Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
07/03/2018Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni yw'r cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, a'r cwestiwn cyntaf, Nick Ramsay.
The first item on our agenda is questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and the first question, Nick Ramsay.
1. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am gategoreiddio ysgolion yn Sir Fynwy? OAQ51856
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on school categorisation in Monmouthshire? OAQ51856
Of course. Categorisation provides a clear picture of how well schools are doing and the level of support they need to do even better. This year, Monmouthshire has seen an increase in the primary schools in the green category, which is a testament to the hard work of the staff at the schools and is something to be celebrated.
Wrth gwrs. Mae categoreiddio'n darparu darlun clir o berfformiad ysgolion a lefel y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt er mwyn gwneud hyd yn oed yn well. Eleni, bu cynnydd yn Sir Fynwy o ran yr ysgolion cynradd yn y categori gwyrdd, sy'n dyst i waith caled staff yr ysgolion ac mae'n rhywbeth y dylid ei ddathlu.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You've clearly got the same figures there in front of you that I've also seen. There has been, as you said, a steady improvement in categorisation in Monmouthshire, going from just three green schools five years ago to 13 today. This progress is a credit to the work of teachers and headteachers, and pupils, and also of course the local authority and the regional consortia involved, which has offered considerable support over the last number of years to headteachers, in offering challenge and sharing best practice. How are you working with the Education Achievement Service, and other consortia, to ensure that the sharing of best practice does happen between consortia as well as internally?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn amlwg, mae gennych yr un ffigurau o'ch blaen â’r rhai rwyf innau wedi’u gweld. Fel y dywedoch, bu cynnydd cyson o ran categoreiddio yn Sir Fynwy, o dair ysgol werdd yn unig bum mlynedd yn ôl i 13 heddiw. Mae'r cynnydd hwn yn dyst i waith athrawon a phenaethiaid, a disgyblion, yn ogystal â’r awdurdod lleol a'r consortia rhanbarthol, wrth gwrs, sydd wedi rhoi cryn dipyn o gefnogaeth i benaethiaid dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, o ran cynnig her a rhannu arferion gorau. Sut rydych yn gweithio gyda'r Gwasanaeth Cyflawni Addysg, a chonsortia eraill, i sicrhau bod yr arferion gorau yn cael eu rhannu rhwng y consortia yn ogystal ag yn fewnol?
Well, I'm glad that we've got the same figures; it would not have been a very positive start if we had a different set of categorisation data between us. You're absolutely right, Nick, to identify that school improvement is a joint endeavour, between the staff and the leadership of individual schools, the local education authority. And I would like to pay tribute to Councillor Fox, I believe, at Monmouthshire council—sometimes, he and I have had some cross words about the performance of Monmouthshire, but this categorisation demonstrates that progress is being made—and also the regional consortia. It is important that regional consortia work together to learn from each other so that there is a consistent set of approaches to school improvement across the nation.
Wel, rwy'n falch fod yr un ffigurau gennym; ni fyddai wedi bod yn ddechrau cadarnhaol iawn pe bai gennym wahanol setiau o ddata categoreiddio. Rydych yn llygad eich lle, Nick, yn nodi bod gwella ysgolion yn ymdrech gyfunol, rhwng staff ac arweinyddiaeth ysgolion unigol, yr awdurdod addysg lleol. A hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r Cynghorydd Fox, rwy’n credu, yng nghyngor Sir Fynwy—o bryd i’w gilydd, mae ef a minnau wedi cweryla ynghylch perfformiad Sir Fynwy, ond mae'r categoreiddio hwn yn dangos cynnydd—a'r consortia rhanbarthol hefyd. Mae'n bwysig fod y consortia rhanbarthol yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i ddysgu oddi wrth ei gilydd er mwyn sicrhau set gyson o ddulliau o wella ysgolion ledled y wlad.
2. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i ddenu myfyrwyr o dramor i brifysgolion Cymru? OAQ51846
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to attract overseas students to Welsh universities? OAQ51846
Thank you, David. We're working closely with Universities Wales, the British Council Wales and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, through the Global Wales partnership, to build collaborative opportunities and support increased promotional activity, such as the delivery of the Study in Wales brand in key markets.
Diolch, David. Rydym yn cydweithio'n agos â Prifysgolion Cymru, British Council Cymru a Chyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru, drwy bartneriaeth Cymru Fyd-eang, i greu cyfleoedd cydweithredol a chefnogi rhagor o weithgarwch hyrwyddo, megis cyflwyno brand Astudio yng Nghymru mewn marchnadoedd allweddol.
Cabinet Secretary, students from overseas are worth more than £151 million to the economy of Cardiff alone. You may have seen a new study by the Higher Education Policy Institute that shows the benefits of international students are up to 10 times greater than the cost. So, for places like Cardiff, and other university cities and towns around Wales, this is a really, really important source of income, but, more importantly, the prestige we get and the future benefit from highly skilled people having had such a welcoming and attractive experience in Wales in higher education. So, what will you be doing to ensure that, as Brexit proceeds, we remain a key place, and a most welcoming one, for foreign students?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae myfyrwyr o dramor yn werth mwy na £151 miliwn i economi Caerdydd yn unig. Efallai eich bod wedi gweld astudiaeth newydd gan y Sefydliad Polisi Addysg Uwch sy'n dangos bod buddion myfyrwyr rhyngwladol hyd at 10 gwaith yn fwy na'r gost. Felly, ar gyfer lleoedd fel Caerdydd, a dinasoedd a threfi prifysgolion eraill ledled Cymru, mae hon yn ffynhonnell wirioneddol bwysig o incwm, ond yn bwysicach na hynny, y bri a gawn a’r buddion yn y dyfodol o ganlyniad i’r ffaith bod pobl hynod fedrus wedi cael profiad mor groesawgar a deniadol mewn addysg uwch yng Nghymru. Felly, beth y byddwch yn ei wneud i sicrhau, wrth i broses Brexit fynd rhagddi, ein bod yn parhau i fod yn lle allweddol a chroesawgar iawn i fyfyrwyr tramor?
Thank you, David. I couldn't agree more with the analysis that you just gave of the importance of international students and, indeed, international staff who come to study and work at our universities. And I've been clear that students from the European Union, and beyond, remain very welcome in Wales and will continue to be very welcome in Wales. I have good news for the Chamber: UCAS data on full-time undergraduate acceptances for the 2017-18 academic year has shown that providers in Wales have had an increase in acceptances from the EU despite uncertainty relating to Brexit, and the highest number of acceptances on record from outside the EU. What's absolutely crucial to me is that we continue to press the case with the United Kingdom Government that international students should not form part of any immigration statistics that may come forward. As we heard yesterday from the Cabinet Secretary for health, whilst I believe those within the Department for Education understand this, and believe this, there is a battle to be won with the Home Office.
Diolch, David. Cytunaf yn llwyr â’ch dadansoddiad o bwysigrwydd myfyrwyr rhyngwladol, ac yn wir, staff rhyngwladol a ddaw i astudio ac i weithio yn ein prifysgolion. Ac rwyf wedi dweud yn glir fod croeso cynnes i fyfyrwyr o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, a thu hwnt, yng Nghymru ac y byddant yn parhau i gael croeso cynnes yng Nghymru. Mae gennyf newyddion da i'r Siambr: mae data UCAS ar israddedigion a dderbynnir yn llawn amser ar gyfer blwyddyn academaidd 2017-18 wedi dangos bod darparwyr yng Nghymru wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y derbyniadau o'r UE er gwaethaf ansicrwydd mewn perthynas â Brexit, a'r nifer uchaf o dderbyniadau erioed o'r tu allan i'r UE. Yr hyn sy'n hollbwysig i mi yw ein bod yn parhau i bwysleisio wrth Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig na ddylid cynnwys myfyrwyr rhyngwladol mewn unrhyw ystadegau mewnfudo a allai gael eu cyflwyno. Fel y clywsom ddoe gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, er fy mod yn credu bod y rheini yn yr Adran Addysg yn deall hyn, ac yn credu hyn, mae brwydr i'w hennill gyda'r Swyddfa Gartref.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd UKIP, Michelle Brown.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The UKIP spokesperson, Michelle Brown.
Thank you, Presiding Officer, and good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. The report into the future of the sex and relationships education curriculum in Wales says that, at the moment, the success of SRE too often rests on the interests and enthusiasm of individual teachers or school leaders with SRE/personal and social education responsibilities. In this area, knowledge itself isn't an indicator of success. An unplanned teen pregnancy isn't necessarily caused by a lack of information or understanding, and a child or young person may be fully aware that abuse is being inflicted upon them but not able to do anything to stop it. How are you measuring the success of current SRE, and how will you measure success in the future?
Diolch, Lywydd, a phrynhawn da, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Dywed yr adroddiad ar ddyfodol y cwricwlwm addysg rhyw a chydberthynas yng Nghymru, ar hyn o bryd, fod llwyddiant addysg rhyw a chydberthynas yn dibynnu’n rhy aml ar ddiddordebau a brwdfrydedd athrawon unigol neu arweinwyr ysgolion â chyfrifoldebau addysg rhyw a chydberthynas/addysg bersonol a chymdeithasol. Yn y maes hwn, nid yw gwybodaeth ynddi’i hun yn ddangosydd llwyddiant. Nid yw beichiogrwydd anfwriadol ymysg pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau o reidrwydd yn deillio o ddiffyg gwybodaeth neu ddealltwriaeth, a gall plentyn neu berson ifanc fod yn gwbl ymwybodol eu bod yn cael eu cam-drin heb allu gwneud unrhyw beth i atal hynny. Sut rydych yn mesur llwyddiant addysg rhyw a chydberthynas ar hyn o bryd, a sut y byddwch yn mesur llwyddiant yn y dyfodol?
Thank you for that question. On coming into office, I was concerned that current SRE provision is not as good as it should be, and listening to children and young people, as I travel around schools in Wales, they have been very clear with me that the current SRE provision often doesn't meet their individual needs. That's why I commissioned Professor Emma Renold of Cardiff University, who is an international expert in these matters, to compile an independent report. That report has now been given to me. We are considering the recommendations of how we can improve current provision of SRE and how we can ensure that our new curriculum meets the needs of children and young people.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Pan ddeuthum i’r swydd, roeddwn yn bryderus nad yw darpariaeth addysg rhyw a chydberthynas cystal ag y dylai fod, ac wrth wrando ar blant a phobl ifanc, wrth imi deithio o gwmpas ysgolion Cymru, maent wedi dweud yn glir iawn wrthyf nad yw darpariaeth bresennol addysg rhyw a chydberthynas, yn aml, yn diwallu eu hanghenion unigol. Dyna pam y comisiynais yr Athro Emma Renold o Brifysgol Caerdydd, sy'n arbenigwr rhyngwladol ar y materion hyn, i lunio adroddiad annibynnol. Rwyf wedi derbyn yr adroddiad hwnnw bellach. Rydym yn ystyried yr argymhellion ynglŷn â sut y gallwn wella darpariaeth bresennol addysg rhyw a chydberthynas a sut y gallwn sicrhau bod ein cwricwlwm newydd yn diwallu anghenion plant a phobl ifanc.
Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. In the same report, it says that, even before school, children receive messages about gender, sexuality and relationships from a wide variety of sources, for example advertising, books, social media, television and family members, et cetera. I'd say that a majority of these are either under the control of parents or can be under the control of parents, particularly those parents of preschool children. Surely, it's the parents' right to bring up their child in accordance with their values and beliefs? So, I'd just like to ask the Cabinet Secretary whether parents will continue to have the right to opt their child out of SRE if they feel that that SRE curriculum isn't appropriate for their child?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn yr un adroddiad, dywed fod plant, hyd yn oed cyn oedran ysgol, yn derbyn negeseuon ynghylch rhywedd, rhywioldeb a pherthnasoedd o amrywiaeth eang o ffynonellau, er enghraifft hysbysebion, llyfrau, cyfryngau cymdeithasol, teledu ac aelodau o'r teulu, ac ati. Buaswn yn dweud bod y rhan fwyaf o'r rhain naill ai o dan reolaeth rhieni neu y gallant fod o dan reolaeth rhieni, yn enwedig rhieni plant dan oed ysgol. Does bosibl nad oes gan rieni'r hawl i fagu eu plentyn yn unol â'u gwerthoedd a'u credoau eu hunain? Felly, hoffwn ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a fydd hawl gan rieni o hyd i eithrio eu plentyn o addysg rhyw a chydberthynas os ydynt yn teimlo nad yw'r cwricwlwm addysg rhyw a chydberthynas yn addas ar gyfer eu plentyn hwy?
Well, of course, parents have rights and responsibilities, but, sometimes, the issues that you're talking about are beyond a parent's control. I remember only too well, when my own children were very small, going into a very well-known high street retailer to find in that shop the dressing up costumes for doctors were in the boys' toy section and the dressing up section for girls had a nurse's costume. These, sometimes, are beyond parental control.
With regard to the role and the compulsory nature of sex and relationship education going forward, I have received a very clear recommendation from Emma Renold. The report that's she's developed for me is under consideration, and I hope it won't be too long before I come to this Chamber with my full response to that report, outlining how we intend to improve relationship and sexuality education for all our children and young people in Wales.
Wel, wrth gwrs, mae gan rieni hawliau a chyfrifoldebau, ond weithiau, mae'r materion y soniwch amdanynt y tu hwnt i reolaeth y rhiant. Pan oedd fy mhlant yn fach iawn, rwy'n cofio mynd i siop adnabyddus iawn ar y stryd fawr a gweld, yn y siop, fod y gwisgoedd ar gyfer gwisgo i fyny fel meddygon yn yr adran deganau bechgyn a'r adran wisgo i fyny ar gyfer merched yn cynnwys gwisg nyrs. Mae'r pethau hyn, weithiau, y tu hwnt i reolaeth rhieni.
O ran rôl a natur orfodol addysg rhyw a chydberthynas yn y dyfodol, rwyf wedi derbyn argymhelliad clir iawn gan Emma Renold. Mae'r adroddiad a ddatblygwyd ganddi ar fy nghyfer yn cael ei ystyried, a gobeithiaf allu dod i'r Siambr hon cyn bo hir gyda fy ymateb llawn i'r adroddiad hwnnw, gan amlinellu sut rydym yn bwriadu gwella addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb ar gyfer ein holl blant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru.
Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary.
Parents, particularly of preschool children, are understandably going to be concerned about what the content of the SRE curriculum is going to be. There are going to be parents who, for religious reasons and various other reasons, may find the content of the curriculum unpalatable. So, I suppose my final question has two parts to it really. How much input are parents going to have into the new curriculum and if a parent—. Sorry, that's my question: how much input are parents going to have into that curriculum?
I'm still uncomfortable with this thing—that you don't want to say whether parents are going to have the right to opt their child out, because the ultimate ability for a parent to opt their child out of a part of the curriculum that they don't like is to withdraw their child from the school and home school the child. That's going to have a detrimental effect, particularly on women, who are going to be left looking after the child when, otherwise, they could have been in schools. So, how are you going to get round that?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Mae'n ddealladwy y bydd rhieni, yn enwedig rhieni plant dan oed ysgol, yn bryderus ynglŷn â beth fydd cynnwys y cwricwlwm addysg rhyw a chydberthynas. Efallai y bydd rhai rhieni, am resymau crefyddol a gwahanol resymau eraill, o'r farn fod y cwricwlwm yn annymunol. Felly, mae'n debyg fod dau ran i fy nghwestiwn olaf. Faint o fewnbwn fydd gan rieni i'r cwricwlwm newydd ac a yw rhiant—. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, dyna fy nghwestiwn: faint o fewnbwn fydd gan rieni i'r cwricwlwm hwnnw?
Rwy'n dal yn anghyfforddus ynglŷn â hyn—nad ydych am ddweud a fydd hawl gan rieni i eithrio eu plentyn, oherwydd yn y pen draw, gall rhieni eithrio eu plentyn o ran o'r cwricwlwm nad ydynt yn eu hoffi drwy dynnu eu plentyn o'r ysgol ac addysgu eu plentyn gartref. Bydd hynny'n cael effaith andwyol, yn enwedig ar fenywod, a fydd yn gorfod gofalu am y plentyn, pan allent, fel arall, fod mewn ysgolion. Felly, sut rydych yn mynd i fynd i'r afael â hynny?
I don't want to pre-empt the final discussions and decisions that I will make with regard to that report. And I have given a commitment here this afternoon, Michelle, that, having done that, I will come back to the Chamber with a full statement on how we intend to develop policy in this area.
I have to say, we don't allow parents to take their children out of maths lessons, or English language lessons, and what I hear from children and young people is that they feel this is a really important aspect of their education, which we need to get right for them. Of course, that has to be delivered in an age-appropriate way and in a way that is accessible even to our youngest children. And I don't believe there's a child too young to start to talk about relationships, being safe, consent and what that means.
Nid wyf yn awyddus i achub y blaen ar y trafodaethau terfynol a'r penderfyniadau y byddaf yn eu gwneud mewn perthynas â'r adroddiad hwnnw. Ac rwyf wedi rhoi ymrwymiad yma y prynhawn yma, Michelle, y byddaf, ar ôl gwneud hynny, yn dychwelyd i'r Siambr â datganiad llawn ar sut rydym yn bwriadu datblygu polisi yn y maes hwn.
Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, nid ydym yn caniatáu i rieni i dynnu eu plant allan o wersi mathemateg neu wersi Saesneg, ac yn ôl yr hyn a glywaf gan blant a phobl ifanc, maent yn teimlo bod hon yn agwedd bwysig iawn ar eu haddysg, ac mae angen inni sicrhau ei bod yn iawn ar eu cyfer. Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid cyflawni hynny mewn ffordd sy'n addas i oedran ac mewn ffordd sy'n hygyrch, hyd yn oed i'n plant ieuengaf. Ac nid wyf yn credu bod unrhyw blentyn yn rhy ifanc i ddechrau siarad am gydberthynas, bod yn ddiogel, cydsyniad a beth yw ystyr hynny.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Llyr Gruffydd.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Llyr Gruffydd.
Diolch, Llywydd.
Plaid Cymru opposes University UK's proposed pension reforms and we support the University and College Union lecturers' strikes. Do you support the UCU action against pension cuts?
Diolch, Lywydd.
Mae Plaid Cymru'n gwrthwynebu diwygiadau pensiwn arfaethedig Universities UK ac rydym yn cefnogi streiciau darlithwyr yr Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau. A ydych yn cefnogi camau gweithredu'r Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau yn erbyn y toriadau pensiwn?
Well, Llyr, I have met with both UK-wide officials of UCU as well as Welsh representation, and I continue to be in correspondence with them. Unfortunately, because of the bad weather in Cardiff on Saturday, I was unable to attend the UCU conference, because the conference was cancelled. Officials keep in close touch with both the employers and the employees, and I have, at every opportunity, urged the employers to get back around the table to discuss these concerns because it is of huge concern to me that any student should be disrupted, and I do have sympathy with those members who are seeing potentially significant changes to their pensions, and I understand why they are duly concerned. Unfortunately, the employers are individual organisations, but whatever Welsh Government can do to get those parties around the table to find a solution to this problem, then we will do that.
Wel, Llyr, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â swyddogion yr Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau ar gyfer y DU gyfan yn ogystal â chynrychiolwyr o Gymru, ac rwy'n parhau i ohebu â hwy. Yn anffodus, oherwydd y tywydd gwael yng Nghaerdydd ddydd Sadwrn, nid oedd modd imi fynychu cynhadledd yr Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau, gan i'r gynhadledd gael ei chanslo. Mae swyddogion yn parhau i gysylltu â'r cyflogwyr a'r gweithwyr, ac rwyf innau, ar bob cyfle, wedi annog y cyflogwyr i ddychwelyd at y bwrdd i drafod y pryderon hyn, gan fy mod yn bryderus iawn ynghylch amharu ar fyfyrwyr, ac rwy'n cydymdeimlo â'r aelodau sy'n wynebu newidiadau sylweddol posibl i'w pensiynau, ac rwy'n deall pam eu bod yn bryderus. Yn anffodus, mae'r cyflogwyr yn sefydliadau unigol, ond beth bynnag y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau bod y partïon hyn yn dychwelyd at y bwrdd i ddod o hyd ateb i'r broblem, byddwn yn gwneud hynny.
I'm glad to hear that you've made representations to the UK Government. Clearly, UCU has said that their colleagues in many other European countries in post-1992 universities, schools, FE colleges, the NHS and Government all have their pensions underwritten and guaranteed by the state of course, and they're asking why UK pre-1992 universities should have a pension scheme with no Government guarantee. So, I'd be interested in knowing what representations you've made to the UK Government and, indeed, what interventions you called for from them in this respect.
Rwy'n falch o glywed eich bod wedi cyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU. Yn amlwg, mae'r Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau wedi dweud bod pensiynau eu cydweithwyr mewn llawer o wledydd Ewropeaidd eraill mewn prifysgolion ôl-1992, ysgolion, colegau addysg bellach, y GIG a'r Llywodraeth wedi'u tanysgrifennu a'u gwarantu gan y wladwriaeth, wrth gwrs, ac maent yn gofyn pam y dylai fod gan brifysgolion cyn-1992 y DU gynllun pensiwn heb unrhyw warant gan y Llywodraeth. Felly, hoffwn wybod pa sylwadau a gyflwynwyd gennych i Lywodraeth y DU, ac yn wir, pa ymyriadau rydych wedi galw arnynt i'w cyflawni yn hyn o beth.
As I've said, Llyr, we have urged all parties involved to get around the table, and I was encouraged by the decision for parties to get back around the negotiation table and to have that work assisted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. I think that gives us the best chance of finding a solution here to this significant problem. As I said, the direct role that Welsh Government can play in this is somewhat limited, but we will use any of our ability to influence to make sure that these talks are successful, and I continue to talk with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to ensure that any disruption to individual students are kept to an absolute minimum.
Fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud, Llyr, rydym wedi annog pob parti i ddychwelyd at y bwrdd, ac roedd penderfyniad y partïon i ddychwelyd at y bwrdd negodi gyda chymorth y Gwasanaeth Cynghori, Cymodi a Chyflafareddu yn galonogol iawn. Credaf mai dyna sy'n rhoi'r cyfle gorau inni ganfod ateb i'r broblem sylweddol hon. Fel y dywedais, mae'r rôl uniongyrchol y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei chwarae yn hyn yn gyfyngedig i raddau, ond byddwn yn defnyddio ein holl allu i ddylanwadu er mwyn sicrhau bod y trafodaethau hyn yn llwyddiannus, ac rwy'n parhau i siarad â Chyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru i sicrhau cyn lleied o darfu â phosibl ar fyfyrwyr unigol.
Clearly, there's an economic aspect to this action, but I believe there's a moral issue at stake here as well, because all of this is happening to a backdrop of vice-chancellors, of course, enjoying astronomical salaries that put the salaries of the First Minister and even the Prime Minister at Westminster in the shade. Indeed, it was recently revealed that around £8 million was paid in expenses to top university executives just in the last two years. You've previously said that there should be restraint in senior pay and there should also be a focus on the lower end of the pay scale. So, how does all of that tally with these pension proposals, which are actually seen as a direct attack on the working conditions of those staff?
Yn amlwg, mae yna agwedd economaidd i'r camau gweithredu hyn, ond credaf fod mater moesol yn y fantol yma hefyd, gan fod hyn oll yn mynd rhagddo mewn cyd-destun lle mae is-gangellorion, wrth gwrs, yn derbyn cyflogau anferthol sy'n llawer mwy na chyflogau’r Prif Weinidog neu Brif Weinidog y DU yn San Steffan, hyd yn oed. Yn wir, datgelwyd yn ddiweddar fod oddeutu £8 miliwn wedi'i dalu mewn treuliau i brif swyddogion prifysgolion dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf yn unig. Rydych wedi dweud yn flaenorol y dylid cyfyngu ar gyflogau uwch swyddogion ac y dylid canolbwyntio hefyd ar ben isaf y raddfa gyflog. Felly, sut y mae hynny'n cyd-fynd â'r cynigion hyn ar gyfer pensiynau, a ystyrir yn ymosodiad uniongyrchol ar amodau gwaith y staff hynny?
Well, Llyr, I would reiterate that stance here today. I do expect restraint from my vice-chancellors in Welsh universities, and you will be aware that HEFCW, working with the sector, have published a report regarding pay levels in Welsh universities, and our vice-chancellors are not out of kilter with those across the UK. But in terms of social justice, what's really important to me is that the lowest paid workers in this sector are treated fairly and that's why I'm delighted that Wales's higher education institutions and our sector will become the first part of the sector in the United Kingdom to pay the real living wage to all of their workers. We continue to negotiate that across all aspects of those people working in Welsh higher education, including those working in the Llandudno office of the student loans company.
Wel, Llyr, buaswn yn ailadrodd y safbwynt hwnnw yma heddiw. Rwy'n disgwyl ataliaeth gan fy is-gangellorion ym mhrifysgolion Cymru, ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru, gan weithio gyda'r sector, wedi cyhoeddi adroddiad ar lefelau cyflog ym mhrifysgolion Cymru, ac nid yw ein his-gangellorion yn wahanol iawn i'r rhai ledled y DU. Ond o ran cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, yr hyn sy'n bwysig iawn i mi yw bod y gweithwyr ar y cyflogau isaf yn y sector yn cael eu trin yn deg, a dyna pam rwyf wrth fy modd mai sefydliadau addysg uwch Cymru a'n sector ni fydd rhan gyntaf y sector drwy'r Deyrnas Unedig i dalu'r cyflog byw go iawn i bob un o'u gweithwyr. Rydym yn parhau i negodi hynny mewn perthynas â phob agwedd ar y bobl sy'n gweithio mewn addysg uwch yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys pobl sy'n gweithio yn swyddfa'r cwmni benthyciadau i fyfyrwyr yn Llandudno.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Darren Millar.
The Conservative spokesperson, Darren Millar.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, research shows that the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller community have the lowest attainment rates of any ethnic group in Wales when it comes to their education. Tell us, why did you scrap the education improvement grant, which was designed to support and increase the attainment rates amongst this particular group?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae ymchwil yn dangos mai'r gymuned Sipsi/Roma/Teithwyr sydd â'r cyfraddau cyrhaeddiad isaf o unrhyw grŵp ethnig yng Nghymru mewn perthynas ag addysg. Dywedwch wrthym, pam y cawsoch wared ar y grant gwella addysg, a gynlluniwyd i gefnogi a chynyddu cyfraddau cyrhaeddiad ymhlith y grŵp penodol hwn?
Presiding Officer, I have not scrapped the education improvement grant.
Lywydd, nid wyf wedi cael gwared ar y grant gwella addysg.
As you know, you have redistributed the education improvement grant—the minority ethnic achievement grant element of that—into the revenue support grant for local authorities, and they claim that they can find no trace of it within the lines within the budgets that they have been given by the Welsh Government. They reckon that around £13 million has gone missing from the education allocation that they have received from the Welsh Government and that it's having a significant impact on their ability to meet the education needs of the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller community, and, indeed, other ethnic minority communities that need specific and additional support. What are you doing to put their concerns to rest?
Fel y gwyddoch, rydych wedi ailddosbarthu'r grant gwella addysg—elfen y grant cyflawniad lleiafrifoedd ethnig ohono—i mewn i'r grant cynnal refeniw ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol, ac maent yn honni na allant ddod o hyd i unrhyw arwydd ohono o fewn llinellau'r cyllidebau hynny a roddwyd iddynt gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Maent yn credu bod oddeutu £13 miliwn wedi mynd ar goll o'r dyraniad addysg a gawsant gan Lywodraeth Cymru a bod hynny'n cael effaith sylweddol ar eu gallu i ddiwallu anghenion addysgol y gymuned Sipsi/Roma/Teithwyr, ac yn wir, cymunedau lleiafrifoedd ethnig eraill sydd angen cymorth penodol ac ychwanegol. Beth a wnewch i leihau eu pryderon?
The Member will be aware that a number of grants were rolled into the education improvement grant four years ago. Part of that was called 'MEAG', which is there to support the education of minority ethnic groups, and there was a separate grant scheme to support Gypsies and Travellers. The Member is not wrong to say that we need to redouble our efforts with regard to outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children. Where we have seen significant improvement in the educational attainment of all but one minority ethnic group, Gypsy/Traveller attainment is still a cause of concern to me.
The Member is correct to say that as a contribution to moneys made available to the local education authority via the revenue support grant, the education improvement grant was added as a contribution. I've recognised that for some local authorities that has meant, because of different ways of distribution, they may have been put at a disadvantage. Therefore, I have made available £5 million to right that disadvantage for Cardiff, for Newport and for Swansea, and we will make an additional £2.5 million available over this new financial year to the regional consortia to work with lead local authorities, including Wrexham in north Wales, so that we can ensure that we can get better outcomes for these children.
Bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fod nifer o grantiau wedi dod yn rhan o'r grant gwella addysg bedair blynedd yn ôl. Galwyd rhan o hynny yn 'Grant Cyflawniad Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig' sydd yno er mwyn cefnogi addysg grwpiau lleiafrifoedd ethnig, ac roedd yna gynllun grant ar wahân i gefnogi Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Nid yw'r Aelod yn anghywir i ddweud bod angen inni ddwysáu’n hymdrechion o ran canlyniadau i blant Sipsiwn/Teithwyr. Er ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol o ran cyrhaeddiad addysgol pob grŵp lleiafrifol ethnig ond un, mae cyrhaeddiad Sipsiwn/Teithwyr yn parhau i beri pryder i mi.
Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le yn dweud bod y grant gwella addysg, fel cyfraniad at yr arian sydd ar gael i'r awdurdod addysg lleol drwy'r grant cynnal refeniw, wedi’i ychwanegu fel cyfraniad. Rwyf wedi cydnabod bod hynny, oherwydd gwahanol ffyrdd o ddosbarthu, wedi golygu efallai bod rhai awdurdodau lleol o dan anfantais. Felly, rwyf wedi darparu £5 miliwn i unioni'r anfantais honno i Gaerdydd, i Gasnewydd ac i Abertawe, a byddwn yn darparu £2.5 miliwn ychwanegol dros y flwyddyn ariannol newydd hon i'r consortia rhanbarthol i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol arweiniol, gan gynnwys Wrecsam yng ngogledd Cymru, fel y gallwn sicrhau ein bod yn gallu cael gwell canlyniadau i'r plant hyn.
So, that £7.5 million, which you've suggested, you're going to make available primarily to three local authorities that happen to be Labour authorities in south Wales, with very little left for the rest of the nation. The reality is that every single local authority in Wales has young people who need this sort of support. So, I ask you again: when will you ensure that there are adequate resources available to each of the local authorities across Wales, whether they be in north Wales, mid Wales, west Wales or south Wales, to ensure that they can meet the needs of not only the Gypsy/Traveller community, but also those other ethnic minority communities that may need additional support with their learning?
Felly, byddwch yn darparu'r £7.5 miliwn hwnnw, fel yr awgrymoch, i dri awdurdod lleol yn bennaf, sy'n digwydd bod yn awdurdodau Llafur yn ne Cymru, gydag ond ychydig iawn ar ôl ar gyfer gweddill y wlad. Y gwir amdani yw bod pob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru yn cynnwys pobl ifanc sydd angen y math hwn o gefnogaeth. Felly, gofynnaf i chi unwaith eto: pa bryd y byddwch yn sicrhau bod digon o adnoddau ar gael i bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru, boed yng ngogledd Cymru, canolbarth Cymru, gorllewin Cymru neu dde Cymru, er mwyn sicrhau y gallant fodloni nid yn unig anghenion y gymuned Sipsiwn/Teithwyr, ond cymunedau lleiafrifoedd ethnig eraill a all fod angen cefnogaeth ychwanegol gyda'u dysgu?
Well, Darren, as I've said, all local authorities will have benefited from the contribution of EIG going into RSG. I have recognised that, for some local authorities, changes in the distribution formula have had a negative effect. The reality is, Darren, that those three local authorities are affected because that is where the density of the population is, and therefore it is unsurprising that those authorities would be Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, because that's where we find the majority of those students living. On top of that, as I've said, we will give resources in this financial year to regional consortia across the piece to be able to develop policy and support in this area. It is true to say, for instance, that some of the most successful interventions are actually already run at a consortia level or by an individual local authority for the entire region, but I recognise that for this group of children, there is more to be done. But let me say: it's not fair to roll all children from a minority ethnic background into one particular case. Welsh Chinese children, Welsh Indian children, Welsh Pakistani children, Welsh Bangladeshi children all perform at or above the Welsh average.
Wel, Darren, fel y dywedais, bydd pob awdurdod lleol wedi elwa ar gyfraniad y grant gwella addysg yn mynd i mewn i'r grant cynnal refeniw. Rwyf wedi cydnabod, ar gyfer rhai awdurdodau lleol, fod newidiadau o ran y fformiwla ddosbarthu wedi cael effaith negyddol. Y gwir amdani, Darren, yw bod y tri awdurdod lleol hynny wedi eu heffeithio gan mai dyna lle mae trwch y boblogaeth, ac felly nid yw'n syndod mai'r awdurdodau hynny yw Caerdydd, Abertawe a Chasnewydd, gan mai dyna ble mae’r rhan fwyaf o'r myfyrwyr hynny yn byw. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, fel y dywedais, byddwn yn darparu adnoddau yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon i'r holl gonsortia rhanbarthol fel y gallant ddatblygu polisi a chymorth yn y maes hwn. Mae'n wir, er enghraifft, fod rhai o'r ymyriadau mwyaf llwyddiannus eisoes ar waith ar lefel y consortia neu gan awdurdod lleol unigol ar gyfer y rhanbarth cyfan, ond rwy’n cydnabod bod mwy i’w wneud ar gyfer y grŵp hwn o blant. Ond gadewch i mi ddweud hyn: nid yw'n deg ystyried pob plentyn o gefndir ethnig lleiafrifol fel un achos penodol. Mae plant Tsieineaidd Cymreig, plant Indiaidd Cymreig, plant Pacistanaidd Cymreig, a phlant Bangladeshaidd Cymreig yn perfformio cystal neu’n well na'r cyfartaledd yng Nghymru.
3. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu datblygu system addysg sy'n adlewyrchu amcanion Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015? OAQ51835
3. How does the Welsh Government plan to develop an education system that reflects the objectives of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015? OAQ51835
Thank you, Bethan, and can I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent marriage?
'Education in Wales: Our national mission' provides an action plan that will see transformation of the education system in Wales. The plan has been developed in accordance with the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and will be delivered and assessed against the well-being objectives.
Diolch, Bethan, ac a gaf fi fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i’ch llongyfarch ar eich priodas yn ddiweddar?
Mae 'Addysg yng Nghymru: Cenhadaeth ein Cenedl' yn darparu cynllun gweithredu a fydd yn arwain at drawsnewid y system addysg yng Nghymru. Datblygwyd y cynllun yn unol ag egwyddorion Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015, a bydd yn cael ei gyflawni a'i asesu yn erbyn yr amcanion llesiant.
Thank you for that reply. The policy of school reorganisation and the creation of the centralisation of superschools, particularly in Neath Port Talbot and across Wales, has caused some concern, particularly with the potential closure of Cymer Afan Comprehensive School in my region. It's particularly acute in relation to the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, and it's going against that, because if the school closes they will be having to travel 50 minutes to reach the closest school. So, when we had a public meeting on this recently, people were saying that this would add stress to the lives of the children, and that it would contravene the very sustainability of that particular Act. I acknowledge you can't look into this particular issue in and of itself, but what is your view, if a school closes and if then, therefore, more transport is created, more pressure on schoolchildren is created—what do you do in relation to the well-being of those children to try and aid them in the development of their education, as opposed to hindering them, as many of the parents believe in this particular circumstance?
Diolch am eich ateb. Mae’r polisi ad-drefnu ysgolion a chreu uwchysgolion canolog, yn enwedig yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot a ledled Cymru, wedi peri pryder, yn enwedig gyda'r posibilrwydd o gau Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Afan yn fy rhanbarth. Mae'n arbennig o ddifrifol mewn perthynas â Deddf Teithio Llesol (Cymru) 2013, ac mae'n mynd yn erbyn y Ddeddf honno, oherwydd os yw'r ysgol yn cau bydd yn rhaid iddynt deithio am 50 munud i gyrraedd yr ysgol agosaf. Felly, pan gawsom gyfarfod cyhoeddus ar hyn yn ddiweddar, roedd pobl yn dweud y byddai hyn yn ychwanegu straen ym mywydau'r plant, ac y byddai'n mynd yn groes i gynaliadwyedd y Ddeddf honno. Rwy'n cydnabod na allwch edrych ar y mater penodol hwn ynddo'i hun, ond beth yw eich barn chi ynglŷn â'r ffaith, os yw ysgol yn cau a bod hynny'n arwain, felly, at fwy o drafnidiaeth, fod rhagor o bwysau'n cael ei roi ar blant ysgol—beth rydych yn ei wneud mewn perthynas â lles y plant hynny i geisio cefnogi datblygiad eu haddysg, yn hytrach na'u rhwystro, fel y cred llawer o'r rhieni yn yr achos penodol hwn?
Well, Bethan, in undertaking their school organisation responsibilities, local authorities must comply with the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and the schools organisation code and must consider a range of factors. One of those factors is the interests of learners. You will be aware that we have recently undertaken a consultation on the code to see where it can be strengthened. Where proposals involve the closure of any school, which can be very, very challenging and very emotive, the consultation document must show the impact of the proposals on individuals, and indeed on the community, and an assessment of that community impact must be carried out.
Wel, Bethan, wrth ymgymryd â'u cyfrifoldebau trefniadaeth ysgolion, mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol gydymffurfio â Deddf Safonau a Threfniadaeth Ysgolion (Cymru) 2013 a'r cod trefniadaeth ysgolion, ac mae'n rhaid iddynt ystyried amrywiaeth o ffactorau. Un o'r ffactorau hynny yw buddiannau dysgwyr. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol ein bod wedi cynnal ymgynghoriad diweddar ar y cod i weld lle y gellir ei gryfhau. Pan fo'r cynigion yn cynnwys cau unrhyw ysgol, sy'n gallu bod yn heriol iawn, ac yn emosiynol iawn, mae'n rhaid i'r ddogfen ymgynghori ddangos effaith y cynigion ar unigolion, ac yn wir ar y gymuned, ac mae'n rhaid cynnal asesiad o'r effaith honno ar y gymuned.
Cabinet Secretary, considering the well-being objectives, can I ask you what consideration, if any, you've given to initiatives that we've seen in France and more recently in Scotland to control the use of mobile phones in schools as a way of helping to combat both school bullying and disruption to learning?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ystyried yr amcanion lles, a gaf fi ofyn i chi pa ystyriaeth, os o gwbl, rydych wedi'i rhoi i fentrau a welsom yn Ffrainc ac yn fwy diweddar yn yr Alban i reoli'r defnydd o ffonau symudol mewn ysgolion fel ffordd o helpu i fynd i'r afael â bwlio mewn ysgolion a tharfu ar ddysgu?
Thank you, Dawn. I have to say, it is for individual schools to determine the most effective way to address bullying and implement any anti-bullying policies within their school setting, which includes any measures that they may wish to consider to control the usage of phones or information technology equipment, which may be a channel for cyber bullying. We're also developing a suite—we already have a suite of measures in place to support schools in tackling cyber bullying within their schools and we are in the process of updating our anti-bullying guidance.
I do think it's important, however, to state that we can't just label all information technology as having a harmful effect on education. Only yesterday, we were debating digital skills and the use of technology in our classrooms and the advantages that can bring to both pupils and teachers. Therefore, we need to keep a balanced approach in this regard.
Diolch, Dawn. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud mai cyfrifoldeb ysgolion unigol yw penderfynu ar y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol o fynd i'r afael â bwlio a rhoi unrhyw bolisïau gwrth-fwlio ar waith yn eu hysgolion, gan gynnwys unrhyw fesurau yr hoffent eu hystyried i reoli'r defnydd o ffonau neu offer technoleg gwybodaeth, a allai arwain at seiberfwlio. Rydym hefyd yn datblygu cyfres—mae gennym eisoes gyfres o fesurau ar waith i gynorthwyo ysgolion i fynd i'r afael â seiberfwlio yn eu hysgolion ac rydym wrthi'n diweddaru ein canllawiau gwrth-fwlio.
Credaf ei bod yn bwysig dweud, fodd bynnag, na allwn honni bod pob math o dechnoleg gwybodaeth yn cael effaith niweidiol ar addysg. Ddoe, buom yn trafod sgiliau digidol a'r defnydd o dechnoleg yn ein hystafelloedd dosbarth a'r manteision y gall hynny eu rhoi i ddisgyblion ac athrawon. Felly, mae angen inni fabwysiadu ymagwedd gytbwys yn hyn o beth.
Cabinet Secretary, one of the objectives of the future generations Act is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background. I'm sure we'd all agree with that. The gap in outcomes between children eligible for free school meals persists, however. A number of families are operating just above the poverty line but are not falling into the category that they should. Are you confident that the current criteria is sufficiently broad to capture all of these children who are suffering in these conditions, and if not, what do you propose to do to make sure that there is a better safety net?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, un o amcanion Deddf cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yw sicrhau bod pob plentyn yn cael cyfle i gyflawni eu llawn botensial, beth bynnag yw eu cefndir. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn cytuno â hynny. Mae'r bwlch yn y canlyniadau yno o hyd, fodd bynnag, rhwng plant sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Mae nifer o deuluoedd yn byw ychydig uwchlaw'r ffin tlodi ond heb gyrraedd y categori y dylent ei gyrraedd. A ydych yn hyderus fod y meini prawf presennol yn ddigon eang i gyrraedd pob un o'r plant hyn sy'n dioddef yn yr amgylchiadau hyn, ac os nad ydynt, beth rydych yn bwriadu ei wneud i sicrhau bod rhwyd ddiogelwch well i'w chael?
Nick, you're absolutely right: one of the biggest challenges that we have in Welsh education is to ensure that equity within our system and that includes closing the attainment gap for those pupils who are qualifying for free school meals against that of their peers. This year, Welsh Government will invest over £91 million in the pupil development grant. We are always challenging both regional consortia and individual schools to adopt best evidence-based practice of how that resource can be best used to assist those children who are on free school meals.
We are aware that there are some families that fall above the criteria for free school meals, and given the constraints of public finance at the moment, it would be wrong of me to suggest that we were able to increase the number of children. At the moment, free school meals represents, as far as I'm concerned, the best proxy that we currently have for need.
Nick, rydych yn llygad eich lle: un o'r heriau mwyaf sy'n ein hwynebu mewn addysg yng Nghymru yw sicrhau'r tegwch hwnnw o fewn ein system ac mae hynny'n cynnwys cau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad rhwng y disgyblion sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim a'u cyfoedion. Eleni, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi dros £91 miliwn yn y grant datblygu disgyblion. Rydym bob amser yn herio'r consortia rhanbarthol ac ysgolion unigol i fabwysiadu'r arferion gorau ar sail tystiolaeth o ran y ffordd orau o ddefnyddio'r adnodd hwnnw i gynorthwyo'r plant sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim.
Rydym yn ymwybodol nad yw rhai teuluoedd yn bodloni'r meini prawf ar gyfer prydau ysgol am ddim, ac o ystyried y cyfyngiadau ar gyllid cyhoeddus ar hyn o bryd, buaswn ar fai'n awgrymu ein bod wedi gallu cynyddu nifer y plant. Ar hyn o bryd, mae prydau ysgol am ddim yn cynrychioli'r procsi gorau ar gyfer angen sydd gennym yn fy marn i.
4. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am y grant gwella addysg i ysgolion? OAQ51839
4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the education improvement grant for schools? OAQ51839
Thank you, Russell. Through the education improvement grant for schools we will continue to make available more than £225 million over the next two years to support both the foundation phase and improvements in schools. This represents a significant investment that will benefit all learners as part of our delivery of the national mission.
Diolch, Russell. Drwy'r grant gwella addysg i ysgolion byddwn yn parhau i ddarparu mwy na £225 miliwn dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf i gefnogi'r cyfnod sylfaen a gwelliannau mewn ysgolion. Mae hwn yn fuddsoddiad sylweddol a fydd o fudd i bob dysgwr fel rhan o'r gwaith o gyflawni ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol.
Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. I was listening to your answers to Darren Millar earlier on and you committed £5 million from your reserves for the financial year 2018-19 to allow for the impact on urban local authorities. But from your answer to Darren Millar, it seems that that figure is now £7.5 million. How do you intend to support learners in mid and north Wales, and, in particular, how much of that £2.5 million that you referred to earlier will support learners in Powys?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Roeddwn yn gwrando ar eich atebion i Darren Millar yn gynharach, ac fe ymrwymoch chi £5 miliwn o'ch cronfeydd wrth gefn ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 2018-19 er mwyn caniatáu ar gyfer yr effaith ar awdurdodau lleol trefol. Ond ymddengys, yn ôl eich ateb i Darren Millar, fod y ffigur hwnnw bellach yn £7.5 miliwn. Sut rydych yn bwriadu cefnogi dysgwyr yng nghanolbarth a gogledd Cymru, ac yn benodol, faint o'r £2.5 miliwn hwnnw y cyfeirioch chi ato'n gynharach a fydd yn cefnogi dysgwyr ym Mhowys?
Well, Russell, what's important is that we direct funds to where individuals who would previously have benefited under some of these grants are located. Because of the transfer, there are certain authorities that would not have received—or would have received very little under the old minority ethnic achievement grant and Gypsy/Traveller grant who, actually, under the RSG distribution, will have benefited. So, I do not anticipate at this stage making any additional resources available in this regard.
Wel, Russell, yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod yn cyfeirio arian i lle mae unigolion a fyddai wedi elwa dan rai o'r grantiau hyn o'r blaen wedi'u lleoli. Oherwydd y trosglwyddo, bydd rhai awdurdodau na fyddai wedi derbyn—neu a fyddai ond wedi derbyn ychydig iawn—o dan yr hen grant cyflawniad lleiafrifoedd ethnig a'r grant Sipsi/Teithwyr, wedi elwa mewn gwirionedd o dan ddosbarthiad y grant cynnal refeniw. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, nid wyf yn rhagweld y byddaf yn darparu unrhyw adnoddau ychwanegol yn hyn o beth.
Cabinet Secretary, the education improvement grant is there to assist the regional consortia to improve the outcomes for all learners. My region is home to the best comprehensive school in Wales, Pontarddulais, but it is also home to one of the worst-performing schools, just a few miles down the road. So, how does your Government plan to eliminate such huge disparity in attainment within regional consortia?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, diben y grant gwella addysg yw cynorthwyo'r consortia rhanbarthol i wella canlyniadau i bob dysgwr. Mae'r ysgol gyfun orau yng Nghymru, Pontarddulais, yn fy rhanbarth i, ond mae hefyd yn cynnwys un o'r ysgolion sy'n perfformio waethaf, ychydig filltiroedd yn unig i lawr y ffordd. Felly, sut y mae eich Llywodraeth yn bwriadu cael gwared ar y fath wahaniaeth mewn cyrhaeddiad o fewn consortia rhanbarthol?
I'm very grateful for the acknowledgement of Pontarddulais school. Only yesterday evening, I met the headteacher of the school as she becomes one of the first tranche of the new associates of the academy of leadership, and her contribution to raising standards in her own school and across the region is one of the reasons why she has been appointed to one of those, what I would regard as prestigious, roles.
Variation in our system, whether that be in-school variation, in-county variation or, indeed, in-region variation, continues to be a source of grave concern to me. It was addressed yesterday in our debate on Estyn's annual report in that we need better school-to-school working so that we can ensure that that variation is kept to a minimum, because it is incredible, is it not, as you've just described, that in one small area we can have highly performing institutions and those that are not doing quite so well? We need to take the opportunity to learn from the best and share that good practice.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i chi am gydnabod ysgol Pontarddulais. Neithiwr, cyfarfûm â phennaeth yr ysgol wrth iddi ddod yn un o aelodau cyswllt newydd cyntaf yr academi arweinyddiaeth, ac mae ei chyfraniad i'r broses o godi safonau yn ei hysgol ei hun a ledled y rhanbarth yn un o'r rhesymau pam y cafodd ei phenodi i un o'r rolau hyn yr ystyriaf eu bod yn llawn bri.
Mae amrywio yn ein system, boed yn amrywio o fewn yr ysgol, yn amrywio o fewn y sir, neu'n wir, yn amrywio o fewn y rhanbarth, yn parhau i beri cryn bryder i mi. Cyfeiriwyd at hynny ddoe yn ein dadl ar adroddiad blynyddol Estyn o ran y ffaith bod arnom angen gwell gweithio rhwng ysgolion fel y gallwn sicrhau cyn lleied â phosibl o amrywio, gan ei bod anhygoel, onid yw, fel y disgrifiwyd gennych yn awr, y gall un ardal fechan gynnwys sefydliadau sy'n perfformio'n wych a rhai nad ydynt yn gwneud cystal? Mae angen inni fanteisio ar y cyfle i ddysgu gan y goreuon a rhannu'r arferion da hynny.
5. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddarparu'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am addysg wleidyddol a dinasyddiaeth mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru? OAQ51858
5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on political and citizenship education in Welsh schools? OAQ51858
Thank you, Mr Bennett. Learners have the opportunity to study politics and citizenship as part of the Welsh baccalaureate and in personal and social education. Ensuring learners become ethical, informed citizens is one of the four purposes of the new curriculum. Political and citizenship education will be central to supporting this.
Diolch, Mr Bennett. Mae gan ddysgwyr gyfle i astudio gwleidyddiaeth a dinasyddiaeth fel rhan o fagloriaeth Cymru ac mewn addysg bersonol a chymdeithasol. Mae sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn dod yn ddinasyddion moesegol a gwybodus yn un o bedwar diben y cwricwlwm newydd. Bydd addysg wleidyddol a dinasyddiaeth yn rhan ganolog o'r gwaith o gefnogi hyn.
Yes, thanks for the answer. I think that, with the possibility of 16 and 17-year-olds getting the vote in Wales, there may be a stronger case now for improving the provision of political education in the school system. Indeed, many young campaigners who want the vote have called for that. So, I wonder, going forward, is there likely to be any change, do you feel, to the provision of political education?
Ie, diolch am yr ateb. Gyda'r posibilrwydd y bydd pobl 16 a 17 oed yn cael pleidleisio yng Nghymru, credaf y gall fod achos cryfach bellach dros wella darpariaeth addysg wleidyddol yn y system ysgolion. Yn wir, mae llawer o ymgyrchwyr ifanc sy'n awyddus i gael y bleidlais wedi galw am hynny. Felly, tybed, wrth symud ymlaen, a yw'n debygol y bydd unrhyw newid, yn eich tyb chi, i ddarpariaeth addysg wleidyddol?
Well, indeed, the development of the new curriculum provides a very real opportunity to ensure a broad and balanced education for children and young people across Wales, and I would include in that political and citizenship education. Indeed, as the mother of a 16-year-old myself, who is very anxious to have the opportunity to be able to have a democratic right and cast her vote and is incredibly—sometimes, much to my horror—interested in politics, I think that there is much more that we can do. One of the purposes of our curriculum, as I said, is to have ethical, informed citizens, and to be able to give our young people the skills, for instance, to understand that there will be words on the side of the bus and to interrogate exactly what those might appear to be or appear to promise and to be able to act accordingly, is very welcome.
Wel, yn wir, mae'r gwaith o ddatblygu'r cwricwlwm newydd yn darparu cyfle gwirioneddol i sicrhau addysg eang a chytbwys ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru, a buaswn yn cynnwys addysg wleidyddol a dinasyddiaeth yn hynny o beth. Yn wir, fel mam i ferch 16 oed, sy'n awyddus iawn i gael y cyfle i allu cael hawl ddemocrataidd a bwrw ei phleidlais ac sydd â chryn ddiddordeb—sy'n codi arswyd arnaf, weithiau—mewn gwleidyddiaeth, credaf fod llawer mwy y gallwn ei wneud. Un o ddibenion ein cwricwlwm, fel y dywedais, yw sicrhau bod gennym ddinasyddion moesegol, gwybodus, ac mae gallu rhoi'r sgiliau i'n pobl ifanc, er enghraifft, i ddeall y bydd geiriau ar ochr y bws ac i herio beth yn union y maent i'w gweld yn ei feddwl neu'n ei addo, ac i allu gweithredu yn unol â hynny, yn rhywbeth i'w groesawu'n fawr.
6. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am ariannu ysgolion ym Mro Morgannwg? OAQ51843
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on school funding in the Vale of Glamorgan? OAQ51843
Thank you very much, Jane, for the question. Local authorities are responsible for school funding in Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan Council sets their spending priorities for the services that they provide, taking consideration of local needs and all the resources available. How much an authority sets aside for school budgets is a matter for that authority.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jane, am eich cwestiwn. Awdurdodau lleol sy'n gyfrifol am ariannu ysgolion yng Nghymru. Mae Cyngor Bro Morgannwg yn pennu eu blaenoriaethau gwariant ar gyfer y gwasanaethau y maent yn eu darparu, gan ystyried anghenion lleol a'r holl adnoddau sydd ar gael. Mater i'r awdurdod yw faint o arian y mae'n ei neilltuo ar gyfer cyllidebau ysgolion.
Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware that the Vale of Glamorgan Council has written to every parent in the county about school funding. I thank you for your response to me regarding this matter. Your letter to me actually clarifies a number of points, and you've stated them again in response to me, and it does put the record straight regarding the Welsh Government's role in schools' funding budget decisions. So, I'm pleased you were able to clarify in your letter to me the key role of local government in setting budgets for their schools and for the role of local government in agreeing and reviewing the funding formula. I do want to quote briefly from your letter of 26 February. You say,
'The Welsh Government does not fund schools directly. Each Local Authority in Wales is responsible for determining how much funding is allocated to its schools'
and, as you say,
'How much an Authority sets aside for school budgets is a matter for the Authority to determine.'
You also say that,
'With regards to how the Welsh Government funds Local Authorities, the core revenue funding we provide is distributed according to relative need, using a formula which takes account of a wealth of information on the demographic, physical, economic and social characteristics of authorities. This funding formula has been developed in consultation with Local Government through the Distribution Sub Group'.
Do you think it would be helpful if your letter, including this information, was sent to every parent in the Vale of Glamorgan, or, at a minimum, was put on the Vale of Glamorgan website? And also, do you welcome the Welsh Government's twenty-first century schools programme, which has resulted in a new Llantwit Major learning community with an official opening on 22 March? And, Cabinet Secretary—
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod Cyngor Bro Morgannwg wedi ysgrifennu at bob rhiant yn y sir ynghylch ariannu ysgolion. Diolch am eich ymateb i mi mewn perthynas â'r mater hwn. Mae eich llythyr i mi yn egluro nifer o bwyntiau mewn gwirionedd, ac rydych wedi eu nodi unwaith eto wrth ymateb i mi, ac mae'n egluro'r sefyllfa parthed rôl Llywodraeth Cymru ym mhenderfyniadau'r gyllideb ariannu ysgolion. Felly, yn eich llythyr i mi, rwy'n falch eich bod wedi gallu egluro rôl allweddol llywodraeth leol yn pennu'r cyllidebau ar gyfer eu hysgolion a rôl llywodraeth leol yn cytuno ar y fformiwla ariannu a'i hadolygu. Hoffwn ddyfynnu'n fyr o'ch llythyr dyddiedig 26 Chwefror. Rydych yn dweud,
Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu ysgolion yn uniongyrchol. Mae pob Awdurdod Lleol yng Nghymru yn gyfrifol am bennu faint o arian a ddyrennir i'w ysgolion
ac fel y dywedwch,
Mae faint o arian y mae Awdurdod yn ei neilltuo ar gyfer cyllidebau ysgolion yn fater ar gyfer yr Awdurdod hwnnw.
Dywedwch hefyd,
O ran sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu Awdurdodau Lleol, dosberthir y cyllid refeniw craidd a ddarparwn yn ôl anghenion cymharol, gan ddefnyddio fformiwla sy'n ystyried cyfoeth o wybodaeth ar nodweddion demograffig, ffisegol, economaidd a chymdeithasol yr awdurdodau. Datblygwyd y fformiwla ariannu hon mewn ymgynghoriad â Llywodraeth Leol drwy'r Is-Grŵp Dosbarthu.
A ydych yn credu y byddai o gymorth pe bai eich llythyr, gan gynnwys y wybodaeth hon, yn cael ei anfon at bob rhiant ym Mro Morgannwg, neu o leiaf, ar gael ar wefan Bro Morgannwg? Ac a ydych hefyd yn croesawu rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain Llywodraeth Cymru, sydd wedi arwain at gymuned ddysgu newydd yn Llanilltud Fawr a fydd yn agor yn swyddogol ar 22 Mawrth? Ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet—
I've been very tolerant, Jane Hutt. You're over two minutes now. Very quick final question.
Rwyf wedi bod yn oddefgar iawn, Jane Hutt. Rydych dros ddwy funud bellach. Cwestiwn olaf cyflym iawn.
And finally, I understand that a recent Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet report shows an increased capital contribution from the Welsh Government, while plans for 2017 onwards show a reduction in the Vale council's—[Interruption.]
Ac yn olaf, deallaf fod adroddiad cabinet diweddar gan Gyngor Bro Morgannwg yn dangos cyfraniad cyfalaf mwy gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a bod y cynlluniau ar gyfer 2017 ymlaen yn dangos gostyngiad gan gyngor y Fro o ran—[Torri ar draws.]
Well, Presiding Officer, there is no doubt that this is a challenging time for education budgets, and I make no bones about that. That means that being clear about the facts and information is more important that ever, and it is disappointing that the correspondence that the Vale has issued to its schools and parents have misrepresented the position on school funding. I am in the process of responding to every letter that I have received from parents from the Vale of Glamorgan, setting the record straight, and I'm happy to do that again today.
In respect of core funding under the local government settlement, the Vale of Glamorgan is not—not—the lowest funded authority in Wales as it would have parents believe. It may be the lowest spending authority per pupil, but that is a matter for the council. What is a matter for me is that resources that I have centrally can be used to support education in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Vale of Glamorgan benefits from the pupil deprivation grant; it also benefits from our small and rural schools grant; it is also part of our school-based supply cluster pilot; and it is also a part of our school business manager pilot. It has had significant resources made available to it under band A of the capital twenty-first century schools programme. We have outlined a significant amount of resource under the band B of the programme and, as you'll be aware, only this weekend I announced £14 million extra for small school repairs, of which the Vale of Glamorgan will receive over £0.5 million.
However, I must take this opportunity to say I would also encourage them, that is, the Vale of Glamorgan, to submit revised proposals to access part of the £36 million infant class-size commitment over the term, because what they've submitted to date does not meet the criteria, and I'm very anxious that children in the Vale of Glamorgan should not lose out on this opportunity to cut class sizes.
Wel, Lywydd, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod hwn yn gyfnod heriol i gyllidebau addysg, ac ni phetrusaf rhag dweud hynny. Golyga hynny fod bod yn glir ynglŷn â'r ffeithiau a'r wybodaeth yn bwysicach nag erioed, ac mae'n drueni fod yr ohebiaeth gan y Fro i'w hysgolion a'u rhieni wedi camddehongli'r sefyllfa mewn perthynas ag ariannu ysgolion. Rwyf wrthi'n ymateb i bob llythyr a gefais gan rieni o Fro Morgannwg, er mwyn egluro'r sefyllfa, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny eto heddiw.
Mewn perthynas ag arian craidd o dan y setliad llywodraeth leol, nid Bro Morgannwg—nid Bro Morgannwg—yw'r awdurdod sy'n derbyn y swm lleiaf o arian yng Nghymru, fel y byddent yn awyddus i'r rhieni gredu. Mae'n bosibl mai hwy yw'r awdurdod sy'n gwario'r swm lleiaf y disgybl, ond mater i'r cyngor yw hynny. Yr hyn sy'n fater i mi yw y gellir defnyddio'r adnoddau sydd gennyf yn ganolog i gefnogi addysg ym Mro Morgannwg.
Mae Bro Morgannwg yn elwa ar y grant amddifadedd disgyblion; maent hefyd yn elwa ar ein grant ar gyfer ysgolion bach a gwledig; maent hefyd yn rhan o'n cynllun peilot clystyrau cyflenwi sy'n seiliedig ar ysgolion; ac maent hefyd yn rhan o'n cynllun peilot ar gyfer rheolwyr busnes ysgolion. Mae adnoddau sylweddol wedi'u darparu ar eu cyfer o dan fand A rhaglen gyfalaf ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Rydym wedi amlinellu llawer iawn o adnoddau o dan fand B y rhaglen, ac fel y gwyddoch, y penwythnos diwethaf hwn, cyhoeddais £14 miliwn yn ychwanegol ar gyfer man atgyweiriadau i ysgolion, a bydd Bro Morgannwg yn derbyn dros £0.5 miliwn o'r swm hwnnw.
Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhaid imi fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddweud y buaswn yn eu hannog hefyd, hynny yw, Bro Morgannwg, i gyflwyno cynigion diwygiedig i gael mynediad at ran o'r ymrwymiad £36 miliwn i leihau maint dosbarthiadau babanod dros y tymor, gan nad yw'r hyn y maent wedi'i gyflwyno hyd yn hyn yn bodloni'r meini prawf, ac rwy'n awyddus iawn nad yw plant ym Mro Morgannwg yn colli'r cyfle hwn i leihau maint dosbarthiadau.
I think the reason, Llywydd, this double act doesn't quite work—though it's been very well staged, I know, I grant them that—is that the Vale of Glamorgan is a highly competitive authority politically; it's been run recently by Labour administrations and Conservative administrations, with other parties involved and independent groups also, and they've all had concerns about the funding formula and have raised these matters. When will you actually review the situation, because there is cross-party concern in the Vale of Glamorgan about the current situation?
Credaf mai'r rheswm, Lywydd, pam nad yw'r ddeuawd hon yn gweithio—er ei bod wedi'i llwyfannu yn dda iawn, rwy'n gwybod, rwy'n cydnabod hynny—yw am fod Bro Morgannwg yn awdurdod hynod gystadleuol yn wleidyddol; mae wedi cael ei redeg yn ddiweddar gan weinyddiaethau Llafur a gweinyddiaethau Ceidwadol, gyda phleidiau eraill yn rhan o bethau yn ogystal â grwpiau annibynnol, ac mae pob un ohonynt yn bryderus ynglŷn â'r fformiwla ariannu ac wedi codi'r materion hyn. Pryd y byddwch yn adolygu'r sefyllfa, gan fod pryder trawsbleidiol ym Mro Morgannwg ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa bresennol?
Let me be absolutely clear: the core funding formula is not a matter for me; it is a matter for my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for local government and for the revenue support group that sits across that, making decisions about how the RSG revenue support grant is made available. On two separate occasions, the Welsh Government have offered Welsh local government the opportunity to change the base data, most recently in 2014-15, and on both occasions, the WLGA have refused the offer to update the data, and I have asked officials and the Cabinet Secretary for local government to look at that again. But it is a matter for the local government working collectively to agree changes to base data.
Gadewch imi ddweud yn gwbl glir: nid yw'r fformiwla gyllid craidd yn fater i mi; mae'n fater ar gyfer fy nghyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol ac ar gyfer y grŵp cynnal refeniw sy'n gyfrifol am hynny, ac sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau ynglŷn â sut y mae'r grant cynnal refeniw yn cael ei ddarparu. Ar ddau achlysur gwahanol, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynnig cyfle i lywodraeth leol Cymru newid y data sylfaen, yn fwyaf diweddar yn 2014-15, ac ar y ddau achlysur, mae Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru wedi gwrthod y cynnig i ddiweddaru'r data, ac rwyf wedi gofyn i swyddogion ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol edrych ar hynny eto. Ond mater ar gyfer llywodraeth leol, gan weithio ar y cyd, yw cytuno ar newidiadau i ddata sylfaen.
Tynnwyd cwestiwn 7 [OAQ51833] yn ôl, felly cwestiwn 8, Simon Thomas.
Question 7 [OAQ51833] has been withdrawn, therefore, question 8, Simon Thomas.
8. Pa drafodaethau y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi'u cynnal ynglŷn â darparu llaeth am ddim mewn ysgolion? OAQ51867
8. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had regarding the provision of free milk in schools? OAQ51867
Thank you very much, Simon. Discussions with DEFRA are ongoing regarding school milk. Wales will continue to participate in the existing EU school milk scheme. We will discuss with DEFRA and the other devolved administrations options for the future of the scheme, as part of our wider consideration around departure from the EU. And this is just one of a number of examples that many people do not know about with regard to the impact of us leaving the European Union.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Simon. Mae trafodaethau yn parhau gyda DEFRA ynghylch llaeth ysgol. Bydd Cymru yn parhau i gymryd rhan yng nghynllun llaeth ysgol presennol yr UE. Byddwn yn trafod opsiynau ar gyfer dyfodol y cynllun gyda DEFRA a'r gweinyddiaethau datganoledig eraill fel rhan o'n hystyriaethau ehangach mewn perthynas â gadael yr UE. Ac mae hon yn un o sawl enghraifft nad yw llawer o bobl yn ymwybodol ohoni mewn perthynas ag effaith ein hymadawiad â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Diolch am yr ateb ac rwy’n falch bod trafodaethau yn cymryd lle, ond ar hyn o bryd, mae llaeth am ddim yn y cyfnod sylfaen, yn benodol oherwydd buddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae llaeth wedi’i sybsideiddio yn yr ysgolion cynradd oherwydd rŷm yn rhan o gynllun yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac, wrth gwrs, mae llaeth mewn ysgolion nid yn unig yn faeth—yn ychwanegu at faeth plant ysgol—ond mae hefyd yn dangos o ble mae bwyd yn dod. Mae’n ffordd inni ddysgu am rôl bwyd yn ein bywydau ni bob dydd.
Rwy’n deall bod yn rhaid ichi drafod hwn ar lefel Prydeinig, ond rwyf hefyd yn meddwl ei fod yn bwysig bod y Llywodraeth bresennol, Llywodraeth Cymru, yn gwneud datganiad eich bod chi am barhau, beth bynnag a ddaw, gyda’r system llaeth presennol, achos rwy’n meddwl dyna’r sicrwydd mae rhieni, ysgolion a'r gymuned ehangach yn dymuno ei weld.
Thank you for that response and I am pleased that discussions are ongoing, but at the moment, milk is available free of charge in the foundation phase, mainly because of investment by the Welsh Government. Milk is subsidised in primary schools, because we are part of the EU school milk scheme, and, of course, milk in schools is not only nutritious, and adds to the nutrition of children in schools, but also demonstrates where food comes from, so they can learn about the role of food in our daily lives.
I understand that you have to discuss this at a UK level, but I also think it’s important that the current Government, the Welsh Government, should make a statement that you would wish to continue, come what may, with the current milk system, because I think that’s the assurance that parents, schools and the wider community want to see.
Well, Simon, as you've acknowledged, the Welsh Government's school milk scheme is indeed unique amongst the United Kingdom home nations, being the only scheme that offers milk at no cost to the entire foundation phase. Over 99 per cent of maintained primary schools are signed up to the scheme, and as you said, it has a number of benefits for the children involved.
In 2017-18, the free school milk budget was £2.2 million, and even in the difficult scenarios that we've just been talking about with regard to education funding, I have been determined to keep that investment going because I realise and I recognise the benefits of the free milk scheme. We will continue to discuss this, but this is a live issue, it's not something we have forgotten about and we're actively engaged in how we can take this forward.
Wel, Simon, fel rydych wedi cydnabod, mae cynllun llaeth ysgol Llywodraeth Cymru yn unigryw ymysg gwledydd cartref y Deyrnas Unedig, gan mai hwnnw yw'r unig gynllun sy'n cynnig llaeth am ddim i'r cyfnod sylfaen cyfan. Mae dros 99 y cant o ysgolion cynradd a gynhelir yn rhan o'r cynllun, ac fel y dywedoch, mae'n darparu nifer o fanteision i'r plant.
Yn 2017-18, roedd y gyllideb llaeth ysgol am ddim yn £2.2 miliwn, a hyd yn oed yn y senarios anodd y buom yn sôn amdanynt mewn perthynas â chyllid addysg, rwyf wedi bod yn benderfynol o gadw'r buddsoddiad hwnnw gan fy mod yn sylweddoli ac yn cydnabod manteision y cynllun llaeth am ddim. Byddwn yn parhau i drafod hyn, ond mae'n fater byw, nid yw'n rhywbeth rydym wedi anghofio amdano ac rydym yn gweithio i weld sut y gallwn fwrw ymlaen â hyn.
Can I thank Simon Thomas for bringing this question? Because I'm a really keen supporter of children receiving free milk in schools and, preferably, until they leave school, but there we go.
Can I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for saying that you're as committed to providing that? But post Brexit, what consideration will you make of encouraging direct partnerships between our local milk producers, our farmers and schools, so that more people can get an added benefit out of having free schools with local milk?
A gaf fi ddiolch i Simon Thomas am ofyn y cwestiwn hwn? Oherwydd rwy'n frwd iawn fy nghefnogaeth i roi llaeth am ddim i blant mewn ysgolion, ac os oes modd, hyd nes eu bod yn gadael yr ysgol, ond dyna ni.
A gaf fi ddiolch ichi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am ddweud eich bod yn ymrwymo i ddarparu hynny? Ond ar ôl Brexit, pa ystyriaeth y byddwch yn ei rhoi i annog partneriaethau uniongyrchol rhwng ein cynhyrchwyr llaeth lleol, ein ffermwyr a'n hysgolion, fel y gall mwy o bobl gael budd ychwanegol o laeth lleol am ddim mewn ysgolion?
Well, Janet, primarily, we provide milk to our schoolchildren because of the nutritional benefits that that provides children. But, of course, it has an additional benefit to the dairy sector, and as Simon Thomas says, it can provide us with a useful teaching opportunity to talk to children about sustainable food production, where their food comes from, and, indeed, the social and historic contribution to our nation of our farming community and our dairy sector in particular.
I'm continually looking at ways in which we can increase the amount of local produce that is available via our school meals services, as well as providing opportunities for Welsh children to understand more about where their food comes from.
Wel, Janet, yn bennaf, rydym yn darparu llaeth i'n plant ysgol oherwydd y manteision maethol y mae hynny'n ei roi i blant. Ond wrth gwrs, mae iddo fantais ychwanegol i'r sector llaeth, ac fel y dywed Simon Thomas, gall ddarparu cyfle addysgol defnyddiol inni siarad â phlant ynglŷn â chynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy, o ble y daw eu bwyd, ac yn wir, cyfraniad cymdeithasol a hanesyddol ein cymuned ffermio i'n cenedl ac i'n sector llaeth yn arbennig.
Rwy'n edrych yn barhaus ar ffyrdd y gallwn gynyddu faint o gynnyrch lleol sydd ar gael drwy ein gwasanaethau prydau ysgol, yn ogystal â darparu cyfleoedd i blant Cymru ddeall mwy ynglŷn ag o ble y daw eu bwyd.
9. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ei darparu i bobl ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol sydd eisiau astudio bagloriaeth Cymru? OAQ51838
9. What support does the Cabinet Secretary provide to people with additional learning needs who want to study the Welsh baccalaureate? OAQ51838
Thank you, Mark. Local authorities are responsible for providing suitable educational provision for all learners to enable them to access a range of qualifications, including the Welsh baccalaureate. Those with additional learning needs will receive additional support to meet their individual needs.
Diolch, Mark. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn gyfrifol am ddarparu darpariaeth addysgol addas i bob dysgwr i'w galluogi i gael mynediad at ystod o gymwysterau, gan gynnwys bagloriaeth Cymru. Bydd y rheini sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn cael cymorth ychwanegol i ddiwallu eu hanghenion unigol.
Thank you. I've been contacted by the mother of a young man on the autism spectrum. They've looked at the Welsh bac at level 3 and have doubts about their son's ability to cope with aspects of the Welsh bac, particularly the maths skills needed for the level 3 Welsh bac, where there's a need for a lot of executive functioning skills and collaborative and social skills that are likely to cause stress for their son and prevent him from coping with the course. How, therefore, will you address the barriers to achievement presented by the compulsion of the Welsh bac for all learners, and in particular learners with additional learning needs, on a level 3 course? And, what consideration will you give to a more flexible attitude that allows for learners with 'spiky profiles' to achieve, for some it would mean the baccalaureate and for others that would be too much, but nonetheless they need the opportunity to achieve with the great skills that they have?
Diolch. Mae mam i ddyn ifanc ar y sbectrwm awtistig wedi cysylltu â mi. Maent wedi edrych ar fagloriaeth Cymru ar lefel 3 ac mae ganddynt amheuon ynglŷn â gallu eu mab i ymdopi ag agweddau ar fagloriaeth Cymru, yn enwedig y sgiliau mathemateg sy'n angenrheidiol ar gyfer lefel 3 bagloriaeth Cymru, lle mae angen llawer o sgiliau gweithredu gweithredol a sgiliau cydweithredol a chymdeithasol sy'n debygol o achosi straen i'w mab a'i atal rhag ymdopi â'r cwrs. Sut, felly, y byddwch yn mynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau i gyflawni sy'n deillio o'r ffaith bod bagloriaeth Cymru yn orfodol i bob dysgwr, ac yn enwedig dysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ar gwrs lefel 3? A pha ystyriaeth a rowch i agwedd fwy hyblyg a fyddai'n caniatáu i ddysgwyr â 'phroffiliau pigog' gyflawni, i rai byddai hynny'n golygu'r fagloriaeth ac i eraill byddai hynny'n ormod, ond serch hynny mae angen y cyfle arnynt i gyflawni gyda'r sgiliau gwych sydd ganddynt?
Thank you, Mark. I start from the basis that all qualifications should be available to all of our cohort, and I don't think any of us would want to start from the provision of saying that there are certain groups of learners who cannot access a certain qualification. We have to start on the basis of equity.
However, I would expect headteachers to use their professional judgment in determining which learners should be undertaking the Welsh baccalaureate at the relevant level, according to the individual learning pathway, and what support individual learners may need to allow them to access a qualification that could be of benefit to them. But it has to be down to the professional judgment of those teachers who work with individuals and families.
Diolch, Mark. Rwy'n dechrau o'r sail y dylai pob cymhwyster fod ar gael i bawb, ac ni chredaf y byddai unrhyw un ohonom yn awyddus i ddechrau o'r amod o ddweud bod rhai grwpiau penodol o ddysgwyr na allant fanteisio ar gymhwyster penodol. Mae'n rhaid inni ddechrau ar sail tegwch.
Fodd bynnag, buaswn yn disgwyl i benaethiaid ddefnyddio eu crebwyll proffesiynol wrth benderfynu pa ddysgwyr a ddylai ymgymryd â bagloriaeth Cymru ar y lefel berthnasol, yn ôl y llwybr dysgu unigol, a pha gymorth y gall fod ei angen ar ddysgwyr unigol i'w galluogi i gael mynediad at gymhwyster a allai fod o fudd iddynt. Ond mae'n rhaid i hynny ddibynnu ar grebwyll proffesiynol yr athrawon sy'n gweithio gydag unigolion a theuluoedd.
10. Pa drafodaethau y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi'u cael am y gweithredu diwydiannol presennol yn y sector prifysgolion yng Nghymru? OAQ51865
10. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had in relation to the current industrial action in the university sector in Wales? OAQ51865
Mick, as I've stated earlier, I've had a number of discussions in recent weeks with sector representatives—both the unions and the employers.
Mick, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, rwyf wedi cael nifer o drafodaethau dros yr wythnosau diwethaf gyda chynrychiolwyr y sector—yr undebau a'r cyflogwyr.
Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Isn't it a tragedy that, throughout the UK, tens of thousands of university staff have had to go on strike to resist a unilateral change by Universities UK to their pension scheme, and in some cases that will mean a pensions reduction in value of up to 40 per cent? On Monday, Cabinet Secretary, I had the honour of joining members of University and College Union on their picket line. They asked for one thing: an independent review leading to genuine negotiations. Do you agree that this is a reasonable demand, and will the Welsh Government do all it can to encourage—and I repeat, encourage—genuine negotiations to achieve a resolution to this dispute?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Onid yw'n drychineb fod degau o filoedd o staff prifysgol ledled y DU wedi gorfod mynd ar streic i wrthsefyll newid unochrog gan Universities UK i'w cynllun pensiwn, ac mewn rhai achosion bydd hynny'n golygu lleihau gwerth pensiynau hyd at 40 y cant? Ddydd Llun, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, cefais y fraint o ymuno ag aelodau o'r Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau ar y llinell biced. Roeddent yn gofyn am un peth: adolygiad annibynnol a fyddai'n arwain at drafodaethau dilys. A ydych yn cytuno bod hon yn alwad resymol, ac a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud popeth yn ei gallu i annog—a dywedaf eto, annog—trafodaethau dilys er mwyn dod â'r anghydfod hwn i ben?
As I said in answer to the questions that Llyr Huws Gruffydd raised earlier, the Welsh Government stands ready to provide whatever support possible, necessary and needed to ensure that we can have that real and positive negotiation between both the employers and employees, and we continue to be ready to do that. We also are working hard with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to ensure that any disruption to individual students who may be affected by this action is kept to the very minimum.
Fel y dywedais wrth ateb y cwestiynau a ofynnodd Llyr Huws Gruffydd yn gynharach, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i ddarparu pa gymorth bynnag sy'n bosibl, sy'n angenrheidiol ac sydd ei angen i sicrhau negodi dilys a chadarnhaol rhwng y cyflogwyr a'r gweithwyr, ac rydym yn parhau i fod yn barod i wneud hynny. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio'n galed gyda Chyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru i sicrhau cyn lleied â phosibl o darfu ar fyfyrwyr unigol a all gael eu heffeithio gan y streiciau hyn.
I too have been supporting the lecturers who've been left with no alternative other than to strike in defence of their pensions, and I too spoke in one of their rallies. The pension changes that the UCU are opposing will hit everyone hard, but it's going to affect those lecturers early in their career, and it's also going to have an impact on part-time contracts and those on insecure contracts more than anyone else. This will inevitably lead to intergenerational and gender inequalities among university staff and that is unacceptable.
Will you condemn the changes to a pension scheme that could leave university staff in retirement in poverty? And, are you also concerned about the impact that this could have on the university sector in Wales, with many of our brightest and most capable lecturers seriously considering their future in this sector as a result of this move?
Rwyf innau wedi bod yn cefnogi'r darlithwyr, nad oes unrhyw ddewis arall ganddynt ond mynd ar streic i warchod eu pensiynau, ac fe siaradais innau hefyd yn un o'u ralïau. Bydd y newidiadau pensiwn arfaethedig y mae'r Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau yn eu gwrthwynebu yn ergyd galed i bawb, ond byddant yn effeithio ar y darlithwyr hynny ar ddechrau eu gyrfaoedd, a byddant hefyd yn effeithio ar gontractau rhan-amser a rhai ar gontractau ansicr yn fwy nag ar unrhyw un arall. Mae'n anochel y bydd hyn yn arwain at anghydraddoldebau rhwng cenedlaethau a rhwng y rhywiau ymysg staff prifysgol, ac mae hynny'n annerbyniol.
A wnewch chi gondemnio'r newidiadau i gynllun pensiwn a allai olygu y bydd staff prifysgolion yn ymddeol mewn tlodi? Ac a ydych hefyd yn pryderu ynglŷn â'r effaith y gallai hyn ei chael ar y sector prifysgolion yng Nghymru, gyda llawer o'n darlithwyr disgleiriaf a mwyaf galluog yn ystyried eu dyfodol yn y sector hwn o ddifrif o ganlyniad i'r newid hwn?
Leanne, as I said earlier, I am gravely concerned for the sector in Wales, and for individual students who are caught up in the strike action. I understand why the UCU have felt that they have no other option but to withdraw their labour, given the changes proposed to pensions for their members, and I have met regularly and corresponded regularly with the UCU, listening to their concerns and offering to provide assistance wherever we possibly can. I have also continued to raise this with Universities Wales and with Wales's vice-chancellors, urging them to get back around the table and to have the detailed, true and honest negotiations that Mick Antoniw just referred to, as well as working closely with HEFCW to ensure that disruption to individual students is kept to a minimum.
It is clear to me that the decision to go back to talks, supervised and organised by ACAS, is a step forward, but we need to do more to ensure that a suitable outcome can be found for those individuals who find themselves caught up in this way.
Leanne, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, rwy'n bryderus am y sector yng Nghymru, ac am fyfyrwyr unigol yr effeithir arnynt gan y streic. Rwy'n deall pam fod yr Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau yn teimlo nad oedd unrhyw ddewis arall ganddynt ond gwrthod gweithio, o ystyried y newidiadau arfaethedig i bensiynau eu haelodau, ac rwyf wedi cyfarfod yn rheolaidd ac wedi gohebu'n gyson â'r Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau, gan wrando ar eu pryderon a chynnig cymorth lle y gallwn. Rwyf hefyd wedi parhau i godi hyn gyda Prifysgolion Cymru a chydag is-gangellorion Cymru, gan eu hannog i ddychwelyd at y bwrdd a chael y trafodaethau manwl, gwir a gonest y cyfeiriwyd atynt gan Mick Antoniw, yn ogystal â gweithio'n agos gyda Chyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru i sicrhau cyn lleied â phosibl o darfu ar fyfyrwyr unigol.
Mae'n amlwg i mi fod y penderfyniad i ddychwelyd at y trafodaethau, a oruchwylir ac a drefnir gan y Gwasanaeth Cynghori, Cymodi a Chyflafareddu, yn gam ymlaen, ond mae angen inni wneud mwy i sicrhau y gellir cytuno ar ganlyniad addas ar gyfer yr unigolion yr effeithir arnynt yn y modd hwn.
11. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am wasanaethau cyngor gyrfaoedd? OAQ51872
11. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on careers advice services? OAQ51872
Mae Gyrfa Cymru yn wasanaeth gyrfaoedd diduedd sy’n rhoi cyngor ac arweiniad i bobl ifanc ac oedolion. Mae hefyd yn hwyluso cysylltiadau rhwng addysg a chyflogwyr. Mae’r gwasanaeth wrthi’n cael ei ddiwygio ar hyn o bryd mewn ffordd eithaf cyffrous, a bydd mwy fyth o ffocws ar weithio gyda phobl ifanc a rhanddeiliaid ac ar ddatblygu gwasanaethau digidol.
Careers Wales is an impartial careers service that gives guidance to young people and adults, as well as facilitating links between education and employers. The service is currently being revised in an exciting way, and there will be an even greater focus on working with young people and stakeholders and on developing digital services.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydw i am wneud cais i chi beidio â bod yn ddiduedd fel cynghorwyr gyrfaoedd. Diddordeb sydd gen i yn eich parodrwydd chi i gydweithio efo'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet iechyd i annog pobl ifanc Cymru i ddilyn gyrfaoedd ym maes iechyd a gofal. A fuasech chi, fel Llywodraeth, yn cefnogi cyd-fuddsoddiad rhwng addysg ac iechyd, o bosib, mewn math o roadshow Cymru gyfan i egluro am a chreu cyffro am yr holl ystod o ddewisiadau gyrfaoedd yn y meysydd yma, o nyrsio i feddygaeth i ofal i broffesiynau iechyd eraill—rhywbeth a allai hefyd ddyblu i fyny, rydw i'n meddwl, ar yr un pryd, fel roadshow yn annog pobl i gymryd diddordeb yn eu hiechyd eu hunain, yn eu cyrff eu hunain, yn eu deiet eu hunain ac yn y blaen? Mi fuaswn i'n hapus iawn i gyfarfod cynrychiolwyr y Llywodraeth i ddweud mwy am fy ngweledigaeth i ar hyn.
Thank you very much. I’m going to ask you not to be as impartial as careers advisers. My interest is in your willingness to work with the Cabinet Secretary for health to encourage the young people of Wales to follow a career in health and care. Would you, as a Government, support joint investment between education and health, possibly, in a kind of all-Wales roadshow to explain the whole range of career options in these areas and to generate excitement in those options, from nursing to medical care and other professions—something that could also double up as a roadshow encouraging people to take an interest in their own health, in their own bodies and in their own diet and so on? I would be more than happy to meet Government representatives to tell them more about my vision in this area.
Wel, mae lot fawr o bethau cyffrous yn digwydd yn y maes yma eisoes. Rŷm ni yn cael diwrnodau lle rŷm ni'n annog pobl ifanc i gael go—'Have a go' days—ac mae miloedd ar filoedd o blant ifanc wedi mynd i'r llefydd yma lle maen nhw'n cael access i weld pa fath o gyfleodd sydd yna ar gyfer gwaith yn y dyfodol. Mae iechyd yn rhan o hynny. Mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd, wrth gwrs, bwysleisio'r ffaith bod eisiau i ni gael pobl i edrych i mewn i STEM subjects a sicrhau ein bod ni ddim jest yn pwysleisio, nid ydw i'n meddwl, jest iechyd, ond mae yna lefydd eraill; er enghraifft, fe fyddem ni, gobeithio, eisiau gweld pobl yn mynd i mewn i Wylfa a'r datblygiadau yna. Felly, rydw i'n meddwl na fyddai ei gyfyngu fe jest i iechyd, efallai, y math o drywydd y byddem ni eisiau mynd arno. Ond byddwn ni yn fodlon rhoi mwy o wybodaeth am y diwrnodau yma sydd eisoes yn digwydd—'Have a go' days—sydd yn llwyddiannus dros ben.
Well, there are a great many exciting things taking place in this area currently. We do hold days where we encourage young people to have a go—they’re called 'Have a go' days. Thousands of children have been attending these events, where they have access to see what type of options are out there for careers in the future. Health is a part of that, and we must also emphasise that we do need to get people to look into STEM subjects and to ensure that we don’t just emphasise health but point out that there are other opportunities; for example, we would hope to see people going into Wylfa and the developments there. So, I think that limiting it just to health might not be the path that we would wish to take. However, I would be willing to give further information about these days that are already taking place—these ‘Have a go’ days, which are very successful.
Other than Careers Wales, of course, Minister, there are a number of organisations, businesses and other charities that offer careers advice and guidance and training—many of which get money from the Welsh Government or access funding from sources that start with the Welsh taxpayer. How are you working with those organisations to make sure that they understand the growing importance of Welsh language skills? Are you ensuring, even if the organisations have the awareness, that the people that they're training are also aware at the end of that experience?
Heblaw am Gyrfa Cymru, wrth gwrs, Weinidog, mae nifer o sefydliadau, busnesau ac elusennau eraill sy'n cynnig cyngor ar yrfaoedd a chyfarwyddyd a hyfforddiant—a llawer ohonynt yn cael arian gan Lywodraeth Cymru neu'n cael arian o ffynonellau sy'n dechrau gyda threthdalwyr Cymru. Sut rydych yn gweithio gyda'r sefydliadau hyn i sicrhau eu bod yn deall pwysigrwydd cynyddol sgiliau iaith Gymraeg? A ydych yn sicrhau, hyd yn oed os yw'r ymwybyddiaeth gan sefydliadau, fod gan y bobl y maent yn eu hyfforddi hefyd yr ymwybyddiaeth honno ar ddiwedd y profiad hwnnw?
I'm very pleased with that question because I do think that we need to recognise the Welsh language as a skill as well as other things. The more that we ask different organisations to adhere to the standards, then the more we will be needing to recruit people with the skills necessary to implement those plans. So, there is an awareness that that is something that we need to emphasise. We are emphasising it much more significantly now in further education colleges, understanding that that was an area where we saw a huge drop-off in the number of people actually using the Welsh language after they'd finished Welsh language education. So, there are real opportunities. It is something that we are very much focusing on, and understanding that, actually, the Welsh language is a skill, and it is a method of actually finding a job in the future. A lot of it is about giving people the confidence
Rwy'n falch o glywed y cwestiwn hwnnw, oherwydd credaf fod angen inni gydnabod y Gymraeg fel sgil yn ogystal â phethau eraill. Po fwyaf y gofynnwn i wahanol sefydliadau gadw at y safonau, y mwyaf y bydd angen inni recriwtio pobl â'r sgiliau angenrheidiol i roi'r cynlluniau hynny ar waith. Felly, ceir ymwybyddiaeth fod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei bwysleisio. Rydym yn rhoi llawer mwy o bwyslais ar hynny bellach mewn colegau addysg bellach, gan ein bod wedi deall bod hwnnw'n faes lle y cafwyd gostyngiad anferth yn nifer y bobl a oedd yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg ar ôl iddynt orffen addysg Gymraeg. Felly, mae cyfleoedd go iawn i'w cael. Mae'n rhywbeth rydym yn canolbwyntio arno, gan ddeall bod yr iaith Gymraeg yn sgìl, ac yn ffordd o gael swydd yn y dyfodol. Mae llawer o hyn yn ymwneud â rhoi hyder i bobl.
i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg mewn ffordd, efallai, i'w helpu nhw i ddeall ei bod hi'n rhan bwysig o'r sgiliau sydd ganddyn nhw hefyd.
to use the Welsh language in a way that will help them to understand that it's an important part of the skills that they have.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog a'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
Thank you, Minister and Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Economi a Thrafnidiaeth. Tynnwyd cwestiwn 1 [OAQ51860] yn ôl, felly cwestiwn 2—Caroline Jones.
The next item is questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport. Question 1 [OAQ51860] is withdrawn. Question 2—Caroline Jones.
2. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet amlinellu'r camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i ddatblygu'r sector gwyddorau bywyd yng Nghymru? OAQ51861
2. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the action the Welsh Government is taking to develop the life sciences sector in Wales? OAQ51861
Yes. 'Prosperity for All', our national strategy, sets out our intention to blend multiple policy aims and objectives. This partnership approach offers benefits to the life sciences sector in Wales, contributing to economic growth whilst also improving the efficiency and affordability of health services and, of course, improving the well-being of citizens across our country.
Gwnaf. Mae 'Ffyniant i Bawb', ein strategaeth genedlaethol, yn nodi ein bwriad i gymysgu nodau ac amcanion polisi lluosog. Mae'r dull partneriaeth hwn yn cynnig manteision i'r sector gwyddorau bywyd yng Nghymru, a chyfrannu at dwf economaidd gan wella effeithlonrwydd a fforddiadwyedd gwasanaethau iechyd, a gwella lles dinasyddion ledled ein gwlad wrth gwrs.
Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, I want to congratulate you on the work you are doing with the pharmaceutical sector in Wales, and welcome the announcement you made earlier today at the BioWales 2018 conference. The future of the pharmaceutical sector in Wales is not in the manufacturing of drugs but in the researching of new medicines. What is your Government doing to support increased links between the pharma sector and Welsh universities?
Diolch. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn eich llongyfarch ar eich gwaith gyda'r sector fferyllol yng Nghymru, a chroesawaf y cyhoeddiad a wnaethoch yn gynharach heddiw yng nghynhadledd BioCymru 2018. Nid gweithgynhyrchu cyffuriau yw dyfodol y sector fferyllol yng Nghymru, ond ymchwilio i feddyginiaethau newydd. Beth y mae eich Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i gefnogi rhagor o gysylltiadau rhwng y sector fferyllol a phrifysgolion Cymru?
Well, can I thank the Member for her question? This is a timely moment to be able to discuss the life sciences sector, given BioWales 2018 is taking place just next door at the Wales Millennium Centre, and I was delighted to be there this morning to launch the occasion. There are 365 companies in the life sciences sector across Wales, employing more than 12,000 in well-paid high-quality jobs. So, it's a crucial sector for our economy, and we see life sciences businesses thrive right across Wales in many of our communities. So, it's not a sector that is just confined to one specific location in Wales.
Now, I'm pleased to say that, as a consequence of A Regional Collaboration for Health, ARCH, we are seeing a £200 million project being developed, which comprises two proposals: for the creation of a wellness village and life sciences village in Llanelli, and also a life sciences and well-being campus project at the Morriston campus of Swansea University. What's crucially important about this development is that it overlaps perfectly with the Swansea bay city deal, of which, of course, health and well-being is a very prominent theme. That particular project aims to create more than 1,800—again high-quality well-paid—jobs in the coming years, and will benefit the economy by more than £460 million. I think this is just the sort of collaborative effort that needs to be replicated across Wales. We see in the north, in the south-east and west efforts being undertaken to bring together academia and business, and I think, in the life sciences sector, there are some excellent examples of that delivering real results.
Wel, a gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei chwestiwn? Mae hon yn adeg addas i allu trafod y sector gwyddorau bywyd, o gofio bod BioCymru 2018 yn mynd rhagddo drws nesaf yng Nghanolfan Mileniwm Cymru, ac roeddwn yn falch o fod yno y bore yma i lansio'r achlysur. Ceir 365 o gwmnïau yn y sector gwyddorau bywyd ledled Cymru, ac maent yn cyflogi mwy na 12,000 o bobl mewn swyddi o ansawdd ar gyflogau da. Felly, mae'n sector hollbwysig i'n heconomi, ac rydym yn gweld busnesau gwyddorau bywyd yn ffynnu ledled Cymru mewn llawer o'n cymunedau. Felly, nid yw'n sector sydd wedi'i gyfyngu i un lleoliad penodol yng Nghymru yn unig.
Nawr, rwy'n falch o ddweud, o ganlyniad i Cydweithrediad Rhanbarthol ar gyfer Iechyd, fod prosiect £200 miliwn yn cael ei ddatblygu, sy'n cynnwys dau argymhelliad: creu pentref llesiant a gwyddorau bywyd yn Llanelli, a phrosiect campws gwyddorau bywyd a llesiant ar gampws Treforys ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Yr hyn sy'n hanfodol bwysig ynghylch y datblygiad hwn yw ei fod yn gorgyffwrdd yn berffaith â bargen ddinesig bae Abertawe, ac mae iechyd a lles, wrth gwrs, yn thema amlwg iawn yn y fargen honno. Nod y prosiect penodol hwnnw yw creu mwy na 1,800 o swyddi—unwaith eto, swyddi o ansawdd ar gyflogau da—dros y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod, a bydd yn darparu dros £460 miliwn o fudd i'r economi. Credaf mai dyma'r math o ymdrech gyfunol y mae angen ei ddyblygu ledled Cymru. Gwelwn ymdrechion yn y gogledd, yn y de-ddwyrain ac yn y gorllewin i ddod â'r byd academaidd a'r byd busnes at ei gilydd, a chredaf y ceir rhai enghreifftiau ardderchog yn y sector gwyddorau bywyd o ganlyniadau go iawn yn sgil hynny.
Can I congratulate the Cabinet Secretary on assuming responsibility for the city deals into his portfolio now? You've anticipated my question, to some degree, on the back of that. You referred to the life sciences campus and the sites there. Part of their role is to attract investment in for the whole of the city deal concept, if you like. Will you be expecting that investment to take the form of both public funds and private investment? I know there's a strong emphasis, as there should be, on private investment, but, with the potential loss of EU funding sources, what are you doing in looking at alternative public sector routes for that?
A gaf fi longyfarch Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar dderbyn cyfrifoldeb am y bargeinion dinesig yn ei bortffolio yn awr? Rydych wedi achub y blaen ar fy nghwestiwn, i ryw raddau, drwy hynny. Fe gyfeirioch chi at y campws gwyddorau bywyd a'r safleoedd yno. Rhan o'u rôl yw denu mewnfuddsoddiad i gysyniad y fargen ddinesig yn ei gyfanrwydd, os mynnwch. A fyddwch yn disgwyl i'r buddsoddiad hwnnw fod ar ffurf arian cyhoeddus yn ogystal â buddsoddiad preifat? Gwn fod cryn bwyslais, fel y dylai fod, ar fuddsoddiad preifat, ond o gofio y gallai ffynonellau cyllid yr UE gael eu colli, beth a wnewch i edrych ar lwybrau sector cyhoeddus amgen ar gyfer hynny?
Well, we've repurposed the Life Sciences Hub Wales to ensure that there is a greater degree of overlap between what's happening in the business community and the needs of patients and people in Wales. In terms of the city deal, I think there would be an expectation not just of private sector investment but also the potential to draw in public sector investment through the NHS and through social care providers. I think, again, the city deal in Swansea makes for a perfect opportunity to promote health and well-being as a priority, not just for that region but also as a priority for the whole of Wales.
Wel, rydym wedi addasu Hwb Gwyddorau Bywyd Cymru i sicrhau mwy o orgyffwrdd rhwng yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn y gymuned fusnes ac anghenion cleifion a phobl yng Nghymru. O ran y fargen ddinesig, credaf y byddai disgwyl, nid yn unig buddsoddiad sector preifat, ond hefyd y potensial i ddenu buddsoddiad sector cyhoeddus drwy'r GIG a darparwyr gofal cymdeithasol. Unwaith eto, credaf fod bargen ddinesig Abertawe yn gyfle perffaith i hyrwyddo iechyd a lles fel blaenoriaeth, nid yn unig ar gyfer y rhanbarth ond hefyd fel blaenoriaeth ar gyfer Cymru gyfan.
3. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am waith datblygu ar yr A55 yng ngogledd Cymru? OAQ51850
3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on development works on the A55 in north Wales? OAQ51850
Yes, of course. We're continuing to invest significantly in this strategic route in north Wales. We are spending £40 million to upgrade junctions 15 and 16, another £250 million in the Deeside and Flintshire corridor project, and looking at accelerating the delivery of the third Menai crossing. Of course, the road forms part of The Wales Way—a strategy to promote tourism in Wales—and it's marketed nationally and internationally as the culture corridor.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs. Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi'n sylweddol yn y llwybr strategol hwn yng ngogledd Cymru. Rydym yn gwario £40 miliwn ar uwchraddio cyffyrdd 15 a 16, £250 miliwn arall ar brosiect coridor Glannau Dyfrdwy a Sir y Fflint, ac yn edrych ar gyflymu'r broses o greu trydydd croesiad y Fenai. Wrth gwrs, mae'r ffordd yn rhan o Ffordd Cymru—strategaeth i hyrwyddo twristiaeth yng Nghymru—ac mae'n cael ei marchnata'n genedlaethol ac yn rhyngwladol fel coridor diwylliant.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You'll be aware, yesterday, that I had to raise with the First Minister the number of times that the A55 has actually been closed—that's 55—for a total of 2,720 hours. That's over 113 days. That's nearly a third of a year. This is an essential trunk road for businesses, freight and holidaymakers across the north, and they have been let down time and time again. Only yesterday, of course, we had the accident that has sadly seen two people hospitalised. And it's becoming the norm now. On a daily basis, people are expecting, at some stage, there to be major gridlock on these roads. I don't make this as a pun in any way, but I cannot afford, as the Assembly Member for Aberconwy, to take my foot off the pedal in terms of scrutiny on this issue. So, how will you ensure that your proposed upgrades and work associated with the pinchpoint programmes will not lead to further delays, congestion and just absolute misery for visitors coming into north Wales? It's gone on for too long now, Cabinet Secretary, and we really do need to be seeing some improvements.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod y bu'n rhaid i mi, ddoe, grybwyll wrth y Prif Weinidog sawl gwaith y mae'r A55 wedi cael ei chau—sef 55 gwaith—am gyfanswm o 2,720 awr. Mae'n hynny'n fwy na 113 o ddiwrnodau, sef bron draean o flwyddyn. Mae hon yn gefnffordd hanfodol ar gyfer busnesau, cerbydau cludo nwyddau a phobl ar wyliau ledled y gogledd, ac maent wedi wynebu rhwystrau dro ar ôl tro. Ddoe ddiwethaf, wrth gwrs, bu damwain anffodus ac mae dau o bobl yn yr ysbyty o ganlyniad iddi. Ac mae hynny'n dod yn rhywbeth cyffredin bellach. Yn ddyddiol, mae pobl yn disgwyl tagfeydd sylweddol ar ryw adeg ar y ffyrdd hyn. Nid wyf yn ceisio chwarae ar eiriau mewn unrhyw ffordd, ond fel yr Aelod Cynulliad dros Aberconwy, ni allaf fforddio tynnu fy nhroed oddi ar y sbardun wrth graffu ar y mater hwn. Felly, sut y byddwch yn sicrhau na fydd eich gwaith uwchraddio arfaethedig na'r gwaith sy'n gysylltiedig â'r rhaglenni mannau cyfyng yn arwain at ragor o oedi, tagfeydd a diflastod llwyr i ymwelwyr a ddaw i ogledd Cymru? Mae hyn wedi para'n rhy hir o lawer bellach, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac mae taer angen inni weld rhai gwelliannau.
I don't think anybody in the Chamber would disagree with the assertion that the A55 requires investment and upgrades. I'm pleased that we've been able in recent months to avoid planned daytime closures of the A55. Night-time closures will continue through to September of this year with no daytime planned closures taking place. But I also recognise that there is a need at the same time to upgrade significant parts of the A55 and to implement the short, medium and long-term objectives and recommendations that were identified in the resilience study.
In terms of the 55 closures, the vast majority of those can be attributed to accidents, incidents, breakdowns due to—believe it or not, there is a proportion of breakdowns caused by motorists running out of fuel. But it was also attributed largely to those planned overnight works.
Now, I think that what's essential is that we look at the progress that is going to be made in the coming months, and then judge on the basis of the implementation of the quick wins the success or otherwise of Welsh Government. I can say that, on wireless CCTV, installation is taking place in April; on the incident detection software, we're trialling a system; on the traffic officer coverage, with the extended hours, we're currently recruiting additional traffic officers—likewise, the additional traffic officer unit—and we expect also that by the end of March additional traffic officers will be extending their work right to the Gledrid roundabout of the A483, covering that huge area, the 55 and then down.
I'm pleased to be able to say that we're expecting a launch during April of the roads timetable. We're currently in discussions with data providers. In terms of the free recovery trial that was identified in the resilience study, we're currently reviewing historic incident statistics to see where and when this might provide some benefit. There was also a recommendation for additional mobile units and we now have six mobile signs rented, and those are on order for delivery shortly. We also have taken on a communications manager, which was identified as a crucial role. In terms of performance analysis we expect in April to be able to have completed the procurement effort that will allow that. In terms of the average speed enforcement trial on the Rhuallt Hill, again, we're going to go live with that in April or May of this year, and then, finally, the final short term measure that was recommended concerned vehicle restrictions on slow-moving vehicles. We are currently identifying exactly what definition should be used for slow-moving vehicles. It might take some time. We need to ensure the legal implications are bottomed out before we implement any restrictions on vehicle movement.
Ni chredaf y byddai unrhyw un yn y Siambr yn anghytuno â'r honiad fod angen buddsoddiad a gwaith uwchraddio ar yr A55. Rwy'n falch ein bod, dros y misoedd diwethaf, wedi gallu osgoi cau wedi'i gynllunio ar yr A55 yn ystod y dydd. Bydd lonydd yn parhau i gau yn y nos hyd at fis Medi eleni heb unrhyw gynlluniau i gau lonydd yn ystod y dydd. Ond rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod, ar yr un pryd, fod angen uwchraddio rhannau mawr o'r A55 a rhoi'r amcanion a'r argymhellion a nodwyd yn yr astudiaeth gydnerthedd ar gyfer y tymor byr, y tymor canolig a'r tymor hir ar waith.
O ran y 55 achos o gau, gellir dweud bod y mwyafrif helaeth ohonynt wedi digwydd o achos damweiniau, digwyddiadau, torri lawr oherwydd—credwch neu beidio, achosir cyfran o ddigwyddiadau o geir yn torri lawr gan fodurwyr yn rhedeg allan o danwydd. Ond digwyddodd llawer ohonynt o ganlyniad i waith dros nos a gynlluniwyd.
Nawr, credaf ei bod yn hanfodol inni edrych ar y cynnydd a wneir dros y misoedd nesaf, a barnu wedyn ar sail gweithredu'r atebion cyflym a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llwyddo neu fethu. Gallaf ddweud fod gwaith ar osod offer teledu cylch cyfyng di-wifr yn mynd rhagddo ym mis Ebrill; o ran y feddalwedd synhwyro digwyddiadau, rydym yn treialu system; o ran gwaith swyddogion traffig, gyda'r oriau estynedig, rydym yn recriwtio swyddogion traffig ychwanegol ar hyn o bryd—ac mae'r un peth yn wir am yr uned swyddogion traffig ychwanegol—ac rydym hefyd yn disgwyl, erbyn diwedd mis Mawrth, y bydd swyddogion traffig ychwanegol yn ymestyn eu gwaith hyd at gylchfan y Gledryd ar yr A483, gan gwmpasu'r ardal enfawr honno, yr A55 ac i lawr.
Rwy'n falch o allu dweud ein bod yn disgwyl i amserlen y ffyrdd gael ei lansio ym mis Ebrill. Rydym yn cynnal trafodaethau ar hyn o bryd gyda darparwyr data. O ran y cynllun treialu achub cerbydau rhad ac am ddim a nodwyd yn yr astudiaeth gydnerthedd, rydym yn adolygu ystadegau digwyddiadau hanesyddol ar hyn o bryd i weld lle a phryd y gallai hyn ddarparu rhywfaint o fudd. Cafwyd argymhelliad hefyd i ddarparu unedau symudol ychwanegol, ac rydym bellach wedi rhentu chwe arwydd symudol, a byddant yn cael eu cyflenwi cyn bo hir. Rydym hefyd wedi cyflogi rheolwr cyfathrebu, a nodwyd fel rôl hollbwysig. O ran dadansoddi perfformiad, rydym yn disgwyl y byddwn wedi gallu cwblhau'r ymdrech gaffael a fydd yn caniatáu hynny ym mis Ebrill. O ran y cynllun treialu camau i orfodi cyflymder cyfartalog ar Allt Rhuallt, unwaith eto, byddwn yn ei roi ar waith ym mis Ebrill neu fis Mai eleni, ac yna, yn olaf, roedd y mesur tymor byr terfynol a argymhellwyd yn ymwneud â chyfyngiadau ar gerbydau araf. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn nodi'r union ddiffiniad y dylid ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer cerbydau araf. Gallai'r gwaith hwnnw gymryd peth amser. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod y goblygiadau cyfreithiol yn gwbl glir cyn inni roi unrhyw gyfyngiadau ar symudiad cerbydau ar waith.
Cwestiynau nawr gan Lefarwyr y pleidiau i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Questions from party spokespeople to the Cabinet Secretary, and the Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Wales and borders rail franchise has proven a unique exercise in many ways—unique in the form of the bidding process, but also, sadly, in that 50 per cent of the bidders have now had to pull out. It's also unique for any major rail procurement exercise in the UK in that the invitation to tender has not been made public. This continues to be the case despite the fact that the final tenders were submitted on 21 December 2017. They cannot now be altered, which is one of the reasons for Abellio's forced withdrawal from the process. This lack of transparency has prevented stakeholders from making meaningful comments on the aspirations of the Welsh Government for the future shape of the Welsh rail network. So, perhaps the Cabinet Secretary can shed some light on this for us today. Can he confirm that electrification of the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff rail line has been effectively ruled out for phase 2 of the south Wales metro, and that there is no commitment now either to electrify the Bridgend to Maesteg line?
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae masnachfraint rheilffyrdd Cymru a'r Gororau wedi bod yn ymarfer unigryw mewn sawl ffordd—unigryw o ran y broses ymgeisio, ond hefyd, yn anffodus, gan fod 50 y cant o'r cynigwyr wedi gorfod tynnu allan bellach. Mae hefyd yn unigryw ymhlith unrhyw ymarferion caffael rheilffyrdd mawr yn y DU gan na wnaed y gwahoddiad i dendro yn gyhoeddus. Mae hyn yn parhau i fod yn wir er gwaethaf y ffaith bod y tendrau terfynol wedi'u cyflwyno ar 21 Rhagfyr 2017. Ni ellir eu newid bellach, a dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y bu'n rhaid i Abellio dynnu'n ôl o'r broses. Mae'r diffyg tryloywder hwn wedi atal rhanddeiliaid rhag gwneud sylwadau ystyrlon ar ddyheadau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer dyfodol rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd Cymru. Felly, efallai y gall Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet daflu rhywfaint o oleuni ar hyn i ni heddiw. A all gadarnhau bod y broses o drydaneiddio rheilffordd Glynebwy i Gaerdydd wedi ei diystyru, i bob pwrpas, ar gyfer cam 2 metro de Cymru, ac nad oes unrhyw ymrwymiad bellach chwaith i drydaneiddio'r rheilffordd rhwng Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Maesteg?
Well, first of all we're awaiting, or I'm awaiting, full evaluation of the two bids for the franchise and the metro development. It would be premature for me to identify which projects are going to be taken forward and in what form within the next Wales and borders franchise and the development of the metro until the award has been made. But I would say, with regard to the tender process, yes, this is a unique process, one that has not been conducted anywhere else in the UK, but I think as Sion Barry in the Western Mail identified just a few weeks ago, we made the right call in making sure that four bidders remained in the race. There were calls for us to whittle the number of bidders down to two. I think it would have been somewhat embarrassing if that had taken place and then for Arriva and Abellio to have been those final two, and then for Arriva to withdraw and Abellio to have pulled out. But the fact remains that we have two world-class bids that are being evaluated at the moment. They've been strenuously tested, and we are on course to award the next franchise by May of this year.
Wel, yn gyntaf oll, rydym yn aros, neu rwyf yn aros, am werthusiad llawn o'r ddau gais am y fasnachfraint a datblygiad y metro. Byddai'n rhy gynnar i mi nodi pa brosiectau fydd yn mynd rhagddynt ac ar ba ffurf o fewn masnachfraint nesaf Cymru a'r Gororau a datblygiad y metro hyd nes y gwneir y dyfarniad. Ond buaswn yn dweud, o ran y broses dendro, ydy, mae hon yn broses unigryw, un nas cynhaliwyd yn unrhyw le arall yn y DU, ond rwy'n credu, fel y nododd Sion Barry yn y Western Mail ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, ein bod wedi gwneud y peth iawn wrth sicrhau bod pedwar ymgeisydd yn aros yn y ras. Cafwyd galwadau arnom i leihau nifer y cynigwyr i ddau. Credaf y byddai wedi bod yn embaras braidd pe bai hynny wedi digwydd, ac mai Arriva ac Abellio fyddai'r ddau ymgeisydd olaf, ac yna byddai Arriva wedi tynnu'n ôl ac Abellio wedi rhoi'r gorau iddi. Ond erys y ffaith bod gennym ddau gais o'r radd flaenaf yn cael eu gwerthuso ar hyn o bryd. Maent wedi eu profi'n drylwyr, ac rydym ar y trywydd iawn i ddyfarnu'r fasnachfraint nesaf erbyn mis Mai eleni.
Well, maybe I can help the Cabinet Secretary out a little here, because some of the answers have been provided for us now through the strategic environmental assessment on the south Wales metro that Transport for Wales have had to produce, and publish, under European regulations, albeit slightly under the radar. This document, and the accompanying maps, confirm that the Ebbw Vale electrification project has been—and I'm quoting directly here from the material now published by Transport for Wales—'discontinued from future consideration'.
Similarly ruled out is connecting Trelewis to near Quakers Yard, joining the Merthyr and Rhymney lines to create the so-called circle line of the Valleys, proposed by Mick Antoniw. It rejects an extension from Merthyr to Dowlais Top, but it does confirm a brand new on-street light rail service between Cathays Park and Cardiff Bay, replacing the current bendy bus. Now, Cabinet Secretary, you're getting £125 million to spend on the metro from the UK Government. When you asked for it, your Government promised it would be for the electrification of the entire Valleys lines network. You're now cancelling that, in just the same way as the UK Government did with electrification to Swansea, while continuing to spend on a bullet train for the bay. The Conservative Government were rightly accused of selling out on people who live to the west of Cardiff. Isn't the Labour Government now doing exactly the same to people who live in the Valleys to the north?
Wel, efallai y gallaf fod o gymorth i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yma, oherwydd mae rhai o'r atebion a ddarparwyd i ni bellach drwy'r asesiad amgylcheddol strategol y bu'n rhaid i Trafnidiaeth Cymru ei gynhyrchu ar fetro de Cymru, a'i gyhoeddi, o dan reoliadau Ewropeaidd, er heb fawr o gyhoeddusrwydd. Mae'r ddogfen hon, a'r mapiau ategol, yn cadarnhau bod prosiect trydaneiddio Glynebwy—a dyfynnaf yn uniongyrchol o'r deunydd a gyhoeddwyd bellach gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru—'wedi'i hepgor o ystyriaethau yn y dyfodol'.
Yn yr un modd, diystyrwyd y gwaith o gysylltu Trelewis â gerllaw Mynwent y Crynwyr, gan gysylltu llinellau Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni i greu rheilffordd cylch y Cymoedd, fel y'i gelwir, argymhelliad a gynigiwyd gan Mick Antoniw. Mae'n gwrthod estyniad o Ferthyr Tudful i Ddowlais Top, ond mae'n cadarnhau gwasanaeth rheilffordd ysgafn newydd sbon ar y stryd rhwng Parc Cathays a Bae Caerdydd, yn lle'r bws plygu presennol. Nawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydych yn cael £125 miliwn gan Lywodraeth y DU i'w wario ar y metro. Pan ofynnoch amdano, addawodd eich Llywodraeth y byddai'n cael ei ddefnyddio i drydaneiddio holl rwydwaith rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd. Rydych bellach yn canslo hynny, yn union fel y gwnaeth Llywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â thrydaneiddio i Abertawe, gan barhau i wario ar drên bwled ar gyfer y bae. Cyhuddwyd y Llywodraeth Geidwadol, yn hollol iawn, o fradychu'r bobl sy'n byw i'r gorllewin o Gaerdydd. Onid yw'r Llywodraeth Lafur bellach yn gwneud yr un peth yn union i bobl sy'n byw yn y Cymoedd i'r gogledd?
This is not correct. First and foremost, we have consulted on, and published, on numerous occasions, the high-level objectives for the Wales and borders franchise and the development of the metro. The specific design of the metro, and the build of the metro, will take place once the award has been made. But what counts most is that passengers see a vast improvement in the services that are delivered to them. In terms of electrification, we cannot say, until the award has been made, what the specific solutions are for each and every one of those lines that are contained within the metro area. It's therefore premature to assume that electrification of the entire Valleys lines is not included in any of the bids. I cannot divulge what is in the bids, but it is simply not possible to speculate over what is in there at present.
Nid yw hyn yn gywir. Yn bennaf oll, rydym wedi ymgynghori, a chyhoeddi, ar sawl achlysur, yr amcanion lefel uchel ar gyfer masnachfraint Cymru a'r gororau a datblygiad y metro. Bydd cynllun penodol y metro, a'r gwaith o adeiladu'r metro, yn digwydd wedi i'r dyfarniad gael ei wneud. Ond yr hyn sydd bwysicaf yw bod y teithwyr yn gweld gwelliannau mawr yn y gwasanaethau a ddarperir ar eu cyfer. O ran trydaneiddio, ni allwn ddweud, hyd nes y gwneir y dyfarniad, beth yw'r atebion penodol ar gyfer pob un o'r rheilffyrdd yn ardal y metro. Felly, mae'n rhy gynnar i dybio nad yw'r broses o drydaneiddio holl reilffyrdd y Cymoedd wedi'i chynnwys yn unrhyw un o'r ceisiadau. Ni allaf ddatgelu beth sydd yn y ceisiadau, ond ni ellir dyfalu beth sydd ynddynt ar hyn o bryd.
Cabinet Secretary, I'm quoting from your own Transport for Wales authority's maps. Under 'red', it says,
'Discontinued from future consideration at present'.
I'm just quoting at you your own transport authority's statement on these subjects. It is right, of course, that some of the money that you've had is going to be spent on the Valleys lines. According to the same document, there is a possibility that the existing core Valleys lines will be converted to light rail. But, again, that's a policy that we should be debating, because some will feel that light rail isn't appropriate in all circumstances—over long distances, for example, where trains are meant to travel more than 45 mph. It will disconnect the core Valleys lines from the national heavy rail network, with no freight or excursion, or through trains, for example, to Cardiff Airport possible ever again. Though I should point out that you've also ruled out a rail link to Cardiff Airport in the document, but we weren't told about that either. Why weren't we told about these policy decisions, so that we could debate them, and so that the people, ultimately, whose railway service this is—not the Government's—could have their say on whether this was the vision and these were the priorities they wanted to see?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, dyfynnaf o fapiau eich awdurdod, Trafnidiaeth Cymru. O dan 'coch', mae'n dweud,
Wedi'i hepgor o ystyriaethau yn y dyfodol ar hyn o bryd.
Rwy'n dyfynnu o ddatganiad eich awdurdod trafnidiaeth eich hun ar y pynciau hyn. Mae'n wir, wrth gwrs, y bydd rhywfaint o'r arian rydych wedi'i gael yn cael ei wario ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd. Yn ôl yr un ddogfen, mae posibilrwydd y bydd rheilffyrdd craidd presennol y Cymoedd yn cael eu troi'n rheilffyrdd ysgafn. Ond unwaith eto, mae hwnnw'n bolisi y dylem ei drafod, oherwydd bydd rhai yn teimlo nad yw rheilffordd ysgafn yn briodol yn yr holl amgylchiadau—dros bellteroedd maith, er enghraifft, lle mae angen i drenau deithio'n gyflymach na 45 mya. Bydd yn datgysylltu rheilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd oddi wrth y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd trwm cenedlaethol, ac ni fydd modd cael unrhyw gerbydau nwyddau neu wibdeithiau, neu drenau trwodd, er enghraifft, i faes awyr Caerdydd byth eto. Er, dylwn nodi eich bod hefyd wedi diystyru cyswllt rheilffordd â maes awyr Caerdydd yn y ddogfen, ond ni ddywedwyd wrthym ynglŷn â hynny ychwaith. Pam na ddywedwyd wrthym am y penderfyniadau polisi hyn, fel y gallem eu trafod, ac fel y gall y bobl, gan mai eu gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd hwy yw hwn yn y pen draw— nid y Llywodraeth—ddweud eu barn ynglŷn ag ai dyma'r weledigaeth a'r blaenoriaethau roeddent yn dymuno'u gweld?
Let's just be clear that devolution of responsibility for and funding for core Valleys lines is taking place, and we remain absolutely committed to upgrading the core Valleys lines as part of the metro vision, so that people can have more regular journeys. Four journeys an hour, we believe, is appropriate within a metro area, as a minimum. We've been clear in stating that. We've been clear in stating that, right across Wales, there will be improvements in terms of capacity, in terms of journey times and reliability. Outside of the core Valleys lines area, responsibility for infrastructure remains with the UK Government, but we would wish to see that devolved as well, as soon as possible. I think events of the past few weeks, with the damage to flanges on railway wheelsets, demonstrate why we need to make sure that there is a greater degree of investment right across the network in Wales. And, for that reason, we believe it should be devolved—responsibility should be devolved. But in terms of the metro, I can promise Members, I can assure Members, that the bids through from two world-class operators make for compelling arguments that there will be change to the rail services within the metro area, and across the country.
Gadewch i ni fod yn glir fod y broses o ddatganoli cyfrifoldeb a chyllid ar gyfer rheilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd yn mynd rhagddi, ac rydym yn parhau i fod yn gwbl ymrwymedig i'r gwaith o uwchraddio rheilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd fel rhan o weledigaeth y metro, er mwyn darparu teithiau mwy rheolaidd i bobl. Credwn fod pedair taith yr awr, o leiaf, yn addas o fewn ardal metro. Rydym wedi datgan hynny'n glir. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir y bydd gwelliannau ledled Cymru o ran capasiti, o ran amseroedd teithio a dibynadwyedd. Y tu allan i ardal rheilffyrdd craidd y Cymoedd, Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am y seilwaith o hyd, ond hoffem pe bai hwnnw'n cael ei ddatganoli hefyd, cyn gynted â phosibl. Credaf fod y digwyddiadau dros yr ychydig wythnosau diwethaf, gyda'r difrod i'r fflansys ar echelau olwynion trenau, yn dangos pam fod angen inni sicrhau mwy o fuddsoddiad ar draws y rhwydwaith yng Nghymru. Ac am y rheswm hwnnw, credwn y dylid ei ddatganoli—dylid datganoli'r cyfrifoldeb. Ond o ran y metro, gallaf addo i'r Aelodau, gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelodau, fod ceisiadau'r ddau weithredwr o'r radd flaenaf yn awgrymu'n gryf y bydd newid i wasanaethau rheilffyrdd yn ardal y metro, a ledled y wlad.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Conservative spokesperson, Russell George.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, despite being set up in 2013 to deliver greater value for the Welsh taxpayer, the Wales Audit Office has been critical of the National Procurement Service. Now, by anyone's estimation, it has comprehensively failed to deliver the intended savings in public spending. In 2016-17, it only generated about 60 per cent of the savings expected and, worse still, it made a loss of around £2 million, in both 2015-16 and 2016-17. So, can I ask why the Welsh Government's flagship policy for improving public procurement in Wales has failed so badly?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er iddo gael ei sefydlu yn 2013 i ddarparu mwy o werth i drethdalwyr Cymru, mae Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru wedi beirniadu'r Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol. Nawr, ni all unrhyw un ddadlau nad yw wedi methu'n llwyr â darparu'r arbedion arfaethedig mewn gwariant cyhoeddus. Yn 2016-17, oddeutu 60 y cant yn unig o'r arbedion a ddisgwyliwyd a greodd, ac yn waeth byth, gwnaeth golled o oddeutu £2 miliwn yn 2015-16, ac yn 2016-17. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn pam fod polisi blaenllaw Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gwella caffael cyhoeddus yng Nghymru wedi methu'n llwyr?
It's not actually the responsibility of my department. It's the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance.FootnoteLink However, in terms of the economic action plan, we've made clear that with the economic contract, we could open up opportunities to extend the economic contract—the £6 billion of procurement opportunities within the Welsh public purse. We stated that we wish to disaggregate major procurement opportunities and contracts so that more small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales can capture valuable infrastructure projects across the country.
Nid cyfrifoldeb fy adran i yw hyn mewn gwirionedd. Cyfrifoldeb Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid ydyw.FootnoteLink Fodd bynnag, o ran y cynllun gweithredu economaidd, rydym wedi dweud yn glir, gyda'r contract economaidd, y gallem sicrhau cyfleoedd i ymestyn y contract economaidd—y £6 biliwn o gyfleoedd caffael ym mhwrs y wlad yng Nghymru. Dywedasom ein bod yn dymuno dadgyfuno cyfleoedd caffael a chontractau mawr fel y gall rhagor o fentrau bach a chanolig eu maint yng Nghymru gael rhan mewn prosiectau seilwaith gwerthfawr ledled y wlad.
I appreciate what you've said, and, of course, you are responsible for the economic action plan, SMEs and supply chains that benefit as well. The Welsh Goverment formed the NPS in 2013. When it did that, it was given a £5.9 million loan, and, five years later, the NPS has failed to pay that loan back. So, I would ask, Cabinet Secretary, when can the Welsh taxpayer expect that money to be paid back? And, further still, the NPS is now not covering its own running costs, despite the then Cabinet Secretary Jane Hutt stating that the NPS would be self-financing by 2016. So, why is the Welsh Government currently using taxpayers' money to prop up the NPS and cover its running costs each year, despite the original policy being for the NPS to be self-funding by 2016?
Rwy'n derbyn yr hyn rydych wedi'i ddweud, ac wrth gwrs, rydych yn gyfrifol am y cynllun gweithredu economaidd, busnesau bach a chanolig a'r cadwyni cyflenwi sy'n elwa hefyd. Ffurfiwyd y Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2013. Pan wnaeth hynny, rhoddwyd benthyciad o £5.9 miliwn iddo, a phum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, nid yw'r Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol wedi ad-dalu'r benthyciad hwnnw. Felly, hoffwn ofyn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pryd y gall y trethdalwr yng Nghymru ddisgwyl i'r arian hwnnw gael ei ad-dalu? Ac ymhellach, nid yw'r Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol bellach yn talu ei gostau rhedeg ei hun, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar y pryd, Jane Hutt, wedi dweud y byddai'r Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol yn hunangyllidol erbyn 2016. Felly, pam fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio arian y trethdalwyr ar hyn o bryd i gynnal y Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol ac i dalu ei gostau rhedeg bob blwyddyn, er gwaethaf y ffaith mai'r polisi gwreiddiol oedd y byddai'r Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol yn hunangyllidol erbyn 2016?
Again, I'd refer this issue to my Cabinet colleague, who retains responsibility for it. I'm sure that my Cabinet colleague Mark Drakeford would be able to offer detailed answers to the questions that the Member has raised.
Unwaith eto, hoffwn gyfeirio'r mater hwn at sylw fy nghyd-Aelod Cabinet sydd â chyfrifoldeb amdano. Rwy'n siŵr y gallai fy nghyd-Aelod Cabinet, Mark Drakeford, ddarparu atebion manwl i'r cwestiynau a ofynnodd yr Aelod.
The National Procurement Service, I would suggest, is a failed policy. It's certainly an ongoing drain on the public purse. I am going to come to some areas that are certainly in your portfolio. Welsh SMEs and Welsh supply chains are not benefiting from the Welsh Government's procurement spending. In 2015-16, only 52 per cent of Welsh Government spending on goods and services went to Wales-based firms, and your Government's new economic action plan, which, of course, is in your responsibility, also fails to provide any detailed and meaningful road map for improving public procurement in Wales. So, can I ask a question that is absolutely in your portfolio? Why has the Welsh Government failed to address the issue of improving public procurement in the latest economic plan?
Buaswn yn awgrymu bod y Gwasanaeth Caffael Cenedlaethol yn bolisi sydd wedi methu. Yn sicr, mae'n dreth barhaus ar bwrs y wlad. Byddaf yn dod at rai meysydd sy'n sicr yn rhan o'ch portffolio. Nid yw busnesau bach a chanolig Cymru a chadwyni cyflenwi Cymru yn elwa ar wariant caffael Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn 2015-16, 52 y cant yn unig o wariant Llywodraeth Cymru ar nwyddau a gwasanaethau a aeth i gwmnïau yng Nghymru, ac mae cynllun gweithredu economaidd newydd eich Llywodraeth, sy'n rhan o'ch cyfrifoldeb chi, wrth gwrs, hefyd wedi methu darparu unrhyw fap manwl ac ystyrlon ar gyfer gwella caffael cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn cwestiwn sy'n sicr yn rhan o'ch portffolio? Pam nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi sylw i'r gwaith o wella caffael cyhoeddus yn y cynllun economaidd diweddaraf?
Well, it is addressed in the plan, as I say, through the disaggregation of major contracts. That will prove to be hugely beneficial, given the size of infrastructure projects—road in particular. And we're also working with not just industry bodies, but also with the sector teams within Government, to identify ways that businesses are able to work together and learn from one another in how to capture a greater share of the Welsh procurement spend. The Member is right that currently it's about 52 per cent—the proportion of contracts that are won by Welsh businesses—but that figure is increasing year on year, and I expect, through those measures identified in the economic action plan, and with additional measures that I've outlined through our engagement directly with business and business organisations, we'll see an increase further in the years to come.
Wel, mae hynny'n cael sylw yn y cynllun, fel y dywedaf, drwy'r broses o ddadgyfuno contractau mawr. Bydd hynny'n fuddiol iawn, o ystyried maint prosiectau seilwaith—yn enwedig ffyrdd. Ac rydym hefyd yn gweithio nid yn unig gyda chyrff diwydiant, ond hefyd gyda thimau sector o fewn y Llywodraeth, i nodi ffyrdd y gall busnesau weithio gyda'i gilydd a dysgu oddi wrth ei gilydd sut i gael gafael ar gyfran fwy o wariant caffael yng Nghymru. Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le ei fod oddeutu 52 y cant ar hyn o bryd—cyfran y contractau a enillir gan fusnesau Cymreig—ond mae'r ffigur hwnnw'n cynyddu flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, ac rwy'n disgwyl, drwy'r mesurau a nodwyd yn y cynllun gweithredu economaidd, a chyda'r mesurau ychwanegol a amlinellwyd gennyf drwy ein cyswllt uniongyrchol â busnesau a sefydliadau busnes, y byddwn yn gweld rhagor o gynnydd dros y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Llefarydd UKIP, David Rowlands.
UKIP spokesperson, David Rowlands.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, with the UK being listed by the Forbes as being the best place in the world to do business, where does Wales stand in comparison?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o gofio bod y DU ar frig rhestr Forbes o'r lleoedd gorau yn y byd i wneud busnes, beth yw sefyllfa Cymru o gymharu â hynny?
Well, given the alarms that have been raised recently by Airbus, by Ford and by many other companies, I would imagine that as we leave the EU, if we don't get the best possible deal, Wales, along with the UK as a whole, will be left further behind.
Wel, o ystyried y pryderon a fynegwyd yn ddiweddar gan Airbus, gan Ford a chan lawer o gwmnïau eraill, buaswn yn dychmygu, wrth inni adael yr UE, os nad ydym yn sicrhau'r fargen orau sy'n bosibl, bydd Cymru, ynghyd â'r DU gyfan, yn cael ei gadael ymhellach ar ôl.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. I think all of us in this Chamber would recognise the fact that we need to considerably improve our act if we are to develop our business and commercial base in Wales, and, as discussed in the latest questions session, one of the key enablers to improvement is education. Nothing will do more to stimulate growth indigenously and also for inward investment than increasing our skills base, both vocationally and academically. Does it therefore concern the Cabinet Secretary that Cardiff University—the best performing in Wales—is ranked thirty-fifth out of 129 in the UK and that we have three others in the bottom 10?
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ateb. Credaf y byddai pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon yn cydnabod y ffaith bod angen inni wella ein hymdrechion yn sylweddol os ydym am ddatblygu ein sylfaen fusnes a'n sylfaen fasnachol yng Nghymru, ac fel y trafodwyd yn y sesiwn gwestiynau ddiweddaraf, un o'r ffactorau allweddol i alluogi gwelliant yw addysg. Ni fydd dim yn gwneud mwy i ysgogi twf yn gynhenid ac ar gyfer mewnfuddsoddi na chynyddu ein sylfaen sgiliau, yn alwedigaethol ac yn academaidd. A yw'n peri pryder, felly, i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fod Prifysgol Caerdydd—y brifysgol sy'n perfformio orau yng Nghymru—yn safle 35 o 129 yn y DU, a bod gennym dair arall yn y 10 isaf?
I think it's fair to say that higher education gives us the strategic weapons for future economic growth in the fight for competitiveness, whereas further education gives us the tactical arsenal. In terms of FE, I think we have a very, very proud story to tell indeed. We have amongst Britain's best further education institutions based here in Wales. In terms of our higher education estate, I do think we have some world-class universities, and Cardiff amongst them, but Swansea as well, I think, in terms of research and development, in particular with regards to steel, can be counted as one of the world's best. The Member is right that, in driving up productivity, one of the key levers at our disposal is the improvement to the skills base and the pipeline of skilled people who are coming through to support business. But also we need to ensure that there is a greater degree of diffusion of innovation in Wales. We've been very clear that we expect, through the calls to action—the prisms through which we are going to be channelling and viewing investments in the future—that businesses innovate more and therefore work more closely, not just with higher education, but also with further education as well. I think in doing so, we will be able to improve our prospects and improve our productivity levels in years to come.
Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud bod addysg uwch yn rhoi'r arfau strategol inni ar gyfer twf economaidd yn y dyfodol yn y frwydr dros gystadleurwydd, tra bo addysg bellach yn darparu'r arfau tactegol. O ran addysg bellach, credaf fod gennym hanes balch iawn yn wir. Mae rhai o sefydliadau addysg bellach gorau Prydain gennym yma yng Nghymru. O ran ein hystâd addysg uwch, credaf fod gennym brifysgolion o'r radd flaenaf, gan gynnwys Caerdydd, ond credaf y gellir cyfrif Abertawe hefyd ymhlith goreuon y byd o ran ymchwil a datblygu, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â dur. Mae'r Aelod yn gywir i ddweud mai un o'r prif ysgogiadau sydd ar gael i ni ar gyfer gwella cynhyrchiant yw'r gwelliant i'r sylfaen sgiliau a'r llif o bobl fedrus sy'n dod drwodd i gefnogi busnes. Ond mae angen inni sicrhau hefyd fod arloesedd yn cael ei ledaenu'n well yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir iawn ein bod yn disgwyl, drwy'r galwadau i weithredu—y prismau y byddwn yn sianelu ac yn ystyried buddsoddiadau drwyddynt yn y dyfodol—y bydd busnesau'n arloesi mwy ac felly'n gweithio'n agosach, nid yn unig gydag addysg uwch, ond gydag addysg bellach hefyd. Drwy wneud hynny, credaf y bydd modd inni wella ein rhagolygon a gwella ein lefelau cynhyrchiant dros y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Again, I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his answer, and for the confidence he has in the Government's economic strategy. But the Federation of Small Businesses and business in general have long complained about the disconnect between employers and the academic establishment. Does that Cabinet Secretary believe that there are now policies in place to radically improve on this failing?
Unwaith eto, diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ateb, ac am ei hyder yn strategaeth economaidd y Llywodraeth. Ond mae'r Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach a'r byd busnes yn gyffredinol wedi cwyno ers tro ynglŷn â'r diffyg cysylltiad rhwng cyflogwyr a'r byd academaidd. A yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn credu bod gennym bolisïau ar waith bellach i wella'r diffyg hwn?
I do. I'd argue that now, more than ever before, businesses, and particularly higher education, are working more closely than they ever have done, and I'd point to an abundance of examples right across Wales where that is the case. Just today, I'm pleased to be able to share with Members the news that the advanced manufacturing research institute is being given planning permission in Broughton. We'll be spending a not-inconsiderable sum of money in developing that particular facility, but it will bring in significant private sector investment and also higher education investment. In doing so—in bringing together business with Welsh Government activities and with higher education research—we expect that institute to deliver something in the region of £4 billion of improvements in gross value added to the Welsh economy. That's a hugely significant investment, therefore, for Welsh Government to make. I think it demonstrates how smart investment that brings together business, large and small, with academia can bring about very rich fruits indeed for the economy.
Ydw. Buaswn yn dadlau bod busnesau erbyn hyn, yn fwy nag erioed o'r blaen, ac yn enwedig addysg uwch, yn gweithio'n agosach nag erioed, a gallwn gyfeirio at ddigonedd o enghreifftiau o hynny ledled Cymru. Heddiw, rwy'n falch o allu rhannu'r newyddion gyda'r Aelodau fod yr athrofa ymchwil gweithgynhyrchu uwch wedi cael caniatâd cynllunio ym Mrychdyn. Byddwn yn gwario swm sylweddol o arian i ddatblygu'r cyfleuster penodol hwnnw, ond bydd yn denu buddsoddiad sylweddol o'r sector preifat yn ogystal â buddsoddiad addysg uwch. Drwy wneud hynny—dod â busnes a gweithgareddau Llywodraeth Cymru ac ymchwil addysg uwch ynghyd—rydym yn disgwyl i'r sefydliad hwnnw ddarparu oddeutu £4 biliwn o welliannau mewn gwerth ychwanegol gros i economi Cymru. Mae hwnnw'n fuddsoddiad sylweddol iawn, felly, i Lywodraeth Cymru ei wneud. Credaf ei fod yn dangos sut y gall buddsoddiad craff, sy'n dod â busnesau mawr a bach a'r byd academaidd ynghyd, arwain at fuddion sylweddol i'r economi.
4. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi economi Sir Benfro? OAQ51834
4. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the economy of Pembrokeshire? OAQ51834
The 'Prosperity for All' national strategy and the economic action plan set out the actions we are taking to improve the economy and business environment across the whole of Wales.
Mae'r strategaeth genedlaethol 'Ffyniant i Bawb' a'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd yn nodi'r camau rydym yn eu cymryd i wella amgylchedd busnes a'r economi ledled Cymru.
Sadly, figures from the Local Data Company and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods show that Milford Haven still continues to have the highest vacancy rate of retail premises in Wales. This, of course, has been a long-standing problem that desperately needs support. It won't surprise the Cabinet Secretary that business rates is one factor in preventing businesses from setting up in places like Milford Haven. In the circumstances, can the Cabinet Secretary tell us what discussions he's had with his colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on this matter? Perhaps he can persuade his colleague to commit to reviewing the business rates system in order to look at things like the multiplier to ensure that small businesses aren't actually disadvantaged on our high streets.
Yn anffodus, dengys ffigurau gan y Local Data Company a Sefydliad Ymchwil, Data a Methodoleg Gymdeithasol ac Economaidd Cymru mai Aberdaugleddau sydd â'r gyfradd uchaf o adeiladau manwerthu gwag yng Nghymru o hyd. Mae hon, wrth gwrs, wedi bod yn broblem hirdymor sydd angen cryn dipyn o gymorth. Ni fydd yn syndod i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fod ardrethi busnes yn un ffactor sy'n atal busnesau rhag agor mewn lleoedd fel Aberdaugleddau. O dan yr amgylchiadau hyn, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddweud wrthym pa drafodaethau y mae wedi'u cael gyda'i gyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid, ynglŷn â'r mater hwn? Efallai y gall berswadio ei gyd-Aelod i ymrwymo i adolygu'r system ardrethi busnes er mwyn edrych ar bethau fel y lluosydd i sicrhau nad yw busnesau bach o dan anfantais ar y stryd fawr.
I can assure the Member that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance is very alive to the concerns of businesses in Pembrokeshire, and in particular to the concerns that they have over rates. I will raise with him further the points that you have raised today. But I would say that, as a whole across Pembrokeshire, we've seen a significant increase in the number of enterprises operating in recent years. I believe that there's been an increase of something in the region of 10.6 per cent in the number of businesses in Pembrokeshire since the start of the decade. However, I do also recognise that new and existing businesses do face very difficult challenges, and I'll certainly raise the concerns that the Member has raised today in the Chamber with the Cabinet Secretary.
Gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid yn ymwybodol iawn o bryderon busnesau yn Sir Benfro, ac yn enwedig y pryderon sydd ganddynt ynglŷn ag ardrethi. Byddaf yn dwyn y pwyntiau a nodwyd gennych heddiw i'w sylw. Ond buaswn yn dweud, ledled Sir Benfro, ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer y mentrau gweithredol dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Credaf fod cynnydd o oddeutu 10.6 y cant wedi bod yn nifer y busnesau yn Sir Benfro ers dechrau'r degawd. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n cydnabod hefyd fod busnesau newydd a busnesau sy'n bodoli eisoes yn wynebu heriau anodd iawn, ac yn sicr, byddaf yn tynnu sylw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet at y pryderon a nodwyd gan yr Aelod heddiw yn y Siambr.
Last week, the First Minister announced that Valero will be investing in a £127 million project to create a combined heat and power cogeneration unit at their Pemrokeshire refinery. That project will help secure the long-term sustainability of the refinery and also secure over 1,000 employees, and help boost the Pembrokeshire economy and, for that matter, that of Wales.
I understand the Welsh Government has been working closely with Valero to help secure this crucial investment. Cabinet Secretary, would you agree that this investment clearly demonstrates the value of strategic enterprise zones like the Haven Waterway enterprise zone, which you have now agreed to extend?
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd y Prif Weinidog y bydd Valero yn buddsoddi mewn prosiect £127 miliwn i greu uned gydgynhyrchu gwres a phŵer gyfunol yn eu purfa yn Sir Benfro. Bydd y prosiect yn helpu i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd hirdymor y burfa a hefyd yn rhoi sicrwydd i dros 1,000 o weithwyr, ac yn helpu i roi hwb i economi Sir Benfro ac economi Cymru o ran hynny.
Rwy'n deall bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos gyda Valero i helpu i sicrhau'r buddsoddiad hollbwysig hwn. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a fyddech yn cytuno bod y buddsoddiad hwn yn amlwg yn dangos gwerth strategol ardaloedd menter fel ardal fenter Dyfrffordd y Ddau Gleddau rydych yn awr wedi cytuno i'w ymestyn?
Yes, I would, and I thank the Member for her question. I think it's fantastic news. Valero's £127 million project, I think, shows confidence in the Pembrokeshire site and in the wider Welsh economy. It's interesting that the refinery is one of only six remaining refining businesses in the UK and it's located right at the heart of the Haven Waterway enterprise zone. It demonstrates how, by working together, we can secure employment within a valuable sector for many, many people. Something in the region of 1,000 people rely on work at this particular site. I'm delighted that we've been part of this positive news for the region.
Buaswn, a diolch i'r Aelod am ei chwestiwn. Credaf ei fod yn newyddion gwych. Mae prosiect £127 miliwn Valero, rwy'n credu, yn dangos hyder yn safle Sir Benfro ac yn economi ehangach Cymru. Mae'n ddiddorol bod y burfa yn un o ddim ond chwech busnes puro sydd ar ôl yn y DU ac mae wedi'i leoli wrth galon ardal fenter Dyfrffordd y Ddau Gleddau. Mae'n dangos sut, drwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, y gallwn ddiogelu gwaith mewn sector gwerthfawr i nifer fawr iawn o bobl. Mae tua 1,000 o bobl yn dibynnu ar waith ar y safle hwn. Rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi bod yn rhan o'r newyddion cadarnhaol hwn i'r rhanbarth.
Nid yw Darren Millar yma i ofyn cwestiwn 5 [OAQ51849]. Felly, cwestiwn 6, Mick Antoniw.
Darren Millar is not here to ask question 5 [OAQ51849]. Therefore, question 6, Mick Antoniw.
6. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am ddatblygu'r depo gwasanaethu arfaethedig i Fetro De Cymru yn Ffynnon Taf? OAQ51863
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the development of the proposed South Wales Metro servicing depot in Taff's Well? OAQ51863
Yes. Development of the site depends on the solution proposed by the successful bidder. As part of their robust approach to programme management, Transport for Wales are considering comments submitted on the outline planning consultation for the potential use of the site as a depot, prior to progressing with an outline planning application.
Gwnaf. Mae datblygiad y safle yn dibynnu ar yr ateb y mae'r cynigydd llwyddiannus yn ei argymell. Fel rhan o'u dull cadarn o reoli rhaglenni, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ystyried sylwadau a gyflwynwyd ar yr ymgynghoriad cynllunio amlinellol ar gyfer y defnydd posibl o'r safle fel depo, cyn symud ymlaen gyda chais cynllunio amlinellol.
Thank you for that answer. Of course, we welcome all the steps that have been taken with Transport for Wales and with this potential new job opportunity in the Taff Ely area, which is of considerable significance. The issue I raise really is about engagement with the local community. I remember the site well as the former South Wales Forgemasters site. The issues that will arise will obviously be the light and noise pollution during construction, potential access issues at Tŷ Rhiw junction, Cemetery Road and Cardiff Road, and the availability of sufficient parking at Taff's Well station, which is also an issue that has been raised as a proposal in there. What steps have been taken to ensure there is proper engagement and consultation with the local community over this, whilst actually welcoming the fact that there will be a real jobs opportunity for the area?
Diolch i chi am yr ateb hwnnw. Wrth gwrs, rydym yn croesawu'r camau y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi'u cymryd a'r cyfle gwaith newydd posibl yn ardal Taf Elái, sy'n arwyddocaol iawn. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'r mater rwy'n ei godi yn ymwneud ag ymgysylltu â'r gymuned leol. Rwy'n cofio'r safle'n dda fel hen safle South Wales Forgemasters. Yn amlwg, y materion a fydd yn codi fydd y llygredd golau a sŵn yn ystod adeiladu, problemau mynediad posibl ar gyffordd Tŷ Rhiw, Cemetery Road a Heol Caerdydd ac argaeledd digon o leoedd parcio yng ngorsaf Ffynnon Taf, sydd hefyd yn fater a godwyd fel cynnig yno. Pa gamau a gymerwyd i sicrhau bod ymgysylltu ac ymgynghori priodol yn digwydd gyda'r gymuned leol ynglŷn â hyn, gan groesawu'r ffaith mewn gwirionedd y bydd yna gyfleoedd go iawn am swyddi i'r ardal?
Can I thank Mick Antoniw for his question? I recognise that he's spoken regularly and with great commitment on this subject. I'm pleased to be able to say that the statutory pre-application period of four weeks for the proposed depot concluded at the end of February. Transport for Wales have carefully considered the comments from the community. A consultation took place and statutory consultees were also engaged. We intend to submit a pre-application summary report along with a full outline planning application for a potential depot to the local planning authority shortly.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Mick Antoniw am ei gwestiwn? Rwy'n cydnabod ei fod wedi siarad am y pwnc hwn yn rheolaidd a chydag ymroddiad mawr. Rwy'n falch o allu dweud bod y cyfnod cyn ymgeisio statudol o bedair wythnos ar gyfer y depo arfaethedig wedi dod i ben ddiwedd mis Chwefror. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi ystyried sylwadau'r gymuned yn ofalus. Cynhaliwyd ymgynghoriad ac chymerodd ymgyngoreion statudol ran yn y broses hefyd. Rydym yn bwriadu cyflwyno adroddiad cyn ymgeisio cryno ynghyd â chais cynllunio amlinellol llawn ar gyfer depo posibl i'r awdurdod cynllunio lleol cyn bo hir.
7. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella'r seilwaith trafnidiaeth yn Sir Benfro? OAQ51833
7. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve transport infrastructure in Pembrokeshire? OAQ51833
The national transport finance plan, updated in December of last year, sets out our priorities for transport schemes across Wales, including in Pembrokeshire.
Mae'r cynllun cyllid trafnidiaeth cenedlaethol, a ddiweddarwyd ym mis Rhagfyr y llynedd, yn nodi ein blaenoriaethau ar gyfer cynlluniau trafnidiaeth ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys yn Sir Benfro.
I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for his answer. It won't surprise the Cabinet Secretary to hear me again arguing that one way to improve the transport infrastructure in Pembrokeshire is to dual the A40, which would have a huge, positive knock-on effect on Pembrokeshire's economy and, indeed, on the economy of the whole of west Wales. Dualling would also improve road safety. Sadly, yesterday, we saw another fatality on this stretch of road. In light of the economic and, more importantly, safety benefits dualling the road could bring, will you now commit to dualling the A40 in Pembrokeshire in the long term, given that the Welsh Government has already committed to delivering improvements to the A40 in Pembrokeshire anyway?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ateb. Ni fydd yn syndod i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fy nghlywed yn dadlau eto mai un ffordd o wella seilwaith trafnidiaeth yn Sir Benfro yw drwy ddeuoli'r A40, a fyddai'n cael effaith ganlyniadol enfawr a chadarnhaol ar economi Sir Benfro, ac yn wir ar economi gorllewin Cymru yn gyffredinol. Byddai deuoli hefyd yn gwella diogelwch ar y ffyrdd. Yn anffodus, ddoe, gwelsom ddamwain angheuol arall ar y ffordd hon. Yn ngoleuni'r manteision economaidd, ac yn bwysicach, y manteision diogelwch a allai ddod yn sgil deuoli'r ffordd, a wnewch chi yn awr ymrwymo i ddeuoli'r A40 yn Sir Benfro yn y tymor hir, o ystyried bod Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi ymrwymo i gyflawni gwelliannau i'r A40 yn Sir Benfro beth bynnag?
We are committed to delivering many improvements to the A40. It's a key strategic route, and I'm pleased to be able to say that preliminary investigations have already begun to develop several more overtaking opportunities along the entire stretch of the A40. We're currently looking at when these can be delivered alongside other priorities that are identified in the national transport finance plan, and we'll develop a programme in due course. We also hope that European Union funding that's been earmarked for these improvements will be drawn down and utilised. The A40 is a hugely important route within Wales, and I will do whatever I possibly can to argue the case for further investment, not just for overtaking opportunities but, where possible, the dualling of the route as well.
Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gyflawni nifer o welliannau i'r A40. Mae'n llwybr strategol allweddol, ac rwy'n falch o allu dweud bod ymchwiliadau rhagarweiniol eisoes wedi dechrau datblygu sawl cyfle arall i oddiweddyd ar hyd yr A40. Rydym ar hyn o bryd yn edrych i weld pa bryd y gellir darparu'r rhain ochr yn ochr â blaenoriaethau eraill a nodir yn y cynllun cyllid trafnidiaeth cenedlaethol, a byddwn yn datblygu rhaglen maes o law. Rydym hefyd yn gobeithio y bydd cyllid yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a glustnodwyd ar gyfer y gwelliannau hyn yn cael ei sicrhau a'i ddefnyddio. Mae'r A40 yn llwybr pwysig iawn yng Nghymru, a byddaf yn gwneud popeth yn fy ngallu i ddadlau'r achos dros fuddsoddiad pellach, nid yn unig ar gyfer cyfleoedd goddiweddyd ond lle bo'n bosibl, ar gyfer deuoli'r llwybr yn ogystal.
Tynnwyd cwestiwn 8 [OAQ51840] yn ôl. Felly, cwestiwn 9, Mark Reckless.
Question 8, [OAQ51840], has been withdrawn, Therefore, question 9, Mark Reckless.
9. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gadarnhau a fydd y ddadl a'r bleidlais ar ffordd liniaru'r M4 a gyhoeddwyd mewn llythyr at Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn gyfrwymol neu'n gynghorol? OAQ51855
9. Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether the debate and vote on the M4 relief road that was announced in a letter to Assembly Members will be binding or advisory? OAQ51855
I can confirm that we will bring forward a debate in Government time on the M4 corridor around Newport project following conclusion of the public local inquiry. Given the legal implications of an ongoing public inquiry, we are currently considering options available to us and the timing, of course, of this debate, and I will inform the Assembly of those plans as soon as they are finalised.
Gallaf gadarnhau y byddwn yn cyflwyno dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar goridor yr M4 o gwmpas prosiect Casnewydd yn dilyn casgliad yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus lleol. O ystyried goblygiadau cyfreithiol ymchwiliad cyhoeddus parhaus, rydym ar hyn o bryd yn ystyried opsiynau sydd ar gael i ni yn ogystal ag amseriad y ddadl hon, wrth gwrs, a byddaf yn hysbysu'r Cynulliad am y cynlluniau hynny yn syth ar ôl iddynt gael eu cwblhau.
Will Welsh Government treat the Assembly with equivalent respect in that debate and vote as it has with the recent vote to publish a leak report?
A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru drin y Cynulliad gyda pharch cyfatebol yn y ddadl honno a phleidleisio fel y mae wedi'i wneud gyda'r bleidlais ddiweddar i gyhoeddi adroddiad ar ddatgelu gwybodaeth heb ganiatâd?
I can assure the Member that, with a Government debate, there is a vote, and I think it's essential, given that this subject has raised so many differing views, that all Members get a full opportunity to debate the subject and to be able to vote on it, as we've already promised that we will do.
Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod, gyda dadl yn y Llywodraeth, y ceir pleidlais, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol, o ystyried bod y pwnc hwn wedi arwain at gymaint o safbwyntiau gwahanol, fod pob Aelod yn cael cyfle llawn i gael dadl ar y pwnc ac i allu pleidleisio arno, fel rydym eisoes wedi addo y byddwn yn ei wneud.
10. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau trafnidiaeth ar gyfer dinas ranbarth bae Abertawe? OAQ51830
10. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on transport plans for the Swansea bay city region? OAQ51830
Yes. The national transport finance plan, which was updated just last year, sets out our programme for the next three years and beyond.
Gwnaf. Mae'r cynllun cyllid trafnidiaeth cenedlaethol, a ddiweddarwyd y llynedd, yn nodi ein rhaglen ar gyfer y tair blynedd nesaf a thu hwnt.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that response. I would like to ask: will the Cabinet Secretary consider quick wins such as the reopening of railway stations such as Landore, creating bus-train interchanges within the region and completing cycle routes?
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am yr ymateb hwnnw. Hoffwn ofyn: a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ystyried enillion cyflym fel ailagor gorsafoedd trenau megis Glandŵr, creu cyfnewidfeydd bysiau-trenau o fewn y rhanbarth a chwblhau llwybrau beicio?
Yes, I will consider quick wins of that nature, particularly those relating to active travel, given my stated desire to see a significant increase in the availability of capital funding to support active travel projects. Aproposal for reopening Landore station is being considered as part of a Welsh Government assessment of proposals for new rail stations. We'll be putting Landore forward as one possible option to be considered as part of the exercise being undertaken by Network Rail.
Gwnaf, byddaf yn ystyried enillion cyflym o'r natur honno, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n ymwneud â theithio llesol, o ystyried fy mod wedi datgan awydd i weld cynnydd sylweddol yn argaeledd cyllid cyfalaf i gefnogi prosiectau teithio llesol. Mae cynnig i ailagor gorsaf Glandŵr yn cael ei ystyried fel rhan o asesiad Llywodraeth Cymru o gynigion ar gyfer gorsafoedd trenau newydd. Byddwn yn cynnig gorsaf Glandŵr fel un opsiwn posibl i gael ei ystyried fel rhan o'r ymarfer a gynhelir gan Network Rail.
As part of the UK's consultation into the future of the Great Western railway position, I've actually done my own transport survey locally, mainly talking about the possibility of a parkway in Felindre or somewhere similar. That proved quite popular, but also ideas were put forward about improving local internal rail links as well, as Mike Hedges has mentioned, to help ease congestion and feed into what a parkway can do, because one of the advantages of a parkway, of course, is that it could help focus the movement of people and of traffic westwards into the city deal area, not just eastwards as we might expect. Obviously, there's a UK element to this. Have you had an opportunity yet to discuss yourself the opportunities that a parkway would present for the whole of the city deal region, not just for Swansea itself?
Fel rhan o ymgynghoriad y DU ar sefyllfa rheilffordd y Great Western yn y dyfodol, rwyf wedi cynnal fy arolwg trafnidiaeth fy hun yn lleol mewn gwirionedd, yn sôn yn bennaf am y posibilrwydd o barcffordd yn Felindre neu rywle tebyg. Roedd hynny'n eithaf poblogaidd, ond hefyd cafodd syniadau eu cyflwyno a oedd yn ymwneud â gwella'r cysylltiadau rheilffyrdd mewnol lleol yn ogystal, fel y soniodd Mike Hedges, i helpu i leihau tagfeydd a bwydo i mewn i'r hyn y gall parcffordd ei wneud, oherwydd un o fanteision parcffordd, wrth gwrs, yw y byddai'n gallu helpu i symud pobl a thraffig tua'r gorllewin i mewn i ardal y fargen ddinesig, nid yn unig tua'r dwyrain fel y byddem yn ei ddisgwyl. Yn amlwg, mae yna elfen DU i hyn. A ydych wedi cael cyfle eto i drafod y cyfleoedd y byddai parcffordd yn eu cynnig i ranbarth y fargen ddinesig yn ei chyfanrwydd, nid yn unig i Abertawe ei hun?
Yes, indeed. In fact, just this morning I met with Councillor Rob Stewart to discuss many issues, including the one that the Member has identified, and I think it might be helpful, perhaps, if I was to offer Members sight of my response to the consultation on the GWR franchise route. And I think that will identify how Welsh Government is making numerous demands of UK Government in terms of improvement of passenger services, and improvements to journey times and frequency of services as well. I think it's an exciting time, potentially, for the Swansea bay region. Of course, we've had the very sad, regrettable decision concerning electrification, but we are funding work concerning the potential development of a metro project, and I think this has all the potential to radically change the region and to bring further prosperity and opportunities for growth to Swansea bay and the surrounding communities.
Do, yn wir. Mewn gwirionedd, y bore yma, cyfarfûm â'r Cynghorydd Rob Stewart i drafod llawer o faterion, gan gynnwys yr un a nodwyd gan yr Aelod, ac rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol, efallai, pe bawn yn cynnig i'r Aelodau weld fy ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad ar lwybr masnachfraint rheilffordd y Great Western. Ac rwy'n credu y bydd hynny'n dangos sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i wneud nifer o bethau o ran gwella gwasanaethau i deithwyr, a gwelliannau i amseroedd teithio ac amlder gwasanaethau yn ogystal. Credaf y gallai fod yn adeg gyffrous i ranbarth bae Abertawe. Wrth gwrs, cawsom y penderfyniad trist ac anffodus iawn ynghylch trydaneiddio, ond rydym yn ariannu gwaith sy'n ymwneud â datblygiad posibl prosiect metro, a chredaf fod ganddo botensial mawr i weddnewid y rhanbarth yn radical a dod â mwy o ffyniant a chyfleoedd ar gyfer twf i fae Abertawe a'r cymunedau cyfagos.
Cabinet Secretary, whilst the concept, obviously, as you mention, of a Swansea bay and western Valleys metro is to be welcomed, does the Cabinet Secretary recognise concerns within the Neath Port Talbot area around the need to protect the status of Neath railway station as part of any metro proposal, and what discussions have you undertaken with the local authority and other stakeholders to address those concerns?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er bod y cysyniad o fetro ar gyfer bae Abertawe a'r Cymoedd gorllewinol, yn amlwg, fel y soniwch, yn un i'w groesawu, a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cydnabod pryderon yn ardal Castell-nedd Port Talbot mewn perthynas â'r angen i ddiogelu statws gorsaf drenau Castell-nedd fel rhan o unrhyw gynnig metro, a pha drafodaethau rydych wedi'u cael gyda'r awdurdod lleol a rhanddeiliaid eraill i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon hynny?
Well, I think the local authority has been very clear in its position on Neath station. I've listened very carefully and I accept the argument that Neath station and, indeed, many other stations in the area shouldn't just be protected but should be enhanced. I will look at any proposals within the metro vision that will deliver improved infrastructure across the entire network.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod yr awdurdod lleol wedi gwneud ei safbwynt ynghylch gorsaf Castell-nedd yn glir iawn. Rwyf wedi gwrando'n ofalus iawn ac rwy'n derbyn y ddadl y dylid gwella yn ogystal â diogelu gorsaf Castell-nedd, a llawer o orsafoedd eraill yn yr ardal yn wir. Byddaf yn edrych ar unrhyw gynigion o fewn y weledigaeth ar gyfer y metro a fydd yn sicrhau gwell seilwaith ar draws y rhwydwaith cyfan.
11. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet amlinellu cynlluniau i wella twristiaeth yn ne-orllewin Cymru? OAQ51853
11. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline plans to improve tourism in south-west Wales? OAQ51853
Er mwyn gwella twristiaeth, rydym ni, wrth gwrs, yn buddsoddi fel Llywodraeth ar draws Cymru. Yn 2017, yn rhanbarth Gorllewin De Cymru, y mae'r Aelod yn ei gynrychioli, roedd hynny'n cynnwys meysydd parcio i geir a choetsis yn Rhosili; gwelliannau sylweddol i westy Fairyhill, y ces i gyfle i ymweld ag o yn gymharol ddiweddar a gweld effaith y gwelliannau ar y cynnig i ymwelwyr i fod yn rhan o ardal o harddwch naturiol eithriadol wrth fwynhau eu gwyliau; datblygiad yn siop goffi Three Cliffs; yn ogystal â chefnogaeth, mae'n dda gen i ddweud, i'r gwesty hanesyddol hwnnw, Gwesty’r Castell, Castle Hotel, yng Nghastell-nedd—un o'r gwestyau pwysicaf, wrth gwrs, yn hanes datblygiad chwaraeon yng Nghymru.
In order to improve tourism, we as a Government, of course, invest across Wales. In 2017, in the South Wales West region of Wales, which the Member represents, this included visitor car and coach parking at Rhossili; significant improvements to Fairyhill hotel, which I had an opportunity to visit relatively recently and to see the impact of those improvements on the visitor offer in being part of an area of outstanding natural beauty as they enjoy their holidays; the development of the Three Cliffs coffee shop; as well as help, I’m pleased to say, for that historic hotel, the Castle Hotel, in Neath—one of the most important hotels in the history of the development of sport in Wales.
Diolch am yr esboniad clir hwnnw o'r hyn sydd yn bwysig i fy ardal i ac eraill yn yr ystafell yma. Rwy'n gofyn y cwestiwn oherwydd un o brif bwyntiau eich cynllun economaidd yw twristiaeth a diwylliant. Rŷm ni wedi gweld yn ardal Castell-nedd Port Talbot fod yr awdurdod lleol wedi cynnig bod toriadau'n cael eu gwneud i amgueddfa Cefn Coed, sydd yn rhywbeth y dylem ni ei adfer a'i ddatblygu yn yr ardal. Hefyd, maen nhw wedi cynnig toriadau o 30.6 y cant i Ganolfan Celfyddydau Pontardawe, sydd hefyd yn bwysig fel canolfan celfyddydol byw yn yr ardal honno, ond hefyd ar gyfer cymoedd Abertawe ac Abertawe a Chastell-nedd yn fwy cyffredinol. Sut fydd y toriadau yma yn cyd-fynd â'r system economaidd sydd gyda chi fel Llywodraeth o hybu a datblygu twristiaeth a'r celfyddydau yn lleol?
Thank you for that clear explanation of what is important for my region and that of others in this Chamber. I ask this question because one of the main points of your economic plan is tourism and culture. We have seen in the Neath Port Talbot area that the local authority has proposed that cuts be made to the Cefn Coed museum, which is something that we would like to see restored and developed. There have also been cuts put forward of 30.6 per cent to Pontardawe Arts Centre, which is also important as a vibrant arts centre for that area, and for the Swansea valley and for Swansea and Neath more generally. How will these cuts align with the economic system that you have, as a Government, of promoting and developing tourism and the arts locally?
Wel, mae twristiaeth, wrth gwrs, yn un o'r diwydiannau sylfaenol sydd wedi'u nodi yn y cynllun economaidd. Nid ydym ni fel Llywodraeth yn gyfrifol am benderfyniadau gan awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn â'u cyllideb nhw, ond rwy'n meddwl y byddai fo'n adeiladol iawn pe byddai awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud beth y ces i gyfle i gymryd rhan ynddo fo yn sir Gaerfyrddin yn ddiweddar iawn, sef cael trafodaeth hir a manwl ynglŷn â blaenoriaethau yr awdurdod, ac yn arbennig lle roedd y cyngor sir yn gweld cyfle i fanteisio ar amrywiol gynlluniau sydd yn dod o fewn cyllideb yr adran rwy'n gyfrifol amdani, ond yn arbennig y cynlluniau sydd yn darparu ar gyfer twristiaeth ond sydd hefyd yn darparu yn yr un modd tuag at drigianwyr ac ymwelwyr lleol. Felly, nid wyf i am wneud sylw am benderfyniad awdurdodau lleol, ond mi fyddai o'n haws o lawer pe byddai awdurdodau yn trafod eu blaenoriaethau gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn y gwahanol feysydd yma.
Well, tourism, of course, is one of the foundation industries noted in the economic plan. We as a Government are not responsible for decisions taken by local authorities on their budgets, but I do think that it would be very constructive if local authorities were to do what I had an opportunity to participate in in Carmarthenshire very recently, namely to have a lengthy and detailed discussion on the priorities of the authority, particularly where the county council saw an opportunity to benefit from the various schemes that come within the budgets of the department that I am responsible for, particularly those schemes that make provision for tourism but which also, similarly, make provision for local residents and visitors. So, I’m not going to comment on decisions taken by local authorities, but it would be much easier if local authorities were to discuss their priorities with the Welsh Government in these various different areas.
Minister, you started in Swansea, you went to Neath—come to Aberavon and see some of the fantastic sites for tourism in Margam Park and the Afan valley. Many mining communities up in the Afan valleys and other valleys have moved to tourism as an opportunity to actually look at growing the economy. We have projects in the Afan valley. I know the Rhondda tunnel is going between Rhondda and the Afan valley, but there is also the Afan valley project—the resort project that has been proposed. These are opportunities that provide local people with jobs and skills that we can use in their home place. Will you come and visit that site to look at it and to ensure that tourism can actually get a community to thrive and start developing itself, based upon the fact that it's actually had a long period where there's been a lack of growth in the economy because of the loss of those industries?
Weinidog, fe ddechreuoch chi yn Abertawe, fe aethoch i Gastell-nedd—dewch i Aberafan i weld rhai o'r safleoedd gwych ar gyfer twristiaeth ym Mharc Margam a chwm Afan. Mae llawer o gymunedau glofaol yng nghwm Afan a chymoedd eraill wedi troi at dwristiaeth fel cyfle i edrych ar dyfu'r economi mewn gwirionedd. Mae gennym brosiectau yng nghwm Afan. Gwn fod twnnel y Rhondda yn mynd rhwng y Rhondda a chwm Afan, ond ceir prosiect cwm Afan hefyd—y prosiect cyrchfan a gynigiwyd. Mae'r rhain yn gyfleoedd sy'n rhoi swyddi a sgiliau i bobl leol y gallant eu defnyddio yn eu hardaloedd lleol. A wnewch chi ymweld â'r safle hwnnw i edrych arno ac i sicrhau bod twristiaeth yn gallu gwneud i gymuned ffynnu mewn gwirionedd a dechrau datblygu ei hun, yn seiliedig ar y ffaith ei bod wedi cael cyfnod hir lle y bu diffyg twf yn yr economi yn sgil colli'r diwydiannau hynny?
Well, I can hardly say 'no' to you with you sitting there. [Laughter.] We are long-standing friends, obviously, as well as neighbours. But, seriously, I have been trying to visit as many of these sites as possible. I was in Cwmcarn recently, where I saw how the development of the relationship between the forestry, which has had serious problems, and the paths and the way the local authority can, by developing an excellent centre, get involved in the development of tourism, especially tourism based on cycling. I was also, of course, in my own part of the world at Coed y Brenin, which one might describe as second only to the Afan valley—[Laughter.]—as a centre of tourism and mountain biking. Certainly, I will come to the Afan valley, but I can only praise the efforts of all our mining communities, both the coal-mining communities, the lead-mining communities around where I live, and of course the slate-mining communities, which have all contributed immensely to the tourism offer now available, and I hope to be visiting Zip World and Surf Snowdonia and other of these facilities, none of which are now in the area that I represent, but not too far from the area where I live. So, I'm on the case, Dai.
Wel, prin y gallaf ddweud 'na' wrthych â chithau'n eistedd yno. [Chwerthin.] Rydym yn hen ffrindiau, yn amlwg, yn ogystal â chymdogion. Ond o ddifrif, rwyf wedi bod yn ceisio ymweld â chynifer o'r safleoedd hyn â phosibl. Roeddwn yng Nghwmcarn yn ddiweddar, lle y gwelais sut y gall datblygu'r berthynas rhwng y llwybrau a choedwigaeth, sydd wedi cael problemau difrifol, a'r ffordd y gall awdurdod lleol, drwy ddatblygu canolfan wych, chwarae rhan yn y broses o ddatblygu twristiaeth, yn enwedig twristiaeth sy'n seiliedig ar feicio. Roeddwn hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn fy rhan i o'r byd yng Nghoed y Brenin, y gallai rhywun ei ddisgrifio fel ail yn unig i gwm Afan—[Chwerthin.]—fel canolfan dwristiaeth a beicio mynydd. Yn sicr, fe ddof i gwm Afan, ond ni allaf ond canmol ymdrechion ein holl gymunedau mwyngloddio, y cymunedau glofaol, y cymunedau mwyngloddio plwm yn yr ardal lle rwy'n byw, a chymunedau'r chwareli llechi wrth gwrs, sydd wedi cyfrannu'n aruthrol at y cynnig twristiaeth sydd ar gael bellach, ac rwy'n gobeithio ymweld â Zip World a Surf Snowdonia a rhai eraill o'r cyfleusterau hyn, nad oes yr un ohonynt yn yr ardal rwy'n ei chynrychioli, ond nad ydynt yn rhy bell o'r ardal lle rwy'n byw. Felly, rwy'n gweithio ar hynny, Dai.
12. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer ffordd osgoi Bontnewydd a Chaernarfon? OAQ51868
12. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government plans for the Bontnewydd and Caernarfon bypass? OAQ51868
Diolch. I'm currently considering the findings and recommendations of the inspector's report that has been received following the public local inquiry, before making a decision on the scheme this spring.
Diolch. Ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n ystyried canfyddiadau ac argymhellion adroddiad yr arolygydd, a ddaeth i law yn dilyn yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus lleol, cyn gwneud penderfyniad ynglŷn â'r cynllun y gwanwyn hwn.
Maddeuwch i mi am fynd yn fwy a mwy rhwystredig efo hyn. Mae hi’n hen bryd cael cyhoeddiad ynglŷn â chynllun y ffordd osgoi. Mae hi ddwy flynedd ar ei hôl hi yn barod, ac mi gefais addewid gennych chi y byddai yna gyhoeddiad yn y flwyddyn newydd. I mi, mae’r flwyddyn newydd wedi hen basio, ac rŷm ni rŵan ym mis Mawrth, a dal ddim wedi cael cyhoeddiad. Yn ogystal â lleihau tagfeydd traffig, mi fyddai’r ardal yn elwa’n economaidd o’r cynllun, ac fe ellid creu 40 o brentisiaethau yn fy ardal i yn syth petai yna gyhoeddiad yn cael ei wneud. Felly, a gaf i bwyso arnoch chi i gyhoeddi cychwyn y cynllun yma yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf?
Forgive me for my increasing frustration here. It's about time we had an announcement on the bypass. It's two years behind schedule already, and I was given a pledge by you that there would be an announcement in the new year. For me, the new year has long since passed, and we are into March and we still haven't had an announcement. As well as reducing traffic jams, the area would benefit economically from the proposal, and 40 apprenticeships could be created immediately in my area if there were to be an announcement made. So, may I urge you to announce the commencement of this scheme over the next few weeks?
I listened very carefully to what the Member had to say. I can assure the Member that it is essential that sufficient consideration is given to an inquiry's report in order to avoid any subsequent judicial action. The inspector considered 20 expressions of support for the scheme and 160 objections. The inspector also considered 20 alternative routes as part of the inquiry process. The inspector has presented his considerations along with his recommendations in a detailed report to my officials. I can assure the Member that I will be reaching a decision on this matter this spring.
Gwrandewais yn ofalus iawn ar yr hyn oedd gan yr Aelod i'w ddweud. Gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod ei bod yn hanfodol fod ystyriaeth ddigonol yn cael ei rhoi i adroddiad ymchwiliad er mwyn osgoi unrhyw gamau barnwrol dilynol. Mae'r arolygydd wedi ystyried 20 datganiad o gefnogaeth i'r cynllun a 160 o wrthwynebiadau. Mae'r arolygydd hefyd wedi ystyried 20 llwybr amgen fel rhan o broses yr ymchwiliad. Mae'r arolygydd wedi cyflwyno ei ystyriaethau ynghyd â'i argymhellion mewn adroddiad manwl i fy swyddogion. Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod y byddaf yn dod i benderfyniad ar y mater yn ystod y gwanwyn eleni.
13. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddatganiad am ddatblygu economaidd yn rhanbarth Gogledd Cymru? OAQ51847
13. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on economic development in the North Wales region? OAQ51847
Yes. A renewed economic vision for north Wales will emerge from the regional agenda contained in the Welsh Government's 'Prosperity for All' economic action plan document, integrating the aspirations of the north Wales growth bid and incorporating and capitalising on opportunities associated with key sectors and, of course, the Northern Powerhouse.
Gwnaf. Bydd gweledigaeth economaidd newydd ar gyfer gogledd Cymru yn deillio o'r agenda ranbarthol sydd wedi'i chynnwys yn nogfen cynllun gweithredu economaidd 'Ffyniant i Bawb' Llywodraeth Cymru, gan integreiddio dyheadau cynnig twf gogledd Cymru ac ymgorffori a manteisio ar gyfleoedd sy'n gysylltiedig â sectorau allweddol, a Phwerdy Gogledd Lloegr wrth gwrs.
Thank you for that answer. Cabinet Secretary, at the weekend, the gap between the richest and poorest in the UK was highlighted, where the poor relation of the UK was west Wales. I've been looking into the relative prosperity of my region, and I find a large gap of around £50 per week in average earnings between those living there and those living and working in South Wales Central. What are you going to do to address this inequality and close the gap between the north and the south?
Diolch i chi am yr ateb hwnnw. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, dros y penwythnos, tynnwyd sylw at y bwlch rhwng y cyfoethocaf a'r tlotaf yn y DU, a gorllewin Cymru oedd perthynas dlawd y DU. Rwyf wedi bod yn edrych ar ffyniant cymharol fy rhanbarth, ac rwyf wedi dod o hyd i fwlch mawr o tua £50 yr wythnos mewn enillion cyfartalog rhwng y rhai sy'n byw yno a'r rhai sy'n byw ac yn gweithio yng Nghanol De Cymru. Beth y bwriadwch ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r anghydraddoldeb hwn a chau'r bwlch rhwng y gogledd a'r de?
Well, it's not just a gap between the north and the south. We see inequalities in all communities, and between the north and the south, between the east and the west, between communities that are adjacent to one another. The whole purpose of the economic action plan is to iron out those inequalities and to offer higher quality jobs to people close to their homes and to equip people with the skills to be able to get into work. I think the report that's been published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlights just how dire the consequences of austerity have been, particularly for lower income households—especially for those households where there are children, because they've lost considerably more during austerity as a consequence of welfare reform and benefits cuts: around 12 per cent of net income has been lost to the lower earning households within our communities. Large families are particularly hard hit, losing around £7,750 a year, or one fifth of their net income on average. I think this is pretty shameful. We're going to be addressing it, and we are addressing it, through changing the way that we work, in order to provide more opportunities for higher quality employment for those who are furthest from the jobs market, or for those who are in work lacking the resource or the earnings potential to be able to live comfortably by focusing on the development of higher quality jobs and more and better career pathways within work.
Wel, nid bwlch rhwng y gogledd a'r de yn unig ydyw. Rydym yn gweld anghydraddoldebau ym mhob cymuned, a rhwng y gogledd a'r de, rhwng y dwyrain a'r gorllewin, rhwng cymunedau sy'n ffinio â'i gilydd. Holl bwrpas y cynllun gweithredu economaidd yw datrys yr anghydraddoldebau hynny a chynnig swyddi o ansawdd uwch i bobl yn agos at eu cartrefi a darparu'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar bobl i ddod o hyd i waith. Rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd heddiw gan Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree yn pwysleisio pa mor enbyd y mae goblygiadau cyni wedi bod, yn enwedig i aelwydydd incwm is—yn arbennig ar gyfer aelwydydd â phlant, oherwydd maent wedi colli cryn dipyn yn fwy yn ystod cyni o ganlyniad i ddiwygio lles a thoriadau i fudd-daliadau: mae'r aelwydydd sy'n ennill llai yn ein cymunedau wedi colli oddeutu 12 y cant o incwm net. Mae teuluoedd mawr yn cael eu taro'n arbennig o galed, gan golli oddeutu £7,750 y flwyddyn, neu un rhan o bump o'u hincwm net ar gyfartaledd. Credaf fod hyn yn gywilyddus. Byddwn yn mynd i'r afael â hyn, ac rydym yn mynd i'r afael â hyn, drwy newid y ffordd rydym yn gweithio, er mwyn darparu mwy o gyfleoedd gwaith o ansawdd uwch i'r rhai sydd bellaf oddi wrth y farchnad swyddi, neu i rai sydd mewn gwaith ac nad oes ganddynt yr adnoddau na'r potensial i ennill digon i allu byw'n gysurus drwy ganolbwyntio ar ddatblygu swyddi o ansawdd uwch a mwy o lwybrau gyrfa gwell yn y gwaith.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau amserol, a'r cwestiwn cyntaf—Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The next item, therefore, are the topical questions. The first question is from Rhun ap Iorwerth.
1. Beth yw ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i effeithiau storm Emma ar Gaergybi? 150
1. What is the Welsh Government's response to the effects of storm Emma on Holyhead? 150
Diolch. Natural Resources Wales are working with the Holyhead marina, the port authority and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the clean-up and to minimise further fuel loss or escape of debris into the environment. This includes taking action to deal with the polystyrene that has spilled into the water. I will be visiting Holyhead port and marina tomorrow to meet with all agencies involved.
Diolch. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gweithio gyda marina Caergybi, yr awdurdod porthladd ac Asiantaeth y Môr a Gwylwyr y Glannau ar y gwaith glanhau ac i gyfyngu ar y tanwydd neu'r gweddillion sydd wedi gollwng i'r amgylchedd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cymryd camau i ymdrin â'r polystyren sydd wedi gollwng i'r dŵr. Byddaf yn ymweld â phorthladd a marina Caergybi yfory i gyfarfod â'r holl asiantaethau perthnasol.
Diolch am yr ymateb yna. Mi oeddwn i ym marina Caergybi ddydd Gwener, yn syth ar ôl y storm, ac mi oedd yr olygfa—llawer ohonoch chi wedi ei gweld hi ar y teledu ac ati—yn un wirioneddol dorcalonnus: dinistr llwyr yno. Wrth gwrs, mae yna lawer o gychod pleser personol yno, a rheini'n bwysig yn economaidd i'r ardal, ond mi oedd yna bymtheg o gychod masnachol yn y marina hefyd, a llawer o'r rheini wedi cael eu dinistrio neu eu difrodi yn rhannol.
Rŵan, mae'r holl fusnesau sy'n defnyddio'r marina yn rhan bwysig o economi forwrol Môn, ac o ystyried y pwyslais rŵan, o'r diwedd, diolch byth, ar ddatblygu strategaeth forwrol i Gymru, mi hoffwn i wybod pa fath o becyn cymorth y gall y Llywodraeth ei roi at ei gilydd i gefnogi y busnesau yma rŵan yn eu hawr o angen yn y byr dymor. Yn ail, yn edrych y tu hwnt i'r tymor byr, a gaf i ymrwymiad y gwnaiff y Llywodraeth helpu i ariannu gwaith ymchwil i'r angen posib am amddiffynfa i'r rhan yma o'r harbwr yng Nghaergybi yn y dyfodol? Fel is-gwestiwn i hynny, o bosib: a ydych chi'n cytuno bod yna rôl bwysig iawn i adran astudiaethau eigion Prifysgol Bangor yn y gwaith yma, yn cynnwys defnydd o'u llong ymchwil, y Prince Madog?
Yn olaf wedyn, ac yn allweddol—rydych chi wedi cyfeirio ato fo—yn y byr dymor, rydym ni yn wynebu problem amgylcheddol ddifrifol yn sgil y storm. Rydw i'n deall nad oedd yna ormod o danwydd yn y llongau—bod y rhan fwyaf o hwnnw wedi cael ei gasglu, ond yn sicr rydym ni'n wynebu bygythiad mawr o ran llygredd yn dod o weddillion polisteirin y pontoons yn y marina. Mae yna fygythiad gwirioneddol yn dod gan bolisteirin. Roeddwn i ar wefan yr Institute for European Environmental Policy yn gynharach—yn sôn am y perig o fywyd môr yn bwyta olion polisteirin sy'n cael ei dorri'n ddarnau mân ac yn aros yn hir iawn, y perig pan mae hynny'n mynd i mewn i'r gadwyn fwyd ac ati.
Mae cwestiynau wedi cael eu gofyn i fi a oedd ymateb asiantaethau Llywodraeth Cymru'n ddigon cyflym ar ôl y storm i'r perig llygredd yma. Mae pobl leol wedi cael eu siarsio i gadw oddi ar y creigiau, i beidio â chymryd rhan yn y gwaith llnau, ond mae llawer wedi dweud wrthyf i eu bod nhw'n teimlo bod rhaid iddyn nhw oherwydd eu bod nhw'n gweld diffyg swyddogion swyddogol, os leiciwch chi, yno yn gwneud y gwaith llnau. Ond beth bynnag ddigwyddodd ar y pryd, rŵan, bum niwrnod ymlaen, mi hoffwn i ddiweddariad ynglŷn â'r hyn sydd yn cael ei wneud i ddelio â'r llygredd yna a sicrwydd y bydd beth bynnag sydd ei angen yn cael ei wneud i sicrhau nad ydym ni'n wynebu mwy o'r dinistr amgylcheddol yma rydym ni wedi'i weld yn barod.
Thank you for that response. I was at Holyhead marina on Friday, immediately after the storm, and the scene—many of you will have seen the pictures on television and so on—was truly heartbreaking: utter destruction. There were many pleasure boats there, which are important to the area, but there were also commercial boats in the marina, and many of those had been destroyed or partially damaged.
Now, all of the businesses using the marina make up an important part of the marine economy of Anglesey, and given the emphasis now, at last, thank goodness, on developing the maritime strategy for Wales, I would like to know what kind of support package the Government can put together to support these businesses in their hour of need in the short term. Secondly, and looking beyond the short term, may I be given a commitment that the Government will assist to fund research into the possible need for a sea defence for this part of the harbour in Holyhead? As a question related to that: would you agree that there’s an important role for the oceanography department at Bangor University in this important work, including the use of their research ship, the Prince Madog?
Finally, and crucially—and you have referred to this—in the short term, we are facing a grave environmental problem as a result of the storm. I understand that there wasn’t too much fuel in the boats, and that most of it has been collected, but there is certainly a huge problem in terms of the polystyrene debris of the pontoons in the marina. There’s a real threat as a result of polystyrene. I was on the Institute for European Environmental Policy website earlier, where they discussed the risks to sea life ingesting polystyrene, which can be broken up into very small particles and will then remain for a long time, and the risk when that gets into the food chain and so on and so forth.
Questions have been asked as to whether the response of Welsh Government agencies was swift enough following the storm in terms of the pollution damage. Local people have been told to keep away from the shore and not to participate in the clean-up, but many of them have said that they feel that they have to because they don’t see officials undertaking that work. But whatever happened then, now, five days later, I would like an update on what is being done to deal with the pollution, and an assurance that whatever needs to be done will be done to ensure that we don’t face more environmental destruction than we’ve already seen.
Thank you, Rhun ap Iorwerth, for that question. I would like to say from the outset that I'm very grateful to all those who have been involved in the clean-up operation. I think, because of their hard work, we have helped to minimise the environmental impact of this very unfortunate event, and I absolutely appreciate the effect that the storm damage has had on many people's livelihoods, and that's obviously a very distressing situation for them all.
You ask a series of questions; in relation to the boats, there are about 85 boats that have been damaged, of which five are commercial fishing boats.
I'm very happy to give consideration to possible financial support for public infrastructure repair. Also if there's any further environmental damage that needs cleaning up, I'm very happy to look at that, and that's obviously something I'll be discussing on my visit tomorrow. You say that it's been a grave environmental impact; I want to see for myself what it is, but certainly, questions haven't been raised with me about our response not being quick enough. I've been having several briefings every day since this happened on Friday, and, certainly, my understanding is from NRW that it's progressed in a very smooth way.
There is a north Wales standing environment group, of which my officials are members; that hasn't been brought together because there wasn't the need to do that. Now, if you are saying that there is a grave environmental situation, when I get there tomorrow, I will want to know why that hasn't been brought together if that's the case. But, certainly, my understanding is it hasn't been convened because they are happy with the way that the clean-up has gone to plan at the current time.So, I'll be very happy to update you following my visit there tomorrow, and, obviously, other Members too.
Whether we need to have a sea defence there is something that clearly needs to be looked at. This was an absolutely catastrophic event that happened on Friday, and whilst I appreciate we haven't seen weather like that for a long time in Wales, I think there are questions to be asked why it was so catastrophic. You said about the pictures, and, certainly, at home last weekend, to see those photographs were just heartbreaking. But as I said, Llywydd, I will be very happy to update the Member following my visit tomorrow.
Diolch i chi am eich cwestiwn, Rhun ap Iorwerth. Hoffwn ddweud o'r cychwyn fy mod yn ddiolchgar iawn i bawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y gwaith glanhau. Oherwydd eu gwaith caled, rwy'n credu ein bod wedi helpu i leihau effaith amgylcheddol y digwyddiad anffodus iawn hwn, ac rwy'n llwyr ddeall yr effaith y mae difrod y storm wedi'i chael ar fywoliaeth llawer o bobl, ac mae honno'n amlwg yn sefyllfa ofidus iawn i bob un ohonynt.
Rydych yn gofyn cyfres o gwestiynau; mewn perthynas â'r cychod, mae tua 85 o gychod wedi cael eu difrodi, ac mae pump o'r rheini'n gychod pysgota masnachol.
Rwy'n hapus iawn i ystyried cymorth ariannol posibl ar gyfer atgyweirio seilwaith cyhoeddus. Hefyd os oes unrhyw ddifrod amgylcheddol pellach sydd angen cael ei lanhau, rwy'n hapus iawn i edrych ar hynny, ac mae hwnnw'n amlwg yn rhywbeth y byddaf yn ei drafod yn ystod fy ymweliad yfory. Rydych yn dweud ei fod wedi cael effaith amgylcheddol ddifrifol; rwyf eisiau gweld beth ydyw drosof fy hun, ond yn sicr, nid oes neb wedi gofyn cwestiynau i mi'n dweud nad oedd ein hymateb yn ddigon cyflym. Rwyf wedi cael nifer o sesiynau briffio bob dydd ers i hyn ddigwydd ddydd Gwener, ac yn sicr, yn ôl yr hyn rwy'n ei ddeall gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, mae'r gwaith wedi datblygu mewn ffordd esmwyth iawn.
Ceir grŵp amgylchedd sefydlog gogledd Cymru, ac mae fy swyddogion yn aelodau ohono; nid yw'r grŵp hwnnw wedi cyfarfod oherwydd nad oedd angen gwneud hynny. Nawr, os ydych yn dweud bod yna sefyllfa amgylcheddol ddifrifol, pan fyddaf yn cyrraedd yno yfory, byddaf eisiau gwybod pam na fu cyfarfod os yw hynny'n wir. Ond yn sicr, rwy'n deall nad oes cyfarfod wedi bod am eu bod yn hapus fod y gwaith glanhau wedi bod yn digwydd fel y dylai hyd yn hyn. Felly, byddaf yn hapus iawn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi yn dilyn fy ymweliad yfory, ac i'r Aelodau eraill hefyd, wrth gwrs.
Mae'n amlwg fod angen edrych i weld a oes angen i ni gael amddiffyniad môr yno neu beidio. Roedd hwn yn ddigwyddiad cwbl drychinebus ddydd Gwener, ac er fy mod yn sylweddoli nad ydym wedi gweld tywydd felly ers amser hir yng Nghymru, credaf fod cwestiynau i'w gofyn ynglŷn â pham yr oedd mor drychinebus. Fe ddywedoch am y lluniau, ac yn sicr, roedd gweld y lluniau hynny pan oeddwn gartref y penwythnos diwethaf, yn dorcalonnus. Ond fel y dywedais, Lywydd, byddaf yn hapus iawn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelod yn dilyn fy ymweliad yfory.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Y cwestiwn nesaf, felly, i'w ofyn gan Lee Waters.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary. The next question, therefore, is to be asked by Lee Waters.
2. Pa asesiad y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi'i wneud o effaith rhoi'r gorau i ddarlledu rygbi rhanbarthol am ddim o dymor nesaf ymlaen? 151
2. What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the effect of the end of free-to-air coverage of regional rugby from next season? 151
The Welsh Government recognises that this is a commercial decision, but the Government is deeply concerned about this decision that there will be no free-to-air television coverage of regional rugby in the English language from next season. We are still awaiting the outcome of further negotiations that affect the S4C coverage in the Welsh language and, of course, the red button that would provide for bilingual coverage for viewers in Wales.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod bod hwn yn benderfyniad masnachol, ond mae'r Llywodraeth yn bryderus iawn ynglŷn â'r penderfyniad na fydd unrhyw rygbi rhanbarthol am ddim yn cael ei ddarlledu drwy gyfrwng y Saesneg o'r tymor nesaf ymlaen. Rydym yn dal i ddisgwyl canlyniad negodiadau pellach sy'n effeithio ar ddarllediadau S4C drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg ac wrth gwrs, y botwm coch a fyddai'n darparu darllediadau dwyieithog ar gyfer gwylwyr yng Nghymru.
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. At a time when the Llanelli Scarlets are flying high, I want as many people as possible to see their success, but giving the English language rights for regional rugby to pay tv, the Pro14 are embarking on a risky strategy. Even on free-to-air, audiences for regional games have been falling, and by encouraging a new pay tv channel to outbid the BBC and S4C's joint bid the clubs are gambling in order to get an early pay day. For this to work relies on fans to pay £10 a month. But as I understand it, only two television masts in Wales are capable of receiving the new free sports tv: Moel-y-Parc in Flintshire, and Wenvoe near Cardiff, which doesn't reach Llanelli.
Would the Minister discuss with Premier Sports how fans across Wales will be able to view the new games next season? I am very concerned about the viability of this bid, not least because the chief executive officer of Premier Sport, Mickey O'Rourke, was the CEO of Setanta Sports, which previously failed. You only have to Google Setanta to know it failed because it didn't have a viable business model. The Minister mentions there's still a hope that S4C will get the rights to show some games, but only some games.
Pro14's approach has deliberately broken up the successful partnership between the BBC and S4C and gone for a small and unknown alternative for an unknown amount of money, but from what I hear, it's not a huge difference and I am puzzled as to why they've done it. It will potentially slash the audience for regional rugby, which is already struggling to get audiences, and though broadcasting isn't devolved, the fallout from this decision is. Without Friday and Saturday night rugby, clubs and halls across Wales will suffer. One of BBC Wales's most popular shows, Scrum V, will all but disappear, and new generations of rugby players will not get to see their region play.
So, this is a staggeringly short-sighted decision. Would the Minister meet with Pro14 to discuss what contingency plans they have if this new pay tv channel fails, and encourage them to rethink their decision? Diolch.
Diolch i chi am eich ateb, Weinidog. Ar adeg pan fo Scarlets Llanelli yn gwneud yn dda, rwyf eisiau i gynifer o bobl â phosibl weld eu llwyddiant, ond mae Pro14 yn cychwyn ar strategaeth fentrus wrth roi'r hawliau dros rygbi rhanbarthol yn y Saesneg i wasanaeth talu i wylio. Mae cynulleidfaoedd gemau rhanbarthol wedi bod yn gostwng gyda darllediadau am ddim hyd yn oed, a thrwy annog sianel talu i wylio newydd i drechu'r cynnig ar y cyd gan BBC a S4C, mae'r clybiau'n gamblo er mwyn cael mwy o arian. Er mwyn i hyn weithio mae'n rhaid i gefnogwyr dalu £10 y mis. Ond yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, dim ond dau fast teledu yng Nghymru sy'n gallu derbyn y sianel deledu chwaraeon newydd am ddim: Moel-y-Parc yn Sir y Fflint, a Gwenfô ger Caerdydd, nad yw'n cyrraedd Llanelli.
A wnaiff y Gweinidog drafod gyda Premier Sports sut y bydd cefnogwyr ledled Cymru yn gallu gweld y gemau newydd y tymor nesaf? Rwy'n bryderus iawn ynglŷn â hyfywedd y cais hwn, yn enwedig am mai Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Premier Sports, Mickey O'Rourke, oedd Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Setanta Sports, a oedd yn fethiant. Nid oes ond rhaid i chi edrych ar Google i wybod mai'r rheswm pam y methodd Setanta Sports oedd oherwydd nad oedd ganddo fodel busnes hyfyw. Mae'r Gweinidog yn sôn bod gobaith o hyd y bydd S4C yn cael yr hawliau i ddangos rhai gemau, ond rhai gemau'n unig.
Dull Pro14 o weithredu oedd mynd ati'n fwriadol i dorri'r bartneriaeth lwyddiannus rhwng y BBC ac S4C a gwneud dewis amgen bach ac anhysbys am swm anhysbys o arian, ond o'r hyn rwy'n ei glywed, nid yw'n wahaniaeth enfawr ac ni allaf ddeall pam y gwnaethant hynny. Mae'n bosibl y bydd yn torri cynulleidfa rygbi rhanbarthol, sydd eisoes yn brwydro i gael cynulleidfaoedd, ac er nad yw darlledu wedi'i ddatganoli, mae canlyniad y penderfyniad hwn wedi'i ddatganoli. Heb rygbi ar nos Wener a nos Sadwrn, bydd clybiau a neuaddau ledled Cymru yn dioddef. Bydd un o raglenni mwyaf poblogaidd BBC Cymru, Scrum V, yn diflannu i bob pwrpas, ac ni fydd cenedlaethau newydd o chwaraewyr rygbi yn cael gweld eu rhanbarth yn chwarae.
Felly, mae hwn yn benderfyniad eithriadol o annoeth. A wnaiff y Gweinidog gyfarfod â Pro14 i drafod pa gynlluniau wrth gefn sydd ganddynt os yw'r sianel talu i wylio newydd hon yn methu, a'u hannog i ailystyried eu penderfyniad? Diolch.
As the Member knows—and I'm very grateful to him for expressing his concerns on behalf of the Scarlets and, indeed, all rugby followers in Wales, but it particularly affects his constituency—the Pro14 competition is run by a body called Celtic Rugby UK Limited, which is a private company limited by shares, and it includes among its owners the Irish Rugby Football Union, the Welsh Rugby Union, the Scottish Rugby Union and the Italian Rugby Federation, with a board of directors consisting of two representatives appointed by each union and an independent chairman. So, these people, clearly, should be well aware of the results of their decision, as they discussed the various bids.
Our understanding is that this was a joint bid from BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Alba and S4C, and as we know now, the bid has been rejected, but we have not had clear confirmation from Pro14 of precisely what arrangements are to be undertaken by the successful bidder. I will certainly accede to his request that I should have further discussions, both formally, if necessary, but certainly informally, as I will be meeting the characters involved fairly soon again, as I met some of them this morning, and that we will have those discussions so that we can understand the nature of this decision. But also to take up the point that he has made: what provision can be made to ensure that there is damage limitation as a result of this decision in terms of the ability of Welsh viewers to still participate in these essential games? That may well be in the form of the kind of discussions I understand may be going ahead between S4C at the moment and the successful bidder, about how many games and what permissions they will have to receive, from them, the opportunity to still broadcast both on air and online.
Fel y gŵyr yr aelod—ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn iddo am fynegi ei bryderon ar ran y Scarlets ac yn wir, yr holl ddilynwyr rygbi yng Nghymru, ond mae'n effeithio ar ei etholaeth ef yn arbennig—mae'r gystadleuaeth Pro14 yn cael ei rhedeg gan gorff o'r enw Celtic Rugby UK Limited, sy'n gwmni preifat wedi'i gyfyngu gan gyfranddaliadau, ac mae'n cynnwys, ymhlith ei berchenogion, Undeb Rygbi Iwerddon, Undeb Rygbi Cymru, Undeb Rygbi'r Alban a Ffederasiwn Rygbi'r Eidal, gyda bwrdd cyfarwyddwyr sy'n cynnwys dau gynrychiolydd a benodwyd gan bob undeb a chadeirydd annibynnol. Felly, yn amlwg, dylai'r bobl hyn fod yn ymwybodol iawn o ganlyniadau eu penderfyniad, wrth iddynt drafod y cynigion amrywiol.
Ein dealltwriaeth ni yw bod hwn yn gais ar y cyd gan BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Alba ac S4C, ac fel y gwyddom yn awr, gwrthodwyd y cais, ond nid ydym wedi cael cadarnhad clir gan Pro14 ynglŷn â beth yn union yw'r trefniadau a roddir ar waith gan y cynigydd llwyddiannus. Yn sicr, rwy'n derbyn ei gais y dylwn gael trafodaethau pellach, yn ffurfiol os oes angen, ond yn sicr yn anffurfiol, gan y byddaf yn cyfarfod y cymeriadau dan sylw yn weddol fuan eto, fel y cyfarfûm â rhai ohonynt y bore yma, ac y byddwn yn cael y trafodaethau hynny i ni allu deall natur y penderfyniad hwn. Ond hefyd, i fynd ar ôl y pwynt y mae wedi'i wneud: pa ddarpariaeth y gellir ei gwneud i sicrhau bod y difrod yn cael ei gyfyngu o ganlyniad i'r penderfyniad hwn mewn perthynas â gallu gwylwyr yng Nghymru i barhau i gymryd rhan yn y gemau hanfodol hyn? Mae'n bosibl iawn y gall hynny fod ar ffurf y math o drafodaethau y deallaf efallai eu bod ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd rhwng S4C a'r cynigydd llwyddiannus, ynglŷn â faint o gemau a pha ganiatadau a gânt ganddynt i gael y cyfle i barhau i ddarlledu ar yr awyr ac ar-lein.
Well, I agree with Lee Waters; this is a very bizarre decision, certainly on the face of it. While there may be some incidental benefit for S4C if it does get some free-to-air viewing, by more viewers switching to S4C just for those games, I don't think that that, in itself, seems to justify the decision that's been made.
You say it's a commercial decision and that's absolutely true, but it's also true to say that Welsh Government has supported the WRU in the past with a range of grants, through strategic regeneration funding, through the community facilities and activities programme and through Sport Wales, of course. So, I think it's entirely right that Welsh Government should ask for some detail about how this decision was made, and very specifically, what arguments WRU put forward to maintain free-to-air coverage on Welsh language television; how hard they pushed that; and, in particular, what effect they think a probably limited viewership is going to have on their sponsorship, because, of course, sponsorship is key to maintaining Pro14, not just the commercial charging. And it strikes me, as I say, on the face of it, that this is an absolutely crazy decision if they're expecting sponsorship in the future.
Wel, rwy'n cytuno gyda Lee Waters; mae hwn yn benderfyniad rhyfedd iawn, yn sicr ar yr wyneb. Er y gallai fod rhai manteision i S4C o ganlyniad os caiff rywfaint o ddarlledu am ddim, drwy fod mwy o wylwyr yn newid i S4C ar gyfer y gemau hynny, nid wyf yn credu bod hynny, ynddo'i hun, i'w weld yn cyfiawnhau'r penderfyniad a wnaed.
Rydych yn dweud ei fod yn benderfyniad masnachol ac mae hynny'n berffaith wir, ond mae hefyd yn wir fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnogi Undeb Rygbi Cymru yn y gorffennol gydag amrywiaeth o grantiau, drwy gyfrwng cyllid adfywio strategol, drwy'r rhaglen cyfleusterau a gweithgareddau cymunedol a thrwy Chwaraeon Cymru, wrth gwrs. Felly, credaf ei bod yn hollol gywir i Lywodraeth Cymru ofyn am rai manylion ynglŷn â sut y gwnaethpwyd y penderfyniad hwn, ac yn benodol iawn, pa ddadleuon a gyflwynodd Undeb Rygbi Cymru dros gynnal darllediadau am ddim ar deledu iaith Gymraeg; pa mor galed y gwthiwyd hynny ganddynt; ac yn benodol, pa effaith y credant y bydd nifer gyfyngedig, yn ôl pob tebyg, o wylwyr yn ei chael ar eu nawdd, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae nawdd yn allweddol i gynnal Pro14, nid y gost fasnachol yn unig. Ac mae'n ymddangos i mi ar yr wyneb, fel rwy'n dweud, fod hwn yn benderfyniad hollol wallgof os ydynt yn disgwyl nawdd yn y dyfodol.
I'm afraid I can't follow that line of argument. Our relationship with S4C, as Welsh Government, is specifically directed at supporting their activities in developing community rugby. And clearly, there is a close link between the community rugby and the possibility of viewers in Wales being able to follow the Pro14 regional rugby games. I have had meetings recently with the Welsh Rugby Union, both formally and informally, and as a result of this discussion today, which they will have heard, I can assure you that I will pursue all avenues that I can, short of seeking to interfere in a commercial decision. Because we have to make it quite clear that this Government is not in the business of damaging our relationships with bodies that take commercial decisions with which we may disagree.
Yn anffodus, ni allaf ddilyn rhesymeg y ddadl honno. Mae ein perthynas ag S4C, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, wedi'i hanelu'n benodol at gefnogi eu gweithgareddau yn datblygu rygbi cymunedol. Ac yn amlwg, ceir cysylltiad agos rhwng rygbi cymunedol a'r posibilrwydd y bydd gwylwyr yng Nghymru yn gallu dilyn gemau rygbi rhanbarthol Pro14. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod yn ddiweddar gydag Undeb Rygbi Cymru, yn ffurfiol ac yn anffurfiol, ac o ganlyniad i'r drafodaeth hon heddiw, y byddant wedi'i chlywed, gallaf eich sicrhau y byddaf yn mynd ar drywydd pob llwybr posibl, ar wahân i geisio ymyrryd mewn penderfyniad masnachol. Oherwydd mae'n rhaid i ni ei gwneud yn gwbl glir nad bwriad y Llywodraeth hon yw niweidio ein perthynas â chyrff sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau masnachol y gallem fod yn anghytuno â hwy.
I'm grateful to my friend Lee Waters for raising this important issue today. As a season-ticket holder at the Dragons, I'm deeply disappointed about this decision to move to pay tv. My love of sport, like many people's, came from watching on free-to-air television. I understand that there's a balance to be struck between using television to promote the game and using television money to pay for professional players, but we have to be mindful of creating a new elitism in which people of all ages who struggle to get to regional games are disproportionately excluded. And there are already examples of this in English and Welsh cricket, and in Irish rugby.
Worryingly, research by Dr Paul Rouse at the university of Dublin gives an example in Ireland of the difference between two Leinster games in the Heineken Cup. The number of women who watched the 2006 Leinster game on national Irish television was 67,000, compared to only 9,000 who tuned in to Sky in 2007. Similarly affected were the over-55s. If the Welsh regions do get more money, as this deal promises, what commitments would the Minister seek from the regions to ensure that they reach a wider audience to make up for the loss of mass exposure on tv, and to guarantee that there's not a two-tier fan base in Welsh regional rugby in the future? And finally, what opportunities does the Minister think exist to boost Welsh premiership rugby exposure from this decision?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i fy nghyfaill Lee Waters am godi'r mater pwysig hwn heddiw. Fel deiliad tocyn tymor gyda'r Dreigiau, rwy'n siomedig iawn ynglŷn â'r penderfyniad i newid i sianel talu wrth wylio. Datblygodd fy hoffter o chwaraeon, fel llawer o bobl, drwy wylio darllediadau am ddim. Deallaf fod angen cydbwysedd rhwng defnyddio teledu i hyrwyddo'r gêm a defnyddio arian teledu i dalu am chwaraewyr proffesiynol, ond mae'n rhaid i ni wylio rhag creu elitiaeth newydd lle mae pobl o bob oed sy'n cael trafferth i gyrraedd gemau rhanbarthol yn cael eu gwahardd yn anghymesur. Ac mae yna eisoes enghreifftiau o hyn gyda chriced yng Nghymru a Lloegr, a rygbi yn Iwerddon.
Mae'n destun gofid bod gwaith ymchwil gan Dr Paul Rouse ym mhrifysgol Dulyn yn rhoi enghraifft o'r gwahaniaeth rhwng dwy o gemau Leinster ym mhencampwriaeth Cwpan Heineken yn Iwerddon. Gwyliodd 67,000 o fenywod gêm Leinster ar deledu cenedlaethol Gwyddelig yn 2006, o'i gymharu â 9,000 yn unig a wyliodd y gêm ar Sky yn 2007. Cafodd pobl dros 55 oed eu heffeithio yn yr un modd. Os bydd rhanbarthau Cymru yn cael mwy o arian, fel y mae'r fargen hon yn addo, pa ymrwymiadau y byddai'r Gweinidog yn ceisio eu sicrhau gan y rhanbarthau i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cyrraedd cynulleidfa ehangach i wneud iawn am golli sylw torfol ar y teledu, ac i warantu nad oes dwy haen i sylfaen cefnogwyr rygbi rhanbarthol Cymru yn y dyfodol? Ac yn olaf, pa gyfleoedd y mae'r Gweinidog yn credu sy'n bodoli i roi hwb i'r sylw a gaiff rygbi uwch gynghrair Cymru o'r penderfyniad hwn?
I'm very grateful for that further question. It will be clear to those following this exchange that there is no support in this Chamber for the decision that has been taken in terms of the awarding of this particular opportunity to broadcast. It is significantly important, as you pointed out from your own experience, that there should be an opportunity for people to openly follow the coverage of significant sporting events, which leads to participation, recruitment of supporters who offer their lifelong support to rugby, as many of us do here to rugby—and indeed to football—in Wales. Therefore, it is imperative that we should, as a Government, continue to discuss with the sporting organisations that, as was already raised, we in fact do support. These questions that are being raised today are ones that I will personally—I give you this undertaking—that I will personally raise, not only with the WRU, and therefore through them with the Pro14, but also: what are the consequences, both for community rugby and for the premiership? This is certainly something that we would want to explore as a Government, and I give you the undertaking that you seek.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiwn pellach. Fe fydd yn glir i'r rhai sy'n dilyn y drafodaeth hon nad oes unrhyw gefnogaeth yn y Siambr i'r penderfyniad a wnaed i ddyfarnu'r cyfle penodol hwn i ddarlledu. Mae'n bwysig iawn, fel rydych wedi nodi o'ch profiad eich hun, fod cyfle i bobl ddilyn darllediadau o ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon o bwys yn agored, gan arwain at gyfranogiad, recriwtio cefnogwyr sy'n cynnig eu cefnogaeth gydol oes i rygbi, fel y mae llawer ohonom yma yn ei wneud i rygbi—ac yn wir i bêl-droed—yng Nghymru. Felly, mae'n hollbwysig y dylem, fel Llywodraeth, barhau i drafod gyda'r sefydliadau chwaraeon rydym yn eu cefnogi mewn gwirionedd, fel y nodwyd eisoes. Mae'r cwestiynau sy'n cael eu gofyn heddiw yn rhai—rwy'n ymrwymo i hyn—y byddaf yn eu gofyn yn bersonol, nid yn unig i Undeb Rygbi Cymru, ac felly drwyddynt hwy i Pro14, ond hefyd: beth yw'r canlyniadau, i rygbi cymunedol ac i'r uwch gynghrair? Mae hyn yn sicr yn rhywbeth y byddem eisiau ei ystyried fel Llywodraeth, ac rwy'n rhoi'r ymrwymiad rydych yn gofyn amdano.
Diolch yn fawr i'r Gweinidog, a'r cwestiwn olaf amserol, felly, gan David Melding.
I thank the Minister, and the final topical question, therefore, is from David Melding.