Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
23/01/2019Cynnwys
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 pawb i drefn.
I call everybody to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Huw Irranca-Davies.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, and the first question is from Huw Irranca-Davies.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddull Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru o ailgoedwigo mewn ardaloedd yng Nghymoedd De Cymru sydd wedi'u dinoethi gan y clefyd llarwydd? OAQ53261
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the Natural Resources Wales approach to reforestation in areas in the South Wales valleys denuded by larch disease? OAQ53261
Thank you. Wales has suffered unprecedented levels of phytophthora ramorum disease, which has forced clearance of large areas of larch, especially in the south Wales Valleys. NRW is restocking these woodland areas using a mixture of species that are appropriate to each location. Wales will then have a more resilient and varied woodland.
Diolch. Mae Cymru wedi dioddef lefelau digynsail o glefyd phytophthora ramorum, sydd wedi golygu y bu’n rhaid clirio ardaloedd helaeth o goed llarwydd, yn enwedig yng Nghymoedd de Cymru. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn ailstocio'r coetiroedd hyn gan ddefnyddio cymysgedd o rywogaethau sy'n briodol ym mhob lleoliad. Bydd hynny’n golygu y bydd gan Gymru goetir mwy gwydn ac amrywiol.
I thank the Minister for that response. It was very encouraging to see one of the outcomes of the Valleys taskforce work was the idea of a south Wales Valleys woodland and park that would spread across the whole of the Valleys from east to west. Of course, there's amazing potential with that, but the denudation through larch disease has had a significant impact, and I see it in the Llynfi, the Garw and the Ogmore valleys. And I'm wondering, in their approach to reforestation, what discussions, what consultation does NRW do with local communities, what does it do with local landowners, local businesses, including, potentially, if it gets up and running, the Afan adventure park at the top of David Rees's constituency and mine, which has been totally scalped because of larch disease, but they anticipate bringing there, if they get through the planning permission, a Center Parcs with adrenaline, but it will need that reforestation to make it work? So, what support can you give to local communities, to businesses, to engage with the reforestation programme?
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei hymateb. Roedd yn galonogol iawn gweld mai un o ganlyniadau gwaith tasglu'r Cymoedd oedd y syniad o goetir a pharc Cymoedd de Cymru a fyddai'n ymestyn ar hyd y Cymoedd i gyd o'r dwyrain i'r gorllewin. Wrth gwrs, mae potensial anhygoel ynghlwm wrth hynny, ond mae'r dinoethi yn sgil y clefyd llarwydd wedi cael effaith sylweddol, a gallaf weld hynny yng nghymoedd Llynfi, Garw ac Ogwr. O ran eu dull o ailgoedwigo, tybed pa drafodaethau, pa waith ymgynghori y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn ei wneud gyda chymunedau lleol, beth y maent yn ei wneud gyda thirfeddianwyr lleol, busnesau lleol, gan gynnwys, o bosibl, os daw'n weithredol, parc antur Afan ym mhen uchaf etholaeth David Rees a fy un i, ardal sydd wedi’i dinoethi’n llwyr o ganlyniad i’r clefyd llarwydd, ond os cânt ganiatâd cynllunio, maent yn bwriadu agor Center Parcs gydag adrenalin yno, ond bydd angen y gwaith ailgoedwigo er mwyn i’r syniad weithio? Felly, pa gymorth y gallwch ei roi i gymunedau lleol, i fusnesau, i ymgysylltu â'r rhaglen ailgoedwigo?
Thank you. I do appreciate that having to fell so much woodland in the south Wales Valleys within such a short timescale has had a really devastating impact on the area, and I don't think it's something that NRW would certainly have wanted to do under normal circumstances. NRW do try to minimise the impact of felling on local communities and businesses through having engagement with local communities, and I know they hold public meetings, they hold drop-in sessions as part of their forest operations, so that they can share their proposals with people and also seek their views on them. I certainly would recommend, if you know of any specific community or even individual constituents who would like that level of engagement with NRW, to please contact them, and I'm sure they would engage to see what their views were on proposals for the woodland estate.
Diolch. Rwy'n derbyn bod gorfod cwympo cymaint o goetir yng Nghymoedd de Cymru o fewn amser mor fyr wedi cael effaith ddinistriol iawn ar yr ardal, ac yn sicr, ni chredaf ei fod yn rhywbeth y byddai Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi bod yn awyddus i’w wneud o dan amgylchiadau arferol. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn ceisio lleihau effaith cwympo coed ar gymunedau a busnesau lleol drwy ymgysylltu â chymunedau lleol, a gwn eu bod yn cynnal cyfarfodydd cyhoeddus, maent yn cynnal sesiynau galw heibio fel rhan o'u gwaith coedwigaeth, fel y gallant rannu eu hargymhellion gyda phobl yn ogystal â gofyn eu barn. Yn sicr, os gwyddoch am unrhyw gymuned benodol neu hyd yn oed etholwyr unigol sy’n awyddus i ymgysylltu â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ar y lefel honno, buaswn yn argymell ichi gysylltu â hwy, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddent yn ymgysylltu er mwyn clywed eu barn ar gynigion ar gyfer yr ystâd goetir.
Yes, it's a very sad sight, and I'm pleased to hear your answer to Huw Irranca-Davies. But, I think, having looked at some of the photographs of how the replanting is being done, some of these mixed saplings are really quite small. And I was wondering if you'd be interested in speaking to the education Minister about the opportunity for children and young people in schools to actually perhaps be part of the replanting plans. I presume it has to go through NRW and a range of other people, but, in terms of this representing a more historically accurate landscape for Wales, there are a lot of places, particularly in the new curriculum, where this could fit quite happily—anything from history through to science, through to anything that's in the well-being area of learning. Thank you.
Ie, mae'n olygfa ddigalon iawn, ac rwy'n falch o glywed eich ateb i Huw Irranca-Davies. Ond wedi edrych ar rai ffotograffau o'r modd y gwneir y gwaith ailblannu, mae rhai o'r coed ifanc cymysg hyn yn eithaf bach. Ac roeddwn yn meddwl tybed a fyddai gennych ddiddordeb mewn siarad â'r Gweinidog Addysg ynglŷn â’r cyfle i blant a phobl ifanc mewn ysgolion fod yn rhan o'r cynlluniau ailblannu. Rwy'n cymryd bod yn rhaid i hynny fynd drwy Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ac amrywiaeth o bobl eraill, ond o ran bod hyn yn cynrychioli tirwedd fwy hanesyddol gywir i Gymru, mae sawl man, yn enwedig yn y cwricwlwm newydd, lle y gallai hyn ffitio'n eithaf taclus—unrhyw beth o hanes i wyddoniaeth, i unrhyw beth ym maes dysgu llesiant. Diolch.
I certainly think that's a very good suggestion from Suzy Davies, and I'd be very happy to speak to my colleague Kirsty Williams about it.
Yn sicr, credaf fod hwnnw’n awgrym da iawn gan Suzy Davies, ac rwy’n fwy na pharod i siarad â fy nghyd-Weinidog Kirsty Williams ynglŷn â hynny.
Minister, you'll be aware of the correspondence that you've had between yourself and my colleague Elin Jones with regard to concerns of the residents around the Hafod Estate near Aberystwyth about the nature of the removal of the trees. You'll recall Elin Jones raising concerns with you about the use of pesticides and people's concerns about that potentially affecting both other wildlife and the water table, since many of the homes in that area receive their water from wells rather than from main supplies. You were kind enough to reply to Elin, and I would invite you today to put on record your reassurance to that community, and to any others who may be concerned across Wales about the nature of control, that there is no reason to fear either for human health because of contamination to the water table, or because of any risks to wildlife.
Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r ohebiaeth a gawsoch gyda fy nghyd-Aelod Elin Jones ynglŷn â phryderon y trigolion o gwmpas Ystâd yr Hafod ger Aberystwyth mewn perthynas â natur y gwaith o gwympo’r coed. Fe fyddwch yn cofio Elin Jones yn codi pryderon gyda chi ynglŷn â’r defnydd o blaladdwyr a phryderon pobl ynghylch y posibilrwydd y gallai hynny effeithio ar fywyd gwyllt arall a'r lefel trwythiad, gan fod llawer o'r cartrefi yn yr ardal honno yn cael eu dŵr o ffynhonnau yn hytrach nag o'r prif gyflenwadau. Roeddech yn ddigon caredig i ymateb i Elin, a hoffwn eich gwahodd heddiw i gofnodi eich sicrwydd i'r gymuned honno, ac i unrhyw un arall a allai fod yn bryderus ledled Cymru ynglŷn â natur y gwaith rheoli, nad oes unrhyw reswm i ofni, naill ai o ran iechyd dynol yn sgil halogi’r lefel trwythiad, neu o ran unrhyw beryglon i fywyd gwyllt.
Yes. Thank you for the opportunity to express that reassurance.
Ie. Diolch am y cyfle i fynegi'r sicrwydd hwnnw.
Minister, clearly the Afan valley was one of the first and one of the most severely affected by the larch disease, and my colleague the Member for Ogmore has highlighted the opportunities that come as a consequence of reforestation. Have you had discussions with your colleague the Minister for Economy and Transport about how we can build up the economies of those valleys? Tourism is an agenda that clearly is going to take those valleys forward, but if we don't have the reforestation and if the plans aren't established, that's going to take a hit.
Weinidog, yn amlwg, cwm Afan oedd un o'r mannau cyntaf i gael eu heffeithio gan y clefyd llarwydd ac un o'r mannau yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn fwyaf difrifol, ac mae fy nghyd-Aelod, yr Aelod dros Ogwr, wedi tynnu sylw at y cyfleoedd a ddaw yn sgil ailgoedwigo. A ydych wedi cael trafodaethau gyda'ch cyd-Weinidog, Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, ynglŷn â sut y gallwn wella economïau'r cymoedd hynny? Mae twristiaeth yn agenda sy'n amlwg yn mynd i roi hwb i’r cymoedd hynny, ond os na fyddwn yn cael y gwaith ailgoedwigo ac os nad yw'r cynlluniau yn cael eu sefydlu, bydd hynny'n cael ei effeithio.
I haven't had specific discussions with the Minister for Economy and Transport, but I'd be very happy to do so. Obviously, my interest in this area is about restocking the woodland areas, as I've just answered to Huw Irranca-Davies. And it's really, I think, important that the mixture of species of trees is very appropriate to each location. I know not every area between your two constituencies will require the same species of trees. So, I think it's really important that that is very specifically appropriate. Again, the objectives for restocking vary according to local forest resource plans. But, as I say, you make a very good point, I think, about tourism, which I'd be very happy to discuss with Ken Skates.
Nid wyf wedi cael trafodaethau penodol gyda Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, ond rwy’n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. Yn amlwg, mae fy niddordeb yn y maes yn ymwneud ag ailstocio'r coetiroedd, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i Huw Irranca-Davies yn awr. A chredaf ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig fod y cymysgedd o rywogaethau coed yn briodol iawn i bob lleoliad. Gwn na fydd angen yr un rhywogaethau coed ar bob ardal rhwng eich dwy etholaeth. Felly, credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod hynny'n briodol mewn mannau penodol iawn. Unwaith eto, mae'r amcanion mewn perthynas ag ailstocio yn amrywio yn ôl cynlluniau adnoddau coedwigaeth lleol. Ond fel y dywedaf, rydych yn gwneud pwynt da iawn, yn fy marn i, ynglŷn â thwristiaeth, ac rwy’n fwy na pharod i drafod hynny gyda Ken Skates.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y cynnydd y mae Hybu Cig Cymru wedi'i wneud o ran datblygu marchnadoedd ar gyfer cig coch Cymru y tu hwnt i'r UE? OAQ53244
2. Will the Minister make a statement on what progress Hybu Cig Cymru have made in developing markets for Welsh red meat beyond the EU? OAQ53244
Thank you. Welsh Government is investing £1.5 million for HCC to maintain European markets, and develop trade further afield. As a direct result, new business has been secured in Singapore. I welcome recent announcements of the lifting of restrictions on importing UK beef and lamb to Japan, and lamb to India and Saudi Arabia, where further HCC activity is planned.
Diolch. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi £1.5 miliwn fel y gall Hybu Cig Cymru gynnal marchnadoedd Ewropeaidd, a datblygu masnach ymhellach i ffwrdd. O ganlyniad uniongyrchol i hynny, mae busnes newydd wedi’i sicrhau yn Singapôr. Croesawaf gyhoeddiadau diweddar ynghylch codi cyfyngiadau ar fewnforio cig eidion a chig oen y DU i Japan, a chig oen i India a Saudi Arabia, lle y mae rhagor o weithgarwch Hybu Cig Cymru wedi'i gynllunio.
I'm pleased to report in that context that, last week, I wrote to the Minister following a meeting I had with an Omani businessman, who is interested in importing Welsh beef and lamb to Oman. As we're looking to diversify our exporting markets, does the Minister welcome this, and will she arrange for whoever is appropriate to meet with them, to facilitate this mutually beneficial trade?
Rwy'n falch o ddweud, yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, fy mod wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog yr wythnos diwethaf yn dilyn cyfarfod a gefais gyda dyn busnes o Oman, sy’n awyddus i fewnforio cig eidion a chig oen Cymru i Oman. A ninnau'n gobeithio arallgyfeirio ein marchnadoedd allforio, a yw’r Gweinidog yn croesawu hyn, ac a wnaiff hi drefnu eu bod yn cyfarfod â’r unigolyn priodol i hwyluso'r fasnach hon sydd o fudd i'r ddwy ochr?
Thank you. I certainly have had sight of your letter. I thought I had signed a letter back to you, telling you what action I planned, and I think that was to arrange a meeting with HCC, to see if there were opportunities to take that forward.
Diolch. Yn sicr, rwyf wedi gweld eich llythyr. Roeddwn yn credu fy mod wedi llofnodi llythyr yn ôl atoch, yn dweud pa gamau a gynlluniwyd gennyf, a chredaf fod hwnnw’n cynnwys trefnu cyfarfod gyda Hybu Cig Cymru, er mwyn gweld a oes cyfleoedd i’w cael i fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwnnw.
Mae'n ddiddorol iawn, yn tydi, gweld marchnadoedd newydd yn cael eu datblygu ar hyd a lled y byd, tra rydym ni'n dal yn aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd? A gwag iawn ydy sôn am gyfleoedd o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac, yn wir, dŷn ni'n gwybod cymaint o gyfleon sydd yna i'r diwydiant cig, y diwydiant bwyd, a'r economi wledig yn gyfan gwbl, o fod yn rhan o strwythurau Ewropeaidd, yn cynnwys y cronfeydd strwythurol. A dwi wedi gweld ymchwil newydd sydd wedi cael ei ryddhau heddiw gan y Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions—y corff y mae'r Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru yn rhan ohono—sy'n dweud bod Cymru yn wynebu colli allan ar symiau mawr o'r cronfeydd rhanbarthol mewn blynyddoedd i ddod. Mae'n nhw'n amcangyfrif, pe bai'r Deyrnas Gyfunol yn aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, y byddai'n gymwys i dderbyn £13 biliwn o gyllid rhanbarthol rhwng 2021 a 2027, sy'n 22 y cant o gynnydd o'i gymharu â'r cyfnod 2014-20. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn cytuno efo fi, felly, bod hyn yn cryfhau eto y ddadl dros gael pleidlais y bobl, er mwyn cael cyfle i wneud yr achos dros gynnal hyn, er mwyn ein diwydiannau gwledig ni?
It’s very interesting to see new markets being developed across the world whilst we are still members of the European Union. And any talk of opportunities of leaving the European Union is empty talk, and we know just how many opportunities there are for the meat industry, for the food industry more widely, and the rural economy more widely, to be part of European structures, including the structural funds. I have seen new research released today by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions—the body that the Government here in Wales is part of—that says that Wales faces losing out on huge sums from the regional structural funds in coming years. They estimate that, if the UK were to remain within the European Union, it would qualify for £13 billion of regional funding between 2021 and 2027, which is 22 per cent of an increase as compared to the period between 2014-20. Does the Minister agree with me, therefore, that this strengthens once again the argument for having a people’s vote, in order to have the chance to make the case for maintaining this for our rural industries?
I'm not quite sure where developing markets for Welsh red meat comes into that question, but I absolutely agree with you about the amount of funding that we will lose. And across my portfolio, you'll be aware of the significant EU funding that comes in. I was just looking at a LIFE project before, and about the funding that those sorts of projects has brought into Wales, and the benefits to our environment. So we're still hopeful that we're certainly not going to have a 'no deal'—we think 'no deal' should be off the table. But even with the deal that was proposed by the Prime Minister, I think this will have a dreadful impact on our jobs and economy.
Nid wyf yn hollol siŵr sut y mae'r cwestiwn hwnnw'n ymwneud â datblygu marchnadoedd ar gyfer cig coch Cymru, ond rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ynghylch faint o gyllid y byddwn yn ei golli. Ac ar draws fy mhortffolio, fe fyddwch yn gwybod am y cyllid sylweddol a ddaw o’r UE. Roeddwn yn edrych ar brosiect LIFE yn gynt, a’r cyllid y mae'r mathau hynny o brosiectau wedi’i ddarparu i Gymru, a'r manteision i'n hamgylchedd. Felly rydym yn dal i fod yn obeithiol na fyddwn yn cael Brexit ‘dim bargen’—rydym o’r farn na ddylai ‘dim bargen’ fod yn opsiwn. Ond hyd yn oed gyda'r cytundeb a gynigiwyd gan y Prif Weinidog, credaf y bydd hyn yn cael effaith ofnadwy ar ein swyddi a'r economi.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, you now have, obviously, overall responsibility for the rural affairs and environment portfolio, and, in particular, Natural Resources Wales. When I've gone around, since taking over the shadow brief, talking to the forestry sector in particular, they are deeply concerned about the management of the forestry estate in Wales, and in particular about their ability to access commercial timber so their operations aren't jeopardised in the future. This is emphasised today with a letter that has appeared in the press—and I appreciate the Welsh Government don't comment on leaks—but, from my personal experience of going around, everything in that letter bears out on the ground. And when you see figures of 12,000 jobs and £100 million-worth of investment, these are big numbers, and unless NRW get their act together and start delivering a forestry sector that can supply our timber businesses, we really will be losing much of this investment and many of these jobs. What confidence can you give us here today that you have confidence in the way NRW are taking forward the forestry sector here in Wales and, in particular, are addressing the concerns that have been expressed to me personally and in the letter that's appeared today?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, bellach, yn amlwg, mae gennych gyfrifoldeb cyffredinol am y portffolio materion gwledig a'r amgylchedd, ac yn benodol, am Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Wrth deithio o gwmpas ers i mi ymgymryd â’r briff ar ran yr wrthblaid, a siarad â'r sector coedwigaeth yn benodol, maent yn pryderu'n fawr ynglŷn â'r modd y rheolir yr ystâd goedwigaeth yng Nghymru, ac yn arbennig ynglŷn â’u gallu i gael hyd i bren masnachol fel nad yw eu gweithrediadau yn cael eu peryglu yn y dyfodol. Amlygir hyn heddiw mewn llythyr sydd wedi ymddangos yn y wasg—ac rwy'n deall nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud sylwadau ar wybodaeth a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol—ond o'm profiad personol o deithio o gwmpas, mae popeth yn y llythyr hwnnw'n wir ar lawr gwlad. A phan fyddwch yn gweld ffigurau yn nodi 12,000 o swyddi, a gwerth £100 miliwn o fuddsoddiad, mae'r rhain yn niferoedd mawr, ac oni bai bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn cael gwell siâp ar bethau ac yn dechrau sicrhau bod y sector coedwigaeth yn gallu cyflenwi ein busnesau pren, byddwn yn colli llawer o’r buddsoddiad hwn a llawer o'r swyddi hyn. Pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi inni yma heddiw fod gennych hyder yn y ffordd y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gwasanaethu’r sector coedwigaeth yma yng Nghymru, ac yn benodol, yn mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a fynegwyd wrthyf yn bersonol ac yn y llythyr a ymddangosodd heddiw?
Thank you. You're quite right—I don't like commenting on leaked correspondence. However, I can confirm to you and to the Chamber that I have received that letter from Confor, and obviously I'll be responding to it in due course. You will be aware, obviously, that I've been in this portfolio now for nearly three years, and I have had concerns around NRW and the way that they've dealt with forestry. However, I do have confidence in NRW.
Just last week, I met with the chief executive and the interim chair to discuss this specific issue, and you'll be aware that I've replaced half the board, for instance, with new members. They've just come in at the tail end of last year. So, obviously, I've had discussions with them. You'll be aware that the chief executive and the interim chair will be in front of the Public Accounts Committee. So, I'm very encouraged that the way forward now is appropriate and that the interim chair and the chief executive absolutely have this as a priority.
Diolch. Rydych yn llygad eich lle—nid wyf yn hoff o wneud sylwadau ar ohebiaeth a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol. Fodd bynnag, gallaf gadarnhau i chi ac i'r Siambr fy mod wedi derbyn y llythyr hwnnw gan Confor, ac yn amlwg, byddaf yn ymateb iddo maes o law. Yn amlwg, fe fyddwch yn gwybod fy mod wedi bod yn gyfrifol am y portffolio hwn ers bron i dair blynedd bellach, ac rwyf wedi mynegi pryderon ynghylch Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru a'r ffordd y maent wedi ymdrin â choedwigaeth. Fodd bynnag, mae gennyf hyder yn Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyfarfûm â'r prif weithredwr a'r cadeirydd dros dro i drafod y mater penodol hwn, ac fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod hanner y bwrdd yn aelodau newydd a benodwyd gennyf fi, er enghraifft. Daethant i’w swyddi ddiwedd y llynedd. Felly, yn amlwg, rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau gyda hwy. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod y bydd y prif weithredwr a'r cadeirydd dros dro yn mynd gerbron y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus. Felly, mae’n galonogol iawn fod y ffordd ymlaen bellach yn briodol a bod y cadeirydd dros dro a'r prif weithredwr yn ystyried hyn yn flaenoriaeth.
I think I take that as a vote of confidence in NRW's ability to address the concerns in the letter that has been put forward by 10—and I think it's an unprecedented number—processors here in Wales.
Another point that has come forward is that, obviously, in the response today, there's much emphasis on Grant Thornton's independent inquiry looking at some of the issues that have been flagged historically about NRW. I am told that Grant Thornton have not engaged with many of these processors, if indeed any of these processors, in seeking their views on the way forward on the forestry sector. Can you give confirmation today, and is it your understanding, that the terms of reference for Grant Thornton were to take an analysis of the sector's performance, but, importantly, to engage with stakeholders such as the processors, and, if that hasn't happened, you will instruct NRW to go back to the processors and actually have their input into any recommendations that might emerge from this independent report?
Rwy'n credu fy mod yn cymryd hynny fel pleidlais o hyder yng ngallu Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon yn y llythyr a gyflwynwyd gan 10—a chredaf fod hwnnw’n nifer digynsail—o broseswyr yma yng Nghymru.
Pwynt arall a godwyd yw bod llawer o bwyslais yn yr ymateb heddiw, yn amlwg, ar ymchwiliad annibynnol Grant Thornton sy’n edrych ar rai o'r materion a nodwyd yn hanesyddol mewn perthynas â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Dywedir wrthyf nad yw Grant Thornton wedi ymgysylltu â llawer o'r proseswyr hyn, os o gwbl yn wir, o ran gwrando ar eu safbwyntiau ar y ffordd ymlaen i'r sector coedwigaeth. A allwch gadarnhau heddiw, ac mai dyma a ddealloch chi, mai cylch gorchwyl Grant Thornton oedd dadansoddi perfformiad y sector, ond, yn bwysig, ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid, megis y proseswyr, ac, os nad yw hynny wedi digwydd, y byddwch yn cyfarwyddo Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i ddychwelyd at y proseswyr a chael eu mewnbwn ar unrhyw argymhellion a allai godi o'r adroddiad annibynnol hwn?
There are several points to that question. There were 10 processors who put their names to that letter. I've also asked NRW to look at the relationships that have been had between those 10 companies and NRW as the contracts have come forward.
I can't, off the top of my head, say word for word what the terms of reference were, but certainly it was very important, and I had this assurance that NRW worked in a very open and transparent way with Grant Thornton, and I would have thought that—. I've made it very clear there must be no room for any irregularity. So, I would expect Grant Thornton, obviously, then to liaise with the processors to get their views.
And the other reassurance I can give you, to go back to your first question, is that there has been a change of personnel around forestry in NRW, which, again, I think will strengthen things going forward.
Ceir nifer o bwyntiau yn y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae 10 o broseswyr wedi rhoi eu henwau ar y llythyr hwnnw. Rwyf hefyd wedi gofyn i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru edrych ar y berthynas rhwng y 10 cwmni hwnnw a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wrthi i'r contractau ddod gerbron.
Ar hyn o bryd, ni allaf ddweud air am air beth oedd y cylch gorchwyl, ond yn sicr, roedd yn bwysig iawn, a chefais sicrwydd fod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi gweithio mewn ffordd agored a thryloyw iawn gyda Grant Thornton, a buaswn wedi dychmygu bod—. Rwyf wedi dweud yn glir iawn na ddylai fod lle i unrhyw afreoleidd-dra. Felly, buaswn yn disgwyl i Grant Thornton, yn amlwg, gysylltu wedyn gyda phroseswyr i gael eu barn.
A'r sicrwydd arall y gallaf ei roi i chi, gan ddychwelyd at eich cwestiwn cyntaf, yw bod newid wedi bod o ran staff coedwigaeth Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, a chredaf y bydd hynny, unwaith eto, yn cryfhau pethau yn y dyfodol.
I'd be grateful if you could add any more advice in a written response, if possible, Minister, because I appreciate you might not have known the terms of reference word by word. I wouldn't have expected you to know that, but I think it's a genuine concern, if that engagement hasn't happened, as to what confidence you can have in the final report.
But another point I'd like to press on NRW, if possible: yesterday, in the statement on 'no deal' preparedness, I highlighted to you the £30 million that has come to the Welsh Government in relation to money that the Chancellor has made available to the devolved Governments. I'm assuming some of that £30 million has been allocated to your department, albeit you didn't confirm that in your response to me yesterday. Are you able to confirm today if that money has come to your department, or if part of that money has come to your department, and that you will be making money available to NRW with the regulatory responsibilities and the permitting responsibilities that they will pick up as we move forward in the Brexit process, because I think it is vitally important that, obviously, if responsibilities are passed to an organisation, resource follows as well? And, as I've pointed out, the money has come from the Chancellor—this £30 million—so we need to understand exactly how that's been allocated within Government.
Buaswn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech ychwanegu unrhyw gyngor ychwanegol mewn ymateb ysgrifenedig, os oes modd, Weinidog, gan fy mod yn sylweddoli efallai nad oeddech yn gwybod y cylch gorchwyl air am air. Ni fuaswn wedi disgwyl ichi wybod hynny, ond credaf fod pa hyder sydd gennych yr adroddiad terfynol, os nad yw'r ymgysylltu hwnnw wedi digwydd, yn fater gwirioneddol bwysig.
Ond pwynt arall yr hoffwn ei godi mewn perthynas â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, os caf: ddoe, yn y datganiad ar barodrwydd ar gyfer 'dim bargen', tynnais eich sylw at y £30 miliwn a roddwyd i Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas ag arian y mae'r Canghellor wedi'i ddarparu i'r Llywodraethau datganoledig. Rwy'n cymryd bod rhywfaint o'r £30 miliwn hwnnw wedi'i ddyrannu i'ch adran, er na chadarnhawyd hynny gennych yn eich ymateb i mi ddoe. A allwch gadarnhau heddiw fod yr arian hwnnw wedi dod i'ch adran, neu fod peth o'r arian hwnnw wedi dod i'ch adran, ac y byddwch yn darparu arian i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru gyda'r cyfrifoldebau rheoleiddiol a'r cyfrifoldebau trwyddedu y byddant yn eu hysgwyddo wrth inni fwrw ymlaen â phroses Brexit, gan y credaf ei bod yn hanfodol bwysig, yn amlwg, os trosglwyddir cyfrifoldebau i sefydliad, fod adnoddau'n dilyn hefyd? Ac fel rwyf wedi'i nodi, mae'r arian wedi dod gan y Canghellor—y £30 miliwn hwn—felly mae angen inni ddeall sut yn union y mae wedi cael ei ddyrannu o fewn y Llywodraeth.
I'd be very happy to send a note to you with the detail of that funding.
Buaswn yn fwy na pharod i anfon nodyn atoch gyda manylion y cyllid hwnnw.
Thank you.
Diolch.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Llyr Gruffydd.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Llyr Gruffydd.
Diolch, Llywydd. Gan fod y cyhoeddiad, wrth gwrs, am oedi Wylfa Newydd yn tanlinellu pa mor broblemus yw datblygu cenhedlaeth newydd o orsafoedd niwclear, mae yna beryg nawr, wrth gwrs, ein bod ni'n ffeindio ein hunain yn oedi ac yn aros, o bosib, am flynyddoedd i rywbeth ddigwydd, a does neb eisiau gweld yr ynys nac yn wir, ogledd Cymru'n ehangach mewn cyflwr o limbo o bosib o ganlyniad i hynny. Felly, onid nawr yw'r amser i chi, fel Gweinidog, ac i Lywodraeth Cymru gyda Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig sbarduno cynnydd sylweddol yn y buddsoddiad mewn ynni adnewyddadwy fel modd i wireddu'n llawn y potensial aruthrol, wrth gwrs, sydd gennym ni fan hyn yng Nghymru yn y cyd-destun hynny, a thrwy wneud hynny hefyd, wrth gwrs, helpu i gryfhau'r economi ac i gyfrannu datrysiadau cyflymach a rhatach i anghenion ynni a newid hinsawdd yma yng Nghymru?
Thank you, Llywydd. As the announcement on suspension of Wylfa Newydd underlines how problematic the development of the next generation of nuclear power stations is, there is a risk now that we find ourselves delaying and waiting, possibly, for years for something to happen, and nobody wants to see the island or, indeed, north Wales more broadly in a state of limbo as a result of that. So, isn't now the time for you, as Minister, and for the Welsh Government along with the UK Government to spark a substantial increase in the investment in renewable energy as a means of fully delivering the huge potential that we have here in Wales in that context, and in so doing, of course, helping to strengthen the economy and to provide swifter and cheaper solutions to energy and climate needs here in Wales?
Obviously, we're very disappointed to hear that the development of Wylfa Newydd has been suspended, and, obviously, the Minister for Economy and Transport answered the emergency question from your colleague Rhun yesterday in great detail. Whilst of course nuclear is part of the energy mix, I certainly don't view it as a renewable energy. It's low carbon, but my commitment to bringing in more renewable energy has not been affected by this. I'm very keen on all forms of renewable energy.
Just this week, I had a very good meeting on Monday about tidal stream, because I think there are lots of opportunities there. So, next week, we're having a marine energy summit in Swansea that the First Minister will be speaking at. I think that shows our commitment to renewable energy, and I'm certainly looking at ways of bringing more renewable energy projects into Wales.
Yn amlwg, rydym yn siomedig iawn o glywed bod y gwaith o ddatblygu Wylfa Newydd wedi'i atal, ac yn amlwg, atebodd Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth y cwestiwn brys gan eich cyd-Aelod, Rhun, yn fanwl iawn ddoe. Er bod ynni niwclear, wrth gwrs, yn rhan o'r cymysgedd ynni, yn sicr nid wyf yn ei ystyried yn ynni adnewyddadwy. Mae'n ynni carbon isel, ond nid yw hyn wedi effeithio ar fy ymrwymiad i gyflwyno mwy o ynni adnewyddadwy. Rwy'n hoff iawn o bob math o ynni adnewyddadwy.
Yr wythnos hon, cefais gyfarfod da iawn ddydd Llun ynglŷn ag araeau llanw, gan y credaf fod llawer o gyfleoedd ynghlwm wrth hynny. Felly, yr wythnos nesaf, byddwn yn cynnal uwchgynhadledd ynni'r môr yn Abertawe, a bydd y Prif Weinidog yn siarad ynddi. Credaf fod hynny'n dangos ein hymrwymiad i ynni adnewyddadwy, ac rwy'n sicr yn edrych ar ffyrdd o ddod â rhagor o brosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy i Gymru.
Dwi'n ei ffeindio hi'n ddiddorol eich bod chi'n dweud nad yw eich cynlluniau chi o safbwynt ynni adnewyddadwy ddim wedi cael eu heffeithio gan y penderfyniad yma. Dyna'n union ddylai fod wedi digwydd yn fy marn i. Hynny yw, nawr mae angen dyblu ymdrechion yn y maes yma er mwyn gwireddu'r potensial sydd gennym ni. Yn ei faniffesto i fod yn arweinydd y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru, fe wnaeth Mark Drakeford, wrth gwrs, ymrwymo i greu corff—neu i edrych ar greu corff—cydfuddiannol newydd, Ynni Cymru, a fydd yn hybu cynhyrchu ynni yn lleol ac yn cynghori ar fuddsoddi strategol mewn ynni, ymysg amcanion eraill. Allwch chi roi diweddariad inni o safbwynt ble rŷm ni arni ar wireddu hynny? Ac yn sgil y newyddion, wrth gwrs, ynglŷn ag Wylfa, a wnewch chi hefyd ymrwymo i leoli Ynni Cymru ar ein hynys ynni ni, wrth gwrs, sef Ynys Môn?
I find it interesting that you say that your plans in terms of renewable energy haven’t been affected by this decision. That’s exactly what should have happened, in my view. We need to redouble our efforts in this area in order to deliver the potential that we have. In his manifesto to become leader of the Labour Party in Wales, Mark Drakeford, of course, committed to creating—or to look at creating—a co-operative body, Ynni Cymru/Energy Wales, which would promote local energy production and would provide advice on strategic investment in energy, among other objectives. Can you give us an update on where we are in delivering that? And given the news on Wylfa, will you also commit to locate Ynni Cymru/Energy Wales on our energy island, Ynys Môn?
I can't give that commitment, but certainly I've had very early discussions with the First Minister. I think probably the Monday after he became First Minister I had a discussion around his plans in relation to that and he's asked officials to work on that for him.
Ni allaf roi'r ymrwymiad hwnnw, ond yn sicr, rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau cynnar iawn gyda'r Prif Weinidog. Ar y dydd Llun, rwy'n credu, wedi iddo ddod yn Brif Weinidog, cefais drafodaeth gydag ef ynglŷn â'i gynlluniau mewn perthynas â hynny ac mae wedi gofyn i swyddogion weithio ar hynny ar ei ran.
We had a ministerial statement from you yesterday, of course, about your preparations for the possibility of crashing out of the EU without a deal and the adverse impact that would have on agriculture and other sectors in Wales. In that statement, you said, and I quote, that you're
'committed to working with key sectors to design support mechanisms around these serious challenges'.
Yet today, we see reports that both NFU Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales have raised concerns about being excluded from your 'no deal' Brexit planning process. Their only involvement so far has been through a single, solitary round-table meeting that was only held last week. Clearly, time is running out, Minister, so surely your Welsh Government contingency planning group should include industry representatives, as happened in the past, of course, during the foot and mouth outbreaks in 2001 and 2007. So, could you explain to us what role those key stakeholders will play in your 'no deal' deliberations over the coming weeks? Because it is only weeks that we have left.
Cawsom ddatganiad gweinidogol gennych ddoe, wrth gwrs, ar eich paratoadau ar gyfer y posibilrwydd o adael yr UE heb gytundeb a'r effaith andwyol y byddai hynny'n ei chael ar amaethyddiaeth a sectorau eraill yng Nghymru. Yn y datganiad hwnnw, fe ddywedoch chi, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, eich bod
wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda sectorau allweddol i gynllunio mecanweithiau cymorth mewn perthynas â'r heriau difrifol hyn.
Ond heddiw gwelwn adroddiadau fod NFU Cymru ac Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru wedi mynegi pryderon ynglŷn â chael eu cau allan o'ch proses gynllunio ar gyfer Brexit 'dim bargen'. Eu hunig gyfraniad hyd yn hyn yw un cyfarfod bwrdd crwn a gynhaliwyd yr wythnos diwethaf. Yn amlwg, mae amser yn brin, Weinidog, felly does bosibl na ddylai grŵp cynllunio wrth gefn Llywodraeth Cymru gynnwys cynrychiolwyr y diwydiant, fel y gwelwyd yn y gorffennol, wrth gwrs, yn ystod yr achosion o glwy'r traed a'r genau yn 2001 a 2007. Felly, a allwch egluro inni pa rôl allweddol y bydd y rhanddeiliaid hynny'n ei chwarae yn eich trafodaethau 'dim bargen' dros yr wythnosau nesaf? Oherwydd ychydig wythnosau yn unig sydd gennym ar ôl.
Both the NFU and FUW, as you say, sit on the stakeholder group. We had a very long and detailed presentation around 'no deal' scenario planning last week. I also have, from within that group—and I don't know if NFU and FUW are on that particular sub-group—a scenario-planning sub-group, which has looked in detail at all the scenarios that could come forward as we leave the EU. That group has been sitting, probably, for about two and a half years. They came forward with a very detailed report. Both the NFU and FUW meet with me regularly. I've seen them both this week. I know that officials are engaging with them around 'no deal'. So, I do—. Obviously, as we up the preparedness around 'no deal', which we certainly have over the last few weeks, when it's become much more of a possibility, I'm sure that engagement will increase also.
Mae Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr ac Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru, fel y dywedwch, yn rhan o'r grŵp rhanddeiliaid. Cawsom gyflwyniad hir a manwl iawn ynghylch cynllunio ar gyfer senario 'dim bargen' yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae gennyf hefyd, o'r grŵp hwnnw—ac nid wyf yn gwybod a yw'r NFU a'r FUW yn rhan o'r is-grŵp penodol hwnnw—is-grŵp ar gyfer cynllunio senarios, sydd wedi edrych yn fanwl ar yr holl senarios a allai ddigwydd wrth inni adael yr UE. Mae'r grŵp hwnnw wedi bodoli ers oddeutu dwy flynedd a hanner mae'n siŵr. Cynhyrchwyd adroddiad manwl iawn ganddynt. Mae'r NFU a'r FUW yn cyfarfod â mi yn rheolaidd. Rwyf wedi gweld y ddau yr wythnos hon. Gwn fod swyddogion yn ymgysylltu â hwy mewn perthynas â Brexit 'dim bargen'. Felly, rwyf—. Yn amlwg, wrth inni gynyddu'r gwaith ar barodrwydd mewn perthynas â Brexit 'dim bargen', sy'n sicr yn rhywbeth rydym wedi'i wneud dros yr ychydig wythnosau diwethaf, ers iddo ddod yn llawer mwy o bosibilrwydd, rwy'n siŵr y bydd lefelau'r ymgysylltiad hwnnw'n cynyddu hefyd.
Llefarydd UKIP, Neil Hamilton.
UKIP spokesperson, Neil Hamilton.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Welsh Government has a target to eradicate TB in cattle and wildlife by 2036 and farmers accept that this involves many restrictions on the way they work and operate and imposes substantial costs upon them as well, but that's absolutely necessary in order to achieve the objective, which we all share. But there's a widespread feeling that whilst farmers are doing a lot to contain and control TB on farms with their cattle, the Welsh Government is not being so energetic in attacking the problem that exists in wildlife. And in the results of the culls that have been authorised in Wales that emerged recently in the leaked letters that were the subject of questions from Paul Davies last week, it emerges that only five badgers have been culled since October 2017, and that compares with 10,000 cattle that had to be slaughtered in the year to last September. So, there are lots of people who think that the Welsh Government's policy on controlling wildlife is simply empty words. I wonder if the Minister will care to update us now on what she intends to do to justify her position.
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gosod targed i ddileu TB mewn gwartheg a bywyd gwyllt erbyn 2036 ac mae ffermwyr yn derbyn bod hyn yn golygu llawer o gyfyngiadau ar y ffordd y maent yn gweithio ac yn gweithredu ac yn arwain at gostau sylweddol iddynt hefyd, ond mae hynny'n gwbl angenrheidiol er mwyn cyflawni'r nod a rennir gan bob un ohonom. Ond er bod ffermwyr yn gwneud llawer i atal a rheoli TB ar ffermydd gyda'u gwartheg, mae llawer yn teimlo nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati yr un mor egnïol i ddatrys y broblem mewn bywyd gwyllt. Ac yng nghanlyniadau'r difa a awdurdodwyd yng Nghymru, a ymddangosodd yn ddiweddar yn y llythyrau a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol ac a oedd yn destun cwestiynau gan Paul Davies yr wythnos diwethaf, daeth yn amlwg mai pum mochyn daear sydd wedi eu difa ers mis Hydref 2017, o gymharu â'r 10,000 o wartheg y bu'n rhaid eu difa yn y flwyddyn hyd at fis Medi diwethaf. Felly, mae llawer o bobl yn credu mai geiriau gwag yn unig yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar reoli bywyd gwyllt. Tybed a all y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni yn awr ar yr hyn y mae'n bwriadu ei wneud i gyfiawnhau ei safbwynt.
I brought forward the refreshed TB eradication programme in October 2017, and I'm committed to reporting to this Assembly in April once I've got data for the first calendar year. You'll be aware that, through this programme, we are doing bespoke action plans with herds that are in long-term breakdown, so anything over 18 months, and the five badgers to which you refer, which I think has been taken totally out of context, relate to those bespoke action plans. Now, it could be that, once that plan is set up with the farmer, with their private vet, with the Government vet, wildlife is not part of what needs to be done in order to eradicate TB from that herd.
Cyflwynais y rhaglen ddiwygiedig i ddileu TB ym mis Hydref 2017, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i adrodd yn ôl i'r Cynulliad hwn ym mis Ebrill pan fydd data gennyf ar gyfer y flwyddyn galendr gyntaf. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod ein bod, drwy'r rhaglen hon, yn llunio cynlluniau gweithredu pwrpasol gyda buchesi â TB hirdymor, sef unrhyw achos dros 18 mis, ac mae'r pum mochyn daear y cyfeiriwch atynt, rhywbeth sydd wedi'i gymryd allan o gyd-destun yn gyfan gwbl yn fy marn i, yn ymwneud â'r cynlluniau gweithredu pwrpasol hynny. Nawr, pan roddir y cynllun hwnnw ar waith gyda'r ffermwr, gyda'u milfeddyg preifat, gyda milfeddyg y Llywodraeth, efallai nad yw bywyd gwyllt yn rhan o'r hyn sydd angen ei wneud er mwyn dileu TB o'r fuches honno.
I'm rather astonished to hear that, but there it is. The results of the four-year badger cull that was licensed in England have recently been published, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a result is now extending them into 10 other areas in England. The results closest to us in south-west England, in Gloucestershire—the incidence of TB in wildlife has been reduced from 10.4 per cent to 5.6 per cent and, in Somerset, from 24 per cent to 12 per cent. So, it seems like an overall reduction of 50 per cent. Now, the Farmers Union of Wales has said that England's progress makes Wales's strategy look toothless, given that you have a plan on the shelf, as it were, ready to be brought in if you give the go-ahead to extend badger culling, which, of course, would be an animal welfare policy for badgers as well as for cattle, because TB is a terrible disease, whichever form of animal life has to suffer from it. So, surely, it's now time, in this particular instance at any rate, to think of following England's example.
Mae'n syndod clywed hynny, ond dyna ni. Mae canlyniadau'r broses bedair blynedd o ddifa moch daear a drwyddedwyd yn Lloegr wedi eu cyhoeddi'n ddiweddar, ac o ganlyniad, mae Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig yn ei hymestyn bellach i 10 ardal arall yn Lloegr. Mae'r canlyniadau agosaf atom yn ne-orllewin Lloegr, yn swydd Gaerloyw—mae nifer yr achosion o TB mewn bywyd gwyllt wedi gostwng o 10.4 y cant i 5.6 y cant, ac yng Ngwlad yr Haf, o 24 y cant i 12 y cant. Felly, ymddengys bod hwn yn ostyngiad o 50 y cant i gyd. Nawr, mae Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru wedi dweud bod cynnydd Lloegr yn gwneud i strategaeth Cymru edrych yn wan, o ystyried bod gennych gynllun ar y silff, fel petai, yn barod i gael ei roi ar waith pe baech yn rhoi caniatâd i ymestyn difa moch daear, a fyddai, wrth gwrs, yn bolisi lles anifeiliaid ar gyfer moch daear yn ogystal ag ar gyfer gwartheg, gan fod TB yn glefyd ofnadwy, pa fath bynnag o anifail sy'n dioddef ohono. Felly, does bosibl nad yw hi bellach yn bryd ystyried dilyn esiampl Lloegr, yn yr achos penodol hwn o leiaf.
No, I will not be following England's example. I've ruled out an England-style badger cull from the day I came into this portfolio, following very detailed discussions with the chief veterinary officer. I think it's also right that we point out that 94.6 per cent of herds were TB free at the end of October 2018.
Na, nid wyf am ddilyn esiampl Lloegr. Rwyf wedi diystyru difa moch daear yn y modd y mae Lloegr yn ei wneud ers y diwrnod y cefais y portffolio hwn, yn dilyn trafodaethau manwl iawn gyda'r prif swyddog milfeddygol. Credaf hefyd ei bod yn iawn inni dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod 94.6 y cant o fuchesi heb TB ar ddiwedd mis Hydref 2018.
Well, that is certainly true, but this still remains a substantial problem, and there doesn't seem to have been any progress made on containing it—or not very substantial progress at any rate—in recent times. Paul Davies referred last week also to the leak of this correspondence, which could put farmers' lives at risk, given the activities of some animal extremists. So, I wonder if the Minister will care to reflect on her failure to apologise when Paul Davies asked her to do so last time, but more particularly to give us some reassurance that errors of this kind will not be repeated and that effective action has been taken within the department to ensure that unauthorised leaks of this sensitive information can't occur again.
Wel, mae hynny'n sicr yn wir, ond mae'n dal i fod yn broblem sylweddol, ac nid yw'n ymddangos bod unrhyw gynnydd wedi'i wneud yn ddiweddar ar fynd i'r afael â hi—neu gynnydd sylweddol iawn o leiaf. Cyfeiriodd Paul Davies yr wythnos diwethaf hefyd at yr ohebiaeth hon a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol, a allai beryglu bywydau ffermwyr, o ystyried gweithgarwch rhai eithafwyr hawliau anifeiliaid. Felly, tybed a wnaiff y Gweinidog fyfyrio ar ei methiant i ymddiheuro pan ofynnodd Paul Davies iddi wneud hynny y tro diwethaf, ond yn fwy arbennig, i roi rhywfaint o sicrwydd inni na fydd camgymeriadau o'r fath yn cael eu hailadrodd a bod camau effeithiol wedi'u cymryd o fewn yr adran i sicrhau nad yw'r wybodaeth sensitif hon yn cael ei datgelu yn answyddogol eto.
Paul Davies has never asked me to apologise. I apologised when it happened during the summer of last year. I apologised immediately. It was the First Minister who Paul Davies asked to apologise last week, and, as the First Minister very rightly said, the issue was dealt with at the time of the incident, and the matter is now closed. I also want to add that evidence shows that most causes of bovine TB in cattle in Wales result from cattle-to-cattle transmission.
Nid yw Paul Davies erioed wedi gofyn imi ymddiheuro. Ymddiheurais pan ddigwyddodd yn ystod yr haf y llynedd. Ymddiheurais ar unwaith. Gofyn i'r Prif Weinidog ymddiheuro a wnaeth Paul Davies yr wythnos diwethaf, ac fel roedd y Prif Weinidog yn iawn i'w ddweud, ymdriniwyd â'r mater pan ddigwyddodd, ac mae bellach ar ben. Hoffwn ychwanegu hefyd fod tystiolaeth yn dangos bod y rhan fwyaf o achosion o TB buchol yng Nghymru yn deillio o drosglwyddiad o un buwch i'r llall.
3. Pa gamau pellach y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i leihau llygredd aer? OAQ53245
3. What further steps will the Welsh Government take to reduce air pollution? OAQ53245
Thank you. Our clean air programme for Wales is considering evidence to inform the development and implementation of actions across Government departments and sectors to reduce the burden of poor air. This work will inform the development of a clean air plan for Wales, which we will publish for consultation this year.
Diolch. Mae ein rhaglen aer glân i Gymru yn ystyried tystiolaeth i lywio'r gwaith o ddatblygu a gweithredu mesurau ar draws adrannau'r Llywodraeth a sectorau i leihau problem aer gwael. Bydd y gwaith hwn yn llywio datblygiad cynllun aer glân i Gymru, a fydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi gennym ar gyfer ymgynghori yn ei gylch eleni.
Thank you for that, Minister. I wonder if you might say a little more about Welsh Government policy on greening our inner urban areas, whether that be tree planting, such as community orchards, or other greening measures. It seems to me that, partly, that will directly affect air quality and improve air quality, but it's really important that we connect our people in Wales more directly with nature. A lot of what we want to see happen is about behavioural change, and I think if people have quality local environments, then they do become more aware of environmental issues, whether it's moving away from car use to a more integrated transport system, or supporting a range of other progressive environmental measures the Welsh Government has taken, and will take. So, I just wonder to what extent you will be acting on that agenda, Minister, of addressing those inner urban environmental issues.
Diolch am hynny, Weinidog. Tybed a allwch ddweud mwy ynglŷn â pholisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar wyrddu canol ein hardaloedd trefol, boed hynny drwy blannu coed, megis perllannau cymunedol, neu fesurau gwyrddu eraill. Ymddengys i mi y bydd hynny, yn rhannol, yn effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar ansawdd aer ac yn gwella ansawdd yr aer, ond mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cysylltu ein pobl yng Nghymru yn fwy uniongyrchol â natur. Mae llawer o'r hyn yr hoffem ei weld yn digwydd yn ymwneud â newid ymddygiad, ac yn fy marn i, os oes gan bobl amgylcheddau lleol o ansawdd, maent yn tyfu'n fwy ymwybodol o faterion amgylcheddol, boed drwy leihau eu defnydd o'r car a newid i system drafnidiaeth fwy integredig, neu drwy gefnogi ystod o fesurau amgylcheddol blaengar eraill y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu rhoi ar waith ac y bydd yn eu rhoi ar waith yn y dyfodol. Felly, i ba raddau y byddwch yn gweithredu ar yr agenda honno, Weinidog, o fynd i'r afael â'r materion amgylcheddol hynny yng nghanol ardaloedd trefol.
Thank you. I agree with everything John Griffiths says around people's perception of their environment. We have our forest strategy, 'Woodlands for Wales', and that sets out our vision for forestry and woodland creation in Wales. Our policy remains very clear that we want to obviously see more woodland creation. You'll be aware that the First Minister, in his manifesto, said he wants to see a national forest, and again, I've had early discussions with him around how we take that forward.
I think it's really important, also, that we build on our natural resources policy. That includes supporting the development of resilient ecological networks so that we can maintain and enhance Wales's ecosystems in very-well-located woodlands. And, obviously, urban areas are very important too.
Diolch. Cytunaf â phopeth a ddywedodd John Griffiths ynghylch canfyddiad pobl o'u hamgylchedd. Mae gennym strategaeth goetiroedd, 'Coetiroedd i Gymru', sy'n nodi ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer creu coedwigoedd a choetiroedd yng Nghymru. Mae ein polisi yn parhau i fod yn glir iawn ein bod yn amlwg am weld mwy o goetiroedd yn cael eu creu. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod y Prif Weinidog, yn ei faniffesto, wedi dweud ei fod yn awyddus i weld coedwig genedlaethol, ac unwaith eto, rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau cynnar gydag ef ynglŷn â sut i fwrw ymlaen â hynny.
Credaf ei bod hefyd yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn adeiladu ar ein polisi adnoddau naturiol. Mae hynny'n cynnwys cefnogi datblygiad rhwydweithiau ecolegol cadarn fel y gallwn gynnal a gwella ecosystemau Cymru mewn coetiroedd sydd wedi'u lleoli mewn mannau da iawn. Ac yn amlwg, mae ardaloedd trefol yn bwysig iawn hefyd.
Minister, do you welcome the UK Government's recent decision to commit to air quality standards based on World Health Organization recommendations, which are much tougher than the EU recommendations, and, indeed, to commit to reducing the number of people living in areas that breach WHO guidelines and to reduce it by half, at least, by 2025? I understand the UK Government is about to publish its own report on new targets that can be set on data that would take us through the WHO guidelines and ensure that that rigour is applied to public policy. Is that a course you're likely to follow in Wales?
Weinidog, a ydych yn croesawu penderfyniad diweddar Llywodraeth y DU i ymrwymo i safonau ansawdd aer sy'n seiliedig ar argymhellion Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd, sy'n llawer llymach nag argymhellion yr UE, ac yn wir, i ymrwymo i leihau nifer y bobl sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd sy'n mynd yn groes i ganllawiau Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd a haneru'r nifer, o leiaf, erbyn 2025? Rwy'n deall bod Llywodraeth y DU ar fin cyhoeddi ei hadroddiad ei hun ar dargedau newydd y gellir eu gosod ar ddata a fyddai'n ein tywys drwy ganllawiau Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd ac yn sicrhau bod y trylwyredd hwnnw i'w weld mewn polisi cyhoeddus. A yw hwnnw'n llwybr yr ydych yn debygol o'i ddilyn yng Nghymru?
Well, certainly, I'm very interested to read the report when it does come out. I've had just a very brief discussion with the Minister around it. I'll have a look at what targets they're setting and see what we can learn from it.
Wel, yn sicr, rwy'n awyddus iawn i ddarllen yr adroddiad pan gaiff ei gyhoeddi. Rwyf newydd gael trafodaeth fer iawn gyda'r Gweinidog yn ei gylch. Rwyf am ystyried pa dargedau y maent yn eu gosod a gweld beth y gallwn ei ddysgu ohono.
In terms of tackling the air pollution challenges in Port Talbot, it's clear that action is needed on a number of fronts, including promoting the use of public transport. So, how does your Government square that ambition with the fact that you have cut the level of funding for bus subsidies to local authorities over recent years?
O ran mynd i'r afael â'r heriau llygredd aer ym Mhort Talbot, mae'n amlwg fod angen gweithredu mewn nifer o feysydd, gan gynnwys hyrwyddo'r defnydd o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Felly, sut y mae eich Llywodraeth yn cysoni'r uchelgais hwnnw â'r ffaith eich bod wedi torri lefel y cyllid ar gyfer cymorthdaliadau bysiau i awdurdodau lleol dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf?
Well, obviously, air quality in Port Talbot is something I'm keeping a very close eye on. It remains a priority for us and we are working with the local authority to see how we can improve and better understand the issues in the area. And, obviously, they will have to consider that as part of their plan to reduce the amount of air pollution.
Wel, yn amlwg, mae ansawdd yr aer ym Mhort Talbot yn rhywbeth rwy'n cadw llygad barcud arno. Mae'n parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth inni ac rydym yn gweithio gyda'r awdurdod lleol i weld sut y gallwn wella a deall y problemau yn yr ardal yn well. Ac yn amlwg, bydd yn rhaid iddynt ystyried hynny fel rhan o'u cynllun i leihau lefelau llygredd aer.
Well, as Dai Lloyd has pointed out, Port Talbot has unfortunately got a reputation for bad air quality, but we understand some of the reasons behind it. John Griffiths highlighted that perhaps one solution is trees: more trees along our routes, because we have two major roads passing through it. But you've had discussions with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Have you also had discussions as to where your monitoring comes into play? Because I attended the healthy air cross-party group yesterday and it was clear that the monitoring—actual monitoring and the actual data—was still lacking because we are using models from DEFRA, and that, necessarily, isn't based upon factual data per se. So, what are you doing with the council to actually put monitoring places into situations so we actually have the data so that we can assess what the air quality is and how we can tackle it?
Wel, fel y nododd Dai Lloyd, yn anffodus, mae gan Port Talbot enw drwg o ran ansawdd aer gwael, ond rydym yn deall rhai o'r rhesymau am hynny. Tynnodd John Griffiths sylw at y ffaith y gall coed fod yn un ateb: mwy o goed ar hyd ein ffyrdd, gan fod gennym ddwy brif ffordd yn pasio drwy'r ardal. Ond rydych wedi cael trafodaethau gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Castell-nedd Port Talbot. A ydych wedi cael trafodaethau hefyd ynglŷn â pha ran y bydd eich gwaith monitro yn ei chwarae? Oherwydd roeddwn yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar aer iach ddoe ac roedd yn glir bod y gwaith monitro—y gwaith monitro gwirioneddol a'r data gwirioneddol—yn dal i fod yn ddiffygiol gan ein bod yn defnyddio modelau gan DEFRA, ac nid yw'r rheini, o reidrwydd, yn seiliedig ar ddata ffeithiol fel y cyfryw. Felly, beth a wnewch gyda'r cyngor i roi lleoedd monitro ar waith fel y gallwn gael y data i allu asesu beth yw ansawdd yr aer a sut y gallwn wneud rhywbeth amdano?
Well, the data is obviously very important, and I know my officials have asked the council to re-examine the short-term action plan to see what approach it's taking, what evidence they have that underpinned it. As I say, the data will be very important too because we need to make sure that that plan is the best way of tackling the poor air quality. They have had an independent peer review with a university—I think it's the University of the West of England—and I think they're expecting that report in the very near future.
Wel, yn amlwg, mae'r data'n bwysig iawn, a gwn fod fy swyddogion wedi gofyn i'r cyngor ailedrych ar y cynllun gweithredu tymor byr i weld pa ddull y maent yn ei fabwysiadu, pa dystiolaeth sydd ganddynt yn sail iddo. Fel y dywedaf, bydd y data'n bwysig iawn hefyd gan fod angen inni sicrhau mai'r cynllun hwnnw yw'r ffordd orau o fynd i'r afael ag ansawdd aer gwael. Maent wedi cael adolygiad annibynnol gan gymheiriaid gyda phrifysgol—Prifysgol Gorllewin Lloegr, rwy'n credu—a chredaf eu bod yn disgwyl yr adroddiad hwnnw yn y dyfodol agos iawn.
Minister, whichever model you use for controlling and dealing with air pollution, I have within my constituency, on the A470 between Nantgarw and Treforest junctions, one of the most polluted areas in the whole of Wales. I know that speed restriction measures have been taken, but I wonder if you could outline the measures that have been taken and what further action could be taken. Because it is not only a massive congested traffic area, but the air conditions there are positively very, very dangerous, and it's an area that needs urgent monitoring and ongoing attention.
Weinidog, pa fodel bynnag a ddefnyddiwch ar gyfer rheoli a mynd i'r afael â llygredd aer, mae gennyf yn fy etholaeth i, ar yr A470 rhwng cyffyrdd Nantgarw a Threfforest, un o ardaloedd mwyaf llygredig Cymru. Gwn fod cyfyngiadau cyflymder ar waith, ond tybed a allech amlinellu'r mesurau a roddwyd ar waith a pha gamau pellach y gellid eu cymryd. Oherwydd nid yn unig ei bod yn ardal â thagfeydd traffig anferthol, ond mae amodau'r aer yno yn wirioneddol beryglus, ac mae'n ardal sydd angen monitro brys a sylw parhaus.
Thank you. As you say, there is a 50 mph speed limit that's been imposed there and that will be reviewed periodically. We will leave them in place as long as we think necessary to maintain air quality standards on that part of the road. I think what's really paramount to the effectiveness of these 50 mph speed limits—I've got one in my own constituency—obviously, is compliance. I think we need to be much more upfront about what it is. I've certainly heard people say in Wrexham that they don't understand why they've got that stretch of 50 mph. We've now got a sign saying that it's to reduce emissions. But I think perhaps we need to be even more clear in relation to that.
We will be commissioning a further review of measures that may have the potential to improve air quality at the location of nitrogen dioxide exceedance. We're also taking significant steps around congestion on the A470, and I know that my colleague Ken Skates—his officials have established a pinchpoints programme to look at a range of solutions to address the known problems in that area.
Diolch. Fel y dywedwch, mae terfyn cyflymder o 50 mya ar waith yno a bydd yn cael ei adolygu o bryd i'w gilydd. Byddwn yn eu gadael yn eu lle cyhyd ag y credwn sy'n angenrheidiol er mwyn cynnal safonau ansawdd aer ar y rhan honno o'r ffordd. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n hanfodol i effeithiolrwydd y terfynau cyflymder 50 mya hyn—mae gennyf un yn fy etholaeth i—yw cydymffurfiaeth, wrth gwrs. Rwy'n credu bod angen inni fod yn llawer mwy agored ynglŷn â beth yw hynny. Yn sicr, rwyf wedi clywed pobl yn dweud yn Wrecsam nad ydynt yn deall pam fod ganddynt y darn hwnnw o 50 mya. Mae gennym arwydd yno bellach sy'n dweud mai lleihau allyriadau yw ei ddiben. Ond credaf efallai fod angen inni fod hyd yn oed yn fwy clir mewn perthynas â hynny.
Byddwn yn comisiynu adolygiad pellach o fesurau a allai fod â photensial i wella ansawdd aer yn y mannau ble y ceir gormodedd o nitrogen deuocsid. Rydym hefyd yn cymryd camau sylweddol mewn perthynas â thagfeydd ar yr A470, a gwn fod fy nghyd-Weinidog Ken Skates—mae ei swyddogion wedi sefydlu rhaglen mannau cyfyng i ystyried ystod o atebion i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau y gwyddys amdanynt yn yr ardal honno.
Tynnwyd cwestiwn 4 [OAQ53257] yn ôl. Cwestiwn 5, Mohammad Asghar.
Question 4 [OAQ53257] is withdrawn. Question 5, Mohammad Asghar.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu blaenoriaethau polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer diogelu bywyd gwyllt Cymru? OAQ53229
5. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's policy priorities for preserving Welsh wildlife? OAQ53229
Thank you. Our policy priorities for wildlife are contained in our nature recovery action plan, emphasising the important role that biodiversity plays in our well-being. This has, for example, seen us invest £4 million and secure an additional £11 million of EU funding for three important projects for Welsh habitats and wildlife.
Diolch. Mae ein blaenoriaethau polisi ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt yn rhan o'n cynllun gweithredu adfer natur, sy'n pwysleisio'r rôl bwysig y mae bioamrywiaeth yn ei chwarae yn ein lles. Mae hyn, er enghraifft, wedi golygu ein bod yn buddsoddi £4 miliwn ac wedi sicrhau £11 miliwn ychwanegol o arian yr UE ar gyfer tri phrosiect pwysig ar gyfer cynefinoedd a bywyd gwyllt Cymru.
Thank you very much for the reply, Minister. I know that your funding and—Welsh funding and European funding, how long that is going to be sustained. But a recent study into the state of birds in Wales found that one in three types of birds are in significant decline. In some cases, they're in danger of extinction in Wales. One of the reasons for this decline is the destruction of birds' habitats, such as hedgerows. Hedgerows are an important feature of the countryside environment, and I understand that regulations mean that it is against the law to remove most countryside hedges without permission from the local authorities—planning permission. Can I ask you, Minister, what you are doing to encourage the planting of hedgerows as an alternative to building fences to protect our environment and to reverse the worrying decline in our bird populations, please?
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb, Weinidog. Gwn fod eich cyllid a—cyllid Cymru a chyllid Ewropeaidd, am ba hyd y bydd yn parhau? Ond canfu astudiaeth ddiweddar o gyflwr adar yng Nghymru fod un o bob tri math o adar yn dirywio'n sylweddol. Mewn rhai achosion, maent mewn perygl o ddiflannu yng Nghymru. Un o'r rhesymau dros y dirywiad hwn yw dinistrio cynefinoedd adar, megis perthi. Mae perthi yn nodwedd bwysig o'r amgylchedd cefn gwlad, ac rwy'n deall bod rheoliadau'n golygu ei bod yn erbyn y gyfraith i ddileu'r rhan fwyaf o wrychoedd cefn gwlad heb ganiatâd gan yr awdurdodau lleol—caniatâd cynllunio. A gaf fi ofyn, Weinidog, beth a wnewch i annog plannu perthi yn lle adeiladu ffensys er mwyn diogelu ein hamgylchedd a gwrthdroi'r dirywiad ofnadwy yn ein poblogaethau adar, os gwelwch yn dda?
I have seen that report, and, certainly, the decline in some native bird species is very worrying. I think there are many factors that will combine together to effect bird population change over time in Wales, and I think we do need to ensure that Welsh habitats are absolutely in the best possible condition to allow bird populations the best chance of recovery.
I haven't specifically done anything about hedgerows, but I'd certainly be very happy to look at it. You'll be aware of the significant amount of hedgerows—. One of the things that struck me when I went out to New Zealand to look at farms out there—. If you go on farms in Wales, the wonderful hedgerows that are there, which obviously encourage bird species here, you just don't see out there. So, I think you're right, hedgerows form part of that work that needs to be done to make sure that we do have the bird population we want here.
Rwyf wedi gweld yr adroddiad hwnnw, ac yn sicr, mae'r dirywiad mewn rhai rhywogaethau adar brodorol yn peri cryn bryder. Credaf y bydd llawer o ffactorau yn cyfuno i achosi newid yn y boblogaeth adar dros amser yng Nghymru, a chredaf fod angen inni sicrhau bod cynefinoedd Cymru yn y cyflwr gorau posibl i roi'r cyfle gorau i boblogaethau adar allu gwella.
Nid wyf wedi gwneud unrhyw beth penodol ynglŷn â pherthi, ond rwy'n sicr yn fwy na pharod i ystyried y mater. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r nifer sylweddol o berthi—. Un o'r pethau a wnaeth argraff arnaf pan euthum allan i Seland Newydd i edrych ar ffermydd yno—. Os ewch i ffermydd yng Nghymru, y perthi gwych sydd yma, sy'n amlwg yn hybu rhywogaethau adar yma, nid ydych yn eu gweld draw yno. Felly, credaf eich bod yn llygad eich lle, mae perthi yn rhan o'r gwaith y mae angen ei wneud i sicrhau bod gennym y boblogaeth adar rydym am ei gweld yma.
In your response to Mohammad Asghar, you rightly highlight the importance of the 'State of Birds in Wales 2018' report, and we have, of course, some incredibly internationally important populations—I'm thinking, for example, of the gannetry on Grassholm; I could list a whole load. Obviously, some of the investment that's already been made to protect those habitats is beginning to show success, and ensuring that we adequately fund schemes and initiatives to recover and continue to recover natural environments is key, and that includes enabling Natural Resources Wales to be fully resourced around its conservation remit, which is, of course, a challenge. What discussions have you and your Government had, Minister, to mitigate the risk that we may no longer be able to access the EU funds that you mentioned, including initiatives such as the LIFE funding stream, which has been key in enabling some of the large scale species recovery and environment projects that have been undertaken here? How can that incredibly invaluable investment be replaced and maintained?
Yn eich ymateb i Mohammad Asghar, rydych yn iawn i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd yr adroddiad 'State of Birds in Wales 2018', ac mae gennym rai poblogaethau pwysig iawn yn rhyngwladol wrth gwrs—rwy'n meddwl, er enghraifft, am nythle'r gwylanwyddau ar Ynys Gwales; gallwn restru llu ohonynt. Yn amlwg, mae peth o'r buddsoddiad a wnaethpwyd eisoes i ddiogelu'r cynefinoedd hynny yn dechrau dangos llwyddiant, ac mae sicrhau ein bod yn ariannu cynlluniau a mentrau yn ddigonol fel y gallant wella a pharhau i wella amgylcheddau naturiol yn allweddol, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys darparu'r holl adnoddau angenrheidiol i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru mewn perthynas â'u cylch gwaith cadwraeth, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn her. Pa drafodaethau a gawsoch chi a'ch Llywodraeth, Weinidog, i liniaru'r risg na fyddwn yn gallu cael mynediad at gronfeydd yr UE a grybwyllwyd gennych, gan gynnwys mentrau megis ffrwd gyllido LIFE, sydd wedi bod yn allweddol o ran galluogi peth o'r gwaith adfer rhywogaethau ar raddfa fawr a'r prosiectau amgylcheddol sydd wedi eu cyflawni yma? Sut y gellir sicrhau cyllid yn lle'r buddsoddiad anhygoel o werthfawr hwnnw, a sicrhau ei fod yn cael ei gynnal?
It is obviously an area that we have worked with the UK Government on, because, if you remember, we were told by the UK Government that, if we left the European Union, we would not lose a penny of funding. So, currently, we are still in that position where we are telling them, 'You promised us we would not lose a penny', and, certainly, right across my portfolio—as I think I said in an earlier answer to Rhun ap Iorwerth—it's awash with European funding. I think my portfolio probably receives the most. So, it is imperative that we continue to have those discussions, because we know of the impact it would have, not just on agriculture and fisheries, but also on the environment.
Mae'n amlwg yn faes rydym wedi gweithio arno gyda Llywodraeth y DU, oherwydd, os cofiwch, dywedwyd wrthym gan Lywodraeth y DU, pe baem yn gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, na fyddem yn colli ceiniog o gyllid. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn dal i fod yn y sefyllfa lle rydym yn dweud wrthynt, 'Fe wnaethoch chi addo inni na fyddem yn colli ceiniog', ac yn sicr, mae fy mhortffolio—fel y dywedais mewn ateb cynharach i Rhun ap Iorwerth—yn nofio mewn cyllid Ewropeaidd. Mwy na thebyg mai fy mhortffolio i sy'n derbyn y swm mwyaf o arian. Felly, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn parhau i gael y trafodaethau hynny, gan y gwyddom am yr effaith y byddai'n ei chael, nid yn unig ar amaethyddiaeth a physgodfeydd, ond hefyd ar yr amgylchedd.
We've all been reading the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds's 'State of Birds in Wales 2018', so the question is quite clearly that birds are going down—there is a rapid decline—and I am a member of the RSPB, so I'll declare that now. So, in terms of the good things that we've done, like banning shooting on NRW land, stopping the shooting of the white-fronted goose—things like that, preserving specifics—they are really good. But I suppose, in terms of land management, my question will be about nitrate vulnerable zones and the impact that some of those have on our wildlife, and what it is, Minister, that you are going to do to make sure that we bring forward a sustainable plan where nitrates aren't in such concentration that they destroy any habitat that tries to live beyond them.
Mae pob un ohonom wedi bod yn darllen adroddiad y Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Gwarchod Adar, 'State of Birds in Wales 2018', felly mae'n eithaf amlwg mai'r cwestiwn yw bod niferoedd adar yn cwympo—mae yno ostyngiad cyflym—ac rwy'n aelod o'r Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Gwarchod Adar, felly rwyf am ddatgan hynny nawr. Felly, o ran y pethau da rydym wedi'u gwneud, fel gwahardd saethu ar dir Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, rhoi diwedd ar saethu gwyddau talcenwyn—pethau fel hynny, gwarchod pethau penodol—maent yn bethau da iawn. Ond rwy'n tybio, o ran rheoli tir, y bydd fy nghwestiwn yn ymwneud â pharthau perygl nitradau a'r effaith a gaiff rhai ohonynt ar ein bywyd gwyllt, a beth y bwriadwch ei wneud, Weinidog, i sicrhau ein bod yn cyflwyno cynllun cynaliadwy lle na cheir crynodiadau o nitradau a allai ddinistrio unrhyw gynefin sy'n ceisio byw y tu hwnt iddynt.
Thank you. So, the Member will be aware of the written statement I brought forward around agriculture pollution and NVZs. I think it's really important that we continue to take forward the nature recovery action plan. It's our national strategy so that we can address the decline in biodiversity. You mentioned a couple of instances around protection of birds, and I do think it is strategies like you've just mentioned around the Greenland white-fronted goose. I think it is also really important that we make good progress to embed the biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty with all public authorities. I think there's a big piece of work to be done here, and, again, I know that the First Minister—this is an area he's very keen on, about looking at the decline in the biodiversity, which I do think we have now started to reverse, but we need to do it at a much quicker pace.
Diolch. Felly, fe fydd yr Aelod yn gwybod am y datganiad ysgrifenedig a wneuthum mewn perthynas â llygredd amaethyddol a pharthau perygl nitradau. Credaf ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig ein bod yn parhau i ddatblygu'r cynllun gweithredu adfer natur. Dyna yw ein strategaeth genedlaethol fel y gallwn fynd i'r afael â'r dirywiad mewn bioamrywiaeth. Fe sonioch chi am un neu ddwy o enghreifftiau yn gysylltiedig â gwarchod adar, a chredaf ei fod yn ymwneud â strategaethau fel yr un rydych newydd ei chrybwyll ar gyfer gwyddau talcenwyn yr Ynys Las. Credaf ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig hefyd ein bod yn gwneud cynnydd sylweddol er mwyn sefydlu'r ddyletswydd bioamrywiaeth a chydnerthedd ecosystemau gyda phob awdurdod cyhoeddus. Credaf fod cryn dipyn o waith i'w wneud yma, ac unwaith eto, gwn fod y Prif Weinidog—mae hwn yn faes y mae'n frwdfrydig iawn yn ei gylch, o ran edrych ar y dirywiad mewn bioamrywiaeth, sy'n rhywbeth y credaf ein bod wedi dechrau ei wrthdroi bellach, ond mae angen inni wneud hynny'n llawer cyflymach.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y nifer sy'n defnyddio Gwasanaeth Ynni Llywodraeth Cymru? OAQ53254
6. Will the Minister make a statement on the uptake of the Welsh Government Energy Service? OAQ53254
Thank you. Since the energy service was launched last year, it has supported public sector organisations and local communities to progress significant energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes. These schemes are expected to result in £16 million of low-cost Welsh Government finance being committed in the current financial year.
Diolch. Ers lansio'r gwasanaeth ynni y llynedd, mae wedi cynorthwyo sefydliadau sector cyhoeddus a chymunedau lleol i fwrw ymlaen â chynlluniau effeithlonrwydd ynni ac ynni adnewyddadwy sylweddol. Disgwylir i'r cynlluniau hyn arwain at ymrwymo £16 miliwn o gyllid cost isel Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
Thank you for that answer. Minister, with large-scale projects like Wylfa and the tidal lagoon struggling to get off the ground, it seems to me that it is now time to focus on smaller, community-based energy generation, so that communities can take charge of their energy production and—more to the point—enjoy the savings. What plans do you have to encourage more public sector bodies, community groups and businesses to take up the energy service?
Diolch am eich ateb. Weinidog, gyda phrosiectau mawr fel Wylfa a'r morlyn llanw yn ei chael hi'n anodd cychwyn, ymddengys i mi ei bod bellach yn bryd canolbwyntio ar gynhyrchu ynni ar raddfa lai yn y gymuned, fel y gall cymunedau fod yn gyfrifol am gynhyrchu eu hynni, ac yn bwysicach, mwynhau'r arian a gaiff ei arbed. Pa gynlluniau sydd gennych i annog mwy o gyrff y sector cyhoeddus, grwpiau cymunedol a busnesau i fanteisio ar y gwasanaeth ynni?
Thank you. Well, I think it's probably a balance about both. I mentioned that the scheme has only been going for about six months. We've got a pipeline of 257 projects across all the 22 local authorities. There are other public sector bodies and community groups involved in that as well. We've already seen many of them in active development with the energy service. As I say, it's only six months in. We are also supporting the development of four large-scale ground-mounted solar projects in north Wales, so I'm very pleased with the progress that we've made in the first six months.
Diolch. Wel, credaf fod hyn, mae'n debyg, yn ymwneud â chydbwysedd rhwng y ddau beth. Soniais nad yw'r cynllun ond wedi bod ar waith ers oddeutu chwe mis. Mae gennym 257 o brosiectau yn yr arfaeth ar draws y 22 awdurdod lleol. Mae cyrff sector cyhoeddus a grwpiau cymunedol eraill yn rhan o hynny hefyd. Rydym eisoes wedi gweld llawer ohonynt yn datblygu'n weithredol gyda'r gwasanaeth ynni. Fel y dywedaf, chwe mis yn unig sydd wedi bod. Rydym hefyd yn cefnogi'r gwaith o ddatblygu pedwar prosiect ynni'r haul wedi'u gosod ar lawr, sy'n brosiectau ar raddfa fawr, yng ngogledd Cymru, felly rwy'n fodlon iawn gyda'r cynnydd rydym wedi'i wneud dros y chwe mis cyntaf.
The Welsh Government website says that the energy service aims to develop energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and provides technical, financial and other specialist support for energy projects. You just mentioned working with community groups and others. The original effective pilot, the local affordable warmth scheme launched in Flintshire some years ago, was always built upon a joint working with the third sector and existing energy efficiency schemes. How are you ensuring that that is embedded as this goes forward, and it's not simply a top-down county hall programme? Finally, how are you planning to address concern that, with fluctuating fuel prices, many off-gas-grid homes have recently seen improvements in their energy performance certificates without any alterations being made to their property or any material improvements to the environmental performance of the buildings concerned?
Dywed gwefan Llywodraeth Cymru mai nod y gwasanaeth ynni yw datblygu prosiectau effeithlonrwydd ynni ac ynni adnewyddadwy ac mae'n darparu cymorth technegol, ariannol ac arbenigol arall ar gyfer prosiectau ynni. Fe gyfeirioch chi at weithio gyda grwpiau cymunedol ac eraill. Cafodd y cynllun peilot effeithiol gwreiddiol, y cynllun cynhesrwydd fforddiadwy lleol a lansiwyd yn sir y Fflint rai blynyddoedd yn ôl, ei ddatblygu drwy gydweithio â'r trydydd sector a chynlluniau effeithlonrwydd ynni a oedd yn bodoli eisoes. Sut y sicrhewch y bydd yn magu gwraidd wrth symud ymlaen, ac nad yw'n rhaglen a reolir i lawr o neuadd y sir? Yn olaf, sut y bwriadwch fynd i'r afael â'r pryder, gyda phrisiau tanwydd yn amrywio, fod llawer o gartrefi nad ydynt ar y grid nwy wedi gweld gwelliannau yn ddiweddar yn eu tystysgrifau perfformiad ynni heb fod unrhyw addasiadau wedi'u gwneud i'w heiddo nac unrhyw welliannau o sylwedd i berfformiad amgylcheddol yr adeiladau dan sylw?
So, in creating the new energy service, we are enabling the public sector to, obviously, decarbonise and make use of this funding, but this service is also supporting local people. It's not just about the public sector. So, local people and local groups are, obviously, coming together to create schemes that will help us deliver against our targets for renewable energy in Wales. I've been to two very good hydro schemes in north Wales run by the community, one in Corwen and one in Bethesda, and, I have to say, to hear individuals say that they know that when they switch their kettle on in their kitchen they are benefiting from that in another way, I think really shows me that this is absolutely the way forward. I know that, quite often, when groups come together, there are lots of technical complexities and we have to do due diligence, obviously, but I do think this scheme is really moving quickly. As I say, it's only been there six months and we've already had many projects coming to fruition.
Wrth greu'r gwasanaeth ynni newydd, rydym yn galluogi'r sector cyhoeddus, yn amlwg, i ddatgarboneiddio ac i ddefnyddio'r arian hwn, ond mae'r gwasanaeth hwn hefyd yn cefnogi pobl leol. Mae'n ymwneud â mwy na'r sector cyhoeddus yn unig. Felly, mae pobl leol a grwpiau lleol, yn amlwg, yn dod at ei gilydd i greu cynlluniau a fydd yn ein cynorthwyo i gyrraedd ein targedau ar gyfer ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru. Rwyf wedi ymweld â dau gynllun ynni dŵr da iawn yng ngogledd Cymru sy'n cael eu rhedeg gan y gymuned, un yng Nghorwen ac un ym Methesda, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, wrth glywed unigolion yn dweud eu bod yn gwybod, pan fyddant yn troi'r tegell ymlaen yn eu cegin, eu bod yn elwa o hynny mewn ffordd arall, credaf fod hynny'n dangos imi o ddifrif mai hon yw'r ffordd ymlaen. Yn aml iawn, pan fydd grwpiau'n dod at ei gilydd, rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o gymhlethdodau technegol ac mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau diwydrwydd dyladwy, yn amlwg, ond credaf fod y cynllun hwn yn symud yn gyflym. Fel rwy'n dweud, chwe mis yn unig sydd wedi bod ac rydym eisoes wedi gweld llawer o brosiectau'n dwyn ffrwyth.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ansawdd dŵr yn etholaeth Ogwr? OAQ53262
7. Will the Minister make a statement on water quality in the Ogmore constituency? OAQ53262
Thank you. The 2015 river basin management plan has shown the Llynfi and Garw rivers achieve 'moderate' status whilst the Ogmore and its tributaries achieve 'good' status under the water framework directive. Across Wales, 37 per cent of water bodies currently meet 'good' status, with work under way to increase this to 42 per cent by 2021.
Diolch. Mae cynllun rheoli basn afon 2015 wedi dangos bod afon Llynfi ac afon Garw yn cyflawni statws 'cymedrol' tra bo afon Ogwr a'i his-afonydd yn cyflawni statws 'da' o dan y gyfarwyddeb fframwaith dŵr. Ledled Cymru, mae 37 y cant o'r crynofeydd dŵr yn cyflawni statws 'da' ar hyn o bryd, gyda gwaith ar y gweill i gynyddu'r ffigur hwn i 42 y cant erbyn 2021.
I thank the Minister for that response, and I'm glad she interpreted my question as river quality, not general water within the Ogmore constituency. So, thank you for that. It's great to see that we are on an upward trajectory, and it's noticeable over the last couple of decades the improvement in the water quality of the rivers within the Ogmore. I can't take all credit for it myself, I have to say: it's been a combination of investment from Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water and NRW as well, investing in things such as improvements to the river bed quality high up into the rivers so that we now have spawning fish right up into the top of Blaengarw and so on. But we still have more to do.
I note that we'll shortly be out, myself and Chris Elmore, visiting a couple of the projects—over £10 million of investment by Dŵr Cymru on two flagship investments. That includes investment of £3.3 million on a new sewer between Ogmore Vale and Blackmill and also £7 million additional investment into the existing treatment works in Lletty Brongu in Llangynwyd in the Llynfi Valley. This is great to see, but I wonder whether the Minister could either update me now or write to me on the issue of the Garw valley and the combined sewage and water outfalls, which still, I understand—I'm told by the anglers that, when we have very heavy rain, the combined outfall means that we are pumping sewage effluent directly into that very important river. So, I wonder if, perhaps, if she doesn't have the answer now, she could write to me and let me know where we are with investment in the Garw valley as well.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei hymateb, ac rwy'n falch ei bod wedi dehongli fy nghwestiwn fel un am ansawdd afonydd, yn hytrach na dŵr yn gyffredinol yn etholaeth Ogwr. Felly, diolch am hynny. Mae'n wych gweld ein bod yn wynebu'r cyfeiriad iawn, ac mae'r gwelliant yn ansawdd dŵr yr afonydd yn Ogwr yn amlwg dros y ddau ddegawd diwethaf. Ni allaf gymryd yr holl glod am hynny fy hun, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud: mae wedi dibynnu ar gyfuniad o fuddsoddiad gan Dŵr Cymru a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru hefyd, wrth iddynt fuddsoddi mewn pethau megis gwelliannau i ansawdd gwely afon yn uchel i fyny'r afonydd fel bod gennym bellach bysgod yn silio yr holl ffordd i fyny at ben uchaf Blaengarw ac ati. Ond mae gennym fwy i'w wneud.
Nodaf y byddwn yn mynd allan yn fuan, Chris Elmore a minnau, i ymweld ag un neu ddau o'r prosiectau—dros £10 miliwn o fuddsoddiad gan Dŵr Cymru ar ddau fuddsoddiad blaenllaw. Mae hynny'n cynnwys buddsoddiad o £3.3 miliwn ar garthffos newydd rhwng Cwm Ogwr a Melin Ifan Ddu yn ogystal â gwerth £7 miliwn o fuddsoddiad ychwanegol i'r gwaith trin dŵr gwastraff presennol yn Llety Brongu yn Llangynwyd yng Nghwm Llynfi. Mae'n wych gweld hyn, ond tybed a allai'r Gweinidog naill ai roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf imi yn awr neu ysgrifennu ataf ar fater cwm Garw a'r gollyngfeydd carthffosiaeth a dŵr cyfunol, sy'n dal i fod, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf—mae'r pysgotwyr yn dweud wrthyf, pan fyddwn yn cael glaw trwm iawn, fod yr ollyngfa gyfunol yn golygu ein bod yn pwmpio elifion carthion yn uniongyrchol i mewn i'r afon bwysig honno. Felly, os nad oes ganddi ateb ar hyn o bryd, tybed a allai ysgrifennu ataf i roi gwybod beth yw'r sefyllfa o ran buddsoddiad yng nghwm Garw hefyd.
I will have to write to the Member in relation to the Garw valley, because I don't have that information to hand, but I think you've highlighted a very important point, particularly around the significant investment that Dŵr Cymru are putting into ensuring that we have a thriving water environment, because, absolutely, that's what we want to see.FootnoteLink
Bydd yn rhaid imi ysgrifennu at yr Aelod mewn perthynas â chwm Garw, gan nad oes gennyf y wybodaeth honno wrth law, ond credaf eich bod wedi tynnu sylw at bwynt pwysig iawn, yn enwedig y buddsoddiad sylweddol a wneir gan Dŵr Cymru i sicrhau bod gennym amgylchedd dŵr ffyniannus, oherwydd, yn sicr, dyna rydym am ei weld.FootnoteLink
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am les anifeiliaid anwes? OAQ53236
8. Will the Minister make a statement on the welfare of pets? OAQ53236
Thank you. I updated Plenary on my plans to improve companion animal welfare in my oral statements in June and November last year. I'm committed to exploring options related to banning third-party sale of puppies and kittens and the consultation for this will be launched on 22 February.
Diolch. Rhoddais y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Cyfarfod Llawn ynglŷn â fy nghynlluniau i wella lles anifeiliaid anwes yn fy natganiadau llafar ym mis Mehefin a mis Tachwedd y llynedd. Rwy'n ymrwymedig i archwilio opsiynau'n ymwneud â gwahardd gwerthu cŵn a chathod bach gan drydydd parti a bydd yr ymgynghoriad ar y mater yn cael ei lansio ar 22 Chwefror.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Earlier this month, I was delighted to take Andrew R.T. Davies in his capacity as your shadow to one of my favourite places in my constituency, and, at our meeting at the Bridgend Cats Protection adoption centre, the issue of landlords and residential homes not accepting pets came up again. Now, obviously, you know that that's a real well-being issue, particularly for older people, and also for animals themselves. Last summer, you told me that this was an important issue, something that Welsh Government do need to look at, and that you would make sure you'd start to have conversations about this. It's six months on now, and I wonder if you're in a position to update us on those conversations.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, roeddwn yn falch iawn o fynd ag Andrew R.T. Davies yn rhinwedd ei swydd fel eich llefarydd cysgodol i un o fy hoff lefydd yn fy etholaeth i, ac yn ein cyfarfod yng nghanolfan fabwysiadu Cats Protection Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, unwaith eto cododd mater landlordiaid a chartrefi preswyl nad ydynt yn derbyn anifeiliaid anwes. Nawr, yn amlwg, gwyddoch fod honno'n broblem wirioneddol o ran llesiant, yn enwedig llesiant pobl hŷn, yn ogystal â lles yr anifeiliaid eu hunain. Yr haf diwethaf, fe ddywedoch chi wrthyf fod hwn yn fater pwysig, yn rhywbeth y mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ei ystyried, ac y byddech yn sicrhau y byddech yn dechrau cael trafodaethau ynglŷn â hyn. Mae chwe mis wedi bod ers hynny, a tybed a ydych mewn sefyllfa i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni am y sgyrsiau hynny.
I did have an initial conversation with officials around it. You'll appreciate I haven't got the powers to make sure that happens and, certainly, there are care homes that do allow it, but there are equally care homes that don't allow it. So, I haven't taken it any further forward, but I absolutely agree, and, certainly, having just become—well, my daughter, not me—the owner of a puppy that we took into a care home to see a relative at Christmas, you can see the pleasure that such things bring to people, but, as you say, when somebody moves into a residential or nursing home and they do have a pet, that can obviously cause significant problems. But perhaps you'd like to invite me to the Bridgend Cats Protection league as well.
Cefais sgwrs gychwynnol gyda swyddogion ynglŷn â hynny. Fe fyddwch yn deall nad yw'r pwerau gennyf i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd, ac yn sicr, mae rhai cartrefi gofal yn caniatáu hynny, ond yn yr un modd, ceir cartrefi gofal nad ydynt yn caniatáu hynny. Felly, nid wyf wedi symud ymlaen ymhellach ar hyn, ond rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr, ac yn sicr, ar ôl dod yn berchennog—wel, fy merch, nid fi—ar gi bach a ddaeth gyda ni i gartref gofal i weld perthynas adeg y Nadolig, gallwch weld y pleser y mae pethau o'r fath yn ei roi i bobl, ond fel y dywedwch, pan fydd rhywun yn symud i gartref preswyl neu gartref nyrsio ac mae ganddynt anifail anwes, gall hynny beri problemau sylweddol, yn amlwg. Ond efallai yr hoffech fy ngwahodd i gynghrair Cats Protection Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr hefyd.
In July last year, you said that you weren't minded to follow through with the concept of an animal abuse register for Wales. I'm taking it hard, but there we go, I'll try and move on. But, in that statement, you said that you would look at alternative measures—the RSPCA led that taskforce—you said things in relation to better information sharing between law enforcement, health professionals and animal shelters and organisations. So, could you give me an update on what you're doing from that piece of work?
In other correspondence or oral questions, you seem to be sympathetic to ideas to look at policies in relation to if somebody abuses an animal that they may then transgress by abusing humans. I've not seen as much progress from you as your sentiments indicate in this Chamber, so I'm trying to understand what you're doing on that as well, because we can be stopping perpetrators of domestic abuse if we get them at that early stage.
Ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd, fe ddywedoch chi nad oeddech yn bwriadu rhoi'r cysyniad o gofrestr cam-drin anifeiliaid ar gyfer Cymru ar waith. Mae hynny'n siom enfawr i mi, ond dyna ni, fe geisiaf symud ymlaen. Ond yn y datganiad hwnnw, fe ddywedoch y byddech yn edrych ar fesurau amgen—yr RSPCA a arweiniodd y tasglu hwnnw—fe ddywedoch chi bethau a oedd yn ymwneud â rhannu gwybodaeth yn well rhwng yr heddlu, gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol a sefydliadau a llochesau anifeiliaid. Felly, a allwch roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf imi ar yr hyn rydych yn ei wneud mewn perthynas â'r gwaith hwnnw?
Mewn gohebiaeth neu gwestiynau llafar eraill, ymddengys eich bod yn cydymdeimlo â syniadau'n ymwneud ag edrych ar bolisïau mewn perthynas ag os yw rhywun yn cam-drin anifail, efallai y byddant wedyn yn troseddu drwy gam-drin pobl. Nid wyf wedi gweld cymaint o gynnydd gennych ag y mae eich sylwadau yn y Siambr hon yn ei awgrymu, felly rwy'n ceisio deall beth rydych yn ei wneud ynglŷn â hynny hefyd, gan y gallem fod yn atal pobl rhag cyflawni cam-drin domestig pe baem yn eu dal ar y cam cynnar hwnnw.
Two things come to mind straight away. I did have a discussion around this with police officers who are members of the rural crime team up in north Wales. I spent a couple of days with them last year, and this was an area that we discussed and wondered if there was anything further we could do. You will be aware of the work that the RSPCA led on for me, and I do absolutely understand your passion for this. I've also had a discussion and a couple of presentations that the chief veterinary officer arranged for me around what we can do. Certainly, there's a level of work that's done now with vets when they're training to identify, if an animal is brought to them and they're concerned about how that animal was injured, there are questions to be asked and perhaps places they can signpost themselves to for further information. I do think, within the veterinary profession themselves, they are taking this work forward also.
Mae dau beth yn dod i fy meddwl yn syth. Cefais drafodaeth ynglŷn â hyn gyda swyddogion yr heddlu sy'n aelodau o'r tîm troseddau gwledig yng ngogledd Cymru. Treuliais ychydig ddyddiau gyda hwy y llynedd, ac roedd hwn yn faes a drafodasom a buom yn meddwl a oedd unrhyw beth arall y gallem ei wneud. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod am y gwaith a wnaed o dan arweiniad yr RSPCA, ac rwy'n deall eich angerdd ynglŷn â hyn yn llwyr. Rwyf hefyd wedi cael trafodaeth ac wedi gweld un neu ddau o gyflwyniadau a drefnwyd ar fy nghyfer gan y prif swyddog milfeddygol mewn perthynas â'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud. Yn sicr, gwneir lefel o waith ar hyn o bryd gyda milfeddygon pan fyddant yn hyfforddi i nodi, os deuir ag anifail atynt a'u bod yn pryderu ynglŷn â sut y cafodd yr anifail ei anafu, mae cwestiynau i'w gofyn a lleoedd y gallant droi atynt, o bosibl, am ragor o wybodaeth. Rwy'n credu eu bod yn datblygu'r gwaith hwn o fewn y proffesiwn milfeddygol eu hunain hefyd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf felly yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mark Reckless.
The next item, therefore, is questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government. The first question is from Mark Reckless.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y rhaglen Hunanadeiladu Cymru? OAQ53243
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the Self-Build Wales programme? OAQ53243
Yes. I am very pleased that, last week, the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd announced £40 million for Self Build Wales. Developed in collaboration with partners across the sector, I am confident this innovative scheme, the first of its kind, will be a huge success when it launches properly later this year.
Gwnaf. Rwy'n falch iawn fod y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd, yr wythnos diwethaf, wedi cyhoeddi £40 miliwn ar gyfer rhaglen Hunanadeiladu Cymru. Fe'i datblygwyd mewn cydweithrediad â phartneriaid ar draws y sector, ac rwy'n hyderus y bydd y cynllun arloesol hwn, y cyntaf o'i fath, yn llwyddiant mawr pan fydd yn cael ei lansio'n iawn yn ddiweddarach eleni.
I welcome the Minister to her post. I'm pleased to be able to start by congratulating Welsh Government on what strikes me as a really positive and on the face of it quite generous terms to this initiative. I just wonder, the press release said that loans would be 'repayment free' until the new home was complete and mortgaged, it then says:
'approved applicants can reserve a plot by providing a 25% deposit on the plot cost. The Welsh Government through the Development Bank of Wales will provide the rest of the funding.'
Does that mean that they only pay 25 per cent of the land cost and then all of the construction cost can be borrowed from the development bank? When you say 'repayment free', does that also mean interest free, or will there be interest that then has to be paid back after it's finished?
Rwy'n croesawu'r Gweinidog i'w swydd. Rwy'n falch o allu dechrau drwy longyfarch Llywodraeth Cymru ar yr hyn sydd, yn ôl pob golwg, yn delerau cadarnhaol iawn ac eithaf hael ar gyfer y fenter hon. Ond dywedai'r datganiad i'r wasg na fydd angen dechrau ad-dalu'r benthyciad hyd nes y bydd y cartref newydd wedi'i gwblhau a morgais wedi'i drefnu, ac yna mae'n dweud:
'bydd ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus yn gallu sicrhau plot drwy dalu blaendal o 25% o gost y plot. Llywodraeth Cymru fydd yn darparu gweddill y cyllid drwy Banc Datblygu Cymru.'
A yw hynny'n golygu na fyddant ond yn talu 25 y cant o gost y tir ac y gellir benthyca'r holl gost adeiladu gan y banc datblygu wedyn? Pan ddywedwch na fydd angen ad-dalu, a yw hynny hefyd yn golygu nad oes llog, neu a oes llog y bydd angen ei ad-dalu ar ôl ei gwblhau?
The scheme is quite complex, and we are initially starting off on publicly owned land. So, there'll be a conversation to be had about the value of that land and how it's valued for the scheme. What we're doing is we're basically looking to smooth out the process for people who wouldn't have the resource to do that, so we're looking to have plots that are ready to build on so that they'd be offered to a self-builder with a lot of the usual planning considerations and all the rest of it ironed out.
We're looking to have the scheme offer, just to start off with—I have ambitions to be able to take it further than this, but just to start off with—some template houses. So, people can customise them, but broadly we will be able to get the planning consents in place and so on. So, it's not just the loan finance that we're talking about, it's actually providing people with a plot that's ready to go. A lot of that cost will have been taken out of the project in the first place.
There are some conversations to be had around the specifics depending on the circumstances of the individual in question, how much equity they bring in the first place, what that triggers by way of loan finance and so on, which will need to be ironed out, and will be very individual, depending on the plot, its value, the value that the person brings to it, whether they're going to self-build it in the actual sense of putting the bricks up themselves or whether they will need to fund a developer, and so on. So, lots of nuance. We're very excited about it, but it will depend on where the plot is, and so on. I'm very sorry to give you a lawyer's answer, but 'it depends' is the overarching answer to that. But to be reassuring, all of the things that you enumerated are the things we're looking to see, but they will be very individual, depending on the circumstances of the plot and the person coming forward.
Mae'r cynllun yn eithaf cymhleth, ac i gychwyn, rydym yn dechrau ar dir cyhoeddus. Felly, bydd sgwrs i'w chael am werth y tir hwnnw a sut y caiff ei brisio ar gyfer y cynllun. Yr hyn a wnawn yn y bôn yw ceisio hwyluso'r broses ar gyfer pobl na fyddai ganddynt yr adnoddau i wneud hynny, felly rydym yn gobeithio cael plotiau sy'n barod ar gyfer adeiladu arnynt fel y byddant yn cael eu cynnig i hunanadeiladwr heb fod angen mynd drwy lawer o'r ystyriaethau cynllunio arferol ac yn y blaen.
Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y cynllun yn cynnig, i ddechrau—mae gennyf uchelgais i fynd ag ef ymhellach na hyn, ond dim ond i ddechrau—rhai tai templed. Felly, gall pobl eu haddasu, ond yn gyffredinol, bydd modd inni sicrhau caniatâd cynllunio ac ati. Felly, nid ydym yn sôn am gyllid drwy fenthyciadau yn unig, rydym yn sôn am ddarparu plot i bobl sy'n barod ar gyfer adeiladu arno. Bydd llawer o'r gost honno wedi'i thynnu allan o'r prosiect yn y lle cyntaf.
Mae ambell sgwrs i'w chael ynghylch y manylion yn dibynnu ar amgylchiadau'r unigolyn o dan sylw, faint o ecwiti y maent yn ei ddarparu yn y lle cyntaf, beth y mae hynny'n ei sbarduno o ran cyllid benthyciad ac ati, a bydd angen penderfynu ar hynny, a bydd yn unigol iawn, yn dibynnu ar y plot, ei werth, y gwerth y mae'r unigolyn yn ei gyfrannu, a fyddant yn ei hunanadeiladu yn yr ystyr o osod y briciau eu hunain neu a fydd angen talu datblygwr, ac ati. Felly, llawer o fanylion. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn arw at hyn, ond bydd yn dibynnu ar leoliad y plot, ac ati. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf am roi ateb cyfreithiwr ichi, ond 'mae'n dibynnu' yw'r ateb cyffredinol i hynny. Ond i fod yn galonogol, mae'r holl bethau a grybwylloch yn bethau rydym am eu gweld, ond byddant yn unigol iawn, yn dibynnu ar amgylchiadau'r plot a'r unigolyn dan sylw.
2. Pa gyngor y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid tai eraill i gefnogi mentrau bach a chanolig sy'n adeiladu tai? OAQ53260
2. What advice does the Welsh Government provide to local authorities and other housing partners to support small and medium sized house building enterprises? OAQ53260
The Welsh Government has a strong track record in supporting small and medium-sized house building enterprises. We provide support directly and, where possible, provide advice to local authorities and other housing partners.
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru hanes cryf o gefnogi mentrau bach a chanolig sy'n adeiladu tai. Rydym yn darparu cymorth uniongyrchol, a lle y bo modd, yn rhoi cyngor i awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid tai eraill.
I thank the Minister very much for that answer. My question partly follows on from the previous question, curiously. Her predecessor announced the £40 million of funding that, because it will quadruple, goes up to £160 million because it's recycled to SMEs over 17 years to help them build more homes in Wales, and I'm really interested in how that is going to be analysed and granulated so that I can see, for example, if not in Ogmore, in the Bridgend area, or even in the Mid Glamorgan area, exactly what effect that is having over time. Now, I know it's still fairly recent, and the announcement was only made in Parc y Scarlets last year. As an Ospreys supporter, I don't mind that, that it was made in Parc y Scarlets. But it would be good, another 12 months down the line, to know what parcels of land have been used within my area or my region, who's been involved in it, and how many of our SMEs have actually been involved in it and have benefited as well, and how many jobs have been created. So, I wonder if we'll be able to do that, not right now, but maybe in 12 months or 24 months.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Gweinidog am ei hateb. Yn rhyfedd iawn, mae fy nghwestiwn yn dilyn ymlaen o'r cwestiwn blaenorol yn rhannol. Cyhoeddodd ei rhagflaenydd y £40 miliwn o arian, sy'n mynd i godi bedair gwaith i £160 miliwn, gan y bydd yn cael ei ailgylchu i fusnesau bach a chanolig dros 17 mlynedd i'w cynorthwyo i adeiladu mwy o gartrefi yng Nghymru, ac mae gennyf gryn ddiddordeb yn sut y bydd yn cael ei ddadansoddi a'i ronynnu fel y gallaf weld, er enghraifft, os nad yn Ogwr, yn ardal Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, neu hyd yn oed yn ardal Morgannwg Ganol, yn union pa effaith y bydd yn ei chael dros amser. Nawr, gwn fod hyn yn dal i fod yn eithaf diweddar, ac y gwnaed y cyhoeddiad ym Mharc y Scarlets llynedd. Fel cefnogwr y Gweilch, nid oes ots gennyf am hynny, fod y cyhoeddiad wedi'i wneud ym Mharc y Scarlets. Ond byddai'n dda, 12 mis yn ddiweddarach, cael gwybod pa dir sydd wedi ei ddefnyddio yn fy ardal neu fy rhanbarth, pwy sydd wedi bod ynghlwm wrth hyn, a faint o'n BBaChau sydd wedi bod ynghlwm wrth hyn ac wedi elwa hefyd, a faint o swyddi a grëwyd. Felly, tybed a allwn wneud hynny, nid ar hyn o bryd, ond ymhen 12 mis neu 24 mis efallai.
Yes, I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be able to do that. I don't think we can do it at the moment, and, frankly, I haven't asked the question at that level of detail, but I will—I'm very happy to do so. But yes, we absolutely will have a record of where we've lent the money and on what sites, and clearly what we're looking to do here is two things simultaneously: we're looking to stimulate the SME sector in Wales, because at the moment we've got a switch around from 15 years ago, so we've got very large house builders doing most of the house building and not so many SMEs, and we'd very much like to see home-grown SMEs stepping into that space. We'd like to assist with that, and we know that the big problems that they face are around cash flow and with expertise. So, we're looking to put various forms of support in place, as I said. There's the property development fund, which is a facility loan from the development bank, for example, that would allow people to overcome their cash flow problems in circumstances they wouldn't otherwise be able to. We have the stalled sites fund, which has a range of other expertise around it to try and sort out some of the planning and infrastructure problems around that. I actually had a meeting only this morning with officials supporting the Infrastructure Commission for Wales around some of the things the commission might do around planning for infrastructure around Wales—all with a view to bringing forward more sites, to making them viable, and to making sure that our SME builders take advantage of it and, as I said in response to Mark Reckless, trying to be as innovative as possible in that space. So it's not a one-size-fits-all approach at all, it's just trying to fit the finance and the scheme around whoever comes forward to take advantage of it, with a view to getting as wide a range of people as possible to do either a self-build or a build of four or five houses that would be possible in a local community where the big house builders are just not interested.
Ie, ni allaf weld unrhyw reswm pam na fyddem yn gallu gwneud hynny. Ni chredaf y gallwn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd, ac a dweud y gwir, nid wyf wedi gofyn y cwestiwn mor fanwl â hynny, ond fe wnaf—rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. Ond bydd, yn bendant, bydd gennym gofnod o ble rydym wedi rhoi benthyg arian ac ar ba safleoedd, ac yn amlwg, rydym yn gobeithio gwneud dau beth ar yr un pryd yma: rydym yn gobeithio ysgogi'r sector BBaChau yng Nghymru, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd rydym mewn sefyllfa wahanol i 15 mlynedd yn ôl, felly mae gennym adeiladwyr tai mawr iawn yn adeiladu'r rhan fwyaf o dai ac nid oes cymaint o BBaChau yn gwneud hynny, a byddem yn falch iawn o weld BBaChau Cymreig yn llenwi'r bwlch hwnnw. Hoffem roi cymorth gyda hynny, a gwyddom fod y problemau mawr sy'n eu hwynebu yn ymwneud â llif arian ac arbenigedd. Felly, rydym yn gobeithio rhoi gwahanol fathau o gymorth ar waith, fel y dywedais. Mae hynny'n cynnwys y gronfa datblygu eiddo, sef benthyciad cyfleuster gan y banc datblygu, er enghraifft, a fyddai'n galluogi pobl i oresgyn eu problemau llif arian mewn amgylchiadau lle na fyddai modd iddynt wneud hynny fel arall. Mae gennym y gronfa safleoedd segur, sydd ag ystod o arbenigedd ynghlwm wrthi er mwyn ceisio datrys rhai o'r problemau cynllunio a seilwaith sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, cefais gyfarfod y bore yma gyda swyddogion sy'n cefnogi Comisiwn Seilwaith Cymru gyda rhai o'r pethau y gall y comisiwn eu gwneud o ran cynllunio seilwaith ledled Cymru—gyda'r nod o ddarparu mwy o safleoedd, sicrhau eu bod yn hyfyw, a sicrhau bod ein hadeiladwyr bach a chanolig yn manteisio ar hyn, ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i Mark Reckless, ceisio bod mor arloesol â phosibl yn y maes hwnnw. Felly nid yw'n ddull unffurf o gwbl, mae'n ymwneud â cheisio addasu'r cyllid a'r cynllun ar gyfer pwy bynnag sy'n awyddus i fanteisio arno, gyda'r nod o sicrhau bod amrywiaeth mor eang â phosibl o bobl yn hunanadeiladu, neu'n adeiladu pedwar neu bum tŷ lle y byddai modd gwneud hynny mewn cymuned leol lle nad oes diddordeb gan y cwmnïau adeiladu mawr.
Minister, the flight of SMEs from house building is a UK phenomenon, and it's really stark. In the 1980s, about 40 per cent of house building was conducted by the SME sector; it's as low as 10 per cent in some parts of the country now. We clearly need to turn this around, and I think you're right to look at the stalled sites. Welsh Government research in 2015 said there were nearly 400 such sites in Wales, and many of them, in fact, most of them, would be suitable for the SME sector. We really need to engage that sector. A lot of it is still there and they've gone to other types of building work, but part of the problem has been the unavailability of smaller sites for development, and they're often more efficient in terms of filling in in urban areas, and don't use vast tracts of greenfield land, for instance. So, I really think you're right to identify the stalled sites fund and see some progress in that area, and we need, obviously, if we're going to build at scale again, to re-engage the SME sector.
Weinidog, mae'r diffyg BBaChau sy'n adeiladu tai yn ffenomen yn y DU, ac mae'n wirioneddol syfrdanol. Yn y 1980au, y sector BBaChau oedd yn gwneud tua 40 y cant o'r gwaith adeiladu tai; mae'r ffigur hwnnw mor isel â 10 y cant mewn rhai rhannau o'r wlad bellach. Yn amlwg, mae angen inni wrthdroi hyn, a chredaf eich bod yn iawn i edrych ar y safleoedd segur. Nododd ymchwil Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2015 fod bron i 400 safle o'r fath yng Nghymru, a byddai llawer ohonynt, y rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn wir, yn addas ar gyfer y sector BBaChau. Mae taer angen inni ennyn diddordeb y sector hwnnw. Mae llawer ohono'n dal yno ac maent wedi troi at fathau eraill o waith adeiladu, ond rhan o'r broblem oedd prinder safleoedd llai ar gyfer datblygu, ac maent yn aml yn fwy effeithlon o ran gwneud gwaith llenwi mewn ardaloedd trefol, ac nid ydynt yn defnyddio darnau helaeth o dir glas, er enghraifft. Felly, rwy'n credu'n gryf eich bod yn iawn i nodi'r gronfa safleoedd segur a gweld rhywfaint o gynnydd yn hynny o beth, ac yn amlwg, os ydym am adeiladu ar raddfa fawr unwaith eto, mae angen inni ailymgysylltu â'r BBaChau.
Yes, I completely agree with that. There are a number of policy areas that we're hoping to pull together in a more effective way—so, the housing issues that you've already mentioned and that I've mentioned in the previous two answers. But, we've just done the review of 'Planning Policy Wales' in the middle of December, and that shifts to a more place-based approach, in general, to the planning system.
So, we're looking for planning authorities to set locally determined targets for the delivery of housing on small sites, not just housing in general, and to maintain a register of suitable sites to enable the provision of housing by SMEs, registered social landlords and the custom and self-build sector—so that we smooth, if you like, some of the planning difficulties. As I said, we're looking to see that we can map the infrastructure that's already available, and map the infrastructure requirements, and see if we can fit the finance to that. It's exactly for that purpose: to enable the SME sector to be able to step into that place.
The last piece of that is the skills bit. So, we're also looking at how our apprenticeship programmes can facilitate shared apprenticeships, for example, across small builders and small firms because, often, a small firm struggles to give an apprentice the full range of—. But, the shared apprenticeship schemes have been very successful in that space. We need a lot more skill in that area, and as the Member will know, I share the FM's ambition to build social housing at some scale and pace. We need the SME sector to be able to step into that space as well.
Ie, cytunaf yn llwyr â hynny. Mae nifer o feysydd polisi rydym yn gobeithio eu dwyn ynghyd mewn ffordd fwy effeithiol—felly, y materion tai a grybwyllwyd gennych eisoes ac a grybwyllwyd gennyf innau yn y ddau ateb blaenorol. Ond rydym newydd gwblhau'r adolygiad o 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' ganol mis Rhagfyr, ac mae hwnnw'n newid i ddull sy'n fwy seiliedig ar leoedd, yn gyffredinol, mewn perthynas â'r system gynllunio.
Felly, rydym yn awyddus i awdurdodau cynllunio osod targedau a bennir yn lleol ar gyfer darparu tai ar safleoedd bach, nid tai yn gyffredinol yn unig, a chadw cofrestr o safleoedd addas i alluogi BBaChau, landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a'r sector adeiladu personol a hunanadeiladu i ddarparu tai—fel ein bod yn llyfnhau, os mynnwch, rhai o'r anawsterau cynllunio. Fel y dywedais, rydym yn edrych i weld a allwn fapio'r seilwaith sydd ar gael eisoes, a mapio'r gofynion seilwaith, a gweld a allwn addasu'r cyllid i hynny. Dyna'n union yw diben hyn: galluogi'r sector BBaChau i lenwi'r bwlch hwnnw.
Y darn olaf o hynny yw'r darn sy'n ymwneud â sgiliau. Felly, rydym hefyd yn ystyried sut y gall ein rhaglenni prentisiaeth hwyluso rhannu prentisiaethau, er enghraifft, ymysg cwmnïau adeiladu bach a busnesau bach, oherwydd yn aml, bydd busnes bach yn ei chael hi'n anodd rhoi ystod lawn i brentis—. Ond mae'r cynlluniau rhannu prentisiaeth wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn yn hynny o beth. Mae angen llawer mwy o sgiliau yn y maes hwnnw, ac fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, rwy'n rhannu uchelgais y Prif Weinidog i adeiladu tai cymdeithasol ar raddfa fawr ac ar fyrder. Mae arnom angen i'r sector BBaChau allu llenwi'r bwlch hwnnw hefyd.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd Plaid Cymru—Leanne Wood.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Plaid Cymru spokesperson—Leanne Wood.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, the chief executive of the Huggard Centre has been quoted in the media as calling on people not to donate tents to rough sleepers. Do you agree with him?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, dyfynnwyd prif weithredwr Canolfan Huggard yn y cyfryngau yn galw ar bobl i beidio â rhoi pebyll i bobl sy'n cysgu allan. A ydych yn cytuno ag ef?
It's a very, very difficult thing, isn't it, to know exactly what to do when you encounter somebody who is street homeless, and I do understand entirely the impulse that people have to do something immediate for somebody in those circumstances. The difficulty is that we know that, once people have a tent of that sort, they actually access other support services less well, and in a strange sort of way, you are enabling the inability of them to access other services that they need to support them into sustained housing. So, I would never want to criticise somebody who actually wants to help somebody who is street homeless, because your heart goes out to them as you walk through.
A better thing, though, is to engage with the StreetLife project and to bring them to the attention of the local authority. We do fund, in Cardiff and other places, a range of projects that will allow people to get into secure housing, including some of the housing first initiatives that allow people who wouldn't be able to cope with, for example, a large hostel to be able to get off the street and into sustainable housing. So, I'm not going to criticise somebody who wants to do that, but there are better ways of helping people who are street homeless.
Mae'n anodd iawn gwybod beth yn union i'w wneud pan fyddwch yn gweld rhywun sy'n ddigartref ac ar y stryd, ac rwy'n deall awydd pobl i wneud rhywbeth ar unwaith dros rywun sydd yn yr amgylchiadau hynny. Y broblem yw ein bod yn gwybod, pan fydd pobl wedi cael pabell o'r fath, mewn gwirionedd, maent yn llai llwyddiannus o ran cael mynediad at wasanaethau cymorth eraill, ac mewn ffordd ryfedd, rydych yn eu hatal rhag cael mynediad at wasanaethau eraill y maent eu hangen i'w cynorthwyo i gael cartref parhaus. Felly, nid wyf am feirniadu unrhyw un sy'n awyddus i helpu rhywun sy'n ddigartref ar y stryd, gan fod eich calon yn gwaedu drostynt wrth ichi gerdded heibio.
Ond byddai'n well ymgysylltu â phrosiect StreetLife a rhoi gwybod i'r awdurdod lleol amdanynt. Yng Nghaerdydd a mannau eraill, rydym yn ariannu amrywiaeth o brosiectau a fydd yn galluogi pobl i gael llety diogel, gan gynnwys rhai o'r mentrau tai yn gyntaf sy'n caniatáu i bobl na fyddent yn gallu ymdopi, er enghraifft, â hostel mawr i allu dod oddi ar y stryd ac i mewn i gartrefi parhaol. Felly, nid wyf am feirniadu rhywun sydd am wneud hynny, ond mae ffyrdd gwell o helpu pobl sy'n ddigartref ac ar y stryd.
Well, I'm glad that you disagree with the sentiment, Minister, because it's got to be said that a lot of people are very disappointed with those remarks. They seem to suggest that rough sleeping is a lifestyle choice, as opposed to being a consequence of austerity. The homeless people quoted in the story explained that shelters for homeless people could actually be very dangerous, with a lack of security, lack of support, and substance use being rife. Many shelters too often end up warehousing people who have little supervision, and they can then go on to pose a problem for other people who are vulnerable, particularly women, who may have experienced violence.
Whilst we in Plaid Cymru want to ensure that houses are available for all homeless people, in the short term, shelters are still needed to prevent rough sleepers from freezing to death. So, will you commit today to reviewing the existing provision of shelters and hostels, with a view to removing funding from those shelters that are considered to be unsafe or inadequate, so that it can be used, and the funding can be targeted specifically to fund a variety of types of shelter that offer safe and supportive environments, rather than prop up organisations that still blame homeless people for not wanting to be warehoused?
Wel, rwy'n falch eich bod yn anghytuno â'r sylwadau, Weinidog, gan fod yn rhaid dweud bod llawer o bobl yn siomedig iawn ynglŷn â'r sylwadau hynny. Ymddengys eu bod yn awgrymu bod cysgu allan yn ffordd o fyw y mae pobl yn ei dewis, yn hytrach na rhywbeth sy'n ganlyniad i gyni. Eglurai'r bobl ddigartref a ddyfynnwyd yn y stori y gall llochesau i bobl ddigartref fod yn lleoedd peryglus iawn, gyda diffyg diogelwch, diffyg cefnogaeth, a chamddefnyddio sylweddau yn rhemp. Yn rhy aml, mae llawer o lochesau yn pentyrru pobl heb fawr o oruchwyliaeth, a gallant fynd ymlaen i achosi problemau i bobl eraill sy'n agored i niwed, yn enwedig menywod, sydd o bosibl wedi dioddef trais.
Er ein bod ni ym Mhlaid Cymru yn awyddus i sicrhau bod tai ar gael i bawb sy'n ddigartref, yn y tymor byr, mae angen llochesau i atal pobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd rhag rhewi i farwolaeth. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw i adolygu'r ddarpariaeth bresennol o lochesau a hostelau, gyda'r bwriad o atal cyllid i'r llochesau yr ystyrir eu bod yn anniogel neu'n annigonol, fel y gellir ei ddefnyddio, a'i dargedu'n benodol i ariannu sawl math o loches sy'n darparu amgylcheddau diogel a chefnogol, yn hytrach na chynnal sefydliadau sy'n dal i roi'r bai ar bobl ddigartref am beidio â bod eisiau cael eu pentyrru?
We are looking to review the whole concept of priority. We've got a review ongoing at the moment, which I inherited from my predecessor in post, Rebecca Evans. I share entirely the sentiments that the Member is expressing there in terms of homelessness. It's a really complex problem, as she knows. I know that she knows that. I completely agree with the statement about warehousing and so on. It's completely unreasonable to expect somebody to go into a 15-bed hostel with people they don't know, leaving their pet outside, for example, and cope with their substance misuse as well. For some people, that will not be the answer. For others, it is the answer temporarily, because they can access other services. She's right: we need to make sure that we have a housing sector fit for purpose, with a proper pipeline—it's a terrible word, but you know what I mean—the proper path, that's a better word, a proper path of people to get their lives back, with all of the things that they need, and we know that a secure home is the absolute core of that. So, making sure that people get into that secure home as fast as possible, because a hostel, where it is suitable for somebody, will only ever be a temporary stopgap to getting them into that secure home, and, actually, making sure that secure home is a home that that person would actually choose for themselves, so they have some volition in it; they're not just pushed into something that they just would never have chosen.
I visited a housing first project run by the Salvation Army in Cardiff last week—my time sense is very bad, as the Member knows; I think it was last week—and it was very impressive indeed. And I met a gentleman there who said that without the housing first strategy, he personally would never have got from his position—which was actually sleeping in a vehicle, but that's just as rough-sleeping as any other sort—into the permanent and secure housing he had because he would not have been able to access the hostel system. So, I agree entirely. We are looking to reassess our systems and our social housing grant, and see how it can best be used to get that proper path, and to actually build the housing, and assisted housing and sheltered housing that people need sometimes in order to be able to cope with the circumstances they find themselves in.
And just to be absolutely clear and cover off all the bits she said: it's quite obvious that it's not something that somebody's choosing, it's just sometimes they're choosing it because the alternatives available to them are even worse. And that's a completely different use of the word 'choice'.
Rydym yn gobeithio adolygu'r cysyniad o flaenoriaeth. Mae gennym adolygiad ar waith ar hyn o bryd, un a etifeddais gan fy rhagflaenydd yn y swydd, Rebecca Evans. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r teimladau a fynegodd yr Aelod o ran digartrefedd. Mae'n broblem wirioneddol gymhleth, fel y gŵyr. Gwn ei bod yn gwybod hynny. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r datganiad ynglŷn â phentyrru ac ati. Mae'n gwbl afresymol disgwyl i rywun fynd i hostel 15 gwely gyda phobl nad ydynt yn eu hadnabod, gan adael eu hanifail anwes y tu allan, er enghraifft, ac ymdopi â'u problem camddefnyddio sylweddau hefyd. I rai pobl, nid dyna fydd yr ateb. I eraill, mae'n ateb dros dro, gan y gallant gael mynediad at wasanaethau eraill. Mae'n llygad ei lle: mae angen inni sicrhau bod gennym sector tai sy'n addas i'r diben, gyda llif priodol, neu lwybr priodol, er mwyn i bobl allu cael eu bywydau yn ôl, gyda'r holl bethau sydd eu hangen arnynt, a gwyddom fod cartref diogel yn gwbl greiddiol i hynny. Felly, sicrhau bod pobl yn llwyddo i fynd i'r cartref diogel hwnnw cyn gynted â phosibl, gan na fydd hostel, os yw'n addas i rywun, ond yn rhywbeth dros dro cyn iddynt allu mynd i'r cartref diogel hwnnw, ac mewn gwirionedd, sicrhau bod cartref diogel yn gartref y byddai'r unigolyn yn ei ddewis eu hunain, fel eu bod â rhywfaint o lais yn y mater; nid cael eu gwthio i mewn i rywbeth na fyddent byth wedi'i ddewis.
Ymwelais â phrosiect tai yn gyntaf sy'n cael ei redeg gan Fyddin yr Iachawdwriaeth yng Nghaerdydd yr wythnos diwethaf—mae fy synnwyr o amser yn wael iawn, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod; yr wythnos diwethaf oedd hi, rwy'n credu—ac roedd yn drawiadol iawn. A chyfarfûm â gŵr bonheddig yno a ddywedodd, heb y strategaeth tai yn gyntaf, na fyddai ef yn bersonol byth wedi mynd o'r sefyllfa roedd ynddi—roedd yn arfer cysgu mewn cerbyd, ond mae hynny lawn cyn waethed ag unrhyw fath o gysgu allan—i'r cartref parhaol a diogel a gafodd gan na fyddai wedi gallu cael mynediad at y system hostelau. Felly, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Rydym yn gobeithio ailasesu ein systemau a'n grant tai cymdeithasol, a gweld sut y gellir eu defnyddio yn y ffordd orau i sicrhau'r llwybr priodol hwnnw, ac adeiladu'r tai, a'r tai â chymorth a'r tai gwarchod sydd eu hangen ar bobl weithiau er mwyn gallu ymdopi â'u hamgylchiadau.
Ac i fod yn gwbl glir ac i ateb pob rhan o'r hyn a ddywedodd: mae'n amlwg iawn nad yw'n rhywbeth y mae rhywun yn ei ddewis, ond weithiau maent yn ei ddewis am fod yr opsiynau eraill sydd ar gael iddynt hyd yn oed yn waeth. Ac mae hwnnw'n ddefnydd cwbl wahanol o'r gair 'dewis'.
Thank you for your full answer to that question, Minister. You will know that I've been an advocate for some time of the Welsh Government adopting all of the recommendations in the Crisis report, which outlines very clearly how we can end homelessness. However, we know that deaths among people who are homeless has risen by 24 per cent over the last five years, which isn't surprising given more people are homeless and facing that situation. So, tackling rough-sleeping is a national emergency, and we can't now wait for any more reviews or task and finish groups. So, will you therefore commit today to just adopting one of those recommendations, and that is: will you introduce a duty to provide immediate emergency accommodation to all those with nowhere safe to stay until priority need is abolished?
Diolch am eich ateb llawn i'r cwestiwn hwnnw, Weinidog. Gwyddoch fy mod, ers peth amser, wedi bod yn awyddus i Lywodraeth Cymru fabwysiadu'r holl argymhellion yn adroddiad Crisis, sy'n amlinellu'n glir iawn sut y gallwn roi diwedd ar ddigartrefedd. Fodd bynnag, gwyddom fod nifer y marwolaethau ymhlith pobl ddigartref wedi codi 24 y cant dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf, ac nid yw hynny'n syndod o ystyried bod mwy o bobl yn ddigartref ac yn wynebu'r sefyllfa honno. Felly, mae mynd i'r afael â chysgu allan yn argyfwng cenedlaethol, ac ni allwn aros am fwy o adolygiadau neu grwpiau gorchwyl a gorffen. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw i fabwysiadu un o'r argymhellion hynny, sef: a wnewch chi gyflwyno dyletswydd i ddarparu llety brys ar unwaith i bawb heb le diogel i aros tan y caiff angen blaenoriaethol ei ddiddymu?
I wish that I could say just 'yes' to that—I am looking at it. I'm about to meet with Crisis to talk through where we are with that, and I've commissioned a brief for myself. Housing is a new area for me, and I've only been in post for however many weeks it is—six weeks or something. So, I've commissioned a brief for myself around that report to understand where we are at the moment, and to see what the way forward is. So, I'm going to stop short of committing it today, but I am very seriously looking to see what we can do in that space.
Carwn allu dweud 'gwnaf' i hynny—rwy'n ystyried y mater. Rwyf ar fin cyfarfod â Crisis i drafod ein sefyllfa mewn perthynas â hynny, ac rwyf wedi comisiynu briff ar fy nghyfer fy hun. Mae tai yn faes newydd i mi, ac nid wyf ond wedi bod yn y swydd ers faint bynnag o wythnosau—chwe wythnos neu rywbeth. Felly, rwyf wedi comisiynu briff ar fy nghyfer fy hun mewn perthynas â'r adroddiad hwnnw i ddeall ein sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, ac i weld beth yw'r ffordd ymlaen. Felly, nid wyf am wneud unrhyw ymrwymiad heddiw, ond rwy'n ystyried o ddifrif i weld beth y gallwn ei wneud ar hynny.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Mark Isherwood.
Conservative spokesperson, Mark Isherwood.
Diolch, Llywydd. Speaking after the 15 January publication of the Wales Audit Office report on the standards of financial management in community councils, the Welsh Government Trefnydd, or business organiser, said last week:
'I know that the Minister clearly will be considering that report. Members will have the opportunity to question her on that in her question time next week.'
So, here goes. [Laughter.]
In the report, the auditor general called on the Welsh Government for urgent action. He said the current standard of financial management in Government remains disappointing, as too many town and community councils in this financial year had suffered qualified audit opinions, with the number of opinions doubling; that town and community councils continued to manage increasing sums of public money; that income continues to outstrip expenditure as reserves continue to increase; and the report concluded that a significant number of councils failed to comply with their statutory responsibilities for preparing their accounts and ensuring that proper arrangements are made for the statutory audit.
Well, obviously, a number of days have elapsed since then. Have you reached any conclusions? What actions do you propose, and will you potentially revisit the reserved powers available to you under the 2011 Local Government (Wales) Measure, to introduce a statutory scheme for the accreditation of quality in community government?
Diolch, Lywydd. Wrth siarad ar ôl cyhoeddi adroddiad Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru ar 15 Ionawr ar safonau rheolaeth ariannol mewn cynghorau cymuned, dywedodd Trefnydd Llywodraeth Cymru, neu'r trefnydd busnes, yr wythnos diwethaf:
'Gwn y bydd y Gweinidog, yn amlwg, yn ystyried yr adroddiad hwnnw. Caiff yr Aelodau gyfle i'w holi hi ar hynny yn ystod ei sesiwn gwestiynau yr wythnos nesaf.'
Felly, dyma ni. [Chwerthin.]
Yn yr adroddiad, roedd yr archwilydd cyffredinol yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithredu ar frys. Dywedodd fod safon rheolaeth ariannol yn y Llywodraeth yn dal i fod yn siomedig, gan fod gormod o gynghorau tref a chymuned yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon wedi dioddef yn sgil barnau archwilio amodol, gyda nifer y barnau'n dyblu; fod cynghorau tref a chymuned yn parhau i reoli symiau cynyddol o arian cyhoeddus; fod incwm yn parhau i fod yn uwch na gwariant wrth i gronfeydd wrth gefn barhau i gynyddu; a daeth yr adroddiad i'r casgliad fod nifer sylweddol o gynghorau wedi methu cydymffurfio â'u cyfrifoldebau statudol i baratoi eu cyfrifon a sicrhau y gwneir trefniadau priodol ar gyfer yr archwiliad statudol.
Wel, yn amlwg, mae sawl diwrnod wedi bod ers hynny. A ydych wedi dod i unrhyw gasgliadau? Pa gamau rydych yn eu cynnig, ac a wnewch chi ailystyried, o bosibl, y pwerau wrth gefn sydd ar gael i chi o dan Fesur Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) 2011, i gyflwyno cynllun statudol ar gyfer achredu ansawdd mewn llywodraeth gymunedol?
It's a very interesting report. As you know, I've only been in post six weeks, so I haven't had the time, in any way, to fully—. I've skim-read it—that's the best I could do in the time I had available. I do, however, plan to read it thoroughly and to take it into account. I have a number of views of my own around town and community councils, which I'm happy to share with the Member, and with the Senedd in general. Some of them are excellent. We have examples across Wales of excellent town councils. Some of them are very far from that because they haven't got the governance strength, if you like, to be able to conduct themselves. That report is pointing that out. What we need to do is look to see whether we have the best fit for our town and community councils across Wales, whether their own communities support them, and what we can do to strengthen the governance arrangements. So, I find nothing that I disagree with, in a quick read of the report. I'm not yet in a position to respond fully to it. But I will tell the Member that I will be responding fully to it, and it raises a number of issues that I have myself personal concerns with, from previous experience in life.
Mae'n adroddiad diddorol iawn. Fel y gwyddoch, nid wyf ond yn y swydd hon ers chwe wythnos, felly nid wyf wedi cael amser, mewn unrhyw ffordd, i—. Rwyf wedi ei frasddarllen—dyna'r gorau y gallais ei wneud yn yr amser a oedd ar gael. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n bwriadu ei ddarllen yn drylwyr a'i ystyried. Mae gennyf nifer o safbwyntiau fy hun ynghylch cynghorau tref a chymuned, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i'w rhannu gyda'r Aelod, a chyda'r Senedd yn gyffredinol. Mae rhai ohonynt yn rhagorol. Mae gennym enghreifftiau ledled Cymru o gynghorau tref ardderchog. Mae rhai ohonynt yn bell iawn o hynny gan nad oes ganddynt y cryfder llywodraethu, os mynnwch, i allu cynnal eu hunain. Mae'r adroddiad hwnnw'n nodi hynny. Yr hyn sydd angen inni ei wneud yw edrych i weld a yw'r trefniadau sydd gennym yn addas ar gyfer ein cynghorau tref a chymuned ledled Cymru, a yw eu cymunedau eu hunain yn eu cefnogi, a beth y gallwn ei wneud i gryfhau'r trefniadau llywodraethu. Felly, nid wyf wedi gweld unrhyw beth rwy'n anghytuno ag ef wrth fwrw golwg sydyn ar yr adroddiad hwnnw. Nid wyf mewn sefyllfa eto i ymateb yn llawn iddo. Ond fe ddywedaf wrth yr Aelod y byddaf yn ymateb yn llawn iddo, ac mae'n codi nifer o faterion sy'n peri pryder i mi'n bersonol, o brofiad blaenorol mewn bywyd.
Thank you. And of course when I was a community councillor it was an excellent community council—despite me, but nonetheless. Clearly, it's not a universal problem, but it's a serious enough problem to have been flagged up in this way. The independent review panel's final report on community and town councils in Wales was presented to your predecessor on 3 October. It had many recommendations, including the belief that there should be a comprehensive review of boundaries of community and town councils, without delay; it called upon all community and town councils to be working towards meeting a criteria to be able to exercise the general power of competence; a recommendation that community and town councils, or a representative of them, should become a statutorily invited participant on all public service boards. I'll just give one other example: it recommended that all clerks must hold or be working towards a professional qualification.
The Welsh Government's response, by your predecessor, took the form of a written statement on 30 November, and said that:
'Some of the issues identified…merit further consideration…I look forward to exploring these wider ranging and, in some cases, more contested ideas…I see this as a start of a conversation'.
How do you respond to the county councillors, after attending a workshop recently in north Wales, who wrote to me concerned that they had been advised, quote, that it seems the Welsh Government is now minded not to enact any legislation to implement any of the recommendations the IRP panel set out?
Diolch. Ac wrth gwrs, pan oeddwn yn gynghorydd cymuned, roedd yn gyngor cymuned rhagorol—er fy ngwaethaf i, ond ta waeth am hynny. Yn amlwg, nid yw'n broblem ym mhob man, ond mae'n broblem ddigon difrifol i gael ei nodi yn y modd hwn. Cyflwynwyd adroddiad terfynol y panel adolygu annibynnol ar gynghorau tref a chymuned yng Nghymru i'ch rhagflaenydd ar 3 Hydref. Roedd yn cynnwys nifer o argymhellion, gan gynnwys y gred y dylid cynnal adolygiad cynhwysfawr o ffiniau cynghorau tref a chymuned, a hynny ar unwaith; roedd yn galw ar yr holl gynghorau tref a chymuned i weithio tuag at fodloni meini prawf i allu arfer y pŵer cymhwysedd cyffredinol; argymhelliad y dylai cynghorau tref a chymuned, neu gynrychiolydd, ddod yn gyfranogwr a wahoddir yn statudol ar bob bwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rwyf am roi un enghraifft arall: roedd yn argymell y dylai fod cymhwyster proffesiynol gan bob glerc neu eu bod yn gweithio tuag at un.
Cafwyd ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru, gan eich rhagflaenydd, ar ffurf datganiad ysgrifenedig ar 30 Tachwedd, a ddywedai:
'Mae rhai o'r materion a nodwyd... yn haeddu cael eu hystyried ymhellach... Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymchwilio i'r syniadau mwy pellgyrhaeddol, rhai ohonynt hefyd yn fwy dadleuol... Rwy'n gweld hyn fel dechrau sgwrs'.
Sut rydych yn ymateb i'r cynghorwyr sir a ysgrifennodd ataf ar ôl mynychu gweithdy yn ddiweddar yng ngogledd Cymru yn pryderu eu bod wedi cael clywed, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, ei bod hi'n ymddangos bellach fod Llywodraeth Cymru o blaid peidio â deddfu i roi unrhyw un o argymhellion y panel adolygu annibynnol ar waith?
Well, I certainly haven't reached that conclusion. As I said to you, I haven't fully considered the recent WAO report. I have had slightly more time to consider the findings of the review. I think it's a good basis on which to move forward, and it certainly will inform our policy approach moving forward. There are a number of issues with town and community councils—around size and capacity and so on—which need to be looked at. In some areas of Wales, we don't have any town and community councils; in others, we have lots and lots. So, clearly, a one-size-fits-all approach has not grown up organically, and we need to have a look to see whether a one-size-fits-all approach is necessary, whether the boundaries—or whether, actually, a community that feels like a community is best represented in a much smaller council. But then that council wouldn't necessarily be well placed to have the resource to sit on, for example, a public services board. So, I just think it's impossible to respond to that by saying all community councils should have a place on a public services board, because, frankly, if they represent a tiny village somewhere, they're just not going to have the capacity to do that, although it may be a perfectly well-functioning council for all kinds of other reasons. So, I think we want to look very carefully at where we know there is good practice, what that might look like. But I think, actually, in the end, a community council should be what it says it is—a council for its community—and we should allow communities to make those choices in accordance with the local democracy that they ought to enjoy.
Wel, yn sicr, nid wyf wedi dod i'r casgliad hwnnw. Fel y dywedais wrthych, nid wyf wedi ystyried adroddiad diweddar Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru yn llawn eto. Rwyf wedi cael ychydig mwy o amser i ystyried canfyddiadau'r adolygiad. Credaf ei fod yn gosod sail dda ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac yn sicr, bydd yn llywio ein polisi wrth symud ymlaen. Mae nifer o broblemau'n codi gyda chynghorau tref a chymuned—o ran maint a chapasiti ac ati—ac mae angen eu hystyried. Mewn rhai ardaloedd o Gymru, nid oes gennym unrhyw gynghorau tref a chymuned; mewn ardaloedd eraill, mae gennym lu ohonynt. Felly, yn amlwg, nid oes dull unffurf o weithredu wedi datblygu'n organig, ac mae angen inni edrych i weld a oes angen dull unffurf o weithredu, a yw'r ffiniau—neu mewn gwirionedd, ai'r ffordd orau o gynrychioli cymuned sy'n teimlo fel cymuned yw drwy gyngor llawer llai o faint. Ond ni fyddai'r cyngor hwnnw mewn sefyllfa dda o reidrwydd i fod â'r adnoddau i fod ar fwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, er enghraifft. Felly, credaf ei bod yn amhosibl ymateb i hynny drwy ddweud y dylai pob cyngor cymuned gael lle ar fwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, oherwydd, a dweud y gwir, os ydynt yn cynrychioli pentref bach yn rhywle, ni fydd y capasiti ganddynt i wneud hynny, er y gall fod yn gyngor sy'n gweithio'n dda iawn am bob math o resymau eraill. Felly, credaf y dylem edrych yn ofalus iawn ar y lleoedd y gwyddom y ceir arferion da, a sut bethau yw'r rheini. Ond yn y bôn, rwy'n credu y dylai cyngor cymuned fod yn union hynny—cyngor ar gyfer ei gymuned—a dylem ganiatáu i gymunedau wneud y dewisiadau hynny yn unol â'r ddemocratiaeth leol y dylent allu ei fwynhau.
Well, this recommendation did include a representative of town and community councils, rather than necessarily—
Wel, roedd yr argymhelliad hwn yn cynnwys cynrychiolydd o gynghorau tref a chymuned, yn hytrach nag o reidrwydd—
I take the point the Member makes, but there are capacity issues there, and how you get that—
Rwy'n derbyn y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud, ond mae yna broblemau ynghylch capasiti, a sut rydych yn sicrhau—
Allow the Member to finish his third question. You're overexcited in your new ministerial brief, it's obvious.
Gadewch i'r Aelod orffen ei drydydd cwestiwn. Rydych wedi cynhyrfu yn eich briff gweinidogol newydd, mae'n amlwg.
I beg your pardon.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.
Allow Mark Isherwood to continue.
Gadewch i Mark Isherwood barhau.
I'm overcome by enthusiasm.
Mae fy mrwdfrydedd yn drech na mi.
As you've heard mentioned by more than one Member in the Chamber, last November, Flintshire council launched its #BacktheAsk campaign in full council, and received full and unanimous cross-party support to, quote, take the fight down to the local government department in Cardiff to get a fair share of national funds. In a subsequent letter to the Welsh Government, he stated, alongside the chief executive, that disparity in formula-based funding inevitably creates a wide variation in the financial risks in councils in Wales, and Flintshire is at the extreme end. I've now been copied in on a series of e-mails between councillors of all parties—including the leader—where they're proposing to come down, as a cross-party group, here, to, quote,
'Take our budget grievances direct to Cardiff'.
And the e-mail from the leader states that he will be seeking a meeting with Ministers during that visit. Will you be willing to meet the Flintshire councillors who come down, to discuss their, quote, 'grievances', and see whether there are any grounds for addressing those together?
Fel y clywsoch gan fwy nag un Aelod yn y Siambr, fis Tachwedd diwethaf, lansiodd Cyngor Sir y Fflint eu hymgyrch #CefnogiGalw yn y cyfarfod llawn, a chawsant gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol lawn ac unfrydol i, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, fynd â'r frwydr i lawr i'r adran lywodraeth leol yng Nghaerdydd i gael cyfran deg o'r arian cenedlaethol. Mewn llythyr dilynol i Lywodraeth Cymru, dywedodd, ochr yn ochr â'r prif weithredwr, ei bod yn anochel fod yr anghyfartalwch mewn cyllid sy'n seiliedig ar fformiwla yn creu amrywiaeth eang o ran y risgiau ariannol sy'n wynebu cynghorau Cymru, ac mae sir y Fflint ar y pegwn eithaf. Bellach, rwyf wedi cael fy nghopïo i mewn i gyfres o negeseuon e-bost rhwng cynghorwyr o bob plaid—gan gynnwys yr arweinydd—lle y maent yn cynnig dod i lawr yma, fel grŵp trawsbleidiol, er mwyn, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
Mynd â'n cwynion ynglŷn â'r cyllideb yn uniongyrchol i Gaerdydd.
A dywed yr e-bost gan yr arweinydd y bydd yn ceisio cael cyfarfod â Gweinidogion yn ystod yr ymweliad hwnnw. A ydych yn barod i gyfarfod â chynghorwyr sir y Fflint sy'n dod i yma i drafod, dyfynnaf, eu 'cwynion', a gweld a oes unrhyw fodd o fynd i'r afael â'r rheini gyda'n gilydd?
I'm afraid I don't know the date on which they're planning to come down. If it's possible for me to meet them, I certainly will. However, I've just come from the finance sub-group of the partnership council for Wales this morning where the leader of Flintshire council was a participant. I think we had a very amicable and useful conversation there about the way that the formula works.
I specifically asked if there were any areas of the formula that people wanted to revisit. We're very open to revisiting the formula, as long as it produces the kinds of results that all of local government want to see, which is a fair and equitable distribution mechanism, which irons out some of the winners and losers, and, as you know, we fully fund the funding floor on the basis of that. That meeting went very well and there were no dissenting voices to that. The distribution sub-group that works on the formula will be meeting. Today's meeting was able to sign-off the work programme for the distribution sub-group. So, I don't really recognise the picture that the Member paints there.
There's obviously a completely different and perhaps misunderstanding issue around the size of the pot in the first place on which the distribution formula takes effect. And the size of the pot in the first place is, of course, driven by the austerity measures of the Conservative Government in the UK. So, we are only able to distribute the funds that we have available to us, and so I don't think that I'm going to be taking any lessons from the Member opposite about how to deal with the fund overall. But if he's talking about the distribution mechanism, then Aaron Shotton was one of the members of the group. The group was amicable, the Deputy Minister and I attended it, and we had a very useful meeting with local government. I was very grateful to them for the friendliness of their approach and no issues were raised with me of that sort.
Mae arnaf ofn nad wyf yn gwybod pa ddyddiad y maent yn bwriadu dod yma. Os oes modd i mi gyfarfod â hwy, fe wnaf hynny, yn sicr. Fodd bynnag, rwyf newydd ddod o is-grŵp cyllid cyngor partneriaeth Cymru y bore yma lle roedd arweinydd Cyngor Sir y Fflint yn gyfranogwr. Credaf inni gael sgwrs gyfeillgar a defnyddiol iawn ynglŷn â sut y mae'r fformiwla'n gweithio.
Gofynnais yn benodol a oedd unrhyw rannau o'r fformiwla roedd pobl am ailedrych arnynt. Rydym yn agored iawn i ailedrych ar y fformiwla, cyhyd â bod hynny'n cynhyrchu'r mathau o ganlyniadau y mae llywodraeth leol am eu gweld, sef mecanwaith dosbarthu teg a chyfartal, sy'n lefelu rhywfaint o'r enillwyr a'r collwyr, ac fel y gwyddoch, rydym yn ariannu'r cyllid gwaelodol yn gyfan gwbl ar sail hynny. Aeth y cyfarfod hwnnw'n dda iawn ac ni chafwyd unrhyw sylwadau croes. Bydd yr is-grŵp dosbarthu sy'n gweithio ar y fformiwla yn cyfarfod. Nod y cyfarfod heddiw oedd gallu cymeradwyo'r rhaglen waith ar gyfer yr is-grŵp dosbarthu. Felly, nid wyf yn cydnabod y darlun y mae'r Aelod yn ei baentio mewn gwirionedd.
Yn amlwg, ceir mater hollol wahanol a chamddealltwriaeth efallai ynghylch maint y pot yn y lle cyntaf sy'n sail i'r fformiwla ddosbarthu. Ac mae maint y pot yn y lle cyntaf, wrth gwrs, yn cael ei bennu gan fesurau cyni Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU. Felly, ni allwn wneud dim ond dosbarthu'r arian sydd ar gael i ni, ac felly ni chredaf fy mod am dderbyn unrhyw wersi gan yr Aelod gyferbyn ynglŷn â sut i ymdrin â'r gronfa yn ei chyfanrwydd. Ond os yw'n sôn am y mecanwaith dosbarthu, roedd Aaron Shotton yn un o aelodau'r grŵp. Roedd y grŵp yn gyfeillgar, fe'i mynychwyd gan y Dirprwy Weinidog a minnau, a chawsom gyfarfod defnyddiol iawn gyda llywodraeth leol. Roeddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn iddynt am eu hagwedd gyfeillgar ac ni chodwyd unrhyw faterion o'r math hwnnw gyda mi.
Llefarydd UKIP, Gareth Bennett.
UKIP spokesperson, Gareth Bennett.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to welcome the Minister to her new post. Minister, I see that planning is now part of your portfolio, it wasn't previously included with the local government and housing department's responsibilities. I appreciate what you've said today that you've only been in office for six weeks, but do you have any initial thoughts on how well the planning process works in Wales?
Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn groesawu'r Gweinidog i'w swydd newydd. Weinidog, gwelaf fod cynllunio yn rhan o'ch portffolio bellach, ac nid oedd yn rhan o gyfrifoldebau'r adran lywodraeth leol a thai o'r blaen. Rwy'n derbyn yr hyn rydych wedi'i ddweud heddiw ynglŷn â'r ffaith nad ydych ond wedi bod yn y swydd ers chwe wythnos, ond a oes gennych unrhyw syniadau cychwynnol ynglŷn â pha mor dda y mae'r broses gynllunio yn gweithio yng Nghymru?
So, the reason that we've combined planning into this portfolio is that we can bring together as many of the levers that we have here in the Welsh Government to solve some of the endemic problems that we have with, for example, building sufficient housing or some infrastructure issues. I'm looking forward to being able to use all of those levers together in the process. We did just reissue 'Planning Policy Wales' back in December, so it's early days to see yet whether that's working effectively.
Y rheswm pam ein bod wedi cyfuno cynllunio yn y portffolio hwn yw am y gallwn ddwyn cymaint o'r dulliau sydd gennym yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru ynghyd i ddatrys rhai o'r problemau endemig sydd gennym, er enghraifft, gydag adeiladu digon o dai neu faterion seilwaith. Edrychaf ymlaen at allu defnyddio'r holl dulliau hynny gyda'i gilydd yn y broses. Ailgyhoeddasom 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' ym mis Rhagfyr, felly mae'n ddyddiau cynnar ar hyn o bryd o ran gweld a yw hwnnw'n gweithio'n effeithiol.
Thank you for clarifying some of the reasons why the planning element has been brought into the department. I think, certainly from my point of view, it's probably useful. I always thought that planning was something that straddles a couple of different possible departments. But I always thought putting it together with housing would perhaps make things easier.
Of course, we do need to respond to housing need, but there is also an argument that the planning system isn't always responsive to local needs going the other way, when sometimes we have planning decisions made that have been rejected sometimes by local councils, but which then get approved by the planning inspector going against that. Now, obviously, I'm not going to bring in any specific cases, because you wouldn't be able to comment on them, but do you think that there is a valid argument that planning isn't responsive enough to local needs?
Diolch am egluro rhai o'r rhesymau pam y daethpwyd â'r elfen cynllunio i'r adran. O'm rhan i, yn sicr, credaf fod hynny'n ddefnyddiol, mae'n debyg. Roeddwn bob amser wedi meddwl bod cynllunio'n rhywbeth sy'n rhychwantu sawl adran wahanol. Ond roeddwn bob amser o'r farn y byddai ei gyfuno â thai yn gwneud pethau'n haws o bosibl.
Wrth gwrs, mae angen inni ymateb i'r angen am dai, ond ceir dadl hefyd nad yw'r system gynllunio bob amser yn ymateb i anghenion lleol sy'n mynd i'r cyfeiriad arall, pan fydd gennym benderfyniadau cynllunio o bryd i'w gilydd sydd wedi cael eu gwrthod gan gynghorau lleol, ond sy'n cael eu cymeradwyo wedyn wrth i'r arolygydd cynllunio farnu'n erbyn hynny. Nawr, yn amlwg, nid wyf am sôn am unrhyw achos penodol, gan na fyddai modd i chi roi sylwadau arnynt, ond a ydych yn credu bod dadl ddilys i'w chael nad yw cynllunio'n ddigon ymatebol i anghenion lleol?
So, the planning system is extremely complex, and the quasi-judicial nature of it makes it very difficult to comment on particular cases. The Member will be very well aware that at local authority level the local authority sets the local development plan, and they are enabled, through that plan, to take full account of the democratic wishes of the people they represent in setting out the spatial needs of their area, with a set of planning rules, part of which are 'Planning Policy Wales', but a set of planning rules stemming from various planning Acts at UK level, as well as at Welsh level.
We have a system of call-in to the Welsh Government, which works, because we take a very careful judicial view of whether the very specific criteria for call-in do or don't work. And where something is called in, it is handed over to professional inspectors for them to take a view on behalf of the Government. I think that works perfectly well. I do think there are capacity issues, sometimes, with the speed of that, but I don't see any reason to upend the legal part of that. However, it's very important that the policy parts of that interact correctly with it and that we set the policy agenda properly within which the quasi-judicial system can work.
Mae'r system gynllunio'n gymhleth iawn, ac mae ei natur led-farnwrol yn ei gwneud hi'n anodd iawn rhoi sylwadau ar achosion penodol. Bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol iawn mai'r awdurdod lleol sy'n pennu'r cynllun datblygu lleol ar lefel awdurdod lleol, a thrwy'r cynllun hwnnw, gallant roi ystyriaeth lawn i ddymuniadau democrataidd y bobl maent yn eu cynrychioli wrth nodi anghenion gofodol eu hardal, gyda set o reolau cynllunio, sy'n cynnwys 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn rhan ohonynt, ond set o reolau cynllunio sy'n deillio o Ddeddfau cynllunio amrywiol ar lefel y DU, yn ogystal ag ar lefel Cymru.
Mae gennym system alw ceisiadau i mewn i Lywodraeth Cymru, sy'n gweithio, gan ein bod yn rhoi ystyriaeth farnwrol ofalus iawn i ba un a yw'r meini prawf penodol iawn ar gyfer galw ceisiadau i mewn yn gweithio ai peidio. A phan fydd rhywbeth yn cael ei alw i mewn, caiff ei drosglwyddo i arolygwyr proffesiynol fel y gallant ffurfio barn ar ran y Llywodraeth. Credaf fod hynny'n gweithio'n iawn. Credaf fod materion yn codi mewn perthynas â chapasiti weithiau, a chyflymder y broses, ond nid wyf yn gweld unrhyw reswm dros gael gwared ar y rhan gyfreithiol o hynny. Fodd bynnag, mae'n bwysig iawn fod y rhannau sy'n ymwneud â pholisi'n rhyngweithio'n gywir â hynny, a'n bod yn gosod yr agenda bolisi'n briodol fel y gall y system led-farnwrol weithio'n iawn o fewn hynny.
Thanks for you assessment of how it works with the call-in system. I'm glad you've given your thoughts on that. How about the issue of how effective the local development plans are as a measure of setting local needs, because there has been criticism of the LDP system itself in recent years?
Diolch am eich asesiad ynglŷn â'r modd y mae hynny'n gweithio gyda'r system alw i mewn. Rwy'n falch eich bod wedi rhoi eich barn ar hynny. Beth am y cwestiwn ynglŷn â pha mor effeithiol yw'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol fel mesur ar gyfer pennu anghenion lleol, gan fod system y cynlluniau datblygu lleol ei hun wedi bod o dan y lach dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf?
I think that the issue with the LDPs sometimes is the speed and the capacity with which local authorities are able to put them together. We have been working very closely with local authorities across Wales to ensure that they have the expertise to put the local development plans in place. It's something we are always keeping under review around the capacity to do that and the way that we have the agreements with the local authorities about the timescale for doing that.
I think personally that there's room for improvement in the liaison between ourselves and local authorities around how they structure their LDPs and what provision we help them with in order to accelerate some of those processes, because a local authority that doesn't have a local development plan in place will find real problems in controlling its development-control functions and being able to resist planning applications outwith its plan. So, it's not a good plan not to have a plan—sorry, that seems really obvious—but it isn't a good plan, and I think we could work with our local authorities better to accelerate that process.
Credaf mai'r broblem gyda chynlluniau datblygu lleol, weithiau, yw capasiti a chyflymder awdurdodau lleol yn eu llunio. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru i sicrhau bod ganddynt yr arbenigedd i roi cynlluniau datblygu lleol ar waith. Mae'n rhywbeth rydym yn ei arolygu bob amser mewn perthynas â'r capasiti i wneud hynny a'r ffordd y mae gennym gytundebau ag awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn â'r amserlen ar gyfer gwneud hynny.
Yn bersonol, credaf fod lle i wella'r cyswllt rhyngom ac awdurdodau lleol o ran sut y maent yn strwythuro eu cynlluniau datblygu lleol a pha ddarpariaeth y gallwn ei chynnig i'w helpu i gyflymu rhai o'r prosesau hynny, gan y bydd awdurdod lleol nad oes ganddo gynllun datblygu lleol ar waith yn wynebu problemau gwirioneddol wrth reoli ei swyddogaethau rheoli datblygu a gallu gwrthsefyll ceisiadau cynllunio nad ydynt yn rhan o'i gynllun. Felly, nid yw peidio â chael cynllun yn gynllun da—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, mae hynny i'w weld yn gwbl amlwg—ond nid yw'n gynllun da, a chredaf y gallem weithio'n well gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol er mwyn cyflymu'r broses honno.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar ad-drefnu llywodraeth leol? OAQ53242
3. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's policy on local government reorganisation? OAQ53242
Yes. The First Minister has made it clear we will retain the 22 local authorities we have in Wales. Where voluntary merger proposals come forward, we will act to support them.
Gwnaf. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud yn glir y byddwn yn cadw'r 22 awdurdod lleol sydd gennym yng Nghymru. Os bydd cynigion uno gwirfoddol yn cael eu cyflwyno, byddwn yn gweithredu i'w cefnogi.
Thank you for that, Minister. It's well documented that your predecessor had a sometimes challenging relationship with the Welsh Local Government Association and local government in general. In fact, your special adviser is quoted in the news now saying that the previous Minister relied on alternative facts very often on which to base his policy-making decisions. Can you confirm that you will not be relying on alternative facts and that, actually, you will be informing your decisions on what is in the best interest of communities the length and breadth of Wales and that security for local government is one of the key cornerstones for them to be able to deliver the services they are charged with delivering?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae'n dra hysbys fod gan eich rhagflaenydd berthynas heriol weithiau gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru a llywodraeth leol yn gyffredinol. Yn wir, dyfynnir eich cynghorydd arbennig yn y newyddion yn dweud bod y Gweinidog blaenorol yn dibynnu ar ffeithiau amgen yn aml iawn ar gyfer seilio ei benderfyniadau ynghylch llunio polisi. A allwch gadarnhau na fyddwch yn dibynnu ar ffeithiau amgen ac y byddwch yn seilio eich penderfyniadau ar yr hyn sydd er budd gorau cymunedau ledled Cymru a bod sicrwydd i lywodraeth leol yn un o'r prif bethau sy'n eu galluogi i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau y maent yn gyfrifol am eu darparu?
Yes, I'm not in the habit of relying on alternative facts, so I can assure the Member that I won't be taking up the practice any time soon. I'm a long-term fan of local government. Members in the Chamber will know that I spent a very large part of my career in local government. I think they do a good job in constrained circumstances. They require help and assistance, and, sometimes, they could collaborate better, and sometimes we have caused them problems in the way that we've laid collaborations on top of them. I'm very pleased to be working with a working group of local government, looking to see how we can best maximise the combined talent of local government for the best effect for the people of Wales. But, in general, I'm a big fan of local government and I intend to stay that way.
Gallaf, nid yw'n arfer gennyf ddibynnu ar ffeithiau amgen, felly gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod nad wyf ar unrhyw frys i ddechrau gwneud hynny. Rwy'n gefnogwr hirdymor i lywodraeth leol. Gŵyr Aelodau yn y Siambr fy mod wedi treulio rhan fawr iawn o fy ngyrfa mewn llywodraeth leol. Credaf eu bod yn gwneud gwaith da mewn amgylchiadau cyfyngedig. Mae arnynt angen help a chymorth, ac weithiau, gallent gydweithio'n well, ac weithiau, rydym wedi peri problemau iddynt o ran y ffordd rydym wedi eu gorfodi i gydweithredu. Rwy'n falch iawn fy mod yn gweithio gyda gweithgor o lywodraeth leol, i ystyried sut y gallwn wneud y gorau o dalent gyfunol llywodraeth leol er mwyn sicrhau'r effaith orau ar gyfer pobl Cymru. Ond yn gyffredinol, rwy'n frwd fy nghefnogaeth i lywodraeth leol, ac rwy'n bwriadu parhau i fod.
Clearly, the continued talk of reorganisation breeds uncertainty and a certain paralysis of development. What are you going to do differently to your predecessors in this post to change that?
Yn amlwg, mae'r sôn parhaus am ad-drefnu yn arwain at ansicrwydd ac atal datblygu. Beth y bwriadwch ei wneud yn wahanol i'ch rhagflaenwyr yn y swydd hon er mwyn newid hynny?
As I said, I've already had a very good meeting this morning with the finance sub-committee, talking about the funding formula. I'm meeting with the WLGA on Friday. We have a working group, which is being chaired by Derek Vaughan, looking at the way that we do regional working together, and I'm looking forward to having a good and productive relationship with local authorities across the piece.
Fel y dywedais, rwyf eisoes wedi cael cyfarfod da iawn y bore yma gyda'r is-bwyllgor cyllid, i sôn am y fformiwla ariannu. Byddaf yn cyfarfod â CLlLC ddydd Gwener. Mae gennym weithgor, a gadeirir gan Derek Vaughan, yn edrych ar y ffordd y gwnawn waith rhanbarthol gyda'n gilydd, ac edrychaf ymlaen at gael perthynas dda a chynhyrchiol gydag awdurdodau lleol yn gyffredinol.
[Inaudible.]—with you in local government. Does the Minister accept that council mergers will be extremely costly, taking money out of front-line services, remembering that the only council that failed in Britain was Northamptonshire, with a population of over three times that of Cardiff? Every time people talk about mergers, I think of Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board and Natural Resources Wales.
[Anghlywadwy.]—gyda chi mewn llywodraeth leol. A yw'r Gweinidog yn derbyn y bydd uno cynghorau'n hynod o gostus, ac yn mynd ag arian o'r gwasanaethau rheng flaen, gan gofio mai'r unig gyngor sydd wedi methu ym Mhrydain yw Swydd Northampton, gyda phoblogaeth sydd dros deirgwaith poblogaeth cyngor Caerdydd? Pan fydd pobl yn sôn am uno, rwyf bob amser yn meddwl am Fwrdd Iechyd Lleol Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru.
I just don't think that one size fits all at all. There are very good examples across Britain and across the world of both large and small local authorities that work very effectively. It's about harnessing local resources for local people and harnessing the power of local democratic decisions in order to do so. So, my own view is that if two local authorities thought they would work better as a single one, I would not be standing in the way of that, and if they think they're better to do regional collaborations and some things individually, I'd be looking to see what we could do to facilitate those working arrangements.
Ni chredaf y gellir cael un ateb sy'n addas i bawb. Ceir enghreifftiau da iawn ledled Prydain ac ar draws y byd o awdurdodau lleol bach a mawr sy'n gweithio'n effeithiol iawn. Mae a wnelo hyn â harneisio adnoddau lleol i bobl leol a harneisio pŵer penderfyniadau democrataidd lleol er mwyn gwneud hynny. Felly, yn fy marn i, os byddai dau awdurdod lleol o'r farn y byddent yn gweithio'n well fel un awdurdod, ni fuaswn yn ceisio atal hynny, ac os ydynt o'r farn y byddai'n well ganddynt gydweithredu'n rhanbarthol a gwneud rhai pethau'n unigol, buaswn yn edrych i weld beth y gallem ei wneud i hwyluso trefniadau gwaith o'r fath.
Minister, do you accept that Wales does not need 22 separate local authorities and that previous Ministers' attempts to solve the issue without actually reorganising local government has led to massive waste and bureaucracy?
On Monday, I met with a group of headteachers from my region to discuss the funding crisis in education, and one of their primary concerns was with the extra tier of governance added by the regional consortia and the waste it introduced. Minister, do you agree with the Williams commission that Wales would be better served by fewer, larger councils, doing away with the need for regional consortia?
Weinidog, a ydych yn derbyn nad oes angen 22 awdurdod lleol ar wahân ar Gymru a bod ymdrechion Gweinidogion blaenorol i ddatrys y broblem heb ad-drefnu llywodraeth leol wedi arwain at wastraff sylweddol a biwrocratiaeth?
Ddydd Llun, cyfarfûm â grŵp o benaethiaid o fy rhanbarth i drafod yr argyfwng ariannu mewn addysg, ac roedd un o'u prif bryderon yn ymwneud â'r haen ychwanegol o lywodraethu a ychwanegir gan y consortia rhanbarthol a'r gwastraff a gyflwynwyd yn sgil hynny. Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno gyda chomisiwn Williams y byddai Cymru'n cael ei gwasanaethu'n well gan nifer llai o gynghorau mwy o faint, gan gael gwared ar yr angen am gonsortia rhanbarthol?
No, I don’t, and I think I said very clearly that I didn’t. I think no one size fits all at all. What we need to do is work closely with local government to agree a shared vision for the future in which we make sure that the expertise available to it is deployed to the best effect for the people of Wales. Sometimes, that expertise will sit in one authority and it needs to be shared with another. At other times, it might be spread out. As I say, no one size fits all. What we need to do is get a shared vision together on the table, agree the working arrangements and stick to them. What isn’t helpful is where we do have regional arrangements and people seek to undermine them constantly, and so they can't be relied upon. Reliability and certainty, as Dai Lloyd pointed out, is one of the absolute maxims of good local administration, and I plan to make sure that we can go forward together with local government to ensure that we have that.
Na, nid wyf yn cytuno, a chredaf fy mod wedi dweud yn glir iawn nad wyf yn cytuno. Ni chredaf fod yna un ateb sy'n addas i bawb o gwbl. Yr hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud yw gweithio'n agos gyda llywodraeth leol i gytuno ar weledigaeth a rennir ar gyfer y dyfodol lle rydym yn sicrhau bod yr arbenigedd sydd ar gael yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddarparu'r effaith orau ar gyfer pobl Cymru. Weithiau, bydd yr arbenigedd hwnnw i'w gael mewn un awdurdod a bydd angen ei rannu ag un arall. Ar adegau eraill, efallai y bydd yn cael ei ledaenu. Fel y dywedaf, nid oes un ateb sy'n addas i bawb. Yr hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud yw llunio gweledigaeth a rennir rhyngom, cytuno ar y trefniadau gweithio a glynu atynt. Yr hyn nad yw'n ddefnyddiol yw pan fo gennym drefniadau rhanbarthol a bod pobl yn ceisio eu tanseilio drwy'r amser, ac felly ni ellir dibynnu arnynt. Dibynadwyedd a sicrwydd, fel y nododd Dai Lloyd, yw'r pethau sy'n hollbwysig ar gyfer gweinyddu lleol da, ac rwy'n bwriadu sicrhau y gallwn fwrw ymlaen ar y cyd â llywodraeth leol i sicrhau bod gennym hynny.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am sut y gellir gwella'r broses gynllunio er mwyn cynnal gwell asesiad o'r effaith gronnol a gaiff ceisiadau datblygu aml-breswyl yn yr un ardal? OAQ53237
4. Will the Minister make a statement on how the planning process can be improved to better assess the cumulative impact of multiple residential development applications in the same locality? OAQ53237
Yes, indeed. Up-to-date local development plans provide the local context to assess the cumulative impact of multiple residential development applications in the same locality. LDPs should ensure sufficient land is available in appropriate and sustainable locations to meet the projected housing need identified by the local planning authority.
Gwnaf, yn wir. Mae cynlluniau datblygu lleol cyfredol yn darparu'r cyd-destun lleol er mwyn asesu effaith gronnol ceisiadau datblygu preswyl lluosog yn yr un ardal. Dylai cynlluniau datblygu lleol sicrhau bod digon o dir ar gael mewn lleoliadau priodol a chynaliadwy i ddiwallu'r angen rhagamcanol am dai a nodwyd gan yr awdurdod cynllunio lleol.
Thank you for that answer, Minister, and can I also welcome the shift in Government policy towards a more spatial approach to planning? But, in my constituency, in Llantwit Fardre, we have three significant residential planning applications within a 700m radius. They're all at different stages in the planning process, and I’m not asking you to comment on those—the ones at Ystrad Barwig, Cwm Isaf farm, and Tynant common—but what we know is that the highway infrastructure is under considerable strain, and local GPs tell me that they are struggling to maintain a good service to existing patients. People need houses, but do you agree with me that the planning process must place a greater emphasis on the cumulative impact of adjacent development on people’s well-being and access to key services?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog, ac a gaf fi hefyd groesawu'r newid ym mholisi'r Llywodraeth tuag at ddull mwy gofodol o gynllunio? Ond yn fy etholaeth i, yn Llanilltud Faerdref, mae gennym dri chais cynllunio preswyl sylweddol o fewn radiws o 700m. Mae pob un ar wahanol gamau yn y broses gynllunio, ac nid wyf yn gofyn ichi wneud sylwadau arnynt—y rhai yn Ystrad Barwig, fferm Cwm Isaf a chomin Tynant—ond yr hyn a wyddom yw bod y seilwaith priffyrdd o dan bwysau sylweddol, a dywed meddygon teulu lleol wrthyf eu bod yn ei chael hi'n anodd cynnal gwasanaeth da i gleifion cyfredol. Mae angen tai ar bobl, ond a ydych yn cytuno â mi fod yn rhaid i'r broses gynllunio roi mwy o bwyslais ar effaith gronnol datblygiadau cyfagos ar les pobl a mynediad at wasanaethau allweddol?
Yes. A good local development plan should plan not only for its housing need, but for the infrastructure needs associated with the housing need. Clearly, that is a range of services, you know, from prosaic highway infrastructure, to digital connectivity, to access to GPs and schools, local bus services, sustainable transport, and so on. It’s a very complex picture. Each place should be planning to have its place properly served by its plan, and I do think councils should be very ambitious and innovative in setting out their requirements of developers through the various agreements they make through the planning process—section 106s, for one example, or the Highways Act agreements that they make, and so on—to maximise the benefit to the local population of particular developments and to ensure that they don’t concentrate everything in one area to the detriment of the other services. Indeed, that’s the purpose of the LDP—to go through an inquiry stage in which local people get to have their say in that way. And I’m very pleased that 'Planning Policy Wales' has focused on place making and has put that at the heart of our national planning policy, because I think that is in line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the way that we want to take Wales forward into the future.
Ydw. Dylai cynllun datblygu lleol da gynllunio nid yn unig ar gyfer ei angen am dai, ond ar gyfer yr anghenion seilwaith sy'n gysylltiedig â'r angen am dai. Yn amlwg, golyga hynny amrywiaeth o wasanaethau, fel y gwyddoch, o seilwaith priffyrdd arferol, i gysylltedd digidol, i fynediad at feddygon teulu ac ysgolion, gwasanaethau bws lleol, trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy, ac ati. Mae'n ddarlun cymhleth iawn. Dylai pob lle fod yn cynllunio i sicrhau bod eu lle wedi'i wasanaethu'n briodol gan ei gynllun, a chredaf y dylai cynghorau fod yn uchelgeisiol iawn ac yn arloesol wrth bennu eu gofynion ar gyfer y datblygwyr drwy'r cytundebau amrywiol a wnânt drwy'r broses gynllunio—cytundebau adran 106, er enghraifft, neu'r cytundebau Deddf Priffyrdd, ac ati—er mwyn sicrhau'r budd mwyaf posibl i'r boblogaeth leol yn sgil datblygiadau penodol ac i sicrhau nad ydynt yn crynhoi popeth mewn un ardal ar draul gwasanaethau eraill. Yn wir, dyna ddiben y cynllun datblygu lleol—mynd drwy gam ymchwiliad lle y caiff y bobl leol ddweud eu dweud yn y ffordd honno. Ac rwy'n falch iawn fod 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' wedi canolbwyntio ar greu lleoedd ac wedi sicrhau bod hynny wrth wraidd ein polisi cynllunio cenedlaethol, gan y credaf fod hynny'n cyd-fynd â Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 a'r ffordd rydym am symud Cymru ymlaen i'r dyfodol.
I've got a similar situation, Minister, in my own constituency, in the town of Abergele, where there are many hundreds of new homes planned for that area as part of the local development plan. And Abergele, as the Minister may be aware, is just a short distance from Bodelwyddan, which is in the neighbouring local authority, where there are a couple of thousand new homes planned. So, within that small area, around 3,000 new homes are proposed, and yet we already have a situation where our infrastructure is creaking at the seams, the traffic is often gridlocked in Abergele, the schools are already oversubscribed—the primary schools—and, indeed, we have problems with our health service and people being able to access GPs as well.
Now, I heard very carefully what you have said about the responsibilities that local authorities have, but what do you do as a Welsh Government when there are irresponsible decisions being taken by local authorities that are having scant regard, sometimes, for the transport and other infrastructure needs in their communities and potentially exacerbating them by giving permission to significant housing developments? Furthermore, what guidance are you issuing to local authorities in order that they have regard to local development plans in neighbouring local authority areas, because Bodelwyddan, of course, is in Denbighshire, and Abergele is in Conwy?
Mae gennyf sefyllfa debyg, Weinidog, yn fy etholaeth i, yn nhref Abergele, lle mae cannoedd ar gannoedd o gartrefi newydd wedi'u cynllunio ar gyfer yr ardal honno fel rhan o'r cynllun datblygu lleol. Ac mae Abergele, fel y gŵyr y Gweinidog o bosibl, nid nepell o Fodelwyddan, sydd yn yr awdurdod lleol cyfagos, lle y cynlluniwyd cwpl o filoedd o gartrefi newydd. Felly, o fewn yr ardal fach honno, mae oddeutu 3,000 o gartrefi newydd wedi'u hargymell, ac eto, rydym eisoes mewn sefyllfa lle mae ein seilwaith yn gwegian, ceir tagfeydd traffig yn aml yn Abergele, mae'r ysgolion eisoes yn orlawn—yr ysgolion cynradd—ac yn wir, mae gennym broblemau gyda'n gwasanaeth iechyd a gallu pobl i gael mynediad at feddygon teulu hefyd.
Nawr, rwyf wedi gwrando'n ofalus iawn ar yr hyn a ddywedoch ynglŷn â'r cyfrifoldebau sydd gan awdurdodau lleol, ond beth rydych yn ei wneud fel Llywodraeth Cymru pan fo awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud penderfyniadau anghyfrifol heb boeni dim, weithiau, am anghenion trafnidiaeth ac anghenion seilwaith eraill yn eu cymunedau, ac yn eu gwaethygu o bosibl drwy roi caniatâd i ddatblygiadau tai sylweddol? Yn ychwanegol at hynny, pa ganllawiau rydych yn eu rhoi i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn ystyried cynlluniau datblygu lleol mewn ardaloedd awdurdod lleol cyfagos, oherwydd wrth gwrs, mae Bodelwyddan yn sir Ddinbych, ac Abergele yng Nghonwy?
I want to make it plain immediately that I'm not going to comment on any specifics, and my remarks are not directed to the particular development that the Member has raised—so, in general terms. We have provisions in the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 to enable local planning authorities to bring forward strategic development plans and therefore to work more regionally. We are looking to have local authorities do that for the exact reason that the Member pointed out, so that spatial planning across local authority boundaries can be better.
We're working to prepare our first national development framework to provide a national context within which that can sit, and I had a useful meeting this morning with the officials supporting the infrastructure commission for Wales around how they can fit into some of that national planning.
I am hoping that we will be able to put in place the first strategic development plan down in south-east Wales this spring, shortly, and I'm looking to have that system spread out across Wales so that we can take cross-border issues properly into consideration.
But in the local development plan and in developing the local development plan, of course it is a proper consideration to consider where developments are taking place along the borders and elsewhere, and to map out provision for other services and so on, in order to ensure that people who are at the heart of the local democratic process that the LDP is put in place by are at the very heart of that decision-making process. If the process isn't about the people who are going to live in it, what is it about? Plans should keep in mind, at all times, that the people are at the heart of the process.
Hoffwn ddweud yn glir ar unwaith na fyddaf yn rhoi sylwadau ar unrhyw achosion penodol, ac nid yw fy sylwadau yn cyfeirio at y datblygiad penodol a grybwyllwyd gan yr Aelod—felly, rwy'n siarad yn gyffredinol. Mae gennym ddarpariaethau drwy Ddeddf Cynllunio (Cymru) 2015 i alluogi awdurdodau cynllunio lleol i gyflwyno cynlluniau datblygu strategol, ac felly i weithio'n fwy rhanbarthol. Rydym yn bwriadu sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud hynny am yr union reswm a nodwyd gan yr Aelod, er mwyn gwella cynllunio gofodol ar draws ffiniau awdurdodau lleol.
Rydym yn gweithio i baratoi ein fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol cyntaf i ddarparu cyd-destun cenedlaethol ar gyfer hynny, a chefais gyfarfod defnyddiol y bore yma gyda'r swyddogion sy'n cefnogi comisiwn seilwaith Cymru ynglŷn â sut y gallant gymryd rhan mewn peth o'r cynllunio cenedlaethol hwnnw.
Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn roi'r cynllun datblygu strategol cyntaf ar waith i lawr yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru y gwanwyn hwn, cyn bo hir, ac rwy'n gobeithio sicrhau bod y system honno wedi'i lledaenu ledled Cymru fel y gallwn ystyried materion trawsffiniol yn briodol.
Ond yn y cynllun datblygu lleol ac wrth ddatblygu'r cynllun datblygu lleol, wrth gwrs, mae'n briodol ystyried lle mae datblygiadau'n mynd rhagddynt ar hyd y ffiniau ac mewn mannau eraill, yn ogystal â mapio'r ddarpariaeth ar gyfer gwasanaethau eraill ac ati, er mwyn sicrhau bod y bobl sydd wrth wraidd y broses ddemocrataidd leol ac sy'n rhoi'r cynllun datblygu lleol ar waith yn ganolog yn y broses honno o wneud penderfyniadau. Os nad yw'r broses yn ymwneud â'r bobl a fydd yn byw gyda hi, beth yw ei phwrpas? Dylai'r cynlluniau gadw mewn cof, ar bob adeg, mai pobl sydd wrth wraidd y broses.
But there's an even more fundamental issue here, of course: what is the local housing need? Your Government has actually told local authorities now that your population projections are outdated, and they were the basis, of course, for the local development plans that people are concerned about, and we've seen the allocation of additional land for housing and a need that, clearly, simply just doesn't exist. So, will you accept that that was wrong? And will you also now, therefore, instruct your officials to allow councils to de-allocate greenfield sites in order to protect our environment and communities?
Ond mae problem fwy sylfaenol byth yma, wrth gwrs: beth yw'r angen lleol am dai? Mae eich Llywodraeth wedi dweud wrth awdurdodau lleol yn awr fod eich amcanestyniadau ar gyfer y boblogaeth wedi dyddio, a dyna oedd yn sail, wrth gwrs, i'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol y mae pobl yn pryderu amdanynt, ac rydym wedi gweld tir ychwanegol yn cael ei ddyrannu ar gyfer tai ac angen nad yw'n bodoli, yn amlwg. Felly, a wnewch chi dderbyn bod hynny'n anghywir? Ac a wnewch chi hefyd, felly, gyfarwyddo eich swyddogion i ganiatáu i gynghorau ddad-ddyrannu safleoedd tir glas er mwyn diogelu ein hamgylchedd a'n cymunedau?
I don't have a picture of Wales in my head around the different population projections, so I can't talk in specifics, but I'm very keen to make sure that we have the right projections in place, and that we actually respond to the need in the right places.
I'm also actually very keen to ensure that developments are the right size and fitted for the area they serve. So, what we want to do is encourage, as I said, small housing developers from across Wales to bring forward small sites that suit local need and not have to have large allocations. And that's not to criticise any council; as I say, I'm speaking in generalities. But I'm hoping to look again at what we are projecting, both in terms of the local government formula overall and in terms of projected need, in order to see where we can go.
Nid oes gennyf ddarlun o Gymru yn fy meddwl mewn perthynas â'r amcanestyniadau poblogaeth gwahanol, felly ni allaf sôn am achosion penodol, ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod yr amcanestyniadau cywir ar waith gennym, a'n bod yn ymateb i'r angen yn y mannau cywir.
Rwyf hefyd yn awyddus iawn i sicrhau bod maint y datblygiadau'n gywir ac yn gymesur â'r ardal y maent yn ei gwasanaethu. Felly, yr hyn rydym am ei wneud, fel y dywedais, yw annog datblygwyr bach eu maint ledled Cymru i ddarparu safleoedd bach sy'n addas i'r angen lleol heb orfod cael dyraniadau mawr. Ac nid yw hynny'n feirniadaeth o unrhyw gyngor; fel y dywedaf, rwy'n siarad yn gyffredinol. Ond rwy'n gobeithio ailedrych ar ein hamcanestyniadau, o ran y fformiwla ar gyfer llywodraeth leol yn gyffredinol ac o ran angen amcanestynedig, er mwyn gweld i ble y gallwn fynd.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Cyllid ynghylch cynaliadwyedd y fformiwla ariannu llywodraeth leol? OAQ53240
5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Finance about the sustainability of the local government funding formula? OAQ53240
Well, indeed, the finance Minister and I both met with local government at this morning’s finance sub-group meeting to discuss finance matters, the main topic of which was the sustainability of the local government funding formula. So, we're both fresh from that very meeting.
Wel, yn wir, cyfarfu'r Gweinidog Cyllid a minnau â llywodraeth leol yng nghyfarfod yr is-grŵp cyllid y bore yma i drafod materion cyllid, a chynaliadwyedd y fformiwla ariannu llywodraeth leol oedd y prif bwnc. Felly, mae'r ddau ohonom newydd fod yn y cyfarfod hwnnw.
I think there must be an echo in this Chamber—I know that you discussed this fully with my colleague Mark Isherwood earlier. This was a question that I and my colleague Janet Finch-Saunders regularly posed to your predecessor, Alun Davies, when he was in the local government role, and I'm pleased that we've set the ball rolling again today on this important issue. Now, I understand that there is a measure of disagreement here and that the Welsh Government believes that the funding formula in its current form can continue. So, can I just ask you, in a spirt of openness, that you do continue those discussions with the finance Minister and, indeed, local government? And although I know, each year, the WLGA agree to the funding formula in some form or other, I do think there is scope within the formula to tinker with it, if you will, and try and make sure that local authorities do get a slightly better deal. I'm thinking particularly about those authorities in rural areas that cover a large rural area and sometimes feel that they're not getting quite that level of support that would help them deliver services in those large rural areas.
Mae'n rhaid fod adlais yn y Siambr hon—gwn eich bod wedi trafod hyn yn drylwyr gyda fy nghyd-Aelod Mark Isherwood yn gynharach. Roedd hwn yn gwestiwn a ofynnwyd yn rheolaidd gennyf fi a'm cyd-Aelod Janet Finch-Saunders i'ch rhagflaenydd, Alun Davies, pan oedd yn y rôl llywodraeth leol, ac rwy'n falch ein bod wedi ailgychwyn pethau heddiw ar y mater pwysig hwn. Nawr, deallaf fod peth anghytuno yma, a bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn credu y gall y fformiwla ariannu barhau ar ei ffurf bresennol. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn mewn ysbryd o onestrwydd i chi barhau â'r trafodaethau hynny gyda'r Gweinidog Cyllid, ac yn wir, gyda llywodraeth leol? Ac er y gwn, bob blwyddyn, fod CLlLC yn cytuno i'r fformiwla ariannu ar ryw ffurf neu'i gilydd, credaf fod lle o fewn y fformiwla i wneud mân addasiadau, os mynnwch, a cheisio sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn cael bargen ychydig yn well. Rwy'n meddwl yn benodol am yr awdurdodau hynny mewn ardaloedd gwledig sy'n gyfrifol am ardal wledig fawr ac sydd weithiau'n teimlo nad ydynt yn cael y lefel o gymorth a fyddai'n eu helpu i ddarparu gwasanaethau yn yr ardaloedd gwledig mawr hynny.
We had a full discussion about the way that the formula works and any issues that anyone in the room had with them, and I invited suggestions from the local government leaders in the room and, indeed, from the wider local government community as to any suggested changes to the formula that might be something that we could all support. So, I'm very open to that. I have to say, nothing has come forward yet that significantly changes the formula. As you know, we put a funding floor in place in order to protect councils that are particularly affected by sudden changes in the way that the distribution works—so, by population change, for example, or by big differences in free-school-meals provision, or whatever it is. But we had a very good discussion this morning, and, as I said in earlier remarks, I'm not aware of what the disagreement is. There certainly wasn't any disagreement in the room this morning.
Cawsom drafodaeth lawn ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae'r fformiwla'n gweithio ac unrhyw broblemau a oedd gan unrhyw un yn yr ystafell gyda hi, a gofynnais am awgrymiadau gan yr arweinwyr llywodraeth leol yn yr ystafell, ac yn wir, gan y gymuned lywodraeth leol ehangach ynglŷn ag unrhyw newidiadau i'r fformiwla a allai fod yn rhywbeth y gallai pob un ohonom ei gefnogi. Felly, rwy'n agored iawn i hynny. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud nad oes unrhyw beth wedi'i gyflwyno eto sy'n newid y fformiwla yn sylweddol. Fel y gwyddoch, rhoesom gyllid gwaelodol ar waith er mwyn diogelu cynghorau yr effeithir arnynt yn arbennig gan newidiadau sydyn yn y ffordd y mae'r dosbarthu'n gweithio—felly, gan newid yn y boblogaeth, er enghraifft, neu wahaniaethau mawr o ran darpariaeth prydau ysgol am ddim, ac yn y blaen. Ond cawsom drafodaeth dda iawn y bore yma, ac fel y dywedais mewn sylwadau cynharach, nid wyf yn ymwybodol o beth yw'r anghytundeb. Yn sicr, ni chafwyd unrhyw anghytuno yn yr ystafell y bore yma.
Can I start by thanking my good friend from across the Chamber, Nick Ramsay, for tabling this very important question? And I'm pleased to hear that the Minister has sat down this morning with the finance Minister to discuss this very important issue, which is raised with me on almost every occasion when I meet with members of local government in north Wales. This, of course, is a vital part of how local councils get their resources to fund the very important local services that, every day, people deserve, and of course we are all suffering at the moment from the UK austerity set by the Tory Government. Now, remembering that Welsh Government does not set the formula, but it is set on expert advice and agreed by local government, would the Minister welcome the initiation of research work by Members of the Assembly from north Wales into the effectiveness and fairness of the current formula?
A gaf fi ddechrau drwy ddiolch i fy nghyfaill ar draws y Siambr, Nick Ramsay, am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn pwysig hwn? Ac rwy'n falch o glywed bod y Gweinidog wedi eistedd y bore yma gyda'r Gweinidog Cyllid i drafod y mater pwysig hwn, sy'n cael ei ddwyn i fy sylw ar bob achlysur bron pan fyddaf yn cyfarfod ag aelodau o lywodraeth leol yng ngogledd Cymru. Mae hon, wrth gwrs, yn rhan hanfodol o'r ffordd y bydd cynghorau lleol yn cael eu hadnoddau i ariannu'r gwasanaethau lleol pwysig y mae pobl yn eu haeddu'n ddyddiol, ac wrth gwrs mae pawb ohonom yn dioddef ar hyn o bryd yn sgil polisi cyni'r DU a osodwyd gan y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd. Nawr, gan gofio nad Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gosod y fformiwla, ond yn hytrach ei bod yn cael ei gosod ar sail cyngor arbenigol a'i chytuno â llywodraeth leol, a fyddai'r Gweinidog yn hoffi gweld Aelodau o'r Cynulliad o ogledd Cymru yn mynd ati i wneud gwaith ymchwil ar effeithiolrwydd a thegwch y fformiwla bresennol?
Yes. As I said, I'm very open to any suggestion to change the current funding formula that can be agreed through the local government group. It's very much something that we agree together with local government. We very much wanted to be something that the whole of local government is able to buy into and that the Welsh Government also buys into. So, I absolutely welcome any suggestions or any research that shows us any different way of doing it.
Buaswn. Fel y dywedais, rwy'n agored iawn i unrhyw awgrym i newid y fformiwla ariannu bresennol y gellir ei gytuno drwy'r grŵp llywodraeth leol. Mae'n bendant yn rhywbeth rydym yn dod i gytundeb â llywodraeth leol yn ei gylch. Roeddem yn awyddus iawn i fod yn rhywbeth y mae llywodraeth leol yn ei chyfanrwydd yn gallu ei gefnogi a rhywbeth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei gefnogi hefyd. Felly, rwy'n bendant yn croesawu unrhyw awgrymiadau neu unrhyw ymchwil sy'n dangos ffordd wahanol o'i wneud.
6. Pa fesurau y bydd y Gweinidog yn eu cyflwyno i gynyddu'r amrywiaeth o gynghorwyr lleol? OAQ53228
6. What measures will the Minister introduce to increase the diversity of local councillors? OAQ53228
The forthcoming local government and elections Bill will introduce several measures to further encourage diversity, such as enabling job sharing by executive members.
Bydd y Bil llywodraeth leol ac etholiadau sydd ar y ffordd yn cyflwyno nifer o fesurau i hyrwyddo amrywiaeth, megis galluogi aelodau gweithredol i rannu swyddi.
Thank you very much, Minister. People with disabilities are likely to face greater costs when seeking elected office due to their disabilities. Last month, the UK Government launched an interim fund to help with disability-related expenses to encourage and support people to stand in elections. The EnAble fund for elected office will run until 2020 and will cater for candidates for the local and police commissioner elections in England. What consideration has the Minister given to introducing a similar scheme in Wales to empower more people with disabilities to stand for election to represent their communities in Wales, please?
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Weinidog. Mae pobl ag anableddau yn debygol o wynebu mwy o gostau wrth iddynt geisio am swyddi etholedig oherwydd eu hanableddau. Y mis diwethaf, lansiodd Llywodraeth y DU gronfa dros dro i helpu gyda'r costau sy'n gysylltiedig ag anabledd er mwyn annog a chynorthwyo pobl i sefyll mewn etholiadau. Bydd y gronfa EnAble ar gyfer swyddi etholedig yn rhedeg tan 2020 a bydd yn darparu ar gyfer ymgeiswyr mewn etholiadau lleol ac etholiadau comisiynwyr yr heddlu yn Lloegr. Pa ystyriaeth a roddodd y Gweinidog i gyflwyno cynllun tebyg yng Nghymru er mwyn galluogi rhagor o bobl ag anableddau i sefyll etholiadau ar gyfer cynrychioli eu cymunedau yng Nghymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
We are about to introduce into the Assembly the local government and elections Bill, and the Llywydd is very interested, I know, in the one for the Assembly. We'd be very happy to have discussions about any scheme that enables any broader diversity of Members to come forward, from wherever that comes, and as part of the discussions as we take the Bill through its committee stages, I'd be more than happy to engage with the Member about any other provisions that he thinks might do just that.
Rydym ar fin cyflwyno'r Bil llywodraeth leol ac etholiadau i'r Cynulliad, ac mae gan y Llywydd ddiddordeb mawr, rwy'n gwybod, yn yr un ar gyfer y Cynulliad. Byddem yn hapus iawn i gael trafodaethau ynglŷn ag unrhyw gynllun sy'n galluogi amrywiaeth ehangach o Aelodau i gamu ymlaen, o ble bynnag y daw cynllun o'r fath, ac fel rhan o'r trafodaethau wrth i ni dywys y Bil drwy ei gyfnodau pwyllgor, buaswn yn fwy na bodlon ymgysylltu â'r Aelod ynghylch unrhyw ddarpariaethau eraill a allai wneud hynny yn ei farn ef.
7. Pa asesiad mae'r Gweinidog wedi ei wneud er mwyn sicrhau bod polisïau gosod tai cymdeithasol awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaethau tai ar draws Cymru yn addas i bwrpas? OAQ53259
7. What assessment has the Minister made to ensure that the social housing letting policies of local government and housing partnerships across Wales are fit for purpose? OAQ53259
In a world where demand for social housing very much outstrips supply, it's essential that lettings policies reflect a fair and strategic approach to meeting housing needs. Local housing partnerships have a responsibility to make best use of available social housing and provide applicants with the widest choice of accommodation.
Mewn byd lle mae'r galw am dai cymdeithasol yn llawer uwch na'r cyflenwad, mae'n hanfodol fod polisïau gosod tai yn adlewyrchu dull teg a strategol o ddiwallu anghenion tai. Mae gan bartneriaethau tai lleol gyfrifoldeb i wneud y defnydd gorau o'r tai cymdeithasol sydd ar gael a darparu'r dewis ehangaf o lety i'r rhai sy'n ei geisio.
Mae’r broses o gofrestru ar gyfer tŷ cymdeithasol yn gallu bod yn gymhleth, ac unwaith mae’r unigolion ar y rhestr, yn aml mae’r system sy'n cael ei defnyddio i benderfynu pwy sydd yn cael pa dŷ yn gallu arwain at ganlyniadau sydd yn annheg. Mae Cyngor Gwynedd newydd gychwyn ymgynghoriad ac yn ystyried newid o system bwyntiau i system fandio, a fydd yn rhoi ystyriaeth i angen, ond hefyd ystyriaeth i gysylltiadau lleol y darpar denantiaid. Ydych chi’n credu bod angen creu systemau dynodi tai cymdeithasol sydd yn fwy addas i bwrpas, a hynny ar draws Cymru?
The process of registering for social housing can be complex, and once an individual is on the list, then, very often, the system that is used to decide who is allocated which house can lead to outcomes that are unfair. Gwynedd Council has just started a consultation and is considering a change from a points system to a banding system, which will give consideration to need, but also to local connections and links for prospective tenants. Do you believe that we need to create social housing systems that are more fit for purpose across Wales?
Yes, I'm very interested in the Gwynedd banding system. I believe they're out for a three-month consultation and trial and that the decision's in April. We'll be looking very closely to see how that works. Clearly, we want people in priority need to be housed, but Gwynedd's system is about enabling local people to be housed locally. So, I'm very interested in seeing where we can get the right balance between encouraging local people to stay local and being sure that people in priority need get their needs met. Very often, people have a very real need to be in the community that they feel part of. So, it's about the balance. I'd be very interested in how Gwynedd works that out and to see what we can do around looking at that across Wales.
Mae gennyf ddiddordeb mawr yn system bandio Gwynedd. Rwy'n credu eu bod wrthi'n ymgynghori ac yn treialu a bod penderfyniad i'w wneud ym mis Ebrill. Byddwn yn edrych yn ofalus iawn i weld sut y mae'n gweithio. Yn amlwg, rydym eisiau gweld pobl sydd ag angen blaenoriaethol yn cael llety, ond mae a wnelo system Gwynedd â galluogi pobl leol i gael llety'n lleol. Felly, mae gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn gweld ble y gallwn gael y cydbwysedd cywir rhwng annog pobl leol i aros yn lleol a sicrhau bod anghenion blaenoriaethol pobl yn cael eu diwallu. Yn aml iawn, mae gan bobl angen go iawn i fod yn y gymuned y maent yn teimlo'n rhan ohoni. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â'r cydbwysedd. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld sut y mae Gwynedd yn datrys hynny a gweld beth y gallwn ei wneud o ran edrych ar hynny ar draws Cymru.
8. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Castell-nedd Port Talbot ynghylch y setliad ariannol ar gyfer llywodraeth Leol? OAQ53265
8. What discussions has the Minister had with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council regarding the financial settlement for local government? OAQ53265
None yet. I haven't had any specific meetings with Neath Port Talbot council. I'm embarking on the usual, as I understand it, ministerial tour of Wales when you get put into this portfolio. So, over the course of the next few months, I will be having individual meetings with every local authority in Wales, and I'm attending the meeting of the WLGA on Friday, where I'll be able to speak with a group of local authority leaders. I've of course met the leadership of Neath Port Talbot council on a number of occasions, but not yet in this portfolio.
Nid wyf wedi cael unrhyw drafodaeth eto. Nid wyf wedi cael unrhyw gyfarfodydd penodol gyda chyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot. Rwy'n dechrau ar y daith weinidogol o Gymru sy'n arferol, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, pan fyddwch yn cael eich rhoi yn y portffolio hwn. Felly, dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf, byddaf yn cael cyfarfodydd unigol â phob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n mynychu cyfarfod o CLlLC ddydd Gwener, lle byddaf yn gallu siarad â grŵp o arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol. Wrth gwrs, rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag arweinwyr cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot ar nifer o achlysuron, ond nid yn y portffolio hwn hyd yma.
I look forward to when you do meet them and raise the issues, and look to support them as much as possible, because NPT council clearly is, like every other council in Wales, facing challenging times because of the austerity ideology that is being driven through by Westminster. But in doing so, they're obviously looking very carefully at how they manage their bank balance and their funding, particularly the budgets.
Minister, also, on top of the revenue support grant, we see grants being allocated to local authorities. Now, when I met with the local authority before Christmas, in the area at the time of the budget, we were being told that, in fact, some of those grants were way out of time being paid; they were some six months, nine months delayed in payment. That was causing difficulties for local authorities in actually delivering services. Will you ensure that any grants that are allocated—and I know some are being put into the RSG, and that's been welcomed—are paid on time so that the authorities can actually deliver and ensure they're not being caught for finances?
Edrychaf ymlaen at yr adeg y byddwch yn eu cyfarfod ac yn codi'r materion, ac yn ceisio eu cynorthwyo cymaint â phosibl, oherwydd mae'n amlwg fod cyngor Castell Nedd Port Talbot fel pob cyngor arall yng Nghymru, yn wynebu cyfnod heriol oherwydd ideoleg cyni a gaiff ei llywio gan San Steffan. Ond wrth wneud hynny, maent yn amlwg yn edrych yn ofalus iawn ar sut y maent yn rheoli eu mantolen yn y banc a'u cyllid, yn enwedig y cyllidebau.
Weinidog, hefyd, ar ben y grant cynnal refeniw, gwelwn grantiau'n cael eu dyrannu i awdurdodau lleol. Nawr, pan gyfarfûm â'r awdurdod lleol cyn y Nadolig, yn yr ardal ar adeg y gyllideb, dywedwyd wrthym, mewn gwirionedd, fod rhai o'r grantiau hynny ymhell o gael eu talu ar amser; roedd oddeutu chwe mis, naw mis o oedi cyn eu talu. Roedd hynny'n achosi anawsterau i awdurdodau lleol o ran darparu gwasanaethau. A wnewch chi sicrhau bod unrhyw grantiau a ddyrennir—a gwn fod rhai'n cael eu rhoi i mewn i'r grant cynnal refeniw, ac mae hynny wedi'i groesawu—yn cael eu talu ar amser fel y gall yr awdurdodau ddarparu a sicrhau nad ydynt yn cael eu dal am gyllid?
Well, of course we always aim to pay grants in accordance with grant conditions. If the Member wants to bring any specific instances forward, I'm happy to look at that. I will be looking to work across the Government with ministerial colleagues who have big-spending local government portfolios—they're all really obvious: the health and social services and education colleagues and so on are big spending portfolios in terms of local government—to make sure that we present as clear and open a picture to local government as is possible, given the difficulties that they are having in terms of the austerity agenda. It's obvious that they need to be able to plan their expenditure as ably as is possible for us to be able to make them do.
Wel, wrth gwrs ein nod bob amser yw talu grantiau'n unol ag amodau'r grant. Os dymuna'r Aelod ddwyn unrhyw enghreifftiau penodol i sylw, rwy'n hapus i edrych ar hynny. Byddaf yn ceisio gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth gyda chyd-Weinidogion sydd â phortffolios llywodraeth leol â gwariant mawr—maent yn amlwg iawn: mae gan y cyd-Weinidogion iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ac addysg ac ati bortffolios ag iddynt wariant mawr yng nghyswllt llywodraeth leol—i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn cyflwyno darlun mor glir ac agored ag y bo modd i lywodraeth leol, o ystyried yr anawsterau y maent yn eu cael gydag agenda cyni. Mae'n amlwg fod angen iddynt allu cynllunio eu gwariant mor fedrus ag y gallwn wneud iddynt ei wneud.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf yw’r cwestiynau amserol, ond ni ddewiswyd unrhyw gwestiynau amserol yr wythnos yma.
The next item is topical questions, but no topical questions were accepted this week.
Felly, y datganiadau 90 eiliad, a’r datganiad cyntaf heddiw gan David Rowlands.
That brings us to the 90-second statements, and the first today is from David Rowlands.
On 10 January 1879, three columns of British soldiers crossed the Buffalo river into Zululand, South Africa, leaving some 1,800 soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot in camp at Isandlwana. On 22 January, the forces of Zulu King Cetshwayo, numbering some 20,000, encircled the British camp. The following battle resulted in one of the worst defeats ever recorded by the British army. Over 1,300 of the camp defenders were slaughtered.
On the evening of 22 January, some 3,000 Zulu warriors, fresh from the massacre at Isandlwana, descended on Rorke's Drift, defended by a force of just 140 men, which included soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot, the South Wales Borderers. The ensuing battle lasted through the night and into the day of 23 January. The events of that night and following day were to be one of the British army's finest moments. Against overwhelming odds, the garrison at Rorke's Drift repulsed attack after attack from some of the most ferocious and courageous native fighters in the whole of Africa.
Hostilities only came to an end when, in a demonstration of great humanity, and in acknowledgement of the bravery of fellow warriors, the Zulu prince Dabulamanzi called off his troops, saluted the garrison and withdrew. Subsequently, 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded for the gallant defence at Rorke's Drift, the highest number of Victoria Crosses ever awarded for a single action. On this day, the one hundred and fortieth anniversary of that battle, it is fitting that we remember those on both sides who showed such exceptional courage.
Ar 10 Ionawr 1879, croesodd tair colofn o filwyr Prydeinig yr afon Buffalo i mewn i Wlad y Zwlw, De Affrica, gan adael tua 1,800 o filwyr o 24ain Gatrawd y Milwyr Traed yn y gwersyll yn Isandlwana. Ar 22 Ionawr, amgylchynodd tua 20,000 o luoedd Brenin Gwlad y Zwlw, Cetshwayo, y gwersyll Prydeinig. Arweiniodd y frwydr a ddilynodd at un o'r gorchfygiadau gwaethaf a gofnodwyd erioed gan y fyddin Brydeinig. Lladdwyd dros 1,300 o amddiffynwyr y gwersyll.
Gyda'r nos ar 22 Ionawr, disgynnodd tua 3,000 o ryfelwyr Zwlw, yn ffres o'r gyflafan yn Isandlwana, ar Rorke's Drift, a gâi ei amddiffyn gan lu o 140 o ddynion yn unig, yn cynnwys milwyr o'r 24ain Gatrawd o Filwyr Traed, Cyffinwyr De Cymru. Parhaodd y frwydr a ddilynodd drwy'r nos ac i mewn i'r 23 Ionawr. Roedd digwyddiadau'r noson honno a'r diwrnod wedyn yn mynd i fod yn un o funudau gwychaf y Fyddin Brydeinig. Yn erbyn pob disgwyl, gwrthsafodd y garsiwn yn Rorke's Drift ymosodiad ar ôl ymosodiad gan rai o ymladdwyr brodorol mwyaf ffyrnig a dewr Affrica gyfan.
Daeth yr ymladd i ben pan alwodd y Tywysog Zwlw, Dabulamanzi, mewn arddangosiad o drugaredd mawr ac i gydnabod dewrder ei gydryfelwyr, ar ei filwyr i roi'r gorau i ymladd, saliwtiodd y garsiwn a thynnodd yn ôl. Yn dilyn hynny, dyfarnwyd 11 croes Victoria am amddiffyn Rorke's Drift mor ddewr, y nifer uchaf o groesau Victoria a roddwyd erioed mewn un frwydr. Ar y diwrnod hwn, gant a deugain o flynyddoedd ers y frwydr honno, mae'n briodol ein bod yn cofio'r rhai ar y ddwy ochr a ddangosodd ddewrder mor eithriadol.
This week, in the lead-up to the 2019 Holocaust Memorial Day, I was privileged to join members of the community in Merthyr Tydfil who gathered to mark the completion of the Holocaust memorial garden at the rear of Merthyr Tydfil library. It's one small but important example of how a community, starting out with a grant from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, then with the assistance of several local groups of volunteers, can be part of the international effort of remembrance, research and education about Holocaust.
This year, we will reflect on the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day, torn from home, the challenges of being torn from home in the face of war, conflict and persecution and the basic desire for a better, safer life. This year also, I can't help but add a personal note of remembrance, having just returned from a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. We should never forget the horrors of Holocaust and we should use this time to reflect on the conditions that allowed such barbaric acts to occur—not just Nazi persecution, but genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
My recent visit reinforced to me the value of each of our acts of remembrance, whether it's in Merthyr Tydfil, or whether it's here in the National Assembly, as we did at our vigil on the Senedd steps this lunchtime, or across our nation. In these testing times, let each of us reflect on our words, our thoughts and our actions, and let us remember those torn from home and pledge again that we will play our part in sustaining the conditions that ensure that the horrors of Holocaust are not repeated.
Yr wythnos hon, yn arwain at Ddiwrnod Cofio'r Holocost 2019, cefais y fraint o ymuno ag aelodau'r gymuned ym Merthyr Tudful a ddaeth at ei gilydd i nodi cwblhau Gardd Cofio'r Holocost yng nghefn Llyfrgell Merthyr Tudful. Mae'n un enghraifft fach ond pwysig o sut y gall cymuned, gan ddechrau gyda grant gan Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost, ac yna drwy gymorth nifer o grwpiau lleol o wirfoddolwyr, fod yn rhan o ymdrech ryngwladol i gofio, ymchwilio ac addysgu am Holocost.
Eleni, byddwn yn myfyrio ar thema Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost, rhwygo o'u cartref, yr heriau o gael eich rhwygo o'ch cartref yn wyneb rhyfel, gwrthdaro ac erledigaeth a'r dyhead sylfaenol am fywyd gwell a mwy diogel. Eleni hefyd, ni allaf helpu ond ychwanegu nodyn personol i'r cofio, a minnau newydd ddychwelyd o ymweliad ag Auschwitz-Birkenau. Ni ddylem byth anghofio erchyllterau'r Holocost a dylem ddefnyddio'r amser hwn i fyfyrio ar yr amodau a ganiataodd i weithredoedd barbaraidd o'r fath ddigwydd—nid erledigaeth Natsïaidd yn unig, ond hil-laddiad yn Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia a Darfur.
Mae fy ymweliad diweddar wedi atgyfnerthu gwerth pob un o'n gweithredoedd cofio, boed ym Merthyr Tudful, neu yma yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, fel y gwnaethom wrth gynnau cannwyll ar risiau'r Senedd amser cinio heddiw, neu ar draws ein gwlad. Yn yr adeg anodd hon, gadewch i bob un ohonom fyfyrio ar ein geiriau, ein meddyliau a'n gweithredoedd, a gadewch inni gofio'r rhai a rwygwyd o'u cartrefi ac addo unwaith eto y gwnawn ni chwarae ein rhan yn cynnal yr amodau a fydd yn sicrhau nad ailadroddir erchyllterau'r Holocost.
Yr eitem nesaf yw cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 26.91 yn ceisio cytundeb y Cynulliad i gyflwyno Bil Aelod ar hawliau pobl hŷn. Dwi'n galw ar Darren Millar i wneud y cynnig.
The next item is the motion under Standing Order 26.91 seeking the Assembly's agreement to introduce a Member Bill on older people's rights. I call on Darren Millar to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM6940 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.91:
Yn cytuno y caiff Darren Millar AC gyflwyno Bil i roi effaith i'r wybodaeth a gaiff ei chynnwys yn y Memorandwm Esboniadol a gyhoeddwyd ar 14 Rhagfyr 2018 o dan Reol Sefydlog 26.91A.
Motion NDM6940 Darren Millar
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 26.91:
Agrees that Darren Millar AM may introduce a Bill to give effect to the information included in the Explanatory Memorandum published on 14 December 2018 under Standing Order 26.91A.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion seeking the Assembly's agreement to allow me to introduce a Member Bill on older people's rights.
As a nation, we can be very proud that many of us are living longer and are healthier in our old age than ever before. And we can be proud of the excellent track record that we have in championing and supporting our older people here in Wales. We were the first nation in the world to appoint an older people's commissioner, the first UK nation to incorporate the UN conventions on the rights of the child and older people into domestic law, and the first to establish the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010. Today, the National Assembly for Wales has the opportunity, once again, to lead the way by supporting proposals for an older people's rights Bill.
We have the highest proportion of older people in the UK—one in four people living here in Wales is over the age of 60—and that demographic rise is set to continue. It's estimated by Age Alliance that, by 2030, the number of people aged over 65 living in Wales will increase by more than a third. And, when it comes to the over-85s, that's going to increase by a staggering 80 per cent. Now, some have complained that such an increase in older people is placing a burden on society, yet these people never mention the enormous contribution that older people make to our country. The Royal Voluntary Service has estimated that people aged over 65 make a contribution of over £1 billion annually to the Welsh economy, and that's net of pension, health and social care costs. Age Alliance have suggested that the value of childcare provided by grandparents in Wales is over £0.25 billion per year, and the value of their volunteering is estimated to be just shy of £0.5 billion. Yet, in spite of this huge contribution, it's true to say that some of our older people may need extra support or assistance, when compared to the rest of the population.
Many are frequent users of public services; they can be more dependent on the care of others and they may be—and often are—subject to age discrimination. Older people can be disproportionately impacted by the closure of facilities such as public conveniences, banks, libraries, post offices, hospitals or the withdrawal of public transport such as bus services. And at a time when more and more key services are only available online, more than half of adults, we must remember, over the age of 75, have never ever used the internet. All of this can make older people more vulnerable and more likely to lose their independence, and therefore they are at greater risk of their rights being violated.
Many older people are carers and compared to the rest of the UK, Wales has a higher number of older carers who are often in poorer health themselves. Living with a long-term illness or disability is challenging at the best of times, but all the more so when you have a caring responsibility. But many older people do not have anybody close by to support them. Loneliness and isolation are daily realities for many older people, and it's tragic that, according to Age Cymru, around 75,000 older people in Wales have reported—and I quote—'always or often feeling lonely'. Lonely people are more likely to suffer poor health, become vulnerable, and have their rights violated.
Research has also indicated that Wales has the highest prevalence of elder abuse in the UK. Action on Elder Abuse have found that 12.5 per cent of those over 65 in Wales have been subject to abuse, representing almost 100,000 people a year, but the current system isn't sufficiently identifying abuse cases, and victims often don't feel empowered to tell people, and perhaps this is why fewer than 1 per cent of cases result in a successful criminal conviction.
And then we have the problem of ageism. It's an issue that we rarely talk about, but its impact upon older people can be just as devastating as racism, sexism or homophobia. Negative stereotypes of older people are still common, as is the derogatory and disrespectful language that is often used to describe people once they reach a certain age.
It's for all of these reasons that I'm seeking permission from the Assembly today to introduce an older people's rights Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to build on Wales's excellent track record to date by embedding a rights-based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services that affect older people in Wales. If given permission, I will seek to consult with stakeholders to develop a Bill that will further enshrine the rights of older people within Welsh law, by placing a duty on Welsh Ministers to have regard to the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions that may impact upon older people in Wales; that will provide for the ability to extend that due-regard duty to local authorities, health boards and other Welsh public authorities; that will place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge of and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons; and that will require Welsh Ministers to publish annual reports on their compliance with their older people's rights schemes—something that doesn't happen at the moment.
Now, this approach might sound familiar to some people in this Chamber, and that's because the duties are very similar to those that have been set out in the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011. That legislation, of course, was very well received by stakeholders, and it's made a positive impact on children's experiences and in raising awareness of children's rights across the country. Now, I'm very confident that we can secure some similar results through legislation on older people's rights.
I first suggested a Bill of this kind during a short debate back in January of 2012, and since then a great deal has happened. Later that year, the First Minister established an advisory group—the then First Minister—to explore the development of a Welsh declaration of rights for older people. And then, in 2014, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 finally embedded the UN Principles for Older Persons into Welsh law for the very first time. We then had the Welsh declaration of the rights of older people, which was finally published in 2014. In the following year, 2015, the older people's commissioner at the time, Sarah Rochira, called for better protection of older people's rights, and she went on, in January of 2016, to publish 'Making rights real in public services', which provided guidance to leaders in the public sector on how they could embed the human rights of older people into their public services. Now, all of this progress, of course, is very, very welcome. In January 2016 as well, this National Assembly voted for an amended motion that called on the Welsh Government to, and I quote,
'work with the Older People's Commissioner to bring forward legislation to protect and promote the rights of older people.'
And it was the then health Minister at the time—now the First Minister—who accepted that amended motion, and all political parties in the Senedd voted for it. I regret, though, that the outcome of that vote has never, ever been fully implemented, and that the progress that we have made has stalled. [Interruption.] I'll happily take an intervention, yes.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n gwneud y cynnig i geisio cytundeb y Cynulliad i ganiatáu i mi gyflwyno Bil Aelod ar hawliau pobl hŷn.
Fel cenedl, gallwn fod yn falch iawn fod llawer ohonom yn byw'n hwy ac yn iachach yn ein henaint nag erioed o'r blaen. A gallwn fod yn falch o'r hanes rhagorol sydd gennym yn cefnogi ein pobl hŷn yma yng Nghymru. Ni oedd y genedl gyntaf yn y byd i benodi comisiynydd pobl hŷn, y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i ymgorffori confensiynau'r Cenhedloedd Unedig ar hawliau'r plentyn a phobl hŷn mewn cyfraith ddomestig, a'r gyntaf i sefydlu dyletswydd cydraddoldeb y sector cyhoeddus o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010. Heddiw, mae cyfle gan Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, unwaith eto, i arwain y ffordd drwy gefnogi cynigion ar gyfer Bil hawliau pobl hŷn.
Ni sydd â'r gyfran uchaf o bobl hŷn yn y DU—mae un o bob pedwar o'r bobl sy'n byw yma yng Nghymru dros 60 oed—a bydd y cynnydd demograffig hwnnw'n parhau. Erbyn 2030, amcangyfrifa Cynghrair Henoed Cymru y bydd nifer y bobl hŷn dros 65 oed sy'n byw yng Nghymru yn gweld cynnydd o fwy na thraean. Ac o ran y bobl dros 85 oed, mae eu nifer yn mynd i gynyddu 80 y cant, sy'n syfrdanol. Nawr, mae rhai wedi cwyno bod cynnydd o'r fath yn nifer y bobl hŷn yn rhoi baich ar gymdeithas, ac eto nid yw'r bobl hyn byth yn sôn am y cyfraniad aruthrol y mae pobl hŷn yn ei wneud i'n gwlad. Mae'r Gwasanaeth Gwirfoddol Brenhinol yn amcangyfrif bod pobl dros 65 oed yn cyfrannu dros £1 biliwn bob blwyddyn i economi Cymru, ac mae hwnnw'n swm net o'r costau pensiwn, iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Mae Cynghrair Henoed Cymru wedi awgrymu bod gwerth y gofal plant a ddarperir gan neiniau a theidiau yng Nghymru dros £0.25 biliwn y flwyddyn, ac amcangyfrifir bod gwerth eu gwaith gwirfoddol fymryn yn is na £0.5 biliwn. Eto, er gwaethaf y cyfraniad enfawr hwn, mae'n wir dweud y gall rhai o'n pobl hŷn fod angen cymorth neu gefnogaeth ychwanegol, o'i gymharu â gweddill y boblogaeth.
Mae llawer ohonynt yn defnyddio gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn aml; gallant fod yn fwy dibynnol ar ofal eraill a gallant fod—ac maent, yn aml—yn destun gwahaniaethu ar sail oedran. Gall pobl hŷn gael eu heffeithio'n anghymesur yn sgil cau cyfleusterau megis toiledau cyhoeddus, banciau, llyfrgelloedd, swyddfeydd post, ysbytai neu ddiddymu trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus megis gwasanaethau bysiau. Ac ar adeg pan fo mwy a mwy o wasanaethau allweddol ond ar gael ar-lein yn unig, rhaid inni gofio nad yw dros hanner yr oedolion sydd dros 75 oed erioed wedi defnyddio'r rhyngrwyd. Gall hyn oll wneud pobl hŷn fwy agored i niwed ac yn fwy tebygol o golli eu hannibyniaeth, ac felly maent yn wynebu mwy o risg y caiff eu hawliau eu tramgwyddo.
Mae llawer o bobl hŷn yn ofalwyr ac o'i gymharu â gweddill y DU, mae gan Gymru nifer uwch o ofalwyr hŷn sy'n aml yn llai iach eu hunain. Mae byw gyda salwch neu anabledd hirdymor yn heriol ar y gorau, ond yn fwy felly pan fo gennych gyfrifoldeb gofalu. Ond mae llawer o bobl hŷn heb neb gerllaw i'w cefnogi. Mae unigrwydd ac arwahanrwydd yn realiti dyddiol i lawer o bobl hŷn, ac mae'n drasig fod tua 75,000 o bobl hŷn yng Nghymru wedi dweud, yn ôl Age Cymru—ac rwy'n dyfynnu—eu bod 'bob amser neu'n aml yn teimlo'n unig'. Mae pobl unig yn fwy tebygol o ddioddef iechyd gwael, o fod yn agored i niwed, ac o gael eu hawliau wedi'u tramgwyddo.
Mae ymchwil wedi dangos hefyd mai yng Nghymru y ceir y gyfradd uchaf o achosion o gam-drin yr henoed yn y DU. Gwelodd Action on Elder Abuse fod 12.5 y cant o bobl dros 65 oed yng Nghymru wedi dioddef cam-drin, sef bron i 100,000 o bobl y flwyddyn, ond nid yw'r system bresennol yn nodi achosion o gam-drin yn ddigonol, ac yn aml nid yw dioddefwyr yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u grymuso ddigon i allu dweud wrth bobl, ac efallai mai dyna pam fod llai nag 1 y cant o achosion yn arwain at euogfarn droseddol lwyddiannus.
Ac yna mae gennym broblem gwahaniaethu ar sail oedran. Mae'n fater nad ydym yn siarad fawr ddim amdano, ond gall ei effaith ar bobl hŷn fod yr un mor ddinistriol â hiliaeth, rhywiaeth neu homoffobia. Mae stereoteipiau negyddol o bobl hŷn yn dal i fod yn gyffredin, fel y mae iaith ddifrïol ac amharchus a ddefnyddir yn aml i ddisgrifio pobl pan fyddant yn cyrraedd oedran penodol.
Dyma'r rhesymau pam rwy'n ceisio caniatâd gan y Cynulliad heddiw i gyflwyno Bil hawliau pobl hŷn. Diben y Bil yw adeiladu ar hanes ardderchog Cymru hyd yn hyn drwy ymgorffori ymagwedd seiliedig ar hawliau yn y broses o ddatblygu, cynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sy'n effeithio ar bobl hŷn yng Nghymru. Os caf ganiatâd, byddaf yn ceisio ymgynghori â rhanddeiliaid i ddatblygu Bil a fydd yn ymgorffori hawliau pobl hŷn ymhellach yng nghyfraith Cymru, drwy osod dyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru i roi sylw i Egwyddorion y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer Pobl Hŷn wrth wneud penderfyniadau a allai effeithio ar bobl hŷn yng Nghymru; a fydd yn darparu ar gyfer y gallu i ymestyn y ddyletswydd sylw dyledus honno i awdurdodau lleol, byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau cyhoeddus eraill Cymru; a fydd yn gosod dyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru i hyrwyddo gwybodaeth a dealltwriaeth o Egwyddorion y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer Pobl Hŷn; ac a fydd yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i Weinidogion Cymru gyhoeddi adroddiadau blynyddol ar eu cydymffurfiaeth â'u cynlluniau hawliau pobl hŷn—rhywbeth nad yw'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd.
Nawr, efallai fod yr ymagwedd hon yn swnio'n gyfarwydd i rai pobl yn y Siambr, a'r rheswm am hynny yw fod y dyletswyddau'n debyg iawn i'r rhai a osodwyd yn y Mesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc (Cymru) 2011. Wrth gwrs, cafodd y ddeddfwriaeth honno dderbyniad da iawn gan randdeiliaid, ac mae wedi cael effaith gadarnhaol ar brofiadau plant ac o ran codi ymwybyddiaeth o hawliau plant ar draws y wlad. Nawr, rwy'n hyderus iawn y gallwn sicrhau canlyniadau tebyg drwy ddeddfwriaeth ar hawliau pobl hŷn.
Awgrymais Fil o'r math hwn yn ystod dadl fer yn ôl ym mis Ionawr 2012, ac ers hynny mae llawer iawn wedi digwydd. Yn ddiweddarach y flwyddyn honno, sefydlwyd grŵp cynghori gan y Prif Weinidog—y Prif Weinidog ar y pryd—i ymchwilio i'r gwaith o ddatblygu datganiad o hawliau pobl hŷn yng Nghymru. Ac yna, yn 2014, o'r diwedd, ymgorfforodd Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 Egwyddorion y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer Pobl Hŷn yng nghyfraith Cymru am y tro cyntaf. Yna cawsom y datganiad o hawliau pobl hŷn yng Nghymru, a gyhoeddwyd yn y pen draw yn 2014. Yn y flwyddyn ganlynol, 2015, galwodd y comisiynydd pobl hŷn ar y pryd, Sarah Rochira, am amddiffyn hawliau pobl hŷn yn well, ac aeth ymlaen, ym mis Ionawr 2016, i gyhoeddi 'Rhoi Hawliau ar Waith mewn Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus', a roddodd arweiniad i arweinwyr yn y sector cyhoeddus ar sut y gallent ymgorffori hawliau dynol pobl hŷn yn eu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Nawr, mae'r holl gynnydd hwn, wrth gwrs, i'w groesawu'n gynnes iawn. Ym mis Ionawr 2016 yn ogystal, pleidleisiodd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol hwn dros gynnig wedi'i ddiwygio a alwai ar Lywodraeth Cymru, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
'i weithio gyda'r Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn i gyflwyno deddfwriaeth i amddiffyn a hyrwyddo hawliau pobl hŷn.'
A'r Gweinidog iechyd ar y pryd—y Prif Weinidog erbyn hyn—a dderbyniodd y cynnig hwnnw fel y'i diwygiwyd, a phleidleisiodd pob plaid wleidyddol yn y Senedd o'i blaid. Rwy'n gresynnu, fodd bynnag, na chafodd canlyniad y bleidlais honno byth mo'i chyflawni'n llawn, a bod y cynnydd a wnaed gennym wedi arafu. [Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n hapus i dderbyn ymyriad.
Thanks so much for giving way, and my apologies for coming in late. I was watching on the monitor—. Llywydd, my apologies; my timing went to pot there. But I've listened with interest, including on the monitor as I was watching, and I welcome the very temperate way that he's laid out his case there. One significant change that has actually taken place subsequent to the timeline he talked about was last June, when Sarah Rochira, the previous older people's commissioner, actually left the post, and she stood in the Senedd just above us and she welcomed the work that had gone on with my officials at the time, which had led to a very tangible, concrete set of actions—tangible actions—that are now being worked on, which went far beyond what had gone before in words and so on, and that is still being taken through. So, I simply ask him to acknowledge that, actually, not only did Sarah recognise that, but my subsequent meeting with the new older people's commissioner also recognised that the approach being taken within Welsh Government is very proactive now.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am ildio, ac rwy'n ymddiheuro am ddod i mewn yn hwyr. Roeddwn yn gwylio ar y monitor—. Lywydd, fy ymddiheuriadau; aeth fy amseru rhwng y cŵn a'r brain. Ond rwyf wedi gwrando'n llawn diddordeb, gan gynnwys ar y monitor wrth i mi wylio, ac rwy'n croesawu'r ffordd gymedrol y mae wedi cyflwyno ei ddadl. Un newid arwyddocaol sydd wedi digwydd ers yr amserlen y soniodd amdano oedd yr hyn a ddigwyddodd fis Mehefin diwethaf, pan adawodd Sarah Rochira, y comisiynydd pobl hŷn blaenorol, ei swydd, a safodd yn y Senedd ychydig uwch ein pennau a chroesawu'r gwaith a oedd wedi digwydd gyda fy swyddogion ar y pryd, a oedd wedi arwain at gyfres gadarn a phendant iawn o gamau gweithredu—camau sylweddol—sydd ar y gweill yn awr, ac a aeth ymhell y tu hwnt i'r hyn a oedd wedi digwydd cyn hynny mewn geiriau ac ati, ac mae hynny'n dal i gael ei ddatblygu. Felly, gofynnaf iddo gydnabod, mewn gwirionedd, nid yn unig fod Sarah wedi cydnabod hynny, ond roedd fy nghyfarfod dilynol gyda'r comisiynydd pobl hŷn newydd hefyd yn cydnabod bod y dull o weithredu o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhagweithiol iawn yn awr.
I very much welcome the progress that's been made, but it's not underpinned by legislation, which is the point of the Bill that I'm proposing, and we have an opportunity to further that cause—the cause that, I think, we all share in terms of wanting to promote older people's rights—by supporting this Bill today. And, of course, that's why the older people's commissioner—the current older people's commissioner—and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission are both backing my proposals for a Bill. I know a whole host of other organisations and stakeholders are backing this Bill, including Action on Elder Abuse Cymru, Age Alliance Wales, Age Connects Wales, Age Cymru, the Alzheimer's Society Cymru, Care and Repair Cymru, the Carers Trust Wales, Carers Wales, Cymru Older People's Alliance, Prime Cymru, the British Geriatric Society, the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research—I could go on and on and on with more and more people on that list, but I think it shows the huge support that there is out there for a Bill of this kind.
Just a very brief word on the potential financial implications of the Bill: the closest comparator in terms of legislation and associated costings is, of course, the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011. Now, the regulatory impact assessment for that Measure suggested that the costs over a three-year period of implementation were around £1.5 million. If we increase those by inflation, then it suggests that the costs for this sort of Bill might be around £1.75 million. However, the reality is that some of those costs are already being borne by Government because of the duties that are already contained, as I mentioned before, in the social services and well-being Act. So, it's likely to be much less than that. So, these costs, of course, will need further clarification in the future and more detailed consideration, but it suggests to me that this is an extremely affordable thing for us to be able to do.
In closing, then, Llywydd, I just want to remind people that we have a historic opportunity today. We embarked upon this journey a number of years ago and we can deliver and pioneer a new rights-based approach for older people's rights here in Wales. We've got an opportunity to develop legislation that will result in practical improvements in the decision making and delivery of public services, that will raise awareness of older people's rights and give them recognition and status, and that will empower those hundreds of thousands of older people across Wales to access those rights, and I urge Members to support the motion.
Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y cynnydd a wnaed, ond nid yw'n seiliedig ar ddeddfwriaeth, sef pwynt y Bil rwy'n ei gynnig, ac mae gennym gyfle i hyrwyddo'r achos hwnnw—achos y mae pawb ohonom yn ei rannu, rwy'n credu, o ran yr awydd i hyrwyddo hawliau pobl hŷn—drwy gefnogi'r Bil hwn heddiw. Ac wrth gwrs, dyna pam y mae'r comisiynydd pobl hŷn—y comisiynydd pobl hŷn presennol—a'r Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol yn cefnogi fy nghynigion ar gyfer Bil. Gwn fod llu o sefydliadau a rhanddeiliaid eraill yn cefnogi'r Bil, gan gynnwys Action on Elder Abuse Cymru, Cynghrair Henoed Cymru, Age Connects Cymru, Age Cymru, Cymdeithas Alzheimer's Cymru, Gofal a Thrwsio Cymru, Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr Cymru, Gofalwyr Cymru, Cynghrair Pobl Hŷn Cymru, Prime Cymru, Cymdeithas Henoed Prydain, y Ganolfan Ymchwil Heneiddio a Dementia—gallwn fynd ymlaen ac ymlaen ac ymlaen gyda mwy a mwy o bobl ar y rhestr honno, ond credaf ei bod yn dangos y gefnogaeth aruthrol a geir i Fil o'r math hwn.
Gair sydyn am oblygiadau ariannol y Bil; y cymharydd agosaf o ran deddfwriaeth a chostau cysylltiedig yw Mesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc (Cymru) 2011 wrth gwrs. Nawr, awgrymodd yr asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol ar y Mesur hwnnw fod y costau dros gyfnod o dair blynedd o weithredu oddeutu £1.5 miliwn. Byddai cynyddu'r rhain drwy ychwanegu chwyddiant yn awgrymu y byddai costau Bil o'r math hwn oddeutu £1.75 miliwn. Fodd bynnag, y realiti yw bod rhai o'r costau hynny eisoes yn cael eu talu gan y Llywodraeth oherwydd y dyletswyddau sydd eisoes wedi'u cynnwys, fel y soniais, yn y Ddeddf gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a llesiant. Felly, mae'n debygol o fod yn llawer llai na hynny. Felly, bydd angen egluro mwy ar y costau hyn, wrth gwrs, a'u hystyried yn fwy manwl, ond mae'n awgrymu i mi fod hyn yn rhywbeth hynod fforddiadwy i ni allu ei wneud.
I gloi felly, Lywydd, hoffwn atgoffa pobl fod gennym gyfle hanesyddol heddiw. Cychwynasom ar y daith hon nifer o flynyddoedd yn ôl, a gallwn ddarparu ac arloesi dull newydd sy'n seiliedig ar hawliau mewn perthynas â hawliau pobl hŷn yma yng Nghymru. Mae gennym gyfle i ddatblygu deddfwriaeth a fydd yn arwain at welliannau ymarferol wrth wneud penderfyniadau a darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a fydd codi ymwybyddiaeth o hawliau pobl hŷn ac yn rhoi cydnabyddiaeth a statws iddynt, ac a fydd yn grymuso'r cannoedd o filoedd o bobl hŷn ledled Cymru i fynnu'r hawliau hynny, ac rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi'r cynnig.
Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Julie Morgan.
I call on the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan.
