Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
11/03/2020Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) in the Chair.
[Interruption.] That was a timely alarm, so it brings us to order in the Chamber this afternoon.
[Torri ar draws.] Roedd hwnnw'n larwm amserol, felly mae'n ein galw i drefn yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma.
Item 1 on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services, and question 1 this afternoon—Siân Gwenllian.
Eitem 1 ar ein hagenda y prynhawn yma yw cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, a chwestiwn 1 y prynhawn yma—Siân Gwenllian.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl amenedigol i fenywod yn Arfon? OAQ55228
1. Will the Minister make a statement on perinatal mental health services for women in Arfon? OAQ55228
We have reaffirmed our commitment to improve access and quality of perinatal mental health services both in the community and for in-patient care in the 'Together for Mental Health—Delivery Plan: 2019-22', which was published in January.
Rydym wedi ailddatgan ein hymrwymiad i wella mynediad ac ansawdd gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl amenedigol yn y gymuned ac ar gyfer gofal cleifion mewnol yn 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl—Cynllun Cyflawni: 2019-22', a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ionawr.
Mewn cyfarfod diweddar o'r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg, fe ddywedodd ymgynghorydd seiciatryddol a chyfarwyddydd meddygol iechyd meddwl Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr mae'n debyg ein bod angen tua phedwar gwely mewn uned mamau a babanod yng ngogledd Cymru.
Aeth ymlaen i ddweud bod y bwrdd yn barod i beilota model newydd o ofal.
Beth sy'n glir, beth bynnag ydy'r ffigwr ac a oes angen uned ai peidio, ydy bod angen gweithredu ar frys i ddatblygu darpariaeth unigryw ar gyfer mamau a'u babanod yn y gogledd. Mae pethau wedi cychwyn yn y de, o'r diwedd, efo uned dros dro, ond does dim oll i'w weld yn digwydd o ran mamau'r gogledd, sy'n parhau i orfod mynd yn bell o adref neu'n cael triniaeth ar wardiau seiciatryddol heb eu babanod, neu yn dewis peidio â chael y cymorth angenrheidiol o gwbl. A wnewch chi roi cyfarwyddiadau i'r cyrff perthnasol i ymchwilio i'r opsiynau ar gyfer y gogledd gyda'r nod o greu darpariaeth unigryw, fel nad ydy mamau mewn rhan helaeth o'r wlad yn cael eu gadael ar ôl?
At a recent meeting of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, a psychiatric consultant and medical director for mental health at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said that it appears that, 'we probably need about four beds of a mother and baby unit' in north Wales.
He went on to say that the board was willing to pilot a new model of care.
Now, what becomes clear, whatever the figure, and whether you need a unit or not, is that we do need urgent action to develop unique provision for mothers and babies in north Wales. Things have started in south Wales, at last, with a pro tem unit, but there is nothing that seems to be happening in terms of mothers in north Wales, who continue to have to travel a long way from home or are treated on psychiatric wards without their babies, or decide not to seek the necessary assistance at all. Will you, therefore, give directions to the relevant bodies to look into the options for north Wales with the aim of creating unique provision so that mothers in large parts of the country aren't left behind?
Well, I thank Siân Gwenllian very much for that very important question, and, as she says, we are making progress now with south Wales, but we certainly now need to move along with the situation in north Wales.
We have been having discussions with providers in England to discuss options for a joint provision, but those proposals are now on hold, because the English service is actually looking at developing its own provision. It is going to resume talks later on this year, but we're not sure when that will actually come. But, I know that Betsi Cadwaladr has said that it is interested in developing its own unique type of service. It has also mentioned a service for women who don't actually want to go into any beds at all. So, I think that's certainly something that we could look at, because it's very important that we do recognise that, at such a crucial time, women should feel able to have treatment and should be able to get it near home. So, we certainly will follow up those points.
Wel, diolch yn fawr i Siân Gwenllian am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw, ac fel mae hi'n dweud, rydym yn gwneud cynnydd yn awr gyda de Cymru, ond yn sicr mae angen inni symud ymlaen gyda'r sefyllfa yng ngogledd Cymru yn awr.
Rydym wedi bod yn cael trafodaethau gyda darparwyr yn Lloegr i drafod opsiynau ar gyfer darpariaeth ar y cyd, ond mae'r cynigion hynny bellach wedi'u gohirio, am fod gwasanaeth yn Lloegr yn edrych ar ddatblygu ei ddarpariaeth ei hun. Mae'n mynd i ailafael yn y trafodaethau yn nes ymlaen eleni, ond nid ydym yn siŵr pryd y bydd hynny'n digwydd. Ond rwy'n gwybod bod Betsi Cadwaladr wedi dweud bod ganddynt ddiddordeb mewn datblygu eu math unigryw eu hunain o wasanaeth. Mae hefyd wedi sôn am wasanaeth i fenywod nad ydynt am fynd i unrhyw welyau o gwbl. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n sicr yn rhywbeth y gallem edrych arno, oherwydd mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cydnabod, ar adeg mor dyngedfennol, y dylai menywod deimlo eu bod yn gallu cael triniaeth ac y dylent allu ei gael yn agos at adref. Felly, yn sicr, byddwn yn edrych eto ar y pwyntiau hynny.
Well, reference was made to the Children, Young People and Education Committee and, of course, their 2017 report 'Perinatal mental health in Wales' noted that
'north Wales alone does not have the necessary birth rates to sustain a specialist MBU, we call on the Welsh Government to engage proactively with providers in England to discuss options for the creation of an MBU in north east Wales that could serve the populations of both sides of the border.'
The Minister accepted their recommendation that the Welsh Government engaged, as a matter of urgency, with NHS England to discuss options for the creation of a centre in north-east Wales that could serve the populations on both sides of the border, saying 'I have asked the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee to work with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to consider options in north Wales, including this recommendation.'
Well, by my reckoning, that was 28-29 months ago, when the recommendation was urgent and the Minister said that he had asked then for that work to go forward.
The Betsi Cadwaladr website's only reference to perinatal mental health talks about their mental health service as close to their homes as practicable for mother and baby, but it doesn't refer to that key mental health provision. Only last month—and I'll conclude here—BBC Wales reported that mothers in Wales are suffering due to the lack of a specialist in-patient mental health support unit two years after Welsh Government promised to develop one. Why are we still waiting to hear, and if, as you indicate—I'm sure you do indicate—that, currently, discussions with England are on hold, why can't the developing model in England continue to develop on a cross-border basis, as proposed, rather than on a singular basis, recognising a border that could negate the recommendations in this committee report?
Wel, cyfeiriwyd at y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ac wrth gwrs, nododd eu hadroddiad 'Iechyd Meddwl Amenedigol yng Nghymru' yn 2017 nad oes gan ogledd Cymru
y niferoedd o enedigaethau sydd eu hangen i gynnal uned mamau a babanod arbenigol, ac roeddent yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ymgysylltu'n rhagweithiol â darparwyr yn Lloegr i drafod opsiynau ar gyfer creu uned mamau a babanod yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru a allai wasanaethu poblogaethau o boptu’r ffin.
Derbyniodd y Gweinidog eu hargymhelliad y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ymgysylltu, fel mater o frys, â GIG Lloegr i drafod opsiynau ar gyfer creu canolfan yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru a allai wasanaethu'r poblogaethau ar y ddwy ochr i'r ffin, gan ddweud 'Rwyf wedi gofyn i Bwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru weithio gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i ystyried opsiynau yng ngogledd Cymru, gan gynnwys yr argymhelliad hwn.'
Wel, yn ôl fy nghyfrif i, roedd hynny 28-29 mis yn ôl, pan oedd yr argymhelliad yn un brys a dywedodd y Gweinidog ei fod wedi gofyn bryd hynny am i'r gwaith hwnnw fynd rhagddo.
Mae unig gyfeiriad gwefan Betsi Cadwaladr at iechyd meddwl amenedigol yn siarad yn unig am gael eu gwasanaeth iechyd meddwl mor agos at eu cartrefi ag sy'n ymarferol i'r fam a'r baban, ond nid yw'n cyfeirio at y ddarpariaeth iechyd meddwl allweddol honno. Y mis diwethaf yn unig—ac rwyf am orffen yn y fan hon—adroddodd BBC Cymru fod mamau yng Nghymru yn dioddef oherwydd diffyg uned cymorth iechyd meddwl arbenigol i gleifion mewnol ddwy flynedd ar ôl i Lywodraeth Cymru addo datblygu un. Pam rydym yn dal i aros i glywed, ac os yw trafodaethau â Lloegr wedi'u gohirio ar hyn o bryd fel rydych yn nodi—ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn nodi hynny—pam na all y model sy'n datblygu yn Lloegr barhau i ddatblygu ar sail drawsffiniol, fel yr argymhellwyd, yn hytrach nag ar sail unigol, gan gydnabod ffin a allai negyddu'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad pwyllgor hwn?
I thank Mark Isherwood for those questions. As I said in response to Siân Gwenllian, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee has engaged with providers in England to discuss options for the creation of a mother and baby unit in north-east Wales that could serve the population of both sides of the border. And I think, as you've acknowledged, those discussions have now stopped, because the English services, they've got this provider collaborative initiative, which is provision of local services in England, and they want to see how that turns out before they go into any further discussions with us. So, that is the situation at the moment, but certainly, we do intend for those discussions to resume this year, and certainly, we are going to look at anything that Betsi Cadwaladr itself proposes.
Diolch i Mark Isherwood am y cwestiynau hynny. Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Siân Gwenllian, mae Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru wedi ymgysylltu â darparwyr yn Lloegr i drafod opsiynau ar gyfer creu uned mamau a babanod yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru a allai wasanaethu’r boblogaeth ar y ddwy ochr i’r ffin. Ac rwy'n credu, fel rydych chi wedi cydnabod, fod y trafodaethau hynny bellach wedi dod i ben, oherwydd mae gan y gwasanaethau yn Lloegr fenter darparwyr cydweithredol, sy’n darparu gwasanaethau lleol yn Lloegr, ac maent eisiau gweld sut beth fydd hwnnw cyn iddynt gael unrhyw drafodaethau pellach gyda ni. Felly, dyna'r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, ond yn sicr rydym yn bwriadu i'r trafodaethau hynny ailddechrau eleni, ac yn sicr rydym yn mynd i edrych ar unrhyw beth y mae Betsi Cadwaladr ei hun yn ei gynnig.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am roi'r Cynllun Gweithredu Coronafeirws ar waith i ddiogelu dinasyddion Islwyn? OAQ55225
2. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the Coronavirus Action Plan to safeguard the citizens of Islwyn? OAQ55225
Thank you. We are currently identifying cases of the virus, isolating patients, and tracing anyone who has been in contact with them. If the disease becomes established in the UK, we will need to consider further measures to delay the rate and extent of its spread.
Diolch. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn nodi achosion o'r firws, yn ynysu cleifion, ac yn olrhain unrhyw un sydd wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â hwy. Os yw’r clefyd yn sefydlu yn y DU, bydd angen i ni ystyried mesurau pellach i ohirio cyflymder a maint ei ledaeniad.
Thank you. Minister, may I begin by commending you personally for the calm and authoritative manner in which you have led the Welsh Government's response to the coronavirus outbreak? Yesterday in the Senedd, Minister, you made a most welcome statement updating the citizens of Wales on how the coronavirus action plan is developing. My constituents in Islwyn have greatly welcomed your commitment to prioritise the authorisation of supply of personal protective equipment to all GP practices across Wales, and as supplies of personal protective equipment start to be issued, is your department able to offer timescales for when every GP practice in Islwyn will be equipped?
Also Minister, can you reiterate the advice that the Welsh Government would give to Islwyn residents who present with significant flu-like symptoms, about attending work, their GP surgery and/or an accident and emergency department? Because, inevitably, people worried that they may have this virus will seek medical attention, but also, as usual, the chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or those with seasonal flu viruses, chest infections, pneumonia and other ordinary respiratory conditions. Minister, what is the best course of action for these people to aid themselves, their families and the wider community?
Diolch. Weinidog, a gaf fi ddechrau trwy eich canmol yn bersonol am y modd digynnwrf ac awdurdodol rydych chi wedi arwain ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r achosion o coronafeirws? Ddoe yn y Senedd, Weinidog, fe wnaethoch ddatganiad sydd i’w groesawu yn rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ddinasyddion Cymru ar sut y mae cynllun gweithredu coronafeirws yn datblygu. Mae fy etholwyr yn Islwyn wedi croesawu’n fawr eich ymrwymiad i flaenoriaethu camau i awdurdodi cyflenwad o gyfarpar diogelu personol i bob meddygfa ledled Cymru, ac wrth i gyflenwadau o gyfarpar diogelu personol ddechrau cael eu dosbarthu, a yw eich adran yn gallu cynnig amserlenni ar gyfer pan fydd pob practis meddyg teulu yn Islwyn wedi cael y cyfarpar?
Hefyd Weinidog, a allwch ailadrodd y cyngor y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i drigolion Islwyn sy'n dangos symptomau tebyg i ffliw ynglŷn â mynd i’r gwaith, eu meddygfa a/neu adran damweiniau ac achosion brys? Oherwydd, yn anochel, bydd pobl sy'n poeni bod y feirws arnynt yn gofyn am sylw meddygol, ond hefyd, fel arfer, y cyflyrau anadlol cronig fel asthma neu glefyd rhwystrol cronig yr ysgyfaint, neu'r rheini â feirysau ffliw tymhorol, heintiau ar y frest, niwmonia a chyflyrau anadlol cyffredin eraill. Weinidog, beth yw'r llwybr gorau i’r bobl hyn ei ddilyn er mwyn helpu eu hunain, eu teuluoedd a'r gymuned ehangach?
Thank you for the questions. On personal protective equipment, I made the decision and the announcement over the weekend about protective equipment to go to general practice. We expect that to be completed within the week across the whole country, so, in Islwyn, obviously, I would expect that every practice within Islwyn will have that within that time frame. If any Member is aware that they have a local practice where that hasn't happened, then I'd be grateful to hear about that so that we can resolve it. I announced yesterday that community pharmacies will also be supplied with personal protective equipment and those supplies will be going out before the end of this week as well. So, having made the decision we'll be able to move rapidly, and we're in the fortunate position that we expect that Wales will have all of that equipment issued and in place within a shorter timescale than England—that's partly about the size and the logistics involved. So, we're in a good place there.
And I think it's an important point to reiterate as well, the things that the public can do themselves. The normal advice about 'catch it, bin it, kill it', wash your hands, but also the normal advice that we'd give and would ask you to follow if you've got significant flu-like symptoms, not to come into work; not to go into places where you're at risk of actually other people acquiring them, with significant consequences. That is normal advice; not just now, with coronavirus potentially circulating, that is normal advice that we would ask people to follow.
For people who are concerned and want medical attention, it's really important that people do not go into their local surgery or into a hospital. Please follow the advice to call 111. It's available across the whole country, and you should then be given advice and guidance on what to do. If you need to be tested, we've already been able to test over 90 per cent of people in their own homes, but also, there are now at least 11 drive-through testing centres across Wales. More are being created by different health boards, and those are for people who are advised to go and attend them. So we're doing all that we could and should do to keep people at home where they need to be, to give them the advice and the provision that they need, and again, if the position changes, then the Government and our chief medical officer, together with other Governments in the UK, will be clear about the reason for that change in advice and what we're then advising people to do. It really is important that all of us take on our individual responsibility as elected Members in what we do to keep our constituents safe, and what our constituents in turn do to keep themselves, their families and other people safe as well.
Diolch am y cwestiynau. O ran cyfarpar diogelu personol, gwneuthum y penderfyniad a'r cyhoeddiad dros y penwythnos ynghylch cyfarpar diogelu i fynd i ymarfer cyffredinol. Rydym yn disgwyl i hynny gael ei gwblhau o fewn yr wythnos ar draws y wlad, felly, yn Islwyn, yn amlwg, buaswn yn disgwyl y bydd pob practis yn Islwyn yn ei gael o fewn yr amser hwnnw. Os oes unrhyw Aelod yn ymwybodol fod ganddo bractis lleol lle nad yw hynny wedi digwydd, yna buaswn yn falch o glywed am hynny fel y gallwn ei ddatrys. Cyhoeddais ddoe y bydd fferyllfeydd cymunedol hefyd yn cael cyfarpar diogelu personol a bydd y cyflenwadau hynny’n mynd allan cyn diwedd yr wythnos hon. Felly, ar ôl gwneud y penderfyniad, byddwn yn gallu symud yn gyflym, ac rydym yn y sefyllfa ffodus ein bod yn disgwyl y bydd yr holl gyfarpar wedi'i ddosbarthu yng Nghymru ac yn ei le o fewn amserlen fyrrach na Lloegr—yn rhannol oherwydd maint a logisteg. Felly rydym mewn sefyllfa dda o ran hynny.
Ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ailadrodd y pethau y gall y cyhoedd eu gwneud eu hunain. Y cyngor arferol ynghylch 'ei ddal, ei daflu, ei ddifa', golchi'ch dwylo, ond hefyd y cyngor arferol y byddem yn gofyn i chi ei ddilyn os oes gennych symptomau tebyg i ffliw, i beidio â dod i'r gwaith; peidio â mynd i leoedd lle rydych mewn perygl o’i roi i bobl eraill, a'r canlyniadau sylweddol. Mae hwnnw'n gyngor arferol; nid dim ond yn awr, gyda’r posibilrwydd fod coronafeirws yn cylchredeg, dyna'r cyngor arferol y byddem yn gofyn i bobl ei ddilyn.
I bobl sy'n pryderu ac eisiau sylw meddygol, mae'n bwysig iawn nad yw pobl yn mynd i'w meddygfa leol nac i ysbyty. Dilynwch y cyngor i ffonio 111. Mae ar gael ledled y wlad, ac yna dylech gael cyngor ac arweiniad ar beth i'w wneud. Os oes angen i chi gael prawf, rydym eisoes wedi gallu profi dros 90 y cant o bobl yn eu cartrefi eu hunain, ond hefyd mae o leiaf 11 o ganolfannau profi gyrru drwodd ledled Cymru. Mae mwy yn cael eu creu gan wahanol fyrddau iechyd, ac mae'r rheini ar gyfer pobl sy'n cael eu cynghori i fynd iddynt. Felly rydym yn gwneud popeth y gallwn ac y dylem ei wneud i gadw pobl gartref lle mae angen iddynt fod, rhoi'r cyngor a'r ddarpariaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt, ac unwaith eto, os bydd y sefyllfa'n newid bydd y Llywodraeth a'n prif swyddog meddygol, ynghyd â Llywodraethau eraill yn y DU, yn glir ynglŷn â'r rheswm dros y newid yn y cyngor a'r hyn y byddwn yn cynghori pobl i'w wneud bryd hynny. Mae'n bwysig iawn i bob un ohonom ysgwyddo ein cyfrifoldeb unigol fel Aelodau etholedig yn yr hyn a wnawn i gadw ein hetholwyr yn ddiogel, a'r hyn y mae ein hetholwyr yn eu tro yn ei wneud i gadw eu hunain, eu teuluoedd a phobl eraill yn ddiogel hefyd.
Minister, hospitals in England are being asked to carry out more video-based consultations with patients to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. NHS England have said that they hope this move will reduce the number of people in hospitals and lower the potential for transmission. Minister, will you look at this innovation to see if it would benefit patients in Wales? And what measures are you considering to safeguard communities in Islwyn and elsewhere in Wales?
Finally, we all know that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced £20 billion funding to tackle this coronavirus, so how much funding are you hoping to have in Wales to not have that silly disease coming to this part of the world? Thank you.
Weinidog, gofynnir i ysbytai yn Lloegr gynnal mwy o ymgynghoriadau drwy gyfrwng fideo gyda chleifion er mwyn lleihau'r risg o ledaenu coronafeirws. Mae GIG Lloegr wedi dweud eu bod yn gobeithio y bydd y cam hwn yn lleihau nifer y bobl mewn ysbytai ac yn lleihau'r perygl o'i drosglwyddo. Weinidog, a wnewch chi edrych ar y syniad hwn i weld a fyddai o fudd i gleifion yng Nghymru? A pha fesurau rydych chi'n eu hystyried i ddiogelu cymunedau yn Islwyn ac mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru?
Yn olaf, fe wyddom oll fod Canghellor y Trysorlys wedi cyhoeddi £20 biliwn o gyllid i fynd i'r afael â coronafeirws, felly faint o arian rydych chi'n gobeithio'i gael yng Nghymru i beidio â chael y clefyd gwirion hwnnw'n dod i'r rhan hon o'r byd? Diolch.
On your point about remote consultations so that people don't necessarily need to attend in person, we've already had a programme of work to do exactly that through the health service. For example, many people now can have advice about eye health conditions without actually needing to go and see a consultant. We've managed to improve access by making use of our primary care contractors in doing that—pharmacy and optometry being really good examples of that.
However, coronavirus accelerates the need to do that, to avoid person-to-person contact, where possible. That explains why, yesterday, I announced that I have made a decision to actually implement a Wales-wide solution in particular in primary and community care, to allow more video consultations to take place. We've also increased and beefed up the 111 service so that it can be across the whole of Wales to deal with advice and information on coronavirus.
It'll be the same for those areas of hospital practice that need to continue. But actually, regarding the way that our hospitals will work if the coronavirus becomes more embedded and more significant, it won't so much be about the example I've given about eye care taking place where images are swapped and sent over; it'll be more and more about how we make use of our hospitals for the sickest of people and the need to displace other activity, if that is what is required. If you look at the example of Italy, the stage they're at and the severity they have, it's an entirely different scenario for the way that the healthcare system needs to work. So none of us should pretend that, if coronavirus is a more significant issue, we can still maintain business as usual.
As for the money that the Chancellor has announced, obviously I've been preparing for questions here today, but I look forward with interest to the detail of the announcements that have been made. But, equally, the point that the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd has made is that, regardless of the headline announcements today, funding is dealt with on a needs basis across the UK to deal with the reality of the impact that the coronavirus will actually have.
O ran eich pwynt ynglŷn ag ymgynghoriadau o bell fel nad oes angen i bobl fod yn bresennol yn bersonol, mae gennym raglen waith eisoes i wneud yn union hynny drwy'r gwasanaeth iechyd. Er enghraifft, gall llawer o bobl gael cyngor erbyn hyn am gyflyrau iechyd llygaid heb orfod mynd i weld meddyg ymgynghorol. Rydym wedi llwyddo i wella mynediad drwy ddefnyddio ein contractwyr gofal sylfaenol i wneud hynny—mae fferylliaeth ac optometreg yn enghreifftiau gwirioneddol dda o hynny.
Fodd bynnag, mae coronafeirws yn cyflymu'r angen i wneud hynny, er mwyn osgoi cyswllt rhwng pobl lle bo modd. Mae hynny'n egluro pam y cyhoeddais ddoe fy mod wedi penderfynu gweithredu ateb ar gyfer Cymru gyfan yn enwedig mewn gofal sylfaenol a chymunedol, er mwyn caniatáu i fwy o ymgynghoriadau fideo ddigwydd. Rydym hefyd wedi cynyddu ac ymestyn y gwasanaeth 111 fel y gall fod ar draws Cymru gyfan i ymdrin â chyngor a gwybodaeth am coronafeirws.
Bydd yr un peth yn wir ar gyfer y rhannau o ymarfer ysbyty y mae angen iddynt barhau. Ond mewn gwirionedd, o ran y ffordd y bydd ein hysbytai'n gweithio os ceir rhagor o achosion o coronafeirws a'i fod yn dod yn fwy arwyddocaol, ni fydd yn ymwneud cymaint â'r enghraifft a roddais mewn perthynas â gofal llygaid yn digwydd lle caiff delweddau eu cyfnewid a'u hanfon draw; bydd yn ymwneud mwy a mwy â'r ffordd rydym yn defnyddio ein hysbytai ar gyfer y bobl fwyaf sâl a'r angen i gymryd lle gweithgarwch arall, os mai dyna fydd ei angen. Os edrychwch ar yr Eidal fel enghraifft, y cam y maent arno a pha mor ddifrifol ydyw, mae'n senario hollol wahanol ar gyfer y ffordd y mae angen i'r system gofal iechyd weithio. Felly ni ddylai'r un ohonom esgus, os yw coronafeirws yn dod yn broblem fwy arwyddocaol, y gallwn barhau i ddal ati fel arfer.
O ran yr arian y mae'r Canghellor wedi'i gyhoeddi, yn amlwg bûm yn paratoi ar gyfer cwestiynau yma heddiw, ond edrychaf ymlaen gyda diddordeb at fanylion y cyhoeddiadau sydd wedi'u gwneud. Ond yn yr un modd, y pwynt y mae'r Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd wedi'i wneud yw, ni waeth beth fydd y prif gyhoeddiadau heddiw, ymdrinnir â chyllid ar sail angen ar draws y DU i fynd i'r afael â realiti'r effaith y bydd coronafeirws yn ei chael mewn gwirionedd.
Minister, the constituents of Islwyn are like many other constituents—like mine in Aberavon and others across Wales—who have deep concerns and anxieties over the spread of coronavirus and the implications it could have for their families. I very much welcome the updates you keep giving this Chamber regarding that and your keeping us informed as to the progress and actions that should be taken. That's very welcome.
I also welcome the dissemination of that information to the people of Wales, as much as possible. However, when we do see cases of coronavirus—and, in Neath Port Talbot alone, there have been six identified, the largest number in a single place in Wales at this point it time—and then we've seen one in Cardiff, where it was reported that a member of staff of Sky's call centre was identified as having the coronavirus, and they then took the decision to deep clean that particular site. As such, people who hear of cases within their own locality, where maybe their children have been attending a school with children of a family who have been identified as coronavirus victims ask questions as to how we ensure things are safe. What discussions are you having with public bodies, including local authorities, to ensure and reassure families and parents that, when an incident occurs, everything is being done to ensure the safety of their family in those locations and, if necessary, deep cleaning will take place if it's appropriate? It is important that those messages get out, because if we don't get that messaging and communication right, the rumour mill starts, and that is one of the worst things that can happen in a situation like this. We need facts, not fiction. Therefore it is important that we get the communication right.
Weinidog, mae etholwyr Islwyn fel llawer o etholwyr eraill—fel fy un i yn Aberafan ac eraill ar draws Cymru—yn pryderu ac yn gofidio'n ddwys ynglŷn â lledaeniad coronafeirws a'r goblygiadau y gallai eu cael i'w teuluoedd. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y diweddariadau rydych yn eu rhoi'n gyson i'r Siambr hon ar hynny a'r ffaith eich bod yn ein hysbysu am y cynnydd a'r camau y dylid eu cymryd. Mae hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr.
Rwyf hefyd yn croesawu'r modd y lledaenir y wybodaeth honno i bobl Cymru, cymaint ag sy'n bosibl. Fodd bynnag, pan welwn achosion o coronafeirws—ac yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot yn unig, gwelwyd chwech achos, y nifer fwyaf mewn un lle yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd—a gwelwyd un yng Nghaerdydd, lle nodwyd bod aelod o staff canolfan alwadau Sky yn dioddef o coronafeirws, ac yna gwnaed penderfyniad i wneud gwaith 'glanhau dwfn' ar y safle penodol hwnnw. Fel y cyfryw, mae pobl sy'n clywed am achosion yn eu hardal eu hunain, lle mae eu plant wedi bod yn mynychu ysgol gyda phlant teulu y nodwyd eu bod yn dioddef o coronafeirws efallai, yn gofyn cwestiynau ynglŷn â sut rydym yn sicrhau bod pethau'n ddiogel. Pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda chyrff cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys awdurdodau lleol, i sicrhau a thawelu meddyliau teuluoedd a rhieni, pan fydd rhywbeth yn digwydd, fod popeth yn cael ei wneud i sicrhau diogelwch eu teulu yn y lleoliadau hynny ac os oes angen, y bydd gwaith glanhau dwfn yn cael ei wneud os yw'n briodol? Mae'n bwysig fod y negeseuon hynny'n cael eu cyfleu, oherwydd os na chawn y negeseuon hynny a'r cyfathrebu'n iawn, bydd y sibrydion yn dechrau, a dyna un o'r pethau gwaethaf a all ddigwydd mewn sefyllfa fel hon. Mae angen ffeithiau arnom, nid ffuglen. Felly mae'n bwysig ein bod yn cael y cyfathrebu'n iawn.
I completely agree with the ending that the Member has left there, because it's really important that all of us behave responsibly and provide information from trusted sources to our constituents. So that is information that the Governments of the UK are providing, including on the Welsh Government website, where we have got clear guidance for schools, and our guidance is that schools should remain open. There is no evidential basis to close schools now, and there's a challenge here about some people's perception that the Government should act and do things like closing schools, when, actually, all of the evidence available to us now is that it would not be effective in either delaying the coronavirus outbreak or indeed reducing potential mortality. And if it were appropriate, it may be appropriate later, but it is absolutely not appropriate now. And the example I've given is: it's not just about the science, about potentially having a second peak in an outbreak, where you could potentially have higher rates of mortality; there's a real challenge about if you close schools, who looks after them? It takes people out of the workplace. Or, if people have people to look after that child, it's unlikely to be registered childcare; it's often kinship childcare, and, often, those people are grandparents, older relatives and people who are in the highest risk category. So, actually, we do need to follow the science; we do need to follow the evidence, and to repeat those trusted sources of information.
And your point about local government is well made. So, in the planning we're already doing, we are definitely speaking with local government. I briefed cabinet members with social care responsibilities from across each part of Wales on Monday, about some of the challenges that they need to plan for. I'm speaking to leaders of local government across each part of Wales, and each party, all together at the same time, tomorrow as well. So, we're making sure that we're having direct conversations with local government to be prepared. And to really reiterate: we are not going to make choices to risk the health of the public; we're going to make choices on the basis of evidence, and the best available scientific advice, and we will continue to do it and be open with the public about what we are choosing to do and the advice we're giving them on how we want them to behave as well.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod ar y diwedd, oherwydd mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni i gyd yn ymddwyn yn gyfrifol ac yn darparu gwybodaeth o ffynonellau y gallwn ymddiried ynddynt i'n hetholwyr. Felly dyna'r wybodaeth y mae Llywodraethau'r DU yn ei darparu, gan gynnwys ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru, lle mae gennym ganllawiau clir ar gyfer ysgolion, a'n harweiniad yw y dylai ysgolion aros ar agor. Ni cheir sylfaen dystiolaeth dros gau ysgolion yn awr, ac mae her yma ynglŷn â chanfyddiad rhai pobl y dylai'r Llywodraeth weithredu a gwneud pethau fel cau ysgolion er bod yr holl dystiolaeth sydd ar gael i ni yn awr yn dweud na fyddai’n effeithiol naill ai o ran oedi’r achosion o coronafeirws, neu yn wir o ran lleihau nifer y marwolaethau posibl. A phe bai'n briodol, gallai fod yn briodol yn nes ymlaen, ond nid yw'n briodol o gwbl yn awr. A'r enghraifft rwyf wedi'i rhoi yw: mae'n ymwneud â mwy na gwyddoniaeth yn unig, ynglŷn â'r perygl o ail ymchwydd yn nifer yr achosion, lle gallai fod gennych gyfraddau marwolaeth uwch; mae yna her go iawn, os ydych chi'n cau ysgolion, pwy sy'n gofalu amdanynt? Mae'n tynnu pobl allan o'r gweithle. Neu os oes gan bobl rywun i ofalu am y plentyn hwnnw, mae'n annhebygol o fod yn ofal plant cofrestredig; gofal am blant gan berthnasau ydyw yn aml, a neiniau a theidiau yn aml, perthnasau hŷn, a phobl sydd yn y categori risg uchaf. Felly, mae angen i ni ddilyn y wyddoniaeth; mae angen i ni ddilyn y dystiolaeth, ac ailadrodd y ffynonellau gwybodaeth dibynadwy hynny.
Ac mae eich pwynt am lywodraeth leol wedi'i wneud yn dda. Felly, yn y cynllunio rydym eisoes yn ei wneud, rydym yn bendant yn siarad â llywodraeth leol. Cyfarwyddais aelodau cabinet sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofal cymdeithasol o bob rhan o Gymru ddydd Llun ynglŷn â rhai o'r heriau y mae angen iddynt gynllunio ar eu cyfer. Rwy'n siarad ag arweinwyr llywodraeth leol ar draws pob rhan o Gymru, a phob plaid, i gyd gyda'i gilydd ar yr un pryd, yfory hefyd. Felly, rydym yn sicrhau ein bod ni'n cael sgyrsiau uniongyrchol gyda llywodraeth leol i fod yn barod. Ac i ailadrodd o ddifrif nad ydym yn mynd i wneud dewisiadau i beryglu iechyd y cyhoedd; rydym yn mynd i wneud dewisiadau ar sail tystiolaeth, a'r cyngor gwyddonol gorau sydd ar gael, a byddwn yn parhau i'w wneud ac yn bod yn agored gyda'r cyhoedd ynglŷn â'r hyn rydym yn dewis ei wneud a'r cyngor rydym yn ei roi iddynt ar sut rydym am iddynt hwy ymddwyn hefyd.
We now turn to spokespersons' questions, and the first this afternoon is Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Trown yn awr at gwestiynau'r llefarwyr, a'r cyntaf y prynhawn yma yw llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Some questions initially on preparations for an increased intensity of outbreak, and it's important to put those preparations in place. We know from international experience that critical care capacity could become very, very important here. I've been looking at some figures today that show that critical care beds per 100,000 people in the UK is low, compared with global standards, and in Wales it is certainly much lower than in England. Both I and Adam Price asked yesterday what has been done to ensure that we are increasing capacity. I'm not sure that we had the answers that we wanted yesterday, so I'll ask again: what is being done now to make sure that capacity is being increased as much as possible, because current capacity is not going to be enough? I accept that there may be a different nature to the kind of capacity that we will need compared with normal times, but I think it's very important that we have a description from Government of what exactly is being done to make sure that we increase capacity in this very, very important area.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rhai cwestiynau i ddechrau ar baratoadau ar gyfer cynnydd yn nifer yr achosion, ac mae'n bwysig rhoi'r paratoadau hynny ar waith. Gwyddom o brofiad rhyngwladol y gallai capasiti gofal critigol ddod yn bwysig tu hwnt yma. Rwyf wedi bod yn edrych ar ffigurau heddiw sy'n dangos bod nifer y gwelyau gofal critigol fesul 100,000 o bobl yn y DU yn isel, o'u cymharu â safonau byd-eang, ac yng Nghymru, mae'n sicr yn llawer is nag yn Lloegr. Gofynnodd Adam Price a minnau ddoe beth sydd wedi'i wneud i sicrhau ein bod yn cynyddu capasiti. Nid wyf yn siŵr a gawsom yr atebion roeddem eu heisiau ddoe, felly gofynnaf eto: beth sy'n cael ei wneud yn awr i sicrhau bod y capasiti yn cael ei gynyddu cymaint â phosibl, gan nad yw'r capasiti cyfredol yn mynd i fod yn ddigon? Rwy'n derbyn y gallai fod natur wahanol i'r math o gapasiti y bydd ei angen arnom o'i gymharu ag adegau arferol, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn i ni gael disgrifiad gan y Llywodraeth o'r hyn sy'n cael ei wneud i sicrhau ein bod yn cynyddu capasiti yn y maes tra phwysig hwn.
I recognise the broader point that's being made. The relative levels of critical care capacity across the UK are lower than other European countries; that's true. I don't think now is the time to try to get into any of the funding or other challenges that we might have in a normal period of politics; it's really what we can do now to improve the capacity that we have, for what we expect to be an influx of really sick people who are coming to our health service and need care. And, so, yes, we are already planning what is possible, both in terms of the staff that we have, the staff that we need to protect, in terms of their welfare and well-being, because if we do see significant absences across the economy and public services, that will affect the health service too. We're also needing to think about what else is possible, even if it isn't what we currently recognise as critical care in the way that we provide it, and what that means in terms of redeploying staff. That also means switching off other activity within the health service. So, this isn't a simple matter of flicking a switch and we automatically double our capacity; it's actually about how much we can change within the service; how much we can redeploy our staff, and then what we do to, as best as possible, meet those other healthcare needs. And, as I've said, that may mean treating people in their own home in the coming weeks or months, when we would today expect them to be admitted into a hospital.
Now, I'm not in a position to share direct and detailed plans. I'm working through the detail of those plans and the instructions we'll need to give the health service of what those plans would be. We've worked through them. I met medical directors from across Wales on Friday of last week. I met with royal colleges from across Wales last week as well, and so, we are deliberately drawing together people that need to be there to make those choices. As soon as we do have a decision to make, with the plan to go with it, we will, of course, share that information. And in the way that I have already briefed, not just the Plaid Cymru, but also the Conservative health spokesperson, we want to continue to make clear what those plans are, and the detail of them, and to be able to share information on a trusted basis, as well as being able to provide public information for everyone to see and hear. And that, of course, will involve not just members of the health committee, but all Members across this Chamber. I fully expect to be making weekly statements on the position in relation to coronavirus for the foreseeable future.
Rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt ehangach sy'n cael ei wneud. Mae lefelau cymharol capasiti gofal critigol ledled y DU yn is na gwledydd Ewropeaidd eraill; mae hynny'n wir. Nid wyf yn credu mai nawr yw'r adeg i geisio mynd i mewn i’r cyllid neu’r heriau eraill a allai fod gennym mewn cyfnod arferol o wleidyddiaeth; mae a wnelo â’r hyn y gallwn ei wneud yn awr i wella'r capasiti sydd gennym, ar gyfer yr hyn y disgwyliwn iddo fod yn fewnlif o bobl sâl iawn i'n gwasanaeth iechyd ac sydd angen gofal. Ac felly, rydym eisoes yn cynllunio’r hyn sy’n bosibl, o ran y staff sydd gennym, y staff y mae angen inni eu gwarchod, o ran eu lles, oherwydd os gwelwn absenoldebau sylweddol ar draws yr economi a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, bydd hynny’n effeithio ar y gwasanaeth iechyd hefyd. Mae angen i ni feddwl yn ogystal am beth arall sy'n bosibl, hyd yn oed os nad dyna'r hyn rydym yn ei gydnabod ar hyn o bryd fel gofal critigol yn y ffordd rydym yn ei ddarparu, a beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu o ran adleoli staff. Mae hynny hefyd yn golygu diffodd gweithgaredd arall yn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Felly, nid mater syml o fflicio switsh yw hyn a’n bod yn dyblu ein capasiti yn awtomatig; mae'n ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â faint y gallwn ei newid o fewn y gwasanaeth; i ba raddau y gallwn adleoli staff, ac yna, yr hyn a wnawn i ddiwallu'r anghenion gofal iechyd eraill hynny gystal ag y gallwn. Ac fel y dywedais, gallai hynny olygu trin pobl yn eu cartref eu hunain dros yr wythnosau neu'r misoedd nesaf, pan fyddem ni heddiw yn disgwyl iddynt gael eu derbyn i ysbyty.
Nawr, nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i rannu cynlluniau uniongyrchol a manwl. Rwy'n gweithio trwy fanylion y cynlluniau hynny a'r cyfarwyddiadau y bydd angen inni eu rhoi i'r gwasanaeth iechyd ynglŷn â beth fyddai’r cynlluniau hynny. Rydym wedi gweithio drwyddynt. Cyfarfûm â chyfarwyddwyr meddygol o bob rhan o Gymru ddydd Gwener diwethaf. Cyfarfûm â cholegau brenhinol o bob rhan o Gymru yr wythnos diwethaf hefyd, ac felly, rydym yn fwriadol yn dod â'r pobl a ddylai fod yno at ei gilydd i wneud y dewisiadau hynny. Cyn gynted ag y bydd gennym benderfyniad i'w wneud, gyda'r cynllun i fynd gydag ef, byddwn yn rhannu'r wybodaeth honno wrth gwrs. Ac yn y modd rwyf eisoes wedi briffio llefarydd iechyd y Ceidwadwyr yn ogystal â llefarydd iechyd Plaid Cymru, rydym am barhau i egluro beth yw'r cynlluniau hynny, a'u manylion, a gallu rhannu gwybodaeth ar sail y gellir ymddiried ynddi, yn ogystal â gallu darparu gwybodaeth gyhoeddus i bawb ei gweld a'i chlywed. A bydd hynny, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys aelodau'r pwyllgor iechyd, yn ogystal â'r holl Aelodau ar draws y Siambr hon. Rwy'n sicr yn disgwyl gwneud datganiadau wythnosol am y sefyllfa mewn perthynas â coronafeirws yn y dyfodol agos.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Capacity will be needed in other areas too, below critical care. I fear the loss of community hospitals will be something that we rue, somewhat, in coming months. We will perhaps need to build capacity for isolation, for example, and I can relay to you the offer made by one hotel owner, for example, offering a hotel to be used, perhaps as somewhere where people can be isolated. Are there plans to create that kind of capacity within the system—perhaps turning to hotels, or other locations, or even to the army too. Because there is capacity that can be built within the military when it comes to isolation.
Bydd angen capasiti mewn meysydd eraill hefyd, islaw gofal critigol. Ofnaf y bydd colli ysbytai cymunedol yn rhywbeth y byddwn yn ei ddifaru, i ryw raddau, yn y misoedd i ddod. Efallai y bydd angen inni adeiladu capasiti ar gyfer ynysu, er enghraifft, a gallaf gyfleu ichi'r cynnig a wnaeth un perchennog gwesty, er enghraifft, a oedd yn cynnig gwesty i'w ddefnyddio, fel rhywle lle gellir ynysu pobl o bosibl. A oes cynlluniau i greu'r math hwnnw o gapasiti o fewn y system—gan droi efallai at westai, neu leoliadau eraill, neu hyd yn oed at y fyddin hefyd. Oherwydd ceir capasiti y gellir ei adeiladu o fewn y fyddin pan ddaw'n fater o ynysu.
We're considering all options. And that's both part of our pandemic influenza planning that is being stepped up; it's also part of what local resilience fora are looking at, to consider what takes place in each of the four areas. And that involves not just devolved public services, it of course involves the regular relations we have together with non-devolved services. So, for example, the police are involved in each one of our four local resilience fora as a matter of course, in terms of that emergency planning and delivery response. We are also, of course, considering the potential role the army may have to play. But it comes back to what role is required, and who is best placed to serve that. So nothing is ruled out—certainly—in terms of the provision we have, and, as I said in answer to your first question, how that meets the need we expect to see coming through the health service and other public services, and where are the right places to try and increase that capacity, and, equally, the activities that we recognise will need to be delayed and put off for a period of time, and that, of course, depends on the length and severity of the outbreak.
Rydym yn ystyried pob opsiwn. Ac mae hynny'n rhan o'n gwaith cynllunio ar gyfer pandemig ffliw sy'n cael ei ddwysáu; mae hefyd yn rhan o'r hyn y mae fforymau lleol Cymru gydnerth yn edrych arno, i ystyried yr hyn sy'n digwydd ym mhob un o'r pedair ardal. Ac mae hynny'n cynnwys nid yn unig gwasanaethau cyhoeddus datganoledig, mae'n cynnwys, wrth gwrs, y cysylltiadau rheolaidd sydd gennym gyda gwasanaethau sydd heb eu datganoli. Felly, er enghraifft, mae'r heddlu'n ymwneud â phob un o'n pedwar fforwm lleol Cymru gydnerth fel mater o drefn, o ran yr ymateb cynllunio a darparu ar gyfer argyfwng. Rydym hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn ystyried y rôl bosibl y gallai fod gan y fyddin i'w chwarae. Ond mae'n dod yn ôl at ba rôl sydd ei hangen, a phwy sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i gyflawni hynny. Felly nid oes dim yn cael ei ddiystyru—yn sicr—o ran y ddarpariaeth sydd gennym, ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i'ch cwestiwn cyntaf, y modd y mae hynny'n diwallu'r angen rydym yn disgwyl ei weld yn dod drwy'r gwasanaeth iechyd a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill, a lle yw'r mannau cywir i geisio cynyddu capasiti, ac yn yr un modd, y gweithgareddau y byddwn yn cydnabod y bydd angen eu hoedi a'u gohirio am gyfnod o amser, ac mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn dibynnu ar hyd a difrifoldeb y sefyllfa.
And a short collection of questions, just to finish off. We know that Italy reached the point where they needed, or felt they needed, a nationwide lockdown. I'd appreciate just an idea of the kinds of plans that are being put in place, initially perhaps, for local lockdowns, and what preparations are being made for that.
Secondly, on 111, and the telephone triaging that is going on at the moment. I've contacted your office today with a specific concern about the parents of a constituent of mine who have returned from a cruise, contacted the triage centres on telephone—as they were instructed to do—were told, 'No, you're not in a risk category.' Others who were on the same cruise, I am told, have since been diagnosed as having COVID-19. You can imagine, therefore, the concern of my constituent and her parents. She can't visit her parents, because she suffers from pneumonia herself. So, again, it's a portrayal of the wider problems here. So how can we be sure that the telephone triaging isn't missing people who actually perhaps should be in a higher risk category? These people had said, 'Listen, we think we are at risk', and they were told that they were not, and they think that now they should be tested. I'll wait for a response from your office on that.
But also, we're still hearing from people who are saying they've tried to contact 111, and have been, for example, guided to a website, which tells them, '111 isn't available in your area.' Will you gather data on the use of 111, failure to connect to 111, and on how many people who do try to use the services—as they rightly should—are either not getting through, or are being sent to other websites, which are just not able to help them?
A chasgliad byr o gwestiynau i orffen. Gwyddom fod yr Eidal wedi cyrraedd man lle roedd angen, neu lle teimlent fod angen gosod cyfyngiadau ar symud ledled y wlad. Buaswn yn gwerthfawrogi syniad yn unig o'r mathau o gynlluniau sy'n cael eu rhoi ar waith, i gychwyn efallai, ar gyfer cyfyngiadau lleol ar symud, a pha baratoadau sy'n cael eu gwneud ar gyfer hynny.
Yn ail, ar 111, a'r brysbennu galwadau ffôn sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd. Rwyf wedi cysylltu â'ch swyddfa heddiw gyda phryder penodol ynglŷn â rhieni un o fy etholwyr sydd wedi dychwelyd oddi ar fordaith, ac sydd wedi cysylltu â'r ganolfan brysbennu galwadau ffôn—fel y cawsant eu cyfarwyddo i wneud—a chael gwybod, 'Na, nid ydych chi mewn categori risg.' Mae eraill a oedd ar yr un fordaith, yn ôl yr hyn a ddywedwyd wrthyf, wedi cael diagnosis ers hynny o COVID-19. Felly, gallwch ddychmygu pryder fy etholwr a'i rhieni. Nid yw'n gallu ymweld â'i rhieni, oherwydd ei bod yn dioddef o niwmonia ei hun. Felly, unwaith eto, mae'n bortread o'r problemau ehangach yma. Felly sut y gallwn fod yn siŵr nad yw'r system brysbennu galwadau ffôn yn methu nodi pobl a ddylai fod mewn categori risg uwch? Roedd y bobl hyn wedi dweud, 'Gwrandewch, rydym yn credu ein bod mewn categori risg', a dywedwyd wrthynt nad oeddent, ac maent yn credu yn awr y dylent gael profion. Fe arhosaf am ymateb gan eich swyddfa ar hynny.
Ond hefyd, rydym yn dal i glywed gan bobl sy'n dweud eu bod wedi ceisio cysylltu ag 111, ac maent, er enghraifft, wedi cael eu tywys i wefan, sy'n dweud wrthynt, 'Nid oes gwasanaeth 111 ar gael yn eich ardal chi.' A wnewch chi gasglu data ar y defnydd o 111, methiant i gysylltu ag 111, a faint o bobl sy'n ceisio defnyddio'r gwasanaethau—fel y dylent allu gwneud—sydd naill ai'n methu mynd drwodd, neu'n cael eu gyrru i wefannau eraill nad ydynt yn gallu eu helpu o gwbl?
There are real, practical questions there, and I'm glad the Member managed to raise some of those with my office earlier today. And I would encourage any other Members, from any party, who have similar experience with constituents, where they're not sure about the advice they're being given, or they've been directed to the wrong part of the system, to raise those with my office. Because I want to make sure that they're resolved sooner rather than later, because we may well see more use of those services in the coming weeks. Some of that has come because people have been directed and gone to the wrong 111 service—so, the 111 service in England, where it says it's not available in your area. So, the 111 telephone advice service is available in every part of Wales. There is a symptom checker available on the NHS Wales Direct website. We want to try to ensure that people are using the service that we have set up and created and want to minimise the risk of people going to a different service over the border that may not direct them to the right path for their help and advice. But I don't want to lose sight of the experience that people do have of using the 111 service, and, as I say, I reiterate to them that I'd ask Members from all sides to contact me if they have the sort of experience you've described.
On the point about how and when people should be tested, it comes back to people following the advice and the guidance they're given. But I have asked again for some clarity to be reiterated, because we've seen some headline instances of people who are, for example, on cruise ships coming back, what happens to them, if people are symptomatic when they return, and to be clear, that the advice is consistent and isn't confusing for members of the public. So, I am taking the opportunity to do that, and will be able to reiterate that with the regular information that Public Health Wales provides and I'll also make sure that that advice is circulated specifically to Members.
But on the sorts of things that might happen, or might be required, I think we need to look at the circumstances in each country. We can learn, of course, from different countries' experience. And Italy, they're a European country we have links with, with a developed and modern healthcare system. There are parallels there for us to look at. Seriously, there are some differences, though. They have an older population than Wales does as well that may explain some of the challenges and the numbers they have coming through. But certainly the experience there of them finding that their health service is effectively overwhelmed now, well, part of that journey is how early and when we take action, because timing is really important, and that's been the advice from our own scientific advisers to all four Governments in the UK and indeed our four chief medical officers.
The danger is that if we act too early, it's the point that the First Minister made yesterday about the level of compliance if we ask people to act again. There's also a danger that we depress the peak of the coronavirus outbreak and we have a second peak later on, rather than being a wholly effective measure. There's also the risk that if we time it too late, then we could effectively bolt the stable door once the horse has bolted, because actually Italy is now in a position where it looks as if there's significant community transmission. And the value then of taking really restrictive measures, our scientific advice doesn't suggest that that's an effective measure at that point.
And it comes back to the difficulty that Ministers have to stand up to and recognise in making choices and advising the public, and that is about following the evidence and the best scientific advice about what we should do and the choices available to Ministers to make, rather than looking to have something that, from a communications point of view, may look as if we're making big and difficult choices and showing how seriously we're taking it, but may not actually be the right thing to do both to depress the peak of the coronavirus outbreak to allow services to recover and cope, but equally to make sure that we resolve and reduce, as far as possible, the potential mortality of the coronavirus outbreak.
And I would not want to be in a position where I've taken a series of actions that may look as if we're doing something that is gripping the situation from a public point of view, and subsequently find out that actually it was the wrong choice and our mortality rate may be higher at the end of it, and that is not a choice that I think I could live with.
Mae yna gwestiynau ymarferol, real yn y fan honno, ac rwy'n falch fod yr Aelod wedi llwyddo i godi rhai o'r rheini gyda fy swyddfa yn gynharach heddiw. Ac fe fuaswn i'n annog unrhyw Aelodau eraill, o unrhyw blaid, sydd â phrofiad tebyg gydag etholwyr, lle nad ydynt yn siŵr am y cyngor y maent yn ei gael, neu eu bod wedi cael eu cyfeirio at y rhan anghywir o'r system, i godi'r rheini gyda fy swyddfa. Oherwydd rwyf am wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cael eu datrys yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach, oherwydd mae'n bosibl iawn y gwelwn fwy o ddefnydd o'r gwasanaethau hynny yn yr wythnosau nesaf. Mae rhywfaint o hynny wedi digwydd am fod pobl wedi cael eu cyfeirio ac wedi mynd i'r gwasanaeth 111 anghywir—felly, y gwasanaeth 111 yn Lloegr, lle mae'n dweud nad yw ar gael yn eich ardal chi. Felly, mae'r gwasanaeth cyngor dros y ffôn 111 ar gael ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Mae gwiriwr symptomau ar gael ar wefan Galw Iechyd Cymru. Rydym am geisio sicrhau bod pobl yn defnyddio'r gwasanaeth rydym wedi'i sefydlu a'i greu ac am leihau'r risg y bydd pobl yn mynd i wasanaeth gwahanol dros y ffin nad yw'n eu cyfeirio at y llwybr cywir o bosibl i gael eu cymorth a'u cyngor. Ond nid wyf am golli golwg ar y profiad sydd gan bobl o ddefnyddio'r gwasanaeth 111, ac fel y dywedaf, rwy'n ailadrodd wrthynt y buaswn yn gofyn i Aelodau o bob ochr gysylltu â mi os ydynt wedi clywed am y math o brofiad rydych wedi'i ddisgrifio.
Ar y pwynt ynglŷn â sut a phryd y dylid cynnal profion, mae'n dod yn ôl at bobl yn dilyn y cyngor a'r arweiniad a roddir iddynt. Ond rwyf wedi gofyn eto am i hyn gael ei egluro, oherwydd rydym wedi gweld rhai achosion amlwg o bobl sydd, er enghraifft, ar longau mordeithio yn dod yn ôl, beth sy'n digwydd iddynt hwy, os yw pobl yn cael symptomau pan fyddant yn dychwelyd, ac i fod yn glir, fod y cyngor yn gyson ac nad yw'n ddryslyd i aelodau'r cyhoedd. Felly, rwy'n manteisio ar y cyfle i wneud hynny, a byddaf yn gallu ailadrodd hynny gyda'r wybodaeth reolaidd y mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn ei darparu a byddaf hefyd yn sicrhau bod y cyngor hwnnw'n cael ei ddosbarthu'n benodol i'r Aelodau.
Ond o ran y mathau o bethau a allai ddigwydd, neu y gallai fod eu hangen, rwy'n credu bod gofyn i ni edrych ar yr amgylchiadau ym mhob gwlad. Gallwn ddysgu, wrth gwrs, o brofiad gwahanol wledydd. A'r Eidal, maent yn wlad Ewropeaidd y mae gennym gysylltiadau â hi, gyda system gofal iechyd fodern a datblygedig. Mae cyffelybiaethau yno inni edrych arnynt. O ddifrif, mae rhai gwahaniaethau, serch hynny. Mae ganddynt boblogaeth hŷn na Chymru hefyd, a allai esbonio rhai o'r heriau a'r niferoedd sydd ganddynt. Ond yn sicr mae'r profiad yno o ran eu bod yn gweld eu gwasanaeth iechyd yn cael ei lethu bellach i bob pwrpas, wel, rhan o'r daith honno yw pa mor gynnar a phryd y byddwn yn gweithredu, gan fod yr amseru'n bwysig iawn, a dyna'r cyngor a gafwyd gan ein cynghorwyr gwyddonol ein hunain i bob un o bedair Llywodraeth y DU ac yn wir ein pedwar prif swyddog meddygol.
Y perygl yw, os byddwn yn gweithredu'n rhy gynnar, dyna'r pwynt a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe am lefel y gydymffurfiaeth os byddwn yn gofyn i bobl weithredu eto. Mae perygl hefyd y byddwn yn gostwng nifer yr achosion o'r coronafeirws pan fydd y clefyd ar ei waethaf a'n bod yn cael ail ymchwydd yn nes ymlaen, yn hytrach na'i fod yn fesur cwbl effeithiol. Hefyd, os byddwn yn ei amseru'n rhy hwyr, mae perygl o godi pais ar ôl piso i bob pwrpas, oherwydd mae'r Eidal bellach mewn sefyllfa lle mae'n edrych yn debyg fod trosglwyddo cymunedol sylweddol yn digwydd. Ac nid yw ein cyngor gwyddonol yn awgrymu bod gweithredu mesurau sy'n cyfyngu'n fawr yn gam effeithiol ar y pwynt hwnnw.
A daw yn ôl at yr anhawster y mae'n rhaid i Weinidogion ei wrthsefyll a'i gydnabod wrth wneud dewisiadau a chynghori'r cyhoedd, mewn perthynas â dilyn y dystiolaeth a'r cyngor gwyddonol gorau ynghylch yr hyn y dylem ei wneud a'r dewisiadau sydd ar gael i Weinidogion, yn hytrach na cheisio cael rhywbeth a allai, o safbwynt cyfathrebu, ymddangos fel pe baem yn gwneud dewisiadau mawr ac anodd a dangos pa mor ddifrifol rydym yn ei gylch, ond efallai nad dyna'r peth cywir i'w wneud o ran lleihau nifer yr achosion o coronafeirws ar eu gwaethaf er mwyn caniatáu i wasanaethau wella ac ymdopi, ond yn yr un modd o ran sicrhau ein bod yn datrys ac yn lleihau, cyn belled ag y bo modd, y nifer bosibl o farwolaethau yn sgil yr achosion o coronafeirws.
Ac ni fuaswn am fod mewn sefyllfa lle rwyf wedi rhoi cyfres o gamau ar waith a allai ymddangos fel pe baem yn gwneud rhywbeth sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa o safbwynt y cyhoedd, a darganfod wedyn mai dyna oedd y dewis anghywir ac y gallai ein cyfradd farwolaethau fod yn uwch ar ei ddiwedd, ac nid yw hwnnw'n ddewis y credaf y gallwn fyw gydag ef.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Conservatives spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch Llywydd. Of course, spokespersons are to scrutinise and challenge you, Minister, and I've done my fair share of that over the past few years. But I would like to put on record my thanks to you, as our health Minister, for the hard work, obviously, going on behind the scenes and the plans that you are putting in place and also for keeping us, as Members, updated and keeping the public informed. I felt that that should go on record, thank you.
Now, coronavirus is most significant amongst older people and people whose immune systems are already compromised. These people are to be found in greater concentrations in residential care, nursing homes and in the domiciliary homecare setting. The seriousness of the threat is clear when considering the care home near Seattle, where there have been more than a dozen deaths and all the home residents now are confined to their rooms.
Last week, the First Minister advised that the Welsh Government would do more to provide advice to the social care sector. Care home residents are worried, care home providers and those delivering domiciliary care are worried. There is talk of issuing guidance, encouraging friends and relatives not to visit people in care homes until the risk of contracting the disease is more manageable. What steps will you be taking to support care home residents and reduce the risk of them contracting the virus?
Diolch, Lywydd. Wrth gwrs, bydd llefarwyr yn craffu arnoch ac yn eich herio, Weinidog, ac rwyf wedi gwneud fy nghyfran deg o hynny dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Ond hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i chi, fel ein Gweinidog iechyd, am y gwaith caled, yn amlwg, sy'n digwydd y tu ôl i'r llenni a'r cynlluniau rydych yn eu rhoi ar waith a hefyd am roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni, fel Aelodau, a rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r cyhoedd. Roeddwn yn teimlo y dylid cofnodi hynny, diolch.
Nawr, mae coronafeirws yn fwyaf sylweddol ymysg pobl hŷn a phobl y mae eu systemau imiwnedd eisoes dan fygythiad. Mae niferoedd mwy o'r bobl hyn i'w cael mewn gofal preswyl, cartrefi nyrsio a lleoliadau gofal cartref. Mae difrifoldeb y bygythiad yn glir wrth ystyried y cartref gofal ger Seattle, lle bu mwy na dwsin o farwolaethau ac mae holl breswylwyr y cartref bellach wedi'u hynysu yn eu hystafelloedd.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud mwy i ddarparu cyngor i'r sector gofal cymdeithasol. Mae preswylwyr cartrefi gofal yn poeni, mae darparwyr cartrefi gofal a'r rhai sy'n darparu gofal cartref yn poeni. Mae sôn am gyhoeddi canllawiau, annog ffrindiau a pherthnasau i beidio ag ymweld â phobl mewn cartrefi gofal nes bod y risg o ddal y clefyd yn haws ei thrin. Pa gamau y byddwch yn eu cymryd i gefnogi preswylwyr cartrefi gofal a lleihau'r perygl eu bod yn dal y feirws?
I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for that question and she's absolutely right that older people, and older people with complex health needs, are at much greater risk. And so we want to do all we can to protect them as much as possible, and we are working very hard to do that. The director for social services and integration is taking the lead in the Welsh Government. We're liaising very closely with the local authorities, which are obviously very close to the care sector, and we have got a lead director appointed to look at this subject. The lead director is from Powys. We've set up a working group that is looking at all the sorts of issues that she raises. There has been guidance already issued to the social care sector. It's guidance that is joint with England. So, it is the same guidance, but we are looking to produce another set of guidance, which will be done by a working group with all the people involved.
Diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am y cwestiwn hwnnw ac mae'n llygad ei lle fod pobl hŷn, a phobl hŷn sydd ag anghenion iechyd cymhleth, mewn mwy o berygl o lawer. Ac felly rydym am wneud popeth yn ein gallu i'w diogelu cymaint â phosibl, ac rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn i wneud hynny. Mae'r cyfarwyddwr gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ac integreiddio yn arwain y blaen yn Llywodraeth Cymru. Rydym yn cydweithio'n agos iawn â'r awdurdodau lleol, sy'n amlwg yn agos iawn at y sector gofal, ac rydym wedi penodi cyfarwyddwr arweiniol i edrych ar y pwnc hwn. Daw'r cyfarwyddwr arweiniol o Bowys. Rydym wedi sefydlu gweithgor sy'n edrych ar yr holl fathau o faterion y mae'n eu codi. Mae canllawiau eisoes wedi'u cyhoeddi i'r sector gofal cymdeithasol. Mae'n ganllaw ar y cyd â Lloegr. Felly, yr un yw'r canllawiau, ond rydym yn bwriadu llunio set arall o ganllawiau, a gwneir hynny gan weithgor gyda'r holl bobl sy'n gysylltiedig.
Thank you. One in 17 adults in Wales work in the social care sector. The United Kingdom Homecare Association has advised that it is important for social workers to understand that home care visits could take much longer than the usual expected time whilst dealing with people who are unwell, and warn that the situation was potentially extremely serious, particularly with regard to having sufficient staff to support older and disabled people in community settings.
Similarly, I have received an e-mail that highlights concerns that one infected domiciliary care worker could potentially unknowingly carry the virus into the homes of countless vulnerable older residents. Therefore, will you explain what steps you are taking to assist our care workers to reduce the risk of contracting the virus? What emergency measures will be taken to protect vulnerable individuals receiving home visits, and state what support will be provided to social care providers to help them find replacement staff, should some employees have to self-isolate? And a question I have is: are all 15 cases of coronavirus that have been identified in Wales actually designated as COVID-19? [Interruption.] Well, coronavirus covers a—.
Diolch. Mae un o bob 17 oedolyn yng Nghymru yn gweithio yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol. Mae Cymdeithas Gofal Cartref y Deyrnas Unedig wedi cynghori ei bod yn bwysig i weithwyr cymdeithasol ddeall y gallai ymweliadau cartref gymryd llawer mwy o amser na'r hyn a ddisgwylir fel arfer wrth ymdrin â phobl sy'n sâl, ac mae'n rhybuddio y gallai'r sefyllfa fod yn eithriadol o ddifrifol, yn enwedig o ran cael digon o staff i gefnogi pobl hŷn a phobl anabl mewn lleoliadau cymunedol.
Yn yr un modd, cefais neges e-bost sy'n tynnu sylw at bryderon y gallai un gweithiwr gofal cartref heintiedig gario'r feirws yn ddiarwybod i gartrefi niferoedd lawer o drigolion hŷn agored i niwed. Felly, a wnewch chi egluro pa gamau rydych yn eu cymryd i gynorthwyo ein gweithwyr gofal i leihau'r risg o ddal y feirws? Pa fesurau brys a gaiff eu cymryd i amddiffyn unigolion sy'n agored i niwed sy'n cael ymweliadau cartref, a nodi pa gymorth a roddir i ddarparwyr gofal cymdeithasol i'w helpu i ddod o hyd i staff amgen, os bydd yn rhaid i rai gweithwyr hunanynysu? A chwestiwn sydd gennyf yw: a yw'r 15 achos o coronafeirws a nodwyd yng Nghymru wedi'u dynodi fel rhai COVID-19? [Torri ar draws.] Wel, mae coronafeirws yn cynnwys—.
Yes, I believe they are, answering that last question, yes.
If you look at the social care sector, there's a wide variety of issues that arise: there are the people who are living in residential care or in nursing homes; there are those people who are receiving domiciliary care, and then these are the staff who are going in, who Janet Finch-Saunders has referred to. And it's obviously crucial that we address all of those issues, about what is to happen if anybody in any of those groups becomes infected and how we deal with the whole situation. So, for that reason, we have set up a social care planning and response group, which includes local government—because, as I said, we're working very closely with local government—it includes the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, because it’s absolutely crucial, I think, that we work very closely with the third sector in addressing all of these issues, because the third sector may be very close to some of the communities that we are talking about, but also the third sector does have many volunteers who work there and who I'm sure would be willing to help us in this situation, if it does escalate. And it also includes Care Forum Wales, which, again, is a very important body to work with. So, we are working with all those bodies and what we want to do is to come up with another set of guidance, which will address those very important issues that she has raised.
Rwy'n credu eu bod, i ateb y cwestiwn olaf hwnnw.
Os edrychwch ar y sector gofal cymdeithasol, mae amrywiaeth eang o faterion yn codi: mae yna bobl sy'n byw mewn gofal preswyl neu mewn cartrefi nyrsio; mae yna bobl sy'n cael gofal yn y cartref, ac yna ceir staff sy'n mynd i mewn, fel y nododd Janet Finch-Saunders. Ac mae'n amlwg yn hanfodol ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â'r holl faterion hynny, am yr hyn sydd i ddigwydd os bydd unrhyw un o'r grwpiau hynny'n cael ei heintio a sut rydym yn ymdrin â'r sefyllfa. Felly, am y rheswm hwnnw, rydym wedi sefydlu grŵp cynllunio ac ymateb gofal cymdeithasol, sy'n cynnwys llywodraeth leol—oherwydd, fel y dywedais, rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda llywodraeth leol—mae'n cynnwys Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru, oherwydd mae'n gwbl hanfodol, rwy'n credu, ein bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r trydydd sector i fynd i'r afael â'r holl faterion hyn, oherwydd efallai fod y trydydd sector yn agos iawn at rai o'r cymunedau rydym yn sôn amdanynt, ond hefyd mae gan y trydydd sector lawer o wirfoddolwyr sy'n gweithio yno ac a fyddai'n fodlon ein helpu yn y sefyllfa hon, rwy'n siŵr, os yw'n gwaethygu. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys Fforwm Gofal Cymru, sydd, unwaith eto, yn gorff pwysig iawn i weithio gydag ef. Felly, rydym yn gweithio gyda'r holl gyrff hynny a'r hyn rydym am ei wneud yw cyflwyno set arall o ganllawiau a fydd yn rhoi sylw i'r materion pwysig iawn y mae wedi'u codi.
Thank you. I think my next question is more directed to the health Minister. Sadly, there is good reason to be concerned too about front-line health staff. I've received correspondence from a Welsh general practitioner who has highlighted a lack of personal protective equipment and masks for front-line staff, but also people such as receptionists, nurses and housekeeping staff. He has rightly explained that there are not enough of them to be able to self-isolate, if there may have been possible exposure, and to still cope with the amount of pressure on our health service. What urgent action will you take to ensure that every front-line member of staff receives and uses the personal protective equipment as directed?
Diolch. Rwy'n credu bod fy nghwestiwn nesaf wedi'i gyfeirio'n fwy at y Gweinidog iechyd. Yn anffodus, mae rheswm da dros boeni hefyd am staff iechyd rheng flaen. Rwyf wedi derbyn gohebiaeth gan ymarferydd cyffredinol yng Nghymru sydd wedi tynnu sylw at ddiffyg cyfarpar diogelu personol a mygydau ar gyfer staff rheng flaen, ond hefyd ar gyfer pobl fel derbynyddion, nyrsys a staff cynnal a chadw. Mae wedi esbonio'n gywir nad oes digon ohonynt i allu hunanynysu, os yw'n bosibl eu bod wedi'u heintio, a dal i ymdopi â maint y pwysau ar ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Pa gamau brys a gymerir i sicrhau bod pob aelod o staff rheng flaen yn derbyn ac yn defnyddio'r cyfarpar diogelu personol yn ôl y cyfarwyddyd?
Well, I think the health Minister did, in his earlier response, say that these were going to be provided. And certainly this is an issue that we have discussed within the Government, but it's obviously a very important point that we are taking very seriously.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod y Gweinidog iechyd, yn ei ymateb yn gynharach, wedi dweud bod y rhain yn mynd i gael eu darparu. Ac yn sicr mae hwn yn fater rydym wedi'i drafod yn y Llywodraeth, ond mae'n amlwg yn bwynt pwysig iawn ac rydym yn gyfan gwbl o ddifrif yn ei gylch.
Llefarydd Plaid Brexit, Caroline Jones.
The Brexit Party spokesperson, Caroline Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, Dr Andrew Goodall told the Public Accounts Committee on Monday that he's very disappointed that three of Wales's seven local health boards are millions of pounds in deficit. Do you share his disappointment that Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay are forecasting a combined deficit of over £92 million for 2019 to 2020? Betsi Cadwaladr is predicted to be £41 million in the red; Hywel Dda not far behind with a £35 million deficit. My own health board, Swansea Bay, will be £16.3 million in deficit, and that's enough to employ around 465 radiographers. Minister, why can some health boards break even and others rack up massive deficits?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, dywedodd Dr Andrew Goodall wrth y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus ddydd Llun ei fod yn siomedig iawn fod gan dri o saith bwrdd iechyd lleol Cymru ddiffyg o filiynau o bunnoedd. A ydych yn rhannu ei siom fod Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda a Bae Abertawe yn rhagweld diffyg cyfunol o dros £92 miliwn ar gyfer 2019 i 2020? Rhagwelir y bydd bwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr £41 miliwn yn y coch; Hywel Dda heb fod ymhell ar ei ôl gyda diffyg o £35 miliwn. Bydd gan fy mwrdd iechyd i, Bae Abertawe, £16.3 miliwn o ddiffyg, ac mae hynny'n ddigon i gyflogi tua 465 o radiograffwyr. Weinidog, pam y gall rhai byrddau iechyd fantoli'r cyllidebau a bod eraill yn cael diffygion enfawr?
Well, the issues are different in different health boards, and of course I'm disappointed, not just at the failure to meet the target, but about the extent of that failure between different health boards themselves. In Hywel Dda, you'll know that we've undertaken a series of interventions and reports around their challenge and the opportunities for them to improve. It should, though, be said that on a performance end, Hywel Dda have made real improvements over the last few years. So, they are in a better place in performance terms, whereas in Betsi Cadwaladr, they haven't had the requisite grip and the control in terms of both performance and finance. So, whilst Hywel Dda health board can put their performance figures in a positive way, it's not quite the same story in north Wales, and you'll notice that both of the previous finance directors are now no longer in post. There's a recovery director who is having an impact on the financial discipline within the organisation, and, of course, there is now an interim chief executive following the change in leadership. And in terms of Swansea Bay, the disappointment is tempered with some optimism, based in reality about the future, and, again, the list of opportunities they have to improve the financial running.
There is one point that I think I need to make on a general level, and it is that if coronavirus is anything like as significant as we think it is, then the normal way of operating the health service will change significantly. So, the normal way that we want to hold organisations to account within the Government and within this place will have to change. I cannot expect the health service to behave in a radically different way in prioritising significant numbers of really sick people coming through the doors, if I'm then also saying, 'I want you not to lose any sort of progress on referral-to-treatment times, and I want you to try to make sure that money is being spent in a certain way.' Now, there'll be some points about financial discipline and opportunities to save money that will still exist in a way that doesn't harm the service, but there will need to be a sense check about what will really happen, and then what will be the longer term consequences if we do have a significant outbreak, on both resources, the overall pledges the Chancellor has made about the NHS having whatever resources it needs, and what that means in broader performance terms for the health service then to try to recover and catch up on.
Wel, mae'r problemau'n wahanol mewn gwahanol fyrddau iechyd, ac wrth gwrs rwy'n siomedig, nid yn unig ynglŷn â'r methiant i gyrraedd y targed, ond am raddau'r methiant hwnnw rhwng gwahanol fyrddau iechyd eu hunain. Yn Hywel Dda, fe fyddwch yn gwybod ein bod wedi cael cyfres o ymyriadau ac adroddiadau ynghylch eu heriau a'r cyfleoedd iddynt wella. Fodd bynnag, dylid dweud, o ran perfformiad, fod Hywel Dda wedi gwneud gwelliannau gwirioneddol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Felly, maent mewn gwell sefyllfa o ran perfformiad, ond yn Betsi Cadwaladr nid ydynt wedi cael y gafael a'r rheolaeth angenrheidiol ar berfformiad a chyllid. Felly, er bod bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda yn gallu rhoi eu ffigurau perfformiad mewn ffordd gadarnhaol, nid yw'r un peth yn wir yng ngogledd Cymru, ac fe sylwch nad yw'r ddau gyfarwyddwr cyllid blaenorol yn eu swyddi mwyach. Mae yna gyfarwyddwr adfer sy'n cael effaith ar y ddisgyblaeth ariannol yn y sefydliad, ac wrth gwrs, erbyn hyn ceir prif weithredwr dros dro yn dilyn y newid yn yr arweinyddiaeth. Ac o ran Bae Abertawe, caiff y siom ei leddfu gan rywfaint o optimistiaeth, yn seiliedig yn y gwirionedd am y dyfodol, ac unwaith eto, y rhestr o gyfleoedd sydd ganddynt i wella'r sefyllfa ariannol.
Credaf fod angen i mi nodi ar lefel gyffredinol, os yw coronafeirws mor sylweddol ag y credwn ei fod, bydd y ffordd arferol o weithredu'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn newid yn sylweddol. Felly, bydd yn rhaid newid y ffordd arferol o ddwyn sefydliadau i gyfrif o fewn y Llywodraeth ac yn y lle hwn. Ni allaf ddisgwyl i'r gwasanaeth iechyd ymddwyn mewn ffordd wahanol iawn a blaenoriaethu niferoedd sylweddol o bobl sy'n wirioneddol sâl a ddaw drwy'r drysau, os wyf fi wedyn yn dweud hefyd, 'Rwyf am ichi beidio â cholli unrhyw fath o gynnydd mewn perthynas ag amseroedd rhwng atgyfeirio a thriniaeth, ac rwyf am i chi geisio gwneud yn siŵr fod arian yn cael ei wario mewn ffordd benodol.' Nawr, bydd rhai pwyntiau am ddisgyblaeth ariannol a chyfleoedd i arbed arian a fydd yn dal i fodoli mewn ffordd nad yw'n niweidio'r gwasanaeth, ond bydd angen gwirio'r hyn a fydd yn digwydd mewn gwirionedd, ac os cawn nifer sylweddol o achosion, beth fydd y canlyniadau mwy hirdymor ar adnoddau, yr addewidion cyffredinol y mae'r Canghellor wedi'u gwneud am yr angen i'r GIG gael unrhyw adnoddau y mae eu hangen, a beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu o safbwynt perfformiad ehangach i'r gwasanaeth iechyd geisio ei adfer a dal i fyny ag ef wedyn.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Of course we all have to live within our means, but we can't just cut funding to health boards without impacting upon patient care. Take the new medicines fund, for example: the Welsh Government funds novel treatments for the first 12 months, and then health boards have to find funding for future years. So, what assessment have you made of the impact that this is having on local health board finances? And we also have to account for known unknowns, as you've already said—the coronavirus. But also, for example, the impact winter pressures will have on services throughout the rest of the year. And this year we have the added unknown of the impact that COVID-19 will have on services both planned and unscheduled. So, Minister, how resilient are NHS finances, and what steps are your Government taking to ensure financial pressures do not impact patient outcomes? Thank you.
Diolch ichi am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i bob un ohonom fyw o fewn ein modd, ond ni allwn dorri cyllid i fyrddau iechyd heb effeithio ar ofal cleifion. Cymerwch y gronfa feddyginiaethau newydd, er enghraifft: mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu triniaethau newydd am y 12 mis cyntaf, ac yna mae'n rhaid i fyrddau iechyd ddod o hyd i arian ar gyfer blynyddoedd i ddod. Felly, pa asesiad a wnaethoch o'r effaith y mae hyn yn ei chael ar gyllid byrddau iechyd lleol? Ac mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd roi cyfrif am y pethau y gwyddom nad ydym yn eu gwybod, fel rydych eisoes wedi'i ddweud—y coronafeirws. Ond hefyd, er enghraifft, yr effaith a gaiff pwysau'r gaeaf ar wasanaethau drwy weddill y flwyddyn. Ac eleni, mae gennym yr elfen ychwanegol nad ydym yn gwybod beth fydd yr effaith a gaiff COVID-19 ar wasanaethau sydd wedi'u cynllunio a gwasanaethau heb eu trefnu. Felly, Weinidog, pa mor wydn yw cyllid y GIG, a pha gamau y mae eich Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i sicrhau nad yw pwysau ariannol yn effeithio ar ganlyniadau i gleifion? Diolch.
Well, I think there's a broader point here about financial improvement across the health service in the last three or four years. I took a particular choice, on taking on the Cabinet role, that I would make sure that whilst we make sure the bills are paid—so that patient care is not compromised, that staff don't have to worry about whether they're going to get paid in the last two months of the year—we would highlight the reality of performance of each organisation, so rather than trying to find a new way to inject money into the system towards the year, as we were often accused of doing, we've been really upfront about the financial performance of each organisation. That greater scrutiny and accountability, and some of the very direct conversations that I have had, and that the chief executive of NHS Wales has had, I think have seen a real improvement. Even at the start of this Assembly term compared to where we are now, we are definitely moving in the right direction, but there is still more to do than I would wish there to be.
But in terms of the new treatment fund that you referenced, it's been a great success. The reason that we introduced it was because there was inconsistency across Wales when new treatments were introduced and available. They're available at different points depending on which health board you were served by, and some of the challenge is not just the consistency but the timeliness of that—it could vary significantly across Wales. They were supposed to be introduced and available within 90 days, and some health boards were not able to do that on a regular basis.
We knew that there was a particular problem in the first year of introducing new treatments, and the ability of health boards to have new treatments come onstream during the financial year and to plan effectively for them, and that was why they were introduced in such an inconsistent way. So, the new treatment fund has levelled that out so there is now a consistent service. And rather than being over three months, people expect new treatments to be available within about two weeks. So, there's a really significant intervention with, in health terms, a modest sum of money, but a really impressive and consistent outcome. I'm very proud of the action that this Government has taken to do so.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod pwynt ehangach yma ynglŷn â gwelliant ariannol ar draws y gwasanaeth iechyd yn y tair neu bedair blynedd diwethaf. Gwneuthum ddewis penodol, wrth ymgymryd â rôl y Cabinet, y byddwn yn sicrhau tra byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr fod y biliau'n cael eu talu—fel nad yw gofal cleifion yn cael ei beryglu, ac nad oes yn rhaid i staff boeni a ydynt yn mynd i gael eu talu yn ystod deufis olaf y flwyddyn—y byddem yn tynnu sylw at realiti perfformiad pob sefydliad, felly yn hytrach na cheisio dod o hyd i ffordd newydd o chwistrellu arian i mewn i'r system ar gyfer y flwyddyn, fel y cawsom ein cyhuddo'n aml o'i wneud, rydym wedi bod yn agored iawn am berfformiad ariannol pob sefydliad. Rwy'n credu bod y cynnydd yn y gwaith craffu ac mewn atebolrwydd, a rhai o'r sgyrsiau uniongyrchol iawn a gefais i, ac y mae prif weithredwr GIG Cymru wedi'u cael, wedi arwain at welliant gwirioneddol. Hyd yn oed ar ddechrau tymor y Cynulliad hwn o'i gymharu â'n sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn bendant yn symud i'r cyfeiriad iawn, ond mae mwy i'w wneud o hyd nag y buaswn yn ei ddymuno.
Ond o ran y gronfa driniaethau newydd y cyfeirioch chi ati, mae wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol. Y rheswm pam ein bod wedi ei chyflwyno oedd am fod anghysondeb ar draws Cymru pan fyddai triniaethau newydd yn cael eu cyflwyno ac ar gael. Maent ar gael mewn gwahanol fannau, yn dibynnu ar ba fwrdd iechyd sy'n eich gwasanaethu, ac nid cysondeb yn unig yw'r her ond amseroldeb hynny—gallai amrywio'n sylweddol ledled Cymru. Roeddent i fod i gael eu cyflwyno ac ar gael o fewn 90 diwrnod, ac nid oedd rhai byrddau iechyd yn gallu gwneud hynny'n rheolaidd.
Gwyddem fod problem benodol yn y flwyddyn gyntaf ar ôl cyflwyno triniaethau newydd, a gallu'r byrddau iechyd i gael triniaethau newydd wedi'u cyflwyno yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ac i gynllunio'n effeithiol ar eu cyfer, a dyna pam y cawsant eu cyflwyno yn y fath ffordd anghyson. Felly, mae'r gronfa triniaethau newydd wedi lefelu hynny fel bod gwasanaeth cyson ar gael erbyn hyn. Ac yn hytrach na'i fod yn digwydd dros dri mis, mae pobl yn disgwyl i driniaethau newydd fod ar gael o fewn oddeutu pythefnos. Felly, mae yna ymyrraeth sylweddol iawn, o ran iechyd, gyda swm cymedrol o arian, ond canlyniad gwirioneddol drawiadol a chyson. Rwy'n falch iawn o'r camau y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi'u cymryd i wneud hynny.
Cwestiwn 3—Janet Finch-Saunders.
Question 3—Janet Finch-Saunders.
I think I've got—
Dwi'n meddwl bod gennyf i—
Okay, you're not ready to ask your question.
Iawn, nid ydych yn barod i ofyn eich cwestiwn.
Ni ofynnwyd cwestiwn 3 [OAQ55201].
Question 3 [OAQ55201] not asked.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am unrhyw gynnydd a wnaed o ran recriwtio prif weithredwr newydd ar gyfer Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr? OAQ55219
4. Will the Minister provide an update on any progress made in the recruitment of a new chief executive for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board? OAQ55219
Yes. The health board is progressing the work on plans to recruit the right person to this crucially important role. Although decisions about employment matters are for the health board and its chair to make as the employing organisation, I am wholly committed to providing the support needed to the health board to deliver the improvements that are still required.
Gwnaf. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith ar gynlluniau i recriwtio'r person cywir i'r rôl hollbwysig hon. Er mai mater i'r bwrdd iechyd a'i gadeirydd fel y sefydliad cyflogi yw penderfyniadau ynglŷn â materion cyflogaeth, rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i ddarparu'r cymorth sydd ei angen ar y bwrdd iechyd i gyflawni'r gwelliannau sydd eu hangen o hyd.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Despite being in special measures for nearly five years, the problems at Betsi continue to let down those who rely on it. The issues at Betsi have not been replicated in all boards across Wales, so it's clearly the running of that particular board that's at fault. A new chief exec may help, but a chief exec doesn't act alone—he or she is part of a board who make recommendations as to how the NHS in north Wales should develop, tackle its problems and decide on its priorities.
Last year, a cross-party committee of this place found that the health board were making unacceptably slow progress in sorting out its failings, but the buck does stop with you. Isn't it time to review how these health boards are constituted? In order to ensure that the treatment and care of patients are prioritised, isn't it time to insist that the majority of the members on any health board should come from clinically trained backgrounds?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Er ei fod mewn mesurau arbennig ers bron i bum mlynedd, mae'r problemau ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr yn parhau i siomi'r rhai sy'n dibynnu arno. Nid yw'r problemau ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cael eu hailadrodd ym mhob bwrdd yng Nghymru, felly mae'n amlwg mai'r modd y caiff y bwrdd penodol hwnnw ei redeg sydd ar fai. Gall prif weithredwr newydd helpu, ond nid yw prif weithredwr yn gweithredu ar ei ben ei hun—mae'n rhan o fwrdd sy'n gwneud argymhellion ynglŷn â sut y dylai'r GIG yng ngogledd Cymru ddatblygu, mynd i'r afael â'i broblemau a phenderfynu ar ei flaenoriaethau.
Y llynedd, canfu pwyllgor trawsbleidiol yn y lle hwn fod y bwrdd iechyd yn gwneud cynnydd annerbyniol o araf ar ddatrys ei fethiannau, ond chi sy'n gyfrifol yn y pen draw. Onid yw'n bryd adolygu sut y sefydlwyd y byrddau iechyd hyn? Er mwyn sicrhau bod triniaeth a gofal cleifion yn cael blaenoriaeth, onid yw'n bryd mynnu y dylai'r rhan fwyaf o'r aelodau ar unrhyw fwrdd iechyd ddod o gefndir o hyfforddiant clinigol?
I think there are two points there: one is the point about how the health board is constituted and then the make-up of the board and clinicians making up the majority. In terms of how the health board is constituted, if there's a broader point about its organisation and the scale of it, I actually think that for north Wales to improve, to try to undertake a structural reorganisation in order to change to have not one Betsi but two I think would be a mistake. If we did that, we would definitely lose a significant period of time while people look inwards about who's going to run those new organisations—i.e. decouple—then what you do about the fact that there are three hospitals across north Wales. Where does the middle one go? What does that mean in terms of service planning and co-operation, both within the same health board now but, potentially, in more than one organisation? So, I'm not persuaded that more than one organisation in north Wales is the answer.
In terms of your point about the structure, when it comes to the independent membership around the board table, we have deliberately, over time, constituted a mix of executive members, people who work for the health board as employees and independent members with the mix of skills that people require. It certainly doesn't always follow that people who have been clinicians in the health service make good managers of the health service, and we'll see that in all walks of life. I was a lawyer—I had some skills as a leader and a manager. My wife, who is still a lawyer, was a better manager than me, in terms of some parts of the role, but that had not really much to do with our ability as lawyers. So, it's about how your professional background lead you into the choices that an organisation makes, because, actually, someone who was a great doctor isn't necessarily the right person to run the finance function. Someone who has been a great nurse through their whole career isn't necessarily the right person to sit around the board table as an independent member. That's why we have an independent public appointments process, overseen by the public appointments commissioner, to try to make sure we get the right people.
It's also why we've reset our expectations about the way that independent members are not just appointed, but how they behave and their willingness to not just support the organisation, which is only part of their role, but it's about the scrutiny and the challenge and the leadership role they have around the independent members' table. And, actually, within north Wales, with the relatively new chair—he's only a couple of years or so into the role—he has brought a different leadership style and a different level of scrutiny that's changed the culture of independent members around the table, and all of our independent objective assessment, including the inspectorate, say that has made a real and positive difference. The challenge is going from that to real, definable improvement in accordance with the special measures framework that I set out for Members recently.
Rwy'n credu bod dau bwynt yno: un yw'r pwynt ynglŷn â sut y mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi cael ei sefydlu a chyfansoddiad y bwrdd a'r clinigwyr sy'n ffurfio'r mwyafrif. O ran sut y sefydlwyd y bwrdd iechyd, os oes pwynt ehangach ynglŷn â'i drefniadaeth a'i faint, er mwyn i ogledd Cymru wella, rwy'n credu mai camgymeriad fyddai ceisio cyflawni ad-drefnu strwythurol er mwyn newid i gael dau fwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr yn lle un. Pe baem yn gwneud hynny, byddem yn bendant yn colli cyfnod sylweddol o amser tra bydd pobl yn edrych tuag i mewn i weld pwy sy'n mynd i redeg y sefydliadau newydd hynny—h.y. datgysylltu—wedyn beth a wnewch am y ffaith bod yna dri ysbyty ar draws gogledd Cymru. I ble mae'r un canol yn mynd? Beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu o ran cynllunio gwasanaeth a chydweithredu, o fewn yr un bwrdd iechyd yn awr ond o bosibl, mewn mwy nag un sefydliad? Felly, nid wyf wedi fy narbwyllo mai mwy nag un sefydliad yng ngogledd Cymru yw'r ateb.
O ran eich pwynt am y strwythur, mewn perthynas â'r aelodaeth annibynnol o gwmpas y bwrdd, rydym yn fwriadol, dros amser, wedi sefydlu cymysgedd o aelodau gweithredol, pobl sy'n gweithio i'r bwrdd iechyd fel gweithwyr ac aelodau annibynnol gyda'r cymysgedd o sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar bobl. Yn sicr, nid yw bob amser yn dilyn bod pobl sydd wedi bod yn glinigwyr yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn gwneud rheolwyr da yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, ac fe welwn hynny ym mhob agwedd ar fywyd. Roeddwn yn arfer bod yn gyfreithiwr—roedd gennyf rai sgiliau fel arweinydd a rheolwr. Roedd fy ngwraig, sy'n dal i fod yn gyfreithiwr, yn well rheolwr na mi, o ran rhai rhannau o'r rôl, ond nid oedd hynny'n ymwneud llawer mewn gwirionedd â'n gallu fel cyfreithwyr. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â sut y mae eich cefndir proffesiynol yn eich arwain tuag at y dewisiadau y mae sefydliad yn eu gwneud, oherwydd nid rhywun a oedd yn feddyg gwych yw'r berson cywir o reidrwydd i gyflawni'r swyddogaeth gyllid. Nid rhywun a fu'n nyrs wych drwy gydol eu gyrfa yw'r unigolyn priodol o reidrwydd i eistedd o amgylch y bwrdd fel aelod annibynnol. Dyna pam y mae gennym broses ar gyfer penodiadau cyhoeddus annibynnol, a oruchwylir gan y comisiynydd penodiadau cyhoeddus, i geisio sicrhau ein bod yn cael y bobl iawn.
Dyna pam hefyd ein bod wedi ailosod ein disgwyliadau ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae aelodau annibynnol nid yn unig yn cael eu penodi, ond sut y maent yn ymddwyn a'u parodrwydd nid yn unig i gefnogi'r sefydliad, sydd ond yn rhan o'u rôl, ond mae'n ymwneud â'r craffu a'r her a'r rôl arwain sydd ganddynt o amgylch bwrdd yr aelodau annibynnol. Ac mewn gwirionedd, yng ngogledd Cymru, gyda'r cadeirydd cymharol newydd—nid yw ond wedi bod yn y swydd ers blwyddyn neu ddwy—mae wedi dod ag arddull arwain wahanol a lefel wahanol o graffu sydd wedi newid diwylliant aelodau annibynnol o amgylch y bwrdd, ac mae ein hasesiad gwrthrychol annibynnol, gan gynnwys yr arolygiaeth, yn dweud bod hynny wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol a chadarnhaol. Yr her yw mynd o hynny i welliant gwirioneddol y gellir ei ddiffinio, yn unol â'r fframwaith mesurau arbennig a ddisgrifiais i'r Aelodau yn ddiweddar.
I do agree with you that you've got to have the right person in the right place doing the right job, and I also agree with you that the new chair of Betsi Cadwaladr has made some extraordinary changes and does appear to have the energy, the drive, the initiative and the experience to be able to lead that organisation forward. But the reality of the situation is that the ex-chief executive was basically in the job a couple of years too long, and so that health board has stagnated over these past few years. I appreciate you've got an interim—or the board have got an interim—chief executive in. However, what I really want to understand is how long will the hunt for a new chief executive take. And can you assure the Senedd that there are no barriers in place to ensure that that health board actually has the finances to recruit the best-quality individual with the best level of experience to lead it out of the doldrums that it has sat in for the past five years? Because not only will that chief executive need to have huge experience in running large public service organisations, but will also have to have a spine of steel in order to cut like a knife through butter to get rid of some of the other levels of management that perhaps are not experienced enough, and not capable of bringing that health board forward.
Rwy'n cytuno â chi fod yn rhaid i chi gael y person iawn yn y lle iawn yn gwneud y gwaith iawn, a chytunaf â chi hefyd fod cadeirydd newydd Betsi Cadwaladr wedi gwneud newidiadau rhyfeddol ac ymddengys eu bod yn meddu ar yr egni, yr ysfa, y fenter a'r profiad i allu arwain y sefydliad hwnnw. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod y cyn-brif weithredwr yn y swydd am ychydig flynyddoedd yn rhy hir yn y bôn, ac felly mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi aros yn ei unfan dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Rwy'n derbyn bod gennych brif weithredwr dros dro, neu fod gan y bwrdd brif weithredwr dros dro. Fodd bynnag, yr hyn rwy'n awyddus iawn i'w ddeall yw pa mor hir y bydd chwilio am brif weithredwr newydd yn ei gymryd. Ac a allwch chi sicrhau'r Senedd nad oes unrhyw rwystrau rhag gallu sicrhau bod gan y bwrdd iechyd hwnnw gyllid i recriwtio'r unigolyn o'r ansawdd gorau gyda'r profiad gorau i'w arwain allan o'r sefyllfa ddigalon y mae wedi bod ynddi dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf? Oherwydd nid yn unig y bydd angen i'r prif weithredwr hwnnw gael profiad helaeth o redeg sefydliadau gwasanaeth cyhoeddus mawr, ond bydd yn rhaid iddo hefyd gael asgwrn cefn o ddur er mwyn torri fel cyllell drwy fenyn i gael gwared ar rai o'r lefelau rheoli eraill nad ydynt yn ddigon profiadol o bosibl, ac nad ydynt yn gallu sicrhau cynnydd y bwrdd iechyd hwnnw.
I think there are two points there. One is the licence but the expectation that a chief executive will make changes that are difficult—difficult internally within the organisation, but also, speaking honestly, within the broader politics around the health service. Any time difficult choices are made, most of us objectively end up seeing that there's a reason for a difficult choice to be made. But, actually, if you're a local political actor of any and every party—it's not a partisan point—it can be very difficult then to go along with either supporting that change or giving it the room to take place. Now, from my point of view, I want a chief executive within north Wales who is going to make the changes that the health board requires and that the people of north Wales deserve to see happen. For me, I'm prepared to wear some political flak and difficulty to get the right things done, because that's the overriding objective: to see north Wales healthcare improve and to take some of the robust choices that I think the chair wants to see made as well, that independent members are now signed up to do too. And, within that, then, having the right person, there is absolutely no bar in terms of money. If we need to go outside the normal salary range for chief executives within Wales, then we can do so because, again, I'm interested in getting the right person to make a real difference.
Objectively, I think most Members would sign up to that. We'll have to see what happens then when that person is in post and trying to deliver some of that change. But, whoever it is, it won't simply be a case of them sitting at a desk and banging it and saying, 'Now we have to do what I'm saying'. They've still got to be able to bring their staff with them, to set up plans that have logic to them, that have evidence behind them, and can set out why they'll improve healthcare in north Wales both for the staff who deliver it, and the public who receive it and take part in it.
Rwy'n credu bod dau bwynt yno. Un yw'r drwydded ond mae'r disgwyliad y bydd prif weithredwr yn gwneud newidiadau sy'n anodd—yn anodd yn fewnol o fewn y sefydliad, ond hefyd, a siarad yn onest, yng ngwleidyddiaeth ehangach y gwasanaeth iechyd. Pan wneir dewisiadau anodd, bydd y rhan fwyaf ohonom yn wrthrychol yn gweld bod rheswm dros wneud dewis anodd. Ond mewn gwirionedd, os ydych chi'n wleidydd lleol o unrhyw blaid, a phob plaid—nid yw'n bwynt pleidiol—gall fod yn anodd iawn cyd-fynd â chefnogi'r newid hwnnw neu roi lle iddo ddigwydd. Nawr, o'm safbwynt i, rwyf am gael prif weithredwr yng ngogledd Cymru sy'n mynd i wneud y newidiadau y mae'r bwrdd iechyd eu hangen ac y mae pobl gogledd Cymru yn haeddu eu gweld yn digwydd. I mi, rwy'n barod i gael fy meirniadu'n wleidyddol ac wynebu anhawster er mwyn cael y pethau iawn wedi'u gwneud, oherwydd dyna'r amcan pennaf: gweld gofal iechyd gogledd Cymru yn gwella a gwneud rhai o'r dewisiadau cadarn y credaf fod y cadeirydd am eu gweld yn cael eu gwneud hefyd, ac y mae aelodau annibynnol bellach yn gefnogol i'w gwneud yn ogystal. Ac o fewn hynny, felly, o ran cael y person iawn, nid oes unrhyw rwystr o ran arian. Os oes angen inni fynd y tu allan i'r ystod arferol o gyflogau prif weithredwyr yng Nghymru, yna gallwn wneud hynny oherwydd, unwaith eto, rwy'n awyddus i gael y person iawn i wneud gwahaniaeth go iawn.
Yn wrthrychol, rwy'n credu y byddai'r rhan fwyaf o'r Aelodau yn cytuno â hynny. Bydd yn rhaid inni weld beth sy'n digwydd wedyn pan fydd yr unigolyn yn ei swydd ac yn ceisio cyflawni peth o'r newid hwnnw. Ond pwy bynnag ydyw, ni fydd yn fater o eistedd wrth ddesg a'i tharo a dweud, 'Nawr mae'n rhaid inni wneud yr hyn rwy'n ei ddweud'. Mae'n rhaid iddynt ddal i ddod â'u staff gyda hwy, sefydlu cynlluniau sydd â rhesymeg iddynt, sydd â sylfaen dystiolaeth yn sail iddynt, a gallu nodi pam y byddant yn gwella gofal iechyd yng ngogledd Cymru ar gyfer y staff sy'n ei ddarparu, a'r cyhoedd sy'n ei dderbyn ac yn cymryd rhan ynddo.
We've just heard that the recently departed chief executive was in post for a little too long; you could probably say that about the three chief executives who've served during the period that the board has been in special measures and under the direct control of Welsh Government. Now, I know that you're reticent to direct the board to do anything, but, as Minister, I'm sure you can convey a few key messages to the new chief executive officer. And one of those, I would suggest, should be that the board needs to get to grips with the number of management consultants that it's engaging with—up to 40, I believe, in recent times, costing over £6 million to the taxpayer. No wonder they're heading for another hefty deficit this year. So, will you convey to the new chief executive that the time has come for them to get a grip on this relentless engagement with consultancy managers. They have managers who are employed and, if they were doing their jobs, then we wouldn't need these additional people at a huge cost. So, please tell them it's unacceptable and it has to change.
Rydym newydd glywed bod y prif weithredwr sydd wedi gadael yn ddiweddar wedi bod yn ei swydd am ychydig yn rhy hir; mae'n debyg y gallech ddweud hynny am y tri phrif weithredwr sydd wedi gwasanaethu yn ystod y cyfnod y bu'r bwrdd yn destun mesurau arbennig ac o dan reolaeth uniongyrchol Llywodraeth Cymru. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn gyndyn i gyfarwyddo'r bwrdd i wneud unrhyw beth, ond fel Gweinidog, rwy'n siŵr y gallwch gyfleu ychydig o negeseuon allweddol i'r prif swyddog gweithredol newydd. Ac un o'r rheini, carwn awgrymu, yw bod angen i'r bwrdd fynd i'r afael â nifer yr ymgynghorwyr rheoli y mae'n ymwneud â hwy—hyd at 40, rwy'n credu, yn y cyfnod diweddar, gan gostio dros £6 miliwn i'r trethdalwr. Nid oes ryfedd eu bod yn mynd i wynebu diffyg sylweddol arall eleni. Felly, a wnewch chi gyfleu i'r prif weithredwr newydd fod yr amser wedi dod iddynt roi diwedd ar yr ymgysylltiad diddiwedd hwn ag ymgynghorwyr rheoli. Mae ganddynt reolwyr sy'n gyflogedig a phe baent hwy'n gwneud eu gwaith, ni fyddai angen y bobl ychwanegol hyn ar gost aruthrol. Felly, dywedwch wrthynt fod hyn yn annerbyniol a bod rhaid iddo newid.
I think what has to change is delivery, and it's the delivery against an understanding of what their challenges are and their opportunities for improvement, and, actually, some of the work that we have commissioned around the health board, about the real understanding of where they could and should improve their finance function, what that means for the service, but also about having a clinical plan for the future to understand how they want to deliberately shape services in north Wales to provide better care. And that's the fundamental challenge the health board needs to grip, and of course they'll need the right people in post to do that, but, if they do have a deficit and if they can't recruit the right person at the time, they may need to make use of consultancy in exactly the same way that people, wherever they are in public services, or, indeed, in some parts of the private sector, from time to time need to use consultancy. But the level of that has to be appropriate. It has to help the health board on its way to the improvement journey that Members across the Chamber recognise it still needs to take.
Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sydd angen ei newid yw'r cyflawniad, a chyflawniad yn erbyn dealltwriaeth o beth yw eu heriau a'u cyfleoedd ar gyfer gwella, ac mewn gwirionedd, rhywfaint o'r gwaith rydym wedi'i gomisiynu mewn perthynas â'r bwrdd iechyd, am y gwir ddealltwriaeth o ble y gallent a ble y dylent wella eu swyddogaeth gyllid, beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu i'r gwasanaeth, ond hefyd o ran cael cynllun clinigol ar gyfer y dyfodol i ddeall sut y maent am siapio gwasanaethau'n fwriadol yng ngogledd Cymru i ddarparu gwell gofal. A dyna'r her sylfaenol y mae angen i'r bwrdd iechyd ei goresgyn, ac wrth gwrs bydd angen y bobl iawn yn eu swyddi i wneud hynny, ond os oes ganddynt ddiffyg ac os na allant recriwtio'r person cywir ar y pryd, efallai y bydd angen iddynt ddefnyddio gwasanaethau ymgynghori yn yr un modd yn union ag y mae angen i bobl, lle bynnag y bônt mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, neu'n wir, mewn rhai rhannau o'r sector preifat, ddefnyddio gwasanaethau ymgynghori o bryd i'w gilydd. Ond mae'n rhaid i'r lefel fod yn briodol. Mae'n rhaid i hynny helpu'r bwrdd iechyd ar ei ffordd i wella'r daith y mae Aelodau ar draws y Siambr yn cydnabod bod angen iddo ei gwneud o hyd.
5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am barodrwydd adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys yng Ngorllewin De Cymru i fynd i'r afael â coronafeirws? OAQ55216
5. Will the Minister provide an update on accident and emergency preparedness in South Wales West for coronavirus? OAQ55216
In support of the UK action plan, which builds on existing pandemic flu preparedness work, a planning and response group involving both senior officials and key external stakeholders has been convened. This will provide strategic co-ordination and support within Government and across the health service. This, of course, includes ensuring NHS accident and emergency preparedness right across Wales.
I gefnogi cynllun gweithredu'r DU, sy'n adeiladu ar y gwaith parodrwydd presennol ar y pandemig ffliw, mae grŵp cynllunio ac ymateb sy'n cynnwys uwch swyddogion a rhanddeiliaid allanol allweddol wedi cael ei gynnull. Bydd yn darparu cydlyniad a chymorth strategol o fewn y Llywodraeth ac ar draws y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys sicrhau parodrwydd gwasanaeth damweiniau ac achosion brys y GIG ledled Cymru.
Thank you for that response. You heard from Rhun ap Iorwerth a little earlier today about the lack of capacity within A&Es across Wales for dealing with pneumonia-like symptoms that may arise from coronavirus—perhaps another consideration for those who are pondering the future of the Royal Glamorgan at the moment, which also serves my constituents.
Apart from the logistics of moving people with these symptoms safely through a hospital that's full of sick and elderly, frail people, there's also the effect on financial planning that the local health boards will be looking at. There have been promises from the UK Government for moneys to mitigate the challenges that are facing the whole of the UK. Are you in a position to tell us yet about how that actually might make its way to Wales? Are we looking at Barnettisation or cost per head or consequential losses? Have you got any steer on that for us at the moment? Thank you.
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Clywsoch gan Rhun ap Iorwerth ychydig yn gynharach heddiw am y diffyg capasiti o fewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ledled Cymru ar gyfer ymdrin â symptomau tebyg i niwmonia a allai godi o coronafeirws—ystyriaeth arall efallai i'r rhai sy'n pendroni ynglŷn â dyfodol Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg ar hyn o bryd, sydd hefyd yn gwasanaethu fy etholwyr i.
Ar wahân i logisteg symud pobl gyda'r symptomau hyn yn ddiogel trwy ysbyty sy'n llawn o bobl sâl ac oedrannus, pobl eiddil, ceir hefyd yr effaith ar gynllunio ariannol y bydd y byrddau iechyd lleol yn edrych arni. Cafwyd addewidion gan Lywodraeth y DU o arian i liniaru'r heriau sy'n wynebu'r DU gyfan. A ydych mewn sefyllfa i ddweud wrthym eto sut y gallai hwnnw wneud ei ffordd i Gymru? A ydym yn edrych ar Farneteiddio neu gost y pen neu golledion canlyniadol? A ydych wedi cael unrhyw wybodaeth am hynny i ni ar hyn o bryd? Diolch.
You're right to say—and as I've indicated both in previous statements and in questions that I answered earlier today—that we'll need to consider how to change the service. That both means about people who currently go through an accident and emergency department and into a hospital, how that may change and how some of those routes work, but also to make sure there's more capacity within hospitals. So, we'll actually need to help people out of hospitals to make sure there's capacity for really sick people to go in over coming weeks. We don't yet understand all of the numbers, because we're not at a point to be able to actually predict that more clearly, but we know that we'll have to do some of that, and so already there are conversations within health and social care about how that could and should happen sooner rather than later.
I also reiterate the point that I made that we will, effectively, have to pause some of our normal performance management expectations and monitoring. It would not be a fair test to set for the health service to say, 'You have to keep on doing everything now as you do today and cope with significantly increased demand as well'. So, the challenge about the finance and our ability to plan—I'm afraid we're not in a position to understand exactly what the headline pledges from the Chancellor that he's made today actually mean. He said on the weekend that the NHS would have all the resources it needs. The Finance Minister and Trefnydd went to a meeting, in fact, yesterday morning, a very early meeting with other finance Ministers from the other three national devolved Governments and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and we—. We still don't yet have a full picture of what that means in practice, about whether there will be a headline measure that comes now to help us deliver and plan services or whether this will simply be about, at a later point, whether a needs-based provision will be provided. But there's been a broad indication that there is a recognition that this is a UK-wide challenge and won't be dealt with in, if you like, the normal way of delivering the funding that's allocated. But we want to see the detail of that, and, as we get that, I'll be more than happy to be upfront with Members and the public about what that means.
Rydych chi'n iawn i ddweud—ac fel rwyf wedi'i nodi mewn datganiadau blaenorol ac mewn cwestiynau a atebais yn gynharach heddiw—y bydd angen inni ystyried sut i newid y gwasanaeth. Mae hynny'n golygu pobl sydd ar hyn o bryd yn mynd drwy adran damweiniau ac achosion brys ac i ysbyty, sut y gallai hynny newid a sut y mae rhai o'r llwybrau hynny'n gweithio, ond hefyd i wneud yn siŵr fod mwy o gapasiti mewn ysbytai. Felly, bydd angen inni helpu pobl allan o ysbytai i wneud yn siŵr fod lle i bobl wirioneddol sâl fynd i mewn dros yr wythnosau nesaf. Nid ydym yn deall y rhifau i gyd eto, oherwydd nad ydym wedi cyrraedd pwynt pan allwn ragweld hynny'n gliriach, ond gwyddom y bydd yn rhaid inni wneud rhywfaint o hynny, ac felly eisoes ceir sgyrsiau o fewn y maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ynglŷn â sut y gallai ac y dylai hynny ddigwydd yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach.
Rwy'n ailadrodd y pwynt a wneuthum hefyd, sef y byddwn, i bob pwrpas, yn gorfod oedi rhai o'n disgwyliadau arferol mewn perthynas â rheoli perfformiad a monitro. Ni fyddai dweud wrth y gwasanaeth iechyd, 'Mae'n rhaid i chi ddal ati i wneud popeth yn awr fel rydych yn eu gwneud heddiw ac ymdopi â galw cynyddol sylweddol hefyd' yn brawf teg. Felly, mae'r her am y cyllid a'n gallu i gynllunio—rwy'n ofni nad ydym mewn sefyllfa i ddeall yn union beth y mae'r prif addewidion a wnaeth y Canghellor heddiw yn ei olygu mewn gwirionedd. Dywedodd ar y penwythnos y byddai'r GIG yn cael yr holl adnoddau sydd eu hangen arno. Aeth y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd i gyfarfod bore ddoe, cyfarfod cynnar iawn gyda Gweinidogion cyllid eraill y tair Llywodraeth ddatganoledig genedlaethol arall a Phrif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys, ac—. Nid oes gennym ddarlun llawn o hyd o'r hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu yn ymarferol, ynglŷn ag a fydd prif fesur yn dod yn awr i'n helpu i ddarparu a chynllunio gwasanaethau neu a fydd hyn yn ymwneud, yn nes ymlaen, â chyflenwi darpariaeth yn seiliedig ar anghenion. Ond mae yna arwydd cyffredinol fod yna gydnabyddiaeth fod hon yn her i'r DU gyfan ac na fydd modd ymdrin â hi yn y ffordd arferol, os mynnwch, o ddarparu'r cyllid sydd wedi'i ddyrannu. Ond rydym am weld manylion hynny, ac wrth i ni eu cael, byddaf yn fwy na pharod i fod yn agored gyda'r Aelodau a'r cyhoedd am yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu.
Tynnwyd cwestiwn 6 [OAQ55199] yn ôl. Cwestiwn 7, Hefin David.
Question 6 [OAQ55199] is withdrawn. Question 7, Hefin David.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gymorth ariannol i ddioddefwyr o Gymru yn y sgandal gwaed halogedig? OAQ55232
7. Will the Minister provide an update on financial support for Welsh victims of the contaminated blood scandal? OAQ55232
Through the Welsh infected blood support scheme, the Welsh Government provides a comprehensive package of ex gratia payments as well as extensive wraparound support, which includes psychological support, benefit advice and support and signposting to other public services we can provide across Wales.
Drwy gynllun cymorth gwaed heintiedig Cymru, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu pecyn cynhwysfawr o daliadau ex gratia yn ogystal â chymorth cofleidiol helaeth, sy'n cynnwys cymorth seicolegol, cyngor ar fudd-daliadau a chefnogaeth a chyfeirio at wasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill y gallwn eu darparu ledled Cymru.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. I think, before I ask my question, I should pay tribute to the work you've done as a backbencher, before you entered Government, as chair of the cross-party group on contaminated blood and the work you did forcing the UK Government into the inquiry. That is certainly recognised. But I do have some questions about where we are today.
On 9 January, I wrote to the health Minister on behalf of my constituent Kirk Ellis, who was affected by the contaminated blood scandal. He's unwell and is increasingly anxious that his family are unable to provide financially for him, should anything happen to him. I'd also say there are members of the public who are members of the cross-party group on contaminated blood in the public gallery today, and they've come in to specifically hear this question.
Kirk has found out—Kirk Ellis has found out—that he is financially worse off than he initially thought, as victims in England receive payments for their children at a rate of £3,000 a year for the first child and then £1,200 for each other child. So, therefore, with a three-year-old, Kirk is £9,000 worse off than if he lived in England. There's a clear case to answer here, and it is, of course, incumbent on the UK Government to take the lead and to provide the funding. But also there is a differential in England, Scotland and Wales as to what people receive. In Scotland, the widows and widowers of people who have died will receive financial compensation. That is not the case in England or Wales. But the key issue—the key issue—until the inquiry has published its findings, there is a discrepancy across the United Kingdom.
Victims in Wales are asking the simple question: why can't we just pay them what they are rightfully owed? Minister, can you just answer that question? And also, please would you attend a future meeting of the cross-party group to talk to victims about this particular issue?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Rwy'n credu, cyn i mi ofyn fy nghwestiwn, y dylwn dalu teyrnged i'r gwaith rydych wedi'i wneud fel aelod o'r meinciau cefn, cyn i chi ymuno â'r Llywodraeth, fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar waed halogedig a'r gwaith a wnaethoch yn gorfodi Llywodraeth y DU i gynnal yr ymchwiliad. Mae hynny'n sicr yn cael ei gydnabod. Ond mae gennyf gwestiynau ynglŷn â ble rydym heddiw.
Ar 9 Ionawr, ysgrifennais at y Gweinidog iechyd ar ran fy etholwr Kirk Ellis, yr effeithiwyd arno gan y sgandal gwaed halogedig. Mae'n sâl ac yn fwyfwy pryderus nad yw ei deulu'n gallu darparu'n ariannol ar ei gyfer, pe bai unrhyw beth yn digwydd iddo. Hoffwn ddweud hefyd fod aelodau o'r cyhoedd sy'n aelodau o'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar waed halogedig yn yr oriel gyhoeddus heddiw, ac maent wedi dod i mewn yn arbennig i glywed y cwestiwn hwn.
Mae Kirk wedi darganfod—mae Kirk Ellis wedi darganfod—ei fod yn waeth ei fyd yn ariannol nag a feddyliodd ar y dechrau, gan fod dioddefwyr yn Lloegr yn cael taliadau ar gyfer eu plant ar gyfradd o £3,000 y flwyddyn ar gyfer y plentyn cyntaf ac yna £1,200 ar gyfer unrhyw blentyn arall. Felly, gyda phlentyn tair oed, mae Kirk £9,000 yn waeth ei fyd na phe bai'n byw yn Lloegr. Mae achos clir i'w ateb yma, ac mae'n ddyletswydd ar Lywodraeth y DU, wrth gwrs, i gymryd yr awenau a darparu'r cyllid. Ond mae gwahaniaeth hefyd rhwng Cymru, Lloegr a'r Alban o ran yr hyn y mae pobl yn ei gael. Yn yr Alban, bydd gwŷr a gwragedd gweddw pobl sydd wedi marw yn cael iawndal ariannol. Nid yw hynny'n wir yng Nghymru na Lloegr. Ond y broblem allweddol—y broblem allweddol—hyd nes y bydd yr ymchwiliad wedi cyhoeddi ei ganfyddiadau, yw y ceir anghysondeb ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig.
Mae dioddefwyr yng Nghymru yn gofyn y cwestiwn syml: pam na allwn ni dalu'r hyn sy'n ddyledus iddynt a hynny'n gwbl gyfiawn? Weinidog, a allwch ateb y cwestiwn hwnnw? A hefyd, a fyddech cystal â mynychu cyfarfod o'r grŵp trawsbleidiol yn y dyfodol i siarad â dioddefwyr am y mater hwn?
Well, I thank Hefin David for that very important question. I was pleased to meet members of the cross-party group earlier on today at the beginning of their meeting, and I know how strongly they feel about this issue.
There are four separate schemes in the four countries of the UK, and it is hard to compare them, because they are so different. However, I know it is absolutely right that, on average, beneficiaries in Wales receive, on average, £12,000 less than their English counterparts, although Wales does supply psychological support, which has been praised by Sir Brian Langstaff, the chair of the inquiry. But the Government believes that there should be parity between the four schemes. It has been difficult to make progress through all the changes of Ministers in Westminster. We recognise that the issue about the widows is very important, and that is something that members of the haemophilia cross-party group have consistently lobbied about—the fact that it's only in Scotland that the widows are recognised. So, I think that is a very important issue that we must look at.
We are planning a meeting of the four Ministers for the four devolved bodies. We want to move to a position of parity. I absolutely accept what Hefin David says, that it isn't right that victims here in Wales should receive less than in other countries. So, that is something we are addressing as soon there is a Minister who is designated in the Government in Westminster and as soon as we're able to have a meeting.
Wel, diolch i Hefin David am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw. Roeddwn yn falch o gyfarfod ag aelodau'r grŵp trawsbleidiol yn gynharach heddiw ar ddechrau eu cyfarfod, a gwn pa mor gryf yw eu teimladau am y mater hwn.
Mae pedwar cynllun gwahanol ym mhedair gwlad y DU, ac mae'n anodd eu cymharu am eu bod mor wahanol. Fodd bynnag, gwn ei bod yn berffaith wir fod buddiolwyr yng Nghymru yn cael £12,000 yn llai, ar gyfartaledd, na'u cymheiriaid yn Lloegr, er bod Cymru'n darparu cefnogaeth seicolegol, a ganmolwyd gan Syr Brian Langstaff, cadeirydd yr ymchwiliad. Ond mae'r Llywodraeth yn credu y dylid cael cydraddoldeb rhwng y pedwar cynllun. Bu'n anodd gwneud cynnydd drwy holl newidiadau Gweinidogion yn San Steffan. Rydym yn cydnabod bod y mater sy'n ymwneud â gweddwon yn bwysig iawn, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae aelodau'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar hemoffilia wedi cael eu lobïo yn ei gylch yn gyson—y ffaith mai yn yr Alban yn unig y caiff gweddwon eu cydnabod. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n fater pwysig iawn y mae'n rhaid inni edrych arno.
Rydym yn cynllunio cyfarfod rhwng pedwar Gweinidog y pedwar corff datganoledig. Rydym am symud i sefyllfa o gydraddoldeb. Rwy'n derbyn yn llwyr yr hyn a ddywed Hefin David, nad yw'n iawn fod dioddefwyr yma yng Nghymru yn cael llai nag mewn gwledydd eraill. Felly, mae hynny'n rhywbeth rydym yn rhoi sylw iddo cyn gynted ag y bydd Gweinidog wedi'i ddynodi yn y Llywodraeth yn San Steffan a chyn gynted ag y gallwn gael cyfarfod.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Paul Davies.
Finally, question 8, Paul Davies.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwella gwasanaethau iechyd yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda dros y 12 mis nesaf? OAQ55197
8. Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government will improve health services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area over the next 12 months? OAQ55197
Our priority is to ensure the people of Wales, including those in west Wales, receive health services that deliver the best possible outcomes for patients. Achieving the vision that we set out in 'A Healthier Wales' will help to deliver that priority.
Ein blaenoriaeth yw sicrhau bod pobl Cymru, gan gynnwys y rheini yng ngorllewin Cymru, yn cael gwasanaethau iechyd sy'n sicrhau'r canlyniadau gorau posibl i gleifion. Bydd gwireddu'r weledigaeth a nodwn yn 'Cymru Iachach' yn helpu i sicrhau'r flaenoriaeth honno.
Minister, to improve services in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, it's essential that vital services are as accessible as possible to local people, and that includes services being based at Withybush hospital. Can you therefore tell us what discussions you've had with Hywel Dda University Health Board about the provision of services at Withybush hospital, as well as any discussions you've had regarding the creation of a new hospital in west Wales, as the people I represent want to see essential services like the A&E department being maintained at Withybush hospital?
Weinidog, er mwyn gwella gwasanaethau yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, mae'n hanfodol fod gwasanaethau hanfodol mor hygyrch â phosibl i bobl leol, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys lleoli gwasanaethau yn Ysbyty Llwynhelyg. Felly, a allwch ddweud wrthym pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda ynglŷn â darparu gwasanaethau yn Ysbyty Llwynhelyg, yn ogystal ag unrhyw drafodaethau a gawsoch ynghylch creu ysbyty newydd yng ngorllewin Cymru, gan fod y bobl rwy'n eu cynrychioli eisiau gweld gwasanaethau hanfodol fel yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys yn cael eu cadw yn Ysbyty Llwynhelyg?
Well, this is a question about the delivery of the healthier west Wales plan. You'll recall the significant engagement that took place with both staff and the public, and then actual front-line members of staff presenting options to the health board for the future. And, within that, the community health council chose not to refer the possible options in. So, there is now an agreed strategy within west Wales about what that will mean. That will both be about—as we've seen the parliamentary review recommending in broad terms—some services needing to be concentrated to provide better services, better quality of care, and other services being delivered on a wider range and basis, including within the community.
You'll have seen, for example, some of the concerns people had about having a midwifery-led unit on the Withybush site; actually, there is no evidence, despite hundreds and hundreds of births, that it has compromised the care of women or their babies. We still, though, do continue to invest in the Withybush site; for example, the more than £3 million to complete improvements to wards 9 and 10 at Withybush hospital. So, there will continue to be an important role for the Withybush site to play in the future.
In terms of the new hospital option, I'm looking to receive a business case from the health board that sets out where they are and, as and when that's received and advice is provided to me about whether to support the next stage of that, I will, of course, make that clear. So, those are plans the health board are developing. I have a decision-making role, but I do look forward to—sooner rather than later, I hope—receiving that case to allow us to make a determination. And you and other people within west Wales will then get to see something about the vision for the future in terms of deliberately reshaping healthcare within west Wales and, indeed, the significant investment that will be required to make that happen.
Wel, mae hwn yn gwestiwn ynglŷn â darparu'r cynllun gorllewin Cymru iachach. Fe fyddwch yn cofio'r ymgysylltu sylweddol a fu â'r staff a'r cyhoedd, ac yna'r aelodau rheng flaen o staff eu hunain yn cyflwyno dewisiadau i'r bwrdd iechyd ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ac o fewn hynny, dewisodd y cyngor iechyd cymuned beidio â chyfeirio'r opsiynau posibl i mewn. Felly, ceir strategaeth y cytunwyd arni bellach yng ngorllewin Cymru ynghylch yr hyn y bydd hynny'n ei olygu. Bydd hynny'n ymwneud â bod angen crynhoi rhai gwasanaethau—fel y gwelsom yr adolygiad Seneddol yn ei argymell yn gyffredinol—er mwyn darparu gwell gwasanaethau, gwell ansawdd gofal, a gwasanaethau eraill yn cael eu darparu ar sail ehangach ac yn fwy amrywiol, gan gynnwys o fewn y gymuned.
Fe fyddwch wedi gweld, er enghraifft, rai o'r pryderon a oedd gan bobl ynghylch cael uned o dan arweiniad bydwragedd ar safle Llwynhelyg; mewn gwirionedd ni cheir tystiolaeth, er y cannoedd ar gannoedd o enedigaethau, fod gofal menywod a'u babanod wedi'i roi dan fygythiad. Serch hynny, rydym yn dal i fuddsoddi yn safle Llwynhelyg; er enghraifft, y mwy na £3 miliwn i gwblhau gwelliannau i wardiau 9 a 10 yn ysbyty Llwynhelyg. Felly, bydd yna rôl bwysig o hyd i safle Llwynhelyg ei chwarae yn y dyfodol.
O ran yr opsiwn ysbyty newydd, rwy'n awyddus i gael achos busnes gan y bwrdd iechyd sy'n nodi ble maent arni a phan ddaw hwnnw i law, a phan fyddaf wedi cael cyngor ynglŷn ag a ddylwn gefnogi'r cam nesaf yn hynny o beth, byddaf yn gwneud hynny'n glir wrth gwrs. Felly, cynlluniau y mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn eu datblygu yw'r rheini. Mae gennyf swyddogaeth wneud penderfyniadau, ond rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gael yr achos busnes hwnnw—yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach, rwy'n gobeithio—i ganiatáu i ni wneud penderfyniad. Ac fe gewch chi a phobl eraill yng ngorllewin Cymru weld rhywbeth am y weledigaeth ar gyfer y dyfodol o ran ad-drefnu gofal iechyd yn fwriadol yng ngorllewin Cymru ac yn wir, y buddsoddiad sylweddol y bydd ei angen i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
I wish to draw Members' attention to the Catalan delegation joining us in the public gallery, led by the President of the Catalan Parliament, Roger Torrent. My thoughts at this time are also with the previous President of the Catalan Parliament, Carme Forcadell, who remains to this day in prison. I'm sure Members here will want to join me in wishing President Torrent a very warm welcome to Wales and to our Senedd. Croeso. [Applause.]
Hoffwn dynnu sylw'r Aelodau at y ddirprwyaeth o Gatalonia sy'n ymuno â ni yn yr oriel gyhoeddus, dan arweiniad Llywydd Senedd Catalonia, Roger Torrent. Rwyf hefyd yn meddwl am Lywydd blaenorol Senedd Catalonia, Carme Forcadell, sy'n parhau i fod yn y carchar hyd heddiw. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelodau yma am ymuno â mi i groesawu'r Llywydd Torrent yn gynnes iawn i Gymru ac i'n Senedd. Croeso. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Cwestiynau nesaf i'r Gweinidog Cyllid, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mandy Jones.
The next questions are to the Minister for Finance, and the first question is from Mandy Jones.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gyfraddau treth incwm Cymru? OAQ55207
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh rates of income tax? OAQ55207
Welsh rates of income tax of 10p per band were introduced last year and apply to income tax payers resident in Wales. On 3 March, the Assembly voted by 43 to one in support of Wales's rates remaining unchanged in 2020-21.
Cyflwynwyd cyfraddau treth incwm o 10c y band yng Nghymru y llynedd ac maent yn berthnasol i dalwyr treth incwm sy'n preswylio yng Nghymru. Ar 3 Mawrth, pleidleisiodd y Cynulliad, o 43 i un, o blaid sicrhau bod cyfraddau Cymru yn aros yr un fath yn 2020-21.
Thank you for that answer. Minister, your Government has made a commitment to not increase income tax rates during this Assembly term. What assessment have you made of the impact of increased rates of income tax on the Welsh economy and Welsh families, should a rise be instigated in the next Assembly?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw. Weinidog, mae eich Llywodraeth wedi gwneud ymrwymiad i beidio â chynyddu cyfraddau treth incwm yn ystod tymor y Cynulliad hwn. Pa asesiad rydych wedi'i wneud o effaith cyfraddau uwch o dreth incwm ar economi Cymru a theuluoedd Cymru, pe bai cynnydd yn cael ei gyflwyno yn y Cynulliad nesaf?
The static costing of a potential rate change is relatively straightforward. For illustrative purposes, a 1p increase or reduction across all three bands in 2020-21, or in a future Assembly, would increase or reduce revenues by approximately £220 million, with the vast majority of revenues, of course, being generated through the basic rate. So, that would be the effect of a 1p change.
I think it is for all of us as Assembly Members, as we seek to develop our manifestos for the next election, to consider how and if we would use our Welsh rates of income tax, and also then to demonstrate to the people of Wales what the impact would be on their lives. So, for example: were there to be a reduction of 1p and a reduction of £220 million to the Welsh Government budget, it would be incumbent to demonstrate where those cuts would fall; and, equally, were there to be an increase of 1p and an increase of £220 million for the Welsh Government budget, it would be important to set out where that additional spend would be made.
Mae'r gost statig o newid posibl i'r gyfradd yn gymharol syml. At ddibenion enghreifftiol, byddai cynnydd neu ostyngiad o 1c ar draws y tri band yn 2020-21, neu mewn Cynulliad yn y dyfodol, yn cynyddu neu'n lleihau refeniw oddeutu £220 miliwn, gyda'r mwyafrif helaeth o refeniw, wrth gwrs, yn cael ei gynhyrchu drwy'r gyfradd sylfaenol. Felly, dyna fyddai effaith newid o 1c.
Rwy'n credu mai ein lle ni fel Aelodau'r Cynulliad, wrth inni geisio datblygu ein maniffestos ar gyfer yr etholiad nesaf, yw ystyried os a sut y byddem yn defnyddio ein cyfraddau treth incwm yng Nghymru, ac yna dangos i bobl Cymru beth fyddai'r effaith ar eu bywydau. Felly, er enghraifft: pe bai gostyngiad o 1c a gostyngiad o £220 miliwn i gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, byddai'n ddyletswydd arnom i ddangos ym mha feysydd y byddai'r toriadau hynny'n cael eu gwneud; ac yn yr un modd, pe bai cynnydd o 1c a chynnydd o £220 miliwn yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, byddai'n bwysig nodi lle byddai'r gwariant ychwanegol hwnnw'n digwydd.
Minister, you've just given a perhaps understandably clinical analysis—certainly at the start of your answer there—as to the effect on revenues of income tax changes. What you've said is, of course, totally technically correct, but increasing or reducing taxes does, of course, have other effects, which UK Government has been dealing with for a long time: behavioural changes, for instance. Increasing taxation may well bring more money into the coffers and allow you greater money to spend on public services; but at the same time, reducing taxation, as well as lowering the amount of revenue, may also of course stimulate, and almost certainly would stimulate, entrepreneurialism and encourage people to work harder, knowing that they're going to keep some of their money. So, all that has to be factored in.
I noticed, in the Chancellor's budget today, he mentioned that there was going to be a new Treasury office, or new Treasury officials, coming to Wales. I wonder if you could tell us what you know about that announcement at this early stage. And also whether, when it comes to making changes to income tax, you think there's potential for yourself and for the Welsh Revenue Authority to work closely with that new Treasury office, as a base of experience, so that when you do come to make these changes in income tax in the future, up or down, it's done with the best possible evidence, and we know full well what the effects are going to be on the Welsh economy.
Weinidog, rydych newydd roi dadansoddiad clinigol, sy'n ddealladwy efallai—ar ddechrau eich ateb yn y fan honno—o effaith newidiadau i'r dreth incwm ar refeniw. Mae'r hyn rydych wedi'i ddweud, wrth gwrs, yn gwbl gywir yn dechnegol, ond mae cynyddu neu leihau trethi yn cael effeithiau eraill, wrth gwrs, effeithiau y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn ymdrin â hwy ers amser maith: newidiadau mewn ymddygiad, er enghraifft. Mae'n bosibl iawn y bydd cynyddu trethiant yn dod â mwy o arian i'r coffrau ac yn caniatáu mwy o arian i chi ei wario ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus; ond ar yr un pryd, gallai lleihau trethiant, yn ogystal â gostwng swm y refeniw, ysgogi wrth gwrs, a byddai bron yn sicr o ysgogi, mentergarwch ac yn annog pobl i weithio'n galetach, gan wybod y byddant yn cadw rhywfaint o'u harian. Felly, mae'n rhaid ystyried y ffactorau hynny i gyd.
Yng nghyllideb y Canghellor heddiw, nodais ei fod wedi sôn y byddai swyddfa Trysorlys newydd, neu swyddogion Trysorlys newydd, yn dod i Gymru. Tybed a allech ddweud wrthym beth rydych yn ei wybod am y cyhoeddiad hwnnw ar y cam cynnar hwn. A hefyd, o ran gwneud newidiadau i dreth incwm, a ydych yn credu y gallwch chi ac Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru gydweithio'n agos â'r swyddfa Trysorlys newydd honno, fel sylfaen o brofiad, er mwyn sicrhau, pan fyddwch yn gwneud y newidiadau hyn i dreth incwm yn y dyfodol, ei chodi neu ei gostwng, eu bod yn cael eu gwneud yn ôl y dystiolaeth orau bosibl, a'n bod yn gwybod yn iawn beth fydd yr effeithiau ar economi Cymru.
I do think that any decisions should obviously be based on the best possible evidence, and this is one of the areas that we can explore in further detail in Finance Committee tomorrow, where I'll be giving evidence on what the potential impact might be of different exchange rates over the side of borders in the UK. But of course, we don't have much or any evidence, really, within the UK at the moment, because the Scots have only been collecting their own Scottish rates of income tax in recent years, and the first outturn data is due shortly. So, we actually don't have that evidence base to explore in detail. We can look at other areas of the world—parts of Canada, for example, have different rates of income tax in different areas—but those behavioural impacts I don't think will necessarily be read across. But as I say, there's lots of opportunity to discuss that in more detail in committee.
In terms of the Chancellor's announcement about a Treasury presence here in Wales, we don't have any detail as to what that might entail. It could be additional staff, perhaps, at the HMRC building. We're not sure what the detail is, but obviously we will be exploring that. We're really keen to work closely with HMRC and Treasury, because it's really important that we share information and ideas in order to give the best possible service to people in Wales. So, we look forward to more information on that posting. My only slight nervousness about it is the fact that we didn't hear anything today about the replacement of European funding, and of course we were hoping to hear a little bit about the shared prosperity fund. Now, whether or not the Chancellor sees a role potentially for that Treasury presence in administering that fund is something that causes us a little bit of nervousness, but we look forward to exploring it in further detail.
Rwy'n credu y dylai unrhyw benderfyniadau fod yn seiliedig, yn amlwg, ar y dystiolaeth orau bosibl, a dyma un o'r meysydd y gallwn ei archwilio'n fanylach yn y Pwyllgor Cyllid yfory, lle byddaf yn rhoi tystiolaeth ar beth fydd effaith bosibl y gwahanol gyfraddau cyfnewid ar draws ffiniau yn y DU. Ond wrth gwrs, nid oes gennym lawer o dystiolaeth, os o gwbl mewn gwirionedd, o fewn y DU ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd nid yw’r Albanwyr ond wedi bod yn casglu eu cyfraddau treth incwm eu hunain yn yr Alban yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, a bydd y data alldro cyntaf ar gael yn fuan. Felly, nid oes gennym y sylfaen dystiolaeth honno i'w harchwilio'n fanwl. Gallwn edrych ar rannau eraill o'r byd—felly, rhannau o Ganada, er enghraifft, sydd â chyfraddau gwahanol o dreth incwm mewn gwahanol ardaloedd—ond yn fy marn i, ni fydd modd rhagdybied y bydd yr effeithiau ymddygiadol hynny yr un fath o reidrwydd. Ond fel rwy’n dweud, mae llawer o gyfle i drafod hynny'n fwy manwl yn y pwyllgor.
O ran cyhoeddiad y Canghellor am bresenoldeb y Trysorlys yma yng Nghymru, nid oes gennym unrhyw fanylion am yr hyn y gallai hynny ei olygu. Gallai olygu staff ychwanegol, efallai, yn adeilad Cyllid a Thollau ei Mawrhydi. Nid ydym yn siŵr beth yw'r manylion, ond mae'n amlwg y byddwn yn archwilio. Rydym yn awyddus iawn i weithio'n agos gyda Chyllid a Thollau ei Mawrhydi a'r Trysorlys, oherwydd mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn rhannu gwybodaeth a syniadau er mwyn darparu'r gwasanaeth gorau posibl i bobl Cymru. Felly, edrychwn ymlaen at gael rhagor o wybodaeth am hynny. Rwyf ychydig yn nerfus ynglŷn â'r ffaith na chlywsom unrhyw beth heddiw am gyllid yn lle cyllid Ewropeaidd, ac wrth gwrs roeddem yn gobeithio clywed ychydig am y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Nawr, mae p'un a yw'r Canghellor yn gweld rôl bosibl i bresenoldeb y Trysorlys yn gweinyddu'r gronfa honno yn rhywbeth sy'n achosi ychydig o nerfusrwydd inni, ond edrychwn ymlaen at ei archwilio'n fanylach.
2. Pa drafodaeth y mae'r Gweinidog wedi ei gynnal gyda'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar sut gall Llywodraeth Cymru helpu ariannu cynlluniau i leihau y nifer o dai gwag yn y gogledd? OAQ55227
2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Housing and Local Government in relation to how the Welsh Government can help fund plans to reduce the number of empty houses in North Wales? OAQ55227
I have regular discussions with the Minister for Housing and Local Government, covering a range of matters within her portfolio, including those relating to empty houses. This includes investment in our property loans programme, targeted regeneration investment through our empty property thematic fund, and our town centre loan fund.
Byddaf yn cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol am amrywiaeth o faterion o fewn ei phortffolio, gan gynnwys y rheini sy'n ymwneud â thai gwag. Mae hyn yn cynnwys buddsoddi yn ein rhaglen benthyciadau eiddo, buddsoddi mewn adfywio wedi'i dargedu drwy ein cronfa thematig ar gyfer eiddo gwag, a'n cronfa benthyciadau canol trefi.
Ond y gwir amdani yw bod gyda ni o gwmpas 3,000 o dai gwag yng ngogledd Cymru, a rhai ohonyn nhw wedi sefyll yn wag am ddegawd a mwy. Mae hwn yn wastraff adnoddau enfawr iawn, onid yw e? Oherwydd rŷn ni'n gweiddi mas am dai fforddiadwy, ond mae gennym ni filoedd o dai gwag yn y gogledd, ac wedyn dŷn ni'n gweld tai yn cael eu codi ar gaeau gleision ac ar dir sy'n gorlifo yn y gogledd. Felly, yn sicr, mae'n dal i fod yn broblem. Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod y cynllun troi tai yn gartrefi â'r uchelgais o ddod nôl a 5,000 o dai gwag i ddefnydd, ond dwi'n meddwl mai dim ond 98 a lwyddwyd i'w cael nôl i'r sector tai yn y flwyddyn 2018-19. Felly, allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni pa ystyriaeth rŷch chi'n ei rhoi i gymhellion eraill, efallai mwy effeithiol, y gellid eu defnyddio i annog perchnogion tai gwag i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem?
But the truth is that we have around 3,000 empty homes in north Wales, and some of them have been vacant for a decade and more. This is a huge waste of resources, isn't it? Because we are crying out for affordable homes, but we have thousands of empty homes in north Wales, and then we're seeing houses built on greenfield sites and on flood plains in north Wales. So, certainly, it remains a problem. We know that the turning houses into homes programme had an ambition of bringing 5,000 empty houses into use, but I think only 98 were returned to the housing sector in the year 2018-19. So, can you tell us what consideration you're giving to other incentives, which may be more effective, that could be used to encourage the owners of empty houses to tackle this problem?
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
Welsh Government's property loans programme has available a mix of capital grant and repayable loan financing worth over £42 million, available through local authorities to owner-occupiers to improve properties and to bring those empty properties back into use. Of this, £11 million has been allocated to the six authorities across north Wales to help those owner-occupiers and landlords bring sub-standard homes back into use. To date, over 350 loans have been issued, and nearly 300 empty properties have been brought back into use across north Wales as a result of that funding alone. But I agree that we need to be looking to explore what more we can do. And of course, we've introduced the transforming towns empty property fund of £3.2 million, and that's supporting a project operating across an area within Gwynedd and Anglesey; that seeks, again, to bring those empty properties back into use.
By the end of December 2020, we will have produced a finalised national action plan for tackling empty properties, setting out our national and local objectives, and that's a piece of work that I have discussions on with my colleague the Minister for Housing and Local Government. More widely, we're looking at what we can do to support local authorities through better use of compulsory purchase orders, because some of those properties that could provide excellent homes and excellent properties for other purposes are ones that are a real blight on communities at the moment. So, we're making sure that every local authority has the skills and the confidence it needs to tackle empty properties in Wales. We're doing that by introducing an industry expert in the field of property management, who is delivering a series of training events to every single local authority in Wales.
Mae gan raglen benthyciadau eiddo Llywodraeth Cymru gymysgedd o gyllid grant cyfalaf a chyllid benthyciad ad-daladwy gwerth dros £42 miliwn, ar gael drwy awdurdodau lleol i berchen-feddianwyr er mwyn gwella eiddo a gwneud defnydd newydd o'r eiddo gwag hwnnw. Mae £11 miliwn ohono wedi'i ddyrannu i'r chwe awdurdod ledled gogledd Cymru i helpu'r perchen-feddianwyr a'r landlordiaid hynny i wneud defnydd o gartrefi is-safonol unwaith eto. Hyd yn hyn, mae dros 350 o fenthyciadau wedi'u cyhoeddi, ac mae bron i 300 eiddo gwag yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto ar draws gogledd Cymru o ganlyniad i'r arian hwnnw'n unig. Ond rwy'n cytuno bod angen inni ystyried beth arall y gallwn ei wneud. Ac wrth gwrs, rydym wedi cyflwyno cronfa eiddo gwag o £3.2 miliwn fel rhan o'n hagenda trawsnewid trefi, ac mae honno'n cefnogi prosiect sy'n gweithredu ar draws ardal yng Ngwynedd ac Ynys Môn; unwaith eto, ei nod yw ceisio gwneud defnydd o eiddo gwag.
Erbyn diwedd mis Rhagfyr 2020, byddwn wedi cynhyrchu cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol terfynol ar gyfer mynd i'r afael ag eiddo gwag a fydd yn nodi ein hamcanion cenedlaethol a lleol, ac mae hwnnw'n waith rwy'n ei drafod gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol. Yn fwy cyffredinol, rydym yn edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol drwy ddefnydd gwell o orchmynion prynu gorfodol, gan y gallai rhai o'r adeiladau a fyddai'n gallu bod yn gartrefi rhagorol ac eiddo rhagorol at ddibenion eraill fod yn falltod gwirioneddol ar gymunedau ar hyn o bryd. Felly, rydym yn sicrhau bod gan bob awdurdod lleol y sgiliau a'r hyder angenrheidiol i fynd i'r afael ag eiddo gwag yng Nghymru. Rydym yn gwneud hynny drwy gyflwyno arbenigwr diwydiant ym maes rheoli eiddo, sy'n darparu cyfres o ddigwyddiadau hyfforddi i bob awdurdod lleol unigol yng Nghymru.
Minister, like Llyr, I was looking at the data for 2018-19, and it is quite disappointing. It's a challenging area—empty homes in the private sector and asking local authorities to use their various financial mechanisms to get some of these homes back in use—but there's a variation in performance. The Isle of Anglesey brought 12 per cent of their private properties that were not in use back into use; 1.6 per cent in Conwy; 8.6 per cent in Denbighshire; and 5.6 per cent in Wrexham. So there's quite a variety there, and I do hope that the best practice is improved further and then adopted by the other authorities.
Weinidog, fel Llyr, roeddwn yn edrych ar y data ar gyfer 2018-19, ac mae'n eithaf siomedig. Mae'n faes heriol—cartrefi gwag yn y sector preifat a gofyn i awdurdodau lleol ddefnyddio eu gwahanol fecanweithiau ariannol i sicrhau bod rhai o'r cartrefi hyn yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto—ond mae perfformiad yn amrywio. Mae Ynys Môn wedi sicrhau bod 12 y cant o'u heiddo preifat gwag yn cael ei ddefnyddio unwaith eto; 1.6 y cant yng Nghonwy; 8.6 y cant yn Sir Ddinbych; a 5.6 y cant yn Wrecsam. Felly mae cryn amrywiaeth yno, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr arferion gorau'n cael eu gwella ymhellach ac yna'n cael eu mabwysiadu gan yr awdurdodau eraill.
Yes, there is a variation in success in terms of bringing those empty homes back into use. Hopefully, the work on the CPOs, which I've just outlined, will prove useful to local authorities that have thus far struggled in this area, because we know that some local authorities have felt that they don't have either the capacity or the confidence to engage in that particular area of work.
Council tax premiums are also a useful tool in terms of tackling empty homes and, again, they've been used to different effect and to different levels across Wales. We do know that premiums will be charged on almost 6,700 long term empty dwellings in Wales in the next financial year, and the number of long term empty dwellings has fallen by over 1,000 since the premiums were introduced. So, it certainly is having an impact.
Oes, mae llwyddiant yn amrywio o ran sicrhau bod cartrefi gwag yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto. Y gobaith yw y bydd y gwaith ar y gorchmynion prynu gorfodol a amlinellais yn awr yn ddefnyddiol i awdurdodau lleol sydd wedi cael anhawster yn y maes hwn hyd yma, oherwydd gwyddom fod rhai awdurdodau lleol wedi teimlo nad oes ganddynt gapasiti na hyder i gymryd rhan yn y maes gwaith penodol hwnnw.
Mae premiymau'r dreth gyngor hefyd yn arf defnyddiol i fynd i'r afael â chartrefi gwag ac unwaith eto, maent wedi cael eu defnyddio at ddibenion gwahanol ac i raddau gwahanol ar draws Cymru. Gwyddom y bydd premiymau'n cael eu codi ar bron i 6,700 o anheddau sy'n wag yn hirdymor yng Nghymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, ac mae nifer yr anheddau sydd wedi bod yn wag yn hirdymor wedi gostwng dros 1,000 ers cyflwyno'r premiymau. Felly, mae'n sicr yn cael effaith.
Thank you. We now turn to spokespeople's questions, and the Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch. Trown yn awr at gwestiynau'r llefarwyr, a llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cwpwl o gwestiynau ynglŷn â'r coronafeirws a'r paratoi am hynny. O ran y pwysau ar wasanaethau iechyd a gofal yn benodol, a gawn ni ryw syniad gennych chi o'r math o drafodaethau sydd wedi bod yn digwydd rhwng y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a chithau er mwyn sicrhau bod yr adnoddau priodol yn cael eu rhoi yn barod i'w rhannu, os nad oes eu hangen nhw ar hyn o bryd? Achos rydyn ni angen gwybod na fydd diffyg adnoddau yn rhwystr mewn unrhyw ffordd pan fydd y frwydr yn erbyn coronafeirws yn dwysau.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. A few questions on coronavirus and the preparations for that. In terms of the pressures on health and care services specifically, could you give us some idea of the kinds of discussions that have been happening between the Minister for Health and Social Services and yourself in order to ensure that the appropriate resources are made available, even if they're not required at the moment? Because we do need to know that a lack of resources will be no barrier at all when the fight against coronavirus intensifies.
I have been having these discussions with my colleague the health Minister in terms of how we deal with COVID-19, and there are also discussions that I've had with colleagues from the other devolved nations, and also with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. We're clear in Wales that funding is not going to be a barrier to the NHS being able to deal with the coronavirus. We were also clear at our meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that funding that flows from the UK Government in relation to this exceptional circumstance should be done on the basis of need. I was really keen to press home the fact that, in Wales, we have a proportionately older population and, obviously, that puts us at potentially larger risk of having to look after people who are much sicker. So, that's something that we need to very much bear in mind as funding is allocated across the UK. We don't yet know how the picture will develop in the different regions of Wales, so this is very much an ongoing discussion, but I do want to give that confidence that funding is not going to be a barrier to supporting the NHS.
Rwyf wedi bod yn cael y trafodaethau hyn gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog iechyd, o ran sut rydym yn ymdrin â COVID-19, ac rwyf hefyd wedi cael trafodaethau gyda chymheiriaid o'r gwledydd datganoledig eraill, a Phrif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys hefyd. Rydym yn glir yng Nghymru na fydd cyllid yn rhwystro'r GIG rhag gallu mynd i'r afael â'r coronafeirws. Roeddem hefyd yn glir yn ein cyfarfod â Phrif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys y dylai cyllid sy'n dod gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â'r amgylchiadau eithriadol hyn gael ei ddarparu ar sail angen. Roeddwn yn awyddus iawn i bwysleisio'r ffaith bod gennym ni, yng Nghymru, boblogaeth hŷn yn ôl cyfran ac yn amlwg, mae hynny'n golygu y gallai fod mwy o berygl y bydd yn rhaid inni ofalu am bobl sy'n llawer salach. Felly, mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei gofio wrth i gyllid gael ei ddyrannu ar draws y DU. Nid ydym yn gwybod eto sut y bydd y darlun yn datblygu yn y gwahanol ranbarthau o Gymru, felly mae hon yn sicr yn drafodaeth barhaus, ond rwyf eisiau rhoi'r sicrwydd hwnnw na fydd cyllid yn rhwystr i gefnogi'r GIG.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, ac mi fuaswn i'n gwerthfawrogi diweddariadau ar yr adnoddau sydd yn cael eu rhyddhau, ochr yn ochr â'r diweddariadau ar y camau o ran gwarchod iechyd. Mae'r pwynt yna'n gwbl ganolog, wrth gwrs: allwn ni ddim edrych ar ryw fodel a fyddai'n rhannu arian yn ôl poblogaeth, oherwydd mi allai gwahanol rannau o'r Deyrnas Unedig gael eu taro'n wahanol iawn gan COVID-19.
Yn symud o'r elfen iechyd at yr elfen economaidd, sydd wrth gwrs yn elfen sylweddol o'r consyrn wrth inni symud ymlaen, mae Llywodraeth Prydain yn y gyllideb heddiw wedi cyhoeddi pecyn o gymorth ar gyfer busnesau bach sydd, wrth gwrs, yn dod o dan bwysau. Un syniad ydy rhewi cyfraddau busnes ar gyfer rhai busnesau; mae yna sôn am gynllun benthyciadau ar gyfer busnesau sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio gan coronafeirws; ac mae yna hefyd addewid y bydd y Llywodraeth yn helpu cwmnïau efo taliad statudol ar gyfer salwch ar gyfer y rheini sy'n colli gwaith o ran coronafeirws.
Mae'n bwysig iawn bod y pecynnau yna yn cael eu hamlinellu gan Lywodraeth Prydain; mae'n bwysig iawn hefyd ein bod ni yn clywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru pa mor barod ydych chi i chwilio am ffyrdd gwahanol o leddfu pryderon busnes rŵan a bod yn barod i gamu i mewn. Dydyn ni ddim wedi clywed manylion cynlluniau felly hyd yn hyn, ac mi fyddai rŵan yn gyfle da i ni allu trafod hynny.
Thank you very much, and I would appreciate updates on the resources that are being released, along with updates on the steps in terms of safeguarding people's health. That point is centrally important, of course: we can't look at some model that would share funds according to population, because different parts of the UK could be hit very differently by COVID-19.
Moving, then, from the health element to the economic element, which of course is a substantial element of the concern as we move forward, the UK Government in today's budget has announced a package of support for small businesses, which of course will be under pressure. One idea is to freeze business rates for certain businesses; there is talk of a loans plan for businesses that have been affected by coronavirus; and there's also a pledge that the Government will assist companies with statutory sick pay for those who miss work because of coronavirus.
Now, it's very important that those packages are also outlined by the UK Government, but it's also very important that we hear from the Welsh Government how prepared you are to seek different ways of alleviating the concerns of business now and being ready to step in. We haven't heard the details of such plans to date, but now would be a good opportunity for us to discuss that.
I was pleased to make the case to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury yesterday that there should, in this budget, be a package of support for business, and I was pleased to see that delivered on. So, as you mentioned, there will be some things in there that will help support people in the immediate crisis. For example, the sick pay will be paid from day 1 rather than day 4; the Prime Minister previously announced that. But I think things went a bit further today, in terms of statutory sick pay for everyone who is advised to stay at home even without symptoms. That will be forthcoming, and I think that's really welcome. People can get the sick note from 111, and people in the gig economy will have easier access to benefits; I think that's really welcome, although I think we do need to see some more of the detail.
I understand that the employment and support allowance will be available from day 1 rather than day 8, and that the UK Government is also temporarily removing the minimum income floor in universal credit and relaxing the requirement to attend a job centre, so much of those conversations can be done online or over the phone. I think that is really to be welcomed, and I'm almost hoping that necessity will prove to be the mother of invention in terms of making universal credit work better for people, particularly for people in Wales.
The statutory cost of sick pay for SMEs could hit them hard, so I've been really pleased to hear that announcement from the Chancellor today that businesses with fewer than 250 employees can claim back the cost of sick pay for up to 14 days, and that will be refunded in full. I think that's an important measure for businesses. I was making the case yesterday for HMRC to scale up the Time to Pay service, and, again, I was pleased to see that reflected in the announcement today.
The UK Government has a dedicated helpline, announced today, but, of course, we already have that through Business Wales, which is there to support businesses in this particular circumstance.
Roeddwn yn falch o gyflwyno'r achos i Brif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys ddoe y dylid sicrhau bod pecyn cymorth i fusnesau yn y gyllideb hon, ac roeddwn yn falch o weld hwnnw'n cael ei ddarparu. Felly, fel y sonioch chi, bydd rhai pethau ynddo a fydd yn helpu i gefnogi pobl yn yr argyfwng uniongyrchol. Er enghraifft, bydd y tâl salwch yn cael ei dalu o ddiwrnod 1 ymlaen yn hytrach nag o ddiwrnod 4 ymlaen; mae'r Prif Weinidog eisoes wedi cyhoeddi hynny. Ond rwy'n credu bod pethau wedi mynd gam ymhellach heddiw, o ran tâl salwch statudol i bawb sy'n cael eu cynghori i aros gartref hyd yn oed heb symptomau. Bydd hynny'n digwydd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr. Gall pobl gael y nodyn salwch drwy 111, a bydd pobl yn yr economi gig yn ei chael yn haws cael mynediad at fudd-daliadau; rwy'n credu bod hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr, er fy mod yn credu bod angen i ni weld mwy o'r manylion.
Deallaf y bydd y lwfans cyflogaeth a chymorth ar gael o ddiwrnod 1 ymlaen yn hytrach nag o ddiwrnod 8 ymlaen, a bod Llywodraeth y DU hefyd yn dileu'r isafswm incwm ar gyfer credyd cynhwysol dros dro ac yn llacio'r gofyniad i fynychu canolfan waith, felly mae'n bosibl cael cymaint o'r sgyrsiau hynny ar-lein neu dros y ffôn. Rwy'n credu bod hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr, ac rwy'n gobeithio, bron, y bydd y rheidrwydd hwnnw'n arwain at gamau i sicrhau bod credyd cynhwysol yn gweithio'n well i bobl, yn enwedig i bobl yng Nghymru.
Gallai cost statudol tâl salwch i fusnesau bach a chanolig eu taro'n galed, felly rwy'n falch iawn o glywed y cyhoeddiad gan y Canghellor heddiw y gall busnesau â llai na 250 o weithwyr hawlio cost tâl salwch yn ôl am hyd at 14 diwrnod, a bydd hwnnw'n cael ei ad-dalu'n llawn. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n fesur pwysig i fusnesau. Roeddwn yn cyflwyno achos ddoe dros weld Cyllid a Thollau ei Mawrhydi yn ehangu'r gwasanaeth Amser i Dalu, ac unwaith eto, roeddwn yn falch o weld hynny'n cael ei adlewyrchu yn y cyhoeddiad heddiw.
Mae gan Lywodraeth y DU linell gymorth benodol, a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, ond wrth gwrs, mae honno gennym eisoes drwy Busnes Cymru, sydd yno i gefnogi busnesau yn yr amgylchiadau arbennig hyn.
And, finally, sticking with the budget, and with the Chancellor indicating that the UK Government will be launching a fundamental review of business rates, we're certainly of the view that we need a fundamental review, and we wish that we could have moved quicker in Wales. We've had review after review; I'm sure the time should have come some time ago for some action to be taken. As part of that fundamental review, the UK Government will consider plans to scrap business rates and replace them with a land value tax. Now, Plaid Cymru is currently looking at how land value tax might work in Wales; Welsh Government, for some time, has been looking at this. Is now not the time to seize the momentum, that there is a changing context, and the UK Government warming to the idea perhaps? And will we see some action soon on LVT from Welsh Government?
Ac yn olaf, gan aros gyda'r gyllideb, a chyda'r Canghellor yn nodi y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn lansio adolygiad sylfaenol o drethi busnes, rydym yn sicr o'r farn ein bod angen adolygiad sylfaenol, a hoffem pe gallem fod wedi symud yn gyflymach yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi cael adolygiad ar ôl adolygiad; rwy'n siŵr y dylai rhai camau fod wedi cael eu cymryd beth amser yn ôl. Fel rhan o'r adolygiad sylfaenol hwnnw, bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn ystyried cynlluniau i ddileu ardrethi busnes a sefydlu treth gwerth tir yn eu lle. Nawr, ar hyn o bryd, mae Plaid Cymru yn edrych ar sut y gallai treth gwerth tir weithio yng Nghymru; mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn edrych ar hyn ers peth amser. Onid yn awr yw'r amser i fanteisio ar y momentwm, i newid y cyd-destun, ac i Lywodraeth y DU gynhesu at y syniad efallai? Ac a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu ar dreth gwerth tir yn fuan?
Well, you'll certainly see, very shortly, published, the document that we commissioned, which does look at the implications of land value tax and what that would mean for Wales. This is part of a suite of research that we've commissioned that looks at various aspects of local taxation, both for non-domestic rates and for council tax. We've also had a piece of work that looks at what the implications would be of re-evaluation, for example, and who the winners and losers would be there; what would be the distributional impact in terms of geography across Wales? Over the course, now, of this spring, there will be several pieces of research published, which, together, will provide all of us with a suite of really insightful evidence in order to consider the way forward.
But, of course, business rates—it's not something that you should reform just for the sake of it. We need to be sure that any reforms are made in a way that meets our Welsh Government priorities more widely. And I have to say that I was really pleased by the announcement today that the UK Government has finally caught up now, and that half of businesses in England will no longer be paying business rates. But, of course, we've had that situation in Wales for a very long time.
Wel, byddwch yn sicr yn gweld y ddogfen a gomisiynwyd gennym yn cael ei chyhoeddi'n fuan iawn, ac mae honno'n edrych ar oblygiadau treth gwerth tir a beth fyddai hynny'n ei olygu i Gymru. Mae'n rhan o gyfres o waith ymchwil a gomisiynwyd gennym sy'n edrych ar wahanol agweddau ar drethiant lleol, ar gyfer ardrethi annomestig ac ar gyfer y dreth gyngor. Rydym hefyd wedi cael gwaith sy'n edrych ar beth fyddai goblygiadau ail-werthuso, er enghraifft, a phwy fyddai'r enillwyr a'r collwyr yn y sefyllfa honno; beth fyddai'r effaith ddosbarthiadol o ran daearyddiaeth ledled Cymru? Yn ystod y gwanwyn hwn, bydd sawl darn o waith ymchwil yn cael eu cyhoeddi a fydd, gyda'i gilydd, yn darparu cyfres o dystiolaeth hynod o graff i bob un ohonom er mwyn ystyried y ffordd ymlaen.
Ond wrth gwrs, ardrethi busnes—ni ddylid eu diwygio er mwyn eu diwygio yn unig. Mae angen inni fod yn siŵr fod unrhyw ddiwygiadau'n cael eu gwneud mewn ffordd sy'n cyflawni blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru yn ehangach. Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud fy mod yn falch iawn ynglŷn â'r cyhoeddiad heddiw fod Llywodraeth y DU, o'r diwedd, wedi dal i fyny yn awr, ac na fydd hanner busnesau Lloegr yn talu ardrethi busnes mwyach. Ond wrth gwrs, rydym wedi bod yn y sefyllfa honno yng Nghymru ers amser hir iawn.
Thank you. Conservative spokesperson, Nick Ramsay.
Diolch. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Nick Ramsay.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has today, in his budget, announced a number of key funding commitments to small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to the hospitality and retail industry, in light of the threat of COVID-19, which was just raised by the Plaid Cymru spokesperson. Today's announcement also includes an extra £360 million a year to the Welsh Government, more investment in infrastructure and more investment in broadcasting, such as S4C. So it's looking as though austerity—so beloved by members of your Government to talk about—is nearing an end. Will you confirm that the Welsh Government will use the Barnett consequentials arising from the Chancellor's pledges to match the UK Government's support?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Weinidog, mae Canghellor y Trysorlys heddiw, yn ei gyllideb, wedi cyhoeddi nifer o ymrwymiadau ariannu allweddol i fentrau bach a chanolig eu maint, yn ogystal ag i'r diwydiant lletygarwch a manwerthu, yng ngoleuni bygythiad COVID-19, a godwyd gan lefarydd Plaid Cymru yn awr. Mae'r cyhoeddiad heddiw hefyd yn cynnwys £360 miliwn yn ychwanegol y flwyddyn i Lywodraeth Cymru, mwy o fuddsoddi mewn seilwaith a mwy o fuddsoddi mewn darlledu, fel S4C. Felly mae'n ymddangos bod cyni—y mae aelodau o'ch Llywodraeth wrth eu boddau'n siarad amdano—yn prysur ddod i ben. A wnewch chi gadarnhau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio symiau canlyniadol Barnett sy'n deillio o addewidion y Canghellor i gyfateb i gymorth Llywodraeth y DU?
Well, I've got bad news for the opposition spokesperson, of course, because austerity certainly isn't over. If you look at the documentation that supports the UK Government's budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility paints a pretty gloomy picture of prospects, even before taking into account COVID-19. And that's not surprising, given the UK Government's reckless approach to trade negotiations with our largest and most important trading partner, the European Union. At no point in this Parliament does the OBR suggest that growth will even reach 2 per cent, which is pretty poor by historic terms. So I don't think that we can say austerity is over. And even with the additional funding that comes to Welsh Government today as a result of the UK Government's budget, it barely takes us back to where we were 10 years ago. So, austerity, I'm afraid, is still with us.
Wel, mae gennyf newyddion drwg i lefarydd yr wrthblaid, wrth gwrs, oherwydd yn sicr nid yw cyni wedi dod i ben. Os edrychwch ar y dogfennau sy'n cefnogi cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU, mae'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn rhoi darlun eithaf digalon o'r rhagolygon, hyd yn oed cyn ystyried COVID-19. Ac nid yw hynny'n syndod, o gofio agwedd ddiofal Llywodraeth y DU tuag at drafodaethau masnach gyda'n partner masnachu mwyaf a phwysicaf, yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Nid yw'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol wedi awgrymu ar unrhyw adeg yn y Senedd hon y bydd twf yn cyrraedd 2 y cant hyd yn oed, sy'n eithaf gwael yn hanesyddol. Felly nid wyf yn credu y gallwn ddweud bod cyni wedi dod i ben. A hyd yn oed gyda'r cyllid ychwanegol sy'n dod i Lywodraeth Cymru heddiw o ganlyniad i gyllideb Llywodraeth y DU, prin fod hynny'n mynd â ni'n ôl lle roeddem 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Felly, mae cyni yma o hyd, mae arnaf ofn.
Thank you, Minister. I was being mischievous when I mentioned the 'austerity' word—I knew that it would trigger a response similar to that. And some of what you say, in terms of growth, of course there's a basis there, and you're right to point those things out. But I do think that we need to look on the bright side as well. And there is good news in this UK budget, and hopefully the Welsh Government—key to my question—will actually be making use of the consequentials that are coming this way, to improve the situation here in Wales. Because Wales, of course, does have two Governments.
Minister, the Chancellor also announced a number of changes to national insurance and income tax, which, taken together, will mean that people who earn the minimum wage will now be £5,200 better off than they were in 2010. Moreover, beer duty and fuel duty are frozen for another year, so workers will see more money in their pockets in that way.
Here in Wales, we've been talking about the devolution of income tax, and the creation of new taxes. Do you feel that, often, the emphasis here is always on the creation of new taxes, and raising taxes? But there is also a tax-cutting agenda to be addressed, and the Welsh Government does have significant power at its disposal, in certain key tax areas, to reduce the burden on hard-working people in Wales, and to generate more income in the longer term by, of course, encouraging entrepreneurship, and providing businesses with more money to invest. We've heard about your view on taxes this year; could you tell us how you envisage using those tax powers in future, to reduce the tax burden on people in Wales, and to encourage economic growth?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Roeddwn yn bod yn ddrygionus pan ddywedais y gair 'cyni'—roeddwn yn gwybod y byddai'n cymell ymateb tebyg i hwnnw. Ac mae sail i rywfaint o'r hyn a ddywedwch o ran twf wrth gwrs, ac rydych yn iawn i dynnu sylw at y pethau hynny. Ond rwy'n credu bod angen inni edrych ar yr ochr olau hefyd. Ac mae newyddion da yn y gyllideb hon ar gyfer y DU, a gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru—ac mae hyn yn allweddol i fy nghwestiwn—yn gwneud defnydd o'r symiau canlyniadol sydd ar y ffordd er mwyn gwella'r sefyllfa yma yng Nghymru. Oherwydd mae gan Gymru ddwy Lywodraeth wrth gwrs.
Weinidog, mae'r Canghellor hefyd wedi cyhoeddi nifer o newidiadau i yswiriant gwladol a threth incwm, a fydd, gyda'i gilydd, yn golygu y bydd pobl sy'n ennill yr isafswm cyflog £5,200 yn well eu byd yn awr nag yn 2010. At hynny, mae'r doll ar gwrw a'r doll ar danwydd yn cael eu rhewi am flwyddyn arall, felly bydd gweithwyr yn gweld mwy o arian yn eu pocedi yn y ffordd honno.
Yma yng Nghymru, rydym wedi bod yn sôn am ddatganoli treth incwm, a chreu trethi newydd. A ydych yn teimlo bod y pwyslais yma bob amser ar greu trethi newydd a chodi trethi? Ond mae angen mynd i'r afael ag agenda torri trethi hefyd, ac mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru bŵer sylweddol at ei defnydd, mewn meysydd treth allweddol penodol, i ysgafnhau'r baich ar bobl weithgar yng Nghymru, ac i gynhyrchu mwy o incwm yn y tymor hwy drwy annog entrepreneuriaeth wrth gwrs, a rhoi mwy o arian i fusnesau allu buddsoddi. Rydym wedi clywed eich barn ar drethi eleni; a allech chi ddweud wrthym sut rydych yn rhagweld y caiff y pwerau trethu hynny eu defnyddio yn y dyfodol, i leihau'r baich trethi ar bobl yng Nghymru, ac i annog twf economaidd?
I didn't hear anything from the UK Government today, actually, about changes to income tax. I know that there was an announcement in respect of the national living wage and the national insurance threshold, but I don't recall anything specific to income tax. Because that would be something that we would be keen to explore, particularly in case it had any implications for our Welsh Government funding. Actually, the Chancellor had very little to say on tax today. There was absolutely nothing on air passenger duty and there was nothing on vacant land tax. So those were two things that I was hoping to see in the budget today, but that was not mentioned. So, I don't think that the Chancellor has taken opportunities within his budget, particularly in relation to tax, because there's not an awful lot in it.
Ni chlywais unrhyw beth gan Lywodraeth y DU heddiw am newidiadau i dreth incwm. Gwn fod cyhoeddiad wedi'i wneud ynglŷn â'r cyflog byw cenedlaethol a'r trothwy yswiriant cenedlaethol, ond nid wyf yn cofio unrhyw beth yn cael ei ddweud am dreth incwm yn benodol. Oherwydd byddai hynny'n rhywbeth y byddem yn awyddus i'w archwilio, yn enwedig rhag ofn y byddai unrhyw oblygiadau i gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru. A dweud y gwir, ychydig iawn a oedd gan y Canghellor i'w ddweud am drethi heddiw. Ni ddywedwyd unrhyw beth am doll teithwyr awyr nac unrhyw beth am drethi tir gwag. Felly, dyna ddau beth roeddwn yn gobeithio eu gweld yn y gyllideb heddiw, ond ni chawsant eu crybwyll. Felly, nid wyf yn credu bod y Canghellor wedi manteisio ar gyfleoedd yn ei gyllideb, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â threthi, oherwydd nid oes llawer iawn ynddi.
Thank you, Minister. You very cleverly chucked in air passenger duty there, knowing full well that this side of the Chamber do support fully the devolution of air passenger duty. So there are certain things we agree on, and there are other things that we do not agree on. The income tax changes mentioned were around thresholds, but that's aside.
Can I just, in terms of my final question, go back to something that Rhun ap Iorwerth raised, importantly, earlier, and that is the COVID-19, the coronavirus, situation? And this budget has contained within it an extra £30 billion or so—I think I'm right in saying—to the NHS, to deal with coronavirus in the UK, specifically in England. Have you had any discussions—? I know that officials in the Welsh Government have been having multiple discussions with officials in the UK—I know that with my public accounts hat on. Could you tell us if you've had any specific discussions with your counterpart in Westminster about the amount of money that will be coming to Wales over and above what we've got in the budget to deal with coronavirus? I think we would all appreciate that you're going to be potentially under massive pressure, and the NHS budget will be under massive pressure if you don't get that proper support for dealing with this extraordinary situation. So, if you could update us on that money in the budget and on any consequentials coming to you and to Wales—. And would you also confirm that that money will be ring-fenced and will be used within the NHS budget for the purpose that it is intended?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Roeddech yn glyfar yn crybwyll y doll teithwyr awyr, gan wybod yn iawn fod yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn cefnogi datganoli'r doll teithwyr awyr yn llawn. Felly mae rhai pethau rydym yn cytuno arnynt, ac mae pethau eraill nad ydym yn cytuno arnynt. Roedd y newidiadau treth incwm y soniwyd amdanynt yn ymwneud â throthwyon, ond mater arall yw hynny.
A gaf fi, yn fy nghwestiwn olaf, fynd yn ôl at rywbeth a gododd Rhun ap Iorwerth yn gynharach, yn bwysig iawn, sef sefyllfa COVID-19, y coronafeirws? Ac mae'r gyllideb hon yn cynnwys oddeutu £30 biliwn ychwanegol—rwy'n credu fy mod yn iawn yn dweud—i'r GIG, i fynd i'r afael â coronafeirws yn y DU, yn benodol yn Lloegr. A ydych wedi cael unrhyw drafodaethau—? Rwy'n gwybod bod swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn cynnal sawl trafodaeth gyda swyddogion yn y DU—rwy'n gwybod hynny gan wisgo fy het cyfrifon cyhoeddus. A allech chi ddweud wrthym p'un a ydych wedi cael unrhyw drafodaethau penodol gyda'ch swyddog cyfatebol yn San Steffan ynglŷn â faint o arian a fydd yn dod i Gymru ar ben yr hyn sydd gennym yn y gyllideb i fynd i'r afael â coronafeirws? Rwy'n credu y byddem i gyd yn sylweddoli y byddwch o dan bwysau enfawr o bosibl, a bydd cyllideb y GIG o dan bwysau aruthrol os na chewch chi'r cymorth priodol i ymdopi â'r sefyllfa anarferol hon. Felly, pe gallech roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni am yr arian yn y gyllideb ac am unrhyw symiau canlyniadol a ddaw i chi ac i Gymru—. Ac a wnewch chi gadarnhau hefyd y bydd yr arian hwnnw'n cael ei glustnodi ac yn cael ei ddefnyddio o fewn cyllideb y GIG i'r diben a fwriadwyd?
I would welcome any support that the Conservatives can give in terms of ensuring that their colleagues in Westminster do ensure that Wales is funded as much as it needs to be in terms of the coronavirus. The Chancellor was at pains in his opening remarks to say that the coronavirus is something that is not a political issue; it is something that we all have to deal with, and we have to work closely across Governments on. And I would agree with him on that.
In terms of the additional funding, the Chancellor announced a £5 billion emergency response fund for the NHS. So, we don't see any consequentials for that immediately, but what we do know is that that would be a figure of funding that might be available, should it become needed as the coronavirus progresses. So, we don't have a figure yet, and I think that's quite right that we don't have a figure yet, but what we do need is that agile working, that sharing of information to ensure that we do get the funding, as and when we need it.
Buaswn yn croesawu unrhyw gymorth y gall y Ceidwadwyr ei roi o ran gwneud yn siŵr fod eu cymheiriaid yn San Steffan yn sicrhau bod Cymru'n cael ei hariannu i'r graddau sy'n angenrheidiol mewn perthynas â'r coronafeirws. Roedd y Canghellor yn awyddus iawn yn ei sylwadau agoriadol i awgrymu nad yw coronafeirws yn fater gwleidyddol; mae'n rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i bawb ohonom ymdrin ag ef, ac mae'n rhaid inni gydweithio'n agos arno ar draws Llywodraethau. A buaswn yn cytuno ag ef o ran hynny.
O ran yr arian ychwanegol, cyhoeddodd y Canghellor gronfa ymateb i argyfwng gwerth £5 biliwn ar gyfer y GIG. Felly, nid ydym yn gweld unrhyw symiau canlyniadol ar gyfer hynny ar unwaith, ond rydym yn gwybod y byddai hwnnw'n gyllid a allai fod ar gael, pe bai ei angen wrth i'r coronafeirws ddatblygu. Felly, nid oes gennym ffigur eto, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl gywir nad oes gennym ffigur eto, ond rydym angen i bobl weithio'n hyblyg a rhannu gwybodaeth i sicrhau ein bod yn cael yr arian yn ôl yr angen.
Brexit Party spokesperson, Mark Reckless.
Llefarydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Could I ask the finance Minister to explain how her strategy in terms of business rates relief in Wales differs from that being pursued by the UK Government? They announced today that the 50 per cent retail discount that they have next year is going up to 100 per cent and being extended to leisure and hospitality. Is that an approach that she is attracted to?
And the other efforts they have to support small business, some seem to be on the cusp of what's devolved and what's not. For instance, the British business bank start-up loan fund that they're increasing; by virtue of its name, I assume that businesses in Wales are eligible for that, but I do not know as a fact whether they are. And, what sounded like a rate relief measure in the budget is actually not under the business rates relief heading, but comes under a separate small business grant funding heading, but it seems to have been limited to England through making a £2.2 billion payment through English local authorities and then they give £3,000 back to every business that benefits from their small business rate relief. To extend that small business grant funding, is it right that that should be done by the UK Government on an England-only basis, given what's devolved here?
And I don't expect the Minister to announce her decisions for small business rate relief within an hour or two of the UK budget here, but I wonder if she could say something about her strategy and the outcomes and what she's trying to achieve through that and how that differs from Wales to England.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog cyllid egluro sut y mae ei strategaeth mewn perthynas â rhyddhad ardrethi busnes yng Nghymru yn wahanol i strategaeth Llywodraeth y DU? Cyhoeddasant heddiw fod y gostyngiad manwerthu o 50 y cant sydd ganddynt y flwyddyn nesaf yn codi i 100 y cant ac yn cael ei ymestyn i gynnwys meysydd hamdden a lletygarwch. A yw'r dull hwnnw o weithredu at ei dant?
Ac o ran yr ymdrechion eraill sydd ganddynt i gefnogi busnesau bach, mae'n ymddangos bod rhai ar y ffin o ran yr hyn sydd wedi'i ddatganoli a'r hyn nad yw wedi'i ddatganoli. Er enghraifft, maent yn cynyddu cronfa fenthyciad banc busnes Prydain ar gyfer dechrau busnes; o ran ei henw, rwy'n tybio bod busnesau yng Nghymru'n gymwys i gael hwnnw, ond nid wyf yn gwybod hynny'n bendant. Ac nid yw'r hyn a oedd yn swnio fel mesur rhyddhad ardrethi yn y gyllideb yn dod o dan y pennawd rhyddhad ardrethi busnes, mae'n dod o dan gyllid grant ar wahân ar gyfer busnesau bach, ond ymddengys ei fod wedi'i gyfyngu i Loegr gan fod taliad o £2.2 biliwn wedi'i wneud drwy awdurdodau lleol yn Lloegr ac yna maent yn rhoi £3,000 yn ôl i bob busnes sy'n elwa ar eu rhyddhad ardrethi i fusnesau bach. I ymestyn y cyllid grant i fusnesau bach, a yw'n iawn y dylai Llywodraeth y DU wneud hynny ar sail Lloegr yn unig, o ystyried yr hyn sydd wedi'i ddatganoli yma?
Ac nid wyf yn disgwyl i'r Gweinidog gyhoeddi ei phenderfyniadau am ryddhad ardrethi busnesau bach o fewn awr neu ddwy i gyllideb y DU yma, ond tybed a allai ddweud rhywbeth am ei strategaeth a'r canlyniadau a'r hyn y mae'n ceisio ei gyflawni drwy hynny a sut y mae hynny'n wahanol yng Nghymru ac yn Lloegr.
We recognise how important non-domestic rates are in terms of our public services here in Wales. They contribute more than £1 billion to local government and to police services, and those are services that all businesses will benefit from in some way. We do take a different approach here in Wales, because our tax base is different. So, in Wales, the average rateable value is around £20,000, whereas in England, it's around £32,000. So, it's right, I think, that our rates and our reliefs do reflect those differences and the unique circumstances that we have here in Wales.
More than 70,000 ratepayers in Wales receive rate relief, so that means that half of all businesses pay no rates at all, so that's where England are moving to. So, they're moving in our direction. And I do understand when businesses are looking across the border at different types of relief, they don't always do so in the context of their own situation. So, when their rateable value is significantly lower, it's important to reflect on the proportion of the support that we're able to offer. We have a wide range of reliefs for businesses and that's something I'm wondering actually if we need to start pulling some of those together. We do have the extension of the high street and retail relief scheme into next year. So, that was an announcement that I was able to make in January of an extra £26.6 million for NDR support and that's in addition to the £230 million that we already provide through our existing relief to help ratepayers with their bills. And that's about supporting all retailers with a rateable value of up to £50,000, and that scheme will support around 15,000 ratepayers. So, we have a variety of schemes targeted at different industries, but obviously, I'll be looking closely at any consequentials that might come and how they might come.
Rydym yn cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw ardrethi annomestig mewn perthynas â'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru. Maent yn cyfrannu mwy na £1 biliwn i lywodraeth leol a gwasanaethau'r heddlu, ac mae'r rheini'n wasanaethau y bydd pob busnes yn elwa arnynt mewn rhyw ffordd. Mae gennym agwedd wahanol yma yng Nghymru, gan fod ein sylfaen drethi yn wahanol. Felly, yng Nghymru, tua £20,000 yw'r gwerth ardrethol ar gyfartaledd, ond yn Lloegr mae oddeutu £32,000. Felly, mae'n iawn, rwy'n credu, fod ein hardrethi a'n rhyddhad yn adlewyrchu'r gwahaniaethau hynny a'r amgylchiadau unigryw sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru.
Mae mwy na 70,000 o drethdalwyr yng Nghymru yn cael rhyddhad ardrethi, felly mae hynny'n golygu nad yw hanner yr holl fusnesau'n talu unrhyw ardrethi o gwbl, felly dyna ble y mae Lloegr yn ceisio mynd. Felly, maent yn symud i'n cyfeiriad ni. Ac rwy'n deall pan fydd busnesau'n edrych dros y ffin ar wahanol fathau o ryddhad ardrethi, nid ydynt bob amser yn gwneud hynny yng nghyd-destun eu sefyllfa eu hunain. Felly, pan fydd eu gwerth ardrethol yn sylweddol is, mae'n bwysig ystyried y gyfran o gymorth y gallwn ei chynnig. Mae gennym ystod eang o ryddhad ardrethi ar gyfer busnesau ac rwy'n ystyried a oes angen inni ddechrau tynnu rhai o'r rhain at ei gilydd. Mae cynllun rhyddhad ardrethi'r stryd fawr a manwerthu wedi'i ymestyn i'r flwyddyn nesaf. Felly, roedd hwnnw'n gyhoeddiad y llwyddais i'w wneud ym mis Ionawr ynglŷn â £26.6 miliwn yn ychwanegol ar gyfer cymorth gydag ardrethi annomestig ac mae hwnnw'n ychwanegol at y £230 miliwn rydym eisoes yn ei ddarparu drwy ein rhyddhad ardrethi presennol i helpu trethdalwyr gyda'u biliau. Ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â chefnogi'r holl fanwerthwyr sydd â gwerth ardrethol o hyd at £50,000, a bydd y cynllun hwnnw'n cefnogi tua 15,000 o dalwyr ardrethi. Felly, mae gennym amrywiaeth o gynlluniau wedi'u targedu at wahanol ddiwydiannau, ond yn amlwg, byddaf yn edrych yn ofalus ar unrhyw symiau canlyniadol a allai ddod a sut y gallent ddod.
Of course, there may be a case for doing it somewhat differently in Wales, but we have a £360 million consequential for next year just announced, and the retail but also the hospitality and leisure businesses are public-facing businesses that we may expect to be particularly affected by coronavirus and all the implications of that. And it does strike me that what the Chancellor has announced at the UK level for England seems a pretty effective way of getting money to those businesses, including those that you didn't mention any view on, those who get the small business rate relief in England, who get £3,000 channelled to them for each business through local authority. That's going to make a very significant difference in mitigating some of the impacts for many of those businesses. And I would encourage the Minister, as she absorbs what's happened in the budget at a UK level, but also when she considers the £360 million and how that pans out, compared to perhaps what she was expecting or not expecting to be in this budget, I do hope that those business rate reliefs will be an area where she can deploy some of that money.
I wonder, could I also ask about the Development Bank of Wales? I mentioned the British Business Bank start-up loans and can confirm actually that they are going to be eligible for all UK businesses—those start-up loans and the increase. But how do they interface with what's available from the Wales development bank? Is there a good deal of overlap? Can businesses benefit from both sources or do they have to choose one or the other? And what role does she see for the Wales development bank in mitigating the impact of the coronavirus? Presumably, for those businesses it has a relationship with already it should be in a good position to provide working capital support where that's necessary. But what's going to happen for its very substantial property development loans, which have been recycled again and again quite successfully to date, if developers find it difficult to sell on those properties? Isn't there a danger that that money will have a less positive impact for the economy at exactly the same time that coronavirus hits, if those developers aren't available to recycle and pay back the money as quickly as they otherwise would have? And can there be any role for the Wales development bank in supporting other businesses specifically for the coronavirus outbreak and working capital needs when it doesn't have that existing business relationship and knowledge of their working capital needs?
Wrth gwrs, efallai fod dadl dros wneud hynny ychydig yn wahanol yng Nghymru, ond mae gennym swm canlyniadol o £360 miliwn ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf wedi'i gyhoeddi, ac mae'r busnesau manwerthu, yn ogystal â'r busnesau lletygarwch a hamdden, yn fusnesau sydd mewn cysylltiad uniongyrchol â'r cyhoedd a byddem yn disgwyl iddynt gael eu heffeithio'n arbennig gan y coronafeirws a holl oblygiadau hynny. Ac mae'r hyn y mae'r Canghellor wedi'i gyhoeddi ar lefel y DU ar gyfer Lloegr yn ymddangos i mi yn ffordd eithaf effeithiol o gael arian i'r busnesau hynny, gan gynnwys y rhai na roesoch unrhyw farn arnynt, y rhai sy'n cael y rhyddhad ardrethi i fusnesau bach yn Lloegr, sy'n cael £3,000 i bob busnes drwy'r awdurdod lleol. Mae hynny'n mynd i wneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol iawn o ran lliniaru rhai o'r effeithiau i lawer o'r busnesau hynny. A buaswn yn annog y Gweinidog, wrth iddi amsugno'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn y gyllideb ar lefel y DU, ond hefyd wrth iddi ystyried y £360 miliwn a beth a ddaw o hwnnw, o gymharu â'r hyn roedd yn disgwyl ei weld neu'r hyn nad oedd yn disgwyl ei weld yn y gyllideb hon o bosibl, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd rhyddhad ardrethi busnes yn faes lle y gall ddefnyddio rhywfaint o'r arian hwnnw.
Tybed a gaf fi ofyn am Fanc Datblygu Cymru hefyd? Soniais am gronfa fenthyciad Banc Busnes Prydain ar gyfer dechrau busnes a gallaf gadarnhau y byddant yn gymwys i bob busnes yn y DU—y benthyciadau dechrau busnes a'r cynnydd. Ond sut y maent yn cysylltu â'r hyn sydd ar gael gan fanc datblygu Cymru? A oes llawer o orgyffwrdd? A all busnesau elwa o'r ddwy ffynhonnell neu a oes rhaid iddynt ddewis y naill neu'r llall? A pha rôl y mae hi'n ei gweld ar gyfer banc datblygu Cymru ar gyfer lliniaru effaith y coronafeirws? Dylai'r busnesau y mae ganddo berthynas â hwy eisoes fod mewn sefyllfa dda i ddarparu cymorth cyfalaf gweithio pan fo hynny'n angenrheidiol. Ond beth sy'n digwydd i'w fenthyciadau datblygu eiddo sylweddol iawn, sydd wedi cael eu hailgylchu dro ar ôl tro ac sydd wedi bod yn eithaf llwyddiannus hyd yma, os yw datblygwyr yn ei chael hi'n anodd gwerthu'r eiddo hwnnw ymlaen? Onid oes perygl y bydd yr arian hwnnw'n cael effaith lai cadarnhaol ar yr economi ar yr un adeg yn union ag y mae coronafeirws yn taro, os nad yw'r datblygwyr hynny ar gael i ailgylchu a thalu'r arian yn ôl mor gyflym ag y byddent wedi'i wneud fel arall? Ac a oes unrhyw rôl i fanc datblygu Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau eraill yn benodol ar gyfer coronafeirws ac anghenion cyfalaf gweithio pan nad oes ganddo'r berthynas fusnes honno'n barod na gwybodaeth am eu hanghenion cyfalaf gweithio?
Well, the Wales development bank sits within the portfolio of my colleague the Minister for economy, but I do know that it has done really sterling work in terms of helping to support businesses prepare for Brexit. And in many ways, this is about helping businesses prepare for something difficult, so we can learn some of those same lessons.
It's been really important in terms of those property development loans, but also support for microbusinesses in terms of supporting them to grow, if they wish to grow. So, I think there are opportunities really to use those links that we have with those individual businesses to potentially offer support and advice, and this is one of the joys of being a small nation at difficult times, namely that you do have those individual relationships and you do have those opportunities to share information and advice.
But I know that Ken Skates will be looking closely at what role the Wales development bank can play in terms of supporting businesses as we face coronavirus. And I know that colleagues across Government will be having more to say about their own individual contributions to the effort in due course.
Wel, mae banc datblygu Cymru yn rhan o bortffolio fy nghyd-Aelod, Gweinidog yr economi, ond rwy'n gwybod ei fod wedi gwneud gwaith rhagorol yn helpu i gynorthwyo busnesau i baratoi ar gyfer Brexit. Ac mewn sawl ffordd, mae hyn yn ymwneud â helpu busnesau i baratoi ar gyfer rhywbeth anodd, felly gallwn ddysgu rhai o'r un gwersi.
Mae wedi bod yn bwysig iawn o ran y benthyciadau datblygu eiddo hynny, ond hefyd o ran cymorth i ficrofusnesau i'w cynorthwyo i dyfu, os ydynt yn dymuno tyfu. Felly, credaf fod cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r cysylltiadau hynny sydd gennym â'r busnesau unigol hynny i gynnig cymorth a chyngor, o bosibl, a dyma un o'r pethau da am fod yn genedl fach ar adegau anodd, sef bod gennych y cysylltiadau unigol hynny a'r cyfleoedd hynny i rannu gwybodaeth a chyngor.
Ond rwy'n gwybod y bydd Ken Skates yn edrych yn ofalus ar ba rôl y gall banc datblygu Cymru ei chwarae yn cefnogi busnesau wrth inni wynebu coronafeirws. A gwn y bydd gan gyd-Aelodau ar draws y Llywodraeth fwy i'w ddweud am eu cyfraniadau unigol eu hunain i'r ymdrech maes o law.
3. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig ynghylch mynediad at gymorth ariannol brys i drigolion y mae'r llifogydd diweddar wedi effeithio arnynt? OAQ55202
3. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs regarding access to emergency financial support for residents affected by recent flooding? OAQ55202
Homes affected during recent storms will receive up to £1,000 from Welsh Government. We are asking those impacted to contact their local authority emergency support teams in the first instance, to ensure they can access support as quickly as possible.
Bydd cartrefi yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn ystod y stormydd diweddar yn derbyn hyd at £1,000 gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rydym yn gofyn i'r rheini yr effeithiwyd arnynt i gysylltu â thimau cymorth brys eu hawdurdod lleol yn y lle cyntaf, i sicrhau y gallant gael cymorth cyn gynted â phosibl.
Thank you. As I've mentioned here numerous times, storm Ciara very sadly hit my constituency on 9 February 2020. Now an emergency funding relief scheme was announced on 18 February, and the First Minister stated,
'We will make urgent financial support available to people whose homes have been flooded and, in particular, help families who do not have insurance cover'.
Now, four weeks later, I am still being contacted by a number of my constituents who have filled in the appropriate forms and not heard a thing, and in a month, that's not good. So they've not received a penny. Now, on Sunday Politics, I was really heartened to hear you say that all those affected have now received their £500. Well, as I mentioned, I've got a number that haven't, so what I thought I might do, outside the Chamber, is write to you directly with details of those, so that maybe—. But are you aware of a problem in the processing of these application forms? And I have raised it with the local authority, who say, 'Well, we've done our part.' They've filled the forms in, we've sent them off, but there is this quite long delay, and I also have one lady who's not been offered the £500. She's been offered £80 but has suffered thousands of pounds' worth of damage, so I'm a bit worried about the criteria. Will you look into the processes? Because all I'm asking for is some fairness and balance for my constituents, so that they have something to help them get back on their feet after this awful flooding on 9 February.
Diolch. Fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud yma droeon, yn dra anffodus cafodd fy etholaeth ei tharo gan storm Ciara ar 9 Chwefror 2020. Cyhoeddwyd cynllun argyfwng ar gyfer rhyddhad ardrethi ar 18 Chwefror, a dywedodd y Prif Weinidog,
'Byddwn yn sicrhau bod cymorth ariannol brys ar gael i bobl sydd â chartrefi wedi eu dinistrio oherwydd y llifogydd ac, yn benodol, yn helpu teuluoedd sydd heb yswiriant.'
Nawr, bedair wythnos yn ddiweddarach, mae nifer o fy etholwyr yn dal i gysylltu â mi i ddweud eu bod wedi llenwi'r ffurflenni priodol ond heb glywed unrhyw beth, ac mewn mis, nid yw hynny'n dda. Felly nid ydynt wedi cael ceiniog. Nawr, ar Sunday Politics, roeddwn yn falch iawn o'ch clywed yn dweud bod pawb yr effeithiwyd arnynt wedi cael eu £500 erbyn hyn. Wel, fel y soniais, mae gennyf nifer nad ydynt wedi'i gael, felly rwy'n credu mai'r hyn rwyf am ei wneud, y tu allan i'r Siambr, yw ysgrifennu atoch yn uniongyrchol gyda manylion y rheini, felly efallai—. Ond a ydych yn ymwybodol o broblem gyda phrosesu'r ffurflenni cais? Ac rwyf wedi codi'r mater gyda'r awdurdod lleol, sy'n dweud, 'Wel, rydym wedi gwneud ein rhan ni.' Maent wedi llenwi'r ffurflenni, rydym wedi eu hanfon, ond mae oedi eithaf hir wedi bod, ac mae gennyf un ddynes hefyd sydd heb gael cynnig y £500. Maent wedi cynnig £80 iddi ond mae wedi dioddef gwerth miloedd o bunnoedd o ddifrod, felly rwy'n poeni rhywfaint am y meini prawf. A wnewch chi edrych ar y prosesau? Oherwydd y cyfan rwy'n gofyn amdano yw rhywfaint o degwch a chydbwysedd i fy etholwyr, fel bod ganddynt rywbeth i'w helpu yn ôl ar eu traed yn dilyn y llifogydd ofnadwy hyn ar 9 Chwefror.
I share any concern that people are waiting too long to receive their funding. Most applications to the discretionary assistance fund are processed within 24 hours, so individuals should have the funding within their bank accounts very quickly indeed.
I know that, as of 4 March, there were 278 awards made at £500, and 266 awards made at £1,000, so representing over a total of £405,000. So, I know that DAF is looking at verifying independent claims using data provided by local authorities, so what the individuals really need is for those local authorities to verify and to vouch for the fact that those individual homes have been affected by flooding, and that should be enough for the discretionary assistance fund. So, in the first instance, it would be about the local authority just confirming to DAF that those households have been affected, and then that should make things move more quickly. But of course, I'm keen to provide assistance if I can.
Rwyf finnau'n poeni bod pobl yn aros yn rhy hir i gael eu harian. Caiff y rhan fwyaf o geisiadau i'r gronfa cymorth dewisol eu prosesu o fewn 24 awr, felly dylai unigolion gael yr arian yn eu cyfrifon banc yn gyflym iawn yn wir.
Ar 4 Mawrth, gwn fod 278 o ddyfarniadau £500 wedi'u gwneud, a 266 o ddyfarniadau £1000, sy'n gyfanswm o £405,000. Felly, gwn fod y gronfa cymorth dewisol yn ystyried gwirio hawliadau annibynnol drwy ddefnyddio data a ddarperir gan awdurdodau lleol, felly yr hyn y mae unigolion ei angen, mewn gwirionedd, yw i'r awdurdodau lleol hynny wirio a chadarnhau bod llifogydd wedi effeithio ar y cartrefi unigol hynny, a dylai hynny fod yn ddigon i'r gronfa cymorth dewisol. Felly, yn y lle cyntaf, byddai angen i'r awdurdod lleol gadarnhau i'r gronfa cymorth dewisol fod yr aelwydydd hynny wedi cael eu heffeithio, a dylai hynny wneud i bethau symud yn gynt. Ond wrth gwrs, rwy'n awyddus i roi cymorth os gallaf.
I was encouraged by the response of the First Minister yesterday, who indicated a willingness to consider adopting a scheme similar to the property resilience scheme that operates in England. This allows flood-hit homes and businesses to apply for up to £5,000 to help protect against future flooding. Yet, an answer that I had from the environment Minister this morning says that those households would not be getting a similar scheme in Wales.
I also asked the environment Minister a couple of weeks ago about help for homes and businesses with the cost of energy—dehumidifiers and industrial heaters, essential equipment when drying out a flood-hit property, are really expensive to run. She said that she would look at it, and I quote,
'as part of our ongoing response'.
Can you please let me know what discussions have taken place with regard to providing financial assistance, both for household flood-resilience measures, and for help with energy costs above and beyond what has already been announced to flood-hit homes and businesses? You will be aware, Minister, that there is a great amount of need out there, so can you tell us what additional resources you are making available to meet this need?
Cefais fy nghalonogi gan ymateb y Prif Weinidog ddoe, wrth iddo ddangos parodrwydd i ystyried mabwysiadu cynllun tebyg i'r cynllun cydnerthedd eiddo sy'n weithredol yn Lloegr. Mae'n caniatáu i gartrefi a busnesau sy'n dioddef llifogydd wneud cais am hyd at £5,000 i helpu i ddiogelu rhag llifogydd yn y dyfodol. Eto i gyd, dywedodd Gweinidog yr amgylchedd wrthyf y bore yma na fyddai'r aelwydydd hynny'n cael cynllun tebyg yng Nghymru.
Gofynnais hefyd i Weinidog yr amgylchedd ychydig wythnosau'n ôl am gymorth i gartrefi a busnesau gyda chost ynni—mae dadleithyddion a gwresogyddion diwydiannol, offer hanfodol wrth sychu eiddo sydd wedi dioddef llifogydd, yn ddrud iawn i'w gweithredu. Dywedodd y byddai'n edrych ar y mater, a dyfynnaf,
'yn rhan o'n hymateb parhaus'.
A fyddech cystal â rhoi gwybod imi pa drafodaethau sydd wedi'u cynnal o ran darparu cymorth ariannol, ar gyfer mesurau i wrthsefyll llifogydd yn y cartref, ac i gael cymorth i dalu costau ynni y tu hwnt i'r hyn a gyhoeddwyd eisoes ar gyfer cartrefi a busnesau sy'n dioddef llifogydd? Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, Weinidog, fod llawer iawn o angen yn bodoli, felly a allwch ddweud wrthym pa adnoddau ychwanegol rydych yn eu darparu i ddiwallu'r angen hwnnw?
Well, I've had discussions with the UK Government about flooding, so you won't see announcements particularly related to Wales in the budget for flooding today. What you will see is an announcement of £120 million for repairs and £200 million directly to local communities for flood resilience. Now, we don't understand yet what the consequential funding might be that flows from that, but we've been really clear that our first and most important thought was dealing with the immediate crisis, and then there will of course be an ongoing piece of work in terms of ensuring community resilience in the future.
I'm hoping that there will be additional funding on top of what's announced in the budget today coming to Wales. That's certainly the discussion that we've been able to have with UK Government, and they've recognised that the situation here in Wales was exceptional, although I was disappointed not to hear Wales mentioned amongst the list of affected places in the Chancellor's statement today.
But these might be issues that the Minister for environment will prioritise in terms of the future, but we haven't yet got to the point where we're setting out the longer term stuff, so these will be discussions that I've yet to have, although the Minister might well be having those discussions with her officials.
Wel, rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â llifogydd, felly ni fyddwch yn gweld cyhoeddiadau sy'n ymwneud yn benodol â Chymru yn y gyllideb ar gyfer llifogydd heddiw. Yr hyn a welwch yw cyhoeddiad o £120 miliwn am atgyweiriadau a £200 miliwn yn uniongyrchol i gymunedau lleol ar gyfer gwrthsefyll llifogydd. Nawr, nid ydym yn deall eto faint o arian canlyniadol a allai ddeillio o hynny, ond rydym wedi bod yn glir iawn mai ein hystyriaeth gyntaf, a'r un bwysicaf i ni, oedd mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng uniongyrchol, ac yna, wrth gwrs, bydd gwaith parhaus yn mynd rhagddo er mwyn sicrhau cydnerthedd cymunedol yn y dyfodol.
Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd arian ychwanegol, ar ben yr hyn sydd wedi cael ei gyhoeddi yn y gyllideb heddiw, yn dod i Gymru. Dyna'n sicr y drafodaeth rydym wedi gallu ei chael gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ac maent wedi cydnabod bod y sefyllfa yma yng Nghymru yn anarferol, er fy mod yn siomedig na chlywais Gymru'n cael ei chrybwyll yn y rhestr o leoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn natganiad y Canghellor heddiw.
Ond gallai'r rhain fod yn faterion y bydd Gweinidog yr amgylchedd yn eu blaenoriaethu yn y dyfodol, ond nid ydym wedi cyrraedd man lle rydym yn trafod materion mwy hirdymor, felly bydd y rhain yn drafodaethau rwyf eto i'w cael, er y gallai'r Gweinidog fod yn cael y trafodaethau hynny gyda'i swyddogion.
Trefnydd, I wonder whether you could update us as to what the situation is with regard to the funding of major infrastructure problems. I know there has been an issue raised by the UK Government in terms of sending details and so on, but, of course, much of the infrastructure damage, some of it's below water, some of it isn't accessible and so on, but certainly Rhondda Cynon Taf is actually putting a lot of its reserves into actually carrying out that work, and, obviously, the Welsh Government is giving support as well. But, the key thing has to be that the money that we were told at UK Government level would be passported to Wales is actually quite vital now, in terms of the commitment that whatever the level of infrastructure damage is, we know that those major structure problems will have that additional financial resource from the UK Government. Have there been any further discussions? Has there been any indication that there will be a guarantee that the funds we need will be forthcoming when we need them in order to carry out those infrastructure reconstructions and repairs?
Drefnydd, tybed a allech roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni ar y sefyllfa mewn perthynas ag ariannu problemau seilwaith mawr? Rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi codi mater anfon manylion ac yn y blaen, ond wrth gwrs, mae llawer o'r difrod i'r seilwaith, mae rhywfaint ohono o dan ddŵr, mae rhywfaint ohono'n anhygyrch ac yn y blaen, ond yn sicr mae Rhondda Cynon Taf yn defnyddio llawer o'i chronfeydd wrth gefn i wneud y gwaith hwnnw, ac yn amlwg, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi cymorth hefyd. Ond y peth allweddol yw bod yr arian y dywedwyd wrthym ar lefel Llywodraeth y DU y byddai'n cael ei drosglwyddo i Gymru yn eithaf hanfodol yn awr, o ran yr ymrwymiad, beth bynnag yw lefel y difrod i'r seilwaith, ein bod yn gwybod y bydd yr arian ychwanegol hwnnw gan Lywodraeth y DU yn mynd tuag at y problemau strwythurol mawr hynny. A fu unrhyw drafodaethau pellach? A oes unrhyw awgrym y bydd sicrwydd y bydd yr arian sydd ei angen arnom yn dod i ni pan fyddwn ei angen er mwyn gwneud y gwaith ailadeiladu ac ac atgyweirio ar y seilwaith?
Well, the Prime Minister committed that funding would be passported to Wales to help us deal with the flooding, and we absolutely will hold him to that. Mick Antoniw is completely right to say that we don't yet know the scale of the challenge ahead of us, in terms of the recovery, because so much of that structural surveying work has yet to be done. Many of the areas that need to be surveyed are inaccessible at the moment. So, there's a lot of work to be done in terms of assessing and coming to an understanding of what the future figure might be.
We've let the UK Government know that we're probably talking about hundreds of millions, rather than tens of millions. I know I've heard figures around £180 million, but local authorities are all the time gathering further understanding. So, I think it will be several months before we can understand the full impact, in terms of spend for recovery, but we will be, certainly, holding the Prime Minister to account for his promise.
Wel, ymrwymodd Prif Weinidog y DU i roi cyllid i Gymru i'n helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r llifogydd, ac yn sicr, byddwn yn ei ddal at ei air. Mae Mick Antoniw yn hollol gywir i ddweud nad ydym yn gwybod eto beth yw maint yr her sydd o'n blaenau, o ran y gwaith adfer, gan fod cymaint o'r gwaith tirfesur strwythurol angen ei wneud o hyd. Mae llawer o'r mannau y mae angen eu harolygu yn anhygyrch ar hyn o bryd. Felly, mae llawer o waith i'w wneud ar asesu a deall yr hyn y gallai'r ffigur fod yn y dyfodol.
Rydym wedi gadael i Lywodraeth y DU wybod ein bod yn sôn mae'n debyg am gannoedd o filiynau, yn hytrach na degau o filiynau. Rwy'n gwybod fy mod wedi clywed ffigurau o gwmpas £180 miliwn, ond mae awdurdodau lleol yn casglu gwybodaeth bellach drwy'r amser. Felly, nid wyf yn credu y byddwn yn deall yr effaith lawn am fisoedd o ran y gwariant ar waith adfer, ond yn sicr, byddwn yn dal y Prif Weinidog at ei air.
4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Changhellor y DU cyn cyhoeddi cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU? OAQ55234
4. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Chancellor prior to the publication of the UK Government's budget? OAQ55234
I am in regular contact with UK Treasury Ministers about a range of financial issues. Ahead of the budget, I wrote to the Chancellor setting out our priorities for Wales, including addressing regional inequality and responding to the climate change emergency.
Rwyf mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â Gweinidogion Trysorlys y DU ynghylch amrywiaeth o faterion ariannol. Cyn y gyllideb, ysgrifennais at y Canghellor yn nodi ein blaenoriaethau ar gyfer Cymru, gan gynnwys mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb rhanbarthol ac ymateb i'r argyfwng newid hinsawdd.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. I think it's important that after 10 years we've seen austerity hit our local councils very hard. The Welsh Government has made tremendous efforts to actually minimise the impact austerity from Westminster has had on local authorities, yet we've seen local government in England continually suffering as a consequence of the cuts over there. In this budget, it's not quite clear yet as to how much of a consequential we will have as a result of the budget and the increase, if any, to local councils in England, but can you give assurances that if any consequential comes as a rise of funding to authorities in England that that will be passported straight to local authorities, because they are facing difficult times? We understand that coronavirus is among many other issues. They'll also face challenges as a consequence of coronavirus, because of the services—social services and community services—they often provide. It is important, therefore, that we support them as much as possible. If consequentials come, they should get it.
Diolch ichi am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig nodi ein bod, ar ôl 10 mlynedd, wedi gweld cyni yn taro ein cynghorau lleol yn galed iawn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud ymdrechion aruthrol i leihau'r effaith y mae cyni San Steffan wedi'i chael ar awdurdodau lleol, ac eto rydym wedi gweld llywodraeth leol yn Lloegr yn dioddef yn barhaus o ganlyniad i'r toriadau yno. Yn y gyllideb hon, nid yw'n gwbl glir eto faint o arian canlyniadol a fydd gennym, os o gwbl, o ganlyniad i'r gyllideb a'r cynnydd i gynghorau lleol yn Lloegr, ond a allwch roi sicrwydd, os daw unrhyw swm canlyniadol yn sgil cynnydd yn y cyllid i awdurdodau yn Lloegr, y bydd hwnnw'n cael ei drosglwyddo'n syth i awdurdodau lleol, oherwydd maent yn wynebu cyfnod anodd? Deallwn fod coronafeirws yn un ymhlith llawer o broblemau eraill. Byddant hefyd yn wynebu heriau o ganlyniad i'r coronafeirws, oherwydd y gwasanaethau—gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a gwasanaethau cymunedol—y maent yn aml yn eu darparu. Mae'n bwysig, felly, ein bod yn eu cefnogi gymaint ag y bo modd. Os daw symiau canlyniadol, hwy a ddylai eu cael.
As David Rees recognises, we haven't yet understood the full picture in terms of where those consequentials might be. I would offer one word of caution in the sense that consequentials are given but they're also taken away, so that is an important consideration in terms of when and how funding is passported. But, as we come to a better understanding of the detail that we will have, then, certainly, there will be further announcements to be made. I have given a commitment that I will provide a written statement as soon as possible. So, after questions today, I intend to continue on that to give colleagues some further information.
In terms of the kind of figures that we have been provided with—we do need to check some of them, because they don't all match up—we're looking in the region of £122 million of revenue and around, or at least, £218 million of capital. But, of course, we have to remember that we had £100 million of capital taken off us just a few weeks ago, so £100 million of that new money today will have to go to plug that gap in our plans, which we have published and voted on for the year ahead. So, there is some of that to understand, and, also, we've had £3 million of financial transactions capital for the next financial year as well. So, as soon as we come to a better understanding, we will be able to make some further announcements on spend for next year.
Fel y mae David Rees yn cydnabod, nid ydym eto wedi deall y darlun llawn o ran lle gallai'r symiau canlyniadol hynny fod. Buaswn yn cynnig un gair o rybudd yn yr ystyr fod symiau canlyniadol yn cael eu rhoi ond maent hefyd yn cael eu tynnu'n ôl, felly mae honno'n ystyriaeth bwysig o ran pryd a sut y caiff arian ei drosglwyddo. Ond wrth inni ddechrau deall y manylion a fydd gennym yn well, yn sicr, bydd cyhoeddiadau pellach i'w gwneud. Rwyf wedi addo y byddaf yn darparu datganiad ysgrifenedig cyn gynted ag sy'n bosibl. Felly, ar ôl y cwestiynau heddiw, rwy'n bwriadu parhau i roi rhagor o wybodaeth i fy nghyd-Aelodau.
O ran y math o ffigurau rydym wedi'u cael—mae angen inni wirio rhai ohonynt, gan nad yw pob un ohonynt yn cyfateb—rydym yn edrych ar oddeutu £122 miliwn o refeniw ac o gwmpas, neu o leiaf, £218 miliwn o gyfalaf. Ond wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid inni gofio ein bod wedi cael £100 miliwn o gyfalaf wedi'i dynnu'n ôl oddi wrthym ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, felly bydd yn rhaid i £100 miliwn o'r arian newydd hwnnw heddiw lenwi'r bwlch hwnnw yn y cynlluniau a gyhoeddwyd gennym ac y pleidleisiwyd arnynt ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod. Felly, mae rhywfaint o hynny i'w ddeall, ac rydym hefyd wedi cael £3 miliwn o gyfalaf trafodion ariannol ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Felly, cyn gynted ag y bydd gennym fwy wybodaeth, byddwn yn gallu gwneud rhagor o gyhoeddiadau ar wariant ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf.
Minister, I know that the coronavirus will have affected any pre-budget conversations you've had with UK Ministers, but I wonder, when you were having those discussions, what you thought about the various trade sector deals that are important to UK Government, and from which Wales can directly benefit in some cases, notably the tourism sector deal. I think you mentioned the hospitality sector a bit earlier on. So, can you tell me a little bit about those conversations and whether you're expecting anything in this budget announcement in relation to any steel sector deal—whether you've got any heads up on that? A brief question from me, I know, but it's important. Thank you.
Weinidog, rwy'n gwybod y bydd y coronafeirws wedi effeithio ar unrhyw sgyrsiau rhag-gyllidebol rydych wedi'u cael gyda Gweinidogion y DU, ond pan oeddech yn cael y trafodaethau hynny, tybed beth oedd eich barn ar y cytundebau sector masnach amrywiol sy'n bwysig i Lywodraeth y DU, ac y gall Cymru elwa'n uniongyrchol ohonynt mewn rhai achosion, yn enwedig cytundeb y sector twristiaeth. Rwy'n credu eich bod wedi sôn am y sector lletygarwch ychydig yn gynharach. Felly, a allwch ddweud ychydig wrthyf am y sgyrsiau hynny ac a ydych yn disgwyl unrhyw beth yng nghyhoeddiad y gyllideb mewn perthynas ag unrhyw gytundeb sector dur—a oes gennych unrhyw sylw ar hynny? Cwestiwn byr gennyf fi, rwy'n gwybod, ond mae'n bwysig. Diolch.
There were several things that were obvious by their absence, I think, in the Chancellor's budget today, one of which was any mention of the steel industry. There was no clarity on rail spend. We had references to rail spend in Manchester, Leeds and other areas—Darlington—but nothing for Wales. And there were no real research and development commitments for us in Wales, and it was very unambitious, I think, in terms of tackling the climate emergency. So, there was lots there that I hope was obvious by its absence, steel being one of those areas, but we do continue to work with the UK Government. So, for example, on the future of the automotive industry, that's an area where we both have particular interests, and Welsh Government is particularly keen on developing that sector. So, Ken Slates is leading on some work in terms of how we can best ensure that investment that is brought to the UK does also feed through across to Wales.
Roedd sawl peth yn amlwg drwy eu habsenoldeb, rwy'n credu, yng nghyllideb y Canghellor heddiw, ac un ohonynt oedd unrhyw gyfeiriad at y diwydiant dur. Ni chafwyd unrhyw eglurder ynglŷn â gwariant ar reilffyrdd. Cawsom gyfeiriadau at wariant ar reilffyrdd ym Manceinion, Leeds ac ardaloedd eraill—Darlington—ond dim byd i Gymru. Ac nid oedd unrhyw ymrwymiadau ymchwil a datblygu go iawn i ni yng Nghymru, ac nid oedd yn ddigon uchelgeisiol, yn fy marn i, o ran mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd. Felly, roedd llawer o bethau a oedd, gobeithio, yn amlwg drwy eu habsenoldeb, ac roedd dur yn un o'r meysydd hynny, ond rydym yn dal i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Felly, er enghraifft, ar ddyfodol y diwydiant modurol, mae hwnnw'n faes sydd o ddiddordeb arbennig i'r ddwy Lywodraeth, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn arbennig o awyddus i ddatblygu'r sector hwnnw. Felly, mae Ken Skates yn arwain ar rywfaint o waith ar y ffordd orau o sicrhau bod buddsoddiad a ddaw i'r DU hefyd yn bwydo drwodd i Gymru.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch unrhyw gyllid ychwanegol a fydd yn cael ei ddarparu i Lywodraeth Cymru i ymdrin â'r difrod a achoswyd gan storm Ciara a storm Dennis? OAQ55204
5. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding any additional funding that will be provided to the Welsh Government to deal with damage caused by storms Ciara and Dennis? OAQ55204
I am in regular contact with UK Treasury Ministers about securing the additional funding we need to respond to the unprecedented impact across Wales of the recent storms.
Rwy'n cysylltu'n rheolaidd â Gweinidogion Trysorlys y DU ynghylch sicrhau'r cyllid ychwanegol sydd ei angen arnom i ymateb i effeithiau digyffelyb y stormydd diweddar ledled Cymru.
Thank you for that answer, Minister, and thank you for the submission that you made to the UK Government regarding the budget. You made a number of important points regarding regional and national inequalities across the UK. You talked about welfare reform and the need for greater co-operation between the UK and Welsh Governments to deliver better social care in the future.
Could I, however, focus my question on the spending pressures from recent storms? In the preliminary information I've received both from Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly county borough councils, I can see that there is a need for significant spend in the constituency in order to overcome the impact of the storms, and I know from contributions from colleagues in the Chamber today that this is also true in other areas. Given the previous answers that you gave to other Members this afternoon, I think I'm right in assuming that you've not yet heard anything from today's budget that shows that the UK Government will finally actually step up to the mark and help us to invest in meeting both those current spending pressures and the future challenges facing Wales. Would you agree with me that, given the spending announcements from today's budget, this does finally confirm what we've always known, and that is that the last 10 years of Tory austerity and the hardship that that has brought to many of my constituents was always a policy of choice and not of necessity?
Finally, Minister, like me, do you wonder how the party of fiscal responsibility has managed to borrow £800 billion in the last nine years, almost double what Labour ever borrowed in its 33 years in Government?
Diolch ichi am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog, a diolch ichi am y cyflwyniad a wnaethoch i Lywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r gyllideb. Gwnaethoch nifer o bwyntiau pwysig ynghylch anghydraddoldebau rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol ledled y DU. Fe sonioch chi am ddiwygio lles a'r angen am fwy o gydweithredu rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu gwell gofal cymdeithasol yn y dyfodol.
Ond a gaf fi ganolbwyntio fy nghwestiwn ar y pwysau gwariant yn sgil y stormydd diweddar? Yn y wybodaeth ragarweiniol a gefais gan gynghorau bwrdeistref sirol Merthyr Tudful a Chaerffili, gallaf weld bod angen gwariant sylweddol yn yr etholaeth er mwyn goresgyn effaith y stormydd, ac rwy'n gwybod o gyfraniadau gan gyd-Aelodau yn y Siambr heddiw fod hyn yn wir mewn ardaloedd eraill hefyd. O ystyried yr atebion blaenorol a roesoch i Aelodau eraill y prynhawn yma, credaf fy mod yn iawn i gymryd nad ydych wedi clywed unrhyw beth yn y gyllideb heddiw sy'n dangos y bydd Llywodraeth y DU, o'r diwedd, yn camu i'r adwy ac yn ein helpu i fuddsoddi yn y gwaith o leddfu'r pwysau gwariant presennol a'r heriau a fydd yn wynebu Cymru yn y dyfodol. A fyddech yn cytuno â mi, o ystyried y cyhoeddiadau gwariant o'r gyllideb heddiw, fod hyn yn cadarnhau'n derfynol yr hyn rydym wedi'i wybod erioed, sef bod y 10 mlynedd diwethaf o gyni Torïaidd, a'r caledi a wynebodd llawer o fy etholwyr yn ei sgil, bob amser wedi bod yn bolisi o ddewis ac nid o anghenraid?
Yn olaf, Weinidog, a ydych chi fel finnau yn meddwl tybed sut y mae plaid cyfrifoldeb ariannol wedi llwyddo i fenthyg £800 biliwn dros y naw mlynedd ddiwethaf, sydd bron yn ddwbl yr hyn a fenthycwyd erioed dros 33 mlynedd o Lywodraeth Lafur?
I thank Dawn Bowden for raising that particular issue, and allowing me the opportunity again to stress that austerity isn't over with this UK Government budget, and it's very much alive and well. The UK Government has ensured that our budget for next year is still only marginally higher than it was a decade ago. And I think that that does demonstrate that we are still facing some challenges as Welsh Government, but those challenges absolutely feed, then, into local government, and local government has been really keen to impress upon us that one better year of funding, which we've been able to provide them with, doesn't make up for a decade of austerity.
Diolch i Dawn Bowden am godi'r mater penodol hwnnw, a rhoi'r cyfle imi bwysleisio'r ffaith nad yw'r gyllideb hon gan Lywodraeth y DU yn golygu bod cyni wedi dod i ben, mae'n fyw ac yn iach iawn. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi sicrhau nad yw ein cyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf ond fymryn yn uwch na'r hyn ydoedd ddegawd yn ôl. Ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n dangos ein bod yn dal i wynebu heriau fel Llywodraeth Cymru, ond mae'r heriau hynny yn sicr yn bwydo i mewn i lywodraeth leol, ac mae llywodraeth leol wedi bod yn awyddus iawn i'n hargyhoeddi nad yw un flwyddyn well o gyllid, fel rydym wedi gallu ei roi iddynt, yn gwneud iawn am ddegawd o gyni.
6. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o ddatganiad cyllideb Canghellor y DU? OAQ55212
6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the UK Chancellor's budget statement? OAQ55212
I will be carefully reviewing the budget to assess the impact for Wales. But as always, it will be important to look below the headlines, as the devil is always in the detail, and I intended to publish a written statement later today.
Byddaf yn adolygu'r gyllideb yn ofalus er mwyn asesu'r effaith ar Gymru. Ond fel bob amser, bydd yn bwysig darllen yr hyn sydd o dan y penawdau, gan fod y diafol yn cuddio yn y manylion bob amser, ac roeddwn yn bwriadu cyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig yn ddiweddarach heddiw.
I'm grateful to the Minister for her answer; I appreciate it was a very broad question. I don't know if the Minister has noticed that contained in the budget there is a commitment to a £30 million changing places fund. I'm sure that she would agree with me that the situation that so many of our disabled people face, where they can't be out of the house for more than a certain length of time because they can't access appropriate changing facilities, is something that none of us, I'm sure, across this Chamber would be content to see continue.
May I ask the Minister if she can make an assessment as soon as possible about whether or not we will get a consequential for this? I'm obviously probably one of the last people in this Chamber who would ever say to a Welsh Minister, 'Because they're going to spend this money in England on this, we ought to spend the consequential on exactly the same thing', but I have been very pleased to be supporting over some months the Llanelli changing places campaign in my own region, for example, and I'm sure she'd agree with me that it's absolutely unacceptable that a town of that size doesn't have a single changing places facility available for the disabled residents.
So, could I ask the Minister to find out as soon as it's feasible whether there will be a consequential and if she will consider having discussions with the appropriate Ministers—the Minister for planning, the Minister for social services—to see if it would be possible on this occasion, for this particular consequential, if we get one—and I really believe that we should—to be used? One of the disability charities has estimated that if we get the proper consequential for this we could provide 19 new changing places in Wales, which would obviously be of huge benefit to our disabled fellow citizens.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ei hateb; rwy'n derbyn ei fod yn gwestiwn eang iawn. Nid wyf yn gwybod a yw'r Gweinidog wedi sylwi bod ymrwymiad i gronfa lleoedd newid gwerth £30 miliwn yn y gyllideb. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n cytuno â mi fod y sefyllfa y mae cynifer o'n pobl anabl yn ei hwynebu, lle na allant fod allan o'r tŷ am fwy na hyd penodol o amser gan nad ydynt yn gallu cael mynediad at gyfleusterau newid priodol, yn rhywbeth na fyddai'r un ohonom, rwy'n siŵr, ar draws y Siambr hon, yn fodlon ei weld yn parhau.
A gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog wneud asesiad cyn gynted ag sy'n bosibl ynglŷn ag a fyddwn yn cael swm canlyniadol ar gyfer hyn ai peidio? Rwy'n amlwg yn un o'r bobl olaf yn y Siambr hon a fyddai'n dweud wrth un o Weinidogion Cymru, 'Oherwydd eu bod yn mynd i wario'r arian hwn ar hyn yn Lloegr, dylem wario'r swm canlyniadol ar yr un peth yn union', ond rwyf wedi bod yn falch iawn o gefnogi'r ymgyrch lleoedd newid yn Llanelli yn fy rhanbarth i ers rhai misoedd, er enghraifft, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai'n cytuno â mi ei bod yn gwbl annerbyniol nad oes gan dref o'r maint hwnnw unrhyw gyfleuster lleoedd newid ar gyfer trigolion anabl.
Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog ddarganfod cyn gynted ag y bo modd a fydd yna swm canlyniadol ac a wnaiff hi ystyried cael trafodaethau gyda'r Gweinidogion priodol—y Gweinidog cynllunio, y Gweinidog gwasanaethau cymdeithasol—i weld a fyddai'n bosibl defnyddio'r swm canlyniadol penodol, os cawn un, ar yr achlysur hwn—ac rwy'n credu'n gryf y dylem ei gael? Mae un o'r elusennau anabledd wedi amcangyfrif y gallem ddarparu 19 o leoedd newid newydd yng Nghymru os cawn y swm canlyniadol priodol, a byddai hynny, yn amlwg, o fudd enfawr i'n cyd-ddinasyddion anabl.
Well, the changing places fund wasn't one of the items that was mentioned in the Chancellor's speech itself, but I'm sure I'll find the detail set within the spreadsheets that accompany the announcement. So, I'll be taking the opportunity to explore in depth what has been offered through those spreadsheets and where those consequentials fall. So, at the moment, I don't have a full picture because it will take some time to get underneath the detail, but as soon as I do, I'll be able to make some further announcements.
Wel, nid oedd y gronfa lleoedd newid yn un o'r eitemau a grybwyllwyd yn araith y Canghellor ei hun, ond rwy'n siŵr y deuaf o hyd i'r manylion yn y taenlenni sy'n cyd-fynd â'r cyhoeddiad. Felly, rwy'n mynd i fanteisio ar y cyfle i edrych yn fanwl ar yr hyn sydd wedi'i gynnig yn y taenlenni hynny a gweld lle mae'r symiau canlyniadol hynny. Felly, ar hyn o bryd, nid oes gennyf ddarlun llawn oherwydd bydd yn cymryd peth amser i ddadansoddi'r manylion, ond cyn gynted ag y byddaf wedi gwneud hynny, gallaf wneud cyhoeddiadau pellach.
Question 7 [OAQ55200] has been withdrawn. So, finally, question 8, Mike Hedges.
Mae Cwestiwn 7 [OAQ55200] wedi'i dynnu'n ôl. Felly, yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Mike Hedges.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu proses flaenoriaethu cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru? OAQ55192
8. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's budget prioritisation process? OAQ55192
The budget strategy is agreed by Cabinet at the start of the year. Prioritisation is guided by the bilateral discussions I have with Ministers and wider engagement with the four statutory commissioners and external stakeholders. The budget improvement plan outlines our approach to improving the budget process over the longer time frame.
Cytunir ar strategaeth y gyllideb gan y Cabinet ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn. Caiff blaenoriaethu ei lywio gan drafodaethau dwyochrog rwy'n eu cael gyda Gweinidogion ac ymgysylltiad ehangach â'r pedwar comisiynydd statudol a rhanddeiliaid allanol. Mae cynllun gwella'r gyllideb yn amlinellu ein dull o wella proses y gyllideb yn fwy hirdymor.
Can I thank the Minister for that response? The amount of money spent on services is easily accounted for, but what's more difficult to identify is the outcomes achieved by that money. Does the Minister currently or does the Minister intend to set targets to be achieved with additional money provided to the different Ministers so that we can see that we're getting enough bang for our buck?
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb hwnnw? Mae'n hawdd cyfrif faint o arian sy'n cael ei wario ar wasanaethau, ond yr hyn sy'n anos i'w nodi yw'r canlyniadau a ddaw yn sgil yr arian hwnnw. A yw'r Gweinidog, ar hyn o bryd, neu a yw'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu gosod targedau i'w cyflawni gydag arian ychwanegol a ddarparwyd i'r gwahanol Weinidogion fel y gallwn weld ein bod yn cael gwerth digonol am ein harian?
Mike Hedges's suggestion almost sounds attractively authoritarian, but I'm not sure that it is the view—. [Laughter.] I'm not sure that it's for the finance Minister to set targets across Government, but I do think that where they are appropriate, they should be developed by those Ministers and monitored closely by the individual Ministers as well.
So, there are some examples in our Welsh Government annual report, which was published in January, which show how we work against some sets of targets. One example, of course, would be the 20,000 affordable homes target during this term of Government, which we aim to build, and, of course, we're attaching £175 million of funding in 2020-1 to a diverse range of measures in order to help us progress our housing ambitions. So, whilst I'm not sure it would be for me to set targets, clearly, if colleagues set targets, then I'm keen to support them to achieve them.
Bron nad yw awgrym Mike Hedges yn swnio'n ddeniadol o awdurdodol, ond nid wyf yn siŵr mai dyna yw barn—. [Chwerthin.] Nid wyf yn siŵr mai cyfrifoldeb y Gweinidog cyllid yw pennu targedau ar draws y Llywodraeth, ond lle maent yn briodol, rwy'n credu y dylent gael eu datblygu gan y Gweinidogion hynny a'u monitro'n agos gan y Gweinidogion unigol hefyd.
Felly, mae rhai enghreifftiau yn adroddiad blynyddol Llywodraeth Cymru, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ionawr, sy'n dangos sut rydym yn gweithio yn erbyn rhai cyfresi o dargedau. Un enghraifft, wrth gwrs, fyddai'r targed o 20,000 o gartrefi fforddiadwy rydym yn bwriadu eu hadeiladu yn ystod tymor y Llywodraeth hon, ac wrth gwrs, rydym yn clustnodi £175 miliwn yn 2020-1 ar gyfer ystod amrywiol o fesurau i'n helpu i ddatblygu ein huchelgeisiau mewn perthynas â thai. Felly, er nad wyf yn siŵr mai fy lle i yw gosod targedau, yn amlwg, os yw cyd-Aelodau'n gosod targedau, rwy'n awyddus i'w cefnogi er mwyn eu cyflawni.
Thank you very much, Trefnydd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Drefnydd.
Item 3 on the agenda this afternoon is questions to the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition in respect of his law officer responsibilities. Question 1 is Helen Mary Jones.
Eitem 3 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Pontio Ewropeaidd mewn perthynas â'i gyfrifoldebau fel swyddog cyfreithiol. Cwestiwn 1 yw Helen Mary Jones.
1. Pa gyngor cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i roi i Lywodraeth Cymru ynghylch effaith gyfreithiol Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar ddileu pob math o wahaniaethu yn erbyn menywod (CEDAW)? OAQ55206
1. What legal advice has the Counsel General provided to the Welsh Government regarding the legal impact of the UN’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women? OAQ55206
The Welsh Government is committed to advancing gender equality in Wales. We have commissioned research to explore options for advancing equality and human rights in Wales. A firm commitment to promoting those rights is built into the Welsh Government's DNA and directly influences our policies, legislation and decisions.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi comisiynu gwaith ymchwil i archwilio opsiynau ar gyfer hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru. Mae ymrwymiad cadarn i hyrwyddo'r hawliau hynny yn rhan o wead Llywodraeth Cymru ac mae'n dylanwadu'n uniongyrchol ar ein polisïau, ein deddfwriaeth a'n penderfyniadau.
I'm grateful to the Counsel General for his response. Does the Counsel General agree with me that we may be facing a situation, given the nature of the Government at the other end of the M4 and the pressure there to deregulate, and what many of us would be concerned about in terms of a potential lack of commitment to equality, where the current equality legislation and the Equality Act 2010—we may face it being amended, in a way that many of us would not like? Does he further agree with me that one route that we may be able to go down in Wales to provide a legal framework for equality issues, and particularly in this case, for sex equality, would be to incorporate the appropriate UN conventions into Welsh law? I was very pleased to hear him mention the research, and I wonder if he can give an indication this afternoon of—I know he's not directly commissioned it—when that research may be completed and when it may be appropriate to share that with this Assembly and the appropriate committees.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ymateb. A yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno â mi y gallem fod yn wynebu sefyllfa, o gofio natur y Llywodraeth ar ben arall yr M4 a'r pwysau yno i ddadreoleiddio, a'r hyn y byddai llawer ohonom yn pryderu yn ei gylch o ran diffyg ymrwymiad posibl i gydraddoldeb, lle mae'r ddeddfwriaeth gyfredol ar gydraddoldeb a Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010—gallem ei gweld yn cael ei diwygio mewn ffordd na fyddai llawer ohonom yn ei hoffi? A yw'n cytuno â mi hefyd mai un llwybr y gallem ei ddewis yng Nghymru i ddarparu fframwaith cyfreithiol ar gyfer materion cydraddoldeb, ac yn enwedig yn yr achos hwn, ar gyfer cydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau, fyddai ymgorffori confensiynau priodol y Cenhedloedd Unedig yng nghyfraith Cymru? Roeddwn yn falch iawn o'i glywed yn sôn am yr ymchwil, ac rwy'n meddwl tybed a all roi awgrym y prynhawn yma—gwn nad yw wedi'i gomisiynu'n uniongyrchol—pryd y bydd y gwaith ymchwil hwnnw wedi'i gwblhau a phryd y gallai fod yn briodol ei rannu â'r Cynulliad hwn a'r pwyllgorau priodol.
Certainly. Well, she refers to CEDAW, which is, of course, effectively an international Bill of rights for women and enshrines the principles of equality that we would wish to see upheld and advanced. And we would fundamentally oppose any attempt to weaken the Equality Act.
We have sought to ensure that when we look at questions in relation to conventions, we do so in a holistic way. CEDAW itself, and the reflections that came out of the examination on its compliance in February of last year—in which Welsh Government officials were directly involved in order to make sure that Welsh interests and Welsh issues were directly represented and raised during that examination process—those reflections have fed directly into the gender equality review, the interim output of which has been considered by the Cabinet. But the research to which she refers, my understanding is that that is intended to have concluded by the end of this year, so that the output of that would be available during this Assembly term, as I understand it.
Yn sicr. Wel, mae'n cyfeirio at Gonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Ddileu Pob Math o Wahaniaethu yn Erbyn Menywod, sydd i bob pwrpas, wrth gwrs, yn Fil hawliau rhyngwladol i fenywod ac yn ymgorffori'r egwyddorion cydraddoldeb y byddem yn dymuno eu gweld yn cael eu cynnal a'u hyrwyddo. A byddem yn gwrthwynebu'n sylfaenol unrhyw ymgais i wanhau'r Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb.
Rydym wedi ceisio sicrhau, wrth edrych ar gwestiynau'n ymwneud â chonfensiynau, ein bod yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd gyfannol. Mae Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Ddileu Pob Math o Wahaniaethu yn Erbyn Menywod ei hun, a'r ystyriaethau a ddeilliodd o'r archwiliad ar ei gydymffurfiad ym mis Chwefror y llynedd—lle roedd swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn uniongyrchol gysylltiedig er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr fod buddiannau Cymru a materion Cymreig yn cael eu cynrychioli a'u codi'n uniongyrchol yn ystod y broses archwilio honno—mae'r ystyriaethau hynny wedi cyfrannu'n uniongyrchol at yr adolygiad o gydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau, ac mae'r casgliadau interim wedi'u hystyried gan y Cabinet. Ond mewn perthynas â'r gwaith ymchwil y mae'n cyfeirio ato, deallaf y bwriedir i hynny fod wedi dod i ben erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn hon, fel bod ei gasgliadau ar gael yn ystod tymor y Cynulliad hwn, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf.
2. Pa gyngor cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i roi i Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â'r posibilrwydd o sefydlu llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd yng Nghymru? OAQ55203
2. What legal advice has the Counsel General given to the Welsh Government in relation to the possibility of establishing family drug and alcohol courts in Wales? OAQ55203
We agree with the justice commission's recommendation to establish family drug and alcohol courts, and work is already under way to explore the feasibility of, and the mechanisms for, doing so.
Cytunwn ag argymhelliad y comisiwn cyfiawnder i sefydlu llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd, ac mae gwaith eisoes ar y gweill i archwilio dichonoldeb gwneud hynny yn ogystal â'r dulliau o'i wneud.
Thank you. Of course, with regard to family drug and alcohol courts, during the Public Accounts Committee earlier this year, Albert Heaney, director of social services and integration, Welsh Government, advised that the judiciary regard them as being very positive, and a good approach that can be very helpful to families. Similarly, last October, the Commission on Justice in Wales called for the immediate establishment of FDACs in Wales. As I have said previously, I believe that the evidence indicates that the creation of FDACs in Wales could be, and probably is, in the best interest of children and parents. Could you provide an update as to how the Commission on Justice's recommendation is being progressed?
Diolch. Wrth gwrs, o ran llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd, yn ystod y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus yn gynharach eleni, dywedodd Albert Heaney, cyfarwyddwr gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ac integreiddio Llywodraeth Cymru, fod y farnwriaeth yn ystyried eu bod yn gadarnhaol iawn, ac yn ddull da o weithredu a all fod o gymorth mawr i deuluoedd. Yn yr un modd, fis Hydref diwethaf, galwodd y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru am sefydlu llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd yng Nghymru ar unwaith. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, credaf fod y dystiolaeth yn dangos y gallai creu llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd yng Nghymru fod er budd gorau plant a rhieni, ac mae'n debygol iawn fod hynny'n wir. A allech chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynglŷn â sut y mae argymhelliad y Comisiwn ar Gyfiawnder yn cael ei ddatblygu?
Well, we agree with the recommendation to establish the courts, as I indicated in my earlier answer. Officials have started work in this area through discussions about that particular recommendation, most recently at the family justice network meetings in November of last year, and again on 4 March of this year just gone. The president of the family division, as I think she was referring in her question, has stated that he is strongly in favour of FDACs, as they align well with the well-being legislation that we have in Wales, and fundamentally represent that preventative approach rather than a punitive approach. At that family justice network meeting on 4 March, a presentation was made about the functions and effectiveness of the FDACs, and it was agreed that local authorities would consider a pilot in relation to that issue.
Wel, rydym yn cytuno â'r argymhelliad i sefydlu'r llysoedd, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb cynharach. Mae swyddogion wedi dechrau gweithio yn y maes hwn drwy drafodaethau am yr argymhelliad penodol hwnnw, yn fwyaf diweddar yng nghyfarfodydd y rhwydwaith cyfiawnder teuluol ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, ac eto ar 4 Mawrth eleni. Mae llywydd yr adran deulu, fel y nododd yn ei chwestiwn rwy'n credu, wedi datgan ei fod yn gryf o blaid llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd, gan eu bod yn cyd-fynd yn dda â'r ddeddfwriaeth llesiant sydd gennym yng Nghymru, ac yn cynrychioli'r ymagwedd ataliol honno yn sylfaenol yn hytrach na dull cosbol. Yn y cyfarfod o'r rhwydwaith cyfiawnder teuluol ar 4 Mawrth, cafwyd cyflwyniad am swyddogaethau ac effeithiolrwydd y llysoedd cyffuriau ac alcohol i deuluoedd, a chytunwyd y byddai awdurdodau lleol yn ystyried cynllun peilot mewn perthynas â'r mater hwnnw.
3. Pa sylwadau cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u gwneud ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi'r apêl Backto60 ynghylch y camdrafod honedig o ran codi oedran pensiwn y wladwriaeth ar gyfer menywod a anwyd yn y 1950au? OAQ55205
3. What legal representations has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government in support of the Backto60 appeal about the alleged mishandling of raising the state pension age for women born in the 1950s? OAQ55205
I'm aware, of course, that permission to appeal has been granted by the Court of Appeal itself in relation to the pension challenge, and that the appeal hearing will take place in late July. Whilst the Welsh Government is not a party to that action, we have, of course, written to the UK Government on a number of occasions to express serious concerns that women who've had their state pension age raised without effective or sufficient notification are being prejudiced.
Rwy'n ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, fod y Llys Apêl ei hun wedi rhoi caniatâd i apelio mewn perthynas â'r her pensiwn, a bydd y gwrandawiad apêl yn cael ei gynnal ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf. Er nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhan o'r cam gweithredu hwnnw, rydym wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU ar sawl achlysur wrth gwrs i fynegi pryderon difrifol ynglŷn â rhagfarn yn erbyn menywod sydd wedi gweld eu hoedran pensiwn gwladol yn codi heb iddynt gael eu hysbysu'n effeithiol nac yn ddigonol.
I'm grateful to the Counsel General for his response. Given that we now have a new Government at the other end of the M4, and that that Government talks a lot about levelling up and about fairness, would the Counsel General consider, perhaps with the Deputy Minister with responsibility for equalities, making further representations to the appropriate Minister at Westminster and perhaps looking again at whether or not there may be some contribution that we could make, perhaps by way of evidence, to the appeal that he mentions? It may be that, with a new Minister in place, and with this new emphasis on fairness, and a slightly more relaxed approach to spending, we may get somewhat of a better hearing. I don't think any of us would be sanguine, but I'm sure that the women affected here in Wales would be very grateful if the Welsh Government were prepared to try again.
I know he agrees with me that this is a very profound injustice, that these women were picked on, and we know they were picked on, because the then Chancellor of the Exchequer thought that he could get away with it. He thought that they wouldn't fight back. This may be an opportunity for the Government of Wales, on behalf of this whole Assembly, to make further representations on behalf of our fellow citizens who have been most foully treated.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ymateb. O gofio bod gennym Lywodraeth newydd yn awr ar ben arall yr M4, a bod y Llywodraeth honno'n sôn llawer am godi lefelau a thegwch, a fyddai'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol, gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros gydraddoldebau efallai, yn ystyried cyflwyno rhagor o sylwadau i'r Gweinidog priodol yn San Steffan ac edrych eto o bosibl i weld a oes unrhyw gyfraniad y gallem ei wneud, drwy gyfrwng tystiolaeth efallai, i'r apêl y mae'n sôn amdani? Gyda Gweinidog newydd ar waith, a chyda'r pwyslais newydd hwn ar degwch, ac ymagwedd ychydig yn llai llym tuag at wario, efallai y gallem gael gwrandawiad gwell. Nid wyf yn credu y byddai'r un ohonom yn obeithiol, ond rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r menywod yr effeithir arnynt yma yng Nghymru yn ddiolchgar iawn pe bai Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i roi cynnig arall arni.
Gwn ei fod yn cytuno â mi fod hwn yn anghyfiawnder difrifol iawn, fod y menywod hyn wedi cael eu trin yn wael, a gwyddom eu bod wedi'u trin yn wael, oherwydd bod Canghellor y Trysorlys ar y pryd yn credu y gallai wneud hynny heb gael ei ddwyn i gyfrif. Credai na fyddent yn ymladd yn ôl. Gallai hwn fod yn gyfle i Lywodraeth Cymru, ar ran y Cynulliad cyfan, wneud sylwadau pellach ar ran ein cyd-ddinasyddion sydd wedi cael eu trin yn y modd mwyaf ffiaidd.
The Member certainly is not sanguine, nor are we on these benches, as she generously accepts in her question. As she will know from our previous exchanges in the Chamber in relation to this, we have sought every opportunity to put our perspective on behalf of women in Wales to the UK Government and have frequently received responses that we have put in the public domain. She will herself, I'm sure, share our assessment of the gross inadequacy of those responses in tackling the injustice that we seek to represent women in Wales on on that matter.
I have already had reflections on how we can continue to make representations in relation to this new stage of legal proceedings and will be discussing that with the Deputy Minister. We should be absolutely clear that the women who face this injustice have faced a number of other injustices very frequently during their working lives, and the UK Government should do all it can to ensure that, in this respect, at least, it stands on the side of those women who have given so much to society and have found, later on in life, that the Government is not standing on their side.
Yn sicr, nid yw'r Aelod yn obeithiol, ac nid ydym ninnau ar y meinciau hyn chwaith, fel y mae'n cydnabod yn hael iawn yn ei chwestiwn. Fel y gŵyr o'n dadleuon blaenorol yn y Siambr mewn perthynas â hyn, rydym wedi ceisio achub ar bob cyfle i nodi ein safbwynt i Lywodraeth y DU ar ran menywod yng Nghymru, ac rydym wedi derbyn ymatebion yn aml, ac wedi eu cyhoeddi. Bydd hithau, rwy'n siŵr, yn cytuno â’n hasesiad o annigonolrwydd llwyr yr ymatebion hynny wrth fynd i'r afael â'r anghyfiawnder rydym yn ceisio cynrychioli menywod yng Nghymru arno mewn perthynas â’r mater hwnnw.
Rwyf eisoes wedi myfyrio ar sut y gallwn barhau i wneud sylwadau mewn perthynas â'r cam newydd hwn yn yr achosion cyfreithiol, a byddaf yn trafod hynny gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog. Dylem fod yn gwbl glir fod y menywod sy'n wynebu'r anghyfiawnder hwn wedi wynebu nifer o anghyfiawnderau eraill yn aml iawn yn ystod eu bywyd gwaith, a dylai Llywodraeth y DU wneud popeth yn ei gallu i sicrhau, yn hyn o beth o leiaf, ei bod ar ochr y menywod sydd wedi rhoi cymaint i gymdeithas ac wedi darganfod, yn ddiweddarach yn eu bywydau, nad yw'r Llywodraeth ar eu hochr hwy.
Thank you very much, Counsel General.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gwnsler Cyffredinol.
Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is questions to the Assembly Commission. This afternoon, all questions will be answered by the Llywydd. Question 1—Neil Hamilton.
Eitem 4 ar yr agenda’r prynhawn yma yw cwestiynau i Gomisiwn y Cynulliad. Y prynhawn yma, bydd y Llywydd yn ateb yr holl gwestiynau. Cwestiwn 1—Neil Hamilton.
1. A wnaiff y Comisiwn roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y baneri a gaiff eu hedfan ar ystâd y Cynulliad? OAQ55226
1. Will the Commission provide an update on the flags flown on the Assembly estate? OAQ55226
Mae gan y Cynulliad bedwar polyn baner mewn tri lleoliad ar yr ystâd—dwy faner Cymru, baner jac yr undeb, a baner y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol sy’n cael eu cyhwfan ar y polion bob dydd. Mae trefniadau sefydledig ar gyfer amrywio'r baneri sy'n cael eu codi ac mae baneri gwadd yn cymryd lle baner y Cynulliad yn arferol.
The Assembly has four flag poles at three locations on the estate—two Welsh flags, one union jack flag, and one National Assembly for Wales flag, which are flown on the poles every day. There are established arrangements for varying the flags that are displayed, and the guest flags take the place of the Assembly flag, usually.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb.
Thank you for that response.
I was very pleased to see the Catalan flag flying today, but, on a more regular basis, I wonder whether we could continue to fly the Commonwealth flag, which I saw earlier in the week. We have been members of the Commonwealth, obviously, since the inception of it. It has 54 member states, it encompasses 11 million square miles, spans all six inhabited continents, has 20 per cent of the world's landmass and a population of 2.4 billion people. The London declaration that established the Commonwealth member states as equal and free in 1949 states that its values are democracy, human rights and the rule of law, values that every progressive society should preserve and defend in the twenty-first century. And, of course, it has been presided over, as head of the Commonwealth, by Her Majesty the Queen for 68 years. So, I wonder if the Llywydd could tell us whether the Commission would look favourably upon this request either to fly the Commonwealth flag on a permanent basis, subject to special occasions such as today, or the flags of individual Commonwealth countries.
Roeddwn yn falch iawn o weld baner Catalonia yn chwifio heddiw, ond ar sail fwy rheolaidd, tybed a allem barhau i chwifio baner y Gymanwlad, a welais yn gynharach yn yr wythnos. Rydym wedi bod yn aelodau o'r Gymanwlad, yn amlwg, ers ei sefydlu. Mae ganddi 54 aelod-wladwriaeth, mae iddi 11 miliwn milltir sgwâr o dir, mae’n ymestyn dros bob un o'r chwe chyfandir cyfannedd, mae’n cynnwys 20 y cant o dir y byd ac mae ganddi boblogaeth o 2.4 biliwn o bobl. Mae’r datganiad a wnaed yn Llundain a sefydlodd aelod-wladwriaethau’r Gymanwlad fel rhai cyfartal a rhydd yn 1949 yn datgan mai democratiaeth, hawliau dynol a rheolaeth y gyfraith yw ei gwerthoedd, gwerthoedd y dylai pob cymdeithas flaengar eu cynnal a’u hamddiffyn yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r Frenhines wedi llywyddu drosti fel pennaeth y Gymanwlad am 68 mlynedd. Felly, tybed a allai'r Llywydd ddweud wrthym a wnaiff y Comisiwn edrych yn ffafriol ar y cais hwn naill ai i chwifio baner y Gymanwlad yn barhaol, yn amodol ar achlysuron arbennig fel heddiw, neu faneri unigol gwledydd y Gymanwlad?
Yn arferol, wrth gwrs, ar y pedwerydd polyn, baner y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ei hun sydd yn cael ei chodi. Fel mae'r Aelod wedi ei ddweud, mae baner Catalunya yn cael ei chyhwfan heddiw mewn cydnabyddiaeth o'r ffaith bod Llywydd Senedd Catalunya yn ymweld, a baner y Gymanwlad wedi ei hedfan ddoe ac echddoe i gydnabod Dydd y Gymanwlad. Dyna mae'r polisi wedi bod dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf yma: hedfan baner y Gymanwlad am ddau ddiwrnod y flwyddyn yn ystod cyfnod Dydd y Gymanwlad.
Dwi'n cael yn aml ceisiadau gan Aelodau i hedfan baneri amrywiol sydd yn ymwneud ag undebau a gwladwriaethau ac ymgyrchoedd gwahanol. Dwi'n credu ei fod e'n bwysig ein bod ni'n cadw un o'n polion baneri ar gyfer y baneri hynny sydd yn adlewyrchu diwrnodau neu wythnosau neu fisoedd penodol i hybu ymgyrchoedd a diwrnodau cydnabyddedig rhyngwladol. Dyna fy marn i ar y mater. Dwi ddim yn disgwyl i bob Aelod gytuno.
Usually, of course, on the fourth pole, it's the National Assembly flag that is flown. As the Member has said, the Catalan flag is flown today in recognition of the fact that the Presiding Officer of the Catalonian Parliament is visiting, and the Commonwealth flag was flown yesterday and the day before that to recognise the Commonwealth Day. That's what the policy has been in recent years: to fly the Commonwealth flag for two days per year during the period of Commonwealth Day.
I often have applications from Members to fly various flags to do with unions, states and different campaigns. I think it's very important that we do keep one of our flag poles available for the flags that reflect the special days or weeks or months to promote campaigns and recognised international days. That's my opinion on the issue. I don't expect every Member to agree with that.
Huw Irranca-Davies. No?
Huw Irranca-Davies. Na?