north Wales; there’s obviously been an expansion as well in south Wales.

But the Member is right to say that, critical, I think, both in terms of the provision of care and maintaining currency in terms of skills, are also those incentives that encourage people to stay in the health and care sectors, which is a critical priority for us. That does depend on being able to offer, as we do, an attractive package of ongoing training and education and a clear pathway from undergraduate to postgraduate training through that person’s career. So, I think that that commitment to retention—we now have a retention lead in each local health board area—with a planned dimension, in the workforce implementation plan, underpinned by that strong commitment to ongoing professional development and training, is really critical.

Mae ymgyrch 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw.' wedi bod yn ymgyrch lwyddiannus iawn, mewn gwirionedd. Y llynedd, rwy'n credu bod cyfanswm o 199 o feddygon teulu dan hyfforddiant newydd wedi’u recriwtio i gynlluniau ledled Cymru, sy’n nifer fawr. Credaf fod yr Aelod yn iawn i ddweud ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn darparu, yn ogystal â chyfleoedd hyfforddi ac addysg da i weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol o bob math gymhwyso, 80 o leoedd hyfforddi ychwanegol i fyfyrwyr newydd yn y gogledd i ddechrau, gan gynyddu i 140. Bydd hynny’n gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i'r niferoedd cyffredinol, a dim ond y gogledd yw hynny; mae'n amlwg fod cynnydd wedi bod yn y de hefyd.

Ond mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud mai'r hyn sydd hefyd yn hollbwysig, rwy'n credu, o ran darparu gofal a chynnal gwybodaeth gyfredol o ran sgiliau, yw'r cymhellion sy'n annog pobl i aros yn y sectorau iechyd a gofal, sy'n flaenoriaeth hollbwysig i ni. Mae hynny’n dibynnu ar allu cynnig, fel y gwnawn, pecyn deniadol o hyfforddiant ac addysg barhaus a llwybr clir o hyfforddiant israddedig i hyfforddiant ôl-raddedig drwy yrfa’r unigolyn. Felly, credaf fod yr ymrwymiad i gadw staff—mae gennym bellach arweinydd cadw staff ym mhob ardal bwrdd iechyd lleol—gyda dimensiwn wedi'i gynllunio, yn y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer y gweithlu, wedi'i ategu gan ymrwymiad cryf i ddatblygiad proffesiynol parhaus a hyfforddiant, yn hollbwysig.

Cynlluniau Teithio Byrddau Iechyd
Health Board Travel Plans

2. Faint o fyrddau iechyd sydd â chynlluniau teithio ar waith ar gyfer staff a chleifion, a beth yw’r trefniadau ar gyfer monitro ac adrodd ar y cynlluniau hyn? OQ61551

2. How many health boards have travel plans in place for both staff and patients, and how are these monitored and reported? OQ61551

Health boards in Wales have, since 2008, been required to have sustainable travel plans in place for patients and staff at their main hospital sites. Monitoring arrangements are in the hands of the health boards, and the plans are not submitted or monitored by Welsh Government officials.

Ers 2008, mae wedi bod yn ofynnol i fyrddau iechyd yng Nghymru fod â chynlluniau teithio cynaliadwy ar waith ar gyfer cleifion a staff yn eu prif ysbytai. Mae trefniadau monitro yn nwylo’r byrddau iechyd, ac nid yw’r cynlluniau’n cael eu cyflwyno na’u monitro gan swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru.

Thank you. Anyone who has tried parking at a hospital knows what a nightmare it can be, and the research also shows that, in most cases, the majority of staff at a hospital live within close distance and work within office hours, and yet drive. And we know that travel planning, when monitored and supported properly—which, it sounds from the answer, is not always the case at the moment—can be successful in reducing the number of people driving to hospital, which can then free up car parking spaces for visitors. We know that, in order to reach our broader climate change targets, we need to reduce the number of car journeys that are made, and last week’s Wales Net Zero 2035 report said that big employers like the NHS have a key part to play in incentivising walking, cycling and public transport for work journeys. So, what more can the health and care sectors do to make their contribution to tackling the climate emergency and to easing the congestion at hospital sites?

Diolch. Mae unrhyw un sydd wedi ceisio parcio mewn ysbyty yn gwybod pa mor hunllefus y gall fod, ac mae’r ymchwil hefyd yn dangos, yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, fod mwyafrif y staff mewn ysbyty yn byw o fewn pellter agos ac yn gweithio oriau swyddfa, ac eto’n gyrru. A gwyddom y gall cynllunio teithio, o'i fonitro a'i gefnogi'n iawn—nad yw'n digwydd bob amser ar hyn o bryd, yn ôl yr ateb—arwain at leihau nifer y bobl sy'n gyrru i'r ysbyty, a all wedyn ryddhau lleoedd mewn meysydd parcio i ymwelwyr. Er mwyn cyflawni ein targedau newid hinsawdd ehangach, gwyddom fod angen inni leihau nifer y teithiau a wneir mewn ceir, a dywedodd adroddiad Sero Net 2035 Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf fod gan gyflogwyr mawr fel y GIG ran allweddol i’w chwarae yn cymell cerdded, beicio a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar gyfer teithiau i'r gwaith. Felly, beth arall y gall y sectorau iechyd a gofal ei wneud i gyfrannu at y gwaith o fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd ac i leddfu’r tagfeydd ar safleoedd ysbytai?

I thank the Member for that question. I think what motivates his question is the contribution that the health service can make to the broader ambitions that we have as a country in relation to our net-zero goals and responding to the climate emergency. But I also think it's an important lens to apply to the sustainability of the health service itself and the behaviours that it can model, both to its staff and its patients, and to its partners more broadly.

As I said, since 2008, those requirements have been in place. We reaffirmed those in 2018 through a Welsh health circular, setting out the requirements on organisations to have those plans in place. Those requirements remain extant. I know that health boards are using a range of incentives to encourage staff to use active travel—so, bus pass schemes, cycle-to-work schemes, lift sharing, and so on. The decarbonisation strategic delivery plan for the NHS in Wales, which was launched three years ago, follows closely the guidance in the active travel plan for Wales, to make sure that active travel is factored into decision making, in particular in the context of new developments. But I think it is true to say, having made enquiries with health boards, that it is a variable picture in relation to the publication of those active travel plans. And I think, given the publication of the Welsh Government's active travel plan for Wales 2024-27, it's timely to issue a reminder to the organisation of the requirement to have plans. So, I have asked officials in my department to do that.

Diolch i’r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Credaf mai’r hyn sy’n sail i'w gwestiwn yw’r cyfraniad y gall y gwasanaeth iechyd ei wneud i’r uchelgeisiau ehangach sydd gennym fel gwlad mewn perthynas â’n nodau sero net ac ymateb i’r argyfwng hinsawdd. Ond credaf hefyd ei bod yn lens bwysig i'w defnyddio wrth edrych ar gynaliadwyedd y gwasanaeth iechyd ei hun a'r ymddygiadau y gall fodelu, i'w staff a'i gleifion, ac i'w bartneriaid yn fwy cyffredinol.

Fel y dywedais, ers 2008, mae’r gofynion hynny wedi bod ar waith. Fe wnaethom eu hailddatgan yn 2018 drwy gylchlythyr iechyd Cymru, a oedd yn nodi’r gofynion ar sefydliadau i roi’r cynlluniau hynny ar waith. Mae'r gofynion hynny'n parhau i fod yn berthnasol. Gwn fod byrddau iechyd yn defnyddio amrywiaeth o gymhellion i annog staff i ddefnyddio teithio llesol—felly, cynlluniau pasys bws, cynlluniau beicio i’r gwaith, rhannu ceir, ac ati. Mae’r cynllun cyflawni strategol ar gyfer datgarboneiddio GIG Cymru, a lansiwyd dair blynedd yn ôl, yn dilyn y canllawiau yn y cynllun teithio llesol i Gymru yn agos, i sicrhau bod teithio llesol yn cael ei ystyried wrth wneud penderfyniadau, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun datblygiadau newydd. Ond credaf ei bod yn deg dweud, ar ôl gwneud ymholiadau gyda'r byrddau iechyd, fod y darlun yn amrywio mewn perthynas â chyhoeddi’r cynlluniau teithio llesol hynny. Ac o ystyried cyhoeddiad cynllun teithio llesol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Cymru 2024-27, rwy'n credu ei bod yn amserol atgoffa’r sefydliad o’r gofyniad i fod â chynlluniau ar waith. Felly, rwyf wedi gofyn i swyddogion yn fy adran wneud hynny.

14:35

Cabinet Secretary, the lack of bus services to the Grange hospital continues to be a major issue for many of my constituents across south-east Wales. In 2023, it was announced that a new direct bus route would run between Blackwood and the hospital itself. But, some seven months later, the service was axed when the Welsh Government withdrew their funding. As I'm sure you're well aware, Cabinet Secretary, there are lots of issues with the Grange hospital, including lack of accessibility. This service was hugely beneficial to my constituents, particularly those who don't drive, or, indeed, following treatment, and now they're having to focus by enduring lengthy journeys involving multiple buses. So, Cabinet Secretary, do you agree with me that urgent improvements must be made immediately so that residents can indeed access the Grange, and what discussions have you had with the transport Secretary about addressing this issue, going forward? Thank you.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae’r diffyg gwasanaethau bws i ysbyty’r Faenor yn parhau i fod yn broblem fawr i lawer o fy etholwyr ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru. Yn 2023, cyhoeddwyd y byddai llwybr bws uniongyrchol newydd yn rhedeg rhwng Coed-duon a’r ysbyty ei hun. Ond oddeutu saith mis yn ddiweddarach, daeth y gwasanaeth i ben pan roddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y gorau i ddarparu cyllid. Fel y gwyddoch yn iawn, rwy'n siŵr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae llawer o broblemau'n codi gydag ysbyty’r Faenor, gan gynnwys diffyg hygyrchedd. Roedd y gwasanaeth hwn yn hynod fuddiol i fy etholwyr, yn enwedig y rheini nad ydynt yn gyrru, neu'n wir, yn dilyn triniaethau, a bellach, maent yn gorfod dioddef teithiau hir ar sawl bws. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod yn rhaid gwneud gwelliannau brys ar unwaith fel y gall trigolion gael mynediad at ysbyty'r Faenor, a pha drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda'r Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth ynglŷn â mynd i'r afael â'r mater, wrth symud ymlaen? Diolch yn fawr.

Well, the transport Secretary and I are of the same mind in relation to this. We both recognise how important it is to have bus services that enable families, communities to be connected to services, as well as to each other. I think the point that the Member makes highlights one of the challenges that we face in the current model that we have for the delivery of bus services, which I think, by any realistic measure, can be said to be broken and requires huge levels of public subsidy, without delivering really the public good that we need it to do. That is what lies behind the legislation that we plan to introduce to the Senedd, which will enable us to re-regulate the bus network in Wales, which will provide the opportunity for us to make sure that services are delivered where they are required, rather than where they are simply profitable for bus companies.

Wel, mae’r Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth a minnau'n gytûn ar hyn. Mae’r ddau ohonom yn cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw cael gwasanaethau bws sy’n galluogi teuluoedd, cymunedau i gysylltu â gwasanaethau, yn ogystal â’i gilydd. Credaf fod y pwynt y mae’r Aelod yn ei wneud yn tynnu sylw at un o’r heriau sy’n ein hwynebu yn ein model presennol ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau bysiau, y credaf y gellir dweud, drwy unrhyw fesur realistig, ei fod yn ffaeledig ac angen lefelau enfawr o gymhorthdal cyhoeddus, ac nad yw'n darparu'r budd cyhoeddus y mae angen iddo ei ddarparu. Dyna sydd wrth wraidd y ddeddfwriaeth y bwriadwn ei chyflwyno i’r Senedd, i'n galluogi i ailreoleiddio’r rhwydwaith bysiau yng Nghymru, gan roi cyfle inni sicrhau bod gwasanaethau’n cael eu darparu lle mae eu hangen, yn hytrach na lle maent yn broffidiol i gwmnïau bysiau.

I ddilyn ymlaen o gwestiwn Natasha—

Following on from Natasha's question—

—and not to rehearse the same argument, because the Grange is something that is not best served with some of the public transport links that have been there, and, obviously, that bus service that Natasha talked about was jettisoned after six months, could you go into a little bit more detail about what those discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for transport are looking like, and also what are your thoughts with regard to the bus Bill, when it comes along? How will the NHS feed into feasibility studies for where those routes need to be and how you need to link up hosptials across the south-east and across Wales to the bus service?

—a heb ailadrodd yr un ddadl, gan nad yw ysbyty'r Faenor yn cael ei wasanaethu'n dda gan rai o'r cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sydd wedi bod yno, ac yn amlwg, cafodd y gwasanaeth bws y soniodd Natasha amdano ei ddiddymu ar ôl chwe mis, a allech chi fanylu rhywfaint ar sut olwg sydd ar y trafodaethau gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, a hefyd beth yw eich barn am y Bil bysiau, pan ddaw? Sut y bydd y GIG yn cyfrannu at astudiaethau dichonoldeb ar gyfer ble mae angen i’r llwybrau hynny fod a sut y mae angen ichi gysylltu ysbytai ar draws y de-ddwyrain a ledled Cymru â’r gwasanaeth bysiau?

That's an important consideration. I think making sure that services to which the public need access are supported by provisions in the new legislation, obviously, is critical. I think there'll be an opportunity to discuss in more detail what that looks like when the legislation is brought forward. So, the Member may have to bear with us for a little while longer.

Mae honno’n ystyriaeth bwysig. Yn amlwg, rwy'n credu bod sicrhau bod gwasanaethau y mae'r cyhoedd angen mynediad atynt yn cael eu cefnogi gan ddarpariaethau yn y ddeddfwriaeth newydd yn hollbwysig. Credaf y bydd cyfle i drafod yn fanylach sut olwg fydd ar hynny pan fydd y ddeddfwriaeth yn cael ei chyflwyno. Felly, efallai y bydd yn rhaid i’r Aelod fod yn amyneddgar am ychydig bach eto.

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

Cwestiynau'r llefarwyr nawr. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, Sam Rowlands.

Questions from the spokespeople now. The Conservative spokesperson first of all, Sam Rowlands.

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, the First Minister has said that she's ready to use the private sector in the Welsh NHS. Are you ready?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud ei bod yn barod i ddefnyddio’r sector preifat yn GIG Cymru. A ydych chi'n barod?

Well, the Welsh Government has made use of private sector capacity for the common good, if you like, for many years. We recognise that the priority that the Government attaches to reducing waiting lists means that we will have to look at whatever options are available. I actually think that, in the long term, what we want to see is making sure that we have the level of innovation and learning from best practice within the public sector, but there have been times when we need to deploy private sector capacity to help us in those public goals.

Wel, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud defnydd o gapasiti’r sector preifat er lles pawb, os mynnwch, ers blynyddoedd lawer. Rydym yn cydnabod bod y flaenoriaeth y mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei rhoi i leihau rhestrau aros yn golygu y bydd yn rhaid inni edrych ar ba bynnag opsiynau sydd ar gael. Mewn gwirionedd, yn y tymor hir, rwy'n credu mai’r hyn yr hoffem ei wneud yw sicrhau bod gennym y lefel o arloesedd a dysgu o arferion gorau o fewn y sector cyhoeddus, ond mae adegau wedi bod pan fo angen inni ddefnyddio capasiti'r sector preifat i'n helpu gyda'r nodau cyhoeddus hynny.

Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary. As Welsh Conservatives, we have consistently called for greater partnership working with both the private and third sectors to, as you say, supplement and assist the NHS here in Wales, which sadly is creaking after a quarter of a century of Welsh Labour rule. So, I'm glad that you agree with a Welsh Conservative idea and have taken that on as well. As a new health Cabinet Secretary, I do hope we see a more cohesive and positive approach from you to utilising both the private and third sectors in order to support, as you say, those languishing waiting lists that we see here in Wales at the moment. In relation to those waiting lists, I didn’t get an answer yesterday from the First Minister on this issue. So, can you tell me what targets you’re setting for the reduction of those NHS waiting lists?

Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, rydym wedi galw’n gyson am fwy o waith partneriaeth gyda’r sector preifat a’r trydydd sector, fel y dywedwch, i ategu a chynorthwyo’r GIG yma yng Nghymru, sy'n gwegian ar ôl chwarter canrif o dan reolaeth Llafur Cymru. Felly, rwy'n falch eich bod yn cytuno ag un o syniadau'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ac wedi dechrau cefnogi hynny hefyd. Fel Ysgrifennydd newydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn ymagwedd fwy cydlynol a chadarnhaol gennych at ddefnyddio’r sector preifat a’r trydydd sector er mwyn cefnogi, fel y dywedwch, y rhestrau aros ofnadwy a welwn yma yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Mewn perthynas â’r rhestrau aros hynny, ni chefais ateb ddoe gan y Prif Weinidog ar y mater hwn. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf pa dargedau a osodir gennych ar gyfer lleihau rhestrau aros y GIG?

14:40

Well, just to be clear, I think the Member, if I may say, is somewhat wide of the mark if he thinks that I share the Conservative view on how to run the NHS. And to be clear, the principle that the Welsh Government has applied in making use of private sector capacity is that it shouldn’t be at the expense of the long-term capacity of the NHS, which is fundamentally different from the approach that Conservative Governments have taken in England over the last 14 years.

The targets that we’ve published in relation to waiting times are the targets that are in the public domain, against which we report on a monthly basis. The most recent figures, of course, came out last month. What I want to make sure is that we can, with a level of priority that this Government is attaching to reducing those waiting times, make better progress against the targets that we have already set. As the Member will have seen from the information published last week, there is a variable picture between health boards in relation to different measures, different services, and the challenge and, I think, the opportunity for us is to make sure that those parts of the organisation that need to do more to meet their targets are able to learn from those that are doing better. Each health board is doing well in some areas, and each health board has areas they need to work on. So, having that collaborative approach, that collaborative innovation, across the system, I think is a critical part of the solution.

Wel, i fod yn glir, credaf fod yr Aelod, os caf ddweud, yn anghywir os yw’n credu fy mod yn rhannu barn y Ceidwadwyr ar sut i redeg y GIG. Ac i fod yn glir, yr egwyddor y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i defnyddio wrth wneud defnydd o gapasiti’r sector preifat yw na ddylai hynny fod ar draul capasiti hirdymor y GIG, sy’n gwbl wahanol i’r dull a ddefnyddiwyd gan Lywodraethau Ceidwadol yn Lloegr dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf.

Y targedau a gyhoeddwyd gennym mewn perthynas ag amseroedd aros yw'r targedau sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd, ac rydym yn eu hadrodd yn fisol. Cyhoeddwyd y ffigurau diweddaraf fis diwethaf, wrth gwrs. Yr hyn yr hoffwn ei sicrhau, gyda'r lefel o flaenoriaeth y mae’r Llywodraeth hon yn ei rhoi i leihau’r amseroedd aros, yw y gallwn wneud gwell cynnydd yn erbyn y targedau a osodwyd gennym eisoes. Fel y bydd yr Aelod wedi’i weld o’r wybodaeth a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, mae'r darlun yn amrywio rhwng byrddau iechyd mewn perthynas â gwahanol fesurau, gwahanol wasanaethau, a’r her a'r cyfle i ni yw sicrhau bod y rhannau o'r sefydliad sydd angen gwneud mwy i gyflawni eu targedau yn gallu dysgu oddi wrth y rhai sy'n gwneud yn well. Mae pob bwrdd iechyd yn gwneud yn dda mewn rhai meysydd, ac mae gan bob bwrdd iechyd feysydd y mae angen iddynt weithio arnynt. Felly, mae cael dull cydweithredol, arloesi cydweithredol, ar draws y system, yn rhan allweddol o'r ateb yn fy marn i.

Yes and, as you say, that collaborative approach is really important, but, sadly, I don’t think we’ve seen it enough. And a live example I can give you is that, for glaucoma operations in Wrexham at the moment, patients there are waiting three years on a waiting list for a disease that clearly has a massive impact on their daily lives. If you live in Cheshire, it’s a four-week wait, just across the border, because the health trust there has a partnership arrangement with a private sector company to deliver those operations. A four-week wait in Cheshire, a three-year wait in Wrexham. So, there are huge opportunities.

In terms of those targets that we mentioned, as well, it is disappointing that it seems as though many of the targets that are in place are not worth the paper that they’re written on. And the consequences of those targets not being met seem to pretty weak, to say the very least. And it is remarkable, as we heard again yesterday from the First Minister about this collaboration between the Welsh and UK Governments on cutting waiting lists and working together, it is remarkable that it was so light on the detail of what the collaboration should look like, because you would agree, I’m sure, that cutting waiting lists is surely one of your top priorities here in Wales—it’s what the people of Wales want to see. So, why is it that there does not seem to be a concrete plan for cutting those waiting lists?

Ydy, ac fel y dywedwch, mae’r dull cydweithredol hwnnw’n wirioneddol bwysig, ond yn anffodus, ni chredaf ein bod wedi gweld digon ohono. Ac enghraifft fyw y gallaf ei rhoi i chi, ar gyfer llawdriniaethau glawcoma yn Wrecsam ar hyn o bryd, yw bod cleifion yno'n aros am dair blynedd ar restr aros ar gyfer clefyd sy'n amlwg yn cael effaith aruthrol ar eu bywydau bob dydd. Os ydych chi'n byw yn swydd Gaer, mae’n amser aros o bedair wythnos, dafliad carreg dros y ffin, gan fod gan yr ymddiriedolaeth iechyd yno drefniant partneriaeth gyda chwmni sector preifat i ddarparu'r llawdriniaethau hynny. Amser aros o bedair wythnos yn swydd Gaer, amser aros o dair blynedd yn Wrecsam. Felly, mae yna gyfleoedd enfawr.

O ran y targedau y soniasom amdanynt hefyd, mae'n siomedig nad yw llawer o'r targedau sydd yn eu lle yn werth y papur y maent wedi'u hysgrifennu arno. Ac ymddengys bod canlyniadau methiant i gyflawni'r targedau hynny yn eithaf gwan, a dweud y lleiaf. Ac mae'n rhyfeddol, wrth inni glywed eto ddoe gan y Prif Weinidog am y cydweithio rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU ar dorri rhestrau aros a gweithio ar y cyd, mae'n rhyfeddol ei fod mor brin o fanylion ynglŷn â sut olwg fydd ar y cydweithio, gan y byddech chi'n cytuno, rwy’n siŵr, fod torri rhestrau aros yn sicr yn un o’ch prif flaenoriaethau yma yng Nghymru—dyna mae pobl Cymru am ei weld. Felly, pam nad oes cynllun pendant, yn ôl pob golwg, ar gyfer lleihau'r rhestrau aros hynny?

Well, I think there is a plan for cutting those waiting lists. The point that the First Minister was making yesterday reflects the point that I have just made to the Member in my reply now, which is how important it is for the health service to look to best practice both within other parts of the organisation and also further afield, just as all the public services that we’re responsible for here in Wales take inspiration from best practice wherever that is. And the point that the First Minister was making was that where we have seen, in parts of NHS England in this particular case, successful strategies for supporting reductions in waiting lists—and, absolutely, targets aren’t being met in England either, but there are elements of progress—the question is how we can work together to learn from that. Some of those will work, perhaps, for us in Wales, and some of them will not, but I think having that collaborative approach, where we can learn from things that have worked, is just sensible.

Wel, rwy'n credu bod yna gynllun ar gyfer lleihau'r rhestrau aros hynny. Mae’r pwynt a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe yn adlewyrchu’r pwynt yr wyf newydd ei wneud i’r Aelod yn fy ateb nawr, sef ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd edrych ar arferion gorau mewn rhannau eraill o’r sefydliad a thu hwnt, yn union fel y caiff yr holl wasanaethau cyhoeddus yr ydym yn gyfrifol amdanynt yma yng Nghymru eu hysbrydoli gan arferion gorau, lle bynnag y bônt. A’r pwynt yr oedd y Prif Weinidog yn ei wneud oedd, lle rydym wedi gweld, mewn rhannau o GIG Lloegr yn yr achos penodol hwn, strategaethau llwyddiannus ar gyfer cefnogi lleihau rhestrau aros—ac yn sicr, nid yw targedau’n cael eu cyflawni yn Lloegr ychwaith, ond mae elfennau o gynnydd—y cwestiwn yw sut y gallwn weithio gyda'n gilydd i ddysgu o hynny. Bydd rhai o’r rheini’n gweithio i ni yng Nghymru, efallai, a bydd yna rai eraill na fyddant yn gweithio, ond rwy'n credu bod cael dull cydweithredol, lle gallwn ddysgu o bethau sydd wedi gweithio, yn gwneud synnwyr.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor. 

The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Wel, dwi am groesawu’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i’w rôl newydd unwaith eto, ac rydyn ni i gyd yn dymuno’n dda iddo fo wrth iddo fo ymdrechu i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau anferthol sydd o fewn y sector iechyd.

Wrth gwrs, Llywydd, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet presennol ydy’r chweched aelod o’r grŵp Llafur i ddal y portffolio iechyd ac, yn wir, y trydydd eleni. Ond er y chwyrligwgan yma o apwyntiadau gweinidogol, yr un ydy’r record iechyd o hyd. Mae pob Gweinidog neu Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ei dro, neu yn ei thro, wedi sôn am leihau'r rhestrau aros, a dŷn ni wedi clywed hwnna eto y prynhawn yma. Ond, yn y pen draw, maen nhw’n gadael y swydd gyda’r un rhestrau aros yna wedi cynyddu. Beth ydych chi am wneud yn wahanol?

Thank you very much, Llywydd. Well, I’d like to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to his new role once again, and we all wish him well as he seeks to tackle the huge challenges that exist within the health sector.

Of course, Llywydd, the current Cabinet Secretary is the sixth member of the Labour group to hold the health portfolio and, indeed, the third this year. But despite this merry-go-round of ministerial appointments, the record on health is the same. Every Minister or Cabinet Secretary in turn has talked about reducing waiting lists, and we’ve heard that again this afternoon. But, ultimately, they leave the job with the waiting lists having grown longer. So, what will you do differently?

Wel, rwy’n credu, os edrychwch chi ar y rhestrau aros hiraf o dan fy rhagflaenydd i, y Prif Weinidog, rŷn ni wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol iawn dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf, gyda chynnydd wrth gyrraedd y nod, gyda rhyw 67 y cant yn llai ar y rhestrau hwy nag oedd gyda ni ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Rydym ni wedi gweld dros y tri, pedwar mis diwethaf ein bod ni wedi colli’r cynnydd hwnnw. Felly, beth mae hynny’n dangos yw bod angen cynnydd cynaliadwy i’r dyfodol.

Felly, mae llawer o bethau yn y system yn barod i fynd i’r afael â hyn. Y peth cyntaf yw ffyrdd newydd, ffyrdd arloesol, o fynd i’r afael â rhai o’r heriau. Felly, rydym ni’n edrych ar beth yn fwy gallwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau bod defnydd o operating theatres yn fwy effeithiol, sut allwn ni greu clinigau er mwyn i lawdriniaethau llai cymhleth gael eu gwneud yn gyflymach, heb orfod aros dros nos, pa ddefnydd pellach gallwn ni ei wneud o AI, er enghraifft. Felly, mae enghreifftiau o arloesi yn y system yn barod. Beth rwyf i eisiau ei weld yw bod mwy a mwy o hynny yn digwydd. Rwyf wedi sôn yn barod am ba mor bwysig yw hi ein bod ni’n dysgu o lwyddiannau o fewn y system yn gyflymach, ein bod ni’n gallu gweld lle mae’r llwyddiannau a’u rhannu nhw, eu lledaenu nhw'n gynt nag yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo ei wneud yn y gorffennol.

Rydym ni hefyd wedi gweld—beth mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi bod yn dweud dros yr wythnosau diwethaf—cymaint o flaenoriaeth yw lleihau rhestrau aros nawr. Felly, mae hynny’n golygu bod ailflaenoriaethu o fewn y Llywodraeth yn dod yn sgil hynny. Ond, wrth wraidd yr holl waith yma, rwy’n credu, mae cydweithio gwell o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd a rhwng y gwasanaeth iechyd ac, er enghraifft, cynghorau lleol, ond partneriaid eraill hefyd.

Well, I think, if you look at the longest waiting lists under my predecessor, the First Minister, we’ve seen significant progress over the past two years, with progress in achieving the target, with 67 per cent fewer people on the longer waiting lists than there were two years ago. We've seen over the past three, four months that we've rowed back a little bit on that progress. So, what that demonstrates is that we need sustainable progress for the future.

So, there are many things in the system already to tackle this. The first is new, innovative ways to tackle some of the challenges. So, we're looking at what more we can do to ensure that we use operating theatres more effectively, how can we create clinics so that less complex surgery can be undertaken more swiftly, without overnight stays, what further use can be made of AI, for example. So, there is innovation in the system already. What I want to see is that we see more and more of that happening. I've already talked about how important it is that we learn from successes within the system more swiftly, that we can see where the successes are and then share them and spread them more swiftly than we’ve done in the past.

We've also seen—what the Prime Minister has been saying over the past few weeks—how much of a priority reducing waiting lists is now. So, that means that we’re reprioritising within Government as a result of that. But, at the heart of all that work, I think, is better collaboration within the health service and between the health service and, for example, local authorities, but other partners too.

14:45

Warm words, but the same outcome, I’m afraid, is what we’ll see. Now, the Darzi report states the failures in the English health system, a system that the Labour Minister Wes Streeting and his PM Keir Starmer say is broken and is the fault of the previous Tory Government. They say that they’ll take responsibility for fixing it. On every metric, the NHS is performing worse in Wales, yet here this Government denies any responsibility and blames everybody else, from health managers to the public, for various failings. So, instead of taking responsibility to fix this, instead of a statement to be scrutinised in the Senedd, we get a headline from the Labour Party conference that this Government plans to outsource its responsibility for the NHS to Westminster. We await the actual substance of the agreement with interest, but is this not simply a case of the Welsh Government abdicating responsibility? Does the Cabinet Secretary agree that this is an admission that 25 years of Labour in Government in Wales has been an abject failure when it comes to running our NHS?

Geiriau cynnes, ond yr hyn a welwn, mae arnaf ofn, yw'r un canlyniad. Nawr, mae adroddiad Darzi yn nodi'r methiannau yn system iechyd Lloegr, system y mae’r Gweinidog Llafur, Wes Streeting, a Phrif Weinidog y DU, Keir Starmer, yn dweud ei bod wedi torri ac mai'r Llywodraeth Dorïaidd flaenorol sydd ar fai am hynny. Dywedant y byddant yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am ei thrwsio. Ar bob metrig, mae’r GIG yn perfformio’n waeth yng Nghymru, ac eto, mae’r Llywodraeth hon yn gwadu unrhyw gyfrifoldeb ac yn beio pawb arall, o reolwyr iechyd i’r cyhoedd, am wahanol fethiannau. Felly, yn hytrach na chymryd cyfrifoldeb am drwsio'r system, yn hytrach datganiad i'w graffu yn y Senedd, cawn bennawd o gynhadledd y Blaid Lafur fod y Llywodraeth hon yn bwriadu allanoli ei chyfrifoldeb am y GIG i San Steffan. Arhoswn gyda diddordeb i weld manylion y cytundeb, ond onid yw hyn yn enghraifft o Lywodraeth Cymru yn ymwrthod â chyfrifoldeb? A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cytuno mai cyfaddefiad yw hyn fod 25 mlynedd o Lafur mewn Llywodraeth yng Nghymru wedi bod yn fethiant enbyd o ran rhedeg ein GIG?

I think the Member’s rhetoric is getting rather ahead of the facts of this matter. I think, just to repeat, if he didn’t hear my response to the earlier question, what the First Minister announced in the conference was a different approach whereby I think, and I think the Member would agree with me, all aspects of the work that we are responsible for here in the Senedd should learn from good practice both in Wales and wherever else it can be found. The First Minister was describing a partnership approach so that we can do more of that in the future. There is no question, as I’ve made really clear in all the interviews I’ve given since I became the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, that we are all accountable for our roles and responsibilities within the Government and within the health service. Each of us has a different part to play, and each of us is responsible both for working with each other and being accountable for those outcomes.

Credaf fod rhethreg yr Aelod yn anwybyddu ffeithiau'r mater hwn. I ailadrodd, os na chlywodd fy ymateb i’r cwestiwn cynharach, rwy'n credu mai'r hyn a gyhoeddodd y Prif Weinidog yn y gynhadledd oedd dull gwahanol o weithredu, a chredaf y byddai’r Aelod yn cytuno â mi, y dylai pob agwedd ar y gwaith yr ydym yn gyfrifol amdano yma yn y Senedd ddysgu o arferion da yng Nghymru a lle bynnag arall y'i ceir. Roedd y Prif Weinidog yn disgrifio dull partneriaeth er mwyn inni allu gwneud mwy o hynny yn y dyfodol. Fel y nodais yn glir iawn yn yr holl gyfweliadau a wneuthum ers imi ddod yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod pob un ohonom yn atebol am ein rolau a’n cyfrifoldebau o fewn y Llywodraeth ac o fewn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae gan bob un ohonom ran wahanol i’w chwarae, ac mae pob un ohonom yn gyfrifol am weithio gyda’n gilydd ac yn atebol am y canlyniadau hynny.

Mae’r problemau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd wedi bod, wrth gwrs, yn wybyddus ers blynyddoedd, gyda rhybuddion wedi cael eu rhoi o brinder meddygon teulu a phrinder nyrsys ac eraill yn y gweithlu ers degawd a mwy. Mae’r diffyg gweithredu ar y rhybuddion yn effeithio, felly, yn uniongyrchol ar les ac iechyd pobl bob dydd heddiw.

Ystyriwch hanes Rhythwyn Evans o ardal Tregaron. Bedair blynedd yn ôl, ar ôl cael ei ysbrydoli gan Gapten Tom, fe gododd Rhythwyn £50,000 yn ystod y pandemig i fwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda trwy gerdded o amgylch ei fyngalo. Rŵan, mae Rhythwyn yn derbyn gofal mewn gwely yn ysbyty Tregaron, ar yr union amser pan fo’r bwrdd yn ystyried cau y gwelyau yno. Mae hyn yn dilyn cau ward Dyfi yn Nhywyn, cau unedau mân anafiadau Llandrindod, Aberhonddu a Prince Philip yn Llanelli dros nos, ac wrth gwrs yn ystyried cau uned plant Bronglais, oll oherwydd diffyg nyrsys ac anallu staffio, ac yn gwbl groes i’ch rhethreg chi o ddarparu gofal yn agosach i adref. Felly, beth yn wahanol ydych chi am wneud i sicrhau bod gyda ni y gweithlu angenrheidiol mewn lle er mwyn sicrhau bod y cleifion yma yn derbyn gofal yn eu cymuned?

The problems in the health service have been known for years, of course, with warnings given of a shortage of GPs and a shortage of nurses and others in the workforce for a decade and more. The lack of action on these warnings has a direct impact, therefore, on the health and well-being of people on a daily basis today.

Consider the story of Rhythwyn Evans from Tregaron. Four years ago, having been inspired by Captain Tom, Rhythwyn raised £50,000 during the pandemic for the Hywel Dda health board by walking around his bungalow. Now, Rhythwyn is receiving care in a bed at Tregaron hospital, at the very time when the board is considering closing those beds there. This follows the closure of the Dyfi ward in Tywyn, closing the minor injury units in Llandrindod, Brecon and Prince Philip in Llanelli overnight, and considering closing the paediatric unit in Bronglais, all because of a shortage of nurses and an inability to staff these facilities, and quite contrary to your rhetoric of providing care closer to home. So, what will you do differently to ensure that we have the necessary workforce in place in order to ensure that these patients receive care in their community?

Wel, mae mwy o bobl yn gyflogedig gan y gwasanaeth iechyd nawr nag erioed. Mae'r ffigurau meddyg teulu yn gyson, ar ôl cynnydd sylweddol. Mae heriau recriwtio mewn mannau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd a gofal, fel sy'n wir ar draws y Deyrnas Gyfunol. Mae'r gwaith rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei wneud i recriwtio yn cael llwyddiannau. Mae gyda ni fwy o lefydd ar gyfer hyfforddi nyrsys eleni nag a gafodd eu llenwi llynedd. Dyw popeth ddim yn iawn. Dwi wedi cydnabod bod anghenion penodol. Ond mae gwaith gyda ni sydd yn dangos llwyddiant. Dyw e ddim wedi cyrraedd yr hyn rŷn ni eisiau ei weld ac mae heriau yn y system. Ond mae'n glir o'r drafodaeth rŷn ni wedi'i chael yn barod heddiw beth yw ein hymrwymiad ni fel Llywodraeth i sicrhau ein bod ni'n hyfforddi mwy o feddygon, hyfforddi mwy o nyrsys, recriwtio mwy o ddeintyddion a phobl broffesiynol eraill. Mae gwaith i'w wneud, ond mae cynlluniau gyda ni ar y gweill ar gyfer pob un o'r pethau hynny. 

Well, more people are employed by the health service now than ever before. The GP figures are consistent, after a significant increase. There are recruitment challenges in parts of the health and care service, as is the case across the United Kingdom The work that we've been doing to recruit is seeing success. We have more places now for nurse training than were filled last year. Everything isn't right. I have acknowledged that. I have acknowledged that there are specific needs. But we have seen successes in some of our work. We haven't reached where we want to and we've seen challenges in the system. But it's clear from the discussions that we've already had today what our commitment is as a Government in terms of training more doctors, training more nurses, recruiting more dentists and other healthcare professionals. There is work to do, but we do have plans in place for all of those things. 

14:50
Anghydraddoldebau Iechyd Meddwl
Mental Health Inequalities

3. Pa gynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud o ran gweithredu argymhellion adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, sef 'Cysylltu’r dotiau: mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru'? OQ61567

3. What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Health and Social Care Committee’s 'Connecting the dots: tackling mental health inequalities in Wales' report? OQ61567

We continue to make progress on the actions set out in our response to the recommendations in the committee report, and we will provide a full update to the committee early in 2025.

Rydym yn parhau i wneud cynnydd ar y camau gweithredu a nodir yn ein hymateb i’r argymhellion yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, a byddwn yn rhoi diweddariad llawn i’r pwyllgor yn gynnar yn 2025.

Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog. Yn ôl conffederasiwn y gwasanaeth iechyd, mae cyfraddau hunanladdiad mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig yng Nghymru rhwng dwy a thair gwaith yn uwch nag mewn ardaloedd breintiedig. Mae 61 y cant o oedolion Cymru yn dweud bod eu sefyllfa ariannol nhw yn cael effaith andwyol ar eu hiechyd meddwl. Yn syml, mae tlodi yn dinistrio bywydau, mae tlodi yn effeithio ar iechyd, mae tlodi yn lladd. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i daclo tlodi, sy'n effeithio ar iechyd cynifer yn ein gwlad ni ac yn arwain at nifer yn cymryd eu bywydau? Diolch yn fawr. 

Thank you very much, Minister. According to the NHS Confederation, the suicide rates in disadvantaged areas of Wales are between two and three times higher than they are in more privileged areas. Sixty-one per cent of adults in Wales say that their financial situation has a detrimental impact on their mental health. Quite simply, poverty destroys lives, poverty has an impact on health, and poverty kills. How is the Welsh Government going to tackle the poverty that impacts the health of so many in our nation and leads to many suicides? Thank you.

Thank you very much for the question. As with my predecessors, preventing suicide is a priority, and, as part of this, there is the new funding agreed for mental health, with additional funding for targeted support to this agenda, and this funding has transformed the infrastructure in Wales to prevent suicide and self-harm. This includes strengthening the local multisectoral partnership arrangements through regional co-ordinators and driving national action with our national suicide and self-harm prevention leads. In 2022, we also introduced the real-time suspected suicide surveillance in Wales to provide information to help partners to target prevention, ensure support is made available and to respond when needed. And, as part of developing our new suicide and self-harm prevention strategy, which is due to be delivered shortly, we are reviewing our governance arrangements to strengthen our ability to collect and analyse evidence in relation to suicide and self-harm. And to draw specifically on what you were asking about targeting people from particular backgrounds, we are also reviewing how we draw cross-Government and cross-sector partners together to help shape actions, including across health, housing, transport, education, social services, policing and custodial settings, welfare and employment. This is something that impacts communities and is something that Welsh Government takes incredibly seriously, and we are doing all that we can to tackle this. Diolch. 

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Fel i fy rhagflaenwyr, mae atal hunanladdiad yn flaenoriaeth, ac yn rhan o hyn, cytunwyd ar gyllid newydd ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, gyda chyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer cymorth wedi’i dargedu i'r agenda hon, ac mae’r cyllid hwn wedi trawsnewid y seilwaith yng Nghymru i atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cryfhau’r trefniadau partneriaeth amlsector lleol drwy gydgysylltwyr rhanbarthol a sbarduno gweithredu cenedlaethol gyda’n harweinwyr atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio cenedlaethol. Yn 2022 hefyd, fe wnaethom gyflwyno gwyliadwriaeth amser real hunanladdiad tybiedig yng Nghymru i ddarparu gwybodaeth i helpu partneriaid i dargedu mesurau atal, sicrhau bod cymorth ar gael ac ymateb pan fo angen. Ac fel rhan o ddatblygu ein strategaeth atal hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio newydd, sydd i’w chyflwyno cyn bo hir, rydym yn adolygu ein trefniadau llywodraethu i gryfhau ein gallu i gasglu a dadansoddi tystiolaeth mewn perthynas â hunanladdiad a hunan-niweidio. A chan gyfeirio'n benodol at yr hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ofyn am dargedu pobl o gefndiroedd penodol, rydym hefyd yn adolygu sut y down â phartneriaid trawslywodraethol a thraws-sector ynghyd i helpu i lunio camau gweithredu, gan gynnwys ar draws iechyd, tai, trafnidiaeth, addysg, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, plismona a lleoliadau carcharu, lles a chyflogaeth. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n effeithio ar gymunedau ac yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru o ddifrif yn ei gylch, ac rydym yn gwneud popeth a allwn i fynd i'r afael ag ef. Diolch.

I too would be very interested to see what actions have been taken on the back of this report into these inequalities. I don't know if you're aware, Minister, but, in Aneurin Bevan health board, even if you're put on the NHS urgent list for mental health counselling, someone still has to wait months and months just for a telephone appointment for counselling, the alternative being to wait a further seven months for a face-to-face counselling session. Are you aware, Minister, that there seems to be a massive disparity across the Welsh health boards in terms of these waiting lists for counselling? And I'd be interested to know if you've begun to address this, because it's all very well talking about the importance of mental health, but how are you going to ensure that mental health counselling is getting the staff and the resources that it needs, particularly on the back of the success of '111 press 2'? Because the demand for these services is increasing, but it's very worrying that there doesn't seem to be the funding available to support that increase in demand, and people cannot afford to go private. Thank you. 

Byddai gennyf innau gryn ddiddordeb mewn gweld pa gamau a gymerwyd yn sgil yr adroddiad i’r anghydraddoldebau hyn. Nid wyf yn gwybod a ydych chi'n ymwybodol, Weinidog, ond ym mwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, hyd yn oed os cewch eich rhoi ar restr frys y GIG ar gyfer cwnsela iechyd meddwl, mae'n rhaid aros misoedd ar fisoedd am apwyntiad ffôn yn unig ar gyfer cwnsela, a'r dewis arall fyddai aros am saith mis arall am sesiwn gwnsela wyneb yn wyneb. A ydych chi'n ymwybodol, Weinidog, fod gwahaniaeth enfawr i'w weld rhwng byrddau iechyd Cymru o ran y rhestrau aros hyn ar gyfer cwnsela? A hoffwn wybod a ydych chi wedi dechrau mynd i'r afael â hyn, gan ei bod yn hawdd sôn am bwysigrwydd iechyd meddwl, ond sut ydych chi'n mynd i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau cwnsela iechyd meddwl yn cael y staff a'r adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnynt, yn enwedig yn dilyn llwyddiant '111 pwyso 2'? Oherwydd mae'r galw am y gwasanaethau hyn yn cynyddu, ond mae'n peri pryder nad yw'n ymddangos bod cyllid ar gael i gefnogi'r cynnydd yn y galw, ac ni all pobl fforddio mynd yn breifat. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you very much. Yes, as many people in this Chamber will know, because you were with me, I actually sat on the Health and Social Care Committee when we undertook this inquiry. I heard all of the evidence, and I'm really glad that I did, now being in this role in Welsh Government. To reiterate, really, we are absolutely committed to tackling the inequalities in access to and outcomes from mental health support, and our approach continues to be informed by the recommendations in that very report. As I mentioned as well, we have the mental health strategy coming; it is imminently coming. We had 370-plus responses to it—a huge amount came in, many of them reflecting what you said, absolutely, and that's why we're taking it very seriously in what we set out in the strategy with those targets, but also sharing that best practice across the health board. I'm very dismayed to hear this, though. I would welcome it if you would write to me afterwards so that I can look into this further with that specific health board. But I also wanted to say that the implementation of our final published strategy will take a rights-based approach to ensuring that everyone has the best mental health possible and that they will be able to get the right service at the right time. Diolch. 

Diolch. Do, fel y gŵyr llawer o bobl yn y Siambr, gan eich bod chi gyda mi, roeddwn yn aelod o'r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol pan gynhaliwyd yr ymchwiliad hwn gennym. Clywais yr holl dystiolaeth, ac rwy'n falch iawn am hynny, a minnau bellach yn y rôl hon yn Llywodraeth Cymru. I ailadrodd, rydym wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i fynd i'r afael â'r anghydraddoldebau o ran mynediad at gymorth iechyd meddwl a'i ganlyniadau, ac mae ein dull o weithredu yn parhau i gael ei lywio gan yr argymhellion yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Fel y soniais hefyd, mae gennym y strategaeth iechyd meddwl ar y ffordd; mae ar y ffordd yn fuan iawn. Cawsom dros 370 o ymatebion iddo—cawsom nifer enfawr, gyda llawer ohonynt yn adlewyrchu’r hyn a ddywedoch chi, yn sicr, a dyna pam ein bod o ddifrif yn ei gylch yn yr hyn a nodwyd gennym yn y strategaeth gyda’r targedau hynny, a rhannu arferion gorau ar draws y bwrdd iechyd. Mae clywed hyn yn peri pryder, serch hynny. Hoffwn pe gallech ysgrifennu ataf wedyn er mwyn imi allu ymchwilio ymhellach i hyn gyda’r bwrdd iechyd penodol hwnnw. Ond roeddwn am ddweud hefyd y bydd gweithrediad ein strategaeth derfynol gyhoeddedig yn mabwysiadu dull seiliedig ar hawliau o sicrhau bod gan bawb yr iechyd meddwl gorau posibl ac y byddant yn gallu cael y gwasanaeth iawn ar yr adeg iawn. Diolch.

14:55
Gwasanaethau Gofal Sylfaenol
Primary Care Services

4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am lefel y galw y mae gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn ei wynebu ers y pandemig? OQ61549

4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the demand levels faced by primary care services since the pandemic? OQ61549

Primary care services are busier than ever, delivering more advanced clinical services than before the pandemic across the various professions, fulfilling our commitment to bringing care closer to home. There are now around 2 million patient interactions each month, and we continue to monitor demand and support service delivery.

Mae gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol yn brysurach nag erioed, yn darparu gwasanaethau clinigol mwy datblygedig na chyn y pandemig ar draws y gwahanol broffesiynau, gan gyflawni ein hymrwymiad i ddod â gofal yn nes at adref. Erbyn hyn mae oddeutu 2 filiwn o ryngweithiadau cleifion bob mis, ac rydym yn parhau i fonitro'r galw a chefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau.

Primary care serves as the first point of access for many residents, leading to high demand, with record numbers since the pandemic. Members of the multidisciplinary teams, including care navigators, will face a challenging winter, with residents already reaching out to my office about difficulties booking appointments, especially during the eight o'clock rush. Although the majority of residents have no concerns or problems with the care they receive, their experience in trying to make appointments is falling short. What specific support can be provided to primary care staff to increase appointment availability? Does this include improved digital systems and, if so, how can we ensure that residents, particularly elderly residents, are supported in the transition to digital platforms? Additionally, what other measures are in place to prevent further bottlenecks as winter pressures continue to rise? 

Gofal sylfaenol yw’r pwynt mynediad cyntaf i lawer o drigolion, gan arwain at alw uchel, gyda niferoedd uwch nag erioed ers y pandemig. Bydd aelodau o’r timau amlddisgyblaethol, gan gynnwys llyw-wyr gofal, yn wynebu gaeaf heriol, gyda thrigolion eisoes yn cysylltu â fy swyddfa ynghylch anawsterau i drefnu apwyntiadau, yn enwedig yn ystod y rhuthr wyth o’r gloch. Er nad oes gan y rhan fwyaf o drigolion unrhyw bryderon neu broblemau gyda'r gofal y maent yn ei gael, mae eu profiad o geisio gwneud apwyntiadau yn anfoddhaol. Pa gymorth penodol y gellir ei ddarparu i staff gofal sylfaenol i gynyddu argaeledd apwyntiadau? A yw hyn yn cynnwys systemau digidol gwell, ac os felly, sut y gallwn sicrhau bod trigolion, yn enwedig trigolion oedrannus, yn cael eu cefnogi yn y newid i blatfformau digidol? Yn ogystal, pa fesurau eraill sydd ar waith i atal tagfeydd pellach wrth i bwysau’r gaeaf barhau i gynyddu?

Firstly, let me say I'm disappointed to hear of the experience that you're reporting that your constituents have had. It's obviously important that the public are able to have timely access to GP services. As the Member will know, the general medical services contract that governs GP services has been amended to improve access to GP services. That's now a part of the new contract, and it's a requirement for GP practices to have appropriate telephony and call handling systems in place—so, a mixed offer, addressing the point that the Member raised in her question about accessibility for all patients. And that should avoid, and it's intended to avoid, the need for people to call back multiple times.

So, that is now already a provision in the GP contract. I think there is a case for monitoring, clearly, given what you have been saying, for enhancing the monitoring, of those arrangements. On a self-reported basis, the practices tell us that about 97 per cent across Wales are complying with that, but I've asked my officials what more we can do to assure ourselves that the picture on the ground is as it should be, in accordance with the contract.  

You asked in particular about digital and the role that digital has to play in the future mix in terms of access to GPs. The NHS Wales digital app is being rolled out across Wales, as you know, and GP practices can actually use that to book appointments—routine appointments, effectively—for things like annual reviews for chronic conditions or ordering repeat medication. So, by doing that, it can free up other capacity for people to access appointments and reduce the number of phone calls that people have to make for that. So, it has a role to play, but it's part of a mixed offer. 

Finally, in terms of the support that we are giving as a Government, we have been investing our funding to enable staff to be taken on—additional capacity, effectively—and I think we can see the evidence of that in a number of practices where we have people supporting clinicians to deliver that access, and helping patients navigate the kind of care that they need, which quite often may well not be a visit to the doctor themselves. 

Yn gyntaf, gadewch imi ddweud fy mod yn siomedig o glywed am y profiad y nodwch fod eich etholwyr wedi'i gael. Mae'n amlwg yn bwysig fod y cyhoedd yn gallu cael mynediad amserol at wasanaethau meddygon teulu. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae’r contract gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol sy’n llywodraethu gwasanaethau meddygon teulu wedi’i ddiwygio i wella mynediad at wasanaethau meddygon teulu. Mae hynny bellach yn rhan o'r contract newydd, ac mae'n ofynnol fod gan bractisau meddygon teulu systemau ffôn a thrin galwadau priodol ar waith—felly, cynnig cymysg, sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r pwynt a gododd yr Aelod yn ei chwestiwn ynghylch hygyrchedd i bob claf. A dylai hynny osgoi, a'r bwriad yw osgoi, yr angen i bobl ffonio'n ôl sawl gwaith.

Felly, mae hynny bellach yn ddarpariaeth yn y contract meddygon teulu. Credaf fod achos i'w gael dros fonitro, yn amlwg, o ystyried yr hyn rydych chi wedi bod yn ei ddweud, dros wella monitro'r trefniadau hynny. Ar sail hunangofnodedig, dywed y practisau wrthym fod oddeutu 97 y cant ledled Cymru yn cydymffurfio â hynny, ond rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y darlun ar lawr gwlad fel y dylai fod, yn unol â'r contract.

Fe ofynnoch chi'n benodol am dechnoleg ddigidol a’r rôl sydd gan dechnoleg ddigidol i’w chwarae yn y cymysgedd yn y dyfodol o ran mynediad at feddygon teulu. Mae ap digidol GIG Cymru yn cael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru, fel y gwyddoch, a gall practisau meddygon teulu ddefnyddio hwnnw i drefnu apwyntiadau—apwyntiadau rheolaidd, i bob pwrpas—ar gyfer pethau fel adolygiadau blynyddol ar gyfer cyflyrau cronig neu archebu meddyginiaeth reolaidd. Felly, trwy wneud hynny, gall ryddhau capasiti arall i bobl gael mynediad at apwyntiadau a lleihau nifer y galwadau ffôn y mae’n rhaid i bobl eu gwneud ar gyfer hynny. Felly, mae ganddo rôl i’w chwarae, ond mae’n rhan o gynnig cymysg.

Yn olaf, o ran y cymorth a ddarparwn fel Llywodraeth, rydym wedi bod yn buddsoddi ein cyllid i alluogi staff i gael eu cyflogi—capasiti ychwanegol, i bob pwrpas—a chredaf y gallwn weld tystiolaeth o hynny mewn nifer o bractisau lle mae gennym bobl yn cefnogi clinigwyr i ddarparu mynediad, ac yn helpu cleifion i lywio’r math o ofal sydd ei angen arnynt, nad yw, yn aml iawn, yn golygu ymweliad â’r meddyg eu hunain.

Cabinet Secretary, while the strains on GP services are well documented, the pressures being placed on community pharmacies are not often talked about. We are telling the public to choose well, to see a pharmacist before a GP, and a GP before A&E, but we're not following up that advice with adequate resources. As a result of the strain pharmacies find themselves under, many are considering a work-to-rule protest, only opening for the hours contracted by the NHS. This would be an understandable move yet a devastating blow for primary care and our entire NHS, especially as we move into cold and flu season. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what discussions have you had with the sector to ensure that they are properly resourced for the invaluable work they do for our NHS?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er bod y straen ar wasanaethau meddygon teulu wedi’i ddogfennu’n dda, ni sonnir yn aml am y pwysau sy’n cael ei roi ar fferyllfeydd cymunedol. Rydym yn dweud wrth y cyhoedd i ddewis yn dda, i weld fferyllydd cyn meddyg teulu, a meddyg teulu cyn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, ond nid ydym yn darparu adnoddau digonol i gefnogi'r cyngor hwnnw. O ganlyniad i'r straen ar fferyllfeydd, mae llawer yn ystyried protest gweithio yn ôl y rheolau, gan agor am yr oriau a gontractiwyd gan y GIG yn unig. Byddai hwn yn gam dealladwy ond eto’n ergyd ddinistriol i ofal sylfaenol a’n GIG cyfan, yn enwedig wrth inni wynebu'r tymor annwyd a ffliw. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda’r sector i sicrhau eu bod yn cael yr adnoddau priodol ar gyfer y gwaith amhrisiadwy y maent yn ei wneud i'n GIG?

15:00

Well, the Member will wish to know that the negotiations for contracts, including for GMS, but also for primary care providers, have started today, so we hope that they will go forward in a constructive way and enable that support to be provided. The Member is right to say that a critical way to ensure the resilience of primary care provision, which is so important, is that mixed model, and he is right to say that, in order for that mixed model to work, there needs to be sufficient resource and accessibility for those other points of access that we were touching on yesterday in the statement in relation to winter preparedness, the increasing importance of access to community pharmacies.

The figures I have in front of me suggest that there were over 20,000 common ailment service consultations at a pharmacy in Wales in each month of the last year, which is a very significant increase. And we have independent prescribing pharmacists now delivering around 11,000 consultations monthly, so we can start to see the shift in the direction of non-GP surgery provision. As I say, the negotiations for those new contracts have started today, and I hope they will reach a successful conclusion soon.

Wel, bydd yr Aelod am wybod bod y trafodaethau ar gontractau, gan gynnwys ar gyfer gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol, ond hefyd i ddarparwyr gofal sylfaenol, wedi dechrau heddiw, felly rydym yn gobeithio y byddant yn symud ymlaen mewn ffordd adeiladol ac yn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i'r cymorth hwnnw gael ei ddarparu. Mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud mai ffordd hanfodol o sicrhau gwytnwch y ddarpariaeth gofal sylfaenol, sydd mor bwysig, yw model cymysg, ac mae'n iawn i ddweud, er mwyn i'r model cymysg hwnnw weithio, fod angen digon o adnoddau a hygyrchedd i'r pwyntiau mynediad eraill y gwnaethom gyffwrdd arnynt ddoe yn y datganiad ar barodrwydd ar gyfer y gaeaf, a phwysigrwydd cynyddol mynediad at fferyllfeydd cymunedol.

Mae'r ffigurau sydd gennyf yn awgrymu bod dros 20,000 o ymgynghoriadau gwasanaeth anhwylderau cyffredin wedi digwydd mewn fferyllfa yng Nghymru ym mhob mis o'r flwyddyn ddiwethaf, sy'n gynnydd sylweddol iawn. Ac mae gennym fferyllwyr presgripsiynu annibynnol bellach yn darparu tua 11,000 o ymgynghoriadau bob mis, fel y gallwn ddechrau gweld y newid i gyfeiriad darpariaeth nad yw'n ddarpariaeth gan feddygfeydd meddygon teulu. Fel y dywedaf, mae'r trafodaethau ar gyfer y contractau newydd wedi dechrau heddiw, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn dod i ben yn llwyddiannus yn fuan.

Mae gofal sylfaenol yn ardal Caergybi wedi dioddef yn fawr ar ôl y pandemig, ac yn ystod y pandemig, achos mae hi yn mynd i fod yn bum mlynedd, o fewn ychydig ddyddiau rŵan, ers cwymp meddygfeydd Longford Road a Cambria—y bwrdd iechyd yn gorfod cymryd drosodd y ddau a ffurfio un feddygfa newydd. Ond mi wnaethom ni'r achos bryd hynny am yr angen am feddygfa newydd amlddisgyblaethol yng Nghaergybi, ac mewn egwyddor mi enillon ni'r ddadl honno'n gynnar iawn. Ond mae wedi cymryd tan rŵan, bum mlynedd ymlaen, i'r achos amlinellol strategol fynd o flaen bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, a dwi'n falch iawn ei fod o'n mynd o flaen y bwrdd iechyd yfory. Dwi'n hyderus y byddan nhw'n rhoi sêl bendith i'r rhan honno o'r cynllun. Dwi'n apelio, felly, ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i beidio ag oedi, i roi arwydd clir iawn bod y Llywodraeth yn barod i roi'r gefnogaeth ariannol i sicrhau bod hwn yn gallu mynd i'r camau nesaf, er mwyn gallu cael ei ddelifro yn gyflym, achos dydy pobl Caergybi a'r ardal yn haeddu dim llai.

Primary care in the Holyhead area has suffered a great deal following the pandemic, and also during the pandemic. It's going to be five years, within a few days now, since the closure of Longford Road and Cambria surgeries, with the health board having to take them over and create a single new surgery. But we made the case then on the need for a new multidisciplinary surgery in Holyhead, and in principle we won that debate very early on. But it's taken until now, five years hence, for the outline strategic case to go before the Betsi Cadwaladr board, and I'm very pleased that it is going before the health board tomorrow. I'm confident that they will give their blessing to that part of the plan. I appeal, therefore, to the Cabinet Secretary not to delay, to give a clear sign that the Government is willing to provide the financial support to ensure that this can proceed to the next stage, so that it can be delivered swiftly, because the people of Holyhead and the surrounding area deserve no less.

Rwy'n gwybod bod Hwb Iechyd Cybi wedi cael llwyddiant yn recriwtio meddygon teulu yn ddiweddar—mae hynny, wrth gwrs, i'w groesawu'n fawr iawn. Mae'r sefyllfa'n gallu bod yn heriol iawn, onid yw e, pan fo gapiau'n codi sydd yn anodd eu llenwi, ac mor bwysig yw hynny. Felly, gwnawn ni aros i weld beth ddaw allan o gyfarfodydd bwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, sydd yn digwydd yn hwyrach yr wythnos hon.

I know that Hwb Iechyd Cybi has been successful in recruiting GPs recently—that, of course, is to be greatly welcomed. The situation can be very challenging, can't it, when gaps appear that are difficult to fill, and that is so important. So, we'll wait to see what emerges from the meetings of the Betsi Cadwaladr board, which will be happening later this week.

Gofal Dwys
Intensive Care

5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi cleifion sydd wedi cael gofal dwys? OQ61571

5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support patients who have received intensive care? OQ61571

We published our policy approach to the care of critically ill patients in October 2021. We expect health boards in Wales to apply clinical guidance from the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the Intensive Care Society. The NHS executive’s relevant clinical network supports health boards to operationalise this guidance.

Fe wnaethom gyhoeddi ein dull polisi o ofalu am gleifion sy'n ddifrifol wael ym mis Hydref 2021. Rydym yn disgwyl i fyrddau iechyd yng Nghymru gymhwyso canllawiau clinigol gan y Gyfadran Meddygaeth Gofal Dwys a'r Gymdeithas Gofal Dwys. Mae rhwydwaith clinigol perthnasol gweithrediaeth y GIG yn cynorthwyo byrddau iechyd i weithredu'r canllawiau hyn.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity—very humbling, it was—to visit the fantastic ICUsteps support group in Abergavenny, and it was extremely moving. I didn't realise, until that point, the trauma of people who've gone through intensive care. It's an invaluable support group, and it's run by patients, relatives and healthcare professionals who have experienced ICU wards. They provide ongoing support for patients following their discharge from hospital. I think there are only a couple of these operating across Wales, and it's something I would certainly advocate, because these people valued it so, so much.

It's sad that the experience of being in ICU can be incredibly traumatising, as I said, for both patients and relatives, with many patients having no recollection of any of their experiences and having to face the difficulties of recovery. Some even told me that they contemplated taking their own lives. This is often exacerbated by poor communication down the line from GP to hospital, from hospital to hospital, and hospital ward to hospital ward, to GP. The whole trail of a lack of communication was something that came up many times for many people there. So, with this in mind, Cabinet Secretary, what consideration has the Welsh Government given to improving both mental health services and practical support for those who have experienced the trauma of ICU? I would encourage you to perhaps look into the ICUsteps support group—it's a fantastic support group.

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, cefais gyfle—fe wnaeth imi deimlo'n ostyngedig iawn—i ymweld â grŵp cefnogi gwych ICUsteps yn y Fenni, ac roedd yn hynod o emosiynol. Nid oeddwn yn sylweddoli, tan hynny, faint o drawma y mae pobl sydd wedi mynd drwy ofal dwys yn ei deimlo. Mae'n grŵp cymorth amhrisiadwy, ac mae'n cael ei redeg gan gleifion, perthnasau a gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol sydd wedi cael profiad o unedau gofal dwys. Maent yn darparu cefnogaeth barhaus i gleifion ar ôl iddynt gael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty. Rwy'n credu mai dim ond un neu ddau o'r rhain sy'n gweithredu ledled Cymru, ac mae'n rhywbeth y byddwn i'n sicr yn ei argymell, oherwydd roedd y bobl hyn yn ystyried bod y cymorth yn werthfawr iawn.

Mae'n drist fod y profiad o fod mewn uned gofal dwys yn gallu bod yn hynod drawmatig, fel y dywedais, i gleifion a pherthnasau, gyda llawer o gleifion heb unrhyw atgof o'u profiadau ac yn gorfod wynebu anawsterau adferiad. Dywedodd rhai wrthyf eu bod hyd yn oed wedi ystyried hunanladdiad. Mae hyn yn aml yn cael ei waethygu gan gyfathrebu gwael rhwng y meddyg teulu a'r ysbyty, o ysbyty i ysbyty, ac o ward ysbyty i ward ysbyty, i feddyg teulu. Roedd holl drywydd y diffyg cyfathrebu yn rhywbeth a gododd sawl gwaith i lawer o bobl yno. Felly, gyda hyn mewn golwg, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi i wella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a chefnogaeth ymarferol i'r rhai sydd wedi profi trawma uned gofal dwys? Hoffwn eich annog efallai i edrych ar y grŵp cymorth ICUsteps—mae'n grŵp cymorth gwych.

15:05

Well, firstly, I'm sorry to hear the experience of those individuals as they reported it to the Member. I was not aware of the group to which the Member refers, and perhaps if you would be happy to write to me, I would make myself more familiar with the work that they do, and perhaps even meet with them.

In relation to the work that we can do at a national level to try and address the sorts of challenges that the Member is describing, I mentioned in my initial answer the role of the clinical networks that the NHS executive put in place, and the point of those is to try and standardise delivery on the basis of best practice across Wales in a range of different practice areas. There is a particular one that has been launched in relation to critical care, major trauma and emergency medicine, and that has developed a service specification for recovery after critical care, which all health boards should be working to. They've also established—mindful of the point that the Member is making about variation—a peer review programme that can help health boards to identify gaps in the kind of provision the Member is referring to, to then try and improve that service delivery. So, that work is work that we can do at a national level, through the executive, and there's an implementation and peer review programme that goes with that. There's doubtless more work to do, but I look forward to hearing more about the group that you mentioned.

Wel, yn gyntaf, mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad yr unigolion fel y gwnaethant ei nodi wrth yr Aelod. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r grŵp y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato, ac os byddech chi'n hapus i ysgrifennu ataf, efallai y gallwn ymgyfarwyddo â'r gwaith a wnânt, a chyfarfod â hwy o bosibl hyd yn oed.

O ran y gwaith y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel genedlaethol i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r mathau o heriau y mae'r Aelod yn eu disgrifio, soniais yn fy ateb cychwynnol am rôl y rhwydweithiau clinigol a roddwyd ar waith gan weithrediaeth y GIG, a phwynt y rheini yw ceisio safoni darpariaeth ar sail arferion gorau ledled Cymru mewn ystod o feysydd ymarfer gwahanol. Lansiwyd un rhwydwaith penodol mewn perthynas â gofal critigol, trawma a meddygaeth frys, ac mae hwnnw wedi datblygu manyleb gwasanaeth ar gyfer adferiad ar ôl gofal critigol, y dylai pob bwrdd iechyd ei ddilyn. Hefyd—gan gofio am y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am amrywiad—maent wedi sefydlu rhaglen adolygu cymheiriaid a all helpu byrddau iechyd i nodi bylchau yn y math o ddarpariaeth y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ati, i geisio gwella'r ddarpariaeth honno o wasanaethau yn sgil hynny. Felly, mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n waith y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel genedlaethol, drwy'r weithrediaeth, ac mae rhaglen weithredu ac adolygu cymheiriaid i fynd gyda hynny. Mae'n siŵr fod mwy o waith i'w wneud, ond edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am y grŵp y sonioch chi amdano.

Uned Mamau a Babanod Caer
Chester Mother and Baby Unit

6. Ar sail pa dystiolaeth y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru roi cefnogaeth i leoli uned mamau a babanod yng Nghaer ar gyfer teuluoedd o ogledd Cymru? OQ61560

6. Based on what evidence did the Welsh Government support the decision to locate a mother and baby unit in Chester for families from north Wales? OQ61560

The decision was made by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, which had responsibility for the commissioning of specialised services on behalf of health boards at the time. The assessment was made that the level of demand in north Wales was below the recommended minimum size for a mother and baby unit.

Cafodd y penderfyniad ei wneud gan Bwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru, a oedd yn gyfrifol am gomisiynu gwasanaethau arbenigol ar ran byrddau iechyd ar y pryd. Gwnaed yr asesiad fod lefel y galw yng ngogledd Cymru'n is na'r isafswm maint a argymhellir ar gyfer uned mamau a babanod.

Mae yna lawer o bryderon am y cynllun yma, a dwi'n grediniol bod yna well ffordd ymlaen na'r hyn sydd dan sylw. Mae'n ymddangos nad ydy dau wely am fod yn ddigon o ran ateb y galw. Mae yna ystadegau o 2018 yn dangos bod mamau wedi peidio mynd i unedau allan o ardal oherwydd pellter teithio a chael eu gwahanu o'u teuluoedd, ac wrth gwrs mae angen cefnogaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg. Mae oedi'n digwydd rŵan ar y cynllun Caer, sy'n rhoi cyfle i ni adlewyrchu, dwi'n credu, ar wir anghenion mamau a gwir anghenion teuluoedd yn y gogledd sydd angen cefnogaeth. Mae hyn yn cynnwys edrych ar y dystiolaeth, wrth gwrs, onid ydy? Ond dwi wedi holi a holi, ac mae'r modelu rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo a wnaed yn flaenorol, dydy hwnnw ddim wedi gweld golau dydd; dydw i ddim wedi'i weld o, a dwi wedi bod yn tyrchu'n hir iawn. Felly, a fedrwch chi gael gafael ar y modelu yma i'w rannu fo efo ni, ac a fedrwn ni gael sgwrs bellach ar sail dystiolaeth glir ynglŷn â'r cynllun? Diolch.

A great deal of concern has been expressed about this plan, and I believe that there is a better way forward than that which is currently being considered. It appears that two beds won't be sufficient in terms of meeting the demand. Statistics from 2018 demonstrate that mothers have not attended units out of the area because of the distance they would need to travel and they would be separated from their families, and of course Welsh-medium support is also needed. Delay is being seen now in the Chester plan, which gives us an opportunity to reflect, I believe, on the true needs of mothers and families in north Wales who do need support. This includes looking at the evidence, of course, doesn't it? But I have asked and asked again, and the modelling that you have mentioned that was undertaken previously, that hasn't seen the light of day; I haven't seen it, and I have been searching for it for a very long time. So, could you access this modelling, share it with us, and can we have a further conversation based on clear evidence about this plan? Thank you.

Thank you very much. As we know, up to 20 per cent of women experience a mental health problem in the perinatal period, and these can range from moderate to severe, and the most severe will require pathways that do not include in-patient treatment in a mother and baby unit. But in the role of commissioning specialised services on behalf of health boards, WHSSC at the time estimated that there would be demand for eight beds across Wales—two in north Wales and six in south Wales—and the recommended minimum number of beds to sustain a unit is six beds. As we discussed when we met—and I really appreciate that, because I know that you're extremely passionate about this, as am I—the statistics that you use from 2018, I believe things have very much changed since then, and I'm basing that on the fact that I've met with the people who deliver this service, and they do not believe that there is a requirement for any more than two at the moment.

However, I do take this very seriously and so, following your correspondence, I have engaged with officials, the NHS Wales joint commissioning committee, as they are now, and clinicians in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to explore the points that you have raised regarding the appropriateness of the Chester unit and to consider any potential alternatives. To inform any decisions about future provision, I have asked the JCC to undertake a comprehensive demand-and-capacity review of mother and baby unit provision in Wales as soon as possible. This will not only capture placements made within a mother and baby unit, but it will also include an assessment of where an in-patient placement was felt appropriate but did not happen, with a clear rationale of why this was the case, as you requested. The results of this work will be made available to you. And I also want to say that the JCC would also ensure that robust arrangements are in place to quality assure any placements that are made by Welsh residents. Diolch.

Diolch. Fel y gwyddom, mae hyd at 20 y cant o fenywod yn profi problem iechyd meddwl yn y cyfnod amenedigol, a gall y rhain amrywio o gymedrol i ddifrifol, a bydd angen llwybrau nad ydynt yn cynnwys triniaeth cleifion mewnol mewn uned mam a babanod. Ond yn y rôl o gomisiynu gwasanaethau arbenigol ar ran byrddau iechyd, roedd Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru ar y pryd yn amcangyfrif y byddai galw am wyth gwely ar draws Cymru—dau yng ngogledd Cymru a chwech yn y de—a'r isafswm o welyau a argymhellir i gynnal uned yw chwe gwely. Fel y gwnaethom drafod yn ein cyfarfod—ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny'n fawr, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod eich bod chi'n hynod o angerddol ynglŷn â hyn, fel finnau—mae'r ystadegau a ddefnyddiwch yn deillio o 2018, rwy'n credu bod pethau wedi newid yn fawr iawn ers hynny, ac rwy'n seilio hynny ar y ffaith fy mod i wedi cyfarfod â'r bobl sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwn, ac nid ydynt yn credu bod angen mwy na dau ar hyn o bryd.

Fodd bynnag, rwy'n rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i hyn ac felly, yn dilyn eich gohebiaeth, rwyf wedi ymgysylltu â swyddogion, cyd-bwyllgor comisiynu GIG Cymru, fel y maent ar hyn o bryd, a chlinigwyr ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i archwilio'r pwyntiau a godwyd gennych ynghylch priodoldeb uned Caer ac i ystyried unrhyw ddewisiadau posibl eraill. Er mwyn llywio unrhyw benderfyniadau ynghylch darpariaeth yn y dyfodol, rwyf wedi gofyn i'r cyd-bwyllgor gynnal adolygiad cynhwysfawr o alw a chapasiti y ddarpariaeth o unedau mamau a babanod yng Nghymru cyn gynted â phosibl. Bydd hyn nid yn unig yn nodi lleoliadau a wneir mewn uned mamau a babanod, ond bydd hefyd yn cynnwys asesiad o ble y teimlid bod lleoli cleifion yn fewnol yn briodol ond na ddigwyddodd hynny, gyda sail resymegol glir dros hynny, fel y gofynnoch chi. Bydd canlyniadau'r gwaith hwn ar gael i chi. Ac rwyf am ddweud hefyd y byddai'r cyd-bwyllgor yn sicrhau bod trefniadau cadarn ar waith yn ogystal i sicrhau ansawdd unrhyw leoliadau a wneir gan drigolion Cymru. Diolch.

15:10

Can I thank the Minister for that very full response, which I thought was very well considered? The one element of the response that you didn't refer to, which I was hoping that you would make mention of, was the fact that, whilst I appreciate that work has been done looking at the number of beds that might be required to serve the population in north Wales, we've always had a situation where the population, frankly, makes it difficult to sustain a mother and baby unit. I've known that for many years and, in fact, I can remember being on the health committee when we considered these matters in the past. However, on a cross-border basis, there clearly is a sufficient number of people, but it seems to me that every time there's cross-border provision needed, it's always on the other side of the border. And I just wonder whether there could be some collaboration with the various health organisations in the north-west of England to see whether there's a possibility of having a unit further across the north Wales coast, which might better serve those populations who are an incredible distance from Chester and for whom making a decision to go into a unit is already difficult, but may well be best for them, and then their needs are not being best represented by that significant distance.

A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb llawn hwnnw, a oedd yn ystyrlon iawn yn fy marn i? Un elfen o'r ymateb na wnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato, y gobeithiwn y byddech chi'n sôn amdano, oedd y ffaith, er fy mod yn derbyn bod gwaith wedi'i wneud ar edrych ar nifer y gwelyau y gallai fod eu hangen i wasanaethu'r boblogaeth yng ngogledd Cymru, ein bod bob amser wedi cael sefyllfa lle mae'r boblogaeth, a dweud y gwir, yn ei gwneud hi'n anodd cynnal uned mamau a babanod. Rwyf wedi gwybod hynny ers blynyddoedd lawer ac mewn gwirionedd, gallaf gofio bod ar y pwyllgor iechyd pan oeddem yn ystyried y materion hyn yn y gorffennol. Fodd bynnag, ar sail drawsffiniol, mae'n amlwg fod digon o bobl, ond mae'n ymddangos i mi bob tro y bydd angen darpariaeth drawsffiniol, mae honno bob amser ar yr ochr arall i'r ffin. A thybed a allai fod rhywfaint o gydweithio â'r gwahanol sefydliadau iechyd yng ngogledd-orllewin Lloegr i weld a oes unrhyw bosibilrwydd o gael uned ymhellach ar hyd arfordir gogledd Cymru, a allai wasanaethu'r poblogaethau hynny sy'n bell o Gaer yn well ac y mae gwneud penderfyniad ar eu cyfer i fynd i uned eisoes yn anodd, er efallai mai dyma'r penderfyniad gorau iddynt, ac nad yw eu hanghenion felly yn cael eu cynrychioli yn y ffordd orau gan y pellter sylweddol hwnnw.

Thank you very much, and this is also something that I discussed with Siân Gwenllian who raised this as well, about, 'Why can't we build it in north Wales and then we can commission the beds?' But, unfortunately, this is something that Chester have had in the works for a very, very long time and they are so far along in it now that it will be delivered, their unit, next year, regardless of whether or not Welsh Government commissions beds there. I take on board what you were saying, though, about the future and what we do with future services and how there may be an element of residents feeling like, 'Well, this always seems to be the case.' So, I will take that on board and look at what else is coming down the pipeline for the future.

But I also just wanted to say that the statistics that were quoted in 2018 were awful, and I believe that the reason why they're much lower now is because we've had investment in the community perinatal mental health teams, and also the development of the integrated care pathway, so that there's that preventative work. When I met with the women who are delivering this service in north Wales, they said that they're doing clinical audits now where they really go back through people's records, they sit down with women before they go in to give birth, they'll talk through their triggers with them, and all of these kinds of things, so it's the most supportive environment that they can possibly be in. And I'm hoping that the reason why we're seeing—. To be honest, there's not the need, and I don't want to wish for a need to fill those beds. So, I'm hoping that it's because of the work that's been done in the community, which, ideally, is where we want women and their babies to remain. Diolch.

Diolch, ac mae hyn hefyd yn rhywbeth a drafodais gyda Siân Gwenllian sydd wedi codi hyn hefyd, a, 'Pam na allwn ni ei adeiladu yng ngogledd Cymru ac yna gallwn gomisiynu'r gwelyau?' Ond yn anffodus, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Caer wedi bod yn cynllunio ar ei gyfer ers amser hir iawn ac maent wedi mynd gyn belled erbyn hyn fel y bydd eu huned yn cael ei chyflwyno y flwyddyn nesaf, ni waeth a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn comisiynu gwelyau yno ai peidio. Rwy'n ystyried yr hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ddweud, serch hynny, am y dyfodol a'r hyn a wnawn gyda gwasanaethau yn y dyfodol a sut y gallai fod yna elfen lle mae preswylwyr yn teimlo, 'Wel, mae hyn bob amser i'w weld yn digwydd.' Felly, byddaf yn ystyried hynny ac yn edrych ar beth arall sy'n mynd i godi ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Ond roeddwn i hefyd eisiau dweud bod yr ystadegau a ddyfynnwyd yn 2018 yn ofnadwy, ac rwy'n credu mai'r rheswm pam eu bod yn llawer is nawr yw oherwydd ein bod wedi gweld buddsoddiad yn y timau iechyd meddwl amenedigol cymunedol, a datblygiad y llwybr gofal integredig hefyd, fel bod y gwaith ataliol hwnnw'n digwydd. Pan gyfarfûm â'r menywod sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwn yng ngogledd Cymru, fe wnaethant ddweud eu bod yn cynnal archwiliadau clinigol nawr lle maent yn mynd yn ôl trwy gofnodion pobl, maent yn trafod gyda menywod cyn iddynt fynd i mewn i roi genedigaeth, byddant yn siarad am eu sbardunau gyda hwy, a'r holl fathau hyn o bethau, fel mai dyma'r amgylchedd mwyaf cefnogol y gallant fod ynddo. Ac rwy'n gobeithio mai'r rheswm pam ein bod yn gweld—. I fod yn onest, nid yw'r angen yno, ac nid wyf yn am weld angen i lenwi'r gwelyau hynny. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio mai'r rheswm am hynny yw'r gwaith sydd wedi'i wneud yn y gymuned, sef, yn ddelfrydol, lle rydym am i fenywod a'u babanod aros. Diolch.

Dynladdiadau a Gyflawnwyd gan Valdo Calocane
Manslaughters Committed by Valdo Calocane

7. Pa fesurau neu wersi y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu hystyried ar gyfer Cymru mewn ymateb i adolygiad diweddar y Comisiwn Ansawdd Gofal yn Lloegr i'r dynladdiadau a gyflawnwyd gan Valdo Calocane yn Swydd Nottingham? OQ61575

7. What measures or lessons will the Welsh Government consider for Wales in response to the Care Quality Commission's recent review in England into the manslaughters committed by Valdo Calocane in Nottinghamshire? OQ61575

Whilst this was a review of services in England, we are committed to learn from incidents to improve the quality and safety of mental health services, and we have invested over £2 million in the NHS executive to drive these improvements through our strategic programme for mental health.

Er mai adolygiad o wasanaethau yn Lloegr oedd hwn, rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddysgu o ddigwyddiadau i wella ansawdd a diogelwch gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, ac rydym wedi buddsoddi dros £2 filiwn yng ngweithrediaeth y GIG i ysgogi'r gwelliannau hyn drwy ein rhaglen strategol ar gyfer iechyd meddwl.

15:15

Thank you for the response, Minister, but unfortunately you will know all too well that there have been similar recommendations made regarding similar cases in Wales, such as those raised by a constituent of mine, Barry Topping-Morris. Barry worked within the NHS and revealed inadequate practices and poor risk assessment and discharge arrangements in a local mental health unit almost 20 years ago. He continues with his work to improve safety measures in mental health services, despite never receiving an apology for the dire consequences that speaking out had on his career at the time. He outlined this recently in a Nation.Cymru article about his experiences. Sadly, we do see these repeats of recommendations, and the emotional and financial cost, as well as the cost to lives and families, is devastating, because mental health services are just not able to address the concerns and recommendations. So, Minister, how will you ensure that Wales prioritises improvements in services for patients with mental health conditions, so that we do not see a repeat of the calls for these lessons to be learnt again in the future?

Diolch am yr ymateb, Weinidog, ond yn anffodus, fe fyddwch yn gwybod yn rhy dda fod argymhellion tebyg wedi'u gwneud ynghylch achosion tebyg yng Nghymru, fel y rhai a godwyd gan etholwr i mi, Barry Topping-Morris. Roedd Barry'n gweithio yn y GIG a datgelodd arferion annigonol a threfniadau asesu risg a rhyddhau gwael mewn uned iechyd meddwl leol bron i 20 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae'n parhau â'i waith ar wella mesurau diogelwch mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, er na chafodd ymddiheuriad erioed am y canlyniadau enbyd a gafodd codi llais ar ei yrfa ar y pryd. Amlinellodd hyn yn ddiweddar mewn erthygl Nation.Cymru am ei brofiadau. Yn anffodus, rydym yn gweld yr argymhellion hyn yn cael eu hailadrodd, ac mae'r gost emosiynol ac ariannol, yn ogystal â'r gost i fywydau a theuluoedd, yn ddinistriol, am nad yw'r gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn gallu mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a'r argymhellion. Felly, Weinidog, sut y byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod Cymru'n blaenoriaethu gwelliannau mewn gwasanaethau i gleifion â chyflyrau iechyd meddwl, fel na welwn ailadrodd y galwadau i'r gwersi hyn gael eu dysgu eto yn y dyfodol?

Thank you very much for that question, and I am terribly sorry to hear about your constituent. I do applaud and welcome anybody who is able to share their lived experience. What I would like to say is that I promise that it's making a difference. It is really making a difference, because the Welsh Government held a mental health ministerial summit in November 2023 on in-patient mental healthcare, and a second ministerial summit will be taking place now in November. The summit brought colleagues from NHS organisations across Wales together to discuss the challenges and to commit to firm plans for safety improvements and the long-term transformation of acute mental health care. And then we have recently consulted on our draft mental health and well-being strategy, which will set out those improvements over the next 10 years. But the really crucial part here is that on Tuesday 1 October, my colleague the Minister for Children and Social Care will be launching the single unified safeguarding review in Wales. This has received extra resource and clinical leadership, which will drive the change. The key part, which relates to your question, is that this process will remove the need for multiple reviews when any life is lost or significantly impacted through abuse, neglect or violence. And for every review, practitioner-led learning events and the use of what is being considered a world-leading Wales safeguarding repository will ensure targeted identification of learning and key themes. Because, as you said, there is not the time to go through each of these and the recommendations. That will also include those critical matters relating to mental health homicides. Diolch.

Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw, ac mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf glywed am eich etholwr. Rwy'n canmol ac yn croesawu unrhyw un sy'n gallu rhannu eu profiad personol. Yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ddweud yw fy mod yn addo ei fod yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Mae'n gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn, oherwydd cynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru uwchgynhadledd weinidogol iechyd meddwl ym mis Tachwedd 2023 ar ofal iechyd meddwl cleifion mewnol, a bydd ail uwchgynhadledd weinidogol yn cael ei chynnal nawr ym mis Tachwedd. Daeth yr uwchgynhadledd â chydweithwyr o sefydliadau'r GIG ledled Cymru ynghyd i drafod yr heriau ac i ymrwymo i gynlluniau cadarn ar gyfer gwelliannau diogelwch a thrawsnewid gofal iechyd meddwl acíwt yn y tymor hir. Ac yn ddiweddar, rydym wedi ymgynghori ar ein strategaeth iechyd meddwl a llesiant meddyliol drafft, a fydd yn nodi'r gwelliannau hynny dros y 10 mlynedd nesaf. Ond y rhan allweddol yma yw y bydd fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn lansio'r adolygiad diogelu unedig sengl ar gyfer Cymru yma ddydd Mawrth 1 Hydref. Mae hwn wedi cael adnoddau ychwanegol ac arweinyddiaeth glinigol, a fydd yn sbarduno'r newid. Y rhan allweddol, sy'n ymwneud â'ch cwestiwn, yw y bydd y broses hon yn dileu'r angen am adolygiadau lluosog pan fydd bywyd yn cael ei golli neu ei effeithio'n sylweddol gan gamdriniaeth, esgeulustod neu drais. Ac ar gyfer pob adolygiad, bydd digwyddiadau dysgu dan arweiniad ymarferwyr a'r defnydd o'r hyn sy'n cael ei hystyried yn storfa ddiogelu Cymru o'r radd flaenaf yn sicrhau bod dysgu a themâu allweddol yn cael eu nodi a'u targedu. Oherwydd, fel y dywedoch chi, nid oes amser i fynd trwy bob un o'r rhain a'r argymhellion. Bydd hynny hefyd yn cynnwys y materion allweddol sy'n gysylltiedig â lladdiadau iechyd meddwl. Diolch.

Darparu Gwasanaethau Iechyd ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro
Delivery of Health Services in Preseli Pembrokeshire

8. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella'r ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau iechyd ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro? OQ61543

8. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve the delivery of health services in Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ61543

I met the chair of the health board this week and discussed the health board's achievements, including the 80 per cent reduction in the number of patient pathways waiting over two years since March 2022, the improvements in mental health performance, and challenges related to fragile services, primary care and financial balance.

Cefais gyfarfod gyda chadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd yr wythnos hon i drafod cyflawniadau'r bwrdd iechyd, yn cynnwys y gostyngiad o 80 y cant yn nifer y llwybrau cleifion sy'n aros dros ddwy flynedd ers mis Mawrth 2022, y gwelliannau yn y perfformiad iechyd meddwl, a heriau'n sy'n gysylltiedig â gwasanaethau bregus, gofal sylfaenol a balans ariannol.

Cabinet Secretary, I'm glad that you've mentioned waiting times, because one area of improvement that is very much needed is in relation to bone density scans, or DEXAs, as they're more commonly known, as constituents have contacted me to say that they have been waiting for over a year to receive their results. I appreciate that specialist scans can take some time to gather results and to be fully interpreted, but I'm sure you'll agree with me that a wait of over 12 months is just unacceptable. Patients awaiting results are understandably frustrated, and it's crucial that they get their results as quickly as possible. Therefore, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure that patients who are waiting for the results of their DEXA scan are not having to wait over a year for it, and what reassurances can you offer to patients that this is something that the Welsh Government will prioritise, going forward?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n falch eich bod wedi sôn am amseroedd aros, oherwydd mae un maes gwella sydd ei angen yn fawr yn ymwneud â sganiau mesur dwysedd esgyrn, neu sganiau DEXA fel y'u gelwir yn fwy cyffredin, gan fod etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi i ddweud eu bod wedi bod yn aros dros flwyddyn i gael eu canlyniadau. Rwy'n derbyn y gall sganiau arbenigol gymryd peth amser i gasglu canlyniadau a'u dehongli'n llawn, ond rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno bod aros dros 12 mis yn annerbyniol. Mae cleifion sy'n aros am ganlyniadau yn teimlo'n rhwystredig, a hynny'n ddealladwy, ac mae'n hanfodol eu bod yn cael eu canlyniadau cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw cleifion sy'n aros am ganlyniadau eu sgan DEXA yn gorfod aros dros flwyddyn amdanynt, a pha sicrwydd y gallwch ei gynnig i gleifion fod hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei flaenoriaethu yn y dyfodol?

I'm sorry to hear of the Member's constituents' experience of that, which is unacceptable. He will know the priority that this Government attaches to reducing waiting times. There are clear targets against which we expect health boards to perform, but the service is under incredible demand, and also the pressure of resources. But he will know from exchanges in the Chamber today, and over the course of the last week, just how important this is to us, and the fresh approaches that we are hoping to bring to it. There is, as I mentioned in an answer to a question earlier, some level of variability across Wales in relation to some of the waiting times targets. I would like to see less variability, and I would like to see a situation where if we had the best performance applied across all health boards across all measures, we would be making good progress towards our targets. But please give your constituents reassurance that we take this very seriously indeed.

Mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am brofiad etholwyr yr Aelod o hynny, ac mae'n annerbyniol. Bydd yn gwybod am y flaenoriaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei rhoi i leihau amseroedd aros. Ceir targedau clir yr ydym yn disgwyl i fyrddau iechyd berfformio yn eu herbyn, ond mae galw mawr am y gwasanaeth a phwysau o ran adnoddau hefyd. Ond fe fydd yn gwybod o'r trafodaethau yn y Siambr heddiw, ac yn ystod yr wythnos ddiwethaf, pa mor bwysig yw hyn i ni, a'r dulliau newydd y gobeithiwn eu cyflwyno. Fel y soniais mewn ateb i gwestiwn yn gynharach, mae yna lefel o amrywioldeb ledled Cymru mewn perthynas â rhai o'r targedau amseroedd aros. Hoffwn weld llai o amrywioldeb, a hoffwn weld sefyllfa lle byddem yn gwneud cynnydd da tuag at ein targedau pe baem yn cael y perfformiad gorau ar draws pob bwrdd iechyd. Ond rhowch sicrwydd i'ch etholwyr ein bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn.

15:20
3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Yr eitem nesaf fyddai eitem 3, ond does dim cwestiynau amserol heddiw. 

The next item would have been item 3, but no topical questions were accepted today. 

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Eitem 4, felly, yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf y prynhawn yma gan Julie Morgan. 

Item 4 is the 90-second statements, and the first statement this afternoon is from Julie Morgan. 

September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. In Wales, around 1,200 people are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer every year, and 470 people die. The five most common types are cervical, ovarian, endometrial, vaginal and vulval. Different gynaecological cancers have different symptoms. They can include bloating, pelvic pain and bleeding between periods. Some cancers can present late, such as ovarian cancer, with non-specific symtpoms. Despite the prevalence of these cancers in Wales, women often feel that they are not listened to by healthcare professionals. Symptoms can often be dismissed, underestimated and misdiagnosed, which can lead to cancers progressing unnecessarily. This was the experience of Claire O'Shea, who was misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome when, in fact, she had a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer. 

Claire's cancer diagnosis came two years after first raising her symptoms with her GP. The delay means that Claire now has incurable stage 4 cancer, which has spread to her lungs, liver and hip bone. Because of her own experiences and hearing those of other women, Claire has set up Claire's Campaign to promote change—a change to the culture of dismissing women's voices in healthcare settings, a change to the gender bias seen by many women when they raise concerns attributed to emotional or psychological issues, a change so that women are heard. Diolch.

Mis Medi yw Mis Ymwybyddiaeth Canser Gynaecolegol. Yng Nghymru, mae tua 1,200 o bobl yn cael diagnosis o ganser gynaecolegol bob blwyddyn, ac mae 470 o bobl yn marw. Y pum math mwyaf cyffredin yw ceg y groth, ofarïau, endometriaidd, y wain a'r fwlfa. Mae gan wahanol ganserau gynaecolegol symptomau gwahanol. Gallant gynnwys bol yn chwyddo, poen pelfis a gwaedu rhwng y mislif. Mae'n bosibl na fydd symptomau rhai canserau, fel canser yr ofarïau, yn ymddangos tan yn hwyr, neu fod y symptomau'n amhenodol. Er y ceir nifer o achosion o'r canserau hyn yng Nghymru, mae menywod yn aml yn teimlo nad yw gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol yn gwrando arnynt. Yn aml, gall symptomau gael eu hesgeuluso, eu diystyru a'u camddiagnosio, a gall hyn olygu bod y canser yn datblygu'n ddiangen. Dyma brofiad Claire O'Shea, a gafodd gamddiagnosis o syndrom coluddyn llidus pan oedd ganddi fath prin ac ymosodol o ganser y groth. 

Daeth diagnosis canser Claire ddwy flynedd ar ôl iddi sôn yn gyntaf wrth ei meddyg teulu am ei symptomau. Mae'r oedi'n golygu erbyn hyn fod gan Claire ganser cam 4 na ellir ei wella, ac mae wedi lledaenu i'w hysgyfaint, ei hafu ac asgwrn ei chlun. Oherwydd ei phrofiadau ei hun a chlywed am rai menywod eraill, mae Claire wedi sefydlu Ymgyrch Claire i hyrwyddo newid—newid i'r diwylliant o ddiystyru lleisiau menywod mewn lleoliadau gofal iechyd, newid i'r rhagfarn ar sail rhywedd a brofir gan lawer o fenywod pan fyddant yn mynegi pryderon a gaiff eu priodoli i faterion emosiynol neu seicolegol, newid fel bod menywod yn cael eu clywed. Diolch.

This year, Theatr na nÓg, rooted in the Valleys and based in Neath, celebrates its fortieth birthday. The organisation brings to life inspirational stories of Welsh characters who achieve the extraordinary, like their new play The Fight, about Cuthbert Taylor, a boxer from Merthyr Tydfil banned from the British boxing title due to the colour of his skin. Founded in the early 1980s to meet the needs of West Glamorgan communities, the company believes in accessible, high-quality live theatre for all.

Eleni, mae Theatr na nÓg, a sefydlwyd yn y Cymoedd a'i lleoli yng Nghastell-nedd, yn dathlu ei phen-blwydd yn 40 oed. Mae'r sefydliad yn dod â straeon ysbrydoledig am gymeriadau Cymreig sy'n cyflawni'r anghyffredin yn fyw, fel eu drama newydd The Fight, am Cuthbert Taylor, bocsiwr o Ferthyr Tudful a gafodd ei wahardd rhag ymgeisio am deitl bocsio Prydain oherwydd lliw ei groen. Wedi'i sefydlu ar ddechrau'r 1980au i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau Gorllewin Morgannwg, mae'r cwmni'n credu mewn theatr fyw hygyrch o ansawdd uchel i bawb.

Mae hanes Cymru, yr iaith Gymraeg a'n diwylliant yn eu holl amrywiaeth yn ganolog i'w cynyrchiadau, o sioeau ysgol i deithiau cenedlaethol.

Welsh history, the Welsh language and our culture in all of their diversity are central to their productions, from school shows to national tours.

In the last decade, they’ve expanded their reach with UK tours of TomEye of the Storm, a Welsh Shirley Valentine, and Operation Julie. And during the COVID pandemic, they produced online content, including a hit Welsh language Christmas song, 'Hwyl yr Ŵyl', and an Advent calendar for schools, safeguarding the jobs of 158 freelancers on 16 projects.

Throughout this time, the ethos has remained the same—the belief that people of all ages and backgrounds should be able to experience accessible, live theatre of the highest quality that has the power to excite and engage audiences of all ages with stories that have universal appeal. Over 1 million people have experienced a na nÓg production. Pen-blwydd hapus, Theatr na nÓg, may you continue to ignite the imagination of the nation. The people of Neath are indeed fortunate to have a company that's so successful, engaged and of high quality in their community. 

Yn ystod y degawd diwethaf, maent wedi ehangu eu cyrhaeddiad gyda theithiau yn y DU gyda TomEye of the Storm, Shirley Valentine Cymreig, ac Operation Julie. Ac yn ystod y pandemig COVID, fe wnaethant gynhyrchu cynnwys ar-lein, gan gynnwys cân Nadolig Gymraeg boblogaidd, 'Hwyl yr Ŵyl', a chalendr Adfent i ysgolion, gan ddiogelu swyddi 158 o weithwyr llawrydd ar 16 prosiect.

Drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn, mae'r ethos wedi parhau yr un fath—y gred y dylai pobl o bob oedran a chefndir allu cael profiad o theatr fyw hygyrch o'r ansawdd uchaf sydd â phŵer i gyffroi ac ennyn diddordeb cynulleidfaoedd o bob oed gyda straeon i apelio i bawb. Mae dros 1 filiwn o bobl wedi gweld cynhyrchiad na nÓg. Pen-blwydd hapus, Theatr na nÓg, a boed ichi barhau i danio dychymyg y genedl. Mae pobl Castell-nedd yn ffodus iawn o gael cwmni sydd mor llwyddiannus, ymroddedig ac o'r fath ansawdd uchel yn eu cymuned. 

I'd like to take the opportunity this afternoon to pay tribute to a very special person form Wrexham, who was tragically killed in Ukraine in August. Ryan Evans was working with Reuters news agency in Kramatorsk in the east of the country, just 16 miles from the front line, when the hotel in which he was staying was hit by a Russian missile. Ryan was a security adviser for Reuters, and was staying at the hotel with a team of fellow journalists. The strike injured many of his team, including, sadly, a Ukrainian cameraman who was left in a coma with life-changing injuries. 

As a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham, he is fondly remembered by staff and pupils alike. After leaving school, Ryan joined the Royal Welsh regiment at the age of 17, where he served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, rising to the rank of corporal. Upon leaving the armed forces in 2010, he started working as a close protection officer accompanying British diplomats on missions to many countries including Libya, Tunisia and Syria. More recently, as a close protection specialist, he accompanied journalists into some of the most hostile environments and war zones.

His last trip was one of over 20 that he'd made to Ukraine since the conflict began, always on a mission to ensure the utmost safety of his co-workers. Reuters paid tribute to Ryan, describing him as a world-class security operator. He'd worked extensively in Israel this year, as well as in Gaza and the West Bank, providing protection to journalists. He recently covered security for Reuters staff at the Paris Olympics and he was a trained paramedic, helping injured civilians on numerous occasions.

Sadly, Ryan leaves his widow, Kerrie, and four children, and I’m sure all of us at the Senedd would like to extend our deepest condolences to them and his wider family in their huge and painful loss.

Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle y prynhawn yma i dalu teyrnged i berson arbennig iawn o Wrecsam, a laddwyd yn Wcráin ym mis Awst. Roedd Ryan Evans yn gweithio gydag asiantaeth newyddion Reuters yn Kramatorsk yn nwyrain y wlad, 16 milltir yn unig o'r rheng flaen, pan gafodd y gwesty lle roedd yn aros ei daro gan daflegryn Rwsiaidd. Roedd Ryan yn gynghorydd diogelwch i Reuters, ac roedd yn aros yn y gwesty gyda thîm o gyd-newyddiadurwyr. Anafodd y ffrwydrad sawl un o'i dîm, gan gynnwys dyn camera Wcreinaidd a fu mewn coma gydag anafiadau a newidiodd ei fywyd. 

Fel cyn-ddisgybl yn Ysgol Morgan Llwyd yn Wrecsam, caiff Ryan ei gofio'n annwyl gan staff a disgyblion fel ei gilydd. Ar ôl gadael yr ysgol, ymunodd Ryan â chatrawd y Cymry Brenhinol yn 17 oed, lle bu'n gwasanaethu yn Irac yn ogystal ag Affganistan, gan godi i reng corporal. Ar ôl gadael y lluoedd arfog yn 2010, dechreuodd weithio fel swyddog amddiffyn agos gyda diplomyddion Prydeinig ar deithiau i lawer o wledydd gan gynnwys Libya, Tiwnisia a Syria. Yn fwy diweddar, fel arbenigwr ar amddiffyn agos, aeth gyda newyddiadurwyr i rai o'r parthau rhyfel mwyaf peryglus.

Roedd ei daith olaf yn un o dros 20 a wnaeth i Wcráin ers dechrau'r gwrthdaro, a'i brif flaenoriaeth bob amser oedd sicrhau diogelwch llwyr ei gydweithwyr. Talodd Reuters deyrnged i Ryan, gan ei ddisgrifio fel gweithredwr diogelwch o'r radd flaenaf. Roedd wedi gweithio'n helaeth yn Israel eleni, yn ogystal ag yn Gaza a'r Lan Orllewinol, gan ddarparu amddiffyniad i newyddiadurwyr. Yn ddiweddar, bu'n ymdrin â diogelwch i staff Reuters yng Ngemau Olympaidd Paris ac roedd yn barafeddyg hyfforddedig a wnaeth helpu sifiliaid wedi'u hanafu ar sawl achlysur.

Mae Ryan yn gadael gweddw, Kerrie, a phedwar o blant, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn y Senedd yn dymuno estyn ein cydymdeimlad dwysaf iddynt hwy a'i deulu ehangach yn eu colled enfawr a phoenus.

15:25
5. Cynnig i ddiwygio Rheolau Sefydlog: Cydsyniad mewn Perthynas â Biliau Senedd y DU
5. Motion to amend Standing Orders: Consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills

Y cynnig nesaf, o dan eitem 5, yw'r cynnig i ddiwygio Rheolau Sefydlog ar gydsyniad mewn perthynas â Biliau Senedd y DU. Dwi'n galw ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol. Darren Millar.

The next item, item 5, is a motion to amend Standing Orders on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills. I call on a member of the Business Committee to move the motion formally. Darren Millar.

Cynnig NDM8662 Elin Jones

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 33.2:

1. Yn ystyried adroddiad y Pwyllgor Busnes, 'Diwygio Rheolau Sefydlog: Rheol Sefydlog 29.1 (Cydsyniad mewn Perthynas â Biliau Senedd y DU)', a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 18 Medi 2024.

2. Yn cymeradwyo'r cynnig i ddiwygio Rheol Sefydlog 29.1, fel y nodir yn Atodiad A i adroddiad y Pwyllgor Busnes.

Motion NDM8662 Elin Jones

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 33.2:

1. Considers the report of the Business Committee, ‘Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 29.1 (Consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills)’, laid in the Table Office on 18 September 2024.

2. Approves the proposal to amend Standing Order 29.1, as set out in Annex A of the Business Committee’s report.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Mae'r cynnig wedi'i wneud yn ffurfiol, felly y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn.

The motion is moved formally. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? There is no objection, and therefore the motion is agreed.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

6. Dadl ar Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad—Pedwerydd adroddiad ar ddeg i’r Chweched Senedd o dan Reol Sefydlog 22.9
6. Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee Report—Fourteenth report to the Sixth Senedd under Standing Order 22.9

Eitem 6 sydd nesaf, dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, 'Y Pedwerydd adroddiad ar ddeg i’r Chweched Senedd o dan Reol Sefydlog 22.9'. Dwi'n galw ar aelod o'r pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Item 6 is next, a debate on the Standard of Conduct Committee report, 'Fourteenth report to the Sixth Senedd under Standing Order 22.9'. I call on a member of the committee to move the motion. Peredur Owen Griffiths.

Cynnig NDM8661 Hannah Blythyn

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn ystyried adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad—'Y Pedwerydd Adroddiad ar Ddeg i'r Chweched Senedd' a osodwyd gerbron y Senedd ar 18 Medi 2024 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 22.9.

2. Yn cymeradwyo’r argymhelliad yn yr adroddiad.

Motion NDM8661 Hannah Blythyn

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Considers the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee—'Fourteenth Report to the Sixth Senedd' laid before the Senedd on 18 September 2024 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9.

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. Fel aelod o'r Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, cynigiaf y cynnig yn ffurfiol.

Bu'r pwyllgor yn ystyried adroddiad y comisiynydd safonau mewn perthynas â chŵyn a wnaed yn erbyn Natasha Asghar AS ynghylch trydariad a oedd yn defnyddio iaith amwys ac anghywir wrth ddisgrifio y terfyn cyflymder 20 mya. Ystyriodd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad adroddiad y comisiynydd yn ofalus, ac mae ein hadroddiad yn nodi barn y pwyllgor ynghylch y gosb sy'n briodol yn yr achos hwn. Mae'r ffeithiau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r gŵyn a'r rhesymau dros argymhelliad y pwyllgor wedi eu nodi'n llawn yn adroddiad y pwyllgor.

Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i atgoffa Aelodau pa mor bwysig yw talu sylw manwl i argymhellion y pwyllgor hwn a chanfyddiadau'r comisiynydd safonau fel y maent yn ymwneud â dehongli'r cod ymddygiad a'r safonau a ddisgwylir gan Aelodau yn fwy cyffredinol.

Hoffwn hefyd atgoffa Aelodau am eu cyfrifoldeb personol wrth ystyried unrhyw fuddiannau posib cyn cymryd rhan ym musnes y pwyllgorau. Mae'n ddyletswydd ar Aelodau i ddatgan unrhyw fuddiannau perthnasol ac i esgusodi eu hunain o'r trafodon lle bo angen. Mae'r cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn gwahodd y Senedd i gymeradwyo argymhelliad y pwyllgor. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you, Llywydd. As a member of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion.

The committee considered the report of the standards commissioner in relation to a complaint made against Natasha Asghar MS regarding a tweet that used imprecise and inaccurate language when describing the 20 mph speed limit. The Standards of Conduct Committee considered the commissioner's report carefully, and our report sets out the committee's judgment as to the sanction that's appropriate in this case. The facts relating to the complaint and the committee's reasons for its recommendation are set out fully in the committee's report.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind Members of the importance of paying close attention to the recommendations of this committee and the findings of the standards commissioner as they relate to the interpretation of the code of conduct and the standards expected of Members more generally.

I would also like to remind Members of their personal responsibility regarding the consideration of any potential interests before participating in committee business. It is incumbent on Members to declare any relevant interest and, where necessary, to excuse themselves from proceedings. The motion tabled invites the Senedd to endorse the committee's recommendation. Thank you.

I can't quite believe that we're standing here today debating the use of the word 'blanket' when there are much bigger issues at hand to be dealing with. But hey-ho, here we are. Having sat on the standards committee, I know how hard all of the Members from various political parties, as well as the Chair, the clerks, work alongside the commissioner tirelessly looking into complaints in relation to Members. However, today, I, Natasha Asghar, solely and respectfully object to the ruling that I have breached three rules within the code of conduct. To say that I brought the Senedd into disrepute by using the word 'blanket', for me, is purely absurd.

Let me be abundantly clear to everyone today: from the get-go, I make no apology whatsoever for standing up for my constituents and residents across Wales when it comes to the Welsh Government's 20 mph speed limit policy. As I have said before, with 97 per cent of former 30 mph roads dropping to 20 mph as a result of this policy, it remains my opinion that this is a blanket approach. And that's just it, Presiding Officer: it's my opinion. That's what I'm trying to get across.

Ni allaf gredu ein bod yn sefyll yma heddiw yn trafod y defnydd o'r gair 'blanket' pan fo materion llawer mwy i ymdrin â hwy. Ond dyma ni. Ar ôl bod yn aelod o'r Pwyllgor Safonau, rwy'n gwybod pa mor galed y mae pob Aelod o'r gwahanol bleidiau gwleidyddol, yn ogystal â'r Cadeirydd, y clercod, yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â'r comisiynydd yn ddiflino i edrych ar gwynion mewn perthynas ag Aelodau. Fodd bynnag, heddiw, rwyf i, Natasha Asghar, yn datgan yn barchus fy ngwrthwynebiad llwyr i'r dyfarniad fy mod wedi torri tair rheol o fewn y cod ymddygiad. Mae dweud fy mod wedi dwyn anfri ar y Senedd drwy ddefnyddio'r gair 'blanket', i mi, yn hollol hurt.

Gadewch imi fod yn gwbl glir i bawb heddiw: o'r cychwyn cyntaf, nid wyf yn ymddiheuro o gwbl am sefyll dros fy etholwyr a phreswylwyr ledled Cymru ynghylch polisi terfyn cyflymder 20 mya Llywodraeth Cymru. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, gyda 97 y cant o hen ffyrdd 30 mya yn gostwng i 20 mya o ganlyniad i'r polisi hwn, rwy'n dal o'r farn mai dull cyffredinol, blanket, yw hwn. A dyna ni, Lywydd: dyna yw fy marn. Dyna rwy'n ceisio ei gyfleu.

I'm just going to—. Just for Members to be aware, of course, that the standards commissioner has—[Interruption.] Please, I don't want any comments from the side. The standards commissioner and the standards committee have said that the use of the term 'blanket' in the context of the 20 mph policy is imprecise and inaccurate, and that Members should think very carefully about using imprecise and inaccurate words to describe policies. I have, in fact, changed my own mind on the use of the word 'blanket'. I allowed it to be used in this Chamber for a number of months, but once the standards commissioner and the standards committee had ruled that it was an imprecise and inaccurate way of describing the 20 mph policy, I have changed my view and it is not correct to use it in that context in this Chamber any more. That is my view, and I am the Llywydd. I ask you all to respect my view on this, and the view of the standards committee, and I ask you to show that respect today, Natasha Asghar.

Rwy'n mynd i—. I'r Aelodau gael gwybod, wrth gwrs, mae'r comisiynydd safonau wedi—[Torri ar draws.] Os gwelwch yn dda, nid wyf am gael unrhyw sylwadau o'r ochr. Mae'r comisiynydd safonau a'r pwyllgor safonau wedi dweud bod defnyddio'r term 'blanket' yng nghyd-destun y polisi 20 mya yn amwys ac yn anghywir, ac y dylai Aelodau feddwl yn ofalus iawn am ddefnyddio geiriau amwys ac anghywir i ddisgrifio polisïau. Mewn gwirionedd, rwyf wedi newid fy meddwl fy hun ar y defnydd o'r gair 'blanket'. Fe wneuthum ganiatáu iddo gael ei ddefnyddio yn y Siambr am nifer o fisoedd, ond pan ddyfarnodd y comisiynydd safonau a'r pwyllgor safonau ei bod yn ffordd amwys ac anghywir o ddisgrifio'r polisi 20 mya, fe newidiais fy marn ac nid yw'n gywir ei ddefnyddio yn y cyd-destun hwnnw yn y Siambr mwyach. Dyna fy marn i, a fi yw'r Llywydd. Gofynnaf i chi i gyd barchu fy marn ar hyn, a barn y pwyllgor safonau, a gofynnaf i chi ddangos y parch hwnnw heddiw, Natasha Asghar.

15:30

That's fine. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I take my job incredibly seriously. I love my region of south-east Wales and have the utmost respect for the Welsh Parliament as an institution. Presiding Officer, I acknowledge the report, and, once again, as I said, thank the committee and standards commissioner for their time, but I do have to say that I do feel it within myself to be able to stand up against, for this particular policy, for this particular issue. It is something that I’m passionate about personally and professionally as well. So, I want everyone to remain and rest assured that I will continue to tirelessly campaign against this disastrous policy, regardless of others embarking on desperate attempts to stop me, and I hope to be able to move on from this and focus on my job, which I take incredibly seriously. Thank you.

Mae hynny'n iawn. Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n gyfan gwbl o ddifrif ynglŷn â fy swydd. Rwy’n caru fy rhanbarth, de ddwyrain Cymru, ac mae gennyf bob parch at Senedd Cymru fel sefydliad. Lywydd, rwy’n cydnabod yr adroddiad, ac unwaith eto, fel y dywedais, yn diolch i’r pwyllgor a’r comisiynydd safonau am eu hamser, ond mae’n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn teimlo bod y gallu gennyf i wrthwynebu'r polisi penodol hwn, y mater penodol hwn. Mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n teimlo'n angerddol amdano yn bersonol ac yn broffesiynol hefyd. Felly, rwyf am i bawb fod yn dawel eu meddyliau y byddaf yn parhau i ymgyrchu’n ddiflino yn erbyn y polisi trychinebus hwn, er gwaethaf ymdrechion enbyd gan eraill i fy atal, ac rwy'n gobeithio gallu symud ymlaen o hyn a chanolbwyntio ar fy swydd, yr wyf yn gyfan gwbl o ddifrif yn ei chylch. Diolch yn fawr.

Y Cadeirydd—. Dim y Cadeirydd, sori, aelod o'r pwyllgor i ymateb i'r ddadl.

The Chair—. Not the Chair, sorry; a member of the committee to reply to the debate.

Diolch yn fawr. Roeddwn i'n poeni yn fanna fod gen i job newydd. Mae'r Cadeirydd, wrth gwrs yn y Siambr.

Hoffwn i ddiolch i Natasha am ei sylwadau ac rwy'n nodi ei sylwadau hi. Mae'r adroddiad yn glir ac wedi ei gyflwyno gydag argymhellion trawsbleidiol, felly, dwi'n galw ar y Senedd i dderbyn yr argymhelliad hwnnw. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you. I was concerned there that I had a new job. The Chair, of course, is in the Chamber.

I'd like to thank Natasha for her comments and I do note them of course. Our report is clear and is presented with cross-party recommendations, so I call on the Senedd to accept the recommendation. Thank you.

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu?

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object?

Was there an objection? No objection.

A oedd gwrthwynebiad? Dim gwrthwynebiad.

Felly, mae'r adroddiad wedi ei dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

7. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: Terfynau cyflymder 20mya
7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: 20mph speed limits

Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Heledd Fychan, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Jane Hutt. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-dethol.

The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Heledd Fychan, and amdendment 2 in the name of Jane Hutt. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected.

Eitem 7 yw'r ddadl gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, a chredwch neu beidio, mae hon ar derfynau cyflymder 20 mya. Felly y ddadl i'w chyflwyno gan Natasha Asghar. Natasha Asghar.

Item 7 is the Welsh Conservatives' debate, and, believe it or not, this is on 20 mph speed limits. The debate is to be presented by Natasha Asghar. Natasha Asghar.

Cynnig NDM8667 Darren Millar

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn cydnabod bod y terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya wedi bod ar waith yng Nghymru ers dros flwyddyn.

2. Yn nodi:

a) y 469,571 o bobl a lofnododd ddeiseb y Senedd: ‘Rydym am i Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddymu'r gyfraith drychinebus ynghylch y terfyn cyflymder o 20mya’;

b) y Memorandwm Esboniadol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ei hun ar gyfer Gorchymyn Ffyrdd Cyfyngedig (Terfyn Cyflymder 20mya) (Cymru) 2022, lle nodwyd anfantais economaidd o hyd at £8.9 biliwn yn sgil yr amseroedd teithio hirach a fyddai’n gysylltiedig â'r polisi terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya;

c) sylwadau'r cyn-Ddirprwy Weinidog Trafnidiaeth y dylid bod wedi defnyddio mwy o synnwyr cyffredin wrth gyflwyno’r terfyn cyflymder 20mya yng Nghymru;

d) adroddiad monitro ansawdd aer Trafnidiaeth Cymru sy’n dangos, o ran hanner yr ardaloedd lle cynhaliwyd profion, y bu cynnydd mewn lefelau nitrogen deuocsid y tu mewn i’r parthau 20mya o'i gymharu â'r tu allan; ac

e) bod awdurdodau lleol Cymru wedi cael ceisiadau i newid miloedd o ffyrdd o 20mya yn ôl i 30mya.

3. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru:

a) i ddiddymu'r terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya; a

b) i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol Cymru i gyflwyno dull wedi'i dargedu o bennu terfynau cyflymder o 20mya, sydd â chydsyniad pobl leol.

Motion NDM8667 Darren Millar

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the default 20mph speed limit has been in place in Wales for over one year.

2. Notes:

a) the 469,571 signatories to the Senedd petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law';

b) the Welsh Government’s own Explanatory Memorandum to The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 which identified an economic dis-benefit of up to £8.9 billion arising from longer journey times associated with the default 20mph speed limit policy;

c) the former Deputy Minister for Transport’s comments that ‘more common sense’ should have been used when implementing Wales’s 20mph speed limit;

d) Transport for Wales’s air quality monitoring report wherein half of tested areas saw rises in nitrogen dioxide levels inside 20mph zones compared with outside; and

e) Welsh local authorities have received requests for thousands of roads to revert from 20mph to 30mph.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) repeal the default 20mph speed limit; and

b) work with Welsh local authorities to deliver a targeted approach to 20mph speed limits with the consent of local people.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer; you did catch me slightly off-guard there. 

When I promised the people of Wales that I would stand up for their feelings and be their voice in the Senedd in my role as shadow transport Minister, I meant it—sometimes even to the point where it gets me into trouble, as you've all clearly seen. It’s been a year since the roll-out of this policy and, despite Labour Ministers telling us all that the people of Wales would eventually get used to it and that the uproar surrounding it was pretty much down to people just not liking it, I think we now know for sure that this was purely a firefighting move in an attempt to downplay public sentiment. I have said on multiple occasions that the anger and frustration towards the policy aren’t going anywhere. And this statement isn’t just my opinion; it is backed up by the fact that a recent YouGov poll has proven that seven out of 10 people still oppose the default 20 mph policy.

Now I would commend the Cabinet Secretary, the new Cabinet Secretary, on his renewed approach—a more pragmatic, sensible stance, with an emphasis on, and I quote him, common sense and taking the public with you, as opposed to telling them what they need to get used to. And whilst I was pleased to see a change in the draconian-style roll-out, including a listening programme to incorporate people’s views, much physical change is yet actually to come to fruition. Just shy of 500,000 signed a petition calling for the policy to be scrapped—the petition that broke all Senedd records and laid bare quite how unpopular this policy actually is. Never in the history of a Welsh Parliament—in fact, this Welsh Parliament—has a listening tour been ignited in Government as a result of such an unpopular, divisive policy, and I think that says it all.

This policy kick started a year of scandal and controversy and potentially the most out-of-touch series of events we’ve seen from Welsh Labour as of yet—£33 million to implement it and a £9 billion hit to the Welsh economy. In fact, this £9 billion figure, in theory, could have indeed footed the bill for the recent NHS staff pay rises and would have therefore helped alleviate this so-called £22 billion black hole that we haven’t stopped hearing about.

Cabinet Secretary, as a direct consequence of this policy over the last year, we have seen an entire village isolated from bus routes, delivery drivers having to work overtime, a record-breaking petition, a cycling race shortened and altered for the first time since its inception in 1981, 10,500 submissions to the councils for roads that should be changed back to being 30 mph, countless protests, and the list just does go on.

We have heard a lot about change since the Labour Party’s general election campaign in May 2024, but you’re going to need more than a tagline to see some change across Wales after 25 years of Welsh Labour around here. But this is just it: what the British people are about to be reminded of are things that the people of Wales have been living with for a quarter of a century and have seen exposed even more so in the past year. ‘You’ll own nothing and be happy’ is the phrase that comes to mind. People are expected to be happy with 20 mph and get used to these huge changes and costly policies when economic inactivity in Wales is the highest in the United Kingdom, educational outcomes in Wales are the lowest in the United Kingdom, the number of Welsh students going to university is indeed falling. One in four people are on waiting lists in Wales, and they are at an all-time high, with seven health boards indeed in special measures. You're constantly cash-strapped as a Government, yet £1.6 billion has been wasted on projects that have never reached the finish line under Labour's watch. Almost one third of children in Wales are living in poverty. Sadly, I could go on. Is this honestly a record the Welsh Labour Government can be proud of? If we continue like this for another 25 years, I sincerely dread to think what Wales is going to look like. Whether it's avoiding scrutiny by comparing Keir Starmer to Donald Trump, or passing the buck down the M4, this Government seriously, sadly, hates accountability.

In this case, the buck has been passed to our already overstretched councils to deal with, and we are yet to discover how the requests for road changes will be looked at, or how they will even come to a decision as to which roads need to be changed and which stay the same. So, Cabinet Secretary, a year on from the roll-out and people across Wales are feeling more disenfranchised than ever before, not listened to, and less inclined to engage with us as politicians on every single level. This is why I make no apology for promoting commonsense politics, 20 mph where it's needed—around schools, around hospitals, places of worship and high streets. It is regrettable that it has taken a public outcry on such a large scale for the guidance to be even looked at or changed, and also regrettable to think that this extra money and time wasted could have all been avoided had the public been consulted to start with on such a large-scale change.

So, as we look back on the year, and forward to the next, we are still eagerly awaiting the results of changes that we were told would make a difference. There is still time to make real change, as you put it, Cabinet Secretary. Give the people what they want, allow their voices to be at the forefront of this policy that affects their day-to-day lives, and please scrap this default 20 mph policy that has swept across Wales. Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd; fe wnaethoch chi fy nal yn ddiarwybod yno braidd.

Pan addewais i bobl Cymru y byddwn yn sefyll dros eu teimladau a bod yn llais iddynt yn y Senedd yn fy rôl fel Gweinidog yr wrthblaid dros drafnidiaeth, roeddwn yn ei olygu—weithiau, hyd yn oed i’r pwynt lle mae'n mynd â mi i drwbwl, fel y mae pob un ohonoch wedi'i weld. Mae blwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers cyflwyno’r polisi hwn, ac er bod Gweinidogion Llafur wedi dweud wrth bob un ohonom y byddai pobl Cymru yn dod i arfer ag ef yn y pen draw, a bod y cynnwrf o’i amgylch yn bennaf am nad oedd pobl yn ei hoffi a dim mwy na hynny, credaf ein bod bellach yn gwybod i sicrwydd mai dim ond ymdrech oedd hon i geisio diystyru teimladau'r cyhoedd. Rwyf wedi dweud ar sawl achlysur nad yw’r dicter a’r rhwystredigaeth tuag at y polisi yn mynd i unman. Ac nid fy marn i yn unig mo'r datganiad hwn; caiff ei ategu gan y ffaith bod arolwg barn diweddar gan YouGov wedi profi bod saith o bob 10 o bobl yn dal i wrthwynebu’r polisi 20 mya diofyn.

Nawr, rwy'n canmol Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet newydd, ar ei agwedd newydd—agwedd fwy pragmatig, synhwyrol, gyda phwyslais, ac rwy'n ei ddyfynnu ef, ar synnwyr cyffredin a mynd â'r cyhoedd gyda chi, yn hytrach na dweud wrthynt beth y mae angen iddynt ddod i arfer ag ef. Ac er fy mod yn falch o weld newid yn y dull llym o gyflwyno'r polisi, gan gynnwys rhaglen wrando i ymgorffori barn pobl, nid oes llawer o newid ymarferol wedi'i wneud eto. Llofnododd bron i 500,000 o bobl ddeiseb yn galw am ddileu’r polisi—y ddeiseb fwyaf erioed yn hanes y Senedd a ddangosodd mor amhoblogaidd yw’r polisi hwn. Nid oes unrhyw Lywodraeth yn hanes Senedd Cymru—y Senedd Cymru hon, mewn gwirionedd—wedi cynnal taith wrando o ganlyniad i bolisi mor amhoblogaidd ac ymrannol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny’n dweud y cyfan.

Rhoddodd y polisi hwn gychwyn ar flwyddyn o sgandal a dadlau, ac o bosibl, y gyfres o ddigwyddiadau fwyaf allan o gysylltiad a welsom gan Lafur Cymru hyd yma—£33 miliwn i’w roi ar waith, ac ergyd o £9 biliwn i economi Cymru. Mewn gwirionedd, gallai’r ffigur hwn o £9 biliwn, mewn theori, fod wedi talu am y codiadau cyflog diweddar i staff y GIG, a byddai felly wedi helpu i leihau'r twll du honedig o £22 biliwn y clywsom gymaint amdano.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i’r polisi hwn dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rydym wedi gweld pentref cyfan yn colli ei holl wasanaethau bws, gyrwyr dosbarthu nwyddau yn gorfod gweithio goramser, y ddeiseb fwyaf erioed, ras feicio yn cael ei byrhau a’i newid am y tro cyntaf ers ei sefydlu yn 1981, 10,500 o geisiadau i’r cynghorau ar gyfer ffyrdd y dylid eu newid yn ôl i 30 mya, protestiadau di-rif, ac mae’r rhestr yn mynd yn ei blaen.

Rydym wedi clywed cryn dipyn o sôn am newid ers ymgyrch etholiad cyffredinol y Blaid Lafur ym mis Mai 2024, ond bydd angen mwy na slogan arnoch i sicrhau newid ledled Cymru ar ôl 25 mlynedd o Lafur Cymru yma. Ond dyma ni: yr hyn y mae pobl Prydain ar fin cael eu hatgoffa ohono yw'r pethau y mae pobl Cymru wedi bod yn byw gyda hwy ers chwarter canrif ac wedi’u gweld yn cael eu hamlygu hyd yn oed yn fwy dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. 'Byddwch yn berchen ar ddim ac yn hapus' yw'r ymadrodd sy'n dod i fy meddwl. Disgwylir i bobl fod yn hapus gydag 20 mya a dod i arfer â'r newidiadau enfawr a'r polisïau costus hyn pan fo lefel anweithgarwch economaidd Cymru yn uwch nag yn unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig, canlyniadau addysgol Cymru yn is nag unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig, a nifer y myfyrwyr o Gymru sy'n mynd i'r brifysgol yn gostwng. Mae un o bob pedwar o bobl ar restrau aros yng Nghymru, ac maent ar eu lefelau uchaf erioed, gyda saith bwrdd iechyd yn destun mesurau arbennig. Rydych chi bob amser yn brin o arian fel Llywodraeth, ac eto mae £1.6 biliwn wedi'i wastraffu ar brosiectau nad ydynt erioed wedi cyrraedd y llinell derfyn o dan oruchwyliaeth Llafur. Mae bron i draean o blant Cymru yn byw mewn tlodi. Yn anffodus, gallwn fynd yn fy mlaen. A yw hon o ddifrif yn record y gall Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru fod yn falch ohoni? Os parhewn fel hyn am 25 mlynedd arall, mae arnaf ofn meddwl sut olwg fydd ar Gymru. Boed yn osgoi craffu drwy gymharu Keir Starmer â Donald Trump, neu drosglwyddo'r baich i lawr yr M4, mae’r Llywodraeth hon, yn anffodus, yn casáu atebolrwydd.

Yn yr achos hwn, mae’r baich wedi'i drosglwyddo i'n cynghorau sydd eisoes o dan bwysau, ac nid ydym wedi clywed eto sut y bydd y ceisiadau i newid ffyrdd yn cael eu hystyried, na sut y byddant hyd yn oed yn gwneud penderfyniadau ynghylch pa ffyrdd y mae angen eu newid a pha rai sydd i aros yr un fath. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, flwyddyn ar ôl cyflwyno'r polisi, mae pobl ledled Cymru yn teimlo'n fwy difreiniedig nag erioed, yn teimlo nad oes unrhyw un yn gwrando arnynt, ac yn llai tueddol o ymgysylltu â ni fel gwleidyddion ar bob lefel. Dyna pam nad wyf yn ymddiheuro am hyrwyddo gwleidyddiaeth synnwyr cyffredin, 20 mya lle mae ei angen—ger ysgolion, ger ysbytai, mannau addoli a strydoedd mawr. Mae’n drueni ei bod wedi cymryd gwrthwynebiad mor chwyrn gan y cyhoedd i newid neu hyd yn oed edrych ar y canllawiau, ac yn drueni meddwl hefyd y gallai’r arian ychwanegol hwn a’r holl amser a wastraffwyd fod wedi’i osgoi pe byddent wedi ymgynghori â’r cyhoedd o'r cychwyn ar newid mor fawr.

Felly, wrth inni edrych yn ôl ar y flwyddyn, ac ymlaen at y nesaf, rydym yn dal i aros yn eiddgar am ganlyniadau newidiadau y dywedwyd wrthym y byddent yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Mae amser o hyd i wneud newid gwirioneddol, fel y dywedoch chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rhowch yr hyn y mae arnynt ei eisiau i’r bobl, caniatewch i’w lleisiau arwain y polisi hwn sy’n effeithio ar eu bywydau bob dydd, ac os gwelwch yn dda, diddymwch y polisi 20 mya diofyn hwn sydd wedi ysgubo drwy Gymru. Diolch yn fawr.

15:35

Rwyf wedi dethol y ddau welliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, bydd gwelliant 2 yn cael ei ddad-ddethol. Dwi'n galw ar Peredur Owen Griffiths i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.

I have selected the two amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on Peredur Owen Griffiths to move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.

Gwelliant 1—Heledd Fychan

Dileu'r cyfan a rhoi yn ei le:

Cynnig bod y Senedd

1. Yn nodi:

a) bod y terfyn cyflymder rhagosodedig o 20mya wedi bod ar waith yng Nghymru ers dros flwyddyn; a

b) cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol flaenorol y Senedd ar gyfer cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder o 20mya yng Nghymru a phresenoldeb cynlluniau tebyg mewn cynghorau sy'n cael eu rhedeg gan y Ceidwadwyr yn Lloegr.

2. Yn credu, o'u gweithredu'n briodol ac yn rhesymegol, bod gan derfynau cyflymder 20mya rôl ddefnyddiol wrth wneud cymunedau'n fwy diogel a lleihau'r pwysau ar y GIG.

3. Yn gresynu at yr oedi gan Lywodraeth Cymru wrth weithredu ar welliant Plaid Cymru a gefnogir gan y Senedd, a fyddai wedi grymuso cymunedau ar unwaith i adolygu a gwneud eithriadau pellach yn ogystal ag adolygu'r canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol.

4. Yn cydnabod cryfder teimladau ar y mater hwn o ganlyniad i weithredu, ymgysylltu a chyfathrebu anghyson ynghylch y newidiadau.

5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio'n agos gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod yr adolygiad presennol yn mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon y gellir eu cyfiawnhau, a'i fod ag adnoddau digonol.

Amendment 1—Heledd Fychan

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd

1. Notes:

a) the default speed limit of 20mph has been in place in Wales for over a year; and

b) the previous cross-party support of the Senedd for the introduction of speed limits of 20mph in Wales and the presence of similar plans in councils run by the Conservatives in England.

2. Believes that, when implemented appropriately and rationally, 20mph speed limits have a useful role in making communities safer and reducing the pressure on the NHS.

3. Regrets the delay by the Welsh Government in acting on the Plaid Cymru amendment supported by the Senedd, which would have immediately empowered communities to review and make further exceptions as well as review the guidelines for local authorities.

4. Recognises the strength of feelings on this issue as a result of inconsistent action, engagement and communication regarding the changes.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to work closely with local authorities to ensure that the current review addresses the justified concerns, and that it is adequately resourced.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.

Amendment 1 moved.