Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
16/10/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn o'r Senedd. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Laura Anne Jones.
Good afternoon, and welcome to this Plenary meeting of the Senedd. The first item this afternoon will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, and the first question is from Laura Anne Jones.
1. Pa gamau y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cymryd i wella gwasanaethau bws i Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor yng Nghwmbrân? OQ61694
1. What steps has the Cabinet Secretary taken to improve bus services to the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran? OQ61694
We recognise the importance of linking communities to key hospitals and healthcare facilities. There are a number of bus services to the Grange Hospital, and Transport for Wales will look to link hospitals and other key public services as part of the bus network planning process for bus reform.
Rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd cysylltu cymunedau â chyfleusterau gofal iechyd ac ysbytai allweddol. Mae nifer o wasanaethau bysiau i Ysbyty’r Faenor, a bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ceisio cysylltu ysbytai a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus allweddol eraill fel rhan o broses gynllunio'r rhwydwaith bysiau ar gyfer diwygio'r bysiau.
Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, when the Welsh Labour Government decided to close the A&E department at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, we were promised that it would still be easily accessible for residents in Abergavenny. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened, because there is no direct bus route now from Abergavenny—quite a significant part of Monmouthshire and the catchment area for the Grange—to the Grange Hospital. And it takes quite a long time, including some walking, for patients or for visitors to go and see their loved ones, or to receive treatment, forcing some people to drive in a not-okay state because that’s the only way that they can get to the hospital. Would you be able to look into that for me, Minister, and assure my residents that they will, if they need to, be able to get to hospital by bus from significant parts of Monmouthshire?
Diolch. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pan benderfynodd Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru gau’r adran ddamweiniau ac achosion brys yn Ysbyty Nevill Hall yn y Fenni, cawsom addewid y byddai’n dal i fod yn hawdd i drigolion y Fenni ei gyrraedd. Yn anffodus, nid dyna a ddigwyddodd, gan nad oes llwybr bws uniongyrchol bellach o’r Fenni—rhan go helaeth o sir Fynwy a dalgylch Ysbyty’r Faenor—i’r Faenor. Ac mae'n cymryd amser go hir, gan gynnwys rhywfaint o gerdded, i gleifion neu ymwelwyr fynd i weld eu hanwyliaid, neu i gael triniaeth, gan orfodi rhai pobl nad ydynt mewn cyflwr i yrru i wneud hynny gan mai dyna'r unig ffordd sydd ganddynt o fynd i'r ysbyty. A allech chi edrych ar hynny i mi, Weinidog, a rhoi sicrwydd i fy nhrigolion y byddant, os oes angen, yn gallu cyrraedd yr ysbyty ar fws o rannau helaeth o sir Fynwy?
Well, I’m very grateful to Laura Jones for the question, and I am aware of a petition that is live, calling for a direct bus service between Abergavenny and the Grange. I’ve therefore asked my officials to take a look at the feasibility of such a route, of course, in the context of the availability of budgets, but also to work with Transport for Wales in regard to the mapping exercise that’s taking place as part of the regional transport plans.
Wel, rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Laura Jones am ei chwestiwn, ac rwy’n ymwybodol o ddeiseb gyfredol sy’n galw am wasanaeth bws uniongyrchol rhwng y Fenni ac Ysbyty’r Faenor. Rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion edrych felly ar ddichonoldeb llwybr o’r fath, yng nghyd-destun argaeledd cyllidebau wrth gwrs, ond hefyd i weithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar yr ymarfer mapio sy’n mynd rhagddo fel rhan o’r cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol.
Minister, the promises that were made by Welsh Ministers when the Grange was being established, of course, were that there would be these public transport links in place to enable people across the region to access services and to visit relatives who are in-patients in the Grange. That has not be delivered—it has not been delivered for my constituents in Blaenau Gwent. And if the Welsh Government takes decisions that lead to the centralisation of services and taking services further away from people, I believe that Welsh Ministers have an absolute responsibility to ensure that people are able to access those services.
Cabinet Secretary, do you agree with me that a flexi service, based in the Heads of the Valleys, would be a service that could be provided by the Welsh Government to enable people living in Blaenau Gwent to access services in the Grange and to access relatives who they may wish to visit whilst they are in-patients in the Grange?
Weinidog, yr addewidion a wnaed gan Weinidogion Cymru pan sefydlwyd Ysbyty’r Faenor oedd y byddai’r cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus hyn ar waith i alluogi pobl ar draws y rhanbarth i gael mynediad at wasanaethau ac ymweld â pherthnasau sy’n gleifion mewnol yn Ysbyty’r Faenor. Nid yw hynny wedi’i gyflawni—nid yw wedi’i gyflawni ar ran fy etholwyr ym Mlaenau Gwent. Ac os bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud penderfyniadau sy’n arwain at ganoli gwasanaethau a symud gwasanaethau ymhellach oddi wrth bobl, rwy'n credu bod gan Weinidogion Cymru gyfrifoldeb absoliwt i sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu cael mynediad at y gwasanaethau hynny.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y byddai gwasanaeth fflecsi ym Mlaenau’r Cymoedd yn wasanaeth y gellid ei ddarparu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i alluogi pobl sy’n byw ym Mlaenau Gwent i gael mynediad at wasanaethau yn Ysbyty’r Faenor ac i ymweld â pherthnasau tra'u bod yn gleifion mewnol yn Ysbyty’r Faenor?
That could well be a solution, and that’s why we’ve asked Transport for Wales for review opportunities to improve direct bus links to key hospital sites, like the Grange, as part of regional bus planning. I think it’s important to be measured as well in terms of the support that has been made available for public transport to and from the Grange. There was the pilot scheme, of course, that took patients and their visitors from Pontypool and Newbridge and Blackwood, in partnership with Stagecoach. Now, that pilot scheme did not continue, unfortunately, because Stagecoach did not consider it to be commercially viable, and because passenger patronage was relatively low. Now, in terms of the possible solutions for Blaenau Gwent, it’s not just a flexi service that could be a possible solution; there are other areas of activity that we’re looking to roll out across Wales, which could be applicable to Blaenau Gwent, including flexi and community transport, as well as door-to-door services that patients may be eligible for.
Gallai hynny’n wir fod yn ateb, a dyna pam ein bod wedi gofyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru am gyfleoedd adolygu i wella cysylltiadau bws uniongyrchol â safleoedd ysbytai allweddol, fel y Faenor, yn rhan o'r gwaith cynllunio bysiau rhanbarthol. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig ei fesur hefyd o ran y cymorth a ddarparwyd ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i ac o’r Faenor. Cafwyd cynllun peilot lle câi cleifion a’u hymwelwyr eu cludo o Bont-y-pŵl a Threcelyn a Choed-duon, mewn partneriaeth â Stagecoach. Nawr, ni pharhaodd y cynllun peilot hwnnw, yn anffodus, am nad oedd Stagecoach yn ystyried ei fod yn fasnachol hyfyw, ac oherwydd bod y defnydd gan deithwyr yn gymharol isel. Nawr, o ran yr atebion posibl ar gyfer Blaenau Gwent, nid gwasanaeth fflecsi yn unig a allai fod yn ateb posibl; mae meysydd gweithgarwch eraill yr ydym yn bwriadu eu cyflwyno ledled Cymru, a allai fod yn berthnasol i Flaenau Gwent, gan gynnwys trafnidiaeth fflecsi a chymunedol, yn ogystal â gwasanaethau drws i ddrws y gallai cleifion fod yn gymwys ar eu cyfer.
2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am y cysylltiad rheilffordd newydd rhwng Glyn Ebwy a Chasnewydd? OQ61692
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the new rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport? OQ61692
With pleasure. The £70 million investment in upgrading the Ebbw Vale line has doubled service frequency and introduced direct services to Newport. Forty thousand extra journeys were made in the first half of this year, and I look forward to more people using this service on a daily basis.
 phleser. Mae'r buddsoddiad o £70 miliwn i uwchraddio rheilffordd Glynebwy wedi dyblu amlder y gwasanaethau ac wedi cyflwyno gwasanaethau uniongyrchol i Gasnewydd. Gwnaed 40,000 o deithiau ychwanegol yn ystod hanner cyntaf eleni, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld mwy o bobl yn defnyddio’r gwasanaeth hwn yn ddyddiol.
I’m grateful to you, Cabinet Secretary. Now, I’m the proud owner, of course, of a Transport for Wales concessionary card, and I’ve been making great use of this card. Now, were I to run to Ebbw Vale and catch the train that’s leaving in about 10 seconds from now, then I wouldn’t be able to use this on the train to Newport, but if I waited half an hour and caught the 14:05 train, then I would be able to use the concessionary card. If I waited another half an hour, I wouldn’t be able to use the concessionary card, but I would be able to use the concessionary card half an hour after that. Now, that, I would suggest, Cabinet Secretary, is not the best way to run a railway, and I would suggest that it's not the best way to run a concessionary card scheme either. It is time, Cabinet Secretary, to ensure that the concessionary card is available on all services down the Ebbw valley line, to ensure that my constituents, and others, are able to use their concessionary card on all the services on this new railway, which we're all looking forward to using.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Nawr, rwy’n berchennog balch ar gerdyn teithio rhatach Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac rwyf wedi bod yn gwneud defnydd gwych o’r cerdyn hwn. Nawr, pe bawn i'n rhedeg i Lynebwy a dal y trên sy'n gadael mewn oddeutu 10 eiliad, ni allwn ei ddefnyddio ar y trên i Gasnewydd, ond pe bawn i'n aros hanner awr ac yn dal trên 14:05, yna gallwn ddefnyddio'r cerdyn teithio rhatach. Pe bawn yn aros hanner awr arall, ni allwn ddefnyddio'r cerdyn teithio rhatach, ond gallwn ddefnyddio'r cerdyn teithio rhatach hanner awr yn ddiweddarach. Nawr, carwn awgrymu, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, nad dyna'r ffordd orau o redeg rheilffordd, a charwn awgrymu nad dyna'r ffordd orau o redeg cynllun cerdyn teithio rhatach ychwaith. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'n bryd sicrhau bod y cerdyn rhatach ar gael ar yr holl wasanaethau ar reilffordd cwm Ebwy, i sicrhau bod fy etholwyr i, ac eraill, yn gallu defnyddio eu cerdyn teithio rhatach ar yr holl wasanaethau ar y rheilffordd newydd hon, y mae pob un ohonom yn edrych ymlaen at ei defnyddio.
Well, I'd very much enjoy seeing the Member run to Ebbw Vale to catch the service—I'm sure it's within his abilities. Look, I'd like to thank the Member for raising this issue, and I've spoken with him in private about it. I have already raised it with Transport for Wales, who are addressing not just anomalies with the concessionary fare scheme, but also fare discrepancies across the network, which have been inherited by Transport for Wales. As the Member rightly knows, these are not of Transport for Wales's making. Transport for Wales is there to solve the problem, and I hope that they'll be able to do that.
Wel, buaswn yn mwynhau gweld yr Aelod yn rhedeg i Lynebwy i ddal y trên—rwy'n siŵr y gallai wneud hynny. Edrychwch, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am godi'r mater hwn, ac rwyf wedi siarad ag ef yn breifat yn ei gylch. Rwyf eisoes wedi ei godi gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, sy’n mynd i’r afael nid yn unig ag anghysondebau gyda’r cynllun teithio rhatach, ond anghysondebau hefyd gyda phrisiau siwrneiau ar draws y rhwydwaith, sydd wedi’u hetifeddu gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, nid Trafnidiaeth Cymru sydd wedi creu'r problemau hyn. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yno i ddatrys y broblem, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallant wneud hynny.
Diolch, Cabinet Secretary. Can I just extend that wish from the MS for Blaenau Gwent, and say that a review does need to be done into the pricing and costing of tickets, particularly for the issue that was raised by the MS for Blaenau Gwent, but also what I'm just about to say now? Whereas we all, of course, welcome the opening of the new line between Ebbw Vale and Newport—. The project obviously came to fruition because of funding from Welsh Government and the UK Government—[Interruption.] It's a point that's not often made enough. Will you join me in welcoming the fact that a day-return ticket from Ebbw Vale to Newport costs £8.70? However, a day-return ticket from Abergavenny to Newport costs £13.20. These two journeys are almost exactly the same length, made with exactly the same train operator, yet the residents of one town are paying £5.50 more a day to travel than the residents of the other. Can you explain why that is, please? Thanks.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. A gaf i eilio'r dymuniad gan yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Flaenau Gwent, a dweud bod angen cynnal adolygiad o bris a chost tocynnau, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â'r mater a godwyd gan yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Flaenau Gwent, ond hefyd yr hyn rwyf ar fin ei ddweud? Er bod pob un ohonom, wrth gwrs, yn croesawu agor y rheilffordd newydd rhwng Glynebwy a Chasnewydd—. Mae'n amlwg fod y prosiect wedi dwyn ffrwyth oherwydd cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n bwynt nad yw'n cael ei wneud yn ddigon aml. A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i groesawu’r ffaith bod tocyn dwyffordd undydd o Lynebwy i Gasnewydd yn costio £8.70? Fodd bynnag, mae tocyn dwyffordd undydd o'r Fenni i Gasnewydd yn costio £13.20. Mae'r ddwy daith bron yn union yr un hyd, yn cael eu rhedeg gan yr un gweithredwr trenau, ac eto mae trigolion un dref yn talu £5.50 yn fwy y dydd i deithio na thrigolion y llall. A allwch chi egluro pam, os gwelwch yn dda? Diolch.
Llywydd, I believe that a technical briefing is necessary for Members on this complicated matter, because the whole fare discrepancy issue was inherited by Transport for Wales from Arriva Trains Wales—so too the issues with the concessionary fare scheme, as well. So, just in brief, to explain to Members with regard to the core Valleys lines, Arriva Trains Wales introduced the third-off measure as a commercial decision. That was a commercial decision—it was not applicable to the subsidy that was provided. It was then subsequently rolled into the Transport for Wales contract, because withdrawing that sort of measure is very, very difficult, as Members, I'm sure, can imagine. I face calls from across Wales to introduce similar schemes everywhere. I think it's absolutely vital, first and foremost, that we look at the discrepancy in fares, which Transport for Wales has been doing since it took over responsibility for the network, and that we also look to a longer term view of how concessionary bus passes can be used in regard to the one network, one ticket, one timetable objective of the Welsh Government. I don't want to rush into this; I think it's absolutely vital that we have a sustainable solution—and this is something that my predecessor worked hard on—to ensure that we have one network, one timetable, one ticket that is applicable for the whole of Wales.
Lywydd, credaf fod angen briff technegol i’r Aelodau ar y mater cymhleth hwn, gan fod Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi etifeddu mater anghysondebau prisiau siwrneiau gan Trenau Arriva Cymru—yn ogystal â’r materion sy'n ymwneud â’r cynllun tocynnau teithio rhatach. Felly, yn gryno, i egluro i'r Aelodau am linellau craidd y Cymoedd, cyflwynodd Trenau Arriva Cymru y disgownt o draean fel penderfyniad masnachol. Penderfyniad masnachol oedd hwnnw—nid oedd yn berthnasol i’r cymhorthdal a ddarparwyd. Yna, cafodd ei gynnwys yng nghontract Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gan y byddai'n anodd iawn diddymu’r math hwnnw o fesur, fel y gall yr Aelodau ddychmygu, rwy’n siŵr. Rwy’n wynebu galwadau o bob rhan o Gymru i gyflwyno cynlluniau tebyg ym mhobman. Credaf ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol, yn gyntaf oll, ein bod yn edrych ar yr anghysondeb mewn prisiau siwrneiau, sy'n rhywbeth y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi bod yn ei wneud ers dod yn gyfrifol am y rhwydwaith, a’n bod hefyd yn cael golwg fwy hirdymor ar sut y gellir defnyddio tocynnau bws rhatach mewn perthynas ag amcan Llywodraeth Cymru o gael un rhwydwaith, un amserlen, un tocyn. Nid wyf am ruthro i mewn i hyn; credaf ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol fod gennym ateb cynaliadwy—ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y gweithiodd fy rhagflaenydd yn galed arno—i sicrhau bod gennym un rhwydwaith, un amserlen, un tocyn sy'n berthnasol i Gymru gyfan.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Natasha Asghar.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservatives' spokesperson, Natasha Asghar.
Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, as you're well aware, the Senedd rarely votes unanimously on one given topic. However, when it comes to fair funding from high speed 2, it's something that we've all agreed on, that Wales is owed consequentials from HS2 to the tune of roughly £4 billion. However, it has recently been confirmed by the new Secretary of State for Wales, and backed up by this Welsh Government, that £350 million is the figure Labour believes it's currently owed, which was explained by the Cabinet Secretary for finance last week as being calculated through, and I quote, 'money already spent' on the project by the UK Government. But the money Wales receives must not be limited to £350 million; we must continue to receive the funding as it is spent, to meet our country's long-term needs. As far as we can see from recent news stories, the First Minister failed to get a commitment from Sir Keir last weekend that Wales would get its fair share of funding. So, what exactly, Cabinet Secretary, is indeed the current benefit of two Labour Governments working together, as we were indeed promised, and how will you be utilising your role to push this much-needed money for Wales? Thank you.
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel y gwyddoch, anaml y bydd y Senedd yn pleidleisio'n unfrydol ar unrhyw bwnc penodol. Fodd bynnag, pan ddaw'n fater o gyllid teg yn sgil HS2, mae'n rhywbeth y mae pob un ohonom wedi cytuno arno, fod oddeutu £4 biliwn yn ddyledus i Gymru o gyllid canlyniadol yn sgil HS2. Fodd bynnag, cadarnhawyd yn ddiweddar gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol newydd Cymru, ac fe'i cefnogwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mai £350 miliwn yw’r ffigur y mae Llafur yn credu sy’n ddyledus ar hyn o bryd, ffigur a eglurwyd gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid yr wythnos diwethaf fel un a gyfrifwyd drwy 'arian sydd eisoes wedi'i wario' ar y prosiect gan Lywodraeth y DU. Ond mae'n rhaid peidio â chyfyngu'r arian a gaiff Cymru i £350 miliwn; mae'n rhaid inni barhau i gael y cyllid wrth iddo gael ei wario, i ddiwallu anghenion hirdymor ein gwlad. Hyd y gwelwn o straeon newyddion diweddar, methodd y Prif Weinidog gael ymrwymiad gan Syr Keir y penwythnos diwethaf y byddai Cymru’n cael ei chyfran deg o gyllid. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, beth yn union yw budd cael dwy Lywodraeth Lafur yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd ar hyn o bryd, fel yr addawyd i ni, a sut y byddwch chi'n defnyddio eich rôl i bwyso am yr arian hwn y mae ei angen yn fawr ar Gymru? Diolch.
Well, there are a number of examples that I could point to in regard to Labour Governments working together for the benefit of the people that we serve. As the Cabinet Secretary for north Wales, I'd point possibly first and foremost to the announcement that there will be 50 per cent more train services across north Wales in 2026 as a result of decisions that were made jointly by Ministers here and at Westminster. That’s a huge increase—the biggest that I can recall in north Wales.
I think, with regard to HS2, our position has not changed—it has not changed. The current finance Minister and the finance Minister before him both have outlined why the £350 million is a figure attributed to HS2 consequentials. But focusing purely on £350 million actually risks losing the bigger prize, which is a pipeline of enhancements that could amount to much more. And I am absolutely focused on developing a mutually agreed pipeline of enhancements through the Wales board to ensure that we get improvements right across Wales in rail infrastructure. We’ll be meeting, I’m pleased to say, next month, as a Wales rail board. Ministers from UK Government, and I, will be agreeing on that pipeline of enhancements, and then, once we get legislation through at Westminster, we will see the creation of Great British Railways. And through Great British Railways, and the Wales unit that will be right at the heart of that organisation, we will have control over the funding of enhancements to the Wales network. And I think that is going to be a step change from where we are today.
Wel, mae nifer o enghreifftiau y gallwn dynnu sylw atynt o Lywodraethau Llafur yn cydweithio er budd y bobl yr ydym yn eu gwasanaethu. Fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros ogledd Cymru, hoffwn dynnu sylw yn gyntaf oll, mae'n debyg, at y cyhoeddiad y bydd 50 y cant yn rhagor o wasanaethau trên ar draws gogledd Cymru yn 2026 o ganlyniad i benderfyniadau a wnaed ar y cyd gan Weinidogion yma ac yn San Steffan. Mae hwnnw’n gynnydd enfawr—y mwyaf y gallaf ei gofio yn y gogledd.
Ar HS2, nid wyf yn credu bod ein safbwynt wedi newid—nid yw wedi newid. Mae’r Gweinidog cyllid presennol a’r Gweinidog cyllid blaenorol ill dau wedi amlinellu pam y mae £350 miliwn yn ffigur a briodolir i gyllid canlyniadol yn sgil HS2. Ond mae canolbwyntio’n gyfan gwbl ar £350 miliwn yn mentro colli’r wobr fwy, sef llif o welliannau a allai fod yn werth llawer mwy. Ac rwy’n canolbwyntio'n fawr ar ddatblygu llif o welliannau y cytunwyd arnynt ar y cyd drwy fwrdd Cymru i sicrhau ein bod yn cael gwelliannau ledled Cymru i'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd. Rwy'n falch o ddweud y byddwn yn cyfarfod y mis nesaf fel bwrdd rheilffyrdd Cymru. Bydd gweinidogion o Lywodraeth y DU a minnau'n cytuno ar y llif o welliannau, ac yna, pan gaiff y ddeddfwriaeth ei phasio yn San Steffan, bydd Great British Railways yn cael ei sefydlu. A thrwy Great British Railways ac uned Cymru, a fydd yn rhan ganolog o'r sefydliad hwnnw, bydd gennym reolaeth dros ariannu gwelliannau i rwydwaith Cymru. A chredaf y bydd hynny’n newid sylfaenol o'n sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd.
Thank you for the response, Cabinet Secretary, and I do look forward to those updates as time progresses.
Last week, we heard the exciting news that a Welsh company had made a breakthrough with a new innovative solution to address electric vehicle charging outside terraced housing. For anyone who may have missed the headline, Swansea-based Charge Gully have developed technology that allows electric vehicle owners to safely run charging cables from their homes to their vehicles without obstructing pedestrians, with the cables now able to be placed underground within the pavement itself. This will make a huge difference, particularly to those not able to charge their EV directly outside due to limited space, as approximately 27 per cent of houses in Wales are terraced and residents often face this problem. Charge Gully are offering a safe, secure and cheaper way of charging EVs, with an average of £1,000 extra per year spent by those not being able to charge their EV at home. With this exciting new technology set to be rolled out in trials across Wales, Cabinet Secretary, what is the Welsh Government going to be doing to capitalise on these sorts of innovative breakthroughs all across Wales? Thank you.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac edrychaf ymlaen at y diweddariadau hynny wrth i amser fynd heibio.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, clywsom y newyddion cyffrous fod cwmni o Gymru wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol gyda datrysiad arloesol newydd i fynd i’r afael â gwefru cerbydau trydan y tu allan i dai teras. I unrhyw un na welodd y pennawd, mae Charge Gully o Abertawe wedi datblygu technoleg sy’n galluogi perchnogion cerbydau trydan i redeg ceblau gwefru yn ddiogel o’u cartrefi i’w cerbydau heb rwystro cerddwyr, gyda’r ceblau bellach yn gallu cael eu gosod o dan y ddaear o fewn y palmant ei hun. Bydd hyn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr, yn enwedig i bobl na allant wefru eu cerbydau trydan y tu allan i'w cartrefi oherwydd gofod cyfyngedig, gan fod oddeutu 27 y cant o dai yng Nghymru yn dai teras ac mae trigolion yn aml yn wynebu’r broblem hon. Mae Charge Gully yn cynnig ffordd ddiogel, saff a rhatach o wefru cerbydau trydan, gyda phobl nad ydynt yn gallu gwefru eu cerbydau trydan gartref yn gwario £1,000 y flwyddyn yn ychwanegol ar gyfartaledd. Gyda’r dechnoleg newydd gyffrous hon i’w chyflwyno mewn treialon ledled Cymru, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, beth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fanteisio ar y mathau hyn o ddatblygiadau arloesol ledled Cymru? Diolch.
Well, can I thank Natasha Asghar for that question? I’m incredibly interested in new and emerging technologies, especially regarding electric vehicles. I was most impressed recently to read not just of the example from Swansea, but also of the efforts by Toyota, who have a major manufacturing plant in Wales, and their aspirations to produce vehicles with dry solid-state batteries from 2028. That could be a huge, huge benefit not just in environmental terms, but also in terms of range and charging time. I believe that it could lead to ranges of up to 800 or 900 miles from a single charge, which would be astonishing and remove all range anxiety for motorists. But I’m also incredibly interested in the potential of the innovation that the Member has pointed to to address some of the shortfalls in electric vehicle charging at present. And we’re keen to work with any innovators, with research institutions, particularly with the market, because I believe it’s the market that has the innovation and the creativity to solve the sort of problems that the Member has highlighted.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Natasha Asghar am ei chwestiwn? Mae gennyf ddiddordeb aruthrol mewn technolegau newydd a datblygol, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â cherbydau trydan. Yn ddiweddar, cefais fy synnu wrth ddarllen nid yn unig am yr enghraifft o Abertawe ond hefyd am ymdrechion Toyota, sydd â ffatri weithgynhyrchu fawr yng Nghymru, a’u dyheadau i gynhyrchu cerbydau â batris cyflwr solet sych o 2028 ymlaen. Gallai hynny fod o fudd enfawr nid yn unig yn amgylcheddol, ond hefyd o ran cwmpas teithiau ac amseroedd gwefru. Credaf y gallai arwain at gwmpas teithio o hyd at 800 neu 900 milltir cyn gorfod ailwefru, a fyddai'n anhygoel ac yn cael gwared ar unrhyw bryder sydd gan fodurwyr ynghylch pellter teithio cyn ailwefru. Ond mae gennyf gryn ddiddordeb hefyd ym mhotensial yr arloesedd y mae’r Aelod wedi tynnu sylw ato i fynd i’r afael â rhai o’r diffygion sy'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd o ran gwefru cerbydau trydan. Ac rydym yn awyddus i weithio gydag unrhyw arloeswyr, gyda sefydliadau ymchwil, yn enwedig gyda'r farchnad, gan y credaf mai'r farchnad sydd â'r arloesedd a'r creadigrwydd i ddatrys y math o broblemau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u nodi.
Thank you so much for your response, Cabinet Secretary. I think it’s fair to say that west Wales is often deprioritised when it comes to transport projects, particularly, and perhaps due to the rurality of the area and its less densely populated geographical make-up. However, this is by no means an excuse for poor transport networks. And if you want transport, or public transport, to be a truly viable alternative to cars, this must be reflected in network investments right across Wales. Cabinet Secretary, in west Wales, there is currently a severe shortage of existing train carriages, and single railway tracks are still being used on certain main railway lines. For example, there is a two-carriage train running between Cardiff Central and Milford Haven, which takes about three hours, and anyone travelling at peak times regularly has to stand for at least a significant part of the journey. Yet, your recent statement on rail mentioned west Wales not once, despite mentioning poor links between north Wales and London, even though west Wales, amongst many other transport shortfalls, is struggling with the exact same problem. Even the new Labour MP has been criticising the links between Pembrokeshire and London as, in taking this exact route, he was forced off the train at Port Talbot and into his car, which he said, and I quote, ‘He shouldn’t have to rely on’. So, Cabinet Secretary, what discussions are you having with the UK Government and rail operators about increasing carriages and connectivity between west Wales, Cardiff and further afield to ensure that residents aren’t cut off and tourists disincentivised from coming to Wales? Thank you.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud bod gorllewin Cymru yn aml yn cael ei ddad-flaenoriaethu mewn perthynas â phrosiectau trafnidiaeth, yn enwedig, ac efallai oherwydd natur wledig yr ardal a’i chyfansoddiad daearyddol llai poblog. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hyn yn esgus dros rwydweithiau trafnidiaeth gwael. Ac os ydych chi eisiau i drafnidiaeth, neu drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, fod yn ddewis amgen gwirioneddol hyfyw yn lle ceir, mae'n rhaid adlewyrchu hyn mewn buddsoddiadau rhwydwaith ledled Cymru. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yng ngorllewin Cymru, mae prinder difrifol o gerbydau trên ar hyn o bryd, ac mae traciau sengl yn dal i gael eu defnyddio ar rai o'r prif reilffyrdd. Er enghraifft, mae trên dau gerbyd yn rhedeg rhwng Caerdydd Canolog ac Aberdaugleddau, sy’n cymryd oddeutu tair awr, ac mae’n rhaid i unrhyw un sy’n teithio ar adegau prysur yn rheolaidd sefyll am ran sylweddol o’r daith o leiaf. Fodd bynnag, ni chyfeiriodd eich datganiad diweddar ar y rheilffyrdd at orllewin Cymru unwaith, er iddo grybwyll cysylltiadau gwael rhwng gogledd Cymru a Llundain, er bod gorllewin Cymru, ymhlith llawer o ddiffygion trafnidiaeth eraill, yn cael trafferth gyda’r un broblem yn union. Mae hyd yn oed yr AS Llafur newydd wedi bod yn beirniadu’r cysylltiadau rhwng sir Benfro a Llundain, gan iddo gael ei orfodi wrth deithio ar yr union lwybr hwn i ddod oddi ar y trên ym Mhort Talbot a defnyddio ei gar, y dywedodd 'na ddylai fod yn rhaid iddo ddibynnu arno'. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU a gweithredwyr rheilffyrdd ynglŷn â chynyddu nifer y cerbydau a chysylltedd rhwng gorllewin Cymru, Caerdydd a thu hwnt i sicrhau nad yw trigolion yn cael eu hynysu a thwristiaid yn cael eu perswadio rhag dod i Gymru? Diolch.
Well, can I assure the Member, first of all, that west Wales is very much in our consideration when it comes to prioritising certain public transport innovations, including, crucially, bus franchising? South-west Wales will go first in the franchising of bus services, and I think that demonstrates our commitment to the region.
In regard to rolling stock, it's an interesting fact that, when we took over the contract in 2018 from Arriva Trains Wales, we inherited 270 train carriages, and by the end of next year, through an £800 million investment, we'll have 484 carriages. We'll go from having one of the oldest fleets to having one of the newest fleets anywhere in Great Britain, and that will be of benefit to every single part of Wales.
Wel, a gaf i roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod, yn gyntaf oll, fod gorllewin Cymru yn rhan fawr iawn o'n hystyriaethau wrth flaenoriaethu arloesedd mewn trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, gan gynnwys, yn hollbwysig, masnachfreinio bysiau? De-orllewin Cymru yw'r ardal gyntaf lle bydd gwasanaethau bysiau'n cael eu masnachfreinio, a chredaf fod hynny’n dangos ein hymrwymiad i’r rhanbarth.
O ran cerbydau trenau, pan ddaeth y contract o ddwylo Trenau Arriva Cymru ac i'n dwylo ninnau yn 2018, mae'n ffaith ddiddorol i ni etifeddu 270 o gerbydau trên, ac erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn nesaf, drwy fuddsoddiad o £800 miliwn, bydd gennym 484 o gerbydau. Byddwn yn mynd o fod ag un o'r fflydoedd hynaf i fod ag un o'r fflydoedd mwyaf newydd yn unrhyw le ym Mhrydain, a bydd hynny o fudd i bob rhan o Gymru.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Diolch yn fawr. Cabinet Secretary, we've recently heard from your counterpart in Westminster, the Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh. She said that the HS2 railway line is very likely to run to London Euston and that it would make absolutely no sense to have the high-speed route terminate further out from central London. In March 2023, this stretch of line was estimated to cost around £5 billion. What makes absolutely no sense, Cabinet Secretary, is that this spend in London will result in extra funding for Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not for Wales. I know you agree, Cabinet Secretary, that this is unfair funding for Wales surrounding HS2. We've heard that, we've spoken about that, and Natasha was just talking about the consensus in this place around that. Will you be liaising with the Cabinet Secretary for finance to call on the Treasury to make sure that sense prevails and that we will get the consequential for that bit?
Diolch yn fawr. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydym wedi clywed yn ddiweddar gan eich swyddog cyfatebol yn San Steffan, yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Drafnidiaeth, Louise Haigh. Dywedodd fod y rheilffordd HS2 yn debygol iawn o ymestyn i Euston Llundain ac na fyddai'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr o gwbl pe bai'r llwybr cyflym yn dod i ben ymhellach na hynny o ganol Llundain. Ym mis Mawrth 2023, amcangyfrifwyd y byddai’r darn hwn o’r rheilffordd yn costio oddeutu £5 biliwn. Yr hyn nad yw'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr o gwbl, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yw y bydd y gwariant hwn yn Llundain yn arwain at gyllid ychwanegol i'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, ond nid i Gymru. Gwn eich bod yn cytuno, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fod hwn yn gyllid annheg i Gymru mewn perthynas â HS2. Rydym wedi clywed hynny, rydym wedi siarad am hynny, ac mae Natasha newydd fod yn siarad am y consensws yn y lle hwn ynghylch hynny. A fyddwch chi'n cysylltu ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid i alw ar y Trysorlys i sicrhau y defnyddir rhywfaint o synnwyr cyffredin ac y byddwn yn cael y cyllid canlyniadol yn sgil y darn hwnnw?
I think the Member raises an important point about the viability of HS2 and the common sense or lack of that's been applied to it. The history of HS2, actually, goes back to when consideration was being made about increasing the number of airport take-offs. The number of flights that were going between Manchester and Heathrow, in particular, was of concern, not least because of the environmental impact. So, when they were looking at introducing additional runways, HS2 was offered up as a solution to that. So, it was originally going to run to Manchester Airport to avoid the need for Manchester-to-London trips by plane. It then bloated. It became an ever grander and an ever bigger project, and ultimately, under the previous Government, it collapsed under its own weight.
What I think the new transport Secretary of State is doing is applying common sense. Equally, though, we need common sense to be applied when it comes to the consequential and it being reclassified as an England-only project. That's why we have been very clear in our discussions with UK Government counterparts that we believe a consequential is applicable. But I would say again that we must be more ambitious than just getting £350 million. We need to make sure that, over the long term, we have the investment in our rail network that brings it up to the standard that we deserve in Wales and that we should expect, the sort of standard that we see in other parts of the UK and other parts of Europe.
Credaf fod yr Aelod yn codi pwynt pwysig am hyfywedd HS2 a'r synnwyr cyffredin neu ddiffyg synnwyr cyffredin yn ei gylch. Mae hanes HS2 yn mynd yn ôl i'r adeg pan oedd ystyriaeth yn cael ei rhoi i gynyddu nifer yr hediadau o feysydd awyr. Roedd nifer yr hediadau rhwng Manceinion a Heathrow, yn arbennig, yn peri pryder, yn bennaf oherwydd yr effaith amgylcheddol. Felly, pan oeddent yn ystyried cyflwyno rhedfeydd ychwanegol, cynigiwyd HS2 fel ateb i hynny. Felly, yn wreiddiol, roedd yn mynd i ymestyn i Faes Awyr Manceinion er mwyn osgoi’r angen am deithiau o Fanceinion i Lundain mewn awyren. Yna, fe chwyddodd. Daeth yn brosiect mwy o faint a mwy mawreddog, ac yn y pen draw, o dan y Llywodraeth flaenorol, fe chwalodd o dan ei bwysau ei hun.
Yr hyn y credaf y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol newydd dros drafnidiaeth yn ei wneud yw defnyddio synnwyr cyffredin. Yn yr un modd, serch hynny, mae angen i ni ddefnyddio synnwyr cyffredin o ran y cyllid canlyniadol a'i ailddosbarthiad fel prosiect i Loegr yn unig. Dyna pam ein bod wedi dweud yn glir iawn yn ein trafodaethau â chymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU ein bod yn credu bod cyllid canlyniadol yn ddyledus. Ond rwy'n dweud eto fod yn rhaid inni fod yn fwy uchelgeisiol na chael £350 miliwn yn unig. Mae angen inni sicrhau, dros y tymor hir, ein bod yn cael buddsoddiad yn ein rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd sy’n codi ei safon i'r hyn yr ydym yn ei haeddu ac y dylem ei ddisgwyl yng Nghymru, y math o safon a welwn mewn rhannau eraill o’r DU a rhannau eraill o Ewrop.
I'm not sure you agree that we should be getting that bit as well. I agree with you on that, but £350 million is very different from £5 billion or £4 billion, and imagining what that could do to help the legacy of underinvestment in our own railway network. With your new partnership with Great British Railways and what you announced recently, and the historic legacy of underfunding our railway system, do you agree with me that the railway should be devolved fully to Wales, so that we've got control? But what mechanisms could be put in place to make sure that that historic underinvestment isn't a liability that we would have to take on? How are you working with your friends in power in London to make sure that, if you agree that we should be devolving rail, it should be fit for purpose today, rather than something that is inherently not working?
Nid wyf yn siŵr a ydych chi'n cytuno y dylem gael y cyllid hwnnw hefyd. Cytunaf â chi ar hynny, ond mae £350 miliwn yn wahanol iawn i £5 biliwn neu £4 biliwn, a dychmygu beth y gallai hynny ei wneud i helpu i unioni'r hanes o danfuddsoddi yn ein rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd ein hunain. Gyda’ch partneriaeth newydd gyda Great British Railways a’r hyn a gyhoeddwyd gennych yn ddiweddar, a’r hanes o danariannu ein system reilffyrdd, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y dylid datganoli’r rheilffyrdd yn llawn i Gymru, fel bod gennym reolaeth? Ond pa fecanweithiau y gellid eu rhoi ar waith i sicrhau nad yw’r hanes o danfuddsoddi yn rhwymedigaeth y byddai’n rhaid i ni ei hysgwyddo? Sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda’ch ffrindiau sydd mewn grym yn Llundain i sicrhau, os ydych chi'n cytuno y dylem ddatganoli'r rheilffyrdd, y dylent fod yn addas i'r diben heddiw, yn hytrach na rhywbeth nad yw’n gweithio?
I think Peredur makes a really important point about ensuring that when you take ownership of something it is in good condition. I've compared the rail network in Wales to a classic car. By and large, it's almost always less expensive to purchase a fully restored classic car than one that needs restoration, especially a prized car. Similarly, a rail network is far better to adopt once it's been fully restored. What we are proposing with Great British Railways and the Wales business unit that will be at its heart is an ability to have control over enhancements without necessarily having the ownership at the outset. Because the ownership at the outset, in my view, would not be an asset, it would be a liability. We need to see devolution of rail infrastructure as part of a process, and the process begins with getting that pipeline of enhancements, that investment that is required, and over time building up the network to a twenty-first century standard, and at that point transfer ownership.
Credaf fod Peredur yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn ynglŷn â sicrhau, pan fyddwch yn cymryd perchnogaeth ar rywbeth, ei fod mewn cyflwr da. Rwyf wedi cymharu’r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru â hen gar. At ei gilydd, mae bron bob amser yn rhatach prynu hen gar sydd wedi'i atgyweirio'n llawn nag un sydd angen ei atgyweirio, yn enwedig car gwerthfawr. Yn yr un modd, mae'n llawer gwell mabwysiadu rhwydwaith rheilffordd pan fydd wedi'i atgyweirio'n llawn. Yr hyn rydym yn ei gynnig gyda Great British Railways ac uned fusnes Cymru a fydd yn rhan ganolog ohono yw’r gallu i gael rheolaeth dros welliannau heb fod â’r berchnogaeth ar y dechrau, o reidrwydd. Oherwydd ni fyddai’r berchnogaeth ar y dechrau yn ased, yn fy marn i, byddai’n rhwymedigaeth. Mae angen inni ystyried datganoli’r seilwaith rheilffyrdd yn rhan o broses, ac mae’r broses yn dechrau drwy gael y llif o welliannau, y buddsoddiad sydd ei angen, a thros amser, adeiladu’r rhwydwaith i safon yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, a throsglwyddo perchnogaeth ar y pwynt hwnnw.
You talk about a twenty-first century standard; are we going to have to wait until the twenty-second century for it happen? It would be worth knowing what sort of timescales you’re looking at there and what sort of conversations you’re having on that.
The fundamentals of a public transport system, in my mind, are that it needs to be reliable, it needs to be frequent, it needs to be timely, and it needs to have reasonable fares. Less than 4 per cent of our railway is electrified, you cannot get from Aberystwyth to Cardiff on the train without going into England, and we’ve estimated that we’ve lost 10 per cent to 15 per cent of bus services. There are many more examples of how transport networks are failing across Wales. Meanwhile, the cost of bus and rail services is continuing to go up.
Going back to the original question and whether or not we should be getting that Barnett consequential from the £5 billion estimated spend on that London bit, would you advocate for spending any consequential that comes from HS2 or any rail network on the rail network in Wales?
Rydych chi'n sôn am safon yr unfed ganrif ar hugain; a ydym yn mynd i orfod aros tan yr ail ganrif ar hugain i hynny ddigwydd? Byddai'n werth gwybod pa fath o amserlenni rydych chi'n eu hystyried a pha fath o sgyrsiau rydych chi'n eu cael ynghylch hynny.
Hanfodion system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, yn fy marn i, yw bod angen iddi fod yn ddibynadwy, mae angen iddi fod yn rheolaidd, mae angen iddi fod yn amserol, ac mae angen iddi gael prisiau rhesymol. Mae llai na 4 y cant o’n rheilffyrdd wedi’u trydaneiddio, ni allwch fynd o Aberystwyth i Gaerdydd ar y trên heb fynd i mewn i Loegr, ac rydym wedi amcangyfrif ein bod wedi colli 10 y cant i 15 y cant o wasanaethau bysiau. Mae sawl enghraifft arall o sut y mae rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth yn methu ledled Cymru. Yn y cyfamser, mae cost gwasanaethau bysiau a threnau yn parhau i godi.
Gan fynd yn ôl at y cwestiwn gwreiddiol ac a ddylem gael cyllid canlyniadol Barnett o’r £5 biliwn o wariant amcangyfrifedig ar y darn hwnnw yn Llundain, a fyddech chi'n dadlau dros wario unrhyw gyllid canlyniadol a ddaw yn sgil HS2 neu unrhyw rwydwaith rheilffyrdd ar y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru?
This is another really interesting question, because it goes to the heart of devolution and the decisions that are made in Wales for Wales. You point to the very fact that, when we get a consequential for whatever portfolio, that money isn’t necessarily then spent on that purpose. It would be for the Welsh Government collectively to decide how a HS2 consequential would be invested in Wales. I could not stand here today and guarantee that all £350 million of that consequential would go into public transport or into rail in particular.
What I think is vitally important, therefore, is that we keep our eyes on the bigger prize, which is that enhancement pipeline of rail investment that will be agreed with Westminster counterparts. I’m hopeful that, as a result of having an ambitious pipeline of investment, we will deliver greater improvements than we have seen in the past 20 years in terms of rail infrastructure in Wales.
But just on the point of why people travel by public transport, you’re absolutely right, reliability is the No. 1 factor. That is why we have seen a huge increase in the number of passengers using Transport for Wales services, because it follows incredible improvements in terms of reliability and punctuality. Ultimately, that has led to a very significant increase in levels of customer satisfaction. I think that should be welcomed on all sides of the Chamber.
Mae hwn yn gwestiwn gwirioneddol ddiddorol arall, gan ei fod yn mynd at wraidd datganoli a’r penderfyniadau a wneir yng Nghymru ar gyfer Cymru. Rydych chi'n tynnu sylw at yr union ffaith, pan gawn gyllid canlyniadol ar gyfer pa bynnag bortffolio, nad yw'r arian hwnnw o reidrwydd yn cael ei wario wedyn at y diben hwnnw. Mater i Lywodraeth Cymru yn gyfunol fyddai penderfynu sut y byddai cyllid canlyniadol yn sgil HS2 yn cael ei fuddsoddi yng Nghymru. Ni allwn sefyll yma heddiw a gwarantu y byddai pob ceiniog o'r £350 miliwn o gyllid canlyniadol yn mynd ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus neu ar y rheilffyrdd yn benodol.
Yr hyn sy’n hanfodol bwysig felly yn fy marn i yw ein bod yn cadw ein llygaid ar y wobr fwy, sef y llif o fuddsoddiad ychwanegol mewn rheilffyrdd y byddwn yn cytuno arni gyda chymheiriaid yn San Steffan. Rwy’n obeithiol, o ganlyniad i gael llif uchelgeisiol o fuddsoddiad, y byddwn yn sicrhau mwy o welliannau nag a welsom yn yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf ar y seilwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru.
Ond ar y pwynt ynghylch pam fod pobl yn teithio ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, dibynadwyedd yw'r prif ffactor. Dyna pam ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd enfawr yn nifer y teithwyr sy’n defnyddio gwasanaethau Trafnidiaeth Cymru, oherwydd y gwelliannau anhygoel o ran dibynadwyedd a phrydlondeb. Yn y pen draw, mae hynny wedi arwain at gynnydd sylweddol iawn i lefelau boddhad cwsmeriaid. Credaf y dylid croesawu hynny ar bob ochr i’r Siambr.
3. Pa asesiad y mae'r Ysgrifenydd Cabinet wedi ei wneud o lwyddiant newidiadau i amserlenni bysiau TrawsCymru? OQ61711
3. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the success of the changes made to TrawsCymru bus timetables? OQ61711
We continue to invest heavily in the TrawsCymru bus network in recognition of the key role these services play in providing strategic public transport links across Wales. Transport for Wales are undertaking a strategic review that will examine the effectiveness of existing services and opportunities for further improvements.
Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi’n drwm yn rhwydwaith bysiau TrawsCymru i gydnabod y rôl allweddol y mae’r gwasanaethau hyn yn ei chwarae yn darparu cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus strategol ledled Cymru. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn cynnal adolygiad strategol a fydd yn archwilio effeithiolrwydd gwasanaethau presennol a chyfleoedd ar gyfer gwelliannau pellach.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am yr ateb yna. Byddwch chi yn ymwybodol fod y newidiadau i’r T3, er enghraifft, wedi bod mewn grym rŵan ers tua blwyddyn. Ac yn y flwyddyn ers i’r T3 newid ei amserlen, does dim amheuaeth fod ansawdd bywyd nifer fawr o bobl, o Lanuwchllyn i Gorwen, wedi dirywio yn sylweddol. Mewn gwirionedd, dwi’n gorfod rhoi lifft yn aml iawn i bobl pan dwi’n eu gweld nhw yn y Bala, nôl adre o apwyntiad efo’r meddyg neu o’u gwaith neu o siopa, oherwydd eu bod nhw’n methu â dal y bws neu’n gorfod aros oriau tan y bws nesaf—heb sôn am ddyddiau Sul, pan nad oes yna fws o gwbl. Yn Llanuwchllyn, mae yna bobl oedrannus yn cael eu gadael i ffwrdd ar y briffordd ac yn gorfod cerdded milltir bron i’w cartref nhw, sydd yn afresymol i rywun efo problemau symudedd a phobl mewn oedran, fel dwi’n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno. Mae yna bobl ifanc bellach yn methu â mynd i glybiau chwaraeon ar ôl ysgol oherwydd nad ydy'r bws yn caniatáu iddyn nhw wneud hynny, neu eu bod nhw'n ddibynnol ar lifftiau preifat, sydd yn golygu bod defnydd car preifat a defnydd o losgi tanwydd yn cynyddu ac yn gwneud drwg i'r amgylchedd. Felly, mae'n amlwg—
Thank you very much to the Cabinet Secretary for that response. You’ll be aware that the changes to the T3, for example, have been in force now for around about a year. And in the year since the T3 changed its timetable, there is no doubt that the quality of life of a number of people, from Llanuwchllyn to Corwen, has declined significantly. Truth be told, I have to give a lift very often to people when I see them in Bala, back home from a doctor’s appointment or from work or from a shopping trip, because they can't catch the bus or have to wait hours until the next bus—not to mention Sundays, when there is no bus service at all. In Llanuwchllyn, there are older people being left at the side of the road and having to walk almost a mile to their homes, which is unreasonable for those with mobility issues or older people, as I'm sure you would agree. There are young people who can’t attend sports clubs after school because the bus doesn't enable them to do that, or they are dependent on private lifts, which means that the use of private vehicles, with the fuel associated with it, is increasing, and it's damaging to the environment. So, it's clear—
Cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
A question, please, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Mi ddof i at y cwestiwn—diolch, Llywydd. Mae'n amlwg, felly, fod hyn wedi methu ac mae angen asesiad. Felly, a wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddod draw i Landderfel a Llanuwchllyn efo fi i weld hyn, a sicrhau bod y bws yn cael ei adfer ar gyfer yr hen lwybr?
I'll come to my question—thank you, Llywydd. It's clear, therefore, that these changes have failed and we need an assessment. So, will the Cabinet Secretary come to Llandderfel and Llanuwchllyn to see these changes in action, and ensure that the bus service is restored on the old route?
Can I thank Mabon ap Gwynfor for raising this vitally important question for so many communities, not just in his constituency, but beyond? I'll declare an interest in this question in that the T3 service also runs through my constituency of Clwyd South, so I'm well aware of the dissatisfaction with the timetable changes that were made and the reliability issues that too many passengers have had to face. I'd very much enjoy a visit to the Member's constituency with him to look at what has happened since the T3 route was altered, and I can assure him that I've asked Transport for Wales to look again at the route, as part of that wider strategic review that they're doing of the whole network. It will involve further consultation in the coming months, and that will be before any timetable changes, route changes, are agreed. And I'll ensure that all Members with an interest in the T3 service are engaged by TfW to ascertain their views.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mabon ap Gwynfor am godi’r cwestiwn hanfodol bwysig hwn i gynifer o gymunedau, nid yn unig yn ei etholaeth ef, ond y tu hwnt? Hoffwn ddatgan buddiant yn y cwestiwn am fod y gwasanaeth T3 hefyd yn rhedeg drwy fy etholaeth yn Ne Clwyd, felly rwy’n ymwybodol iawn o’r anfodlonrwydd â’r newidiadau a wnaed i’r amserlen a’r materion dibynadwyedd y bu’n rhaid i ormod o deithwyr eu hwynebu. Hoffwn ymweld ag etholaeth yr Aelod gydag ef i edrych ar yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd ers i lwybr y T3 gael ei addasu, a gallaf roi sicrwydd iddo fy mod wedi gofyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru edrych eto ar y llwybr, fel rhan o'r adolygiad strategol ehangach y maent yn ei gynnal o'r rhwydwaith cyfan. Bydd yn golygu ymgynghori pellach yn y misoedd nesaf, a bydd hynny cyn cytuno ar unrhyw newidiadau i’r amserlen neu newidiadau i lwybrau. A byddaf yn sicrhau bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn cysylltu â'r holl Aelodau sydd â diddordeb yng ngwasanaeth T3 fel y gallant leisio'u barn.
Cabinet Secretary, the T1 bus is an electric bus that runs from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth. It starts its journey from the showground, where it charges its batteries, then it makes its way into Carmarthen for its first pick-up, to pick up patrons. But what used to be a park-and-ride service no longer exists at Carmarthen showground, allowing patrons to park in the showground and get bus access into the town centre. The bus continues to travel that route, yet it's not allowing passengers to travel between the showground and Lammas Street. This is a bit of a weird anomaly, especially when we're advocating for more and more people to use the bus services. Could I ask that you speak with TrawsCymru to see why this is happening? Can we not get patrons onto the bus from the showground, so that they can travel into Carmarthen town, to Lammas Street, or onwards to Aberystwyth, if they so wish?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, bws trydan sy’n rhedeg o Gaerfyrddin i Aberystwyth yw'r bws T1. Mae'n cychwyn ei daith o faes y sioe, lle mae'n gwefru ei fatris, yna'n mynd i mewn i Gaerfyrddin i gasglu ei deithwyr cyntaf. Ond nid yw'r gwasanaeth parcio a theithio ar faes y sioe yng Nghaerfyrddin, a oedd yn caniatáu i gwsmeriaid barcio ar faes y sioe a chael mynediad ar fws i ganol y dref, yn bodoli mwyach. Mae'r bws yn parhau i deithio ar hyd y llwybr hwnnw, ac eto nid yw'n caniatáu i deithwyr deithio rhwng maes y sioe a Heol Awst. Mae hyn yn dipyn o anomaledd, yn enwedig pan ydym yn hyrwyddo mwy a mwy o ddefnydd o'r gwasanaethau bws. A gaf i ofyn ichi siarad â TrawsCymru i weld pam y mae hyn yn digwydd? Oni allwn gludo cwsmeriaid ar y bws o faes y sioe, fel y gallant deithio i dref Caerfyrddin, i Heol Awst, neu ymlaen i Aberystwyth, os ydynt yn dymuno?
I'm very grateful to Sam Kurtz for raising this issue. I can assure him that I will ask officials and Transport for Wales to examine this particular problem.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Sam Kurtz am godi’r mater hwn. Gallaf roi sicrwydd iddo y byddaf yn gofyn i swyddogion a Trafnidiaeth Cymru archwilio’r broblem benodol hon.
4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad ar y camau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod yna lwybrau diogel i ddisgyblion cynradd ac uwchradd gyrraedd yr ysgol? OQ61707
4. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on what steps the Welsh Government is taking to ensure there are safe routes for primary and secondary pupils to get to school? OQ61707
The Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 places duties on local authorities to assess the suitability of travel for learners. For 2024-25, we've allocated over £6 million to local authorities from our Safe Routes in Communities grant for schemes that are specifically aimed at improving conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling to school.
Mae Mesur Teithio gan Ddysgwyr (Cymru) 2008 yn gosod dyletswyddau ar awdurdodau lleol i asesu addasrwydd cludiant i ddysgwyr. Ar gyfer 2024-25, rydym wedi dyrannu dros £6 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol o’n grant Llwybrau Diogel mewn Cymunedau ar gyfer cynlluniau sydd wedi’u hanelu’n benodol at wella amodau cerdded, olwyno a beicio i’r ysgol.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You'll be aware, with the learner travel Measure, that there had been hope to review and improve the offer. It has led to the fact that many local authorities now are actually changing the eligibility for free home-to-school transport. If you look at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, for instance, the council has decided to align the eligible distance with Welsh Government guidance—from 2 miles to 3 miles. There's going to be a protest in Pontypridd, organised by parents from across Rhondda Cynon Taf, this coming Saturday, because they're concerned that secondary school pupils who live just under the 3-mile threshold now face walks of over an hour, or have to pay for two public buses, to get to school. Many of these routes are unlit and unsafe, especially as we head into winter when the days are darker and colder. Things have not changed, despite this issue being raised countless times. More young people in my region are finding it increasingly difficult to get to school, or are missing out all together because there are no buses or they can't afford the price of a ticket. Will the Cabinet Secretary finally take the necessary steps to address this issue and ensure that every pupil has a safe, accessible and affordable route to get to school?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, gyda’r Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr, fod yna obaith wedi bod o weld y cynnig yn cael ei adolygu a'i wella. Mae wedi arwain at y ffaith bod llawer o awdurdodau lleol bellach yn newid y cymhwystra i gael cludiant am ddim rhwng y cartref a'r ysgol. Os edrychwch ar Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf, er enghraifft, mae'r cyngor wedi penderfynu alinio'r pellter cymhwystra â chanllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru—o 2 filltir i 3 milltir. Bydd protest ym Mhontypridd, wedi'i threfnu gan rieni o bob rhan o Rondda Cynon Taf, ddydd Sadwrn nesaf, am eu bod yn pryderu bod disgyblion ysgolion uwchradd sy'n byw ychydig o dan y trothwy 3 milltir bellach yn wynebu gorfod cerdded am dros awr, neu orfod talu am ddau fws cyhoeddus, i gyrraedd yr ysgol. Mae llawer o'r llwybrau hyn heb eu goleuo ac yn anniogel, yn enwedig wrth iddi ddod yn aeaf pan fydd y dyddiau'n dywyllach ac yn oerach. Nid yw pethau wedi newid, er i’r mater hwn gael ei godi droeon. Mae mwy o bobl ifanc yn fy rhanbarth i yn ei chael hi’n fwyfwy anodd cyrraedd yr ysgol, neu'n colli ysgol am nad oes bysiau neu am na allant fforddio pris tocyn. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gymryd y camau angenrheidiol o'r diwedd i fynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn a sicrhau bod gan bob disgybl lwybr diogel, hygyrch a fforddiadwy i gyrraedd yr ysgol?
Can I thank Heledd Fychan for her question? I'm minded to propose a debate in Government time on this important subject. It's being raised on numerous occasions in the Chamber, and I think it merits further debate, if Members would agree. Diolch. I think it's important to point to the fact that the transport provision is paid for by councils through the revenue support grant. I think the decisions of local authorities recently demonstrate just how stretched their funds are, they really do, especially when areas of service such as social care are so, so pressing. So, local authorities have my sympathy for the difficult decisions that they're having to make.
Now, reducing the mileage threshold wouldn't necessarily solve many of the problems that Members have raised over this issue, because there are structural challenges that learner transport faces, including the lack of operators that are available, the lack of infrastructure in and around schools as well to cope with an increase in buses that would be required. And of course, it would require a significant sum of money to overcome.
We are taking forward the recommendations of the review. That will improve consistency across Wales, and I'm also looking at convening local authorities, schools, school heads and operators to learn about the good practice that is taking place in Wales. There are examples of schools and local authorities and operators overcoming the challenge of providing provision. Estyn recently highlighted an excellent example, I thought it was, in Swansea. And that example shows what can happen when a secondary school works with a local authority and the local bus operator to negotiate affordable fares for their learners. So, that sort of good practice needs to be not just shared, but rolled out across Wales. So, as I say, I'm looking at convening a summit of local authorities, school heads and operators to do just that. And if Members are in agreement, I think, based on the response I've heard today, I'd be more than happy to bring forward a debate in Government time.
A gaf i ddiolch i Heledd Fychan am ei chwestiwn? Rwy’n ystyried cynnig dadl yn ystod amser y Llywodraeth ar y pwnc pwysig hwn. Mae’n cael ei godi ar sawl achlysur yn y Siambr, a chredaf ei fod yn haeddu dadl bellach, os byddai’r Aelodau’n cytuno. Diolch. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig tynnu sylw at y ffaith mai cynghorau sy’n talu am ddarpariaeth trafnidiaeth drwy’r grant cynnal refeniw. Credaf fod penderfyniadau awdurdodau lleol yn ddiweddar yn dangos o ddifrif cymaint o bwysau sydd ar eu cyllid, yn enwedig pan fo meysydd gwasanaeth fel gofal cymdeithasol yn gwasgu i'r fath raddau. Felly, rwy'n cydymdeimlo gydag awdurdodau lleol a'r penderfyniadau anodd y maent yn gorfod eu gwneud.
Nawr, ni fyddai lleihau’r trothwy milltiredd o reidrwydd yn datrys llawer o’r problemau y mae Aelodau wedi’u codi mewn perthynas â’r mater hwn, gan fod heriau strwythurol y mae cludiant i ddysgwyr yn eu hwynebu, gan gynnwys diffyg gweithredwyr, a'r diffyg seilwaith mewn ysgolion ac o’u cwmpas hefyd i ymdopi â'r bysiau ychwanegol y byddai eu hangen. Ac wrth gwrs, byddai angen swm sylweddol o arian i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem.
Rydym yn bwrw ymlaen ag argymhellion yr adolygiad. Bydd hynny'n gwella cysondeb ledled Cymru, ac rwyf hefyd yn edrych ar gynnull awdurdodau lleol, ysgolion, penaethiaid ysgolion a gweithredwyr i ddysgu am yr arferion da sy'n digwydd yng Nghymru. Ceir enghreifftiau o ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol a gweithredwyr yn goresgyn yr her o ddarparu darpariaeth. Amlygodd Estyn enghraifft wych, yn fy marn i, yn Abertawe yn ddiweddar. Ac mae’r enghraifft honno’n dangos beth a all ddigwydd pan fydd ysgol uwchradd yn gweithio gydag awdurdod lleol a’r gweithredwr bysiau lleol i negodi prisiau siwrneiau fforddiadwy i’w dysgwyr. Felly, mae angen rhannu’r math hwnnw o arfer da, a'i efelychu ledled Cymru. Felly, fel y dywedaf, rwy'n edrych ar gynnull uwchgynhadledd o awdurdodau lleol, penaethiaid ysgolion a gweithredwyr i wneud yn union hynny. Ac os yw'r Aelodau'n cytuno, fel y credaf eu bod, yn seiliedig ar yr ymateb a glywais heddiw, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyflwyno dadl yn ystod amser y Llywodraeth.
I'm frequently contacted by parents whose children are being left in a vulnerable position by local authorities' strict interpretation of the Welsh Government's Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, which restricts free home-to-school transport to learners of compulsory school age who live 3 miles or further from their nearest suitable school. The measurement they use is often arbitrary. Alternative public transport is often unreliable, leaving children abandoned at bus stops, and practical safe walking routes are usually unavailable.
The most recent example of this, which I've written to you about, applies to pupils from Sychdyn in Flintshire who attend the Alun School in Mold. This is despite the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure stating that, where learners are not entitled to free transport, local authorities have the power to provide transport on a discretionary basis, and defining that a route is only an available route if it is safe for a child without a disability or learning difficulty to walk the route alone, or with an escort if the age of the child would call for the provision of an escort. In addition, therefore, to the actions that you've proposed, which I welcome, how will you monitor and evaluate implementation to ensure, basically, that local authorities have got it, and are doing what they can to assist communities like this?
Rwy'n aml yn clywed gan rieni y mae eu plant yn cael eu gadael mewn sefyllfa fregus gan y ffordd lem y mae awdurdodau lleol yn dehongli Mesur Teithio i Ddysgwyr (Cymru) 2008 Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n cyfyngu ar gludiant am ddim o'r cartref i'r ysgol i ddysgwyr o oedran ysgol gorfodol sy'n byw 3 milltir neu ymhellach o'u hysgol addas agosaf. Mae'r dull o fesur a ddefnyddiant yn aml yn fympwyol. Mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus amgen yn aml yn annibynadwy, sy'n golygu bod plant yn cael eu gadael mewn safleoedd bysiau, ac fel arfer nid oes llwybrau cerdded diogel ymarferol ar gael.
Mae'r enghraifft ddiweddaraf o hyn, yr ysgrifennais atoch yn ei chylch, yn ymwneud â disgyblion o Sychdyn yn sir y Fflint sy'n mynychu Ysgol Alun yn yr Wyddgrug. Mae hyn er bod Mesur Teithio gan Ddysgwyr (Cymru) yn datgan, lle nad oes gan ddysgwyr hawl i gludiant am ddim, fod gan awdurdodau lleol bŵer i ddarparu cludiant yn ôl disgresiwn, a diffinio bod llwybr ond yn llwybr sydd ar gael os yw'n ddiogel i blentyn heb anabledd neu anhawster dysgu gerdded ar y llwybr ar ei ben ei hun, neu gyda hebryngwr os byddai oedran y plentyn yn galw am ddarparu hebryngwr. Yn ogystal â'r camau a gynigiwyd gennych felly, ac rwy'n eu croesawu, sut y byddwch chi'n monitro ac yn gwerthuso gweithrediad i sicrhau, yn y bôn, fod awdurdodau lleol yn deall, ac yn gwneud yr hyn a allant i gynorthwyo cymunedau fel hyn?
Can I thank Mark Isherwood for providing that example of an inconsistent approach in Wales? And that's why we are taking forward the recommendations of the review—to address those inconsistencies. In terms of monitoring, this is something that Transport for Wales are keen to ensure that they conduct alongside Welsh Government.
We recognise the challenge right across Wales that many learners face right now. As I say, there are structural problems that need to be overcome in order to address those challenges everywhere. But I would point to the forthcoming bus Bill as part of the solution. Being able to control networks, being able to control routes and timetables, will make a significant difference to the provision of transport for learners. It won't solve every problem in its own right, but it will be part of the package of solutions that we wish to drive forward.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mark Isherwood am ddarparu'r enghraifft honno o weithredu anghyson yng Nghymru? A dyna pam ein bod ni'n bwrw ymlaen ag argymhellion yr adolygiad—i fynd i'r afael â'r anghysonderau hynny. O ran monitro, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn awyddus i sicrhau eu bod yn ei wneud ochr yn ochr â Llywodraeth Cymru.
Rydym yn cydnabod yr her y mae llawer o ddysgwyr yn ei hwynebu ledled Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Fel y dywedais, mae yna broblemau strwythurol sydd angen eu goresgyn er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r heriau hynny ym mhobman. Ond rwyf am gyfeirio at y Bil bysiau sydd ar y ffordd fel rhan o'r ateb. Bydd gallu rheoli rhwydweithiau, gallu rheoli llwybrau ac amserlenni, yn gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i'r ddarpariaeth cludiant i ddysgwyr. Ni fydd yn datrys pob problem, ond fe fydd yn rhan o'r pecyn o atebion yr ydym am ei hyrwyddo.
Cabinet Secretary, in areas of Newport East such as Ringland, Llanwern, Liswerry and Glan Llyn, pupils walk to the two local high schools, Llanwern and Lliswerry High, alongside and sometimes crossing the very busy southern distributor road, which sees high volumes of traffic travelling at high speed. One option for dealing with those issues is to provide safe active travel routes, and I just wonder what discussions you and your officials have with authorities, including Newport City Council, to make sure that, when there are those issues, safe active travel routes are provided.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet , mewn ardaloedd yn Nwyrain Casnewydd fel Ringland, Llan-wern, Llyswyry a Glan-llyn, mae disgyblion yn cerdded i'r ddwy ysgol uwchradd leol, Llan-wern ac Ysgol Uwchradd Llyswyry, ar hyd ochr, ac weithiau'n croesi, y ffordd ddosbarthu ddeheuol brysur iawn sy'n cario llawer iawn o draffig yn teithio ar gyflymder uchel. Un opsiwn ar gyfer ymdrin â'r broblem yw darparu llwybrau teithio llesol diogel, a thybed pa drafodaethau rydych chi a'ch swyddogion yn eu cael gydag awdurdodau, gan gynnwys Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd, i sicrhau bod llwybrau teithio llesol diogel yn cael eu darparu lle bydd y materion hyn yn codi.
Can I thank John Griffiths for his question? He makes an essential point, that safety is of paramount importance in considering active travel provision. I'm personally not aware of complaints in regard to Lliswerry or Llanwern high schools and the access to them. However, I will ask my officials to engage with the local authority and the schools to understand the scale of the problem and the possible remedies. If I could, I'd like to point to just one example of intervention that is proving to be very, very successful. I'm very proud of this particular scheme. It's delivered by Living Streets. It's the walk to school programme and it will run for the next two years, with funding available from Welsh Government, and it will cover 170 primary schools and 42 secondary schools. I will seek to find out if the two high schools that the Member has identified today are part of that programme.
A gaf i ddiolch i John Griffiths am ei gwestiwn? Mae'n gwneud pwynt allweddol, fod diogelwch o'r pwys mwyaf wrth ystyried darpariaeth teithio llesol. Yn bersonol, nid wyf yn ymwybodol o gwynion ynglŷn ag ysgolion uwchradd Llyswyry neu Lan-wern a'r mynediad atynt. Fodd bynnag, fe ofynnaf i fy swyddogion ymgysylltu â'r awdurdod lleol a'r ysgolion i ddeall maint y broblem a'r atebion posibl. Os caf, hoffwn dynnu sylw at un enghraifft yn unig o ymyrraeth sy'n profi'n llwyddiannus iawn. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r cynllun penodol hwn. Fe'i cyflwynir gan Living Streets. Rhaglen gerdded i'r ysgol yw hi ac fe fydd yn weithredol am y ddwy flynedd nesaf, gyda chyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a bydd yn cynnwys 170 o ysgolion cynradd a 42 o ysgolion uwchradd. Fe edrychaf i weld a yw'r ddwy ysgol uwchradd y mae'r Aelod wedi'u nodi heddiw yn rhan o'r rhaglen honno.
Of course, something like a quarter of all school funding goes on the cost of school transport, and one of the recommendations of the review of the learner travel Measure was to look at how more journeys could be made by active travel, and that requires provision of safe routes. And, of course, that has to be part of a network and that needs to be a long-term commitment. It's taken time to build up expertise within Transport for Wales to create a centre of excellence to help local authorities build routes that the local community needs. But there's a danger, if Welsh Government funding for active travel is cut, that all of that progress will be unravelled. Will the Minister commit to making sure there are modal shift targets within the regional transport plans, and that funding for the RTPs are aligned with the modal shift targets that we have in the Wales transport strategy?
Wrth gwrs, mae rhywbeth fel chwarter yr holl gyllid ysgol yn mynd ar gost trafnidiaeth ysgol, ac un o argymhellion yr adolygiad o'r Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr oedd edrych ar sut y gellid gwneud mwy o deithiau trwy deithio llesol, ac mae hynny'n galw am ddarparu llwybrau diogel. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i hynny fod yn rhan o rwydwaith ac mae angen iddo fod yn ymrwymiad hirdymor. Mae wedi cymryd amser i ddatblygu arbenigedd yn Trafnidiaeth Cymru i greu canolfan ragoriaeth i helpu awdurdodau lleol i adeiladu llwybrau sydd eu hangen ar y gymuned leol. Ond os yw cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer teithio llesol yn cael ei dorri, mae perygl y bydd yr holl gynnydd hwnnw'n cael ei ddad-wneud. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo i sicrhau bod targedau newid dulliau teithio o fewn y cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol, a bod cyllid ar gyfer y cynlluniau yn cyd-fynd â'r targedau newid dulliau teithio sydd gennym yn strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru?
I think Lee Waters makes an important point about maintaining the momentum that we've built over time in regard to modal shift, and corporate joint committees have a statutory requirement to develop regional transport plans that set out policies to implement the Wales transport strategy. And as our guidance makes very, very clear, this includes pursuing modal shift and decarbonisation and, with it, there are targets. Also, my officials and Transport for Wales are supporting corporate joint committees with this work. I think it's vitally important that regional transport plans provide the basis to give local leaders a greater say over how transport funding is spent in their region, but also I would agree that it's vital that we continue to use Transport for Wales and the expertise contained within Transport for Wales to support CJCs and local authorities in delivering their plans against the Wales transport strategy.
Rwy'n credu bod Lee Waters yn gwneud pwynt pwysig ynghylch cynnal y momentwm a adeiladwyd gennym dros amser o ran newid dulliau teithio, a cheir gofyniad statudol i gyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig ddatblygu cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol sy'n nodi polisïau i weithredu strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru. Ac fel y mae ein canllawiau yn dweud yn glir iawn, mae hyn yn cynnwys mynd ar drywydd newid dulliau teithio a datgarboneiddio a cheir targedau i gyd-fynd â hynny. Hefyd, mae fy swyddogion a Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn cefnogi cyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig gyda'r gwaith hwn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol bwysig fod cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol yn darparu sail i roi mwy o lais i arweinwyr lleol ynghylch sut y caiff cyllid trafnidiaeth ei wario yn eu rhanbarth, ond hefyd rwy'n cytuno ei bod yn hanfodol ein bod yn parhau i ddefnyddio Trafnidiaeth Cymru a'r arbenigedd sydd wedi'i gynnwys yn Trafnidiaeth Cymru i gefnogi cyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig ac awdurdodau lleol i gyflawni eu cynlluniau yn erbyn strategaeth drafnidiaeth Cymru.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ynghylch deintyddiaeth yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ61715
5. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care regarding dentistry in north Wales? OQ61715
I have recently met with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and he has assured me that improving access to NHS dental services remains a priority, particularly for new patients, of which more than 73,000 have been seen in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board since April 2022.
Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, ac mae wedi fy sicrhau bod gwella mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth, yn enwedig i gleifion newydd, ac mae mwy na 73,000 ohonynt wedi'u gweld ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ers mis Ebrill 2022.
Thank you for that. You'll be aware, of course, of the closures that we've seen in terms of access to NHS dental services across north Wales of late, and Dant-y-coed in Coedpoeth is the most recent of a long list, sadly. We have a situation now where a family of four potentially will have to pay £400, £500 a year just for check-ups and even more if they need any kind of treatment following that. We know that contracts are an issue. The dentists are telling us that there are issues with the contract between the Government and the sector, but also sufficiency of supply of dentists. You will have heard Plaid Cymru's calls for a dentistry school. I'm wondering whether you support the establishment of that proposition in principle, if not without acknowledging some of the practical challenges. And if you do, then what case are you making within Government to try and realise that ambition?
Diolch am hynny. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, o'r cau a welsom o ran mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG ledled gogledd Cymru yn ddiweddar, a Dant-y-coed yng Nghoed-poeth yw'r diweddaraf o restr hir, yn anffodus. Mae gennym sefyllfa nawr lle bydd teulu o bedwar o bosibl yn gorfod talu £400, £500 y flwyddyn am archwiliadau'n unig a hyd yn oed mwy os oes angen unrhyw driniaeth arnynt yn sgil hynny. Rydym yn gwybod bod contractau'n broblem. Mae'r deintyddion yn dweud wrthym fod problemau gyda'r contract rhwng y Llywodraeth a'r sector, a phroblemau prinder deintyddion hefyd. Fe fyddwch wedi clywed galwadau Plaid Cymru am ysgol ddeintyddiaeth. Tybed a ydych chi'n cefnogi sefydlu'r cynnig hwnnw mewn egwyddor, os nad heb gydnabod rhai o'r heriau ymarferol. Ac os ydych chi, pa achos rydych chi'n ei wneud o fewn y Llywodraeth i geisio gwireddu'r uchelgais hwnnw?
Can I thank Llyr for his question? First of all, in regard to the Dant-y-coed practice, I should declare an interest because it is in my constituency. I understand that they were operating under the old model not the reformed model, which avoids recycling healthy patients, and I can assure people in the county borough of Wrexham that there are 11 practices that provide NHS provision. There are opportunities sometimes when contracts are handed back, and we've seen that with Betsi Cadwaladr being awarded £1.5 million of funding to support five practices, one of which is a brand-new practice in Flintshire. And the health board is also currently out to tender for the award of a further £4.5 million across the health board. Contract returns do provide, therefore, an opportunity on occasion. For example, in north Wales, the new academy has in part been able to be developed because contracts have been returned.
And to the second point that the Member makes, I think the prospect of having a dental school is certainly worth consideration. On principle, I would support the creation of a dental school in north Wales, but we do need the universities and the health boards to work together to develop proposals. That, I believe, is what the health Minister is pushing them to do. And then, if funding is available, we'd be able to move quickly.
A gaf i ddiolch i Llyr am ei gwestiwn? Yn gyntaf oll, ynghylch practis Dant-y-coed, dylwn ddatgan diddordeb oherwydd ei fod yn fy etholaeth i. Rwy'n deall eu bod yn gweithredu o dan yr hen fodel nid y model diwygiedig, sy'n osgoi ailgylchu cleifion iach, a gallaf sicrhau pobl ym mwrdeistref sirol Wrecsam fod yna 11 practis sy'n darparu deintyddiaeth y GIG. Mae cyfleoedd weithiau pan fydd contractau'n cael eu dychwelyd, ac rydym wedi gweld hynny gyda Betsi Cadwaladr yn cael £1.5 miliwn o gyllid i gefnogi pum practis, ac mae un ohonynt yn bractis newydd sbon yn sir y Fflint. Ac mae'r bwrdd iechyd hefyd yn cynnig tendr ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer dyfarnu £4.5 miliwn arall ar draws y bwrdd iechyd. Mae dychwelyd contractau'n creu cyfle weithiau. Er enghraifft, yng ngogledd Cymru, mae'r academi newydd wedi gallu cael ei datblygu'n rhannol am fod contractau wedi'u dychwelyd.
Ac ar yr ail bwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud, credaf fod y posibilrwydd o gael ysgol ddeintyddol yn sicr yn werth ei ystyried. O ran egwyddor, buaswn yn cefnogi creu ysgol ddeintyddol yng ngogledd Cymru, ond mae angen i'r prifysgolion a'r byrddau iechyd weithio gyda'i gilydd i ddatblygu cynigion. Rwy'n credu mai dyna y mae'r Gweinidog iechyd yn pwyso arnynt i'w wneud. Ac os oes arian ar gael, byddem yn gallu symud yn gyflym.
Can I join Llyr Gruffydd in identifying the need for a dental school in north Wales? Because you will know, Cabinet Secretary, the difficulties around recruitment are particularly acute in north Wales. In addition to the opportunities around the dental school, it's been welcome to hear the Labour Government in Westminster calling for more collaboration with health services between England and Wales, and particularly that will impact constituents that I represent across Flintshire and Wrexham, some of whom you may represent as well, Cabinet Secretary. So, I'm interested in understanding your thoughts on how that collaboration, you think, could work for those residents in north Wales, and particularly around dental services, and whether you think, in your role as Cabinet Secretary representing north Wales, there are particular opportunities for residents in north Wales, considering the transport links that take place throughout the region.
A gaf i ategu Llyr Gruffydd a nodi'r angen am ysgol ddeintyddol yng ngogledd Cymru? Oherwydd fel y gwyddoch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae'r anawsterau recriwtio yn arbennig o ddifrifol yng ngogledd Cymru. Yn ogystal â'r cyfleoedd mewn perthynas â'r ysgol ddeintyddol, mae wedi bod yn braf clywed y Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan yn galw am fwy o gydweithio gyda gwasanaethau iechyd rhwng Cymru a Lloegr, ac yn fwyaf arbennig bydd hynny'n effeithio ar etholwyr a gynrychiolir gennyf i ar draws sir y Fflint a Wrecsam, a rhai ohonynt yn cael eu cynrychioli gennych chi hefyd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Felly, hoffwn ddeall eich barn ar sut y gallai'r cydweithio hwnnw weithio i'r trigolion yng ngogledd Cymru, ac yn enwedig gwasanaethau deintyddol, ac os ydych chi'n meddwl, yn eich rôl fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sy'n cynrychioli gogledd Cymru, fod cyfleoedd arbennig i drigolion yng ngogledd Cymru, gan ystyried y cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth sy'n digwydd ledled y rhanbarth.
Sam Rowlands makes a really important point about the porous border: many patients in Wales are provided service in England, just across the border. So, any collaboration that can take place that would lead to better outcomes for patients, regardless of where they seek their provision, should be welcomed. Now, I'm not an expert in the new contract, but my understanding, my basic understanding, about the reform contract is that it frees up capacity by avoiding the recycling of healthy patients for regular check-ups, and instead it prioritises need over the recycling process that used to take place under the old contract. If that could be applied in England, I think we'd see more capacity released, which, in those cases of people who do seek their service in England, would be very much welcomed.
And I think, in terms of the point made about transport, we're working through the likes of Growth Track 360 to identify how we can improve public transport networks across the Mersey-Dee area.
Mae Sam Rowlands yn gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn ynglŷn â'r ffin agored: mae llawer o gleifion yng Nghymru yn cael gwasanaeth yn Lloegr, ychydig dros y ffin. Felly, dylid croesawu unrhyw gydweithredu a fyddai'n arwain at ganlyniadau gwell i gleifion, ble bynnag y cânt eu darparu. Nawr, nid wyf yn arbenigwr ar y contract newydd, ond fy nealltwriaeth sylfaenol i ynghylch y contract diwygiedig yw ei fod yn rhyddhau capasiti trwy osgoi ailgylchu cleifion iach ar gyfer archwiliadau rheolaidd, ac yn lle hynny mae'n blaenoriaethu angen dros y broses ailgylchu a arferai ddigwydd o dan yr hen gontract. Pe gellid cymhwyso hynny yn Lloegr, credaf y byddem yn gweld mwy o gapasiti'n cael ei ryddhau, a fyddai, yn achos pobl sy'n chwilio am wasanaeth yn Lloegr, yn cael ei groesawu'n fawr.
Ac ar y pwynt a wnaed am drafnidiaeth, rydym yn gweithio trwy bobl fel Growth Track 360 i nodi sut y gallwn wella rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar draws ardal Mersi a'r Ddyfrdwy.
6. Beth yw blaenoriaethau'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ym Mrycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed? OQ61682
6. What are the Cabinet Secretary's priorities for public transport in Brecon and Radnorshire? OQ61682
Well, 'Llwybr Newydd', our transport strategy, sets out our vision and priorities for all parts of Wales, including Brecon and Radnorshire, and our national transport delivery plan and the regional transport plans being developed by corporate joint committees will set out how it will be delivered.
Wel, mae 'Llwybr Newydd', ein strategaeth drafnidiaeth, yn nodi ein gweledigaeth a'n blaenoriaethau ar gyfer pob rhan o Gymru, gan gynnwys Brycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed, a bydd ein cynllun cyflawni cenedlaethol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth a'r cynlluniau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol sy'n cael eu datblygu gan gyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig yn nodi sut y cânt eu cyflawni.
Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Many people who live in my part of the world do feel that there is plenty of investment that goes in to the south Wales Valleys, but, actually, no investment into my constituency. We've got a major transport link that links my constituency to Adam Price's constituency between Trecastle and Llandovery—that road does not have any bus service on it whatsoever. That is an actual major tourist link back and forth between west Wales and mid Wales, and I think it would be beneficial to put that transport link in place to actually open up different parts of the country, so people don't have to get in their cars and actually can get on a bus to travel around the country. I've asked previous Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers about this and nothing seems to be happening. So, now you're in post, and you seem a pragmatic gentleman, will you actually step up to the plate and deliver these transport links between my constituency and Adam Price's constituency, because many people are asking for it, and I've got all faith in you, Ken, that you can deliver it?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae llawer o bobl sy'n byw yn fy rhan i o'r byd yn teimlo bod digon o fuddsoddiad yn mynd i Gymoedd de Cymru, ond dim buddsoddiad yn fy etholaeth i. Mae gennym gyswllt trafnidiaeth mawr sy'n cysylltu fy etholaeth i ag etholaeth Adam Price rhwng Trecastell a Llanymddyfri—nid oes gan y ffordd honno unrhyw wasanaeth bws arni o gwbl. Mae hwnnw'n gyswllt twristaidd pwysig iawn yn ôl ac ymlaen rhwng gorllewin Cymru a chanolbarth Cymru, ac rwy'n credu y byddai'n fuddiol rhoi'r cyswllt trafnidiaeth hwnnw ar waith i agor gwahanol rannau o'r wlad, fel nad oes rhaid i bobl fynd i'w ceir a gallant fynd ar fws i deithio o amgylch y wlad. Rwyf wedi gofyn i Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet a Gweinidogion blaenorol am hyn ac ymddengys nad oes dim yn digwydd. Felly, gan eich bod chi yn y swydd erbyn hyn, a'ch bod i'ch gweld yn ddyn pragmatig, a wnewch chi gamu i'r adwy a darparu'r cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth hyn rhwng fy etholaeth i ac etholaeth Adam Price, oherwydd mae llawer o bobl yn gofyn amdanynt, ac mae gennyf bob ffydd ynoch chi y gallwch chi ei gyflawni, Ken?
I can't possibly not help the Member after his very kind and generous comments. The bus system is broken at the moment, and that's why we're bringing forward the bus Bill. Operators, they pick off those routes that are commercially attractive and they leave huge gaps elsewhere, including the gap that the Member has rightly identified today. Therefore, I will invite Transport for Wales to work with my officials to look at whether a service could be introduced, perhaps a TrawsCymru service, whether it would be applicable. Of course we're operating in very, very financially straitened times, but I will ask for work to be done and I'll report back to the Member.
Mae'n rhaid imi helpu'r Aelod ar ôl ei sylwadau caredig a hael. Mae'r system fysiau wedi torri ar hyn o bryd, a dyna pam ein bod ni'n cyflwyno'r Bil bysiau. Mae gweithredwyr yn dewis y llwybrau sy'n ddeniadol yn fasnachol ac yn gadael bylchau enfawr mewn mannau eraill, gan gynnwys y bwlch y mae'r Aelod wedi'i nodi heddiw. Felly, byddaf yn gwahodd Trafnidiaeth Cymru i weithio gyda fy swyddogion i ystyried a ellid cyflwyno gwasanaeth, gwasanaeth TrawsCymru efallai, a gweld a fyddai hynny'n gymwys. Wrth gwrs, rydym yn gweithredu mewn cyfnod anodd tu hwnt yn ariannol, ond fe ofynnaf i waith gael ei wneud ac adrodd yn ôl i'r Aelod.
Well, I look forward to it.
Wel, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at hynny.
7. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i leddfu problemau teithio sy’n cael eu hachosi gan waith ffordd ar y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd? OQ61697
7. What is the Welsh Government doing to alleviate disruption caused by road works on the trunk road network? OQ61697
Well, we undertake proactive consultations with key stakeholders before major roadworks, and this is supported by various forms of communications to inform and update the public, particularly on the more disruptive long-term projects. This allows the travelling public to plan their journeys on the strategic road network well in advance.
Wel, rydym yn cynnal ymgynghoriadau rhagweithiol â rhanddeiliaid allweddol cyn i waith ffordd mawr gael ei wneud, a chaiff hyn ei gefnogi gan wahanol fathau o gyfathrebiadau i hysbysu'r cyhoedd a rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf iddynt, yn enwedig am y prosiectau hirdymor mwy aflonyddgar. Mae hyn yn caniatáu i'r cyhoedd sy'n teithio gynllunio eu teithiau ar y rhwydwaith ffyrdd strategol ymhell ymlaen llaw.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer. We have corresponded, and I know we've spoken, on the issues of the upcoming closure of the A470 at Talerddig for repair works on the retaining wall on the trunk road. Now, the works themselves are very much needed and long overdue, however the concern for me, the community and affected businesses is the complete road closure for up to seven weeks. I appreciate that your officials have liaised with local community leaders in recent weeks, but this plan has only just been made public ahead of the closure at the end of the month. The official diversion is a 70-mile route, which will cause significant disruption, and, of course, further disruption and chaos on smaller roads as well.
So, can I ask, Cabinet Secretary, what options have been considered to keep one lane open during working hours? Can further consideration be given to cutting into the woodland opposite the collapsed wall for a temporary road to be in place? I understand Natural Resources Wales had some issues with this, but I have corresponded with them myself. Can works be carried out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to complete the work more quickly? And what update can you give on how emergency services and school transport could be supported in this time as well? I look forward to your answer being pragmatic, Cabinet Secretary.
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rydym wedi gohebu ac rwy'n gwybod ein bod wedi siarad am faterion cau'r A470 sydd ar y gweill yn Nhalerddig ar gyfer gwaith atgyweirio ar y wal gynnal ar y gefnffordd. Nawr, mae angen y gwaith ei hun yn fawr iawn ac mae'n hen bryd iddo gael ei wneud, ond y pryder i mi, y gymuned a'r busnesau yr effeithir arnynt yw'r ffaith bod y ffordd gyfan ar gau am hyd at saith wythnos. Rwy'n derbyn bod eich swyddogion wedi cysylltu ag arweinwyr cymunedol lleol yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, ond newydd gael ei wneud yn gyhoeddus y mae'r cynllun cyn cau'r ffordd ddiwedd y mis. Mae'r gwyriad swyddogol yn llwybr 70 milltir, a fydd yn achosi tarfu sylweddol, ac wrth gwrs, tarfu pellach ac anhrefn ar ffyrdd llai hefyd.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa opsiynau sydd wedi cael eu hystyried i gadw un lôn ar agor yn ystod oriau gwaith? A ellir rhoi ystyriaeth bellach i dorri i mewn i'r coetir gyferbyn â'r wal sydd wedi cwympo er mwyn sefydlu ffordd dros dro? Rwy'n deall bod gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru broblemau gyda hyn, ond rwyf wedi gohebu â hwy fy hun. A ellir gwneud gwaith 24 awr y dydd, saith diwrnod yr wythnos, i gwblhau'r gwaith yn gynt? A pha ddiweddariad y gallwch chi ei roi ar sut y gellid cefnogi'r gwasanaethau brys a thrafnidiaeth ysgol yn ystod y cyfnod hwn hefyd? Edrychaf ymlaen at ateb pragmatig gennych chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Well, can I thank the Member for highlighting this particular challenge and say to his constituents that I fully appreciate the frustration that the work is causing or will cause? It relates to a retaining wall. I'm afraid the work has to be done as an emergency, and I know that the Member would agree and I know that all community leaders would agree. I did interrogate thoroughly the options, I can assure the Member, and also the length of the diversion. I'll provide a full briefing in writing, if I may, and I'll share that with all Members with an interest in this particular route. Unfortunately, we were not able to proceed with the single-lane option for safety reasons, and I understand that the option of cutting into the forest and creating a temporary road was also examined, but ruled out for various reasons. I know that officials are liaising with Powys County Council and other stakeholders to reduce disruption and provide replacement services for public and school transport, but I will provide a detailed response to the Member in writing.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at yr her benodol hon a dweud wrth ei etholwyr fy mod yn llwyr ddeall y rhwystredigaeth y mae'r gwaith yn ei achosi neu y bydd yn ei achosi? Mae'n ymwneud â wal gynnal. Rwy'n ofni bod yn rhaid gwneud y gwaith fel mater o frys, a gwn y byddai'r Aelod yn cytuno ac rwy'n gwybod y byddai pob arweinydd cymunedol yn cytuno. Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod fy mod wedi archwilio'r opsiynau'n drylwyr, a hyd y dargyfeiriad. Byddaf yn darparu briff llawn yn ysgrifenedig, os caf, a byddaf yn rhannu hynny gyda'r holl Aelodau sydd â diddordeb yn y llwybr penodol hwn. Yn anffodus, ni allem fwrw ymlaen â'r opsiwn un lôn am resymau diogelwch, ac rwy'n deall bod yr opsiwn o dorri i mewn i'r goedwig a chreu ffordd dros dro wedi'i archwilio hefyd, ond wedi'i ddiystyru am amryw resymau. Gwn fod swyddogion yn cysylltu â Chyngor Sir Powys a rhanddeiliaid eraill i leihau tarfu a darparu gwasanaethau amgen ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac ysgol, ond byddaf yn darparu ymateb manwl i'r Aelod yn ysgrifenedig.
8. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad am drawsnewid rheilffordd Treherbert yn y Rhondda? OQ61705
8. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the transformation of the Treherbert line in Rhondda? OQ61705
Of course. With over £1 billion of investment to upgrade the core Valleys lines, Transport for Wales have transformed the Treherbert line, replacing Victorian-era signalling, installing overhead-line electrification and upgrading stations. Brand-new electric trains will run on the transformed core Valleys lines later this year, making metro-style services a reality.
Wrth gwrs. Gyda dros £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad i uwchraddio rheilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi trawsnewid rheilffordd Treherbert, gan osod signalau newydd yn lle'r signalau oes Fictoria, gosod llinell drydan uwchben ac uwchraddio gorsafoedd. Bydd trenau trydan newydd sbon yn rhedeg ar reilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd yn ddiweddarach eleni, gan wneud gwasanaethau ar ffurf metro yn realiti.
Thank you. I know that the transformation up until now has been bittersweet for residents. Catching rail replacement buses for months, road closures, and hearing work up and down the line through the nights has been challenging, but the Rhondda railcard, station modifications, and the infrastructure for the electrification, ready for new stock, has more than made up for this. I'd like to place on record my thanks to all the construction workers, Transport for Wales, the Welsh Government and to residents for their patience. I can't wait to see a greener, quicker and more reliable service on the Treherbert line; it's the service that residents deserve. I know residents are eager to know, as I am, when we can expect to see the new stock on the line and whether you have any updates regarding the transport hub in Porth, please.
Diolch. Rwy'n gwybod bod y trawsnewidiad hyd yma wedi bod yn chwerw-felys i breswylwyr. Ers misoedd, mae dal bysiau yn lle gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd, cau ffyrdd, a chlywed gwaith ar hyd y rheilffordd drwy'r nos wedi bod yn heriol, ond mae cerdyn rheilffordd Rhondda, addasiadau i orsafoedd, a'r seilwaith ar gyfer trydaneiddio, sy'n barod ar gyfer stoc newydd, wedi mwy na gwneud iawn am hyn. Hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i'r holl weithwyr adeiladu, Trafnidiaeth Cymru, Llywodraeth Cymru ac i'r trigolion am eu hamynedd. Ni allaf aros i weld gwasanaeth gwyrddach, cyflymach a mwy dibynadwy ar reilffordd Treherbert; dyma'r gwasanaeth y mae trigolion yn ei haeddu. Rwy'n gwybod bod trigolion yn awyddus i wybod, fel finnau, pryd y gallwn ddisgwyl gweld y stoc newydd ar y rheilffordd ac a oes gennych unrhyw wybodaeth ddiweddar ynghylch yr hyb trafnidiaeth yn Porth, os gwelwch yn dda.
Well, can I thank Buffy for her supplementary question and for the way that she's championed over many years the need to improve public transport in her constituency? Can I also thank residents, who have shown incredible patience over quite a significant period of time when the disruption has taken place? But the prize will be worth it, and I'm pleased to be able to inform Buffy today that the prize will come in time for Christmas, because brand-new electric trains will be coming into service in December on the Treherbert line; they'll be on every service on the line early next year. These new electric trains, they really do offer an enormous upgrade for passengers compared to the legacy fleet that we are replacing. There's more capacity, they're more comfortable, there are far better facilities as well—completely different to what the travelling public have experienced on that particular line. The new trains are planned to begin service on the Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil lines from this November. Now, I can also assure the Member that Transport for Wales are working very closely with Rhondda Cynon Taf to open Porth interchange as soon as possible, and I'll ask them to provide you with an update on the timescale and the latest position.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Buffy am ei chwestiwn atodol ac am y ffordd mae hi, dros nifer o flynyddoedd, wedi hyrwyddo'r angen i wella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn ei hetholaeth? A gaf i ddiolch i drigolion hefyd, sydd wedi dangos amynedd anhygoel dros gyfnod eithaf sylweddol o amser pan oedd y tarfu'n digwydd? Ond bydd y wobr yn werth chweil, ac rwy'n falch o allu hysbysu Buffy heddiw y daw'r wobr mewn pryd ar gyfer y Nadolig, gan y bydd trenau trydan newydd sbon yn dod yn weithredol ym mis Rhagfyr ar reilffordd Treherbert; byddant ar bob gwasanaeth ar y lein yn gynnar y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae'r trenau trydan newydd hyn yn uwchraddiad enfawr i deithwyr o'i gymharu â'r fflyd etifeddol y mae'n cymryd ei lle. Ceir mwy o gapasiti, maent yn fwy cyfforddus, mae'r cyfleusterau'n llawer gwell hefyd—hollol wahanol i'r hyn y mae'r cyhoedd sy'n teithio wedi'i brofi ar y rheilffordd honno. Mae disgwyl i'r trenau newydd ddechrau gwasanaethu ar reilffyrdd Aberdâr a Merthyr Tudful o fis Tachwedd eleni. Nawr, gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod hefyd fod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Rhondda Cynon Taf i agor cyfnewidfa Porth cyn gynted â phosibl, a byddaf yn gofyn iddynt roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi am yr amserlen a'r sefyllfa ddiweddaraf.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The next item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, and the first question is from Rhun ap Iorwerth.
1. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru ynghylch sicrhau bod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yr un mor hygyrch i bawb ar Ynys Môn? OQ61720
1. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales on ensuring equal access for all to public transport on Ynys Môn? OQ61720
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn. Mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn achubiaeth i lawer o bobl ledled Cymru, ac mae’n hanfodol bod y gwasanaethau yn hygyrch i bawb. Rwy’n falch o allu gweithio ochr yn ochr ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru i sicrhau bod hyn yn realiti ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys ar Ynys Môn.
Thank you very much for your question. Public transport is essential for many people the length and breadth of Wales, and it's crucial that the services are accessible to all. I'm pleased to be able to work alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales to ensure that it's a reality across Wales, including on Anglesey.
Gaf i ddiolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am ei hymateb? Mae'n drueni bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru ddim wedi sylweddoli bod cwestiwn rhif 1 yn y sesiwn nesaf yn ymwneud ag o, ond dwi'n siŵr bod—
May I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her response? It's a shame that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales hadn't realised that question number 1 in the next session involved him, but I'm sure that—
Os caf i dorri ar draws yr Aelod, cwestiynau i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, un felly y gwnaethoch chi ei osod ar yr agenda, felly—
If I may interrupt the Member, these are questions for the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, that's the question that you put on the agenda, so—
Mae hynny'n hollol iawn, ynglŷn â’i pherthynas hi efo Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru. Ac wrth annog pobl i ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, mae angen sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Yng ngorsaf drenau Llanfairpwll, yn fy etholaeth i, yr unig ffordd o gyrraedd y platfform i ddal trên tuag at Gaergybi ydy mynd dros bont. Mae yna lwybr hir iawn, tywyll ac anaddas ar gyfer cadeiriau olwynion a phramiau ac ati, ond oes gennych chi goets neu gadair olwyn, does yna ddim modd i gyrraedd, yn ymarferol, y platfform yr ochr arall. Yr ateb syml ydy gosod lifft, a dwi yn gwybod bod yna raglen helaeth ar draws Cymru o osod lifts. Felly, a wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ymrwymo i weithio efo’r Gweinidog dros drafnidiaeth i ddod â’r buddsoddiad yna i Lanfairpwll, fel bod pobl yn gallu cael mynediad at wasanaethau, a hynny yn enw cyfiawnder a thegwch cymdeithasol, yn ogystal â rhesymau ymarferol trafnidiaeth a newid hinsawdd?
That's completely right, yes, with regard to her relationship with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales. And in encouraging people to use public transport, we have to ensure that people can use public transport. At Llanfairpwll rail station, in my constituency, the only way to reach the platform to catch a train to Holyhead is to go over a bridge. There is a very long, dark path that's inappropriate for wheelchairs and prams and so on, but if you do have a wheelchair or a pram, you can't, practically, get to the platform on the other side. The simple solution is to construct a lift, and I know that there is a broad-ranging programme across Wales of installing lifts. So, will the Cabinet Secretary commit to work with the Minister for transport to bring that investment to Llanfairpwll, so that people can access services, in the name of social justice and fairness, as well as the practical reasons with regard to transport and climate change and so on?
Diolch yn fawr, Rhun ap Iorwerth. Mae yn fater pwysig iawn, dwi'n meddwl.
Thank you very much, Rhun ap Iorwerth. It's a very important issue, I think.
It is clear that we have to ensure that all people can access a public transport, and the Welsh Government is committed to developing accessible, high-quality, responsive services, particularly, for example, not to just meet the needs of disabled people, but everyone, in terms of access and safety as well, particularly with the description you've made of how to access the local station.
This is something where there is responsibility that is shared between Transport for Wales and Network Rail, in terms of the programme across Wales, particularly for accessible lifts in stations and access to stations. There is £2 million allocated to Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn to invest in their local transport priorities, but, certainly, this is something that the disability equality forum has raised with us. They've had, also, through our disability rights taskforce, a working group on travel, and I will take this back to see what can be done to assist in progressing this important access point for local people.
Mae'n amlwg fod yn rhaid i ni sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu cael mynediad at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu gwasanaethau hygyrch ac ymatebol o ansawdd uchel, nid yn unig i ddiwallu anghenion pobl anabl, ond pawb, o ran mynediad a diogelwch hefyd, yn enwedig gyda'r disgrifiad rydych chi wedi'i roi o sut i gael mynediad i'r orsaf leol.
Mae hyn yn rhywbeth lle mae cyfrifoldeb yn cael ei rannu rhwng Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Network Rail, o ran y rhaglen ledled Cymru, yn enwedig ar gyfer lifftiau hygyrch mewn gorsafoedd a mynediad i orsafoedd. Mae £2 filiwn wedi'i ddyrannu i Gyngor Sir Ynys Môn i fuddsoddi yn eu blaenoriaethau trafnidiaeth lleol, ond yn sicr, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'r fforwm cydraddoldeb anabledd wedi'i godi gyda ni. Drwy ein tasglu hawliau anabledd, maent hefyd wedi cael gweithgor ar deithio, a byddaf yn mynd â hyn yn ôl i weld beth y gellir ei wneud i helpu i ddatblygu'r pwynt mynediad pwysig hwn i bobl leol.
Diolch, Llywydd, and I'm grateful to Rhun ap Iorwerth for raising this issue, which is particularly impacting his constituents on Ynys Môn, but there are, of course, broader issues around public transport for people with disabilities, because we know that disabled people often are the ones who use public transport and rely on public transport more than others. Indeed, a recent report from the charity Sense said that 72 per cent of people with complex disabilities use some form of public transport on a day-to-day basis. I was really pleased that, earlier this year, the UK Government announced an extensive support for disabled bus users, with almost £5 million being made available to install and improve audible and visual announcements on buses throughout Great Britain. So, Cabinet Secretary, I'd be interested to know how you are ensuring that bus companies in Wales are making the most of that £5 million that's been made available, to ensure that people with disabilities have the ability to access those buses in the best and safest way possible.
Diolch, Lywydd, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i Rhun ap Iorwerth am godi'r mater hwn, sy'n effeithio'n arbennig ar ei etholwyr ar Ynys Môn, ond wrth gwrs, mae problemau ehangach yn ymwneud â thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i bobl ag anableddau, oherwydd fe wyddom mai pobl anabl yn aml yw'r rhai sy'n defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac yn dibynnu ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fwy nag eraill. Yn wir, nododd adroddiad diweddar gan yr elusen Sense fod 72 y cant o bobl ag anableddau cymhleth yn defnyddio rhyw fath o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar sail ddyddiol. Roeddwn yn falch iawn fod Llywodraeth y DU, yn gynharach eleni, wedi cyhoeddi cefnogaeth helaeth i ddefnyddwyr bysiau anabl, gyda bron i £5 miliwn ar gael i osod a gwella cyhoeddiadau clywadwy a gweledol ar fysiau ledled Prydain. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn wybod sut rydych chi'n sicrhau bod cwmnïau bysiau yng Nghymru yn gwneud y gorau o'r £5 miliwn sydd ar gael, er mwyn sicrhau bod pobl ag anableddau yn gallu defnyddio'r bysiau hynny yn y ffordd orau a mwyaf diogel sy'n bosibl.
Thank you very much, Sam Rowlands. That's also critically important in terms of access for all, but particularly access for disabled people. This, of course, includes access to buses and supportive bus infrastructure. Of course, that includes ramps, raised-kerb bus stops, tactile paths. They really do foster real access for disabled people. But also, I think what's important is that the accessible information regulations were introduced this month, and these new rules actually do make the provision of audible and visible information a requirement on local services across Great Britain, and will help people to travel with confidence. So, it is mandatory for the majority of local bus and coach services to incorporate that information provision, improving that journey experience for all passengers, but including, particularly, as raised today, disabled passengers. And of course, we do have grants and financial support through the infrastructure upgrade work to routes on the TrawsCymru network and those various Welsh Government grants as well. This is all, I would say, part of ensuring that our active travel programmes take into account the needs of disabled people.
Diolch, Sam Rowlands. Mae hynny hefyd yn hanfodol bwysig o ran mynediad i bawb, ond yn enwedig mynediad i bobl anabl. Mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys mynediad at fysiau a seilwaith bysiau cefnogol. Wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n cynnwys rampiau, safleoedd bysiau cyrbiau uwch, palmentydd botymog. Maent yn cymell mynediad go iawn i bobl anabl. Ond hefyd, rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig yw bod y rheoliadau gwybodaeth hygyrch wedi'u cyflwyno y mis hwn, ac mae'r rheolau newydd hyn yn gwneud darparu gwybodaeth glywadwy a gweladwy yn ofyniad i wasanaethau lleol ledled Prydain, a byddant yn helpu pobl i deithio'n hyderus. Felly, mae'n orfodol i'r rhan fwyaf o wasanaethau bysiau lleol a choetsys ymgorffori'r ddarpariaeth wybodaeth honno, gan wella profiad teithio i bob teithiwr, ond gan gynnwys teithwyr anabl yn arbennig, fel y gofynnwyd yn ei gylch heddiw. Ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym grantiau a chymorth ariannol drwy'r gwaith uwchraddio seilwaith i lwybrau ar rwydwaith TrawsCymru a'r amrywiol grantiau gan Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd. Mae'r cyfan yn rhan o sicrhau bod ein rhaglenni teithio llesol yn ystyried anghenion pobl anabl.
2. Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â nifer y rhai sy’n hawlio credyd pensiwn? OQ61684
2. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the UK Government regarding the uptake of pension credit? OQ61684
Thank you, Jenny Rathbone, for that question. The Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions has written to me, setting out the range of actions the UK Government are taking to increase take-up of pension credit. We're working with DWP and other key stakeholders in a co-ordinated push to increase take-up in Wales.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Jenny Rathbone. Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau wedi ysgrifennu ataf, yn nodi'r ystod o gamau y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn eu cymryd i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar gredyd pensiwn. Rydym yn gweithio gyda'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill mewn ymdrech gydlynol i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n manteisio arno yng Nghymru.
Well, that's useful to know, that there is a range of options. Age Cymru are saying that, this year, nearly nine in 10 pensioners in Wales living in poverty will not get a winter fuel payment, and some of them are not aware they're eligible for pension credit, so they of course will doubly lose out, and that research is borne out by the conversations I've been having with constituents. Many of them absolutely don't know what they get and whether it includes pension credit.
So, I was very interested to see that the DWP wrote a letter to a sample of nearly 2,500 pensioner households they thought might be eligible for pensioner credit. It prompted nearly three in 10 to apply for that pension credit. So, I was hoping that this is in the range of options that the UK Government is considering. And can you tell us what steps the Welsh Government is taking, working with the UK Government, to proactively contact these people who are eligible for pension credit and therefore the winter fuel allowance, so that they are applying before the cut-off date of 21 December?
Wel, mae'n ddefnyddiol gwybod bod yna amrywiaeth o opsiynau. Mae Age Cymru yn dweud, eleni, na fydd bron i naw o bob 10 pensiynwr yng Nghymru sy'n byw mewn tlodi yn cael taliad tanwydd y gaeaf, ac nad yw rhai ohonynt yn ymwybodol eu bod yn gymwys i gael credyd pensiwn, felly byddant hwy'n colli'r ddau beth wrth gwrs, ac mae'r gwaith ymchwil hwnnw wedi ei ategu gan y sgyrsiau a gefais gydag etholwyr. Mae llawer ohonynt yn gwbl anymwybodol o beth a gânt ac a yw'n cynnwys credyd pensiwn.
Felly, roeddwn yn falch iawn o weld bod yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau wedi ysgrifennu llythyr at sampl o bron i 2,500 o aelwydydd pensiynwyr y credent y gallent fod yn gymwys i gael credyd pensiwn. Ysgogodd bron i dri o bob 10 i wneud cais am y credyd pensiwn hwnnw. Felly, roeddwn yn gobeithio bod hyn yn yr ystod o opsiynau y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn eu hystyried. Ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd, gan weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU, i gysylltu'n rhagweithiol â'r bobl sy'n gymwys i gael credyd pensiwn, a lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf felly, er mwyn iddynt wneud cais cyn y dyddiad cau ar 21 Rhagfyr?
Thank you very much, Jenny Rathbone. It's critically important that we get this information out now, as you say, of the cut-off date of 21 December. When I wrote to the Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, originally, to say we wanted to engage with them and what were they doing, she replied to say that they were writing directly to 120,000 households across the UK. I then drilled that down: 'Well, what does that mean for Wales?' It includes 6,600 in Wales getting that direct letter. That is using existing data, and of course data sharing is at the heart of tackling this, for those who are entitled to pension credit. Those letters are coming out imminently, and we'll be informed of progress.
I've asked for an inter-ministerial group on work and pensions, which I will be chairing, because it's about inter-governmental agreement between ourselves and the inter-ministerial group. Also, just to say that clearly we're doing a great deal in terms of our 'Claim what's yours' campaign, Citizens Advice, the single advice fund, actually to take up the benefits. We've got pension credit, we've got access information, the pension credit posters in GP surgeries, vaccination centres, pharmacies, and places where people go on a regular basis, and we're doing everything that we can for all family members to also ask the question. I was very interested that, in a recent surgery, someone came to see me about something else, and I just said, 'Have you applied for pension credit?' She said, 'Oh, yes, and my neighbour, and I'm telling everyone else,' so there is word on the street, as well, which is good, because this shows a recognition that this should be an entitlement.
Diolch, Jenny Rathbone. Mae'n hanfodol bwysig ein bod yn cael y wybodaeth hon allan nawr, fel y dywedwch, cyn y dyddiad cau ar 21 Rhagfyr. Pan ysgrifennais at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn wreiddiol i ddweud ein bod eisiau ymgysylltu â hwy a'r hyn yr oeddent yn ei wneud, atebodd i ddweud eu bod yn ysgrifennu'n uniongyrchol at 120,000 o aelwydydd ledled y DU. Fe holais ymhellach ynglŷn â hynny: 'Wel, beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu i Gymru?' Mae'n cynnwys 6,600 yng Nghymru sy'n cael y llythyr uniongyrchol hwnnw. Mae'n defnyddio data sy'n bodoli eisoes, ac wrth gwrs mae rhannu data yn ganolog i fynd i'r afael â hyn, i'r rhai sydd â hawl i gredyd pensiwn. Daw'r llythyrau hynny allan yn fuan, a byddwn yn cael gwybod am gynnydd.
Rwyf wedi gofyn am grŵp rhyngweinidogol ar waith a phensiynau, y byddaf i'n ei gadeirio, oherwydd mae'n ymwneud â chytundeb rhynglywodraethol rhyngom ni a'r grŵp rhyngweinidogol. Hefyd, rydym yn gwneud llawer iawn ar ein hymgyrch 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi', Cyngor ar Bopeth, y gronfa gynghori sengl, i chwyddo'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar y budd-daliadau. Mae gennym gredyd pensiwn, mae gennym wybodaeth am fynediad, y posteri credyd pensiwn mewn meddygfeydd, canolfannau brechu, fferyllfeydd, a lleoedd lle mae pobl yn mynd yn rheolaidd, ac rydym yn gwneud popeth a allwn i bob aelod o'r teulu ofyn y cwestiwn hefyd. Mewn cymhorthfa yn ddiweddar, daeth rhywun i fy ngweld am rywbeth arall, a dywedais, 'A ydych chi wedi gwneud cais am gredyd pensiwn?' Dywedodd, 'O, do, a fy nghymydog, ac rwy'n dweud wrth bawb arall,' felly mae'r gair ar led, sy'n dda, oherwydd mae'n dangos cydnabyddiaeth y dylai fod yn hawl.
Cabinet Secretary, the perverse decision by the UK Government to axe the winter fuel payment to tackle a fictitious financial black hole will force many older pensioners further into poverty. The only silver lining to Labour's cruel policy will be persuading tens of thousands of pensioners to claim the benefits to which they're entitled. The net effect of this will end up costing the UK Treasury billions rather than saving money. Sadly, this will do little for those just above the benefits threshold who will still face a choice between heating and eating. What actions will your Government take to mitigate the worst impact of UK Labour's raid on pensioners?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, bydd penderfyniad gwrthnysig Llywodraeth y DU i gael gwared ar daliadau tanwydd y gaeaf er mwyn mynd i’r afael â thwll du ariannol ffug yn gorfodi llawer o bensiynwyr hŷn ymhellach i mewn i dlodi. Yr unig ymyl arian i bolisi creulon Llafur fydd perswadio degau o filoedd o bensiynwyr i hawlio'r budd-daliadau y mae ganddynt hawl iddynt. Yn y pen draw, bydd effaith net hyn yn costio biliynau i Drysorlys y DU yn hytrach nag arbed arian. Yn anffodus, ni fydd hyn yn gwneud llawer i'r rheini ychydig uwchlaw'r trothwy budd-daliadau a fydd yn dal i wynebu dewis rhwng gwresogi a bwyta. Pa gamau y bydd eich Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i liniaru effaith waethaf ymosodiad Llafur y DU ar bensiynwyr?
Thank you, Altaf Hussain. I've already outlined quite a few ways in which we are working closely with the UK Government to ensure that people who are eligible do take up the pension credit in order not only to enable them to be eligible for the winter fuel payment, but actually to open the door to other benefits as well. I was pleased to meet with the new Older People's Commissioner for Wales on Monday with the Minister for Children and Social Care. We spent quite a bit of time discussing this, because you’ll recall that the predecessor older people’s commissioner really did take this pension credit campaign—. Quite apart from access to the winter fuel supplement and payment, it really is something where we have too many people—pensioners—who aren’t taking up the benefit themselves.
And I think it is interesting that people are responding to the changes in the winter fuel payment eligibility criteria, as I’ve mentioned—just my anecdotal mention. We’ve got a stakeholder group meeting fortnightly with the Department for Work and Pensions. The older people’s commissioner has got a strong connection with older people, getting that message over. Age Cymru is on that group and the Welsh Local Government Association. And there has been 152 per cent increase in pension credit claims in the eight weeks from July to September, compared with the previous eight weeks. So, I think it’s really important information that those pension credit claims are actually increasing and that will, of course, be a gateway. Because also, it’s a gateway to help with council tax bills, paying rent, free NHS dental treatment and free tv licences for the over-75s, so we need to ensure—. And through our Welsh benefits charter, which is trying to help ensure that there’s one access to benefits, we are working to take this forward, and, of course, learning also the good outcomes from the Neath Port Talbot Policy in Practice case study.
Diolch, Altaf Hussain. Rwyf eisoes wedi amlinellu nifer o ffyrdd rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod pobl sy’n gymwys yn manteisio ar y credyd pensiwn er mwyn eu galluogi nid yn unig i fod yn gymwys ar gyfer taliad tanwydd y gaeaf, ond i agor y drws i fudd-daliadau eraill hefyd mewn gwirionedd. Roeddwn yn falch o gyfarfod â Chomisiynydd Pobl Hŷn newydd Cymru ddydd Llun gyda'r Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol. Buom yn trafod hyn am beth amser, gan y byddwch yn cofio bod y comisiynydd pobl hŷn blaenorol wedi mynd â'r ymgyrch credyd pensiwn hon—. Heb sôn am fynediad at daliad tanwydd y gaeaf a'r taliad atodol, mae hyn yn rhywbeth lle mae gennym ormod o bobl—pensiynwyr—nad ydynt yn manteisio ar y budd-dal.
A chredaf ei bod yn ddiddorol fod pobl yn ymateb i'r newidiadau yn y meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer taliadau tanwydd y gaeaf, fel rwyf wedi sôn—fel y soniais yn anecdotaidd. Mae gennym grŵp rhanddeiliaid yn cyfarfod bob pythefnos gyda'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau. Mae gan y comisiynydd pobl hŷn gysylltiad cryf â phobl hŷn, ac mae'n cyfleu’r neges honno. Mae Age Cymru yn y grŵp hwnnw, a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru. A gwelwyd cynnydd o 152 y cant mewn hawliadau credyd pensiwn yn yr wyth wythnos o fis Gorffennaf i fis Medi, o gymharu â'r wyth wythnos flaenorol. Felly, credaf ei bod yn wybodaeth wirioneddol bwysig fod yr hawliadau credyd pensiwn hynny'n cynyddu mewn gwirionedd, a bydd hynny, wrth gwrs, yn ffordd i mewn. Oherwydd hefyd, mae'n ffordd o gael mynediad at gymorth gyda biliau'r dreth gyngor, talu rhent, triniaeth ddeintyddol am ddim gan y GIG a thrwyddedau teledu am ddim i bobl dros 75 oed, felly mae angen inni sicrhau—. A thrwy ein siarter budd-daliadau Cymru, sy'n ceisio helpu i sicrhau un pwynt mynediad at fudd-daliadau, rydym yn gweithio i fwrw ymlaen â hyn, a hefyd wrth gwrs, yn dysgu'r canlyniadau da o astudiaeth achos Policy in Practice yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Joel James.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson, Joel James.
Thank you, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, data shows that, in England and Wales, there are almost 3,000 domestic abuse and sexual violence crimes recorded against women and girls daily, making up nearly 20 per cent of all crimes recorded. Worryingly, violence against women and girls has risen by 37 per cent over recent years, and now at least one in every 12 women will be a survivor of domestic violence or sexual abuse, which is a truly horrific statistic. And, sadly, the actual number is likely to be even higher. However, despite this rise in violence against women and girls, it is believed that less than 24 per cent of domestic abuse cases are actually reported to the police. Cabinet Secretary, as outlined by the national policing statement 2024, there is clearly an urgent and critical need to address this and the need for immediate and co-ordinated action across all sectors to help protect women and girls. With this in mind, what is the Welsh Government doing to increase public awareness and to challenge norms and attitudes that perpetuate violence against women and girls? And what is the Welsh Government doing to enforce a coherent and robust whole-system approach that involves collaboration between statutory agencies, charities and the private sector? Thank you.
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae data’n dangos, yng Nghymru a Lloegr, fod bron i 3,000 o droseddau cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol yn erbyn menywod a merched yn cael eu cofnodi’n ddyddiol, sy'n cyfateb i bron i 20 y cant o’r holl droseddau a gofnodir. Mae trais yn erbyn menywod a merched wedi codi 37 y cant dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, sy'n destun pryder, a nawr, bydd o leiaf un o bob 12 menyw yn oroeswr trais domestig neu gam-drin rhywiol, sy’n ystadegyn gwirioneddol erchyll. Ac yn anffodus, mae'r nifer go iawn yn debygol o fod hyd yn oed yn uwch. Fodd bynnag, er y cynnydd hwn mewn trais yn erbyn menywod a merched, credir bod llai na 24 y cant o'r achosion o gam-drin domestig yn cael eu hadrodd i’r heddlu. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fel yr amlinellwyd gan ddatganiad plismona cenedlaethol 2024, mae'n amlwg fod angen dybryd a hanfodol i fynd i'r afael â hyn, yn ogystal â'r angen am gamau gweithredu cydgysylltiedig ar unwaith ar draws pob sector i helpu i ddiogelu menywod a merched. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth y cyhoedd ac i herio normau ac agweddau sy'n peri i drais yn erbyn menywod a merched barhau? A beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i orfodi dull system gyfan cydlynol a chadarn sy'n cynnwys cydweithredu rhwng asiantaethau statudol, elusennau a'r sector preifat? Diolch.
Well, I thank Joel James very much for that question. I was only reflecting last night that the amount and the extent and the prevalence of domestic violence is just utterly terrible—it's shocking. And, of course, it is a societal problem, which requires societal response. And it is, as you say, about raising awareness, challenging attitudes, changing behaviours of those who behave abusively. Just to reassure you, we have got our Welsh Government violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy, and what's important about that is that it's got a national partnership board, it's ministerially led—I co-chair it with police and crime commissioner Emma Wools, on behalf of policing in Wales. Because this is where it's important that the criminal justice partners have that power and influence and responsibilities, and link across directly with the Welsh Government in terms of our commitments to funding and policy for social justice. So, we have got that high-level action plan, with a range of ways in which we're not only seeking to improve women's safety, but we've got work streams working on every aspect of domestic violence and abuse. And can I also just acknowledge the work of the Equality and Social Justice Committee on their inquiry into a public health approach to preventing gender-based violence, which, of course, again, is really important in terms of those recommendations—that we look at ways in which we can tackle these issues.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn i Joel James am ei gwestiwn. Neithiwr ddiwethaf, roeddwn yn meddwl pa mor ofnadwy yw graddau a chyffredinrwydd trais domestig—mae'n erchyll. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n broblem gymdeithasol, sy'n galw am ymateb cymdeithasol. Ac fel y dywedwch, mae'n ymwneud â chodi ymwybyddiaeth, herio agweddau, newid ymddygiad y rheini sy'n ymddwyn yn gamdriniol. I roi sicrwydd i chi, mae gennym ein strategaeth trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol Llywodraeth Cymru, a'r hyn sy'n bwysig am honno yw bod ganddi fwrdd partneriaeth cenedlaethol dan arweiniad gweinidogol—rwy'n ei gyd-gadeirio gyda chomisiynydd yr heddlu a throseddu Emma Wools ar ran plismona yng Nghymru. Oherwydd dyma ble mae'n bwysig fod gan y partneriaid cyfiawnder troseddol rym a dylanwad a chyfrifoldebau, a'u bod yn cysylltu'n uniongyrchol â Llywodraeth Cymru ar ein hymrwymiadau i gyllid a pholisi cyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Felly, mae gennym y cynllun gweithredu lefel uchel hwnnw, gydag amrywiaeth o ffyrdd o geisio gwella diogelwch menywod, ac mae gennym ffrydiau gwaith yn gweithio ar bob agwedd ar drais a cham-drin domestig. Ac a gaf i gydnabod gwaith y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol hefyd ar eu hymchwiliad i ddull iechyd y cyhoedd o atal trais ar sail rhywedd, sydd, wrth gwrs, unwaith eto, yn wirioneddol bwysig o ran yr argymhellion hynny—ein bod yn edrych ar ffyrdd y gallwn fynd i’r afael â’r materion hyn.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The recent announcement by the UK Labour Government to release prisoners after serving only 40 per cent of their sentence is a policy that poses serious risks, particularly for abuse survivors, who are already facing a lack of communication within the criminal justice system. Moreover, I believe that this policy sets a dangerous precedent that skews public opinion towards the belief that the UK is soft on criminals, which will, in no doubt, reduce the likelihood of people reporting crime, and, ultimately, lead to increased crime. Welsh Women's Aid have expressed their deep concern about this policy on the grounds that the early release of prisoners, at a time when His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation is already stretched, leads to the risk that many survivors may not be told when their former abuser is considered for release. Alarmingly, most probation delivery units were classified as 'inadequate' in 2023-24, the lowest possible rating, and only three services were 'sufficient' in assessing the risk of serious harm. Welsh Women's Aid is further urging the Government to carefully reconsider this policy and to prioritise the safety and well-being of survivors. Early release of prisoners could have a devastating consequence for survivors of violence against women and girls. I think it's clear for all to see that this policy risks the safety and well-being of survivors and increases the fear amongst them that their former abusers will be back on the streets. Therefore, Cabinet Secretary, what pressure have you put upon the new Labour UK Government to reverse its policy? Thank you.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae’r cyhoeddiad diweddar gan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU ynghylch rhyddhau carcharorion wedi iddynt fwrw 40 y cant yn unig o’u dedfryd yn bolisi sy’n creu risgiau difrifol, yn enwedig i oroeswyr camdriniaeth, sydd eisoes yn wynebu diffyg cyfathrebu o fewn y system cyfiawnder troseddol. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, credaf fod y polisi hwn yn gosod cynsail peryglus sy’n gogwyddo barn y cyhoedd tuag at y gred fod y DU yn rhy faddeugar tuag at droseddwyr, a fydd, yn ddiamau, yn lleihau’r tebygolrwydd y bydd pobl yn rhoi gwybod i'r awdurdodau am droseddau, ac yn y pen draw, yn arwain at fwy o droseddu. Mae Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru wedi mynegi cryn bryder am y polisi hwn ar y sail fod rhyddhau carcharorion yn gynnar, ar adeg pan fo Arolygiaeth Prawf Ei Fawrhydi eisoes o dan bwysau, yn arwain at y risg y bydd llawer o oroeswyr na fyddant yn cael gwybod pan fydd eu cyn-gamdriniwr o dan ystyriaeth i gael eu rhyddhau. Yn frawychus, cafodd y rhan fwyaf o'r unedau cyflawni ar gyfer y gwasanaeth prawf eu dynodi'n 'annigonol' yn 2023-24, y sgôr isaf posibl, a dim ond tri gwasanaeth oedd yn 'ddigonol' wrth asesu'r risg o niwed difrifol. Mae Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru yn annog y Llywodraeth ymhellach i ailystyried y polisi hwn yn ofalus ac i flaenoriaethu diogelwch a lles goroeswyr. Gallai rhyddhau carcharorion yn gynnar arwain at ganlyniadau dinistriol i oroeswyr trais yn erbyn menywod a merched. Credaf ei bod yn amlwg i bawb fod y polisi hwn yn peryglu diogelwch a llesiant goroeswyr ac yn cynyddu’r ofn yn eu plith y bydd eu cyn-gamdrinwyr yn ôl ar y strydoedd. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa bwysau a roddwyd gennych ar Lywodraeth Lafur newydd y DU i wrthdroi ei pholisi? Diolch.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Thank you for that question. Of course, justice is currently a reserved matter, and many of the services that are central to operating our adult and youth justice, in terms of the secure estate, probation services, in terms of the impact of decisions that are made at a criminal justice level, actually, are devolved to us. So, we seek not just to take responsibility, but to work very closely with HMPPS, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. So, I have been reassured by meetings that I've held with the Minister, Lord Timpson, and also, most recently, last week, with the Minister Alex Davies-Jones, who's responsible for not only victims, but violence against women and domestic abuse. So, I was very reassured, in terms of the early release scheme, that Alex Davies-Jones met with third sector providers in Wales. Before the September first early release cohort, she met with Welsh Women's Aid and other organisations, and, in fact, I also met with the criminal justice partners, to be reassured that there was going to be every responsibility taken in terms of release, and that there was a victim contact scheme as well. So, it is something where we need to work together, and I have been reassured that, in Wales, people have been protected, particularly in terms of the situation of risk in terms of early release and domestic abusers.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Wrth gwrs, mae cyfiawnder yn fater a gedwir yn ôl ar hyn o bryd, ac mae llawer o’r gwasanaethau sy’n ganolog i'r gwaith o weithredu cyfiawnder oedolion ac ieuenctid, o ran yr ystad ddiogel, gwasanaethau prawf, o ran effaith penderfyniadau a wneir ar lefel cyfiawnder troseddol, wedi'u datganoli i ni mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rydym yn ceisio cymryd cyfrifoldeb, ac yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Gwasanaeth Carchardai a Phrawf Ei Fawrhydi. Felly, mae cyfarfodydd a gynhaliais gyda’r Gweinidog, yr Arglwydd Timpson, a hefyd, yn fwyaf diweddar, yr wythnos diwethaf, gyda’r Gweinidog Alex Davies-Jones, sy’n gyfrifol nid yn unig am ddioddefwyr, ond trais yn erbyn menywod a cham-drin domestig, wedi tawelu fy meddwl. Felly, cefais fy nghalonogi’n fawr, o ran y cynllun rhyddhau cynnar, fod Alex Davies-Jones wedi cyfarfod â darparwyr y trydydd sector yng Nghymru. Cyn rhyddhau'r garfan gyntaf i gael eu rhyddhau'n gynnar ym mis Medi, cyfarfu â Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru a sefydliadau eraill, ac fe gyfarfûm innau hefyd â’r partneriaid cyfiawnder troseddol, i gael sicrwydd y bydd pob cyfrifoldeb yn cael ei gymryd o ran rhyddhau, a bod cynllun cysylltu ar gael ar gyfer dioddefwyr hefyd. Felly, mae’n rhywbeth lle mae angen inni gydweithio, ac rwyf wedi cael sicrwydd fod pobl, yng Nghymru, wedi’u diogelu, yn enwedig o ran y sefyllfa risg yn sgil rhyddhau cynnar a chamdrinwyr domestig.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The UK Labour Government has announced that legal advocates for female survivors of violence and sexual abuse are going to be in every police force in England and Wales in order to advise survivors from the moment of report to trial. However, as the Cabinet Secretary will be aware, according to their manifesto, Labour plan to fund these legal advocates through the redirecting of police and crime commissioner grants for victims services, meaning that funding will be taken from one area that supports survivors of violence against women and girls and placed into another, and offering no overall improvement to the support survivors receive. Survivors of domestic and sexual abuse face countless challenges at all levels of the civil and criminal justice system, most notably where there is a lack of trust when reporting incidents to authorities, and the delay that survivors often face when waiting for what can be a very traumatic trial, further eroding any trust that they may have in the system. With this in mind, Cabinet Secretary, what conversations has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government on implementing the recommendations from the harm panel report to address the deep-rooted systemic concerns with how the courts identify and respond to domestic abuse? Thank you.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi cyhoeddi y bydd eiriolwyr cyfreithiol ar gyfer goroeswyr benywaidd trais a cham-drin rhywiol ym mhob un o heddluoedd Cymru a Lloegr er mwyn cynghori goroeswyr o’r eiliad y maent yn rhoi gwybod am ddigwyddiad i'r achos llys. Fodd bynnag, fel y gŵyr Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn ôl eu maniffesto, mae Llafur yn bwriadu ariannu’r eiriolwyr cyfreithiol hyn drwy ailgyfeirio grantiau comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu ar gyfer gwasanaethau dioddefwyr, sy'n golygu y byddant yn mynd â chyllid o un maes sy’n cefnogi goroeswyr trais yn erbyn menywod a merched ac yn ei roi mewn maes arall, heb gynnig unrhyw welliant cyffredinol i’r cymorth y mae goroeswyr yn ei gael. Mae goroeswyr cam-drin domestig a rhywiol yn wynebu heriau di-rif ar bob lefel o’r system gyfiawnder sifil a throseddol, yn fwyaf nodedig lle ceir diffyg ymddiriedaeth wrth roi gwybod i awdurdodau am ddigwyddiadau, a’r oedi y mae goroeswyr yn aml yn ei wynebu wrth aros am yr hyn a all fod yn achos llys trawmatig iawn, gan erydu unrhyw ymddiriedaeth a allai fod ganddynt yn y system ymhellach. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa sgyrsiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar weithredu argymhellion adroddiad y panel niwed i fynd i’r afael â’r pryderon systemig dwfn ynghylch y modd y mae’r llysoedd yn canfod ac yn ymateb i gam-drin domestig? Diolch.
Well, thank you for that question. I’ve already met with Alex Davies-Jones, MP, who’s the Minister for victims and tackling domestic violence and violence against women. She’s in the Home Office, and, of course, we also have Jess Phillips in the Ministry of Justice. And, as social justice Cabinet Secretary, I’m working closely with both of those Ministers in the UK Government to address these issues.
Wel, diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rwyf eisoes wedi cyfarfod ag Alex Davies-Jones, AS, y Gweinidog dros ddioddefwyr a mynd i’r afael â thrais domestig a thrais yn erbyn menywod. Mae hi yn y Swyddfa Gartref, ac wrth gwrs, mae gennym Jess Phillips yn y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder hefyd. Ac fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyfiawnder cymdeithasol, rwy'n gweithio'n agos gyda'r ddau Weinidog hynny yn Llywodraeth y DU i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Sioned Williams.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Inequality remains a significant challenge that hinders not only individual potential, but the collective well-being of our country. The most recent report into the well-being of Wales, published at the end of last month, highlighted some very concerning inequalities that continue to exist and to deepen within our society. In it, the chief statistician reports on the evidence that shows that people who experience deprivation are likely to face poorer outcomes. On mental well-being, the gap between the most and least deprived areas has widened, and, perhaps most shockingly, the report states the gap in avoidable mortality between the most and least deprived areas is now at its highest level since 2003 for males, and since the series of the well-being reports began for females. This next year will see us mark 10 years since the passing of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Do you agree with the findings of this report that, in my opinion, demonstrate that the Welsh Government are failing to meet their seven well-being goals, and that the Act has not ensured sufficient action on tackling inequality? And how will this urgent work be prioritised in the forthcoming budget?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae anghydraddoldeb yn parhau i fod yn her sylweddol sy’n amharu nid yn unig ar botensial unigolion, ond ar lesiant cyffredinol ein gwlad. Amlygodd yr adroddiad diweddaraf ar lesiant Cymru, a gyhoeddwyd ddiwedd y mis diwethaf, anghydraddoldebau sy'n peri cryn bryder ac sy’n parhau i fodoli ac i ddyfnhau o fewn ein cymdeithas. Ynddo, mae’r prif ystadegydd yn adrodd ar y dystiolaeth sy’n dangos bod pobl â phrofiad o amddifadedd yn debygol o wynebu canlyniadau gwaeth. Ar les meddyliol, mae’r bwlch rhwng yr ardaloedd mwyaf a lleiaf difreintiedig wedi lledu, ac yn fwyaf syfrdanol o bosibl, mae’r adroddiad yn nodi bod y bwlch rhwng yr ardaloedd mwyaf a lleiaf difreintiedig mewn marwolaethau y gellir eu hosgoi bellach ar ei lefel uchaf ers 2003 ar gyfer dynion, ac ers i'r gyfres o adroddiadau llesiant ddechrau ar gyfer menywod. Bydd y flwyddyn nesaf yn nodi 10 mlynedd ers pasio Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015. A ydych chi'n cytuno â chanfyddiadau’r adroddiad hwn sydd, yn fy marn i, yn dangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn methu bodloni eu saith nod llesiant, ac nad yw’r Ddeddf wedi sicrhau camau gweithredu digonol ar fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb? A sut y bydd y gwaith pwysig hwn yn cael ei flaenoriaethu yn y gyllideb sydd ar y ffordd?
Thank you, Sioned Williams, for that really important question, because it is something that I think we can all be proud of in this Senedd, in our Welsh Parliament, that we did bring forward the well-being of future generations Act. And, of course, it is now, six years on from the implementation of that Act, that we are implementing, and responsible for implementing. And, of course, you have to look at that well-being report and see how much needs to be done in terms of ensuring that the well-being of future generations agenda is actually driving continuous improvement across the Government, and how public bodies work, and how they are delivering on those goals and actions. So, I think what is important is that, with our well-being of future generations commissioner, we are now looking at not just future trends in terms of the work that is being undertaken, but, actually, how we are delivering on the UN sustainable development goals, for example. And the future generations commissioner has championed successes and lessons learned from the well-being of future generations Act, and is taking this forward in terms of recognition across the world of what we are seeking to do. But it’s here in Wales that we need to demonstrate that difference.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn gwirioneddol bwysig, Sioned Williams, gan ei fod yn rhywbeth y credaf y gall pob un ohonom fod yn falch ohono yn y Senedd hon, yn Senedd Cymru, ein bod wedi cyflwyno Deddf llesiant cenedlaethau’r dyfodol. Ac wrth gwrs, mae chwe blynedd wedi bod bellach ers cyflwyno'r Ddeddf honno, yr ydym yn ei rhoi ar waith, ac yn gyfrifol am ei rhoi ar waith. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid ichi edrych ar yr adroddiad llesiant a gweld faint sydd angen ei wneud o ran sicrhau bod agenda llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol o ddifrif yn ysgogi gwelliant parhaus ar draws y Llywodraeth, a sut y mae cyrff cyhoeddus yn gweithio, a sut y maent yn cyflawni'r nodau a'r camau gweithredu hynny. Felly, credaf mai’r hyn sy’n bwysig yw ein bod, gyda’n comisiynydd llesiant cenedlaethau’r dyfodol, yn edrych nawr nid yn unig ar dueddiadau’r dyfodol o ran y gwaith sy’n mynd rhagddo, ond ar sut rydym yn cyflawni nodau datblygu cynaliadwy'r Cenhedloedd Unedig, er enghraifft. Ac mae comisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol wedi hyrwyddo llwyddiannau a'r gwersi a ddysgwyd o Ddeddf llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac yn ceisio cydnabyddiaeth fyd-eang i'r hyn rydym yn ceisio ei wneud. Ond yma yng Nghymru, mae angen inni ddangos y gwahaniaeth hwnnw.
Diolch. The well-being of Wales report clearly demonstrates for me that tackling poverty is the key to improving inequalities. Trussell’s latest report, published last week, shows that the number of people facing hunger and hardship—that is, the number of people who are likely to need to turn to a foodbank now and who are at high risk of needing foodbanks in the future—is at record levels in Wales: 420,000 people and children most at risk, and 23,000 more people across Wales are projected to face hunger and hardship by 2026-27 if nothing changes. The report also shows that work is not providing a reliable route out of hardship, with the experience of going without the essentials equally common for households receiving universal credit who are in work and out of work. The report analyses a range of policy options available to both the UK and Welsh Governments, and finds one of the most effective would be to remove the two-child limit and benefit cap. This would reduce the number of people at risk of hunger and hardship in Wales by 25,000. It also recommends emulating the Scottish child payment. Trussell say that the discretionary assistance fund, although valuable in a crisis, isn't sufficient to stop families going without food. Do you agree with Trussell that the UK Government must act on the evidence on its options for change? And how will the Welsh Government act to end the rising need for foodbanks in our communities?
Diolch. Mae adroddiad llesiant Cymru yn dangos yn glir i mi fod trechu tlodi yn allweddol er mwyn gwella anghydraddoldebau. Mae adroddiad diweddaraf Trussell, a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, yn dangos bod nifer y bobl sy’n wynebu llwgu a chaledi—hynny yw, nifer y bobl sy’n debygol o fod angen troi at fanc bwyd nawr ac sydd mewn perygl mawr o fod angen banciau bwyd yn y dyfodol—ar y lefelau uchaf erioed yng Nghymru: 420,000 o bobl a phlant yn y perygl mwyaf, a rhagwelir y bydd 23,000 yn rhagor o bobl ledled Cymru yn wynebu llwgu a chaledi erbyn 2026-27 os na fydd unrhyw beth yn newid. Mae’r adroddiad hefyd yn dangos nad yw swyddi'n darparu llwybr dibynadwy allan o galedi, gyda’r profiad o fynd heb yr hanfodion yr un mor gyffredin i aelwydydd sydd mewn gwaith ac yn derbyn credyd cynhwysol ag y mae i aelwydydd di-waith sy'n derbyn credyd cynhwysol. Mae’r adroddiad yn dadansoddi amrywiaeth o opsiynau polisi sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru, ac yn dod i'r casgliad mai un o’r rhai mwyaf effeithiol fyddai dileu’r terfyn dau blentyn a’r cap ar fudd-daliadau. Byddai hyn yn arwain at 25,000 yn llai o bobl mewn perygl o lwgu a chaledi yng Nghymru. Mae hefyd yn argymell efelychu taliad plant yr Alban. Dywed Trussell nad yw'r gronfa cymorth dewisol, er ei bod yn werthfawr mewn argyfwng, yn ddigon i atal teuluoedd rhag mynd heb fwyd. A ydych chi'n cytuno â Trussell fod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU weithredu ar y dystiolaeth o ran ei hopsiynau ar gyfer newid? A sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu i roi diwedd ar yr angen cynyddol am fanciau bwyd yn ein cymunedau?
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn.
Thank you very much for your very important question.
Of course, tackling poverty is a key priority of this Government, and it's across Government—all Ministers integrating activity to tackle poverty and how we support vulnerable households to mitigate the impact of poverty. On Monday, I spoke at a child poverty conference. One of the important speakers who I was able to hear was the speaker who spoke about the local food partnerships. Katie Palmer runs Food Sense Wales, which we are funding across the whole of Wales to try and not just fund foodbanks, but, actually, to tackle—. In every constituency and every county there is a food co-ordinator looking at how we tackle food poverty, but also linking it to all of the schemes that have been developed through the curriculum with schools, with community growing, and working with farmers as well to tackle food poverty.
But, of course, what people need—and all these reports are clear—is money in their pockets. I am very glad that I've been doing work, following our co-operation agreement, and, indeed, this year's budget, looking at those child payments made in Scotland. We haven't got the powers, but we are looking at the experience of that. But also, I'm very clear that our Welsh benefits charter is a route to getting our children and families the funding and support they need. Also, in fact, the other speaker on Monday who was important was Councillor Anthony Hunt, talking about the ways in which they are now channelling, through the Welsh benefits charter, one route to accessing free school meals, the school essentials grant, the council tax reduction scheme and the education maintenance allowance. What we need to do is ensure there's one route in to getting the money that people and families need in order to tackle enduring poverty, which, of course, we want to address. We haven't got all the powers, but we want to address it.
Wrth gwrs, mae trechu tlodi'n flaenoriaeth allweddol i'r Llywodraeth hon, a hynny ar draws y Llywodraeth—mae pob Gweinidog yn integreiddio gweithgarwch er mwyn trechu tlodi a'r ffordd rydym yn cefnogi aelwydydd agored i niwed i liniaru effaith tlodi. Ddydd Llun, siaradais mewn cynhadledd tlodi plant. Un o’r siaradwyr pwysig a glywais oedd y siaradwr a soniodd am y partneriaethau bwyd lleol. Mae Katie Palmer yn rhedeg Synnwyr Bwyd Cymru, yr ydym yn eu hariannu ledled Cymru i geisio ariannu banciau bwyd, ac i fynd i’r afael â—. Ym mhob etholaeth a phob sir, mae cydgysylltydd bwyd yn edrych ar sut yr awn i’r afael â thlodi bwyd, ac yn cysylltu hynny â’r holl gynlluniau sydd wedi’u datblygu drwy’r cwricwlwm gydag ysgolion, gyda thyfu bwyd yn y gymuned, a gweithio gyda ffermwyr hefyd i drechu tlodi bwyd.
Ond wrth gwrs, yr hyn sydd ei angen ar bobl—ac mae'r holl adroddiadau hyn yn glir—yw arian yn eu pocedi. Rwy’n falch iawn fy mod wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith, yn dilyn ein cytundeb cydweithio, a'r gyllideb eleni yn wir, i edrych ar y taliadau plant a wnaed yn yr Alban. Nid oes gennym y pwerau, ond rydym yn edrych ar y profiadau hynny. Ond hefyd, rwy'n sicr fod ein siarter budd-daliadau Cymru yn llwybr i ddarparu'r cyllid a'r cymorth sydd ei angen ar ein plant a'n teuluoedd. Hefyd, y siaradwr arall ddydd Llun a oedd yn bwysig oedd y Cynghorydd Anthony Hunt, a fu'n sôn am y ffyrdd y maent bellach yn sianelu, drwy siarter budd-daliadau Cymru, un llwybr i gael prydau ysgol am ddim, y grant hanfodion ysgol, cynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor a'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg. Yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud yw sicrhau bod un llwybr i mewn i gael mynediad at yr arian sydd ei angen ar bobl a theuluoedd i drechu tlodi parhaus, sy'n rhywbeth yr hoffem fynd i'r afael ag ef wrth gwrs. Nid yw'r holl bwerau gennym, ond rydym am fynd i’r afael ag ef.
You don't have all the powers, and I take it that you won't be urging the Chancellor to scrap that two-child cap in the forthcoming budget, which is disappointing, considering all this evidence in all these reports.
According to a new report by Citizens Advice Cymru, the demand for crisis support has reached unprecedented levels. Comparing the first eight months of 2022 and the first eight months of 2024, they've seen a 17 per cent rise in the number of people coming to them in crisis situations. An adviser quoted in the report said they used to see maybe 20 foodbank cases a week, and now they are seeing at least 20 a day.
These recent reports from Trussell and Citizens Advice bring to light the stark and troubling reality of inequality and poverty. What's really concerning is that a significant portion of those struggling are in employment, showing simply having a job doesn't provide protection from hardship without adequate social security support. This directly challenges the assumptions made by the First Minister and the Prime Minister last week. Employment isn't always the key to reducing poverty.
Cabinet Secretary, in the absence of action from the UK Labour Government to reverse Tory welfare policies, which deepen and entrench poverty, will the Welsh Government, in line with the calls made by Citizens Advice Cymru, be protecting funding for the discretionary assistance fund in the forthcoming budget? And will it boost the allocation for the financial year in order to meet the rising need for crisis support?
Nid yw'r holl bwerau gennych, ac rwy’n cymryd na fyddwch yn annog y Canghellor i gael gwared ar y cap dau blentyn hwnnw yn y gyllideb sydd i ddod, sy’n siomedig, o ystyried yr holl dystiolaeth yn yr holl adroddiadau hyn.
Yn ôl adroddiad newydd gan Cyngor ar Bopeth Cymru, mae’r galw am gymorth brys wedi cyrraedd lefelau digynsail. O gymharu wyth mis cyntaf 2022 ac wyth mis cyntaf 2024, maent wedi gweld cynnydd o 17 y cant yn nifer y bobl sy'n dod atynt mewn sefyllfaoedd o argyfwng. Dywedodd cynghorydd a ddyfynnwyd yn yr adroddiad eu bod yn arfer gweld 20 o achosion banc bwyd yr wythnos efallai, a bellach maent yn gweld o leiaf 20 y dydd.
Mae’r adroddiadau diweddar hyn gan Trussell a Cyngor ar Bopeth yn amlygu realiti llwm a gofidus anghydraddoldeb a thlodi. Yr hyn sy'n peri pryder gwirioneddol yw bod cyfran sylweddol o'r rheini sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd mewn cyflogaeth, gan ddangos nad yw cael swydd yn eich amddiffyn rhag caledi heb gymorth nawdd cymdeithasol digonol. Mae hyn yn herio’r rhagdybiaethau a wnaed gan y Prif Weinidog a Phrif Weinidog y DU yr wythnos diwethaf yn uniongyrchol. Nid cyflogaeth yw'r allwedd i leihau tlodi bob amser.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn absenoldeb unrhyw gamau gweithredu gan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU i wrthdroi polisïau lles y Torïaid, sy’n dyfnhau ac yn dwysáu tlodi, a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru, yn unol â’r galwadau a wnaed gan Cyngor ar Bopeth Cymru, yn diogelu cyllid ar gyfer y gronfa cymorth dewisol yn y gyllideb sydd i ddod? Ac a fydd yn chwyddo'r dyraniad ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol er mwyn diwallu'r angen cynyddol am gymorth brys?
Thank you for that question. I was very glad that we were discussing these questions yesterday in response to the children's commissioner's report, and answering the questions that were put to me about how we were tackling child poverty. I think one of the important things in terms of the evidence is it is about social security policies that can and do lift children and their families out of poverty. Obviously, that is not within our gift as a Welsh Government, although we’re doing what we can in terms of our access to benefits. I remember meeting with the Bevan Foundation in the early days of my having this portfolio and they were saying, ‘If we could get families to take up the Healthy Start vouchers’. In fact, Lynne Neagle, when she had the role, managed to get health visitors trained and we massively increased access to Healthy Start vouchers—not Welsh Government but UK Government funding. I am pleased that I am, within the next two or three hours, meeting Liz Kendall and Bridget Phillipson. They are co-chairing the child poverty taskforce for the UK Government, and I will be able to then discuss these issues. But I can assure you that I’m doing everything I can to protect the discretionary assistance fund, to look at the impact of it this year in terms of the spend and to protect it for next year as well.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Roeddwn yn falch iawn ein bod yn trafod y cwestiynau hyn ddoe mewn ymateb i adroddiad y comisiynydd plant, ac yn ateb y cwestiynau a ofynnwyd i mi ynglŷn â sut roeddem yn trechu tlodi plant. Credaf mai un o'r pethau pwysig o ran y dystiolaeth yw ei bod yn ymwneud â pholisïau nawdd cymdeithasol sy'n gallu ac sydd yn codi plant a'u teuluoedd allan o dlodi. Yn amlwg, nid yw hynny o fewn ein gallu fel Llywodraeth Cymru, er ein bod yn gwneud yr hyn a allwn o ran ein mynediad at fudd-daliadau. Rwy’n cofio cyfarfod â Sefydliad Bevan yn fy nyddiau cynnar yn y portffolio hwn, ac roeddent yn dweud, 'Pe gallem gael teuluoedd i fanteisio ar y talebau Cychwyn Iach’. Mewn gwirionedd, llwyddodd Lynne Neagle, pan oedd hi yn y rôl, i gael hyfforddiant i ymwelwyr iechyd, ac fe wnaethom gynyddu mynediad at dalebau Cychwyn Iach yn aruthrol—nid cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, ond cyllid Llywodraeth y DU. Rwy’n falch y byddaf yn cyfarfod â Liz Kendall a Bridget Phillipson yn y ddwy neu dair awr nesaf. Maent yn cyd-gadeirio'r tasglu tlodi plant ar gyfer Llywodraeth y DU, a byddaf yn gallu trafod y materion hyn wedyn. Ond gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi fy mod yn gwneud popeth a allaf i ddiogelu’r gronfa cymorth dewisol, i edrych ar ei heffaith eleni o ran y gwariant, a'i diogelu ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf hefyd.
3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am lefelau tlodi plant yng Nghymru? OQ61714
3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the levels of child poverty in Wales? OQ61714
Diolch yn fawr. Yng Nghymru, roedd 29 y cant o blant yn byw mewn tlodi incwm cymharol, ar ôl costau tai, yn y blynyddoedd ariannol a ddaeth i ben rhwng 2021 a 2023. Mae'n rhaid i roi terfyn ar dlodi plant fod yn flaenoriaeth gyffredin. Byddwn ni’n cymryd rôl arweiniol wrth gydlynu’r camau sydd eu hangen i weithio tuag at ddileu tlodi plant a'i effeithiau yma yng Nghymru.
Thank you very much. In Wales, 29 per cent of children were living in relative income poverty, after housing costs, in the financial years ending 2021 to 2023. Ending child poverty must be a shared priority. We will take a leadership role in co-ordinating action to work towards eradicating child poverty and its impacts here in Wales.
Diolch am hynny.
Thank you for that.
I know you're aware of the appalling statistic that was uncovered by the Child Poverty Action Group recently that 10,000 children, as we’ve heard, have fallen into poverty since Labour took power in Westminster just a few short months ago. That, of course, is because of the two-child benefit cap. Human Rights Watch have called it cruel. I don’t wish to make you squirm, Cabinet Secretary, but you just told us that tackling poverty is a key priority of your Government. Will you call, therefore, on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to scrap the two-child benefit cap in the budget? Because it is responsible for plunging over 100 children a day into poverty.
Gwn eich bod yn ymwybodol o'r ystadegyn echrydus a ddatgelwyd yn ddiweddar gan y Grŵp Gweithredu ar Dlodi Plant fod 10,000 o blant, fel y clywsom, wedi disgyn i dlodi ers i Lafur ddod i rym yn San Steffan ychydig fisoedd yn ôl yn unig. Mae hynny, wrth gwrs, oherwydd y cap dau blentyn ar fudd-daliadau. Mae Human Rights Watch wedi ei alw’n greulon. Nid wyf yn ceisio gwneud ichi wingo, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond rydych chi newydd ddweud wrthym fod trechu tlodi yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i'ch Llywodraeth. A wnewch chi alw, felly, ar Ganghellor y Trysorlys i gael gwared ar y cap dau blentyn ar fudd-daliadau yn y gyllideb? Oherwydd mae'n gyfrifol am roi dros 100 o blant y dydd mewn tlodi.
This is a question that obviously is very current and topical at the moment. Indeed, I know the First Minister has answered this question as well. You will be aware that the UK Government has got a child poverty taskforce, and I’ve just mentioned the fact that I’m meeting with the two Cabinet Secretaries who themselves are co-chairing that taskforce. Clearly, these are issues that we are discussing with the UK Government, but I think the point for us here, and it goes back to the questions from Sioned Williams, is what we are doing with our partners to deliver the child poverty strategy here in Wales.
I’m very encouraged by the fact that, at our child poverty conference on Monday, not only did we talk about the impact of the single advice fund, which is reaching—. For example, in north Wales, over 19,000 people have access to single advice fund services, and £5 million of extra welfare benefit income. It is getting money in people’s pockets, as you know, that we need to take forward. But also we have made some funding available to organisations to help them tackle child poverty. You’ll be interested to hear that, in north Wales, we’ve got the Actif North Wales place-based approach pilot. It’s a community development approach. This is about communities in Wales, local authorities, third sector—they are all coming to us with these projects and saying, ‘Can you fund them? We think this is going to help tackle child poverty.’ So, we have that responsibility here in Wales to help them take those projects forward.
Mae hwn yn gwestiwn sy'n amlwg yn gyfredol ac yn amserol iawn ar hyn o bryd. Yn wir, gwn fod y Prif Weinidog wedi ateb y cwestiwn hwn hefyd. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod gan Lywodraeth y DU dasglu tlodi plant, ac rwyf newydd sôn fy mod yn cyfarfod â dau Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sydd eu hunain yn cyd-gadeirio’r tasglu hwnnw. Yn amlwg, mae’r rhain yn faterion yr ydym yn eu trafod gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ond credaf mai’r pwynt i ni yma, ac mae'n mynd yn ôl at y cwestiynau gan Sioned Williams, yw’r hyn a wnawn gyda’n partneriaid i gyflawni’r strategaeth tlodi plant yma yng Nghymru.
Rwyf wedi fy nghalonogi’n fawr gan y ffaith ein bod, yn ein cynhadledd tlodi plant ddydd Llun, wedi trafod effaith y gronfa gynghori sengl, sy’n cyrraedd—. Er enghraifft, yng ngogledd Cymru, mae gan dros 19,000 o bobl fynediad at wasanaethau'r gronfa gynghori sengl, a £5 miliwn o incwm ychwanegol ar ffurf budd-daliadau lles. Fel y gwyddoch, cael arian i bocedi pobl yw'r hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud. Ond hefyd, rydym wedi sicrhau bod rhywfaint o arian ar gael i sefydliadau i'w helpu i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Bydd o ddiddordeb i chi, yn y gogledd, fod gennym gynllun peilot dull seiliedig ar le Gogledd Cymru Actif. Mae'n ddull datblygu cymunedol. Mae'n ymwneud â chymunedau yng Nghymru, awdurdodau lleol, y trydydd sector—mae pob un ohonynt yn dod atom gyda phrosiectau ac yn dweud, 'A allwch eu hariannu? Rydym yn credu bod hyn yn mynd i helpu i drechu tlodi plant.' Felly, mae gennym y cyfrifoldeb hwnnw yma yng Nghymru i’w helpu i fwrw ymlaen â’r prosiectau hynny.
As mentioned during the children’s commissioner debate yesterday, it was regretful that the Welsh Government in 2016 abolished the target for eradicating child poverty by 2020. The Welsh Government has deliberately avoided including measurable targets in the child poverty strategy. Just because the targets have been abolished, it does not mean that Members will not scrutinise the Government on its failure to grapple with child poverty, which is running close to 30 per cent in Wales currently.
There is a dereliction of duty by the standards of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Wales is behind Scotland and Northern Ireland, and significantly behind many other European countries when it comes to child poverty, and this is not acceptable when we know that we can do better. Like so many other strategies and action plans under successive Welsh Labour Governments, there is consistently a disappointing failure in delivery. After 25 years of a Labour Government in Wales, child poverty levels have not decreased at the rate they should, and therefore new thinking is required. Will the Cabinet Secretary agree to publish a statement on levels of child poverty in Wales that commits to reintroducing measurable targets and sets out a clear plan for delivery? Thank you.
Fel y crybwyllwyd yn ystod dadl y comisiynydd plant ddoe, mae'n drueni fod Llywodraeth Cymru, yn 2016, wedi diddymu’r targed ar gyfer dileu tlodi plant erbyn 2020. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi osgoi cynnwys targedau mesuradwy yn y strategaeth tlodi plant yn fwriadol. Nid yw diddymu targedau’n golygu na fydd yr Aelodau’n craffu ar y Llywodraeth a'i methiant i drechu tlodi plant, sydd ar lefel o bron i 30 y cant yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd.
Mae yma esgeuluso dyletswydd i gyflawni safonau Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015. Mae Cymru ar ei hôl hi o gymharu â’r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, ac yn bell y tu ôl i lawer o wledydd eraill Ewrop o ran tlodi plant, ac nid yw hyn yn dderbyniol a ninnau'n gwybod y gallwn wneud yn well. Fel cymaint o strategaethau a chynlluniau gweithredu eraill o dan Lywodraethau Llafur olynol yng Nghymru, gwelwyd methiant cyson a siomedig i gyflawni. Ar ôl 25 mlynedd o Lywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru, nid yw lefelau tlodi plant wedi gostwng mor gyflym ag y dylent, ac felly mae angen syniadau newydd. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gytuno i gyhoeddi datganiad ar lefelau tlodi plant yng Nghymru sy’n ymrwymo i ailgyflwyno targedau mesuradwy ac yn nodi cynllun clir ar gyfer cyflawni? Diolch.
I do find it very hard to keep my cool when we have faced 14 years of austerity and we face a £22 billion black hole, which the new UK Government is now having to deal with. I do find it hard to—[Interruption.]
Rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn peidio â chynhyrfu a ninnau wedi wynebu 14 mlynedd o gyni ac yn wynebu twll du o £22 biliwn, y mae Llywodraeth newydd y DU yn gorfod ymdrin ag ef nawr. Rwy’n ei chael hi’n anodd—[Torri ar draws.]
Cabinet Secretary, two seconds. I would like to hear the response from the Cabinet Secretary, and there are voices from all sides of the Chamber that are not letting me do so. Please allow me to hear the response.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, dwy eiliad. Hoffwn glywed yr ymateb gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac mae lleisiau o bob ochr i’r Siambr nad ydynt yn gadael imi wneud hynny. Gadewch imi glywed yr ymateb.
I just wanted to briefly and quietly say: did we have foodbanks before the coalition Government took over? [Interruption.] We had nothing—nothing compared with the food poverty that our children and young people are facing today. So, yes, we have a long way to go in terms of working with our UK Government. And isn't it good, don't you agree that it's a good sign, that I am meeting the Secretaries of State for work and pensions and education this afternoon? I would never have got near one of your former Ministers to have such a discussion about tackling child poverty.
Hoffwn ddweud yn gryno ac yn dawel: a oedd gennym fanciau bwyd cyn i’r Llywodraeth glymblaid gymryd yr awenau? [Torri ar draws.] Nid oedd gennym unrhyw beth—dim o gymharu â'r tlodi bwyd y mae ein plant a'n pobl ifanc yn ei wynebu heddiw. Felly, oes, mae gennym ffordd bell i fynd o ran gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Ac onid yw'n dda, onid ydych yn cytuno ei fod yn arwydd da, fy mod i'n cyfarfod â'r Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol dros waith a phensiynau ac addysg y prynhawn yma? Ni fuaswn byth wedi dod yn agos at un o’ch cyn Weinidogion i gael trafodaeth o’r fath am drechu tlodi plant.
4. Beth yw asesiad yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet o'r cynnydd a wnaed ar y 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol'? OQ61719
4. What is the Cabinet Secretary's assessment of progress made on the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan'? OQ61719
Diolch, John Griffiths. Since the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan' was launched two years ago, we have laid significant structural foundations for improving outcomes for ethnic minority people in Wales, including an external accountability group, which holds us to account.
Diolch, John Griffiths. Ers lansio 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol' ddwy flynedd yn ôl, rydym wedi gosod sylfeini strwythurol sylweddol ar gyfer gwella canlyniadau i bobl ethnig leiafrifol yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys grŵp atebolrwydd allanol, sy'n ein dwyn i gyfrif.
Diolch, Cabinet Secretary. In Newport, we're lucky to have Age Alive, a charity that serves as a network for older black and minority ethnic people in the Newport area. This year, they celebrate their tenth anniversary. They organise activities for their members, allowing them to make friendships and connections, and also highlight issues that are faced by their membership with regard to the ongoing prejudice and discrimination that sadly is still with us today. Their chair, Roy Grant, has actually written a book about the history of immigration and community cohesion in Newport, particularly with regard to the Windrush generation and the challenges and experience that they faced. This group, then, Cabinet Secretary, is doing an awful lot of very good work, and I wonder—I'm sure it will—whether Welsh Government will recognise that and look at how it supports groups like Age Alive with the very good work that they do in the community and their plans to do even more.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yng Nghasnewydd, rydym yn ffodus fod gennym Age Alive, elusen sy'n gwasanaethu fel rhwydwaith ar gyfer pobl ddu ac ethnig leiafrifol hŷn yn ardal Casnewydd. Eleni, maent yn dathlu eu degfed pen-blwydd. Maent yn trefnu gweithgareddau ar gyfer eu haelodau, gan ganiatáu iddynt wneud ffrindiau a chysylltiadau, a thynnu sylw hefyd at faterion a wynebir gan eu haelodau o ran y rhagfarn a'r gwahaniaethu parhaus sydd, yn anffodus, yn dal i fod gyda ni heddiw. Mae eu cadeirydd, Roy Grant, wedi ysgrifennu llyfr am hanes mewnfudo a chydlyniant cymunedol yng Nghasnewydd, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â chenhedlaeth Windrush a’u heriau a’u profiadau. Mae’r grŵp hwn, felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn gwneud llawer iawn o waith da iawn, a thybed a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru—rwy’n siŵr y bydd—yn cydnabod hynny ac yn edrych ar sut y mae’n cefnogi grwpiau fel Age Alive gyda’r gwaith da iawn a wnânt yn y gymuned a'u cynlluniau i wneud mwy eto.
Thank you very much for drawing this to our attention today. This is just one example of many across Wales of ways in which organisations and community groups like Age Alive in Newport are actually working so effectively to champion diversity, tackle prejudice and discrimination and promote social inclusion for black, Asian and minority ethnic people over 50 in the area. I'd like to hear more about their work. I'd also like to have a look at that book as well. But can I also just draw attention to the fact that, earlier on today, I visited a minority ethnic community health fair here in Cardiff, and very similar projects have been developed in Cardiff as well. And I think, across Wales, it is useful to see how the third sector, particularly, I have to say, initiatives like Age Alive in Newport, are doing such tremendous work that is at the forefront of how we deliver our 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan'.
Diolch am dynnu ein sylw at hyn heddiw. Dyma un enghraifft yn unig o lawer ledled Cymru o ffyrdd y mae sefydliadau a grwpiau cymunedol fel Age Alive yng Nghasnewydd yn gweithio mor effeithiol i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth, mynd i’r afael â rhagfarn a gwahaniaethu a hyrwyddo cynhwysiant cymdeithasol ar gyfer pobl ddu, Asiaidd ac ethnig leiafrifol dros 50 oed yn yr ardal. Hoffwn glywed mwy am eu gwaith. Hoffwn gael golwg ar y llyfr hwnnw hefyd. Ond a gaf i dynnu sylw hefyd at y ffaith fy mod, yn gynharach heddiw, wedi ymweld â ffair iechyd cymunedau ethnig leiafrifol yma yng Nghaerdydd, a bod prosiectau tebyg iawn wedi'u datblygu yng Nghaerdydd hefyd. A ledled Cymru, mae'n ddefnyddiol gweld sut y mae’r trydydd sector, yn enwedig, mae’n rhaid imi ddweud, mentrau fel Age Alive yng Nghasnewydd, yn gwneud gwaith mor aruthrol sydd ar y blaen yn y modd yr awn ati i gyflawni ein ‘Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol'.
Thank you for that question, John. Firstly, I want to say that the Welsh Conservatives are firmly against racism and all forms of hate and bigotry. This has no place in society, and there should be zero tolerance for antisemitism, Islamophobia and all hate crimes.
The escalating crisis in the middle east has led to the horrific deaths of thousands of innocent people. The situation is catastrophic and, sadly, also affects many people in Wales who have friends and relatives in the region affected. Furthermore, this has escalated extreme hate and appalling racism directed towards Jewish and Muslim people in their Welsh communities, simply because of their faith. The Welsh Government attempted many times over the last 25 years to end discrimination, but ordinary Jewish and Muslim people continue to feel anxious, concerned for their safety, and, unfortunately, believe that this is just a part of normal life.
My question is: what is the Welsh Government doing to tackle prejudice and foster good relations between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Wales? How is the Welsh Government supporting Jewish and Muslim faith leaders and grass-roots charities?
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, John. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn ddweud bod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn gadarn yn erbyn hiliaeth a phob math o gasineb a rhagfarn. Nid oes lle i hyn mewn cymdeithas, a dylai fod dim goddefgarwch ar gyfer gwrth-semitiaeth, Islamoffobia a phob math o droseddau casineb.
Mae'r argyfwng cynyddol yn y dwyrain canol wedi arwain at farwolaethau erchyll miloedd o bobl ddiniwed. Mae’r sefyllfa’n drychinebus, ac yn anffodus, mae hefyd yn effeithio ar lawer o bobl yng Nghymru sydd â ffrindiau a pherthnasau yn yr ardal yr effeithir arni. Yn ogystal, mae hyn wedi dwysáu casineb eithafol a hiliaeth echrydus wedi'i gyfeirio at Iddewon a Mwslimiaid yn eu cymunedau yng Nghymru oherwydd eu ffydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ceisio rhoi diwedd ar wahaniaethu droeon dros y 25 mlynedd diwethaf, ond mae Iddewon a Mwslimiaid cyffredin yn parhau i deimlo'n bryderus, yn poeni am eu diogelwch, ac yn anffodus, yn credu mai rhan o fywyd normal yw hyn.
Fy nghwestiwn yw: beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i’r afael â rhagfarn a meithrin cysylltiadau da rhwng cymunedau Iddewig a Mwslimaidd yng Nghymru? Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi arweinwyr ffydd Iddewig a Mwslimaidd ac elusennau llawr gwlad?
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn pwysig iawn.
Thank you very much for the important question.
It’s so important, and we also recognise that that’s a very important question, because we are in Wales hate crime week this week. In fact, I spoke at the Wales hate crime support network yesterday and I spoke at that event about the fact that, arguably, 2024’s been a year like no other in recent memory. We saw the riots in England and Northern Ireland having an impact on people in Wales, people from different ethnic minorities, backgrounds—Muslims, in particular, are feeling fearful they will become targets, from the summer events, but also the heart-wrenching conflict, as you say, across the middle east has also left Welsh community members from different groups feeling very fearful, and, in fact, there has been an uplift, unfortunately, of hate crime based on one’s faith and religion.
So, it’s really important, as I said yesterday, that Wales has no place for hate, and I think this is where we can come together to express that. We do know there are reports of hate crime targeted towards Jewish and Muslim communities in Wales. The key point yesterday we were making at the Wales Hate Support Centre is that people encourage people to report any hate incidents and they can contact the police or the Wales Hate Support Centre, run by Victim Support, but I’m grateful for that question.
Mae mor bwysig, ac rydym ni hefyd yn cydnabod bod hwnnw'n gwestiwn pwysig iawn, gan ei bod yn wythnos troseddau casineb Cymru yr wythnos hon. Mewn gwirionedd, siaradais yn rhwydwaith cymorth troseddau casineb Cymru ddoe am y ffaith y gellid dadlau bod 2024 wedi bod flwyddyn wahanol i bob un arall yn y cyfnod diweddar. Gwelsom y terfysgoedd yn Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon yn cael effaith ar bobl yng Nghymru, pobl o wahanol leiafrifoedd ethnig, cefndiroedd—mae Mwslimiaid yn enwedig yn teimlo'n ofnus y byddant yn dod yn dargedau, yn sgil digwyddiadau'r haf, ond hefyd, fel y dywedwch, mae'r gwrthdaro torcalonnus ar draws y dwyrain canol wedi gadael aelodau yng nghymunedau Cymru o wahanol grwpiau'n teimlo'n ofnus iawn, ac yn anffodus, gwelwyd cynnydd yn nifer y troseddau casineb ar sail ffydd a chrefydd.
Felly, fel y dywedais ddoe, mae'n bwysig iawn nad oes lle yng Nghymru i gasineb, a chredaf mai dyma lle gallwn ddod at ein gilydd i fynegi hynny. Gwyddom fod adroddiadau o droseddau casineb wedi'u targedu at gymunedau Iddewig a Mwslimaidd yng Nghymru. Y pwynt allweddol yr oeddem yn ei wneud ddoe yng Nghanolfan Cymorth Casineb Cymru yw y dylai pobl annog pobl i roi gwybod am unrhyw ddigwyddiadau casineb a gallant gysylltu â'r heddlu neu Ganolfan Cymorth Casineb Cymru, sy'n cael ei rhedeg gan Cymorth i Ddioddefwyr, ond rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cwestiwn hwnnw.
5. Pa gamau fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i annog mwy o bobl o grwpiau sydd yn draddodiadol wedi eu tangynrychioli, fel y gymuned LHDT+, i gymryd rhan mewn gwleidyddiaeth? OQ61689
5. What steps will the Welsh Government take to encourage more people from traditionally under-represented groups, such as the LGBT+ community, to take part in politics? OQ61689
Diolch yn fawr, Adam Price. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd llawer o gamau i gefnogi amrywiaeth a sicrhau amrywiaeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth. Cyfrifoldeb pawb yw cynyddu amrywiaeth, a byddwn ni'n parhau i weithio gyda phartneriaid i sicrhau democratiaeth fwy amrywiol.
Thank you very much, Adam Price. The Welsh Government has taken many steps to support diversity and increase participation in politics. Increasing diversity is everyone’s responsibility, and we will continue to work with partners to deliver a more diverse democracy.
Dros y penwythnos yng nghynhadledd Plaid Cymru, mi oedd yn bleser i mi i fedru anrhydeddu Stuart Neale, sef y person LHDT agored cyntaf i sefyll etholiad yn enw Plaid Cymru nôl yn 1972. Cymerodd hi 29 o flynyddoedd wedi hynny i ni ethol y person LHDT cyntaf ar lefel genedlaethol—sef fi—ac wedi hynny, 23 o flynyddoedd wedi hynny, dal i fod fi ydy'r unig un erioed i gael ei ethol fel dyn hoyw agored ym Mhlaid Cymru, sy’n dangos pa mor bwysig ydy'r gwaith yma.
Nawr, gan fod y Llywodraeth yn edrych ar ganllawiau ar ethol mwy o amrywiaeth o bobl i’r lle yma, a hefyd, o dan y pwerau newydd o dan y Ddeddf Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru) 2024, i annog a chefnogi grwpiau tangynrychioliedig, a fyddai'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn fodlon cwrdd ag adran Plaid Pride, sy’n cynrychioli’r gymuned LHDT yn fy mhlaid i, ond hefyd yr adrannau eraill, anableddau, BME, adran y merched, ac adrannau cyfatebol o fewn pleidiau eraill, er mwyn sicrhau y gallwn ni gael yr amrywiaeth mwyaf eang i gael ei gynrychioli yn ein democratiaeth ni?
Over the weekend at the Plaid Cymru conference, it was a pleasure for me to be able to honour Stuart Neale, who was the first openly LGBT+ person to stand for election in the name of Plaid Cymru, in 1972. It took 29 years, then, for us to elect the first LGBT+ person on a national level—namely me—and then, 23 years after that, I’m still the only one ever to be elected as an openly gay man in Plaid Cymru, which shows how important this work is.
Now, as the Government is looking at guidance on the election of a diverse range of people to this place and, under the new powers under the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024, to encourage and support underrepresented groups, will the Cabinet Secretary be willing to meet Plaid Pride, which represents the LGBT+ community in my party, but also the other groups, in terms of disability, BME, the women’s group, and equivalent groups in other parties, to ensure that we can have the greatest possible diversity represented in our democracy?
Diolch yn fawr, Adam Price, a diolch yn fawr am gofio Stuart Neale.
Thank you very much, Adam Price, and thank you for marking the contribution of Stuart Neale.
It is important that we share that and that you shared that with us today. Just to reassure you and Members that, with the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 requiring us to issue guidance to support all political parties in considering the actions that they can take to improve diversity of candidates at the next election, we are already meeting with LGBT+, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to work with them to draft the guidance. That includes Pride, it includes Stonewall Cymru, Disability Wales and all of those who are representing black, minority ethnic groups as well. There is an opportunity, and I hope everyone across this Chamber will engage in that consultation. In fact, I look forward, with the First Minister, to attending the women's caucus, chaired by Joyce Watson, and attended by women across the Chamber, next week to discuss this.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n rhannu hynny a'ch bod chi wedi rhannu hynny gyda ni heddiw. Er mwyn eich sicrhau chi a'r Aelodau, gyda Deddf Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru) 2024 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ni gyhoeddi canllawiau i gefnogi pob plaid wleidyddol i ystyried y camau y gallant eu cymryd i wella amrywiaeth ymgeiswyr yn yr etholiad nesaf, rydym eisoes yn cyfarfod â LHDT+, Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr, cymunedau du, Asiaidd ac ethnig leiafrifol i weithio gyda nhw i ddrafftio'r canllawiau. Mae hynny'n cynnwys Pride, mae'n cynnwys Stonewall Cymru, Anabledd Cymru a phawb sy'n cynrychioli grwpiau du a lleiafrifol ethnig hefyd. Mae yna gyfle, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pawb ar draws y Siambr hon yn cymryd rhan yn yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw. Mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n edrych ymlaen, gyda'r Prif Weinidog, at fynychu'r cawcws i fenywod dan gadeiryddiaeth Joyce Watson, ac a fynychir gan fenywod ar draws y Siambr yr wythnos nesaf i drafod hyn.
6. Pa gamau y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cymryd i liniaru’r effaith ar drigolion yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych yn sgil penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i ddileu taliadau tanwydd y gaeaf? OQ61690
6. What action has the Cabinet Secretary taken to mitigate the impact on residents in Conwy and Denbighshire of the UK Government’s decision to scrap winter fuel payments? OQ61690
Thank you, Darren Millar. We're working to ensure people in Conwy and Denbighshire, and throughout Wales, claim every £1 to which they're entitled. Our 'Claim what's yours' Advicelink Cymru helpline is helping pensioners to find out and access financial support, including pension credit.
Diolch, Darren Millar. Rydym yn gweithio i sicrhau bod pobl yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych, a ledled Cymru, yn hawlio pob £1 y mae ganddynt hawl iddi. Mae ein llinell gymorth 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy'n ddyledus i chi' Advicelink Cymru yn helpu pensiynwyr i ddarganfod a chael gafael ar gymorth ariannol, gan gynnwys credyd pensiwn.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, but I'm afraid that that answer does not satisfy the people in Conwy and Denbighshire that I represent. Some 30,000 people across those two local authority areas are expected to lose out on winter fuel payments this year, and, frankly, they are bitterly disappointed in the response of the Welsh Government to this crisis, and it is a crisis for many of them, who will struggle to pay their bills. They feel let down. They feel let down by you, Cabinet Secretary, personally, and by the UK Government. You haven't been calling sufficiently well on the UK Government to reverse the impact of these cuts, you don't seem to be able to find money within your own budgets to create a Welsh Government fuel payment to replace the impact of the payments that are being lost, yet you seem to have plenty of money for all sorts of other things that we don't need to spend money on. Back in August, you actually said yourself that pensioners risk being pushed into fuel poverty by the cut, and we know that that is the case. Why aren't you making any progress in addressing this issue and when can we expect you to be rattling the cage at the doors of the Treasury to make sure that pensioners in Wales don't face these terrible and cruel cuts this winter?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond mae arnaf ofn nad yw'r ateb hwnnw'n bodloni'r bobl yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych rwy'n eu cynrychioli. Mae disgwyl y bydd tua 30,000 o bobl ar draws y ddwy ardal awdurdod lleol yn cael eu hamddifadu o daliadau tanwydd y gaeaf eleni, ac a dweud y gwir, maent yn siomedig iawn ynghylch ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r argyfwng hwn, ac mae'n argyfwng i lawer ohonynt a fydd yn ei chael hi'n anodd talu eu biliau. Maent yn siomedig. Maent yn teimlo eich bod chi wedi gwneud cam â nhw, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, chi'n bersonol, a Llywodraeth y DU. Nid ydych wedi bod yn galw'n ddigon da ar Lywodraeth y DU i wyrdroi effaith y toriadau hyn, nid yw'n ymddangos eich bod yn gallu dod o hyd i arian yn eich cyllidebau eich hun i greu taliad tanwydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn lle'r taliadau sy'n cael eu colli, ond eto mae'n ymddangos bod gennych ddigon o arian ar gyfer pob math o bethau eraill nad oes angen i ni wario arian arnynt. Yn ôl ym mis Awst, fe ddywedoch chi eich hun fod pensiynwyr mewn perygl o gael eu gwthio i dlodi tanwydd gan y toriad, ac fe wyddom fod hynny'n wir. Pam nad ydych chi'n gwneud unrhyw gynnydd ar fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn a phryd y gallwn ni ddisgwyl i chi fynd i guro ar ddrysau'r Trysorlys i wneud yn siŵr nad yw pensiynwyr yng Nghymru yn wynebu'r toriadau ofnadwy a chreulon hyn y gaeaf hwn?
Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, I don't intend to go over all of the actions that we've already taken. I've answered this question more than once, but I'm going to add a couple more points and ways in which we are trying to help people. The one key thing, I think, is the unique partnership we've got with the Fuel Bank Foundation, since June 2022. Your Government, the UK Government, never entertained a partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation, I have to say. They did in Scotland, they did in Wales, not in England. That heat fund helps off-grid households in crisis with the bulk purchase of fuel, and it is important for people to know about the Fuel Bank Foundation. It's grown a network of more than 126 referral partners based in Wales, 13 partners who provide UK services, such as Macmillan and Scope. It gives fuel vouchers, heated throws and helps households receive help to purchase off-grid fuel. That is a Welsh-based initiative with the Fuel Bank Foundation, and, in fact, they came to the child poverty conference on Monday to talk about that work.
But also, I've met with all the energy suppliers in Wales this month. I've encouraged them to help their customers with their energy bills, and they're all signed up to helping their energy customers. And let's remember it is actually about how we invest £30 million in the Warm Homes Nest scheme to tackle fuel poverty. I think that's the way in which we are—as well as all the other responses I've given this afternoon in terms of take-up of the pension credit to enable them to access the winter fuel payment—helping pensioners in your constituency and in Wales, I have to say, with your local authority working very closely with us, Darren Millar, and local authorities are on board.
Wel, Ddirprwy Lywydd, nid wyf yn bwriadu mynd dros yr holl gamau yr ydym eisoes wedi'u cymryd. Rwyf wedi ateb y cwestiwn hwn fwy nag unwaith, ond rwy'n mynd i ychwanegu ychydig mwy o bwyntiau a ffyrdd rydym yn ceisio helpu pobl. Yr un peth allweddol, rwy'n credu, yw'r bartneriaeth unigryw sydd gennym gyda'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd ers mis Mehefin 2022. Ni wnaeth eich Llywodraeth chi, Llywodraeth y DU, gynnal partneriaeth gyda'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd erioed, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud. Fe wnaethant hynny yn yr Alban, fe wnaethant hynny yng Nghymru, nid yn Lloegr. Mae'r gronfa wres honno yn helpu aelwydydd oddi ar y grid sy'n wynebu argyfwng gyda swmpbrynu tanwydd, ac mae'n bwysig i bobl wybod am y Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd. Mae wedi tyfu rhwydwaith o fwy na 126 o bartneriaid atgyfeirio yng Nghymru, 13 partner sy'n darparu gwasanaethau DU, fel Macmillan a Scope. Mae'n rhoi talebau tanwydd, carthenni trydan ac yn helpu cartrefi i gael help i brynu tanwydd oddi ar y grid. Mae'n fenter Gymreig gyda'r Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd, ac mewn gwirionedd, daethant i'r gynhadledd tlodi plant ddydd Llun i sôn am y gwaith hwnnw.
Ond hefyd, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â'r holl gyflenwyr ynni yng Nghymru y mis hwn. Rwyf wedi eu hannog i helpu eu cwsmeriaid gyda'u biliau ynni, ac maent oll wedi cofrestru i helpu eu cwsmeriaid ynni. A gadewch inni gofio ei fod yn ymwneud â sut rydym yn buddsoddi £30 miliwn yng nghynllun Nyth Cartrefi Clyd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd. Rwy'n credu mai dyna'r ffordd rydym ni—yn ogystal â'r holl ymatebion eraill a roddais y prynhawn yma o ran y nifer sy'n manteisio ar y credyd pensiwn i'w galluogi i gael taliad tanwydd y gaeaf—yn helpu pensiynwyr yn eich etholaeth chi ac yng Nghymru, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, gyda'ch awdurdod lleol chi'n gweithio'n agos iawn gyda ni, Darren Millar, ac mae awdurdodau lleol yn gefnogol.
7. Sut y mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gweithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru i sicrhau cyfle cyfartal a chydraddoldeb mynediad ar y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus? OQ61704
7. How is the Cabinet Secretary working with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales to ensure there is equality of opportunity and access on the public transport network? OQ61704
Diolch yn fawr, Peredur Owen Griffiths. We are committed to connecting communities across Wales by transforming our railways, delivering a better bus network, fixing our roads and empowering local communities. This will allow us to build an accessible, sustainable and efficient transport service for everyone, in all parts of Wales.
Diolch, Peredur Owen Griffiths. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gysylltu cymunedau ledled Cymru trwy drawsnewid ein rheilffyrdd, darparu rhwydwaith bysiau gwell, trwsio ein ffyrdd a grymuso cymunedau lleol. Bydd hyn yn ein galluogi i adeiladu gwasanaeth trafnidiaeth hygyrch, cynaliadwy ac effeithlon i bawb, ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
Diolch am yr ateb yna.
Thank you for that response.
One thing that I think we can all agree on is that the public transport network is not where we'd like it to be in Wales. For anyone with a car, this is an inconvenience, if they would prefer to travel by bus or rail. If you are without a car, because you can't afford it or are unable to drive for health reasons, our patchy public transport network becomes an equality issue. For example, Age Cymru surveyed pensioners in Wales and found that 17 per cent of responders found it difficult or very difficult to get about. One person said that the bus service is infrequent and that it would be very difficult to access medical appointments, services and shops without a car. Another added, 'We'd like to use public transport, but access is limited, due to the cuts.' Minister, are these issues on your radar, with your responsibility for equality and human rights? And do you agree that our patchy public transport is a barrier to achieving equality, is a barrier to opening up opportunities in the job market or leisure, and a barrier to combating isolation amongst vulnerable groups?
Un peth y credaf y gallwn i gyd gytuno arno yw nad yw'r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus lle hoffem iddo fod yng Nghymru. I unrhyw un sydd â char, mae hyn yn anghyfleustra os byddai'n well ganddynt deithio ar fws neu reilffordd. Os ydych chi heb gar, am na allwch ei fforddio neu os na allwch chi yrru am resymau iechyd, mae ein rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus dameidiog yn dod yn fater cydraddoldeb. Er enghraifft, fe wnaeth Age Cymru arolygu pensiynwyr yng Nghymru a chanfod bod 17 y cant o'r ymatebwyr yn ei chael hi'n anodd neu'n anodd iawn teithio o gwmpas. Dywedodd un person fod y gwasanaeth bws yn anfynych ac y byddai'n anodd iawn cyrraedd apwyntiadau meddygol, gwasanaethau a siopau heb gar. Ychwanegodd un arall, 'Hoffem ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ond mae mynediad yn gyfyngedig, oherwydd y toriadau.' Weinidog, a yw'r materion hyn ar eich radar, gyda'ch cyfrifoldeb dros gydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol? Ac a ydych chi'n cytuno bod ein trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus dameidiog yn rhwystr rhag cyflawni cydraddoldeb, yn rhwystr rhag agor cyfleoedd yn y farchnad swyddi neu hamdden, ac yn rhwystr i wrthsefyll ynysu ymhlith grwpiau bregus?
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn.
Thank you very much for your question.
Of course, it's the national transport delivery plan that sets out the range of actions we're taking to improve the accessibility, reliability, safety and frequency of public transport. It is crucial that we have an integrated public transport service in Wales. And it is important to also recognise that, in south-east Wales, we've awarded £54 million in funding to local authorities to invest in their local transport priorities.
I just want to make one point—I'm testing the patience of the Dirprwy Lywydd. Don't forget that we're maintaining in Wales—. The Welsh Government is maintaining our concessionary travel scheme, which is crucial for older and disabled people, enabling people to travel for free on most bus services in Wales and get discounted or free travel on many rail services.
Wrth gwrs, y cynllun cyflawni cenedlaethol ar gyfer trafnidiaeth sy'n nodi'r ystod o gamau rydym yn eu cymryd i wella hygyrchedd, dibynadwyedd, diogelwch ac amlder trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae'n hanfodol fod gennym wasanaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig yng Nghymru. Ac mae'n bwysig cydnabod hefyd, yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, ein bod wedi dyfarnu £54 miliwn mewn cyllid i awdurdodau lleol i'w fuddsoddi yn eu blaenoriaethau trafnidiaeth lleol.
Hoffwn wneud un pwynt—rwy'n profi amynedd y Dirprwy Lywydd. Peidiwch ag anghofio ein bod ni'n cynnal yng Nghymru—. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnal ein cynllun teithio rhatach, sy'n allweddol i bobl hŷn ac anabl, ac yn galluogi pobl i deithio am ddim ar y rhan fwyaf o wasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru a theithio am bris gostyngol neu am ddim ar lawer o wasanaethau rheilffordd.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8. Buffy Williams.
And finally, question 8, Buffy Williams.
8. Pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant dros weddill tymor y Senedd hon? OQ61708
8. What action will the Welsh Government take to tackle child poverty over the rest of this Senedd term? OQ61708
Diolch, Buffy Williams. The child poverty strategy for Wales sets out our long-term ambitions to tackle child poverty and to mitigate the worst impacts of poverty here in Wales. Our strategy includes the actions we are taking across Government and with partners, maximising the impact of the levers available to us.
Diolch, Buffy Williams. Mae strategaeth tlodi plant Cymru yn nodi ein huchelgeisiau hirdymor i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant ac i liniaru effeithiau gwaethaf tlodi yma yng Nghymru. Mae ein strategaeth yn cynnwys y camau rydym yn eu cymryd ar draws y Llywodraeth a chyda phartneriaid, gan wneud y gorau o effaith y dulliau sydd ar gael i ni.
Thank you. Child poverty in Wales is alarmingly high. Increasing energy bills and mortgage rates will only make this worse. Research from the Trussell Trust indicates that, in 2023-24, over 187,000 crisis food parcels were distributed, with one in 10 parcels going to babies and children under four years old. There is a clear link between poverty and instances of abuse and neglect. The NSPCC report an increase in the numbers of children being taken into care due to families being unable to provide food and clothing. To effectively tackle child poverty, we must simultaneously support families and prevent further crisis. Cabinet Secretary, what action is the Government taking to enhance poverty awareness within child protection practices? How will the Government address the urgent need for emergency food assistance in Wales this winter? And how can we proactively identify and support parents facing crises and poverty, not only at crisis point but into the future, through training, education and employment?
Diolch. Mae tlodi plant yng Nghymru yn frawychus o uchel. Bydd biliau ynni a chyfraddau morgais uwch yn gwaethygu hyn. Mae ymchwil gan Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell yn dangos bod dros 187,000 o barseli bwyd argyfwng wedi'u dosbarthu yn 2023-24, gydag un o bob 10 parsel yn mynd i fabanod a phlant o dan bedair oed. Mae cysylltiad clir rhwng tlodi ac achosion o gamdriniaeth ac esgeulustod. Mae'r NSPCC yn nodi cynnydd yn nifer y plant sy'n cael eu derbyn i ofal am nad yw teuluoedd yn gallu darparu bwyd a dillad. Er mwyn mynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yn effeithiol, rhaid inni gefnogi teuluoedd ac atal argyfwng pellach ar yr un pryd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gamau y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i wella ymwybyddiaeth o dlodi mewn ymarfer diogelu plant? Sut y bydd y Llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â'r angen brys am gymorth bwyd argyfwng yng Nghymru y gaeaf hwn? A sut y gallwn ni fynd ati'n rhagweithiol i nodi a chefnogi rhieni sy'n wynebu argyfyngau a thlodi, nid yn unig ar adeg o argyfwng ond yn y dyfodol, drwy hyfforddiant, addysg a chyflogaeth?
Thank you for that question. I'll just focus on emergency food assistance—this has come up this afternoon already—and confirm that, since 2019, we've allocated more than £22 million to support community food organisations. I know that you support them actively in your constituency, as do many across this Chamber, and that is about tackling food poverty. It is about, also, providing access and signposts to other services and allocating £1 million revenue and £1 million capital to support community food organisations that tackle food poverty. But, as I have said already, those cross-sector food partnerships in each local authority are crucial to get expertise and support from Public Health Wales, local health boards, public sector bodies, third sector, businesses, academics, local farmers, all together, multi-agency. And I mentioned Katie Palmer and Food Sense Wales, talking about the positive impacts of that. So, again, all of the work on Flying Start, input into Families First, the family information service, these are things where we have responsibilities and we are doing our best to deliver, in terms of tackling child poverty.
Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Rwyf am ganolbwyntio ar gymorth bwyd argyfwng—mae hyn wedi codi y prynhawn yma yn barod—a chadarnhau, ers 2019, ein bod wedi dyrannu mwy na £22 miliwn i gefnogi sefydliadau bwyd cymunedol. Gwn eich bod yn eu cefnogi'n weithredol yn eich etholaeth, fel y mae llawer ar draws y Siambr hon, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â mynd i'r afael â thlodi bwyd. Mae hefyd yn ymwneud â darparu mynediad ac chyfeiriadau at wasanaethau eraill a dyrannu refeniw o £1 filiwn a chyfalaf gwerth £1 filiwn i gefnogi sefydliadau bwyd cymunedol sy'n mynd i'r afael â thlodi bwyd. Ond fel y dywedais eisoes, mae'r partneriaethau bwyd traws-sector ym mhob awdurdod lleol yn hanfodol i gael arbenigedd a chefnogaeth gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, byrddau iechyd lleol, cyrff sector cyhoeddus, y trydydd sector, busnesau, academyddion, ffermwyr lleol, gyda'i gilydd, yn amlasiantaethol. A soniais am Katie Palmer a Synnwyr Bwyd Cymru, yn sôn am effeithiau cadarnhaol hynny. Felly, unwaith eto, yr holl waith ar Dechrau'n Deg, mewnbwn i Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf, y gwasanaeth gwybodaeth i deuluoedd, mae'r rhain yn bethau lle mae gennym gyfrifoldebau ac rydym yn gwneud ein gorau i'w cyflawni er mwyn mynd i'r afael â thlodi plant.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Rwyf wedi cael cais gan Janet Finch-Saunders i godi pwynt o drefn. Janet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary. I have received a request from Janet Finch-Saunders to raise a point of order. Janet.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I wish for you to rule on a point of order issue. The Cabinet Secretary made a very robust statement here, that there were no foodbanks before the coalition, meaning the Conservative-Labour coalition—
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn i chi ddyfarnu ar bwynt o drefn. Fe wnaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad cadarn iawn yma, nad oedd banciau bwyd cyn y glymblaid, sy'n golygu'r glymblaid Geidwadol-Lafur—
Conservative-Lib Dems.
Y Ceidwadwyr a'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol.
Yes, the Lib Dems. The point being that foodbanks were introduced in 2000 under a Labour Government. It's there in black and white. Google it. During the financial crash, they accelerated more. So, how has the introduction of foodbanks—
Ie, y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Y pwynt yw bod banciau bwyd wedi eu cyflwyno yn 2000 o dan Lywodraeth Lafur. Mae yno mewn du a gwyn. Gallwch ei gwglo. Yn ystod y cwymp ariannol, fe wnaethant gyflymu mwy. Felly, sut y mae cyflwyno banciau bwyd—
A point of order, please, not pointing to the Cabinet Secretary.
Pwynt o drefn, os gwelwch yn dda, peidiwch â phwyntio at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
—under a Labour Government been twisted here today?
—dan Lywodraeth Lafur wedi cael ei wyrdroi yma heddiw?
Right. It's not for me to rule on the answers given by a Cabinet Secretary, but you have raised this point, and it is on the record. I am sure that the Cabinet Secretary will review the contribution that she has made to ensure that any corrective action, if necessary, would be applied.
Iawn. Nid fy lle i yw dyfarnu ar yr atebion a roddwyd gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond rydych chi wedi codi'r pwynt, ac mae wedi'i gofnodi. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn adolygu'r cyfraniad a wnaeth i sicrhau y byddai unrhyw gamau cywiro, os oes eu hangen, yn cael eu gweithredu.
I would like her to withdraw the comment.
Hoffwn iddi dynnu'r sylw yn ôl.
I have just ruled. Thank you.
Rwyf newydd ddyfarnu. Diolch.
Symudwn ymlaen nawr at eitem 3, sef cwestiynau i Gomisiwn y Senedd. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf yn cael ei ateb gan y Llywydd, ac yn cael ei ofyn gan Alun Davies.
We will move on now to item 3, questions to the Senedd Commission. The first question is to be answered by the Llywydd and asked by Alun Davies.
1. Pa gamau y mae'r Comisiwn yn eu cymryd i ddangos cefnogaeth y Senedd i bobl Wcráin? OQ61703
1. What action is the Commission taking to demonstrate the Senedd's support for the people of Ukraine? OQ61703
Yn ystod y ddwy flynedd a hanner diwethaf, mae’r Aelodau wedi defnyddio eu platfform yn aml yn y Siambr hon i dynnu sylw at effaith yr ymosodiad ar bobl Wcráin. Mae gwasanaethau'r Comisiwn wedi cefnogi’r Aelodau i ddangos eu cefnogaeth i Wcráin. Mae baner Wcráin wedi hedfan ar ystâd y Senedd ers 24 Chwefror 2022 fel arwydd o undod parhaus Cymru gydag Wcráin a’i phobl. Rydym hefyd wedi cefnogi llawer o ddigwyddiadau a noddir gan Aelodau i dynnu sylw at effaith barhaus yr argyfwng yn Wcráin.
During the past two and a half years, Members have frequently used their platform in this Siambr to highlight the invasion’s impact on the people of Ukraine. The Commission’s services have supported Members in demonstrating their support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian flag has flown on the Senedd estate since 24 February 2022 as a mark of Wales’s continued solidarity with Ukraine and its people. We’ve also supported many Member-sponsored events to highlight the continued impact of the crisis in Ukraine.
I'm grateful to the Llywydd for that response. We are living in fractious times, but one thing that has united Members on all sides of this Chamber is support for the people of Ukraine. We are now looking at potentially three years since the invasion of Ukraine. We have an all-party group here that has pioneered working to support the people of Ukraine. Myself and the Member for Pontypridd, Mick Antoniw, will again be in Ukraine over half term, delivering medical aid and support for people there.
As we approach this third anniversary, it's important that we again look at how we can provide support for people who are literally in the front line of Putin's invasion. As we remember the Holodomor genocide in the coming month, it will be important again to bring these matters to this Chamber, so that this Chamber can speak on behalf of the people of Wales.
But also, I hope that the Commission will help, support and facilitate the people of Wales in expressing their view that they want to continue to support the people of Ukraine. And I hope that the Commission will use all of its endeavours to ensure that the voice of the people of Wales is heard loud and clear: that we want an end to this invasion and we want the people of Ukraine to be able to live in peace and freedom.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Llywydd am yr ymateb hwnnw. Rydym yn byw mewn cyfnod anynad, ond un peth sydd wedi uno Aelodau ar bob ochr i'r Siambr hon yw cefnogaeth i bobl Wcráin. Rydym bellach yn edrych ar dair blynedd o bosibl ers goresgyniad Wcráin. Mae gennym grŵp hollbleidiol yma sydd wedi arloesi wrth weithio i gefnogi pobl Wcráin. Byddaf i a'r Aelod dros Bontypridd, Mick Antoniw, yn Wcráin eto dros hanner tymor, yn darparu cymorth meddygol a chefnogaeth i bobl yno.
Wrth i ni agosáu at dair blynedd, mae'n bwysig ein bod unwaith eto yn edrych ar sut y gallwn ddarparu cefnogaeth i bobl sydd yn llythrennol ar y rheng flaen yn wyneb ymosodiad Putin. Wrth i ni gofio am hil-laddiad Holodomor yn y mis nesaf, bydd yn bwysig dod â'r materion hyn i'r Siambr hon eto, fel y gall y Siambr siarad ar ran pobl Cymru.
Ond hefyd, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Comisiwn yn helpu ac yn cefnogi pobl Cymru i fynegi eu barn eu bod am barhau i gefnogi pobl Wcráin. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Comisiwn yn defnyddio ei holl ymdrechion i sicrhau bod llais pobl Cymru yn cael ei glywed yn uchel ac yn glir: ein bod am weld diwedd ar y goresgyniad hwn ac rydym am i bobl Wcráin allu byw mewn heddwch a rhyddid.
I wholeheartedly, as the Llywydd of this Senedd, endorse all of the comments that you have made, and have only praise for you and Mick Antoniw and any and everyone who has gone the extra mile to support the people of Ukraine as they face these atrocities that they are facing. Sometimes it is not such a big deal to fly a flag in support of a people or a cause, but I do consider the fact that we continue to fly the flag of Ukraine proudly on our Senedd estate—. Not once, I believe, have I been requested to remove that flag. I consider that that is solidarity, almost more than anything, that we can show as a Parliament to the Parliament of Ukraine and to the people of Ukraine.
Fel Llywydd y Senedd hon, rwy'n cymeradwyo'n llwyr yr holl sylwadau yr ydych chi wedi'u gwneud, ac yn eich canmol chi a Mick Antoniw ac unrhyw un a phawb sydd wedi mynd y filltir ychwanegol i gefnogi pobl Wcráin wrth iddynt wynebu'r erchyllterau y maent yn eu hwynebu. Weithiau nid yw'n beth mawr i hedfan baner i gefnogi pobl neu achos, ond rwy'n ystyried y ffaith ein bod yn parhau i chwifio baner Wcráin yn falch ar ystad ein Senedd—. Nid oes neb erioed wedi gofyn i mi dynnu'r faner honno. Rwy'n ystyried bod hynny'n dangos yr undod, yn fwy na dim, y gallwn ei ddangos fel Senedd i Senedd Wcráin ac i bobl Wcráin.
Thank you for those comments. Following on from the points that have been made, of course, the next four vehicles, going this half term, will take the total up to 30 that have been delivered on behalf of the cross-party group. There's a famous photograph that's circulating of a Ukrainian solder—one of the ones killed very early on. He'd written on the boarding behind him 'Yma o hyd', and I think that actually represents the attitude of many of the people in Ukraine—that they're still there and still fighting for their independence.
What I'd ask in respect of the Commission is, really, two things. We have 8,000 Ukrainians in Wales since the invasion, 4,000 or so of whom are children, and the support they've had has been tremendous from Wales. But there are two things, I think, that are really important: one is the commemoration of the Holodomor, the famine that resulted in some 4 million plus people being starved, artificially starved by Stalin in the 1930s, which resonates today with events in Ukraine, and whether the Commission can actually give support to that. And the second one is, of course, that I think the time is right now, due to the particular links between Wales and Ukraine, which are quite unique—the establishment of Donetsk, Yuzovka, after John Hughes; the links with Gareth Jones; and also the industrial links—so that now would be appropriate, I think, to look forward, perhaps to next Easter, to a formal parliamentary delegation from this Senedd to Ukraine. I know that the Ukrainian Members of Parliament I've met would very much welcome that, and establishing more formal links between our two Parliaments.
Diolch am y sylwadau hynny. Yn dilyn y pwyntiau a wnaed, wrth gwrs, bydd y pedwar cerbyd nesaf, sy'n mynd yr hanner tymor hwn, yn golygu bod cyfanswm o 30 wedi eu darparu ar ran y grŵp trawsbleidiol. Mae yna lun enwog sy'n cylchredeg o filwr Wcreineg—un o'r rhai a laddwyd yn gynnar iawn. Roedd wedi ysgrifennu 'Yma o hyd' ar y bordiau y tu ôl iddo, a chredaf fod hynny'n cynrychioli agwedd llawer o'r bobl yn Wcráin mewn gwirionedd—eu bod yn dal yno ac yn dal i frwydro dros eu hannibyniaeth.
Hoffwn ofyn dau beth mewn perthynas â'r Comisiwn mewn gwirionedd. Mae gennym 8,000 o Wcreiniaid yng Nghymru ers y goresgyniad, a 4,000 ohonynt yn blant, ac mae'r gefnogaeth y maent wedi'i chael wedi bod yn aruthrol o Gymru. Ond mae dau beth sy'n bwysig iawn: un yw coffáu'r Holodomor, y newyn a arweiniodd at 4 miliwn a mwy o bobl yn newynu yn sgil newyn artiffisial Stalin yn y 1930au, y ceir adlais ohono heddiw gyda digwyddiadau yn Wcráin, ac a all y Comisiwn roi cefnogaeth i hynny mewn gwirionedd. A'r ail beth, wrth gwrs, yw fy mod yn meddwl bod yr amser yn briodol nawr, oherwydd y cysylltiadau arbennig rhwng Cymru ac Wcráin, sy'n eithaf unigryw—sefydlu Donetsk, Yuzovka, ar ôl John Hughes; y cysylltiadau gyda Gareth Jones; a hefyd y cysylltiadau diwydiannol—fel y byddai'n briodol nawr, rwy'n credu, i edrych ymlaen, y Pasg nesaf efallai, at ddirprwyaeth seneddol ffurfiol o'r Senedd hon i Wcráin. Rwy'n gwybod y byddai Aelodau Senedd Wcráin y cyfarfûm â hwy yn croesawu hynny'n fawr, a sefydlu cysylltiadau mwy ffurfiol rhwng ein dwy Senedd.
Thank you, Mick, for the questions and the issues that you've raised, and also for your work in supporting your beloved home country, if I can call it that, or the country of your forefathers. You have been a very strong advocate for the cause of Ukraine here in this Senedd and in Wales. And I still remember, as you speak of the 8,000 refugees from Ukraine who continue to live in Wales, one of those refugees coming to sing at our St David's Day event here. She was a soprano. She had been based at the Llangrannog Urdd camp when she first became a refugee here, and she sang in Welsh in our Senedd on St David's Day 2023, I think. She now lives in north Wales, has relocated to north Wales, and is still singing, from what I see on Facebook, in communities in north Wales. So, it's important for us to remember that these 8,000 people and more continue to live a long way from their home, and they will want to return—many of them, I'm sure—in as near a future as possible.
You asked two issues in particular: one on the recognition and support for the holding of a Holodomor memorial here in the Senedd. I'm more than happy for the Commission to work with the cross-party group on facilitating that. On the parliamentary delegation to the Parliament of Ukraine from our Senedd, I heard quite a bit of support across the Chamber for that. I would ask the cross-party group, or however you want to facilitate that, perhaps to think about how that parliamentary delegation would work. We're still in the context of Foreign Office advice to all of us as UK citizens not to travel to Ukraine, so there are issues for us to think about as a Senedd, a Parliament, as a Commission, in terms of facilitating that. But let's see what's possible, and let's talk across parties on how and if that can happen for next Easter.
Diolch, Mick, am y cwestiynau a'r materion rydych chi wedi'u codi, a hefyd am eich gwaith yn cefnogi eich mamwlad annwyl, os caf ei galw'n hynny, neu wlad eich cyndadau. Rydych chi wedi dadlau'n gadarn iawn dros achos Wcráin yma yn y Senedd hon ac yng Nghymru. Ac wrth i chi siarad am yr 8,000 o ffoaduriaid o Wcráin sy'n parhau i fyw yng Nghymru, rwy'n dal i gofio un o'r ffoaduriaid hynny'n dod i ganu yn ein digwyddiad Dydd Gŵyl Dewi yma. Soprano oedd hi. Roedd hi wedi ei lleoli yng ngwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog pan ddaeth hi'n ffoadur yma gyntaf, ac fe ganodd yn Gymraeg yn ein Senedd ni ar Ddydd Gŵyl Dewi 2023, rwy'n credu. Mae hi bellach yn byw yng ngogledd Cymru, wedi symud i ogledd Cymru, ac yn dal i ganu, o'r hyn a welaf ar Facebook, mewn cymunedau yng ngogledd Cymru. Felly, mae'n bwysig i ni gofio bod yr 8,000 a mwy o bobl yn parhau i fyw ymhell o'u cartref, a byddant eisiau dychwelyd—lawer ohonynt, rwy'n siŵr—mor fuan â phosibl yn y dyfodol.
Fe ofynnoch chi ynglŷn â dau fater yn benodol: un ar y gydnabyddiaeth a'r gefnogaeth i gynnal digwyddiad coffáu'r Holodomor yma yn y Senedd. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i'r Comisiwn weithio gyda'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar hwyluso hynny. Ar y ddirprwyaeth seneddol i Senedd Wcráin o'n Senedd, clywais gryn dipyn o gefnogaeth ar draws y Siambr i hynny. Hoffwn ofyn i'r grŵp trawsbleidiol, neu sut bynnag yr hoffech chi hwyluso hynny, i feddwl sut y gallai'r ddirprwyaeth seneddol honno weithio. Rydym yn dal i fod yng nghyd-destun cyngor y Swyddfa Dramor i bob un ohonom fel dinasyddion y DU i beidio â theithio i Wcráin, felly mae yna bethau i ni feddwl amdanynt fel Senedd, fel Comisiwn, o ran hwyluso hynny. Ond gadewch inni weld beth sy'n bosibl, a gadewch inni siarad ar draws y pleidiau ynglŷn â sut y gallai hynny ddigwydd, ac a allai ddigwydd y Pasg nesaf.
2. A wnaiff y Comisiwn ddatganiad am drefniadau gwaith staff y Comisiwn? OQ61687
2. Will the Commission make a statement on the working arrangements of Commission staff? OQ61687
Mae amrywiaeth o drefniadau a phatrymau gwaith ar waith ar draws y Comisiwn. Mae trefniadau gwaith yn cynnwys gweithio ar safleoedd y Senedd, gweithio o bell, bod yn bresennol mewn digwyddiadau a gweithgareddau ledled Cymru, a gweithio gyda'r nos a gweithio ar benwythnosau. Fel sefydliad sydd wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu cyfle cyfartal ac arferion sy'n cefnogi cydbwysedd bywyd a gwaith, datblygir ein polisïau pobl mewn ymgynghoriad ag undebau llafur a'n rhwydweithiau cydraddoldeb yn y gweithle. Mae gennym bolisi gweithio hyblyg ac rydym yn darparu amrywiaeth o drefniadau gweithio hyblyg, ac mae'r enghreifftiau'n cynnwys oriau rhan amser, oriau cywasgedig, gweithio yn ystod y tymor a rhannu swydd. Mae hyn yn galluogi staff i gydbwyso'u cyfrifoldebau tu allan i'r gwaith tra'n darparu gwasanaeth o ansawdd uchel i'r Comisiwn.
There are a range of working arrangements and patterns in place across the Commission. These include working on the Senedd sites, remote working, attendance at events and activities across Wales, evening and night working and weekend working. As an organisation committed to providing equality of opportunity and practices that support a work-life balance, our people policies are developed in consultation with trade unions and our workplace equality networks. We have a flexible working policy and we provide a range of flexible working arrangements, with examples including part-time hours, compressed hours, term-time working and job shares. This enables staff to balance their responsibilities outside of work whilst delivering a high-quality service to the Commission.
Thank you, Llywydd. Back in May this year, I was sat in my Senedd office in Cardiff, diligently doing my work of scrutinising the Welsh Government, as we all do, when I found that I couldn't get hold of any Senedd Commission support staff whatsoever. I subsequently found out through an FOI that 95 per cent of the Commission workforce had taken a privilege day, which just so happened to fall straight after a bank holiday weekend. I appreciate that the Senedd was in recess, and that staff are entitled to take privilege days of their choosing, but I think it seriously inhibits the ability of Members to carry out their roles when, without notice to us, almost all of the Commission staff take the same day off. With this in mind, do you believe it is appropriate that so many staff members took their privilege day off all at once? And do you agree with me that having this number of staff off in one go seriously hinders the work of Senedd Members? Thank you.
Diolch, Lywydd. Yn ôl ym mis Mai eleni, roeddwn i'n eistedd yn fy swyddfa yn y Senedd yng Nghaerdydd, yn ddiwyd wrth fy ngwaith yn craffu ar Lywodraeth Cymru, fel y mae pawb ohonom yn ei wneud, pan welais na allwn cael gafael ar unrhyw staff cymorth Comisiwn y Senedd o gwbl. Darganfûm wedyn trwy gais rhyddid gwybodaeth fod 95 y cant o weithlu'r Comisiwn wedi cymryd diwrnod braint, a oedd yn digwydd bod yn syth ar ôl penwythnos gŵyl y banc. Rwy'n derbyn ei bod hi'n doriad ar y Senedd, a bod gan staff hawl i gymryd diwrnodau braint o'u dewis, ond credaf ei fod yn atal gallu'r Aelodau'n fawr rhag gallu cyflawni eu gwaith pan fydd bron bob un o staff y Comisiwn, heb rybudd i ni, i ffwrdd ar yr un diwrnod. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a ydych chi'n credu ei bod hi'n briodol fod cymaint o aelodau staff wedi cymryd eu diwrnod braint i gyd ar unwaith? Ac a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod cael cymaint o staff yn absennol ar y tro yn rhwystro gwaith Aelodau'r Senedd yn ddifrifol? Diolch.
I don't think it seriously hindered the work of Senedd Members. I'm sorry if it seriously hindered your work that you were unable to get hold of a Senedd Commission member of staff at that time on this estate. I would guess that there are members of our staff on this estate at all times, 24 hours a day. I can't quite answer the detail of your question, of course, because I don't know what kind of support you were looking for on that day in question.
This is the first time in 25 years that I've heard this particular issue raised. I doubt it's the first time that this has been the reality that most members of staff have taken a bank holiday or a privilege day at the same time. I suspect it's a pattern that's developed in the public sector over a very long time. I'm not aware that it's been an issue in the past. Please write to me if you believe that this is an issue that I should take up with our trade union partners and those representing our staff in the way we develop our services in the future. And please let me know as well on that particular date what kind of service you were looking for from Senedd Commission staff that was not available to you.
Nid wyf yn credu ei fod wedi rhwystro gwaith Aelodau'r Senedd yn ddifrifol. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf os yw'r ffaith na alloch chi ddod o hyd i aelod o staff y Comisiwn ar yr adeg honno ar yr ystad wedi llesteirio eich gwaith yn ddifrifol. Rwy'n tybio bod aelodau o'n staff ar yr ystad hon bob amser, 24 awr y dydd. Ni allaf ateb eich cwestiwn yn fanwl iawn, wrth gwrs, oherwydd nid wyf yn gwybod pa fath o gymorth yr oeddech chi'n chwilio amdano ar y diwrnod dan sylw.
Dyma'r tro cyntaf ers 25 mlynedd i mi glywed y mater hwn yn cael ei godi. Rwy'n amau mai dyma'r tro cyntaf i hyn ddigwydd, fod y rhan fwyaf o aelodau staff wedi cymryd gŵyl y banc neu ddiwrnod braint ar yr un pryd. Rwy'n tybio ei fod yn batrwm sydd wedi datblygu yn y sector cyhoeddus dros amser hir iawn. Nid wyf yn ymwybodol ei fod wedi bod yn broblem yn y gorffennol. Ysgrifennwch ataf os credwch fod hwn yn fater y dylwn ei drafod gyda'n partneriaid undebau llafur a'r rhai sy'n cynrychioli ein staff o ran y ffordd y datblygwn ein gwasanaethau yn y dyfodol. A rhowch wybod i mi hefyd ar y dyddiad penodol hwnnw pa fath o wasanaeth roeddech chi'n chwilio amdano gan staff Comisiwn y Senedd nad oedd ar gael i chi.
Mae cwestiwn 3 yn cael ei ateb gan Hefin David. Laura Anne Jones.
Question 3 is being answered by Hefin David. Laura Anne Jones.
3. A wnaiff y Comisiwn roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr amcangyfrif o gostau ehangu Siambr y Senedd i greu lle ar gyfer Aelodau ychwanegol? OQ61693
3. Will the Commission provide an update on the estimated costs of enlarging the Senedd Chamber to accommodate extra Members? OQ61693
The estimated costs of enlarging the Senedd Siambr to accommodate extra Members are included in the Senedd's draft budget for 2025-26 as part of the capital costs associated with Senedd reform. I gave evidence two weeks ago to the Finance Committee, an hour’s evidence session, and there's a lot of detail in there around the question that you've just asked.
The capital costs include physical adaptations to both the Senedd Siambr and Tŷ Hywel, which we are currently estimating at £3.874 million. The capital costs relate to the necessary adaptions to the Siambr to accommodate the enlarged Senedd of 96 Members and completion of Tŷ Hywel adaptations for new Member offices. Both projects will be subject to a competitive tender process to ensure value for money, but disclosing more detailed estimated costs in advance of procurement will of course preclude the Senedd's ability to obtain best value bids.
Mae costau amcangyfrifedig ehangu Siambr y Senedd i ddarparu ar gyfer Aelodau ychwanegol wedi'u cynnwys yng nghyllideb ddrafft y Senedd ar gyfer 2025-26 fel rhan o'r costau cyfalaf sy'n gysylltiedig â diwygio'r Senedd. Rhoddais dystiolaeth bythefnos yn ôl i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid, sesiwn dystiolaeth awr o hyd, ac mae llawer o fanylion yno am y cwestiwn yr ydych chi newydd ei ofyn.
Mae'r costau cyfalaf yn cynnwys addasiadau ffisegol i Siambr y Senedd a Thŷ Hywel, ac rydym yn amcangyfrif eu bod yn £3.874 miliwn ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r costau cyfalaf yn ymwneud â'r addasiadau angenrheidiol i'r Siambr i ddarparu ar gyfer y Senedd ehangach o 96 Aelod a chwblhau addasiadau Tŷ Hywel ar gyfer swyddfeydd Aelodau newydd. Bydd y ddau brosiect yn destun proses dendro gystadleuol i sicrhau gwerth am arian, ond wrth gwrs, bydd datgelu costau amcangyfrifedig manylach cyn caffael yn atal gallu'r Senedd i gael y cynigion sy'n cynnig y gwerth gorau.
Diolch, Commissioner. The costs more generally of Senedd expansion seem to be spiralling as new challenges present themselves to Senedd Commissioners. What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that overall costs are kept to an absolute minimum?
Diolch, Gomisiynydd. Mae'n ymddangos bod y costau mwy cyffredinol o ehangu'r Senedd yn cynyddu wrth i heriau newydd godi i Gomisiynwyr y Senedd. Pa gamau y mae'r Comisiwn yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod y costau cyffredinol yn cael eu cadw mor isel â phosibl?
I think you might be referring to the resource impact assessment that accompanied the Senedd Bill that my friend Mick Antoniw took through, now the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024. The resource impact assessment was lower than the current estimated costs, but only by £400,000. Now, in a project that takes place over two years, that is not a big difference between estimate and reality. The difference was that the capital costs have gone up, mainly because Members in this Chamber were consulted and wanted a specific type of Chamber. You could have expanded this Chamber with benches at the back and squashed everybody in, but that's not what Members wanted. Members wanted a specifically designed Chamber. So, the capital costs have gone up, but the staffing costs have gone down from 59 full-time equivalent staff to 47 full-time equivalent staff, which then accounts for that saving on the capital costs and the reason why the £400,000 figure is there.
We've also got a mechanism called the medium-term resource framework, which came in in 2022 and on a three-year rolling basis analyses costs, 71 per cent of which are staffing costs, and ensures that we are doing exactly as you suggest and making sure that those savings are found on an annual basis.
Rwy'n credu efallai eich bod yn cyfeirio at yr asesiad o'r effaith ar adnoddau a oedd yn cyd-fynd â Bil y Senedd dan arweiniad fy nghyfaill Mick Antoniw, sef Deddf Senedd Cymru (Aelodau ac Etholiadau) 2024. Roedd yr asesiad o'r effaith ar adnoddau yn is na'r amcangyfrif presennol o gostau, ond dim ond o £400,000. Nawr, mewn prosiect sy'n digwydd dros ddwy flynedd, nid yw hwnnw'n wahaniaeth mawr rhwng amcangyfrif a realiti. Y gwahaniaeth oedd bod y costau cyfalaf wedi cynyddu, yn bennaf oherwydd bod ymgynghori wedi digwydd ag Aelodau yn y Siambr hon ac roeddent eisiau math penodol o Siambr. Gallech fod wedi ehangu'r Siambr hon gyda meinciau yn y cefn a gwasgu pawb i mewn, ond nid dyna roedd yr Aelodau ei eisiau. Roedd yr aelodau eisiau Siambr wedi ei chynllunio'n benodol. Felly, mae'r costau cyfalaf wedi codi, ond mae'r costau staffio wedi gostwng o 59 o staff cyfwerth ag amser llawn i 47 o staff cyfwerth ag amser llawn, sef yr arbediad ar y costau cyfalaf a'r rheswm pam y mae'r ffigur o £400,000 yno.
Mae gennym hefyd fecanwaith a elwir yn fframwaith adnoddau tymor canolig, a ddaeth i mewn yn 2022 a chostau dadansoddiadau ar sail dreigl tair blynedd, gyda 71 y cant ohonynt yn gostau staffio, ac sy'n sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud yn union fel yr awgrymwch a gwneud yn siŵr fod yr arbedion hynny'n cael eu canfod yn flynyddol.
I heard you say there was a feeling that Members shouldn't be squashed up on benches at the back, which you said in your evidence to the Finance Committee is one of the capital pressures that are putting the budget up. Given the unease at the significant rise in the Senedd budget, would the Commission look again at providing a minimum viable option for the Senedd Chamber that didn't give everybody a desk? It would be suboptimal, I appreciate, but given the financial pressures, I think it would be appropriate to reconsider that.
Fe'ch clywais yn dweud yno fod yna deimlad na ddylid gwasgu'r Aelodau i feinciau yn y cefn, y dywedoch chi yn eich tystiolaeth i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid ei fod yn bwysau cyfalaf sy'n codi'r gyllideb. O ystyried yr anesmwythyd ynghylch y cynnydd sylweddol yng nghyllideb y Senedd, a wnaiff y Comisiwn edrych eto ar ddarparu opsiwn ymarferol lleiaf i Siambr y Senedd nad yw'n rhoi desg i bawb? Ni fyddai'n ddelfrydol, rwy'n sylweddoli hynny, ond o ystyried y pwysau ariannol, rwy'n credu y byddai'n briodol ailystyried hynny.
I think it would be helpful if the Member fed into the Member reference group that exists on this, of which Carolyn Thomas, I think, is a member as well. I think it's perfectly reasonable to make the point, but I think it would also need majority support across the Chamber, and I don't think that that majority support is there for it.
Having said that, if there is a will in this Chamber to look at it, I'm sure it can be looked at. But one thing I would remind you again is that in my response to Laura Anne Jones I said that the capital costs had gone up, but the staffing costs had gone down. So, there is a balance in there that shows that that £400,000 increase on the RIA is not within the realms of what might be unlikely in such circumstances—it is a likely figure.
Therefore, I would want to keep in dialogue with you. I know I've sent you a copy of the evidence session, and I really appreciate the constructive dialogue that we've had—I genuinely appreciate that. I'll be presenting the Senedd budget in this Chamber on 20 November, I believe. I'm sure that we can have further discussions between now and then, and I'll be happy to do so.
Credaf y byddai’n ddefnyddiol pe bai’r Aelod yn cysylltu â’r grŵp cyfeirio Aelodau sy’n bodoli ar hyn, grŵp y mae Carolyn Thomas yn aelod ohono hefyd. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl resymol gwneud y pwynt, ond credaf y byddai angen cefnogaeth fwyafrifol ar draws y Siambr hefyd, ac nid wyf yn credu bod y gefnogaeth fwyafrifol honno yno iddo.
Wedi dweud hynny, os oes ewyllys yn y Siambr i edrych ar y mater, rwy’n siŵr y gellir edrych arno. Ond un peth yr hoffwn eich atgoffa ohono eto yw fy mod, yn fy ymateb i Laura Anne Jones, wedi dweud bod y costau cyfalaf wedi codi, ond mae'r costau staffio wedi lleihau. Felly, mae cydbwysedd yno sy’n dangos nad yw’r cynnydd o £400,000 ers yr asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol o fewn cwmpas yr hyn a allai fod yn annhebygol o dan amgylchiadau o’r fath—mae’n ffigur tebygol.
Felly, rwy'n awyddus i barhau i gael deialog â chi. Gwn fy mod wedi anfon copi o'r sesiwn dystiolaeth atoch, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r ddeialog adeiladol rydym wedi'i chael yn fawr—rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny o ddifrif. Byddaf yn cyflwyno cyllideb y Senedd yn y Siambr hon ar 20 Tachwedd, rwy'n credu. Rwy’n siŵr y gallwn gael trafodaethau pellach rhwng nawr a hynny, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny.
Bydd cwestiynau 4 a 5 yn cael eu hateb gan y Llywydd.
Questions 4 and 5 will be answered by the Llywydd.
4. Sut y mae'r Comisiwn yn hyrwyddo hanes a diwylliant Cymru i ymwelwyr ag ystâd y Senedd? OQ61710
4. How does the Commission promote Welsh history and culture to visitors to the Senedd estate? OQ61710
Rydym yn darparu amrywiaeth o wasanaethau i hyrwyddo hanes a diwylliant Cymru i'r rhai sy'n ymweld ag ystâd y Senedd. Rydym wedi datblygu taith ymwelwyr yn y Senedd a'r Pierhead sy'n rhoi gwybodaeth am rôl a chyfrifoldebau'r Senedd, hanes datganoli yng Nghymru a hanes Bae Caerdydd. Rydym yn cynnig teithiau dyddiol yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg i grwpiau ac unigolion ac maent yn canolbwyntio ar hanes datganoli a rôl a chyfrifoldeb y Senedd a'r Aelodau. Rydym yn gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o grwpiau a sefydliadau cymunedol ledled Cymru i ddarparu rhaglen newidiol o arddangosfeydd yn y Senedd a'r Pierhead sy'n arddangos cyfrifoldebau'r Senedd a threftadaeth ddiwylliannol Cymru.
We provide a variety of services to promote Welsh history and culture to visitors to the Senedd estate. We've developed a visitor tour in both the Senedd and the Pierhead that provides information about the role and responsibilities of the Senedd, the history of Welsh devolution and the history of Cardiff Bay. We also offer daily tours in both Welsh and English to groups and individuals that focus on the history of Welsh devolution and the role and responsibility of the Senedd and its Members. We work with a variety of community groups and organisations across Wales to deliver a changing programme of exhibitions in the Senedd and the Pierhead that showcase the Senedd's responsibilities and the cultural heritage of Wales.
Thank you for that answer. This has come from the fact that we went as a committee to Ireland and we saw the history there of their wonderful buildings and how they link to the past.
I brought my mum on a visit to the Bay and I asked her where would she like to visit, and she said, 'Tiger Bay'—we're here. I just think that Tiger Bay, here in Cardiff, has such a rich history and cultural heritage. It's home to Wales's oldest multicultural community, with sailors and workers from 50 different countries settling here from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. At one stage, Cardiff was the world's busiest dock for exports, dispatching 11 million tonnes of coal from the Valleys. And it just feels so new here.
So, I was just wondering, because the home of the Senedd has such an impressive history to tell, if we could maybe improve signage to show the history of the past here, which is huge, isn't it, the multicultural history. I listened to a podcast about the Casablanca Club, which sounded fantastic. I just feel that that's the bit that's missing sometimes in the Bay. Thank you.
Diolch am eich ateb. Mae hyn wedi deillio o’r ffaith inni fynd fel pwyllgor i Iwerddon a gweld hanes eu hadeiladau gwych yno a sut y maent yn cysylltu â’r gorffennol.
Deuthum â fy mam ar ymweliad â'r Bae a gofynnais iddi ble yr hoffai ymweld ag ef, a dywedodd, 'Tiger Bay'—rydym ni yma. Credaf fod gan Tiger Bay, yma yng Nghaerdydd, hanes a threftadaeth ddiwylliannol mor gyfoethog. Mae’n gartref i gymuned amlddiwylliannol hynaf Cymru, gyda morwyr a gweithwyr o 50 o wahanol wledydd yn ymgartrefu yma o ganol y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg ymlaen. Ar un adeg, Caerdydd oedd y doc prysuraf yn y byd ar gyfer allforion, gan anfon 11 miliwn tunnell o lo o'r Cymoedd. Ac mae'n teimlo mor newydd yma.
Felly, gan fod hanes mor drawiadol i'w adrodd gan gartref y Senedd, tybed a allem wella'r arwyddion i ddangos hanes y gorffennol yma, sy'n enfawr, onid yw, yr hanes amlddiwylliannol. Gwrandewais ar bodlediad am glwb Casablanca, a oedd yn swnio'n wych. Rwy'n teimlo mai dyna'r un darn sydd ar goll weithiau yn y Bae. Diolch.
I think Tiger Bay is much changed. I remember tweeting once that I'd quite like to change the address of this place from 'Senedd Cymru, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff' to 'Senedd Cymru, Tiger Bay, Cardiff'. I still haven't quite managed to do that, but Tiger Bay is how many people fondly remember this area and the communities that live here. There's a long discussion as to how Tiger Bay became Cardiff Bay and how different the community that we inhabit as a Senedd is to the communities where people around us live.
It's quite a complex, interesting, varied history. We tell part of that story here. We probably, as your mother encountered, don't tell enough of that story here. If your mother would like to be an adviser to us on how we can improve the telling of that story and what maybe we should develop further in terms of how we are able to properly reflect where this Senedd, as a building, has arisen from, not just in its political history throughout Wales, but also in the heart of this community that we now inhabit, we can look to take on new ideas, and work with communities locally here as well, as to how they want to reflect their history and their current situation in our Senedd building. So, thank you for the challenge, and we'll give that some more thought. And thank your mother too.
Rwy'n credu bod Tiger Bay wedi newid llawer. Rwy'n cofio trydar un tro yr hoffwn newid cyfeiriad y lle hwn o 'Senedd Cymru, Bae Caerdydd, Caerdydd' i 'Senedd Cymru, Tiger Bay, Caerdydd'. Nid wyf wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny, ond Tiger Bay yw sut y mae llawer o bobl yn cofio’r ardal hon a’r cymunedau sy’n byw yma. Mae trafodaeth hir i'w chael ynghylch sut y daeth Tiger Bay yn Fae Caerdydd a pha mor wahanol yw’r gymuned rydym yn rhan ohoni fel Senedd i’r cymunedau lle mae pobl o’n cwmpas yn byw.
Mae'n hanes cymhleth, diddorol ac amrywiol iawn. Rydym yn adrodd rhan o'r stori honno yma. Mae'n debyg nad ydym, fel y gwelodd eich mam, yn adrodd digon o'r stori honno yma. Os hoffai eich mam ein cynghori ar sut y gallwn wella’r ffordd y caiff y stori honno ei hadrodd a beth efallai y dylem ei ddatblygu ymhellach i adlewyrchu’n llawn o ble y mae’r Senedd hon, fel adeilad, wedi dod, nid yn unig ei hanes gwleidyddol ledled Cymru, ond hefyd yng nghanol y gymuned hon rydym yn rhan ohoni bellach, gallwn ystyried mabwysiadu syniadau newydd, a gweithio gyda chymunedau lleol yma hefyd, ar sut yr hoffent adlewyrchu eu hanes a'u sefyllfa bresennol yn adeilad ein Senedd. Felly, diolch am yr her, a byddwn yn rhoi mwy o ystyriaeth i hynny. A diolch i'ch mam hefyd.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae’r Comisiwn wedi’u cael â’r Bwrdd Taliadau am opsiynau gwahanol ar gyfer llety preswyl i Aelodau o'r Senedd yng Nghaerdydd? OQ61712
5. What discussions has the Commission had with the Remuneration Board about different options for residential accommodation for Senedd Members in Cardiff? OQ61712
Swyddogaeth Bwrdd Taliadau Annibynnol y Senedd yw darparu lwfansau i'r Aelodau. Y bwrdd taliadau sy'n penderfynu pa gostau llety y gall yr Aelodau eu hawlio o'r lwfans ar gyfer gwariant ar lety preswyl. Mae hwn yn darparu ar gyfer costau llety yng Nghaerdydd ar gyfer Aelodau nad yw eu prif gartref o fewn pellter cymudo rhesymol i'r Senedd. Mae'r bwrdd yn cynnal adolygiadau i lunio’r penderfyniad newydd ar gyfer y seithfed Senedd, yng nghyd-destun diwygio’r Senedd arfaethedig, a bydd yr ymgynghoriad ar wariant llety preswyl yn cychwyn yn ystod y tymor yma. Dwi'n annog yr Aelod, felly, i gymryd rhan yn yr ymgynghoriad yna.
It’s the role of the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd to provide allowances to Members. The board determines which accommodation costs Members are able to claim from the allowance for residential accommodation expenditure. This provides for accommodation costs in Cardiff for Members whose main home is not within a reasonable commuting distance of the Senedd. The board is undertaking reviews to shape the new determination for the seventh Senedd, set in the context of proposed Senedd reform, and the consultation on residential accommodation expenditure will begin during this term. I encourage the Member, therefore, to take part in that consultation.
Diolch. Mi wnaf i hynny, yn sicr. Yn ôl yr hyn dwi'n ei ddeall, mae yna tua £250,000 o bres y Comisiwn yn cael ei wario ar rent, yn bennaf i landlordiaid preifat. Dros gyfnod y Senedd, mi fydd hwnna'n golygu bod y rhan helaethaf o £1 miliwn o bres cyhoeddus y Comisiwn yn cael ei wario ar landlordiaid preifat mewn rent. Ac wrth gwrs, mi rydyn ni wedi gweld rhenti yn cynyddu'n sylweddol dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, yn arbennig felly ym Mae Caerdydd, efo rhenti'n cynyddu'n fwy ym Mae Caerdydd nag yn unrhyw ran arall. Mae hyn yn golygu, felly, bod yna fygythiad cyson i'r Aelodau hynny sydd yn gorfod cael llety o'r fath o gael eu troi allan yn ddi-fai. Felly, oes yna ystyriaeth wedi cael ei rhoi er mwyn datblygu trefn fwy sefydlog o ddarparu llety ar gyfer Aelodau Seneddol? Dwi'n cymryd yr hyn y mae'r Llywydd newydd ei ddweud, bod yna ymgynghoriad, ac mi fyddaf i'n cymryd rhan yn hynny, ond pa ystyriaeth bellach sydd wedi cael ei rhoi dros y blynyddoedd i'r perwyl hwnnw? Diolch.
Thank you. I will certainly do that. As I understand it, around £250,000 of Commission funding is spent on rent, mainly to private landlords. Over the period of a Senedd, that would mean that as near as dammit to £1 million of Commission public funding will be paid to private landlords. And of course, we’ve seen rents increasing significantly over recent years, particularly in Cardiff Bay, with rents increasing quicker in Cardiff Bay than in any other part. This means, therefore, that there is a constant threat to those Members who do have to access such accommodation of being evicted without fault. So, has consideration been given to develop a more stable system of providing accommodation for Senedd Members? I accept what the Llywydd has just said, that there will be a consultation, and I will participate in that, but what further consideration has been given over the years to that end? Thank you.