Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
15/10/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i’r Cyfarfod Llawn o’r Senedd. Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i’r Prif Weinidog, ac mae’r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Sioned Williams.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting of the Senedd. The first item this afternoon will be questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Sioned Williams.
1. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi trigolion Gorllewin De Cymru sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio gan y diswyddiadau yng ngwaith dur Tata? OQ61696
1. How is the Welsh Government supporting South Wales West residents who have been affected by the redundancies at Tata steelworks? OQ61696
Rydyn ni’n parhau i weithio gyda'r bwrdd pontio, awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid i gefnogi iechyd a lles meddyliol mewn cymunedau lleol, a hynny trwy’r byrddau iechyd lleol. Rydyn ni hefyd yn defnyddio'r cyllid gwerth £100 miliwn i fuddsoddi mewn sgiliau a gweithgareddau adfywio ar gyfer yr ardal leol.
We continue to work with the transition board, local authorities and stakeholders to support local communities with their health and mental well-being through local health boards. We're also using the £100 million of funding to invest in skills and regeneration activities for the local area.
Diolch. Awdurdodau lleol sy’n darparu’r rhan fwyaf o wasanaethau i gefnogi trigolion sydd angen cymorth, ac fe glywon ni ddoe, onid do, fod yna dwll du o £540 miliwn o leiaf yn eu cyllidebau, a fydd yn cael effaith sylweddol ar eu gallu i wneud hynny. Fe fues i mewn cyfarfod gydag arweinwyr cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn ddiweddar, a dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf, maen nhw wedi gorfod gwneud gwerth £45 miliwn o doriadau, ac mae’r cyngor, fel pob un arall dros Gymru, yn cynllunio nawr ar gyfer toriadau cwbl enbyd, gyda’u costau wedi cynyddu o dros £20 miliwn ers y llynedd. Yn wahanol i’r rhelyw, maen nhw hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn mynd i orfod delio gyda’r sioc economaidd seismig yn sgil colli miloedd o swyddi Tata Steel a’r gadwyn gyflenwi. Er bod y cyngor angen gwneud gwaith hanfodol o helpu i ailadeiladu’r economi leol, a chefnogi’r miloedd sy’n cael eu heffeithio gan y diswyddiadau, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i rybuddio i ddisgwyl na fydd unrhyw gynnydd yn y grant cefnogi refeniw. A wnewch chi, Brif Weinidog, felly, sicrhau bod yna gyllid penodol ar gael i sicrhau bod cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, ac awdurdodau lleol cyfagos, yn cael cymorth i gwrdd â’r galw ychwanegol ar eu gwasanaethau, gan wneud, efallai, yr achos dros hyn gyda’r Canghellor yn San Steffan?
Thank you. Local authorities provide the majority of front-line services to support residents who need assistance. And we heard yesterday, didn’t we, that there is a black hole of £540 million, at least, in their budgets, which will have a significant impact on their ability to provide these services. I attended a meeting with leaders of Neath Port Talbot council recently, and over the past two years, they have had to make £45 million-worth of cuts, and the council, like every other across Wales, is planning, now, for further swingeing cuts, while its costs have increased by over £20 million since last year. And in contrast to the majority of other councils, they’re also, of course, going to have to deal with the seismic economic shock as a result of the loss of thousands of jobs at Tata Steel and the related supply chain. Although the council needs to do essential work to help rebuild the local economy, and support the thousands impacted by the redundancies, the Welsh Government has warned it not to expect any increase in the revenue support grant. So, will you, First Minister, ensure that there is specific funding available to ensure that Neath Port Talbot council, and neighbouring local authorities, receive support to meet the additional demands on their services, perhaps making the case for this to the Chancellor in Westminster?
Wel, diolch yn fawr. Dwi’n siŵr bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol bod yna gronfa arbennig ar gyfer helpu pobl sydd wedi dioddef o achos y ffaith bod Tata yn newid. Mae £80 miliwn o gronfa, sydd yn mynd i gael ei ddosbarthu gan gyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot. Felly, mae’r arian yna'n ring-fenced. Ar ben hynny, wrth gwrs, mae yna bosibilrwydd i’r boblogaeth leol i gael access i beth o’r arian sy’n dod o ganlyniad i ReAct a Communities for Work. Ac, ar ben hynny, wrth gwrs, mae yna personal learning accounts ar gyfer Tata yn uniongyrchol, ac mae'r rheini hefyd wedi helpu 716 o bobl sydd yn gweithio yn Tata yn barod.
Thank you very much. I’m sure that the Member is aware that there is a special fund set aside to assist those people who have suffered because of the changes at Tata. Eighty million pounds is available in that fund, which will be distributed by Neath Port Talbot council. So, that funding is ring-fenced. In addition to that, of course, there is an opportunity for local people to access some of the funding available through ReAct and Communities for Work. And, in addition to that, there are also personal learning accounts for Tata directly, which have already helped 716 Tata employees.
First Minister, the primary way in which people affected by the redundancies at Tata will be supported is through the work of the transition board. Now, we know the last UK Conservative Government put £80 million into that transition board, and Tata put £20 million. I still haven’t got a clear answer from the Welsh Government why the Welsh Government has failed to put a single penny in to support workers in Tata into that transition board. As you’re a new First Minister—the third First Minister, now, who’s sat in post while this transition board has been in place—can you explain why the Welsh Government has failed to support the transition board that supports workers in Port Talbot?
Prif Weinidog, y brif ffordd y bydd pobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan y diswyddiadau yn Tata yn cael eu cynorthwyo yw trwy waith y bwrdd pontio. Nawr, rydym ni'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Geidwadol olaf y DU wedi rhoi £80 miliwn i'r bwrdd pontio hwnnw, a bod Tata wedi rhoi £20 miliwn. Nid wyf i wedi cael ateb eglur o hyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu â chyfrannu'r un geiniog at gynorthwyo gweithwyr yn Tata i'r bwrdd pontio hwnnw. Gan eich bod chi'n Brif Weinidog newydd—y trydydd Prif Weinidog, nawr, sydd wedi bod yn y swydd tra bod y bwrdd pontio hwn wedi bod yn weithredol—a allwch chi esbonio pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu â chynorthwyo'r bwrdd pontio sy'n cynorthwyo gweithwyr ym Mhort Talbot?
Well, I’ve never heard such nonsense in my life. Let me just say that your Government—your Government—said they’d put that money on the table and then they didn’t spend it. They didn’t spend it. It sat there for months on end. And you know this because you’re a member of the board—you know this, as you’re a member of the board. And I was really pleased that the Secretary of State for Wales was able to unlock that, so that, now, £13.5 million of that money is already being provided to those people. And it’s absolutely wrong to say that the Welsh Government is not doing anything to support. We’re putting a huge amount of support into supporting those Tata workers. The ReAct and the Communities for Work programmes are there—they’re supporting. We have these people already—716 of them—benefiting from the personal learning accounts, reskilling and upskilling themselves. So, all of that is in place, being paid for by the Welsh Government. I think we should be really proud of what we’re doing.
Wel, nid wyf i erioed wedi clywed y fath nonsens yn fy mywyd. Gadewch i mi ddweud bod eich Llywodraeth chi—eich Llywodraeth chi—wedi dweud y bydden nhw'n rhoi'r arian hwnnw ar y bwrdd ac yna ni wnaethon nhw ei wario. Ni wnaethon nhw ei wario. Bu'n eistedd yno am fisoedd ar fisoedd. Ac rydych chi'n gwybod hyn gan eich bod chi'n aelod o'r bwrdd—rydych chi'n gwybod hyn, gan eich bod chi'n aelod o'r bwrdd. Ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn bod Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru wedi gallu datgloi hynny, fel, bellach, bod £13.5 miliwn o'r arian hwnnw eisoes yn cael ei ddarparu i'r bobl hynny. Ac mae'n hollol anghywir dweud nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud unrhyw beth i gynorthwyo. Rydym ni'n rhoi cymorth enfawr i gynorthwyo'r gweithwyr Tata hynny. Mae rhaglenni ReAct a Cymunedau am Waith yno—maen nhw'n cynorthwyo. Mae gennym ni'r bobl hyn eisoes—716 ohonyn nhw—yn elwa ar y cyfrifon dysgu personol, yn ailsgilio ac yn uwchsgilio eu hunain. Felly, mae hynny i gyd ar waith, yn cael ei dalu amdano gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rwy'n credu y dylem ni fod yn falch iawn o'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud.
I congratulate my former union Community—I was a member when it was called the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation—for the work it is doing to support steelworkers, contractors and others affected by the heavy-end closure. I am still personally very angry that a new blast furnace is being built in India by Tata at the same time as Port Talbot is being closed. But what is the Welsh Government doing to support the wider community, outside Port Talbot, including Swansea and Pyle, where there are large numbers of former steelworkers? I will again urge the Welsh Government to seek the relocation of Westminster civil service jobs to the area to deal with the loss of employment.
Rwy'n llongyfarch fy hen undeb, Community—roeddwn i'n aelod pan y'i hadnabuwyd fel y Cydffederasiwn Crefftau Haearn a Dur—am y gwaith y mae'n ei wneud i gynorthwyo gweithwyr dur, contractwyr ac eraill a effeithiwyd gan gau'r pen trwm. Rwy'n dal yn ddig iawn yn bersonol bod ffwrnais chwyth newydd yn cael ei hadeiladu yn India gan Tata ar yr un pryd ag y mae un Port Talbot yn cael ei chau. Ond beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi'r gymuned ehangach, y tu allan i Bort Talbot, gan gynnwys Abertawe a'r Pîl, lle mae nifer fawr o gyn-weithwyr dur? Anogaf Lywodraeth Cymru eto i geisio adleoli swyddi gwasanaeth sifil San Steffan i'r ardal i ymdrin â cholli cyflogaeth.
Thanks very much. Of course, we are absolutely determined to see the opening of the electric arc furnace, which we hope will allow people to work in the steel industry in future in that area. The real problem is that we had this gap between closing the blast furnaces and the opening of the electric arc furnace. You're quite right to refer to the support that Community has put in place, as the trade union. And you'll be aware that the Community support centre was opened in the Aberafan shopping centre to provide the support, guidance and retraining advice to individuals and businesses impacted by that decision by Tata. Of course, people from Swansea and the environment will be able to access that support that is being supplied in that Community support centre.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n gwbl benderfynol o weld y ffwrnais arc drydan yn cael ei hagor, a fydd, gobeithio, yn caniatáu i bobl weithio yn y diwydiant dur yn y dyfodol yn yr ardal honno. Y broblem wirioneddol yw y bu gennym ni'r bwlch hwn rhwng cau'r ffwrneisi chwyth ac agor y ffwrnais arc drydan. Rydych chi'n gwbl gywir i gyfeirio at y cymorth y mae Community wedi ei roi ar waith, fel yr undeb llafur. A byddwch yn ymwybodol yr agorwyd canolfan gymorth Community yng nghanolfan siopa Aberafan i ddarparu'r cymorth, y cyfarwyddyd a'r cyngor ailhyfforddi i unigolion a busnesau sydd a effeithiwyd gan y penderfyniad hwnnw gan Tata. Wrth gwrs, bydd pobl o Abertawe a'r amgylchedd yn gallu cael gafael ar y cymorth hwnnw sy'n cael ei gyflenwi yn y ganolfan gymorth Community honno.
2. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu i ddatblygu adeiladau cyhoeddus cynaliadwy? OQ61717
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to support the development of sustainable public buildings? OQ61717
We are actively supporting the development of sustainable public buildings through several cross-Government initiatives and policies. Apart from small exemptions, all new buildings promoted or supported by the Welsh Government are required to meet our sustainable building policy standards.
Rydym ni'n cefnogi datblygiad adeiladau cyhoeddus cynaliadwy yn weithredol drwy nifer o fentrau a pholisïau trawslywodraethol. Ar wahân i eithriadau bach, mae'n ofynnol i bob adeilad newydd sy'n cael ei hyrwyddo neu ei gefnogi gan Lywodraeth Cymru fodloni ein safonau polisi adeiladu cynaliadwy.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for that answer.
Would the First Minister take this opportunity to congratulate Welsh Water on their recent Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors award for the development of Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs? The reservoirs won land management and sustainable project of the year at the awards, which recognises outstanding business building projects that promote economic growth, social well-being, environmental protection and cultural preservation. The visitor centre is entirely eco-friendly, with features such as heat-reclaiming shower trays, solar panels, and sustainable drainage, which help to protect the local ecosystem. And I understand that the judges particularly praised the project for its community group involvement and also its collaboration with the Welsh Government. So, I would therefore like to ask what other ways the Welsh Government is helping projects such as this, to create community-driven and sustainable buildings for the future.
A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i longyfarch Dŵr Cymru ar eu gwobr ddiweddar gan Sefydliad Brenhinol y Syrfewyr Siartredig am ddatblygiad cronfeydd dŵr Llanisien a Llysfaen? Enillodd y cronfeydd dŵr brosiect rheoli tir a chynaliadwy'r flwyddyn yn y seremoni wobrwyo, sy'n cydnabod prosiectau adeiladu busnes rhagorol sy'n hybu twf economaidd, llesiant cymdeithasol, diogelu'r amgylchedd a chadwraeth ddiwylliannol. Mae'r ganolfan ymwelwyr yn gwbl ecogyfeillgar, â nodweddion fel gwaelodion cawodydd sy'n adennill gwres, paneli solar, a draenio cynaliadwy, sy'n helpu i ddiogelu'r ecosystem leol. Ac rwy'n deall bod y beirniaid wedi canmol y prosiect yn arbennig am ei gyfranogiad mewn grwpiau cymunedol a hefyd ei gydweithrediad â Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, hoffwn felly ofyn pa ffyrdd eraill y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn helpu prosiectau fel hyn, i greu adeiladau cynaliadwy sy'n cael eu hysgogi gan y gymuned ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Diolch yn fawr. I would like to give my congratulations also to Welsh Water for that programme of development. It's got that brand-new visitor centre—I'm very anxious to go and have a bit of tranquillity in the area at some point. It's got a cafe, it's got an activity hub, it's got conference facilities. And I think the key point to remember is that some of this came as a result of the grant programme funded by the Welsh Government. This is just one project out of 61. So, what is great to see is that not only has this been a success, but it's also won an award. We should celebrate that. There was £45 million invested by the time the current rural development programme closed in 2023. So, huge congratulations to them, and I look forward to hearing more about some of the other 61 projects that have received support.
Diolch yn fawr. Hoffwn innau hefyd longyfarch Dŵr Cymru ar y rhaglen ddatblygu honno. Mae ganddo'r ganolfan ymwelwyr newydd sbon honno—rwy'n awyddus iawn i fynd i gael ychydig o dawelwch yn yr ardal ar ryw adeg. Mae ganddi gaffi, mae ganddi hwb gweithgareddau, mae ganddi gyfleusterau cynadledda. Ac rwy'n credu mai'r pwynt allweddol i'w gofio yw bod rhywfaint o hyn wedi dod o ganlyniad i'r rhaglen grant a ariannwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Dim ond un prosiect allan o 61 yw hwn. Felly, yr hyn sy'n wych i'w weld yw nid yn unig bod hyn wedi bod yn llwyddiant, ond mae hefyd wedi ennill gwobr. Dylem ni ddathlu hynny. Buddsoddwyd £45 miliwn erbyn i'r rhaglen datblygu gwledig bresennol gau yn 2023. Felly, llongyfarchiadau mawr iddyn nhw, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am rai o'r 61 o brosiectau eraill sydd wedi derbyn cymorth.
We can't build sustainable public buildings without construction firms. In Wales, these are predominantly small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs. A new report by the Chartered Institute of Building has highlighted a rising number of Welsh construction firms facing administration, blaming this on issues including a skills crisis, coupled with overcomplicated tender processes, and a lack of local government support. The managing director of one of these construction SMEs said that a simplified process would allow SMEs to compete for public sector contracts. This could include reducing and simplifying the qualification criteria and introducing proportionate requirements for smaller projects. He went on to say that the Welsh tendering processes, especially for public sector projects, often required adherence to Welsh Government-specific regulations, which can complicate bids. So, how will the Welsh Government work with representatives of SME contractors, including the Chartered Institute of Building, to ensure a thriving sector that can continue building, amongst other things, sustainable public buildings in Wales?
Ni allwn adeiladu adeiladau cyhoeddus cynaliadwy heb gwmnïau adeiladu. Yng Nghymru, mentrau bach a chanolig, neu BBaChau, yw'r rhain yn bennaf. Mae adroddiad newydd gan y Sefydliad Adeiladu Siartredig wedi tynnu sylw at nifer cynyddol o gwmnïau adeiladu yng Nghymru sy'n wynebu mynd i ddwylo'r gweinyddwyr, gan roi'r bai am hyn ar faterion sy'n cynnwys argyfwng sgiliau, ynghyd â phrosesau tendro rhy gymhleth a diffyg cefnogaeth llywodraeth leol. Dywedodd rheolwr gyfarwyddwr un o'r BBaChau adeiladu hyn y byddai proses symlach yn caniatáu i BBaChau gystadlu am gontractau sector cyhoeddus. Gallai hyn gynnwys lleihau a symleiddio'r meini prawf cymhwyso a chyflwyno gofynion cymesur ar gyfer prosiectau llai. Aeth ymlaen i ddweud bod prosesau tendro yng Nghymru, yn enwedig ar gyfer prosiectau sector cyhoeddus, yn aml yn gofyn am gydymffurfiad â rheoliadau penodol i Lywodraeth Cymru, a all gymhlethu ceisiadau. Felly, sut wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda chynrychiolwyr contractwyr BBaChau, gan gynnwys y Sefydliad Adeiladu Siartredig, i sicrhau sector sy'n ffynnu a all barhau i adeiladu, ymhlith pethau eraill, adeiladau cyhoeddus cynaliadwy yng Nghymru?
Thanks very much. We're all aware of the huge increases in costs that the construction industry has faced, in particular the massive impact that inflation has had on some of the raw materials. That's impacted on every aspect and, in particular, on our ability in Government to make the kind of developments and advances that we hope to see when it comes to capital investment, and, of course, that means that the construction industry has also been challenged. On the SMEs, you're quite right—we have to make sure that there are opportunities for them to compete, and that's why there are examples in procurement where we've broken down the big procurement projects into smaller projects to enable some of those local suppliers and SMEs to be able to tender for that work.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydym ni i gyd yn ymwybodol o'r cynnydd enfawr i gostau y mae'r diwydiant adeiladu wedi ei wynebu, yn enwedig yr effaith enfawr y mae chwyddiant wedi ei chael ar rai o'r deunyddiau crai. Mae hynny wedi effeithio ar bob agwedd ac, yn benodol, ar ein gallu yn y Llywodraeth i wneud y math o ddatblygiadau a chynnydd yr ydym ni'n gobeithio eu gweld o ran buddsoddiad cyfalaf, ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n golygu bod y diwydiant adeiladu wedi cael ei herio hefyd. O ran y BBaChau, rydych chi'n gwbl gywir—mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod cyfleoedd iddyn nhw gystadlu, a dyna pam mae enghreifftiau ym maes caffael lle rydym ni wedi rhannu'r prosiectau caffael mawr yn brosiectau llai i alluogi rhai o'r cyflenwyr lleol a'r BBaChau hynny i allu tendro am y gwaith hwnnw.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, yesterday, you were at Keir Starmer's investment summit, and the good news coming out of that summit was that there's £60 billion-worth of investment coming into the UK, building on the previous two conferences that the previous Conservative Government put in place. But one thing we learnt today, sadly, with economic numbers here in Wales, is that unemployment has moved upwards and those in employment remain at the lowest level as a percentage of the workforce of any part of the United Kingdom. One thing that would be devastating would be an increase in national insurance contributions, and, indeed, two individuals thought the same some years ago. A certain gentleman called Jonathan Reynolds, who I believe is now the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said in 2022 that national insurance is
'a tax on jobs for employers at the worst possible time. Labour will back business to keep British firms competitive'.
Rachel Reeves, a certain Chancellor of the Exchequer, said, in 2021, higher employment insurance will
'make each new recruit more expensive and increase the costs to business.'
They don't like it, do they? They don't like it, because they know that increasing national insurance contributions will increase those unemployment numbers here in Wales. So, will you agree with Jonathan Reynolds and the Chancellor of the Exchequer when they were in opposition that, actually, an increase in employer national insurance payments will increase unemployment here in Wales?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ddoe, roeddech chi yn uwchgynhadledd fuddsoddi Keir Starmer, a'r newyddion da a ddaeth allan o'r uwchgynhadledd honno oedd bod gwerth £60 biliwn o fuddsoddiad yn dod i mewn i'r DU, gan adeiladu ar y ddwy gynhadledd flaenorol a roddwyd ar waith gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol. Ond un peth y gwnaethom ni ei ddarganfod heddiw, yn anffodus, o ran rhifau economaidd yma yng Nghymru, yw bod diweithdra wedi cynyddu a bod y rhai sydd mewn cyflogaeth yn parhau ar y lefel isaf fel canran o'r gweithlu yn unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Un peth a fyddai'n ofnadwy fyddai cynnydd i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, ac, yn wir, roedd dau unigolyn yn meddwl yr un peth rai blynyddoedd yn ôl. Dywedodd gŵr penodol o'r enw Jonathan Reynolds, yr wyf i'n credu sy'n Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Fusnes a Masnach bellach, yn 2022 bod yswiriant gwladol yn
'dreth ar swyddi i gyflogwyr ar yr amser gwaethaf posibl. Bydd Llafur yn cefnogi byd busnes i gadw cwmnïau Prydain yn gystadleuol'.
Dywedodd Rachel Reeves, Canghellor y Trysorlys penodol, yn 2021, y bydd yswiriant cyflogaeth uwch yn
'gwneud pob gweithiwr newydd yn ddrytach ac yn cynyddu'r costau i fusnes.'
Dydyn nhw ddim yn ei hoffi, nac ydyn? Dydyn nhw ddim yn ei hoffi, oherwydd maen nhw'n gwybod y bydd cynyddu cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol yn cynyddu'r rhifau diweithdra hynny yma yng Nghymru. Felly, a wnewch chi gytuno â Jonathan Reynolds a Changhellor y Trysorlys pan oedden nhw yn yr wrthblaid y bydd cynnydd i daliadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn cynyddu diweithdra yma yng Nghymru mewn gwirionedd?
I'm not going to take lessons from a Tory Government that left office with the highest tax rates in 70 years. I will not take lessons from you. And you talk about building on the summits of the past, I'll tell you what happened in the summits of the past: nobody turned up in the end, because you were in such chaos that they didn't think that the United Kingdom was a place where they could be clear that their money would be safe. Now that has all changed. With a UK Labour Government, 'stability' is the word in order, and I made it very clear to some of those investors yesterday that if they want to see some stability, this is the place to come—Labour in power and winning majorities for 102 years. That's what you call stability, and that's why people should come and invest here.
And you talk about unemployment rates, let me tell you about unemployment rates. There's always work to do on that, but I was pleased to see the Office for National Statistics publication last week that suggested that youth unemployment in Wales had come down 3.2 per cent to 6.2 per cent. The equivalent UK figure is 11 per cent. If there's an area where I want to see progress, it's youth unemployment, and I'm pleased to see that those figures have come down.
Nid wyf i'n mynd i gymryd gwersi gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd a adawodd bod mewn grym gyda'r cyfraddau treth uchaf ers 70 mlynedd. Ni wnaf i gymryd gwersi gennych chi. Ac rydych chi'n sôn am adeiladu ar uwchgynadleddau'r gorffennol, fe wnaf i ddweud wrthych chi yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn uwchgynadleddau'r gorffennol: ni ddaeth neb iddyn nhw yn y pen draw gan eich bod chi mewn cymaint o anrhefn nad oedden nhw'n credu bod y Deyrnas Unedig yn fan lle gallen nhw fod yn glir y byddai eu harian yn ddiogel. Mae hynny i gyd wedi newid bellach. Gyda Llywodraeth Lafur y DU, 'sefydlogrwydd' yw'r gair priodol, ac fe'i gwnes hi'n eglur iawn i rai o'r buddsoddwyr hynny ddoe os ydyn nhw eisiau gweld rhywfaint o sefydlogwydd, dyma'r lle i ddod—Llafur mewn grym ac yn ennill mwyafrifoedd ers 102 mlynedd. Dyna beth rydych chi'n ei alw'n sefydlogrwydd, a dyna pam ddylai pobl ddod i fuddsoddi yma.
Ac rydych chi'n sôn am gyfraddau diweithdra, gadewch i mi ddweud wrthych chi am gyfraddau diweithdra. Mae gwaith i'w wneud ar hynny bob amser, ond roeddwn i'n falch o weld cyhoeddiad y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yr wythnos diwethaf a oedd yn awgrymu bod diweithdra ymhlith pobl ifanc yng Nghymru wedi gostwng 3.2 y cant i 6.2 y cant. 11 y cant yw'r ffigur cyfatebol ar gyfer y DU. Os oes maes lle rwyf i eisiau gweld cynnydd, diweithdra ymhlith pobl ifanc yw hwnnw, ac rwy'n falch o weld bod y ffigurau hynny wedi gostwng.
First Minister, when the Conservatives left office in July, we had the fastest growing G7 economy, we had inflation back to 2 per cent and we had unemployment at record low levels. That is a fact. But the point I am making to you, First Minister, is quite simple: your colleagues, in opposition, said that any increase in national insurance payments by employers would be a tax on employment. I simply asked the question of you: do you agree with Jonathan Reynolds and Rachel Reeves, when they were in opposition, that, actually, an increase in national insurance would see job losses, would be a tax on employment and, actually, deter vital investment that we need here in Wales? 'Yes' or 'no', First Minister?
Prif Weinidog, pan adawodd y Ceidwadwyr rym ym mis Gorffennaf, roedd gennym ni'r economi G7 a oedd yn tyfu gyflymaf, roedd chwyddiant yn ôl i 2 y cant gennym ni ac roedd gennym ni ddiweithdra ar y lefelau isaf erioed. Mae hynny'n ffaith. Ond mae'r pwynt yr wyf i'n ei wneud i chi, Prif Weinidog, yn eithaf syml: dywedodd eich cydweithwyr, yn yr wrthblaid, y byddai unrhyw gynnydd i daliadau yswiriant gwladol gan gyflogwyr yn dreth ar gyflogaeth. Gofynnais gwestiwn syml i chi: a ydych chi'n cytuno â Jonathan Reynolds a Rachel Reeves, pan oedden nhw yn yr wrthblaid, y byddai cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol mewn gwirionedd yn arwain at golli swyddi, yn dreth ar gyflogaeth ac, mewn gwirionedd, yn atal buddsoddiad hanfodol sydd ei angen arnom ni yma yng Nghymru? 'Ydw' neu 'nac ydw', Prif Weinidog?
It's an absolute joke, isn't it, to talk about the fastest growth. If you're growing from an extremely low base, that's pretty easy, and that's where you were at. What the agenda of the UK Government is and what the agenda of the Welsh Government is is to see economic growth, and that's why that summit yesterday was absolutely crucial. There were people there from around the globe, yearning to invest in a country that now has stability after the chaos of those Tory years. Economic growth is what’s going to make a difference. That’s what’s going to generate the taxes that will then allow us to spend on the public services that we are all very keen to support. So, I’m not going to tell you what’s in the budget—I don’t know what’s in the budget; it’s important that Rachel Reeves is accountable for that—but what I will tell you is that I am absolutely on the same page when it comes to economic growth in this nation.
Mae'n jôc lwyr, onid yw, i sôn am y twf cyflymaf. Os ydych chi'n tyfu o sylfaen isel iawn, mae hynny'n eithaf hawdd, a dyna lle roeddech chi. Agenda Llywodraeth y DU ac agenda Llywodraeth Cymru yw gweld twf economaidd, a dyna pam roedd yr uwchgynhadledd honno ddoe yn gwbl hanfodol. Roedd pobl yno o bedwar ban byd, yn dyheu i gael buddsoddi mewn gwlad sydd â sefydlogrwydd bellach ar ôl anhrefn y blynyddoedd Torïaidd hynny. Twf economaidd yw'r hyn sy'n mynd i wneud gwahaniaeth. Dyna beth sy'n mynd i gynhyrchu'r trethi a fydd wedyn yn caniatáu i ni wario ar y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yr ydym ni i gyd yn awyddus iawn i'w cefnogi. Felly, nid wyf i'n mynd i ddweud wrthych chi beth sydd yn y gyllideb—dydw i ddim yn gwybod beth sydd yn y gyllideb; mae'n bwysig bod Rachel Reeves yn atebol am hynny—ond yr hyn a wnaf i ei ddweud wrthych chi yw fy mod i'n sicr o'r un meddylfryd o ran twf economaidd yn y genedl hon.
I appreciate, by your own words, you have greater influence on Donald Trump than you do on Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, so maybe you don’t know what’s in the budget, but speaker after speaker, speaking on behalf of the Labour Government, from the business Secretary on Sunday to the Prime Minister today and the Chancellor yesterday, all refused to rule out a rise in employer contributions to national insurance. I’ve used their very words that have said that it’ll be a tax on employment. You say that as a party you stand up for Wales, why don’t you stand up for Wales and stop this rise in the budget to tax employment here in Wales, when we have the highest unemployment going forward here in Wales, and some of the lowest employment of any part of the United Kingdom? You could stand up for Wales. You didn’t stand up for Wales when it came to pensioners and winter fuel payments. How’s about standing up for Welsh workers, First Minister? Stand up and be counted.
Rwy'n sylweddoli, yn ôl eich geiriau eich hun, bod gennych chi fwy o ddylanwad ar Donald Trump nag sydd gennych chi ar Keir Starmer, Prif Weinidog y DU, felly efallai nad ydych chi'n gwybod beth sydd yn y gyllideb, ond fe wnaeth llefarydd ar ôl llefarydd, yn siarad ar ran y Llywodraeth Lafur, o'r Ysgrifennydd busnes ddydd Sul i Brif Weinidog y DU heddiw a'r Canghellor ddoe, i gyd wrthod diystyru cynnydd i gyfraniadau cyflogwyr at yswiriant gwladol. Rwyf i wedi defnyddio eu hunion eiriau nhw sydd wedi dweud y bydd yn dreth ar gyflogaeth. Rydych chi'n dweud eich bod chi, fel plaid, yn sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru, pam na wnewch chi sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru ac atal y cynnydd hwn yn y gyllideb i dreth gyflogaeth yma yng Nghymru, pan fo gennym ni'r diweithdra uchaf wrth symud ymlaen yma yng Nghymru, a rhywfaint o'r gyflogaeth isaf o unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig? Gallech chi sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru. Ni wnaethoch chi sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru o ran pensiynwyr a thaliadau tanwydd y gaeaf. Beth am sefyll yn gadarn dros weithwyr Cymru, Prif Weinidog? Safwch dros eich egwyddorion.
I’ll tell you how I’ll stand up for Wales, it’s to make sure that they’re aware of the £22 billion hole that you left in the budget that we now have to fill. [Interruption.] We now have to fill it. [Interruption.] It absolutely does exist. You want to speak to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. You want to speak to all of these other organisations. I’m not making this up. There are other independent bodies talking about this.
My job is to stand up for Wales and that’s precisely what I was doing in the nations and regions—. It’s precisely what I was doing in the Council of the Nations and Regions that was held for the first time in Edinburgh on Friday, bouncing in then to the summit meeting that was held in the Guildhall in London, a real opportunity for us to make the case, because growth is what matters, and that’s absolutely the page that we’re on.
Fe ddywedaf wrthych chi sut y gwnaf i sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru, mae'n ymwneud â gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n ymwybodol o'r twll £22 biliwn y gwnaethoch chi ei adael yn y gyllideb y mae'n rhaid i ni ei lenwi bellach. [Torri ar draws.] Mae'n rhaid i ni ei lenwi nawr. [Torri ar draws.] Mae'n sicr yn bodoli. Fe ddylech chi siarad â'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid. Fe ddylech chi siarad â'r holl sefydliadau eraill hyn. Nid wyf i'n dyfeisio hyn. Ceir cyrff annibynnol eraill sy'n siarad am hyn.
Fy swyddogaeth i yw sefyll yn gadarn dros Gymru a dyna'n union yr oeddwn i'n ei wneud yn y gwledydd a'r rhanbarthau—. Dyna'n union yr oeddwn i'n ei wneud yng Nghyngor y Gwledydd a'r Rhanbarthau a gynhaliwyd am y tro cyntaf yng Nghaeredin ddydd Gwener, gan arwain ymlaen wedyn at y cyfarfod uwchgynhadledd a gynhaliwyd yn y Guildhall yn Llundain, cyfle go iawn i ni wneud y ddadl, oherwydd twf yw'r hyn sy'n bwysig, a dyna'n sicr y meddylfryd sydd gennym ni.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Fis diwethaf, mi wnaeth The Guardian redeg stori exclusive yn cynnwys y frawddeg ganlynol:
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Last month, The Guardian ran an exclusive story including the following sentence:
'NHS patients in Wales will be allowed to travel to England for outpatient or elective treatment under plans to be announced by the Welsh secretary'.
'Bydd cleifion GIG yng Nghymru yn cael teithio i Loegr ar gyfer triniaeth cleifion allanol neu ddewisol o dan gynlluniau a fydd yn cael eu cyhoeddi gan ysgrifennydd Cymru'.
Rŵan, o gymryd bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn rhan o’r penderfyniadau hynny, beth yn union oedd Jo Stevens yn ei olygu wrth hynny?
Now, assuming that the Welsh Government were involved in those decisions, what exactly did Jo Stevens mean by that?
We’ve been very clear and we’ve checked on this, and I think people have been putting words into our mouth in terms of what the relationship is and what it was that we announced. We did say that we want to see where we can learn from other parts of the United Kingdom that are working successfully, as they are keen to learn from us. What I can tell you is that, since then, there has been an appointment, the health Secretary has announced the appointment of that expert panel, people who have worked in the NHS in England who know what works well, and that is the beginning of that relationship of learning where we can from England. That would not have been possible—that would not have been possible—with a Tory Government in Westminster.
Rydym ni wedi bod yn eglur iawn ac rydym ni wedi gwirio hyn, ac rwy'n credu bod pobl wedi bod yn rhoi geiriau yn ein cegau o ran beth yw'r berthynas a'r hyn a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni. Fe wnaethom ni ddweud ein bod ni eisiau gweld lle y gallwn ni ddysgu gan rannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig sy'n gweithio'n llwyddiannus, fel y maen nhw'n awyddus i ddysgu gennym ni. Yr hyn y gallaf i ei ddweud wrthych chi yw, ers hynny, y gwnaed penodiad, mae'r Ysgrifennydd iechyd wedi cyhoeddi penodiad y panel arbenigol hwnnw, pobl sydd wedi gweithio yn y GIG yn Lloegr sy'n gwybod beth sy'n gweithio'n dda, a dyna ddechrau'r berthynas honno o ddysgu lle y gallwn ni gan Loegr. Ni fyddai hynny wedi bod yn bosibl—ni fyddai hynny wedi bod yn bosibl—gyda Llywodraeth Dorïaidd yn San Steffan.
The First Minister’s reference to putting words in mouths tempts me to make comparisons with the ridiculous notion that Welsh Government’s excellent performance on dentistry is something that we should be learning from. Jo Stevens told The Guardian that, and I quote:
Mae cyfeiriad y Prif Weinidog at roi geiriau mewn cegau yn fy nhemtio i wneud cymariaethau â'r syniad chwerthinllyd bod perfformiad rhagorol Llywodraeth Cymru o ran deintyddiaeth yn rhywbeth y dylem ni fod yn dysgu ohono. Dywedodd Jo Stevens wrth y Guardian, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
'These practical, commonsense steps could deliver real change on the ground for patients and clinicians.'
'Y gallai'r camau ymarferol, synnwyr cyffredin hyn sicrhau newid gwirioneddol ar lawr gwlad i gleifion a chlinigwyr.'
The problem is that we have absolutely no idea what is actually being proposed. Despite her promise of mutual aid partnerships between NHS trusts in England and health boards in Wales, Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for health has ruled out giving Welsh patients the option to travel to England for more treatments. Between them, Labour in Wales and in Westminster have come up with a word soup that is just a distraction from their failure and even a lack of a real plan to bring down wating lists.
In light of the supposed new cross-border health partnership, which remains a mystery to all, including the Secretary for health, can the First Minister explain why three key players on the border, Gloucestershire NHS trust, Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS trust, and Powys Teaching Health Board would confirm to us via freedom of information requests that they have received no correspondence from either Labour Government?
Y broblem yw nad oes gennym ni unrhyw syniad o gwbl beth sy'n cael ei gynnig mewn gwirionedd. Er gwaethaf ei haddewid o bartneriaethau cydgymorth rhwng ymddiriedolaethau'r GIG yn Lloegr a byrddau iechyd yng Nghymru, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi diystyru rhoi'r dewis i gleifion o Gymru deithio i Loegr i gael mwy o driniaethau. Rhyngddyn nhw, mae Llafur yng Nghymru ac yn San Steffan wedi creu cawl geiriau sy'n gwneud dim ond tynnu sylw oddi wrth eu methiant a hyd yn oed eu diffyg cynllun go iawn i leihau rhestrau aros.
Yng ngoleuni'r bartneriaeth iechyd drawsffiniol newydd dybiedig sy'n dal i fod yn ddirgelwch i bawb, gan gynnwys yr Ysgrifennydd dros iechyd, a all y Prif Weinidog esbonio pam y byddai tri pharti allweddol ar y ffin, ymddiriedolaeth GIG Swydd Gaerloyw, ymddiriedolaeth GIG Swydd Henffordd a Swydd Gaerwrangon, a Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys yn cadarnhau i ni trwy geisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth nad ydyn nhw wedi derbyn unrhyw ohebiaeth gan y naill Lywodraeth Lafur na'r llall?
Well, I honestly think that you have all, as well as the media, been projecting things onto what this relationship is all about. The fact is that it is all about practical, commonsense steps, and that's what we're doing. We've brought in these experts, who are telling us what works well in the NHS in England, and they'll be working with the experts from Wales on how that will work best. And let's be clear also that, actually, supporting each other is something that already happens. It happened already. That's why people who, for example, have cleft palates living in Bristol, come to Wales for their support, because we have the expertise. The same thing in relation to plastic surgery: we have expertise here and they send them here. That is the way it works and so, of course, if we can help each other out, we will, and we do.
When we look at capacity, frankly, there's not that much capacity in England either at the moment, when it comes to—[Interruption.] I'll tell you what it's about. It's about learning best practice. [Interruption.] Why aren't you listening to what I'm saying? Why don't you read what we've actually said, rather than making things up? It was the Tories doing that last week and now it's you doing it.
But what I can tell you is that, actually, there is a whole range of areas where they are keen to learn from us as well, and that includes the fact that we have changed the GP contract in Wales, that we have much better performance than they do in England, testified to by the fact that 60 per cent more people from England on the borders are registered in Wales rather than England. They are choosing to register in Wales because they get a better service.
And you're right, we've got a long way to go, still, on dentistry—a long way to go—but we're a damn sight further ahead than they are in England. Four hundred thousand new patients have gained access to an NHS dentist. Have we got more to do? Of course we do, but they've got much further to go in England, and we've already changed the contract in Wales.
Wel, rwyf i wir yn credu eich bod chi i gyd, yn ogystal â'r cyfryngau, wedi bod yn alldaflu pethau ar holl ddiben y berthynas hon. Y gwir amdani yw ei bod hi'n golygu camau ymarferol, synnwyr cyffredin, a dyna rydym ni'n ei wneud. Rydym ni wedi dod â'r arbenigwyr hyn i mewn, sy'n dweud wrthym ni beth sy'n gweithio'n dda yn y GIG yn Lloegr, a byddan nhw'n gweithio gyda'r arbenigwyr o Gymru ar sut y bydd hynny yn gweithio orau. A gadewch i ni fod yn eglur hefyd, mewn gwirionedd, bod cynorthwyo ein gilydd yn rhywbeth sydd eisoes yn digwydd. Mae eisoes wedi digwydd. Dyna pam mae pobl sydd, er enghraifft, â thaflodau hollt sy'n byw ym Mryste, yn dod i Gymru i gael eu cymorth, gan fod yr arbenigedd gennym ni. Yr un peth o ran llawdriniaeth blastig: mae gennym ni arbenigedd yma ac maen nhw'n eu hanfon nhw yma. Dyna'r ffordd y mae'n gweithio ac felly, wrth gwrs, os gallwn ni roi help llaw i'n gilydd, byddwn yn gwneud hynny, ac rydym ni'n gwneud hynny.
Pan edrychwn ni ar gapasiti, a dweud y gwir, does dim cymaint â hynny o gapasiti yn Lloegr chwaith ar hyn o bryd, o ran—[Torri ar draws.] Fe wnaf i ddweud wrthych chi am beth mae e. Mae'n ymwneud â dysgu arferion gorau. [Torri ar draws.] Pam nad ydych chi'n gwrando ar yr hyn yr wyf i'n ddweud? Pam na wnewch chi ddarllen yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei ddweud mewn gwirionedd, yn hytrach na dyfeisio pethau? Y Torïaid oedd yn gwneud hynny yr wythnos diwethaf a nawr chi sy'n ei wneud.
Ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych chi, mewn gwirionedd, yw bod amrywiaeth eang o feysydd lle maen nhw'n awyddus i ddysgu gennym ni hefyd, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys y ffaith ein bod ni wedi newid y contract meddygon teulu yng Nghymru, bod gennym ni berfformiad llawer gwell na'r hyn sydd ganddyn nhw yn Lloegr, sy'n cael ei brofi gan y ffaith bod 60 y cant yn fwy o bobl o Loegr yn y gororau wedi'u cofrestru yng Nghymru yn hytrach na Lloegr. Maen nhw'n dewis cofrestru yng Nghymru gan eu bod nhw'n cael gwasanaeth gwell.
Ac rydych chi'n iawn, mae gennym lawer iawn i'w wneud, o hyd, o ran deintyddiaeth—llawer iawn i'w wneud—ond rydym ni'n llawer iawn ymhellach ymlaen nag y maen nhw yn Lloegr. Mae pedwar can mil o gleifion newydd wedi cael mynediad at ddeintydd GIG. A oes gennym ni fwy i'w wneud? Wrth gwrs bod gennym ni, ond mae ganddyn nhw lawer iawn mwy i'w wneud yn Lloegr, ac rydym ni eisoes wedi newid y contract yng Nghymru.
Of course there's co-operation already happening, but on this announcement of new cross-border working, the First Minister is genuinely making it up as she goes along, I think. We know nothing about these plans because there were no plans, were there? We've asked Ministers to publish the relevant terms of reference: nothing. Governance arrangements: nothing. We don't even know what the financial implications are. Let's be honest about what happened here: Labour put out a conference press release to try to take a bit of the pressure off themselves on their health failures, and in doing so they gave patients false hope.
Plaid Cymru looks forward to putting our plans in place to start dealing with that immediate issue of long waiting lists. But at our conference over the weekend, we also focused on that other fundamental shift in policy direction that we need, putting the preventative health agenda front and centre. The truth is that, had successive Labour Welsh Governments invested as they should have in preventing ill health, rather than just managing people's pain, waiting lists would not be out of control to the extent that they are. Over 10 per cent of deaths in Wales are linked to smoking. I'll end with this straightforward question: can the First Minister confirm whether or not the Welsh Government is proposing to cut funding to any organisation involved in furthering the cause of smoking cessation in Wales?
Wrth gwrs bod cydweithrediad eisoes yn digwydd, ond o ran y cyhoeddiad hwn am weithio trawsffiniol newydd, mae'r Prif Weinidog wir yn ei ddyfeisio wrth iddi siarad, rwy'n credu. Dydyn ni'n gwybod dim am y cynlluniau hyn gan nad oedd unrhyw gynlluniau, a oedd yna? Rydym ni wedi gofyn i Weinidogion gyhoeddi'r cylch gorchwyl perthnasol: dim byd. Trefniadau llywodraethu: dim byd. Dydyn ni ddim hyd yn oed yn gwybod beth yw'r goblygiadau ariannol. Gadewch i ni fod yn onest am yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yma: gwnaeth Llafur ddatganiad i'r wasg yn ystod eu cynhadledd i geisio tynnu ychydig o'r pwysau oddi arnyn nhw eu hunain o ran eu methiannau iechyd, ac o wneud hynny fe wnaethon nhw roi gobaith ffug i gleifion.
Mae Plaid Cymru yn edrych ymlaen at roi ein cynlluniau ar waith i ddechrau ymdrin â'r broblem uniongyrchol honno o restrau aros hir. Ond yn ein cynhadledd dros y penwythnos, fe wnaethom ni ganolbwyntio hefyd ar y newid sylfaenol arall hwnnw i gyfeiriad polisi sydd ei angen arnom ni, gan wneud yr agenda iechyd ataliol yn flaenllaw. Y gwir yw, pe bai Llywodraethau Llafur Cymru olynol wedi buddsoddi fel y dylen nhw fod wedi ei wneud mewn atal afiechyd, yn hytrach na rheoli poen pobl yn unig, ni fyddai rhestrau aros allan o reolaeth i'r graddau y maen nhw. Mae dros 10 y cant o farwolaethau yng Nghymru yn gysylltiedig â smygu. Fe wnaf i gloi gyda'r cwestiwn syml hwn: a all y Prif Weinidog gadarnhau pa un a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu torri cyllid i unrhyw sefydliad sy'n ymwneud â hyrwyddo achos rhoi'r gorau i smygu yng Nghymru?
Well, you talk about your conference at the weekend; I went to a conference yesterday where I had the opportunity to speak to Wes Streeting about how we move further along. He was really pleased to make sure that his officials are working and looking at what it is we've done in relation to the dentistry contract, what it is we've done in relation to the GP contract. So, all of those are practical measures of how that co-operation is already moving ahead.
When you talk about the preventative agenda, I don't think we should apologise, and more than that, in fact, if you haven't read our strategic document, 'A Healthier Wales', then you should, because it's all about the preventative agenda. That's precisely what it's about. It's about early intervention, it's about making sure that we resolve issues in the community. We had a public health Bill. This is a Government that doesn't take public health lightly, we're the—[Interruption.] And this, don't forget, was a situation where Plaid Cymru voted against the public health Bill. And look at you: proud of it. All of a sudden, all of a sudden, public health is important to you after you voted against the Bill.
Let me tell you about the budget, okay? The health budget has increased year on year on year. That is not something that we will apologise for. Also, I think that it is important to note that, actually, when it comes to how it's organised, most of the prevention work is done within the NHS organisations themselves, and it's up to them to make sure that they organise things that are appropriate for their particular communities. So, in some communities, there will be a much higher rate of smoking than others, for example, and it's important that that is reflected in the kind of care and support that is given. But it's really important that that happens at a local level, where you can manipulate and change for the needs of the population. That's why we have health boards. You didn't want health boards. You wanted it all to be organised from a national point of view a few weeks ago. I don't know what your policy is now, but it does seem to be changing by the minute.
Wel, rydych chi'n sôn am eich cynhadledd dros y penwythnos; fe es i i gynhadledd ddoe lle cefais gyfle i siarad â Wes Streeting am sut rydym ni'n symud ymhellach ymlaen. Roedd yn falch iawn o wneud yn siŵr bod ei swyddogion yn gweithio ac yn edrych ar yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud o ran y contract deintyddiaeth, yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud o ran y contract meddygon teulu. Felly, mae'r rheini i gyd yn fesurau ymarferol o sut mae'r cydweithrediad hwnnw eisoes yn datblygu.
Pan fyddwch chi'n sôn am yr agenda ataliol, nid wyf i'n credu y dylem ni ymddiheuro, a mwy na hynny, mewn gwirionedd, os nad ydych wedi darllen ein dogfen strategol, 'Cymru Iachach', yna fe ddylech chi, oherwydd mae'n ymwneud yn llwyr â'r agenda ataliol. Dyna'n union y mae'n ei drafod. Mae'n ymwneud ag ymyrraeth gynnar, mae'n ymwneud â gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n datrys problemau yn y gymuned. Roedd gennym ni Fil iechyd y cyhoedd. Mae hon yn Llywodraeth nad yw'n diystyru iechyd y cyhoedd, ni yw'r—[Torri ar draws.] Ac roedd hon, peidiwch ag anghofio, yn sefyllfa lle pleidleisiodd Plaid Cymru yn erbyn bil iechyd y cyhoedd. Ac edrychwch arnoch chi: yn falch ohono. Yn sydyn iawn, yn sydyn iawn, mae iechyd y cyhoedd yn bwysig i chi ar ôl i chi bleidleisio yn erbyn y Bil.
Gadewch i mi ddweud wrthych chi am y gyllideb, iawn? Mae'r gyllideb iechyd wedi cynyddu o un flwyddyn i'r nesaf. Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth y byddwn ni'n ymddiheuro amdano. Hefyd, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig nodi, mewn gwirionedd, o ran sut y caiff ei drefnu, bod y rhan fwyaf o'r gwaith atal yn cael ei wneud o fewn sefydliadau'r GIG eu hunain, a mater iddyn nhw yw gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n trefnu pethau sy'n briodol ar gyfer eu cymunedau penodol. Felly, mewn rhai cymunedau, bydd cyfradd smygu llawer uwch nag mewn eraill, er enghraifft, ac mae'n bwysig bod hynny yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn y math o ofal a chymorth a roddir. Ond mae'n bwysig iawn bod hynny yn digwydd ar lefel leol, lle gallwch chi drin a newid ar gyfer anghenion y boblogaeth. Dyna pam mae gennym ni fyrddau iechyd. Doeddech chi ddim eisiau byrddau iechyd. Roeddech chi eisiau i'r cwbl gael ei drefnu o safbwynt cenedlaethol ychydig wythnosau yn ôl. Nid wyf i'n gwybod beth yw eich polisi chi nawr, ond mae'n ymddangos ei fod yn newid fesul munud.
3. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o ddiogelwch tomenni glo yng Nghymru? OQ61695
3. What assessment has the First Minister made of the safety of coal tips in Wales? OQ61695
The Welsh Government funds a comprehensive inspection and delivery programme for safety critical maintenance works on publicly and privately owned tips. Approximately 2,000 coal tip inspections have been undertaken since 2020. We are also modernising our legislation through the new disused tips Bill, due to be introduced to the Senedd shortly.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu rhaglen archwilio a chyflawni gynhwysfawr ar gyfer gwaith cynnal a chadw hollbwysig i ddiogelwch ar domenni sy'n eiddo cyhoeddus a phreifat. Cynhaliwyd tua 2,000 o archwiliadau tomenni glo ers 2020. Rydym ni hefyd yn moderneiddio ein deddfwriaeth drwy'r Bil tomenni nas defnyddir newydd, y disgwylir iddi gael ei chyflwyno i'r Senedd yn fuan.
Diolch. First Minister, on 21 September this year, you stated that, and I quote:
'Heavier rainfall could destabilise Wales’ many coal tips. The UK Government has a duty to work with us to address the risk to communities...we need long-term funding to make coal tips safe.'
So, First Minister, do you still believe that coal tips are unsafe, and if so, have you asked the UK Government for specific funding to make them safe? Thank you.
Diolch. Prif Weinidog, ar 21 Medi eleni, fe wnaethoch chi ddweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
'Gallai glaw trymach ansefydlogi tomenni glo niferus Cymru. Mae gan Lywodraeth y DU ddyletswydd i weithio gyda ni i fynd i'r afael â'r risg i gymunedau...mae angen cyllid hirdymor arnom ni i wneud tomenni glo yn ddiogel.'
Felly, Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n dal i gredu bod tomenni glo yn beryglus, ac os felly, a ydych chi wedi gofyn i Lywodraeth y DU am gyllid penodol i'w gwneud nhw'n ddiogel? Diolch.
Thanks very much. You are absolutely right. We do have a duty and a responsibility to make sure that the coal tips that we have—and there are a lot of them in Wales; about 4,000, as I understand it—. We have checked 2,000 of them. This is something that we are taking extremely seriously and something that we have already spent £60 million on, in terms of investment, between 2022 and 2025. You ask if I have checked this with the UK Government. It was a specific issue that I raised with Keir Starmer on Friday last week in Scotland, yes.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir. Mae gennym ni ddyletswydd a chyfrifoldeb i wneud yn siŵr bod y tomenni glo sydd gennym ni—ac mae llawer ohonyn nhw yng Nghymru; tua 4,000, fel yr wyf i'n ei deall hi—. Rydym ni wedi gwirio 2,000 ohonyn nhw. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n ei gymryd wir o ddifrif ac yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni eisoes wedi gwario £60 miliwn arno, o ran buddsoddiad, rhwng 2022 a 2025. Rydych chi'n gofyn a wyf i wedi gwirio hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Roedd yn fater penodol a godais gyda Keir Starmer ddydd Gwener yr wythnos diwethaf yn yr Alban, do.
The coal tips that litter our landscape are the legacy of exploitation, because they stand as daily reminders of how our Valleys were robbed of our wealth, through coal, and left literally with the rubbish, in the slag heaps that risk becoming, as has been said, evermore unstable at times of heavy rain.
Now, I know that the Welsh Government is shortly introducing a Bill to deal with how these tips can be kept safe, but our communities shouldn't have to deal with that worry. Westminster owes us the money that it will take to clear the tips. It is the least that they owe us, because those tips represent the lost wealth of coal that was stolen from us.
It is a trifle aggrieving to hear some Tories turn their tune on this when their own Government refused even to co-sign a letter about honouring that debt. But, Prif Weinidog, have you received a guarantee, please, from Keir Starmer that his Government will honour that debt that they owe to the Valleys, and that they will pay towards making these tips safe?
Etifeddiaeth camfanteiso yw'r tomenni glo sydd ym mhobman ar ein tirlun, gan eu bod nhw'n ein hatgoffa'n ddyddiol o sut y cafodd cyfoeth ein Cymoedd ei ddwyn, trwy lo, gan eu gadael nhw'n llythrennol gyda'r sbwriel, yn y tomenni slag y mae perygl, fel y dywedwyd, y byddan nhw'n dod yn fwyfwy ansefydlog yn ystod cyfnodau o law trwm.
Nawr, gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflwyno Bil yn fuan i ymdrin â sut y gellir cadw'r tomenni hyn yn ddiogel, ond ni ddylai fod yn rhaid i'n cymunedau ddelio â'r gofid hwnnw. Mae'r arian y bydd ei angen i glirio'r tomenni yn ddyledus i ni gan San Steffan. Dyma'r lleiaf sy'n ddyledus i ni ganddyn nhw, oherwydd mae'r tomenni hynny yn cynrychioli'r cyfoeth coll o lo a gafodd ei ddwyn oddi arnom ni.
Mae'n dristwch mawr clywed rhai Torïaid yn newid eu cân ar hyn pan wrthododd eu Llywodraeth eu hunain hyd yn oed gyd-lofnodi llythyr am anrhydeddu'r ddyled honno. Ond, Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi wedi cael sicrwydd, os gwelwch yn dda, gan Keir Starmer y bydd ei Lywodraeth yn anrhydeddu'r ddyled honno sy'n ddyledus ganddyn nhw i'r Cymoedd, ac y byddan nhw'n talu tuag at wneud y tomenni hyn yn ddiogel?
Well, thanks very much. You are absolutely right. It is important for us to note the legacy of the coal tips on our communities. I think that it is also important to celebrate our history and the way that that has shaped our communities and our cultures. But you are right: we have to deal now with the consequences of what is left. That's why we are taking it extremely seriously. It's why we have made it clear to the UK Government that we think they have a responsibility. This was pre-devolution. That's why this was a key issue that I raised with the Prime Minister, as I say, in my meeting with him last Friday.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir. Mae'n bwysig i ni nodi etifeddiaeth y tomenni glo ar ein cymunedau. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi hefyd yn bwysig dathlu ein hanes a'r ffordd y mae hynny wedi llunio ein cymunedau a'n diwylliannau. Ond rydych chi'n iawn: mae'n rhaid i ni ymdrin yn nawr â chanlyniadau'r hyn sydd ar ôl. Dyna pam rydym ni'n cymryd hyn wir o ddifrif. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi ei gwneud yn eglur i Lywodraeth y DU ein bod ni'n credu bod ganddyn nhw gyfrifoldeb. Roedd hyn cyn datganoli. Dyna pam roedd hwn yn fater allweddol a godais gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU, fel y dywedais, yn fy nghyfarfod ag ef ddydd Gwener diwethaf.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has taken proactive action to engage a private company to look at the remediation of the Bedwas tips. It's not without controversy in the community, but one thing I would say is that any work that ERI would do, when it goes through the proper planning procedures, would be very similar to anything that the UK Government would pay for and contract out to do. The process of remediating a tip is not always easy for a community, but, nonetheless, for safety reasons, they need to be done. Would the First Minister agree that the process for agreeing private contractors, in circumstances such as mine in Caerphilly, needs to be approached with an open mind, with a clear view to how it can benefit those communities, and make safe those tips that Laura Anne Jones and Delyth Jewell have already mentioned? And to approach that with an open mind means accepting that there will be some disruption while that process happens.
Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili wedi cymryd camau rhagweithiol i gyfarwyddo cwmni preifat i edrych ar adfer tomenni Bedwas. Mae wedi bod yn fater dadleuol yn y gymuned, ond un peth y byddwn i'n ei ddweud yw y byddai unrhyw waith y byddai ERI yn ei wneud, pan fydd yn mynd drwy'r gweithdrefnau cynllunio priodol, yn debyg iawn i unrhyw beth y byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn talu amdano ac yn ei roi ar gontract allanol i'w wneud. Nid yw'r broses o adfer tomen bob amser yn hawdd i gymuned, ond, serch hynny, am resymau diogelwch, mae angen ei wneud. A fyddai'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno bod angen mynd i'r afael â'r broses o gytuno ar gontractwyr preifat, o dan amgylchiadau fel fy un i yng Nghaerffili, gyda meddwl agored, â golwg eglur ar sut y gall fod o fudd i'r cymunedau hynny, a sicrhau bod y tomenni hynny y mae Laura Anne Jones a Delyth Jewell eisoes wedi eu crybwyll yn ddiogel? Ac mae mynd i'r afael â hynny gyda meddwl agored yn golygu derbyn y bydd rhywfaint o darfu tra bydd y broses honno yn digwydd.
Thanks very much. I think the key thing here is safety. We have to make sure that people in those communities are safe. We've got a terrible tragedy that is seared on the minds of the people of Wales, and we absolutely need to make sure that that never happens again. That's why making sure safety is our No. 1 is priority is key. Of course, there will be a need for private contractors to remediate some of the tips, but also there has to be recognition that, during that process, to make sure that it's safe, communities understand there may need to be a degree of disruption in order to support and to ensure the safety of the people who live nearby. So, an open mind absolutely needs to be kept.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu mai'r peth allweddol yma yw diogelwch. Mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn y cymunedau hynny yn ddiogel. Mae gennym ni drasiedi ofnadwy sydd wedi'i serio ym meddyliau pobl Cymru, ac mae gwir angen i ni wneud yn siŵr nad yw hynny byth yn digwydd eto. Dyna pam mae gwneud yn siŵr mai diogelwch yw ein prif flaenoriaeth yn allweddol. Wrth gwrs, bydd angen i gontractwyr preifat adfer rhai o'r tomenni, ond hefyd mae'n rhaid cydnabod, yn ystod y broses honno, i wneud yn siŵr ei bod yn ddiogel, bod cymunedau yn deall efallai y bydd angen rhywfaint o darfu er mwyn cefnogi ac i sicrhau diogelwch y bobl sy'n byw'n gyfagos. Felly, mae angen cadw meddwl agored, yn sicr.
Fel gwnaeth Delyth Jewell ein hatgoffa ni, mae hanes yn bwysig. Un o ddociau prysur Caerdydd oedd ar y lleoliad yma—doc a agorwyd i dderbyn glo a aeth i bedwar ban byd. Fe ddywedodd yr hanesydd Dr John Davies wrthyf taw gwastraff trychineb Aberfan a lenwodd y doc yma, ac felly mae ein Senedd ni, ac, yn hynny o beth, democratiaeth Cymru, wedi cael eu hadeiladu ar y trasiedi ofnadwy hwnnw. Felly, mae'n eironig o greulon, onid yw hi, mai un o fethiannau mwyaf y setliad datganoli, methiannau'r Ceidwadwyr, a nawr methiannau'r Blaid Lafur, yw ein bod ni heb ddod i gytundeb ar bwy sy'n mynd i glirio'r tomenni glo yna.
Fe gafodd Aberfan ei bradychu gan George Thomas, fe gafodd ei bradychu gan Lywodraeth Harold Wilson. Fe gafodd peryglon eu hanwybyddu, ac fe wnaeth iawndal i ddioddefwyr a theuluoedd gael ei ddefnyddio i glirio'r tomenni. Mae pobl ein Cymoedd yn haeddu llawer gwell na hyn, Brif Weinidog. A ydy Llywodraeth Keir Starmer yn mynd i dalu i glirio'r tomenni? Diolch yn fawr.
As Delyth Jewell reminded us, history is important. It was one of Cardiff's busy docks that was on this site—a dock that was opened to take the coal that went to all four corners of the globe. The historian Dr John Davies told me that the waste from the Aberfan disaster filled this dock, and, therefore, our Senedd and Welsh democracy are built on that appalling tragedy. So, it's ironically cruel, isn't it, that one of the greatest failings of the devolution settlement, the failings of the Conservatives, and now the Labour Party too, is that we haven't come to an agreement as to who will clear these coal tips.
Aberfan was betrayed by George Thomas, it was betrayed by the Harold Wilson Government. Dangers were ignored, and compensation for the victims and their families was used to clear the tips. The people of the Valleys deserve far better than this, Prif Weinidog. Is Keir Starmer's Government going to pay to clear these tips? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr. Dwi ddim wedi clywed hynny o'r blaen—bod y fan yma wedi'i hadeiladu ar wastraff trychineb Aberfan. Ond os yw hynny'n wir, dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n parchu ein gorffennol ac yn sicrhau nad ydyn ni'n gweld unrhyw beth tebyg yn digwydd yn ein cymunedau ni eto. Unwaith eto, mi wnes i godi'r achos yma gyda Keir Starmer, ac fe gawn ni weld os byddwn ni'n gweld gwahaniaeth yn y gyllideb. Rŷn ni'n gwybod bod yna lot fawr o ofynion ar y gyllideb, ond dwi eisiau ei gwneud hi'n glir fy mod i wedi gwneud achos clir iawn ynglŷn â'u cyfrifoldeb nhw hefyd ynglŷn â chlirio'r tomenni glo yma.
Thank you very much. I hadn't heard that before—that this site was built on the spoils of the Aberfan disaster. But if it is the case, I think it's very important that we respect our past and ensure, in turn, that nothing similar happens in our communities in future. Once again, I did raise this issue with Keir Starmer, and we will see whether a difference will be made in the budget. We know that there are many demands on that budget, but I do want to make it clear that I have made a very clear case with regard to their responsibility too when it comes to clearing these coal tips.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i adfer cynefinoedd morol? OQ61723
4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's efforts to restore marine habitats? OQ61723
Thanks very much. I recognise the importance of the marine environment to the people of Wales. Our restorative programmes for marine habitats include the marine protected areas scheme and the Nature Networks programme. We're also committed to understanding our impacts on the marine environment, so that we can target further interventions effectively.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd yr amgylchedd morol i bobl Cymru. Mae ein rhaglenni adferol ar gyfer cynefinoedd morol yn cynnwys y cynllun ardaloedd morol gwarchodedig a'r rhaglen Rhwydweithiau Natur. Rydym ni hefyd wedi ymrwymo i ddeall ein heffeithiau ar yr amgylchedd morol, fel y gallwn ni dargedu ymyraethau pellach yn effeithiol.
Thank you, First Minister. As you may already know, as many Members in this Chamber know, I'm the Senedd species champion for seagrass, and I was delighted to have read the national seagrass action plan earlier in the year, which was published by Seagrass Network Cymru. It identifies six key objectives aimed at both retaining and expanding our seagrass meadows, which sadly have declined by 92 per cent over the last 100 years. However, I've recently noticed that the Welsh Government have not endorsed this plan. I know that doing so would help Seagrass Network Cymru to pursue their objectives, in particular attracting outside investment. Whilst I appreciate that you have been busy over the summer, due to the narrow windows for harvesting and planting of seagrass, delays in supporting this plan will have a big impact, because seagrass projects have to wait for another season before they can scale up their plans as per the new objectives. With this in mind, does the First Minister know of any reasons for not endorsing the plan? And if there are, would you be prepared to meet with Seagrass Network Cymru to discuss them? And if not, would you be prepared to endorse the plan, at least in principle, so Seagrass Network Cymru can start actioning their objectives?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Fel efallai y byddwch chi'n gwybod eisoes, fel y mae llawer o Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn gwybod, fi yw hyrwyddwr rhywogaeth y Senedd dros forwellt, ac roeddwn wrth fy modd o gael darllen y cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol ar gyfer morwellt yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn, a gyhoeddwyd gan Seagrass Network Cymru. Mae'n nodi chwe amcan allweddol sydd â'r nod o gadw ac ehangu ein dolydd morwellt, sydd, yn anffodus, wedi lleihau 92 y cant dros y 100 mlynedd diwethaf. Fodd bynnag, rwyf i wedi sylwi yn ddiweddar nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymeradwyo'r cynllun hwn. Gwn y byddai gwneud hynny yn helpu Seagrass Network Cymru i fynd ar drywydd eu hamcanion, ac yn enwedig denu buddsoddiad allanol. Er fy mod i'n sylweddoli eich bod chi wedi bod yn brysur dros yr haf, oherwydd y ffenestri cul ar gyfer cynaeafu a phlannu morwellt, bydd oedi cyn cefnogi'r cynllun hwn yn cael effaith fawr, oherwydd mae'n rhaid i brosiectau morwellt aros am dymor arall cyn y gallan nhw gynyddu eu cynlluniau yn unol â'r amcanion newydd. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a yw'r Prif Weinidog yn gwybod am unrhyw resymau dros beidio â chymeradwyo'r cynllun? Ac os oes rhai, a fyddech chi'n barod i gyfarfod â Seagrass Network Cymru i'w trafod? Ac os nad oes rhai, a fyddech chi'n barod i gymeradwyo'r cynllun, o leiaf mewn egwyddor, fel y gall Seagrass Network Cymru ddechrau rhoi eu hamcanion ar waith?
Thanks very much, and thank you for the work you do as a champion for seagrass. I found out a really interesting statistic recently, which is that seagrass has the potential to store up 170 per cent more carbon per square mile compared to forests. I thought that was incredible. And I just think, if that's the case, then we absolutely have a responsibility to do something in this space where actually we've got the right environment for this to happen. So, thank you, Joel, for bringing this up. I know that the suggestions in that report have been given to the Cabinet Secretary who is responsible for climate change, and he has agreed to meet with the organisation to consider. But seagrass—wow, that's a revolutionary concept for me. I only learned this last year. I'm very excited, and I think we should do more in this space.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, a diolch am y gwaith yr ydych chi'n ei wneud fel hyrwyddwr morwellt. Darganfyddais ystadegyn diddorol iawn yn ddiweddar, sef bod gan forwellt y potensial i storio 170 y cant yn fwy o garbon fesul milltir sgwâr o'i gymharu â choedwigoedd. Roeddwn i'n meddwl bod hynny yn anhygoel. Ac rwy'n credu, os yw hynny'n wir, yna'n sicr mae gennym ni gyfrifoldeb i wneud rhywbeth yn y maes hwn lle mae gennym ni'r amgylchedd iawn i hyn ddigwydd. Felly, diolch, Joel, am godi hyn. Gwn fod yr awgrymiadau yn yr adroddiad hwnnw wedi cael eu rhoi i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sy'n gyfrifol am newid hinsawdd, ac mae wedi cytuno i gyfarfod â'r sefydliad i'w ystyried. Ond morwellt—waw, mae hwnna yn gysyniad chwyldroadol i mi. Dim ond y llynedd y darganfyddais i hyn. Rwy'n teimlo cyffro mawr, ac rwy'n credu y dylem ni wneud mwy yn y maes hwn.
Mae cwestiwn 5 [OQ61722] wedi'i dynnu nôl.
Question 5 [OQ61722] has been withdrawn.
6. Beth yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar leihau gwastraff bwyd? OQ61727
6. What is the Welsh Government's policy on reducing food waste? OQ61727
We are focused on reducing and preventing waste across the food system. Our circular economy strategy 'Beyond Recycling' has an ambition to halve avoidable food waste by 2025 compared to the 2007 baseline, and by 60 per cent by 2030, by taking action to support the reduction of food waste throughout the supply chain.
Rydym ni'n canolbwyntio ar leihau ac atal gwastraff ar draws y system fwyd. Mae gan ein strategaeth economi gylchol 'Mwy nag ailgylchu' uchelgais i haneru gwastraff bwyd y gellir ei osgoi erbyn 2025 o'i gymharu â llinell sylfaen 2007, a 60 y cant erbyn 2030, trwy weithredu i gynorthwyo i leihau gwastraff bwyd drwy'r gadwyn gyflenwi gyfan.
Thank you for that initial answer, which sounds like a very challenging target. Because in the context of one third of all food produced across the world never being eaten, and contributing at the same time to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, these are really big and important figures. So it's no wonder that the UN sustainable development goal is to halve global food waste at both retail and consumer level.
All of this is about unequal relationships, isn't it? While some people go hungry, other people buy BOGOFs and then throw some of them away. Supermarkets can turn around and say what they asked the farmer to produce was not what they want to buy, and then they dump it on them to get rid of it themselves. Just as we are rightly proud of our record as the second in the world for recycling, what are we actually going to do, with distributors, retailers and the public, to drive down food waste so that what we buy we use, and what we commit to, if we're retailers, we actually do buy?
Diolch am yr ateb cychwynnol yna, sy'n swnio fel targed heriol iawn. Oherwydd yng nghyd-destun y ffaith fod traean o'r holl fwyd a gynhyrchir ledled y byd byth yn cael ei fwyta, ac yn cyfrannu ar yr un pryd at 10 y cant o allyriadau carbon byd-eang, mae'r rhain yn ffigurau mawr a phwysig iawn. Felly nid yw'n syndod mai nod datblygu cynaliadwy'r Cenhedloedd Unedig yw haneru gwastraff bwyd byd-eang ar lefel manwerthu a defnyddwyr.
Mae hyn i gyd yn ymwneud â pherthnasoedd anghyfartal, onid yw? Tra bod rhai pobl yn llwgu, mae pobl eraill yn prynu bargeinion prynu un a chael un arall am ddim ac yna'n taflu rhai ohonyn nhw. Gall archfarchnadoedd ddweud nad yr hyn y gwnaethon nhw ofyn i'r ffermwr ei gynhyrchu oedd yr hyn yr oedden nhw eisiau ei brynu, ac yna maen nhw'n ei ddadlwytho arnyn nhw i gael gwared arno eu hunain. Yn union fel yr ydym ni'n briodol falch o'n record fel yr ail yn y byd ar gyfer ailgylchu, beth ydym ni'n mynd i'w wneud mewn gwirionedd, gyda dosbarthwyr, manwerthwyr a'r cyhoedd, i leihau gwastraff bwyd fel ein bod ni'n defnyddio'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei brynu, a'n bod ni wir yn prynu'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ymrwymo iddo, os ydym ni'n fanwerthwyr?
Thanks very much. You'll be very interested to learn that our Be Mighty campaign, which is specifically targeted at food waste, launched yesterday. That is all about not throwing away the food you could eat and recycling what can't be eaten. That's a project that started yesterday. I think it probably is worth noting that a quarter of rubbish in bins is still food. That's still quite a lot. We've done a huge amount on recycling in Wales, something we should be really proud of, but I think in this space we can go a bit further.
Eighty per cent of food in rubbish could have been eaten. If you think about that not just in terms of waste, but also in terms of money, especially when you have people in food poverty buying food that they then don't eat, there's a real opportunity here. The average Welsh household throws away £49-worth of food every month. That's quite a high figure, and there's an opportunity for us all to maybe buy only what we need and to make sure that we don't throw out excess.
When it comes to the industry, FareShare Cymru, who you'll be aware of, takes surplus food from the food and drink industry and redistributes it to organisations in Wales that feed people in need.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Bydd gennych chi ddiddordeb mawr mewn clywed y lansiwyd ein hymgyrch Bydd Wych, sydd wedi'i thargedu yn benodol at wastraff bwyd, ddoe. Mae honno i gyd yn ymwneud â pheidio â thaflu'r bwyd y gallech chi ei fwyta ac ailgylchu'r hyn na ellir ei fwyta. Mae hwnnw'n brosiect a ddechreuodd ddoe. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth nodi mae'n debyg mai bwyd yw chwarter y sbwriel mewn biniau o hyd. Mae hynny'n dal i fod yn gryn dipyn. Rydym ni wedi gwneud llawer iawn ar ailgylchu yng Nghymru, rhywbeth y dylem ni fod yn falch iawn ohono, ond rwy'n credu yn y maes hwn y gallwn ni fynd ychydig ymhellach.
Gellid bod wedi bwyta 80 y cant o fwyd mewn sbwriel. Os meddyliwch chi am hynny nid yn unig o ran gwastraff, ond hefyd o ran arian, yn enwedig pan fo gennych chi bobl mewn tlodi bwyd yn prynu bwyd nad ydyn nhw ei fwyta wedyn, ceir cyfle go iawn yma. Mae aelwyd gyffredin yng Nghymru yn taflu gwerth £49 o fwyd bob mis. Mae hwnnw yn ffigur eithaf uchel, a cheir cyfle i bob un ohonom ni efallai brynu dim ond yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom ni a gwneud yn siŵr nad ydym ni'n taflu gormodedd.
O ran y diwydiant, mae FareShare Cymru, y byddwch chi'n ymwybodol ohono, yn cymryd bwyd dros ben gan y diwydiant bwyd a diod ac yn ei ailddosbarthu i sefydliadau yng Nghymru sy'n bwydo pobl mewn angen.
Shwmae. Recent data shows Wales generated over 300 million kg of household food waste, averaging 100 kg per person. Shockingly, 75 per cent of this waste was edible and could have fed those in need. Also, the hospitality sector actually dispose of tonnes of edible fruit, vegetables and meat, often not knowing how they could distribute it. The greenhouse gas emissions from this are immense, accounting for nearly 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. Not only this, but wasting this food—you've just pointed this out—has a huge financial cost, estimated to be around £0.75 million each year, about £250 per person.
Does the First Minister therefore not agree that we are, actually, in a quandary or a real pickle here? What guidance, what advice can you give to the hospitality sector? And how will you promise to ensure that you engage with local authorities, our health authorities and any organisations where you believe this food waste is taking place? How will you, as the First Minister, become involved in this? Let's try and drive those horrific figures down. Diolch.
Shwmae. Mae data diweddar yn dangos bod Cymru wedi cynhyrchu dros 300 miliwn cilogram o wastraff bwyd aelwyd, ar gyfartaledd o 100 cilogram y pen. Yn syfrdanol, roedd 75 y cant o'r gwastraff hwn yn fwytadwy a gallai fod wedi bwydo'r rhai mewn angen. Hefyd, mae'r sector lletygarwch mewn gwirionedd yn taflu tunelli o ffrwythau, llysiau a chig bwytadwy, yn aml heb wybod sut y gallen nhw eu dosbarthu. Mae'r allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr o hyn yn aruthrol, sy'n cyfateb i bron i filiwn tunnell o garbon deuocsid a'i gyfatebol bob blwyddyn. Nid yn unig hyn, ond mae gwastraffu'r bwyd hwn—rydych chi newydd dynnu sylw at hyn—yn arwain at gost ariannol enfawr, yr amcangyfrifir ei fod tua £0.75 miliwn bob blwyddyn, tua £250 y pen.
Onid yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno felly ein bod ni, mewn gwirionedd, mewn penbleth neu bicil go iawn yma? Pa ganllawiau, pa gyngor allwch chi eu rhoi i'r sector lletygarwch? A sut wnewch chi addo sicrhau eich bod chi'n ymgysylltu ag awdurdodau lleol, ein hawdurdodau iechyd ac unrhyw sefydliadau lle rydych chi'n credu bod y gwastraffu bwyd hwn yn digwydd? Sut wnewch chi, fel y Prif Weinidog, gymryd rhan yn hyn? Gadewch i ni geisio gwthio'r ffigurau erchyll hynny i lawr. Diolch.
Thanks very much. You're quite right that there's more we can do here, and there's more that businesses can do. I do think they have to take some responsibility. But there are surpluses for many reasons. It can be, for example, oversupply, overordering, obsolete seasonal stock, packaging issues or production trials.
What we've got to do, where that happens, is ask why we can't distribute it to the people who actually need it—what is the framework for that to happen, how can we facilitate that as a Government. That's why we have this FareShare Cymru project. They administer the Surplus with Purpose Cymru fund. That aims to overcome the barriers that Welsh food and drink businesses face when they're thinking about redistributing that food surplus, so that at least the surplus then can go to somewhere that needs it, rather than become waste.
I'll give you an example of that in Haverfordwest: Puffin Produce. They've been donating their surplus food to FareShare Cymru since 2020. It equates to about 21,800 meals. So, there's real opportunity here for people to benefit in terms of not seeing that waste going into landfill, or whatever, and then also for us to really give support to people who need it at this difficult and challenging time.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydych chi'n gwbl gywir bod mwy y gallwn ni ei wneud yma, a bod mwy y gall busnesau ei wneud. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw gymryd rhywfaint o gyfrifoldeb. Ond mae bwyd dros ben am lawer o resymau. Gall fod yn fater, er enghraifft, o orgyflenwi, gorarchebu, hen stoc dymhorol, problemau deunydd pacio neu dreialon cynhyrchu.
Yr hyn y mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud, lle mae hynny'n digwydd, yw gofyn pam na allwn ni ei ddosbarthu i'r bobl sydd wir ei angen—beth yw'r fframwaith i hynny ddigwydd, sut allwn ni hwyluso hynny fel Llywodraeth. Dyna pam mae gennym ni'r prosiect FareShare Cymru hwn. Maen nhw'n gweinyddu cronfa Surplus with Purpose Cymru. Nod honno yw ceisio goresgyn y rhwystrau y mae busnesau bwyd a diod Cymru yn eu hwynebu pan fyddan nhw'n ystyried ailddosbarthu'r bwyd dros ben hwnnw, fel y gall y bwyd dros ben o leiaf fynd i rywle sydd ei angen, yn hytrach na mynd yn wastraff.
Rhoddaf enghraifft o hynny i chi yn Hwlffordd: Puffin Produce. Maen nhw wedi bod yn rhoi eu bwyd dros ben i FareShare Cymru ers 2020. Mae'n cyfateb i tua 21,800 o brydau bwyd. Felly, ceir cyfle gwirioneddol yma i bobl elwa o ran peidio â gweld y gwastraff hwnnw yn mynd i safleoedd tirlenwi, neu beth bynnag, ac yna hefyd i ni wir roi cymorth i bobl sydd ei angen yn ystod y cyfnod anodd a heriol hwn.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddarparu gwasanaethau iechyd yn Sir Drefaldwyn? OQ61698
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery of health services in Montgomeryshire? OQ61698
Health boards are responsible for the planning and delivery of safe, quality healthcare services for their local population. This includes making decisions about the most effective way to provide care. There are established procedures for handling changes to the delivery of local services, including engagement with local communities and Llais.
Byrddau iechyd sy'n gyfrifol am gynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau gofal iechyd diogel o ansawdd ar gyfer eu poblogaeth leol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys gwneud penderfyniadau am y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol o ddarparu gofal. Ceir gweithdrefnau sefydledig ar gyfer ymdrin â newidiadau i'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau lleol, gan gynnwys ymgysylltu â chymunedau lleol a Llais.
Thank you for your answer, First Minister. I attended a meeting in Llanidloes in August; hundreds attended from the community. Not only were voices of concern expressed in that meeting from the public and politicians, but also from GPs past and present and other health professionals about Powys Teaching Health Board's proposals to downgrade services at Llanidloes hospital. Last week, the health board approved the proposals for what they refer to as a 'temporary change' for ward-based services at the hospital. First Minister, what is your view on this matter—obviously, as a regional Member as well as the First Minister? You will know I've written to you, the former health Minister, and also the current health Minister, particularly in regard to the consultation, whether that was adequate, because it took place over the August period, and also on the term 'temporary change' and to what degree you accept that this will be a temporary change. But also, of course, the health board pointed out that they carried this out due to budgetary pressures.
Diolch am eich ateb, Prif Weinidog. Fe es i gyfarfod yn Llanidloes ym mis Awst; aeth cannoedd iddo o'r gymuned. Nid yn unig y mynegwyd lleisiau o bryder yn y cyfarfod hwnnw gan y cyhoedd a gwleidyddion, ond hefyd gan gyn-feddygon a rhai presennol a gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol eraill ynghylch cynigion Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys i israddio gwasanaethau yn ysbyty Llanidloes. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cymeradwyodd y bwrdd iechyd y cynigion ar gyfer yr hyn y maen nhw'n cyfeirio ato fel 'newid dros dro' ar gyfer gwasanaethau ar y ward yn yr ysbyty. Prif Weinidog, beth yw eich barn ar y mater hwn—yn amlwg, fel Aelod rhanbarthol yn ogystal â'r Prif Weinidog? Byddwch yn gwybod fy mod i wedi ysgrifennu atoch chi, y cyn-Weinidog iechyd, a hefyd y Gweinidog iechyd presennol, yn enwedig o ran yr ymgynghoriad, pa un a oedd hwnnw yn ddigonol, oherwydd cafodd ei gynnal dros gyfnod mis Awst, a hefyd ar y term 'newid dros dro' ac i ba raddau yr ydych chi'n derbyn y bydd hwn yn newid dros dro. Ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, nododd y bwrdd iechyd eu bod nhw wedi gwneud hyn oherwydd pwysau cyllidebol.
Thanks very much. You will be aware that service changes are not a decision for the Welsh Government and that the Welsh Government's role is to provide strategic direction. It is up to the local health boards to respond to the local needs. It doesn't make sense for us to be managing that from an office in Cardiff.
What I will tell you is that there is a statutory role in terms of how you consult, how you make those changes, and changes, I'm sure, will be—. There'll be continual changes in the health service. It's quite right that we have to change constantly if we want to keep updated. We may see more specialist areas, we may find that it's difficult to recruit people, but, primarily, it's got to be about safety and outcomes, what is the best outcome for the patient. That's what really should be driving what we do here.
What I can tell you is that the end-of-life care will continue to be provided in Bronllys and Llanidloes hospital; set-up care, including rehabilitation and reablement, will continue to be available for GP admissions. So, there is still a facility there.
Diolch yn fawr. Byddwch yn ymwybodol nad yw newidiadau i wasanaethau yn benderfyniad i Lywodraeth Cymru ac mai swyddogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yw darparu cyfeiriad strategol. Mater i'r byrddau iechyd lleol yw ymateb i'r anghenion lleol. Nid yw'n gwneud synnwyr i ni fod yn rheoli hynny o swyddfa yng Nghaerdydd.
Yr hyn y gwnaf i ei ddweud wrthych chi yw bod swyddogaeth statudol o ran sut rydych chi'n ymgynghori, sut rydych chi'n gwneud y newidiadau hynny, a bydd newidiadau, rwy'n siŵr, yn—. Bydd newidiadau parhaus yn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae'n gwbl gywir bod yn rhaid i ni newid yn gyson os ydym ni eisiau cadw'n gyfredol. Efallai y byddwn ni'n gweld meysydd mwy arbenigol, efallai y byddwn ni'n gweld ei bod hi'n anodd recriwtio pobl, ond, yn bennaf, mae'n rhaid iddo ymwneud â diogelwch a chanlyniadau, beth yw'r canlyniad gorau i'r claf. Dyna ddylai fod yn ysgogi'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yma mewn gwirionedd.
Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych chi yw y bydd y gofal diwedd oes yn parhau i gael ei ddarparu yn ysbyty Bronllys a Llanidloes; bydd gofal sefydlu, gan gynnwys adsefydlu ac ailalluogi, yn parhau i fod ar gael ar gyfer derbyniadau meddygon teulu. Felly, mae cyfleuster yno o hyd.
8. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU, cyn cyllideb nesaf Llywodraeth y DU, ynghylch seilwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru? OQ61728
8. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government, prior to the forthcoming UK Government budget, regarding rail infrastructure in Wales? OQ61728
I have regular positive discussions with the UK Government. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales is working closely with Ministers in the Department for Transport and the Secretary of State for Wales to deliver improvements to rail infrastructure through the Wales rail board.
Rwy'n cael trafodaethau cadarnhaol rheolaidd gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru yn gweithio'n agos gyda Gweinidogion yn yr Adran Drafnidiaeth ac Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru i sicrhau gwelliannau i seilwaith rheilffyrdd drwy fwrdd rheilffyrdd Cymru.
Diolch, First Minister. You've stated that Wales is currently being short-changed after being denied funding deriving from the HS2 project from the previous Government, which did not see a single inch of railway track being built in Wales. And, as we await the UK Government's budget later this month, we know, from soundings from the UK transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, that modifications and further decisions concerning HS2 will be made, i.e. whether the line runs to Euston and whether there'll be a modified plan north of Birmingham.
First Minister, we know that the Welsh finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford, has written to the UK Chancellor in advance of her budget, asking for a fair approach to how Barnett consequentials are applied to Wales, and referencing transport directly. In the days that lie ahead of the UK budget on 30 October, then, what further representations have you, First Minister, made, and will the Welsh Government make, both to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, that the people of Wales expect a Labour UK Government to deliver fairly for the people of Wales?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Rydych chi wedi dweud bod Cymru ar ei cholled ar hyn o bryd ar ôl i gyllid sy'n deillio o brosiect HS2 gael ei wrthod gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol, ni fydd un fodfedd o'i drac rheilffordd yn cael ei adeiladu yng Nghymru. Ac, wrth i ni aros am gyllideb Llywodraeth y DU yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn, rydyn ni'n gwybod, o awgrymiadau gan Ysgrifennydd Trafnidiaeth y DU, Louise Haigh, y bydd addasiadau a phenderfyniadau eraill ynghylch HS2 yn cael eu gwneud, h.y. a fydd y llinell yn mynd i Euston ac a fydd cynllun wedi'i addasu i'r gogledd o Birmingham.
Prif Weinidog, gwyddon ni fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, Mark Drakeford, wedi ysgrifennu at Ganghellor y DU o flaen ei chyllideb, yn gofyn am ddull teg o ran sut y mae symiau canlyniadol Barnett yn cael eu cymhwyso i Gymru, gan gyfeirio at drafnidiaeth yn uniongyrchol. Yn y dyddiau cyn cyllideb y DU ar 30 Hydref, yna, pa sylwadau eraill ydych chi, Prif Weinidog, wedi'u gwneud, ac y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu gwneud, i'r Prif Weinidog ac i'r Canghellor, bod pobl Cymru yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth Lafur y DU gyflawni'n deg i bobl Cymru?
Thanks very much, Rhianon, and our position on HS2 and fairness in relation to rail infrastructure has not changed. We were short-changed in relation to HS2; we will continue to make the case for that to be corrected. I think it's really important for us to manage expectations here. I am making the case constantly, as is the finance Secretary, and also the transport Secretary, for them to really understand that we are not giving up on this. I think it's important to manage expectations. I am not expecting anything to be announced in the forthcoming budget, but what I will say is that I have been making those representations; I've been making them very loudly, very clearly, and made it very clear that we're not backing down from this.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Rhianon, ac nid yw ein safbwynt ynghylch HS2 a thegwch o ran seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi newid. Cawson ni gam o ran HS2; fe wnawn ni barhau i ddadlau dros gywiro hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n rheoli disgwyliadau yma. Rwy'n cyflwyno'r achos yn gyson, fel y mae'r Ysgrifennydd cyllid, a hefyd yr Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth, iddyn nhw ddeall yn iawn nad ydyn ni'n rhoi'r gorau i hyn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig rheoli disgwyliadau. Nid wyf i'n disgwyl i unrhyw beth gael ei gyhoeddi yn y gyllideb sydd i ddod, ond yr hyn y byddaf i'n ei ddweud yw fy mod i wedi bod yn gwneud y sylwadau hynny; rwyf i wedi bod yn eu gwneud yn llafar iawn, yn glir iawn, ac wedi'i gwneud yn glir iawn nad ydyn ni'n ildio ar hyn.
Yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Luke Fletcher.
Finally, question 9, Luke Fletcher.
9. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi iechyd a llesiant diffoddwyr tân? OQ61726
9. How is the Welsh Government supporting the health and well-being of firefighters? OQ61726
Rydyn ni wedi cydweithio â'r gwasanaeth tân ac achub a’r undebau i leihau'r risg i iechyd diffoddwyr tân. Rydyn ni hefyd wedi gweithredu mewn ymateb i adroddiadau lle gallai fod risg i les diffoddwyr tân.
We have worked in partnership with the fire and rescue service and unions to reduce the risks to the health of firefighters. We've also taken action in response to reports where the well-being of firefighters might be at risk.
Diolch am yr ateb, Prif Weinidog.
Thank you for that response, First Minister.
On several occasions, I've highlighted the work of Professor Anna Stec in this Chamber, whose research has found that instances of cancer among firefighters aged 35 to 39 are 323 per cent higher than in the general population. Now, I know that the Welsh Government is familiar with that research and has taken it through the social partnership forum, and I want to seek an update on how this is being acted upon today. Because the Health and Safety Executive are now acting on the overwhelming evidence and have taken the welcome step of setting out plans to start inspecting fire and rescue services to regulate measures taken to protect firefighters. So, will the Welsh Government work with the Health and Safety Executive in Wales, and fire and rescue services, to bring in regulation that mitigates the effects of carcinogens on Welsh firefighters? And would this Government go one step further and bring in health monitoring for Welsh firefighters? This isn't something that we should have to wait on the UK National Screening Committee to provide advice on; the evidence is plain for all to see.
Ar sawl achlysur, rwyf i wedi tynnu sylw at waith yr Athro Anna Stec yn y Siambr hon, y mae ei hymchwil wedi canfod bod achosion o ganser ymhlith diffoddwyr tân rhwng 35 a 39 oed 323 y cant yn uwch nag yn y boblogaeth gyffredinol. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfarwydd â'r ymchwil honno a'i bod wedi mynd â hi drwy'r fforwm partneriaeth gymdeithasol, ac rwyf i eisiau gofyn am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar sut y mae hyn yn cael ei weithredu heddiw. Oherwydd bod yr Awdurdod Gweithredol Iechyd a Diogelwch, erbyn hyn, yn gweithredu ar y dystiolaeth ysgubol ac mae wedi cymryd y cam i'w groesawu o nodi cynlluniau i ddechrau archwilio gwasanaethau tân ac achub i reoleiddio mesurau sydd wedi'u cymryd i amddiffyn diffoddwyr tân. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda'r Awdurdod Gweithredol Iechyd a Diogelwch yng Nghymru, a'r gwasanaethau tân ac achub, i gyflwyno rheoleiddio sy'n lliniaru effeithiau carsinogenau ar ddiffoddwyr tân Cymru? Ac a wnaiff y Llywodraeth hon fynd cam ymhellach gan gyflwyno monitro iechyd ar gyfer diffoddwyr tân Cymru? Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth y dylen ni orfod aros i Bwyllgor Sgrinio Cenedlaethol y DU roi cyngor arno; mae'r dystiolaeth yn glir i bawb ei gweld.
Well, thanks very much. I think we should all give thanks for the incredible risks that our firefighters take on our behalf in supporting us, and so it is important that the service treats firefighter safety as a top priority, and thank you for the work that you've done on this; I know this is of real importance to you. And you're quite right, the research has shown that firefighters face an increased risk of certain cancers, arising as a result of their exposure to smoke-filled environments, and we support the Fire Brigades Union's campaign to reduce those risks.
Now, what we did was last year we concluded an agreement between employers and unions to reduce the exposure of firefighters in smoke-filled environments, and, under this, all three fire and rescue services in Wales have adopted best practice in the use and maintenance of breathing apparatus, so there were some fundamental things that weren't being done and now need to be done systematically, and I think there's that real focus on that now and that reduces the exposure to carcinogens significantly.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu y dylen ni i gyd ddiolch am y risgiau anhygoel y mae ein diffoddwyr tân yn eu cymryd ar ein rhan wrth ein cefnogi ni, ac felly mae'n bwysig bod y gwasanaeth yn trin diogelwch diffoddwyr tân fel prif flaenoriaeth, a diolch i chi am y gwaith yr ydych chi wedi'i wneud ar hyn; rwy'n gwybod bod hyn yn bwysig iawn i chi. Ac rydych chi yn llygad eich lle, mae'r ymchwil wedi dangos bod diffoddwyr tân yn wynebu risg uwch o ganserau penodol, sy'n codi o ganlyniad iddyn nhw ddod i gysylltiad ag amgylcheddau llawn mwg, ac rydyn ni'n cefnogi ymgyrch Undeb y Brigadau Tân i leihau'r risgiau hynny.
Nawr, yr hyn y gwnaethon ni ei wneud y llynedd oedd dod i gytundeb rhwng cyflogwyr ac undebau i leihau achosion o ddiffoddwyr tân yn dod i gysylltiad â mwg mewn amgylcheddau llawn mwg, ac o dan hyn, mae'r tri gwasanaeth tân ac achub yng Nghymru wedi mabwysiadu arfer gorau wrth ddefnyddio a chynnal cyfarpar anadlu, felly roedd rhai pethau sylfaenol nad oedden nhw'n cael eu gweithredu ac sydd angen eu gwneud yn systematig erbyn hyn, ac rwy'n credu bod yna ganolbwyntio gwirioneddol ar hynny nawr ac mae hynny'n lleihau yn sylweddol y siawns o ddod i gysylltiad â charsinogenau.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
I thank the First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n gofyn i'r Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hwnnw—Jane Hutt.
The next item will be the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement—Jane Hutt.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, a shwmae, bawb. Nid oes unrhyw newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Mae busnes drafft y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.
Thank you very much, Llywydd, and shwmae, everyone. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which is available to Members electronically.
Trefnydd, it is Baby Loss Awareness Week this week, and I've been contacted by a number of constituents, including the author in my constituency, Melanie Gizzi, to hear about their experiences with baby loss. One of the things that they have raised concerns about is the unavailability of baby loss certificates, unfortunately, here in Wales. I know that these have been available in Scotland since last October, and indeed in England since February, and I think it is time that Wales caught up on this front. I can see the Cabinet Secretary for health nodding, which I'm very pleased to hear, so I would be grateful if a formal statement could be made by the Welsh Government on its approach to baby loss certificates to make sure that those who've suffered such painful experiences in Wales can have the opportunity to have a baby loss certificate in recognition of their loss.
Secondly, can I also call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for rural affairs to provide a written update on the sustainable farming scheme discussions, which have been ongoing for some time now? One of the concerns that has been raised with me by farmers in my own constituency is that they're in the dark as to the progress that's being made in those discussions. I appreciate that the discussions are being held in a closed environment in order that people can be candid with one another about their aims, but I do think that the farming community deserve to know where things are up to, and I think it is an opportune time to do so now in advance of when those discussions conclude towards the end of the year.
Trefnydd, mae'n Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Colli Babanod yr wythnos hon, ac mae nifer o etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi, gan gynnwys, Melanie Gizzi, awdur yn fy etholaeth i, i glywed am eu profiadau o ran colli babi. Un o'r pethau maen nhw wedi mynegi pryderon yn ei gylch yw diffyg tystysgrifau colli babanod, yn anffodus, yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gwybod bod y rhain wedi bod ar gael yn yr Alban ers mis Hydref diwethaf, ac yn wir yn Lloegr ers mis Chwefror, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bryd i Gymru ennill tir o ran hynny. Gallaf i weld yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros iechyd yn nodio, ac rwy'n falch iawn o weld hynny, felly byddwn i'n ddiolchgar os gallai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud datganiad ffurfiol ar ei dull o ymdrin â thystysgrifau colli babanod i sicrhau y gall y rhai sydd wedi dioddef profiadau mor boenus yng Nghymru gael y cyfle i gael tystysgrif colli babi i gydnabod eu colled.
Yn ail, a gaf i hefyd alw am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sy'n gyfrifol am faterion gwledig i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ysgrifenedig am drafodaethau'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, sydd wedi bod yn mynd rhagddynt ers cryn amser erbyn hyn? Un o'r pryderon y mae ffermwyr yn fy etholaeth i wedi'u codi gyda mi yw eu bod yn y tywyllwch o ran y cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud yn y trafodaethau hynny. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod y trafodaethau'n cael eu cynnal mewn amgylchedd caeedig er mwyn i bobl allu bod yn agored gyda'i gilydd am eu nodau, ond rwy'n credu bod y gymuned ffermio yn haeddu gwybod beth yw'r sefyllfa hyd yma, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn amser da i wneud hynny nawr, cyn bod y trafodaethau hynny yn dod i ben tua diwedd y flwyddyn.
Diolch yn fawr, Darren. I think these are two very important questions. The first one on baby loss: in fact, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, Jeremy Miles and Sarah Murphy, are very much aware of this, and I think, just to recognise again and state in terms of acknowledging this important issue, losing a child is so devastating. We want to ensure that we provide families with the care and support they need. We've made improvements to bereavement services; we're developing new pathways for pregnancy and baby loss, and our national bereavement framework sets out the support people should expect to receive if they're facing or have experienced a bereavement. The first psychology-led bereavement service to be funded and recruited to within Wales was launched in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board last week, so I'm sure that's acknowledged now and we will be making a statement on that.
Your second point is important, and I'm very much aware that we've got a major debate on this next week, involving more than one committee, which the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary will be responding to, and just to reassure Members again that the Welsh Government's listening to farmers, and not just listening, working with them to introduce the new sustainable farming scheme in 2026.
Diolch yn fawr, Darren. Rwy'n credu bod y rhain yn ddau gwestiwn pwysig iawn. Yr un cyntaf ar golli babanod: mewn gwirionedd, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, Jeremy Miles a Sarah Murphy, yn ymwybodol iawn o hyn, ac rwy'n credu, dim ond cydnabod eto a datgan o ran cydnabod y mater pwysig hwn, mae colli plentyn mor ddifaol. Rydyn ni eisiau sicrhau ein bod ni'n rhoi'r gofal a'r cymorth sydd eu hangen ar deuluoedd. Rydyn ni wedi gwneud gwelliannau i wasanaethau profedigaeth; rydyn ni'n datblygu llwybrau newydd ar gyfer beichiogrwydd a cholli babanod, ac mae ein Fframwaith Profedigaeth Cenedlaethol yn nodi'r cymorth y dylai pobl ddisgwyl ei gael os ydyn nhw'n wynebu profedigaeth neu wedi profi profedigaeth. Cafodd y gwasanaeth profedigaeth cyntaf dan arweiniad seicoleg i gael ei ariannu yng Nghymru a'i recriwtio iddo o Gymru ei lansio ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro yr wythnos diwethaf, felly rwy'n siŵr bod hynny'n cael ei gydnabod nawr a byddwn ni'n gwneud datganiad ar hynny.
Mae eich ail bwynt yn bwysig, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn bod gennym ni ddadl fawr ar hyn yr wythnos nesaf, sy'n cynnwys mwy nag un pwyllgor, y bydd y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog a'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ymateb iddi, a dim ond i dawelu meddwl yr Aelodau eto bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwrando ar ffermwyr, ac nid gwrando yn unig, ond yn gweithio gyda nhw i gyflwyno'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy newydd yn 2026.
Shwmae, Trefnydd. Yn Awst 2023, ac yn deillio o'r cytundeb cydweithio, cyhoeddwyd adolygiad annibynnol o adroddiadau Adran 19 llywodraeth leol a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru am lifogydd eithafol yn ystod gaeaf 2020-21 gan yr Athro Elwen Evans KC. Mi dynnodd hi sylw at y newidiadau strategol ac ymarferol a newidiadau i bolisïau a allai gryfhau’r broses o ymchwilio i lifogydd, wrth gydnabod y gwendidau yn y system adran 19. Gaf i ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros newid hinsawdd felly am ddatganiad yn rhoi diweddariad o ran y gwaith pwysig yma? Yn amlwg, mae llais y gymuned yn eithriadol o bwysig pan fo'n dod i ddeall llifogydd. Fel rydyn ni'n gwybod, fedrwn ni ddim atal llifogydd rhag digwydd, ond, yn sicr, mae cymunedau ddioddefodd lifogydd yn 2020-21 eisiau diweddariad o ran beth ddaeth o'r gwaith yma gan Elwen Evans a sut rydyn ni'n mynd i weld hynny wedyn yn cael ei adlewyrchu mewn newidiadau polisi.
Shwmae, Trefnydd. In August 2023, and following on from the co-operation agreement, an independent review was published of section 19 reports by local authorities and Natural Resources Wales with regard to extreme flooding during the winter of 2020-21 by Professor Elwen Evans KC. She drew attention the strategic and practical changes and the changes to policies that could strengthen the inquiry process when it comes to flooding, acknowledging the weaknesses in the section 19 system at present. May I ask the Cabinet Secretary for climate change, therefore, for a statement providing an update on this important work? Clearly, the community voice is particularly important when it comes to understanding flooding. As we know, we can't prevent flooding from happening, but the communities that suffered flooding in 2020-21 want an update on what came from this work by Elwen Evans and how we're going to see that then being reflected in policy changes.
Diolch yn fawr, a shwmae, Heledd, hefyd.
Thank you, and shwmae, Heledd, too.
Well, I really very much acknowledge the inquiry that took place following the terrible floods of 2020-21, and indeed the recommendations from that inquiry. Yes, it was very much part of our co-operation agreement, but Welsh Government wanted to learn the lessons. It is about learning the lessons, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary is following this up.
In terms of the strategic overview of addressing flooding across Wales, of course this is something where our local authorities are key as the responsible bodies and authorities for flooding, and I think many of us in this Chamber will have had this experience, sadly, in our constituencies. But, on the other hand, I think, probably, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary would want to also be able to report on the impact of all the investment we've made in flood prevention. It is about prevention, and it is about doing this from a strategic perspective as one of our priorities.
Wel, rydw i wir yn cydnabod yr ymchwiliad a gafodd ei gynnal yn dilyn llifogydd ofnadwy 2020-21, ac yn wir argymhellion yr ymchwiliad hwnnw. Oedd, roedd yn rhan fawr o'n cytundeb cydweithio, ond roedd Llywodraeth Cymru eisiau dysgu'r gwersi. Mae'n ymwneud â dysgu'r gwersi, a gwn i fod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn mynd ar drywydd hynny.
O ran trosolwg strategol ymdrin â llifogydd ledled Cymru, wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn rhywbeth lle mae ein hawdurdodau lleol yn allweddol fel y cyrff a'r awdurdodau sy'n gyfrifol am lifogydd, ac rwy'n credu y bydd llawer ohonon ni yn y Siambr hon wedi cael y profiad hwn, yn anffodus, yn ein hetholaethau ni. Ond, ar y llaw arall, rwy'n credu, mae'n debyg, y byddai'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog a'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet eisiau gallu adrodd hefyd ar effaith yr holl fuddsoddiad yr ydyn ni wedi'i wneud i atal llifogydd. Mae'n ymwneud ag atal, ac mae'n ymwneud â gwneud hyn o safbwynt strategol fel un o'n blaenoriaethau ni.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
The chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council has had her severance package agreed, and has left the authority. The payout was, according to the BBC, £209,000. She hadn't been in work since November, following allegations, according to the BBC, about working relationships and trust with senior councillors, which were not proven, and in fact were proven to be spurious and vexatious. The working relationships then would be very difficult to repair and, in fact, a disciplinary investigation might have been appropriate. But the problem in this case is that a disciplinary investigation, involving the appointment of a designated independent person to investigate, the disciplinary investigation itself, and then the risk, in any employment situation, of a tribunal, would have added increasing costs to the council that go way beyond the £209,000 it cost to pay her off. This is a problem in the system. It is not a problem for the leadership of the council. They have acted in the public interest by gaining a dismissal in this way, and they've done the right thing.
Back in 2020, the Welsh Government agreed, through the Oldham review, to review the process by which the designated independent person process is run, and the Oldham review came up with some recommendations that the Welsh Government then consulted on. But, following that, nothing else has happened. I'd like to revisit this, and I think we should do so in Plenary. Would the Trefnydd, therefore, agree for the Cabinet member for local government to make a statement on this so that we can ask further questions about what can happen next and prevent councils being in the situation that Caerphilly has been in, where an errant officer has caused the problems?
Mae pecyn diswyddo prif weithredwr Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili wedi cael ei gytuno ac mae hi wedi gadael yr awdurdod. Yn ôl y BBC, £209,000 oedd y taliad. Nid oedd hi wedi bod yn y gwaith ers mis Tachwedd, yn dilyn honiadau heb eu profi, yn ôl y BBC, am berthnasoedd gwaith ac ymddiriedaeth gydag uwch gynghorwyr, ac mewn gwirionedd a gafodd eu profi i fod yn ffug ac yn annifyr. Yna, byddai'n anodd iawn trwsio'r perthnasoedd gwaith, ac mewn gwirionedd, gallai ymchwiliad disgyblu wedi bod yn briodol. Ond y broblem yn yr achos hwn yw y byddai ymchwiliad disgyblu, sy'n cynnwys penodi person annibynnol dynodedig i ymchwilio, yr ymchwiliad disgyblu ei hun, ac yna'r risg, mewn unrhyw sefyllfa gyflogaeth, o dribiwnlys, wedi ychwanegu costau cynyddol i'r cyngor sy'n mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i'r £209,000 y gwnaeth ei gostio i'w thalu. Mae hyn yn broblem yn y system. Nid yw'n broblem i arweinyddiaeth y cyngor. Maen nhw wedi gweithredu er budd y cyhoedd trwy ennill diswyddiad fel hyn, ac maen nhw wedi gwneud y peth iawn.
Yn ôl yn 2020, cytunodd Llywodraeth Cymru, trwy adolygiad Oldham, i adolygu'r broses o gynnal y broses person annibynnol dynodedig, a gwnaeth adolygiad Oldham rai argymhellion y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru wedyn ymgynghori arnyn nhw. Ond, ar ôl hynny, nid oes dim byd arall wedi digwydd. Hoffwn i ailystyried hyn, ac rwy'n credu y dylen ni wneud hynny yn y Cyfarfod Llawn. A wnaiff y Trefnydd, felly, gytuno i aelod y Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol wneud datganiad ar hyn fel y gallwn ni ofyn cwestiynau eraill am yr hyn a all ddigwydd nesaf ac atal cynghorau rhag bod yn y sefyllfa y mae Caerffili wedi bod ynddi, lle mae swyddog cyfeiliornus wedi achosi'r problemau?
Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn, a shwmae, Hefin.
Thank you for your very important question, and shwmae, Hefin.
I have to say, this is entirely, as you acknowledge, a matter for Caerphilly County Borough Council, so it's not really appropriate for me, and indeed for the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, to be involved in or comment on the internal management matters of Caerphilly council. And, of course, I'd also have to say that a Welsh Government intervention in a council is a serious matter. It would have to follow a sustained period of serious and wide-ranging service and corporate governance failures. But, always, the Cabinet Secretary is prepared to have discussions with councils that they wish to seek support for improvement under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, and your points, of course, now are on the record for the Chamber.
Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, mae hwn yn fater, fel y gwyddoch chi, i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili yn llwyr, felly nid yw'n briodol iawn i mi, nac yn wir i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai a Llywodraeth Leol, fod yn rhan o faterion rheoli mewnol cyngor Caerffili neu wneud sylwadau arnyn nhw. Ac, wrth gwrs, byddai'n rhaid i mi ddweud hefyd bod ymyrraeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn cyngor yn fater difrifol. Byddai'n rhaid iddo gael cyfnod parhaus o fethiannau gwasanaeth a llywodraethu corfforaethol difrifol ac eang. Ond, mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet bob amser yn barod i gael trafodaethau gyda chynghorau eu bod yn dymuno ceisio cefnogaeth i wella o dan Ddeddf Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru) 2021, ac mae eich pwyntiau, wrth gwrs, nawr ar y cofnod ar gyfer y Siambr.
Trefnydd, as you know, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I hope very much that Members have called into the Wear it Pink photocall upstairs, but this afternoon, I’d like to call for a statement on bowel cancer screening from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. As we know, bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Wales, and it’s believed that around 2,400 people are diagnosed annually. Now, the Welsh Government has recently announced that people aged 50 and over will automatically receive at-home bowel screening tests, and whilst that’s a welcome step forward, there’s clearly more that needs to be done for those outside this age range. A constituent of mine who is over the age of 74 has informed me that they asked for a screening kit and were told that, although it’s available in England, it’s not yet available here in Wales. Clearly, the earlier a cancer is detected, the better the outcomes for the patient, and, as someone living with cancer myself, I know just how important early detection is. Therefore, I’d be grateful if time was made for a statement on bowel cancer screening so that the Welsh Government can tell us more about how it’s helping to beat bowel cancer.
Trefnydd, fel y gwyddoch chi, mae'n Fis Ymwybyddiaeth Canser y Fron, a gobeithiaf yn fawr fod yr Aelodau wedi galw heibio i'r sesiwn ffotograffiaeth Wear it Pink i fyny'r grisiau, ond y prynhawn yma, hoffwn i alw am ddatganiad ar sgrinio canser y coluddyn gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol. Fel y gwyddom ni, canser y coluddyn yw un o'r mathau mwyaf cyffredin o ganser yng Nghymru, a'r gred yw bod tua 2,400 o bobl yn cael diagnosis bob blwyddyn. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi'n ddiweddar y bydd pobl 50 oed a hŷn yn cael profion sgrinio'r coluddyn gartref yn awtomatig, ac er bod hynny'n gam ymlaen i'w groesawu, mae'n amlwg bod angen gwneud mwy ar gyfer y rhai y tu allan i'r ystod oedran hon. Mae etholwr i mi sydd dros 74 oed wedi rhoi gwybod i mi ei fod wedi gofyn am becyn sgrinio ond cafodd wybod nad yw ar gael yma yng Nghymru, er ei fod ar gael yn Lloegr. Yn amlwg, po gynharaf y mae'r canser yn cael ei ganfod, y gorau yw'r canlyniadau i'r claf, ac, fel rhywun sy'n byw gyda chanser fy hun, gwn i pa mor bwysig yw ei ganfod yn gynnar. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe bai amser yn cael ei neilltuo ar gyfer datganiad ar sgrinio canser y coluddyn fel y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ddweud mwy wrthyn ni am sut mae'n helpu i drechu canser y coluddyn.
Diolch yn fawr, a shwmae, Paul. A diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn.
Thank you very much, and shwmae, Paul. And thank you very much for your very important question.
Thank you, also, for the fact that you have drawn attention to Wear it Pink. I think we all donned a pink hat and we were there to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But I think the Cabinet Secretary would be happy to update you on bowel cancer awareness, because it is good news. It’s good news that, last week—I think it was 9 October—we reduced it to 50 years, and I think that needs to be on the record. I think that communication, of course, is of the essence, because people don’t always know and don’t always get the right information, and also there's the fact that, if there is screening—bowel screening—there’s a 90 per cent improved chance of survival with bowel screening. So, I know this is something where we should all be taking responsibility, sharing the information, and also welcoming the fact that it is now reduced to the age of 50 for those who will get engaged and be able to access bowel screening.
Diolch, hefyd, am y ffaith eich bod chi wedi tynnu sylw at Wear it Pink. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd wedi gwisgo het binc ac roedden ni yno i gefnogi Mis Ymwybyddiaeth Canser y Fron. Ond rwy'n credu y byddai'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn hapus i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi am ymwybyddiaeth canser y coluddyn, oherwydd mae'n newyddion da. Mae'n newyddion da, yr wythnos diwethaf—rwy'n credu mai 9 Hydref oedd hi—fe wnaethon ni ei ostwng i 50 oed, ac rwy'n credu bod angen i hynny fod ar y cofnod. Rwy'n credu bod cyfathrebu, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol, oherwydd nid yw pobl bob amser yn gwybod ac nid ydyn nhw bob amser yn cael yr wybodaeth gywir, a hefyd mae yna'r ffaith, os oes sgrinio—sgrinio'r coluddyn—mae yna well siawns, sef 90 y cant, o oroesi gyda sgrinio'r coluddyn. Felly, rwy'n gwybod bod hyn yn rhywbeth lle y dylen ni i gyd fod yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb, yn rhannu'r wybodaeth, a hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith ei fod erbyn hyn wedi'i ostwng i 50 oed ar gyfer y rhai a fydd yn ymgysylltu ac yn gallu cael mynediad at sgrinio'r coluddyn.
Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I would like to request, please, a statement from the Counsel General regarding the progress on the proposed legislation aimed at combating deception in politics. Back in July, following a debate in the Senedd, I was pleased to see the Welsh Government commit to bringing forward legislation on this matter, with a clear deadline to do so before the election in 2026. However, in recent weeks, concerns have been raised about whether the Welsh Government will fully deliver on this pledge. It would be deeply concerning and cruelly ironic if this critical legislation on deception were not brought forward due to the Government wavering on its commitments. Failing to deliver would undermine the agreement made in the Senedd, which would also further erode public trust. Could I, therefore, seek your reassurance, and reassurance from the Counsel General, that the Welsh Government remains fully committed to introducing legislation to disqualify Members found guilty of deliberate deception by 2026 as promised? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Trefnydd. Hoffwn i ofyn, os gwelwch yn dda, am ddatganiad gan y Cwnsler Cyffredinol o ran y cynnydd ar y ddeddfwriaeth arfaethedig â'r nod o ymdrin â dichell mewn gwleidyddiaeth. Nôl ym mis Gorffennaf, yn dilyn dadl yn y Senedd, roeddwn i'n falch o weld Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i gyflwyno deddfwriaeth ar y mater hwn, gyda dyddiad cau clir i wneud hynny cyn yr etholiad yn 2026. Fodd bynnag, yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, mae pryderon wedi cael eu mynegi ynghylch a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflawni'r addewid hwn yn llawn. Byddai'n peri pryder mawr ac yn eironig o greulon pe na bai'r ddeddfwriaeth allweddol hon ar ddichell yn cael ei chyflwyno oherwydd bod y Llywodraeth yn simsanu ar ei hymrwymiadau. Byddai methu â chyflawni yn tanseilio'r cytundeb a gafodd ei wneud yn y Senedd, a fyddai hefyd yn erydu ymddiriedaeth y cyhoedd ymhellach. A gaf i, felly, ofyn am eich sicrwydd, a sicrwydd gan y Cwnsler Cyffredinol, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau'n gwbl ymrwymedig i gyflwyno deddfwriaeth i anghymhwyso Aelodau sy'n eu cael yn euog o ddichell fwriadol erbyn 2026 yn ôl yr addewid? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds, a diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn. A shwmae, Jane, hefyd.
Thank you very much for your question. And shwmae, Jane.
This is an important question, and the Welsh Government is clear that it is important that Members are properly held accountable for deceptive statements that they may make, and the Welsh Government supports measures to strengthen the accountability of individual Members. The Senedd has agreed that the most appropriate way to approach this issue in the first instance is through the inquiry that the Standards of Conduct Committee is undertaking into individual Member accountability. The committee, I know, is progressing this work, and, having recently concluded the public consultation, we look forward to the publication of its recommendations before the end of the year.
Mae hwn yn gwestiwn pwysig, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn glir ei bod yn bwysig bod Aelodau'n atebol yn briodol am ddatganiadau twyllodrus y gallan nhw eu gwneud, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi mesurau i gryfhau atebolrwydd Aelodau unigol. Mae'r Senedd wedi cytuno mai'r ffordd fwyaf priodol o ymdrin â'r mater hwn yn y lle cyntaf yw drwy'r ymchwiliad y mae'r Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad yn ei gynnal i atebolrwydd Aelodau unigol. Mae'r pwyllgor, rwy'n gwybod, yn bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwn, ac, ar ôl cwblhau'r ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus yn ddiweddar, rydyn ni'n edrych ymlaen at gyhoeddi ei argymhellion cyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
Trefnydd, 14 years of Tory austerity have left parts of our justice system at a precipice and close to collapse. One of the reasons we have pressed for youth justice devolution and probation is because it is so well fitted within devolved functions and responsibilities. Commissions have supported this, as have, in fact, Welsh Labour policies, and, in fact, Welsh Government policy. Can we have a statement from the Welsh Government with regard to the discussions that have taken place, or are to take place, with the UK Government about the timetable and when the devolution of youth justice and probation will take place?
Trefnydd, mae 14 mlynedd o gyni Torïaidd wedi gadael rhannau o'n system gyfiawnder ar y dibyn ac yn agos at chwalu. Un o'r rhesymau pam yr ydyn ni wedi pwyso am ddatganoli gwasanaeth cyfiawnder a phrawf ieuenctid yw oherwydd ei fod yn gweddu mor dda o fewn swyddogaethau a chyfrifoldebau datganoledig. Mae comisiynau wedi cefnogi hyn, fel y mae polisïau Llafur Cymru, ac, mewn gwirionedd, polisi Llywodraeth Cymru. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r trafodaethau sydd wedi digwydd, neu sydd i ddigwydd, gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r amserlen a phryd y bydd datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid a phrawf yn digwydd?
Shwmae, Mick.
Shwmae, Mick.
Shwmae.
Shwmae.
Thank you very much for that question. If we look at the devolution of youth justice, we need to look at youth justice in the context of the whole of justice devolution. Our ultimate objective as a Welsh Government is to secure the devolution not just of youth justice and probation, but, for example, also of policing. That was advocated by the Thomas commission. But we do need a phased approach, and that was very much reflected in the manifesto commitment of the new UK Government on the devolution of powers over youth justice and probation services. We do welcome the opportunity to work with the new UK Government on, particularly, that phased approach with youth justice and probation. But also, we're looking at how devolution might work in those areas. A lot of work has been done, and I would like to thank the former Counsel General and the role that he formerly took to progress this. We were very fortunate to have the specialist advice and input of Dame Vera Baird, who's continuing to advise us on this matter. I would say that I'm looking forward to working not only with the UK Government, but, of course, with my colleague the Deputy First Minister, who is taking responsibility for progressing these devolution issues.
But just on youth justice, I think we can prove, through the youth justice blueprint, the outcomes of it, how it makes absolute sense to keep young people out of the youth justice system, if there is devolution of youth justice. That's been proven by all those at the front line of youth justice and by the engagement of many in the academic world as well. But I think that our psychology-led children's rights first approach shows that the devolution of youth justice is the way forward, and we hope we can now progress that ambition.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna. Os edrychwn ni ar ddatganoli gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid, mae angen i ni edrych ar wasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid yng nghyd-destun datganoli gwasanaethau cyfiawnder yn eu cyfanrwydd. Ein nod ni, yn y pen draw, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, yw sicrhau datganoli nid yn unig gwasanaethau cyfiawnder a phrawf ieuenctid ond hefyd plismona. Cafodd hynny ei argymell gan gomisiwn Thomas. Ond mae angen dull gweithredu graddol arnon ni, ac fe gafodd hyn ei adlewyrchu'n glir yn ymrwymiad maniffesto Llywodraeth newydd y DU ar ddatganoli pwerau dros wasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid a gwasanaethau prawf. Rydyn ni'n croesawu'r cyfle i weithio gyda Llywodraeth newydd y DU ar y dull graddol hwnnw o ymdrin â chyfiawnder ieuenctid a phrawf. Ond hefyd, rydyn ni'n edrych ar sut y gallai datganoli weithio yn y meysydd hynny. Mae llawer o waith wedi'i wneud, a hoffwn i ddiolch i'r cyn-Gwnsler Cyffredinol a'r rôl y cymerodd yn flaenorol i ddatblygu hyn. Roedden ni'n ffodus iawn o gael cyngor arbenigol a mewnbwn y Fonesig Vera Baird, sy'n parhau i'n cynghori ni ar y mater hwn. Byddwn i'n dweud fy mod i'n edrych ymlaen at weithio nid yn unig gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ond, wrth gwrs, gyda fy nghyd-Ysgrifennydd, y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, sy'n cymryd cyfrifoldeb am ddatblygu'r materion datganoli hyn.
Ond ar wasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid yn benodol, rwy'n credu y gallwn ni brofi, drwy lasbrint gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid, eu canlyniadau, sut mae'n gwneud synnwyr llwyr i gadw pobl ifanc allan o'r system cyfiawnder ieuenctid, os ydy gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid yn cael eu datganoli. Mae hynny wedi cael ei brofi gan bawb ar reng flaen gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid a thrwy ymgysylltiad llawer o bobl yn y byd academaidd hefyd. Ond rwy'n credu bod ein dull o weithredu o roi blaenoriaeth i hawliau plant dan arweiniad seicoleg yn dangos mai datganoli gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid yw'r ffordd ymlaen, ac rydyn ni'n gobeithio y gallwn ni nawr fwrw ymlaen â'r uchelgais honno.
I'd like a statement today from the Cabinet Secretary on the current proposals to build a 3,000 acre solar farm on the Isle of Anglesey. Plans for the Maen Hir solar and energy storage site are being drawn up as we speak, despite massive local opposition from local communities and authorities. This proposal will negatively impact local agricultural land. Nobody is complaining about solar; it's a good part of renewable energy. However, the size and mass scale of this is just—. Residents believe it's not suitable. As I've emphasised repeatedly in the Chamber, Wales's food security is at risk due to our over-reliance on greenhouse gas-intensive imports and the lack of a coherent, well-rounded piece of food-focused legislation. During the passing of the legislation for the infrastructure Bill, I asked how local residents and affected communities will be able to input into larger scale projects like that, that can be seen as a blot on the landscape and have detrimental effects, such as affecting our food production. So, can the Cabinet Secretary please provide a statement on how they will address the concerns of the residents? Thank you.
Hoffwn i gael datganiad heddiw gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ar y cynigion presennol i adeiladu fferm solar 3,000 erw ar Ynys Môn. Mae cynlluniau ar gyfer safle ynni solar a storio ynni Maen Hir yn cael eu llunio wrth i ni siarad, er gwaethaf gwrthwynebiad lleol enfawr gan gymunedau ac awdurdodau lleol. Bydd y cynnig hwn yn cael effaith negyddol ar dir amaethyddol lleol. Nid oes neb yn cwyno am ynni solar; mae'n rhan dda o ynni adnewyddadwy. Fodd bynnag, mae maint a graddfa fawr hyn ond yn—. Mae trigolion yn credu nad yw'n addas. Fel yr wyf i wedi'i bwysleisio dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr, mae diogeledd bwyd Cymru mewn perygl oherwydd ein gorddibyniaeth ar fewnforio nwyddau sy'n arddwys o ran nwyon tŷ gwydr a diffyg darn cydlynol, cynhwysfawr o ddeddfwriaeth sy'n canolbwyntio ar fwyd. Yn ystod y broses o basio'r ddeddfwriaeth ar gyfer y Bil seilwaith, gofynnais i sut y bydd trigolion lleol a chymunedau yr effeithir arnyn nhw yn gallu cyfrannu at brosiectau ar raddfa fwy fel hwnnw, y gellid eu hystyried yn ddolur llygad ac sy'n cael effeithiau niweidiol, megis effeithio ar gynhyrchu'n bwyd. Felly, a all yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi datganiad ar sut y byddan nhw'n ymdrin â phryderon y trigolion? Diolch.
Of course, these are matters for the local authority, planning, and, indeed, depending on the circumstances, they may come to Welsh Ministers. I think that the case for renewables and for the progress that we need to make on that front is absolutely clear, and I think the Deputy First Minister will be making that clear in terms of our strategic approach. You've put your concerns on behalf of constituents on the record. But let's just recognise, and I certainly feel, that the alternative to fossil fuel is absolutely clear and this is where we should be going. I suspect an awful lot of people in Wales agree with that.
Wrth gwrs, materion i'r awdurdod lleol, cynllunio, yw'r rhain, ac, yn wir, yn dibynnu ar yr amgylchiadau, gallan nhw ddod at Weinidogion Cymru. Rwy'n credu bod yr achos dros ynni adnewyddadwy a'r cynnydd y mae angen i ni ei wneud ar hynny'n gwbl glir, ac rwy'n credu y bydd y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog yn gwneud hynny'n glir o ran ein dull strategol. Rydych chi wedi rhoi eich pryderon ar ran etholwyr ar y cofnod. Ond gadewch i ni gydnabod, ac rwyf i sicr yn teimlo, bod y dewis arall yn lle tanwydd ffosil yn gwbl glir a dyma lle y dylen ni fod yn mynd. Rwy'n tybio bod llawer iawn o bobl yng Nghymru yn cytuno â hynny.
I want to ask for two statements. Firstly, I'm asking for a statement about toilets that are available to the public. It's not about public toilets but about toilets that are available either in public buildings or in businesses that are prepared to make their toilets available. These need to be identified so that members of the public know where they are. Available toilets are important not just to older people, pregnant women and those suffering with Crohn's disease, but also for coeliacs and those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Whilst council-run toilets have reduced, the need for toilets has not.
Secondly, I'm asking for a Government statement on GP training and provision. This should include why the number undertaking GP training is capped at 160. The British Medical Association tell me that, for £10 million a year, the number can be increased by 40, to 200. This would then reduce locum costs, improve the service to the public and reduce demand on A&E, which has become, in many places, the default service for those who cannot get a primary care appointment.
Hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad. Yn gyntaf, rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad am doiledau sydd ar gael i'r cyhoedd. Nid yw'n ymwneud â thoiledau cyhoeddus ond am doiledau sydd ar gael naill ai mewn adeiladau cyhoeddus neu mewn busnesau sy'n barod i sicrhau bod eu toiledau ar gael. Mae angen nodi'r rhain fel bod aelodau'r cyhoedd yn gwybod ble y maen nhw. Mae toiledau sydd ar gael yn bwysig nid yn unig i bobl hŷn, menywod beichiog a'r rhai sy'n dioddef o glefyd Crohn, ond hefyd ar gyfer a'r rhai sy'n dioddef o glefyd seliag a chlefyd llid y coluddyn. Er bod llai o doiledau yn cael eu cynnal gan y cyngor, nid yw'r angen am doiledau wedi gostwng.
Yn ail, rwy'n gofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar hyfforddi a darparu meddygon teulu. Dylai hyn gynnwys pam mae cap o 160 ar y nifer sy'n ymgymryd â hyfforddiant meddygon teulu. Mae Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain yn dweud wrthyf y byddai modd cynyddu'r nifer o 40 i 200 am £10 miliwn y flwyddyn. Byddai hyn wedyn yn lleihau costau gweithwyr locwm, yn gwella'r gwasanaeth i'r cyhoedd ac yn lleihau'r galw ar adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, sydd wedi dod, mewn sawl man, yn wasanaeth diofyn i'r rhai sy'n methu â chael apwyntiad gofal sylfaenol.
Wel, diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiynau pwysig iawn, a shwmae, Mike.
Thank you very much for your very important questions, and shwmae, Mike.
Shwmae.
Shwmae.
Right, I think these are important questions, and the toilets available to all and the public are crucially important for all generations and in all communities. I think that we now need to have, with local government, a refreshed approach to this in terms of business and public facilities on the streets. So, I will raise that with the relevant Cabinet Secretary.
Also, in terms of GP training, there's no question that this is crucially important to primary care. Prevention, early intervention, as we know, is the way forward, but also, of course, the GP contract enables us to look at this, and I know that's what the Cabinet Secretary is committed to in terms of the way forward.
Iawn, rwy'n credu bod y rhain yn gwestiynau pwysig, ac mae'r toiledau sydd ar gael i bawb a'r cyhoedd yn hanfodol bwysig i bob cenhedlaeth ac ym mhob cymuned. Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni nawr, gyda llywodraeth leol, gael dull newydd o ymdrin â hyn o ran busnesau a chyfleusterau cyhoeddus ar y strydoedd. Felly, byddaf i'n codi hynny gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet perthnasol.
Hefyd, o ran hyfforddiant meddygon teulu, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod hyn yn hanfodol bwysig i ofal sylfaenol. Atal, ymyrraeth gynnar, fel y gwyddom ni, yw'r ffordd ymlaen, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae contract y meddygon teulu yn ein galluogi ni i ystyried hyn, a gwn i mai dyna'r hyn y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi ymrwymo iddo o ran y ffordd ymlaen.
As chair of the cross-party group on deaf issues, I call for an oral Welsh Government statement to be scheduled here on the scrapped plans to introduce a British Sign Language, BSL, GCSE in Wales. I know you were asked about this in the business statement last week, and in your response you said it was a decision by Qualifications Wales. But the Welsh Government had previously taken the credit for the promised BSL GCSE on many occasions, and they're directly responsible for the practical challenges identified by Qualifications Wales, including sufficient teaching supply in Wales. Alternative proposals by Qualifications Wales are seen to be a fob-off, causing great offence. The National Deaf Children's Society accuse the Welsh Government of going back on its word. They and the charity Signature wrote to both the education Secretary and you expressing their dismay, despair and disappointment at the devastating news, and the British Deaf Association Cymru said
'This is a slap in the face for deaf children and their friends and classmates across Wales.
'We urgently need a BSL Act in Wales'.
Members must be allowed to question the Welsh Government about this, and I call for an oral statement to be scheduled in a future Plenary session accordingly.
Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar faterion byddardod, rwy'n galw am drefnu datganiad llafar gan Lywodraeth Cymru yma ar y cynlluniau sydd wedi'u dileu i gyflwyno Iaith Arwyddion Prydain, BSL, TGAU yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gwybod y cawsoch chi gwestiwn am hyn yn y datganiad busnes yr wythnos diwethaf, ac yn eich ymateb fe wnaethoch chi ddweud mai penderfyniad gan Cymwysterau Cymru oedd hwn. Ond roedd Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi cael y clod ar sawl achlysur, am y TGAU BSL a oedd wedi'i addo ac maen nhw'n uniongyrchol gyfrifol am yr heriau ymarferol y gwnaeth Cymwysterau Cymru eu nodi, gan gynnwys cyflenwad addysgu digonol yng Nghymru. Mae cynigion eraill gan Cymwysterau Cymru yn cael eu hystyried yn dda i ddim, gan achosi tramgwydd mawr. Mae'r Gymdeithas Genedlaethol i Blant Byddar yn cyhuddo Llywodraeth Cymru o fynd yn ôl ar ei gair. Fe wnaethon nhw a'r elusen Signature ysgrifennu at yr Ysgrifennydd addysg ac atoch chi i fynegi eu digalondid, eu hanobaith a'u siom am y newyddion dinistriol, a dywedodd Cymdeithas Pobl Fyddar Prydain yng Nghymru
'Dyma ergyd sarhaus i blant byddar a'u ffrindiau a'u cyd-ddisgyblion ledled Cymru.
'Mae angen Deddf BSL arnon ni yng Nghymru ar frys'.
Rhaid caniatáu i Aelodau gwestiynu Llywodraeth Cymru am hyn, ac rwy'n galw am drefnu datganiad llafar mewn sesiwn lawn yn y dyfodol yn unol â hynny.
Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood, and I acknowledge your important role in terms of the cross-party group on deaf issues and recognise the work that you undertake in this field, and also the engagement you have with those who have raised this issue, and the disappointment we must acknowledge in terms of the response that we've given. The decision to suspend the development of BSL GCSE is a decision taken by Qualifications Wales in their role as our independent qualifications regulator, and they published their decision to suspend the development of a made-for-Wales GCSE in BSL, but it did state its intention to develop BSL units as part of the new skills suite qualification, and that's going to be available for the first teaching in schools from September 2027. And it is also possible for Qualifications Wales to make available to Welsh schools and learners the BSL GCSE currently being developed in England. It's important that we share this and communicate what this means and how this will be taken forward. And I think it is important that the Cabinet Secretary for Education, clearly, is engaging, as I will do, from a disability rights taskforce perspective, as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mark Isherwood, ac rwy'n cydnabod eich rôl bwysig o ran y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar faterion byddardod ac yn cydnabod y gwaith yr ydych chi'n ei wneud yn y maes hwn, a hefyd yr ymgysylltiad sydd gennych â'r rhai sydd wedi codi'r mater hwn, a'r siom y mae'n rhaid i ni ei chydnabod o ran yr ymateb yr ydyn ni wedi'i roi. Mae'r penderfyniad i atal datblygiad TGAU BSL yn benderfyniad sydd wedi'i wneud gan Cymwysterau Cymru yn eu rôl fel ein rheoleiddiwr cymwysterau annibynnol, a gwnaethon nhw gyhoeddi eu penderfyniad i atal datblygu TGAU BSL wedi'i greu i Gymru, ond nododd ei fwriad i ddatblygu unedau BSL fel rhan o'r gyfres cymhwysterau sgiliau newydd, ac mae hynny'n mynd i fod ar gael ar gyfer ei haddysgu am y tro cyntaf mewn ysgolion o fis Medi 2027. Ac mae hefyd yn bosibl i Cymwysterau Cymru sicrhau bod modd trefnu bod TGAU BSL sy'n cael ei ddatblygu yn Lloegr ar hyn o bryd ar gael i i ysgolion a dysgwyr Cymru. Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n rhannu hyn ac yn cyfleu beth mae hyn yn ei olygu a sut y bydd hyn yn cael ei ddatblygu. Ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, yn amlwg, yn ymgysylltu, fel y byddaf i yn ei wneud, o safbwynt tasglu hawliau anabledd, fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol.
I must declare an interest as a proud member of the Unite union. And shwmae, Trefnydd. I would like to request a statement from the Minister for Social Partnership regarding Unite union's ongoing dispute with Oscar Mayer in Wrexham. Oscar Mayer have entered into a fire-and-rehire process that would see 800 workers losing up to £3,000 a year. Workers are being threatened with fire and rehire, and they are threatened with dismissal if they do not sign up to this fire and rehire, and what they're being offered—the new terms and conditions. It covers the right to paid breaks and also includes the premium bank holiday pay. They are now in their tenth week of dispute, and it's causing a lot of distress. I’m really concerned that Oscar Mayer will not come around the table to talk, despite this being requested, and I believe that a statement from the Welsh Government would send a clear message to that company that this kind of intimidation of workers is not acceptable here in Wales, and that they must get back around the table and talk to the Welsh Government as soon as possible to get a fair resolution for workers. Thank you.
Rhaid i mi ddatgan buddiant fel aelod balch o undeb Unite. A Shwmae, Trefnydd. Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol ynghylch anghydfod parhaus undeb Unite gydag Oscar Mayer yn Wrecsam. Mae Oscar Mayer wedi dechrau ar broses o ddiswyddo ac ailapwyntio a fyddai'n golygu bod 800 o weithwyr yn colli hyd at £3,000 y flwyddyn. Mae gweithwyr yn cael eu bygwth gyda diswyddo ac ail-apwyntio, ac maen nhw dan fygythiad diswyddo os nad ydyn nhw'n cytuno i'r broses ddiswyddo ac ailapwyntio yma, a'r hyn sy'n cael ei gynnig iddyn nhw—y telerau ac amodau newydd. Mae'n cynnwys yr hawl i gael seibiant â thâl ac mae hefyd yn cynnwys y tâl gŵyl banc premiwm. Maen nhw erbyn hyn yn eu degfed wythnos o anghydfod, ac mae'n achosi llawer o ofid. Rwy'n bryderus iawn na fydd Oscar Mayer yn dod at y bwrdd i siarad, er gwaethaf y ffaith eu bod wedi cael cais i wneud hyn, ac rwy'n credu y byddai datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn anfon neges glir at y cwmni hwnnw nad yw bygwth gweithwyr fel hyn yn dderbyniol yma yng Nghymru, a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw fynd yn ôl o gwmpas y bwrdd a siarad â Llywodraeth Cymru cyn gynted â phosibl er mwyn cael datrysiad teg i weithwyr. Diolch.
Thank you very much for that question, Carolyn Thomas, on behalf of your constituents and those affected by the Oscar Mayer Rowan Foods Wrexham situation. It is important that representatives from Unite union met with you and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, hearing first-hand their concerns about Oscar Mayer’s action. From the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, a joint letter was sent to the chief executive of Oscar Mayer, and in that letter serious concerns were expressed. A meeting was requested for the company to provide a full account of the current situation. The company has responded to the letter and they’ve declined a meeting and asserted that they’ve complied with employment legislation. But we are clear that imposing inferior terms and conditions on workers through the tactic of fire and rehire has no place in a modern and civilised labour market. Such practices are not consistent with our values of fair work and social partnership. And this is a strong message from the Chamber, from the Senedd, to this company today as a result of your question, Carolyn Thomas: any changes to pay, terms and conditions should be agreed through negotiation with the workforce.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna, Carolyn Thomas, ar ran eich etholwyr a'r rhai y mae sefyllfa Oscar Mayer Rowan Foods Wrecsam wedi effeithio arnyn nhw. Mae'n bwysig bod cynrychiolwyr o undeb Unite yn cyfarfod â chi a'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol, i glywed drostyn nhw eu hunain eu pryderon am weithrediad Oscar Mayer. Cafodd llythyr ar y cyd ei anfon at brif weithredwr Oscar Mayer gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio a'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol, ac yn y llythyr hwnnw cafodd pryderon mawr eu mynegi. Gofynnwyd am gyfarfod er mwyn i'r cwmni roi disgrifiad llawn o'r sefyllfa bresennol. Mae'r cwmni wedi ymateb i'r llythyr ac maen nhw wedi gwrthod cyfarfod ac wedi honni'u bod wedi cydymffurfio â deddfwriaeth cyflogaeth. Ond rydyn ni'n glir nad oes lle i osod telerau ac amodau israddol ar weithwyr trwy dacteg ddiswyddo ac ailapwyntio mewn marchnad lafur fodern a gwâr. Nid yw arferion o'r fath yn gyson â'n gwerthoedd gwaith teg a phartneriaeth gymdeithasol. Ac mae hon yn neges gref gan y Siambr, o'r Senedd, i'r cwmni hwn heddiw o ganlyniad i'ch cwestiwn, Carolyn Thomas: dylai unrhyw newidiadau i gyflogau, telerau ac amodau gael eu cytuno drwy drafod â'r gweithlu.
Trefnydd, I’d like to call for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, giving details on the British and Welsh Government’s plans for collaboration between the Welsh and English health services. We heard from the leader of Plaid Cymru earlier some of the confusion in relation to this, and I’ve raised it in this Chamber in recent weeks as well. We know the Cabinet Secretary has set up an advisory group primarily looking at waiting lists, but the written statement in relation to this made no reference to this supposed partnership with the British Government and, seemingly, in multiple interviews he has rejected the idea of increasing the number of Welsh patients going to hospitals in England, despite this being an announcement from the Secretary of State for Wales with much fanfare just a few weeks ago at the Labour Party conference. So, to clear the air on this issue, and to get some clarity around the confusion around this new partnership working, we’d welcome a statement on these plans as soon as possible. Thank you very much.
Trefnydd, hoffwn i alw am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, gan roi manylion am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Prydain a Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cydweithredu rhwng gwasanaethau iechyd Cymru a Lloegr. Gwnaethon ni glywed gan arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn gynharach am rywfaint o'r dryswch o ran hyn, ac rwyf i wedi'i godi yn y Siambr hon yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf hefyd. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi sefydlu grŵp cynghori sy'n edrych ar restrau aros yn bennaf, ond ni wnaeth y datganiad ysgrifenedig o ran hyn gyfeirio at y bartneriaeth dybiedig hon â Llywodraeth Prydain ac, yn ôl pob tebyg, mewn sawl cyfweliad mae ef wedi ymwrthod â'r syniad o gynyddu nifer y cleifion o Gymru sy'n mynd i ysbytai yn Lloegr, er bod hyn wedi'i gyhoeddi gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru gyda thipyn o sbloet ychydig wythnosau'n ôl yng nghynhadledd y Blaid Lafur. Felly, er mwyn clirio'r awyr ar y mater hwn, ac i gael rhywfaint o eglurder ynghylch y dryswch ynghylch y gwaith partneriaeth newydd hwn, bydden ni'n croesawu datganiad ar y cynlluniau hyn cyn gynted â phosibl. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, I don’t think the Cabinet Secretary really has anything more to add to what he has said and indeed what the First Minister has said. But I do think it’s really important, and I’m glad you’ve acknowledged, that the Cabinet Secretary has announced an external ministerial advisory group on NHS performance and productivity—remember those two words: performance and productivity—with experts coming to advise us. I would have thought you’d have welcomed that, Sam Rowlands, that we have reached out to ensure that we can learn from others, and I think they will learn from us as well. Actually, the meetings start next week—the Cabinet Secretary says that the meeting is next week. But can we just also remember that our Welsh NHS treats more than 2 million people every month, has been provided with record levels of funding, and we continue to champion the NHS as a Welsh Government? This is about us now acknowledging the progress that we’re making with performance and productivity.
Wel, nid wyf i'n credu bod gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet unrhyw beth arall i'w ychwanegu at yr hyn y mae wedi'i ddweud, ac yn wir yr hyn y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i ddweud. Ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn bwysig iawn, ac rwy'n falch eich bod chi wedi cydnabod bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi cyhoeddi grŵp cynghori gweinidogol allanol ar berfformiad a chynhyrchiant y GIG—cofiwch y ddau air hynny: perfformiad a chynhyrchiant—gydag arbenigwyr yn dod i'n cynghori ni. Byddwn i wedi tybio y byddech chi wedi croesawu hynny, Sam Rowlands, ein bod ni wedi cysylltu i sicrhau y gallwn ni ddysgu gan eraill, ac rwy'n credu y byddan nhw'n dysgu gennym ni hefyd. A dweud y gwir, mae'r cyfarfodydd yn dechrau'r wythnos nesaf—mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn dweud bod y cyfarfod yr wythnos nesaf. Ond a gawn ni gofio hefyd bod ein GIG yng Nghymru yn trin mwy na 2 filiwn o bobl bob mis, ac wedi cael y lefelau uchaf erioed o gyllid, ac rydyn ni'n parhau, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, i hyrwyddo'r GIG? Mae hyn yn ymwneud â ni nawr yn cydnabod y cynnydd yr ydyn ni'n ei wneud gyda pherfformiad a chynhyrchiant.
I was wondering if I could have an urgent statement from the Government, preferably at the despatch box now, Minister, with regard to the response that you gave to the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who asked whether the Government remained committed to the undertaking that it gave in this Chamber in relation to proposals around deliberate deception. Just to remind the Siambr, that undertaking was that
'the Welsh Government will bring forward legislation before 2026 for the disqualification of Members and candidates found guilty of deliberate deception through an independent judicial process'.
Now, the question wasn’t answered by you, Minister, and that does raise a doubt in my mind. If there has been a change in the Government's position, then it's important that the Senedd is informed, particularly because this was an agreement signed by Ministers, repeated in this Chamber, votes happened as a result of that agreement and, indeed, the Senedd would have been misled if the Government has now changed its position. I've also written to you on this matter and I haven't had a response, so I was wondering if you could clarify this for the Senedd and also for the public, who will have a great interest in this matter.
Roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allwn ni gael datganiad brys gan y Llywodraeth, yn ddelfrydol ger y blwch dogfennau nawr, Gweinidog, o ran yr ymateb y gwnaethoch chi ei roi i arweinydd Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru, a ofynnodd a oedd y Llywodraeth yn parhau i fod wedi'i hymrwymo i'r ymrwymiad y gwnaeth yn y Siambr hon o ran cynigion ynghylch dichell fwriadol. Dim ond i atgoffa'r Siambr, mai'r ymgymeriad hwnnw oedd
'y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflwyno deddfwriaeth cyn 2026 ar gyfer gwahardd Aelodau ac ymgeiswyr a gafwyd yn euog o ddichell fwriadol trwy broses farnwrol annibynnol'.
Nawr, ni chafodd y cwestiwn ei ateb gennych chi, Gweinidog, ac mae hynny'n codi amheuaeth yn fy meddwl i. Os oes newid wedi bod yn safbwynt y Llywodraeth, yna mae'n bwysig bod y Senedd yn cael gwybod hynny, yn enwedig oherwydd bod hwn yn gytundeb wedi'i lofnodi gan Weinidogion, ac wedi'i ailadrodd yn y Siambr hon, digwyddodd pleidleisiau o ganlyniad i'r cytundeb hwnnw ac, yn wir, byddai'r Senedd wedi cael ei chamarwain pe bai'r Llywodraeth erbyn hyn wedi newid ei safbwynt. Rwyf i hefyd wedi ysgrifennu atoch chi ar y mater hwn ac nid wyf i wedi cael ymateb, felly roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allech chi egluro hyn ar gyfer y Senedd a hefyd ar gyfer y cyhoedd, a fydd â diddordeb mawr yn y mater hwn.
Well, diolch, Adam Price. I think, as I did answer, I sought to reassure Jane Dodds, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, that the Senedd did agree that the most appropriate way was through the inquiry that the Standards of Conduct Committee is undertaking. It's progressing, that work. They've concluded their public consultation. What was really important—I remember those discussions—was that you and, indeed, Lee Waters, were able to attend those meetings of the standards committee. It was part of our commitment in terms of bringing forward legislation that we would invite the Standards of Conduct Committee to make proposals on that basis. So, I and I'm sure you also, and colleagues, await the publication of the recommendations, which are going to come before the end of the year.
Diolch yn fawr, Adam Price. Rwy'n credu, fel y gwnes i ateb, fe wnes i geisio tawelu meddwl Jane Dodds, arweinydd Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru, fod y Senedd yn cytuno mai'r ffordd fwyaf priodol oedd trwy'r ymchwiliad y mae'r Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad yn ei gyflawni. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw yn gwneud cynnydd. Maen nhw wedi cwblhau eu hymgynghoriad cyhoeddus. Yr hyn oedd yn bwysig iawn—rwy'n cofio'r trafodaethau hynny—oedd eich bod chi ac, yn wir, Lee Waters, wedi gallu mynychu'r cyfarfodydd hynny gan y pwyllgor safonau. Roedd yn rhan o'n hymrwymiad o ran cyflwyno deddfwriaeth y bydden ni'n gwahodd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad i wneud cynigion ar y sail honno. Felly, rwy'n siŵr eich bod chi hefyd, a chyd-Aelodau, yn aros i'r argymhellion gael eu cyhoeddi, sy'n mynd i ddod cyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
Next week, there will be a Member's debate on assisted dying in this house, put forward by Members of three different political parties, and this will be in advance of the private Member's Bill that will be coming up in Westminster, and I'm very pleased that we will have the opportunity to have this debate here in Wales. I wanted to ask the leader of the house: what will be the position of the Cabinet in this debate? Will members of the Cabinet be able to have a free vote on this issue of conscience, rather than abstain, as they normally do, on Members' debates?
Yr wythnos nesaf, bydd dadl Aelod yn y tŷ hwn ar gymorth i farw, wedi'i chyflwyno gan Aelodau tair plaid wleidyddol wahanol, a bydd hyn cyn Bil yr Aelod preifat sydd ar ddod yn San Steffan, ac rwy'n falch iawn y bydd cyfle gennym ni i gael y ddadl hon yma yng Nghymru. Roeddwn i eisiau gofyn i arweinydd y tŷ: beth fydd safbwynt y Cabinet yn y ddadl hon? A fydd aelodau'r Cabinet yn gallu cael pleidlais rydd ar y mater o gydwybod hwn, yn hytrach na pheidio â phleidleisio, fel y maen nhw fel arfer, ar ddadleuon Aelodau?
Thank you very much, Julie Morgan. I do think it's really helpful that you've brought forward this question this week, because it can remind people of what's happening next week, which is a really important debate, a Member's debate that you have brought forward, with support, on assisted dying. We know, just for context for colleagues, that Lord Falconer's private Member's Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill received its First Reading in the House of Lords in July of this year. It's at a very early stage in its passage, and we understand that Kim Leadbeater MP will introduce a similar Bill to the House of Commons within the next few weeks. So, it's very topical and current, and a debate and initial vote will take place later this year. We are in regular contact with the UK Government on the issue.
It is a parliamentary tradition that there are free votes on matters of conscience. Indeed, the debate is next Wednesday, and I was looking back and the last time that we debated this was in 2014. So, I think we've got a good opportunity now for Members to prepare, and this is a matter of conscience in terms of this Bill.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Julie Morgan. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn ddefnyddiol iawn eich bod chi wedi cyflwyno'r cwestiwn hwn yr wythnos hon, oherwydd gall atgoffa pobl o'r hyn sy'n digwydd yr wythnos nesaf, sy'n ddadl bwysig iawn, dadl Aelod yr ydych chi wedi'i chyflwyno, gyda chefnogaeth, ar gymorth i farw. Rydyn ni'n ymwybodol, er mwyn rhoi cyd-destun i gyd-Aelodau, bod Bil Cymorth i Farw i Oedolion sydd â Salwch Terfynol yr Arglwydd Falconer wedi cael ei ddarlleniad cyntaf yn Nhŷ'r Arglwyddi ym mis Gorffennaf eleni. Mae'n gynnar iawn yn ei daith, ac rydyn ni'n deall y bydd Kim Leadbeater AS yn cyflwyno Bil tebyg i Dŷ'r Cyffredin o fewn yr wythnosau nesaf. Felly, mae'n amserol iawn ac yn gyfredol, a bydd dadl a phleidlais gychwynnol yn digwydd yn ddiweddarach eleni. Rydyn ni mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â Llywodraeth y DU ar y mater.
Mae'n draddodiad seneddol bod pleidleisiau rhydd ar faterion cydwybod. Yn wir, mae'r ddadl ddydd Mercher nesaf, ac roeddwn i'n edrych yn ôl, a'r tro diwethaf i ni drafod hyn oedd yn 2014. Felly, rwy'n credu bod gennym ni gyfle da nawr i'r Aelodau baratoi, ac mae hyn yn fater o gydwybod o ran y Bil hwn.
Ac yn olaf, Gareth Davies.
And finally, Gareth Davies.
May I seek a Welsh Government statement, particularly from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, regarding the Welsh Government's view or take on the importance of radio, and particularly community and hospital radio? Yesterday, I visited Radio Glan Clwyd in my constituency, on the Glan Clwyd Hospital estate. Historically, they functioned on 1287 on medium wave or amplitude modulation, as some people may be more familiar with, but they've caught up with modern times, and they now have an online services that patients can, indeed, tune into. So, I'm keen to know—. I forgot to say, sorry, that they are run solely by volunteers and they play a big role in people's experience in hospital and also in terms of patients' mental health and well-being, particularly during and after hospital visits. So, I'm aware that the Government haven't covered this medium of broadcasting substantially during this Senedd term, and following my visit I would be keen to know what the Welsh Government's view is on the importance of and the role that hospital radios play within the healthcare systems, and how they can support health boards in terms of patients' mental health and well-being during their stays in hospital, as they play a vital role in many communities, not just mine, but across Wales as well.
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yn enwedig gan y Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol, ynghylch barn neu agwedd Llywodraeth Cymru o ran pwysigrwydd radio, ac yn enwedig radio cymunedol ac ysbytai? Ddoe, ymwelais i â Radio Glan Clwyd yn fy etholaeth i, ar ystad Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Yn hanesyddol, fe wnaethon nhw weithredu ar 1287 ar don ganolig neu fodyliad osgled, fel y bydd rhai pobl fod yn fwy cyfarwydd ag ef, ond maen nhw'n ennill tir yn yr oes fodern, ac erbyn hyn mae ganddyn nhw wasanaethau ar-lein y gall cleifion, wir, wrando arnyn nhw. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i wybod—. Anghofiais i ddweud, mae'n ddrwg gennyf i, eu bod nhw'n cael eu cynnal gan wirfoddolwyr yn unig ac maen nhw'n chwarae rhan fawr ym mhrofiad pobl yn yr ysbyty a hefyd o ran iechyd meddwl a llesiant cleifion, yn enwedig yn ystod, ac ar ôl, ymweliadau â'r ysbyty. Felly, rwy'n ymwybodol nad yw'r Llywodraeth wedi cynnwys y cyfrwng darlledu hwn i raddau helaeth yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon, ac yn dilyn fy ymweliad byddwn i'n awyddus i wybod beth yw barn Llywodraeth Cymru ar bwysigrwydd a rôl radio ysbyty yn y systemau gofal iechyd, a sut y gallan nhw gefnogi byrddau iechyd o ran iechyd meddwl a llesiant cleifion yn ystod eu hamser yn aros yn yr ysbyty, gan eu bod yn chwarae rhan hanfodol mewn llawer o gymunedau, nid yn fy un i yn unig, ond ledled Cymru hefyd.
Well, thank you very much for that important question. It's very much a cross-Government question, I would say, because it's not just the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, but the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being. And I have to say, myself, as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, that I'm always so impressed with the volunteering effort, not just with hospital radio, but with all of our community radio stations, and can I have the privilege of mentioning Bro Radio, in my constituency, which is completely personned by volunteers? So, I think this is something that is really important in the hospital setting, and I think it would be good for us to look at this in terms of an update on the support that health boards, principally, but also charitable trusts within health boards and volunteers give, particularly to the hospital radio system.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y cwestiwn pwysig yna. Mae hwn yn gwestiwn trawslywodraethol i raddau helaeth iawn, yn fy marn i, oherwydd nid cwestiwn i'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol yw hwn yn unig, ond i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol a'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant hefyd. Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, fy hunan, yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, fy mod i wedi cael fy mhlesio yn fawr bob amser gan yr ymdrechion gwirfoddol, nid yn unig y gwasanaethau radio mewn ysbytai, ond gyda'r gorsafoedd radio cymunedol i gyd, ac a gaf i'r fraint o sôn am Bro Radio, yn fy etholaeth i, y mae pawb sy'n gweithio yno'n wirfoddolwyr? Felly, rwy'n credu bod hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n wirioneddol bwysig mewn ysbytai, ac rwy'n credu mai da o beth fyddai i ni ystyried hyn o ran diweddariad ar y gefnogaeth y mae byrddau iechyd, yn bennaf, ond ymddiriedolaethau elusennol o fewn byrddau iechyd a gwirfoddolwyr yn ei roi hefyd, yn enwedig i'r gyfundrefn radio mewn ysbytai.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Eitem 3 heddiw yw'r datganiad gan y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig ar gyfleoedd yr economi gylchol a chanlyniadau Hotspot Economi Gylchol Cymru 2024. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Item 3 today is a statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on circular economy opportunities and outcomes of Circular Economy Hotspot Cymru 2024. I call on the Cabinet Secretary, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a shwmae, bawb. Yr wythnos diwethaf, roeddwn yn falch o agor digwyddiad rhyngwladol Hotspot Economi Gylchol Cymru. Dewiswyd Cymru i gynnal y digwyddiad Ewropeaidd, i gydnabod ein harferion da a'n statws fel enghraifft fyd-eang. Daeth dros 400 o bobl i'r gynhadledd, ac roedd llawer ohonynt wedi teithio i Gymru o bob cwr o'r byd i gael craffu ar ein cyflawniadau, cyfnewid gwersi a ddysgwyd, a chreu cyfleoedd i gydweithio.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and shwmae, all. Last week, I was proud to open the international Circular Economy Hotspot Cymru event. Wales was selected as the European host in recognition of our good practice and status as a global exemplar. The conference was attended by over 400 people, many of whom had travelled to Wales from across the world to hear insights from our achievements, exchange lessons learned, and create opportunities for collaboration.
Wales indeed has an incredible story to tell on the circular economy, of how our nation has transformed since devolution. Our approach to a circular economy today has evolved from the sustainable development approach we have taken to waste management since the early days of Welsh Government's creation. Back in 1999, we recycled less than 5 per cent of our municipal waste and we sent 95 per cent to landfill. But we have come a long way.
Our municipal landfill rate is now down to 1.6 per cent, and we're aiming to phase it out entirely. And now, Wales has climbed to second in the world for recycling, with our journey taking us from having recycled less than 5 per cent of our waste to now over 65 per cent. This year also sees our statutory minimum target for recycling increasing to 70 per cent.
But while we are rightly proud of our achievements to date, there is much more to do. The title of our circular economy strategy makes our direction of travel very clear: 'Beyond Recycling'. We are determined to shape a truly circular economy. And this means keeping resources and materials in use for as long as possible and avoiding all waste, so, for example, by reusing, repairing and remanufacturing; increasing resource efficiency; and using recycled materials instead of raw materials in the products we make.
I am therefore very pleased that this statement comes alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning's statement on the key role of renewable energy in growing the green economy. The transition to renewable energy and the transition to a circular economy are both essential, together.
And if we succeed, as well as helping us tackle the climate and the nature crises, it will also bring many other benefits to Wales and to the Welsh economy. Resource efficiency makes our economy more productive. More resilient supply chains mean stronger local economies. And in a decarbonising global economy, transitioning early to a circular economy is crucial to making Wales more competitive and resilient.
As we highlighted at the conference, business plays a vital role. This is why we have created a circular economy fund for business to help them innovate; to adapt their processes; to, for example, use recycled content; to adopt circular business models; and to increase resource efficiencies. Many of the businesses that have already benefited from the funding took part in that circular economy hotspot last week and we were able to showcase their work to delegates from right across the world.
We are also working strategically with major companies to create the economic infrastructure we need for that circular economy. Our world-class recycling is a solid foundation and is already bringing investment and jobs into Wales, with our high-quality recycling helping to attract investment, for example in a state-of-the-art plastic recycling facility in Swansea, creating 100 new jobs. Just a few weeks ago we saw the announcement of major investment of over £1 billion in the redevelopment of Shotton Mill in north Wales, safeguarding 147 jobs. Once fully operational, the site will become one of the UK’s largest recycled packaging centres, creating a further 220 jobs. We are also fortunate to already have fine examples like the Royal Mint, who have started production, from their groundbreaking facility, extracting the precious materials and reusable components from electronic waste.
During the hotspot conference, we also shone a spotlight on our partnership working with local government. This approach has not only been pivotal to our success in recycling but is already taking an important next step with the roll-out of infrastructure to support repair and reuse right across Wales. I’m very proud to say that 80 per cent of our local authorities now have a dedicated reuse or repair facility and we are working to expand this further across the country. In partnership with the third sector—many of whom were represented at the hotspot last week—our infrastructure also now includes a network of repair cafes in 119 communities, delivered by Repair Cafe Wales. Benthyg Cymru have established a network of 23 libraries of things. We have also expanded FareShare Cymru, which redistributes surplus edible food from businesses. Last year, that food provided over 2 million meals for vulnerable people across Wales, instead of going to waste. A circular economy can be a fairer economy, too. The conference also highlighted the important role of our academic institutions, bringing the benefits of cutting-edge research and innovation to our businesses and communities.
As you can tell, Dirprwy Lywydd, I am extremely proud of what we have achieved so far and it was, I’ve got to say, wonderful to hear the positive feedback from international guests. They were particularly interested in how we have put sustainable development rights at the heart of our approach since the dawn of devolution and how the well-being of future generations guides our decision-making. The conference was a unique opportunity to build and strengthen partnerships both within Wales and with other nations and regions. The presentations and discussions emphasised not only the crucial importance of the circular economy, but the part it can play in delivering a just transition—growing our green economy and ensuring our communities share in the benefits as we work to achieve our climate goals.
Yn wir, mae gan Gymru stori anhygoel i'w hadrodd am yr economi gylchol, o ran sut mae ein cenedl ni wedi trawsnewid ers datganoli. Mae ein dull ni o ymdrin ag economi gylchol heddiw wedi esblygu o'r dull gweithredu datblygu cynaliadwy o ran rheoli gwastraff y gwnaethom ni ei fabwysiadu yn nyddiau cynnar creu Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn ôl ym 1999, roeddem ni'n ailgylchu llai na 5 y cant o'n gwastraff trefol ac yn anfon 95 y cant i safleoedd tirlenwi. Ond rydym ni wedi teithio'n bell ers hynny.
Mae ein cyfradd tirlenwi trefol wedi gostwng hyd at 1.6 y cant erbyn hyn, ac rydym yn bwriadu ei dileu yn gyfan gwbl. Ac yn awr, mae Cymru wedi dringo i fod yn ail drwy'r byd am ailgylchu, gyda'n taith yn mynd â ni o fod yn ailgylchu llai na 5 y cant o'n gwastraff i dros 65 y cant erbyn hyn. Mae ein nod o isafswm statudol ar gyfer ailgylchu yn cynyddu eleni hyd at 70 y cant hefyd.
Ond er ein bod ni'n iawn i fod yn falch o'n cyflawniadau hyd yn hyn, mae llawer mwy i'w wneud eto. Mae enw ein strategaeth economi gylchol yn gwneud ein cyfeiriad ni'n amlwg iawn: 'Mwy nag Ailgylchu'. Rydym ni'n benderfynol o lunio economi wirioneddol gylchol. Ac mae hyn yn golygu cadw adnoddau a deunyddiau mewn defnydd cyhyd â phosibl ac osgoi pob gwastraff, felly, er enghraifft, drwy ailddefnyddio, atgyweirio ac ail-gynhyrchu; cynyddu effeithlonrwydd adnoddau; a defnyddio deunyddiau a gafodd eu hailgylchu yn hytrach na deunyddiau crai yn y cynhyrchion yr ydym yn eu gwneud.
Felly, rwy'n falch iawn fod y datganiad hwn yn dod ochr yn ochr â datganiad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio ar waith allweddol ynni adnewyddadwy o ran meithrin economi werdd. Mae'r pontio at ynni adnewyddadwy a'r newid i economi gylchol yn hanfodol, y ddau gyda'i gilydd.
Ac os byddwn ni'n llwyddo, yn ogystal â mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur, fe fydd yn dod â llawer o fanteision eraill i Gymru ac i economi Cymru. Mae effeithlonrwydd adnoddau yn gwneud ein heconomi ni'n fwy cynhyrchiol. Mae cadwyni cyflenwi mwy cydnerth yn golygu bydd economïau lleol yn fwy cadarn. Ac mewn economi fyd-eang sy'n datgarboneiddio, mae pontio yn gynnar at economi gylchol yn hanfodol i wneud Cymru yn fwy cystadleuol a chydnerth.
Fel y gwnaethom ni amlygu yn y gynhadledd, mae gan fusnes ran hanfodol. Dyma pam rydym ni wedi creu cronfa economi gylchol ar gyfer busnesau i'w helpu i arloesi; addasu eu prosesau; er enghraifft, defnyddio cynnwys a ailgylchwyd; mabwysiadu modelau busnes cylchol; a chynyddu effeithlonrwydd adnoddau. Roedd llawer o'r busnesau sydd wedi elwa eisoes ar y cyllid yn cymryd rhan yn yr hotspot economi gylchol hwnnw'r wythnos diwethaf ac roeddem ni'n gallu arddangos eu gwaith nhw i gynrychiolwyr o bob cwr o'r byd.
Rydym ni'n gweithio yn strategol gyda chwmnïau mawr i greu'r seilwaith economaidd sydd ei angen arnom ar gyfer yr economi gylchol honno hefyd. Mae ein hailgylchu ni sydd o'r radd flaenaf yn gosod sylfaen gadarn ac mae eisoes yn dod â buddsoddiad a swyddi i Gymru, gyda'n hailgylchu o ansawdd uchel ni'n helpu i ddenu buddsoddiad, er enghraifft mewn cyfleuster ailgylchu plastig o'r radd flaenaf yn Abertawe, sy'n creu 100 o swyddi newydd. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl fe welsom ni'r cyhoeddiad am fuddsoddiad mawr o dros £1 biliwn yn ailddatblygu Shotton Mill yn y gogledd, sy'n diogelu 147 o swyddi. Ar ôl ei roi ar waith yn llawn, fe fydd y safle yn dod yn un o ganolfannau pecynwaith wedi'i ailgylchu mwyaf y DU, a fydd yn creu 220 o swyddi eraill. Rydym ni'n ffodus hefyd fod gennym ni enghreifftiau gwych eisoes fel y Bathdy Brenhinol, sydd wedi dechrau cynhyrchu, o'r cyfleuster arloesol sydd yno, gan dynnu allan ddeunyddiau gwerthfawr a'r cydrannau y gellir eu hailddefnyddio o wastraff electronig.
Yn ystod y gynhadledd hotspot, fe wnaethom ni dynnu sylw hefyd at ein partneriaeth waith ni gyda llywodraeth leol. Mae'r dull hwn nid yn unig wedi bod yn ganolog i'n llwyddiant mewn ailgylchu ond mae'n cymryd y cam pwysig nesaf hefyd o ran cyflwyno seilwaith i gefnogi gwaith atgyweirio ac ailddefnyddio ledled Cymru. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud bod gan 80 y cant o'n hawdurdodau lleol ni gyfleuster pwrpasol ar gyfer ailddefnyddio neu atgyweirio erbyn hyn ac rydym ni'n gweithio i ehangu hynny ymhellach drwy'r wlad. Mewn partneriaeth â'r trydydd sector—roedd llawer ohonyn nhw yn cael eu cynrychioli yn hotspot yr wythnos diwethaf—mae ein seilwaith ni'n yn cynnwys rhwydwaith nawr o gaffis trwsio mewn 119 o gymunedau, a ddarperir gan Caffi Trwsio Cymru. Mae Benthyg Cymru wedi sefydlu rhwydwaith o 23 llyfrgell o declynnau. Rydym ni wedi ehangu FareShare Cymru, sy'n ailddosbarthu bwyd bwytadwy sydd dros ben gan fusnesau. Y llynedd, fe ddarparodd y bwyd hwnnw dros 2 filiwn o brydau bwyd i bobl agored i niwed ledled Cymru, yn hytrach na mynd yn wastraff. Fe all economi gylchol fod yn economi decach hefyd. Roedd y gynhadledd yn tynnu sylw hefyd at swyddogaeth bwysig ein sefydliadau academaidd ni, sy'n dwyn manteision ymchwil ac arloesi blaengar i'n busnesau a'n cymunedau.
Fel rydych chi'n gallu dweud, Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n hynod falch o'r hyn y gwnaethom ni ei gyflawni hyd yn hyn ac roedd hi'n wych clywed yr adborth cadarnhaol gan westeion rhyngwladol. Roedd ganddyn nhw ddiddordeb arbennig yn y modd yr ydym wedi rhoi hawliau datblygu cynaliadwy wrth hanfod ein dull ni o weithredu ers dechrau datganoli a sut mae llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn llywio ein penderfyniadau. Roedd y gynhadledd yn gyfle unigryw i feithrin a chryfhau partneriaethau yng Nghymru a chyda gwledydd a rhanbarthau eraill. Roedd y cyflwyniadau a'r trafodaethau yn pwysleisio nid yn unig bwysigrwydd hanfodol yr economi gylchol, ond ei chyfranogiad wrth gyflawni pontio teg—tyfu ein heconomi werdd a sicrhau bod ein cymunedau yn rhannu'r manteision wrth i ni weithio at gyflawni ein nodau hinsawdd.
Felly, mae llawer mwy i'w wneud, ond dylem ddathlu bod ailgylchu erbyn hyn yn rhan annatod o bwy ydym ni fel cenedl. Mae hefyd yn sail i’n galluogi i arwain y chwyldro diwydiannol nesaf yn yr un ffordd ag y gwnaethom ni yn ystod y chwyldro cynt, a thyfu swyddi gwyrdd y dyfodol. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
So, there’s much more to do, but we should be celebrate that recycling is now part of who we are as a nation. It is also a platform upon which we can lead the next industrial revolution in the same way we did in the last, and grow green jobs for the future. Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Diolch ichi, Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog, am y datganiad.
Thank you, Deputy First Minister, for your statement.
We on this side of the Chamber recognise and welcome many of the achievements that Wales has made in developing a circular economy, especially our outstanding success in recycling. I think that it is worthy of noting. It has become second nature to most of us, and it’s genuinely impressive that only 1.6 per cent—as you mentioned, Deputy First Minister—of our household waste now goes to landfill. However, as with many of the policies of this Government, good intentions are all too often undermined by poor implementation. Take, for example, the workplace recycling scheme, which came into effect in April of this year. Businesses are more than willing to recycle—they recognise the benefits, as do we—yet the roll-out has left many of them in the dark. There was a lack of consultation, they feel; they feel that the scheme was implemented too hastily. And now, with the threat of unlimited fines hanging over them if they make mistakes, I don’t think that’s really fair.
There’s also been an unfair distinction between care homes and hospitals and GP surgeries, which I have raised previously—possibly not with you, but with a predecessor in this role. So, what support, Cabinet Secretary, are you providing to businesses, particularly small ones, to ensure that they can comply with these new regulations and don't fall foul of those fines? We've heard reports of restaurants and hotels still being issued with the wrong bins, so, clearly, something is amiss here. With more bins comes the practical issue of cluttered streets. Has the Government considered the impact on accessibility and safety, especially in areas where multiple businesses operate side by side? Is too much uncertainty, risk and time being spent on complying with these regulations when even your own survey shows that two thirds of businesses already recycle all that they can?
Turning to household recycling, Wales is already a world leader. We've heard that here this afternoon. But we're seeing more and more Labour-run councils introduce policies that are both unpopular and burdensome. For instance, in Denbighshire, the Labour-led council has scrapped the highly effective and easy-to-use blue wheelie bin service and replaced it with the deeply unpopular Trolibocs system. This has made recycling a real challenge, Deputy First Minister, for local residents. And to add insult to injury, black bin bag collections have been reduced to once every four weeks. Then, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Labour council has done away with the popular wheelie bins in favour of black bag bin collections, because the new electric refuse lorries can't even lift them. Is this really how a circular economy is supposed to work? Surely it's about reducing waste, avoiding unnecessary spending and making efficient use of the resources we already have. So, Cabinet Secretary, can I ask what guidance have you given to councils to ensure these changes are both sensible and proportionate?
One topic that was not mentioned in your statement is that of the deposit-return scheme. Once again, we see the Welsh Government pressing ahead here with limited engagement, because, despite a joint UK and Welsh Government consultation concluding in 2022, the Welsh Government seems determined to include glass in the scheme, even though the Institute of Economic Affairs has indicated that excluding glass would reduce costs, as machines handling fewer and lighter materials are cheaper to operate. Cabinet Secretary, will you consider the findings of this report, and ease the burden on small businesses, many of which would find the inclusion of glass costly and time-consuming?
Can we also have an update, please, on the deposit-return scheme and whether you've engaged with a wide range of businesses and stakeholders on whether glass should be included? I've spoken to them, and it's clear that glass shouldn't be included at this time. Take small breweries as an example. Without proper support, they will struggle. They would need to invest in new cleaning equipment and heavier glass bottles, but many simply don't have the funds to do so. So, what financial assistance will be available to support them?
All of this additional pressure on businesses and households could well lead to a rise in fly-tipping, and fly-tipping incidents have increased by 32,000 in the past decade, bringing the total to nearly 40,000. How many of those were fined? Just 55. How does the Welsh Government plan to tackle this growing problem when so few offenders are being held accountable?
To close, Dirprwy Lywydd, while Wales has made significant progress, yes, we must aim higher, beyond just recycling. A circular economy, as the Cabinet Secretary has rightly highlighted, is about reducing waste, but not about creating confusion. So, it's time to stop burdening people and businesses; instead, bring them along on this journey. Wales is doing well, yes, and Wales can achieve so much more, but we must do so in a way that works for everyone. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Rydym ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn cydnabod ac yn croesawu llawer o gyflawniadau Cymru wrth ddatblygu economi gylchol, yn enwedig ein llwyddiant eithriadol gydag ailgylchu. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n werth ei nodi. Fe ddaeth hynny'n ail natur i'r rhan fwyaf ohonom ni, ac mae hi'n wirioneddol drawiadol mai dim ond 1.6 y cant—fel roeddech chi'n sôn, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog—o wastraff aelwydydd sy'n mynd i safleoedd tirlenwi erbyn hyn. Serch hynny, fel gyda llawer o bolisïau'r Llywodraeth hon, yn rhy aml, mae bwriadau da yn cael eu tanseilio gan weithredu sâl. Ystyriwch, er enghraifft, y cynllun ailgylchu yn y gweithle, a ddaeth i rym ym mis Ebrill eleni. Mae busnesau yn fwy na pharod i ailgylchu—maen nhw'n cydnabod y manteision, fel gwnawn ninnau—ac eto mae'r broses o'i gyflwyno wedi gadael llawer ohonyn nhw yn y tywyllwch. Roedd diffyg ymgynghoriad, maen nhw'n teimlo; maen nhw'n teimlo bod y cynllun wedi cael ei weithredu yn rhy frysiog. Ac yn awr, gyda'r bygythiad o ddirwyon heb derfyn uwch eu pennau nhw pe bydden nhw'n gwneud camgymeriadau, nid wyf i'n credu bod hynny'n deg iawn.
Mae gwahaniaethu annheg wedi bod hefyd rhwng cartrefi gofal ac ysbytai a meddygfeydd, fe godiais i hyn o'r blaen—nid gyda chi o bosibl, ond gyda'ch rhagflaenydd yn y gwaith hwn. Felly, pa gefnogaeth, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, ydych chi'n ei rhoi i fusnesau, yn enwedig i rai bach, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gallu cydymffurfio â'r rheoliadau newydd hyn ac nad ydyn nhw yn mynd yn destun y dirwyon hynny? Fe glywsom ni adroddiadau fod bwytai a gwestai yn cael biniau amhriodol o hyd, felly, yn amlwg, mae rhywbeth o'i le yma. Gyda mwy o finiau fe ddaw mater ymarferol aflerwch ar y strydoedd. A yw'r Llywodraeth wedi ystyried yr effaith ar hygyrchedd a diogelwch, yn enwedig mewn meysydd lle mae sawl busnes yn gweithredu ochr yn ochr â'i gilydd? A oes gormod o ansicrwydd, risg ac amser yn cael ei dreulio yn cydymffurfio â'r rheoliadau hyn pan fo hyd yn oed eich arolwg chi eich hunain yn dangos bod dwy ran o dair o fusnesau eisoes yn ailgylchu popeth y gallan nhw?
Gan droi at ailgylchu aelwydydd, mae Cymru eisoes yn arwain y byd. Fe glywsom ni hynny'r prynhawn yma. Ond rydym ni'n gweld niferoedd cynyddol o gynghorau Llafur yn cyflwyno polisïau sy'n amhoblogaidd a beichus. Er enghraifft, yn sir Ddinbych, mae'r cyngor dan arweiniad Llafur wedi cael gwared ar y gwasanaeth bin olwyn glas effeithiol a hawdd iawn ei ddefnyddio a'i ddisodli gan y system Trolibocs sy'n hynod amhoblogaidd. Mae hyn wedi gwneud ailgylchu yn her wirioneddol, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, i drigolion lleol. Ac i rwbio halen yn y briw, mae casgliadau bagiau bin du wedi cael eu cyfyngu i un waith bob pedair wythnos. Wedyn, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, mae'r cyngor Llafur wedi cael gwared ar y biniau ar olwynion poblogaidd o blaid casgliadau biniau bagiau duon, am na all y lorïau sbwriel newydd trydanol eu codi nhw hyd yn oed. Ai dyna'r ffordd y dylai economi gylchol weithio? Heb os nac oni bai mae'n ymwneud â lleihau gwastraff, osgoi gwario diangen a gwneud defnydd effeithlon o'r adnoddau sydd gennym ni'n barod. Felly, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a gaf i ofyn pa ganllawiau a wnaethoch chi eu rhoi i gynghorau i sicrhau bod y newidiadau hyn yn synhwyrol a chymesur?
Un pwnc na chafodd ei grybwyll yn eich datganiad chi yw'r cynllun dychwelyd blaendal. Unwaith eto, rydym ni'n gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwrw ymlaen gydag ymgysylltiad cyfyngedig yma, oherwydd, er gwaethaf ymgynghoriad ar y cyd rhwng y DU a Llywodraeth Cymru a ddaeth i ben yn 2022, mae hi'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn benderfynol o gynnwys gwydr yn y cynllun, er bod y Sefydliad Materion Economaidd wedi nodi y byddai eithrio gwydr yn lleihau costau, am fod peiriannau sy'n trin niferoedd llai ac ysgafnach o ddeunyddiau yn rhatach i'w rhedeg. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ystyried canfyddiadau'r adroddiad hwn, ac ysgafnu'r baich sydd ar fusnesau bach, y byddai llawer ohonyn nhw'n gweld cynnwys gwydr yn rhywbeth costus ac a fyddai'n llyncu llawer o amser?
A gawn ni'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf hefyd, os gwelwch chi'n dda, am y cynllun dychwelyd ernes a chael gwybod a ydych chi wedi ymgysylltu ag ystod eang o fusnesau a rhanddeiliaid ynghylch a ddylid cynnwys gwydr? Rwyf i wedi siarad â nhw, ac mae hi'n amlwg na ddylid cynnwys gwydr yn hwnnw ar hyn o bryd. Cymerwch fragdai bychain yn enghraifft. Heb gefnogaeth briodol, fe fyddan nhw'n mynd i drafferthion. Fe fyddai angen iddyn nhw fuddsoddi mewn offer glanhau newydd a photeli gwydr trymach, ond yn syml iawn, nid oes gan lawer ohonyn nhw'r arian i wneud hynny. Pa gymorth ariannol fydd ar gael i'w cefnogi nhw?
Fe allai pob un o'r beichiau ychwanegol hyn ar fusnesau ac aelwydydd arwain at gynnydd o ran tipio anghyfreithlon, ac mae nifer yr achosion o dipio anghyfreithlon wedi cynyddu 32,000 yn ystod y degawd diwethaf, gan ddod â'r cyfanswm i bron i 40,000. Faint o'r rhain a gafodd eu dirwyo? Dim ond 55. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu mynd i'r afael â'r broblem gynyddol hon pan fo cyn lleied o droseddwyr yn cael eu dwyn i gyfrif?
I gloi, Dirprwy Lywydd, er bod Cymru wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol, oes, mae'n rhaid i ni anelu yn uwch, y tu hwnt i ailgylchu yn unig. Ystyr economi gylchol, fel mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi amlygu, yw lleihau gwastraff, ond nid creu dryswch. Felly, mae hi'n hen bryd rhoi'r gorau i roi baich ar bobl a busnesau; yn hytrach, dewch â nhw gyda chi ar y daith hon. Mae Cymru yn gwneud yn dda, ydy, ac fe all Cymru gyflawni cymaint mwy, ond mae'n rhaid i ni wneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n gweithio i bawb. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Sam, diolch yn fawr iawn. Can I, first of all, open just by saying thank you for your support for the work that we have done over a long time, now, actually, to drive us up to the genuinely global-leading nation that we are in recycling and reuse? We have more to do, and I note in your closing remarks there you said we must aim higher, but, actually, the three substantive points you raised were all urging me to go slower and not continue on this ambition and this trajectory that we are on that has got to this global-leading position. So, let me just address those three issues directly.
On workplace recycling, we have indeed worked over a sustained period of several years before bringing this in with all the sectors affected. Many of those sectors themselves have provided the examples of how to introduce this, whether that's in hospitality, retail, camping, caravanning or touring, et cetera. They're all available, by the way, online. They're also available with support from local authorities and from Wrap. What I noticed, Dirprwy Lywydd, is even though there are indeed individuals, including within my own constituency, who sought additional advice, that advice is there. I've directed Members previously to the very good advice, including, by the way, in easily understandable formats, such as 'Here are good examples of how it is working in situ with people who are doing it'.
I've also noticed, Dirprwy Lywydd, actually, how many, within those sectors, have not only encouraged us to go in this way, but how little dissent there has been. When we went through this with household recycling and doorstep recycling, every local authority, while there have been a few odd exceptions, has always had difficulty and challenging times, but actually, because of the work of those partners out there, including within the business sector, this has gone incredibly well, although there are individuals, and I would direct them to those sources that we already have in place and urge Members to do it. That's one of the ones where you're urging us to go slower; I would say, actually, what we need to do is work with the sectors, work with businesses on the ground and get on with it. And it's been several years getting to this point, by the way; it hasn't come overnight.
Secondly, in terms of Denbighshire, repeatedly, again, we have Conservative Members standing up and berating Denbighshire. Let me just point out that Denbighshire is going through this transition, and it is difficult. It has transitioned its recycling and waste service from a co-mingled service—which I suspect is where some Members on those benches are urging them to go back to—which does not separate properly the materials that we would then use for reuse and recycling, and a fortnightly residual collection, to a blueprint-compliant source-segregated service with a four-weekly residual collection, and they introduced this on 3 June. It's early days yet, and rather than berate, we are trying to work with the local authority, through the support of our expert advisers, WRAP Cymru, working with Denbighshire County Council to resolve the early issues. We'll continue that support until the situation is resolved.
Just out of interest, recent reports show a high percentage of rounds being completed properly. But there are residents who've experienced problems and expressed their frustrations, with missed collections, et cetera—that does need to be dealt with. But let me just say, it's not uncommon for service changes to result in problems as a new system beds in and the staff who are delivering the service and the householders get used to a new way of working. We've seen this in other local authorities and many Members will be familiar with it. But if you have high ambition, you need to work through these issues and then get to the other side of them, not constantly undermine it by attacking it and saying, 'Let's go backwards'.
On the third issue of the DRS, it is disappointing to hear that, Sam, from you, and the position of the Welsh Conservatives. Yes, Wales is already a very high-performing nation when it comes to recycling—we're second in the world—but in bringing forward a DRS for Wales, we've got to be mindful that it delivers clear benefits to Wales. So, in line with our commitment to the circular economy strategy, 'Beyond Recycling', which you praised a moment ago, a DRS that includes glass bottles is consistent with our collaborative consultation with the UK Government. And I remind you, Sam, that two years ago when the actual UK-wide consultation took place, that consultation was on the basis of glass—[Interruption.]
Sam, diolch yn fawr iawn. A gaf i, yn gyntaf i gyd, agor trwy fynegi fy niolch am eich cefnogaeth chi i'r gwaith a wnaethom ni dros gyfnod maith o amser erbyn hyn, mewn gwirionedd, i'n gyrru ni hyd at fod yn genedl sy'n wirioneddol flaenllaw yn fyd-eang o ran ailgylchu ac ailddefnyddio? Mae gennym ni fwy i'w wneud, ac rwy'n nodi yn eich sylwadau wrth gloi nawr i chi ddweud ei bod hi'n rhaid i ni anelu yn uwch, ond, mewn gwirionedd, roedd y tri phwynt o sylwedd y gwnaethoch chi eu codi i gyd yn fy annog i arafu a pheidio â dal ati gyda'r uchelgais hwn a'r llwybr hwn yr ydym ni arno sydd wedi gwneud i ni gyrraedd y sefyllfa flaenllaw hon yn fyd-eang. Felly, gadewch i mi ymdrin â'r tri mater hyn yn uniongyrchol.
O ran ailgylchu yn y gweithle, rydym ni wedi gweithio dros gyfnod estynedig o sawl blwyddyn cyn cyflwyno hyn gyda'r sectorau i gyd yr effeithir arnyn nhw. Mae llawer o'r sectorau hynny eu hunain wedi darparu'r enghreifftiau o'r ffordd briodol o gyflwyno hyn, boed hynny ynglŷn â lletygarwch, manwerthu, gwersylla, carafanio neu deithio, ac ati. Mae hyn i gyd ar gael, gyda llaw, ar-lein. Maen nhw ar gael hefyd gyda chymorth gan awdurdodau lleol ac oddi wrth WRAP. Yr hyn a sylwais i yw, Dirprwy Lywydd, er bod rhai unigolion, yn wir, gan gynnwys rhai yn fy etholaeth i fy hun, wedi ceisio cael cyngor ychwanegol, bod y cyngor hwnnw ar gael. Rwyf wedi cyfeirio'r Aelodau o'r blaen at y cyngor da iawn, gan gynnwys cyngor, gyda llaw, mewn fformatau hawdd eu deall, megis 'Dyma enghreifftiau da o sut mae hyn yn gweithio yn ei le gwreiddiol gyda phobl sy'n ei gyflawni'.
Fe sylwais i, Dirprwy Lywydd, mewn gwirionedd, yn y sectorau hynny, gymaint sydd wedi ein hannog ni i fynd ar y trywydd hwn, ond ychydig iawn o anghydweld sydd wedi bod hefyd. Pan aethom ni drwy hyn gydag ailgylchu cartrefi ac ailgylchu ar garreg y drws, mae pob awdurdod lleol, er y bu ambell i eithriad annisgwyl, bob amser wedi mynd trwy anhawster ac amseroedd heriol, ond mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd gwaith y partneriaid hynny sydd ar gael, gan gynnwys yn y sector busnes, mae hyn wedi mynd yn arbennig o dda, er bod unigolion, ac fe fyddwn i'n eu cyfeirio at y ffynonellau hynny sydd gennym ni ar waith eisoes ac yn annog Aelodau i wneud hynny. Dyna un o'r materion yr ydych chi'n ein hannog i'w arafu; fe fyddwn innau'n dweud, mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn sydd angen i ni ei wneud yw gweithio gyda'r sectorau, gweithio gyda busnesau ar lawr gwlad a bwrw iddi. Ac mae hi wedi cymryd sawl blwyddyn i gyrraedd y pwynt hwn, gyda llaw; ni ddaeth hynny dros nos.
Yn ail, o ran sir Ddinbych, dro ar ôl tro, fe welwn ni Aelodau Ceidwadol yn codi ar eu traed i ddweud y drefn wrth sir Ddinbych. Gadewch i mi nodi mai mynd drwy'r cyfnod pontio hwn y mae sir Ddinbych, ac mae hi'n anodd. Mae'r cyngor wedi trawsnewid ei wasanaeth ailgylchu a gwastraff o fod yn wasanaeth gwastraff ailgylchadwy cymysg—ac rwy'n amau mai hwnnw yw'r dull y mae rhai Aelodau ar y meinciau hynny yn eu hannog i fynd yn ôl ato—nad yw'n gwahanu'r deunyddiau y byddem ni'n eu defnyddio wedyn ar gyfer ailddefnyddio ac ailgylchu mewn modd priodol, a chasgliad ysbwriel bob pythefnos, at wasanaeth a wahenir yn y ffynhonnell sy'n cydymffurfio â'r glasbrint a chasgliad ysbwriel bob pedair wythnos, ac fe wnaethon nhw gyflwyno hwn ar y 3 o fis Mehefin. Dim ond megis dechrau y maen nhw, ac yn hytrach na dweud y drefn, rydym ni'n ceisio gweithio gyda'r awdurdod lleol, trwy gefnogaeth ein cynghorwyr arbenigol, WRAP Cymru, gan weithio gyda Chyngor Sir Ddinbych i ddatrys y problemau cynnar. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau â'r gefnogaeth honno hyd nes y bydd y sefyllfa wedi'i datrys.
Dim ond er diddordeb, mae adroddiadau diweddar yn dangos canran uchel o rowndiau yn cael eu cwblhau yn briodol. Ond mae yna drigolion sydd wedi gweld problemau ac wedi mynegi eu rhwystredigaethau, gyda cholli casgliadau, ac ati—mae angen ymdrin â hynny. Ond gadewch i mi ddweud, nid yw hi'n anghyffredin i newidiadau i wasanaethau arwain at broblemau wrth i system newydd ymwreiddio ac wrth i'r staff sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth a deiliaid tai ddod i arfer â ffordd newydd o weithio. Rydym ni wedi gweld hyn mewn awdurdodau lleol eraill ac mae llawer o Aelodau yn debyg o fod yn gyfarwydd â hynny. Ond os ydych chi'n uchelgeisiol iawn, mae angen i chi weithio drwy'r problemau hyn a chyrraedd y lan ar yr ochr arall iddyn nhw, heb danseilio hyn trwy'r amser wrth ymosod arno a dweud, 'Gadewch i ni fynd yn ein holau'.
O ran y trydydd mater sef y cynllun dychwelyd ernes, roedd hi'n siomedig clywed hynny, Sam, oddi wrthych chi, a safbwynt y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. Ydy, mae Cymru eisoes yn genedl sy'n gwneud yn dda dros ben o ran ailgylchu—rydym ni'n ail drwy'r byd—ond wrth gyflwyno cynlluniau dychwelyd ernes i Gymru, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ymwybodol ei bod ni'n sicrhau buddion amlwg i Gymru. Felly, yn unol â'n hymrwymiad ni i'r strategaeth economi gylchol, 'Mwy nag Ailgylchu', yr oeddech chi'n ei chanmol hi gynnau fach, mae cynllun dychwelyd ernes sy'n cynnwys poteli gwydr yn gyson â'n hymgynghoriad cydweithredol â Llywodraeth y DU. Ac rwy'n eich atgoffa chi, Sam, ddwy flynedd yn ôl pan gynhaliwyd yr ymgynghoriad gwirioneddol ledled y DU, fod ymgynghoriad hwnnw ar sail gwydr—[Torri ar draws.]
I would expect the Cabinet Secretary to be given the opportunity to give the answer without being interrupted all the time.
Fe fyddwn i wedi disgwyl i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet gael cyfle i ateb heb i rywun dorri ar ei draws drwy'r amser.
I don't mind, Dirprwy Lywydd.
'Does dim ots gennyf i, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Well, I do.
Wel, mae ots gennyf i.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. That consultation was on the basis of glass all in. It was the UK Conservative Government at that time that changed their mind. And we have to ask why, because all the evidence, not only in terms of litter and recycling, but zero-carbon transition, says that glass reuse, as well as recycling, must be part of it. Sam, go back and ask where the evidence takes you. But we are working with the UK Government. Just to say, there are many, many successful international examples of DRS, Sam, and the vast majority include glass as standard. In order for DRS to be effective in Wales, it's vital that the scheme we introduce aligns with our ambitions and the lessons learnt from best practice internationally.
So, it's sad to see that, with your opening remarks, you praised where we'd got to and said that we must aim higher, and then chose, on three specific examples, to say, 'Go slower or reverse'. Well, sorry, leadership in Government is about picking the targets that you need to go for for the good of our communities and also for the good of the planet, and then sticking with them. That's what leadership is all about.
Diolch i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd. Roedd yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw ar sail yr holl wydr a ddaw i mewn. Y Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn y DU ar y pryd a newidiodd ei meddwl. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni ofyn pam hynny, oherwydd mae'r holl dystiolaeth, nid yn unig o ran sbwriel ac ailgylchu, ond y pontio at ddi-garbon, yn dangos ei bod hi'n rhaid ailddefnyddio gwydr, yn ogystal ag ailgylchu, fod yn rhan o hyn. Sam, ewch yn eich ôl a gofynnwch i ble y mae'r dystiolaeth yn mynd â chi. Ond rydym ni'n gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Dim ond i ddweud, mae yna lu o enghreifftiau rhyngwladol llwyddiannus o Gynlluniau Dychwelyd Ernes, Sam, ac mae'r mwyafrif helaeth yn cynnwys gwydr yn gyffredinol. Er mwyn i'r Cynllun Dychwelyd Ernes fod yn effeithiol yng Nghymru, fe fydd hi'n hanfodol i'r cynllun a gyflwynwn ni gyd-fynd â'n huchelgeisiau a'r gwersi a ddysgwyd o arfer gorau yn rhyngwladol.
Felly, mae hi'n drist meddwl eich bod chi, yn eich sylwadau agoriadol, wedi canmol ein cynnydd ni hyd yn hyn a dweud ei bod hi'n rhaid i ni anelu yn uwch, a dewis mynegi wedyn, gyda thair enghraifft benodol, 'Fe ddylech chi arafu neu droi yn eich olau'. Wel, mae'n ddrwg gen i ddweud, ystyr arweinyddiaeth mewn Llywodraeth yw dewis y nodau y mae'n rhaid ichi gyflymu tuag atyn nhw er mwyn ein cymunedau ac er mwyn y blaned hefyd, a glynu wrthyn nhw wedyn. Dyna yw hanfod arweinyddiaeth.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am y datganiad hwn heddiw. Dwi yn ei groesawu fe. Mae Cymru wedi arwain y ffordd yn rhyngwladol gydag ailgylchu, a dwi'n meddwl bod yn rhaid cydnabod hynny. Gallwn ni deimlo balchder yn y ffaith ein bod ni'n ail yn y byd. Mae diolch, felly, i'r cydweithio sydd wedi bod rhwng llywodraeth leol, Llywodraethau cenedlaethol a phobl Cymru am hynny.
Ond ni ellir anwybyddu’r ffaith, ychwaith, fod y cynnydd hwnnw wedi arafu. Mae cyfraddau ailgylchu wedi aros yn yr unfan, bron, ac mae gwahaniaethau mawr rhwng llywodraethau lleol gwahanol. Tra bo rhai wedi mynd ymhellach na’r targed 70 y cant o flaen amser, mae eraill wedi stryglan i gyrraedd hyd yn oed y targed presennol o 64 y cant. Felly, beth fyddwch chi’n ei wneud i gynorthwyo’r cynghorau hynny sy’n stryglan? Pam mae yna dal rhai cynghorau sydd heb fabwysiadu’r glasbrint casgliadau? Beth all gael ei wneud i’w helpu nhw? Mae dal lot gormod o bethau sy’n gallu cael eu hailgylchu ond sydd, yn lle, yn bennu lan yn y ffrwd wastraff, fel sydd wedi cael ei grybwyll, gan gynnwys chwarter gwastraff bwyd. Sut fyddwch chi’n mynd ati i wella hynny, yn enwedig gyda gwastraff bwyd busnesau?
Ac i droi at yr economi crwn ehangach, os mai dyna yw circular economy, rhaid inni fabwysiadu egwyddorion osgoi gwastraff, trwsio ac ail-ddefnyddio. Mae mentrau fel Repair Cafe Wales a Benthyg Cymru yn esiamplau ardderchog o’r rhain. Maen nhw’n tueddu i ddibynnu ar grantiau tymor byr. Felly, pa gefnogaeth ariannol hirdymor fydd ar gael iddynt i sicrhau bod mentrau pwysig o’r fath yn gynaliadwy?
Rŷn ni wedi clywed yn barod, wrth gwrs, am y DRS. Mae hwn yn fater o gonsérn. Mae oedi wedi bod, sydd wedi arwain, efallai, at 647 miliwn o boteli PET, 332 miliwn o ganiau, a 61 miliwn o foteli gwydr yn cael eu claddu, eu llosgi, neu eu troi’n sbwriel. Mae’n amlwg—mae wedi cael ei grybwyll yn barod—fod Deddf marchnad fewnol wedi chwarae rhan yn yr oedi. Ond, o ystyried y newid Llywodraeth yn San Steffan, a fyddem ni'n gallu disgwyl amserlen fwy uchelgeisiol i gyflwyno’r DRS yma? Rwy’n gwybod—eto, mae hyn wedi cael ei grybwyll—fod gan fusnesau lleol bryderon. Mae hynny’n ddealladwy. Ond dwi’n cytuno gyda chi bod angen inni gefnogi’r newid yma i ddigwydd. Felly, a fyddwch chi’n sicrhau, nid yn unig pan fydd y DRS yn cael ei gyflwyno ond cyn hynny hefyd, ei fod e'n digwydd mewn ffordd sy’n cefnogi busnesau bach i gynllunio o flaen amser?
Ac yn olaf, hoffwn i bwysleisio’r angen i ffocysu nawr mwy a mwy ar leihau gwastraff. Rhaid i’r newid hwn ddigwydd law yn llaw gyda pholisïau megis right to repair, efallai lleihau VAT ar nwyddau ail law, a mwy o gefnogaeth i fusnesau sy’n gweithio gyda’r ethos hwnnw. Felly, beth fyddwch chi’n ei wneud i ddechrau sgwrs genedlaethol am hyn oll—am yr angen i newid ein harferion ni o fyw, ein harferion consumption ni? A fyddwch chi’n cyflwyno targedau clir o ran trwsio ac ail-ddefnyddio? Diolch.
Thank you to the Cabinet Secretary for today's statement. I welcome the statement. Wales has led the way internationally on recycling, and I think that that must be acknowledged. We can take pride in the fact that we are ranked second in the world. The thanks for this are due to the collaboration between local government, national Governments and the people of Wales.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that this progress has slowed. Recycling rates have broadly remained static, and there are major differences between different local authorities. While some have gone further than the 70 per cent target ahead of schedule, others have struggled to hit even the current target of 64 per cent. So, what will you do to support those councils that are struggling? Why are there still some councils that haven’t adopted the collections blueprint? What can be done to help them? Far too many materials that could be recycled end up in the waste stream, as has been mentioned, including a quarter of food waste. How will you improve this situation, particularly when it comes to food waste from businesses?
Turning to the wider circular economy—I believe that 'economi crwn' is 'circular economy' in Welsh—we must adopt the principles of avoiding waste, and then repair and reuse. Initiatives like Repair Cafe Wales and Benthyg Cymru are excellent examples in this regard. However, they do tend to depend on short-term grants. So, what longer term financial support will be available to ensure that such important initiatives are sustainable?
We've heard already, of course, about the DRS. It is a cause for concern. There has been delay, which has, perhaps, led to 647 million PET bottles, 332 million cans and 61 million glass bottles being sent to landfill, burned or thrown away as litter. It's clear—it's has already been mentioned—that the internal market Act has played a part in this delay. But, bearing in mind the change of Government at Westminster, can we expect a more ambitious timetable for the introduction of DRS here? I realise—again, this has already been mentioned—that local businesses will have concerns. That's understandable. But I agree with you that we need to support this change. So, will you ensure, not just when the DRS is introduced but before it is introduced, that it is done in way that supports small businesses to plan ahead?
And finally, I’d like to emphasise the need to focus now more and more on producing less and less waste. This shift must happen hand in hand with policies such as the right to repair, perhaps reducing VAT on second-hand goods, and greater support for businesses who operate according to this ethos. So, what will you be doing to start a national conversation about all of these issues, and about the need to change our habits, our consumption habits? Will you be introducing clear targets in terms of repair and reuse? Thank you.
Delyth, diolch yn fawr iawn. A heddiw, shwmae, Delyth.
Delyth, thank you very much. Today, shwmae, Delyth.
Shwmae.
Shwmae.
Shwmae. Can I first of all join with you in congratulating the people of Wales? We talk about third sector partners, local authorities, the business community as well. But, actually, it’s the people of Wales as well who've done the heavy lifting on this and got us to the good place that we are in, and will take us further as well.
You mentioned the differences between the local authorities. They are there, but what we do is very careful mapping of the progress that individual local authorities have made—including, by the way, Denbighshire as well. But whether it’s Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent or Bridgend or whoever, we have very close engagement at official and also at ministerial level as well. We put in place the guidance and the support and the incentives and, occasionally, the penalties for not achieving the targets that we are all obliged to achieve—all, collectively, obliged to work towards. But that does mean being supportive. It means working with them. Some of these local authorities came from a very different place from the neighbouring authority. They didn’t have the infrastructure in place to do the recycling and reuse that we're asking them to do. So, Welsh Government grants play a role in that as well, and we do that.
But, even though they're in a different place, and not every local authority is quite at the level that we want, we will keep on. There’s my commitment: we will keep on working with them, incentivising, encouraging, providing the ways in which that this can be done with our small but expert team of people that we have as well, and trying to avoid, where we can, resorting to penalising them for not getting there, and instead pushing them along the way, although there are penalties in place as well if they need to be used.
You mentioned the important aspect of food waste, and I’m really pleased to say that it’s this week—actually, yesterday—that we've launched the Be Mighty campaign. We often say that we may be a small nation, but I say we are mighty in what we can do in leadership on this. Most of us know that food waste goes in the food waste caddy; the fact is now that a quarter of our rubbish bins are still made up of food, which carries environmental and cost impacts for households. They're wasting money, but it's also going to places that it shouldn't be going, because we should be using the food more effectively, and recycling it where we can't. The latest food waste report from WRAP Cymru found the average household throws away nearly £50 a month—£50 a month—in waste, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. That's what we're throwing away. Eighty per cent of the food found in the rubbish bin could have been eaten, and the rest—things like inedible banana skins, eggshells and such like—could have been recycled in other ways. Every local authority now, I'm proud to say, provides a food waste service. There are increasing participation rates. It's one the easiest ways to further improve recycling, and we've got direct support with local authorities now, and we're aiming to reach that 70 per cent by tackling this part of the waste as well. And the Be Mighty campaign, the focus of that Be Mighty campaign, launched yesterday, is on changing the way people consume and dispose of food, so it never ends up in the rubbish, by focusing on not throwing away food that can be eaten, and recycling what can't be eaten.
You touched as well on the important issue of reuse and repair. There's a whole circular economy piece here. We know that the repair of items keeps them in use for longer, and that, again, when everybody's faced with the cost-of-living crisis, is important. We're relearning old lessons from the past in a modern environment, so we can provide high quality, low-cost reused furniture and fittings, domestic appliances, sports equipment, cloth nappies, school uniforms. We're seeing so much more now being reused and recycled. Borrowing household tools through Benthyg—I borrowed a jet washer the other day from the Newport Benthyg, because mine is broken. Do I go out and spend—I don't know what it is—£100, £150? I didn't. I went in and paid a couple of quid to actually borrow one of these. We've got these shops now right across communities in Wales. So, these are examples of how we can do it.
And on DRS, which you mentioned, yes, we will indeed work with small businesses. As we are working with the UK Government on the overall roll-out of a four-nation approach to DRS, we hold fast to our long-held position, based on the evidence, of actually going forward with DRS with glass as well. But, in so doing, we will work very closely—. And we have, by the way, met frequently now with a range of businesses in different parts of the supply chain, including those small businesses, to make sure we don't have unintended consequences, and we will work intensely with them to do it.
The other part of that, of course, which you mentioned, is about reducing waste at source, and that's where the extended producer responsibility piece comes into it, actually putting the polluter-pays principle into operation, so that those people who produce the waste right at the front end are incentivised to cut down on waste, and, where the waste is produced, we actually pass on the funds to local authorities to do more in that space of collecting it, reusing it, recycling. But thank you for your consistent support as well. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Shwmae. A gaf i ymuno â chi i longyfarch pobl Cymru, yn gyntaf i gyd? Rydym ni'n siarad am bartneriaid y trydydd sector, yr awdurdodau lleol, a'r gymuned fusnes hefyd. Ond, mewn gwirionedd, pobl Cymru sydd wedi gwneud y gwaith trwm yn hyn o beth hefyd a dyna sydd wedi dod â ni i'r sefyllfa fanteisiol hon yr ydym ni ynddi nawr, ac a fydd yn mynd â ni ymhellach hefyd.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y gwahaniaethau rhwng yr awdurdodau lleol. Maen nhw yno, ond yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yw mapio'r cynnydd a wnaeth yr awdurdodau lleol unigol yn ofalus iawn—gan gynnwys, gyda llaw, sir Ddinbych hefyd. Ond os byddwn ni'n sôn am Gaerffili, Blaenau Gwent neu Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr neu rywle arall, rydym ni'n ymgysylltu yn agos iawn ar lefelau swyddogol a gweinidogol hefyd. Fe wnaethom ni roi'r canllawiau a'r gefnogaeth a'r cymhellion ar waith ac, o bryd i'w gilydd, fe wnaethom ni bennu cosbau am beidio â chyflawni'r nodau y mae'n rhaid i bob un ohonom ni eu cyflawni—i gyd, gyda'n gilydd, y mae rheidrwydd arnom ni i weithio tuag atyn nhw. Ond mae hynny'n golygu rhoi cefnogaeth. Mae'n golygu gweithio gyda nhw. Roedd rhai o'r awdurdodau lleol hyn yn dod o sefyllfa wahanol iawn i'r sefyllfa mewn awdurdod cyfagos. Nid oedd y seilwaith ganddyn nhw ar waith i gyflawni'r ailgylchu a'r ailddefnyddio y gwnaethom ni ofyn iddyn nhw ei gyflawni. Felly, mae grantiau Llywodraeth Cymru â rhan yn hyn hefyd, ac rydym ni'n cyflawni hynny.
Ond, er eu bod nhw mewn sefyllfaoedd gwahanol i'w gilydd, ac er nad yw pob awdurdod lleol wedi cyrraedd y gyfradd yr ydym ni'n awyddus i'w chyrraedd, fe fyddwn ni'n dal ati. Dyma fy ymrwymiad i: fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i weithio gyda nhw, gan gymell, annog, a darparu'r ffyrdd y gellir gwneud hyn ynddyn nhw gyda'n tîm bychan ond arbenigol ni o bobl hefyd, a cheisio osgoi, pryd y bo hynny'n bosibl, eu cosbi nhw am beidio â chyrraedd eu nodau ond ceisio eu gwthio nhw ymlaen ar hyd y ffordd, yn hytrach na hynny, er y bydd cosbau ar waith hefyd pe byddai angen eu defnyddio nhw.
Roeddech chi'n sôn am agwedd bwysig gwastraff bwyd, ac rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud mai'r wythnos hon—ddoe, mewn gwirionedd—y gwnaethom ni lansio ymgyrch Bydd Wych. Fe fyddwn ni'n dweud yn aml mai cenedl fechan ydym ni, ond rwyf i'n dweud y gallwn ni fod yn wych o ran yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud gydag arweinyddiaeth yn hyn o beth. Mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonom yn gwybod bod gwastraff bwyd i'w roi yn y cadi gwastraff bwyd; y gwir amdani nawr yw bod chwarter ein biniau sbwriel ni'n cynnwys bwyd, sydd ag effeithiau amgylcheddol ac yn costio arian i aelwydydd. Maen nhw'n gwastraffu eu harian, ond mae'r gwastraff yn mynd i leoedd na ddylai fod yn mynd iddyn nhw hefyd, oherwydd fe ddylem ni fod yn defnyddio'r bwyd yn fwy effeithiol, a'i ailgylchu pan na allwn ni wneud felly. Roedd yr adroddiad gwastraff bwyd diweddaraf gan WRAP Cymru yn canfod bod yr aelwyd gyffredin yn taflu bron i £50 y mis—£50 y mis—o wastraff, yng nghanol argyfwng costau byw. Dyna'r swm yr ydym ni'n ei daflu i'r sbwriel. Fe allai 80 y cant o'r bwyd sy'n mynd i'r bin sbwriel fod wedi cael ei fwyta, ac fe allai'r gweddill—pethau fel crwyn banana anfwytadwy, plisgyn wyau a phethau tebyg—fod wedi cael eu hailgylchu mewn ffyrdd eraill. Mae pob awdurdod lleol nawr, rwy'n falch o ddweud, yn darparu gwasanaeth gwastraff bwyd. Fe geir cyfraddau cynyddol o gyfranogiad. Mae hon yn un o'r ffyrdd rhwyddaf o wella ailgylchu ymhellach, ac mae gennym gefnogaeth uniongyrchol gydag awdurdodau lleol nawr, ac rydym ni'n anelu at gyrraedd 70 y cant drwy fynd i'r afael â'r math hwn o wastraff hefyd. Ac mae'r ymgyrch Bydd Wych, hanfod ymgyrch Bydd Wych, a gafodd ei lansio ddoe, yw newid y ffordd y mae pobl yn bwyta ac yn cael gwared ar fwyd, fel nad yw byth yn cael ei daflu yn y sbwriel, trwy ganolbwyntio ar beidio â thaflu bwyd y gellir ei fwyta ac ailgylchu'r hyn na ellir ei fwyta.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am fater pwysig o ailddefnyddio ac atgyweirio hefyd. Fe geir mater cyfan yma ynglŷn â'r economi gylchol. Fe wyddom ni fod atgyweirio eitemau yn eu cadw nhw mewn defnydd am fwy o amser, ac unwaith eto, pan fydd pawb yn wynebu'r argyfwng costau byw, mae hynny'n bwysig. Rydym ni'n ailddysgu hen wersi o'r gorffennol yn yr amgylchedd modern, ar gyfer gallu darparu dodrefn a ffitiadau o ansawdd uchel i'w hailddefnyddio, ar gost isel, offer i'r tŷ, cyfarpar chwaraeon, clytiau brethyn, gwisgoedd ysgol. Fe welwn ni gymaint yn rhagor yn cael eu hailddefnyddio a'u hailgylchu. Fel benthyca offer cartref trwy Benthyg—fe gefais i fenthyg golchwr jet y diwrnod o'r blaen gan Benthyg Casnewydd, am fod fy un i wedi torri. A af i allan a gwario—nid wyf i'n gwybod faint—£100, £150? 'Wnes i ddim. Fe es i mewn yno a thalu cwpl o bunnau i fenthyg un o'r rhain mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r siopau hyn gennym ni ar draws cymunedau yng Nghymru erbyn hyn. Felly, mae'r rhain yn enghreifftiau o sut y gallwn ni wneud hyn.
Ac o ran cynlluniau dychwelyd ernes, y gwnaethoch eu crybwyll, byddwn, fe fyddwn ni'n siŵr o fod yn gweithio gyda busnesau bach. Gan ein bod ni'n gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar gyflwyno dull pedair gwlad o ymdrin â chynlluniau dychwelyd ernes yn gyffredinol, rydym yn dal yn gadarn at ein safbwynt hirsefydlog, ar sail y dystiolaeth, o symud ymlaen mewn gwirionedd gyda chynllun dychwelyd ernes ar gyfer gwydr hefyd. Ond, wrth wneud hynny, fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio yn agos iawn—. Ac rydym ni, gyda llaw, wedi bod yn cyfarfod yn gyson nawr ag amrywiaeth o fusnesau mewn gwahanol rannau o'r gadwyn gyflenwi, gan gynnwys y busnesau bach hynny, i sicrhau nad ydym ni'n gweld canlyniadau anfwriadol, ac fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio yn ddyfal gyda nhw ar gyfer cyflawni hynny.
Mae'r agwedd arall ar hynny, wrth gwrs, fel roeddech chi'n sôn, yn ymwneud â lleihau gwastraff yn y ffynhonnell, a dyna pryd mae'r mater ynglŷn â chyfrifoldeb estynedig y cynhyrchwyr yn dod i'r golwg, sef rhoi'r egwyddor ar waith mai'r llygrwr sydd i dalu, fel bydd y bobl hynny sy'n cynhyrchu'r gwastraff ar ddechrau'r daith yn cael eu cymell i dorri i lawr ar wastraff, ac yn lle bynnag y mae'r gwastraff yn cael ei gynhyrchu, mewn gwirionedd, rydym ni'n trosglwyddo'r arian i awdurdodau lleol i wneud mwy ynglŷn â'r gwastraff fel ei gasglu, ei ailddefnyddio, ei ailgylchu. Ond diolch i chi am eich cefnogaeth gyson hefyd. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
This really is a good news story. I think it started with the 5p carrier bag charge, and then moved into kerbside-sorted recycling, and it made us as residents think about the climate and feel that we're all doing our bit as well. I think we need to promote that 80 per cent of material collected is now sorted and reused here in Wales, and the announcement about Eren Holding, the £1 billion investment, and also 400 really good unionised jobs as well—so, it's retaining the existing and creating more jobs—and that they themselves are going to be using anaerobic digestion as part of their energy scheme is really good.
The biggest issue, I think, with getting those figures up for municipal waste is the food. I'm glad there's a campaign coming out this week, Be Mighty. It's not just food waste—mine's full of peelings; peelings, eggshells, tea bags. But part of that, I think, is to actually say that it goes to a regional anaerobic digester and is made into electricity and then liquid fertiliser, and that was a collaboration between Welsh Government and local authorities many years ago as part of this process. So, that's part of the promotion as well.
Mae'r newyddion yn wirioneddol dda yn hyn o beth. Rwy'n credu i hyn ddechrau gyda'r tâl o 5c am fagiau siopa, a mynd ymlaen wedyn at ailgylchu a ddidolwyd ar fin y ffordd, ac fe wnaeth hynny i ni'r trigolion ystyried yr hinsawdd a theimlo ein bod ni i gyd yn gwneud ein rhan hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni hyrwyddo'r ffaith fod 80 y cant o'r deunydd a gesglir bellach yn cael ei ddidoli a'i ailddefnyddio yma yng Nghymru, ac mae'r cyhoeddiad am Eren Holding, y buddsoddiad o £1 biliwn, a'r 400 o swyddi da iawn hefyd gydag undebau llafur—felly, ystyr hyn yw cadw swyddi presennol a chreu mwy o swyddi—mae'r ffaith eu bod nhw eu hunain am fod yn defnyddio treulio anaerobig yn rhan o'u cynllun ynni nhw yn beth da iawn.
Y mater mwyaf, yn fy marn i, o ran codi'r cyfraddau hynny o ran gwastraff trefol yw gwastraff bwyd. Rwy'n falch fod ymgyrch yn cael ei lansio'r wythnos hon, Bydd Wych. Nid gwastraff bwyd yn unig mohono—mae fy sbarion i'n llawn crwyn; pilion, plisg wyau, bagiau te. Ond rhan o hynny, rwy'n credu, yw mynegi mewn gwirionedd ei fod yn mynd i'w dreulio yn anaerobig yn y rhanbarth a'i fod yn cynhyrchu trydan a gwrtaith hylifol wedyn, a chydweithio rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol flynyddoedd lawer yn ôl yn rhan o'r broses hon oedd hwnnw. Felly, mae hynny'n rhan o'r hyrwyddo hefyd.
Carolyn, thank you very much indeed. It's such an important point. We keep on looking—. We have traditionally—we don't anymore in Wales—looked at waste as an unfortunate byproduct that goes somewhere and disappears, but actually it's a valuable commodity if we use it in the right way. So, just to touch on the food waste, which I'm glad to see you've raised there, in ‘Beyond Recycling’ our approach is we are setting targets to reduce avoidable food waste by 50 per cent by 2025, 60 per cent by 2030, compared to the 2007 baseline. This is high ambition again. Despite what we've heard a little bit earlier within this Chamber, from one part of the Chamber, we have high ambition; we'll keep on going on this and working with the public in order to get to that point. WRAP is currently estimating that food waste makes up almost half of the—. WRAP estimates that food waste currently makes up almost half of the total waste in Wales, according to the Wales baseline report. Their road map in 2023, which they published, identified manufacturing and household food waste as the priority areas to reach the target, so that's why we're focusing on reducing household food waste through campaigns like Be Mighty. And please, Members, go on the website and then share it widely so people can see. Because it's got good advice there on how to actually deal with household food waste, but also support for businesses to reduce waste in the supply chain, and that involves then organisations such as Farming Connect, Business Wales, Fair Share Cymru and others. So, it's a really cross-government and cross-sectoral approach to tackling food waste.
Carolyn, diolch yn fawr iawn i chi. Mae hwnnw'n bwynt mor bwysig. Rydym ni'n dal ati i edrych—. Yn draddodiadol rydym—nid ydym ni'n gwneud hynny yng Nghymru mwyach—wedi ystyried gwastraff yn sgil-gynnyrch anffodus sy'n mynd i rywle ac yn diflannu o'r golwg, ond mewn gwirionedd mae'n adnodd gwerthfawr os ydym ni'n ei ddefnyddio yn y ffordd gywir. Felly, i ddweud gair bach am wastraff bwyd, yr wyf i'n falch eich bod wedi chi wedi ei godi nawr, yn 'Mwy nag Ailgylchu' ein dull ni o weithredu yw ein bod ni'n pennu nodau ar gyfer lleihau gwastraff bwyd y gellir ei osgoi 50 y cant erbyn 2025, 60 y cant erbyn 2030, o gymharu â llinell sylfaen 2007. Mae hwn yn uchelgais mawr unwaith eto. Er gwaethaf yr hyn a glywsom ni ychydig yn gynharach yn y Siambr hon, o un rhan o'r Siambr, mae uchelgais mawr gennym ni; fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i wneud hyn a gweithio gyda'r cyhoedd i gyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw. Mae WRAP yn amcangyfrif bod gwastraff bwyd yn cyfrif am bron i hanner y rhain ar hyn o bryd—. Mae WRAP yn amcangyfrif mai gwastraff bwyd yw bron i hanner cyfanswm y gwastraff yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, yn ôl adroddiad llinell sylfaen Cymru. Roedd eu map ffordd, a gyhoeddwyd ganddyn nhw yn 2023, yn nodi mai gweithgynhyrchu a gwastraff bwyd cartref yw'r meysydd blaenoriaeth o ran cyrraedd y nod, felly dyna pam rydym ni'n canolbwyntio ar leihau gwastraff bwyd cartref trwy ymgyrchoedd fel Bydd Wych. Ac os gwelwch chi'n dda, Aelodau, ewch ar y wefan a rhannu hynny'n eang wedyn er mwyn i bobl gael gweld. Oherwydd mae cyngor da ar gael yno ynglŷn â sut i drin gwastraff bwyd o'r cartref, ond mae cefnogaeth i fusnesau yno hefyd ar gyfer lleihau gwastraff yn y gadwyn gyflenwi, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys sefydliadau fel Cyswllt Ffermio, Busnes Cymru, Fair Share Cymru ac eraill. Felly, mae hwn yn ddull trawslywodraethol a thraws-sectoraidd iawn o fynd i'r afael â gwastraff bwyd.
Ac yn olaf, Jenny Rathbone.
And finally, Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you. I agree with Carolyn Thomas: this really is a good-news story, and I was delighted to have a quick look at what Benthyg Cymru was offering in my area, just being intrigued, and I was really heartened to see that you can rent an eight-person tent for £10 a week and a sleeping bag for £2 a week, which means that people who absolutely can't afford to take a holiday staying in a hotel or a B&B can get the equipment needed to experience the wonders of going camping in the summer.
I just want to come back to something that was raised by Delyth Jewell, which is around these local authorities who are struggling to achieve the 70 per cent recycling rate, because it's a conversation I've had in different parts of the country in the last few months, and I think the most overwhelming argument is that if you don't recycle—separate your waste on the doorstep—you get contaminated mixed waste, which local authorities have to pay to dispose of, and instead you get this wonderful separated waste that you can sell. Now, the difficulty is that, actually explaining that to people, it's difficult. Councils are coy about revealing exactly how much they can get for unadulterated glass, metals—
Diolch i chi. Rwy'n cytuno â Carolyn Thomas: mae'r newyddion yn wirioneddol dda ynglŷn â hyn, ac roeddwn i wrth fy modd pan gefais i gipolwg ar yr hyn yr oedd Benthyg Cymru yn ei gynnig yn fy ardal i, dim ond i fod yn chwilfrydig, ac roeddwn i wedi fy nghalonogi o weld y gallwch chi rentu pabell ar gyfer wyth o unigolion am £10 yr wythnos a sach gysgu am £2 yr wythnos, sy'n golygu y gall pobl sy'n methu â fforddio aros mewn gwesty neu Wely a Brecwast ar eu gwyliau gael gafael ar y cyfarpar angenrheidiol i gael blas ar ryfeddodau gwersylla yn yr haf.
Fe hoffwn i gyfeirio ychydig bach at rywbeth a gafodd ei godi gan Delyth Jewell, ynglŷn â'r awdurdodau lleol hyn sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cyflawni'r gyfradd ailgylchu o 70 y cant, oherwydd mae honno'n sgwrs a gefais i mewn gwahanol rannau o'r wlad yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf, ac rwy'n credu mai'r ddadl fwyaf ysgubol yw, os nad ydych chi'n ailgylchu—yn gwahanu eich gwastraff wrth garreg y drws—yr hyn a gewch chi yw gwastraff cymysg llygredig, y mae'n rhaid i'r awdurdodau lleol dalu am gael ymwared ag ef, ac yn lle hynny rydych chi'n cael y gwastraff gwych hwn a gafodd ei ddidoli yr ydych chi'n gallu ei werthu. Nawr, mewn gwirionedd, yr anhawster yw bod esbonio hynny i bobl yn beth anodd. Mae'r cynghorau yn swil ynglŷn â datgelu yn union faint y gallan nhw ei gael am wydr heb amhureddau, metelau—
Jenny, you need to ask a question now, please.
Jenny, mae angen i chi ofyn cwestiwn nawr, os gwelwch chi'n dda.
—plastics and paper because of the commercial sensitivities. They want to get the best possible price, they don't want to reveal their hand. So, I feel, in order to really get people to understand why this is so important, perhaps the Government could publish a short paper on what the range of worth of these materials is, so that ordinary people will understand—
—plastigau a phapur oherwydd y sensitifrwydd masnachol. Maen nhw'n dymuno cael y pris gorau posibl, nid ydyn nhw'n dymuno datgelu pa gardiau sydd ganddyn nhw yn eu dwylo. Felly, rwy'n teimlo, er mwyn i bobl ddeall pam mae hyn mor bwysig, efallai y gallai'r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi papur byr ynglŷn â gwerthoedd amrywiol y deunyddiau hyn, fel y bydd pobl gyffredin yn deall—
Thank you, Jenny.
Diolch, Jenny.
—that they are making a proper contribution to their own local authority's income.
—a'u bod nhw'n gwneud cyfraniad gwirioneddol at incwm eu hawdurdod lleol nhw.
Yes, absolutely. Jenny makes such a good point. This is all to do with now and futureproofing. It's savings and resilience for local authorities against what we know is coming if we don't do this, and it's also turning that, then, into jobs and green growth and opportunities, literally jobs in our communities—in Port Talbot, in Blaenau Gwent et cetera. This is what we're talking about, and being early to it as well.
But indeed, since devolution now, this is one of the great success stories of devolution. Welsh Government has invested £1 billion in municipal recycling since devolution—£1 billion. We've put our money where our mouth is and we've worked with people and with business and with local authorities to get this right. We've transformed Wales from a nation that recycled less than 5 per cent of waste to now over 65 per cent, and we're going higher, as long as we have support here across the Chamber. But we'll keep on going for it.
The next target is 70 per cent minimum municipal recycle rate in 2024-25, and the overarching aim of reaching zero waste by 2050. We have got several authorities already reaching over 70 per cent. We'll work with the others. We're saving, Dirprwy Lywydd, over 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every single year from being released into the atmosphere. It’s a key contribution to tackling climate change.
And, just finally, Dirprwy Lywydd, 17 of the 22 local authorities, working with us—working with the support we’ve got—are now blueprint compliant, or in the process of transition into a blueprint-compliant collections profile, where they separate the waste and it’s not contaminated and so on. We’ll continue to work with our local authorities, and with the people of Wales, and with the business sector, to get this right, but we have to do it with the ambition of saving local authorities money, and actually creating green jobs and growth right across Wales.
Ie, yn hollol. Mae Jenny yn gwneud pwynt mor dda. Mae hyn i gyd yn ymwneud â'r pethau sy'n digwydd nawr a pharatoi ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae'n golygu arbedion a chydnerthedd i awdurdodau lleol o gymharu â'r hyn a wyddom ni sy'n dod os na wnawn ni hyn, ac mae'n troi hynny hefyd, wedyn, yn swyddi a thwf a chyfleoedd gwyrdd, swyddi gwirioneddol yn ein cymunedau ni—ym Mhort Talbot, ym Mlaenau Gwent ac ati. Dyma'r hyn yr ydym ni'n sôn amdano, a gwneud hyn rhag blaen hefyd.
Ond yn wir, ers datganoli nawr, dyma un o lwyddiannau mawr datganoli. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi £1 biliwn mewn ailgylchu trefol ers datganoli—£1 biliwn. Rydym ni wedi rhoi ein harian ar ein gair a gweithio gyda phobl a busnesau a'r awdurdodau lleol i wneud hyn yn y ffordd gywir. Rydym ni wedi trawsnewid Cymru o fod yn genedl a oedd yn ailgylchu llai na 5 y cant o wastraff i dros 65 y cant erbyn hyn, ac rydym ni'n cynyddu hynny, cyn belled ag y bydd cefnogaeth gennym ni yma ar draws y Siambr. Ond fe fyddwn yn parhau i fynd amdani.
Y nod nesaf yw cyfradd ailgylchu trefol o 70 y cant yn y man lleiaf yn 2024-25, a'r nod cyffredinol o fod â dim gwastraff o gwbl erbyn 2050. Mae gennym ni nifer o awdurdodau wedi cyrraedd dros 70 y cant eisoes. Fe fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda rhai eraill. Rydym ni'n arbed dros 400,000 tunnell o garbon deuocsid rhag cael ei ollwng i'r awyr bob blwyddyn. Mae hwn yn gyfraniad allweddol at fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd.
Ac, yn olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae 17 o'r 22 awdurdod lleol, gan weithio gyda ni—gan weithio gyda'r gefnogaeth sydd gennym ni—erbyn hyn yn cydymffurfio â'r glasbrint, neu yn y broses o drosglwyddo i broffil casgliadau sy'n cydymffurfio â'r glasbrint, lle maen nhw'n gwahanu'r gwastraff ac nid yw'n llygredig ac ati. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i weithio gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol, a chyda phobl Cymru, a chyda'r sector busnes, i wneud hyn yn iawn, ond mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud gyda'r uchelgais o arbed arian i awdurdodau lleol, a chreu swyddi a thwf gwyrdd ledled Cymru.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio ar ynni a’r economi werdd. A galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i wneud y datganiad. Rebecca Evans.
The next item will be a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning on energy and the green economy. And I call on the Cabinet Secretary to make the statement. Rebecca Evans.
Diolch. Last week, I set out this Government’s approach to economic growth, working in partnership to build on the unique strengths and opportunities that we have in Wales. Today, I want to update the Senedd on the actions we are taking to create green jobs in Wales as we tackle the climate and nature emergency in the transition to a net-zero energy system.
As we work to improve productivity in Wales, I want to focus on creating the right economic conditions for businesses and workers to flourish. A critical component of a sustainable, fast-growing economy is having reliable, affordable and clean sources of energy. As global energy markets were thrown into turmoil following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, all parts of society felt the impact of the UK's over-reliance on fossil fuels and the impact that changes in global energy prices had on households and businesses.
I am very encouraged that the new UK Government has set a new direction for energy policy. We now have a Government in Westminster that is accelerating action to invest in our domestic energy security; a Government that has a new mission for clean power by 2030; and a Government that has a clear strategy for more green jobs and investment across the nation. And Wales has a fundamental part to play in making Britain a clean-energy superpower.
Our policies are explicitly in favour of new renewable energy projects, so we can meet our renewable energy targets to generate enough electricity to meet our own demand. Our targets also underpin our efforts to increase local ownership, so that the benefits of new infrastructure remain in Wales. This model for benefit retention underpins our work to establish Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and Ynni Cymru. Here, Wales is leading the way in establishing public energy companies that will develop projects, retaining the income and value in Wales.
In my statement last week, I set out the importance of working in partnership to deliver prosperity across Wales, and this is also true for energy. Wales is the first part of the UK to have local area energy plans, which have identified investment opportunities for the green economy. And I want to work in partnership with our local authorities and regions to bring forward the investment identified in those plans to deliver growth across all parts of Wales.
I also want to work in partnership with the UK Government. The UK industrial strategy, launched yesterday, set out an ambitious vision for our economy. That strategy identified the role that clean, green industries will have in driving the mission for economic growth. Together with our engagement on the industrial strategy, we have already had positive discussions with the UK Government on working in partnership with Great British Energy to deliver more investment into Wales. We are exploring how, through partnership working with Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and Ynni Cymru, we can bring more investment into Wales to deliver renewable energy projects for our communities.
More widely, we want to accelerate delivery in Wales. I have committed to agreeing a sector deal with the renewable energy industry to ensure that we have the best conditions to support growth. In Wales, we have an onshore development pipeline in excess of 5 GW, and through fixed and floating offshore wind, we have a further pipeline in excess of 18 GW. Through the sector deal, I will be committing to supporting the acceleration of that pipeline, using the levers that we have to overcome barriers. This will include the action that I am leading to accelerate planning decisions to bring greater clarity to the industry, and the action that we are taking to improve the supply of skills through work on the net-zero skills plan.
For their part, I expect the sector to support our ambitions for local ownership and the development of skills and investment in our communities, including the environment. Working with us in making it clear to people how they will benefit is fundamental to communities accepting the changes that we need to see. I am delighted that I will be speaking at Future Energy Wales next month, where I want to continue discussions with the renewable industry on how we agree our sector deal.
I appreciate the challenges that new infrastructure can bring to communities. We have for some years supported a planned approach to the energy system, one that can respond to local needs as well as the climate and nature crises. With the new National Energy System Operator beginning work on a strategic spatial energy plan, it is essential that local views are built into that planning work. I am pleased that the Welsh Government will be on the committee that will oversee the work to develop that plan. Together with our involvement in the development of a regional energy strategic plan announced by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets in recent weeks, Wales can be at the forefront of a more planned approach to a prosperous low-carbon future.
As we scale up renewable energy to meet the mission for clean power, it is essential that we support the economy through the transition. Wales has a proud industrial base, and we must ensure that we support new investment in industry in Wales to build a decarbonised and sustainable future.
In the coming weeks, I will be consulting on the Welsh Government’s policy position on how we can use carbon capture and storage technologies, and how we expect hydrogen investment to be taken forward in Wales. Our vision for the future of industry and energy generation in Wales is one in which sustainable industries are retained in Wales and continue to generate high-quality jobs and other benefits for the communities in which they operate. We want industry to substantially reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and its generation of greenhouse gases. We see a role for targeted implementation of carbon capture and storage technologies, where it will accelerate emissions reduction during the transition away from fossil fuels. Our policy for hydrogen will recognise its potential to contribute to decarbonisation. If sustainably manufactured and deployed, hydrogen can provide one of the few ways to decarbonise some sectors of our economy.
Wales has its place in history using our natural resources to power the industrial revolution, but we now enter a new era where the power we need across our economy and wider society supports a new industrial transformation for our economy and our communities.
Diolch. Yr wythnos diwethaf, nodais ddull gweithredu'r Llywodraeth hon o ran datblygu economaidd, gan weithio mewn partneriaeth i adeiladu ar y cryfderau a'r cyfleoedd unigryw sydd gennym yng Nghymru. Heddiw, rwyf am roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd am y camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i greu swyddi gwyrdd yng Nghymru wrth i ni fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur wrth bontio i system ynni sero net.
Wrth i ni weithio i wella cynhyrchiant yng Nghymru, rwyf eisiau canolbwyntio ar greu'r amodau economaidd cywir er mwyn i fusnesau a gweithwyr ffynnu. Un elfen hanfodol o economi gynaliadwy, sy'n tyfu'n gyflym yw cael ffynonellau ynni dibynadwy, fforddiadwy a glân. Wrth i farchnadoedd ynni byd-eang ddioddef cynnwrf yn dilyn ymosodiad Rwsia ar Wcráin, roedd pob rhan o gymdeithas yn teimlo effaith gorddibyniaeth y DU ar danwydd ffosil a'r effaith a gafodd newidiadau ym mhrisiau ynni byd-eang ar aelwydydd a busnesau.
Rwyf wedi fy nghalonogi'n fawr gan y ffaith bod Llywodraeth newydd y DU wedi gosod cyfeiriad newydd ar gyfer polisi ynni. Bellach mae gennym Lywodraeth yn San Steffan sy'n cyflymu camau i fuddsoddi yn ein diogelwch ynni domestig; Llywodraeth sydd â chenhadaeth newydd ar gyfer pŵer glân erbyn 2030; a Llywodraeth sydd â strategaeth glir ar gyfer mwy o swyddi gwyrdd a buddsoddiad ar draws y genedl. Ac mae gan Gymru ran sylfaenol i'w chwarae wrth wneud Prydain yn uwch-bŵer ynni glân.
Mae ein polisïau o blaid prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy newydd yn benodol, fel y gallwn gyrraedd ein targedau ynni adnewyddadwy i gynhyrchu digon o drydan i ateb ein galw ein hunain. Mae ein targedau hefyd yn sail i'n hymdrechion i gynyddu perchnogaeth leol, fel bod manteision seilwaith newydd yn aros yng Nghymru. Mae'r model hwn ar gyfer cadw buddion yn sail i'n gwaith i sefydlu Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru ac Ynni Cymru. Yma, mae Cymru'n arwain y ffordd o ran sefydlu cwmnïau ynni cyhoeddus a fydd yn datblygu prosiectau, gan gadw'r incwm a'r gwerth yng Nghymru.
Yn fy natganiad yr wythnos diwethaf, nodais bwysigrwydd gweithio mewn partneriaeth i sicrhau ffyniant ledled Cymru, ac mae hyn hefyd yn wir am ynni. Cymru yw'r rhan gyntaf o'r DU i gael cynlluniau ynni ardal leol, sydd wedi nodi cyfleoedd buddsoddi ar gyfer yr economi werdd. Ac rwyf eisiau gweithio mewn partneriaeth â'n hawdurdodau a'n rhanbarthau lleol i gyflwyno'r buddsoddiad a nodwyd yn y cynlluniau hynny i sicrhau twf ar draws pob rhan o Gymru.
Rwyf hefyd eisiau gweithio mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth y DU. Mae strategaeth ddiwydiannol y DU, a lansiwyd ddoe, yn nodi gweledigaeth uchelgeisiol ar gyfer ein heconomi. Nododd y strategaeth honno y rôl y bydd diwydiannau glân, gwyrdd yn ei chael wrth sbarduno'r genhadaeth ar gyfer twf economaidd. Ynghyd â'n hymgysylltiad â'r strategaeth ddiwydiannol, rydym eisoes wedi cael trafodaethau cadarnhaol gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar weithio mewn partneriaeth â Great British Energy i ddarparu mwy o fuddsoddiad i Gymru. Rydym yn archwilio sut y gallwn, drwy weithio mewn partneriaeth â Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru ac Ynni Cymru, ddod â mwy o fuddsoddiad i Gymru i gyflawni prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy ar gyfer ein cymunedau.
Yn ehangach, rydym eisiau cyflymu'r gwaith o gyflawni yng Nghymru. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gytuno ar fargen sector gyda'r diwydiant ynni adnewyddadwy i sicrhau bod gennym yr amodau gorau i gefnogi twf. Yng Nghymru, mae gennym lif prosiectau datblygu ar y tir sy'n fwy na 5GW, a thrwy wynt sefydlog ac arnofio ar y môr, mae gennym lif prosiectau sydd bellach dros 18 GW. Trwy'r fargen sector, byddaf yn ymrwymo i gefnogi cyflymu'r llif prosiectau hwnnw, gan ddefnyddio'r ysgogiadau sydd gennym i oresgyn rhwystrau. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys y camau yr wyf yn eu harwain i gyflymu penderfyniadau cynllunio i ddod â mwy o eglurder i'r diwydiant, a'r camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i wella'r cyflenwad o sgiliau trwy waith ar y cynllun sgiliau sero net.
O'u rhan nhw, rwy'n disgwyl i'r sector gefnogi ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer perchnogaeth leol a datblygu sgiliau a buddsoddiad yn ein cymunedau, gan gynnwys yr amgylchedd. Mae gweithio gyda ni i'w gwneud hi'n glir i bobl sut y byddant yn elwa yn hanfodol er mwyn i gymunedau dderbyn y newidiadau y mae angen i ni eu gweld. Rwy'n falch iawn y byddaf yn siarad yn Dyfodol Ynni Cymru fis nesaf, lle rwyf eisiau parhau i gael trafodaethau gyda'r diwydiant adnewyddadwy ar sut rydym yn cytuno ar ein bargen sector.
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r heriau y gall seilwaith newydd eu cyflwyno i gymunedau. Ers rhai blynyddoedd, rydym wedi cefnogi dull wedi'i gynllunio ar gyfer y system ynni, un a all ymateb i anghenion lleol yn ogystal â'r argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur. Gyda'r Gweithredwr System Ynni Cenedlaethol newydd yn dechrau gweithio ar gynllun ynni gofodol strategol, mae'n hanfodol bod safbwyntiau lleol yn cael eu hymgorffori yn y gwaith cynllunio hwnnw. Rwy'n falch y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru ar y pwyllgor a fydd yn goruchwylio'r gwaith i ddatblygu'r cynllun hwnnw. Ynghyd â'n cyfranogiad yn natblygiad cynllun strategol ynni rhanbarthol a gyhoeddwyd gan y Swyddfa Marchnadoedd Nwy a Thrydan yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, gall Cymru fod ar flaen y gad o ran dull mwy cynlluniedig o ymdrin â dyfodol carbon isel ffyniannus.
Wrth i ni gynyddu ynni adnewyddadwy i gyflawni'r genhadaeth ar gyfer pŵer glân, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cefnogi'r economi trwy'r cyfnod pontio. Mae gan Gymru sylfaen ddiwydiannol falch, a rhaid i ni sicrhau ein bod yn cefnogi buddsoddiad newydd mewn diwydiant yng Nghymru i adeiladu dyfodol wedi'i ddatgarboneiddio ac sy'n gynaliadwy.
Yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, byddaf yn ymgynghori ar safbwynt polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar sut y gallwn ddefnyddio technolegau dal a storio carbon, a sut rydym yn disgwyl i fuddsoddiad hydrogen gael ei ddatblygu yng Nghymru. Ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer dyfodol diwydiant a chynhyrchu ynni yng Nghymru yw un lle mae diwydiannau cynaliadwy yn cael eu cadw yng Nghymru ac yn parhau i greu swyddi o ansawdd uchel a manteision eraill i'r cymunedau y maent yn gweithredu ynddynt. Rydym eisiau i ddiwydiant leihau ei ddibyniaeth ar danwydd ffosil a'r nwyon tŷ gwydr a gynhyrchir yn ei sgil yn sylweddol. Rydym yn gweld rôl ar gyfer gweithredu technolegau dal a storio carbon wedi'u targedu, lle byddant yn cyflymu'r gwaith o leihau allyriadau yn ystod y cyfnod pontio i ffwrdd o danwydd ffosil. Bydd ein polisi ar gyfer hydrogen yn cydnabod ei botensial i gyfrannu at ddatgarboneiddio. Os caiff ei weithgynhyrchu a'i ddefnyddio'n gynaliadwy, gall hydrogen ddarparu un o'r ychydig ffyrdd o ddatgarboneiddio rhai sectorau o'n heconomi.
Mae gan Gymru ei lle mewn hanes gan ddefnyddio ein hadnoddau naturiol i bweru'r chwyldro diwydiannol, ond rydym bellach yn dechrau cyfnod newydd lle mae'r pŵer sydd ei angen arnom ar draws ein heconomi a'n cymdeithas ehangach yn cefnogi trawsnewidiad diwydiannol newydd i'n heconomi a'n cymunedau.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Diolch i chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am eich datganiad.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement.
As I highlighted in my response last week, Wales's economy is broad and diverse, covering a wide range of industries. But as we look to grow our economy and support businesses, we must do so in a way that is both green and responsible. Wales has incredible potential: we are brimming with talent, and we have prime opportunities for renewable energy development, including wind, solar and nuclear. With such vast natural resources at our disposal, we should be seizing these opportunities. We need to say, 'Yes, we welcome investment, and we welcome those who want to build and drive our economy forward for the future.'
Yet when it comes to unlocking this potential, we are far from where we need to be. As I've mentioned previously, let's take planning, for instance. Right now, investors and developers are being held back by countless planning barriers. It is vital that these obstacles, like delays in consenting, planning, grid-capacity issues, skills shortages and supply-chain readiness are addressed swiftly. So, can I ask, Cabinet Secretary, what are the Government's plans to tackle these barriers, and how are you planning on working with the UK Government, which was a theme throughout your statement, on some of the reserved matters, so that investors can have the confidence they need to invest in Wales? Because this is where stakeholder engagement is key. So, I was wondering if you could tell us what engagement you are currently having with investors and businesses, to ensure their voices are heard when critical policy decisions are made.
You mentioned the future of carbon capture. Can I ensure that the shipping of carbon capture is included in any Welsh Government future policy decisions? Given the opportunities for the shipping of carbon dioxide from south-west Wales, for example, and the south Wales industrial cluster, a pipeline of carbon dioxide carbon capture is not the only way that decarbonisation can be achieved.
But even if we remove all these barriers that I've mentioned tomorrow, we'd still need skills. We all want to see more investment in skills, training and apprenticeships, not just to grow the economy, but to create jobs and ensure our young people can build for their futures here in Wales, in industries that truly make a difference and matter. Built environment professionals across Wales are crying out for candidates with sustainability skills, yet they struggle to find trained talent. New research from the University College of Estate Management shows that 90 per cent of businesses report a shortage of these essential skills, which isn’t good enough. And when the Welsh Government chooses to cut funding to training providers by 24 per cent, it doesn’t seem to add up. So, I was just asking, Cabinet Secretary, if you have considered the funding cut to colleges and training providers and skills hubs, so that these skills can be developed and the future workforce can be unleashed.
The potential of renewable energy, coupled with the training of our young people, could be transformative, not just for our green economy but for the wider supply chain too. From local amenities to the provision of parts and services, the knock-on benefits would be substantial, yet there are concerns from the small business sector especially, the backbone of the Welsh economy here, that they could be left behind in this transition. So, how is the Welsh Government ensuring that small businesses can fully participate in the green transition supply chain? You talk about pulling levers, whether through skills and training, research and development or to access finance, again, I urge you, please let’s look at tearing down these barriers to unleash that potential.
Only yesterday, a blackout warning was issued as the wind stopped blowing—ironic in Wales, but the wind stopped blowing in the UK—and the need for baseload capacity in our grid system was highlighted. One area that was omitted from your statement was that around nuclear power. This is essential for providing that much needed stability and baseload for our energy supply. Sites like Wylfa and Trawsfynydd are ripe for development; they’re crying out for development, particularly with the arrival of new technologies such as SMR, small modular reactors. In response to a written question, it was stated that you’d not yet met with the UK Government to specifically discuss nuclear energy. So, do you have any plans to talk to the UK Government on this crucial issue and the opportunities that it brings as well? Wylfa and Trawsfynydd should tick all of the boxes; they offer low-carbon, secure energy and the potential for high-quality, well-paid jobs in construction, engineering and maintenance, and this is an opportunity that needs to be seized.
Wales can and should have a thriving green economy. We can power it through renewable energy and we can staff it with home-grown talent: engineers, electricians, plumbers, welders, apprentices and many, many more. So, in light of your statement, Cabinet Secretary, can I urge you once more? The theme of my response is to tear down the barriers, speed up the planning, invest in training the green workforce for the future, and help unleash Wales’s exciting green future. Diolch, Llywydd.
Fel yr amlygais yn fy ymateb yr wythnos diwethaf, mae economi Cymru yn eang ac yn amrywiol, gan gwmpasu ystod eang o ddiwydiannau. Ond wrth i ni geisio tyfu ein heconomi a chefnogi busnesau, mae'n rhaid i ni wneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n wyrdd ac yn gyfrifol. Mae gan Gymru botensial anhygoel: mae gennym lwyth o dalent, ac mae gennym gyfleoedd gwych ar gyfer datblygu ynni adnewyddadwy, gan gynnwys gwynt, solar a niwclear. Gydag adnoddau naturiol mor enfawr ar gael inni, dylem fod yn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd hyn. Mae angen i ni ddweud, 'Ydym, rydym yn croesawu buddsoddiad, ac rydym yn croesawu'r rhai sydd eisiau adeiladu ac ysgogi ein heconomi yn ei blaen ar gyfer y dyfodol.'
Ac eto, o ran datgloi'r potensial hwn, rydym yn bell o ble y mae angen i ni fod. Fel yr wyf wedi sôn o'r blaen, gadewch i ni gymryd cynllunio, er enghraifft. Ar hyn o bryd, mae buddsoddwyr a datblygwyr yn cael eu dal yn ôl gan rwystrau cynllunio di-ri. Mae'n hanfodol mynd i'r afael yn gyflym â'r rhwystrau hyn, fel oedi wrth roi caniatâd, cynllunio, materion capasiti'r grid, prinder sgiliau a pharodrwydd cadwyn gyflenwi. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, beth yw cynlluniau'r Llywodraeth i fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau hyn, a sut ydych chi'n bwriadu gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU, a oedd yn thema drwy gydol eich datganiad, ar rai o'r materion a gedwir yn ôl, fel y gall buddsoddwyr gael yr hyder sydd ei angen arnynt i fuddsoddi yng Nghymru? Oherwydd dyma lle mae ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid yn allweddol. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym pa ymgysylltiad rydych chi'n ei gael gyda buddsoddwyr a busnesau ar hyn o bryd, er mwyn sicrhau bod eu lleisiau'n cael eu clywed pan fydd penderfyniadau polisi tyngedfennol yn cael eu gwneud.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am ddyfodol dal carbon. A gaf i sicrhau bod cludo dal carbon yn cael ei gynnwys mewn unrhyw benderfyniadau polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol? O ystyried y cyfleoedd i gludo carbon deuocsid o'r de-orllewin, er enghraifft, a chlwstwr diwydiannol y de, nid piblinell o ddal carbon deuocsid yw'r unig ffordd y gellir cyflawni datgarboneiddio.
Ond hyd yn oed os byddwn yn dileu'r holl rwystrau hyn yr wyf wedi'u crybwyll yfory, byddai angen sgiliau arnom o hyd. Rydym i gyd eisiau gweld mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn sgiliau, hyfforddiant a phrentisiaethau, nid yn unig i dyfu'r economi, ond i greu swyddi a sicrhau y gall ein pobl ifanc adeiladu ar gyfer eu dyfodol yma yng Nghymru, mewn diwydiannau sydd wir yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ac sy'n bwysig. Mae gweithwyr proffesiynol yr amgylchedd adeiledig ledled Cymru yn gweiddi am ymgeiswyr sydd â sgiliau cynaliadwyedd, ac eto maent yn cael trafferth dod o hyd i dalent hyfforddedig. Mae ymchwil newydd gan y Coleg Prifysgol Rheoli Ystadau yn dangos bod 90 y cant o fusnesau yn nodi prinder o'r sgiliau hanfodol hyn, ac nad yw hyn yn ddigon da. A phan fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn dewis torri cyllid i ddarparwyr hyfforddiant 24 y cant, nid yw'n gwneud synnwyr. Felly, roeddwn i'n gofyn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a ydych chi wedi ystyried y toriad mewn cyllid i golegau a darparwyr hyfforddiant a hybiau sgiliau, fel y gellir datblygu'r sgiliau hyn a bod gweithlu'r dyfodol yn gallu cael ei ryddhau.
Gallai potensial ynni adnewyddadwy, ynghyd â hyfforddiant ein pobl ifanc, fod yn drawsnewidiol, nid yn unig i'n heconomi werdd ond i'r gadwyn gyflenwi ehangach hefyd. O amwynderau lleol i ddarparu rhannau a gwasanaethau, byddai'r buddion canlyniadol yn sylweddol, ond eto mae pryderon gan y sector busnesau bach yn arbennig, asgwrn cefn economi Cymru yma, y gallent gael eu gadael ar ôl yn ystod y cyfnod pontio hwn. Felly, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau y gall busnesau bach gymryd rhan lawn yn y gadwyn gyflenwi bontio werdd? Rydych chi'n siarad am ddefnyddio ysgogiadau, boed hynny trwy sgiliau a hyfforddiant, ymchwil a datblygu neu cael gafael ar gyllid, unwaith eto, rwy'n pwyso arnoch chi, gadewch i ni geisio chwalu'r rhwystrau hyn er mwyn rhyddhau'r potensial hwnnw.
Dim ond ddoe, cyhoeddwyd rhybudd toriad trydan wrth i'r gwynt stopio chwythu—eironig yng Nghymru, ond stopiodd y gwynt chwythu yn y DU—a phwysleisiwyd yr angen am gapasiti llwyth sylfaenol yn ein system grid. Un maes a hepgorwyd yn eich datganiad chi oedd un ynghylch pŵer niwclear. Mae hwn yn hanfodol ar gyfer darparu'r sefydlogrwydd a'r sylfaen angenrheidiol hwnnw ar gyfer ein cyflenwad ynni. Mae safleoedd fel Wylfa a Thrawsfynydd yn barod i'w datblygu; maen nhw'n gweiddi am ddatblygiad, yn enwedig gyda dyfodiad technolegau newydd fel SMR, adweithyddion modiwlaidd bach. Mewn ymateb i gwestiwn ysgrifenedig, dywedwyd nad oeddech eto wedi cwrdd â Llywodraeth y DU i drafod ynni niwclear yn benodol. Felly, a oes gennych unrhyw gynlluniau i siarad â Llywodraeth y DU ar y mater hollbwysig hwn a'r cyfleoedd y mae'n eu cynnig hefyd? Dylai Wylfa a Thrawsfynydd dicio'r blychau i gyd; maent yn cynnig ynni carbon-isel, diogel a'r potensial ar gyfer swyddi o ansawdd uchel sy'n talu'n dda ym maes adeiladu, peirianneg a chynnal a chadw, ac mae hwn yn gyfle y mae angen ei gipio.
Gall Cymru ac fe ddylai fod ag economi werdd ffyniannus. Gallwn ei phweru trwy ynni adnewyddadwy a gallwn ei staffio gyda doniau Cymru: peirianwyr, trydanwyr, plymwyr, weldwyr, prentisiaid a llawer, llawer mwy. Felly, yng ngoleuni eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, a gaf i bwyso arnoch chi eto? Thema fy ymateb yw chwalu'r rhwystrau, cyflymu'r cynlluniau, buddsoddi mewn hyfforddi'r gweithlu gwyrdd ar gyfer y dyfodol, a helpu i ryddhau dyfodol gwyrdd cyffrous Cymru. Diolch, Llywydd.
Thank you very much to Sam Kurtz for his contribution this afternoon. If I’m perfectly honest, there’s very little in there that I would disagree with. I think that the positive way in which Sam Kurtz has characterised Wales as being brimming with talent that can contribute to this agenda, and also brimming with opportunity, is definitely the way in which I would also look to characterise this.
I think that we’ve probably identified the same barriers as well, which we will need to look to tear down. Certainly, the grid capacity is one of those areas that I think we share concern about. Although it is the responsibility of the UK Government, we will absolutely be having those discussions. I know the First Minister also managed to have these kinds of discussions with the Prime Minister and others, emphasising the importance of action on the grid. I think the UK Government absolutely does get that. There was a lack of a coherent plan for the grid, I think, until very recently. I think that will need time now to develop.
We of course have our ‘Future Energy Grids for Wales’ report that does show that Wales’s electricity demand might triple by 2050. So, Wales’s grid improvements are going to be absolutely essential if we’re to have an energy system that is fit for the future. And of course we’ve convened the independent advisory group to build on the understanding that we have and to help us identify the approaches to delivering electricity transformation infrastructure for the future as well. So, I think that is a shared priority that we absolutely have.
Then, in terms of planning, speeding up the time it takes for decisions to be made is an absolutely top priority. It’s something the First Minister has identified as one of her key priorities and she’s asked me to look at a range of activities that we could bring forward.
We are aware that one of the real challenges is workforce in this sector. In the times of austerity, we've seen planning departments in local government stripped back, unfortunately, and there's also competition for those skilled people as well. They often are trained and begin their careers in the public sector but then find important jobs in the private sector. Those skills are very valuable. I'm doing a piece of work looking at how we could expand and support the skills base in future, training more people but also keeping them within the public sector.
The pipeline opportunities will be really important for those small businesses that were referenced. I did have the opportunity to meet with the Federation of Small Businesses just yesterday, and we had the chance to talk about opportunities in the pipeline there. And of course, speaking of pipelines, I met with the Welsh construction forum, and they were saying that visibility of the pipeline of opportunities within the renewables sector but also more widely is also really important to them. Again, that's a piece of work that we're looking at in terms of how we can better improve the visibility of what will be coming down the line.
In terms of nuclear, of course, the policy does sit with the UK Government, but we do believe that nuclear power should be considered as part of achieving net-zero ambitions to address the climate change emergency, and that regions and local communities that host such low-carbon infrastructure should secure the appropriate benefits as a result of that. We do support the use of the current licensed sites, Trawsfynydd and Wylfa, which you mentioned, to help achieve such ambitions. We do think that any future proposals for nuclear energy generation would be prioritised for those existing sites and, of course, even beyond that they would have to ensure maximum economic benefit for local communities and regions. And, of course, we're committed to maintaining the nuclear skills base as well, which also supports the wider scientific and medical applications of nuclear technologies as well.
As I said, I'll be bringing forward a policy statement on carbon capture and storage, but I'm very interested in the non-pipeline issues that have been identified as well. I know that's particularly important in Pembrokeshire. I think there's so much, actually, that we can work across parties on on this agenda. We've already, I think, identified what the problems are together, but I'm very keen to work across parties on the solutions as well.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i Sam Kurtz am ei gyfraniad y prynhawn yma. Os ydw i'n berffaith onest, ychydig iawn sydd yno y byddwn i'n anghytuno ag ef. Rwy'n credu mai'r ffordd gadarnhaol y mae Sam Kurtz wedi nodweddu Cymru fel un sy'n llawn talent a all gyfrannu at yr agenda hon, a hefyd yn llawn cyfleoedd, yw'r ffordd y byddwn i hefyd yn ceisio nodweddu hyn.
Rwy'n credu ein bod ni fwy na thebyg wedi nodi'r un rhwystrau hefyd, a bydd angen i ni geisio eu chwalu. Yn sicr, mae capasiti'r grid yn un o'r meysydd hynny rwy'n credu ein bod yn rhannu pryder amdano. Er mai cyfrifoldeb Llywodraeth y DU ydyw, byddwn yn cael y trafodaethau hynny yn sicr. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Prif Weinidog hefyd wedi llwyddo i gynnal trafodaethau o'r fath gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU ac eraill, gan bwysleisio pwysigrwydd gweithredu ar y grid. Rwy'n credu bod Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn deall hynny'n llwyr. Roedd diffyg cynllun cydlynol ar gyfer y grid, rwy'n credu, tan yn ddiweddar iawn. Rwy'n credu y bydd angen amser i ddatblygu nawr.
Wrth gwrs, mae gennym ein hadroddiad 'Gridiau Ynni'r Dyfodol i Gymru' sy'n dangos y gallai'r galw am drydan yng Nghymru dreblu erbyn 2050. Felly, mae gwelliannau'r grid yng Nghymru yn mynd i fod yn gwbl hanfodol os ydym am gael system ynni sy'n addas ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ac wrth gwrs, rydym wedi cynnull y grŵp cynghori annibynnol i adeiladu ar y ddealltwriaeth sydd gennym a'n helpu i nodi'r dulliau o ddarparu seilwaith trawsnewid trydan ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod honno'n flaenoriaeth a rennir sydd gennym ni yn sicr.
Yna, o ran cynllunio, mae cyflymu'r amser y mae'n ei gymryd i wneud penderfyniadau yn flaenoriaeth o'r pwys mwyaf. Mae'n rhywbeth y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i nodi fel un o'i blaenoriaethau allweddol ac mae hi wedi gofyn i mi edrych ar ystod o weithgareddau y gallem eu cyflwyno.
Rydym yn ymwybodol mai un o'r heriau go iawn yw'r gweithlu yn y sector hwn. Yn y cyfnod o gyni, rydym wedi gweld adrannau cynllunio mewn llywodraeth leol yn cael eu crebachu, yn anffodus, ac mae cystadleuaeth hefyd ar gyfer y bobl fedrus hynny hefyd. Maent yn aml yn cael eu hyfforddi ac yn dechrau eu gyrfaoedd yn y sector cyhoeddus ond yna maent yn dod o hyd i swyddi pwysig yn y sector preifat. Mae'r sgiliau hyn yn werthfawr iawn. Rwy'n gwneud darn o waith yn edrych ar sut y gallem ehangu a chefnogi'r sylfaen sgiliau yn y dyfodol, hyfforddi mwy o bobl ond hefyd eu cadw o fewn y sector cyhoeddus.
Bydd y cyfleoedd llif prosiectau yn bwysig iawn i'r busnesau bach hynny y cyfeiriwyd atynt. Cefais gyfle i gwrdd â Ffederasiwn y Busnesau Bach ddoe, a chawsom gyfle i siarad am gyfleoedd y llif prosiectau. Ac wrth gwrs, wrth siarad am lif prosiectau, cwrddais â fforwm adeiladu Cymru, ac roeddent yn dweud bod gwelededd y llif o gyfleoedd o fewn y sector ynni adnewyddadwy ond hefyd yn ehangach yn bwysig iawn iddyn nhw. Unwaith eto, mae hwnnw'n ddarn o waith yr ydym yn edrych arno o ran sut y gallwn wella gwelededd yr hyn a fydd yn dod i lawr y ffordd yn y dyfodol yn well.
O ran niwclear, wrth gwrs, mae'r polisi yn eistedd gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ond credwn y dylid ystyried pŵer niwclear fel rhan o gyflawni uchelgeisiau sero net i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng newid hinsawdd, ac y dylai rhanbarthau a chymunedau lleol sy'n cynnal seilwaith carbon isel o'r fath sicrhau'r manteision priodol o ganlyniad i hynny. Rydym yn cefnogi'r defnydd o'r safleoedd trwyddedig presennol, Wylfa a Thrawsfynydd, y sonioch amdanynt, i helpu i gyflawni uchelgeisiau o'r fath. Rydym yn credu y byddai unrhyw gynigion ar gyfer cynhyrchu ynni niwclear yn y dyfodol yn cael eu blaenoriaethu ar gyfer y safleoedd sy'n bodoli eisoes ac, wrth gwrs, hyd yn oed y tu hwnt i hynny byddai'n rhaid iddynt sicrhau'r budd economaidd mwyaf posibl i gymunedau a rhanbarthau lleol. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydym wedi ymrwymo i gynnal y sylfaen sgiliau niwclear hefyd, sydd hefyd yn cefnogi cymwysiadau gwyddonol a meddygol ehangach technolegau niwclear hefyd.
Fel y dywedais, byddaf yn cyflwyno datganiad polisi ar ddal a storio carbon, ond mae gen i ddiddordeb mawr yn y materion nad ydynt yn ymwneud â llif prosiectau sydd wedi'u nodi hefyd. Rwy'n gwybod bod hynny'n arbennig o bwysig yn sir Benfro. Rwy'n credu bod cymaint, mewn gwirionedd, y gallwn weithio ar draws partïon ar yr agenda hon. Rydym eisoes wedi nodi beth yw'r problemau gyda'n gilydd, rwy'n credu, ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i weithio ar draws partïon ar yr atebion hefyd.
I welcome the statement, but I know that Plaid Cymru aren't under any illusions that history is at risk of repeating itself here. Wales is, once again, being cast in the role of resource provider. Wind, wave, land and sea bed are exploited while the financial gains and innovation returns are largely captured by external actors. There's no question about the transformative potential of our natural resources and capacity to lead in green economic growth—on this, I think, we are all agreed—but simply the Welsh economy does not retain enough income from renewable energy generation. There's almost no Welsh capital ownership in the sector, resulting in the capture of a large share of the wealth generated from Welsh resources by mobile, non-local actors. And Wales's energy sector sees key facilities owned by French and German multinationals, and equity ownership by European Governments alongside British entities.
The extent to which Wales benefits economically from its renewable energy resources will largely depend on constitutional and regulatory frameworks, ownership structures and the availability of local skills and capacity. This brings me to one of the central challenges facing Wales's green energy ambitions, which is a lack of devolved power over, frankly, those areas of energy policy that would have the biggest impact on shaping our economic fortunes in this area.
The Cabinet Secretary has said that she is encouraged that the UK Government has set a new direction for energy policy, but it's still very much business as usual, isn't it? Wales remains limited by UK Government control over key aspects of energy regulation, large-scale project planning and infrastructure. While the Welsh Government has control over projects up to 350 MW, most larger renewable energy projects remain outside of Welsh control. So, does the Cabinet Secretary agree that, without the further devolution of energy powers, including over planning for major infrastructure and grid connectivity, Wales cannot actually achieve the renewable energy targets it has set itself?
Ownership and control of Wales's natural resources, including offshore wind, is crucial for ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy are reinvested into Welsh communities, and I welcome the Minister's focus on that. The Cabinet Secretary mentioned the importance of working in partnership to deliver prosperity across Wales, but I would resist the notion that energy is an area in which this is evidenced.
The Welsh Government has repeatedly stated its commitment to devolution of the Crown Estate, yet there has been little concrete action, and we have seen, haven't we, this UK Government roundly reject such a proposal. Most recently, Lord Livermore, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, made it clear that the UK Government has no intention of devolving the Crown Estate to Wales, despite Welsh Labour's support for such a move, and, to be fair, an impassioned speech in the House of Lords from Peter Hain, a former Labour Secretary of State for Wales, no less. So, what steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to ensure the control of the Crown Estate is devolved to Wales? Did any discussions take place to this end during last week's meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions?
Finally, I'd like to turn to the work of Ynni Cymru. The recent announcement surrounding the Crown Estate's partnership with Great British Energy has done little to allay concerns around the extractive framework within which energy policy currently operates. The Welsh Government's focus must remain on building a Welsh energy system that not only contributes to national and global energy needs, but ensures that the benefits of wealth and lower energy bills are felt within Welsh communities. Therefore, how will Ynni Cymru's efforts to develop community-owned energy be protected from being overshadowed by larger centrally managed projects?
Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad, ond rwy'n gwybod nad yw Plaid Cymru o dan unrhyw gamargraff bod hanes mewn perygl o ailadrodd ei hun yma. Mae Cymru, unwaith eto, yn cael ei chastio yn rôl y darparwr adnoddau. Mae gwynt, tonnau, tir a gwely'r môr yn cael eu hecsbloetio tra bod yr enillion ariannol a'r enillion arloesol yn cael eu dal i raddau helaeth gan actorion allanol. Does dim cwestiwn am botensial trawsnewidiol ein hadnoddau naturiol a'n gallu i arwain mewn twf economaidd gwyrdd—o ran hyn, rwy'n credu ein bod i gyd yn gytûn—ond yn syml, nid yw economi Cymru yn cadw digon o incwm o gynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy. Nid oes bron dim perchnogaeth gyfalaf yng Nghymru yn y sector, gan arwain at actorion symudol, nad ydynt yn lleol yn cipio cyfran fawr o'r cyfoeth a gynhyrchir o adnoddau Cymru. Ac mae sector ynni Cymru yn gweld cyfleusterau allweddol sy'n eiddo i gwmnïau rhyngwladol Ffrengig ac Almaenig, a pherchnogaeth ecwiti gan Lywodraethau Ewropeaidd ochr yn ochr ag endidau Prydeinig.
Bydd i ba raddau y mae Cymru'n elwa'n economaidd ar ei hadnoddau ynni adnewyddadwy yn dibynnu i raddau helaeth ar fframweithiau cyfansoddiadol a rheoleiddiol, strwythurau perchnogaeth ac i raddau faint o sgiliau a chapasiti lleol sydd ar gael. Mae hyn yn dod â mi i un o'r heriau canolog sy'n wynebu uchelgeisiau ynni gwyrdd Cymru, sef diffyg pŵer datganoledig dros y meysydd polisi ynni hynny a fyddai'n cael yr effaith fwyaf ar lunio ein ffawd economaidd yn y maes hwn.
Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi dweud ei bod yn galonogol bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi gosod cyfeiriad newydd ar gyfer polisi ynni, ond mae'n dal i fod yn fusnes fel arfer, onid ydyw? Mae Cymru'n parhau i gael ei chyfyngu gan reolaeth Llywodraeth y DU dros agweddau allweddol ar reoleiddio ynni, cynllunio prosiectau a seilwaith ar raddfa fawr. Er bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru reolaeth dros brosiectau hyd at 350 MW, mae'r rhan fwyaf o brosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy mwy yn parhau y tu hwnt i reolaeth Cymru. Felly, a yw'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn cytuno, heb ddatganoli pwerau ynni ymhellach, gan gynnwys dros gynllunio ar gyfer seilwaith mawr a chysylltedd grid, na all Cymru gyflawni'r targedau ynni adnewyddadwy y mae wedi'u gosod iddi hi ei hun mewn gwirionedd?
Mae perchnogaeth a rheolaeth ar adnoddau naturiol Cymru, gan gynnwys gwynt ar y môr, yn hanfodol ar gyfer sicrhau bod manteision ynni adnewyddadwy yn cael eu hailfuddsoddi mewn cymunedau yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n croesawu ffocws y Gweinidog ar hynny. Soniodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am bwysigrwydd gweithio mewn partneriaeth i sicrhau ffyniant ledled Cymru, ond byddwn yn gwrthwynebu'r syniad bod ynni'n faes lle mae tystiolaeth o hyn.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi datgan dro ar ôl tro ei hymrwymiad i ddatganoli Ystad y Goron, ac eto ni fu llawer o weithredu pendant, ac rydym wedi gweld, onid ydym ni, Lywodraeth y DU hon yn gwrthod cynnig o'r fath yn llwyr. Yn fwyaf diweddar, eglurodd yr Arglwydd Livermore, Ysgrifennydd Ariannol y Trysorlys, nad oes gan Lywodraeth y DU unrhyw fwriad i ddatganoli Ystad y Goron i Gymru, er gwaethaf cefnogaeth Llafur Cymru i'r fath gam, ac, i fod yn deg, araith angerddol yn Nhŷ'r Arglwyddi gan Peter Hain, cyn-Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Llafur Cymru, dim llai. Felly, pa gamau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod rheolaeth dros Ystad y Goron yn cael ei datganoli i Gymru? A fu unrhyw drafodaethau i'r perwyl hwn yn ystod cyfarfod Cyngor y Gwledydd a'r Rhanbarthau yr wythnos diwethaf?
Yn olaf, hoffwn droi at waith Ynni Cymru. Nid yw'r cyhoeddiad diweddar ynghylch partneriaeth Ystad y Goron â Great British Energy wedi gwneud llawer i leddfu pryderon ynghylch y fframwaith alldynnol y mae polisi ynni yn gweithredu ynddo ar hyn o bryd. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru barhau i ganolbwyntio ar adeiladu system ynni yng Nghymru sydd nid yn unig yn cyfrannu at anghenion ynni cenedlaethol a byd-eang, ond sy'n sicrhau bod manteision cyfoeth a biliau ynni is yn cael eu teimlo o fewn cymunedau Cymru. Felly, sut y bydd ymdrechion Ynni Cymru i ddatblygu ynni sy'n eiddo i'r gymuned yn cael eu diogelu rhag cael eu bwrw i'r cysgod gan brosiectau mwy a reolir yn ganolog?
I'm very grateful for the contributions there. I think that they do come from a similar starting point in the sense that we need to extract the absolute maximum benefit for Wales and also for the communities that host energy projects.
I think the work that we've been doing to establish Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru is an absolutely key example of the way in which we want to increase the value to Wales of the renewable energy project development system. A key objective is to generate that greater value for Wales, but also to accelerate the realisation of our net-zero ambitions by developing at least 250 MW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, and an additional 750 MW of capacity by 2040, making a target of 1 GW of capacity. Of course, that will be onshore wind projects, given the nature of the woodland estate, which is where we are focusing our attentions.
I can update colleagues that the company was registered with Companies House in October and, to date, 10 of the proposed 13 members of staff are in post. The independent board meets monthly; it's been doing so since May 2024. With this support, the company will respond to the remit letter that they've had with a business plan setting out the next actions. I think that Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru gives us an opportunity to think again and afresh about how we deal with the important issue of community benefits in Wales, and set a benchmark, really, for the industry in that particular sense.
We do, obviously, have the policy in terms of retaining the economic value contributing to prosperity through our local ownership of energy generation policy, which was established in 2020, and that sits alongside our targets for locally owned generation. But, obviously, that then is given effect through our 'Planning Policy Wales' document, which recognises that there are real opportunities to achieve local benefits through renewable energy across Wales. We do provide guidance to local ownership, along with a toolkit so support communities and developers through the process as well. So, I think that we do have some good examples of things that are taking place, but there's definitely more to do and Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru provides us, I think, with an opportunity to show what could be done.
In terms of Ynni Cymru, we've been supporting local community energy for 15 years now, but we've been working to see how we could better support and scale community energy in Wales. The work to date on Ynni Cymru is focused on evolving smart local energy systems. On 3 September, we launched a £10 million grant scheme for smart local energy systems across Wales, and that grant scheme will be pivotal in our efforts to decarbonise our energy supply and ensure the benefits are felt within our communities. Through deploying those kinds of projects right across Wales, we will get some really invaluable insights into the scale of the benefits that can be secured for our communities. So, I don't think it's either/or in terms of those large-scale developments and also supporting local projects. I think that we absolutely have to do both, and I think that we are, through both Trydan and Ynni Cymru, providing those opportunities to do both of those things.
On the Crown Estate, the Welsh Government hasn't changed its position. I think the First Minister has been really clear on the areas where the Welsh Government is very focused on the the views that we've expressed previously. We haven't changed those, and we wouldn't change those because there's been a change of UK Government. We are supportive of the powers that are proposed for the Crown Estate that are contained within the Bill that has been laid in the UK Parliament—that was done before recess—and we are hopeful that these additional powers will increase the much-needed growth of offshore wind in Wales. But the current settlement that we have does limit our ability to deliver those energy projects in a way that reflects our policy priorities and the needs of future generations. So, it's been our long-standing position that the Crown Estate should be devolved to Wales, as it is in Scotland, and that position hasn't changed.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cyfraniadau yna. Credaf eu bod yn dod o fan cychwyn tebyg yn yr ystyr bod angen i ni gael y budd mwyaf absoliwt i Gymru a hefyd i'r cymunedau sy'n cynnal prosiectau ynni.
Rwy'n credu bod y gwaith yr ydym wedi bod yn ei wneud i sefydlu Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru yn enghraifft gwbl allweddol o'r ffordd yr ydym eisiau cynyddu gwerth y system datblygu prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy i Gymru. Amcan allweddol yw cynhyrchu'r gwerth mwy hwnnw i Gymru, ond hefyd cyflymu'r gwaith o wireddu ein huchelgeisiau sero net trwy ddatblygu o leiaf 250 MW o gapasiti cynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy erbyn 2030, a 750 MW o gapasiti ychwanegol erbyn 2040, gan greu targed o 1GW o gapasiti. Wrth gwrs, prosiectau gwynt ar y tir fydd hynny, o ystyried natur yr ystad goed, a dyna lle rydyn ni'n canolbwyntio ein sylw.
Gallaf roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i gyd-Aelodau bod y cwmni wedi'i gofrestru gyda Tŷ'r Cwmnïau ym mis Hydref a hyd yma, mae 10 o'r 13 aelod o staff arfaethedig yn eu swyddi. Mae'r bwrdd annibynnol yn cyfarfod yn fisol; mae wedi bod yn gwneud hyn ers mis Mai 2024. Gyda'r cymorth hwn, bydd y cwmni'n ymateb i'r llythyr cylch gwaith a gawsant gyda chynllun busnes sy'n nodi'r camau nesaf. Rwy'n credu bod Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru yn rhoi cyfle i ni feddwl eto ac o'r newydd am sut rydym yn ymdrin â mater pwysig buddion cymunedol yng Nghymru, a gosod meincnod, mewn gwirionedd, i'r diwydiant yn yr ystyr arbennig hwnnw.
Yn amlwg, mae gennym y polisi o ran cadw'r gwerth economaidd sy'n cyfrannu at ffyniant trwy ein polisi lleol o gynhyrchu ynni, a sefydlwyd yn 2020, ac mae hynny'n cyd-fynd â'n targedau ar gyfer cynhyrchu sy'n eiddo i'r ardal. Ond, yn amlwg, mae hynny'n cael ei weithredu wedyn drwy ein dogfen 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru', sy'n cydnabod bod cyfleoedd go iawn i sicrhau manteision lleol drwy ynni adnewyddadwy ledled Cymru. Rydym yn darparu arweiniad i berchnogaeth leol, ynghyd â phecyn cymorth er mwyn cefnogi cymunedau a datblygwyr drwy'r broses hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod gennym ni enghreifftiau da o bethau sy'n digwydd, ond yn bendant mae mwy i'w wneud ac mae Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru yn rhoi cyfle i ni, rwy'n credu, ddangos beth y gellid ei wneud.
O ran Ynni Cymru, rydym wedi bod yn cefnogi ynni cymunedol lleol ers 15 mlynedd bellach, ond rydym wedi bod yn gweithio i weld sut y gallem gefnogi a graddio ynni cymunedol yng Nghymru yn well. Mae'r gwaith hyd yma ar Ynni Cymru yn canolbwyntio ar ddatblygu systemau ynni lleol clyfar. Ar 3 Medi, lansiwyd cynllun grant gwerth £10 miliwn ar gyfer systemau ynni lleol clyfar ledled Cymru, a bydd y cynllun grant hwnnw'n ganolog yn ein hymdrechion i ddatgarboneiddio ein cyflenwad ynni a sicrhau bod y buddion yn cael eu teimlo o fewn ein cymunedau. Drwy ddefnyddio'r mathau hynny o brosiectau ledled Cymru, byddwn yn cael cipolwg gwerthfawr iawn ar raddfa'r manteision y gellir eu sicrhau i'n cymunedau. Felly, nid wyf yn credu ei fod naill ai/neu o ran y datblygiadau mawr hynny a hefyd cefnogi prosiectau lleol. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni wneud y ddau beth yn llwyr, ac rwy'n credu ein bod, trwy Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru ac Ynni Cymru, yn darparu'r cyfleoedd hynny i wneud y ddau beth yna.
O ran Ystad y Goron, nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi newid ei safbwynt. Rwy'n credu bod y Prif Weinidog wedi bod yn glir iawn ynghylch y meysydd lle mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn canolbwyntio'n gryf ar y safbwyntiau yr ydym wedi'u mynegi o'r blaen. Dydyn ni ddim wedi newid y rheiny, ac ni fyddem ni yn newid y rheiny oherwydd bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi newid. Rydym yn gefnogol i'r pwerau sy'n cael eu cynnig ar gyfer Ystad y Goron sydd wedi'u cynnwys o fewn y Bil sydd wedi'i osod yn Senedd y DU—a wnaed cyn y toriad—ac rydym yn obeithiol y bydd y pwerau ychwanegol hyn yn cynyddu twf mawr ei angen gwynt ar y môr yng Nghymru. Ond mae'r setliad presennol sydd gennym yn cyfyngu ar ein gallu i gyflawni'r prosiectau ynni hynny mewn ffordd sy'n adlewyrchu ein blaenoriaethau polisi ac anghenion cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Felly, ein safbwynt hirsefydlog fu y dylid datganoli Ystad y Goron i Gymru, fel y mae yn yr Alban, ac nid yw'r sefyllfa honno wedi newid.
I'm concerned about fossil fuel companies greenwashing, and would like to have seen public investment in the national grid rather than a massive carbon dioxide pipeline, which the corporations could have actually funded themselves. There's no local benefit, and I'd really like to see investment in funding for insulation, retrofitting of solar, and all those things that help bring energy bills down for everybody.
Blue hydrogen actually creates 20 per cent more carbon dioxide than actually using the gas direct, and shipping carbon dioxide will create more carbon dioxide, so it should be part of that calculation. Creating green hydrogen uses a lot of electricity, so direct use is often better. Renewables need to connect to the grid. A large solar farm on the border at Bretton will be unable to access the national grid until 2038, so direct feed needs to be encouraged as part of the planning process. I know that with new housing now, they're starting to use battery storage for retrofit of solar.
I welcome investment in our local communities. They need to see the benefit from community projects and other big projects. So, Cabinet Secretary, what plans are there to invest in the grid, and what form will the consultation on carbon capture, utilisation and storage take? Because I really wish that today would've been a debate rather than just statements. It's quite infuriating when you have five-minute statements and I only get to speak for one minute, which I've gone over on already. Sorry.
Rwy'n poeni am gwmnïau tanwydd ffosil yn gwyrddgalchu, ac fe hoffwn fod wedi gweld buddsoddiad cyhoeddus yn y grid cenedlaethol yn hytrach na phiblinell carbon deuocsid enfawr, y gallai'r corfforaethau fod wedi'i hariannu eu hunain mewn gwirionedd. Nid oes unrhyw fudd lleol, a hoffwn weld buddsoddiad mewn cyllid ar gyfer inswleiddio, ôl-osod solar, a'r holl bethau hynny sy'n helpu i ostwng biliau ynni i bawb.
Mewn gwirionedd, mae hydrogen glas yn creu 20 y cant yn fwy o garbon deuocsid nag wrth ddefnyddio'r nwy yn uniongyrchol, a bydd cludo carbon deuocsid yn creu mwy o garbon deuocsid, felly dylai fod yn rhan o'r cyfrifiad hwnnw. Mae creu hydrogen gwyrdd yn defnyddio llawer o drydan, felly mae defnydd uniongyrchol yn aml yn well. Mae angen i ynni adnewyddadwy gysylltu â'r grid. Ni fydd fferm solar fawr ar y ffin ym Mretton yn gallu cael mynediad i'r grid cenedlaethol tan 2038, felly mae angen annog cyflenwad uniongyrchol fel rhan o'r broses gynllunio. Rwy'n gwybod, gyda thai newydd nawr, eu bod yn dechrau defnyddio storio batri ar gyfer ôl-osod solar.
Rwy'n croesawu buddsoddiad yn ein cymunedau lleol. Mae angen iddynt weld y budd o brosiectau cymunedol a phrosiectau mawr eraill. Felly, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, pa gynlluniau sydd ar gael i fuddsoddi yn y grid, a beth fydd ffurf yr ymgynghoriad ar ddal, defnyddio a storio carbon? Oherwydd hoffwn pe byddai heddiw wedi bod yn ddadl yn hytrach na datganiadau yn unig. Mae'n ddigon i'ch gwylltio pan gewch chi ddatganiadau pum munud a dim ond am funud y caf i siarad, ac rwyf wedi mynd drosto yn barod. Mae'n ddrwg gen i.
I'm grateful to the Member for those comments, particularly the ones about improving the community benefits. We had some really good examples of things that could be considered, and I think that those will all be part of our discussions with the renewables industry in respect of the sector deal.
I mentioned the grid in response to a previous contribution. We've set up the advisory group, which I mentioned, and that will agree principles for the most appropriate solutions for energy infrastructure in Wales, and then it will look to create a public evidence base to support those principles. That work is ongoing at the moment, but overall, of course, the responsibility for the grid does lie with the UK Government. But we've been absolutely clear that the evidence is here, that it needs greater investment here in Wales, especially if we're to meet our overall longer term ambitions, both for the economy but also for energy as well. So, I think discussions can be had, certainly in the context of that sector deal, which I mentioned.
In terms of hydrogen and the carbon capture, utilisation and storage issue, at the moment, we are working through the detail of what a statement might look like, and then, of course, that will be out for public consultation in the usual way. We do, though, think that hydrogen has the potential for decarbonising much of the energy system, particularly making north Wales a clean energy leader. The north Wales growth deal I know is looking to kick-start the hydrogen economy in north Wales by allocating £15 million from the low-carbon energy programme to the north-east Wales hydrogen hub. To date, we've supported the programme with some funding through the ultra-low emission vehicle transformation fund, and Ambition North Wales I know will invite a second hydrogen project to join the growth deal, subject to agreeing a memorandum of understanding. But, as I say, we are currently working up a statement so we can be very clear on what the policy is going ahead, and it will be subject then to consultation in the normal way, and likewise for carbon capture utilisation and storage. I know there are varying views on this, and I do think that the consultation will be an opportunity for people to have their say.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelod am y sylwadau yna, yn enwedig y rhai am wella'r buddion cymunedol. Roedd gennym rai enghreifftiau da iawn o bethau y gellid eu hystyried, ac rwy'n credu y bydd y rhain i gyd yn rhan o'n trafodaethau gyda'r diwydiant ynni adnewyddadwy mewn perthynas â'r fargen sector.
Soniais am y grid mewn ymateb i gyfraniad blaenorol. Rydym wedi sefydlu'r grŵp cynghori, y soniais amdano, a bydd hwnnw'n cytuno ar egwyddorion ar gyfer yr atebion mwyaf priodol ar gyfer seilwaith ynni yng Nghymru, ac yna bydd yn ceisio creu sylfaen dystiolaeth gyhoeddus i gefnogi'r egwyddorion hynny. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd, ond yn gyffredinol, wrth gwrs, Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am y grid. Ond rydym wedi bod yn gwbl glir bod y dystiolaeth yma, bod angen mwy o fuddsoddiad yma yng Nghymru, yn enwedig os ydym am gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau tymor hwy cyffredinol, ar gyfer yr economi ond hefyd ar gyfer ynni. Felly, rwy'n credu y gellir cael trafodaethau, yn sicr yng nghyd-destun y fargen sector honno, y soniais amdani.
O ran hydrogen a'r mater ynghylch dal, defnyddio a storio carbon, ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn gweithio trwy fanylion sut olwg fyddai ar ddatganiad, ac yna, wrth gwrs, bydd hynny allan ar gyfer ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus yn y ffordd arferol. Fodd bynnag, rydym yn credu bod gan hydrogen y potensial i ddatgarboneiddio llawer o'r system ynni, yn enwedig gwneud y gogledd yn arweinydd ynni glân. Mae bargen twf gogledd Cymru rwy'n gwybod yn bwriadu rhoi hwb i'r economi hydrogen yn y gogledd drwy ddyrannu £15 miliwn o'r rhaglen ynni carbon isel i hwb hydrogen gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru. Hyd yn hyn, rydym wedi cefnogi'r rhaglen gyda rhywfaint o gyllid drwy'r gronfa trawsnewid cerbydau allyriadau isel iawn, a bydd Uchelgais Gogledd Cymru rwy'n gwybod yn gwahodd ail brosiect hydrogen i ymuno â'r fargen twf, yn amodol ar gytuno ar femorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth. Ond, fel y dywedais i, rydym yn llunio datganiad ar hyn o bryd fel y gallwn fod yn glir iawn ynghylch beth yw'r polisi wrth fynd ymlaen, a bydd yn destun ymgynghoriad wedyn yn y ffordd arferol, ac yn yr un modd ar gyfer dal, defnyddio a storio carbon. Rwy'n gwybod bod safbwyntiau amrywiol ar hyn, ac rwy'n credu y bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn gyfle i bobl ddweud eu dweud.
Cabinet Secretary, as you'll be aware, the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the green economy, and one of the issues that has been raised is the importance of public-private partnerships, and I believe that more needs to be done to develop these partnerships in order to help decarbonise the economy. Now, the committee has also looked at how we can make the most of public sector investment, and stakeholders told us that the Welsh Government should prioritise investment that leverages private sector funding. We have an opportunity here in Wales to be a global leader in the field of green and renewable energy, and it's crucial that all levers are being used to develop this industry. Therefore, following on from today's statement, I'd be grateful if you could tell us a bit more about how the Welsh Government is developing public-private partnerships to drive renewable energy investment, and can you also tell us how you're prioritising investment in the net-zero transition, and doing so in a way that will encourage and leverage private sector funding in the future?
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, fel y gwyddoch chi, mae Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig yn cynnal ymchwiliad i'r economi werdd, ac un o'r materion a godwyd yw pwysigrwydd partneriaethau cyhoeddus-preifat, ac rwy'n credu bod angen gwneud mwy i ddatblygu'r partneriaethau hyn er mwyn helpu i ddatgarboneiddio'r economi. Nawr, mae'r pwyllgor hefyd wedi edrych ar sut y gallwn wneud y mwyaf o fuddsoddiad y sector cyhoeddus, a dywedodd rhanddeiliaid wrthym y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru flaenoriaethu buddsoddiad sy'n trosoli cyllid y sector preifat. Mae gennym gyfle yma yng Nghymru i fod yn arweinydd byd-eang ym maes ynni gwyrdd ac adnewyddadwy, ac mae'n hanfodol bod pob ysgogiad yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddatblygu'r diwydiant hwn. Felly, yn dilyn y datganiad heddiw, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym am sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn datblygu partneriaethau cyhoeddus-preifat i sbarduno buddsoddiad ynni adnewyddadwy, ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym hefyd sut rydych chi'n blaenoriaethu buddsoddiad yn y pontio sero net, ac yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd a fydd yn annog ac yn trosoli cyllid y sector preifat yn y dyfodol?
I think that this is a really important point, and I think one that is reflected, perhaps, best through the work that we've been doing on our city and growth deals, which are there to ensure that public investment is put in, but then that does—sorry, public sector investment is put in, and then that does leverage in then gains from the private sector. So, I think that's a really good model, really, as to where we can see that kind of investment being developed, and it is an approach that we've sought to support. That said, there is a really good case as well for the Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru model, where we do own and we develop these projects and the benefits then do come back to Wales; they're retained in the community as well. So, I think that community benefits are really, really important, but then we have to acknowledge as well the role of the private sector in terms of jobs, supporting our skills ambitions through the apprentices they take on, and creating wealth in local economies as well.
Rwy'n credu bod hwn yn bwynt pwysig iawn, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn un sy'n cael ei adlewyrchu, efallai, orau trwy'r gwaith yr ydym wedi bod yn ei wneud ar ein bargeinion dinesig a thwf, sydd yno i sicrhau bod buddsoddiad cyhoeddus yn cael ei roi i mewn, ond yna mae hynny—mae'n ddrwg gennyf—buddsoddiad y sector cyhoeddus, ac yna mae hynny yn trosoli enillion o'r sector preifat wedyn. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n fodel da iawn, mewn gwirionedd, o ran lle y gallwn weld y math hwnnw o fuddsoddiad yn cael ei ddatblygu, ac mae'n ddull yr ydym wedi ceisio ei gefnogi. Wedi dweud hynny, mae achos da iawn hefyd dros fodel Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, lle rydym yn berchen ac yn datblygu'r prosiectau hyn ac mae'r manteision wedyn yn dod yn ôl i Gymru; maent hefyd yn cael eu cadw yn y gymuned. Felly, rwy'n credu bod manteision cymunedol yn wirioneddol bwysig, ond yna mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod hefyd rôl y sector preifat o ran swyddi, gan gefnogi ein huchelgeisiau sgiliau trwy'r prentisiaid y maent yn eu cyflogi, a chreu cyfoeth mewn economïau lleol hefyd.
Diolch am y datganiad. Dwi'n cytuno efo'r Gweinidog, wrth gwrs, ar yr angen i adeiladu economi werdd gyffrous newydd ar gyfer y dyfodol, ond dwi am gyfeirio at gynlluniau i ddatblygu ffermydd solar enfawr yn fy etholaeth i, a dadlau nad dyma'r ateb o gwbl os ydyn ni am greu swyddi yn y sector ynni adnewyddol yma. Dwi'n annog fy etholwyr i i ymateb erbyn y deadline yfory i'r broses gynllunio gan Pedwar er mwyn sicrhau bod ein cymuned ni yn cael ei llais wedi'i chlywed. Ond, gwrandewch, mae yna gymaint o le i solar yn y mix: ar do pob adeilad, ar ochr ffyrdd, mewn pocedi llai—llawer iawn o bocedi llai—o solar yn fy etholaeth i, ond mae gorchuddio miloedd o erwau o dir amaethyddol da Môn yn rhoi'r gwaethaf i ni o ran colli capasiti cynhyrchu bwyd, o ran yr impact weledol, o ran colli swyddi mewn amaethyddiaeth—does yna ddim swyddi yn fan hyn—ac mae'n rhaid i ni feddwl yn llawer mwy strategol. Rydyn ni'n sôn am y capasiti sydd yna i gynhyrchu ynni oddi ar arfordir Cymru: yn fanna mae'r swyddi; yn fanna mae'r gadwyn gyflenwi i allu cael ei datblygu yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Canolbwyntiwch ar hynny, achos extractive, dyna ydy'r math yma o gynlluniau solar sydd yn yr arfaeth ar hyn o bryd: yn tynnu elw allan o'n cymunedau ni, yn creu impact negyddol, ac yn methu â dod ag unrhyw fudd lleol go iawn. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â fi dyw solar ddim yn ateb y gofynion o ran yr elfen economaidd honno, a bod angen edrych ar bethau llawer mwy arloesol?
Thank you for the statement. I agree with the Minister, of course, on the need to build an exciting new green economy for the future, but I want to refer to plans to develop huge solar farms in my constituency and to argue that this isn't the solution at all, if we do want to create jobs in the renewable energy sector. I encourage my constituents to respond by tomorrow's deadline to the planning consultation by Pedwar to ensure that our community has its voice heard. But, look, there is so much room for solar in the mix: on the roofs of every building, on the side of roads, in smaller pockets—many smaller pockets—of solar in my constituency, but covering thousands of acres of good agricultural land in Anglesey gives us the worst in terms of a loss of food production capacity, in terms of the visual impact, in terms of losing jobs in agriculture—there are no jobs created here—and we do have to think far more strategically. We talk about the capacity to produce energy off the Welsh coast: that's where the jobs are; that's where the supply chain is to be found and developed in coming years. Focus on that, because this kind of solar plan is extractive, it withdraws profit from our communities, it creates negative impacts and fails to bring any local benefits. So, would the Minister agree with me that solar isn't the solution in terms of that economic element, and that we need to look at things that are far more innovative?
I would say that solar is part of the answer in terms of the mix of renewable energy that we will require as we move towards net zero. Clearly, I can't comment on the particular schemes that have been referred to, but I will say, though, that asking constituents to have their say when they have the opportunity through the planning process is really important. So, whenever there are planning applications in respect of energy proposals, then, of course, communities should be involved, they should be informed, they should be encouraged to respond to those consultations.
In terms of the overall policy, though, of course, we've got 'Future Wales: The National Plan 2040', and that does ensure that planning applications for developments of national significance are rigorously assessed so that communities, designated areas and landscapes and protected habitats and species are protected from unacceptable adverse impact, and it also requires the consideration of cumulative impact as well of existing and consented schemes. So, clearly, I can't say any more about that particular project, but I do think solar has its role as part of an energy mix.
Byddwn i'n dweud bod solar yn rhan o'r ateb o ran y gymysgedd o ynni adnewyddadwy y bydd ei hangen arnom wrth i ni symud tuag at sero net. Yn amlwg, ni allaf wneud sylw ar y cynlluniau penodol y cyfeiriwyd atynt ond byddaf yn dweud, serch hynny, fod gofyn i etholwyr ddweud eu dweud pan fyddant yn cael y cyfle drwy'r broses gynllunio yn bwysig iawn. Felly, pryd bynnag y ceir ceisiadau cynllunio mewn perthynas â chynigion ynni, yna, wrth gwrs, dylai cymunedau fod yn rhan o'r cynllun, dylid eu hysbysu, dylid eu hannog i ymateb i'r ymgynghoriadau hynny.
O ran y polisi cyffredinol, fodd bynnag, wrth gwrs, mae gennym 'Cymru'r Dyfodol: y cynllun cenedlaethol 2040', ac mae hynny'n sicrhau bod ceisiadau cynllunio ar gyfer datblygiadau o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol yn cael eu hasesu'n drylwyr fel bod cymunedau, ardaloedd a thirweddau dynodedig a chynefinoedd a rhywogaethau gwarchodedig yn cael eu diogelu rhag effaith andwyol annerbyniol, ac mae hefyd yn gofyn am ystyried effaith gronnol yn ogystal â chynlluniau presennol a'r rhai sydd wedi cael caniatâd. Felly, yn amlwg, ni allaf ddweud mwy am y prosiect penodol hwnnw, ond rwy'n credu bod gan solar ei rôl fel rhan o gymysgedd ynni.
Four quick questions. How many public buildings have solar tiles on their south-facing roofs, and what's your strategy for increasing that number, given that all public buildings are supposed to be net zero by 2030? When will the framework enshrined by the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 become mandatory so that everybody's clear that large-scale proposals will be normally dealt with within 12 months? You talk about taking communities with us on these developments in their area. If local communities feel that they directly benefit from the wind or solar energy being generated in their community reducing their energy bills, that requires them to be locally owned, part of the project to be locally owned. So, I wondered how much progress you're making on that, because it is a very difficult thing that we haven't been very successful with up until now. That seems to me absolutely crucial, and that link has yet to be made. And, fourthly, how can Welsh Government help communities be clearer that the community funds being generated aren't just about improving playing fields or village halls, important though that is, but it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make sustainable communities that are much more resilient as a result of the significant investment that can be invested in their infrastructure generally?
Pedwar cwestiwn cyflym. Faint o adeiladau cyhoeddus sydd â theils solar ar eu toeau sy'n wynebu'r de, a beth yw eich strategaeth ar gyfer cynyddu'r nifer hwnnw, o gofio bod pob adeilad cyhoeddus i fod i gyrraedd sero net erbyn 2030? Pryd fydd y fframwaith sydd wedi'i ymgorffori gan Ddeddf Seilwaith (Cymru) 2024 yn dod yn orfodol fel bod pawb yn glir y bydd cynigion ar raddfa fawr fel arfer yn cael eu trin o fewn 12 mis? Rydych yn sôn am fynd â chymunedau gyda ni ar y datblygiadau hyn yn eu hardal. Os yw cymunedau lleol yn teimlo eu bod yn elwa'n uniongyrchol ar ynni gwynt neu solar sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu yn eu cymuned gan leihau eu biliau ynni, mae hynny'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol iddynt fod yn eiddo lleol, yn rhan o'r prosiect i fod yn eiddo lleol. Felly, tybed faint o gynnydd rydych chi'n ei wneud ar hynny, oherwydd mae'n beth anodd iawn nad ydym wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn yn ei gylch. Mae hynny'n gwbl hanfodol i mi, ac nid yw'r cysylltiad hwnnw wedi'i wneud eto. Ac, yn bedwerydd, sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru helpu cymunedau i fod yn gliriach nad yw'r arian cymunedol sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu yn ymwneud â gwella caeau chwarae neu neuaddau pentref yn unig, ond mae'n gyfle unwaith mewn oes mewn gwirionedd i wneud cymunedau cynaliadwy sy'n llawer mwy cydnerth o ganlyniad i'r buddsoddiad sylweddol y gellir ei fuddsoddi yn eu seilwaith yn gyffredinol?
I'm very grateful for the questions. On the specific one in terms of how many public sector buildings have solar tiles on the roof, I don't have that answer, but I will try and get that to you. But I do think that there is a role for Ynni Cymru, particularly, in terms of supporting projects such as that. So, we saw the recent announcement of the new £10 million fund, for example, which might be able to support the increased number. We've got a fantastic example in Morriston—Mike Hedges is sitting next to you. We've got Morriston Hospital with its solar energy, which is absolutely fantastic in terms of supporting all of the needs of the hospital. So, that's just one really, really good example, and we would like to see many more of those.
In terms of the infrastructure Act, I've recently launched a consultation now, which looks at the entire process of the new consenting system. I think that will be open for the usual eight weeks, or it might even be longer—so, keen to get responses back on that. And after that then I'll be able to make a wider statement in terms of the next steps. So, that final consultation paper was issued on 19 September, outlining the whole process. And again, I'm keen to hear colleagues' views on that and also, of course, the views of the sector.
And I think the point about community benefits being not just about refurbishing village halls; there's only so many times that you can do that—. Actually, there can be a really important role for community benefits in things such as supporting skills, for example, supporting vulnerable people within the community—the list of things that can be done is endless. We've got the future Wales energy conference in just a couple of weeks, and I think that's an opportunity for us to really highlight and showcase some of the more innovative ways in which community benefits are being delivered across Wales. Important though community halls are, actually, you can only do that so many times.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cwestiynau. Ar yr un penodol o ran faint o adeiladau'r sector cyhoeddus sydd â theils solar ar y to, nid yw'r ateb yna gennyf, ond fe wnaf geisio ei gael i chi. Ond rwy'n credu bod yna rôl i Ynni Cymru, yn enwedig, o ran cefnogi prosiectau fel hwnnw. Felly, gwelsom y cyhoeddiad diweddar am y gronfa newydd sy'n werth £10 miliwn, er enghraifft, a allai gefnogi'r nifer cynyddol. Mae gennym esiampl wych yn Nhreforys—mae Mike Hedges yn eistedd wrth eich ymyl. Mae gennym Ysbyty Treforys gyda'i ynni solar, sy'n hollol wych o ran cefnogi holl anghenion yr ysbyty. Felly, dim ond un enghraifft dda iawn yw honno, a hoffem weld llawer mwy o'r rheini.
O ran y Ddeddf seilwaith, rwyf wedi lansio ymgynghoriad yn ddiweddar nawr, sy'n edrych ar holl broses y system gydsynio newydd. Rwy'n credu y bydd hwnnw ar agor am yr wyth wythnos arferol, neu efallai y bydd hyd yn oed yn hirach—felly, yn awyddus i gael ymatebion yn ôl ar hynny. Ac ar ôl hynny byddaf yn gallu gwneud datganiad ehangach o ran y camau nesaf. Felly, cyhoeddwyd y papur ymgynghori terfynol hwnnw ar 19 Medi, yn amlinellu'r broses gyfan. Ac unwaith eto, rwy'n awyddus i glywed barn cyd-Aelodau ar hynny a hefyd, wrth gwrs, safbwyntiau'r sector.
Ac rwy'n credu bod y pwynt ynglŷn â manteision cymunedol nid yn unig yn ymwneud ag adnewyddu neuaddau pentref; mae terfyn ar faint o weithiau y gallwch chi wneud hynny—. A dweud y gwir, gall fod rôl bwysig iawn i fanteision cymunedol mewn pethau fel sgiliau cefnogi, er enghraifft, cefnogi pobl agored i niwed o fewn y gymuned—mae'r rhestr o bethau y gellir eu gwneud yn ddiddiwedd. Mae gennym gynhadledd dyfodol ynni Cymru ymhen ychydig wythnosau, ac rwy'n credu bydd honno'n rhoi cyfle i ni dynnu sylw ac arddangos rhai o'r ffyrdd mwy arloesol y mae buddion cymunedol yn cael eu cyflawni ledled Cymru. Er bod neuaddau cymunedol yn bwysig, mewn gwirionedd, dim ond hyn a hyn o weithiau y gallwch wneud hynny.
Cabinet Secretary, you can't possibly know of all the innovations around the country, because many of us have the opportunity of visiting them and being aware of them, and one that I would like to talk about this afternoon, and it may be that other colleagues want to join me in that as well, is cable ploughing. Cable ploughing is something that we can look at. It's a new innovative, green programme to actually avoid the use of pylons. There's a company in Carmarthenshire, who I know—well, I'm pretty sure I know—would welcome a visit from you, who have actually put cables underground. They've already done it in Eryri. It's happened in the Cotswolds, and it happens on National Trust land. This avoids pylons. As we move to a place where we obviously need a better infrastructure in order to power our country and, hopefully, keep the energy and the benefits here in Wales, we also need to think about our environment, and, for those of us in mid and west Wales, we're faced with a particular challenge around pylons being erected in order to fulfil that. So, I would like to invite you, on behalf of a number of parties here in the Siambr, to come and visit the company in Pencader and see exactly what they're doing. I think it will take your breath away as to what they are doing. So, I'm really hoping that you can listen and take on board some of the ideas and suggestions from this afternoon, and we can perhaps be in touch with your office in order to arrange a visit. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, nid yw'n bosibl ichi wybod am yr holl ddatblygiadau arloesol ledled y wlad, oherwydd mae llawer ohonom yn cael cyfle i ymweld â nhw a bod yn ymwybodol ohonynt, ac un yr hoffwn siarad amdano y prynhawn yma, ac efallai fod cyd-Aelodau eraill eisiau ymuno â mi yn hynny hefyd, yw aredig ceblau. Mae aredig ceblau yn rhywbeth y gallwn edrych arno. Mae'n rhaglen werdd arloesol newydd i osgoi'r defnydd o beilonau mewn gwirionedd. Mae cwmni yn sir Gaerfyrddin, rwy'n gwybod y byddai—wel, rwy'n eithaf sicr fy mod yn gwybod y byddai—yn croesawu ymweliad gennych chi, sydd mewn gwirionedd wedi rhoi ceblau o dan y ddaear. Maen nhw eisoes wedi ei wneud yn Eryri. Mae wedi digwydd yn y Cotswolds, ac mae'n digwydd ar dir yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol. Mae hyn yn osgoi peilonau. Wrth i ni symud i fan lle mae'n amlwg bod angen gwell seilwaith arnom er mwyn pweru ein gwlad a, gobeithio, cadw'r ynni a'r manteision yma yng Nghymru, mae angen i ni feddwl hefyd am ein hamgylchedd, ac, i'r rhai ohonom yn y canolbarth a'r gorllewin, rydym yn wynebu her benodol ynghylch peilonau sy'n cael eu codi er mwyn cyflawni hynny. Felly, hoffwn eich gwahodd chi, ar ran nifer o bartïon yma yn y Siambr, i ddod i ymweld â'r cwmni ym Mhencader a gweld yn union beth maen nhw'n ei wneud. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn eich syfrdanu o ran yr hyn maen nhw'n ei wneud. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y gallwch wrando a derbyn rhai o syniadau ac awgrymiadau'r prynhawn yma, ac efallai y gallwn gysylltu â'ch swyddfa er mwyn trefnu ymweliad. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you very much for that contribution. Yes, I'm very interested in the work of the business in Pencader that you've referred to, because our national policy on planning does set out that our preferred position on new power lines is that, where possible, they should be laid underground, although we do accept that there has to be a balanced view against costs that could render otherwise acceptable projects unviable. But we do expect to see all planning applications abiding by that policy, and where undergrounding of lines isn't possible or applicable then proactive engagement with energy companies and the public to mitigate the visual impact of any potential new transmission lines should take place. But I'm very interested in the technology that you've described, and I'm keen to find out more.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cyfraniad yna. Oes, mae gen i ddiddordeb mawr yng ngwaith y busnes ym Mhencader rydych chi wedi cyfeirio ato, oherwydd mae ein polisi cenedlaethol ar gynllunio yn nodi mai ein safbwynt a ffefrir o ran llinellau trydan newydd yw, lle bo hynny'n bosibl, y dylid eu gosod o dan y ddaear, er ein bod yn derbyn bod yn rhaid cael barn gytbwys yn erbyn costau a allai olygu bod prosiectau sy'n dderbyniol fel arall yn anhyfyw. Ond rydym yn disgwyl gweld pob cais cynllunio yn cydymffurfio â'r polisi hwnnw, a lle nad yw claddu llinellau yn bosibl neu'n berthnasol, yna dylid ymgysylltu'n rhagweithiol â chwmnïau ynni a'r cyhoedd i liniaru effaith weledol unrhyw linellau trydan newydd posibl. Ond mae gen i ddiddordeb mawr yn y dechnoleg rydych chi wedi'i disgrifio, ac rwy'n awyddus i ddarganfod mwy.
Y naratif rŷn ni'n ei glywed yn fwyfwy gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol ydy bod rhaid—yn y cyd-destun yma o ran yr economi gwyrdd—adeiladu'n fawr, yn gyflym, yn gost isel, yn ddi-hid o unrhyw ystyriaeth arall, a dwi ddim yn meddwl mai dyna yw'r unig ffordd, fel roedd Rhun ap Iorwerth yn awgrymu. Er enghraifft, yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf, mae'r llywodraethwr, Tim Walz, yr ymgeisydd is-arlywyddol yn America, wedi awgrymu tanddaearu'r grid cyfan yn America, oherwydd ei fod e'n meddwl, o ran yr hir dymor, oherwydd mae e'n fwy dibynadwy ichi wneud hynny, mai dyna'r dewis call.
Felly, mae mwy nag un ateb fan hyn, ac mae eisiau i Gymru ffeindio ei ffordd ymlaen ei hunain, fel roedd Jane Dodds yn awgrymu. Felly, ydyn ni'n gallu cael diweddariad gennych chi ynglŷn â gwaith y grŵp cynghorol gweinidogol ynglŷn â dyfodol y grid yng Nghymru, achos mae'r naratif yn fanna, os caf i ei ddweud, o ran y cylch gorchwyl rŷch chi wedi ei osod, yn wahanol? Mae e'n sôn am egwyddorion; nid cael gwared â'r system gynllunio—dyna'r math o naratif rŷn ni'n ei glywed yn Lloegr ar hyn o bryd—ond rhoi egwyddorion clir o ran y math o grid rŷn ni eisiau ei greu a buddsoddi ar gyfer yr hir dymor yn y ffordd orau, nid jest dilyn polisïau gorchuddio Cymru gyfan a'r Deyrnas Gyfunol gyfan gyda ffermydd solar a chyda pheilonau.
The narrative that we hear more and more often from the UK Government is that—in this context in terms of the green economy—we have to build on a large scale, very swiftly, at a low cost, regardless of any other considerations, and I don't think that's the only way forward, as Rhun ap Iorwerth suggested. For example, over the past few days, the governor, Tim Walz, the vice-presidential candidate in the US, has suggested undergrounding the entire grid in the United States, because he thinks, in terms of the long term, because it's more dependable for you to do that, that's the sensible option.
So, there's more than one solution here, and Wales needs to find its own way forward, as Jane Dodds suggested. So, can we have an update from you on the work being done by the ministerial advisory group on the future of the grid in Wales, because the narrative there, if I may say so, with regard to the remit that you've set, is different? It talks about principles; not getting rid of the planning system—that's the kind of narrative we're hearing from England at the moment—but setting clear principles in terms of the kind of grid that we want to create and investing for the long term in the best way, not just following policies of covering the whole of Wales and the whole of the UK with solar farms and with pylons.
I'm grateful for the contribution, but also need to recognise that there is an important part to play for those large-scale developments. So, the work around floating offshore wind, for example, could be really, really exciting in the Celtic sea. That could be an absolute game changer in terms of opportunities in the area. But, at the same time, we've talked in the statement about Morriston Hospital and the work that they're doing in terms of their solar panels as well to meet all of their energy needs. So, there is absolutely, I think, a need for both those large projects that we are going to need, but also the smaller local ones as well, and we're trying to support both of them.
In terms of the independent advisory group, I will provide an update when I can on the work of the group. I can say, though, that they're expected currently to provide draft recommendations in early 2025, but if there is something to report before that point, I will be very keen to do so.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfraniad, ond mae angen cydnabod hefyd bod rhan bwysig i'w chwarae ar gyfer y datblygiadau mawr hynny. Felly, gallai'r gwaith o amgylch gwynt arnofiol ar y môr, er enghraifft, fod yn gyffrous iawn yn y môr Celtaidd. Gallai hynny fod yn chwyldroadol o ran cyfleoedd yn yr ardal. Ond, ar yr un pryd, rydym wedi siarad yn y datganiad am Ysbyty Treforys a'r gwaith y maent yn ei wneud o ran eu paneli solar yn ogystal â diwallu eu holl anghenion ynni. Felly, rwy'n credu bod angen y ddau brosiect mawr hynny arnom, ond hefyd y rhai lleol llai hefyd, ac rydym yn ceisio cefnogi'r ddau ohonynt.
O ran y grŵp cynghori annibynnol, byddaf yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, pryd y gallaf, ar waith y grŵp. Gallaf ddweud, fodd bynnag, fod disgwyl iddynt ddarparu argymhellion drafft ar hyn o bryd yn gynnar yn 2025, ond os oes rhywbeth i'w adrodd cyn hynny, byddaf yn awyddus iawn i wneud hynny.
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer, and I'm grateful to you, Minister, for the statement this afternoon. I very much agree with the vision that the Welsh Government is outlining in terms of its future development of the green economy and green energy. I hope that the Minister is successful in pursuing the devolution of the Crown Estate. Without devolution of the Crown Estate and the associated planning regulations, it appears to me that it's very difficult for the Welsh Government to achieve any of its ambitions in this field. I would suggest that this is absolutely critical to the future of the overall policy. At the same time, an emphasis on nuclear is important to ensure that we are able to provide baseload supply for our needs.
But also, it is important to maintain public support and to ensure that the public support the means by which we are taking this forward, and that means that everybody must feel that they're being treated equitably. I represent one of the smallest constituencies in this place in terms of its area, but we have applications for windfarms on every one of our valleys. It is not fair that people in Blaenau Gwent shoulder a greater responsibility for the Welsh Government meeting its objectives than perhaps constituencies elsewhere. It is critical, I believe, that we make this move from the old fossil fuel based economy to a renewable and nuclear based economy, but that has to happen with equity, so that everybody feels that they're equally sharing the responsibility for delivering on this ambition and vision.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Llywydd, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Gweinidog, am y datganiad y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n cytuno'n gryf â'r weledigaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei hamlinellu o ran ei datblygiad yn y dyfodol o'r economi werdd ac ynni gwyrdd. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn llwyddo i fynd ar drywydd datganoli Ystad y Goron. Heb ddatganoli Ystad y Goron a'r rheoliadau cynllunio cysylltiedig, mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod yn anodd iawn i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflawni unrhyw un o'i huchelgeisiau yn y maes hwn. Byddwn yn awgrymu bod hyn yn gwbl hanfodol i ddyfodol y polisi cyffredinol. Ar yr un pryd, mae pwyslais ar niwclear yn bwysig er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gallu darparu cyflenwad llwyth sylfaen ar gyfer ein hanghenion.
Ond hefyd, mae'n bwysig cynnal cefnogaeth y cyhoedd a sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn cefnogi'r modd yr ydym yn bwrw ymlaen â hyn, ac mae hynny'n golygu bod yn rhaid i bawb deimlo eu bod yn cael eu trin yn deg. Rwy'n cynrychioli un o'r etholaethau lleiaf yn y lle hwn o ran ei harwynebedd, ond mae gennym geisiadau am ffermydd gwynt ar bob un o'n cymoedd. Nid yw'n deg bod pobl ym Mlaenau Gwent yn ysgwyddo mwy o gyfrifoldeb er mwyn i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflawni ei hamcanion nag etholaethau mewn mannau eraill efallai. Mae'n hanfodol, rwy'n credu, ein bod yn gwneud y symudiad hwn o'r hen economi sy'n seiliedig ar danwydd ffosil i economi adnewyddadwy a niwclear, ond mae'n rhaid i hynny ddigwydd gyda thegwch, fel bod pawb yn teimlo eu bod yn rhannu'r cyfrifoldeb am gyflawni'r uchelgais a'r weledigaeth hon yn gyfartal.
I'm very grateful for those comments as well, and just to reiterate on the Crown Estate that I think that we are very much in the same place, and actually the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales also recommended that it should be devolved to the Welsh Government. So, we are committed to continuing to pursue that issue with the UK Government. The management of the Crown assets generates significant revenue to the Exchequer, so devolution of the Crown Estate would actually allow us to better align those revenues with Welsh Government's priorities for our own citizens. So, as I say, this is something that we will absolutely continue to raise with the UK Government.
I'm pleased to hear the welcome for the approach on nuclear; again, it's about having that mix of energy for the future. But I think the points that have been made really are around that kind of just transition, aren't they, in terms of ensuring that people understand the journey that we're on, accept the journey that we're on, but also benefit from the journey that we're on. And I think that the point made about where those particular projects come forward, they shouldn't be seen in isolation; actually, they need to be seen in the context of what else is happening around that area as well, and I think that's an important consideration.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y sylwadau hynny hefyd, a dim ond i ailadrodd o ran Ystad y Goron fy mod i'n credu ein bod ni yn yr un lle, ac mewn gwirionedd fe wnaeth y Comisiwn Annibynnol ar Ddyfodol Cyfansoddiadol Cymru argymell hefyd y dylai gael ei ddatganoli i Lywodraeth Cymru. Felly, rydyn ni wedi ymrwymo i barhau i fynd ar drywydd y mater hwnnw gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Mae rheoli asedau'r Goron yn cynhyrchu refeniw sylweddol i'r Trysorlys, felly byddai datganoli Ystâd y Goron mewn gwirionedd yn ein galluogi ni i wneud y refeniw hwnnw yn fwy cydnaws â blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer ein dinasyddion ein hunain. Felly, fel y dywedais i, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y gwnawn ni'n sicr barhau i'w godi gyda Llywodraeth y DU.
Rwy'n falch o glywed y croeso i'r dull gweithredu ar niwclear; unwaith eto, mae'n ymwneud â chael y gymysgedd honno o ynni ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ond rwy'n credu bod y pwyntiau sydd wedi'u gwneud yn ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â'r math hwnnw o bontio teg, onid ydyn nhw, o ran sicrhau bod pobl yn deall y daith yr ydyn arni, yn derbyn y daith yr ydyn ni arni, ond hefyd yn elwa ar y daith yr ydyn ni arni. Ac rwy'n credu o ran y pwynt a gafodd ei wneud ynghylch lle mae'r prosiectau penodol hynny'n cael eu cyflwyno, ni ddylen nhw gael eu gweld ar wahân; a dweud y gwir, mae angen iddyn nhw gael eu gweld yng nghyd-destun beth arall sy'n digwydd o amgylch yr ardal honno hefyd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n ystyriaeth bwysig.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y datganiad gan y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch ar addysg drydyddol. Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog, felly, i wneud y datganiad. Vikki Howells.
The next item will be a statement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education on tertiary education. I call on the Minister, therefore, to make that statement. Vikki Howells.
Diolch, Llywydd. I am delighted and honoured to be standing here among you as the new Minister for Further and Higher Education. This role is a perfect complement to my own background as a secondary school teacher and an assistant head of sixth form, as well as a mentor to those just starting out in the teaching profession. My experiences have given me a depth of understanding of the successes and challenges encountered by learners and practitioners, and I will bring to this role both empathy and a determination to listen.
The tertiary education agenda is one about which I am truly passionate, and I want to share my initial focuses with you today. I am sure we are all well aware of the famous three Rs of education, but the main driving force of my role, as I interpret it, is the three Cs: collaboration, co-operation and community.
Collaboration is part of the long-term Welsh Government vision for tertiary education, and this is embodied in the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022, bringing five post-16 education sectors into closer dialogue with each other. This will reduce unnecessary competition and duplication, increase parity of esteem between academic and vocational routes, make transitions between learning pathways smoother, and increase the visibility of options for post-16 learners. The stories of the 2024 Inspire! Adult Learning Award winners demonstrate the importance for learners to understand that there are educational opportunities that can work for them and their families at every moment of their lives, regardless of age, background or personal circumstances.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae'n bleser ac yn fraint cael sefyll yma yn eich plith fel y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch newydd. Mae'r rôl hon yn cyd-fynd yn berffaith â fy nghefndir fy hun fel athro ysgol uwchradd a phennaeth cynorthwyol chweched dosbarth, yn ogystal â mentor i'r rhai sydd newydd ddechrau yn y proffesiwn addysgu. Mae fy mhrofiadau wedi rhoi dealltwriaeth ddofn i mi o'r llwyddiannau a'r heriau y mae dysgwyr ac ymarferwyr yn eu hwynebu, a byddaf i'n dod ag empathi a phenderfyniad i wrando i'r rôl hon.
Mae'r agenda addysg drydyddol yn un yr wyf i'n wirioneddol angerddol amdani, ac rwyf i eisiau rhannu'r hyn y byddaf i'n canolbwyntio arno i ddechrau gyda chi heddiw. Rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn ymwybodol iawn o dair R enwog addysg, ond y prif beth sy'n ysgogi fy rôl i, fel rwy'n ei ddehongli, yw'r tair C: cydweithredu, cydweithio a chymuned.
Mae cydweithredu yn rhan o weledigaeth hirdymor Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer addysg drydyddol, ac mae hyn wedi'i ymgorffori yn Neddf Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil (Cymru) 2022, sy'n dod â phum sector addysg ôl-16 i ddeialog agosach â'i gilydd. Bydd hyn yn lleihau cystadleuaeth a dyblygu diangen, yn cynyddu cydraddoldeb parch rhwng llwybrau academaidd a galwedigaethol, yn gwneud pontio rhwng llwybrau dysgu'n llyfnach, ac yn cynyddu gwelededd opsiynau ar gyfer dysgwyr ôl-16. Mae straeon enillwyr Gwobrau Ysbrydoli! Addysg Oedolion 2024 yn dangos pa mor bwysig yw hi bod dysgwyr yn deall bod yna gyfleoedd addysgol a all weithio iddyn nhw a'u teuluoedd ar bob eiliad o'u bywydau, beth bynnag yw eu hoedran, eu cefndir neu'u hamgylchiadau personol.
Tertiary education has an intrinsic value: it is the foundation and springboard into the rest of learners' lives. This requires the second of my Cs: co-operation across Government to ensure that education can act as a key lever in our Government’s agenda and deliver on the Prif Weinidog’s priorities of boosting skills, iechyd da and opportunities for all. It is a linchpin in our mission towards achieving economic growth and prosperity, and towards a fairer and more inclusive society. We know the significant impact that participation in education can have on a learner’s future job security, good physical and mental health and well-being. We also know that our tertiary institutions do not provide just education and research; they're also job creators with spillover benefits for local businesses and regions.
I look forward to working alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership and all my Cabinet colleagues to realise our Government priorities about the skills and opportunities needed for the workforce of tomorrow. I had the privilege of attending the launch event for Universities Wales's Transforming Lives campaign earlier this month. This is a fantastic example of how broadening access to higher education can give learners the chance to explore careers that might otherwise have seemed beyond their reach.
I also relish the prospect of working closely with Medr, the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research. Medr’s operational date of 1 August this year saw a major step forward towards our vision for a more coherent tertiary sector in Wales, with a national steward that has the principles of collaboration and inclusion at its heart. Earlier this year, the Welsh Government issued its statement of strategic priorities for Medr. These priorities place the tertiary system within a wider social context, one that sees the interdependence of economy and education, one that champions equality and widens participation, and one that gives learners the leading role in their own educational journeys. These are priorities not just for Medr, but for the sector at large, an ambitious challenge that will define the long-term success of tertiary education in Wales.
Medr has now published its draft strategic plan in response to the Government priorities. It is currently open for consultation until 25 October, and I would strongly encourage all stakeholders to take this opportunity to respond. And I have especially welcomed seeing Medr’s emphasis on capturing learner voices as part of this consultation.
This brings me to the third of my three Cs: community. To me, this means a community of learners, practitioners and providers working together in the best interests of learners, and enabled by Government. This was the principle behind the student governors in further education event I attended in Cardiff this month. There, I met learners who have volunteered to sit on the governing bodies of their respective institutions. They will provide the crucial element of learner voice and experience and help to guide the futures of their colleges. I was, as always, immensely proud to see our young people demonstrate their leadership capacities and ownership of their education.
I've recently started a series of visits to providers across the tertiary system and around Wales. I've really enjoyed coming together with learners and their teachers and tutors face to face, and I look forward to continuing to do this over the next few months. These visits will help me to better comprehend learners' choices, the barriers they face, and celebrate their achievements. I hope to encounter a spirit of willingness from all providers to get involved in reshaping and co-designing the post-16 educational landscape in Wales. And I hope to see a commitment to continuous improvement and ambitious goals for the future.
I also want to use this time to consider how best to engage with the core group of people who have not participated in post-16 education and training. Just as we know there is a strong link between attendance and attainment for younger pupils, the same is true for our post-16 cohorts. We want to find ways to give voice to all learners, not just those who are the most enthusiastic and confident. We know that post-16 participation is a significant challenge for the sector at the moment, and I am committed to gathering as much information as possible to inform how the Welsh Government and Medr can respond in my statement later this term. One potential way forward will be through Medr’s production of a learner engagement code. This will enshrine the importance of giving learners a say in the decisions that will affect them during the course of their education—something that Welsh institutions have already commenced with great success.
Our vision is for a coherent and integrated sector, centred around learner well-being and support. We need a tertiary education system that is powered by the ambitions, attainment and aspirations of learners, and where our providers and practitioners combine their knowledge and experience with an awareness of their wider social contexts. This will lead to a more equal and dynamic Wales.
Mae yna werth cynhenid i addysg drydyddol: mae'n sylfaen ac yn sbardun i ddysgwyr ar gyfer gweddill eu bywydau. Mae hyn yn gofyn am yr ail o fy ngeiriau C: cydweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod addysg yn gallu gweithredu fel sbardun allweddol yn agenda ein Llywodraeth a chyflawni blaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog o hybu sgiliau, iechyd da a chyfleoedd i bawb. Mae'n hanfodol o ran ein cenhadaeth tuag at sicrhau twf a ffyniant economaidd, a thuag at gymdeithas decach a mwy cynhwysol. Rydyn ni'n gwybod yr effaith sylweddol y gall cymryd rhan mewn addysg ei chael ar ddiogelwch swyddi, iechyd corfforol a meddyliol da a llesiant dysgwr yn y dyfodol. Rydyn ni'n gwybod hefyd mai nad dim ond addysg ac ymchwil y mae ein sefydliadau trydyddol yn eu darparu; maen nhw hefyd yn creu swyddi ac mae hyn yn dod â buddion wedyn i ranbarthau a busnesau lleol.
Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio ochr yn ochr ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, y Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol a fy holl gyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet i wireddu blaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth ynghylch y sgiliau a'r cyfleoedd sydd eu hangen ar gyfer gweithlu'r dyfodol. Fe ges i'r fraint o fynychu'r digwyddiad lansio ar gyfer ymgyrch Trawsnewid Bywydau Prifysgolion Cymru yn gynharach y mis hwn. Mae hon yn enghraifft wych o sut y gall ehangu mynediad at addysg uwch roi cyfle i ddysgwyr archwilio gyrfaoedd a allai fod wedi ymddangos y tu hwnt i'w cyrraedd fel arall.
Rwyf i hefyd yn edrych ymlaen at weithio'n agos gyda Medr, y Comisiwn Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil newydd. Roedd dyddiad gweithredol Medr, sef 1 Awst eleni, yn gam mawr ymlaen tuag at ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer sector trydyddol mwy cydlynol yng Nghymru, gyda stiward cenedlaethol sydd ag egwyddorion cydweithredu a chynhwysiant wrth ei wraidd. Yn gynharach eleni, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei datganiad o flaenoriaethau strategol ar gyfer Medr. Mae'r blaenoriaethau hyn yn gosod y system drydyddol o fewn cyd-destun cymdeithasol ehangach, un sy'n gweld cyd-ddibyniaeth economi ac addysg, un sy'n hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb ac yn ehangu cyfranogiad, ac un sy'n rhoi'r brif rôl i ddysgwyr yn eu teithiau addysgol eu hunain. Mae'r rhain yn flaenoriaethau nid yn unig i Medr, ond i'r sector yn gyffredinol, her uchelgeisiol a fydd yn diffinio llwyddiant hirdymor addysg drydyddol yng Nghymru.
Mae Medr erbyn hyn wedi cyhoeddi ei gynllun strategol drafft mewn ymateb i flaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth. Ar hyn o bryd, mae ar agor ar gyfer ymgynghori tan 25 Hydref, a byddwn i'n annog pob rhanddeiliad yn gryf i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ymateb. Ac rwyf i wedi croesawu'n arbennig gweld pwyslais Medr ar gasglu lleisiau dysgwyr fel rhan o'r ymgynghoriad hwn.
Mae hyn yn dod â fi i'r trydydd o fy ngeiriau C: cymuned. I mi, mae hyn yn golygu cymuned o ddysgwyr, ymarferwyr a darparwyr sy'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd er budd gorau dysgwyr, ac wedi'u galluogi gan y Llywodraeth. Dyma'r egwyddor y tu ôl i'r digwyddiad myfyrwyr lywodraethwyr mewn addysg bellach a fynychais yng Nghaerdydd y mis hwn. Yno, fe wnes i gwrdd â dysgwyr sydd wedi gwirfoddoli i eistedd ar gyrff llywodraethu eu sefydliadau priodol. Byddan nhw'n darparu'r elfen hanfodol o lais a phrofiad y dysgwr ac yn helpu i lywio dyfodol eu colegau. Roeddwn i, fel bob amser, yn hynod falch o weld ein pobl ifanc yn dangos eu galluoedd arwain a'u perchnogaeth o'u haddysg.
Yn ddiweddar, rwyf i wedi dechrau cyfres o ymweliadau â darparwyr ar draws y system drydyddol ac o amgylch Cymru. Rwyf i wedi mwynhau dod ynghyd â dysgwyr a'u hathrawon a'u tiwtoriaid wyneb yn wyneb, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at barhau i wneud hyn dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf. Bydd yr ymweliadau hyn yn fy helpu i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o ddewisiadau dysgwyr, y rhwystrau maen nhw'n eu hwynebu, ac i ddathlu eu cyflawniadau. Rwy'n gobeithio dod ar draws ysbryd o barodrwydd gan bob darparwr i gymryd rhan yn y gwaith o ail-lunio a chydlunio'r dirwedd addysgol ôl-16 yng Nghymru. Ac rwy'n gobeithio gweld ymrwymiad i welliant parhaus a nodau uchelgeisiol ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Rwyf i hefyd eisiau defnyddio'r amser hwn i ystyried y ffordd orau o ymgysylltu â'r grŵp craidd o bobl nad ydyn nhw wedi cymryd rhan mewn addysg a hyfforddiant ôl-16. Yn union fel yr ydyn ni'n gwybod bod yna gysylltiad cryf rhwng presenoldeb a chyrhaeddiad ar gyfer disgyblion iau, mae'r un peth yn wir am ein carfannau ôl-16. Rydyn ni eisiau dod o hyd i ffyrdd o roi llais i bob dysgwr, nid dim ond y rhai sydd fwyaf brwdfrydig a hyderus. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod cyfranogiad ôl-16 yn her sylweddol i'r sector ar hyn o bryd, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gasglu cymaint o wybodaeth â phosibl i lywio sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru a Medr ymateb yn fy natganiad yn ddiweddarach y tymor hwn. Un ffordd bosibl ymlaen fydd drwy'r cod ymgysylltu â dysgwyr sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu gan Medr. Bydd y cod hwn yn ymgorffori pwysigrwydd rhoi llais i ddysgwyr yn y penderfyniadau a fydd yn effeithio arnyn nhw yn ystod eu haddysg—rhywbeth y mae sefydliadau Cymru eisoes wedi dechrau ei wneud gyda llwyddiant mawr.
Y weledigaeth sydd gennym ni yw sector cydlynol ac integredig, sy'n canolbwyntio ar les a chymorth dysgwyr. Mae angen system addysg drydyddol arnon ni sy'n cael ei phweru gan uchelgeisiau, cyrhaeddiad a dyheadau dysgwyr, a lle mae ein darparwyr a'n hymarferwyr yn cyfuno eu gwybodaeth a'u profiad gydag ymwybyddiaeth o'u cyd-destunau cymdeithasol ehangach. Bydd hyn yn arwain at Gymru fwy cyfartal a deinamig.
Can I congratulate you, Minister, on your new role? Many congratulations. I know that it's a sector, as you mentioned in your statement, that you feel passionate about and I think it's a passion that we share on these benches, as well, and I'm really looking forward to working with you.
I think it's important to think about the wider picture of where we are with HE and FE here in Wales, because it is quite a challenging picture, I think. We've seen, this year, a reduction in the number of young people going to university; it's at a 15-year low. According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 33 per cent of 18-year-olds in Wales applied to go to university this year, compared to 41.9 per cent in the UK as a whole. The chair of Universities Wales, Paul Boyle, said that it was the biggest gap that we've known in modern history, and asked the Welsh Government to review the reasons behind that. So, what is your response to that ask? Will the Welsh Government be commissioning a review? Because that difference from 42 to 33—9 per cent almost—is quite stark and really needs to be looked at.
Universities themselves have also been really open about the financial challenges that a number of them face. So, I guess the question is: with a new Minister in post, what is the grand plan from the Welsh Government here? What does the future of our university sector in Wales look like, in your view? And how is the Welsh Government working with universities to deliver that sustainable future that we talked about at the beginning?
Equally as worryingly, we've also seen a 1 per cent drop in people pursuing apprenticeships in quarter 2 of 2023-24, versus the same quarter in the previous year. So, it is worrying to see fewer and fewer people choosing both the university route and the apprenticeship route as well. So, there are some worrying statistics there, and a worrying picture that I hope the Welsh Government, but also we stand ready to work with you to get to the bottom of as well, because we know the power of this sector and its ability to change lives and build futures for some young people in Wales.
You talked about the three Cs in your statement: collaboration, co-operation and community? Yes, sorry, I should've written them down. But it's collaboration in particular that I wanted to focus on. When I speak to HE and FE providers in Wales, they actually really want to collaborate and they see that as an important part of the development of the offer that they can make, but sometimes, if you like, the administration can get in the way. Quite a lot of difficult joins in the margins can get in the way, and this is where I think Government has the power to be able to help this along.
So, if I give you an example, some of the technical qualifications that have been worked on by the Welsh Government in terms of vocational certificates of secondary education and other qualifications, where, clearly, for example, a college is better placed to provide both the technical learning and the physical equipment to teach some technical courses, but at the moment, it is unclear who and exactly how some of these qualifications will be provided in terms of the learning. So, it clearly requires greater collaboration between colleges and schools, for example. So, how are you working to bridge those gaps?
There's also the question of collaboration, I think, across Government. Education, obviously, is in one department and I'm also glad to see the Minister here who sits in the economy department, which is responsible for apprenticeships and skills as well. How are you making sure that things aren't lost, if you like, in the joins between those two departments?
Finally, I just wanted to touch on Medr, as you mentioned Medr as well. You mentioned Medr's five priorities. If I'm honest, they were very broad and lacked deliverables and targets. Is it your intention that Medr will work to targets and work to deliverables, so that we know whether the things that Medr says it wants to achieve are successful in the future? I just also wanted, finally on Medr, to raise with you the number of unfilled vacancies in senior roles still at Medr, despite the fact that we have had a long run-up, if you like, in the period of time to establish Medr. It's clear that there are a number of senior roles that are still not filled in Medr. From speaking to people who have interfaced with Medr up to this point, there seems to be some lack of clarity on exactly what its objectives are and exactly what its targets are, and I fear that it may be because of those unfilled senior posts. So, could you provide an update on your understanding of the progress towards filling those roles, and also your expectations of Medr, going forward?
A gaf i eich llongyfarch chi, Gweinidog, ar eich rôl newydd? Llongyfarchiadau mawr. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn sector, fel y gwnaethoch sôn yn eich datganiad, yr ydych chi'n teimlo'n angerddol amdano ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn angerdd yr ydyn ni'n ei rannu ar y meinciau hyn hefyd, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda chi.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig meddwl am y darlun ehangach o ran lle yr ydyn ni arni gydag AU ac AB yma yng Nghymru, achos mae'n ddarlun eithaf heriol, rwy'n credu. Rydyn ni wedi gweld llai o bobl ifanc yn mynd i'r brifysgol eleni; y nifer isaf ers 15 mlynedd. Yn ôl Gwasanaeth Derbyn y Prifysgolion a'r Colegau, gwnaeth 33 y cant o bobl ifanc 18 oed yng Nghymru gais i fynd i'r brifysgol eleni, o'i gymharu â 41.9 y cant yn y DU gyfan. Dywedodd cadeirydd Prifysgolion Cymru, Paul Boyle, mai dyma'r bwlch mwyaf yr ydyn ni wedi'i weld mewn hanes modern, a gofynnodd i Lywodraeth Cymru adolygu'r rhesymau y tu ôl i hynny. Felly, beth yw eich ymateb i'r cwestiwn hwnnw? A fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn comisiynu adolygiad? Oherwydd mae'r gwahaniaeth hwnnw o 42 i 33—9 y cant bron—yn eithaf trawiadol ac mae gwir angen edrych arno.
Mae'r prifysgolion eu hunain wedi bod yn agored iawn hefyd am yr heriau ariannol y mae nifer ohonyn nhw yn eu hwynebu. Felly, mae'n debyg mai'r cwestiwn yw: gyda Gweinidog newydd yn ei swydd, beth yw cynllun mawr Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer hyn? Sut olwg sydd ar ddyfodol ein sector prifysgolion yng Nghymru, yn eich barn chi? A sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda phrifysgolion i gyflawni'r dyfodol cynaliadwy hwnnw y gwnaethon ni siarad amdano ar y dechrau?
Yr un mor bryderus, rydyn ni hefyd wedi gweld gostyngiad o 1 y cant yn nifer y bobl sy'n dilyn prentisiaethau yn chwarter 2 2023-24, o'i gymharu â'r un chwarter yn y flwyddyn flaenorol. Felly, mae'n destun pryder gweld llai a llai o bobl yn dewis llwybr y brifysgol a'r llwybr prentisiaeth hefyd. Felly, mae rhai ystadegau pryderus yn y fan yna, a darlun pryderus rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hefyd rydyn ni'n barod i weithio gyda chi i fynd at wraidd hyn hefyd, oherwydd rydyn ni'n gwybod am rym y sector hwn a'i allu i newid bywydau ac adeiladu dyfodol i rai pobl ifanc yng Nghymru.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y tair C yn eich datganiad: cydweithredu, cydweithio a chymuned? Ie, mae'n ddrwg gen i, dylwn i fod wedi ysgrifennu nhw i lawr. Ond yr hyn yr oeddwn i eisiau canolbwyntio arno oedd cydweithredu. Pan fyddaf i'n siarad â darparwyr addysg uwch ac addysg bellach yng Nghymru, maen nhw wir eisiau cydweithredu ac maen nhw'n gweld hynny fel rhan bwysig o ddatblygiad y cynnig y gallan nhw ei wneud, ond weithiau, os mynnwch chi, gall y pethau gweinyddol fynd yn y ffordd. Gall cryn dipyn o bwyntiau cyffwrdd anodd ar yr ymylon fynd yn y ffordd, a dyma lle rwy'n credu bod gan y Llywodraeth y pŵer i allu helpu gyda hyn.
Felly, os rhoddaf enghraifft i chi, rhai o'r cymwysterau technegol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithio arnyn nhw o ran tystysgrifau galwedigaethol addysg uwchradd a chymwysterau eraill, lle, yn amlwg, er enghraifft, mae coleg mewn sefyllfa well i ddarparu'r dysgu technegol a'r offer ffisegol i addysgu rhai cyrsiau technegol, ond ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'n glir pwy fydd yn darparu rhai o'r cymwysterau hyn a sut yn union y byddan nhw'n cael eu darparu o ran y dysgu. Felly, mae'n amlwg bod angen mwy o gydweithredu rhwng colegau ac ysgolion, er enghraifft. Felly, sut ydych chi'n gweithio i bontio'r bylchau hynny?
Rhaid ystyried cydweithio hefyd, rwy'n credu, ar draws y Llywodraeth. Mae addysg, yn amlwg, mewn un adran ac rwy'n falch hefyd o weld y Gweinidog yma sy'n eistedd yn adran yr economi, sy'n gyfrifol am brentisiaethau a sgiliau hefyd. Sut ydych chi'n sicrhau nad yw pethau'n cael eu colli, os mynnwch chi, yn y pwyntiau cyffwrdd rhwng y ddwy adran yna?
Yn olaf, roeddwn i eisiau crybwyll Medr, gan eich bod chi wedi sôn am Medr hefyd. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am bum blaenoriaeth Medr. Os ydw i'n onest, roedden nhw'n eang iawn ac roedd prinder pethau y mae modd eu cyflawni a thargedau. Ai eich bwriad chi yw y bydd Medr yn gweithio i dargedau ac yn gweithio i bethau y mae modd eu cyflawni, fel ein bod ni'n gwybod a yw'r pethau y mae Medr yn dweud ei fod eisiau eu cyflawni yn llwyddiannus yn y dyfodol? Roeddwn i eisiau hefyd, yn olaf o ran Medr, godi gyda chi nifer y swyddi gwag sydd heb eu llenwi o hyd mewn rolau uwch yn Medr, er gwaethaf y ffaith ein bod ni wedi cael cyfnod hir, os mynnwch chi, yn y cyfnod o amser i sefydlu Medr. Mae'n amlwg bod nifer o rolau uwch nad ydyn nhw wedi'u llenwi o hyd yn Medr. O siarad â phobl sydd wedi rhyngwynebu â Medr hyd at y pwynt hwn, mae'n ymddangos bod rhywfaint o ddiffyg eglurder o ran beth yn union yw ei amcanion a beth yn union yw ei dargedau, ac rwy'n ofni y gallai hyn fod oherwydd y swyddi uwch hynny sydd heb eu llenwi. Felly, a allech chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am eich dealltwriaeth o'r cynnydd tuag at lenwi'r rolau hynny, a hefyd eich disgwyliadau o Medr, wrth symud ymlaen?
Thank you very much, Tom, for your warm welcome and for your series of questions as well. If we start with HE participation, we know that that is an area that we are concerned about and we need to improve here in Wales if we are going to get the population with the skill set that we need for the workforce of today and for tomorrow.
That is something that I have tasked my officials with gathering more data on. Clearly, we know that, here in Wales, we have got the most generous package of undergraduate maintenance support. We have got the highest levels of non-repayable grant support, and that is directly targeted at those students from households with the lowest incomes. So, there is a lot of work that has already been done that I intend to build on to ensure that we have that support to make HE open and accessible to all young people and mature students in Wales. But that is something that I will be continuing to work on.
You raised, of course, the issue of the financial challenges in the HE sector, which is an issue not just in Wales but across the UK, and even internationally. And although we know that this is a difficult time, and that the sector needs to find ways to reduce costs, we don’t believe that there is any Welsh institution that is at risk of failure.
I think that it is important to note that there are multiple income streams for higher education that far outweigh direct Government funding. Welsh Government funding is around 10 per cent of overall HE funding. So, there are a lot of factors there that are creating those financial pressures for the sector, which are outside of the Welsh Government’s control. Medr will be responsible for monitoring any immediate financial risks to the HE sector, but it’s important to note as well that universities are autonomous bodies, so they will be taking their own decisions, albeit with an input and a steer from myself and from Medr.
Apprenticeships, of course, are a really important part of our post-16 learning offer, and they sit with the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership. But I have already had some really constructive early meetings with the Minister, and we intend to carry on working in that spirit together.
In terms of collaboration between HE and FE and schools, this is something that is really important to me, and I have started, as I said in my statement, a series of visits across Wales. The first visit that I embarked on was to the University of South Wales, purely because of its excellent track record with its strategic partnership of collaborating with FE colleges in the region. There was lots that I learned there about how well that works, particularly in the conversations that I had with students there. I will be looking, in my visits to other universities, to see what work they are doing and where there are elements of best practice that can be shared out.
In terms of Medr, it is out to consultation at the moment on its draft strategic plan. So, if you have views, then I would encourage you, like all stakeholders, to put those views forward. I’m aware that there are some posts that are yet to be filled in Medr; I wouldn't describe those as senior posts. A lot of posts have already been filled, and certainly I've met with the CEO and the chair of Medr. I will be meeting with the board again tomorrow.
I don't recognise what you say there about a lack of clarity in their objectives. From the conversations I've had with them, they are very clear on their objectives, and bringing together those sectors that they will have oversight of, which are HE, FE, adult community learning, work-based learning, apprenticeships and school sixth forms. I really think that this is something to celebrate, because we are the first country in the UK to have one body to bring together the funding, planning and regulation of all post-16 education and research. So, it's a fantastic opportunity for Wales to lead the rest of the UK.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Tom, am eich croeso cynnes ac am eich cyfres o gwestiynau hefyd. Os dechreuwn ni gyda chyfranogiad addysg uwch, rydyn ni'n gwybod bod hwnnw'n faes yr ydyn ni'n poeni amdano ac mae angen i ni wella yma yng Nghymru os ydyn ni eisiau cael y boblogaeth â'r set sgiliau sydd ei hangen arnon ni ar gyfer y gweithlu heddiw ac yfory.
Mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr wyf i wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion gasglu mwy o ddata arno. Yn amlwg, rydyn ni'n gwybod bod gennym ni, yma yng Nghymru, y pecyn mwyaf hael o gymorth cynhaliaeth i israddedigion. Mae gennym ni'r lefelau uchaf o gymorth grant nad oes rhaid ei ad-dalu, ac mae hynny wedi'i dargedu'n uniongyrchol at y myfyrwyr hynny o aelwydydd sydd â'r incwm isaf. Felly, mae llawer o waith sydd eisoes wedi'i wneud yr wyf i'n bwriadu ei ddatblygu i sicrhau bod gennym ni'r gefnogaeth honno i sicrhau bod addysg uwch yn agored ac yn hygyrch i bob person ifanc a myfyriwr aeddfed yng Nghymru. Ond mae hynny'n rhywbeth y byddaf i'n parhau i weithio arno.
Fe wnaethoch chi godi, wrth gwrs, fater yr heriau ariannol yn y sector addysg uwch, sy'n broblem nid yn unig yng Nghymru ond ledled y DU, a hyd yn oed yn rhyngwladol. Ac er ein bod ni'n gwybod bod hwn yn gyfnod anodd, a bod angen i'r sector ddod o hyd i ffyrdd o leihau costau, nid ydyn ni'n credu bod unrhyw sefydliad yng Nghymru sydd mewn perygl o fethu.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig nodi bod sawl ffrwd incwm ar gyfer addysg uwch sy'n llawer mwy na chyllid uniongyrchol y Llywodraeth. Mae cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru oddeutu 10 y cant o'r cyllid AU cyffredinol. Felly, mae yna lawer o ffactorau yno sy'n creu'r pwysau ariannol hynny i'r sector, sydd y tu hwnt i reolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd Medr yn gyfrifol am fonitro unrhyw risgiau ariannol uniongyrchol i'r sector addysg uwch, ond mae'n bwysig nodi hefyd fod prifysgolion yn gyrff ymreolaethol, felly byddan nhw'n gwneud eu penderfyniadau eu hunain, er y byddan nhw'n cael mewnbwn ac yn cael eu llywio gennyf i a gan Medr.
Mae prentisiaethau, wrth gwrs, yn rhan bwysig iawn o'n cynnig dysgu ôl-16, a'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol sy'n gyfrifol amdanyn nhw. Ond rwyf i eisoes wedi cael cyfarfodydd cynnar adeiladol iawn gyda'r Gweinidog, ac rydyn ni'n bwriadu parhau i weithio gyda'n gilydd yn yr ysbryd hwnnw.
O ran cydweithredu rhwng addysg uwch ac addysg bellach ac ysgolion, mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n bwysig iawn i mi, ac rwyf i wedi dechrau, fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, gyfres o ymweliadau ledled Cymru. Yn gyntaf, fe ymwelais i â Phrifysgol De Cymru, dim ond oherwydd ei hanes rhagorol gyda'i phartneriaeth strategol o gydweithredu â cholegau addysg bellach yn y rhanbarth. Fe ddysgais i lawer yno am ba mor dda y mae hynny'n gweithio, yn enwedig yn y sgyrsiau a gefais gyda myfyrwyr yno. Byddaf i'n edrych, yn fy ymweliadau â phrifysgolion eraill, i weld pa waith maen nhw'n ei wneud a lle mae yna elfennau o arfer gorau y mae modd eu rhannu.
O ran Medr, mae ei gynllun strategol drafft yn destun ymgynghoriad ar hyn o bryd. Felly, os oes gennych chi farn, yna byddwn i'n eich annog chi, fel pob rhanddeiliad, i gyflwyno'r safbwyntiau hynny. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod rhai swyddi gyda Medr nad ydyn nhw wedi'u llenwi eto; ni fyddwn i'n disgrifio'r rheini fel swyddi uwch. Mae llawer o swyddi eisoes wedi'u llenwi, ac yn sicr rwyf i wedi cwrdd â'r Prif Swyddog Gweithredol a chadeirydd Medr. Byddaf i'n cyfarfod â'r Bwrdd eto yfory.
Nid ydw i'n cydnabod yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud yn y fan yna am ddiffyg eglurder o ran eu hamcanion. O'r sgyrsiau yr ydw i wedi'u cael gyda nhw, maen nhw'n glir iawn am eu hamcanion, ac am ddwyn ynghyd y sectorau hynny y byddan nhw'n eu goruchwylio, sef addysg uwch, addysg bellach, dysgu oedolion yn y gymuned, dysgu'n seiliedig ar waith, prentisiaethau a chweched dosbarth ysgolion. Rwyf i wir yn credu bod hyn yn rhywbeth i'w ddathlu, oherwydd ni yw'r wlad gyntaf yn y DU i gael un corff i ddod â holl gyllid, cynllunio a rheoleiddio addysg ac ymchwil ôl-16 at ei gilydd. Felly, mae'n gyfle gwych i Gymru arwain gweddill y DU.
Diolch yn fawr i'r Gweinidog am ei datganiad. Gaf i hefyd ei llongyfarch hi ar ei phenodiad diweddar? Rŷn ni wedi cael cyfle i roi tipyn o sylw yn y Siambr hon yn ddiweddar i addysg statudol, ac fel rhywun mewn bywyd blaenorol oedd yn gweithio yn y maes addysg ôl-16 ac addysg gydol oes, dwi'n croesawu'r ffocws heddiw ar y sector ôl-16.
O ran y datganiad—byddaf yn dod yn ôl at rai pwyntiau penodol oedd yn y datganiad—yn nodweddiadol, rôn i eisiau mynd ar ôl rhywbeth, yn debyg i Tom, sydd ddim yn y datganiad, sef yr argyfwng ariannol sydd yn wynebu ein prifysgolion ni yma yng Nghymru. Dwi'n credu, os nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn gweithredu ar frys, fe allwn ni golli'r sefydliadau arbennig yma—nifer ohonyn nhw—sydd yn cynnig cyfleoedd ar gyfer dysg ar lefel uchel iawn i ganiatáu i'n pobl ifanc ni wireddu eu hamcanion nhw mewn bywyd. Roedd yna gyfeiriad yn eich datganiad chi bod yna ddatganiad arall yn mynd i ddod yn nes ymlaen ar addysg uwch, ond y gwir amdani yw y gallai hynny fod yn rhy hwyr o lawer i rai o'n prifysgolion ni.
Thank you very much to the Minister for her statement. May I too congratulate her on her recent appointment? We've had an opportunity in this Siambr recently to give a great deal of attention to statutory education, and as someone in a former life who worked in the field of post-16 education and lifelong learning, I welcome the focus today on the post-16 sector.
On the statement—I'll return to some specific points in the statement itself—what was most noticeable was something that wasn't contained in the statement, which was what Tom referred to, and that's the funding crisis facing our universities here in Wales. I believe, if the Government doesn't take urgent action, we could lose these very special institutions—a number of them—that do provide opportunities for very high-level learning to enable our young people to achieve their ambitions in life. There was a reference in your statement that there will be a further statement later on on higher education, but the truth is that that could be far too late for some of our universities.
We know from reports that the UK Government is already developing a rescue plan for English universities who are facing—many of them—financial uncertainty. This plan includes £1 billion bail-outs, fee rises, as well as further cuts to courses and staff. Considering the financial hole that faces many of our Welsh universities, thought to be £100 million, the pressure is growing on you as a Government to work with our universities to find solutions that will protect jobs, students and our wider economy.
So, I'm just wondering—I'm trying to tease this out of you, in regard to a number of options that you would want to consider, perhaps—if you can give us a steer of your way of thinking. You could well consider as a Government that you'd want Welsh universities to be eligible for the same UK scheme. Maybe it would prefer to develop its own rescue package; it might be happy for some Welsh unis to go bust or to force mergers upon them. Or it may match any potential fee rise brought forward in England. So, it would be interesting to understand how your thinking is at the moment, because, let's not beat around the bush, Welsh universities face serious challenges, and the clock is ticking. I'll just pose those questions to you on universities.
If I can just turn to Medr. Tom alluded to some concerns that the further education sector isn't perhaps represented well enough in the appointments that have been made—so, I don't know whether you could enlighten us on that and put our minds to rest. And whether you see, in Medr, enough of an expertise and capacity that will reflect all the various sectors equally that Medr is responsible for. So, can we just have an assurance that all those sectors will have equal credence and financial support and expertise within Medr?
Again in the statement you aspire to see better collaboration between schools and FE colleges, HE colleges, apprenticeships and so on, and that is to be welcomed, of course, but we know we've been here before. We've been here before, trying to establish learning pathways between schools and colleges, but we also have to acknowledge that tensions exist between them. In most parts of Wales, you find schools and colleges not working together, not even speaking to each other, and many of those problems arise from the disparate and unfair funding settlement that many believe favours FE colleges, and that investment in facilities and so on is not mirrored in the same level of investment in our schools, particularly in our sixth forms. So, I'm just keen to know, although it looks good on paper as an aspiration, how exactly you're going to relieve these tensions and create a better understanding and collaboration between all of these sectors, putting the learner at the centre of the provision. And—
Rydyn ni'n gwybod o adroddiadau bod Llywodraeth y DU eisoes yn datblygu cynllun achub ar gyfer prifysgolion yn Lloegr sy'n wynebu—llawer ohonyn nhw—ansicrwydd ariannol. Mae'r cynllun hwn yn cynnwys £1 biliwn i'w hachub, cynnydd mewn ffioedd, yn ogystal â thoriadau eraill i gyrsiau a staff. O ystyried y twll ariannol sy'n wynebu llawer o'n prifysgolion yng Nghymru, y gred yw ei fod yn £100 miliwn, mae'r pwysau yn tyfu arnoch chi fel Llywodraeth i weithio gyda'n prifysgolion i ddod o hyd i atebion a fydd yn diogelu swyddi, myfyrwyr a'n heconomi ehangach.
Felly, meddwl ydw i tybed—rwy'n ceisio denu hyn allan ohonoch chi, o ran nifer o opsiynau y byddech chi eisiau'u hystyried, efallai—os fedrwch chi roi syniad i ni o'ch ffordd o feddwl. Gallech chi ystyried fel Llywodraeth eich bod chi eisiau i brifysgolion Cymru fod yn gymwys ar gyfer yr un cynllun yn y DU. Efallai y byddai'n well ganddi ddatblygu ei phecyn achub ei hun; efallai y byddai'n hapus i rai o brifysgolion Cymru fynd i'r wal neu orfodi uno arnyn nhw. Neu gallai godi ffioedd i gyfateb â'r hyn a allai gael ei gyflwyno yn Lloegr. Felly, byddai'n ddiddorol deall beth yr ydych chi'n ei feddwl ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd, gadewch i ni ddweud hi fel y mae hi, mae prifysgolion Cymru'n wynebu heriau difrifol, ac mae'r cloc yn tician. Fe wnaf i ond gofyn y cwestiynau hynny i chi ar brifysgolion.
Os caf i droi at Medr. Fe gyfeiriodd Tom at rai pryderon nad yw'r sector addysg, erbyn hyn, efallai'n cael ei gynrychioli'n ddigon da o ran y penodiadau sydd wedi'u gwneud—felly, wn i ddim a allech chi ddweud mwy wrthyn ni am hynny a rhoi tawelwch meddwl i ni. Ac a ydych chi'n gweld, yn Medr, ddigon o arbenigedd a chapasiti a fydd yn adlewyrchu'r holl wahanol sectorau y mae Medr yn gyfrifol amdanyn nhw yn gyfartal. Felly, allwn ni gael sicrwydd y bydd yr holl sectorau hynny yn cael yr un gred a chymorth ariannol ac arbenigedd yn Medr?
Unwaith eto, yn y datganiad, yr ydych chi'n anelu at weld gwell cydweithredu rhwng ysgolion a cholegau addysg bellach, colegau addysg uwch, prentisiaethau ac ati, ac mae hynny i'w groesawu, wrth gwrs, ond rydyn ni'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi bod yma o'r blaen. Rydyn ni wedi bod yma o'r blaen, yn ceisio sefydlu llwybrau dysgu rhwng ysgolion a cholegau, ond mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd gydnabod bod tensiynau'n bodoli rhyngddyn nhw. Yn y rhan fwyaf o Gymru, rydych chi'n gweld nad yw ysgolion a cholegau yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd, nid ydyn nhw hyd yn oed yn siarad â'i gilydd, ac mae llawer o'r problemau hynny'n deillio o'r setliad cyllido anghyfartal ac annheg y mae llawer yn credu sy'n ffafrio colegau addysg bellach, ac nid yw buddsoddiad hwnnw mewn cyfleusterau ac yn y blaen yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn yr un lefel o fuddsoddiad yn ein hysgolion, yn enwedig yn ein chweched dosbarth. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i wybod, er ei fod yn edrych yn dda ar bapur fel dyhead, sut yn union yr ydych chi'n mynd i leddfu'r tensiynau hyn a chreu gwell dealltwriaeth a chydweithredu rhwng yr holl sectorau hyn, gan roi'r dysgwr wrth wraidd y ddarpariaeth. A—
You will need to come to a question now, Cefin.
Bydd angen i chi ofyn cwestiwn nawr, Cefin.
Sorry. My final question, then. I hadn't looked up at the clock.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf i. Fy nghwestiwn olaf, felly. Nid oeddwn i wedi edrych i fyny ar y cloc.
Jest o ran addysg Gymraeg, does yna ddim sôn gyda chi am addysg Gymraeg. Felly, jest cwestiwn penodol. Sut ŷch chi'n bwriadu cynyddu'r ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg ar draws y sectorau i gyd, yn arbennig mewn colegau addysg bellach ac addysg uwch? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Just in terms of Welsh-medium education, there's no mention made of Welsh-medium education, so just a specific question: how do you intend to increase Welsh-medium provision across all of the sectors, particularly in FE colleges and HE provision? Thank you.
Thank you, Cefin Campbell, for another warm welcome from you in the Chamber, and for your series of questions there. In terms of the FE funding situation, I've already covered much of that in my response to Tom Giffard, but one thing I think is useful to add to that as well is the issue with international student visas. We know that this is a really important funding stream that's used to cross-subsidise other students’ studies, and at the UK level the data from January to September showed that those student visa applications were 16 per cent lower.
This is something that I'm concerned about, something that I've talked to the Cabinet Secretary for Education about, and it's something that I have had detailed discussions with stakeholders about as well. I'm looking for an early meeting with my counterpart Baroness Smith from the UK Government, because obviously this is an area that requires some co-operation and some joint thinking in order to try and relieve that pressure. We know that our international students provide a really valuable cultural and academic dimension to our institutions as well, so I really am very keen to do as much as I can to resolve that.
In terms of Medr, and you talked about the issue there with English universities, it's good to see that you recognise that this is a crisis across the UK. I'm aware that the UK Government has this emergency fund that they're bringing into play. Medr is going to have its own funds to support our institutions here in Wales, and I'm pleased to say it's going to be a more positive kind of fund. It will be called a transformation fund, so it has a positive title and a positive ethos in terms of not just bailing out universities that may be in financial trouble, but working with them to see how they can transform the work that they do, to encourage them to be more financially self-sufficient in these difficult times moving forward.FootnoteLink
You've asked about what work I'll do with the sector to find solutions. I think that's a really important question. It's one of the reasons why I'm going to meet with the board of Medr tomorrow, and also one of the reasons why I've met already with Universities Wales, and, perhaps more importantly than that, am embarking on this tour of all higher education institutions in Wales, because I want to hear from the vice-chancellors themselves, from the students themselves, from the staff, from trade unions, so that I get a full picture to enable me to undertake this role to the very best of my ability.
And other questions then that you raised there about Medr—again, I don't recognise what you allude to there with there being a lack of expertise and capacity within Medr. I've seen a good cross-section of representation there, and we know that there are other posts that they will be filling as time moves on, and that's not just in their staffing structure—and I should say I'm due to meet with staff of Medr tomorrow as well—but also in their board. Their board, I feel, has a really good cross-section, and that includes students as well; it's really good to see the president of the National Union of Students Wales now sitting on that board to give that learner voice.
As a former assistant head of sixth form, I do recognise the points you made there about the difficulties between the desire for collaboration across the sector and that tension within the system as well, because our post-16 learners are a really valuable resource. So, it's only natural that there would be competition within the system to attract them. But, as well as that, I'm already seeing some really good practice between schools and further education colleges, and that is something that I want to find out more about and to unpick. I think the recommendations from the Hefin David report are really important for myself, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership to work on there, so that we can ensure those very best transitions post 16.
And finally, you asked about Welsh-medium education. Absolutely, that is really crucial, and I know that one of the challenges that I face coming into this post is to work to ensure that there is parity of access between Welsh-medium and English-medium education post 16. I've already seen some areas of good practice there, but I'm keen to dig down into that to find out more about how those areas of good practice can be strengthened, and I am due to meet with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol soon as well.
Diolch, Cefin Campbell, am groeso cynnes arall gennych chi yn y Siambr, ac am eich cyfres o gwestiynau yn y fan yna. O ran y sefyllfa gyllido addysg bellach, rwyf i eisoes wedi ymdrin â llawer o hynny yn fy ymateb i Tom Giffard, ond un peth rwy'n credu sy'n ddefnyddiol i'w ychwanegu at hynny hefyd yw'r mater ynghylch fisâu myfyrwyr rhyngwladol. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod hon yn ffrwd ariannu bwysig iawn sy'n cael ei defnyddio i groes-sybsideiddio astudiaethau myfyrwyr eraill ac, ar lefel y DU, dangosodd y data rhwng Ionawr a Medi fod y ceisiadau fisa hynny gan fyfyrwyr 16 y cant yn is.
Mae hyn yn rhywbeth rwy'n poeni amdano, rhywbeth rwyf i wedi siarad ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg yn ei gylch, ac mae'n rhywbeth yr wyf i wedi cael trafodaethau manwl â rhanddeiliaid amdano hefyd. Rwy'n edrych i gael cyfarfod cynnar gyda fy swyddog cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU, y Farwnes Smith, oherwydd yn amlwg mae hwn yn faes sy'n gofyn am rywfaint o gydweithredu a rhywfaint o feddwl ar y cyd er mwyn ceisio lleddfu'r pwysau hwnnw. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod ein myfyrwyr rhyngwladol yn rhoi dimensiwn diwylliannol ac academaidd gwerthfawr iawn i'n sefydliadau hefyd, felly rwy'n awyddus iawn i wneud cymaint ag y gallaf i ddatrys hynny.
O ran Medr, ac fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y mater yn y fan yna gyda phrifysgolion yn Lloegr, mae'n dda gweld eich bod chi'n cydnabod bod hwn yn argyfwng ar draws y DU. Rwy'n ymwybodol bod gan Lywodraeth y DU y gronfa argyfwng hon y maen nhw'n ei rhoi ar waith. Mae Medr yn mynd i gael ei arian ei hun i gefnogi ein sefydliadau yma yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud y bydd yn fath mwy cadarnhaol o gronfa. Bydd yn cael ei galw'n gronfa drawsnewid, felly mae ganddi deitl cadarnhaol ac ethos cadarnhaol o ran nid yn unig achub prifysgolion a all fod mewn trafferthion ariannol, ond gweithio gyda nhw i weld sut y gallan nhw drawsnewid y gwaith maen nhw'n ei wneud, i'w hannog i fod yn fwy hunangynhaliol yn ariannol yn y cyfnod anodd hwn wrth symud ymlaen.FootnoteLink
Rydych chi wedi gofyn pa waith y byddaf i'n ei wneud gyda'r sector i ddod o hyd i atebion. Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n gwestiwn pwysig iawn. Mae'n un o'r rhesymau pam yr wyf i'n mynd i gwrdd â bwrdd Medr yfory, a hefyd un o'r rhesymau pam yr wyf i eisoes wedi cwrdd â Phrifysgolion Cymru, ac, yn bwysicach na hynny, efallai, pam yr wyf i'n cychwyn ar y daith hon o amgylch pob sefydliad addysg uwch yng Nghymru, oherwydd rwyf i eisiau clywed gan yr is-ganghellorion eu hunain, gan y myfyrwyr eu hunain, gan y staff, gan undebau llafur, er mwyn i mi gael darlun llawn i fy ngalluogi i ymgymryd â'r rôl hon hyd eithaf fy ngallu.
A chwestiynau eraill wedyn y gwnaethoch chi eu codi yn y fan yna am Medr—unwaith eto, nid ydw i'n cydnabod yr hyn y gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato yn y fan yna o ran diffyg arbenigedd a chapasiti o fewn Medr. Rwyf i wedi gweld trawsdoriad da o gynrychiolaeth yno, ac rydyn ni'n gwybod bod yna swyddi eraill y byddan nhw'n eu llenwi wrth symud ymlaen, ac nid o ran eu strwythur staffio yn unig—ac fe ddylwn i ddweud fy mod i fod i gwrdd â staff Medr yfory hefyd—ond hefyd o ran eu bwrdd. Mae gan eu bwrdd, rwy'n teimlo, groestoriad da iawn, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys myfyrwyr hefyd; mae'n dda iawn gweld llywydd Undeb Cenedlaethol Myfyrwyr Cymru erbyn hyn yn eistedd ar y bwrdd hwnnw i roi'r llais hwnnw i'r dysgwr.
Fel cyn-bennaeth cynorthwyol chweched dosbarth, rwy'n cydnabod y pwyntiau a wnaethoch chi yn y fan yna am yr anawsterau rhwng yr awydd i gydweithredu ar draws y sector a'r tensiwn hwnnw yn y system hefyd, oherwydd mae ein dysgwyr ôl-16 yn adnodd gwerthfawr iawn. Felly, mae'n naturiol y byddai cystadleuaeth o fewn y system i'w denu. Ond, yn ogystal â hynny, rwyf i eisoes yn gweld arfer da iawn rhwng ysgolion a cholegau addysg bellach, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr wyf i eisiau darganfod mwy amdano a'i ddadansoddi'n ofalus. Rwy'n credu bod argymhellion adroddiad Hefin David yn bwysig iawn i mi fy hun, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg a'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol weithio arnyn nhw, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau'r pontio gorau posibl hynny ar ôl 16.
Ac yn olaf, roeddech chi'n holi am addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg. Yn bendant, mae hynny'n wirioneddol hanfodol, ac rwy'n gwybod mai un o'r heriau sy'n fy wynebu i wrth ddod i mewn i'r swydd hon yw gweithio i sicrhau bod cydraddoldeb mynediad rhwng addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg a chyfrwng Saesneg ôl-16. Rwyf i eisoes wedi gweld rhai meysydd o arfer da yno, ond rwy'n awyddus i ymchwilio ymhellach i ddarganfod mwy am sut y mae modd cryfhau'r meysydd hynny o arfer da, ac rwyf i fod i gwrdd â'r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol yn fuan hefyd.
I would like to add my voice to those welcoming you to this important role, Minister. One of the organisations I know you will be working closely with is ColegauCymru, and they would like to see Medr take forward a national vocational education and training strategy that would link vocational education and training towards economic and industrial priorities. It would provide a guiding framework for Qualifications Wales awarding bodies and providers, and it would ensure a clear line of democratic accountability within the system, and also articulate the importance of appropriate assessment, moving towards this focus on progression into work with a strong voice for learners and employers, allowing colleges to meet local and national priorities.
So, I just wonder, Minister, whether you recognise the strength of ColegauCymru's asks, as it were, given this would be putting outcomes at the heart of the system, and include a commitment to build an infrastructure with clear, understandable and flexible vocational pathways?
Hoffwn i ychwanegu fy llais at y rhai sy'n eich croesawu i'r rôl bwysig hon, Gweinidog. Un o'r sefydliadau rwy'n gwybod y byddwch chi'n gweithio'n agos gydag ef yw ColegauCymru, a hoffen nhw weld Medr yn bwrw ymlaen â strategaeth addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol genedlaethol a fyddai'n cysylltu addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol tuag at flaenoriaethau economaidd a diwydiannol. Byddai'n darparu fframwaith arweiniol ar gyfer darparwyr a chyrff dyfarnu Cymwysterau Cymru, a byddai'n sicrhau llinell glir o atebolrwydd democrataidd o fewn y system, a hefyd yn mynegi pwysigrwydd asesu priodol, gan symud tuag at y canolbwyntio hwn ar symud ymlaen i waith gyda llais cryf i ddysgwyr a chyflogwyr, gan ganiatáu i golegau fodloni blaenoriaethau lleol a chenedlaethol.
Felly, rwy'n meddwl tybed, Gweinidog, a ydych chi'n cydnabod cryfder gofynion ColegauCymru, fel petai, o ystyried y byddai hyn yn rhoi canlyniadau wrth wraidd y system, ac yn cynnwys ymrwymiad i ddatblygu seilwaith gyda llwybrau galwedigaethol clir, dealladwy a hyblyg?
I thank John Griffiths for those questions there, and I know, John, that you are a firm champion of the FE sector, having been chair of the cross-party group on FE for many years. Like you, I share great admiration for ColegauCymru. I think, actually, they were the first stakeholder that I met when I came into this role, and they have such tremendous expertise and a passion for the FE sector, and lots of really practical ideas that can be brought forward. So, I will be continuing to have regular meetings with them, and also feeding ideas from the things that they have told me to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, because some of the really exciting things that they talked to me about were in junior apprenticeships for 14 to 16-year-olds, and also, of course, to the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership. So, we've all got a really big investment there with ColegauCymru. And you talked about the linking of vocational training to the skills of the future—absolutely crucial—and I know that there's some really good practice out there in the sector. I'm looking forward to going to see some of that, particularly Pembrokeshire College, with the work that they are doing around net zero. I think I'm probably the third Minister from this Government to raise that in the Chamber and express a desire to want to go and visit them.
That final point you made about progression into work is just so important, isn't it, because that's what, to me, the tertiary education system is all about: it's a lever for the economic prosperity of our nation, which we know is one of our First Minister's primary objectives. So, I'm really proud to be able to have this portfolio and play my own role in that.
Diolch i John Griffiths am y cwestiynau hynny yn y fan yna, ac rwy'n gwybod, John, eich bod chi'n hyrwyddwr cadarn o'r sector addysg bellach, ar ôl bod yn gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar addysg bellach ers blynyddoedd lawer. Fel chi, rwyf i hefyd yn edmygu ColegauCymru yn fawr. Rwy'n credu, mewn gwirionedd, mai nhw oedd y rhanddeiliad cyntaf y gwnes i gwrdd â nhw pan ddes i i mewn i'r rôl hon, ac mae ganddyn nhw gymaint o arbenigedd ac angerdd am y sector addysg bellach, a llawer o syniadau ymarferol iawn y mae modd eu cyflwyno. Felly, byddaf i'n parhau i gael cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda nhw, a byddaf i hefyd yn cyfleu syniadau o'r pethau y maen nhw wedi dweud wrthyf i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, oherwydd roedd rhai o'r pethau cyffrous iawn y gwnaethon nhw siarad â mi amdanyn nhw yn ymwneud â phrentisiaethau iau ar gyfer pobl ifanc 14 i 16 oed, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, i'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol. Felly, mae gan bob un ohonon ni fuddsoddiad mawr iawn yno gyda ColegauCymru. Ac fe wnaethoch chi sôn am gysylltu hyfforddiant galwedigaethol â sgiliau'r dyfodol—yn gwbl hanfodol—ac rwy'n gwybod bod yna arfer da iawn allan yna yn y sector. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at fynd i weld rhywfaint o hynny, yn enwedig Coleg Sir Benfro, gyda'r gwaith maen nhw'n ei wneud o amgylch sero-net. Rwy'n credu mai fi yw'r trydydd Gweinidog o'r Llywodraeth hon i godi hynny yn y Siambr a mynegi awydd i fod eisiau ymweld â nhw.
Mae'r pwynt olaf hwnnw a wnaethoch ynghylch symud ymlaen i waith mor bwysig, onid ydyw, oherwydd, i mi, dyna hanfod y system addysg drydyddol: mae'n ysgogiad ar gyfer ffyniant economaidd ein cenedl, y gwyddom ni ei fod yn un o brif amcanion ein Prif Weinidog. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o allu cael y portffolio hwn a chwarae fy rhan fy hun yn hynny.
A gaf i ategu fy nghroeso innau i'r Gweinidog ar ei swydd newydd? Mi fyddwch chi wrth gwrs yn ymwybodol bod chweched dosbarth mewn ysgolion bellach yn dod o dan y diffiniad o addysg drydyddol, ac felly yn dod o dan gyfrifoldebau Medr. Mi fyddwch chi hefyd yn ymwybodol bod y niferoedd mewn chweched dosbarth mewn ysgol wedi bod yn gostwng dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac, mewn rhai siroedd, nad oes unrhyw chweched dosbarth o gwbl mewn unrhyw ysgol, neu fod lleihad mawr wedi bod. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bryderus mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, sydd gyda rôl bwysig i’w chwarae o ran targedau 2050. Mi wnaethoch chi sôn am dair C; efallai fod yna bedwaredd C o ran eich datganiad, sef Cymraeg.
Amlygodd ymchwil, a gyhoeddwyd gan Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg yn Nhachwedd 2023, wahaniaethau rhwng dysgwyr ysgol a choleg o ran eu canfyddiad o’u gallu yn y Gymraeg, cyfrwng iaith eu haddysg, a’u hagweddau at bwysigrwydd y Gymraeg. Hoffwn ofyn, felly, sut mae’r Gweinidog yn credu y bydd Medr yn cefnogi ein chweched dosbarth mewn ysgolion, o ran darpariaeth lefel A a chyrsiau galwedigaethol, yn arbennig, felly, y rhai mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, fel eu bod yn parhau yn gynaliadwy. A pha rôl ydych chi'n gweld y bydd gan ysgolion chweched dosbarth o fewn strwythur llywodraethiant Medr?
May I add my welcome to the Minister in her new post? You will of course be aware that school sixth forms now come under the definition of tertiary education, and are, therefore, part of the responsibilities of Medr. You will also be aware that the number of pupils in school sixth forms has been declining over the past few years and, in some counties, there is no sixth form provision at all in any school, or there's been a major decline in that provision. This is particularly concerning in Welsh-medium schools, which have such an important role to play in terms of the 2050 targets. You mentioned the three Cs; perhaps there's a fourth C in terms of your statement, and that's Cymraeg.
Research published by the Welsh Language Commissioner in November 2023 highlighted differences between learners at school and college in terms of their perception of their level of ability in Welsh, the medium of their education, and their attitudes towards the importance of the Welsh language. So, I’d like to ask, therefore, how the Minister believes that Medr can support our school sixth forms in terms of A-level provision and vocational courses, particularly those in Welsh-medium schools, so that they continue to be sustainable. And what role do you foresee that school sixth forms will have within the Medr governance structure?
Thank you, Heledd Fychan, for your welcome for me and for your questions; they're really important questions around school sixth forms. So, obviously they do come under Medr now; they are part of the tertiary education sector. Responsibility for school sixth forms still sits with the Cabinet Secretary, but it's an area where we really have to work very closely together, and we do work closely together. We have offices next door to each other, and we're in and out of each other's offices all the time, talking about these cross-cutting areas of our portfolio. I think it's really important that we see sixth forms as having a valid and important place within that tapestry of post-16 education, and that we ensure that there is parity between sixth forms and FE as well.
Obviously I recognise the point you make about the importance of Welsh language learning and how that is achieved within school sixth forms. I think of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydywaun in my own constituency as a really good example of that. So, we want to make sure that we hold on to that provision and that it is adequately funded and that it is able not just to survive but to thrive. Diolch.
Diolch, Heledd Fychan, am fy nghroesawu i ac am eich cwestiynau; maen nhw'n gwestiynau pwysig iawn ynghylch chweched dosbarth ysgolion. Felly, yn amlwg maen nhw'n dod o dan Medr nawr; maen nhw'n rhan o'r sector addysg drydyddol. Yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet sy'n gyfrifol am chweched dosbarth ysgolion o hyd, ond mae'n faes lle mae'n rhaid i ni weithio'n agos iawn gyda'n gilydd, ac rydyn ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda'n gilydd. Mae gennym ni swyddfeydd drws nesaf i'n gilydd, ac rydyn ni i mewn ac allan o swyddfeydd ein gilydd drwy'r amser, yn siarad am y meysydd trawsbynciol hyn yn ein portffolio. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n gweld bod gan ddosbarthiadau chwech le dilys a phwysig o fewn y tapestri hwnnw o addysg ôl-16, a'n bod ni'n sicrhau bod cydraddoldeb rhwng dosbarthiadau chwech ac AB hefyd.
Yn amlwg, rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt yr ydych chi'n ei wneud am bwysigrwydd dysgu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a sut mae hynny'n cael ei gyflawni yn nosbarthiadau chwech ysgolion. Rwy'n meddwl am Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydywaun yn fy etholaeth i fy hun fel enghraifft dda iawn o hynny. Felly, rydyn ni eisiau sicrhau ein bod ni'n dal gafael ar y ddarpariaeth honno a'i bod yn cael ei hariannu'n ddigonol a'i bod yn gallu ffynnu yn ogystal â goroesi. Diolch.
Can I join in the welcome to you for your appointment and, more importantly—though perhaps you don't agree with it—the creation of the position itself? As someone who worked in the tertiary sector, I'm very pleased that we are having this statement today. I'm going to concentrate on FE and tertiary education.
Tertiary education and FE education gets far less discussion than schools and universities in both the media and in the Senedd, but I believe they are of equal importance. Without tertiary education and FE colleges, we would not have the skilled workers that our economy needs: the bricklayers, the carpenters, the electricians, the hairdressers and the chefs. Tertiary education also gives people a second chance in life, including via access courses. The challenge is getting people, especially 16-year-olds and their parents, to consider tertiary education not as second best but as an equal opportunity. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote tertiary education as equal but different to sixth forms for 16-year-olds, and promote access courses to give adults a second chance to enter higher education and move on to very highly paid jobs?
A gaf i ymuno yn y croeso yr ydych chi'n ei gael ar gyfer eich apwyntiad ac, yn bwysicach fyth—er efallai nad ydych chi'n cytuno ag ef—croesawu creu'r swydd ei hun? Fel rhywun a weithiodd yn y sector trydyddol, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod ni'n cael y datganiad hwn heddiw. Rwy'n mynd i ganolbwyntio ar addysg bellach ac addysg drydyddol.
Mae addysg drydyddol ac addysg bellach yn cael eu trafod llawer llai nag ysgolion a phrifysgolion yn y cyfryngau ac yn y Senedd, ond rwy'n credu eu bod nhw'r un mor bwysig. Heb addysg drydyddol a cholegau addysg bellach, ni fyddai gennym ni'r gweithwyr medrus sydd eu hangen ar ein heconomi: y gosodwyr brics, y seiri coed, y trydanwyr, y bobl trin gwallt a'r cogyddion. Mae addysg drydyddol hefyd yn rhoi ail gyfle mewn bywyd i bobl, gan gynnwys trwy gyrsiau mynediad. Yr her yw annog pobl, yn enwedig pobl ifanc 16 oed a'u rhieni, i ystyried addysg drydyddol nid fel yr ail orau ond fel cyfle cyfartal. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo addysg drydyddol sy'n gyfartal ond yn wahanol i'r chweched dosbarth ar gyfer pobl ifanc 16 oed, a hyrwyddo cyrsiau mynediad i roi ail gyfle i oedolion fynd i addysg uwch a symud ymlaen i swyddi â chyflog uchel iawn?
I'd like to thank Mike Hedges for his warm welcome for me and his questions there. It's lovely to be questioned by a fellow education practitioner, and I count Cefin Campbell in that as well; it's so good to see that there are people here who bring these skills to the Chamber and that real-life experience.
I think, Mike, you make a really important point there that we do need to ensure that our FE colleges are seen as equal but different to our sixth forms, the offer that they provide is embedded in our communities, and to get that parity of esteem between the vocational and the academic is something that we've long talked about in this Chamber, but it's a huge cultural shift, and I like to think that we're part way along that journey, but, working together with the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, we aim to put our foot on the accelerator and achieve a lot more. So, that cross-government working is absolutely key there, but also, in the visits that I'm doing around Wales, I think that's an opportunity for us and for our Government to shine a spotlight on excellent work in the FE sector, and I know that I'll be able to come back to this Chamber with lots of positive information that I can share to shine that spotlight on the FE sector as well.
You rightly also talk about promoting access courses to give adults a second chance to enter HE. I couldn't agree more with you on that, and one of the first meetings that I held on coming to this portfolio was to meet with the Learning and Work Institute to discuss our adult learning offer, and I'm really pleased that that is a Welsh Government commitment that is ring-fenced financially to protect it. Also, our adult learning in the community programme, which is delivered by the FE sector and local authorities—we provide a range of opportunities there, both informal and community settings, across 14 non-statutory partnerships in Wales. So, there's a lot for us to celebrate, and we see that every year in the Inspire! adult learning awards as well, don't we? So, lots for us to celebrate, but, obviously, always more work to do.
Hoffwn i ddiolch i Mike Hedges am ei groeso cynnes a'i gwestiynau yn y fan yna. Mae'n hyfryd cael fy holi gan gyd-ymarferydd addysg, ac rwy'n cyfrif Cefin Campbell yn hynny hefyd; mae mor dda gweld bod yna bobl yma sy'n dod â'r sgiliau hyn i'r Siambr a'r profiad bywyd gwirioneddol hwnnw.
Rwy'n credu, Mike, eich bod chi'n gwneud pwynt pwysig iawn yn y fan yna, sef bod angen i ni sicrhau bod ein colegau addyg bellach yn cael eu gweld yn gyfartal ond yn wahanol i'n dosbarthiadau chwech, mae'r hyn maen nhw'n ei gynnig wedi'i wreiddio yn ein cymunedau, ac mae cael cydraddoldeb parch rhwng y galwedigaethol a'r academaidd yn rhywbeth yr ydyn ni wedi siarad amdano ers tro yn y Siambr hon, ond mae'n newid diwylliannol enfawr, ac rwy'n hoffi meddwl ein bod ni rhan o'r ffordd ar hyd y daith honno, ond, drwy gydweithio â'r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Sgiliau a Phartneriaeth Gymdeithasol, ein nod ni yw cyflymu pethau a chyflawni llawer mwy. Felly, mae'r gwaith trawslywodraethol hwnnw yn gwbl allweddol yn hynny o beth, ond hefyd, yn yr ymweliadau rwy'n eu gwneud ledled Cymru, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gyfle i ni ac i'n Llywodraeth dynnu sylw at waith rhagorol yn y sector addysg bellach, ac rwy'n gwybod y byddaf i'n gallu dod yn ôl i'r Siambr hon gyda llawer o wybodaeth gadarnhaol y gallaf i ei rhannu i daflu'r sbotolau hwnnw ar y sector addysg bellach hefyd.
Rydych chi'n siarad hefyd, yn gywir ddigon, am hyrwyddo cyrsiau mynediad i roi ail gyfle i oedolion fynd i mewn i addysg uwch. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ar hynny, ac un o'r cyfarfodydd cyntaf a gynhaliais i ar ôl dod i'r portffolio hwn oedd cwrdd â'r Sefydliad Dysgu a Gwaith i drafod ein cynnig dysgu oedolion, ac rwy'n falch iawn bod hynny'n ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi'i glustnodi'n ariannol i'w ddiogelu. Hefyd, ein rhaglen dysgu oedolion yn y gymuned, y mae'r sector addysg bellach ac awdurdodau lleol yn ei daparu—rydyn ni'n darparu amrywiaeth o gyfleoedd yno, mewn lleoliadau anffurfiol a chymunedol, ar draws 14 o bartneriaethau anstatudol yng Nghymru. Felly, mae llawer gennym ni i'w ddathlu, ac rydyn ni'n gweld hynny bob blwyddyn yng ngwobrau Ysbrydoli! addysg oedolion hefyd, onid ydyn ni? Felly, mae llawer gennym ni i'w ddathlu, ond, yn amlwg, mae mwy o waith i'w wneud bob amser.
Diolch, Weinidog. Dwi'n hoffi'r tair C, a dwi'n siŵr roedd hwn yn hollol fwriadol, ond mae'r tair C yn gweithio yn y Gymraeg hefyd: cydlafurio, cydweithio, a chymuned. Ond gaf i fod mor hy â—? Dwi'n cytuno gyda Heledd Fychan, mae yna C arall ar goll. Ar Ddiwrnod Shwmae Su'mae, mae Cymraeg ar goll o'ch datganiad, oherwydd y gwir yw, er, efallai, fod enwau uniaith Gymraeg ar rai o'r colegau yma, mai Saesneg yw cyfrwng y dysgu. Mae dros 99 y cant o'r hyfforddi yng ngholegau Canol De Cymru drwy gyfrwng yr iaith Saesneg. Os yw disgyblion yn gadael addysg Gymraeg i'r colegau trydyddol yma, Saesneg yw iaith y ddysg ar ôl 16. Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n cofio o'ch cyfnod ym myd addysg ba mor atyniadol yw'r colegau yma, gydag adnoddau arbennig a chyrsiau eang yn cael eu cynnig. Felly, beth ydych chi'n ei wneud—trwy, fel dywedoch chi o'r blaen, gydweithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg—beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i hyrwyddo'r sector cyfrwng Cymraeg a hyrwyddo pobl i aros o fewn y sector cyfrwng Cymraeg o fewn y chweched dosbarth, oherwydd fanna maen nhw'n cael addysg a hyfforddiant drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, nid yn y colegau chweched dosbarth? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, Minister. I like the three Cs, and I'm sure that this was entirely intentional, but the three Cs work in Welsh too: cydlafurio, cydweithio and cymuned. But could I be so bold as—? I agree with Heledd Fychan, there is another C missing. On Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae, Welsh, Cymraeg, is missing from your statement, because the truth is, while there are monolingual Welsh names for some of these colleges, English is the medium of the teaching. Over 99 per cent of the training in colleges in South Wales Central is through the medium of English. If pupils leave Welsh-medium education for these tertiary colleges, English is the medium of the education post 16. I'm sure that you'll remember from your time in the world of education how attractive these colleges are, with wonderful resources and a wide range of courses being offered. So, what are you doing—in collaboration with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, as you said—what are you doing to promote the Welsh-medium sector and to encourage people to stay within the Welsh-medium sector in sixth form, because that's where they receive education and training through the medium of Welsh, not in the sixth-form colleges? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Rhys. I think everybody has given me a warm welcome this afternoon, so I'm very pleased for that and for your emphasis as well on Cymraeg—it is absolutely crucial. I would encourage you to feed your views—and perhaps I should have said that to Heledd Fychan as well—into the consultation that Medr is currently running on its strategic plan. I think it's really important that we get those views into the system really early so that we can continue to strengthen our Welsh language provision. If we're serious about increasing daily use of Welsh, we must ensure that people have the skills and confidence to use Welsh in their workplaces, and so creating more opportunities for apprentices and FE and HE learners to learn and train through Welsh is a priority for this Welsh Government. I know that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's funding has been maintained for 2024-25, which includes an additional £2.825 million, which was previously allocated under the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, and reprioritising funding of £3.5 million, linked to the co-operation agreement, enables us to safeguard those core services that support our ambitions for 'Cymraeg 2050'. So, there's good news here, but, obviously, there is still lots more to do.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Rhys. Rwy'n credu bod pawb wedi rhoi croeso cynnes i mi y prynhawn yma, felly rwy'n falch iawn am hynny ac am eich pwyslais hefyd ar y Gymraeg—mae'n gwbl allweddol. Byddwn i'n eich annog chi i fwydo eich barn—ac efallai y dylwn i fod wedi dweud hynny wrth Heledd Fychan hefyd—i mewn i'r ymgynghoriad y mae Medr yn ei gynnal ar ei gynllun strategol ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n cael y safbwyntiau hynny i mewn i'r system yn gynnar iawn fel y gallwn ni barhau i gryfhau ein darpariaeth Gymraeg. Os ydyn ni o ddifrif ynglŷn â chynyddu defnydd dyddiol o'r Gymraeg, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod gan bobl y sgiliau a'r hyder i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg yn eu gweithleoedd, ac felly mae creu mwy o gyfleoedd i brentisiaid a dysgwyr addysg bellach ac addysg uwch ddysgu a hyfforddi drwy'r Gymraeg yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth Cymru hon. Rwy'n gwybod bod cyllid y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol wedi'i gynnal ar gyfer 2024-25, sy'n cynnwys £2.825 miliwn ychwanegol, a gafodd ei ddyrannu yn flaenorol o dan y cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru, ac mae ailflaenoriaethu cyllid o £3.5 miliwn, sy'n gysylltiedig â'r cytundeb cydweithio, yn ein galluogi ni i ddiogelu'r gwasanaethau craidd hynny sy'n cefnogi ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer 'Cymraeg 2050'. Felly, mae yna newyddion da yma, ond, yn amlwg, mae llawer mwy i'w wneud o hyd.
Finally, Adam Price.
Yn olaf, Adam Price.
I ffocysu ar y trydydd C, sef cymuned, mewn tair blynedd, byddwn ni'n dathlu 100 mlynedd o addysg bellach yn Rhydaman ers sefydlu'r tech, y technical institute, yn ôl yn 1927. Ond mae'r dathliadau hynny, y cynlluniau hynny, o dan ychydig o gwmwl ar hyn o bryd oherwydd bwriad presennol Coleg Sir Gâr i gau’r campws fel na fydd yna unrhyw addysg bellach yn Rhydaman. Wrth gwrs, dyw'r colegau addysg bellach, er 1993, ers ymgorffori, ddim yn atebol i lywodraeth leol, a dŷn nhw ddim yn uniongyrchol atebol i Weinidogion Cymru, ond, yn yr achos yma, mae'r cynlluniau yma ynghlwm wrth benderfyniad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â phecyn buddsoddi. Felly, a allaf i ac Aelodau eraill sydd wedi mynegi eu gwrthwynebiad i'r cynlluniau—Cefin Campbell, Joyce Watson, Jane Dodds ac yn y blaen—gwrdd â chi, Gweinidog, i drafod cynllun amgen fydd yn achub dyfodol addysg bellach yn Rhydaman? Ac ar ôl hynny, allwn ni, efallai, hefyd drafod dadwneud y penderfyniad Thatcheraidd yna yn ôl yn 1993 ac efallai dod â cholegau addysg bellach yn ôl yn atebol un ai i lywodraeth leol neu i Lywodraeth genedlaethol?
To focus on the third C, community, in three years, we will be celebrating 100 years of further education in Ammanford since the establishment of the technical institute back in 1927. But those celebrations and those plans are under something of a cloud at the moment because of the current intention of Coleg Sir Gâr to close the campus, so there'll be no further education provision in Ammanford. Of course, FE colleges, since 1993 and incorporation, are not accountable to local government, and they're not directly accountable to Welsh Ministers either, but, in this case, these plans are linked to a decision by the Welsh Government on a package of investment. So, could I and other Members who have expressed their opposition to the plans—Cefin Campbell, Joyce Watson, Jane Dodds and others—meet with you, Minister, to discuss an alternative plan that would save the future of FE in Ammanford? Following that, could we, perhaps, discuss undoing that Thatcherite decision back in 1993 and bring the FE colleges back and accountable either to local government or to national Government in Wales?
Thank you, Adam Price, for your contribution there, and I fully recognise the important role that FE provision plays in local communities up and down Wales, both in bringing educational opportunities as close to home for those learners as possible, which is really important, particularly given the difficulty in the funding of learner travel as well, and also, of course, as employers in those communities as well. So, I would be pleased to meet with you and other Members to discuss the issue with Coleg Sir Gâr in more detail.
Diolch, Adam Price, am eich cyfraniad yn y fan yna, ac rwy'n cydnabod yn llawn rôl bwysig darpariaeth addysg bellach mewn cymunedau lleol ledled Cymru, o ran dod â chyfleoedd addysgol mor agos i'r cartref i'r dysgwyr hynny â phosibl, sy'n bwysig iawn, yn enwedig o ystyried yr anhawster o ran ariannu teithio dysgwyr, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, fel cyflogwyr yn y cymunedau hynny hefyd. Felly, byddwn yn falch o gyfarfod â chi ac Aelodau eraill i drafod y mater gyda Choleg Sir Gâr yn fanylach.
Diolch, felly, i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd eitem 6. Datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg yw hwn, ar gymunedau Cymraeg, ac ,i wneud y datganiad yma, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, Mark Drakeford.
The next item will be item 6. This is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language on Welsh language communities, and, to make that statement, the Cabinet Secretary, Mark Drakeford.
Wel, Llywydd, shwmae, su'mae.
Well, Llywydd, shwmae, su'mae.
Shwmae.
Shwmae.
Diolch yn fawr am y cyfle i roi datganiad i'r Senedd y prynhawn yma i ddiweddaru’r Aelodau am y gwaith sydd wedi mynd ymlaen dros y misoedd diwethaf, ac i osod allan fy ngweledigaeth dros y misoedd nesaf hefyd.
Mae bron i ddwy flynedd ers i ni gyhoeddi 'Y Cynllun Tai Cymunedau Cymraeg'. Mi oedd y cynllun hwn yn fwy na jest edrych ar dai yn unig; roedd yn ystyried y pethau hynny sydd yn bwysig i greu cadernid yn ein cymunedau Cymraeg. Mae’r cynllun yn canolbwyntio ar y cymunedau hynny sydd â dwysedd uwch o siaradwyr Cymraeg—hynny yw, cymunedau ble mae'r Gymraeg yn parhau i fod yn brif iaith y cymunedau hynny ac, felly, yn cael ei defnyddio yn naturiol ym mywyd pob dydd. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae gan yr ardaloedd hyn hefyd nifer uchel o ail gartrefi.
Mae’n braf heddiw i roi diweddariad i chi i gyd ar rai o brif raglenni’r cynllun. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn sôn am y gwaith sydd wedi digwydd i greu mentrau cymdeithasol neu brosiectau tai wedi’u harwain gan y gymuned. Hyd yma, mae dros 40 o grwpiau cymunedol wedi derbyn grant drwy brosiect Perthyn er mwyn sefydlu menter neu feithrin gallu cymunedol, a hynny drwy’r Gymraeg. Mae’r prosiectau hyn yn creu gwaith yn lleol ac yn dod â’r gymuned ynghyd er lles y Gymraeg. Ond, yn bwysicach, maent yn creu cymunedau cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol. Heddiw, bydd rownd newydd o gynllun grant Perthyn yn agor i grwpiau cymunedol wneud cais am gyllid.
Yn ail, hoffwn dynnu sylw at y cynllun llysgenhadon diwylliannol, a bellach mae dros 150 o bobl wedi ymuno â'r cynllun. Rydw i am weld rhwydwaith o lysgenhadon, o Fôn i Fynwy, yn trafod ac yn gweithio er budd y Gymraeg yn eu cymunedau lleol.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to make a statement to the Senedd this afternoon to update Members on the work that has been done over the past few months, and to set out my vision for the coming months too.
It is almost two years since we published the 'Welsh Language Communities Housing Plan'. This was more than just a housing plan; it looked at those things that are important to create resilience in our Welsh-speaking communities. And the plan focuses on communities with a higher density of Welsh speakers—in other words, communities where Welsh remains the predominant language of the community and is, therefore, naturally used in everyday life. And, of course, these areas also have a high number of second homes.
It's a pleasure today to give an update to you all on some of the plan's main programmes. First of all, I'd like to talk about the work that has been undertaken to create social enterprises or community-led housing projects. To date, over 40 community groups have been awarded a grant through the Perthyn project to establish a social enterprise or encourage capacity building through the medium of Welsh. These projects create work locally and bring the community together for the benefit of the Welsh language. But, more importantly, they create sustainable communities for the future. Today, a new round of the Perthyn grant scheme opens for community groups to apply for funding.
Secondly, I would like to highlight the work of the cultural ambassador scheme, and, to date, over 150 people have signed up to the scheme. I want to see a network of ambassadors stretching from north to south Wales, discussing and working for the benefit of the Welsh language in their local communities.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Yn drydydd, rydyn ni wedi sefydlu cynllun peilot fforddiadwyedd ac ail gartrefi yn ardal Dwyfor, mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor Gwynedd, Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, Grŵp Cynefin a chymdeithas tai Adra. Mae'r peilot yn treialu sawl peth i reoli nifer yr ail gartrefi. Bydd Jayne Bryant, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai, yn gwneud datganiad ysgrifenedig am hyn yfory. Fel rhan o'r cynllun, gwnaethom hefyd addewid i ddod ag arwerthwyr tai at ei gilydd yn ardal Dwyfor er mwyn cydgynllunio ac adnabod cyfleoedd i gydweithio a deall y farchnad dai yn well. Roedd hwn yn gyfarfod buddiol, a bydd cyfarfod arall yn digwydd cyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
Hefyd, fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio gyda Phlaid Cymru, rŷn ni wedi dyrannu £11 miliwn i brosiect Arfor 2. Mae Arfor yn treialu nifer o gynlluniau er mwyn cefnogi'r ardaloedd dwysedd uwch. Rydyn ni'n awyddus i ddysgu o'r cynlluniau hyn, yn enwedig i ddeall y berthynas rhwng economi ac iaith a rhannu arfer da o ran prif ffrydio'r Gymraeg i bolisïau eraill.
Ac, yn olaf, roedd y cynllun wedi datgan y bwriad i sefydlu comisiwn i edrych yn fanwl ar sefyllfa ein cymunedau Cymraeg. Mae'r comisiwn wedi cyflwyno'r adroddiad i'r Llywodraeth a hoffwn nodi heddiw fy mod yn croesawu'r gwaith yn fawr. Hoffwn hefyd gymryd ychydig o eiliadau i ddiolch i'r cadeirydd, Dr Simon Brooks, ac aelodau'r comisiwn am eu gwaith manwl. Mae'r adroddiad yn mynd i'r afael â'r heriau a'r cyfleoedd sy’n wynebu'r Gymraeg. Mae'n dadansoddi data cyfrifiad 2021 o ran y Gymraeg, ac mae'r 57 o argymhellion yn cynnwys meysydd fel cydraddoldeb, economi, gweithleoedd, tai, addysg a datblygu cymunedol. Rydyn ni'n gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth ar hyn o bryd i baratoi ein hymateb i'r adroddiad.
Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod data cyfrifiad 2021 yn dangos bod ein hiaith yn colli tir yn y fro Gymraeg. Mae hyn yn wir yng Ngwynedd, Ynys Môn, Ceredigion a sir Gâr, yn ogystal â'r ardaloedd cyfagos lle ceir y dwysedd uchaf o siaradwyr Cymraeg. Rwy'n cytuno gyda'r comisiwn fod unrhyw ddirywiad i'r Gymraeg yn y cymunedau Cymraeg dwysedd uwch yn peryglu ei dyfodol fel iaith genedlaethol.
Rydym hefyd wedi cyhoeddi ail gam y comisiwn, a fydd yn edrych ar y Gymraeg yn yr ardaloedd hynny sydd wedi colli'r Gymraeg fel iaith gymunedol ond lle mae adfywiad wedi bod yn rhai o'r ardaloedd hyn yn ddiweddar. Bydd y comisiwn yn edrych ar ein polisi a'n rhaglenni gwaith er mwyn deall sefyllfa'r Gymraeg yn yr ardaloedd hyn hefyd.
I ddeall yn well beth yw'r sefyllfa a'r heriau yn ein cymunedau Cymraeg dwysedd uwch, rŷn ni'n gweithio ar Brosiect Bro. Mae hwn yn brosiect sy'n cael ei arwain gan Brifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant ar y cyd â Phrifysgol yr Ucheldiroedd a'r Ynysoedd yn yr Alban a Choleg yr Iesu, Rhydychen, i gynnal arolwg sosioieithyddol. Mae Prosiect Bro yn adeiladu ar waith tebyg sydd wedi ei wneud yn Iwerddon a'r Alban, ond dyma’r tro cyntaf i’r fethodoleg gael ei defnyddio yng Nghymru. Mae hwn yn brosiect tair blynedd, a bydd yn cyflwyno adroddiad terfynol i ni yn 2026. Fy ngobaith i yw y bydd Prosiect Bro hefyd yn adrodd y stori y tu ôl i’r ystadegau—pwy sy’n siarad Cymraeg, ble maen nhw’n ei siarad hi, a beth allwn ni ei wneud i’w helpu nhw ei siarad hi’n amlach.
Mae’r economi a’r gweithlu yn parhau i fod yn bwysig yn yr ardaloedd dwysedd uwch o ran taclo’r diboblogi a chreu cymunedau cynaliadwy. Mae gweithluoedd hefyd yn sicrhau bod yr iaith yn cael ei gweld fel iaith gwaith ar draws Cymru. Mae Bil y Gymraeg ac Addysg (Cymru)yn sicr yn creu cyfle i bontio rhwng byd addysg a byd gwaith.
Cefais sgwrs adeiladol gyda Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg ddoe, lle gwnaethom ni drafod pwysigrwydd defnyddio'r Gymraeg o fewn gweithluoedd ar draws Cymru. Rwyf wedi derbyn adroddiad blynyddol y comisiynydd ac wedi ei osod yn y Senedd heddiw. Bydd cyfle i drafod cynnwys yr adroddiad hwn ar lawr y Senedd cyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
Wrth gloi, hoffwn bwysleisio bod y Gymraeg yn perthyn i bawb—y bobl sy’n gallu ei siarad, yn siarad ychydig ohoni a’r rhai nad yw yn ei siarad. Drwy weithio gyda’n gilydd, mae modd gosod sylfaen gadarn i’r Gymraeg, ac a gaf i ddweud diolch i bob parti yn y Senedd am eu cefnogaeth ac am y gefnogaeth, dwi'n siŵr, i barhau'r gwaith pwysig hwn.
Thirdly, we have established an affordability and second homes pilot scheme in the Dwyfor area in partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd, Eryri National Park, Grŵp Cynefin and Adra housing association. The pilot trials several interventions to manage the number of second homes. Jayne Bryant, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government will make a written statement on this tomorrow. As part of the plan, we also pledged to bring together estate agents in the Dwyfor area to plan and identify opportunities to collaborate and to better understand the local housing market. This was a beneficial, productive meeting, and a further meeting will take place before the end of the year.
Also, as part of the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, we have allocated £11 million to the Arfor 2 programme. Arfor is trialling a number of projects to support the traditional Welsh-speaking heartlands. We are eager to learn from these schemes, particularly to understand the relationship between the economy and the language, as well as sharing good practice when it comes to mainstreaming the Welsh language into other policies.
Finally, the plan had also noted the intention to establish a commission to look closely at the situation of our Welsh-speaking communities. The commission has submitted its report to the Welsh Government, and I would like to note today that I very much welcome the work. I would also like to take a few moments to thank the chair, Dr Simon Brooks, and the members of the commission for their meticulous work. The report addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the Welsh language. It analyses the 2021 census data on the Welsh language, and the 57 recommendations include areas such as equality, economy, workplaces, housing, education and community development. We are currently working across Government to prepare our response to the report.
We know that the 2021 census data shows that our language is losing ground in the traditional Welsh-speaking heartlands. This is true in Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, as well as in the surrounding areas where there is the highest density of Welsh speakers. I agree with the commission that any decline of the language in the areas with a higher density of Welsh speakers threatens its future as a national language.
We have also announced the second phase of the commission's work, which will look at the position of the Welsh language in those areas that have lost Welsh as a community language but where there has been a recent revival in some of these areas. The commission will look at our policies and work programmes to understand the situation facing the Welsh language in these areas as well.
To better understand the situation and the challenges within our areas with a higher density of Welsh speakers, we are working in collaboration with Prosiect Bro. This is a project being led by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands, and Jesus College, Oxford to carry out a sociolinguistic survey. Prosiect Bro builds on similar work that has been undertaken in Ireland and Scotland, but this is the first time that the methodology has been used in Wales. This is a three-year project, and it will present us with a final report in 2026. My hope is that Prosiect Bro will also tell the story behind the statistics—who speaks Welsh, where do they speak it, and what can we do to help them speak Welsh more often.
The economy and the workforce continue to be important in areas with a higher density Welsh speakers in terms of tackling depopulation and creating sustainable communities. Workplaces and workforces also ensure the language is seen as the language of work across Wales. The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill certainly creates an opportunity to bridge the gap between education and the world of work.
I had a constructive conversation with Welsh Language Commissioner yesterday, and we discussed the importance of using Welsh within workplaces across Wales. I have received the commissioner’s annual report and have laid the report at the Senedd today. There will be an opportunity to discuss the content of the report on the floor of the Senedd before the end of this year.
In closing, I would like to emphasise that the Welsh language belongs to everyone—those who can speak it, those who can speak a little of it, and those who don’t speak the language at all. By working together, we can provide a solid foundation for the Welsh language, and I would like to thank everyone in the Senedd, all parties of the Senedd, for their support, and the support, I’m sure, in continuing this important work.
Shwmae i chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Gaf i ddechrau drwy sôn am Ddiwrnod Shwmae, achos dwi’n meddwl ei fod e'n bwysig iawn, nid dim ond o ran nifer y bobl sy’n gallu siarad Cymraeg ond y defnydd—faint o bobl sy'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg. Ac fe wnaethon ni glywed yr wythnos diwethaf, dwi'n credu mewn cwestiwn gan Rhys ab Owen, oedd yn sôn am hen ffrindiau oedd yn nabod yr iaith Gymraeg, yn gwybod y geiriau, os ŷch chi moyn, ond sydd nawr, ar ôl gadael yr ysgol, byth yn meddwl siarad Cymraeg mewn grŵp o ffrindiau. Dwi'n credu bod diwrnodau fel Diwrnod Shwmae yn bwysig iawn i ddechrau pobl ar daith lle mae sgyrsiau Cymraeg yn fwy naturiol, ac mae hynny'n bwysig hefyd.
A allaf fi ddechrau hefyd drwy gytuno? Roeddech chi wedi gorffen gan ddweud bod yr iaith Gymraeg yn iaith sydd yn perthyn i bawb. Ac rydych chi'n hollol wir wrth ddweud hynny. Wrth gwrs, mae’n bwysig ein bod ni'n edrych ar ddefnydd yr iaith Gymraeg a nifer y siaradwyr yng nghyd-destun y sensws. Mae hynny'n bwysig ac, wrth gwrs, beth welsom ni yn sensws diwethaf oedd bod nifer y siaradwyr nid dim ond mewn cymunedau Cymraeg, ond mewn cymunedau eraill yng Nghymru, yn mynd lawr, a'r sialens nawr i Lywodraeth Cymru a'i phartneriaid yw i sicrhau, os ydym ni’n mynd i gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr yn 2050, ein bod ni’n gallu troi—turn the ship around, os ŷch chi'n moyn—i sicrhau bod rhywbeth yn mynd i newid.
Roeddwn i’n mynd i sôn am y cynllun tai, oherwydd roeddech chi wedi sôn amdano fe. Wrth gwrs, rŷn ni wedi cael llawer o drafodaethau yn y Siambr hon, a byddwch yn gwybod nad yw'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn cefnogi llawer o’r polisïau dŷch chi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw'n barod. Ond beth roeddwn i'n moyn gofyn oedd—. Roeddech chi wedi sôn am y polisïau, ond beth yw, a ble mae, y mesurau a’r ffigurau, fel ein bod ni’n gallu asesu a yw’r polisïau'n gweithio? Intention, os ŷch chi'n moyn, y polisi oedd bod mwy o bobl yn gallu aros yn eu cymunedau fel eu bod nhw’n gallu siarad Cymraeg yn eu cymunedau a ddim yn gorfod symud. Ydy hynny’n gweithio, a ble mae’r ffigurau fel ein bod ni’n gallu darganfod i beth yn union sydd yn digwydd, ac sydd hefyd yn mynd i ddigwydd?
A allaf i hefyd groesawu—? Roeddech chi wedi sôn am Prosiect Bro, oherwydd dŷch chi’n iawn i ddweud bod yna fwy na jest ystadegau; mae straeon ynglŷn â pham mae pobl yn gadael cymunedau. Mae hwnna’n bwysig iawn os dŷn ni fel gwleidyddion yn mynd i sôn am bolisïau newydd o ran beth sy’n gweithio a beth sydd ddim. Hefyd, o fewn hynny, roeddwn i’n moyn sôn am y grant Ymgartrefu o Llwyddo’n Lleol roeddech chi’n gwybod amdano haf diwethaf, oherwydd dyw hwn ddim yn grant gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ond ydy Llywodraeth Cymru yn asesu’r grant hwn? Oherwydd os yw hwn yn rhywbeth sydd yn llwyddo, efallai bydd yn rhaid i ni edrych os yw hwnna’n rhywbeth dŷn ni’n moyn ei ddatblygu fel Senedd, achos bod y Llywodraeth hefyd yn moyn ei wneud e.
Roeddwn i’n moyn sôn hefyd am gymunedau sydd â llai o Gymraeg. Doeddwn i ddim yn moyn dweud 'cymunedau di-Gymraeg', ond cymunedau sydd â llai o bobl yn siarad Cymraeg. Roeddwn i’n moyn sôn am Goleg Gŵyr Abertawe, achos es i i goleg Gŵyr ar ddydd Gwener i gwrdd â nhw a’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Roedden nhw’n sôn am y gwaith enfawr mae adran y Gymraeg yn ei wneud i ddatblygu pobl oedd yn dod i mewn i’r coleg gydag efallai tamaid bach o Gymraeg, efallai doedden nhw ddim yn gwneud eu cyrsiau yn Gymraeg, ond i ddatblygu’r iaith pan fyddan nhw’n gwneud cyrsiau gwahanol. Mae hwnna’n bwysig a dwi’n moyn rhoi ar y record fy niolch i'r adran Gymraeg yng Ngholeg Gŵyr Abertawe.
Ac i orffen, roeddwn i’n moyn sôn am Fil y Gymraeg ac Addysg (Cymru) roeddwn i’n sôn amdano y prynhawn yma wrthych chi, y tu allan. Mae hwnna’n bwysig iawn ac mae ganddo’r potensial, os ŷch chi’n moyn, i fod yn dipyn bach o game changer o ran nifer y siaradwyr a chyrraedd y targed hwnnw. Ond, o eistedd ar y pwyllgor addysg, y peth sydd yn glir iawn, sydd yn dod oddi wrth y bobl sydd yn dod i mewn i roi tystiolaeth i ni, yw staff. Hwn yw beth dŷn ni wastad yn dod nôl ato—byddaf i’n gorffen nawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dŷn ni’n gwybod, er enghraifft, oddi wrth yr Education Workforce Council fod nifer y bobl sydd yn dysgu i ddysgu yn Gymraeg yn mynd lawr tua pob blwyddyn, a bydd hwnna’n creu rhyw fath o bottleneck yn y dyfodol i’n ambition ni i ddatblygu nifer y siaradwyr sy’n gallu siarad Cymraeg. Felly, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn esbonio hynny? Oherwydd os dŷch chi’n byw mewn cymuned sydd yn siarad Cymraeg, neu o fewn cymuned sydd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg yn draddodiadol, y peth mwyaf pwysig yw bod addysg Gymraeg ar gael i’r bobl sydd yn ei moyn hi, a dyw hwnna ddim yn mynd i ddigwydd heb athrawon. Diolch yn fawr.
Shwmae, Cabinet Secretary. May I start by talking about Diwrnod Shwmae, because I think it’s important not just for the number of people who speak Welsh but for language usage—the number of people who speak the language? I think there was a question last week from Rhys ab Owen, who talked about old friends who knew Welsh and understood words in Welsh, but, having left school, they’d never think of using the language as a friend group. So, I think days like Diwrnod Shwmae are very important in starting people on that journey of having conversations through the medium of Welsh, and doing so naturally, and I think that’s important too.
Can I also start by agreeing with your final comments in saying that the Welsh language belongs to everyone? You’re entirely right in saying that. Of course, it’s important that we look at language use and the number of Welsh speakers in the context of the census. That’s important, and what we saw in the last census was that the number of speakers not just in high-density Wels-speaking areas, but in other areas of Wales, is declining, and the challenge now for the Welsh Government and its partners is to ensure that if we are to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050, that we can reverse that trend, or turn the ship around, if you like, in terms of securing change.
I was going to talk about the housing plan, which you mentioned. Now, we’ve had a number of discussions in this Chamber, and you’ll know that the Welsh Conservatives don’t necessarily support some of the policies that you’ve already mentioned. Now, you did mention the policies, but what and where are the figures and measures, so that we can assess whether these policies are working? The intention of the policy was that more people would be able to remain in their communities so that they could use the Welsh language in their communities and wouldn’t have to move. Is that working, and where are the figures to back that up, so that we can understand exactly what is happening and what will happen in future?
Could I also welcome—? You mentioned Prosiect Bro, because you’re right to say that there's more to this than statistics; there are also people's stories about why people leave their communities. That's very important if we as politicians are going to discuss new policies in terms of what works and what doesn't work. Also, within that, I wanted to mention the Ymgartrefu grant from Llwyddo'n Lleol that you knew about last summer, because this isn't a Welsh Government grant, but does the Welsh Government assess this grant? Because if this is something that is succeeding, then perhaps we need to consider whether that's something that we would wish to develop as a Senedd, because the Government also wants to do it.
I also wanted to mention communities where less Welsh is spoken. I didn't want to say 'non-Welsh-speaking communities', but communities where there are fewer Welsh speakers. I wanted to mention Gower College Swansea, because I went to Gower college on Friday to meet with them and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. They told me about the excellent amount of work that the Welsh department there was doing to develop people who came into the college with a little bit of Welsh, who perhaps weren't undertaking their courses through the medium of Welsh, but could develop their Welsh language skills whilst undertaking various courses. That's important and I want to put on record my thanks to the Welsh department at Gower College Swansea.
And to conclude, I wanted to talk about the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill that I was discussing with you outside a little earlier. That is very important and has the potential to be something of a game changer, if you like, in terms of the number of speakers and hitting that target. But, having sat on the education committee, what's become very clear from the witnesses who have given us evidence is that there is a staffing issue. This is what we always return to—I will conclude now, Dirprwy Lywydd. We do know, for example, from the Education Workforce Council that the number of people who are being trained to teach through the medium of Welsh is declining almost annually, and that will create some sort of bottleneck for the future in terms of our ambition to develop the number of Welsh speakers. So, how does the Welsh Government explain that? Because if you live in a community that is Welsh speaking, or in a community that is traditionally not Welsh speaking, the most important thing is that Welsh education is available to those people who want it, and that can't happen without teachers. Thank you.
Dirprwy Lywydd, diolch yn fawr. Diolch i Tom Giffard am y cyfraniad adeiladol ac am y cwestiynau hefyd. Wrth gwrs, dwi’n cytuno ar y pwynt cyntaf roedd e’n ei wneud am bwysigrwydd defnydd yr iaith Gymraeg. Dyna beth roeddem ni’n ei drafod wythnos diwethaf. Mae uchelgais gennym ni i greu miliwn o siaradwyr, ond miliwn o siaradwyr sy’n gallu defnyddio’r iaith a defnyddio mwy o’r iaith bob dydd. Mae’r sensws yn anodd, ond mae’n gymhleth hefyd. Cafodd y sensws ei gymryd yn ystod cyfnod COVID, a dydyn ni ddim yn siŵr am yr effaith mae hwnna wedi ei gael a sut mae pobl wedi ymateb i’r sensws. Mae ffigurau arall sydd ddim yn mynd gyda’r sensws, a dyna pam mae gwaith yn mynd ymlaen gyda’r swyddogion yn Llywodraeth Cymru a phobl sy’n gweithio yn yr ONS.
Roedd nifer o gwestiynau am sut ydyn ni’n gwybod os yw'r cynlluniau sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd yn llwyddo. Wel, mae nifer o bethau rydym ni yn gallu eu defnyddio i wneud hynny. Rydym ni’n gwybod yn Nwyfor, er enghraifft, fod y gwaith sydd wedi mynd ymlaen i addasu homebuy wedi cynyddu nifer y bobl sydd wedi llwyddo i gael arian mas i aros yn lleol, ac i brynu tai i wneud hynny. Mae hwnna wedi mynd lan, ac wedi mynd lan yn gyflym hefyd, dros gyfnod y peilot. Mae’r ffigurau diweddaraf wedi dod mas am y dreth gyngor yng Ngwynedd a Dwyfor, sy'n gallu dangos os yw nifer yr ail gartrefi wedi mynd lan neu wedi mynd i lawr. Bydd hwnna yn y datganiad y bydd Jayne Bryant yn ei gyhoeddi yfory—y ffigurau yna. A'r bwriad nawr yw i weld os ŷm ni'n gallu defnyddio'r fethodoleg rŷn ni wedi'i defnyddio i ffeindio'r ffigurau yna yn ehangach na jest yn Nwyfor.
Roedd Tom Giffard yn cyfeirio at Llwyddo'n Lleol. Rhan o Arfor yw hwnna ac, wrth gwrs, mae gwaith ymchwil yn mynd ymlaen i weld os yw'r pethau mae pobl yn eu gwneud o dan y teitl Arfor yn llwyddo hefyd. Mae'r gwaith yna'n cael ei arwain gan Meirion Thomas o Penbryn Consulting a'r Athro Kevin Morgan o'r brifysgol yma yng Nghaerdydd. Ymchwil annibynnol yw e a bydd adroddiadau'n dod mas i ddangos i ni ble mae'r cynllun yna wedi bod yn llwyddiannus.
Diolch i Tom Giffard am beth ddywedodd e am bwysigrwydd y bobl sy'n dysgu pobl yn y cymunedau llai Cymraeg. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at ail gam y comisiwn, sy'n mynd i ganolbwyntio ar gymunedau ble mae llai o Gymraeg yn cael ei defnyddio, ac i'n helpu ni i weld beth allwn ni ei wneud i helpu pobl, fel y bobl roedd Tom Giffard yn sôn amdanynt, sy'n gweithio mor galed i greu cyfleoedd i bobl i ddysgu ac i ddefnyddio'r iaith.
Yn olaf, dwi o flaen y pwyllgorau yr wythnos nesaf. Mae tri phwyllgor gen i ar y Bil, a dwi'n siŵr bydd y pwyntiau y mae Tom Giffard wedi eu codi am staffio yn cael eu codi. Jest yn fras, am y prynhawn yma, dyna pam mae'r Bil yn rhoi cyfleon dros ddegawd—dros ddegawd—i ysgolion ddod at y pwynt ble y gallan nhw wneud popeth rŷn ni eisiau eu gweld nhw'n ei wneud yn y Bil. Amser a fydd y peth i'n helpu, i recriwtio pobl, i hyfforddi pobl a dod at y pwynt ble rŷn ni'n gallu gwneud popeth mae'r Bil eisiau i ni ei wneud.
Dirprwy Lywydd, thank you very much. Thank you to Tom Giffard for that constructive contribution and for the questions as well. Of course, I agree on the first point that he made about the importance of the use of the Welsh language. That's what we were discussing last week. We have an ambition to create a million Welsh speakers, but a million Welsh speakers who can use the language and use more of the language every day. The census is difficult, but it's complex too. The census was undertaken during the COVID period, and we aren't sure about the impact that that had and how people responded to the census. There are other figures that don't align with the census, and that's why work is ongoing with officials in the Welsh Government and those working for the ONS.
There were a number of questions about how we know whether the plans that we currently have are succeeding. Well, there are a number of things that we can use to measure that. We know, for example, in Dwyfor that the work that has been done to adapt homebuy has increased the number of people who have succeeded in accessing money to remain in their local areas, and to buy homes to do so. That number has increased, and it's increased very swiftly as well, over the period of the pilot. The recent figures have now come out for council tax in Gwynedd and Dwyfor, and they can demonstrate if the number of second homes has gone up or gone down. That information will be included in the statement that Jayne Bryant will be publishing tomorrow—those figures. And the intention now is to see whether we can use the methodology that we've used to derive those figures more widely than in Dwyfor alone.
Tom Giffard referred to Llwyddo'n Lleol. That scheme is part of Arfor and, of course, research is ongoing to see whether the things that people are doing under the Arfor heading are succeeding as well. That work is being led by Meirion Thomas from Penbryn Consulting and Professor Kevin Morgan from the university here in Cardiff. That's an independent research project and reports will be published to show us where that scheme has been successful.
Thank you to Tom Giffard for what he said about the importance of people who are teaching in those communities where less Welsh is spoken. I look forward to the next stage of the commission's work, which is going to be focusing on those communities where less Welsh is spoken, and to assist us then in seeing what we can do to help people, like those individuals that Tom Giffard mentioned, who work so hard to create opportunities for people to learn and use the Welsh language.
Finally, I'm appearing before the committees next week. I have three committee meetings on the Bill, and I'm sure that the points that Tom Giffard has raised about staffing will come up in those meetings. But just briefly this afternoon, that's why the Bill provides opportunities over a decade—over a decade—for schools to get to the point where they can do everything we want to see them do via the Bill. It's time that will help us, to recruit people, to train people and get to the point where we can do everything the Bill wants us to do.
Gaf i ddiolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am y datganiad heddiw? Dwi'n gwybod mi oeddwn i wedi codi efo'r Trefnydd y byddwn i'n hoffi'r cyfle i ni drafod adroddiad y comisiwn, ond rydych chi wedi rhoi mwy i ni y tu hwnt i jest diweddariad a chyfle i drafod adroddiad y comisiwn. Dwi'n falch, hefyd, eich bod chi wedi cydnabod a rhoi diweddariad ar rai o'r elfennau o'r cytundeb cydweithio, sydd wedi bod mor bwysig o ran y gwaith hwn.
Mi fuaswn i'n hoffi ategu fy niolch innau i aelodau’r comisiwn am eu gwaith, dan arweiniad Simon Brooks. Mae'r ffaith bod gennym ni 57 argymhelliad yn dweud y cyfan, dwi'n meddwl, o ran yr holl ystod o feysydd lle mae angen gweithredu neu gryfhau. Dydy o ddim yn fater dim ond o addysg, ac ati, mae hwn ar draws bob portffolio ac mae'n wych gweld hynny'n cael ei adlewyrchu. Mae o’n adroddiad sy’n gwneud cyfraniad pwysig tuag at ddyhead pawb yn y Siambr hon i weld nod 'Cymraeg 2050' yn cael ei gyflawni. Mi wnaethoch chi gloi eich datganiad heddiw drwy ddweud ei fod o'n beth trawsbleidiol a dwi'n meddwl bod hynna'n gadarnhaol ohono fo'i hun. Heb os, mae’r argymhelliad cyntaf yn un sy’n allweddol o ran hyn, sef yr angen i gryfhau’r iaith fel iaith gymunedol, a bod angen felly i bolisi cyhoeddus adlewyrchu’r nodau o ran atgyfnerthu cymunedau Cymraeg a chryfhau cynaliadwyedd y Gymraeg yn y cymunedau hyn.
Dwi yn meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni'n edrych ar hyn mewn cyd-destun hefyd. Dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddwyd data diweddaraf o’r arolwg blynyddol o’r boblogaeth, a oedd yn cynnwys data ynglŷn â’r nifer sy’n siarad Cymraeg yng Nghymru. Yn y flwyddyn yn gorffen 30 Mehefin 2024, 27.8 y cant o bobl tair oed neu hŷn sy’n gallu siarad Cymraeg, sef y ganran isaf i’w chofnodi ers wyth mlynedd—29.2 y cant oedd y ffigwr ym Mehefin 2023. Yn amlwg, mae Tom Giffard wedi cyfeirio at y cwymp a gofnodwyd yng nghyfrifiad 2021, a dwi'n nodi'ch ymatebion chi, ond os edrychwn ni ar yr arolwg blynyddol o'r boblogaeth hefyd, dwi'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn bryderus o weld y cwymp hwnnw ac eisiau deall pam, er gwaethaf y ffaith ein bod ni efo Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae, neu 'Ffordd ŷch chi?', os ydych chi o'r canolbarth, fel rhai o'm teulu i, fod rhywun yn meddwl felly pam, a ninnau efo agweddau mwy cadarnhaol, ein bod ni ddim yn gweld y niferoedd yn dod drwyddo.
Hyd yma, dydyn ni ddim wedi derbyn ymateb llawn gan y Llywodraeth i bob un o'r argymhellion, ond dwi'n croesawu eich bod chi wedi dweud eich bod chi'n eu croesawu nhw, ac y bydd ymateb yn dod gydag amser. A gaf i ofyn a oes yna amserlen ar gyfer hynny, neu ydych chi'n dweud, drwy groesawu'n fawr y rhain i gyd, eich bod chi'n derbyn y 57? Yn amlwg, wrth ymateb i Tom Giffard hefyd, mi oeddech chi'n sôn bod posibilrwydd o ran sut byddan nhw'n dod drwyddo yn rhan o bolisïau neu Filiau presennol y Llywodraeth, megis Bil y Gymraeg ac addysg. Mi fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar gwybod faint o gapasiti hefyd sydd gan y Llywodraeth i weithredu ar y 57, os taw'r bwriad yw gwneud hynny.
Roeddwn i'n falch o'ch clywed chi hefyd yn cyfeirio at yr ail ymchwiliad i ardaloedd eraill sydd â dwysedd canolig neu is o siaradwyr Cymraeg. Mi fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar i gael gwybod a oes amserlen wedi ei gosod ar gyfer y gwaith hwn, oherwydd, yn amlwg, mi gymerodd y comisiwn cyntaf ddwy flynedd. Ond mi fyddwn i'n dadlau, efallai fel rhywun o Ynys Môn yn wreiddiol, ond sydd bellach wedi ymgartrefu ym Mhontypridd, fod rôl y Gymraeg yn y cymunedau hyn yn eithriadol o bwysig. Mae yna gymuned Gymraeg ym mhob rhan o Gymru, mae o jest yn fater o ran faint sydd yna yn gallu siarad a chael y cyfleoedd felly drwy'r system addysg, ac i weithio yn y Gymraeg hefyd. Mae'n glir felly o'r adroddiad hwn fod gwneud fel yr ydym ni ar y funud ddim am gyflawni nod 'Cymraeg 2050', felly dwi'n meddwl y byddai'n fuddiol i'r Senedd i gael yr eglurder ar yr uchod wrth inni ddechrau craffu ar yr adroddiad hwn a'r 57 o argymhellion, ac, yn fwy na dim, gweithredu arnyn nhw.
Mi oeddech chi'n cyfeirio at y llysgenhadon diwylliannol. Dwi'n hyderus ein bod ni ar y meinciau hyn i gyd yn credu ein bod ni wedi bod yn llysgenhadon diwylliannol ers degawdau bellach. Dwi'n credu bod agweddau yn newid, ond o ran cynghorau sir hefyd, sydd â rôl mor flaenllaw, sut ydyn ni'n ehangu'r rhaglen yna o lysgenhadon a chael mwy o bobl yn rhan o gyfleu'r neges? Rydych chi'n iawn, wrth gwrs, fod y Gymraeg yn perthyn i bawb, ond dydy hi ddim yn teimlo ei bod hi'n perthyn i bawb ar y funud, ac efallai fod pawb ohonom ni ar yr un dudalen yn y Siambr hon, ond, yn anffodus, dydy hynny ddim yn wir ledled Cymru ar y funud. Sut ydyn ni'n sicrhau bod y rheini mewn rôl ddylanwadu ar yr argymhellion yn cyd-fynd â barn y Senedd hon?
May I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the statement today? I know I'd raised with the Trefnydd that I would like to have an opportunity to discuss the commission's report, but you've provided us with more than just an update and an opportunity to discuss the commission's report. I'm very pleased, too, that you've acknowledged and provided an update on some of the elements of the co-operation agreement, which have been so important in terms of this work.
I'd like to begin by adding my own thanks to the members of the commission for their work, under the leadership of Simon Brooks. The fact that we have 57 recommendations says it all, I think, in terms of the range of areas where we need to see action or a strengthening of actions. It's not just an issue of education, and so on, this covers every portfolio and it's excellent to see that being reflected. It is a report that makes an important contribution to the aspiration that all of us in this Siambr share, namely to see the 'Cymraeg 2050' target being reached. You concluded your statement today by saying that it is an issue that has cross-party support and that's positive in and of itself. And without a shadow of doubt, the first recommendation is vital in this regard, that is, the need to strengthen the language as a community language, and that public policy therefore needs to reflect the objectives in terms of bolstering Welsh-speaking communities and strengthening the language's sustainability in these communities.
I do think it's important that we look at this issue in a wider context too. Only last week, the latest data from the annual population survey was published, which included data on the number of Welsh speakers in Wales. In the year ending 30 June 2024, 27.8 per cent of people aged three and over are able to speak Welsh, which is the lowest percentage recorded for eight years—the figure in June 2023 was 29.2 per cent. Clearly, Tom Giffard has referred to the decline recorded in the 2021 census, and I note your response, but if we look at the annual population survey as well, I'm sure that all of us are concerned to see that decline reflected there and want to understand why, despite the fact that we have Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae, or 'Ffordd ŷch chi?', if you're from mid Wales, like some of my family, one wonders why, therefore, when we have more positive attitudes to the language, we aren't we seeing the numbers increasing.
We haven't to date received the full response from the Government to every single one of the recommendations, but I welcome the fact that you've said that you welcome them, and that a response will come in due course. May I ask whether there is a timetable for that response, or are you saying, in saying that you warmly welcome all of these recommendations, that you accept the 57? Earlier, in response to Tom Giffard, you mentioned that there was a possibility in terms of how they may become part of current Government policies or Bills, for example, the Welsh language and education Bill. I would be grateful to know how much capacity the Government has to act in response to the 57 recommendations, if the intention is to do so.
I was also pleased to hear you refer to the second inquiry into other areas that have a medium or lower density of Welsh speakers. I'd be grateful to know whether a timetable has been set for this work, because, clearly, the first commission took two years. But I would argue, perhaps as somebody from Ynys Môn originally, but who has now made a home in Pontypridd, that the role of the Welsh language in these communities is exceptionally important. There is a Welsh-speaking community in all parts of Wales, it's just a matter of how many people are able to speak Welsh and have the opportunities to speak Welsh through the education system, and to work, indeed, through the medium of Welsh. It's clear from this report that business as usual is not going to help us to reach the 'Cymraeg 2050' target, so it would be beneficial for the Senedd to have clarity on the points that have been made as we begin to scrutinise this report and the 57 recommendations, and, more importantly, to act on them.
You referred to the cultural ambassadors. I am confident that we on these benches all believe that we have been cultural ambassadors for decades now. I believe that attitudes are changing, but in terms of county councils, which have such a prominent role, how do we expand this programme of cultural ambassadors so that we have more people part of the task of sharing the message? You're right, of course, the Welsh language belongs to us all, but it doesn't feel that way at the moment, and perhaps all of us are on the same page in this Siambr, but, unfortunately, that isn't true across Wales at the moment. How do we ensure that those who have an influence on the recommendations concur with this Senedd's view?
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiynau, wrth gwrs. Y pwynt dwi'n meddwl yw bod adroddiad 'Y Cynllun Tai Cymunedau Cymraeg' wedi codi lot mwy o waith, so dwi wedi trial rhoi adborth yn ôl ar y gwaith penodol dan y cynllun, ond hefyd i ddangos ble mae'r gwaith yna wedi mynd yn y ddwy flynedd ar ôl iddo gael ei gyhoeddi.
Dwi'n cytuno, wrth gwrs: nid jest addysg. Mae addysg yn hollol bwysig, ond mae nifer fawr o bethau rŷn ni'n gallu eu gwneud ar draws y Llywodraeth i hybu'r iaith Gymraeg. Mae'r ffaith bod yma yn y Senedd, yn drawsbleidiol, deimlad cryf i gefnogi'r Gymraeg, mae hwnna'n dal i fod yn bwysig inni i drial cario ymlaen gyda'r gwaith sydd yn mynd i fod yn effeithiol.
Wrth gwrs dwi'n pryderu am y cwymp yn y ffigurau yn y cyfrifiad, fel y dywedais i wrth Tom Giffard, ac mae hwnna'n dangos y ffaith nad rhywbeth am unrhyw barti neu le oedd e. Dwi'n bersonol yn becso am sir Gâr, ble mae'r ffigurau wedi mynd lawr mor gyflym, ac mae pethau rŷn ni'n eu gwneud i ganolbwyntio ar sir Gâr i drial ffeindio os oes yna resymau, achos mae'r cyngor sir yna yn gefnogol dros ben i'r Gymraeg, ac rŷn ni wedi cydweithio'n agos â nhw fel Llywodraeth fan hyn. So, mae jest angen inni drial meddwl beth sydd y tu ôl i'r ffigurau yna a beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i helpu pobl yn y cymunedau yna.
Bydd ymateb i adroddiad Dr Simon Brooks yn gynnar yn y flwyddyn nesaf. Dwi ddim am ddweud heddiw, wrth gwrs, ein bod ni'n mynd i dderbyn pob un o'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad. Dyna pam mae gwaith yn mynd ymlaen ar draws y Llywodraeth i ystyried pob argymhelliad.
Bydd ail gam yng ngwaith y comisiwn yn cael ei adrodd nôl i'r Senedd, dwi'n meddwl, ym mis Rhagfyr 2026. Mae adroddiad penodol yn mynd i ddod mas o'r comisiwn ar y maes cynllunio erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn hon. So, mae un adroddiad arall i ddod yn y flwyddyn hon, a bydd adroddiad ar yr ail gam—cymunedau lle mae llai o Gymraeg yn cael ei defnyddio ar hyn o bryd—erbyn diwedd 2026.
Hoffwn hefyd wahodd pob Aelod o'r Senedd i ddod yn llysgennad diwylliannol. Fel mae Heledd wedi dweud, mae lot o bobl yn gwneud y gwaith yna yn barod, ac wedi'i wneud e dros flynyddoedd. Ond dŷn ni eisiau creu rhwydwaith o bobl a chryfhau'r rhwydwaith yna, ac mae croeso mawr i unrhyw Aelod yn fan hyn sydd eisiau bod yn rhan o'r gwaith yna.
Thank you very much for the questions, of course. I think the point is that the 'Welsh Language Communities Housing Plan' report has created a lot more work, so I have tried to report back on the specific work on the plan, but also to demonstrate how that work has developed in the two years since its publication.
I agree, of course: it's not just education. Education is crucially important, but there are a number of other things that we can do across Government to promote the Welsh language. The fact that, here in the Senedd, there is strong cross-party support for the Welsh language, that continues to be important for us as we seek to continue with the work that will be effective in this area.
Of course I am concerned about the decline in the numbers in the census, as I said to Tom Giffard, and that highlights the fact that this wasn't an issue for any one party or any one area. Personally, I'm concerned about Carmarthenshire, where the figures have declined so swiftly, and there are things that we are doing to focus on Carmarthenshire to try to discover if there are reasons behind that, because the county council there is very supportive of the Welsh language, and we've worked very closely with them as a Government here. So, we need to try to understand what lies behind those figures and what we can do to help people in those communities.
There will be a response to the report published by Dr Simon Brooks early next year. I'm not going to say today, of course, that we're going to accept every single one of the recommendations contained within the report. That's why there is work ongoing across Government to consider every one of the recommendations.
The second phase of the commission's work will report back to the Senedd, I believe, in December 2026. There will be a particular report published by the commission on planning by the end of this year. So, there will be a further report this year, and then the report on the second phase—communities where there is a lower density of Welsh speakers—will be available by the end of 2026.
I'd also like to invite every Senedd Member to become a cultural ambassador. As Heledd has already said, many people do that work already and have done over many years. But we do want to create a network of people and to strengthen that network, and any Member in this place who wants to be involved with that work would be welcome to get involved.
Liciwn i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad y prynhawn yma. Liciwn i, os caf i, ddiolch hefyd i Dr Simon Brooks am y gwaith mae e wedi'i arwain dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Dwi'n meddwl bod yr adroddiad yn waith hanesyddol pan fo'n dod i edrych ar ddyfodol cymunedau Cymraeg. Gobeithio bod dyletswydd ar Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae gen i llawn ffydd yn y Gweinidog y bydd e'n ymateb i bob un o'r argymhellion. Achos dyfodol cymunedau Cymraeg ydy hanfod beth rydyn ni'n trio ei wneud wrth greu miliwn o siaradwyr. Mae'n rhaid bod y Gymraeg yn iaith fyw mewn cymunedau lle mae'n bosibl siarad y Gymraeg yn naturiol, ac mae hynny'n hollbwysig i'r weledigaeth.
Dwi'n gweld hefyd bod y Gweinidog yn arwain y Bil addysg Gymraeg ar hyn o bryd, a dwi'n credu bod hynny'n elfen bwysig o'r gwaith hefyd. Buaswn i'n gwerthfawrogi'r cyfle i drafod hyn gyda'r Gweinidog rywbryd arall. Ond rwy'n gobeithio, os caf i, wrth siarad y prynhawn yma, Weinidog, eich annog chi i edrych ar bob un o'r argymhellion yn adroddiad Simon Brooks, a sicrhau bod yna ymateb difrifol a llawn i bob un ohonyn nhw. Achos mae'n rhaid i ni, os yw miliwn o siaradwyr yn meddwl unrhyw beth, newid y ffordd mae'r Llywodraeth yn meddwl, newid y ffordd mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio, sicrhau bod y Llywodraeth yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i sicrhau dyfodol yr iaith Gymraeg yn y cymunedau lle mae'r iaith yn byw.
I'd like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for the statement this afternoon. I’d like, if I may, to thank Dr Simon Brooks for the work that he has led over the past few years. I think that the report is a historic piece of work when it comes to looking at the future of Welsh-speaking communities. I hope that there is a duty now on the Welsh Government, and I have full faith in the Cabinet Secretary that he will respond to every one of those recommendations. Because the future of Welsh-speaking communities goes to the heart of what we are trying to do in terms of creating 1 million Welsh speakers. The Welsh language has to be a living language in communities where it's possible to speak the Welsh language naturally, and that's vital to that vision.
I see too that the Cabinet Secretary is leading the Welsh language education Bill at the moment, and I think that is an important element of this work, too. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with the Cabinet Secretary at another date. But if I may in contributing this afternoon encourage you to look at every one of the recommendations in Dr Simon Brooks's report and ensure that there is a serious and full reply in response to every single one. Because we must, if 1 million Welsh speakers means anything, change the way that the Government thinks, change the way that the Government works, to ensure that the Government works together to ensure a future for the Welsh language in the communities where the language lives.
Diolch yn fawr i Alun Davies am y cyfraniad. Wrth gwrs, dwi'n cytuno gyda fe o ran dweud diolch i Simon Brooks a'r 10 aelod eraill o'r grŵp sydd wedi creu'r adroddiad. Bydd ymateb i bob argymhelliad. Dwi ddim yn gallu dweud heddiw fy mod i'n mynd i dderbyn pob un, ond bydd ymateb i bob un.
Mae'r adroddiad, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn tynnu ar y hanes dros fwy na hanner canrif nawr i drio hybu'r iaith Gymraeg—nôl yn y 1960au, Deddf yr Iaith Gymraeg 1993, a gwaith Mr Roberts o Gonwy. Dwi wedi bod yn darllen peth am hanes yr hanner canrif i weld beth allwn ni dynnu fel gwersi. Ces i gyfle i weld rhagymadrodd y Papur Gwyn o 2017, dan enw Alun Davies, lle roedd Alun yn dweud bod angen
I'd like to thank Alun Davies for that contribution. Of course I agree with him when he says that we should thank Simon Brooks and the other 10 members of the group that drew up this report. There will be a response to each of the recommendations. I'm not going to say this afternoon that we will accept all the recommendations, but there will be a response to every one of those recommendations.
The report, Dirprwy Lywydd, does draw upon more than 50 years of history now, where attempts have been made to promote the Welsh language. We can look back to the 1960s and the 1993 Welsh Language Act, and the work of Mr Roberts of Conwy, of course. I've been reading up on the history over the last 50 years to see what lessons we can learn. I had an opportunity to read the foreword to the White Paper in 2017, which was written by Alun Davies. Alun said that there is a need to
'give new energy to our efforts to promote the language',
'We must foster people’s desire and confidence to learn and to use the language...as a normal part of everyday life.'
'rhoi egni newydd i'n hymdrechion i hybu'r iaith',
'Mae angen meithrin hyder a dyhead i ddysgu a defnyddio’r iaith...fel rhan gyffredin o fywyd bob dydd.
Yn yr ymdrech yna i helpu pobl i ddefnyddio'r iaith bob dydd, dyna ble mae adroddiad Simon Brooks yn mynd i'n helpu ni i gryfhau'r posibiliadau lle mae pobl yn siarad Cymraeg yn barod bob dydd, ac i gryfhau'r cyfleon i bara ymlaen i wneud hynny at y dyfodol, ond hefyd i greu mwy o gyfleon i bobl yn y cymunedau ble bydd ail gam gwaith Dr Brooks yn edrych i'n helpu ni.
That's where the Simon Brooks report is going to help us to provide opportunities where people already speak Welsh on a daily basis, and to enhance their opportunities to continue to do that for the future, but also to create further opportunities for people in those communities where the second phase of Dr Brooks's work will focus.
Weinidog, roedd Cowbridge Road yn fôr o goch y bore yma, nid oherwydd y gêm bêl-droed neithiwr ond oherwydd bod plant ysgol wedi gwisgo'n goch i fynd i'r ysgol i ddathlu Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae. Mae yna rannau yng Nghaerdydd nawr sydd â mwy o siaradwyr Cymraeg yn ganrannol na threfi yn y fro Gymraeg; mae'r iaith yn tyfu yma. A mynd nôl rŷm ni—roedd yr iaith yn iaith fwyafrifol yng Nghaerdydd y ganrif cyn diwethaf. Mae llawer iawn o'r twf nawr oherwydd bod dros 70 y cant o blant o fewn addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg yn dod o gartrefi di-Gymraeg.
Liciwn i ganolbwyntio'n sydyn ar y slogan 'Cymraeg i Bawb'. Rŷm ni i gyd yn cytuno ar y peth, ond un peth yw cytuno gyda'r egwyddor, peth arall yw trosglwyddo hwnna i'n cymunedau ni. Wrth i mi ymweld ag ysgolion yng Nghaerdydd, dwi'n cael y teimlad—a does dim ffigurau, yn anffodus, i ddangos hyn—bod mwy o blant o gartrefi lle nad yw'r Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg yn iaith gyntaf yn mynd i addysg cyfrwng Saesneg nag addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg—ein bod ni'n colli pobl o gartrefi lle nad y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg yw'r brif iaith, yr iaith gyntaf, o addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg. Sut mae modd i ni wirioneddol sicrhau bod yr iaith Gymraeg yn iaith i bawb, a'n bod ni'n denu'r teuluoedd yma i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg? Diolch yn fawr.
Minister, Cowbridge Road was a sea of red this morning, not because of last night's football game but because schoolchildren were wearing red to go to school to celebrate Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae. Some parts of Cardiff now have a greater proportion of Welsh speakers than towns in the Welsh-speaking heartlands; the language is growing here. And we're going back—the language was the majority language in Cardiff in century before last. A great deal of that growth is because over 70 per cent in Welsh-medium education in Cardiff are from non-Welsh speaking homes.
I'd like to focus briefly on the 'Cymraeg i Bawb' slogan. We all agree that Welsh is for everybody, but it's one thing to agree with the principle; it's another then to transfer that to our communities. As I visit schools in Cardiff, I get the feeling—and there are no figures, unfortunately, to demonstrate this—that more children where English or Welsh aren't the first language of their home go to English-medium schools as opposed to Welsh-medium schools. We're losing people from homes where Welsh or English are not the first language from Welsh-medium provision. How can we truly ensure that the Welsh language is a language for all, and that we attract these families to Welsh-medium education? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr i Rhys am y cwestiynau. Mae'r twf yn addysg trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn ardal Treganna wedi bod yn un o'r straeon mwyaf llwyddiannus dros y degawdau diwethaf. Dwi'n cofio bod yn y gadair yn y grŵp cyntaf yn un o'r ysgolion newydd yn Nhreganna, ble nad oedd nifer fawr o gwbl o bobl yn dod ymlaen at addysg drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, a mae hynny wedi newid dros y degawdau. A dyna pam dwi'n meddwl rŷm ni'n gallu bod yn hyderus y gallwn ni wneud mwy a thynnu mwy o bobl i fewn o'r teuluoedd hyn lle nad yw'r Saesneg na'r Gymraeg yn cael eu defnyddio.
Mae hynny wedi dechrau. Dwi'n cofio yn yr ysgol yna, ym mlwyddyn gyntaf yr ysgol, doedd dim wyneb du o gwbl yn yr ysgol yng nghanol Treganna, yng nghanol Glan-yr-afon, ble mae cymunedau fel yna yn byw. Mae hynny wedi newid. Mae lot mwy i'w wneud, ond gan dynnu ar beth sydd wedi digwydd yn barod yn y gymuned yma, dwi'n meddwl y gallwn ni fod yn hyderus a chymryd camau ymlaen i dynnu mwy o bobl i fewn i addysg drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn y cymunedau lleol yna.
I thank Rhys for those questions. The growth in Welsh-medium education in the Canton area has been one of the greatest success stories over recent decades. I remember chairing a meeting of the first group in one of the new schools in Canton, where there weren't many people at all coming forward to access Welsh-medium education, and that's changed over the decades. That's why I believe that we can be confident that we can do more and attract more people in from families that don't have English or Welsh as a first language.
That has already started. I remember in that school that I mentioned in its first year, there wasn't a single black face in that school, and that was in the middle of Canton, in Riverside, where those communities live. That has changed. There's a lot more to be done, but we need to draw on what's happened already in those communities and, in doing that, I think we can be confident that we can take steps forward to attract more people into Welsh-medium education in our local communities.
Rwy'n cytuno gydag Alun Davies; rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad yma yn garreg filltir. Yn union fel gyda chreu Deddf yr Iaith Gymraeg 1993, lle roedd consensws pleidiol ar draws pob plaid o blaid y Gymraeg am y tro cyntaf, rwy'n credu bod hwn nawr yn gam arall ymlaen: consensws o blaid pwysigrwydd amddiffyn a hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg lle mae'n iaith gymunedol bob dydd, gan edrych ymlaen, wrth gwrs, i'r diwrnod lle bydd hynny'n wir ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
Mae pob un o'r 57 o argymhellion yn bwysig ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen i weld yr ymateb. Ond a gaf i dynnu eich sylw chi at, i mi, un o'r argymhellion creiddiol bwysig, sef 16? Mae'n sôn am greu corff i drefnu'r gwaith yma, i gydlynu'r gwaith yma. Oherwydd gallwch chi gael y syniadau gorau, ond heb bod yna gartref neu gyfrwng ar gyfer y syniadau hyn—. I ryw raddau, mae'r comisiwn wedi gweithredu fel yna yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf a gyda'r gwaith sydd dal gyda'r comisiwn ar ôl, ond bydd angen dilyniant wedyn.
Rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog wedi dweud weithiau does dim problem yng Nghymru dyw Adam Price ddim eisiau creu corff yn ei gylch e. [Chwerthin.] Yn yr achos yma, dwi'n credu bod yna achos cyfiawn dros hynny. Ond tra eich bod chi'n ystyried hynny, oes angen pontio? Yn Arfor 1 ac Arfor 2, mae lot o waith da wedi digwydd, ond oes yna fodd cael o leiaf Arfor 3 tra'n bod ni'n ystyried beth yw siâp a sgôp ac union strwythur pa bynnag gorff fydd yn gallu mynd â'r gwaith yma ymlaen?
I agree with Alun Davies; I believe that this report is a milestone. Exactly as was the case in the creation of the Welsh Language Act 1993, where there was a party political consensus in favour of the Welsh language for the first time, I think this now is a further step forward: a consensus regarding the importance of protecting and promoting the Welsh language where it is an everyday community language, looking forward to the time when that is the case in all parts of Wales.
Every one of the 57 recommendations are important and I look forward to seeing the responses. But may I draw your attention to, for me, the most important recommendation, namely 16? It talks about creating a body to organise this work, to co-ordinate this work. Because you can have the very best ideas, but without there being a home or a medium for those ideas—. To some extent, the commission has operated in that role in the past few years and in the work that it still has to do, but there needs to be continuity after that.
I know that the Minister has said sometimes that there is no problem in Wales that Adam Price doesn't want to create a body for. [Laughter.] In this case, there is a just case for that. But whilst you are considering that, do we need a transition phase now? We've had Arfor 1 and Arfor 2, but is there scope for us to have Arfor 3 whilst we consider the shape, the scope, form and structure of whatever body will be able to take this work forward?
Diolch yn fawr i Adam Price. Mae Adam wedi dweud yn barod beth sydd gyda fi i'w ddweud, achos tu ôl argymhelliad 16 yw'r ddadl am a ydym ni eisiau gweld cyrff newydd sbon, neu oes rhywbeth gyda ni yn barod ble rŷn ni'n gallu addasu beth sydd gyda ni yn barod, a chreu y corff mae'r adroddiad yn ei awgrymu. Mae hwnna, siŵr o fod, yn tynnu ar y profiad yn Arfor fel rhywbeth sydd wedi bod yna nawr am sbel hir, a lot o lwyddiant tu ôl y gwaith maen nhw wedi'i wneud. So, pan ŷn ni'n ystyried yr argymhellion, gallwn ni feddwl unwaith eto am a oes corff newydd, neu allwn ni ddefnyddio beth sydd gyda ni yn barod, ac i bontio i'r dyfodol trwy ddefnyddio'r profiadau mae pobl wedi'u cael.
Thank you very much to Adam Price. Adam has already said what I'd intended to say, because behind recommendation 16 is the argument as to whether we want to see brand-new bodies being created, or do we have something in place already where we can make adaptations and create the body that the report suggests. I'm sure that would draw on the experiences in Arfor as something that has been in place for a long while and has seen a great deal of success. So, when we consider those recommendations, we can think again about whether we need to establish a new body or can we use what we already have in place and transition to the future by using the experiences that people have had in the past.
Ac yn olaf, Delyth Jewell.
Finally, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a shwmae. Dwi'n cytuno gyda chi 100 y cant am yr ymdeimlad yma fod Cymraeg i bawb. Un o'r heriau sydd gennym ni yn llefydd fel y Cymoedd ydy'r ymdeimlad sydd gan nifer o bobl fod eu Cymraeg nhw ddim yn ddigon da, y complex yma sydd gan bobl am bethau fel treigliadau. A fyddech chi yn ymuno gyda fi i ddweud, ie, mae Cymraeg i bawb, ond hefyd mae Cymraeg pawb yn ddilys, a bod croeso, dŷn ni'n cael ein cyfoethogi gan Gymraeg wahanol, gan dafodieithoedd gwahanol, ac na ddylai pobl ddim teimlo fel hynny? Beth ydych chi'n teimlo y byddai'n gallu cael ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw'r her hyder yna ddim yn golygu bod cymaint o bobl yn dweud yn y sensws nad ydyn nhw'n siaradwyr Cymraeg? Beth ydym ni'n gallu ei wneud er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn cymryd y naid yna a'u bod nhw'n teimlo balchder yn eu Cymraeg a pha mor gyfoethog mae hi yn gwneud gwahaniaeth?
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and shwmae. I agree with you 100 per cent about this feeling that Welsh is for everyone. One of the challenges that we have in places such as the Valleys is the feeling a number of people have that their Welsh isn't good enough, that complex that people have about mutations and so on. Would you join me in saying that, yes, Welsh is for everyone, but everyone's Welsh is valid, and that there is a welcome, we are enriched by different ways of speaking Welsh, by different dialects, that there is a place for all, and people shouldn't feel like that? What do you think could be done to ensure that that confidence challenge doesn't mean that so many people say in the census that they don't speak Welsh? What can we do to ensure that people do take that leap and take pride in their Welsh, how rich that Welsh is and how much of a difference that makes?
Diolch i Delyth Jewell. Mae yna dau bwynt, dwi'n meddwl. Un pwynt yw jest i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod pobl sy'n siarad Saesneg yn siarad Saesneg mewn ffyrdd hollol wahanol bob dydd, a does neb yn dweud, 'O, dydy fy Saesneg i ddim yn ddigon da i'w ddefnyddio'. So, pam bod pobl sy'n siarad Cymraeg yn meddwl fel yna?
A'r ail beth yw jest i ddweud wrth bobl mai'r unig ffordd i ddod i siarad Cymraeg yn well yw trwy ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg. Dwi'n gwneud camgymeriadau bob tro dwi'n siarad Cymraeg, ond rŷn ni i gyd yn. Dim ond trwy ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ydyn ni'n gallu ei gwneud hi'n well, a dwi eisiau jest perswadio pobl i beidio â becso a jest defnyddio. Trwy ddefnydd o'r Gymraeg, rŷch chi'n mynd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg lot yn well.
I'd like to thank Delyth Jewell. I think there were two points there. One is to highlight the fact that people who speak English all speak English in an entirely different way and nobody says, 'Well, my English isn't good enough to be used'. So, why do Welsh speakers have that complex?
And secondly, I just want to tell people that the only way to improve your Welsh language skills is by using the Welsh language. I make mistakes every time I speak Welsh; we all do. But it's only by using the Welsh language can we improve our skills, and I just want to persuade people not to worry and just use the Welsh language. By using the Welsh language, your Welsh will improve.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Darren Millar, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Heledd Fychan.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Darren Millar, and amendment 2 in the name of Heledd Fychan.
Eitem 7 yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad blynyddol Comisiynydd Plant Cymru 2023-24. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol i wneud y cynnig. Jane Hutt.
Item 7 is a debate on the Children’s Commissioner for Wales's annual report for 2023-24. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to move the motion. Jane Hutt.
Cynnig NDM8688 Jane Hutt
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi Adroddiad Blynyddol Comisiynydd Plant Cymru 2023-24.
Motion NDM8688 Jane Hutt
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’s Annual Report 2023-24.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I am pleased to introduce our annual children's commissioner's report debate. The report has the vital function of highlighting the issues that concern children and young people in Wales.
Wales has a proud tradition of upholding children's rights. We were the first country in the UK to enshrine children's rights into law in 2011. We were also the first UK nation to establish the office of the children's commissioner, providing our children with a strong independent advocate, to make sure our children's voices are heard. Indeed, I was the Minister who introduced the legislation to appoint the first children's commissioner in the UK. The important point about that was that we decided to engage children and young people in the appointment process, which has now followed through to the appointments of every successor children's commissioner. And I would like to pay tribute to those organisations who facilitated this along our journey to children and young people's full participation. Voices from Care Cymru and Children in Wales are playing a key role to support us in getting that engagement.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch o gyflwyno ein dadl ar adroddiad blynyddol y comisiynydd plant. Mae gan yr adroddiad y swyddogaeth hanfodol o dynnu sylw at y materion sy'n ymwneud â phlant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru.
Mae gan Gymru draddodiad balch o gynnal hawliau plant. Ni oedd y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i ymgorffori hawliau plant mewn cyfraith yn 2011. Ni hefyd oedd y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i sefydlu swyddfa'r comisiynydd plant, gan roi eiriolwr annibynnol cryf i'n plant, i sicrhau bod lleisiau ein plant yn cael eu clywed. Yn wir, fi oedd y Gweinidog a gyflwynodd y ddeddfwriaeth i benodi'r comisiynydd plant cyntaf yn y DU. Y pwynt pwysig am hynny oedd ein bod wedi penderfynu ymgysylltu â phlant a phobl ifanc yn y broses benodi, sydd bellach wedi digwydd wrth benodi pob comisiynydd plant olynol. A hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r sefydliadau hynny a hwylusodd hyn ar hyd ein taith i gyfranogiad llawn plant a phobl ifanc. Mae Voices from Care Cymru a Plant yng Nghymru yn chwarae rhan allweddol i'n cefnogi i gael yr ymgysylltiad hwnnw.
We want a Wales for all children, where their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled, a Wales where every person feels valued, respected and heard. In Wales, we've led the way in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We published our response to the UN committee's concluding observations in July. The response and the collaborative approach we took to developing it through a series of workshops with stakeholders and children and young people has been very well received.
In 2020, thanks to the long-standing leadership of Julie Morgan as Minister, as MS and as MP, we passed legislation to ban all forms of physical punishment of children in Wales, upholding their right to live free from violence. We've extended voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds in Senedd and local government elections, supporting the right for young people to have their voices heard. We've introduced a new Curriculum for Wales, which places a duty on schools to raise awareness of children's rights. We've published professional learning modules to support staff in fulfilling this duty. As part of the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, we have recently completed the roll-out of free school meals to all pupils in maintained primary schools across Wales. As the first UK nation to offer free school meals to all primary school pupils, we're supporting children in their right to good health and access to education.
The commissioner's recommendations reflect the breadth of policies we're taking forward to benefit children's rights, and a number of these fall within my own portfolio. The Welcome Ticket scheme provided free public transport for refugees and others given humanitarian protection. The commissioner has recommended we consider how this scheme can be relaunched to include children seeking asylum in Wales, and I'm pleased to report that negotiations are under way to launch phase 2 of the Welcome Ticket free bus travel offer as soon as possible, and we're making every effort to develop a scheme that has minimal barriers to entry for those seeking asylum.
Dirprwy Lywydd, the commissioner has also asked for a review—called for a review—of the community cohesion strategy. Our planned activities to address anti-immigration narratives are set out in the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', which contains a range of actions to address the causes of racist and religious hate as well as providing free and accessible support and advocacy to those who experience hate.
We've also appointed four regional forum conveners, representing mid and south, central, east and north Wales, to act as a bridge, conduit, between Welsh Government and our black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. They will test our policies on the ground and work closely with policy officials across the Welsh Government to ensure delivery and impact; two out of four regional conveners are currently in post.
As part of the refresh of the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', we have actively listened to our communities and the feedback from the external accountability group, and a key theme that emerged is the need to better engage young people, ensuring their voices are heard and represented in shaping future policies. In response, we've included specific goals and actions focused on the engagement of black, Asian and minority ethnic young people. These actions are designed to promote equality, inclusion and diversity, both in terms of access to youth work services in Wales and in relation to the role that youth work services can play in proactively challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviours within society. The plan is crucial to ensuring all children in Wales, whatever their race or religion, are able to access their rights.
Finally, there is a recommendation in the refreshed 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan' to establish a community forum to communicate progress on the plan to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members, including children and young people. We're establishing a stakeholder group to bring community members and policy makers together. An engagement mechanism for children and young people from the community is also in development, and this will support those children to access their right to have their voices heard in decisions that affect them.
I know that my colleagues in Cabinet are actively considering all the recommendations that fall to them. For example, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales announced in Plenary last week that he's asked his officials to work with the office of the children's commissioner to understand the motivations as well as the barriers to encouraging more young people to use public transport.
Finally, I would say that the commissioner's independent role is crucial in holding the Government to account and ensures that we maintain a collective focus on children's rights in Wales, and I look forward to hearing your views on the commissioner's annual report. Diolch, Deputy Llywydd.
Mae arnom ni eisiau Cymru i bob plentyn, lle caiff eu hawliau eu parchu, eu diogelu a'u gwireddu, Cymru lle mae pawb yn teimlo y cânt eu gwerthfawrogi, eu parchu a'u clywed. Yng Nghymru, rydym ni wedi arwain y ffordd wrth weithredu Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn. Fe wnaethom ni gyhoeddi ein hymateb i sylwadau terfynol pwyllgor y Cenhedloedd Unedig ym mis Gorffennaf. Mae'r ymateb a'r ffordd gydweithredol yr aethom ni ati i'w ddatblygu trwy gyfres o weithdai gyda rhanddeiliaid a phlant a phobl ifanc wedi cael derbyniad da iawn.
Yn 2020, diolch i arweinyddiaeth hirsefydlog Julie Morgan fel Gweinidog, fel Aelod o'r Senedd ac Aelod Seneddol, pasiwyd deddfwriaeth i wahardd pob math o gosbi plant yn gorfforol yng Nghymru, gan gynnal eu hawl i fyw'n rhydd rhag trais. Rydym ni wedi ymestyn hawliau pleidleisio i bobl ifanc 16 ac 17 oed yn etholiadau'r Senedd a llywodraeth leol, gan gefnogi'r hawl i bobl ifanc leisio eu barn. Rydym ni wedi cyflwyno Cwricwlwm newydd i Gymru, sy'n gosod dyletswydd ar ysgolion i godi ymwybyddiaeth o hawliau plant. Rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi modiwlau dysgu proffesiynol i gefnogi staff i gyflawni'r ddyletswydd hon. Fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru, rydym ni wedi cwblhau'r broses o gyflwyno prydau ysgol am ddim yn ddiweddar i bob disgybl mewn ysgolion cynradd ledled Cymru y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu cynnal. Fel y genedl gyntaf yn y DU i gynnig prydau ysgol am ddim i bob disgybl ysgol gynradd, rydym yn cefnogi plant o ran eu hawl i iechyd da a mynediad at addysg.
Mae argymhellion y comisiynydd yn adlewyrchu ehangder y polisïau yr ydym yn eu datblygu er budd hawliau plant, ac mae nifer o'r rhain yn dod o fewn fy mhortffolio fy hun. Roedd cynllun y Tocyn Croeso yn darparu cludiant cyhoeddus am ddim i ffoaduriaid ac eraill a gafodd amddiffyniad dyngarol. Mae'r comisiynydd wedi argymell ein bod yn ystyried sut y gellir ail-lansio'r cynllun hwn i gynnwys plant sy'n ceisio lloches yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n falch o adrodd bod trafodaethau ar y gweill i lansio cam 2 y cynnig teithio Tocyn Croeso am ddim ar fysiau cyn gynted â phosibl, ac rydym yn gwneud pob ymdrech i ddatblygu cynllun sydd mor hawdd â phosibl i'r rheini sy'n ceisio lloches ei ddefnyddio.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r comisiynydd hefyd wedi gofyn am adolygiad—wedi galw am adolygiad—o'r strategaeth cydlyniant cymunedol. Mae ein gweithgareddau arfaethedig i fynd i'r afael â naratifau gwrth-fewnfudo wedi'u hamlinellu yng Nghynllun Gweithredu Cymru Gwrth-hiliol, sy'n cynnwys ystod o gamau i fynd i'r afael ag achosion o gasineb hiliol a chrefyddol yn ogystal â darparu cefnogaeth ac eiriolaeth hygyrch am ddim i'r rhai sy'n profi casineb.
Rydym ni hefyd wedi penodi pedwar cynullydd fforwm rhanbarthol, sy'n cynrychioli canolbarth a de, canol, dwyrain a gogledd Cymru, i weithredu fel pont rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'n cymunedau du, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Byddant yn profi ein polisïau ar lawr gwlad ac yn gweithio'n agos gyda swyddogion polisi ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau darpariaeth ac effaith; mae dau o'r pedwar cynullydd rhanbarthol yn y swydd ar hyn o bryd.
Yn rhan o adnewyddu 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Gwrth-hiliol', rydym ni wedi gwrando ar ein cymunedau a'r adborth gan y grŵp atebolrwydd allanol, a thema allweddol a ddaeth i'r amlwg yw'r angen i ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc yn well, gan sicrhau y caiff eu lleisiau eu clywed a'u cynrychioli wrth lunio polisïau'r dyfodol. Mewn ymateb, rydym ni wedi cynnwys nodau a chamau gweithredu penodol sy'n canolbwyntio ar ennyn diddordeb pobl ifanc du, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Mae'r camau hyn wedi'u cynllunio i hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb, cynhwysiant ac amrywiaeth, o ran mynediad at wasanaethau gwaith ieuenctid yng Nghymru ac o ran swyddogaeth bosib gwasanaethau gwaith ieuenctid wrth herio agweddau ac arferion gwahaniaethol mewn cymdeithas mewn modd rhagweithiol. Mae'r cynllun yn hanfodol i sicrhau bod pob plentyn yng Nghymru, beth bynnag fo'i hil neu grefydd, yn gallu arfer ei hawliau.
Yn olaf, mae argymhelliad yn y 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Gwrth-hiliol' diwygiedig i sefydlu fforwm cymunedol i adrodd ar y cynnydd o ran y cynllun i aelodau cymuned Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr, gan gynnwys plant a phobl ifanc. Rydym yn sefydlu grŵp rhanddeiliaid i ddod ag aelodau o'r gymuned a llunwyr polisi at ei gilydd. Mae mecanwaith ymgysylltu ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc o'r gymuned hefyd yn cael ei ddatblygu, a bydd hyn yn helpu'r plant hynny i arfer eu hawl i leisio eu barn am benderfyniadau sy'n effeithio arnyn nhw.
Rwy'n gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet wrthi'n ystyried yr holl argymhellion sy'n berthnasol iddyn nhw. Er enghraifft, cyhoeddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yr wythnos diwethaf ei fod wedi gofyn i'w swyddogion weithio gyda swyddfa'r comisiynydd plant i ddeall y cymhellion yn ogystal â'r rhwystrau i annog mwy o bobl ifanc i ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus.
Yn olaf, byddwn i'n dweud bod swyddogaeth annibynnol y comisiynydd yn hanfodol wrth ddwyn y Llywodraeth i gyfrif ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar hawliau plant yng Nghymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed eich barn ar adroddiad blynyddol y comisiynydd. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Rwyf wedi dethol y ddau welliant i’r cynnig. Galwaf ar Joel James i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar.
I have selected the two amendments to the motion, and I call on Joel James to move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Darren Millar.
Gwelliant 1—Darren Millar
Ychwanegu pwyntiau newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn gresynu bod tua 30% o blant Cymru yn byw mewn tlodi.
Yn cefnogi galwadau Comisiynydd Plant Cymru i Strategaeth Tlodi Plant Llywodraeth Cymru gael targedau clir a chanlyniadau mesuradwy.
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio gyda'r Comisiynydd Plant i weithredu ymgyrch Ymddiriedolaeth WAVE i leihau cam-drin plant, esgeulustod a phrofiadau niweidiol eraill yn ystod plentyndod erbyn 2030.
Amendment 1—Darren Millar
Add as new points at end of motion:
Regrets that around 30% of children in Wales are living in poverty.
Supports the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ calls for the Welsh Government’s Child Poverty Strategy to have clear targets and measurable outcomes.
Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the Children’s Commissioner to implement the WAVE Trust’s campaign to reduce child abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by 2030.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I begin by moving the amendment tabled in the name of Darren Millar and by thanking the children's commissioner for her annual report and for the effort of all those in producing it?
I would like to focus my contribution on three areas, if I may. The first is a very concerning finding of increased use of e-cigarettes or vapes amongst children and young people, and the secondary schools survey highlighted in the report finding that 24 per cent of children and young people have tried vaping and 7 per cent were found to regular users. What is even more shocking is that, last year, a Welsh drugs testing service found that two in every five sample vape liquids tested contained one or more synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, which is commonly known as 'spice'. These agonists are associated with serious health issues, ranging from breathing difficulties to psychotic episodes. These lab-made drugs are designed to mimic the effects of cannabis, but they tend to be far more unpredictable and harmful and, ultimately, children and young people are buying vaping liquids in the belief that they contain cannabis or CBD or THC liquids, but they are in fact laced with spice, and are being sold by drug dealers with the intention of creating addicts to further sell to. These concerns are further highlighted by an incident response group report that shows an increasing number of children are now unable to get through the school day without vaping, and that there's increased recognition that children are also waking up during the night in order to vape. The rise of vaping has been very fast, and the truth is that children and young people are at the front line of being exploited by black-market drug dealers. This data that I've highlighted is, sadly, only the tip of the iceberg, and allowing children and young people to use these products is simply creating a massive health problem in future that we will just simply not be able to deal with.
With this in mind, I echo the call by the children's commissioner to take stronger action in banning the supply of disposable or single-use vaping devices, making more nicotine-replacement therapies available, and making sure vapes are not visible at the point of sale. As we all know here, four in five smokers start before the age of 20 and are addicted for life, and so we need to be acting much faster if we're going to prevent this health epidemic from emerging. I've highlighted this before in the Chamber, but I personally would like to see even more action taken in schools to educate children about the health, and in particular the mental health, implications of vaping. But that onus should not be put entirely on teachers to make sure that children and young people are aware of the dangers of vaping. There should be more co-ordinated efforts by professionals to teach and demonstrate what vaping actually does to the body, and how buying vapes from black-market dealers is fuelling crime.
Secondly, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd like to pick up the point of food in schools. The commissioner reported that only 19 per cent of children felt full after their meal. Almost half said that they can't have more food—seconds—if they ask for it, and almost a quarter of children said they can't always have vegetables if they want them, with almost a quarter saying they can't always have fruit if they want them. This issue has been raised with me consistently by my own constituents, who have pointed out that the portion sizes for school meals is the same regardless of your age, height or weight, so a child in year 5 or 6 would get the same sized meal as a child in year 1 or 2. Moreover, the variety of school meals is very limited. One constituent I was speaking to about this said that the options every day are either jacket potato with cheese or beans, and one other option, which was the same each week: so, every Monday it would be pizza, every Tuesday, pasta, and so on. The Welsh Government has provided free school meals for all primary school children, which is a notably moral aim. However, like the commissioner has said, there needs to be improved quality and options for children and young people's school meal times, otherwise we're still enforcing a two-tier system, where children of richer families will still be provided a packed lunch that their child wants, and children of poorer families are left going hungry on school meals without many options for eating fruit or vegetables. Personally, I believe that there should be more focus by primary schools in teaching children about what they should eat and actually getting them involved in preparing their own lunches, so that they can learn valuable life lessons in understanding what is healthy and what is not.
Finally, Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd like to bring up the issue of mental health and well-being, and the fact that it is one of the biggest issues raised by children and young people themselves, with almost 45 per cent of them saying that more mental health support needs to be provided. We know that identifying poor mental health and providing appropriate support and treatment is essential for children and young people, especially since half of all mental health conditions start by the age of 14, and I find it quite interesting how mental health services for children and young people have long been regarded as a cinderella service—poorly funded and with long waits for those who are referred. I appreciate that solving this problem is not straightforward. There are issues surrounding recruitment and the fact that there are significant regional differences. There's also the issue of child poverty, which has an influence here. There are links to those children living in poverty, who are more likely to experience maltreatment in one way or another, and this has the potential to seriously impact mental health. The Children's Commissioner for Wales has called for the Welsh Government's child poverty strategy to have clear targets and measurable outcomes, and this is one that I and my party absolutely support.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, ac a gaf i ddechrau drwy gynnig y gwelliant a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar a thrwy ddiolch i'r comisiynydd plant am ei hadroddiad blynyddol ac am ymdrech pawb i'w gynhyrchu?
Fe hoffwn i ganolbwyntio yn fy nghyfraniad ar dri maes, os caf i. Mae'r cyntaf yn ganfyddiad pryderus iawn o ddefnydd cynyddol o e-sigaréts neu fêps ymhlith plant a phobl ifanc, a nododd yr arolwg ysgolion uwchradd a amlygwyd yn yr adroddiad fod 24 y cant o blant a phobl ifanc wedi rhoi cynnig ar fepio ac y canfyddwyd fod 7 y cant yn ddefnyddwyr rheolaidd. Yr hyn sy'n fwy brawychus byth yw, y llynedd, canfu gwasanaeth profi cyffuriau o Gymru fod dau o bob pum hylif sampl a brofwyd mewn fêps yn cynnwys un neu fwy o weithyddion derbynnydd cannabinoid synthetig, a elwir yn gyffredin yn 'sbeis'. Mae'r gweithyddion hyn yn gysylltiedig â materion iechyd difrifol, yn amrywio o anawsterau anadlu i gyfnodau seicotig. Mae'r cyffuriau hyn a wneir yn y labordy wedi'u cynllunio i ddynwared effeithiau canabis, ond maen nhw'n tueddu i fod yn llawer mwy anrhagweladwy a niweidiol ac, yn y pen draw, mae plant a phobl ifanc yn prynu hylifau fêps gan gredu eu bod yn cynnwys hylifau canabis neu CBD neu THC, ond maen nhw mewn gwirionedd yn cynnwys sbeis, ac yn cael eu gwerthu gan werthwyr cyffuriau gyda'r bwriad o greu pobl sy'n gaeth er mwyn werthu mwy iddyn nhw. Amlygir y pryderon hyn ymhellach gan adroddiad grŵp ymateb i ddigwyddiadau sy'n dangos nad yw nifer cynyddol o blant bellach yn gallu mynd trwy'r diwrnod ysgol heb fepio, a bod mwy o gydnabyddiaeth bod plant hefyd yn deffro yn ystod y nos er mwyn fepio. Mae'r cynnydd mewn fepio wedi bod yn gyflym iawn, a'r gwir yw bod plant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu hecsploetio gan werthwyr cyffuriau ar y farchnad anghyfreithlon. Yn anffodus, dim ond codi cwr y llen y mae'r data yma yr wyf wedi'i amlygu, ac mae caniatáu i blant a phobl ifanc ddefnyddio'r cynhyrchion hyn yn syml yn creu problem iechyd enfawr yn y dyfodol na fyddwn yn gallu ymdopi â hi.
Gyda hyn mewn golwg, rwy'n adleisio'r alwad gan y comisiynydd plant i gymryd camau cryfach wrth wahardd cyflenwi dyfeisiau fepio tafladwy neu untro, sicrhau bod mwy o therapïau amnewid nicotin ar gael, a sicrhau nad yw fêps i'w gweld i'w gwerthu. Fel y gwyddom ni i gyd yma, mae pedwar o bob pump ysmygwr yn dechrau cyn 20 oed ac yn gaeth am oes, ac felly mae angen i ni fod yn gweithredu'n llawer cyflymach os ydym ni'n mynd i atal yr epidemig iechyd hwn rhag amlygu ei hun. Rwyf wedi tynnu sylw at hyn o'r blaen yn y Siambr, ond yn bersonol fe hoffwn i weld hyd yn oed mwy o gamau gweithredu mewn ysgolion i addysgu plant am y goblygiadau iechyd, ac yn enwedig iechyd meddwl, sy'n gysylltiedig â fepio. Ond ni ddylid rhoi'r cyfrifoldeb hwnnw yn llwyr ar athrawon i wneud yn siŵr bod plant a phobl ifanc yn ymwybodol o beryglon fepio. Dylai fod ymdrechion mwy cydlynol gan weithwyr proffesiynol i addysgu a dangos beth mae fepio yn ei wneud i'r corff mewn gwirionedd, a sut mae prynu fêps gan werthwyr y farchnad anghyfreithlon yn arwain at droseddu.
Yn ail, Dirprwy Lywydd, fe hoffwn i sôn am fwyd mewn ysgolion. Dywedodd y comisiynydd mai dim ond 19 y cant o blant oedd yn teimlo'n llawn ar ôl eu pryd bwyd. Dywedodd bron i hanner nad ydyn nhw'n gallu cael mwy o fwyd—ail blatiad—os ydyn nhw'n gofyn amdano, a dywedodd bron i chwarter y plant nad ydyn nhw bob amser yn gallu cael llysiau os ydyn nhw eu heisiau, gyda bron i chwarter yn dweud na allan nhw gael ffrwyth bob amser os ydyn nhw eu heisiau. Codwyd y mater hwn gyda mi yn gyson gan fy etholwyr fy hun, sydd wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod maint prydau ysgol yr un peth beth bynnag yw eich oedran, taldra neu bwysau, felly byddai plentyn ym mlwyddyn 5 neu 6 yn cael yr un pryd o fwyd â phlentyn ym mlwyddyn 1 neu 2. Ar ben hynny, mae'r amrywiaeth o brydau ysgol yn gyfyngedig iawn. Dywedodd un etholwr yr oeddwn yn siarad â hi am hyn mai'r dewisiadau bob dydd yw naill ai tysen bôb gyda chaws neu ffa, ac un dewis arall, a oedd yr un peth bob wythnos: felly, bob pitsa bob dydd Llun, pasta bob dydd Mawrth, ac yn y blaen. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu prydau ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn ysgol gynradd, sy'n nod moesol nodedig. Fodd bynnag, fel y dywedodd y comisiynydd, mae angen gwell ansawdd a dewisiadau ar gyfer amseroedd prydau ysgol plant a phobl ifanc, fel arall rydym ni'n dal i orfodi system ddwy haen, lle bydd plant teuluoedd cyfoethocach yn dal i gael pecyn bwyd y mae eu plentyn ei eisiau, ac y gadewir plant teuluoedd tlotach yn llwglyd ar brydau ysgol heb lawer o ddewisiadau ar gyfer bwyta ffrwythau neu lysiau. Yn bersonol, credaf y dylai ysgolion cynradd ganolbwyntio mwy ar ddysgu plant am yr hyn y dylen nhw ei fwyta a'u cael i gymryd rhan yn paratoi eu cinio eu hunain, fel y gallan nhw ddysgu gwersi bywyd gwerthfawr wrth ddeall beth sy'n iach a beth sydd ddim.
Yn olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, fe hoffwn i grybwyll mater iechyd meddwl a lles, a'r ffaith ei fod yn un o'r materion mwyaf a godwyd gan blant a phobl ifanc eu hunain, gyda bron i 45 y cant ohonyn nhw'n dweud bod angen darparu mwy o gymorth iechyd meddwl. Fe wyddom ni fod nodi iechyd meddwl gwael a darparu cymorth a thriniaeth briodol yn hanfodol i blant a phobl ifanc, yn enwedig gan fod hanner yr holl gyflyrau iechyd meddwl yn dechrau erbyn 14 oed, ac mae hi'n eithaf diddorol i mi sut mae gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl i blant a phobl ifanc wedi cael eu hystyried ers amser maith fel gwasanaeth a esgeulusir—wedi eu hariannu'n wael a chydag amseroedd aros hir i'r rhai sy'n cael eu cyfeirio. Rwy'n sylweddoli nad yw datrys y broblem hon yn syml. Mae materion yn ymwneud â recriwtio a'r ffaith bod gwahaniaethau rhanbarthol sylweddol. Mae problem tlodi plant hefyd, sydd â dylanwad yma. Mae yna gysylltiadau â'r plant hynny sy'n byw mewn tlodi, sy'n fwy tebygol o brofi cam-drin mewn rhyw ffordd neu'i gilydd, ac mae gan hyn y potensial i effeithio'n ddifrifol ar iechyd meddwl. Mae Comisiynydd Plant Cymru wedi galw am i strategaeth tlodi plant Llywodraeth Cymru fod â thargedau clir a chanlyniadau mesuradwy, ac mae'n un yr wyf i a fy mhlaid yn ei gefnogi'n llwyr.
You need to conclude now, please, Joel.
Mae'n rhaid i chi orffen nawr, os gwelwch yn dda, Joel.
Last sentence. We also call on the Welsh Government to work with the children's commissioner to implement the WAVE Trust's campaign to reduce child abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by 2030, because those efforts will undoubtedly help to have a co-ordinated approach in improving the lives of so many children. With this in mind, Dirprwy Lywydd, I urge everyone here to support our amendment. Thank you.
Y frawddeg olaf. Rydym ni hefyd yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio gyda'r comisiynydd plant i weithredu ymgyrch Ymddiriedolaeth WAVE i leihau cam-drin plant, esgeulustod a phrofiadau niweidiol eraill yn ystod plentyndod erbyn 2030, oherwydd heb os, bydd yr ymdrechion hynny'n helpu i gael dull cydgysylltiedig o wella bywydau cymaint o blant. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n annog pawb yma i gefnogi ein gwelliant. Diolch.
Galwaf nawr ar Sioned Williams i wneud gwelliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan.
I now call on Sioned Williams to move amendment 2, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan.
Gwelliant 2—Heledd Fychan
Ychwanegu pwyntiau newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn nodi bod 14 mlynedd o lymder gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol y DU wedi dwysáu lefelau tlodi, ac yn benodol tlodi plant, yng Nghymru.
Yn gresynu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2016 wedi cael gwared ar y targed o ddileu tlodi plant erbyn 2020.
Amendment 2—Heledd Fychan
Add as new points at end of motion:
Notes that 14 years of austerity under the previous UK Conservative Government has intensified the levels of poverty, and specifically child poverty, in Wales.
Regrets that the Welsh Government in 2016 abandoned the target of eradicating child poverty by 2020.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 2.
Amendment 2 moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae yna sawl elfen bwysig, dwi'n meddwl, yn yr adroddiad sydd angen sylw gan y Llywodraeth, nifer ohonyn nhw'n ymwneud ag effaith tlodi a'r modd y mae hawliau plant yn cael eu tanseilio. Hoffwn i, i ddechrau, roi ar gofnod ddiolch Plaid Cymru i'r comisiynydd am y modd y mae hi wedi herio y rhai sy'n dal awenau grym mewn modd mor gryf a diflewyn-ar-dafod, a'r modd y mae hi wedi cadw ffocws ar y modd y mae tlodi yn dal, yn ei geiriau hi, i ddifetha bywydau plant Cymru.
Er ein bod yn cytuno gyda sylwedd gwelliant y Ceidwadwyr i'r cynnig, o ran cefnogi galwadau’r comisiynydd i strategaeth tlodi plant Llywodraeth Cymru gael targedau clir a chanlyniadau mesuradwy, mae gwelliant Plaid Cymru yn ei wneud yn glir bod yna gyfrifoldeb diamheuol hefyd ar Lywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol y Deyrnas Gyfunol am ddwysáu lefelau tlodi plant yng Nghymru. Cafodd polisïau llymder y 14 mlynedd diwethaf effaith drychinebus ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus ac iechyd ein cenedl, gan greu argyfwng genedlaethol—argyfwng sy'n dal i ddwysáu.
Y Ceidwadwyr gyflwynodd y cap ar fudd-daliadau a'r terfyn dau blentyn sydd wedi dyfnhau y lefelau tlodi uchel hynny. Dagrau pethau yw bod Llafur wedi gwrthod gwyrdroi y cam anghyfiawn a niweidiol hwn pan fo'r grym yn eu dwylo i wneud hynny, a'n Llywodraeth ni yma yng Nghymru hefyd yn rhy lwfr i alw am hynny, yn rhy barod i roi buddion eu plaid cyn buddion ein plant. Ble mae eu hawliau nhw o dan erthygl 27 y confensiwn i safon byw ddigonol?
Mae ein gwelliant hefyd yn gresynu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2016 wedi cael gwared ar y targed o ddileu tlodi plant erbyn 2020. Fisoedd lawer ers cyhoeddi'r strategaeth tlodi plant ddiwedd Ionawr eleni, a gyhoeddwyd heb dargedau, wrth gwrs, i osod uchelgais nac i yrru cyflawni, echdoe fe gawson ni olwg ar y fframwaith monitro sydd nawr wedi ei greu i fesur cynnydd. Er i un o brif feddylwyr eu plaid, Gordon Brown, wneud yr achos, lai na chwe mis yn ôl, am weledigaeth glir ac amserlen gyflawnadwy i roi terfyn ar dlodi nawr, a thlodi mewn 10 mlynedd, does dim targed o'r fath ar gyfyl y fframwaith gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Ydy, mae'n cynnig ffyrdd o fesur sut effaith gaiff amcanion y strategaeth, ond does dim uchelgais yma i yrru'r gwaith. Mae hi fel cael arwyddbost yn nodi faint o filltiroedd sydd wedi eu rhedeg mewn ras, ond fod yna ddim llinell derfyn. Pan ollyngwyd y targedau yn 2016, y rheswm a roddwyd gan y Llywodraeth oedd bod penderfyniadau Llywodraeth San Steffan y dydd yn gweithio yn erbyn cyrraedd y targedau. Felly, fy nghwestiwn i heddiw yw: a ydyn ni felly i gymryd bod hynny'n dal yn wir, er bod Llafur nawr yn dal allweddi Rhif 10?
Hoffwn i fanylu, i orffen, ar ddau o feysydd blaenoriaeth y comisiynydd, sy'n ymwneud ag anghydraddoldebau a diffyg gweithredu hawliau—sef mynediad plant sy'n geiswyr lloches ac yn ffoaduriaid at wasanaethau, a'r camwahaniaethu sy'n cael ei brofi gan blant sy'n perthyn i gymunedau Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr. Mae'r plant sy'n ffoaduriaid ac yn geiswyr lloches yn rhai o aelodau mwyaf bregus ein cymdeithas. Mae sefydlu gwasanaeth gwarcheidiaeth wedi bod yn ddisgwyliad clir gan Bwyllgor y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn ers dyddiau cynnar datganoli, ac, yn sgil y ffaith ein bod yn datgan ein bod yn genedl noddfa, mae'n siomedig nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i wasanaeth allai fod o fudd enfawr i blant sydd yn y sefyllfa yma i'w cefnogi nhw i lywio’r system lloches, sicrhau eu bod yn deall ac yn gallu arfer eu hawliau, ac eirioli drostyn nhw lle bo angen. Mae'r comisiynydd yn amlinellu ac yn crynhoi y corff o dystiolaeth sy'n bodoli i gefnogi'r alwad hon ac yn tanlinellu’r ffaith hefyd fod y diffyg mynediad yna at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn cael ei nodi fel rhwystr sy’n atal plant rhag derbyn eu hawliau.
Dwi'n falch o glywed y diweddariad bod yna gynllun arall yn mynd i ddod nawr ar ôl i'r Llywodraeth dorri'r Tocyn Croeso mor ddisymwth, heb roi cynllun arall mewn lle, ym mis Ebrill. Ond beth yw'r amserlen, achos dyw 'cyn gynted ag y bo modd' ddim yn ddigon da, mae gen i ofn?
Hoffwn i hefyd ofyn i'r Llywodraeth edrych ar y canllawiau ar ddefnydd disgresiynol awdurdodau lleol o ran darparu prydau bwyd am ddim i blant y mae eu rhieni nhw neu ofalwyr heb fynediad at gyllid cyhoeddus. Mae'n rhywbeth dwi wedi'i godi sawl tro yn y Siambr hon ond does dim gweithredu wedi bod. Mae hynny’n golygu, medd y comisiynydd, fod yr hyn y gall plant ei hawlio yn cael ei gysylltu â statws eu rhieni, sydd ddim yn cyd-fynd â’u hawliau o dan y comisiwn hawliau.
Yn olaf, hoffwn i gefnogi'r galwadau sy'n cael eu gwneud ynglŷn â'r anghydraddoldebau sy'n cael eu profi gan blant ein cymunedau Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr, a’r ffaith bod y cynnydd ar y camau sy'n cael eu hamlinellu yn y 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol' yn rhy araf. Mae lefelau absenoldeb yn y cymunedau hyn wedi codi i ddibyn hollol annerbyniol, a chyrhaeddiad addysgol plant yn y cymunedau hyn yw'r isaf o bob grŵp ethnig ar draws y cyfnodau allweddol. [Torri ar draws.] Dwi'n gorffen nawr. Mae adroddiad y comisiynydd yn tynnu sylw at y rhwystrau sy'n cyfrannu at hyn. Felly, beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i’r afael â’r cyfraddau presenoldeb isel ymhlith dysgwyr Sipsiwn a Theithwyr a Roma yn yr ysgol, a sut mae'r tasglu presenoldeb yn mynd i’r afael yn benodol â rhwystrau i addysg ar gyfer y dysgwyr yma? Diolch.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. There are several important elements, I think, to the report that require the Government's attention, a number of them related to the impact of poverty and the way that children's rights are being undermined. I'd like to start by placing on record Plaid Cymru's thanks to the commissioner for the way that she has challenged those who hold the reins of power in such a robust manner, and for the way that she has kept a focus on the way that poverty continues, as she has said, to ruin the lives of children in Wales.
Although we agree with the substance of the Conservative amendment to the motion in terms of supporting the calls made by the commissioner for the Welsh Government's child poverty strategy to include clear targets and measurable outcomes, the Plaid Cymru amendment makes it clear that there is unquestionably a responsibility on the previous Conservative UK Government for intensifying child poverty levels in Wales. The austerity policies of the past 14 years have had a disastrous impact on public services and the health of our nation, leading to a national crisis—a crisis that continues to intensify.
The Conservatives introduced the cap on benefits and the two-child limit, which have exacerbated those high levels of poverty. The great shame is that Labour has refused to reverse this unjust and damaging step when it has the power to do so, and our Government here in Wales is too cowardly to ask for this to happen, too willing to put party interests before the interests of our children. Where are their rights under article 27 of the convention to an adequate quality of life?
Our amendment also regrets that the Welsh Government in 2016 abolished the target of eradicating child poverty by 2020. Many months since the publication of the child poverty strategy at the end of January this year, published, of course, without targets to set an ambition or drive delivery, the day before yesterday we saw the monitoring framework that has been created to measure progress. Although one of the greatest minds of their party, Gordon Brown, made the case less than six months ago for a clear vision and deliverable timetable from our Government to end destitution now, and poverty in 10 years, no such target is anywhere to be seen in this Welsh Government framework. Yes, it proposes methods of measuring the impact of the strategy's objectives, but there is no ambition here to drive this work. It is like having a signpost noting how many miles have been run in a race, but without having a finish line for that race. When the targets were dropped in 2016, the reason given by the Government was that decisions made by the Westminster Government of the day were working against attempts to hit the targets. So, my question today is: are we, therefore, to assume that this remains the case, despite the fact that Labour now holds the keys to No. 10?
I'd like to focus, to conclude, on two of the commissioner's priority areas, relating to inequality and lack of action on rights—namely access by children who are asylum seekers and refugees to services, and the discrimination faced by children who belong to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Children who are asylum seekers and refugees are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Establishing a guardianship scheme has been a clear expectation of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child since the early days of devolution, and, as a result of us declaring ourselves a nation of sanctuary, it’s disappointing that the Welsh Government has not committed to a service that could be of such great benefit to children in this situation and which would support them in navigating the asylum system, ensure that they understand and can exercise their rights, and advocate on their behalf when needed. The commissioner outlines and summarises the body of evidence that exists to support this call and underlines the fact that a lack of access to public transport has been noted as a barrier that prevents children from accessing and receiving their rights.
I'm pleased to hear the update that there is a new scheme that will replace the Welcome Ticket scheme, which was cut abruptly by the Welsh Government in April and without another scheme to replace it. But what's the timetable for that scheme, because 'as soon as possible' isn't good enough, I'm afraid?
I'd also like to ask the Government to look at the guidance on discretion for local authorities to provide free school meals to children whose parents or carers have no recourse to public funds. It's an issue I've raised several times in the Siambr, but there has been no action on this. This means, according to the commissioner, that children's rights are being linked to their parents’ status, which does not align to their rights under the convention.
Finally, I'd like to echo the calls made regarding the inequality experienced by children from our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and the fact that progress on the steps outlined in the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan' are far too slow. Absence levels have increased in these communities to an unacceptable peak, and the educational attainment within these communities are among the lowest of all ethnic groups across the key stages. [Interruption.] I'll conclude now. The commissioner’s report draws attention to the barriers that contribute to this situation. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to tackle the low attendance levels amongst learners from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and how is the Welsh Government’s attendance taskforce going to be addressing the barriers to education faced by these same learners? Thank you.
Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg, Buffy Williams.
I call on the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, Buffy Williams.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I would like to begin by thanking the commissioner and her team for their work over what was clearly an exceptionally busy year. This is the commissioner’s second report relating to the year immediately after the publication of her three-year strategy in April 2023. In that strategy, she wrote that her first year in office was spent primarily listening to children and young people. By contrast, this year’s report covers the first year of the commissioner implementing the strategy. This is a new phase of her tenure.
The commissioner’s nationwide Ambitions for Wales consultation is over, but I am pleased to see that she has continued to prioritise listening to children and young people, extending her office’s reach across Wales and boosting the visibility of the office and its important work. Ever since her pre-appointment hearing with us, my committee colleagues and I have urged her to do everything she can to make herself available to any child who needs her advice and support. So, I was particularly interested to read about the commissioner’s rebranded children’s rights advice and assistance team, and the ways that her office has shone a light on issues affecting children and young people across news and social media.
Of course, I also took note of where she and her staff have taken action across her priority policy areas. Many of these resonate strongly with our own priorities on the Children, Young People and Education Committee. The commissioner talks in her report about the corporate parenting charter. The charter has been a thread throughout the Welsh Government’s work relating to care-experienced children. We fully agree with the concerns raised by the commissioner in her report. The charter is completely voluntary. It mandates no specific actions for the organisations who sign up to it and there are no clear consequences for organisations that do not deliver on their own commitments. We remain sceptical that the charter is going to deliver the tangible change needed for children in care in its current form. Commissioner, I hope we can continue our work holding the Welsh Government and public bodies to account for how they support care-experienced children and young people.
I was also particularly interested to read the commissioner’s concerns about the single unified safeguarding reviews. Just last month, in an evidence session about children who go missing and are criminally exploited, the Welsh Government told us that these reviews were world leading and groundbreaking. Yet, this report raises a number of significant concerns about the proposed new reviews—concerns about governance, accountability and the implementation of review recommendations. Worryingly, the commissioner is unclear about what changes, if any, have been made to the review process to address these concerns.
The report also touches on ALN and accessible education—other key areas of focus for us. The report tells us that concerns about additional learning needs make up 14 per cent of the office’s total case load, that the interpretation of the Act is inconsistent, and that funding is a key reason for provision being withheld from children with additional needs. The commissioner’s findings are consistent with our two recently published reports about ALN and disabled access to childcare and education. I look forward to discussing the ALN reforms tomorrow afternoon during the Senedd’s debate on our education reforms interim report.
I also read with interest updates on her work in other areas that touch on our own work—asylum-seeking children, food in schools, mental health and well-being, and much more; too much to cover in just one debate.
Overall, I sense a sharpened focus on holding agencies to account in this year’s report. As a committee that has committed to focusing sharply on implementation, to focus on what’s really happening in the lives of children and young people and not what’s happening in legislation or policy documents, we welcome this focus. I look forward to discussing the commissioner’s work in committee over the coming weeks, and to continue to work with her and her office throughout the rest of the Senedd. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fe hoffwn i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r comisiynydd a'i thîm am eu gwaith dros flwyddyn oedd yn amlwg yn eithriadol o brysur. Dyma ail adroddiad y comisiynydd yn ymwneud â'r flwyddyn yn syth ar ôl cyhoeddi ei strategaeth dair blynedd ym mis Ebrill 2023. Yn y strategaeth honno, ysgrifennodd fod ei blwyddyn gyntaf yn y swydd wedi ei threulio'n gwrando ar blant a phobl ifanc yn bennaf. I'r gwrthwyneb, mae'r adroddiad eleni yn ymdrin â blwyddyn gyntaf y comisiynydd yn gweithredu'r strategaeth. Mae hwn yn gyfran newydd o'i chyfnod hi.
Mae ymgynghoriad cenedlaethol y comisiynydd, Uchelgais Cymru, wedi dod i ben, ond rwy'n falch o weld ei bod wedi parhau i flaenoriaethu gwrando ar blant a phobl ifanc, hyrwyddo ei swyddfa ledled Cymru a gwneud ei swyddfa a'i gwaith pwysig yn fwy amlwg. Byth ers ei gwrandawiad gyda ni cyn ei phenodi, mae fy nghyd-bwyllgor a minnau wedi ei hannog i wneud popeth o fewn ei gallu i sicrhau ei bod ar gael i unrhyw blentyn sydd ei angen cyngor a chefnogaeth. Felly, roedd gen i ddiddordeb arbennig darllen am dîm cyngor a chymorth hawliau plant y comisiynydd ar eu newydd wedd, a'r ffyrdd y mae ei swyddfa wedi taflu goleuni ar faterion sy'n effeithio ar blant a phobl ifanc ar y newyddion a'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol.
Wrth gwrs, sylwais hefyd ar ble mae hi a'i staff wedi gweithredu ar draws ei meysydd polisi blaenoriaeth. Mae llawer o'r rhain yn cyfateb yn agos i'n blaenoriaethau ein hunain ar y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg. Mae'r comisiynydd yn siarad yn ei hadroddiad am y siarter rhianta corfforaethol. Mae'r siarter wedi bod yn elfen gyffredin o holl waith Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwneud â phlant â phrofiad o ofal. Rydym yn cytuno'n llwyr â'r pryderon a godwyd gan y comisiynydd yn ei hadroddiad. Mae'r siarter yn gwbl wirfoddol. Nid yw'n gorfodi unrhyw gamau penodol gan y sefydliadau sy'n ymrwymo iddi ac nid oes unrhyw ganlyniadau clir i sefydliadau nad ydynt yn cyflawni eu hymrwymiadau eu hunain. Rydym yn parhau i fod yn amheus bod y siarter yn mynd i gyflawni'r newid diriaethol sydd ei angen ar gyfer plant mewn gofal yn ei ffurf bresennol. Comisiynydd, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ni barhau â'n gwaith yn dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru a chyrff cyhoeddus i gyfrif am sut maen nhw'n cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc sydd â phrofiad o ofal.
Roedd gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig hefyd darllen pryderon y comisiynydd am yr adolygiadau diogelu unedig unigol. Dim ond y mis diwethaf, mewn sesiwn dystiolaeth am blant sy'n mynd ar goll ac sy'n cael eu hecsbloetio'n droseddol, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru wrthym ni fod yr adolygiadau hyn yn arwain y byd ac yn torri tir newydd. Ac eto, mae'r adroddiad hwn yn codi nifer o bryderon sylweddol am yr adolygiadau newydd arfaethedig—pryderon ynghylch llywodraethu, atebolrwydd a gweithredu argymhellion yr adolygiadau. Yn bryderus, nid yw'r comisiynydd yn glir ynghylch pa newidiadau, os o gwbl, sydd wedi'u gwneud i'r broses adolygu i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon hyn.
Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn crybwyll anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ac addysg hygyrch—meysydd pwyslais allweddol eraill i ni. Mae'r adroddiad yn dweud wrthym ni fod pryderon am anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn cyfrif am 14 y cant o gyfanswm llwyth achosion y swyddfa, bod dehongli'r Ddeddf yn anghyson, a bod cyllid yn rheswm allweddol dros atal darpariaeth i blant ag anghenion ychwanegol. Mae canfyddiadau'r comisiynydd yn gyson â'n dau adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar am anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a mynediad i'r anabl at ofal plant ac addysg. Edrychaf ymlaen at drafod y diwygiadau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol brynhawn yfory yn ystod dadl y Senedd ar ein hadroddiad interim ar ddiwygiadau addysg.
Diddorol hefyd imi oedd darllen y diweddariadau am ei gwaith mewn meysydd eraill sy'n cyffwrdd â'n gwaith ein hunain—plant sy'n ceisio lloches, bwyd mewn ysgolion, iechyd meddwl a lles, a llawer mwy; gormod i'w drafod mewn un ddadl yn unig.
Ar y cyfan, rwy'n synhwyro pwy o bwyslais ar ddwyn asiantaethau i gyfrif yn yr adroddiad eleni. Fel pwyllgor sydd wedi ymrwymo i ganolbwyntio'n fanwl ar weithredu, i ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd ym mywydau plant a phobl ifanc ac nid yr hyn sy'n digwydd mewn deddfwriaeth neu ddogfennau polisi, rydym yn croesawu'r pwyslais hwn. Edrychaf ymlaen at drafod gwaith y comisiynydd yn y pwyllgor dros yr wythnosau nesaf, a pharhau i weithio gyda hi a'i swyddfa drwy weddill tymor y Senedd. Diolch yn fawr.
There are many points for us to note from this report and it reminds us that the Welsh Government still has a steep climb ahead in regard to progress on child poverty, and we have been ascending at a disappointing pace, unfortunately. On many metrics, which we use to measure the developmental progress, happiness and health of children in Wales, standards have been falling pretty much across the board. This is why the Welsh Conservatives are calling on the Welsh Government to work with the children’s commissioner to implement the WAVE Trust’s campaign to reduce child abuse—as Joel James highlighted in his contribution—neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by 2030. On child poverty, of course, I am realistic about what is achievable, and I do not expect the Welsh Government to pursue a utopia. However, 30 per cent children in Wales are still living in poverty, which is way too high. This is higher than both Scotland and Northern Ireland, but it’s more than three times higher than Denmark, Finland and Norway, who demonstrate that it’s perfectly achievable to get child poverty under 10 per cent.
The report highlights that nearly half of children in Wales aged seven to 11 are worried about having enough to eat, which is a completely unacceptable state of affairs for a developed nation like ours. This is not something that can simply be solved by state handouts and freebies, either. The Welsh Government must set the conditions for economic growth and wage growth, with average earnings in Wales being considerably lower than the average UK earnings. Wage growth in Wales was also more sluggish than in most other areas in the UK between 2022 and 2023. It is not possible to remove children from poverty without a thriving private sector. The children’s commissioner, along with Action for Children and Barnardo’s, has also criticised the decision to omit targets from the child poverty strategy. I share their disappointment and think it was the wrong decision. It gives the impression that child poverty is no longer a priority for the Welsh Government and it evades accountability by avoiding setting targets that the Senedd can scrutinise. The former First Minister, Mark Drakeford, once said that nothing motivated him more than the issue of child poverty, and many of us would like to see this attitude carry on in this Government.
The issue of child poverty should go well beyond a discussion on funding. The protection of the nuclear family and the physical and mental health of children and their parents is also central. Aside from material poverty, we must also consider the poverty of spirit that is blighting our next generation. The Children’s Society published a report this year showing that UK teenagers are the least happy in Europe, with surveys indicating that younger generations are less happy than older generations. Children wait longer than adults for mental health support, with data from March showing that just over half of under-18s started a therapeutic intervention within 28 days of an assessment, compared with over 80 per cent of adults. Improving child mental health services to bring down waiting times must be prioritised. There are threats to our young people's health and well-being that didn't exist when I was a child. As my colleague Joel James mentioned, the rise of vaping amongst young people and the effect that social media has on the mental well-being of children and young adults can be hugely detrimental. The Welsh Government needs to be alert and reactive to these societal changes and ensure that the next generation are shielded from harmful trends and societal changes.
The children's commissioner's report also called on the Welsh Government to ensure that funding for additional learning needs provision is put it on a firm and sustainable footing. This is now even more important given that the Welsh Government moved just shy of £1 million out of the ALN resource budget line. Given autism diagnoses have increased by 787 per cent since 1998, and considering autism and neurodiversity referrals have increased in north Wales to the extent that health services cannot cope with the influx of referrals, I think it was inappropriate to cut the budget in this area, and funding has to be ring-fenced, going forward.
To close my remarks I'd like to reiterate my disappointment at the Welsh Government's removal of targets on child poverty. I encourage all Members to support our amendment calling for the Welsh Government's child poverty strategy to have clear targets and measurable outcomes to hold the Government to account over its progress in this area, which must be a priority. Our young people and Wales's next generation are being failed on many fronts, from material poverty to poorer health outcomes, from both a lack of food and overindulgence in poor-quality and processed food, from poorer mental health and well-being to declining standards in education. They deserve better than this, and the Welsh Government must make a start by working with the children's commissioner to implement the WAVE Trust's campaign and start effecting real-world change to improve outcomes for children in this country. Thank you very much.
Mae llawer o bwyntiau i ni eu nodi o'r adroddiad hwn ac mae'n ein hatgoffa bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru waith mawr o'n blaenau o hyd o ran cynnydd ar dlodi plant, ac rydym ni wedi bod yn gwneud cynnydd ar gyflymder siomedig, yn anffodus. Ar lawer o fetrigau, a ddefnyddiwn i fesur cynnydd datblygiadol, hapusrwydd ac iechyd plant yng Nghymru, mae safonau wedi bod yn gostwng bron yn gyffredinol. Dyma pam mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio gyda'r comisiynydd plant i weithredu ymgyrch Ymddiriedolaeth WAVE i leihau cam-drin plant—fel yr amlygodd Joel James yn ei gyfraniad—esgeulustod a phrofiadau niweidiol eraill yn ystod plentyndod erbyn 2030. O ran tlodi plant, wrth gwrs, rwy'n realistig ynghylch yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni, ac nid wyf yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth Cymru geisio creu iwtopia. Fodd bynnag, mae 30 y cant o blant yng Nghymru yn dal i fyw mewn tlodi, sy'n llawer rhy uchel. Mae hyn yn uwch na'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, ond mae mwy na thair gwaith yn uwch na Denmarc, y Ffindir a Norwy, sy'n dangos ei bod hi'n berffaith bosibl cael tlodi plant o dan 10 y cant.
Mae'r adroddiad yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod bron i hanner y plant yng Nghymru rhwng saith ac 11 oed yn poeni am gael digon i'w fwyta, sy'n sefyllfa gwbl annerbyniol i genedl ddatblygedig fel ein un ni. Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth y gellir ei ddatrys yn syml trwy gymorth gwladwriaethol a phethau am ddim, chwaith. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru greu'r amodau ar gyfer twf economaidd a thwf cyflog, gydag enillion cyfartalog yng Nghymru yn sylweddol is nag enillion cyfartalog y DU. Roedd twf cyflog yng Nghymru hefyd yn fwy araf nag yn y rhan fwyaf o feysydd eraill y DU rhwng 2022 a 2023. Nid yw'n bosibl symud plant o dlodi heb sector preifat ffyniannus. Mae'r comisiynydd plant, ynghyd â Gweithredu dros Blant a Barnardo's, hefyd wedi beirniadu'r penderfyniad i hepgor targedau o'r strategaeth tlodi plant. Rwy'n rhannu eu siom ac yn meddwl mai hwn oedd y penderfyniad anghywir. Mae'n rhoi'r argraff nad yw tlodi plant bellach yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru ac mae'n osgoi atebolrwydd drwy osgoi gosod targedau y gall y Senedd graffu arnyn nhw. Dywedodd y cyn-Brif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford, unwaith nad oedd unrhyw beth yn ei ysgogi yn fwy na mater tlodi plant, ac fe hoffai llawer ohonom ni weld yr agwedd hon yn parhau yn y Llywodraeth hon.
Dylai'r mater o dlodi plant fynd ymhell y tu hwnt i drafodaeth ar gyllid. Mae amddiffyn y teulu niwclear ac iechyd corfforol a meddyliol plant a'u rhieni hefyd yn ganolog. Ar wahân i dlodi materol, rhaid i ni hefyd ystyried tlodi ysbryd sy'n difetha ein cenhedlaeth nesaf. Cyhoeddodd Cymdeithas y Plant adroddiad eleni yn dangos mai pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau yn y DU yw'r lleiaf hapus yn Ewrop, gydag arolygon yn nodi bod cenedlaethau iau yn llai hapus na chenedlaethau hŷn. Mae plant yn aros yn hirach nag oedolion am gymorth iechyd meddwl, gyda data o fis Mawrth yn dangos bod ychydig dros hanner y plant dan 18 oed wedi dechrau ymyriad therapiwtig o fewn 28 diwrnod o asesiad, o'i gymharu â dros 80 y cant o oedolion. Rhaid blaenoriaethu gwella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant er mwyn lleihau amseroedd aros. Mae bygythiadau i iechyd a lles ein pobl ifanc nad oedd yn bodoli pan oeddwn i'n blentyn. Fel y soniodd fy nghyd-Aelod Joel James, gall y cynnydd mewn fêps ymhlith pobl ifanc a'r effaith y mae cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn ei chael ar les meddyliol plant ac oedolion ifanc fod yn niweidiol iawn. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru fod yn effro ac yn ymatebol i'r newidiadau cymdeithasol hyn a sicrhau y caiff y genhedlaeth nesaf ei gwarchod rhag tueddiadau niweidiol a newidiadau cymdeithasol.
Galwodd adroddiad y Comisiynydd Plant hefyd ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau y rhoddir cyllid ar gyfer darpariaeth anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ar sail gadarn a chynaliadwy. Mae hyn bellach hyd yn oed yn bwysicach o ystyried bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi symud fymryn yn llai na £1 miliwn allan o linell gyllideb adnoddau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. O ystyried bod diagnosis awtistiaeth wedi cynyddu 787 y cant ers 1998, ac o ystyried bod atgyfeiriadau awtistiaeth a niwroamrywiaeth wedi cynyddu yn y gogledd i'r graddau na all gwasanaethau iechyd ymdopi â maint yr atgyfeiriadau, rwy'n credu nad oedd yn briodol torri'r gyllideb yn y maes hwn, a bod yn rhaid neilltuo cyllid, yn y dyfodol.
I gloi fy sylwadau, fe hoffwn i ailadrodd fy siom fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael gwared ar dargedau tlodi plant. Rwy'n annog yr holl Aelodau i gefnogi ein gwelliant yn galw ar i strategaeth tlodi plant Llywodraeth Cymru gael targedau clir a chanlyniadau mesuradwy i ddwyn y Llywodraeth i gyfrif dros ei chynnydd yn y maes hwn, y mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn flaenoriaeth. Mae ein pobl ifanc a chenhedlaeth nesaf Cymru yn cael eu siomi ar sawl maes, o dlodi materol i ganlyniadau iechyd gwaeth, o ddiffyg bwyd a bwyta gormod o fwyd o ansawdd gwael a bwyd wedi'i brosesu, o iechyd meddwl a lles gwaeth i ostwng safonau mewn addysg. Maen nhw'n haeddu gwell na hyn, a rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ddechrau drwy weithio gyda'r comisiynydd plant i weithredu ymgyrch Ymddiriedolaeth WAVE a dechrau creu newid yn y byd go iawn i wella canlyniadau i blant yn y wlad hon. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Gaf i ddiolch am y cyfle i ni fod yn trafod adroddiad Comisiynydd Plant Cymru heddiw? Yn sicr, pan fyddwch chi’n ystyried bod gennym ni Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015, mae’r ffaith bod yna gymaint yn yr adroddiad hwn sy’n dangos nad yw hawliau plant yn cael eu diwallu yma yng Nghymru yn rhywbeth sydd yn bryder aruthrol.
Mae nifer o bobl eraill eisoes wedi gwneud y pwyntiau o ran tlodi plant. Dwi’n ychwanegu fy llais innau at y galwadau hynny o ran targedau pendant. Mi oedd hi mor, mor siomedig pan wnaeth Llywodraethau Llafur blaenorol gael gwared ar y targed o ddiddymu tlodi plant erbyn 2020. Mae’n rhaid i hyn fod yn flaenoriaeth, a dwi’n falch bod adroddiad y comisiynydd plant mor glir ar hynny.
Hefyd, o ran edrych ar anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, roeddwn i’n falch o weld Cadeirydd y pwyllgor yn canolbwyntio ar hynny, oherwydd, yn sicr, o ran y gwaith achos dwi’n ei dderbyn yn fy rhanbarth i, mae hwn yn rhywbeth sy’n dod drosodd dro ar ôl tro. Dydy o ddim yn fy synnu i, a bod yn onest—gan ei fod yn gyfanswm o 14 y cant o'r gwaith achos, sef y mater unigol mwyaf—mai dyma’r hyn sydd yn hawlio sylw Comisiynydd Plant Cymru.
Yn amlwg, drwy fy ngwaith blaenorol ar y pwyllgor hwnnw, mi welais i enghreifftiau lle, efo’r gefnogaeth gywir, mae’r plant a’r teuluoedd hynny’n gallu ffynnu. Mae yna ddarpariaeth ragorol mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Ond, fel sy’n cael ei ddangos yn glir yn yr adroddiad yma, mae o’n loteri cod post ac mae straen aruthrol wedyn. Mae’r adroddiad hwn hefyd yn dangos yn glir eu bod nhw'n cael eu methu o oed ifanc iawn, iawn. Felly, mae hynny, sef yr effeithiau hiroes wedyn, yn rhywbeth mae’n rhaid inni adlewyrchu arno fo, ac, yn anffodus, rydyn ni wedi codi hyn nifer o weithiau, ond dydy pethau ddim yn gwella.
Hefyd, o edrych ar yr adroddiad, mae yna gyfeiriad at y papur ar y cyd a gyhoeddodd y comisiynydd gyda Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg o ran darpariaeth anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn y Gymraeg yn benodol. Dwi’n gweld bod y cyn-Weinidog addysg yma. Mi gawson ni drafodaeth pan oeddech chi yn y rôl honno o ran hynny, ond erys y ffaith bod yna rai teuluoedd yn dal i fethu â chael y ddarpariaeth honno, yn gorfod newid iaith yr aelwyd, neu rydyn ni’n gweld cynnydd hefyd mewn rhieni yn gorfod addysgu eu plant gartref. Mae yna ffaeleddau fan hyn, ac rydyn ni'n gweld hyn ar ddu a gwyn yn yr adroddiad, ond ble ydyn ni'n mynd i weld y cynnydd?
Mae geiriau’r comisiynydd ar nifer o'r materion hyn yn ddiflewyn-ar-dafod, a dwi'n meddwl bod hynna'n rhywbeth i'w groesawu: nad oes ofn herio'r Llywodraeth pan fo angen, ychwaith. Dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n cael dadl a bod o'n rhywbeth, wedyn—. Sut ydyn ni, wedyn, yn adrodd ar yr holl feysydd hyn? Yn amlwg, mae yna nifer o bwyllgorau sy'n mynd i fod yn edrych ar wahanol elfennau, ond dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni gael, hefyd, y cyfle gan y Llywodraeth i wybod sut ydyn ni'n mynd i fod yn gweld gwelliant, ac mae'r pwynt o ran targedau'n bwysig yn y fan yna.
Mae fepio yn rhywbeth arall sydd yn cael ei godi'n aml iawn gan blant a phobl ifanc pan fyddaf i'n ymweld efo ysgolion. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n glir bod hwn yn rhywbeth sy'n pryderu plant a phobl ifanc. Mae o'n dod drosodd yn yr adroddiad hwn a byddwn i'n hoffi gweld gweithredu.
A byddwn i'n hoffi ychwanegu fy llais i o ran trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae hwn yn rhywbeth, unwaith eto, rydyn ni wedi bod yn ei drafod am flynyddoedd lawer. Mae'n dangos yn glir fan hyn ei fod o'n bryder ledled Cymru, sydd nid yn unig yn effeithio ar allu i gael mynediad at addysg, ond hefyd yr holl bethau cyfoethog sydd yn dod â hawliau plant: yr hawl i fod yn ymwneud efo chwaraeon, efo diwylliant, ac ati, i fod yn ymwneud efo chwaraeon ar ôl ysgol, oherwydd rydyn ni'n gweld cwymp yn nifer y plant o deuluoedd difreintiedig sy'n gallu cymryd rhan yn y math yna o weithgareddau. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni gael datrysiadau.
Felly, dwi'n croesawu'r adroddiad hwn. Yn anffodus, mae o'n rhoi darlun i ni o faint o her sydd yna ledled Cymru o ran rhoi hawliau i blant yng Nghymru. Beth dwi eisiau gwybod ydy sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, rŵan, yn gweithredu ar nifer o'r argymhellion hyn, gan ddeall bod y sefyllfa ariannol fel y mae hi, ond yn sicr rydyn ni yn mynd i fod yn methu cenedlaethau'r dyfodol os nad ydyn ni'n gallu gweithredu.
May I give thanks for the opportunity to discuss the Children's Commissioner for Wales's report today? When you consider that we have the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the fact that there's so much in this report that demonstrates that children's rights aren't being fulfilled and provided here in Wales is a cause of great concern.
A number of others have already made the point in terms of child poverty. I add my own voice to those calls in terms of specific targets. It was so, so disappointing when previous Labour Governments abolished the target of eradicating child poverty by 2020. This has to be a priority, and I'm pleased that the children's commissioner's report is so clear on that.
Also, in terms of looking at additional learning needs, I was pleased to hear the Chair of the committee focusing on this issue, because, certainly, in terms of the casework I receive in my region, this is an issue that is mentioned time and time again. It doesn't surprise me, to be honest, given that it makes up 14 per cent of the casework, as the single biggest issue, that this is what demands the attention of the children's commissioner.
Through my work on that committee in the past, I saw examples where, with the right support, these children and families can flourish. There is excellent provision in different parts of Wales. But, as is demonstrated clearly in this report, it is a postcode lottery, which then brings huge strain. This report demonstrates clearly that they are being failed from a very, very young age. So, those lifelong impacts are something that we need to reflect upon. Unfortunately, we have raised this issue a number of times, but the situation isn't improving.
Also, looking at the report, reference is made to the joint paper published by the commissioner and the Welsh Language Commissioner in terms of ALN provision through the medium of Welsh specifically. I see that the former education Minister is here now. We had a discussion, when you were in that role, on that issue, but it remains the case that some families cannot access that provision, that they have to change the household language, or we see an increase in parents having to home educate their children. There are failings in this regard, and we're seeing this in black and white in the report, but where are we going to see the progress?
The commissioner's words on a number of these issues are very blunt, and I think that that is something to be welcomed: that there is no fear in terms of challenging the Government when necessary either. I think that we have a debate and that it's something, then—. How do we, then, report back on all of these areas? Obviously, there's a number of committees that will be looking at different aspects of this report, but I do think it's important that we also have the opportunity to hear from the Government how we're going to see improvement, and the point in terms of targets is important in that regard.
Vaping is another issue that is raised very often by children and young people when I visit schools. I think that it is clear that this is a cause of great concern for children and young people. It comes across in this report and I'd like to see action on this.
And I'd like to add my voice on the issue of public transport. This is something, once again, that we've been discussing for several years. It's shown clearly here that it's a concern across Wales that is not just impacting the ability to access education, but also all the other rich experiences that come along with children's rights: the right to engage with sport, with culture, and so on, to be involved in sporting activities after school, because we're seeing a decline in the number of children from deprived families who can participate in those kinds of activities. So, we have to find solutions.
So, I welcome this report. Unfortunately, it does paint a picture for us of how much of a challenge there is across Wales in terms of giving children their rights. But what I want to know is how the Welsh Government, now, is going to act in response to many of these recommendations, understanding, of course, that the financial situation is as it is, but certainly we are going to be failing future generations if we can't take action on these issues.
I'm very pleased to speak in this debate today. As the Cabinet Secretary said in her introduction, Wales was the first country in the UK to have a children's commissioner, and I'd like to thank the children's commissioner for her report and for all the great work that she does on behalf of the children here in Wales.
I think we have made steps forward in terms of children's rights in Wales. The Cabinet Secretary mentioned the votes for 16 and 17-year-olds and the abolition of the defence of reasonable punishment, and I am hoping that, with the new Government in England, we will see both those things replicated now in England, because I think they are essential for children's rights.
As the newly elected chair of the newly set up Gypsy and Traveller cross-party group, I'd like to focus on the part of the report that's on Gypsy and Traveller children. Sioned Williams mentioned in her contribution the worrying upward trend of low attendance at school, post COVID, of Gypsy and Traveller children. And I know we've seen a general drop in attendance of all children, but the figures appear to be particularly high for Gypsy and Traveller children. I think, in the past, they were used to living, working and learning at home, and some of that has been reverted to. But there is a lack of funding for specialist centres, and two specialist centres, I know myself, have closed in Swansea and in Pembrokeshire. But the excellent provision in Torfaen has continued, where the attendance has continued to rise.
The other worrying things are the figures in the report about Gypsy and Traveller children's experience in school, with only 37 per cent of Gypsy and Traveller young people agreeing that their teachers care about them as a person, and 52 per cent feeling that their teachers don't accept them, which I think are really worrying figures. I've spoken at length to a Gypsy mother, who described the experiences of her teenage son in high school, and the extreme levels of prejudice and bullying that he experienced. This is just not acceptable and we simply have to do better on this.
The need for culturally appropriate accommodation is the foundation for all Gypsy and Traveller children to flourish and progress. It's important that they feel visible and recognised for their way of life and for their needs. Gypsies and Travellers need to have much better access to sites all across Wales, and I know there is a commitment to this in the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', to increase the number and quality of local authority permanent and transit pitches, as well as explore options for the rental of trailers. But I think we all know that this work has been extremely slow, and I think we must speed it up as much as we can.
For example, how can Gypsy and Traveller children and young people feel part of a society where they are forced into bricks and mortar against their culture, and their parents cannot access local authority sites or get planning permission for land they own? I think we all know what the problem is, and we know that there has been money put by the Government in order for this to happen, but it is proving to be very difficult to get adequate accommodation, and I think that’s one of the things that we need to concentrate on.
I’d therefore like the Welsh Government to pay particular attention to Gypsy and Traveller children in Wales. I think the evidence is showing that we are working far too slowly on bettering Gypsy and Traveller children and young people’s lives in Wales, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary will go out and listen to these children and take on board their views.
So, once again, thank you very much to the children’s commissioner for highlighting this group of children and young people. In conclusion, I do think we have made great progress on children’s rights in Wales, but there’s no doubt that we have a huge way still to go. Diolch.
Rwy'n falch iawn o siarad yn y ddadl hon heddiw. Fel y dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ei chyflwyniad, Cymru oedd y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i gael comisiynydd plant, ac fe hoffwn i ddiolch i'r comisiynydd plant am ei hadroddiad ac am yr holl waith gwych y mae hi'n ei wneud ar ran y plant yma yng Nghymru.
Rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi gwneud cynnydd o ran hawliau plant yng Nghymru. Soniodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am y pleidleisiau ar gyfer pobl ifanc 16 ac 17 oed a diddymu'r amddiffyniad o gosb resymol, ac rwy'n gobeithio, gyda'r Llywodraeth newydd yn Lloegr, y byddwn yn gweld y ddau beth hynny'n cael eu hatgynhyrchu nawr yn Lloegr, oherwydd credaf eu bod yn hanfodol ar gyfer hawliau plant.
Fel cadeirydd newydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol Sipsiwn a Theithwyr sydd newydd ei sefydlu, fe hoffwn i ganolbwyntio ar y rhan yn yr adroddiad am blant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Soniodd Sioned Williams yn ei chyfraniad am y duedd bryderus gynyddol o bresenoldeb isel yn yr ysgol, ar ôl COVID, o ran plant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Ac rwy'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi gweld gostyngiad cyffredinol yn nifer y plant i gyd, ond mae'n ymddangos bod y ffigurau'n arbennig o uchel i blant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Rwy'n credu, yn y gorffennol, eu bod wedi arfer byw, gweithio a dysgu gartref, ac y dychwelwyd i hynny i raddau. Ond mae 'na ddiffyg cyllid ar gyfer canolfannau arbenigol, ac mae dwy ganolfan arbenigol, rwy'n gwybod fy hun, wedi cau yn Abertawe ac yn sir Benfro. Ond mae'r ddarpariaeth ragorol yn Nhorfaen wedi parhau, lle mae'r presenoldeb wedi parhau i godi.
Y pethau pryderus eraill yw'r ffigurau yn yr adroddiad am brofiad plant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yn yr ysgol, gyda dim ond 37 y cant o bobl ifanc Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yn cytuno bod eu hathrawon yn poeni amdanyn nhw fel pobl, a 52 y cant yn teimlo nad yw eu hathrawon yn eu derbyn, ac rwy'n credu eu bod yn ffigyrau pryderus iawn. Rwyf wedi siarad yn helaeth â mam Sipsiwn, a ddisgrifiodd brofiadau ei mab yn ei arddegau yn yr ysgol uwchradd, a'r lefelau eithafol o ragfarn a bwlio a brofodd. Nid yw hyn yn dderbyniol ac mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn well yn hyn o beth.
Yr angen am lety sy'n ddiwylliannol briodol yw'r sylfaen i bob plentyn Sipsiwn a Theithwyr ffynnu a gwneud cynnydd. Mae'n bwysig eu bod yn teimlo'n weladwy ac yn cael eu cydnabod am eu ffordd o fyw ac am eu hanghenion. Mae angen i Sipsiwn a Theithwyr gael mynediad llawer gwell i safleoedd ledled Cymru, ac fe wn i fod ymrwymiad i hyn yng Nghynllun Gweithredu Cymru Gwrth-hiliol, i gynyddu nifer ac ansawdd caeau teithio a pharhaol awdurdodau lleol, yn ogystal ag archwilio dewisiadau ar gyfer rhentu trelars. Ond rwy'n credu y gwyddom ni i gyd y bu'r gwaith hwn yn hynod o araf, ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni ei gyflymu gymaint ag y gallwn ni.
Er enghraifft, sut gall plant a phobl ifanc Sipsiwn a Theithwyr deimlo'n rhan o gymdeithas lle cânt eu gorfodi i friciau a morter yn erbyn eu diwylliant, ac na all eu rhieni gael mynediad i safleoedd awdurdodau lleol na chael caniatâd cynllunio ar gyfer tir y maen nhw'n berchen arno? Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn gwybod beth yw'r broblem, ac rydym yn gwybod bod arian wedi cael ei roi gan y Llywodraeth er mwyn i hyn ddigwydd, ond mae'n anodd iawn cael llety digonol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n un o'r pethau y mae angen i ni ganolbwyntio arno.
Fe hoffwn i felly i Lywodraeth Cymru roi sylw arbennig i blant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yng Nghymru. Credaf fod y dystiolaeth yn dangos ein bod yn gweithio'n llawer rhy araf i wella bywydau plant a phobl ifanc Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn mynd allan i wrando ar y plant hyn ac yn ystyried eu barn.
Felly, unwaith eto, diolch yn fawr iawn i'r comisiynydd plant am dynnu sylw at y grŵp hwn o blant a phobl ifanc. I gloi, rwyf yn credu ein bod ni wedi gwneud cynnydd mawr ar hawliau plant yng Nghymru, ond does dim amheuaeth bod gennym ni ffordd bell iawn eto i fynd. Diolch.
The Equality and Social Justice Committee, in November 2023, published the report, 'Calling time on child poverty'. Our clear recommendation was that Welsh Government should set interim and longer term targets for reducing child poverty, learning from the approaches from many other countries, such as Scotland and New Zealand.
Yesterday, you published the monitoring framework for the child poverty strategy. It had a review in there by Professor Rod Hick, who you’ve mentioned here in the Siambr. It makes it really clear that the route the Welsh Government continues to go down is, 'No targets and therefore no change.'
I welcome the children’s commissioner’s report. It brings together a real tapestry of the best, but sadly also the worst, for Welsh children. The successes of the commission’s work, the third sector, who are continuously under funding threats, and many families, but also the failures of all Governments who, year after year, fail to provide a safe, prosperous and equitable future for so many children here in Wales. I’m keen not to pass the blame on to anyone, and we all need to work together, but it’s something that we should be ashamed of in this Siambr, that 29 per cent of children here in Wales are in poverty, and we must do better.
We should all welcome the agreement between Plaid Cymru and Labour around free school meals. This had made a difference. But we must go further. The Welsh Liberal Democrats want to see free school meals for all children during the school holidays. We want to make sure that there’s continual investment in programmes to tackle huger, isolation and exclusion all year round.
I want to turn to one particular recommendation from the report, which is close to my heart as a social worker. In August, I asked the Government how many local authorities had signed up to the corporate parent charter. The Government responded to say that only 17 had signed up to the charter. So, a specific question is: what has the Welsh Government done in order to ensure that the additional Welsh local authorities have signed the charter, will sign the charter, and what monitoring will be taking place?
There are sadly many examples, returning to child poverty, which we see, and I’m pleased to hear from Gareth Davies that you also want to reduce child poverty. So, I’d like you to join with some of us on this side of the Siambr calling for scrapping the two-child benefit cap. Keir Starmer says that we must, 'Share the pain.' Well, if you’re a child living in poverty, you’re already living in pain. Sharing the pain is not something we should be inducing on those children and families.
Let’s look lastly at the Scottish Government, who have really good practice in this particular area. They've set clear targets to reduce child poverty that are enshrined in law. They say that less than 18 per cent of children should live in relative poverty by 2023-24, and less than 14 per cent in absolute poverty by 2023-24, and then reducing to 5 per cent by 2030. Eight per cent and 5 per cent by 2031 in combined low-income and material deprivation, and less than 8 per cent in persistent poverty. As Gareth Davies says, Scotland has already a much reduced child poverty level than we do here in Wales. And let's just remind ourselves that, I'm afraid, England are not doing any better. Their child poverty levels are at 31 per cent.
We need to do better here in Wales. The Labour Welsh Government here has no clear targets on how to eradicate child poverty, and if you actually believe that your strategy will work, then measure it. The children's commissioner's report argues that we need to have those targets. Will you listen to the children's commissioner? Will you listen to the countless experts that the Equality and Social Justice Committee heard from? Will you listen to the countless people around this Siambr, across all of the parties, who have said that we should have targets? I actually did a very quick record of those. In the last four months, you've heard from seven people across all of the political parties asking you why there are no targets for child poverty. Finally, if you say your strategy is going to work, then my question is: why not have targets? What are you afraid of? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Ym mis Tachwedd 2023, cyhoeddodd y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol yr adroddiad, 'Amser rhoi diwedd ar dlodi plant'. Ein hargymhelliad clir oedd y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru osod targedau dros dro a thymor hwy ar gyfer lleihau tlodi plant, gan ddysgu o'r dulliau o lawer o wledydd eraill, fel yr Alban a Seland Newydd.
Ddoe, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi'r fframwaith monitro ar gyfer y strategaeth tlodi plant. Wedi ei gynnwys yno roedd adolygiad gan yr Athro Rod Hick, yr ydych chi wedi sôn amdano yma yn y Siambr. Mae'r adolygiad ei gwneud hi'n glir iawn mai dull Llywodraeth Cymru o hyd yw, 'Dim targedau ac felly dim newid.'
Rwy'n croesawu adroddiad y comisiynydd plant. Mae'n dwyn ynghyd glytwaith go iawn o'r pethau gorau, ond yn anffodus hefyd y gwaethaf, i blant Cymru. Llwyddiannau gwaith y Comisiwn, y trydydd sector, sydd dan fygythiadau ariannu yn barhaus, a llawer o deuluoedd, ond hefyd methiannau pob Llywodraeth sydd, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, yn methu â darparu dyfodol diogel, llewyrchus a chyfartal i gynifer o blant yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n awyddus i beidio â rhoi'r bai ar unrhyw un, ac mae angen i ni gyd weithio gyda'n gilydd, ond mae'n rhywbeth y dylem ni fod â chywilydd ohono yn y Siambr hon, bod 29 y cant o blant yma yng Nghymru mewn tlodi, ac mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn well.
Fe ddylem ni gyd groesawu'r cytundeb rhwng Plaid Cymru a Llafur ynglŷn â phrydau ysgol am ddim. Roedd hyn wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth. Ond mae'n rhaid i ni fynd ymhellach. Mae Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru eisiau gweld prydau ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn yn ystod gwyliau'r ysgol. Mae arnom ni eisiau sicrhau bod buddsoddiad parhaus mewn rhaglenni i fynd i'r afael â llwgu, ynysu ac eithrio trwy gydol y flwyddyn.
Fe hoffwn i droi at un argymhelliad penodol o'r adroddiad, sy'n agos at fy nghalon fel gweithiwr cymdeithasol. Ym mis Awst, gofynnais i'r Llywodraeth faint o awdurdodau lleol oedd wedi ymuno â'r siarter rhieni corfforaethol. Ymatebodd y Llywodraeth i ddweud mai dim ond 17 oedd wedi cofrestru ar gyfer y siarter. Felly, cwestiwn penodol yw: beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud er mwyn sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol ychwanegol Cymru wedi llofnodi'r siarter, yn llofnodi'r siarter, a pha fonitro fydd yn digwydd?
Yn anffodus, mae llawer o enghreifftiau, yn dychwelyd i dlodi plant, a welwn ni, ac rwy'n falch o glywed gan Gareth Davies bod arnoch chi hefyd eisiau lleihau tlodi plant. Felly, fe hoffwn i chi ymuno â rhai ohonom ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn galw am gael gwared ar y cap budd-dal dau blentyn. Mae Keir Starmer yn dweud bod yn rhaid i ni, 'Rannu'r boen.' Wel, os ydych chi'n blentyn sy'n byw mewn tlodi, rydych chi eisoes yn byw mewn poen. Nid yw rhannu'r boen yn rhywbeth y dylem ni fod yn ei gymell ar y plant a'r teuluoedd hynny.
Gadewch i ni edrych yn olaf ar Lywodraeth yr Alban, sydd ag arfer dda iawn yn y maes penodol hwn. Maen nhw wedi gosod targedau clir sydd wedi'u hymgorffori yn y gyfraith i leihau tlodi plant. Maen nhw'n dweud y dylai llai na 18 y cant o blant fyw mewn tlodi cymharol erbyn 2023-24, a llai na 14 y cant mewn tlodi absoliwt erbyn 2023-24, sydd yna'n gostwng i 5 y cant erbyn 2030. Wyth y cant a 5 y cant erbyn 2031 mewn amddifadedd incwm isel a materol cyfunol, a llai nag 8 y cant mewn tlodi parhaus. Fel y dywed Gareth Davies, mae gan yr Alban eisoes lefel tlodi plant llawer is na sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru. A gadewch i ni atgoffa ein hunain nad yw Lloegr, rwy'n ofni, yn gwneud fawr gwell. Mae eu lefelau tlodi plant nhw yn 31 y cant.
Mae angen i ni wneud yn well yma yng Nghymru. Nid oes gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru yma dargedau clir ynghylch sut i ddileu tlodi plant, ac os ydych chi'n credu mewn gwirionedd y bydd eich strategaeth yn gweithio, yna mesurwch hi. Mae adroddiad y comisiynydd plant yn dadlau bod angen i ni fod â'r targedau hynny. A wnewch chi wrando ar y comisiynydd plant? A wnewch chi wrando ar yr arbenigwyr dirifedi y clywodd y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ganddyn nhw? A wnewch chi wrando ar y bobl ddi-ri o amgylch y Siambr hon, ar draws yr holl bleidiau, sydd wedi dweud y dylem ni gael targedau? Fe wnes i gofnod cyflym iawn o'r rheini. Yn ystod y pedwar mis diwethaf, rydych chi wedi clywed gan saith o bobl ar draws yr holl bleidiau gwleidyddol yn gofyn i chi pam nad oes targedau ar gyfer tlodi plant. Yn olaf, os ydych chi'n dweud bod eich strategaeth yn mynd i weithio, yna fy nghwestiwn yw: pam ddim cael targedau? Beth ydych chi'n ei ofni? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'd like to start by thanking the children's commissioner for this incredibly important annual report, which makes for some very interesting and pertinent reading. I commend the commissioner on her wide engagement with families, children and the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government must now listen and act on the commissioner's recommendations, and reflect thoroughly on the crucial aspects of her findings.
As we've already heard, and we will repeat these same statistics, it's incredibly concerning that 30 per cent of children in Wales are living in poverty, with an astonishing 45 per cent of children aged seven to 11, as we've heard, worried about having enough to eat. These statistics are, frankly, an embarrassment to our country, and we have to do more to tackle this blight. Those of us who were around 20 years ago in political circles were hearing similar figures quoted about the levels of poverty. Things haven't changed in 20 years, and that's a sad indictment, for sure. This is 2024, not 1924.
As the children's commissioner has previously said, the Welsh Government's approach to tackling child poverty does not match the gravity of the situation facing children and young people in Wales today. While the Government may be making some of the right noises, we need to see targeted action. As the children's commissioner has said, it is not clear how the poverty strategy will translate into tangible actions, and how or when they will be delivered, making it difficult to hold them accountable. This is no surprise, really. Far too often we have seen in this Chamber the Welsh Government announce strategies and plans with no real deadlines or targets. This avoids scrutiny while claiming to take action.
Turning to an area of particular interest to me, and it's been mentioned already, and that's the access to good food for our young people. I welcome the fact that we have a system here in Wales that provides free school meals for those who need them, but I was concerned to see, as others have said, that 80 per cent of our children do not feel full after receiving free school meals—something we've heard several times in this Chamber recently. And it's right that the commissioner shines a light on this. The fact that these meals are free is not enough. We need to be ensuring that the food is healthy, nutritious and filling, ensuring our children are being provided with the food they need, and we need a consistent standard across all of Wales, and that isn't the case at the moment. Again, it would seem that this policy isn't delivering as intended. If we are going to do it, let's do it right.
The simple fact is, if we are tackle all angles of children and young people's needs, and address poverty, we need to be doing so in an efficient and effective way. We need the Government to work with the Children's Commissioner for Wales to set clear targets and measurable outcomes, as we've already heard, in tackling child poverty. Without them, how can the Welsh Government hope to improve the lives of the thousands of vulnerable children across Wales? I thank the children's commissioner for her report and for championing the needs of our young people, and I ask colleagues to support our amendments today.
Fe hoffwn i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r comisiynydd plant am yr adroddiad blynyddol hynod bwysig hwn, sy'n ddeunydd darllen diddorol a pherthnasol iawn. Rwy'n cymeradwyo'r comisiynydd ar ei hymgysylltiad eang â theuluoedd, plant a Llywodraeth Cymru. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru nawr wrando a gweithredu ar argymhellion y comisiynydd, a myfyrio'n drylwyr ar agweddau hanfodol ei chanfyddiadau.
Fel yr ydym eisoes wedi clywed, a byddwn yn ailadrodd yr un ystadegau hyn, mae'n hynod bryderus bod 30 y cant o blant yng Nghymru yn byw mewn tlodi, gyda 45 y cant o blant rhwng saith ac 11 oed, fel yr ydym ni wedi clywed, yn poeni am gael digon i'w fwyta. Mae'r ystadegau hyn, a dweud y gwir, yn embaras i'n gwlad, ac mae'n rhaid i ni wneud mwy i fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa hon. Roedd y rhai ohonom ni a oedd o gwmpas tua 20 mlynedd yn ôl mewn cylchoedd gwleidyddol yn clywed ffigyrau tebyg yn cael eu dyfynnu am lefelau tlodi. Dydy pethau ddim wedi newid mewn 20 mlynedd, ac mae hynny'n gyhuddiad trist, yn sicr. Rydym ni yn 2024, nid 1924.
Fel mae'r comisiynydd plant wedi dweud o'r blaen, nid yw dull Llywodraeth Cymru o fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yn cyd-fynd â difrifoldeb y sefyllfa sy'n wynebu plant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru heddiw. Er y gall y Llywodraeth fod yn gwneud rhai o'r synau cywir, mae angen i ni weld camau wedi'u targedu. Fel mae'r comisiynydd plant wedi dweud, nid yw'n glir sut y bydd y strategaeth dlodi yn troi'n gamau pendant, a sut na phryd y cânt eu cyflawni, gan ei gwneud hi'n anodd eu dal yn atebol. Nid yw hyn yn syndod mewn gwirionedd. Yn llawer rhy aml rydym ni wedi gweld yn y Siambr hon Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi strategaethau a chynlluniau heb unrhyw derfynau amser na thargedau go iawn. Mae hyn yn osgoi craffu gan honni ei bod yn gweithredu.
Gan droi at faes sydd o ddiddordeb arbennig i mi, ac mae wedi cael ei grybwyll yn barod, sef mynediad at fwyd da i'n pobl ifanc. Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod gennym ni system yma yng Nghymru sy'n darparu prydau ysgol am ddim i'r rhai sydd eu hangen, ond roeddwn yn bryderus o weld, fel y mae eraill wedi'i ddweud, nad yw 80 y cant o'n plant yn teimlo'n llawn ar ôl cael prydau ysgol am ddim—rhywbeth rydym ni wedi'i glywed sawl gwaith yn y Siambr hon yn ddiweddar. Ac mae'n iawn bod y comisiynydd yn taflu goleuni ar hyn. Nid yw'r ffaith bod y prydau hyn yn rhad ac am ddim yn ddigon. Mae angen i ni fod yn sicrhau bod y bwyd yn iach, yn faethlon ac yn llenwi, gan sicrhau bod ein plant yn cael y bwyd sydd ei angen arnyn nhw, ac mae angen safon gyson arnom ni ar draws Cymru gyfan, ac nid yw hynny'n wir ar hyn o bryd. Unwaith eto, mae'n ymddangos nad yw'r polisi hwn yn cyflawni fel y bwriadwyd. Os ydym ni'n mynd i wneud hynny, gadewch i ni wneud hynny'n iawn.
Y ffaith syml yw, os ydym ni'n mynd i'r afael â phob agwedd ar anghenion plant a phobl ifanc, ac yn mynd i'r afael â thlodi, mae angen i ni fod yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd effeithlon ac effeithiol. Mae angen i'r Llywodraeth weithio gyda Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru i osod targedau clir a chanlyniadau mesuradwy, fel yr ydym ni eisoes wedi'i glywed, wrth fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Hebddyn nhw, sut all Llywodraeth Cymru obeithio gwella bywydau'r miloedd o blant bregus ledled Cymru? Diolch i'r comisiynydd plant am ei hadroddiad ac am hyrwyddo anghenion ein pobl ifanc, a gofynnaf i gyd-Aelodau gefnogi ein gwelliannau heddiw.
Dwi'n falch o weld bod adroddiad y comisiynydd plant wedi adnabod iechyd meddwl fel maes blaenoriaeth i'w gwaith hi, oherwydd, fel dwi wedi sôn amryw o weithiau erbyn hyn, mae sicrhau triniaeth iechyd meddwl prydlon ac effeithiol i blant yn hollbwysig ar gyfer yr agenda ataliol. Y mwyaf o oedi sydd yn y system o ran darparu triniaeth, yna'r mwyaf o debygolrwydd y bydd problemau yn gwaethygu ymhellach ymlaen yn eu bywydau. Ond mae'n parhau i fod yn realiti trist bod plant yng Nghymru yn gorfod dioddef arosiadau am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl sy'n llawer uwch nag oedolion. Ar hyn o bryd, dim ond 57 y cant o ymyriadau therapiwtig sy'n dechrau o fewn y 28 diwrnod yn dilyn asesiad gan y tîm lleol ar gyfer pobl o dan 18 mlwydd oed, o'i gymharu â 77 y cant i bobl dros 18.
Yn anffodus, pan dwi wedi codi'r mater yma o'r blaen yn y Senedd, dwi heb dderbyn llawer o sicrwydd oddi wrth y Llywodraeth bod ganddyn nhw'r weledigaeth na'r dulliau cydweithio trawsbortffolio cadarn er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r mater yma. Mae'r adroddiad yn sôn am droi hawliau i mewn i realiti, a does dim amheuaeth bod darpariaeth iechyd meddwl yn hawl sylfaenol sydd ddim ar gael i lawer gormod o'n plant ar hyn o bryd. Felly, gaf i ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet pam mae'r sefyllfa mor wael o ran cyflenwad iechyd meddwl i blant yng Nghymru ac a fydd y Llywodraeth yn derbyn argymhelliad y comisiynydd i ddatblygu cynllun gweithredu iechyd meddwl penodol ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc?
Yn olaf, dwi am gyfeirio yn benodol at anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, sydd yn cael sylw penodol yn adroddiad y comisiynydd. Mae hi'n cyfeirio at bapur polisi ar y cyd â'r comisiynydd iaith, ac mae hwnna i'w groesawu. Fe wnaf i sôn am ychydig o enghreifftiau lleol. Dwi wedi cael nifer fawr o rieni a phlant yn dod i fy nghymorthfeydd, neu'n cysylltu efo fi, wedi cael diagnosis, neu yn aros am ddiagnosis, ac yn gorfod aros yn hwy ar gyfer plant cyfrwng Cymraeg, a hefyd nad ydy'r gwasanaeth ar gael, neu'r cymorth ar gael, i blant sydd ei angen trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae hyn yn sen ar y Llywodraeth, eu bod nhw'n methu'r plant bregus yma, ac yn eu methu nhw yn eu mamiaith.
Yn yr adroddiad yna, a'r papur polisi a ysgrifennwyd ar y cyd rhwng y comisiynydd iaith a'r comisiynydd plant, maen nhw'n gwneud amryw o alwadau, ac felly, os caf i ailadrodd rhai o'r galwadau ar y Llywodraeth, ac os gwnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ymateb: ydy'r Llywodraeth wedi blaenoriaethu'r gwaith o drefnu adolygiad cenedlaethol o'r maes a'r ddarpariaeth a gaiff ei chynnig ar hyn o bryd drwy'r Gymraeg, a ble mae'r Llywodraeth arni gyda hyn? Ydy'r Llywodraeth wedi cyhoeddi amserlen i adolygu bob pum mlynedd y ddarpariaeth anghenion dysgu ychwanegol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg? Ydy'r Llywodraeth wedi datblygu cynigion ar drefniadau cydweithio rhwng awdurdodau lleol yn y maes yma? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I'm pleased to see that the children's commissioner's report identified mental health as a priority area for her work, because as I've mentioned a number of times now, ensuring prompt and effective mental health treatment for children is crucially important for the preventative agenda. The greater the delay in the system in terms of providing treatment, the more likely it is that problems will further deteriorate later in life. But it continues to be the sad reality that children in Wales have to suffer long waits for mental health services, which are far longer than for adults. At the moment, only 57 per cent of therapeutic interventions start within the 28 days following assessment by the local team for those under 18 years of age, as compared to 77 per cent for those over 18.
Unfortunately, when I've raised this issue in the past in the Senedd, I haven't received many assurances from Government that they have either the vision or the cross-portfolio provisions in place in order to tackle this issue. The report mentions turning rights into a reality, and there is no doubt that mental health provision is a fundamental right that isn't available for far too many of our children at the moment. So may I ask the Cabinet Secretary why the situation is so bad in terms of mental health services for children in Wales, and will the Government accept the commissioner's recommendation to develop a mental health action plan specifically for children and young people?
Finally, I want to refer specifically to additional learning needs, which is specifically addressed in the commissioner's report. She refers to a joint policy paper with the language commissioner, which is to be welcomed. I will talk of a few local examples. I have had a number of parents and children coming to surgeries or contacting me, having had a diagnosis or awaiting a diagnosis, and having to wait longer for children in the Welsh-medium sector. Also, the services and support aren't available for those who need that support through the medium of Welsh. This is a disgrace to the Government, that they are failing those vulnerable children and failing them by not providing support in their mother tongue.
In that report and the policy paper that was jointly written between the language commissioner and the children's commissioner, they make a number of calls on Government, so if I can repeat some of these, and if the Cabinet Secretary could respond: has the Government prioritised the work of organising a national review of the provision currently available through the medium of Welsh? Where is the Government in terms of doing this? Has the Government published a timetable to review additional learning needs through the medium of Welsh in a five-year cycle? Has the Government developed proposals on collaboration arrangements between local authorities in this area? Thank you very much.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to reply to the debate.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch, bawb. It has been a really important debate, and it is a recognition across this Chamber of the importance of our independent children's commissioner, and the importance of the annual report, certainly holding us to account, but us also learning from all the work she has undertaken with children and young people across the year. It's very clear from the debate that the Senedd shares a commitment to the rights of children and young people in Wales, and those rights continue to shape our work, because responsibility for children's rights sits with every member of the Cabinet. I'm proud of our tradition in Wales of putting children's rights at the centre of our decision making, and as I said, the children's commissioner's annual report helps us to achieve that.
Members have identified a number of important issues during the debate, and I'm just going to refer to a few in the time that I've got, Dirprwy Lywydd, but of course there will be a full response to the debate in due course from the Government. I wanted to start with Joel and his points on several recommendations about vaping. I think it is important. This is something, again, where we unite, I think, across this Chamber, recognising that the tobacco and vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention in a generation, tackling the harms of smoking, stopping vapes from being deliberately targeted at children. Together, these measures will help stop the next generation from being hooked on nicotine.
We supported, of course, the original Tobacco and Vapes Bill when it was laid in Parliament earlier this year, and we were pleased when it was included in the King's Speech in July. We fully support the planned Bill's aims now, working closely with Governments from across the UK, and that's, again, really important—that we now continue to develop the Bill with the new UK Government. A strengthened Bill will be reintroduced. But just to recognise that disposable vapes are clearly linked to the recent rise in vaping in children; 54 per cent of current vapers aged 11 to 17 in Great Britain used disposable vapes in 2024. So, our efforts to tackle youth vaping and reducing environmental impacts are crucial as well.
We're raising, as you have done, key recommendations, and I'll move on to some of the other important points raised by Members. We're also recognising the recommendation that's been raised today about asylum seekers and refugees and access to services, particularly for unaccompanied children in Wales. In terms of action that will be taken to address the recommendations, I can respond now, of course, within my portfolio. We're committed to looking at the current support available for unaccompanied children and young people. We're exploring, for example, how a guardianship service could work in Wales, and looking at the resources we need to implement a system that could complement the statutory services that are already available for unaccompanied asylum seeker children in Wales.
We're working, of course, on these issues, and it's not just for the Welsh Government—it's for the Wales strategic migration partnership with our local authorities, the Children's Society, Children's Legal Centre Wales, the Bevan Foundation, British Red Cross, all working with us to help address this. We are proud to take a child-first, migrant-second approach that upholds the best interests, rights and entitlements of unaccompanied asylum seeker children. I also recognise that we have responsibilities through our compliance with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Of course, in terms of recognising what it can be to arrive in a foreign country after the trauma that children have been through, it's vitally important that we give them access to care and support, and that local authorities use all their discretion in order to provide that support.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch, bawb. Mae hi wedi bod yn ddadl bwysig iawn, ac mae'n gydnabyddiaeth ar draws y Siambr hon o bwysigrwydd ein comisiynydd plant annibynnol, a phwysigrwydd yr adroddiad blynyddol, yn sicr yn ein dwyn i gyfrif, ond rydym ni hefyd yn dysgu o'r holl waith y mae hi wedi'i wneud gyda phlant a phobl ifanc ar hyd y flwyddyn. Mae'n amlwg iawn o'r ddadl bod y Senedd yn rhannu ymrwymiad i hawliau plant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru, ac mae'r hawliau hynny'n parhau i lunio ein gwaith, oherwydd mae pob aelod o'r Cabinet yn gyfrifol am hawliau plant. Rwy'n falch o'n traddodiad yng Nghymru o roi hawliau plant wrth wraidd ein penderfyniadau, ac fel y dywedais i, mae adroddiad blynyddol y comisiynydd plant yn ein helpu i gyflawni hynny.
Mae'r Aelodau wedi nodi nifer o faterion pwysig yn ystod y ddadl, ac rydw i'n mynd i gyfeirio at ambell un yn yr amser sydd gen i, Dirprwy Lywydd, ond wrth gwrs bydd yna ymateb llawn i'r ddadl maes o law gan y Llywodraeth. Roedd arna i eisiau dechrau gyda Joel a'i bwyntiau ar sawl argymhelliad am fepio. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn bwysig. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth, unwaith eto, lle rydym yn gytûn, rwy'n credu, ar draws y Siambr hon, gan gydnabod mai'r Bil tybaco a fêps fydd yr ymyriad iechyd cyhoeddus mwyaf mewn cenhedlaeth, gan fynd i'r afael â niwed ysmygu, ac atal fêps rhag cael eu targedu'n fwriadol at blant. Gyda'i gilydd, bydd y mesurau hyn yn helpu i atal y genhedlaeth nesaf rhag bod yn gaeth i nicotin.
Fe wnaethom ni gefnogi, wrth gwrs, y Bil Tybaco a Fêps gwreiddiol wrth gwrs, pan gafodd ei gyflwyno yn y Senedd yn gynharach eleni, ac roeddem yn falch pan gafodd ei gynnwys yn Araith y Brenin ym mis Gorffennaf. Rydym yn llwyr gefnogi amcanion penodol y Bil nawr, gan weithio'n agos gyda llywodraethau o bob rhan o'r DU, ac mae hynny, unwaith eto, yn bwysig iawn—ein bod ni bellach yn parhau i ddatblygu'r Bil gyda Llywodraeth newydd y DU. Bydd Bil cryfach yn cael ei ailgyflwyno. Ond dim ond i gydnabod bod fêps tafladwy wedi'u cysylltu'n glir â'r cynnydd diweddar mewn fepio ymysg plant; roedd 54 y cant o'r bobl rhwng 11 ac 17 oed ym Mhrydain Fawr sy'n fepio ar hyn o bryd yn defnyddio fêps tafladwy yn 2024. Felly, mae ein hymdrechion i fynd i'r afael â fepio ymysg pobl ifanc a lleihau effeithiau amgylcheddol yn hanfodol hefyd.
Rydym yn codi, fel y gwnaethoch chi, argymhellion allweddol, a byddaf yn symud ymlaen at rai o'r pwyntiau pwysig eraill a godwyd gan Aelodau. Rydym ni hefyd yn cydnabod yr argymhelliad a godwyd heddiw ynghylch ceiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid a mynediad at wasanaethau, yn enwedig ar gyfer plant ar eu pen eu hunain yng Nghymru. O ran camau a gymerir i fynd i'r afael â'r argymhellion, gallaf ymateb nawr, wrth gwrs, o fewn fy mhortffolio. Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i edrych ar y cymorth presennol sydd ar gael i blant a phobl ifanc ar eu pen eu hunain. Rydym ni'n archwilio, er enghraifft, sut y gallai gwasanaeth gwarcheidiaeth weithio yng Nghymru, ac yn edrych ar yr adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnom ni i weithredu system a allai ategu'r gwasanaethau statudol sydd eisoes ar gael i blant ar eu pen eu hunain sy'n ceisio lloches yng Nghymru.
Rydym ni'n gweithio, wrth gwrs, ar y materion hyn, ac nid lle dim ond Llywodraeth Cymru yw gwneud hyn—mae partneriaeth ymfudo strategol Cymru gyda'n hawdurdodau lleol, Cymdeithas y Plant, Canolfan Gyfreithiol Plant Cymru, Sefydliad Bevan, y Groes Goch Brydeinig, i gyd yn gweithio gyda ni i helpu mynd i'r afael â hyn. Rydym yn falch o fabwysiadu dull plentyn yn gyntaf, mudwr yn ail, sy'n cynnal buddiannau, hawliau a hawlogaethau plant sy'n ceisio lloches ar eu pen eu hunain. Rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod bod gennym ni gyfrifoldebau drwy gydymffurfio â Chonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn.
Wrth gwrs, o ran cydnabod y sefyllfa o gyrraedd gwlad dramor ar ôl y trawma y mae plant wedi bod drwyddo, mae'n hanfodol bwysig ein bod yn rhoi mynediad iddyn nhw at ofal a chymorth, a bod awdurdodau lleol yn defnyddio eu holl ddisgresiwn er mwyn darparu'r cymorth hwnnw.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi gymryd ymyriad?
I will.
Gwnaf.
This is something that we've been raising and the Bevan Foundation have been loudly raising: the issue of no recourse to public funds as regards entitlement to free school meals. I've raised it with the Cabinet Secretary for Education. There still has been no action. Will you take action on this? Because the discretionary model with local authorities isn't working.
Mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydym wedi bod yn ei godi ac mae Sefydliad Bevan wedi bod yn ei godi'n gryf: y mater o beidio a gallu troi at gyllid cyhoeddus o ran hawl i brydau ysgol am ddim. Rwyf wedi ei godi gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg. Nid oes unrhyw weithredu wedi digwydd eto. A wnewch chi weithredu ar hyn? Oherwydd nid yw'r model yn ôl disgresiwn gydag awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio.
Again, this is something where we would urge local authorities to use that discretion. The Cabinet Secretary for Education is fully on board with this. And I'm sure the children's commissioner herself is raising this with local government. It's important that it has been aired again today in the context of this report and these recommendations. But, again, our commitment is to progress that.
In terms of the points that have been raised by more than one Member today about children's access to food in schools, I think it's important that we recognise that we need to look—. And we've agreed; officials are engaging widely about the review of the healthy eating regulations and guidance. But the important thing is to engage children and young people in this. It's been raised, of course, around the views and experiences of children and young people in terms of nutritional standards in schools. Of course, it is crucially important that we look at that.
I can't answer all of the questions and points fully today, but you will have the Government's response to the report in due course. But can I please thank Julie Morgan again for her contribution? I welcome the fact that you've set up a cross-party group to chair on Gypsies and Travellers, particularly looking at the needs of children and young people. Also, the children's commissioner is focused particularly on young people and education, because we know that improving attendance at school is a top priority.
Work is continuing to improve those rates of attendance. There is an improvement in attendance from Gypsy and Traveller young people. Many of you will know of the good practice in schools in your constituencies and communities. But, obviously, levels aren't what we would want them to be. That's about sharing good practice, youth and family engagement officers, youth workers, and also just again looking at the barriers faced by young people and engaging with those young people. So, we're establishing a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stakeholder group—[Interruption.] I'll just finish this point. That's going to bring community members and policy makers together to hear views, not just from children and young people, but of course their carers as well.
Unwaith eto, mae hyn yn rhywbeth lle byddem yn annog awdurdodau lleol i ddefnyddio'r disgresiwn hwnnw. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg yn cytuno'n llwyr â hyn. Ac rwy'n siŵr bod y comisiynydd plant ei hun yn codi hyn gyda llywodraeth leol. Mae'n bwysig ei fod wedi cael ei wyntyllu eto heddiw yng nghyd-destun yr adroddiad hwn a'r argymhellion hyn. Ond unwaith eto, ein hymrwymiad yw symud ymlaen â hynny.
O ran y pwyntiau sydd wedi eu codi gan fwy nag un Aelod heddiw am blant yn cael mynediad at fwyd mewn ysgolion, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod yn cydnabod bod angen i ni edrych—. Ac rydym yn cytuno; mae swyddogion yn ymgysylltu'n eang ynghylch yr adolygiad o'r rheoliadau a'r canllawiau bwyta'n iach. Ond y peth pwysig yw ennyn diddordeb plant a phobl ifanc yn hyn o beth. Mae wedi cael ei godi, wrth gwrs, ynghylch barn a phrofiadau plant a phobl ifanc o ran safonau maeth mewn ysgolion. Wrth gwrs, mae'n hollbwysig ein bod yn edrych ar hynny.
Ni allaf ateb yr holl gwestiynau a phwyntiau yn llawn heddiw, ond bydd gennych ymateb y Llywodraeth i'r adroddiad maes o law. Ond a gaf i ddiolch eto i Julie Morgan am ei chyfraniad? Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith eich bod wedi sefydlu grŵp trawsbleidiol a'i gadeirio ar Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, yn enwedig gan edrych ar anghenion plant a phobl ifanc. Hefyd, mae'r comisiynydd plant yn canolbwyntio'n benodol ar bobl ifanc ac addysg, gan ein bod yn gwybod bod gwella presenoldeb yn yr ysgol yn brif flaenoriaeth.
Mae gwaith yn parhau i wella'r cyfraddau presenoldeb hynny. Mae gwelliant mewn presenoldeb ymhlith pobl ifanc Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Bydd llawer ohonoch yn gwybod am yr arfer da mewn ysgolion yn eich etholaethau a'ch cymunedau. Ond, yn amlwg, nid yw'r lefelau yr hyn y byddem eisiau iddynt fod. Mae hynny'n ymwneud â rhannu arfer da, swyddogion ymgysylltu ag ieuenctid a theuluoedd, gweithwyr ieuenctid, a hefyd edrych eto ar y rhwystrau sy'n wynebu pobl ifanc ac ymgysylltu â'r bobl ifanc hynny. Felly, rydyn ni'n sefydlu grŵp rhanddeiliaid Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr—[Torri ar draws.] Fe wnaf orffen y pwynt hwn. Mae hynny'n mynd i ddod ag aelodau o'r gymuned a llunwyr polisi at ei gilydd i glywed barn, nid yn unig gan blant a phobl ifanc, ond wrth gwrs eu gofalwyr hefyd.
Thank you very much. We're seven minutes into your response to the debate, but we're yet to hear anything about child poverty. Many Members have raised this during the debate, from across the Chamber, so I think we'd be in a good position to hear what the Government's response is in that regard.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydyn ni saith munud i mewn i'ch ymateb i'r ddadl, ond nid ydym wedi clywed unrhyw beth am dlodi plant eto. Mae llawer o Aelodau wedi codi hyn yn ystod y ddadl, o bob rhan o'r Siambr, felly rwy'n credu y byddem mewn sefyllfa dda i glywed beth yw ymateb y Llywodraeth yn hynny o beth.
I think some Members in the Chamber would also like to hear comments on other issues that they've raised during this debate, and I'm very glad to be able to do that, and particularly in response to the needs of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people. Because, also, that's something that I was going to follow on from my points in response to Julie Morgan—that this is crucially important in terms of our refreshed 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan'. We've actually got a key goal in the refreshed plan on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller equity. And I'd like to thank the Local Government and Housing Committee—which I think, Gareth, you've sat on, and others—and say how important it is that that inquiry is looking at all of the issues around site provision and permanent accommodation.
Finally, I would say that—and give me some bearing as I've had interventions, Dirprwy Llywydd—our child poverty strategy sets out our long-term ambitions to tackle child poverty and to mitigate the worst impacts of poverty here in Wales, and how we will work across Government, and with partners, to maximise the work that we do, to maximise the impact of our levers in terms of our responsibilities, the levers available to us. Our targets for improving outcomes, as set out in our programme for government, form part of our national milestones—the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, of course, we report on that in our 'Well-being of Wales' report annually.
Yesterday, we had a child poverty conference, and I was pleased to share the publication of the child poverty strategy monitoring framework. This is only one of three mechanisms through which we progress on delivery of the child poverty strategy, being measured and reported once every three years. It's going to be used, the framework, to report on regular and robust population-level data on a range of child poverty indicators, provide insight on impact on the outcomes for children and young people. And I would very much like now, as we've had this particular evidence and expertise from Professor Rod Hick, a world expert on this, to share this more with you. [Interruption.] I think I have given way more than once.
Rwy'n credu y byddai rhai Aelodau yn y Siambr hefyd yn hoffi clywed sylwadau ar faterion eraill y maen nhw wedi'u codi yn ystod y ddadl hon, ac rwy'n falch iawn o allu gwneud hynny, ac yn enwedig mewn ymateb i anghenion plant a phobl ifanc Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr. Oherwydd, hefyd, mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth roeddwn i'n mynd i sôn amdano yn dilyn fy mhwyntiau mewn ymateb i Julie Morgan—bod hyn yn hollbwysig o ran ein 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol' wedi'i adnewyddu. Mae gennym nod allweddol mewn gwirionedd yn y cynllun diwygiedig ar degwch Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr. A hoffwn ddiolch i'r Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai—yr ydych, rwy'n meddwl, Gareth, wedi eistedd arno, ac eraill—a dweud pa mor bwysig yw hi fod yr ymchwiliad hwnnw'n edrych ar yr holl faterion sy'n ymwneud â darparu safleoedd a llety parhaol.
Yn olaf, byddwn i'n dweud—a byddwch yn amyneddgar gan fy mod i wedi cael ymyriadau, Dirprwy Lywydd—fod ein strategaeth tlodi plant yn nodi ein huchelgeisiau hirdymor i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant ac i liniaru effeithiau gwaethaf tlodi yma yng Nghymru, a sut y byddwn ni'n gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth, a gyda phartneriaid, i wneud y mwyaf o'r gwaith rydyn ni'n ei wneud, i wneud y mwyaf o effaith ein hysgogiadau o ran ein cyfrifoldebau, y dulliau sydd ar gael i ni. Mae ein targedau ar gyfer gwella canlyniadau, fel y nodir yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu, yn rhan o'n cerrig milltir cenedlaethol—Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015, wrth gwrs, rydym yn adrodd ar hynny yn ein hadroddiad 'Llesiant Cymru' yn flynyddol.
Ddoe, cawsom gynhadledd tlodi plant, ac roeddwn yn falch o rannu cyhoeddi fframwaith monitro'r strategaeth tlodi plant. Dim ond un o dri chyfrwng yr ydym yn eu defnyddio yw hwn i symud ymlaen i gyflawni'r strategaeth tlodi plant, sy'n cael ei mesur a'i hadrodd unwaith bob tair blynedd. Bydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio, y fframwaith, i adrodd ar ddata rheolaidd a chadarn ar lefel poblogaeth ar ystod o ddangosyddion tlodi plant, rhoi mewnwelediad ar effaith ar y canlyniadau i blant a phobl ifanc. A hoffwn yn fawr iawn nawr, gan ein bod wedi cael y dystiolaeth a'r arbenigedd penodol hwn gan yr Athro Rod Hick, arbenigwr byd-eang ar hyn, i rannu hyn yn fwy gyda chi. [Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi ildio mwy nag unwaith.
The Cabinet Secretary is over the time she's allowed.
Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros yr amser a ganiateir iddi.
Finally, to say, what I'm so pleased about—and you must finally be glad to hear—is that, tomorrow, I'm meeting with the co-chairs of the UK Government child poverty taskforce. And I think that's the important point—is that, now, we can work together, with the new UK Government. They've set up a child poverty taskforce. They want to meet me tomorrow to hear what we're doing, but also for me to say to them what their powers, their responsibilities are. We want to work together to tackle child poverty. And can we thank the children's commissioner for her leadership in her role as an independent Children's Commissioner for Wales? Diolch yn fawr.
Yn olaf, i ddweud, yr hyn rydw i mor falch ohono—a rhaid i chi fod yn falch o'r diwedd i glywed—yw fy mod i, yfory, yn cyfarfod â chyd-gadeiryddion tasglu tlodi plant Llywodraeth y DU. Ac rwy'n meddwl mai dyna'r pwynt pwysig—yw ein bod ni, nawr, yn gallu gweithio gyda'n gilydd, gyda Llywodraeth newydd y DU. Maen nhw wedi sefydlu tasglu tlodi plant. Maen nhw eisiau cwrdd â mi yfory i glywed beth rydyn ni'n ei wneud, ond hefyd i mi ddweud wrthyn nhw beth yw eu pwerau, eu cyfrifoldebau. Rydym eisiau gweithio gyda'n gilydd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Ac a allwn ddiolch i'r comisiynydd plant am ei harweinyddiaeth yn ei rôl fel Comisiynydd Plant annibynnol i Gymru? Diolch yn fawr.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 1? Oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes. Gohiriaf y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree amendment 1. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Rydym ni wedi cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio nawr. Oni bai bod tri Aelod yn dymuno i mi ganu'r gloch, symudaf yn syth i'r cyfnod pleidleisio.
That brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will move immediately to voting time.
Yn gyntaf, galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 26, neb yn ymatal, 27 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei wrthod.
I first call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 26, no abstentions, 27 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl: Adroddiad Blynyddol Comisiynydd Plant Cymru 2023-24. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 27, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Debate: The Children’s Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2023-24. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Darren Millar: For: 26, Against: 27, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
Galwaf am bleidlais yn awr ar welliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 12, neb yn ymatal, 41 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 2 wedi ei wrthod.
I now call for a vote on amendment 2, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 12, no abstentions, 41 against. Therefore, amendment 2 is not agreed.
Eitem 7. Dadl: Adroddiad Blynyddol Comisiynydd Plant Cymru 2023-24. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan: O blaid: 12, Yn erbyn: 41, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Item 7. Debate: The Children’s Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2023-24. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan: For: 12, Against: 41, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar y cynnig, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 44, neb yn ymatal, naw yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn.
I now call for a vote on the motion, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 44, no abstentions, nine against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
item 7. Dadl: Adroddiad Blynyddol Comisiynydd Plant Cymru 2023-24. Cynnig: O blaid: 44, Yn erbyn: 9, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 7. Debate: The Children’s Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2023-24. Motion: For: 44, Against: 9, Abstain: 0
Motion has been agreed
Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.
That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:46.
The meeting ended at 18:46.